| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08479188B2 |
Binary code change vulnerability prioritization
A human-readable list of patch differences ranked by weight helps vulnerability analysts allocate their time. From binary code, identified source functions and recognized sink functions are used when assigning relative weights to changes caused by a patch. Source functions are identified using an export table, import table, and remote procedure call interface. Sink functions are recognized using blacklisted functions, patch-targeted functions, memory functions, string functions, and functions called with mismatched parameters. A change prioritizer assigns weights based on an architectural graph and a set of prioritization rules that specify what kind of change is made by a patch, and what kind of function is changed. Weight assignments may be additive. Rules may assign certain kinds of change a higher priority for subsequent scrutiny by an analyst. |
| US08479184B2 |
General purpose emit for use in value profiling
An information handling system includes a memory, a processor, and an instruction tracking unit. The processor executes program code and, while the program code executes, the instruction tracking unit decodes a multi-purpose no-op instruction within the program code. In turn, the instruction tracking unit sends an interrupt to the processor, which invokes a profiling module to collect and store profiling data in a profiling buffer. |
| US08479182B2 |
Program, apparatus, and method of optimizing a java object
An apparatus, method and article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions for optimizing a Java object on a target computer program. The apparatus includes: a storage unit for storing a value of the object and management information on the object in association with each other; a code generation unit for generating, from the target computer program, optimized code and unoptimized code; a switching unit for switching from executing the target computer program using the optimized code to executing the target computer program using the unoptimized code in response to an event in which the value of the object is written while the target computer program is executed by using the optimized code; and a management unit for managing the object by accessing the management information by a non-detection write operation in which writing to the object is performed without being detected. |
| US08479179B2 |
Compiling method, compiling apparatus and computer system for a loop in a program
A method for compiling a program including a loop is provided. In the program, the loop includes K instructions (K>2) and repeats for M times (M>2). The compiling method comprises following steps: performing resource conflict analysis to the K instructions in the loop; dividing the K instructions in the loop into a first combined instruction section, a connection instruction section and a second combined instruction section, wherein there is no resource conflict between the instructions in the first combined instruction section and the instructions in the second combined instruction section respectively; and compiling the program, wherein the instructions in the first combined instruction section in the cycle N (N=2, 3, . . . M) and the instructions in the second combined instruction section in the cycle N−1 are combined to be compiled respectively. A compiling apparatus and a computer system for realizing the above-mentioned compiling method are further provided. |
| US08479170B2 |
Generating software application user-input data through analysis of client-tier source code
In one embodiment, analyze client-tier source code of a client-server software application to extract one or more software modules that handle user-input data of the software application. For each one of the software modules, extract from the software module one or more user-input constraints placed on the user-input data, comprising: analyze source code of the software module to determine one or more failure points in the source code; perform symbolic execution on the software module to extract one or more first expressions that cause the software module to reach the failure points, respectively; obtain a second expression as the disjunction of all the first expressions; obtain a third expression as the negation of the second expression; and extract the user-input constraints from the third expression. Determine one or more user-input data that satisfy all the user-input constraints. |
| US08479169B1 |
Code analysis via ranged values
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for reducing errors in software code. For example, an embodiment of the method includes defining a range of values for one or more inputs to the software code and evaluating non-conditional and conditional statements in the software code with one or more values from the range of values until a program misbehavior occurs or substantially all statements in the software code have been evaluated. When evaluating the conditional statements, true and false conditions of the statement can be explored using the range of values. For instance, a sub-set of the range of values can be used to evaluate the conditional statement as true and another sub-set of the range of values can be used to evaluate the conditional statement as false. By exploring both true and false scenarios, wide code coverage is possible. |
| US08479158B2 |
Business information warehouse toolkit and language for warehousing simplification and automation
A method for use with an information (or data) warehouse comprises managing the information warehouse with instructions in a declarative language. The instructions specify information warehouse-level tasks to be done without specifying certain details of how the tasks are to be implemented, for example, using databases and text indexers. The details are hidden from the user and include, for example, in an information warehouse having a FACT table that joins two or more dimension tables, details of database level operations when structured data are being handled, including database command line utilities, database drivers, and structured query language (SQL) statements; and details of text-indexing engines when unstructured data are being handled. The information warehouse is managed in a dynamic way in which different tasks—such as data loading tasks and information warehouse construction tasks—may be interleaved (i.e., there is no particular order in which the different tasks must be completed). |
| US08479154B1 |
Interaction with partially constructed mobile device applications
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for creating mobile device applications. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a user has entered one or more user inputs into an integrated development environment, to select or arrange a component that defines a portion of an application, and transmitting interpreter code that corresponds to the component to a mobile device, where the interpreter code, when interpreted by a command interpreter on the mobile device, causes the mobile device to generate a mock-up of the portion of the application defined by the component. |
| US08479153B2 |
Abstracting transformation for model driven architecture
An example embodiment of the present invention provides a process for abstracting an implementation-independent model to an implementation-specific model during transformation in a MDA system. In the example embodiment, the MDA system comprises a transformation engine whose components might include software tools such as AndroMDA and Muse. The transformation engine accepts as input an implementation-independent model written in a modeling language such as UML that provides graphical notation to describe inheritable classes and their attributes and relationships. The transformation engine also accepts a configuration file which allows the designation of a class in the model as a manageable resource. From these inputs, the transformation engine creates a manageable resource corresponding to the class, which resource includes any subclasses by inheritance from the designated class unless the subclass is specifically excluded in the configuration file. In one embodiment, the manageable resources created by the transformation engine are WSMD manageable resources. |
| US08479151B2 |
Converting a statechart from a first statechart format to a second statechart format
System and method for converting a statechart from a first statechart development environment to a second statechart development environment. A first statechart may be received. The first statechart may be created in a first statechart development environment. The first statechart may implement a first functionality. The first statechart may be parsed to determine a plurality of elements of the first statechart. A markup language representation of the first statechart may be generated. The markup language representation may represent the plurality of elements of the first statechart. A second statechart may be generated based on the markup language representation. The second statechart may be in a second statechart development environment. The second statechart may implement the first functionality. The second statechart may be stored. |
| US08479149B2 |
Concept-oriented software engineering system and method for identifying, extracting, organizing, inferring and querying software system facts
Software system facts comprising concepts, concept instances and relationships within the software system are identified and stored in a repository. The software system facts are extracted from artifacts comprising the software system or are provided through explicit definition. Architectures of the software system are recovered from the stored software system facts. Layered views of the recovered architectures are generated. The stored software system facts are checked against architectural rules to ensure architectural compliance of the software system. The impact of proposed changes to the software system is assessed by querying the identified software system facts. |
| US08479148B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for model transformation reapply
Provided is a method and system for model transformation reapply. Through a programming model transformation, a target model is generated. The target model has one or more model elements. As manual changes are made to the target model, parts of the target model are marked as non-changeable by annotations. The annotations are inserted into respective model elements of the target model and indicate which parts are non-changeable and thus preservable. The annotations enable reapplying of the transformation to make changes to the target model but preserve manual changes made to the model elements based on the inserted annotations. The reapply of the transformation may be configured with options to handle the deltas between the existing target model and newly generated target models of the transformation. |
| US08479147B2 |
Server-page based software architecture enabling use-case oriented evolutionary software prototyping
A system for use-case software development includes an interface renderer for interpreting a user interface definition code and displaying a user interface, a request dispatcher for processing a request from the interface renderer, and a request handler for processing the request and checking a use-case name contained in the request. The system further includes a use-case handling program, invoked by the request handler, for performing logic defined by a use-case corresponding to the use-case name and according to a use-case state and returning an interface definition specifying an interface layout and controls that are interpretable by the interface renderer, and a server page container for receiving the interface definition and providing the user interface definition code to the interface renderer. |
| US08479138B1 |
Global constraint optimization
Techniques that can improve the efficiency of routing where connections are subject to elongation constraints. The design can be optimized by estimating elongation needed to meet constraints after an initial routing solution has been generated, but before elongation is actually applied to detailed paths. Paths can be re-routed at this earlier stage if it is determined that too much elongation, or too much elongation in crowded areas, will need to be added after the detail routing stage. |
| US08479137B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing congestive placement
A congestive placement preventing apparatus for modifying a circuit layout includes an analyzing module, a defining module and an extension module. The analyzing module performs a congestion analysis on the circuit layout to generate an analysis result. The defining module defines a congestion region and a share region adjacent to the congestion region on the circuit layout according to the analysis result. A density of electronic cells of the congestion region is higher than that of electronic cells of the share region. The extension module arranges a plurality of electronic cells in the congestion region to the congestion region and the share region, thereby reducing the density of electronic cells in the congestion region. |
| US08479135B2 |
Automated framework for programmable logic device implementation of integrated circuit design
In an embodiment, a methodology for automating the generation of a programmable logic device implementation of at least a portion of an integrated circuit is contemplated. The methodology may operate on one or more hardware description language (HDL) files which describe the integrated circuit as an input. Additionally, one or more user-generated control files may be input to the methodology. The methodology may process the one or more HDL files, generating a bitstream to program one or more programmable logic devices to implement the described design. The methodology may include automated modification of the HDL files to prepare them for programmable logic device implementation, automated pad ring generation, automated pin multiplexing, daughter card definition, partitioning, etc. |
| US08479132B2 |
Active trace assertion based verification system
A computer processes simulation data indicating values of circuit signals as functions of simulation time to determine whether a circuit exhibits a property defined by an assertion. The assertion expresses the property as a sequence of expressions, each a function of one or more variables, where each variable represents a value of one or more signals or a value of another sequence of expressions. The assertion statement separately defines an evaluation time for each expression, a particular simulation time at which the expression is to be evaluated. Each expression must evaluate true if the circuit has the property. The computer produces a display including a representation of each expression of the property including a separate variable symbol for each of its variables. For each expression that evaluated false, the computer identifies each variable that caused that expression to evaluate false and distinctively marks that variable's symbol relative to other variable symbols within the display. For each expression that evaluated true, the computer identifies the evaluation time contributing the fulfillment of assertion property. The computer also annotates the representation of each expression with its corresponding evaluation time and annotates each displayed variable symbol with a value of the variable it represents. |
| US08479131B2 |
Method of determining FET source/drain wire, contact, and diffusion resistances in the presence of multiple contacts
A method calculates a total source/drain resistance for a field effect transistor (FET) device. The method counts the number (N) of contacts in each source/drain region of the FET device, partitions each source/drain region into N contact regions and calculates a set of resistances of elements and connections to the FET device. The measured dimensions of widths, lengths, and distances of layout shapes forming the FET and the connections to the FET are determined and a set of weights based on relative widths of the contact regions are computed. The total source/drain resistance of the FET device is determined by summing products of the set of resistances and the set of weights for each of a plurality of contacts in series, the summing being performed for all of the plurality of contacts in one of a source region and a drain region of the FET. A netlist is formed based on the total source resistance and total drain resistance of the FET device. |
| US08479128B2 |
Technique for honoring multi-cycle path semantics in RTL simulation
An enhanced RTL simulation including information regarding multi-cycle paths is provided. The multi-cycle path information, which is available in the design constraint file, can be used for timing analysis during RTL simulation. This information can advantageously augment the RTL simulation engine to approximate the cycle delays at the destination registers, thereby providing a more realistic approximation of circuit behavior at the RTL level. Notably, RTL simulation is orders of magnitude faster than gate level simulation. Moreover, design bugs associated with multi-cycle paths are more easily corrected during RTL simulation compared to waiting until the gate level simulation. |
| US08479125B2 |
Lithography modeling and applications
The manufacturing of integrated circuits relies on the use of lithography simulation to predict the image of the mask created on the wafer. Such predictions can be used for example to assess the quality of the images, verify the manufacturability of such images, perform using OPC necessary correction of the mask data to achieve images close to the targets, optimize the printing parameters such as the illumination source, or globally optimize the source and the mask to achieve better printability. This disclosure provides a technique based on the association of at least one kernel function per source region or source point. Each kernel function can be directly convoluted with a mask image to create a prediction of the wafer image. As the kernel functions are associated with the source, the source can be easily changed to create new models. The optical system can be fully described by computing the possible kernels for all possible source points and all possible numerical apertures. Therefore this technique is ideally suited for source-mask optimization as well as source-mask-numerical aperture optimization, and their associated applications. |
| US08479121B2 |
Sign object presentation system
The present Invention provides a sign object presentation system which selects object data for a three-dimensional object, linking the object data with a plurality of sign data for a sign object, and selects proper sign data out of the plurality of sign data based on presentation information for the object data; and displays the three-dimensional object with the selected sign data located at a predetermined position of the three dimensional object. |
| US08479116B2 |
User interface for engineered systems asset analysis
Systems, methods, and computer-storage media of the present invention facilitate the management of assets of an engineered system. These management activities enable a user to understand various conditions surrounding identified system assets and provide tools for guiding decision making in terms of how prioritize projects for such assets. A user interface is also provided to display geospatially associated information relating to a selected portion of a system asset. |
| US08479115B2 |
Predictive scrolling
A system and a method are disclosed for effectively displaying database records on a device having a display area that is small compared to the underlying data being represented. A simulated catalogue is displayed with cards associated with database records. Detailed information is presented for a record on a card obscuring information related to other records. A user is allowed to swipe on the catalogue causing simulated movement of the cards thereby displaying information associated with a database record previously obscured. The catalogue is moved with an initial velocity determined by the speed of swiping and decelerated based on a drag factor until it comes to a stop and displays information for the record reached. The ability to determine the final record displayed when the catalogue stops allows pre-fetching of the data associated with the record. |
| US08479114B2 |
Browser navigation for devices with a limited input system
Methods, system, and computer program products for browsing content with a display area and input system that may be limited in comparison to more traditional browsing systems. Movement between and selection of interactive elements generally occurs in a navigation mode, whereas interaction with a single interactive element generally occurs in an edit mode. In navigation mode, a direction input selects the next interactive element in the direction indicated. If no interactive element is at least partially visible in the direction indicated or if a selected interactive element is only partially visible, the display scrolls. Switching between navigation mode and edit mode is based on the input received, in view of the input supported, by a particular interactive element. Interactive elements may be limited to the width of available display area. |
| US08479110B2 |
System and method for summoning user interface objects
Provided is a system and method for summoning user interface object(s) of a display to a gesture position of a user. In a pressure sensitive display embodiment, a user maintains a convenient touch position to the display, performs a summon gesture, and user interface object(s) are automatically moved to the user's touch position as requested. When a summon gesture is recognized, a user interface object, or point or interest thereof, automatically transitions to a desired position where the gesture was recognized. Objects can transition in a variety of manners. Also, a magnetic mode can be activated for virtually magnetizing objects of interest to a user's position, for example as the user touches various places on the display. A user's configurations can be stored into a cloud system for convenient access and use at a plurality of different data processing system user interfaces. |
| US08479103B2 |
Visualization of real-time social data informatics
Data corresponding to a current activity of a user is formatted for display. A contact list, tags of interest, and visual display mapping preferences associated with the user are received. A real time broadcast of a current activity of the user is received. A tag of interest most relevant to the current activity of the user is selected. Real time broadcasts of current activities of contacts associated with the user are received. Tags of interest most relevant to the current activities of the contacts are selected. The tag of interest selected most relevant to the current activity of the user is compared with the tags of interest selected most relevant to the current activities of the contacts. Data corresponding to the current activity of the user and the current activities of the contacts is transmitted in a format determined by the visual display mapping preferences associated with the user. |
| US08479102B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting user interface according to user preference
Provided are an apparatus and method for setting a user interface according to user preferences, more particularly, an apparatus and method for setting the user interface according to the user preferences, in which the user interface can be set up by reflecting the user preferences, and the set user interface is synchronized in order to be used in other devices. The apparatus includes a user-interface-configuration unit that is notified of an update and rearrangement of a predetermined user interface element by a user, a user-information-management unit that manages security information of the user that reconfigures the user interface element, and a user-interface-tree-management unit that reconfigures a predetermined user-interface tree based on the reconfigured user-interface element. |
| US08479101B2 |
Consistent user interface front end for remote user interfaces
A method and device for providing a single consistent user interface based on replacing disparate user interface constructs (components) with equivalent constructs (components) from a “synonym” database of user interface constructs (components). The database is initiated with a set of foundational “synonym” constructs (components) and extended with user interface constructs (components) as they are discovered during reduction of an inconsistent user interface to a consistent state. |
| US08479100B2 |
Providing a user with a web-supplement
An apparatus and method of providing a user with a web-browser supplement is disclosed. One method includes providing access to a focal group, wherein the focal group includes at least one member having at least one association with the user. Access is provided to information associated with the at least one member having relevance to the focal group. Web browsing by the user is supplemented by the information of the members of the focal group. |
| US08479099B2 |
Group management apparatus and group management system
A group management apparatus manages, as a plurality of groups, numerous installation devices installed in a plurality of buildings. The group management apparatus includes an acquiring component, a summarizing component and a screen generating component. The Acquiring component acquires operating data of the numerous installation devices via controllers. The controllers are placed in the buildings and control the numerous installation devices inside the buildings. The summarizing component summarizes, per group, operating data values that are values represented by the operating data. The screen generating component generates a screen in which results, with respect to the plurality of groups, of the operating data values having been summarized by the summarizing component are juxtaposed. |
| US08479097B2 |
Method and system for generating a control system user interface
A method for providing a user interface for an industrial control system including a computer and a plurality of process graphics including software objects for controlling and/or monitoring real world objects controlled by the control system. A display of selected process graphics, a designated view arranged with a tab or another selector, is automatically generated. The designated view may be generated dependent on selecting one or more logical groupings to which control system software objects representing the real world objects belong. At least one tab on a designated view, or an active link, is arranged to display a small visual representation of a second process graphic to which it is linked on detection of a computer input on or near the at least one tab, or link. |
| US08479096B2 |
Content display device, television receiver, content display method, content display control program, and recording medium
A content display device for displaying content items on a screen includes: an operation instruction receiving section (70d) for receiving, from a user, a switching instruction to switch the content items; a content list analyzing and choosing section (40) for, based on an order prescribed in a content list, choosing a content item that is displayed on the screen, in accordance with the switching instruction received by the operation instruction receiving section (70d); and a content acquisition and display section for causing the content item chosen by the content choosing section (40) to be displayed on the screen. This provides a content display device whose operationality has been improved by comprehensively optimizing a user's content browsing operation from the viewpoint of regarding, as a series of operations, access to the URL of a desired content item and an operation for controlling the display range of a displayed content item. |
| US08479087B2 |
Authoring package files
Various embodiments described herein include systems, methods, software, and data structures of and for authoring and presentation of package files. Some such embodiments include instantiating a package file and receiving a presentation specification to include in the package file, the presentation specification displayable within a media playing application to provide a representation of display elements defined in the package file. Such embodiments may further include receiving content files, defining display elements for each content file, and associating each content file with a respective display element. A package file may then be generated, published, and/or displayed as a function of the presentation specification. |
| US08479083B2 |
Flash memory devices having multi-bit memory cells therein with improved read reliability
Integrated circuit memory devices include an array of nonvolatile N-bit memory cells, where N is an integer greater than one. Control circuitry is also provided to reliably read data from the N-bit memory cells. This control circuitry, which is electrically coupled to the array, is configured to determine, among other things, a value of at least one bit of data stored in a selected N-bit memory cell in the array. This is done by decoding at least one hard data value and a plurality of soft data values (e.g., 6 data values) read from the selected N-bit memory cell using a corresponding plurality of unequal read voltages applied to the selected N-bit memory cell during a read operation. |
| US08479077B2 |
Memory device and bit error detection method thereof
A memory device detects and correct bit errors. The memory device includes cyclic redundancy check (CRC) and error correction code (ECC) circuits. The CRC circuit generates a write CRC code corresponding to data to be stored in memory cells. The ECC circuit generates an ECC code corresponding to the data and detecting and correcting a bit error of the data by means of the ECC code during a read operation. The CRC circuit generates a read CRC code corresponding to data corrected by the ECC circuit during the read operation, and detects a bit error of the data according to a comparison of the read CRC code and the write CRC code. |
| US08479072B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatic retransmission request (ARQ) feedback in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) feedback in a wireless communication system are provided. A method for the ARQ feedback at a receiving end includes when receiving an ARQ block from the transmitting end, checking for error in the ARQ block, when the ARQ block has no error, initializing and driving a timer used for determining whether to perform the ARQ feedback according to reception of a next ARQ block, when receiving the next ARQ block without error before the timer expires, initializing and driving the timer, and when the timer expires, performing the ARQ feedback in relation to at least one ARQ block received without error. |
| US08479070B2 |
Integrated circuit arrangement for test inputs
An integrated circuit chip includes a mainline function logic path communicatively connected to a first input/output (I/O) pin, a test logic path communicatively connected to the first I/O pin, a latch disposed between the communicative connection between the test logic function path and the first I/O pin, a second I/O pin communicatively connected to the latch, the second I/O pin operative to send a signal operative to change a state of the latch. |
| US08479068B2 |
Decoded register outputs enabling test clock to selected asynchronous domains
A system, circuit, and device for asynchronously scan capturing multi-clock domains. A system includes a shift register configured to process select data for selecting a clock domain at a time in response to a scan capture pulse and a one-hot n-to-2n decoder connected to the shift register and configured to generate one-hot code based on the select data. The system also includes integrated clock gating cells connected to the one-hot n-to-2n decoder, where the scan capture pulse is applied to each one of the integrated clock gating cells, and where only one of the integrated clock gating cells associated with the clock domain is enabled when the one-hot code is processed by the integrated clock gating cells. Further, the system includes multiplexers connected to the integrated clock gating cells, where the multiplexers are configured to forward the scan capture pulse to the clock domain. |
| US08479066B2 |
Process for making an electric testing of electronic devices
A process for electrically testing electronic devices includes connecting at least one electronic device to an automatic testing apparatus suitable for testing digital circuits, and sending, through the apparatus, control signals for electrically testing the electronic device. The process further includes electrically testing the electronic device through at least one reconfigurable digital interface connected to the apparatus through a dedicated digital communication channel and comprising a limited number of communication or connection lines strictly appointed to the exchange of the testing information. Response messages are sent from the electronic device to the apparatus through the digital communication channel in response to the control signals. The response messages contain mesaurements, failure information, and data. |
| US08479064B2 |
Safety input device
A safety input device includes an input controller to control transmission of an input signal to an arithmetic device, an output controller to instruct output of preset first self-diagnosis pattern data, a test pattern generating unit to encode the first self-diagnosis pattern data into a pulse train signal having a pulse width equal to or below a predetermined value and output the pulse train signal, a combination input unit to combine the pulse train signal with the input signal, an input interface unit, a pattern reconfiguration unit to decode an output signal from the combination input unit into second self-diagnosis pattern data, and a comparator to compare the first and second self-diagnosis pattern data to judge the presence or absence of a difference between the first and second self-diagnosis pattern data. |
| US08479057B2 |
Aggregator for connection based anomaly detection
A system for detecting network intrusions and other conditions in a network is described. The system includes a plurality of collector devices that are disposed to collect data and statistical information on packets that are sent between nodes on a network. An aggregator device is disposed to receive data and statistical information from the plurality of collector devices. The aggregator device produces a connection table that maps each node on the network to a record that stores information about traffic to or from the node. The aggregator runs processes that determine network events from aggregating of anomalies into network events. |
| US08479054B2 |
SD card memory tool
A method and apparatus that creates situations in which insufficient memory is available to store a file created by a computer game device on an SD memory card, or exactly enough memory is available to store a file or sufficient memory is available to store a file. Depending upon the memory condition that is created, software that is being tested behaves in a particular manner. |
| US08479048B2 |
Root cause analysis method, apparatus, and program for IT apparatuses from which event information is not obtained
In the system management server, an information processing apparatus that is an event-information acquisition target is registered as a monitored apparatus in configuration information; event information that complies with a rule stored in advance is identified from among a plurality of pieces of event information stored in the system management server; a server apparatus for a network service related to the event information is identified; and a message is displayed which indicates that the cause of the event that occurred in a client information processing apparatus which has generated event information is an event related to the network service, which occurred in the server apparatus. |
| US08479047B2 |
Predictive monitoring with wavelet analysis
A computer implemented method, computer program product and system for monitoring a plurality of hardware or software system resources for identifying hidden trends in the behavior of the system resources, includes: collecting metrics of at least one system resource indicative of the behavior of at least one system resource; for each of the at least one system resource, determining a spectrum representative of a time-based signal of the collected metrics; performing a wavelet transform on each of the at least one spectrum; and analyzing the result of the wavelet transform to identify possible linear trends in the behavior of the at least one system resource. |
| US08479034B2 |
Controlling the power usage of a computer
A method and apparatus for controlling the power usage of a processor is disclosed. The power usage of the processor is monitored. When the power usage of the processor exceeds a threshold power usage value, the power used by the processor is reduced or limited. A processor utilization value is also monitored. When the processor utilization value is above a threshold utilization value, the processor is ramped to a higher performance state. When power to the processor is being limited, a first rate is used to ramp the processor to the higher performance state. When power to the processor is not being limited, then a second rate, different from the first rate, is used to ramp the processor to the higher performance state. |
| US08479027B2 |
Computer power supplier with a standby power saving controller
A computer power supplier with a built-in power saving controller has a power input socket connected to external AC power supply. A DC switch circuit is connected to AC power and converts AC into DC. A control switch is connected to the AC power. A computer power supply circuit is connected to the AC power of the control switch and converts the AC into DC. A power output socket is connected to the AC power of the control switch and supplies power to peripheral equipment. A power start-up circuit is connected to the DC power of the DC switch circuit and the control switch, and operates the control switch to transmit AC power. A cluster cable transmits the DC power to the mainframe. A boot button is connected both to the start-up circuit and mainboard, so as to convert the AC into DC for the mainframe and start-up circuit. |
| US08479024B2 |
System and method for customizing information handling system internal power source and service offerings based on usage profiles
Usage data monitored at information handling systems is collected and analyzed to provide a basis for component selection for information handling systems by associating components with end user usage profiles. For example, a monitor tracks usage data at an end user information handling system and determines that the end user's usage falls within usage pattern defined by analysis of plural other end users. The end user is directed towards selection of components associate with the defined usage pattern to replace components of the information handling system or for use in a replacement information handling system. Analysis on an enterprise-wide basis helps an enterprise to allocate components and information handling systems to end users of an enterprise. |
| US08479021B2 |
Secure island computing system and method
A method for generating an n-bit result includes a secured containment device (SCD) receiving a request to generate the n-bit result. The request includes an n-bit generator input and a master secret identifier. The request is sent from an application executing on a host system using an input/output (I/O) interface. The SCD disables all I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD. After disabling all the I/O interfaces on the SCD between the host system and the SCD, the SCD provides the n-bit generator input and the master secret identifier to a secured hardware token over a second I/O interface, receives the n-bit result from the secured hardware token over the second I/O interface, enables at least the first I/O interface after the n-bit result is generated, and provides, after enabling the first I/O interface, the n-bit result to the application using the first I/O interface. |
| US08479016B2 |
Method and system for obfuscating a cryptographic function
A method of protecting an integrity of a data processing system. The method comprises determining (902) a data string to be protected, an integrity of the data string being an indication of the integrity of the data processing system. Computing (904) a set of parameters representing a predetermined data processing function, using a redundancy in the set of parameters to incorporate the data string into a bit representation of the set of parameters. Enabling (906) the system to process data according to the set of parameters. The set of parameters represents at least part of a cryptographic algorithm including a cryptographic key. The set of parameters represents a network of look-up tables. The network of look-up tables comprises a plurality of look-up tables of a white-box implementation of a data processing algorithm. The data processing algorithm comprises a cryptographic algorithm. |
| US08479014B1 |
Symmetric key based secure microprocessor and its applications
An embodiment of the present invention proposes a new secure microprocessor for software protection. The invention presents a secure microprocessor, which embeds a symmetric encryption/decryption hardware a symmetric key (Embedded Key), and a safe cache. The symmetric encryption/decryption is the same for all microprocessors, but the Embedded Key is unique for each microprocessor. |
| US08479011B2 |
Method and apparatus for using cryptographic mechanisms to provide access to a portable device using integrated authentication using another portable device
A method and system for providing authentication of a user to a first peripheral device connected to a host computer using an authentication of the user on a second peripheral device, thereby allowing the user access to both devices through a single authentication. A security function on the second peripheral device is used to create an authorization phrase. Subsequent accesses to the first peripheral device requires the second peripheral device to re-create the same authorization phrase thereby demonstrating that the same second peripheral device is being used to access the first peripheral device and that a user was successfully authenticated to the second peripheral device. Other systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US08479010B2 |
Detecting, capturing and processing valid login credentials
Successful logins are distinguished from unsuccessful logins, and only when a login is successful are the user's login credentials stored and associated with the appropriate login page. Attempts by a user to login to a login page with a set of login credentials are identified. It is determined whether an attempt to login to a given login page with a set of login credentials is successful. If the attempt by the user to login to the login page with the set of login credentials is successful, the set of login credentials can be stored and associated with the login page. If the attempt fails, the credentials are not saved. |
| US08479009B2 |
Wearable time-bracketed video authentication
A wearable video recording system with time-bracketed authentication is provided and includes a article, including a spine, wearable by a user, a recording device, supported on the spine, to generate a recording of a scene, an affecter subsystem, supported on the spine, to influence the scene being recorded with unpredictable data and an untrusted controller coupled to the recording device and the affecter subsystem, the untrusted controller being receptive of the unpredictable data, which the untrusted controller communicates to the affecter subsystem, and being configured to transmit at least hashed digests of the recording to one or more repositories. |
| US08479007B2 |
Document creation and authentication system
A method and system for creating and authenticating a document are disclosed. According to the method, a user of a document creation system is registered to ensure the creation of an authentic document. A document is then created having a user discernable portion and an encoded portion. The encoded portion includes identification data identifying the registered user of the document creation system; as well as contents data corresponding to at least part of the user discernable portion of the document, and authentication data. A central record of the document is created, the record comprising data which corresponds at least partially to the data in the encoded portion of the document. To authenticate the document subsequently, an image of the encoded portion of the document is acquired, for example using fax machine or a camera of a mobile telephone and transmitted to an authentication center. The data in the encoded portion of the document is extracted and the document is authenticated by comparing the extracted data with data in the respective central record. Preferably, the encoded portion of the document contains instructions relating to the authentication process for obtaining biometric data from the respective user of the document creation system. For example, the encoded portion of the document may comprise a password, and the document creator is contacted to generate a live voiceprint of the password to be compared with a stored voiceprint for verification purposes. A system for creating and authenticating a document by the above method are also disclosed. |
| US08479002B2 |
Electronic certificate issuance system, electronic certificate issuing device, communication device, and program therefor
An electronic certificate issuance system comprising at least one communication device, and an electronic certificate issuing device for issuing a set of an electronic certificate and a private key corresponding to the electronic certificate as a certification set for each of the at least one communication device, is provided. The electronic certificate issuing device includes a first connecting interface, an obtaining system, which is adapted to obtain a node ID assigned to each of the at least one communication device, a generating system, and a writing system. The at least one communication device includes a second connecting interface, a judging system, and an installing system. |
| US08479000B2 |
Information processing device, authentication system, authentication device, information processing method, information processing program, recording medium, and integrated circuit
The present invention provides an information processing device, an authentication system, etc. that save a server the trouble of updating a database, etc., even when a software module in a client device is updated, and that are capable of verifying whether software modules that have been started in the client device are valid. The terminal device A100 holds private keys 1 and 2, and performs authentication processing with the terminal device B101 using the private key 2. The private key 1 has been encrypted such that the private key 1 is decryptable only when secure boot is completed. The private key 2 has been encrypted such that the private key 2 is decryptable using the private key 1 only when the application module X that has been started is valid. When the authentication processing is successful, the terminal device B101 verifies that the terminal device A100 has completed secure boot and the application module X that has been started in the terminal device A100 is valid. Also, the terminal device B101 performs the authentication processing using the same private key 2, regardless of whether a program pertaining to the secure boot of the terminal device A100 is updated or not. |
| US08478999B2 |
Congestion management of session negotiations in network devices
A network device implements congestion management of sessions of a network protocol. In one implementation, an incoming request component receives session requests for a negotiation session between the network device and a second network device. A capacity pool stores a value relating to capacity of the network device to continue to efficiently process the session requests. New sessions are initiated when the value stored in the capacity pool is less than an estimate of the capacity of the network device at which the network device maximizes processor usage while minimizing session timeouts. |
| US08478998B2 |
Authenticated communication using a shared unpredictable secret
Systems, methods and computer readable media for authenticating one or more client devices (1) to a server (5). A shared unpredictable secret (50) is generated. The shared unpredictable secret (50) is stored in the client device (1) and in the server device (5). The client device (1) proves possession of the correct shared unpredictable secret (50) to the server (5). The shared unpredictable secret (50) is replaced by a new shared unpredictable secret (54) each time the client device (1) logs in to the server device (5). |
| US08478995B2 |
Method of encrypting and transferring data between a sender and a receiver using a network
A method of encrypting and transferring data between a sender and a receiver using a network thereby transferring data in a secure manner includes the steps of a server receiving from the sender an identifier of the receiver; generating a transfer specific encryption key specific to the transfer; encrypting the data using the generated transfer specific encryption key; the server retrieving information specific to the receiver that is accessed according to the identifier of the receiver received from the sender, and using the retrieved information specific to the receiver to encrypt the transfer specific encryption key; transferring the encrypted data and the encrypted transfer specific encryption key over the network for receipt by the receiver; the server receiving from the receiver the encrypted transfer specific encryption key and identifier of the receiver; the server retrieving information specific to the receiver that is accessed according to the identifier of the receiver received from the receiver, and using the retrieved information specific to the receiver to decrypt the encrypted transfer specific encryption key; and decrypting the encrypted data using the decrypted transfer specific encryption key. |
| US08478993B2 |
System and method for distributing and creating presentations
A slide customization system, comprising an administrator, wherein at least one information presentation is received at the administrator, at least one database, wherein the at least one information presentation is stored, a validator, wherein validation of the at least one information presentation is performed by the validator by validating the at least one information presentation with at least one validation attribute selected by the administrator from a plurality of validation attributes, and wherein the validation of the selected ones of the validation attributes against the at least one information presentation is stored to said at least one database, and a compiler. |
| US08478991B2 |
Management apparatus for managing wireless parameter, control method for the management apparatus, and computer program for instructing computer to execute the control method
A management apparatus for managing a wireless parameter is configured to obtain a certificate from a certificate authority by using a timing related to a setting processing based on a wireless parameter setting method as a trigger and send the obtained certificate to a wireless communication apparatus as well as the wireless parameter. |
| US08478990B2 |
Mobile transaction methods and devices with three-dimensional colorgram tokens
A transaction security process includes authentication and identification parts for pushing an encrypted colorgram for user authentication and persona descriptors for user identification from a transaction server to a first personal trusted device. A decryption of the colorgram is displayed on the first personal trusted device. An image is captured by a second personal trusted device. An encryption of the image captured from the second personal trusted device is uploaded to the transaction server. The persona descriptors are used to build a composite rendering for identification of the first user to the second user. The second user clicks “OK” if they recognize the composite drawing as a reasonable persona of the first user. |
| US08478989B2 |
Method and apparatus to authenticate and authorize user access to a system
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for authenticating a user. According to one embodiment, a request for authentication of a user is received via a secondary site, the request for authentication of the user including user information corresponding to the user. The user information is verified and, based on the verifying, a token associated with the user is generated, the token to be used to enable the secondary site to perform a task on the primary site on behalf of the user. The token is then transmitted to the secondary site. |
| US08478986B2 |
Reducing latency of split-terminated secure communication protocol sessions
A method is provided for establishing a split-terminated secure communication connection between a client and a server. A first network intermediary intercepts a secure communication connection request directed from the client to the server. A second intermediary having a digital certificate in the name of the server (and a corresponding private key) acts in place of the server to establish a first secure communication session with the client, during which it receives a secret from the client for generating the session key. The second intermediary supplies the secret and/or the session key to the first intermediary, which allows the first intermediary to establish follow-on secure communication sessions in which the secret is reused. The second intermediary may also supply the first intermediary with a copy of its certificate so that it can respond to new secure communication requests and, yet further, may also supply a copy of the private key. |
| US08478985B2 |
Determining whether to encrypt outbound traffic
An improved method, apparatus, and computer instructions for processing outbound traffic passing through a port. This port is for a server and receives a request from a client. The request includes a universal resource identifier to a destination. A determination is made as to whether the request requires encryption using the universal resource identifier in the request. The request is sent through the port to the destination in an encrypted form, in response to a determination that the request requires encryption. |
| US08478984B2 |
Data encryption apparatus, data decryption apparatus, data encryption method, data decryption method, and data relay apparatus
A RAID system includes a RAID controller that sends to a disc apparatus data to be encrypted by a data relay apparatus connected to the RAID controller and the disk apparatus. When receiving a data transfer request packet indicating a first receivable size, the data relay apparatus establishes a second receivable size that is equal to or greater than the first receivable size and that is a multiple of an encryption data size. When the RAID controller receives a data transfer request packet containing the established second receivable size, and in response to the data transfer request packet thus received, the data relay apparatus receives data of the second receivable size sent from the RAID controller. The data relay apparatus also encrypts the received data in units of the encryption data size, and then the encrypted data is sent to the disk apparatus in units of the first receivable size. |
| US08478983B2 |
Method and apparatus for preserving security in video multicasting service
A method and an apparatus for maintaining information security in a video multicasting service are provided. The method includes: generating a network abstraction layer unit using received video information; encrypting the network abstraction layer unit of the video information; realtime transport protocol (RTP) packetizing the encrypted network abstraction layer unit of the video information; recording unit format information and field information, included in the network abstraction layer of the video information being stored in a memory, in a header extension field of the RTP header; and transmitting the RTP packet including the encrypted video information to a routing device. |
| US08478980B2 |
System and method for defining programmable processing steps applied when protecting the data
Systems and methods for protecting data being sent between a client and a server include the capability of defining programmable processing steps that are applied by the server when protecting the data and the same steps are applied by the client when unprotecting the data. The programmable processing steps can be defined uniquely for each client, and the programmable processing steps are selected from a number of functions using sequencing data that defines the processing steps. The programmable processing steps allow for each client to process encrypted data in a different manner and the programmable processing steps are defined by what is called a digital rights management (DRM) Sequencing Key, and as such the system and method introduces a key-able DRM whereby each DRM message can be processed in a unique (or pseudo unique) manner. |
| US08478979B2 |
Disable a feature of a computing machine
Managing a computing machine including detecting a signal to disable a feature of the computing machine through an interface of the computing machine, identifying at least one component of the computing machine utilized by the feature in response to receiving the signal, and accessing a hardware switch corresponding to at least one of the identified components to disable the feature. |
| US08478977B1 |
Secure auto-migration program
A system and method for securely and automatically moving a resource, such as a server, between secure network environments include a secure auto-migration control program. The secure auto-migration program may automatically reconfigure a computing resource used in a first secure network environment to be used in a second secure network environment and logically move the computer resource from the first secure network environment to the second secure network environment. |
| US08478976B2 |
System and method of automated function activation for electronic devices
A system and method of storing a default function from among possible functions to be executed by a device, and executing the default function after a pre-defined interval, if during the interval a user does not respond to a notification of the upcoming execution of the default function, through the user's providing a signal of his desire not to execute the default function. |
| US08478970B2 |
Accessing value for local variable from function call stack upon offset matching with instruction extracted stack pointer offset or from cache
There is provided a method and apparatus for accessing a memory according to a processor instruction. The apparatus includes: a stack offset extractor extracting an offset value from a stack pointer offset indicating a local variable in the processor instruction; a local stack storage including a plurality of items, each of which is formed of an activation bit indicating whether each item is activated, an offset storing an offset value of a stack pointer, and an element storing a local variable value of the stack pointer; an offset comparator comparing the extracted offset value with an offset value of each item and determining whether an item corresponding to the extracted offset value is present in the local stack storage; and a stack access controller controlling a processor to access the local stack storage or a cache memory according to a determining result of the offset comparator. |
| US08478967B2 |
Automatically creating parallel iterative program code in a data flow program
System and method for automatically parallelizing iterative functionality in a data flow program. A data flow program is stored that includes a first data flow program portion, where the first data flow program portion is iterative. Program code implementing a plurality of second data flow program portions is automatically generated based on the first data flow program portion, where each of the second data flow program portions is configured to execute a respective one or more iterations. The plurality of second data flow program portions are configured to execute at least a portion of iterations concurrently during execution of the data flow program. Execution of the plurality of second data flow program portions is functionally equivalent to sequential execution of the iterations of the first data flow program portion. |
| US08478965B2 |
Cascaded accelerator functions
Accelerator functions are cascaded, such that a result of one accelerator function is directly forwarded to another accelerator function, bypassing the processor requesting the functions to be performed. The cascading may be provided during compilation of a program specifying the functions to be performed, but can be dynamically reversed during runtime of the program. |
| US08478961B2 |
Dynamic migration of virtual machines based on workload cache demand profiling
A computer-implemented method comprises obtaining a cache hit ratio for each of a plurality of virtual machines, and identifying, from among the plurality of virtual machines, a first virtual machine having a cache hit ratio that is less than a threshold ratio. The identified first virtual machine is then migrated from the first physical server having a first cache size to a second physical server having a second cache size that is greater than the first cache size. Optionally, a virtual machine having a cache hit ratio that is less than a threshold ratio is identified on a class-specific basis, such as for L1 cache, L2 cache and L3 cache. |
| US08478960B2 |
Information processing apparatus and memory protection method
A memory protection method of dividing the address space of a memory into two or more protection regions, and protecting the memory from an unauthorized access to a protection region by a program includes a definition step of defining the relation between protection regions, a determination step of, when the relation between the protection regions is an inclusion relation, determining that an included protection region cannot directly access an including protection region and the including protection region can directly access the included protection region, and a step of, when an access to the protection region determined to be able to be directly accessed is requested, permitting a direct access to the protection region determined to be able to be directly accessed, and prohibiting a direct access to the protection region determined to be unable to be directly accessed. |
| US08478958B2 |
Method and apparatus for de-duplication after mirror operation
De-duplication operations are applied to mirror volumes. Data stored to a first volume is mirrored to a second volume. The second volume is a virtual volume having a plurality of logical addresses, such that segments of physical storage capacity are allocated for a specified logical address as needed when data is stored to the specified logical address. A de-duplication operation is carried out on the second volume following a split from the first volume. A particular segment of the second volume is identified as having data that is the same as another segment in the second volume or in the same consistency group. A link is created from the particular segment to the other segment and the particular segment is released from the second volume. |
| US08478955B1 |
Virtualized consistency group using more than one data protection appliance
In one aspect, a method includes forming a virtualized grid consistency group to replicate logical units, running a first grid copy on a first data protection appliance (DPA), running a second grid copy on a second DPA, splitting to the first DPA IOs intended for a first subset of the logical units and splitting to the second DPA IOs intended for a second subset of the logical units different from the first subset of logical units. |
| US08478952B1 |
Flexible optimized group-based backups
Data indicating a plurality of groups into which data to be accessed from one or more storage media has been divided is received. For each of at least a subset of the groups a parallelization limit for that group is received. A first parallelization limit for a first group in the subset is not necessarily same as a second parallelization limit for a second group in the subset. |
| US08478937B2 |
Method and apparatus for dispersed storage memory device utilization
A method begins by a processing module receiving data for storage. The method continues with the processing module determining storage metadata regarding the data the method continues with the processing module. The method continues with the processing module determining memory device capabilities based on the storage metadata. The method continues with the processing module identifying memory devices based on the memory device capabilities to produce identified memory devices. The method continues with the processing module encoding the data into a plurality of data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal function. The method continues with the processing module storing the plurality of data slices in the identified memory devices. |
| US08478936B1 |
Spin down of storage resources in an object addressable storage system
Aspects of the invention relate to spin down of storage devices on an object addressable storage (OAS) system. One or more of the storage devices in object addressable storage system may be spun down to achieve a power savings, while other storage devices in the OAS system remain in an active state. |
| US08478933B2 |
Systems and methods for performing deduplicated data processing on tape
A method, computer management apparatus, and computer program product are provided for processing data stored on a sequential storage media within a computational computing environment. A block reference table and most often read blocks are loaded from a modified tape format of a sequential storage media into an internal memory of a sequential storage media device. During write command processing, a data deduplication procedure is performed using a modified block reference table. It is determined if entries from the block reference table must be deleted and responsive to this identifying and deleting host block and device block entries from the block reference table. |
| US08478928B2 |
Data storage device and information processing system incorporating data storage device
A data storage device comprises a plurality of memory devices and a memory controller. The memory controller exchanges data with the memory devices via a plurality of channels. The memory controller decodes an external command to generate a driving power mode and accesses the memory devices according to the driving power mode. |
| US08478925B2 |
Communication device, television receiver, and reproduction device
A communication device includes: a wireless communication unit configured to perform data transmission and receiving with another communication device via a wireless network; and a communication control unit electrically connected with the wireless communication unit via a media independent interface (MII) bus and configured to control the wireless communication unit using a management data input-output/management data clock (MDIO/MDC) included in the MII bus. |
| US08478922B2 |
Controlling a rate at which adapter interruption requests are processed
The conditions under which adapter interruptions are made pending are controlled. Responsive to an interruption being presented to an operating system, subsequent interruptions are suppressed on all central processing units in the configuration. The operating system processes the interruption, including examining and processing indicators of reported events until the operating system discontinues the suppression. This enables the operating system to control the number of pending interruptions and the number of processors processing those interruptions. |
| US08478921B2 |
Communication apparatus implementing time domain isolation with restricted bus access
A communication apparatus includes a radio frequency circuit that operates on a radio frequency signal and a digital processing circuit coupled to the radio frequency circuit. The digital processing circuit includes a plurality of bus masters coupled to a shared bus. A bus arbiter is provided for arbitrating between requests to access the bus by a first bus master and one or more other bus masters. Accesses by the one or more other bus masters to the bus are restricted in response to a signal indicative of a change in a mode of operation of the RF circuit. In one particular implementation, a communication apparatus employs time domain isolation wherein the digital processing circuit may be placed in a shutdown mode when the radio frequency circuit is active. |
| US08478919B2 |
Method and system for controlling the admission of a storage means to a peripheral bus of a data reproduction system
It is an object of the invention to ensure the reliable and flawless operation of a storage means that is connected to a data reproduction system. This object will be met by a method for controlling the admission of a storage means to a peripheral bus of a data reproduction system, wherein a storage means is connected to the peripheral bus of a data reproduction system, the read latency of the storage means is determined, and it is decided based on the determined read latency whether the storage means is admitted to the peripheral bus or rejected. The latency for read requests from the storage means, for instance a USB mass storage device, will be analyzed on first insertion and the results of this analysis will be used to carry out a compatibility check of the storage means with the data reproduction system, for example a car audio system. |
| US08478906B2 |
Wireless device address book updates
A system for maintaining an address book, wherein the address book includes a plurality of entries with each entry containing contact information and wherein address book updates are transmitted over a wireless network. The system includes a gateway for storing the address book and transmitting the address book updates to a wireless device. |
| US08478903B2 |
Shared content delivery infrastructure
A system in which a plurality of content providers provide multiple resources to multiple clients, wherein each content provider provides at least some resources via one or more content sources associated with that content provider. A client requests a resource from a content provider, where the resources includes references to other resources of the content provider. Referenced resources are served to requesting clients from a shared content delivery network (CDN) formed from a plurality of servers distinct from content sources associated with said content providers. The content sources may be origin servers associated with the respective content providers. The referenced resources may be video content, audio content, text, image content, web pages, HTML files, XML files, files in a markup language, documents, hypertext documents, data files, and embedded resources. |
| US08478901B1 |
Methods and systems for robot cloud computing using slug trails
A method includes receiving a first request for a first robot to perform a first task and processing the first request through first and second computing resources to identify instructions for the first robot to perform the first task. The method also includes providing the one or more instructions to the first robot and identifying information associated with the second computing resource, wherein such information includes environmental information related to a location where the first task is to be performed. The method further includes associating the identified information with the first computing resource, receiving a second request for a second robot to perform a second task, processing the second request through the first computing resource, accessing the information associated with the first computing resource, and, based upon the accessed information, providing instructions to the second robot to perform the second task. |
| US08478900B2 |
Determining misconnection of an electronic device to a network device using zone information
Connection of an electronic device to a particular port of the network device is detected. It is determined based on zone information whether a misconnection has occurred. The zone information defines plural zones. |
| US08478899B2 |
Managing communications with global applications through message handlers
A system, apparatus, and method are directed towards managing communications with global applications through message handlers. The message is received by a first message handler that is local to the client device. The first message handler determines if the message is to be forwarded to a global application, and if so, forwards the message to a second message handler, which is configured to be local to the global application. The second message handler forwards the message and receives a response from the global application. The second message handler may then generate a session identifier that is useable to manage its session data for the message/response. The session identifier is sent to the first message handler in lieu of sending the session data, such that the two message handlers manage separately their own session data for the session. The session identifier is useable to relate the separately managed session data sets. |
| US08478898B2 |
System and method for routing directory service operations in a directory service network
A system and method are provided for routing directory service operations in a directory service network. A router may be included in a directory service network. The router may include a server knowledge list that maintains information about one or more directory servers in the directory service network. Directory service operations may be received by the router and may be routed to an appropriate directory server based on availability one or more of the directory servers. |
| US08478894B2 |
Web application response cloaking
Method and system for centralized control of data transfers between a Web client and a Web application by receiving a response from the Web application. After determining an offending character is present, cloaking the response from the Web application to a request from a Web client, and sending the cloaked response to the Web client through a security product which otherwise rejects the offending character. |
| US08478892B2 |
Session initiation protocol (SIP) overload protection
A device receives a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) response that includes a load header associated with a downstream Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device. The device also determines an amount of traffic to send to the downstream Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device based on the load header. The device further sends the determined amount of traffic to the downstream Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) device. |
| US08478889B2 |
Real-time mining and reduction of streamed data
A stream data node receives real-time streamed data from one or more input devices, dynamically filters the streamed data to reduce the streamed data, and delivers the reduced data when requested. By providing real-time filtering of the data, the amount of data that must be stored in a database may be substantially reduced. The stream data node can perform aggregation functions, group functions, and select functions, thereby also significantly reducing the amount of data that must be stored in a database. The stream data node may also be part of a query execution data structure, where it delivers its data when requested by another node in the query execution data structure. |
| US08478886B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimization of SIGCOMP UDVM performance
A mobile communication system that utilizes multiple access technologies achieves multiple session registrations by deriving a plurality of extended unique device identifications from a specific unique device identification (e.g., private user identification (PIID) stored on a subscriber identity module (SIM)) assigned to a user equipment. Each of the plurality of extended unique device identifications have the benefit of allowing multiple registrations with one or more access networks while allowing a home subscriber system to detect the one unique device identification embedded in the extended unique device identifications for authentication purposes. Thereby, a large population of deployed UEs and access network infrastructure may benefit without replacement by allowing a UE to maintain session continuity when transitioning between access networks, to select a preferred access technology when in overlapping coverage areas without session interruption, or to maintain multiple sessions (e.g., simultaneous Voice over IP (VoIP) and media streaming) with different access networks. |
| US08478885B2 |
Image photographic apparatus
An image photographic apparatus which includes an information recording medium capable of communicating by use of a communication protocol and recording an image of a subject, and is configured to function as a server to transmit the image of the subject stored in the information recording medium to a client connected to a network by establishing communication based on a request for communication start from the client, the image photographic apparatus including a detection device to detect the request for communication start from the client, a display unit to display other client who transmits a request for communication start based on detection results of the detection device, and a selection-input device to select and input whether allowing communication to the other client transmitting the request for communication start based on the display of the display unit. |
| US08478884B2 |
Wireless remote device management utilizing mesh topology
Disclosed is an end-to-end wireless solution for accessing, monitoring, and controlling remote devices, such as critical server systems, utilizing a mesh topology scheme via a short range, high throughput wireless connection. The present invention provides superior propagation in a multi-path environment as well as a low-power, non-intrusive solution to remotely access and control of a variety of devices. Further, the present invention enables portable management of the remote devices connected within the system. |
| US08478880B2 |
Device profile-based media management
A server configured to provide media to devices remote from the server is configured to provide different media to different devices at substantially a same time. The is server configured to recognize a device that requests media. The server is configured to automatically set a resolution at which a media is provided to the device based on the recognition of the device. |
| US08478876B2 |
System and method for dynamic management and distribution of data in a data network
A dynamic data management and distribution system to interact with network computing devices of a user is provided. The user has memory allocated in the system. The system includes an ingest module for automatically uploading content from every network computing device and storing the content in the memory allocated to the user. Further, the system includes a sourcing module to retrieve information from user subscribed external information management services and storing the information in the allocated memory. The system includes a share module to share data with one or more users from a contact list of the user. Data includes part or whole of the information and content. The system also includes a self adaptive module, for proactively transferring data to one or more users from the contact list of the user based on the past behavior of the user. |
| US08478871B2 |
Gateway registry methods and systems
A gateway device for managing a set of two or more local management devices at a location. A system for networks at a plurality of locations. A method of operating a gateway device in a control network. A method for storing information to operate a gateway device in a control network. A method for storing information to operate a replacement gateway device in a control network. |
| US08478868B2 |
Stagnant visitor management for engagement progression on web sites
A method and system for customizing web sites for visitor to increase the likelihood a visitor becomes deepens the relationship with the web site or becomes a customer is disclosed. A progression level design defines levels and conditions for moving between those levels. At each level, the web site is customized in predetermined ways commensurate with that level. Information on the visitor is gathered to evaluate their level and possibly upgrade or downgrade that level. Reports detail flow of visitors between levels for various time periods. Where that flow is not desired, the progression level design can be changed by adding, removing or changing levels and conditions. |
| US08478866B2 |
Device management apparatus, control method, and storage medium
A device management apparatus that enables an information obtaining apparatus to obtain device information from a device management apparatus connected to a first network other than a second network to which the information obtaining apparatus is connected, and manage devices. A communication protocol that can be used by the information obtaining apparatus is extracted from a device information obtaining request from the information obtaining apparatus. When a device connected to the first network is not operating using the communication protocol and is able to activate the communication protocol, the device is requested to activate the communication protocol. When the communication protocol has been successfully activated, and it is necessary to change access settings for the device, the device is requested to change the access settings. When the access settings have been successfully changed, a response concerning device information is created and sent to the information obtaining apparatus. |
| US08478865B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for matching a connection request with a network interface adapted for use with a dispersed data storage network
A gateway module translates access requests from client computers into commands for a plurality of slice servers storing data for a dispersed data storage network. The gateway program maintains a plurality of gateway modules, each providing a different access protocol to the dispersed data storage network, and each also maintaining one or more virtual storage vaults. |
| US08478864B1 |
Topology for showing data protection activity
Systems, methods, apparatus and software can provide visualization of the topology of a data protection system. Various devices making up the data protection system are displayed using graphical user interface elements such as icons. The display of the devices making up the data protection system illustrates the topology of the data protection system, connections among various system devices, device status information, device activity information, and/or device configuration information. |
| US08478857B2 |
Method and system for content categorization
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for content categorization, where the method comprises transmitting, by a content categorization request entity, a categorization ability negotiation request to a content categorization providing entity to request the categorization ability of the content categorization providing entity; receiving the categorization capability of the content categorization providing entity returned by the content categorization providing entity. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention disclose a system for content categorization, content categorization request entity and content categorization providing entity. Categorization ability negotiation or subscription helps to learn the content categorization ability so that the content categorization request entity or content categorization providing entity may mutually and accurately acquire content categorization capability information without delay. |
| US08478856B2 |
Method for transporting digital media
A networked system is provided for transporting digital media packets, such as audio and video. The network includes network devices interconnected to send and receive packets. Each network device can receive and transmit media signals from media devices. A master clock generates a system time signal that the network devices use, together with a network time protocol to generate a local clock signal synchronised to the system time signal for both rate and offset. The local clock signal governs both the rate and offset of the received or transmitted media signals. The system, which can be implemented using conventional network equipment enables media signals to be transported to meet quality and timing requirements for high quality audio and video reproduction. |
| US08478855B1 |
Application control translation
Disclosed are various embodiments that facilitate translation of application controls. An application is executed in a hosted environment that virtualizes a first input device for the application. A video signal generated by the application is encoded into a media stream, which is sent to another computing device. Input data that is generated in a second input device of the other computing device is obtained from the other computing device. A translated form of the input data is provided to the application through the first input device. |
| US08478852B1 |
Policy realization framework of a communications network
Various systems and methods for providing a policy realization framework for a communications network are disclosed. The policy realization framework can be an application and service layer policy framework that is separate and distinct from the network layer policy framework. As such, policy decisions can be made remote from the network layer, and common policies across multiple networks are possible. Methods and systems for providing these and other features are disclosed. |
| US08478850B2 |
Platform component architecture (PCA)-based system, method and application designer
An event management system, comprising a server comprising a platform component architecture (PCA) and a software engine, wherein the PCA is configured to provide runtime discovery and display of system components. The system also comprises a data source for storing user define data objects and applications; at least one system component; and at least one client for administering and monitoring user-defined events, wherein the PCA provides a common interface between the server, the data source, and the at least one client. |
| US08478847B2 |
Blocking a selected port prior to installation of an application
An installer application implemented in a computational device receives a command to install a test application in the computational device. The installer application determines whether a selected port of a plurality of ports of the computational device is to be blocked prior to installing the test application in the computational device. In response to determining that the selected port is to be blocked prior to installing the test application in the computational device, the installer application blocks the selected port, installs the test application by binding a socket to the selected port of the plurality of ports, and tests functions of the test application by executing one or more code paths of the test application, in response to installing the test application. |
| US08478844B2 |
Forming a security network including integrated security system components and network devices
An integrated security system is described that integrates broadband and mobile access and control with conventional security systems and premise devices to provide a tri-mode security network (broadband, cellular/GSM, POTS access) that enables users to remotely stay connected to their premises. The integrated security system, while delivering remote premise monitoring and control functionality to conventional monitored premise protection, complements existing premise protection equipment. The integrated security system integrates into the premise network and couples wirelessly with the conventional security panel, enabling broadband access to premise security systems. Automation devices (cameras, lamp modules, thermostats, etc.) can be added, enabling users to remotely see live video and/or pictures and control home devices via their personal web portal or webpage, mobile phone, and/or other remote client device. Users can also receive notifications via email or text message when happenings occur, or do not occur, in their home. |
| US08478843B1 |
Templates with static parameter caching
Techniques, including systems and methods, for providing content utilize templates. As part of providing content to clients, templates and arguments for the templates are provided to clients. The clients themselves receive the templates and arguments for the templates and instantiate the templates. Templates and arguments for templates may each be cached by clients and/or servers for efficient future use. |
| US08478842B2 |
Data communication in a picture archiving and communications system network
A method and system for accessing a data file is provided. At a server computer a request for accessing a data file of a plurality of data files stored in a database is received. The server computer is connected to the database via a first communication link and a second communication link. Metadata associated with the data file in the database are accessed via the first communication link using a first query protocol. In dependence upon the metadata the data file is located in the database. At least a portion of data stored in the data file is then accessed in the database via the second communication link using a second query protocol. |
| US08478838B2 |
System and method for using a same program on a local system and a remote system
A system and method implemented in a Customer Information Control System (CICS) Application configured to process information residing on remote systems and display such information on a local system, using a same program residing on both the remote system(s) and the local system. The method includes, for example, sending programming functions of a local system with a request for information to a remote system. The method further includes processing the programming functions of the local system with the request for information on the remote system to obtain updated information from the remote system. The updated information is sent to the local system for display. |
| US08478835B2 |
Method and system for using shared memory with optimized data flow to improve input/output throughout and latency
The data path in a network storage system is streamlined by sharing a memory among multiple functional modules (e.g., N-module and D-module) of a storage server that facilitates symmetric access to data from multiple clients. The shared memory stores data from clients or storage devices to facilitate communication of data between clients and storage devices and/or between functional modules, and reduces redundant copies necessary for data transport. It reduces latency and improves throughput efficiencies by minimizing data copies and using hardware assisted mechanisms such as DMA directly from host bus adapters over an interconnection, e.g. switched PCI-e “network”. This scheme is well suited for a “SAN array” architecture, but also can be applied to NAS protocols or in a unified protocol-agnostic storage system. The storage system can provide a range of configurations ranging from dual module to many modules with redundant switched fabrics for I/O, CPU, memory, and disk connectivity. |
| US08478834B2 |
Low latency, high bandwidth data communications between compute nodes in a parallel computer
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for data transfers between nodes in a parallel computer that include: receiving, by an origin DMA on an origin node, a buffer identifier for a buffer containing data for transfer to a target node; sending, by the origin DMA to the target node, a RTS message; transferring, by the origin DMA, a data portion to the target node using a memory FIFO operation that specifies one end of the buffer from which to begin transferring the data; receiving, by the origin DMA, an acknowledgement of the RTS message from the target node; and transferring, by the origin DMA in response to receiving the acknowledgement, any remaining data portion to the target node using a direct put operation that specifies the other end of the buffer from which to begin transferring the data, including initiating the direct put operation without invoking an origin processing core. |
| US08478832B2 |
Checking destination email addresses against historical address information
An email, which includes a header and historical information, is created. The header comprises a destination email address, which comprises a name of an addressed recipient of the email and a domain name of the destination email address. The historical information in the email comprises an approved address for a previously exchanged email with the addressed recipient. The first approved address is compared to a corresponding portion of the first destination email address. In response to the corresponding portion of the first destination email address being different from the first approved address as stored in the storage unit, a warning is outputted. The warning comprises both the approved address, and an unapproved address list that comprises the first destination email address. |
| US08478829B2 |
Asynchronous real-time retrieval of data
A data retrieval system includes a gateway server and an access client. The gateway server is communicatively connected to the access client through a network. The gateway server provides a presentation service (PS) and a real-time service (RTS), which cooperate with the access client to retrieve data from a data store and then provide the retrieved data to a user's remote communication device. More particularly, when a user wishes to retrieve data from the data store or to send data to the data store, the user establishes a communication connection between his or her remote communication device and the gateway server, and then requests the desired data from the gateway server. In response, the gateway server sends a command to the access client, instructing it to retrieve the requested data. The access client retrieves the requested data from the data store, and returns the retrieved data to the gateway server. The gateway server then relays the requested information back to the user's remote communication device. |
| US08478828B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for inter-diameter-message processor routing
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for routing Diameter messages. The method includes steps occurring at a Diameter signaling router (DSR) comprising a plurality of Diameter message processors. The method also includes receiving, by a first of the plurality of Diameter message processors and from a first Diameter node, a Diameter message, wherein the Diameter message is received via a first Diameter connection. The method further includes determining, by the first Diameter message processor, a next-hop Diameter node for the Diameter message. The method further includes communicating, by the first of the plurality of Diameter message processors and to a second of the plurality of Diameter message processors, the Diameter message. The method further includes communicating, by the second Diameter message processor and to the next-hop Diameter node, the Diameter message, wherein the Diameter message is communicated via a second Diameter connection. |
| US08478827B1 |
Digital media resource messaging
A digital media resource messaging system provides a convenient digital media resource viewing, managing, organizing, and editing platform that facilitates enhanced resource exchange by storing and forwarding digital media resources via a server between multiple resource-sharing partners designated by the user. In one embodiment, the digital media resource messaging system includes services to view, manage, organize, edit, and exchange digital images and video sequences. |
| US08478825B2 |
Method and arrangment in a communication system for delivering messages to a recipient
The described messaging arrangement for delivering communication messages to recipients in a communication system comprises a number of messaging servers (201-204), a common message store (205) and a dispatcher (206). The messaging servers (201-204) are able to receive a message destined to a recipient, to store the message in the common message store and to inform the dispatcher of the received message that has been stored in the common message store. The dispatcher is then arranged to decide which messaging server to invoke for delivery of the message to the recipient. This decision could be made based on delivery preferences of the recipient. Thereafter, the dispatcher invokes the messaging server that has been decided to deliver the message, and the decided messaging server retrieves and delivers the message to the recipient. If necessary, the decided messaging server adapts the message to a message type handled by the decided messaging server. By this solution, a recipient could receive the message in any preferred message type, regardless of originating message type. Also, this arrangement makes it easier for an operator to integrate new messaging technologies handling new message types in the system. |
| US08478823B2 |
Selective data forwarding storage
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for selective data forwarding storage. A method includes, in a network of interconnected computer system nodes, receiving a request from a source system to store data, the request comprising an ownership and a data type, if the ownership and the data type match a corresponding entry in a store, directing the data to a computer memory, and continuously forwarding the data from one computer memory to another computer memory in the network of interconnected computer system nodes without storing on any physical storage device in the network. |
| US08478821B2 |
Network membership management for peer-to-peer networking
A network membership management protocol manages membership in a peer-to-peer networking environment. To join the peer-to-peer network, a new client is introduces itself to a deputy node assigned by the server to act as a point of contact for the new client. The deputy node forwards subscription requests to other neighboring nodes which probabilistically determine whether to accept the subscription request from the new client or forward the message to other neighboring nodes. In this way, a new client gains connections to a random subset of nodes on the network. The membership management protocol further includes a protocol for reassigning neighboring relationships between nodes when an active node leaves the network. Furthermore, the membership management protocol allows nodes to periodically re-subscribe to the network in order to rebalance the network graph. |
| US08478820B2 |
Methods and systems for service discovery management in peer-to-peer networks
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and an apparatus for managing and optimizing service discovery in a peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless network. Nodes of the P2P network advertise their capabilities to their peers in the form of services. Efficient propagation and management of node's services to other nodes is proposed in the present disclosure. |
| US08478813B2 |
Transparent migration of endpoint
Architecture that facilitates the capture of connection state of a connection established between a client and an intermediate server and forwards the state to one or more target servers. A software component at the target server (as well as the intermediate server) uses this connection state to reply back to the client directly, thereby bypassing the intermediate server. All packets from the client related to the request are received at the intermediate server and then forwarded to the target server. The migration can be accomplished without any change in the client operating system and client applications, without assistance from a gateway device such as a load balancer or the network, without duplication of all packets between the multiple servers, and without changes to the transport layer stack of the intermediate and target servers. |
| US08478811B2 |
Advanced processor with credit based scheme for optimal packet flow in a multi-processor system on a chip
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for optimal packet flow in a multi-processor system on a chip. In operation, a credit is allocated for each of a plurality of agents coupled to a messaging network, the allocating including reserving one or more entries in a receive queue of at least one of the plurality of agents. Additionally, a first credit is decremented in response to a first agent sending a message to a second agent, the plurality of agents including the first and second agents. Furthermore, one of the first credit or a second credit is incremented in response to a signal from the second agent. |
| US08478807B2 |
Digital signal-processing structure and methodology featuring engine-instantiated, wave-digital-filter componentry, and fabrication thereof
Digital signal-processing structure and methodology which feature a time-slice-based digital fabricating engine, and software operating structure operatively associated with that engine structured to operate the engine in a time-slice-based fabrication mode wherein the engine, in a time-differentiated and instantiating manner, functions to fabricate a time-succession of individual, composite wave digital filters. Each of these filters takes the form of (1) a concatenated assembly including one to a plurality of upstream, early-stage, decimate-by-two, signal-processing agencies connected in a cascade series arrangement, with each such agency possessing a first transfer function having a first transition bandwidth, and (2) a single, downstream, later-stage, decimate-by-two, signal-processing agency which possesses a second transfer function having a transition bandwidth which is less than the mentioned first transition bandwidth. |
| US08478804B2 |
Memory compression
Exemplary embodiments comprise memory for storing the look-up table values. One exemplary memory comprises a decoder, an encoder, and one or more patterns of crisscrossed interconnect lines that interconnect the encoder with the decoder. The patterns of crisscrossed interconnection lines may be implemented on one or more planar layers of conductor tracks vertically interleaved with isolating material. |
| US08478802B2 |
Organization system for distributed items
An item grouping mechanism may be applied to files or other computer objects to allow the files or objects to be accessed according to the group definition. The group definition may be defined in a table with other group definitions and distributed across an organization so that each device using the group definition may have files or other items presented in a consistent manner. The group definition may be distributed through a different mechanism than for the files or other items. If a device determines that a file defined in the group definition is missing from a local store, the device may retrieve the file from a distribution server. |
| US08478799B2 |
Namespace file system accessing an object store
Method and apparatus for providing a digitally signed file system wherein a namespace file system accesses an object store in which data, metadata and files are objects, each object having a globally unique and content-derived fingerprint and wherein object references are mapped by the fingerprints; the file system has a root object comprising a mapping of all object fingerprints in the file system, such that a change to the file system results in a change in the root object, and tracking changes in the root object provides a history of file system activity. |
| US08478790B2 |
Mechanism for co-located data placement in a parallel elastic database management system
A database management system implemented in a cloud computing environment. Operational nodes are assigned as controller-nodes, compute-nodes or storage-nodes. The number of operational nodes, and their assignment as compute-nodes or storage-nodes can vary. Queries specify tables, with each such table assigned to a respective group of storage nodes. The number of operational nodes executing a given query may change by (a) changing the compute-nodegroup associated with a connection, or (b) adding or removing nodes from the compute-nodegroup; and/or distributing data from the tables among the nodes in a storage nodegroup. State information is maintained for each client connection, such that steps are executed assuming that the state exists. State changes are recorded during step execution for a given connection, so that subsequent steps from the same connection are executed with the state as left by a prior step, and so that subsequent queries on the same connection are executed with the state as left by the prior query. |
| US08478787B2 |
Name detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for name detection. A method includes generating a raw name detection model using a collection of family names and an annotated corpus including a collection of n-grams. The method includes applying the raw name detection model to a collection of semi-structured data to form annotated semi-structured data identifying n-grams identifying names and n-grams not identifying names and applying the raw name detection model to a large unannotated corpus to form a large annotated corpus data identifying n-grams of the large unannotated corpus identifying names and n-grams not identifying names. The method includes generating a name detection model, including deriving a name model using the annotated semi-structured data identifying names and the large annotated corpus data identifying names, deriving a not-name model using the semi-structured data not identifying names, and deriving a language model using the large annotated corpus. |
| US08478782B1 |
System, method and computer program product for sharing tenant information utilizing a multi-tenant on-demand database service
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for sharing tenant information utilizing a multi-tenant on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for sharing tenant information utilizing a multi-tenant on-demand database service can allow automatic sharing of information owned by a first tenant with other tenants of the multi-tenant on-demand database service. In this way, collaboration among tenants of the multi-tenant on-demand database service may be enabled via the sharing of the tenant information. |
| US08478778B2 |
Techniques for automatically provisioning a database over a wide area network
Techniques for provisioning databases for users on a wide area network such as the Internet include a first party managing one or more database systems. Second parties subscribe to database services supported by the managed database systems. The first party provides, over a network, to database applications of the second parties, access to database services to which the second parties are subscribed. The database systems may use database appliances hosting both database process(es), and non-database process(es) tailored to the needs of the database process(es). A user is therefore able to obtain database resources from an Internet Database Service Provider (IDSP) without incurring the full costs of database administrator(s), dedicated database equipment facilit(ies), or even dedicated database device(s), depending on usage. Meanwhile, the IDSP incurs minimum staffing loads because of self-service tools. Costing model and automatic billing are also described. |
| US08478773B1 |
Interpreting search queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for interpreting search queries. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a search query. The method also selects a disambiguated interpretation of the search query based on analysis of stored search queries and analysis of stored responses of users having a similar characteristic as the user that initiated the search query. The method also provides a set of the search results. The set is selected based on the disambiguated interpretation of the search query. |
| US08478771B2 |
Systems and methods related to a temporal log structure database
In one general aspect, a computer-implemented method includes a computer-implemented method that includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The method includes receiving a request to insert a data record within a database of a data collection system. The data record can be placed within a buffer in a main memory of the data collection system. A record data structure and a record index structure associated with the data record are defined. The record data structure and the record index structure are stored within a storage chunk in a storage medium of the database, and the storage medium is different than the main memory. The storage chunk has an associated index that can be used to retrieve the data record and the storage chunk can include other data records different than the data record associated with the received request. |
| US08478769B2 |
Conversational question generation system adapted for an insurance claim processing system
A conversational question generation system dynamically generates conversational questions for insurance claim processing. The conversational question generation system includes various modules and graphical user interfaces that provide a streamlined mechanism for creating new conversational questions for insurance claim processing. The conversational question generation system may include various levels of usability that distinguish between a question programmer of the conversational question generation system and an insurance claim agent that uses the created conversational questions. In generating conversational questions, the conversational question generation system may include graphical user interfaces directed to the question details, the answer details, the question text, or other aspects of the conversational questions. |
| US08478767B2 |
Systems and methods for generating enhanced screenshots
Systems and methods for generating and providing enhanced screenshots may include executing instructions stored in memory to evaluate at least a portion of a viewing frustum generated by the instructions to determine one or more objects included therein, obtain metadata associated with the one or more objects, and generate at least one enhanced screenshot indicative of the at least a portion of the viewing frustum by associating the metadata of each of the one or more objects with a location of each of the one or more objects within the at least one enhanced screenshot to create hotspots indicative of each of the one or more objects such that selection at least one hotspot by a computing system causes at least a portion of the metadata associated with the at least one hotspot to be displayed on a display device of a computing system. |
| US08478765B2 |
Method and system for compiling a multi-source database of composite investor-specific data records with no disclosure of investor identity
A system and method are disclosed for compiling a database of investor-related data by gathering and linking customer-specific data records from multiple unaffiliated financial institutions, where such data records are coded in such a manner that the database compiler is enabled to link, across data providers and/or time periods, data records that pertain to the same investor without being provided any information that reveals the identity of any investor. |
| US08478754B2 |
Method and system for personality comparison via public consensus
A method and system of comparing data sets related to personality traits to identify various comparison results are disclosed. The method and system include determining, by a processing device, a plurality of data sets. The data sets include information related to a self-evaluation report for a first user based upon the first user's answers to a set of questions. The data sets also include information related to anonymous, aggregated data received from other users. The first user may select a context for performing a comparison of two or more of the data sets, including a self-evaluation report, an aggregated public perception of the first user, or an aggregated public perception of another user. The system performs the comparison to produce comparison results. The comparison results provide the first user with information related to their individual personality and/or information related to an existing or potential relationship between the first user and another user. |
| US08478752B2 |
Methods of accessing a navigation database
A navigation database comprises a first set of elements comprising airports, beacons and waypoints; a second set of elements comprising procedures; and a third set of elements comprising routes. The method comprises a step of creating a pair of indices comprising an index comprising the elements of the three sets; identifier, a type and a functional identifier; a first list of pointers to the memory address where the elements are stored; a pre-index comprising a list of code, each code corresponding to the first characters of each element, the codes being indexed by a family of attributes of elements; a second list of pointers to the identifier of the first element in the first index. |
| US08478743B2 |
Asynchronous transfer of state information between continuous query plans
Described herein are technologies pertaining to migrating state information of operators in a first continuous query plan to a second continuous query plan in an asynchronous manner, such that the first continuous query plan need not cease executing during the migrating of the state information. State information pertaining to stateful operators, such as join operators, is migrated from the first continuous query plan to the second continuous query plan by way of a transformation plan. State matching is utilized to generate the transformation plan. |
| US08478741B2 |
Autonomic refresh of a materialized query table in a computer database
A method autonomically refreshes a materialized query table (MQT) in a computer database to improve database performance and utility. In preferred embodiments, the query optimizer autonomically initiates a refresh of MQT depending on an estimated time for the query to access the base tables. In other preferred embodiments, the query optimizer estimates the time for the query to access the base tables and compares it to the estimated time to refresh the MQT to determine whether to refresh the MQT and run the query over the MQT rather than the base tables. |
| US08478739B1 |
Universal query search results
Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to generate a universal query result set from several different search index result sets by including identifications of items from the different search index result sets in an accurate manner. After a query has been submitted, search index result sets are received from several different search indexes, an allocation score for each search index is computed and a universal item score for the top-level item identified in each search index is computed. The method then combines the allocation score and the universal item score for the top level item for each search index result set and adds the item with the highest combined score to the universal query result set. |
| US08478738B2 |
Object deallocation system and method
A method, apparatus and program product deallocate an object from a memory heap in a virtual machine environment by, in part, determining that the object is replaceable using an object reference associated with the object. The object may additionally be automatically determined as being properly removable by using a value indicative of a number of object references associated with the object. Where these conditions are met, the object may be removed from the memory heap. Where a new object can fit into a space within the memory from which the object was removed, the new object may be automatically allocated into the space. The object may be designated as being replaceable using automated or manual processes. A garbage collector algorithm may additionally execute, as needed. |
| US08478737B2 |
Segmentation of search topics in query logs
A system identifies the tasks that a user is attempting to perform when submitting a series of search queries. A task may be categorized hierarchically into a mission and a goal in order to classify a series of queries and determine the user's intent. The user's mission may be an extended task and the user's goal may be a specific task. A pair of queries may be analyzed to determine whether those queries have the same mission and/or the same goal. For a series of queries, boundaries may be identified between the queries to identify where a user has changed her goal or changed her mission. The identification of goals, missions and boundaries may be automated based on an analysis of features of the queries that are compared. |
| US08478735B1 |
Method and system for ranking results and providing lists of experts from social networks
There is described a method and system for obtaining ranked search results including names of experts who are members of a social network and presenting the ranked search results to a user performing a search from a user interface of a user device. The user is registered on the social network and has connections thereon. The method comprises: indexing data representative of activities of the members on the social network to produce indexed activity data; receiving a search query relative to a subject along with a user identifier from the user device; using the search query and the user identifier, ranking members from the user's connections based on their activities on the social network related to the subject to obtain ranked experts for the subject; returning the names of ranked experts for the subject to the user device for presentation on the user interface. |
| US08478732B1 |
Database aliasing in information access system
A method of database aliasing is provided. A method for aliasing a collection of data includes extracting names and associated terms from the collection of data, generating normalized text from the names and associated terms, parsing the normalized text in conjunction with a grammar to produce meaning fragments and mapping the meaning fragments to a collection of concepts. |
| US08478730B2 |
Scalable deduplication system with small blocks
For scalable data deduplication working with small data chunks in a computing environment, for each of the small data chunks, a signature is generated based on a combination of a representation of characters that appear in the small data chunks with a representation of frequencies of the small data chunks. The signature is used to help in selecting the data to be deduplicated. |
| US08478728B2 |
Online dating with private support groups
Various embodiments of computer systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for sharing information in an online dating platform. One embodiment is an online dating computer system comprising a server, an online dating matching component, and a dater support component. The server is configured to communicate with one or more computing devices via a communication network. The server comprises a processor and a memory. The online dating matching component and the dater support component are embodied in the memory and executed by the processor. The online dating matching component is configured to provide a matching service for online dater data and further configured to enable communications among online dater profiles established in memory. The dater support component is configured to provide dating assistance to profiles of online daters, via the online dating computer system, from messages originating from a dater support group associated with the online dater, the dater support group comprising one or more invited supporters. |
| US08478726B2 |
Parallel database backup and restore
Embodiments are directed to simultaneously backing up data from multiple locations to a single location and to restoring data from a single location to multiple locations simultaneously. In an embodiment, a computer system receives a backup command from a user which indicates that various specified portions of data are to be backed up. The data portions are stored in multiple different locations in a parallel database. The computer system generates multiple backup commands specific for each location in which the data is stored. The backup commands initiate a parallel backup from the various locations to a single location in a data store. The computer system also executes the generated backup commands in parallel, so that the data from each of the different locations is backed up in the data store. |
| US08478724B2 |
Information life cycle management system, information management server apparatus, information media controlling apparatus and program
According to one embodiment, even when the information media controlling apparatus which requests replication registration of electronic data and the information media controlling apparatus which acquires a child management file generated by replication registration are separate apparatuses, the information management server apparatus registers a child management ID of electronic data and a post office box ID of the acquisition destination of a child management file, in the post office box management table based on replication registration request information received from one information media controlling apparatus, and has the other information media controlling apparatus which is the acquisition destination acquire the child management file based on the post office box management table. |
| US08478722B2 |
Enterprise level business information networking for changes in a database
Systems, apparatus, and methods for implementing enterprise level social and business information networking are provided. Users can receive relevant information about a database system and its users at an appropriate time. Users can then use this relevant information to reduce errors and limit redundant efforts. For example, an update of a record in the database can be identified, and a story created automatically about the update and sent to the users that are following the record. Which updates have stories created and which stories are to be sent to which users can be configured. Other events besides updating of records can also be tracked. For example, actions of a user that result in an event can be tracked, where such tracking can also be configurable. Subscriptions to follow an object can be automatic, and access checks can be used to ensure that unauthorized users do not see certain data. |
| US08478721B2 |
Synchronization of recurring time-scheduled data objects between incompatible databases
Methods, apparatus and computer program products for storing a recurring time-scheduled data record in a calendaring application that does not support a pattern of recurrence of the record are described herein. The method includes the steps of: 1) receiving from a server, the recurring time-scheduled data record having a first recurrence pattern; 2) determining whether the first recurrence pattern is supported by the calendaring application; 3) if the pattern is not supported, then selecting a closest recurrence pattern supported by the calendaring application; 4) modifying the selected closest recurrence pattern by applying recurrence exceptions to create a second recurrence pattern; 5) modifying the recurring time-scheduled data record based on the second recurrence pattern to create a supported record; and 6) transferring the supported record to the calendaring application. |
| US08478716B2 |
Proximity-based people matching system and method
A people matching system and method matches people in accordance with inferences of mutual interests, location, and/or proximity. Suggested matches may also be based on factors such as mobility inferences and environmental conditions. Inferences of mutual interests may be based on behavioral information. Explanations for the suggested matches may be delivered to users, including behavioral information on which the suggested matches are based. |
| US08478714B2 |
Integrated distribution management system channel adapter
Disclosed are various embodiments for communicating with an integrated distribution management system (IDMS). An IDMS often employs a communications protocol that is incompatible with a service oriented architecture. Accordingly, embodiments of the disclosure can allow utility computing systems in a service oriented architecture or in a messaging based environment to communicate with an IDMS. |
| US08478709B2 |
Evaluation of client status for likelihood of churn
System, including method, apparatus, and computer-readable media, for evaluating client status for a likelihood of churn. Client data may be received, with the client data representing events from a set of different event types performed by clients. Parameters of a statistical model that describes client behavior may be estimated using a computer and based on the client data. A churn type of event may be encoded in the statistical model as an absorbing state of a stochastic process, with a time of transition to the absorbing state modeled as being infinite. At least one of the parameters may correspond to the churn type of event. A likelihood of churn may be calculated for a plurality of the clients at one or more time points using the statistical model and its estimated parameters. |
| US08478707B1 |
System and method for reducing flow rules in forwarding tables
An initial rule set in a table, such as a packet forwarding table, including a plurality of rules each having a key, an action, and a priority, may be reduced to a reduced rule set. Such reduction may include identifying relationships among the plurality of rules in the initial rule set, reassigning priority to each rule in the initial rule set based on its action and the identified relationships, duplicating all rules from each priority into each lower priority to produce an expanded rule set, and for each priority, replacing one or more of the rules with fewer inclusive rules, thereby producing a reduced rule set. Reduction may further include determining whether to perform additional rule processing on the reduced rule set, removing any redundant rules from the reduced rule set, converting any of the rules meeting a predetermined condition into don't care rules, and for each priority, replacing one or more of the rules in the reduced rule set with fewer inclusive rules. |
| US08478701B2 |
Locating a user based on aggregated tweet content associated with a location
A user submitting a query from a computer at an unknown location is located using a language model. The language model is derived from an aggregation of tweets that were sent from known locations. |
| US08478700B2 |
Opportunity identification and forecasting for search engine optimization
A method of optimizing placement of references to an entity includes identifying at least search term to be optimized, determining a score for results of a search of a network with respect to the entity, determining costs associated with improving the score, and determining values associated with improving the score. |
| US08478693B1 |
Framework for specifying access to protected content
A determination is made regarding whether a user is allowed to access a content item. The content item is associated with a website. An offer associated with the website is identified. The offer includes a set of use-time rules specifying time periods during which the offer can be used to access content. A use-time rule is associated with a user class. A class of the user with respect to the offer is determined. The user's class indicates whether the user has accepted the offer or whether the user has registered with the website. A determination is made regarding whether the user is allowed to access the content item based on the offer, the user's class, and a current timestamp. |
| US08478692B2 |
Systems and methods for geographic location notifications of payment transactions
A method and system for providing geographic location notifications of payment transactions is disclosed. One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including receiving an authorization request message associated with a transaction, the transaction associated with a portable consumer device and an access device at a merchant. A geographic location of the transaction is determined. It is determined whether a notification message indicating that the transaction is occurring is required. Upon determining that the notification message is required, the notification message is sent to a notification device operated by a consumer and the notification device receives the notification message substantially simultaneously with the merchant's receipt of an authorization response message. A graphical depiction of the notification message is displayed on a map on the notification device. |
| US08478690B2 |
Special maturity ASR recalculated timing
An system for and method of repurchasing stock is presented. The system and method improve upon prior art techniques by limiting risk to an investment bank that enables an accelerated stock repurchase. More particularly, such risk is reduced in the event that the repurchasing company announces higher than expected dividends on the stock during the term of the accelerated repurchase transaction. |
| US08478689B1 |
Debit card processing
In a payment terminal that includes a processor and a memory, a request is received to process a transaction using a payment card, the request specifying a transaction amount. It is determined whether the payment card is a debit card or a credit card. If the payment card is a debit card, a service fee to be added to the transaction amount is determined and added to the transaction amount. A request is sent to a payment processor to approve the transaction. If the transaction is approved, the transaction is processed such that a charge in the amount of the transaction amount plus the service fee is associated with the payment card. |
| US08478684B2 |
Fuel offering and purchase management system
The present disclosure is directed to facilitating pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity. In one embodiment, a Fuel Offer Generator facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. A customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator determines which metrics are relevant to pricing the fuel offering and then employs those determined metrics to establish the pricing of fuel offerings. |
| US08478683B2 |
Fuel offering and purchase management system
The present disclosure is directed to facilitating pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity. In one embodiment, a Fuel Offer Generator facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. A customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. The Fuel Offer Generator determines which metrics are relevant to pricing the fuel offering and then employs those determined metrics to establish the pricing of fuel offerings. |
| US08478680B2 |
High speed processing of financial information using FPGA devices
A high speed apparatus and method for processing financial instrument order books are disclosed. With respect to an exemplary embodiment, a reconfigurable logic device is employed to (1) process streaming financial market data, the streaming financial market data comprising a plurality of messages representative of a plurality of offers to buy and sell a plurality of financial instruments, and (2) maintain in real-time a plurality of financial instrument order books based on the messages. |
| US08478679B2 |
System and method for managing initial or variation margin via custody
In various embodiments, a computerized system and method manages custody and mitigates counterparty credit risk exposure associated with a trade of a financial instrument. A custodian computer system is established that receives an initial margin payment from a pledgor and electronically posts the initial margin payment in a custody account record maintained in the database. A control agreement is established between the pledgor and a secured party with agreement details stored in the database. The dual-custody control agreement gives control of the custody account to the pledgor if the secured party defaults on trade obligations, and gives control of the custody account to the secured party if the pledgor defaults on trade obligations. During the life of the trade, the custodian may invest a current margin deposit in the custody account directly through the network into one or more investment vehicles to achieve a greater return. |
| US08478677B2 |
System for intelligent search agent to access data in a distributed network
A commercial search agent (CSA) is used to access data in a distributed communications system. An initial search request constitutes a buyer's first search query at sellers' commercial database network. Analytical agents and seller promotions are used to inform the CSA, while negotiation commences after the initial RFQ. CSA's may be informed by analytical agents. |
| US08478675B1 |
Systems and methods to rebalance portfolios of securities
A system and associated method if provided for rebalancing a client's portfolio of securities. A client device is provided with a client interface that is configured to receive a client's rebalance order which includes fraction shares. A host server is coupled to the client device and executes logic resources for carrying out transactions for a client. A pricing engine and an inventory account are included. A targets engine determines a target number of long and shorted shares of a security to be held by the inventory account. A trading engine that is configured to process a client's rebalance order of a client's portfolio. The client receives a list of current positions, selects a share-weighted portfolio, chooses an alternate weighting, and decides to: (i) add funds, (ii) remove funds or (iii) rebalance the share-weighted portfolio. |
| US08478670B2 |
Method and system for determining which mortgage choice is best for a consumer
A method and system for selecting a preferred debt instrument (e.g., mortgage) for an individual consumer, where the option adjusted spreads (OAS) and risk measures of a plurality of debt instruments are determined and ranked using standard bond valuation methodology. A typical scenario involves a consumer inputting a plurality of mortgages and associated features (e.g., term of loan or type of interest rate) and receiving the option adjusted spread and risk measure for each mortgage, from which the consumer may select the appropriate mortgage having the lowest option adjusted spread within his or her risk tolerance. These steps can be implemented by a computer which includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a computer code operatively associated with the CPU. The relative option adjusted spreads and risk measures of various debt instruments can be displayed on a visual display or used to automatically commence the financing of a mortgage. |
| US08478668B2 |
Hierarchical entitlement system with integrated inheritance and limit checks
A hierarchical entitlement system with integrated inheritance and limit checks is described. In one embodiment, for example, a computer-implemented method is described for specifying and enforcing entitlements for performance of financial transactions, the method comprises steps of: providing a hierarchical entitlement structure with inheritance for specifying entitlements for performing financial transactions; receiving user input for defining a plurality of entitlement groups of the hierarchical entitlement structure, wherein each entitlement group has specified permissions to perform financial transactions, limits on performance of the financial transactions, and membership of each user; in response to a particular user request to perform a financial transaction at runtime, identifying the particular user's membership in a certain entitlement group; and determining whether to allow the particular user to perform the financial transaction based on permissions and limits of the hierarchical entitlement structure applicable to the particular user's performance of the financial transaction. |
| US08478667B2 |
Automated device provisioning and activation
Methods and systems are disclosed for monitoring traffic associated with an end-user device communicatively coupled to a network system over a wireless access network, identifying in the traffic particular data transfers within a service activity category, determining a service usage measure based on the identification of the particular data transfers within the service activity category, and, based at least in part on the service usage measure, generating a notification configured to assist in causing a user interface of the end-user device to present device-specific service usage information. |
| US08478663B2 |
Fit recommendation via collaborative inference
Some embodiments of the invention provide techniques for recommending a size of a subject item to fit a subject consumer. In some embodiments, clusters of consumers with fit characteristics similar to the subject consumer are identified, using one or more data clustering algorithms, based on any of numerous consumer attributes (e.g., self-reported and/or inferred height, weight, body shape, body characteristics, and/or purchase histories (e.g., consumers with high overlap in terms of sets of products purchased)). Information on other consumers in the cluster may be analyzed to draw conclusions on how different sizes of the subject item may fit the subject consumer. For example, the purchase history of other members of the cluster may be analyzed to determine whether other members purchased a particular size of the item, and if so, the size purchased by the other members may serve as a basis to recommend a size that may best fit the consumer. For example, if other members of the cluster purchased a particular size, then that size may be recommended to the subject consumer, or if other members of the cluster purchased and then returned a particular size (e.g., for being too small), then another (e.g., larger) size may be recommended to the subject consumer. |
| US08478656B2 |
Systems and methods for a centralized gift registry with upload and merge of a retailer-specific registry
Systems and methods for that allow for the creation and management of a centralized gift registry are described. A retailer-specific registry is imported into the centralized gift registry. A gift list is created and displayed. Gift givers may select a gift from the gift list of the centralized gift registry. In one embodiment, when a purchase of a gift occurs, the gift list is updated. Updates to gifts are sent between the centralized gift registry and the retailer-specific registries, such that the gifts common to these registries are synchronized. This synchronization may involve the use of APIs at the centralized gift registry or the retailer-specific registries. The centralized gift registry system automatically searches for all retailer-specific registries pertaining to the gift registrant. The centralized gift registry system may request a retailer's system for information on gift items of a respective retailer-specific registry. |
| US08478654B2 |
Information providing device, method, and system
A device executes a program including a process stored in a storage device. The process includes obtaining possessed product information of a possessed product of a user, and usage status information which indicates usage of the possessed product, the process product information being based on a request from the user device, obtaining first product information corresponding to the obtained possessed product information and a second product information of a comparison target product, the first product information and the second product information including a content of the possessed product and the comparison target described in a plurality of items, respectively, extracting a prescribed item from among the items of the first product information and second product information based on the obtained usage status information, and transmitting the content based on the content of the first product information and second product information corresponding to the extracted item to the user device. |
| US08478653B1 |
Tax-free gifting
A method includes receiving, from a computing device of a first party, a request to purchase a gift for a second party, identifying a location of the second party, determining whether a taxing authority of the second party's location imposes a tax on a purchase associated with redemption of the gift or a tax on the receipt of the gift, determining an amount of the tax imposed, generating a payment request for the gift including adding the amount of the tax to a cost of the gift, and transmitting the payment request to the computing device of the first party in response to the request to purchase the gift so that the first party has an option to pay the tax imposed based on the second party's location. |
| US08478649B2 |
Systems and methods for creation of structured order items during availability check
Methods and systems are provided for creating and managing structured order items. In one embodiment, a method is provided for creating and managing structured order items according to a customer order within a supply chain management system, wherein the customer order specifies a plurality of products and required quantities thereof. The method comprises the steps of checking availability of the required quantity of the products, and comparing the available quantity of the products with the ordered quantity of the products. The method further comprises replacing the ordered product by a variant product, if the available quantity of the product does not correspond to the ordered quantity of the product, the variant product comprising a plurality of replacement products. Additionally, the method includes creating structured order items according to the variant product, and updating the customer order to replace the ordered product with the structured order items. |
| US08478646B2 |
Providing targeted content to users based on user interests
Methods for targeting content based on user interests. A graphical user interface may be provided to a first user. A plurality of interest categories may be displayed to the first user through the graphical user interface. An indication of a first category selected from the plurality of interest categories may be received from the first user. Upon receiving the indication of the first category, a plurality of sub-categories of the first interest category may be displayed to the first user through the graphical user interface. Additionally, an indication of at least one selected sub-category chosen from the plurality of sub-categories may be received from the first user. A first plurality of content items based on the at least one selected sub-category may be selected. The first plurality of content items may be provided to the first user through the user interface. |
| US08478644B1 |
Optimizing placement and delivery of advertisements
The efficient allocation of advertisements, also known as creatives, on one or more web sites is provided for while ensuring that guarantees to advertisers are honored. In one embodiment, a linear program solver allocates creatives to advertising slots according to an optimizing function designed to maximize revenue for the site. The linear program solver takes as input a set of creatives, creative performance data, constraints, and slot identifiers. The output of the linear program solver is an optimized schedule not violative of any of the input constraints. |
| US08478643B1 |
Optimal pricing and advertisement slot allocation
An allocation subsystem allocates advertisement slots based on cumulative demand of the advertisement slots. The cumulative demand can be based on a softened demand curve for advertisers that have submitted bids for allocation of the advertisement slot. The demand curves can be adjusted to regulate a variance of the advertisers spend rate throughout a budget period. |
| US08478641B2 |
Managing advertising services for mobile devices and users
This description provides tools and techniques for managing advertising services for mobile devices and users. These tools may provide methods that include establishing advertising databases for storing representations of geographic areas. These methods may include receiving bids from advertisers, with these bids referencing keywords and the geographic areas. The advertisers specified in the bids may be associated with the keywords and geographic areas specified in the bids, such that when a user of a mobile communications device activates the keyword within a geographic area, the mobile device received advertising information associated with the advertiser. |
| US08478640B2 |
System and method for using a card linked to a reward point exchange account for purchase transactions
A system and method for operating a reward points accumulation and redemption program wherein a user earns rewards from a plurality of independent reward issuing entities, with each tracking the user's earned rewards. A trading server accumulates some or all of the user's earned rewards from the reward servers and credits the accumulated rewards into a single reward exchange account associated with the user. The user may then select an item for purchase with the accumulated rewards. The item is provided to the user in exchange for a subset or all of the rewards. Reward points may also be redeemed in exchange for services, such as the playing of a video game or Internet access. |
| US08478639B2 |
System and method for a multiple merchant stored value card
The loyalty system allows a consumer to accumulate general loyalty points from one or more merchants, and convert any desired subset of general points to loyalty dollars associated with a specific merchant. The system stores, for each consumer, the merchant loyalty dollars (or monetary equivalent) by merchant within a remotely-accessible host database or within a smart card database. Upon conducting a purchase at a particular merchant, the consumer may utilize a code key to facilitate access to the consumer's own loyalty dollars for the particular merchant. The loyalty dollars are then applied to the purchase transaction as a discount or rebate. The consumer may also re-load the merchant loyalty dollar accounts. |
| US08478636B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a personal “get out the vote drive” software application
A method and apparatus for a software tool that interfaces with a campaign's Field Operations and allows for voter education, motivation and getting voters out to vote is presented. The software tool incorporates a number of voter informational data fields to provide users of the software with a Voter Score, Voter Scorecard, Post-Election Voter History, Household Visualization, Voter Support Visualization, Household Mailing Labels, E-Mail Voter Footer, and Voter List of Friends and Family. |
| US08478635B2 |
Ticket approval methods of performing quality control in underground facility locate and marking operations
Methods for overseeing and assessing a locate and marking operation. A ticket is received including ticket information regarding the operation, and a first locate technician is dispatched to perform the operation pursuant to the ticket information. A locate manifest is received that includes at least one digital image associated with a dig area in which the locate technician performed the operation. The locate manifest is compared to the ticket information, and a determination is made if the operation is 1) satisfactory, 2) unsatisfactory and requires further quality control assessment and/or at least partial re-performance, or 3) satisfactory but the first locate technician requires coaching. One or more electronic indications of one of 1), 2) and 3) are provided so as to generate an electronic record of a quality assessment of the locate and marking operation. |
| US08478634B2 |
Rehabilitation of underperforming service centers
This disclosure provides apparatus and methods for rehabilitating an underperforming service center operated by an entity. The service center may be included in a plurality of service centers. A service center may be characterized as underperforming based on a calculated health score. The health score may be based on a technology malfunction that occurred at the service center. The health score may be based on an intensity score. The health score may be based on an incident count. The health score may be based on a network count. The health score may be compared to a threshold. If the health score is below the threshold, the service center may be characterized as underperforming. A service center characterized as underperforming may be included in a chronic list. The chronic list may be mined for patterns characteristic of an underperforming service center. |
| US08478633B2 |
Method and apparatus of on demand business activity management using business performance management loops
An architecture, system, and method are provided for a commitment loop solution for on demand business activity management. A Business Performance Management (BPM) loop is defined as a set of nodes each relating to different tasks for processing performance management trigger data generated by a business entity in real time, where the beginning or sensing element of the loop is triggered by a token (representing a business event from a business process) and the ending or executing element provides a business action to be implemented by the business entity. The token is passed from node to node sequentially in a particular order around the loop. Processing of the data represented by the token is governed by policies, which can be changed dynamically and follow a life cycle. On demand business activity management of larger aggregates of business entities (i.e. enterprises and value chains) is achieved by extending this architecture by building upon the BPM loops of the component entities to form a BPM net, adding nodes as necessary. This architecture, system and method can be implemented at multiple levels of granularity from operational or tactical business activities to enterprise wide strategic activities. |
| US08478626B2 |
Systems, methods, and software for managing programs, projects, and various aspects thereof
Systems, methods and software applications for managing programs, projects, and various aspects thereof. A program may include a number of related aspects, such as, assets, contracts, projects, entities, and funding sources. Users may select one or more projects to be grouped as a program. The systems, methods, and software may use a program management application that is configured to provide users with tools for effectively managing programs and projects that may be fully or partially funded from one or more funding sources. |
| US08478625B2 |
Method for operating a gas storage power plant
The present invention relates to a method for operating a gas storage power plant (1) with at least two turbines (3), with at least two compressors (2) and with at least one gas reservoir (4). The compressors (2) are activated for charging the gas reservoir (4) and are at the same time driven by at least one electric motor (7). The turbines (3) are activated for discharging the gas reservoir (4) and at the same time drive at least one generator (12). In order to improve the operating profitability of the gas storage power plant (1), the number of instantaneously activated compressors (2) and/or turbines (3) depends on the current price at the particular time. |
| US08478622B2 |
System and method for scheduling conference resources
The present invention relates to managing and scheduling videoconferences. It introduces a novel mechanism for scheduling a virtual resource connected to an individual or a group of individuals. The virtual resource is associated to one or more conference systems in a conference management system, and an entity representing the virtual re-source is displayed in a conventional resource planning application (e.g. Microsoft Outlook) allowing a user to investigate if the virtual resource, i.e. at least one of the conference systems, is free or busy. The user is then able to schedule a conference with the resource by a familiar scheduling interface, and without having to know with which alternative conference systems the individual or group of individuals connected to the virtual resource is associated. |
| US08478618B2 |
Compensation data prediction
A method of predicting compensation data includes obtaining compensation data, associated with a job category, with at least one datum being associated with each of a plurality of characteristics associated with the job category, determining values of factors, associated with respective ones of the characteristics, and a base value that when used as operands of a function yield estimates of the obtained data such that relationships between the estimates and corresponding obtained compensation data satisfy at least one criterion, and using a portion of the values of factors and the base value by a computer to automatically obtain estimates of compensation data. |
| US08478617B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating alerts on a locate device, based on comparing electronic locate information to facilities map information and/or other image information
A locate device for a locate operation to detect a presence or an absence of one or more underground facilities is configured to access and display facilities map information, and/or other image information, as a visual aid to facilitate the locate operation. In various aspects, methods and apparatus relate to: selection of an appropriate “base” facilities map, or information from a database of facilities map data, relating to a given work site/dig area; selection of an appropriate pan and/or zoom (resolution) for displaying facilities map information; appropriately updating displayed facilities map information while a locate device is used during a locate operation (e.g. changing pan, zoom and/or orientation); overlaying on the displayed facilities map information locate information and/or landmark information relating to the locate operation; and storing locally on the locate device, and/or transmitting from the locate device, facilities map information and/or overlaid locate/landmark information (e.g., for further processing, analysis and/or subsequent display). In one aspect, a location at which an indication of detection of a facility is generated is compared to a location of a facility line as indicated by the facilities map information/image information, and an alert is generated based on the comparison. |
| US08478616B2 |
Business application development and execution environment
A business application development environment and a corresponding business application execution environment is disclosed. A graphical user interface based Workflow Designer allows a user to easily create business applications graphically. The business applications are converted into the Business Process Modeling Language (BPML). Existing BPML applications may also be edited with the graphical user interface BMPL designer of the present invention. Created business applications (that are represented in BPML) can then be hosted on any XML based web services server system. Business applications generally operate on business objects. The objects allow for fields to include functions that combine other fields. Once an application has been designed, the BPML code may be executed using a BPML execution engine. The BPML execution engine executes the BPML based applications. One embodiment interprets BPML applications with an interpreter in the execution engine. Another embodiment compiles the BPML applications into directly executable code. |
| US08478613B2 |
System and method for providing and displaying dynamic coverage recommendations
A dynamic computer system assists users in selecting insurance coverage types and levels appropriate for their present financial circumstances. The computer system includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with dynamic sliders representative of a user's financial data. The system accesses third party data to validate and enrich coverage determinations. |
| US08478611B2 |
System and method for clinical strategy for therapeutic pharmacies
A system and method of distributing pharmaceutical prescriptions within a network of pharmacies based on the review of prescription claim data and patient medical state to enable stratification of patients, wherein each pharmacy within the network has been established to handle one or more particular patient medical states. |
| US08478610B2 |
Medical imaging device quality control system and method
A method in a computer system is provided for managing medical imaging devices quality control information. In particular, a method and corresponding computer devices are described for evaluating stored quality control test plan data for each of the one or more medical imaging devices being managed on an evaluation date. |
| US08478605B2 |
Appropriateness of a medication therapy regimen
A method of determining the appropriateness of a medication therapy regimen detects and reduces gaps occurring between established standards of treatment and treatment provided to a person through a medication therapy regimen. Methods of determining the appropriateness of a medication or medication therapy regimen and intervention thereof are provided herein. The methods of determining the appropriateness of a medication and intervention include receiving information on a medication for the person, receiving treatment guidelines for treating a chronic medical condition, determining a level of compliance between the medication and the treatment guidelines, and intervening in a medical treatment of the person if the medication does not comply with the one or more treatment guidelines. |
| US08478603B2 |
Method and system for monitoring and reporting to an operator greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle
A method and system for monitoring greenhouse gas emission from a vehicle. The vehicle is monitored for greenhouse gas emission, which includes identifying a running total of greenhouse gas emitted by the vehicle into an external environment that is external to the vehicle and activating a payment triggering condition when the emission exceeds the expected total. Satisfaction of a payment triggering condition that triggers collection of a required payment pertaining to the identified running total of greenhouse gas emitted is detected. Responsive to detecting the satisfaction of the payment triggering condition the required payment is computed as a function of the stored running total of greenhouse gas emitted. |
| US08478601B2 |
Voice recognition apparatus, method for recognizing voice, and navigation apparatus having the same
A voice recognition apparatus includes: a voice input element for inputting voice of an user; a voice pattern memory for storing multiple voice patterns respectively corresponding to multiple phrases; a voice recognition element for calculating a similarity degree between the voice and each voice pattern and determining the highest similarity degree so that one voice pattern corresponding to the highest similarity degree is recognized as the voice; a display for displaying a recognition result corresponding to the one voice pattern; an execution determination element for executing a process according to the one voice pattern when a predetermined operation is input by the user; a load estimation element for estimating a load of the user; and a display controller for controlling the display based on a positive correlation between the load and display repetition of the recognition result on the display. |
| US08478599B2 |
Method and apparatus to determine and use audience affinity and aptitude
An embodiment of the present invention is a method of presenting a media work which includes: detecting media work content properties in a portion of the media work; associating a presentation rate of the portion with the detected media work content properties; and presenting the portion at the presentation rate; wherein the media work content properties include one or more of: (a) indicia of a number of syllables in utterances; (b) indicia of a number of letters in a word; (c) indicia of the complexity of grammatical structures in portions of the media work; (d) indicia of arrival rate of newly presented objects; (e) indicia of temporal proximity of between events in portions of the media work or (f) indicia of number of phonemes per unit of time in portions of the media work. |
| US08478595B2 |
Fundamental frequency pattern generation apparatus and fundamental frequency pattern generation method
A fundamental frequency pattern generation apparatus includes a first storage including representative vectors each corresponding to a prosodic control unit and having a section for changing the number of phonemes, a second storage unit including a rule to select a vector corresponding to an input context, a selection unit configured to select a vector from the representative vectors by applying the rule to the context and output the selected vector, a calculation unit configured to calculate an expansion/contraction ratio of the section of the selected vector in a time-axis direction based on a designated value for a specific feature amount related to a length of a fundamental frequency pattern to be generated, the designated value of the feature amount being required of the fundamental frequency pattern to be generated, and an expansion/contraction unit configured to expand/contract the selected vector based on the expansion/contraction ratio to generate the fundamental frequency pattern. |
| US08478594B2 |
Systems and methods for automatically determining culture-based behavior in customer service interactions
Systems and methods are provided to automatically determine culture-based behavioral tendencies and preferences of individuals in the context of customer service interactions. For example, systems and methods are provided to process natural language dialog input of an individual to detect linguistic features indicative of individualistic and collectivistic behavioral tendencies and predict whether such individual will be cooperative or uncooperative with automated customer service. |
| US08478593B2 |
Enhanced accuracy for speech recognition grammars
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for recognizing speech. A method embodiment comprises comparing received speech with a precompiled grammar based on a database and if the received speech matches data in the precompiled grammar then returning a result based on the matched data. If the received speech does not match data in the precompiled grammar, then dynamically compiling a new grammar based only on new data added to the database after the compiling of the precompiled grammar. The database may comprise a directory of names. |
| US08478590B2 |
Word-level correction of speech input
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for correcting words in transcribed text including receiving speech audio data from a microphone. The method further includes sending the speech audio data to a transcription system. The method further includes receiving a word lattice transcribed from the speech audio data by the transcription system. The method further includes presenting one or more transcribed words from the word lattice. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the presented transcribed words. The method further includes presenting one or more alternate words from the word lattice for the selected transcribed word. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the alternate words. The method further includes replacing the selected transcribed word in the presented transcribed words with the selected alternate word. |
| US08478589B2 |
Library of existing spoken dialog data for use in generating new natural language spoken dialog systems
A machine-readable medium may include a group of reusable components for building a spoken dialog system. The reusable components may include a group of previously collected audible utterances. A machine-implemented method to build a library of reusable components for use in building a natural language spoken dialog system may include storing a dataset in a database. The dataset may include a group of reusable components for building a spoken dialog system. The reusable components may further include a group of previously collected audible utterances. A second method may include storing at least one set of data. Each one of the at least one set of data may include ones of the reusable components associated with audible data collected during a different collection phase. |
| US08478587B2 |
Voice analysis device, voice analysis method, voice analysis program, and system integration circuit
A sound analysis device comprises: a sound parameter calculation unit operable to acquire an audio signal and calculate a sound parameter for each of partial audio signals, the partial audio signals each being the acquired audio signal in a unit of time; a category determination unit operable to determine, from among a plurality of environmental sound categories, which environmental sound category each of the partial audio signals belongs to, based on a corresponding one of the calculated sound parameters; a section setting unit operable to sequentially set judgement target sections on a time axis as time elapses, each of the judgment target sections including two or more of the units of time, the two or more of the units of time being consecutive; and an environment judgment unit operable to judge, based on a number of partial audio signals in each environmental sound category determined in at least a most recent judgment target section, an environment that surrounds the sound analysis device in at least the most recent judgment target section. |
| US08478584B1 |
Method and system for domain-optimized semantic tagging and task execution using task classification encoding
A method and system for performing a task in a natural language processing system. The method includes processing text to obtain a numerical encoding, where the text includes a number of entities, where at least one of the entities is tagged with the numerical encoding, and where the text is derived from an utterance. The method further includes determining that the numerical encoding identifies a task, determining a variable required to complete the task using the numerical encoding, and generating a first dialogue sentence to obtain a variable value for the variable, where the variable is associated with a second numerical encoding, where the second numerical encoding includes the numerical encoding. The method further includes transmitting the first dialogue sentence to a user device, receiving the variable value for the variable in response to the first dialogue sentence, and performing the task using the variable value. |
| US08478583B2 |
Computer system with second translator for vehicle parts
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for automation of auditing claims. Data indicative of an insurance company name is received, the data comprising one or more words. The data is processed through one or more processing steps to generate processed data comprising one or more processed words. One or more candidate word strings are selected based on the one or more processed words. Matching information is associated with each of the one or more candidate word strings. Analysis information is generated for each of the one or more candidate word strings based on the associated matching information. An insurance company identifier is associated with received data based on the analysis information and one or more matching rules. |
| US08478575B1 |
Automatic anomaly detection for HW debug
A method for identifying an anomaly in an electronic system includes receiving, from a computer-readable storage medium, a plurality of entries from a successful simulation test of the electronic system, each of the plurality of entries including information about simulation time. The method also includes, with one or more computer processors, determining time sequence relationship between pairs of entries selected from the plurality of entries and identifying allowable sequences of entries using information related to the first plurality of entries and the time sequence relationship. The method includes receiving a second plurality of entries from a failed simulation test of the electronic system, each of the second plurality of entries including information about simulation time. The method includes analyzing the second plurality of entries and identifying one or more anomalies in the electronic system based on the analysis of the failed simulation test. |
| US08478574B2 |
Tracking array data contents across three-valued read and write operations
A mechanism is provided in an integrated circuit simulator for tracking array data contents across three-value read and write operations. The mechanism accounts for write operations with data values and address values having X symbols. The mechanism performs writes to a tree data structure that is used to store the three-valued contents to the array. The simulator includes functionality for updating the array contents for a three-valued write and to read data for a three-valued read. The simulator also includes optimizations for dynamically reducing the size of the data structure when possible in order to save memory in the logic simulator. |
| US08478572B2 |
Method and system for processing and displaying sheet-metal-forming simulation parameters
In a method for the numerical simulation of sheet-metal-forming processes, forming simulation parameters are visually displayed by: maintaining active values of the simulation-program-control parameters and standard values of the parameters that can be, used as a reference; determining a status of each parameter as being “noncompliant” if and only if the active value of the parameter is not equal to the standard value of the parameter; grouping parameters into display groups, and determining the status of a display group as being “noncompliant” if and only if the status of at least one of the parameters or other display groups assigned to the display group is “noncompliant”; displaying GUI elements showing the active values of the parameters, and GUI elements associated with a display group; and displaying, for each of the GUI elements, a visual indication of the status of the corresponding parameter or display group. |
| US08478569B2 |
Auto adjustment of baseline on configuration change
A baseline adjusting technique allows automatically adjust the baselines of metrics affected by a configuration change a monitored system. If a configuration change is detected, a performance management system retrieves linkages between the changed configuration parameter and one or more metrics. The performance management system then adjusts the baselines of the metric using the baseline adjusting algorithm retrieved from the linkage. |
| US08478561B2 |
Rotation measuring mechanism, sheet conveyance apparatus, original reading apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A rotation measuring mechanism capable of measuring a rotation amount and a displacement amount of a rotary member in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis is provided. An exemplary combination of the rotation measuring mechanism includes a detection target rotating in synchrony with the rotary member and range sensors. Each time the detection target rotates once, each sensor outputs one cycle of a sine wave. The amplitude of the sine wave output from the sensor varies in accordance with the displacement of the detection target together with the rotary member in the direction perpendicular to the axis, thereby obtaining the rotation amount and the displacement amount of the rotary member. |
| US08478545B2 |
Identification of aberrant microarray features
Described herein is a method for identifying an aberrant feature on a nucleic acid array. In general terms, the method comprises: a) obtaining a log transformed normalized value indicating the amount of hybridization of a test sample to a first feature on the nucleic acid array; b) calculating a z-score for the first feature using: the log transformed normalized value; and the distribution of reference log transformed normalized values that indicate the amount of hybridization of control samples to the same feature on a plurality of reference arrays; and c) identifying the test feature as aberrant if it has a z-score that is above or below a defined threshold. |
| US08478544B2 |
Direct identification and measurement of relative populations of microorganisms with direct DNA sequencing and probabilistic methods
The present invention relates to systems and methods capable of characterizing populations of organisms within a sample. The characterization may utilize probabilistic matching of short strings of sequencing information to identify genomes from a reference genomic database to which the short strings belong. The characterization may include identification of the microbial community of the sample to the species and/or sub-species and/or strain level with their relative concentrations or abundance. In addition, the system and methods may enable rapid identification of organisms including both pathogens and commensals in clinical samples, and the identification may be achieved by a comparison of many (e.g., hundreds to millions) metagenomic fragments, which have been captured from a sample and sequenced, to many (e.g., millions or billions) of archived sequence information of genomes (i.e., reference genomic databases). |
| US08478543B2 |
System and method for nucleic acid sequence design
Described herein are systems and processes for designing the sequence of one or more interacting nucleic acid strands intended to adopt a target secondary structure at equilibrium. The target secondary structure is decomposed into a binary tree and candidate mutations are evaluated on leaf nodes of the tree. During a process of leaf optimization, defect-weighted mutation sampling is used to select each candidate mutation position with a probability proportional to its contribution to an ensemble defect of the leaf. Subsequences of the tree are then merged, moving up the tree until a final nucleotide sequence of interest is determined that has the target secondary structure at equilibrium. |
| US08478542B2 |
Non-parametric modeling apparatus and method for classification, especially of activity state
The activity state classification method of the present invention employs a kernel-based modeling technique, and more specifically a set of similarity-based models, which have been created using example data, to process an input observation or set of input observations, each comprising a set of sensor readings or “features” derived there from or other data, to predict the activity state of a person from whom the sensor data was obtained. A model is created for each class of activity. The input data is processed by each model and the resulting predictions are combined to yield a final prediction of which state of activity is represented by the input data. |
| US08478540B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing mineral water
A mineral water producing method includes the steps of inputting basic data to obtain data about human mineral intake and data about average mineral intake from food; selecting a water supply area to obtain data about mineral intake from daily water intake; selecting an eating habit and a physical/mental condition; inputting personal body weight and calculating mineral intake; setting a daily water intake and calculating a daily mineral supplement; and outputting mineral water. A mineral water producing apparatus includes a water inlet and a water outlet; a first filter being connected at a first end to the water inlet and at a second end to the water outlet; at least one mineral substance container being located between and connected to the second end of the filter and the water outlet; and a controller for controlling the mineral substance container to supply a mineral substance. |
| US08478539B2 |
System and method for neurological activity signature determination, discrimination, and detection
A system and method are provided for automatically correlating neurological activity to a predetermined physiological response. The system includes at least one sensor operable to sense signals indicative of the neurological activity, and a processing engine coupled to the sensor. The processing engine is operable in a first system mode to execute a simultaneous sparse approximation jointly upon a group of signals sensed by the sensor to generate signature information corresponding to the predetermined physiological response. The system further includes a detector coupled to the sensors, which is operable in a second system mode to monitor the sensed signals. The detector generates upon selective detection according to the signature information a control signal for actuating a control action according to the predetermined physiological response. |
| US08478537B2 |
Methods and systems for clustering biological assay data
Methods for clustering a data set from a biological assay are provided. Aspects of the methods include applying statistical analyses to bisected subsets of the data at selected cut-of values to identify one or more break points in the data set. In certain aspects, the statistical analyses employed are based on determining the p-values of two-tailed t-tests calculated using the bisected data at each cut-off value. Aspects of the invention further include computer programming and systems which are configured to cluster data sets from biological assays according to the subject methods. |
| US08478536B2 |
Method for determining the concentration of blood glucose
The present invention provides a method for determining concentration of blood glucose by using the change in the rising time. The chemical reaction between the blood glucose and enzyme within the test strip to generate the analog source that used to determine the concentration of the blood glucose in the measuring meter. Thus, the rising curve can be obtained after the analog source is treated, such that the concentration of the blood glucose can be determined. |
| US08478535B2 |
Systems and methods that utilize machine learning algorithms to facilitate assembly of aids vaccine cocktails
The subject invention provides systems and methods that facilitate AIDS vaccine cocktail assembly via machine learning algorithms such as a cost function, a greedy algorithm, an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm, etc. Such assembly can be utilized to generate vaccine cocktails for species of pathogens that evolve quickly under immune pressure of the host. For example, the systems and methods of the subject invention can be utilized to facilitate design of T cell vaccines for pathogens such HIV. In addition, the systems and methods of the subject invention can be utilized in connection with other applications, such as, for example, sequence alignment, motif discovery, classification, and recombination hot spot detection. The novel techniques described herein can provide for improvements over traditional approaches to designing vaccines by constructing vaccine cocktails with higher epitope coverage, for example, in comparison with cocktails of consensi, tree nodes and random strains from data. |
| US08478534B2 |
Method for detecting discriminatory data patterns in multiple sets of data and diagnosing disease
A comprehensive analysis procedure for analyzing and comparing multiple sets of data to detect hidden discriminatory data patterns. The inventive procedure identifies a best subset of markers for optimal discrimination between two or more sets of data. A point-wise test on two or more sets of data is performed to calculate test statistic values and to generate a statgram, a two- or higher- dimensional map of the test statistic values along the range of data. A threshold is then determined for isolating critical regions of the statgram at each significance level to provide candidate markers. A subset of markers from the candidate markers is then selected to discriminate among the sets of data. The two or more sets of data are classified using the subset of markers. |
| US08478533B2 |
Method and system for passive electroseismic surveying
A method of passive surveying comprises generating one or more detected signals by passively detecting a signal generated within a subsurface earth formation due to a seismoelectric response or an electroseismic response in at least one porous subsurface earth formation containing at least one fluid, and processing the one or more detected signals to determine at least one property of the subsurface earth formation. |
| US08478530B2 |
Using multicomponent induction data to identify drilling induced fractures while drilling
A method for identifying drilling induced fractures while drilling a wellbore into a formation is disclosed. The method includes: obtaining multi-component induction data collected by a drill string including a multi-component induction tool; processing the data to estimate values for principal components; and identifying drilling induced fractures from the principal components. An instrument and a computer program product are disclosed. |
| US08478528B2 |
Methods of wirelessly adding navigational content to a personal navigation device
A method of wirelessly adding navigational content to a personal navigation device includes changing a mode of the personal navigation device to pairing standby mode, adding navigational content to a computing device, and establishing a direct wireless connection between the personal navigation device and the computing device to add navigational content to the personal navigation device from the computing device when the personal navigation device and the computing device are within range of each other for establishing a wireless connection. |
| US08478521B2 |
Method and terminal for providing a route in a navigation system using satellite image
A method and a terminal for providing a route in a navigation system using a satellite image are provided. The terminal includes a route calculation unit for calculating a route from a current location to a destination when a user inputs the destination, a satellite image requesting unit for requesting a satellite image server for satellite images corresponding to locations on the route and for downloading the requested satellite images, a satellite image storage unit for storing the downloaded satellite images, and a controller for retrieving a satellite image corresponding to the current location from the satellite image storage unit and for displaying the retrieved satellite image simultaneously while downloading the satellite images corresponding to the locations on the route. |
| US08478519B2 |
Providing results to parameterless search queries
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a parameterless search request, which was provided to a mobile computing device, for information that is relevant to a user of the mobile computing device. The method also includes, in response to the received parameterless search request, identifying with a digital computer system one or more results that are determined to be relevant to the user of the mobile computing device based upon a current context of the mobile computing device. The method further includes providing the results for display to a user of the mobile computing device. |
| US08478516B2 |
Method and system for providing navigation assistance on a mobile device
Methods and systems for providing navigation assistance on a mobile device are provided. A method may include extracting information from at least one of a first map image and an address image, wherein the first map image is a digitized picture of a non-digitized map and the address image is a digitized picture of a non-digitized written address. The method may also include communicating the extracted information to a mapping service server. The method may further include receiving, from the mapping service server in response to communicating the extracted information, a second map image including routing information for assisting navigation of a user of a mobile device. The method may additionally include displaying the second map image including the routing information. |
| US08478515B1 |
Collaborative driving directions
Methods and systems for generating directions are disclosed. In an embodiment of the invention, there is a system that includes a human-provided directions module for receiving and processing human-provided directions, a database for storing human-provided directions processed by the human-provided directions module, and a directions generator for receiving a directions query from a client. In response to the query, the directions generator accesses the database, retrieves at least one human-provided direction, generates a set of directions based thereupon, and provides the set of generated directions to the client. |
| US08478512B2 |
Real-time traffic condition measurement using network transmission data
In embodiments of the present invention, data that is transmitted over a network that is utilized by cell phones within multiple automobiles may be used to calculate real-time traffic conditions, including but not limited to the time it will take to travel a certain distance using a given route. Real-time traffic conditions may be calculated by, for example, measuring real-time traffic density for a specific geographic region. Traffic conditions and traffic density may be calculated using parameters including, but not limited to, a time of day, a day of the week corresponding to the real-time calculation of the traffic condition measure, a weather condition corresponding to the real-time calculation of the traffic condition measure; or some other parameter relating to traffic conditions. This real-time traffic condition data may be manually accessed by a user from their cell phone or automatically provided to a user's cell phone. |
| US08478511B2 |
System and method for knock detection based on ethanol concentration in fuel
A knock detection system for an engine includes an intensity module, a knock threshold module, and a detection module. The intensity module determines an engine vibration intensity during a first period of engine operation. The knock threshold module determines a knock threshold based on an ethanol concentration in a fuel supplied to the engine. The detection module determines whether engine knock has occurred during the first period by comparing the knock threshold and the engine vibration intensity. |
| US08478506B2 |
Virtual sensor based engine control system and method
A method is provided for a virtual sensor system. The method may include obtaining data records associated with a plurality of input parameters and at least one output parameter and adjusting values of the input parameters based on autocorrelation of respective input parameters. The method may also include reconfiguring the input parameters based on cross-correlation of respective input parameters relative to the output parameter and establishing a first virtual sensor process model indicative of interrelationships between the adjusted and reconfigured input parameters and the output parameter. |
| US08478505B2 |
Method of controlling a VTG engine
When controlling an engine provided with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG), the VTG is closed to a maximally acceptable closed position without endangering the VTG when performing an up-shift. The VTG is kept in such a position during the gear shift which, allows for a quick retardation of the engine speed. |
| US08478499B2 |
System and method for vehicle speed monitoring using historical speed data
A target (not-to-exceed) speed for a vehicle over a road segment ahead of the vehicle is established based on a desired relationship with a speed profile of the segment. The speed profile is generated by analyzing a statistical distribution of historical speed data over the segment collected by probe vehicles. A driver alert is activated if the vehicle is likely to exceed the target speed based on at least one measured vehicle dynamic property. The target speed may be established by identifying a baseline road segment over which the vehicle has previously traveled and which is similar to the approaching road segment, comparing a past speed of the vehicle over the baseline segment with a speed profile of the baseline segment to determine a speed differential, and applying the speed differential to the speed profile of the approaching segment. |
| US08478497B2 |
Hydraulic control device and hydraulic control method for vehicle automatic transmission
During a non-shift operation when a predetermined gear of an automatic transmission is kept, a hydraulic control unit increases an engagement hydraulic pressure to a friction engagement device associated with the gear formation by a predetermined hydraulic pressure with respect to a line hydraulic pressure. Therefore, in comparison with a case where a hydraulic pressure equivalent to the line hydraulic pressure is set as an engagement hydraulic pressure to the friction engagement device for obtaining a hydraulic pressure equivalent to the line hydraulic pressure, shift response (hydraulic pressure response) variations when shifting from a non-shift state (steady state) into a shift state are suppressed by the margin of the predetermined hydraulic pressure. In addition, in comparison with a case where the engagement hydraulic pressure to the friction engagement device is set to a maximum hydraulic pressure to reduce the response variations, power consumption of each linear solenoid valve is suppressed. |
| US08478496B2 |
Transmission synchronisation method and device for at least two transmissions
The invention relates to a transmission synchronisation method and a transmission synchronisation device for at least two transmission units (T1, T2). The synchronisation takes place in that in each case an output revolution speed (n1, n2) of an axle drive shaft arranged in a transmission (T1, T2) is adjusted by means of a first and second adjustment unit (ADU1, ADU2). The synchronisation of the first and second transmissions (T1, T2) takes place by a result value (cal_out) of an arithmetic logic unit (140) being conducted to the second adjustment unit (ADU2) arranged at the second transmission (T2), dependent on the first transmission (T1) and on the reference value (v_set) of a preselection unit (100). |
| US08478494B2 |
Manual transmission and engine speed match using a transmission input shaft speed sensor
An engine speed matching system for a vehicle with a manual transmission includes a sensor that senses an input shaft speed of the manual transmission during a shift. A control module receives the input shaft speed, determines an engine speed, determines a desired engine speed based on the input shaft speed and the engine speed, and adjusts the engine speed based on the desired engine speed and the input shaft speed before the shift is completed. |
| US08478493B2 |
High integrity perception program
The illustrative embodiments provide a computer program product for processing sensor data and controlling the movement of a vehicle. In an illustrative embodiment, an operating environment around the vehicle is identified and sensor data is selected from a set of sensors. A dynamic condition is identified using a plurality of different types of sensors on the vehicle. In response to the dynamic condition being identified, the movement of the vehicle is controlled. In another illustrative embodiment, an environment around the vehicle is identified to form an operating environment. Sensor data is selected from a set of sensors in a plurality of redundant sensors based on the operating environment. |
| US08478490B2 |
Control device of inverted pendulum type vehicle
A control device of an inverted pendulum type vehicle capable of controlling fluctuation of a traveling velocity of a vehicle according to operating state of the vehicle. A traveling motion unit controlling element 50 of an inverted pendulum type vehicle 1 includes a first processing mode and a second processing mode. In the first processing mode, determines a manipulated variable for control so as to bring a tilt angle of a payload supporting part 3 and a traveling velocity of a representative point of the vehicle 1 closer to a desired value. In the second processing mode, the traveling motion unit controlling element 50 determines the manipulated variable for control while making a sensitivity to change of the manipulated variable for control with respect to a measured value of the traveling velocity of the representative point to be relatively lower than that in the first processing mode. |
| US08478489B2 |
Fuel vapor treatment apparatus
A fuel vapor treatment apparatus includes a fuel tank, a canister, a passage forming member, a pressure-regulating valve, an acceleration detector, and a controller. The fuel tank is for a storage of fuel to be supplied to an internal combustion engine for a vehicle. The canister recovers fuel evaporated from the fuel tank. The passage forming member defines a passage through which the fuel tank and the canister communicate with each other. The pressure-regulating valve is provided in the passage forming member to connect or disconnect the fuel tank and the canister. The acceleration detector detects an acceleration value of the vehicle, and the controller controls the pressure-regulating valve based on the acceleration value detected by the acceleration detector. |
| US08478487B2 |
Control device for vehicles to make rapid counter-measure against communication abnormality in communication means between calculation control devices
In the control device for vehicles which executes a control of the vehicle by one calculation control device based upon a target control amount generated by another calculation control device connected to the one calculation control device by way of a communication means, the other calculation control device calculates an estimated target control amount by itself to compare it with the target control amount generated by the one calculation control device and input thereto by way of the communication means, or a third calculation control device compares the target control amounts generated by the one and the other calculation control devices and input thereto by way of the communication means, thereby to judge if an abnormality has occurred in the communication means, and to rapidly modify the control to make a counter-measure against the abnormality. |
| US08478486B2 |
Vehicle control device and vehicle control method
A vehicle control device (10) is provided that can predict a driving operation of a driver earlier to respond to the driving operation quickly. The vehicle control device (10) includes: a posture measuring unit (11) to measure a posture indicating a state of at least one of the buttock region, the upper pelvic region, and the driver's leg opposite to the other leg with which the driver operates a brake or an accelerator; a posture change detection unit (12) to detect a posture change measured; a preparatory movement identification unit (13) to identify whether the posture change is caused by the driver's preparatory movement spontaneously made before the brake or accelerator operation, based on whether the posture change detected satisfies a predetermined condition; and a vehicle control unit (14) to control the vehicle when it is identified that the posture change has been caused by the preparatory movement. |
| US08478479B2 |
Predicting time to maintenance by fusion between modeling and simulation for electronic equipment on board an aircraft
A method and system for predictive maintenance of electronic equipment on board an aircraft (1). To produce a prognosis, the following are provided: a step (48) of modeling the equipment (3) with a model (53) for damage by an external aggression; a step (49) of simulating the damage up to failure; a learning step (64); a step (65) of classifying calculated and normalized values; and a fusion step (61) giving the real prognosis of the time to maintenance in units of time. The invention applies in particular to a rotary wing aircraft (1), e.g. a helicopter drone. |
| US08478478B2 |
Processor system and fault managing unit thereof
A processor system having a processor core, a plurality of modules connected to the processor core and configured to generate respective fault signals, and a fault managing unit connected to the processor core and to the plurality of modules. The fault managing unit is adapted to collect a first fault signal generated by a first module of the plurality of modules which is in a fault condition, analyze said collected first fault signal, and generate a first reaction signal to be selectively transmitted to said processor core and said first module. |
| US08478476B2 |
System for detecting operating errors in a variable valve timing engine using pressure sensors
A method and control module includes a pressure sensor data comparison module that compares measured pressure volume signal segments to ideal pressure volume segments. A valve actuation hardware remedy module performs a hardware remedy in response to comparing the measured pressure volume signal segments to the ideal pressure volume segments when a valve actuation hardware failure is detected. |
| US08478469B2 |
Power source system for electric powered vehicle and control method therefor
At the time of external charging, an external charging relay is turned on, and a system main relay is turned off. Therefore, a main battery can be charged by electric power from an external power source, without applying an output voltage of the main battery to a PCU. At the time of external charging, basically, a power supply voltage for an auxiliary system (low voltage system) is generated by a sub DC/DC converter of a small capacity, while a main DC/DC converter of a large capacity used when vehicle is running is stopped. Only when the output of sub DC/DC converter is insufficient to cover the power consumption by the auxiliary system, an ECU operates the main DC/DC converter. Therefore, ECU and auxiliary load group can be operated reliably while efficiency of external charging is improved. |
| US08478468B2 |
Carbon dioxide feedback for automobile
A carbon dioxide feedback system and a method of providing carbon dioxide feedback in a computer system is provided. The method includes computing an amount of carbon dioxide generation avoided by a vehicle at a processor, calculating a number of equivalent trees based on the computation, and displaying the number of equivalent trees on a display device. |
| US08478463B2 |
Train control method and system
A train control system for controlling trains traveling in a track network including tracks with signals associated therewith. The system includes an on-board track database, a positioning system and an on-board control system. The on-board control system receives position data and automatically brakes the train prior to encountering an upcoming signal based upon specified data points. The train is not automatically braked if certain conditions are met. A method for controlling a train traveling in a track network is also disclosed. |
| US08478461B2 |
Closed airport surface alerting system
A system and a method alerts the occupant of a vehicle that the vehicle is in, or approaching, a zone of awareness associated with a closed surface at the airport. |
| US08478459B2 |
System and method for detecting wake turbulence of an aircraft
System for detecting wake turbulence (SDWT) of a first aircraft, which can be embedded onboard a second aircraft, comprising: first means (DET1) for determining the roll (Roll2) of the second aircraft; second determination means (DET2) of an envelope (CRollRef) of reference roll curves which is representative of a wake turbulence created by the first aircraft; means (COMP) for comparing, over a sliding window, the roll (Roll2) of the second aircraft and the envelope (CRollRef) of reference roll curves; and alarm means (AL) for forewarning the pilot of the second aircraft of the detection of wake turbulence of the first aircraft when the said comparison is below a resemblance threshold (SS). |
| US08478455B2 |
Vehicle control station with back-up VSM for remotely controlling an unmanned vehicle, and method
According to one embodiment, a control station having a station processing system, a control system, a data link computing unit, a second data link and a back-up VSM (a second vehicle computing unit) is operable to communicate via an RF link with an unmanned vehicle having a first data link, a vehicle processing system, a first vehicle computing unit and a route control system. The control station being operable to communicate with the unmanned vehicle using a first protocol for messaging under normal operating conditions as well as through the use of a second protocol for messaging, initiated via the second vehicle computing unit, when either the vehicle processing system is inoperable, the vehicle computing unit is inoperable or when the second vehicle computing unit in the control station is directed to use the second protocol for messaging. |
| US08478453B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing alerts relating to an in-vehicle control unit
A management system using Global Positioning System receivers for tracking remote units from a central office and quickly and conveniently determining if those remote units have varied from a set of predetermined parameters of operation. The system also includes provisions that allows information to be sent from the remote units to the central office and vice versa. The system also has safety features that promote the rapid dispatch of law enforcement personnel when requests for emergency assistance have been made from the remote units. |
| US08478452B2 |
Grid regulation services for energy storage devices based on grid frequency
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for charging and discharging an energy storage device connected to an electrical power distribution system. In one exemplary embodiment, a controller monitors electrical characteristics of an electrical power distribution system and provides an output to a bi-directional charger causing the charger to charge or discharge an energy storage device (e.g., a battery in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)). The controller can help stabilize the electrical power distribution system by increasing the charging rate when there is excess power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid exceeds an average value), or by discharging power from the energy storage device to stabilize the grid when there is a shortage of power in the electrical power distribution system (e.g., when the frequency of an AC power grid is below an average value). |
| US08478449B2 |
Wind turbine control methods and systems
A method of controlling the operation of a variable speed wind turbine (11), tracking a power curve (25, 27) including a nominal operational region (3 ) and sub-nominal operational regions (2, 1, 0), comprising steps of: a) implementing a control strategy to follow said power curve in said nominal operational region (3) based on the use of demanded torque Td for controlling power P and on the use of demanded pitch θd for controlling demanded torque Td; b) implementing a control strategy to follow said power curve in sub-nominal operational regions (2, 1, 0) based on the use of demanded torque Td for controlling power P and on the setting of a constant optimum value for demanded pitch θd in each sub-nominal operational region (2, 1, 0). The invention also refers to a control system comprising one or more Adaptive Predictive Controllers (51, 53, 55, 59). |
| US08478445B2 |
Device for automatically adjusting the bacterial inoculum level of a sample
Various embodiments of the present invention provide, for example, a system and method for automatically adjusting the inoculum level of a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention may measure a concentration of particles present in a preliminary sample using a sensor device and determine an amount of diluent to be added to or removed from a sample container to prepare a sample having a selected concentration of particles, corresponding to a selected inoculum level. Embodiments of the present invention may also automatically add or remove the diluent using an automated fluidics system so as to prepare a sample having the selected particle concentration. Once the selected particle concentration is achieved and verified, some embodiments may also remove at least a portion of the sample from the sample container such that the container contains a selected volume of the sample. |
| US08478444B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling autotroph cultivation
A method includes receiving at least one measurement of a dissolved carbon dioxide concentration of a mixture of fluid containing an autotrophic organism. The method also includes determining an adjustment to one or more manipulated variables using the at least one measurement. The method further includes generating one or more signals to modify the one or more manipulated variables based on the determined adjustment. The one or more manipulated variables could include a carbon dioxide flow rate, an air flow rate, a water temperature, and an agitation level for the mixture. At least one model relates the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration to one or more manipulated variables, and the adjustment could be determined by using the at least one model to drive the dissolved carbon dioxide concentration to at least one target that optimize a goal function. The goal function could be to optimize biomass growth rate, nutrient removal and/or lipid production. |
| US08478434B2 |
Output feedback frequency control device for rotating machine speed control
Provided are an output feedback frequency control device and a speed governor using the same. The output feedback frequency control device includes an integral control unit configured to generate an integral control signal by using a predetermined integral control constant (KI) and an integral quantity of an angular velocity deviation (Δω) of an external device, a differential control unit configured to generate a differential control signal by using a predetermined differential control constant (KD), the angular velocity deviation (Δω) of the external device, and the mechanical power (ΔPm) of the external device, and a proportional control unit configured to generate a control input (u) for control of an operation speed of the external device by using the angular velocity deviation of the external device, the integral control signal generated by the integral control unit, the differential control signal generated by the differential control unit, and a predetermined control constant (R). |
| US08478430B2 |
Active fixation medical lead
An implantable medical device that includes an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end, a helical fixation member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, the helical fixation member including a distal tip for affixing the distal end of the elongated body at an implant site, and a tracking member extending from the distal end of the elongated body, through the helical fixation member and outward from the distal tip of the helical fixation member for tracking along an implant pathway during implantation of the implantable medical device. |
| US08478427B2 |
Electrical stimulation lead, system, and method
A paddle lead includes a plurality of electrodes configured in at least three rows of three electrodes with the second, intermediate row operable to provide anode guarding. The paddle lead further includes a plurality of grooves disposed on a surface opposite the electrodes to facilitate the insertion of the paddle lead within a patient by inhibiting the veering of the paddle lead to one side or the other of the dorsal column as the paddle lead is advanced along the dorsal column midline during implantation. |
| US08478425B2 |
Medical leads and related systems that include a lumen body that is joined to a lead body and that has multiple filar lumens
Medical leads include a lumen body at an end of the lead, and the lumen body includes multiple filar lumens. The lumen body is joined to a lead body, and electrical connectors are longitudinally spaced along the lumen body. Filars within the filar lumens are directed through filar passageways within the lumen body to attach to the electrical connectors on the lumen body. The filar passageways may be aligned with the filar lumens, and slots within the electrical connectors may be aligned with the filar passageways to facilitate assembly. The lumen body may provide additional stiffness to the end of the lead where the lumen body is located to facilitate lead insertion into the medical device. The filar lumens of the lumen body may have a longitudinally straight configuration so that the portions of filars within the filar lumens are held in a longitudinally straight configuration. |
| US08478424B2 |
Medical lead having coaxial connector
A medical lead includes a connector for operably coupling the lead to an active medical device. The connector includes a first tubular conductive contact having a length, a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending through the contact from the proximal end to the distal end. The connector also includes a second tubular conductive contact having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end. The length of the second contact is greater than the length of the first contact. The second contact is disposed in the lumen of the first contact such that the proximal and distal ends of the second contact extend beyond the proximal and distal ends of the first contact. The lead further includes first and second electrodes. The first electrode is operably coupled to the first contact, and the second electrode is operably coupled to the second contact. |
| US08478422B2 |
Electrical stimulation of cell and tissue growth with two-and three-dimensionally patterned electrodes
The present invention is generally directed to a method for regulating cellular and tissue physiology, a device for practicing the method, and a process for fabricating the device. In general the process comprises the steps of providing at least one patterned electrode, providing a least one cell, placing the at least one electrode in electrical communication with the at least one cell, and applying a voltage to the electrode thereby delivering an effective amount of a patterned electric field or current thus regulating the physiology and/or growth of the at least one cell. |
| US08478415B1 |
Heat transfer control for a prosthetic retinal device
A method for controlling heat dissipated from a prosthetic retinal device is described. A heat transfer device employs the Peltier heat transfer effect to cool the surface of the retinal device that faces the retina by dissipating/transferring collected heat away from the retina and towards the iris or front of the eye. According to one embodiment, a heat pump is formed in a second substrate on the retinal device. The heat pump is controlled by a temperature sense device that activates the heat pump, when a first predetermined temperature limit is exceeded. The temperature sense device deactivates the heat pump, when a temperature of the retinal device drops below a second predetermined temperature. According to another embodiment, a supply current of the retinal device may pass through the heat pump and a direction of heat transfer by the heat pump can be reversed, when the first predetermined temperature is exceeded. |
| US08478414B2 |
Baroreflex activation for pain control, sedation and sleep
Systems and methods provide baroreflex activation to treat or reduce pain and/or to cause or enhance sedation or sleep. Methods involve activating the baroreflex system to provide pain reduction, sedation, improved sleep or some combination thereof. Systems include at least one baroreflex activation device, at least one sensor for sensing physiological activity of the patient, and a processor coupled with the baroreflex activation device(s) and the sensor(s) for processing sensed data received from the sensor and for activating the baroreflex activation device. In some embodiments, the system is fully implantable within a patient, such as in an intravascular, extravascular or intramural location. |
| US08478412B2 |
Method of improving sleep disordered breathing
A diaphragm pacing stimulatory method and a system to implement the method are provided to improve respiratory function and the quality of sleep in patients whose sleep is compromised by poor respiration. The diaphragm pacing method includes adaptations that make it particularly compatible with the onset of sleep and sustaining sleep. Embodiments of the method are operated independently of breathing effort the patient may make during sleep. Patients for whom the invention is appropriate include those with a neuromuscular disease, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). System elements include an external electrical stimulator coupled to one or more implanted electrodes that stimulate diaphragm contraction. The system and method provide for a pacing of the diaphragm, improved breathing, and improved sleep. Features of improved sleep include longer sleep time, an increased amount of REM sleep, and fewer episodes of wakefulness and restlessness. |
| US08478411B2 |
Flexible tube sensor for sensing urinary sphincter pressure
The disclosure describes a therapeutic sphincter control system with a fluid tube pressure sensor. The system senses sphincter pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control sphincter contractility, thus reducing unwanted urinary incontinence. Measuring sphincter pressure is accomplished through the use of a fluid-filled tube placed through the sphincter and attached to a module implanted within the bladder. Pressure within the tube is transduced to generate an electrical signal that is sent wirelessly to an implanted stimulator connected to a lead positioned near pelvic floor nerves. An external device may be used to wirelessly send information to the implanted stimulator and inhibit stimulation in order for the patient to empty the bladder. Pressure information and stimulation information may be recorded and reviewed for continued patient monitoring. In addition, the system may only include the pressure sensor to monitor patient pressure information. |
| US08478409B2 |
Filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly
A filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly for an implantable active medical device is disclosed. The filtering capacitor feedthrough assembly includes a capacitor having an aperture defined by an inner capacitor surface. The capacitor is electrically grounded to an electrically conductive feedthrough ferrule or housing of the implantable active medical device. A terminal pin extends into the aperture. An electrically conductive split ring sleeve is disposed within the aperture and between the terminal pin and the capacitor. The split ring sleeve includes a first end, a second end, a sleeve length therebetween. A longitudinal slit through the sleeve extends from the first end to the second end. The electrically conductive split ring sleeve mechanically securing and electrically coupling the terminal pin to the capacitor. |
| US08478405B2 |
Optimizing anti-tachycardia pacing for terminating atrial fibrillation
An implantable system terminates atrial fibrillation by applying optimized anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). In one implementation, the system senses and paces at multiple sites on the left atrium. At each site, the system senses reentrant circuits causing the atrial fibrillation. In one implementation, the system applies ATP tuned to the frequency of the reentrant circuit at the electrode that senses the most regular reentrant circuit. In another implementation, the system applies ATP at multiple electrodes, delivering each pulse at each site when the excitable gap is near the site. In other variations, the ATP is optimized for different patterns of sequential, simultaneous, or syncopated delivery to terminate the atrial fibrillation. The system can also monitor multiple heart chambers for cardiac events that favor terminating atrial fibrillation via ATP. The system then times delivery of the ATP according to these cardiac events. |
| US08478403B2 |
Implantable systems and methods for use therewith for monitoring and modifying arterial blood pressure without requiring an intravascular pressure transducer
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to implantable systems, and methods for use therewith, that monitor and modify a patient's arterial blood pressure without requiring an intravascular pressure transducer. In accordance with an embodiment, for each of a plurality of periods of time, there is a determination one or more metrics indicative of pulse arrival time (PAT), each of which are indicative of how long it takes for the left ventricle to generate a pressure pulsation that travels from the patient's aorta to a location remote from the patient's aorta. Based on the one or more metrics indicative of PAT, the patient's arterial blood pressure is estimated. Changes in the arterial blood pressure are monitored over time. Additionally, the patient's arterial blood pressure can be modified by initiating and/or adjusting pacing and/or other therapy based on the estimates of the patient's arterial blood pressure and/or monitored changes therein. |
| US08478399B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling arrhythmia detection and treatment based on patient posture
An implantable medical device and method are provided for determining if a patient is in a substantially horizontal position and delaying a programmed cardioversion/defibrillation shock therapy in response to determining the patient is in a substantially horizontal position. In various embodiments, the shock therapy may be delayed by adjusting tachycardia detection criteria or scheduling the shock therapy after a maximum tachycardia episode duration. |
| US08478387B2 |
Methods for stent strut detection and related measurement and display using optical coherence tomography
In one embodiment, the invention relates to a processor based method for generating positional and other information relating to a stent in the lumen of a vessel using a computer. The method includes the steps of generating an optical coherence image data set in response to an OCT scan of a sample containing at least one stent; and identifying at least one one-dimensional local cue in the image data set relating to the position of the stent. |
| US08478385B2 |
Rotary medical manifold
A rotary medical manifold, for delivering various fluids through a patient delivery mechanism is described. The rotary manifold can include a manifold body and a valve stem. The manifold body can include a central cavity, an output port, a first fluid port, and a second fluid port. The valve stem can include an injector port, and a single central fluid passage. The valve stem can be adapted to slidably engage the central cavity of the manifold body and provide selective fluidic connectivity between the injector port and the output port, the first fluid port and the second fluid port. |
| US08478379B2 |
Probe visualization based on mechanical properties
A method for visualization includes receiving an input indicative of respective apparent coordinates of a plurality of points disposed along a length of a probe inside a body of a subject, and applying a model of known mechanical properties of the probe to the apparent coordinates so as to compute a cost function with respect to shapes that can be assumed by the probe in the body. A shape is chosen responsively to the cost function, and corrected coordinates of the points along the length of the probe are generated based on the shape. The representation of the probe using the corrected coordinates is then displayed. |
| US08478378B2 |
Devices, systems and methods to detect endothelialization of implantable medical devices
An implantable medical device including a radially-expandable body and an attached detection device. The detection device includes a sensor positioned on a surface of the radially-expandable body and configured to detect endothelialization of the surface. The detection device also includes a transmitter and a receiver. Systems incorporating the implantable medical device and methods of using the device are also disclosed. |
| US08478374B2 |
Superconducting cable assembly and method of assembly
An HTS cable assembly is provided which includes a cryostat or housing, an HTS wire bundle disposed longitudinally within the cryostat, and plural support members disposed between the HTS wire bundle and the cryostat. The support members are elongate, tubular members having resiliency in both the axial and radial directions. The support members are disposed between the HTS wire bundle and the inner surface of the cryostat in an arrangement that maintains and supports the HTS wire bundle in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the inner surface of the cryostat. In addition, the plural support members are configured to substantially prevent relative movement between the HTS wire bundle and the cryostat. |
| US08478372B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device including space apart elongate members for reducing SAR and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing and wireless transceiver circuitry carried by the portable housing. The mobile wireless communications device may also include an antenna carried by the portable housing and coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry, and a light source carried by the portable housing. The device may further include a keyboard assembly carried by the portable housing including a light guide coupled to the light source and having input key receiving openings therein, and a mask carried by the light guide and having input key receiving openings. The mask may include spaced apart electrically conductive elongate members positioned relative to the antenna to reduce a Specific Absorption Rate value for the mobile wireless communications device. |
| US08478368B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a main body, a cap body and a hinge assembly. The cap body is movably attached to the main body, and the hinge assembly is disposed between the main body and the cap body. The hinge assembly includes a sliding portion and a rotating portion connected to each other. When the cap body and the main body are totally overlapped, the cap body is selectively to rotate or to slide with respect to the main body over the hinge assembly. |
| US08478367B2 |
Portable terminal having sliding module
A sliding type of a portable terminal is provided. The terminal includes a first housing, a second housing adapted to slide on the first housing, and a sliding module for coupling the second housing to the first housing so as to slide. The sliding module includes a guide member mounted on a surface of the first housing, at least one guide hole extending in a longitudinal direction of the guide member, and a slide member extending through the guide member via the guide hole to be mounted on the second housing, the slide member moving along the guide hole and supporting a sliding movement of the second housing. The portable terminal limits the play of the housings in other directions than the sliding direction. This guarantees a smooth sliding movement and improves the structural stability of the terminal. |
| US08478366B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is disclosed. Specifically, in a mobile terminal having an image photographing or projecting function, the present invention is able to change a photographing or projecting angle of the mobile terminal into a horizontal or vertical direction. And, the present invention is able to change a display direction of an image displayed on a display unit of the mobile terminal in correspondence with the changed photographing or projecting angle to correspond to the changed photographing or projecting angle. |
| US08478358B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus having handsfree function and cellular phone having handsfree function
An in-vehicle apparatus having a handsfree function is disclosed, which includes an incoming mail reception determination section, a mode determination section and a control section. The incoming mail reception determination section determines whether a cellular phone receives an incoming mail. The mode determination section determines which one of a handset communication mode and a handsfree communication mode is selected in the cellular phone. The control section performs control regarding whether a mail reception notice should be issued to a user. The control section prohibits the mail reception notice from being issued to the user when the incoming mail reception determination section determines that the cellular phone receives the incoming mail and when the mode determination section determines that the cellular phone is in the handsfree communication mode. |
| US08478357B1 |
Removable adapter with speaker and microphone for a wireless communications device
An adapter for a wireless communications device has a speaker embedded in an upper end portion, a microphone embedded in a lower end portion, and a male electrical post connector mounted in the lower end portion. The post connector is electrically connected to the speaker and microphone. The post connector has an exposed tip and extends from the lower end portion generally toward the upper end portion. A theoretical plane bisects the base into left and right lateral portions and the microphone and connector are disposed on opposing sides of the theoretical plane. The adapter is configured such that when physically mounted to the wireless communications device, and the post connector is mated to the external communications port, the microphone and speaker are electrically connected to the wireless communications device. The combination may be used for VOIP communications. |
| US08478355B2 |
System and method for playing a ringtone on a communication device
Embodiments of the disclosed inventions include a method for playing ringtones on a communication device. The method includes associating a plurality of ringtones with an identifier of a calling device. The method also includes receiving a user preference indicating a desired method for selecting a ringtone from the plurality of ringtones. In response to the communication device receiving a communication from the calling device associated with the identifier, the method selects the ringtone from the plurality of ringtones based on the user preference indicating the desired method for selecting the ringtone from the plurality of ringtones and initiates the playing of a selected ringtone on the communication device. |
| US08478354B2 |
Mobile communication terminal apparatus
A mobile communication terminal apparatus having a communication function, the mobile communication terminal apparatus includes: a light emitting unit configured to indicate call incoming information or mail receiving information by light emission; a notification setting unit configured to set whether to indicate at least one of the call incoming information and the mail receiving information by using at least one of a sound and a vibration; a brightness detecting unit, which detects a brightness when the notification setting unit set to not indicate by using both of the sound and the vibration; and a light-emission control unit, which controls the light emitting unit to not emit light, when the notification setting unit set to not indicate by both the sound and the vibration by the notification setting unit and when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting unit is a predetermined brightness or less. |
| US08478352B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing presentations for the composition of messages having size limitations
Methods and apparatus for use in providing presentations for the composition of messages having size limitations are described. A communication device receives, via its user interface, one or more character inputs in a message composition field for a new message being composed. While a character count of the message is less than a warning count value, the device refrains from presenting the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message. On the other hand, while the character count is greater than or equal to the warning count value, the device causes the number of allowed characters remaining for entry in the message to be presented. The message may be transmitted via a wireless network via a short message service (SMS). In one example, the number of remaining characters is provided in an alert bar, which is presented by being set in motion from an initial hidden position behind the message composition field to a final revealed position, with intermediate positions therebetween. |
| US08478351B2 |
Mobile terminal having touch input device
A mobile terminal having an input device that performs an input operation in a touch manner is provided. The mobile terminal includes a first display module, a second display module located adjacent to the first display module, an integrated window located an outer portion of the first and second display modules, and a touch sensing unit located between the window and the second display module for sensing a touch applied to the window and applying an input signal. Marks for guiding input content can be varied and high capacity and high-density multimedia or communication information can be easily and quickly accessed or executed. |
| US08478348B2 |
Deferring alerts
It is presented a method including presenting an alert on a display; detecting a user input associated with said alert, said user input having a momentum; and deferring said alert to be presented again at a new alert time, said new alert time being calculated as a time in the future using said user input momentum. A corresponding device, computer program product and user interface are also presented. |
| US08478346B2 |
Mobile phone
To provide a mobile phone which can be used without hampering convenience in a condition where functions of the mobile phone are switched and can improve operability. The mobile phone includes an optical sensor, a display element, a pixel circuit portion where a plurality of pixels having a plurality of transistors are arranged in matrix, an optical sensor control circuit which is connected to an optical sensor driver circuit for driving the optical sensor and reads a signal from the optical sensor, a display portion control circuit which is connected to a display element driver circuit for driving the display element and outputs an image signal for displaying an image on a display portion, a gradient detection portion for outputting a signal in accordance with a gradient of the mobile phone, and an arithmetic circuit for performing display in the pixel circuit portion by switching image signals output to the display portion control circuit with a signal from the gradient detection portion. |
| US08478345B2 |
System and method for providing a user interface that facilitates user selection of a communication line for an outgoing call on a mobile device
A system and method for providing a user interface that allows users to change the active line on which an outgoing call may be placed. In example embodiments, a direction to display a line selection menu on the call screen is received from the user, where the line selection menu is comprised of data identifying one or more of the multiple communication lines accessible at the mobile device. In response to the direction received from the user, the line selection menu is displayed on the call screen, and an input identifying a user-selected communication line is received. A display field in which data identifying the active line is displayed is updated accordingly. |
| US08478341B2 |
Automatic selection of SIM card for multi-SIM mobile devices
A mobile device includes multiple subscriber identification module (SIM) cards. When a user of the mobile device requests to call a phone number, the mobile device determines a mobile telecommunications service provider of the phone number, based on service provider information received for the phone number from a service mapping server. The mobile device selects for the call a SIM card from the multiple SIM cards that is associated with the determined service provider of the phone number. The mobile device places the call to the phone number using the selected SIM card. |
| US08478338B2 |
Method for remotely and automatically erasing information stored in SIM-card of a mobile phone
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method and system for remotely and automatically erasing information stored in SIM card memory and mobile phone memory including memory card of a mobile phone 101. The method includes sending a voice message comprising predetermined authentication parameters to a server 102 by an owner when the mobile phone 101 of the owner is lost. The method further includes authenticating the owner by the server 102 upon comparing the predetermined authentication parameters with the stored authentication parameters and sending activation signal by the server 102 to an erase application if the owner is authenticated. This signal will activate the erase application stored in the mobile phone 101 SIM card. The erase application generates destroy signal upon activation of the erase application to erase the information stored in the SIM card of the mobile phone 101. |
| US08478333B2 |
Movement history reference system, movement information registration server, information collection server, movement history reference method and program
A movement history reference system includes: a base station communicating with a first terminal; and a movement information registration server and an information collection server connected mutually to the base station. The movement information registration server includes: a first storage unit that stores the movement history; and a movement history recording unit that acquires positional information of the first terminal from the base station, and requests the information collection server to retrieve an address corresponding to the positional information and additional information related to the address. The information collection server includes: a second storage unit that stores address data that is a list of addresses corresponding to the positional information; and a data retrieval unit that retrieves an address corresponding to the positional information from the address data, retrieves additional information related to the address, and returns the acquired address and additional information to the movement information registration server. |
| US08478330B2 |
Transmission power control method and system
A transmission power control technique allowing stable and reliable signal transmission in soft handover is disclosed. Each of the base stations involved in soft handover measures an amount of loss of the base station selection signal. When the amount of loss of the base station selection signal exceeds a threshold, the transmission power of the downlink signal is not set to the minimum level but to the normally controlled level. Further, a transmission power update timing of each base station is determined so that the downlink signal received at the mobile station changes in transmission power at a predetermined timing synchronized with that of other base stations. |
| US08478328B2 |
Power control in schedulable wireless communication terminal
A wireless communication entity schedulable in a wireless communication network include a radio receiver that receives radio resource assignment information including a bandwidth allocation, a controller communicably coupled to the power amplifier, wherein the controller varies an operational maximum power level of the schedulable wireless communication entity based on whether the schedulable wireless communication entity is communicating time-critical traffic or non-time-critical traffic, and wherein the operational maximum power level limits an instantaneous power at which the schedulable wireless communication entity may transmit on the radio resource assigned. |
| US08478327B2 |
Feedback control for multicast or broadcast services
The invention relates to a method for controlling feedback of mobile terminals receiving via an air interface of a mobile communication system a multicast or broadcast service transmitted or forwarded by a feedback control entity and to a mobile terminal, the feedback control entity using this method. Further, a system comprising a feedback control entity and a mobile terminal receiving a multicast or broadcast service is provided. To enable configurable and adaptive feedback for multicast or broadcast services provided via an air interface maintaining the end-to-end session concept the invention suggests selecting a subset of the mobile terminals of the mobile communication system and which receive the multicast or broadcast service for providing feedback to a feedback control entity. In one embodiment of the invention the terminals may decide whether to provide feedback based on a probabilistic experiment performed based on parameters determined and provided by the feedback control entity. |
| US08478322B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and band assigning method
A base station device includes a transmission and reception unit, a no-communication time count unit, an assignment unit, and a duration adjustment unit. The transmission and reception unit transmits and receives user data to and from a mobile terminal. The no-communication time count unit counts the no-communication time in which the transmission and reception of the user data has been interrupted in the mobile terminal. When the no-communication time becomes longer than the duration in which the assignment of the frequency band to the mobile terminal is continued, the assignment unit releases the frequency band assigned to the mobile terminal. When the no-communication time is longer than the duration, and the no-communication time is shorter than the sum of the duration and the monitor time in which it is monitored whether the no-communication time continues after the release of the frequency band, the duration adjustment unit adjusts the duration. |
| US08478319B2 |
Feature extraction and data compression system and method for distributed sensor networks
A distributed sensor network has a base station and clusters of sensor nodes. In a method of locating and classifying signal sources, at each node divides a received signal into blocks, performs Fourier-based transform on the blocks, selects peaks from the transformed blocks, selects subbands with features of interest based on the frequency of occurrence of the peaks across the blocks, collaborates with other nodes in the cluster to make a final selection of the subbands, encodes the subband features of the signal, and transmits the subband features to the base station. The base station processes the received subband features to locate and classify the signal sources. |
| US08478318B2 |
Heterogeneous wireless sensor network bridging device and control method and flow balancing method thereof
A control method for a heterogeneous wireless sensor network (WSN) bridging device includes initializing Zigbee sensor nodes, switching a Zigbee transceiver module to a sleep mode, switching a wireless network transceiver module to an active mode, receiving an task list from a remote main control device, switching the wireless network transceiver module to the sleep mode, switching the Zigbee transceiver module to the active mode, transmitting an operating instruction to the Zigbee sensor nodes, receiving at least one sensing signal from the Zigbee sensor nodes, and determining whether the sensing signals have been received. If yes, a back transmission procedure is executed. The control method solves an interference problem among heterogeneous wireless networks and overcomes a bottleneck in data transmission. |
| US08478315B2 |
System and method for determining an SMS message retransmission schedule
A system and method for determining an SMS retransmission schedule is provided. When a special error code is received by an SMSC, the SMSC can calculate the response time. The response time is the time that lapsed between forwarding the SMS message for delivery and receiving an error code. If the response time exceeds a response time threshold, the error code can be considered as falsely generated. A special retransmission schedule can be assigned to the SMS message. If the response time does not exceed a response time threshold, a different retransmission schedule can be assigned to the SMS message. |
| US08478314B2 |
Communication method for a mobile sensor node in a wireless sensor network
A communication method for a mobile sensor node in a wireless sensor network includes: in a state that the mobile sensor node performs synchronization by a message reception interrupt from a parent sensor node and determines an uplink active duration and a downlink active duration, transmitting a message to the parent sensor node in the transmitting duration of the uplink active duration, receiving and processing messages from the parent sensor node and sensor nodes linearly connected around the parent sensor node in the receiving duration of the uplink active duration, and resetting a new parent sensor node using the received signal strength indications RSSIs of the received messages; and transmitting a message to the parent sensor node in the transmitting duration of the downlink active duration, checking whether or not a message is received from the parent sensor node in the receiving duration of the downlink active duration, if the message is not received from the parent sensor node, determining that time synchronization fails and resetting a new parent sensor node, and if the message is received from the parent sensor node, performing time synchronization according to a message reception interrupt from the parent sensor node. |
| US08478313B2 |
Message service method and message service system
The present invention relates to a message service method and a message service system. The message service method receives a message and a message transmission request from an open service application user and transmits the message to an appropriate transmission infrastructure such that the message arrives at a destination terminal. To achieve this, the message service system includes an open service application server which sends the message and the message transmission request, an open service gateway which reconstructs the message as one of a short message, a WAP Push message and a multimedia message through message analysis, and transmission infrastructures which transmits messages. |
| US08478311B2 |
Intelligent forwarding of short message service and multimedia messaging service messages
Various embodiments of the present disclosure describe techniques for intelligent SMS/MMS routing. In some example embodiments of the present disclosure information indicative of the location of a mobile device can be used by a service provider to determine where to route an incoming SMS/MMS message. In the same, and other embodiments different information can be used to determine where to route incoming SMS/MMS messages such as the electronic address of the originator of the message, and/or whether the mobile device the message is addressed to is in communication with local devices. |
| US08478305B2 |
System and method for integrating location information into an internet phone system
A system and a method for integrating the receipt and transmission of location information into VoIP phone systems. The system may include a location device that includes a SATPS receiver and an antenna together with one or more connectors that allow connection of the location device to other devices, such as a VoIP telephone and a router, that are connected to and made a part of a VoIP phone system. A method of operating such a system is also disclosed. |
| US08478298B1 |
Apparatus and method for selecting access points for use in positioning
Apparatus and method for positioning a device based on wireless local area network signals. In one embodiment, a wireless local network positioning system includes access point selection logic. The access point selection logic includes likelihood computation logic, minimum mean squared error (MMSE) estimation logic, variance computation logic, and access point exclusion logic. The likelihood computation logic is configured to compute a likelihood value for each access point and point of a positioning grid. The MMSE estimation logic is configured to compute an MMSE estimate based on the likelihood values. The variance computation logic is configured to compute an MMSE variance for the MMSE estimate. The access point exclusion logic is configured to determine whether excluding a selected one of the access points reduces the MMSE variance, and to exclude the selected access point from the access points used for positioning, based on the exclusion reducing the MMSE variance. |
| US08478293B2 |
Mobile station paging method and mobile call center device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile station paging method and a mobile call center device, The method includes: receiving a service call request, and selecting a corresponding posterior probability table according to an identifier of a target mobile station included in the service call request, where the posterior probability table includes a distribution probability of the target mobile station in each cell of a location area where the target mobile station is located in a service state; and selecting a cell to page the target mobile station according to the distribution probability. The paging is performed based on the distribution probability of a user in the each cell in the service state; the paging process is simple; and the application scenario is wide, thereby saving air interface resources while ensuring a paging efficiency. |
| US08478292B2 |
Wireless localization method based on an efficient multilateration algorithm over a wireless sensor network and a recording medium in which a program for the method is recorded
A wireless localization technology using efficient multilateration in a wireless sensor network is disclosed. After calculating estimated distances from each of at least three reference nodes to a blind node using received signal strength of wireless signals that the at least three reference nodes received from the blind node, the estimated location of the blind node is obtained through multilateration using the calculated estimated distances. To correct error in the estimated location, the estimated distances are used, and the error correction direction and error correction distance for the estimated location are calculated by applying a largest weight to the reference node closest to the estimated location. The error of the estimated location is corrected by move the estimated location of the blind node by the calculated error correction direction and error correction distance. Calculation for the error correction is very simple and fast. |
| US08478291B2 |
Location accuracy improvement using a priori probabilities
A large volume of high accuracy location data is determined in many commercial wireless networks from location based services (LBS) and, in the United States, for E911. Uplink-Time-Difference-of-Arrival (UTDOA) and Assisted GPS (AGPS) are the predominant geolocation technologies providing these high accuracy locations. In the US alone over 10 million wireless subscribers are located every month because they dial the national emergency number “911” on their mobile phones. This rich set of location data provides an a priori distribution of the location of subscribers in the wireless network. All digital wireless communications networks have a mechanism for the subscribers to time synchronize their handsets to the network. This mechanism provides a band of ranges from the serving cell site to the handset. An a posteriori location estimate can be determined very quickly by considering the a priori distribution of callers in the range band that the current subscriber is in. |
| US08478289B1 |
Predicting geographic population density
The population density for a geographic area is predicted using a Markov Random Field (MRF) model. A MRF model is defined for estimating a number of mobile devices being used within a geographic area. The MRF model includes a set of rules describing how to use current data describing mobile devices currently observed in the area, and historical data describing mobile devices historically observed in the area to produce the estimate. Values of weight parameters in the MRF model are learned using the historical data. The current and historical data are applied to the MRF model having the learned weight parameters, and cost minimization is used to estimate of the number of mobile devices currently being used within the area. This estimate is used to predict the population density for the area. The predicted population density can then be used to provide location-based services. |
| US08478287B2 |
Method for positioning target terminal while protecting privacy of user thereof
A method for positioning a target terminal while protecting the privacy of a user of the target terminal is provided. To this end, the real Identification (ID) of the target terminal is managed only by a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Center (SLC) with which the target terminal make a contract for positioning thereof, so that the real ID is prevented from being exposed to the outside. In this way, even when a plurality of SLCs that can be managed by different network operator performs positioning of a target terminal by using an SUPL Positioning Center (SPC) existing in an external network, the real ID of the target terminal is not transferred to the SPC, and thus the privacy of a user of the target terminal can be protected. |
| US08478285B2 |
Base station, mobile station, synchronization control method, and IC chip
A synchronization control method in a communication system including a mobile station and a base station includes generating a synchronization request at the base station when data addressed to the mobile station arrives, receiving the synchronization request from the base station at the mobile station, transmitting feedback information at the mobile station as a response to the synchronization request, receiving the feedback information at the base station, generating timing advance information at the base station based on a reception timing of the feedback information, transmitting the timing advance information from the base station to the mobile station, and adjusting a transmission timing of uplink data at the mobile station, based on the timing advance information. |
| US08478280B1 |
Minimum coverage area of wireless base station determination
Systems and methods for estimating the minimum geographic coverage of a wireless base station. In an embodiment, the present invention estimates coverage by (1) receiving real-time wireless base station information from the mobile device; (2) extracting a set of location points and system specific information based on the real-time wireless base station information; (3) determining a coverage area based on the set of location points and the system specific information; (4) adjusting for errors based on various factors (5) storing the determined coverage area. |
| US08478279B2 |
Closed-loop Transmission power control method and radio base station apparatus
To set an optimal transmission power control interval such that a base station apparatus properly receives signals from a mobile station, while exploiting fast scheduling and fast AMC, in this closed-loop transmission power control method, reception SINR and average interference level are measured in a signal received in uplink, a time period for averaging reception quality is determined corresponding to an overlapped size of a dynamic range of a base station apparatus that is a region of overlapping a first reception-allowable range depend on reception capability of the base station apparatus, with a second reception-allowable range, varying corresponding to the interference level, depend on the number of a modulation and coding scheme set, each set achieving required throughput, the reception SINR is averaged using the determined time period, and a TPC command indicative of uplink transmission power to be controlled in a terminal apparatus is generated using a difference value between the averaged reception SINR and target reception SINR, and is transmitted in downlink. |
| US08478278B1 |
Location based call routing to subject matter specialist
Disclosed are various embodiments for location based call routing to a subject matter specialist. A call request is obtained from a computing device. The call request pertains to a topic and includes a current location of the computing device. A topic specialist for the topic is identified based at least in part upon the current location of the computing device. The call request is completed by establishing a call between the computing device and a computing device used by the topic specialist. |
| US08478274B2 |
Handover control apparatus, mobile communication system, and handover method
A handover control apparatus includes a service determination unit determining a type of a service being communicated with by a mobile station and a handover processing unit performing handover in accordance with either a network initiative type handover procedure or a mobile station initiative type handover procedure based on the determination. If the service being communicated with by the mobile station belongs to a communication quality guaranteed type service, the handover is performed in accordance with the network initiative type handover procedure. |
| US08478272B2 |
Systems and methods for real time allocation of bandwidth at a femtocell
Systems and methods for real time allocation of radio devices in a femtocell that includes a plurality of software-defined radios (SDRs) are provided. The SDRs can be reconfigured in real time based on the changing network conditions and/or changes to contractual obligations of the femtocell provider. The femtocell can be reconfigured in real time either remotely from a network operations center (NOC) or the femtocell can be configured to automatically detect changing usage patterns and to automatically reconfigure the SDRs. The femtocell can also be configured to receive emergency override signals from the NOC to cause the femtocell to reconfigure one or more of the SDRs for use by emergency responders. |
| US08478271B1 |
Communications apparatus and method for dispersing traffic
A communications apparatus includes a cellular communication unit performing pre-set cellular communication, a Wi-Fi communication unit performing pre-set Wi-Fi communication, and a controller checking an available data rate of an available cellular network and that of a Wi-Fi network to determine a data division ratio by using the cellular communication unit and the Wi-Fi communication unit, obtaining an IP address pair, and transferring data including connection request information, the data division ratio for traffic dispersion, and the IP address pair to the server, according to a connection request from the server. |
| US08478269B2 |
Method and apparatus to enable a UE to return to a wireless network after failure to obtain service
Techniques for enabling a user equipment (UE) to return to a wireless network after failure to obtain a particular service (e.g., voice service) are described. The UE may determine that the wireless network does not support the particular service at a first location (e.g., the current UE location). In response, the UE may disable the wireless network and may refrain from attempting to obtain the particular service (or possibly any service) from the wireless network. The UE may thereafter re-enable the wireless network based on a trigger, which may result from a timer, an event, or broadcast information from another wireless network. After re-enabling the wireless network, the UE may perform cell search and system selection and may detect and select the wireless network. The UE may determine that the wireless network supports the particular service at a second location and may obtain the particular service from the wireless network. |
| US08478266B1 |
Method and system for anonymous operation of a mobile node
A mobile node and its home system generate synchronized time-based codes at periodic time intervals. Each time-based code is valid for a predetermined time period. To facilitate anonymous operation when roaming, the mobile node identifies itself with a coded identifier instead of a public identifier. The coded identifier used at a given time includes the time-based code that is valid for that given time. To authenticate the mobile node, a serving system receives authentication information from the mobile node and forwards the authentication information to a home system. The authentication information includes the current time-based code and a timestamp. The home system identifies the mobile node from the current time-based code and the timestamp. The home system then uses the authentication information to authenticate the mobile node. |
| US08478265B2 |
System and method for adaptive/predictive location-based roaming optimization
Described is a method including collecting roaming data for a network. The method further includes creating a scan list based on the roaming data, wherein the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming. The method further includes transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit. Further described in a system including a collection module collecting roaming data for a network. The system further includes a creation module creating a scan list based on the roaming data, the scan list including a prioritization of a plurality of access points for roaming. The system further includes a transmitter transmitting the scan list to a mobile unit. |
| US08478261B2 |
Predictive wakeup for push-to-talk-over-cellular (POC) call setup optimizations
A predictive wakeup function for Push-to-Talk-over Cellular (PoC) call setup optimizations in a cellular mobile phone network. In performing the predictive wakeup for call setup optimizations, an originating mobile transmits an event trigger to a real-time exchange that interfaces to a mobile switching center in the cellular mobile phone network. The real-time exchange transmits a wakeup message to one or more terminating mobiles of predicted participants, in order to transition the terminating mobiles of the predicted participants from a dormant state to an active state prior to a call being setup with the terminating mobiles of the predicted participants. The terminating mobiles of the predicted participants are identified by a predictive wakeup mechanism before the originating mobile sends a list of one or more terminating mobiles of actual participants to the real-time exchange. The predicted participants may be determined based on static or dynamic information, including heuristics involving calling patterns. |
| US08478257B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal and a control method thereof are provided. Contents displayed in a mobile terminal may be optimized for and displayed on a different mobile terminal in communication therewith. The method for controlling a mobile terminal includes: outputting previously stored contents to a first mobile terminal; and controlling a transmission of the contents being outputted based on characteristic information of a second mobile terminal that is to receive at least a portion of the contents being outputted, wherein there is a difference between the contents being outputted to the first mobile terminal and the contents the second mobile terminal is to receive and output. |
| US08478256B1 |
Communication device
The system comprising a first communication device and a second communication device, wherein when the door is locked by the first communication device, a door locked message is operable to be displayed on the first communication device and/or the second communication device, wherein when the door is unlocked by the first communication device, a door unlocked message is operable to be displayed on the first communication device and/or the second communication device, and wherein when a phone call is implemented by the first communication device, a phone call making log data is produced. |
| US08478252B2 |
Enforcing limits on free and/or discounted electronic communications
Limits are placed on the number of free and/or discounted communications (such as voice calls and text messages) available to a user, based on the number of communications received by the user. A user is given an allotment of credits, each worth one or more free and/or discounted communications. A credit balance is established and is continually adjusted as follows: it is increased whenever qualifying communications of a given type are received, and is decreased whenever free and/or discounted communications of the given type are initiated by the user. Once the credit balance has been depleted, the user may be blocked from initiating additional free or discounted communications, until the credit balance is increased. In at least one embodiment, different types of credits can be earned and/or used for different types of communications. In at least one embodiment, exchanges between the different types of credits may be permitted. |
| US08478249B2 |
Mobile device and communication method thereof
A communication device initiates a telephone call to a called party by dialing a telephone number, detects whether the communication device receives a ringback tone from the called party, displays a variety of application icons for users to make a section if the communication device receives a ringback tone from the called party, and runs a selected application. A related method is also provided. |
| US08478245B2 |
Method and system for rendering content on a wireless device
A method of rendering content on a wireless device. The wireless device sends a message to a server requesting an application and identifies itself with its rendering capabilities. The wireless receives an identification of a custom configuration of a plurality of rendering blocks of the wireless device associated with the application. The custom configuration configures the plurality of rendering blocks of the device. The wireless device receives compiled content from the application executing on the server that includes render commands expressed in a syntax that is device generic but has parameters specific to the rendering capabilities of the wireless device. A reader of the wireless device processes the compiled content and issues commands to individual rendering blocks of a graphical user interface based on the rendering commands of the compiled content and based on the custom configuration. |
| US08478243B2 |
Redemption system for mobile device
A redemption system for a mobile device includes a database module for determining a target customer. A streaming module is connected to the database module for serving content to the target customer. A priority module is connected to the streaming module for implementing a content delivery schedule. The streaming module serves first content data to the target customer. If the target customer affirmatively responds to the first content data, the priority module causes the system to send a redemption mechanism embedded in second content data to the target customer. The redemption mechanism enables the target customer to engage in a redemption activity using the mobile device. |
| US08478241B2 |
Prevention of unsolicited messages
A method for gathering information relating to unsolicited messages. The method comprises deleting in a handheld communication device (1, 100, 200) message information associated with an unsolicited message. In response to deleting the message, information data, which is associated with the deleted message information or the unsolicited message, is forwarded to a message information unit (104, 224). Data information in a memory of said message information unit is updated based on the forwarded data associated with the unsolicited message. A method for blocking messages pertaining to data information stored in the message information unit is also disclosed. |
| US08478237B1 |
Dual-mode vehicle mobile phone disabler
A system prevents operation of a land vehicle having an interior when a communication functionality of a mobile phone is in use within the interior. The system includes a power source and a dual-mode mobile phone disabler including a processor powered by the power source and an antenna operably connected to the processor. Before the vehicle is on, the antenna detects a communication signal from the mobile phone within the interior when the communication functionality including communication with a cell site is in use. In response, the processor prevents the vehicle from being turned on until the antenna detects no use of the communication functionality. The communication signal indicates use of the communication functionality. After the vehicle is on, the processor, via the antenna, periodically communicates with the mobile phone within the interior to keep disabled the communication functionality. When the vehicle is off, the antenna ceases to communicate. |
| US08478236B2 |
User profile based content delivery between a standard handset and a Femtocell device
An access device receives content from a broadband IP network to be communicated to a wireless handset over a radio access network (RAN). The access device acquires a user profile utilized in the radio network for the wireless handset. Based on the acquired user profile, the access device determines transmission parameters utilized for communicating the received content to the wireless handset using an air interface protocol over the radio access network. A security level and/or a security protocol, a transcoding mechanism, and/or transmission bit rate are determined based on the acquired user profile. A resolution, transmission bit rate, coding structure, security protocol and/or security level for transmitting the received content to the wireless handset are adjusted based on the acquired user profile. Alternately, the access device is enabled to receive content from the wireless handset using a transmission profile determined based on user profile of the wireless handset. |
| US08478235B2 |
Methods for providing overdraft protection for post-paid communication service plans
Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period. |
| US08478234B1 |
System and method for controlling, monitoring and recording of wireless communications in penal institutions
A system for controlling, monitoring, and recording of telecommunications services associated with penal institutions is provided. The system comprises processor, memory, and application that receive a first transmission from a telephone number, the first transmission requesting a voice communication session with a portable electronic device associated with a penal institution. The system analyzes a first file containing a listing of at least one telephone number authorized to originate communication with the device, analyzes a second file describing authorized days and time periods for the device to engage in communication originated by the telephone number, and determines, based on the analysis of the first and second files, that the device is authorized to engage in the requested communication. The system also originates a second transmission to the device and connects the first and second transmissions with the second transmission, wherein the application monitors, records, and analyzes communications by the device. |
| US08478233B2 |
Mobile computing device application network use metric and monetary cost monitor and control
A mobile computing device comprising an application network use metric monitoring agent providing a network use metric usage for one or more mobile computing device applications and a network plan interface, wherein, a monetary cost is associated with the network use metric usage for the one or more mobile computing device applications. |
| US08478231B2 |
Method and device for updating a prepaid balance
Disclosed is a method of a mobile communication device, a device and a method of a server for updating the prepaid balance during the active mode of the mobile communication device. The method of the device includes storing in memory a stored prepaid balance prior to initiating a wireless communication via a service provider, initiating an active mode wireless communication and transmitting, during the active mode wireless communication, at least one balance query to the service provider. The method further provides receiving, during the active mode wireless communication, a response to the balance query, determining if the response to the balance query is valid and processing the response to the balance query to obtain a new prepaid balance if the response to the balance query is valid. |
| US08478222B2 |
I/Q calibration for walking-IF architectures
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate calibration techniques for a station in a wireless communication system that can be utilized to provide joint estimates for distortion introduced by in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) imbalance and mixing-product modulated images. |
| US08478221B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient DC calibration in a direct-conversion system with variable DC gain
A wireless communication receiver includes a multitude of look-up tables each storing a multitude of DC offset values associated with the gains of an amplification stage disposed in the wireless communication receiver. The entries for each look-up table are estimated during a stage of the calibration phase. During such a calibration stage, for each selected gain of an amplification stage, a search logic estimates a current DC offset number and compares it to a previous DC offset estimate that is fed back to the search logic. If the difference between the current and previous estimates is less than a predefined threshold value, the current estimate is treated as being associated with the DC offset of the selected gain of the amplification stage and is stored in the look-up table. This process is repeated for each selected gain of each amplification stage of interest until the look-up tables are populated. |
| US08478220B2 |
Discrete time polyphase mixer
Embodiments of a radio frequency (RF) circuit provide translational filtering in accordance with an input impedance response that is an impedance image of a reactive circuit impedance response from a polyphase reactive circuit. The RF circuit may include a first mixer circuit that provides a first frequency offset for the impedance image and a second mixer circuit that provides an additional frequency offset. Accordingly, the second mixer circuit may allow for adjustments to a total frequency offset of the impedance image. The second mixer circuit may also be configured so that the impedance image rejects a negative frequency impedance response of the reactive circuit impedance response. |
| US08478215B2 |
Harmonic rejection mixer and phase adjustment method thereof
A harmonic rejection mixer converts a frequency of a radio frequency signal by using a first to a third local signals (LOs) whose phases are different from each other, and the harmonic rejection mixer includes a phase difference detection circuit for detecting a phase difference between the first LO and the second LO, a phase difference detection circuit for detecting a phase difference between the first LO and the third LO, a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the second LO so that the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection circuit becomes a first phase difference, and a phase adjustment circuit for adjusting the phase of the third LO so that the phase difference detected by the phase difference detection circuit becomes a second phase difference. It is thereby possible to achieve high precision harmonic rejection characteristics. |
| US08478214B2 |
Multi-port distributed antenna
Methods and systems for receiving signals via a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include selectively enabling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) coupled to the antenna. The selective enabling may be based on a desired gain level applied to a signal received from the antenna. The LNAs may be coupled to ports on the antenna based on an input impedance of the LNAs and an impedance of the ports. Each of the LNAs may be configured for optimum linearity in different gain ranges, which may be proportional to the input impedance of the LNAs. The antenna may be integrated on a chip with the LNAs, or may be located external to the chip. The antenna may include a microstrip antenna. The LNAs may include variable gain and may be enabled utilizing a processor. Linearity on demand may be enabled via the selective enabling of the LNAs. |
| US08478213B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power control
Various embodiments include a method for controlling power in a transmitter, the method comprising measuring an indication of an output power of the transmitter, comparing a first value corresponding to the indication of the output power to a second value corresponding to a desired output power; and adjusting a bias of at least one component in the transmitter in order to bring the output power closer to the desired output power. Embodiments also include various methods, systems and apparatus. |
| US08478212B2 |
Apparatus and method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving energy and data
Disclosed is an apparatus for wirelessly transmitting and receiving energy and data including: a signal generator generating a first frequency signal for power transmission; a first matching circuit matching input/output impedance upon receiving the first frequency signal generated by the signal generator; an oscillator outputting a second frequency signal, a carrier frequency, by using the first frequency signal, generated by the signal generator, as a reference frequency; a mixer modulating a data signal output from a communication module by using the second frequency signal; a second matching circuit matching input/output impedance upon receiving a modulated signal by using the second frequency signal; a resonator resonating an output signal from the first matching circuit to a reception side apparatus; and a radiator radiating an output signal from the second matching circuit to the reception side apparatus. |
| US08478211B2 |
Adaptive cartesian loop transmitter for broadband and optimal loop stability adjustment
An integrated circuit includes a linearizer circuit in which excessive delay is compensated. The linearizer circuit includes a power amplifier, forward and feedback paths, and a microprocessor. A signal from the power amplifier is routed by the forward path to be transmitted while a portion of the signal to be transmitted is routed back to the power amplifier via the feedback path. The microprocessor applies phase training signals to the forward path. The microprocessor uses the phase training signals to determine the amount of delay in the linearizer circuit and alters the frequency position of poles and zeros in the linearizer circuit to compensate for the delay. The gain of the linearizer circuit is also altered by the microprocessor depending on the measured delay. |
| US08478208B2 |
Controlling functions of mobile communications devices
Function-control instructions for controlling a function or feature of a device can be created remotely, locally, or both. A device can receive a function-control instruction or a function-control instruction embedded in received content. Additionally, or alternatively, a function-control instruction can be created locally based on user information or calibration information. Function-control instructions can be passed to an instruction execution application that interprets the function-control instruction. The instruction execution application can pass instructions, based on the function-control instruction, to the device for implementation. |
| US08478207B2 |
Data transfer between wireless devices
A method of data transfer between wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) is described. The WTRUs may be within a given geographic area of each other or in communication with the same network. Location information relating to the WTRUs may be determined. The location information may be presented to a user of the WTRU. Data may be transferred from one WTRU to a target WTRU based on user input. The WTRU may determine the target WTRU based on user input and/or location information. The user input may be a gestural input. The gestural input may be received via a display or touchscreen. The user input may identify a given action or identify a particular file for transfer. The WTRU may receive data from the target WTRU. |
| US08478206B2 |
Voice data RF GPS integrated circuit
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a baseband processing module, a GPS receiver, and an RF section. The baseband processing module is coupled to process voice signals and data signals. The global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver module is coupled to process GPS signals. The radio frequency (RF) section id coupled to: transceive the voice signals as RF voice signals; transceive the data signals as RF data signals; and convert GPS RF signals into the GPS signals. |
| US08478200B2 |
Method of transmitting measurement report in wireless communication system
Disclosed is a wireless communication system and terminal for providing a wireless communication service, and more particularly, a method of transmitting a measurement log from a terminal to a network when a RRC connected terminal has not found a RRC connectable network, although a wireless dedicated channel is not allocated between the terminal and the network, in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from a UMTS, Long Term Evolution (LTE) System or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) system. |
| US08478199B2 |
Signal conditioning device with attenuated fail-safe bypass
A signal conditioning device, and method thereof, that can be used to maintain an amount of signal RF level adjustment, which is applied to an input, independently of the availability of the power supplied to the device. In one embodiment, the signal condition device comprises an attenuating circuit, which can have a variable attenuator and a non-volatile attenuator. The variable attenuator is configured to provide a primary amount of signal RF level adjustment in a power-on state, and the non-volatile attenuator is configured to store as a secondary amount the primary amount of the signal RF level adjustment. The non-volatile attenuator is likewise configured so that the secondary amount can be applied when the signal conditioning device enters into a power-off state so as to modify the RF level of the input in order to maintain a relative strength of the transmission at a remote device. |
| US08478197B2 |
Wireless transceiver module
A wireless transceiver module has a plurality of through holes and includes a wireless network chip, a circuit substrate, a Bluetooth chip, and a plurality of conductive connection structures. The Bluetooth chip is disposed between the circuit substrate and the wireless network chip, and the through holes are formed by passing through the wireless network chip, the circuit substrate, and the Bluetooth chip. The conductive connection structures are respectively disposed in the through hole. With the conductive connection structures, the Bluetooth chip, the wireless network chip, and the circuit substrate are electrically connected with each another. |
| US08478196B1 |
Two-factor user authentication using near field communication
A user is authenticated to a mobile computing device using an NFC tag. The NFC tag may be initially associated when an NFC reader of the device senses the NFC tag and wirelessly retrieves a tag identifier from the tag. The tag identifier is stored for subsequent retrieval. The authentication process begins after receiving a valid password and then positioning the device proximate the object such that the NFC reader of the device retrieves the tag identifier from the NFC tag without receiving input at the mobile computing device. In the event that the retrieved tag identifier matches the stored tag identifier, the mobile computing device is unlocked and the user may access the mobile computing device. If the retrieved tag identifier does not match the stored tag identifier, the user is not authenticated and the mobile computing device remains locked. |
| US08478193B2 |
Device-identifying system, device-identifying method, controlling device, and controlled device
There is provided an device-identifying system including: a controlling device capable of communicating with external devices via a network and using a wireless communication method to transmit an device-identifying signal, for identifying one of the external devices capable of communicating by the wireless communication method, to the one of the external devices without relying on the network; and a controlled device capable of communicating with the controlling device via the network, when the controlled device receives the device-identifying signal from the controlling device, the controlled device transmitting, to the network via multicast or broadcast, a response indicating that the controlled device has received the device-identifying signal, wherein when the controlling device receives the response, the controlling device determines that the controlled device having transmitted the response is the device having received the device-identifying signal transmitted from the controlling device. |
| US08478192B2 |
Method and a device in a mobile station for maintaining a communication link to a radio base station in a cellular telephony system
The invention concerns a temporary radio base station, temporary RBS (140), which can gain and maintain control of the traffic to and from a targeted radio base station (120) in a wireless cellular telecommunications system (100), and a dedicated user terminal (530) for use the system. The dedicated user terminal (530) comprises an identification device being arranged to identify the temporary RBS (140) by use of unique information being at least embedded in a transmitted signal from the temporary RBS (140). The dedicated user terminal (530) is arranged to disregard the temporary RBS (140) when detected, and to choose the targeted RBS (120), or an RBS arranged to operate in a neighboring cell, in the same manner as if the temporary RBS (140) would not exist. The invention also relates to a method for the devices and a system comprising the devices. |
| US08478191B2 |
Short range booster with multiple antennas
Systems, methods and techniques for operating a wireless repeater with multiple antennas are presented. Signals from a wireless communication device are received by a wireless repeater on at least two branch channels associated with at least two repeater receiver antennas. Path or space diversity is resolved from the signals, and the signals are processed on the at least two branch channels to produce at least one strong signal to be repeated to another wireless communication device. |
| US08478186B2 |
Educational system and method for testing memorization
The educational system for testing memorization provides a computerized classroom system for testing a student's memorization of a text to be recited, for example, the text of the Qur'an. A set of digital data representing a text of a written work to be memorized by a student, such as the text of the Qur'an, is recorded in a database. Upon selection of a text portion to be tested, the portion is divided into individual words, and the user recites the portion, with the audio input being received and recorded by the system. The audio input from the user is converted into textual data, which is compared with a corresponding word of the portion stored in the database. If the spoken word matches the corresponding word portion stored in the database, the word is instantly displayed on a computer display, and the user may then speak the next word. |
| US08478181B2 |
Recording material cooling device and image forming apparatus
A recording material cooling device includes: a transporting section that transports a recording material; a heat radiation section that radiates heat of the recording material through the transporting section, the heat radiation section coming into contact with the transporting section; an air current generating section that generates an air current which flows through the heat radiation section; and a pair of passages that are respectively located before and after a zone where the transporting section and the heat radiation section are brought into contact with each other, each of the pair of passages being formed on an outer side of the heat radiation section to flow a portion of the air current. |
| US08478178B2 |
Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web with contact pre-heating of web and marking material and methods of fixing marking material to a web
Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web. |
| US08478175B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A control portion obtains a first difference in a movement amount between paper passing period and paper non-passage period of a transfer belt, and determines whether or not a first absolute value thereof is a first threshold value or more. In a case where the first absolute value is the first threshold value or more, a transfer belt unit positional adjustment motor is driven to adjust a first angle with respect to a first direction of a transfer belt unit with respect to a photoreceptor drum. In a case where the first absolute value is less than the first threshold value, a second absolute value of a second difference between a movement amount and a designed value set in advance of the transfer belt is obtained, and whether or not the second absolute value is a second threshold value or more is determined. When the second absolute value is less than the second threshold value, the processing is finished, and when the second absolute value is the second threshold value or more, a second angle with respect to a second direction orthogonal to the first direction of the driving roller with respect to the photoreceptor drum is adjusted so as to be less than the second threshold value by a driving roller positional adjustment motor. |
| US08478167B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus is provided with an image forming station including photoconductive drums and adapted to form toner images on surfaces of the respective photoconductive drums, and a drive control unit for rotating and driving the photoconductive drums. The image forming station includes a reference pulse output section for generating a reference pulse having a cycle equal to or an integral multiple of a rotation cycle of the photoconductive drums and outputting the reference pulse to the drive control unit. The drive control unit includes a phase peak detector for detecting phase peaks of surface speeds of the photoconductive drums, a phase difference detector for detecting phase differences between an edge of the reference pulse and the phase peaks, and a phase synchronization controller for synchronizing phases of the surface speeds of the photoconductive drums by controlling rotation speeds of the photoconductive drums according to the phase differences. |
| US08478166B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus having removable cartridge with coupling member
A cartridge mountable in an image forming apparatus includes a rotatable member, a hollow cylindrical portion, having first and second inner grooves, that transmits a rotational force to the rotatable member, a coupling member having a spherical base portion and an axially movable pin penetrating the spherical base portion and having first and second end portions projected outside the base portion, and a limiting portion, provided in the first inner groove, for limiting axial movement of the pin. When the coupling member is inclined to a maximum extent within a predetermined inclination range, after movement of the pin is limited, so that the first end portion moves away, and the second end portion moves toward, the rotatable member, the first end portion is disengaged from the first inner groove, whereas the second end portion is engaged with the second inner groove. |
| US08478163B2 |
Image forming device, toner cartridge, developer cartridge, and image bearing member cartridge
A photosensitive member cartridge 20, a developing cartridge 40, and a toner cartridge 60 can be mounted in and removed from a common mounting/removing opening 2a through a common path without enlarging the device. The mounting/removing opening 2a also can be made comparatively small. Thus, a configuration is simplified. The toner cartridge 60 can be mounted or removed by rotating a handle 62 to an upper direction. The developing cartridge 40 and the toner cartridge 60 can be mounted or removed by pressing down a handle 25. The photosensitive member cartridge 20, the developing cartridge 40, and the toner cartridge 60 can be individually exchanged depending on lifetime of the cartridges. |
| US08478159B2 |
Image forming apparatus with a vibration prevention member
A developing unit is pivotally supported by a pivot pin so as to be swingable, and a forcing lever forces a developing roller towards a photosensitive drum so that an outer circumferential surface of a DS roller makes contact with an outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum. This maintains, at a specified value, a developing gap between the photosensitive drum and the developing roller. A sympathetic vibration prevention member in which an elastic member is provided on an upper surface of the base member is inserted between a lower portion of a housing of the developing unit and a guide rail provided under the lower portion. This prevents the developing unit from vibrating in sympathetic with vibration during the transportation of the image forming apparatus, which prevents the toner from spilling out. |
| US08478158B2 |
Developing device
A developing device includes a developer carrier, a developing unit housing which rotatably supports the developer carrier, a side seal member which comes into slidable contact with both ends of the developer carrier, a sheet-like elongated seal member which extends in the axial direction of the developer carrier so as to come into slidable contact with the developer carrier, a side seal attachment surface which is formed in the developing unit housing and to which the side seal member is attached, and a support portion which is formed in the developing unit housing and protrudes toward the developer carrier from the side seal attachment surface to support the elongated seal member. The elongated seal member is attached onto the support portion in a state where both ends thereof overlap the side seal member and are opposite the side seal attachment surface. |
| US08478155B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and job processing method for the same
An information processing apparatus to output, to an image forming apparatus, a print job using paper stored in paper feed units includes an acquisition unit, a generation unit, an addition unit, and a transmission unit. The acquisition unit acquires configuration information for each paper feed unit including type and number of sheets of paper capable of storage in each paper feed unit. The generation unit generates, based on type and number of sheets of paper required to be used for an externally acquired print job and the acquired configuration information, paper allocation information for associating a paper feed unit with type and number of sheets of paper in such away as to reduce replacement of paper. The addition unit adds the generated paper allocation information to the print job. The transmission unit transmits the print job with the added paper allocation information to the image forming apparatus. |
| US08478152B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method using different transfer voltages when recording material is heated in different image forming modes using different numbers of heating device
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member for carrying a toner image, a transferer supplied with a voltage to transfer a toner image from the member onto a recording material in a transfer portion, heaters with different heating conditions for heating the image transferred onto the material, a refeeder for refeeding the material to the transfer portion to transfer the image onto the material having the image fixed by the heater, a selector for selecting the glossiness of the image after fixing, a device for determining the heater to heat the image from the heaters in accordance with the glossiness selected by the selector, and a device for changing the voltage for transferring the image onto the refed material in accordance with the heater having heated the image on the material prior to the material being refed by the refeeder. |
| US08478148B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus
A fixing unit includes: a support member; an endless-belt-like fixing member which is wound on the support member; a pressure member which rotates in a fixed rotation direction while being pressed onto the fixing member; a fixing portion in which the fixing member and the pressure member abut against each other to perform fixation on a recording medium; a separation unit which is provided in a space between the support member and the fixing member on a downstream side of the fixing member in a rotation direction of the fixing member and for separating the recording medium from the fixing member; a separation portion which is provided in the separation unit to press the fixing member onto the pressure member and guide the fixing member to leave the pressure member; and an adjustment unit as defined herein. |
| US08478143B2 |
Heating device and image forming apparatus
A heating device includes: a heat generating unit generating heat in response to energization of an alternating-current power supply; a zero-crossing signal generating circuit generating a zero-crossing signal in synchronization with a zero-crossing time of the alternating-current power supply; an energization regulating unit regulating an energization period of the heat generating unit by the alternating-current power supply; a voltage change rate detecting unit detecting whether a rate of voltage change of the alternating-current power supply at the zero-crossing time is equal to or larger than an predetermined value; a switching unit switching on and off a connection between the alternating-current power supply and the heat generating unit; and an energization disabling unit disabling energization of the heat generating unit by controlling the switching unit when the rate of voltage change is equal to or larger than the predetermined value. |
| US08478142B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner sensor status sensing method thereof and determination of agitator abnormality
An image forming apparatus which comprises a developing unit having a toner and a developer therein, the apparatus includes a toner sensor to receive a control voltage and to generate an output voltage corresponding to a remaining amount of the toner in the developing unit, a pulse width modulator to supply the control voltage to the toner sensor corresponding to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal and a controller to control the pulse width modulator to supply the control voltage to the toner sensor to adjust a duty ratio of the PWM signal and make the output voltage reach a target value. |
| US08478135B2 |
Method and apparatus for polarization-division-multiplexed optical receivers
An optical receiver includes a two-stage constant modulus algorithm (CMA) equalizer. The first stage is a modified version of a CMA equalizer and the second stage is a conventional CMA equalizer. The first stage may be made up of four sub-equalizers, of which only two of the sub-equalizers are independent, i.e., uncorrelated to each other. This first stage equalizer compensates for polarization-mode dispersion (PMD). The second stage equalizer is a conventional CMA equalizer made up of four sub-equalizers that are adjusted independently. This second stage equalizer may compensate for polarization-dependent loss (PDL). The receiver includes a first processor that determines PMD information based on a plurality of transfer function parameters of the modified CMA equalization of the first stage equalizer and the modified-equalized output and a second processor that determines PDL based on a plurality of transfer function parameters of the CMA equalization of the second stage equalizer. |
| US08478133B2 |
Method for encoding and decoding of optical signals
The present invention refers to a method for robust multi-level encoding of optical signals. The method uses a transmitter that transforms electric signals into optical signals and a receiver capable to transform optical signals into electric signals. The transmitter is capable to generate optical pulses having at least two different durations. The amplitudes of the pulses are preferably close to each other. The transmitter is fast, and the receiver is slow such that the response time of the receiver exceeds at least the shortest of the durations of the optical pulses. Then the receiver effectively integrates the optical signal and generates the electric signal having a larger amplitude when the optical signal has a larger duration. Thus, the method converts the modulation in pulse duration into the modulation in signal amplitude. In different embodiments of the present invention, the transmitter can be realized by a light-emitting diode, superluminescent light-emitting diode, or a diode laser. The receiver can be realized by a p-i-n diode, by a resonant cavity photodetector, or by an avalanche photodiode. |
| US08478131B2 |
Optical communication system having enhanced spectral efficiency using electronic signal processing
An optical communication system combines strong electrical pre-filtering of data at the transmitter and digital feedback equalization (DFE) at the receiver to enhance spectral efficiency. The system can be applied to optical networking and digital communication systems, including binary modulated systems optical network systems. |
| US08478130B2 |
Optical communication device
An optical communication device includes a transmitter module and a receiver module. The transmitter module includes a two laser sources, two optical modulators optically coupled to the two light sources, respectively, and an optical coupler, a semiconductor optical amplifier, an optical coupler, four optical band-pass filters or a demultiplexer, and an optical multiplexer optically coupled in series. The laser beams emitted from the two laser sources are converted into four laser beams having different frequencies due to a four-wave mixing effect occurring in the semiconductor optical amplifier. The receiver module includes a demultiplexer and four photoelectric conversion elements to receive the four laser beams respectively and convert them to electrical signals. |
| US08478128B2 |
Transceiver module and integrated circuit with dual eye openers
A transceiver module having integrated eye diagram opening functionality for reducing jitter is described. The transceiver module may include a transmitter eye opener and a receiver eye opener integrated in a single circuit. The transceiver module may also include serial control and various other integrated components. Other functionalities that may be integrated on the transceiver module include loopback modes, bypass features, bit error rate testing, and power down modes. |
| US08478126B1 |
Phase lock loop for optical wireless network
An apparatus comprises a platform, an optical transmitter associated with the platform, an optical detector associated with the platform, a sensor associated with the platform, a phase-locked loop circuit, and a processor unit associated with the platform. The optical transmitter is configured to transmit first optical signals. The optical detector is configured to receive optical signals. The phase-locked loop circuit is configured to indicate a presence of second optical signals in the optical signals indicating a time interval to transmit information in the first optical signals. The processor unit is electrically connected to the optical detector, the optical transmitter, and the sensor. The processor unit is associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. The processor unit is configured to transmit the information in the first optical signals using the optical transmitter during the time interval. |
| US08478124B1 |
Optical IMA architecture
The present invention is a device including a wavelength division multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of optical carrier signals on an optical fiber. A mission processor, including an optical line terminal (OLT) is communicatively coupled to a wavelength division multiplexor branch unit via an optical fiber for generating a plurality of fiber optic branches. A plurality of fiber optic branches communicatively coupled with the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit for communicating one or more signals to at least one optical network unit, wherein the mission processor transmits a first signal having at least one downstream wavelength to the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit, and wherein the plurality of fiber optic branches are configured for transmitting a branch signals having a plurality of wavelengths. |
| US08478123B2 |
Imaging devices having arrays of image sensors and lenses with multiple aperture sizes
An array camera may be formed from an array of lenses, an array of corresponding apertures, and an array of corresponding image sensors. The array of apertures may be configured so that some image sensors receive light through apertures of different size than other image sensors. Providing apertures of smaller size increases the F/# of an array camera and increases the depth-of-field in a captured image. The array of image sensors may include a near-infrared image sensor. Providing an image sensor array with a near-infrared image sensor may enhance depth information in captured images or increase night vision capabilities of an array camera. Combining an array of image sensors that includes a near-infrared sensor with an array of apertures having different aperture diameters may allow increased depth-of-field imaging, enhanced extraction of depth information from an image, improved night vision, enhanced image clarity or other improvements. |
| US08478118B2 |
Systems and methods for temperature sensing in a deicer
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a deicer system for heating water within a fluid receptacle to prevent ice from forming including a main body configured to be positioned within the fluid receptacle, a heating element adapted to heat the water, a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature, and a control unit in communication with the heating element and the temperature sensor. The heating element is supported by the main body. The temperature sensor is thermally connected to the heating element. The control unit is adapted to determine a temperature of the water based at least in part on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The control unit is adapted to control the heating element based at least in part on the determined temperature of the water. |
| US08478113B2 |
Video server
According to one embodiment, a video server includes a plurality of processors and a log data integration unit. Each of the plurality of processors includes a generation module, a storage module, and a transmission module. The generation module generates the log data including at least an event occurrence time. The storage module stores the log data. The transmission module transmits the log data stored in the storage module to the log data integration unit via the common bus. The log data integration unit includes a reception module and an integration module. The reception module receives the log data from the plurality of processors via the common bus. The integration module integrates the received log data in an occurrence time order. |
| US08478112B2 |
Digital broadcast recording device
A digital broadcast recording device includes a receiving component, a program information memory component, a first setting component, a second setting component, an extraction component and a recording execution component. The first setting component sets a recording condition based on a first operation input. The recording condition indicates whether to record program information corresponding to one physical channel, or to record program information corresponding to a subset of a specific number of sub-channels included in the one physical channel. The second setting component sets a channel number corresponding to the subset of the specific number of the sub-channels based on a second operation input. The extraction component extracts the program information corresponding to the subset of the specific number of the sub-channels set by the second setting component. The recording execution component records the program information to the program information memory component. |
| US08478093B2 |
Multimode interference coupler and method for the structural configuration thereof
A multimode interference coupler includes at least one supply waveguide and at least one output waveguide, wherein the coupler has along its longitudinal extent in the direction of the supply waveguide at least one longitudinal section in which the refractive index has a locally oscillating profile in a direction running substantially at right angles to the direction of the supply waveguide. A method for the structural configuration of such a multimode interference coupler. |
| US08478091B2 |
Single-Stage 1×5 grating-assisted wavelength division multiplexer
A single-stage 1×5 grating-assisted wavelength division multiplexer is provided. A grating-assisted asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer, a plurality of grating-assisted cross-state directional couplers and a plurality of novel side-band eliminators are combined to form the multiplexer. Only general gratings are required, not Bragg grating, for 5-channel wavelength division multiplexing in a single stage. A nearly ideal square-like band-pass filtering passband is obtained. The present disclosure can be used as a core device in IC-to-IC optical interconnects for multiplexing and demultiplexing of an optical transceiver. The present disclosure has a small size and good performance. |
| US08478090B2 |
Optical waveguide device and manufacturing method of optical waveguide device
A 90-degree optical hybrid interferometer having an optical path length difference to a pair of the optical signal waveguide arm and the local oscillator optical waveguide arm at either the I phase side or the Q phase side at the TE optical signal side and the TM optical signal side respectively thus giving a phase delay to output interference signals of the I phase side and the Q phase side. The 90-degree optical hybrid interferometer has eight output ports arranged in order of Ip, In, Qp, and Qn at both the TE side and the TM side respectively, by setting the output phase difference which is the sum of the phase difference according to the optical path length difference and phase conversion characteristics of each optical coupler at the I phase side and the Q phase side and the phase delay, as +π/2. |
| US08478086B2 |
Imaging laser diodes with a lightwave circuit
An apparatus for imaging light from a plurality of laser diodes (504) onto a multi-channel light valve (6) includes a plurality of laser diodes each coupled to at least one fiber waveguide (508). A planar lightwave circuit (408) is coupled to at least one waveguide on a first side (508), and to the multi-planar light valve (6) on a second side. |
| US08478084B2 |
Beam area adjustment through fiber bending
A device having two sets of raised portions inside a metal case is provided for bending an optic fiber. According to some embodiments, the two sets of raised portions are on two plates that are biased apart by a spring means. According to some embodiments, the metal case prevents viewing of an optic fiber in the metal case. According to some embodiments, an adjustable stopping element is provided to limit movement of the two plates toward each other. |
| US08478083B2 |
Multi-stage polarization rotator
Consistent with the present disclosure, a rotator is provided that includes multiple stages, each of which including waveplate and delay sections. The waveplate and delay sections each exhibit birefringence and have polarization eigen states that are tilted with respect to each other. The lengths of the delay and waveplate sections are selected such that, for example, a relatively high extinction ratio can be achieved over a relatively wide range of fabrication perturbations to the waveplates or delay sections and over a relatively wide range of wavelengths. Accordingly, the rotator consistent with the present disclosure is more tolerant of deviations in the optical signal polarization. |
| US08478080B2 |
Securing of documents by means of digital watermark information
In the production of a document, image information is incorporated into a plurality of layers of the document such that the pieces of image information are combined into a total image. The image information in at least two of the layers includes digital watermark information. The entirety of the digital watermark information in the at least two layers forms a security feature for an authentication of the document. The invention further relates to a respective document, a method for authentication, and a device for authentication. |
| US08478076B2 |
Alignment of digital images and local motion detection for high dynamic range (HDR) imaging
Image alignment operations particular suited for High Dynamic Range (HDR) image generation are described. Image pyramids may be generated using reference and source images. Difference bitmaps, based on a number of pixel shift combinations in the x and y directions, can be divided into tiles and analyzed and, for each pyramid level, an optimal shift direction determined. The tiles can then be pruned using a threshold such that only those tiles contributing up to the threshold are projected to a subsequent pyramid level. The alignment vector for each level can be aggregated to determine a final alignment vector which can be used to shift the source image. This process may be repeated for another source image, and the two source images and reference image, once aligned, may be merged to generate an HDR image. |
| US08478072B2 |
Device, method, and program for image processing
An image processing device includes a subject region detector that detects a subject region from an input image; a cutting unit that cuts an image of the subject region from the input image; a priority calculator that calculates a priority of each of predetermined regions on a boundary with respect to the subject region, for the input image; a retrieval unit that retrieves a region similar to an image of a predetermined region with a top priority from among the priorities, from the input image after the image of the subject region is cut; a recovery unit that recovers the subject region by copying an image of an adjacent region that is adjacent to the region similar to the predetermined region retrieved by the retrieval unit and includes a region corresponding to a region cut as the subject region, and by pasting the image obtained by copying onto the region that is adjacent to the predetermined region with the top priority and cut as the subject region; and a composition unit that combines the image of the subject region cut by the cutting unit with the image with the subject region recovered by the recovery unit. |
| US08478070B2 |
Information processing apparatus, block detection method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus according to the present invention including a Hough transform unit executing the Hough transformation on a biometrics image which is image information unique to a living body, and a block detection unit detecting whether a block having a predetermined shape is included in a Hough space image which is a Hough-transformed biometrics image, outputting present position information representing a position at which the block is located in the Hough space image when the block is determined to be included in the Hough space image. |
| US08478069B2 |
Deconvolution for the reduction of blurring induced by internal reflections
A system and method of image processing employ mathematical deconvolution to estimate the magnitude and location of a target object within an image. Both the nature of internal reflections and the convolution process by which each internal reflection contributes to blurring of the acquired image data may be measured and modeled. In accordance with mathematical deconvolution techniques, the combined effects of these internal reflections may be reduced to the extent that respective contributions of the target object and each individual reflection may be distinguished and quantified. |
| US08478068B2 |
Image processing device, electronic instrument, and information storage medium for evaluating composition of input image
An image processing device includes a weighted image generation section that generates a weighted image in which at least one of an object-of-interest area of an input image and an edge of a background area other than the object-of-interest area is weighted, a composition grid generation section that generates a composition grid that includes grid lines that are weighted, and a composition evaluation section that performs composition evaluation calculations on the input image based on the weighted image and the composition grid. |
| US08478065B2 |
Pixel processing
A method of processing pixels of an image comprises determining the most homogenous region of the image, calculating a threshold (th) according to the content of the determined region, selecting pixels in the image according to the calculated threshold (th), and applying a gain to the selected pixels. The method can also further comprise calculating the gain according to the content of the image. |
| US08478064B2 |
Selective diffusion of filtered edges in images
An edge-preserving diffusion filter maintains the sharp edges in images while smoothing out image noise. An edge-preserving diffusion filter applies an edge-preserving smoothing filter to an image to form a filtered image. The modified image is then blurred by a blurring filter to form a blurred image. The modified image and the blurred image are blended together to form an output image based on an error metric associated with each pixel. The edge-preserving diffusion filter may be utilized to perform a multilevel decomposition of the image. The edge-preserving diffusion filter may be applied to an unfiltered image to produce a base image. The difference between the unfiltered image and the base image defines a detail image. The detail image may be used as the input for recursively generating additional levels of detail. The multilevel decomposition may utilize filter kernels associated with different contrast levels for each iteration. |
| US08478060B2 |
Method and device for compressing an image and storage medium carrying an image compressed by said method
The invention is related to a method for compressing images. The proposed method comprises associating perceptual importance parameters with pixels of the image, applying a transform on the image, partitioning the transformed image into code blocks and encoding coefficient bits of a given code block together from a most significant bit plane towards a least significant bit plane, wherein encoding of at least one coefficient is truncated at a truncation bit plane depending on the perceptual importance parameter associated with the pixel to which said code block coefficient corresponds. Truncating encoding of coefficients in dependency on the perceptual importance of the pixel associated with the coefficient allows for truncating coefficients corresponding to perceptually less important pixels at more significant bit planes. So, the overall perceptual quality of the compressed image is enhanced. |
| US08478055B2 |
Object recognition system, object recognition method and object recognition program which are not susceptible to partial concealment of an object
An object recognition system in which fall of the recognition rate is suppressed when an object is recognized based on an image even if there is a partial concealment and the object can be recognized even if the region of concealment is large with large calculation amount. With regard to each of a plurality of partial regions of an object image, partial recognition score of recognition object category is determined by judging whether it is a recognition object category or not. Under a condition that it is a recognition object category, total score is calculated using the total product of nonoccurrence probability of the partial recognition score, and a judgment is made that the object is not a recognition object category by that total score. |
| US08478054B2 |
Method and system for text classification
The present disclosure discloses simplified text classification with improved classification accuracy. The content of receive text is segmented to obtain multiple words. A sum of word vectors of the multiple words at a first level vector space of a vector space group is determined. A vector space in the vector space group is composed of one or more direct child classes that are non-leaf child classes in a tree class structure. The text is classified into a class among various class of the first level vector space that has a shortest distance to the sum of the word vectors. |
| US08478052B1 |
Image classification
An image classification system trains an image classification model to classify images relative to text appearing with the images. Training images are iteratively selected and classified by the image classification model according to feature vectors of the training images. An independent model is trained for unique n-grams of text. The image classification system obtains text appearing with an image and parses the text into candidate labels for the image. The image classification system determines whether an image classification model has been trained for the candidate labels. When an image classification model corresponding to a candidate label has been trained, the image classification subsystem classifies the image relative to the candidate label. The image is labeled based on candidate labels for which the image is classified as a positive image. |
| US08478051B2 |
Generalized statistical template matching under geometric transformations
A method of detecting a geometrically transformed object in an image comprises comparing a template comprising a plurality of line segments for the object with regions of an image, and determining a similarity measure that uses a statistical measure based on the sums of pixel values of line segments of the image corresponding to each of the line segments of the template. Embodiments of the invention use a discrete set of geometrically transformed versions of the template, for example using the similarity transform. |
| US08478048B2 |
Optimization of human activity determination from video
In an embodiment, automated analysis of video data for determination of human behavior includes providing a programmable device that segments a video stream into a plurality of discrete individual frame image primitives which are combined into a visual event that may encompass an activity of concern as a function of a hypothesis. The visual event is optimized by setting a binary variable to true or false as a function of one or more constraints. The optimized visual event is processed in view of associated non-video transaction data and the binary variable by associating the optimized visual event with a logged transaction if associable, issuing an alert if the binary variable is true and the optimized visual event is not associable with the logged transaction, and dropping the optimized visual event if the binary variable is false and the optimized visual event is not associable. |
| US08478046B2 |
Signature mark detection
A system and method for detection of signature marks in documents are provided. The method includes selecting candidate text objects in document pages and identifying a sequence of elements therein. The sequence has a numbering pattern including an incremental part and optionally a fixed part. Missing elements between two detected elements of the sequence are permitted. For an identified sequence, a model of the sequence is generated, which includes the numbering pattern of the sequence, an increment, which is computed based on the distance between pages on which consecutive elements of the sequence are identified, a valid sequence having an increment of greater than 1, and a first page, which corresponds to a page of the document on which the sequence starts. The sequence is then validated with the model, allowing elements of the sequence in the pages of the document to be identified as signature marks. |
| US08478045B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing an image comprising characters
Method and apparatus for processing an image including a character are disclosed. The method may include: searching in a set of characters one or more characters having highest similarities of shape to a character in the set of characters, hereinafter the character being referred to as a first character, the one or more searched characters forming a similar character list of the first character; searching in the set of characters one or more characters having highest similarities of shape to each character in the similar character list of the first character, to form a similar character list of each character in the similar character list of the first character; and selecting in the similar character lists one or more characters having a high mutual similarity between each other, as a character cluster. |
| US08478044B2 |
System and method for image segmentation by optimizing weighted curvature
A method for segmenting an object in a digital image includes computing, for each point vi in the image, weights wijk of a curvature clique vjvivk for each successive pair of edges eij, eik incident on point vi, decomposing each curvature clique into pairwise edge weights to form a new set of edges by adding, for all points vj, vk, an edge eij with weight wij, an edge eik with weight wik, and an edge ejk with weight wjk, where weight wij equals weight wik equals ½ wijk, and weight wjk equals −½ wijk, computing an indicator function of the points of the image indicative of whether each point belongs to an object of interest by minimizing a functional of the indicator function, and segmenting the object of interest from the image based on the value of the indicator function x at each image point. |
| US08478038B2 |
Method and system for predictive scaling of colour mapped images
A method for determining a scaled color map of a scaled image is described using the transformation of the original color map and the original image only, independently of the scaled image. A number of colors N in the original color map is determined; and provided N>Nmax, all colors in the original color map are reused in the scaled color map. If N |
| US08478037B2 |
Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. |
| US08478036B2 |
Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. |
| US08478035B2 |
Method and apparatus for engaging functionality with a color tag
A method of creating and/or detecting a color tag being displayed or to be displayed along with or as part of an image, wherein the color tag comprises an attribute or information identifying an attribute that will be communicated to an application and/or device. In one embodiment of this method, the application and/or device is capable of taking an action associated with the color tag. The method of creating a color tag further comprises associating the color tag with an image to be displayed on a display, wherein the color tag will be displayed with or as part of the image on the display. The method of detecting a color tag also comprises communicating the attribute or information identifying the attribute to the application and/or device capable of taking an action associated with the color tag. |
| US08478028B2 |
Method and system for converting at least one first-spectrum image into a second-spectrum image
Method for converting at least one image of a first spectrum into an image of a second spectrum, comprising: —recording at least one first-spectrum reference image (NRI) of at least one reference scene (RS) with a first-spectrum recording apparatus (1), the first-spectrum reference image (NRI) comprising first image portions with corresponding first-spectrum sensor reference data (b1, b2); —providing corresponding second-spectrum reference information (RGB); —providing at least one set of reference data (T1, T2) from at least part of the first-spectrum sensor reference data (b1, b2) relating to the reference scene (RS), and at least a corresponding part of the second-spectrum information (RGB) relating to that reference scene (RS); —providing at least one target first-spectrum image (NTI) or target second-spectrum image; and —converting each target first-spectrum image (NTI) or target second-spectrum image into a respective second-spectrum image (CI) or first-spectrum image, respectively, using the set of reference data (T1, T2). |
| US08478027B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image reproducing system and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a judgment unit and a conversion unit. The storage unit stores a reference color characteristic. The judgment unit judges as to whether or not a difference between an input color characteristic that is a color characteristic of input image data and the reference color characteristic is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. The conversion unit converts the input image data into a color characteristic that can be reproduced by an image reproducing apparatus, based on the reference color characteristic if the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value. |
| US08478026B2 |
Method and system for transparency adjustment and occlusion resolution for urban landscape visualization
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens. |
| US08478019B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A first plurality of documents is received, transported, and imaged to produce image data. Identifying information is extracted from the image data for each of the first plurality of documents. The document processing device determines whether each of the first plurality of documents satisfies a flag criterion. In response to one of the first plurality of documents satisfying the flag criterion, a visually readable image of at least a portion of the flagged document is displayed using the image data associated with a flagged document and a find document element is displayed. An activation of the find document element is received and the flagged document is designated as a find document by storing the extracted identifying information associated with the find document in a find document queue. |
| US08478018B2 |
Method for sample cell analysis using a virtual analysis plate
A method includes carrying out at least a first processing of a sample (2), the processing being adapted to mark pathological cells among the sample cells; and carrying out several image acquisitions of the sample (2) provided on an analysis plate (6) in order to obtain images each representing an area of the analysis plate (6) wherein the images set side by side define an image (20) of the entire sample. The method further includes automatically running all the acquired images of the sample (2) on a display at a predetermined running speed, the speed being adapted for enabling an observer to analyze the image and to determine if the represented sample area includes potentially pathological cells or not; and stopping the running if at least one abnormality is detected that may indicate the presence of a pathological cell. |
| US08478015B2 |
Extension of truncated CT images for use with emission tomography in multimodality medical images
An apparatus and method for expanding the FOV of a truncated computed tomography (CT) scan. An iterative calculation is performed on the original CT image to produce an estimate of the image. The calculated estimate of the reconstructed image includes the original image center and a estimate of the truncated portion outside the image center. The calculation uses an image mask with the image center as one boundary. |
| US08478014B2 |
Apparatus for generating an image of moving object
The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an image of a moving object, wherein a movement of the object comprises a multiple of moving phases. The apparatus comprises a measured detection data providing unit (20) for providing measured detection data of the moving object, which have been detected by using a detection process and which are assigned to the moving phases. The apparatus comprises further a reconstruction unit (13) for reconstructing an image object of the object from the provided measured detection data and an adaptation unit (18) for adapting the image object for different moving phases such that simulated detection data are adapted to the measured detection data of the respective moving phase, wherein the simulated detection data are determined by simulating the detection process, which has been used for detecting the measured detection data assigned to the respective moving phase, with the image object. |
| US08478013B2 |
Automatic motion map generation in helical CT
As an illustration of generating a motion map, although the cardiac CT is described for selecting an optimal phase, the disclosure is not limited to the cardiac CT. For the cardiac CT, the cardiac phase map is efficiently generated based upon helical scan data, and the optimal phase is selected within a reasonable time. At the same time, the optimal phase is accurately determined based upon complementary rays as indexes for minimal movement so as to select the projection data for minimizing artifacts in reconstructed cardiac images. The helically scanned data reflect motion within the same cardiac cycle or over the continuous cardiac cycles. The application of the complementary ray technique to the helically scanned data is accomplished by three-dimensionally determining a pair of the complementary rays in order to take into account motion within the same cardiac cycle or over the continuous cardiac cycles. The absolute sum of the differences for the top ray and or the bottom ray is determined in order to determine the amount of cardiac motion. |
| US08478009B2 |
Generation and analysis of representations of skin conditions
Technologies are generally described for methods and systems for generating a representation of a skin condition. The method may include receiving first image data relating to a first image of a skin condition and second image data relating to a second image of the skin condition. The method may further include performing a component analysis of the first and second image data to generate a first and second weighted component analysis results for the first and second image data. The weighted component analysis results may represent the respective image data as a weighted sum of components. The method may further include performing a sampling analysis to the weighted component analysis results to generate a weighted image representation for the skin condition. The weighted image representation may represent the skin condition as a weighted sum of the components. |
| US08478008B2 |
Culture apparatus, culture information management method, and computer readable medium storing program of same
A temperature-controlled room accommodates an incubation container incubating a sample and maintains the inside thereof in a predetermined environment condition. An imaging section generates data of a plurality of observing images. An image analyzing section performs an image analyzing process on the data of the plurality of observing images obtained by imaging the incubation container at different times. Image analyzing data generated by the image analyzing section includes morphological information which indicates incubation states of the samples and rate-of-change information regarding the morphological information. A search processing section conducts a search for the incubation container which meets the first searching condition and the second searching condition based on the image analyzing data. |
| US08478007B2 |
Method for detecting ground glass opacity using chest computed tomography
There is provided a method for detecting Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) using chest computed tomography. The method includes detecting a candidate cell having a brightness value within a detection range by sequentially scanning a three-dimensional image of a pulmonary region, and designating the candidate cell as a seed cell when surrounding cells of the candidate cell have brightness values within the detection range; when a plurality of seed cells are obtained by the designating of the candidate cell as a seed cell, grouping adjacent seed cells to obtain one or more candidate zones; and detecting one or more zones, which have a greater size than a GGO detection size and including therein more than the detection reference number of seed cells, out of the one or more candidate zones, and setting the detected one or more zones as one or more GGO candidates. |
| US08478002B2 |
Method for analyzing object motion in multi frames
A method for analyzing object motion in multi frames adapted to an image capturing device is provided. Firstly, a plurality set of first sum of absolute difference (SAD) are obtained according to noise of the image capturing device under a plurality of light settings. Next, two frames are captured under a picturing light setting of the light settings. Then, a plurality of second SAD between the two frames are calculated. Afterwards, a plurality of object block within vein tracking of the object are found. Next, a local motion vector of each object block is respectively calculated according to the second SAD. Then, a first reliability of each object block is respectively calculated according to the second SAD and the set of the first SAD corresponding to the picturing light setting. Afterwards, the local motion vectors are estimated according to the first reliability to obtain a global motion vector. |
| US08477996B2 |
Method and device for finding and tracking pairs of eyes
A method for finding and subsequently tracking the 3-D coordinates of a pair of eyes in at least one face, including receiving image data, which contains a sequence of at least one digital video signal of at least one image sensor, finding eyes or tracking previously found eyes in the image data, ascertaining the 3-D coordinates of the found or tracked eyes, associating the found or tracked eyes with a pair of eyes and providing the 3-D coordinates of the pair of eyes. |
| US08477995B2 |
Image processing device and method
An image processing device comprises receiving means operable to receive, from a camera, a captured image corresponding to an image of a scene captured by the camera. The scene contains at least one object. The device comprises determining means operable to determine a distance between the object within the scene and a reference position defined with respect to the camera, and generating means operable to detect a position of the object within the captured image, and to generate a modified image from the captured image based on image features within the captured image which correspond to the object in the scene. The generating means is operable to generate the modified image by displacing the position of the captured object within the modified image with respect to the determined position of the object within the captured image by an object offset amount which is dependent on the distance between the reference position and the object in the scene so that, when the modified image and the captured image are viewed together as a pair of images on a display, the captured object appears to be positioned at a predetermined distance from the display. |
| US08477991B2 |
Method for watermarking free view video with blind watermark detection
The invention relates to a method for watermark embedding in multi views video comprising a plurality of views captured with a plurality of cameras comprising for each view a step of projecting the view onto a domain invariant to the plurality of views and to intermediate synthesized view, which depends on the locations, orientations, and intrinsic parameters of the cameras, resulting into an invariant vector; a step of applying a watermarking algorithm to the invariant vector resulting into a watermarked invariant vector; and a step of modifying the view to obtain a watermarked view, wherein said watermarked view when projected onto the invariant domain results into the watermarked invariant vector.The invention also relates to a method for watermark detection in a rendered view comprising a step of projecting the rendered view onto an invariant domain to the plurality of views resulting into an invariant rendered vector; a step of applying a watermark detection algorithm to the invariant rendered vector in order to assess the presence of a watermark. |
| US08477990B2 |
Reducing watermark perceptibility and extending detection distortion tolerances
The present disclosures relates generally to digital watermarking and data hiding. One claim recites a method comprising: obtaining data representing video; using one or more programmed electronic processors, embedding a first watermark signal in a first portion of the data, the first watermark signal comprising a first signal polarity; using one or more electronic processors, embedding a second watermark signal in a second portion of the data, the second watermark signal comprising a second signal polarity that is inversely related to the first signal polarity; rendering the watermarked video in real time, in which due to temporal averaging of the first watermark signal and second watermark signal over time, the first watermark signal and the second watermark signal are hidden from a human observer of the video. Of course, other claims are provided too. |
| US08477989B2 |
Method of taking an image of an object residing in a transparent, colored container
A method of acquiring an image of a pharmaceutical in a colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial includes the steps of: providing a generally cylindrical, colored, transparent pharmaceutical vial having a closed lower end, the lower end having a radially outward lower section, a radially inward upper section, and a transition section that merges with the upper and lower sections; identifying the transition section of the vial with a vision system; detecting the color of the transition section; illuminating the vial; acquiring an image of the vial and pharmaceutical; and adjusting the colors of the image based on the color of the transition section. In some embodiments, the method further comprises the step of comparing the image to a pre-stored image of an expected pharmaceutical to determine whether the identity of the pharmaceutical in the vial matches the identity of the expected pharmaceutical. This method can improve the reliability and consistency of the images produced. |
| US08477988B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus has a read image acquisition section and a specific image region extraction section. The read image acquisition section acquires read image data which is obtained by reading a front face and a rear face of a document. The specific image region extraction section extracts, as a specific image region, from among local regions existing at corresponding positions of the front face and the rear face of the read image data, a local region in which an amount of difference of at least one of hue degree, brightness degree or saturation degree between the front face and the rear face is within a predetermined range. |
| US08477983B2 |
Multi-microphone system
A microphone system implements multiple microphones on a single base. To that end, the microphone system has a base, and a plurality of substantially independently movable diaphragms secured to the base. Each of the plurality of diaphragms forms a variable capacitance with the base and thus, each diaphragm effectively forms a generally independent, separate microphone with the base. |
| US08477982B2 |
Noise-vibration microphone stand
The present invention discloses a noise-vibration (NV) microphone stand for holding an NV microphone a predetermined distance from a surface that the NV microphone stand is attached to. The NV microphone stand can include a rod having an attachment end that is operable to attach to the surface to be tested and with the rod extending away from the surface. In addition, an arm can be attached to and extend from the rod, the arm having an NV microphone bracket spaced apart from the rod. The NV microphone bracket can have an opening that is dimensioned for the NV microphone to slide therewithin, the opening having a plurality of friction wiper blades that come into contact with the NV microphone when it slides within the bracket. |
| US08477977B2 |
Hearing device with user control
The hearing device comprises a connector (2) having at least one electrical contact (6); and a user control (8); wherein said user control (8) comprises said at least one electrical contact (6). Typically, said connector is a connector for providing a communication connection to said hearing device. The user control can be a pushbutton switch. In one embodiment, said connector comprises at least two electrical contacts (6), and said user control comprises a shorting member (12) for shorting said at least two electrical contacts when operated. In one embodiment, said user control comprises an elastic member (14), which is deformed when said user control is operated, for resetting said user control into its original position. Through this, a small-size hearing device can be realized. The method of operating a hearing device comprises the step of using at least one electrical contact (6) of a connector (2) of said hearing device as a part of a user control (8) of said hearing device. |
| US08477976B2 |
Method for the detection of whistling in an audio system
A method for detecting whistling in an audio system includes determining an average frequency of an input signal of the audio system, sampling the input signal in consecutive blocks of at least one sample, wherein the average frequency is determined blockwise, and determining whether feedback related whistling is present in the input signal of the audio system by evaluating a stability of the average frequency, wherein the evaluation of the stability of the average frequency comprises: determining a difference of two values of the determined average frequency for two blocks, and comparing the determined difference to a first threshold value. |
| US08477972B2 |
Method for operating a hearing device
A method for operating a hearing device comprising an input transducer (1), an output transducer (3) and a signal processing unit (2) for processing an output signal of the input transducer (1) to obtain an input signal for the output transducer (3) by applying a transfer function to the output signal of the input transducer (1) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: extracting features (fv) of the output signal of the input transducer (1), classifying the extracted features (fv) by at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek), weighting the outputs of the at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek) by a weight vector (w) in order to obtain a classifier output (co), adjusting at least some parameters of the transfer function in accordance with the classifier output (co), monitoring a user feedback (uf) that is received by the hearing device, and updating the weight vector (w) and/or one of the at least two classifying experts (E1, . . . , Ek) in accordance with the user feedback (uf). |
| US08477963B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program for suppressing noise
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program, which can suppress a low frequency range component with a small amount of calculation, and can achieve a noise suppression of high quality, are provided. The noise superposed in a desired signal of an input signal is suppressed by converting the input signal to a frequency domain signal; correcting an amplitude of the frequency domain signal to obtain an amplitude corrected signal; obtaining an estimated noise by using the amplitude corrected signal; determining a suppression coefficient by using the estimated noise and the amplitude corrected signal; and weighting the amplitude corrected signal with the suppression coefficient. |
| US08477962B2 |
Microphone signal compensation apparatus and method thereof
A microphone signal compensation apparatus includes a plurality of audio input units to respectively receive a target signal, each audio input unit of the plurality of audio input units including a microphone; a constant filter unit to selectively apply a constant filtering calibration scheme to signals output by the plurality of audio input units to compensate for a difference in at least one characteristic among the audio input units, the constant filtering calibration scheme being estimated from an average value of a ratio of a desired signal to a reference signal among the signals output by the plurality of audio input units; and a noise remover to remove noise from the signals processed by the constant filter unit, and to separate the target signal from the signals from which the noise has been removed. |
| US08477961B2 |
Microphone array with rear venting
Microphone arrays (MAs) are described that position and vent microphones so that performance of a noise suppression system coupled to the microphone array is enhanced. The MA includes at least two physical microphones to receive acoustic signals. The physical microphones make use of a common rear vent (actual or virtual) that samples a common pressure source. The MA includes a physical directional microphone configuration and a virtual directional microphone configuration. By making the input to the rear vents of the microphones (actual or virtual) as similar as possible, the real-world filter to be modeled becomes much simpler to model using an adaptive filter. |
| US08477960B2 |
System for allowing selective listening on multiple televisions
Provided is an audio transmission system for use in environments having multiple televisions. An audio transmitter couples to a television via the television's audio output jack and frequency modulates the audio signal for transmission on a user selected channel. An audio receiver receives the frequency modulated audio signal and extracts the audio signal. The audio receiver may be charged in a charging station. |
| US08477959B2 |
Reversible personal audio device cable coupling
A apparatus and method for enabling signals representing a first audio channel and a second audio channel to be conveyed to a first earpiece and a second earpiece, respectively, regardless of which of the first and second earpieces a cable providing both the signals representing the first and second audio channels is coupled to, wherein a first acoustic driver of the first earpiece acoustically outputs the first audio channel and a second acoustic driver of the second earpiece acoustically outputs the second audio channel. |
| US08477956B2 |
Howling suppression device, howling suppression method, program, and integrated circuit
A howling suppression device that can reduce quality deterioration of processed sound includes: a delay unit delaying the input signal to output the delayed input signal as a reference signal; a signal separation unit including an adaptive filter extracting a periodic signal component from the reference signal by adaptively updating a filter coefficient; a howling detection unit detecting an occurrence of howling using at least a signal of the periodic signal component output from the adaptive filter; and a howling suppression unit. The howling suppression unit includes: a suppression filter obtaining the updated filter coefficient from the adaptive filter with timing when the howling detection unit detects the occurrence of the howling, to extract the periodic signal component from the reference signal based on the filter coefficient; and a subtractor subtracting the periodic signal component from the input signal so as to output a signal obtained by the subtraction. |
| US08477955B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a headphone
A method for controlling a headphone having a microphone for receiving noise and user signals, the received noise being used to reduce noise at an output of the headphone, includes detecting a signal by the microphone; if the signal has a predefined characteristic, the signal is mapped to a control command; and the headphone is operated according to the command. |
| US08477952B2 |
Audio system with feedback detection means
The invention concerns in a first aspect an audio system comprising a microphone, audio signal processing means, an output transducer and means for detecting a possible feedback tone and the corresponding frequency of the feedback tone in the audio system between the output transducer and the microphone. According to the invention means for counteracting feedback are provided. Further, means are provided for changing the phase of the audio signal at a given frequency. In a further aspect, a binaural hearing aid system comprising first and second hearing instruments according to the first aspect, each hearing instrument comprising transceiver circuitry allowing an exchange of signals between the two hearing instruments, and wherein the binaural hearing aid system is adapted to provide that a phase change introduced in the first audio signal by a controller of the first hearing instrument is or can be introduced in the second audio signal of the second hearing instrument via said transceiver circuitry. |
| US08477951B2 |
Front surround system and method of reproducing sound using psychoacoustic models
A front surround reproduction system improving the stereo effect of mid and low frequency signals by using a psychoacoustic model, and a method thereof. An audio reproducing system to reproduce multi-channel audio signals by using a plurality of speakers includes a split unit to copy the input multi-channel signals and to split the signals into two groups of multi-channel signals, a virtual sound processing unit to generate a virtual sound signal based on a head related transfer function (HRTF) from the one group of the multi-channel signals split in the split unit, a beam forming processing unit to generate a sound beam signal by adjusting the delays and levels of the multi-channel signals belonging to the other group split in the split unit, and a crossover network unit to adjust the characteristics of the virtual sound signal and the sound beam signal generated in the virtual sound processing unit and the beam forming processing unit, respectively, and to provide the virtual sound signal and the sound beam signal to mid and low frequency speaker arrays and high frequency speaker arrays, respectively. |
| US08477950B2 |
Home theater component for a virtualized home theater system
The present disclosure relates to a Wide Area Network (WAN) based home theater system. In one embodiment, a home theater at a subscriber premises includes multiple home theater components, which include multiple audio playback components and a video playback component. Each home theater component is enabled to receive data from and send data to a virtualized home theater service via a WAN. In operation, each home theater component receives an appropriate media content stream for the home theater component from the virtualized home theater service via the WAN and provides playback of the media content stream according to the absolute playback timestamps for the media content stream. |
| US08477947B2 |
Optical phase modulation method and apparatus for quantum key distribution
Provided is an optical phase modulating method and apparatus for a quantum key distribution. When an optical phase modulator is arranged outside an optical interferometer, a configuration of the optical interferometer may be simplified, and an extension of an optical path caused by the optical phase modulator, instability and an insertion loss increased in the optical interferometer, and the like, may be overcome. An output feature may be improved by adjusting an applied voltage of the optical phase modulator arranged outside the optical interferometer. |
| US08477945B2 |
Method and server for providing a mobile key
After a radio link is established between a mobile subscriber terminal and an access network, the subscriber is authenticated by a proxy server of an intermediate network forwarding, from the access network to a home network of the subscriber, authentication message(s) containing a subscriber identification. If the subscriber is authenticated and the subscriber identification is already stored in the proxy server, the proxy server assigns a group-specific mobile key to the subscriber identification. When the home agent receives a registration request message originating from a subscriber terminal and containing a subscriber identification and transmits a key request message, containing the subscriber identification, for a mobile key to the proxy server, if the subscriber identification in the key request message matches a subscriber identification stored by the proxy server, a mobile key for cryptographic protection of mobile signalling messages is provided to the home agent by the proxy server. |
| US08477942B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing service lists
A method and apparatus for managing service lists receives a service list and a security layer identifier at a device. The service list comprises at least two service identifiers. The method and apparatus determines whether the security layer is authorized for the device, and, for each service identified in the service list, when the security layer is authorized for the device the method and apparatus acquires each service in the service list that is not already installed in the device and enables each service in the service list that is not already enabled in the device. |
| US08477941B1 |
Maintaining secure communication while transitioning networks
A method and medium are provided for maintaining a secure communication of a media stream as a mobile device transitions from a first network a second network. A request is received from the mobile device to initiate a secure communication with an end point. The endpoint stores a unique identifier of the mobile device and a unique key that is usable to decrypt any securely communicated data received from the mobile device. Data is securely communicated from the mobile device to the end point. The mobile device communicates a second request to securely communicate as it transitions from the first network to the second network. A source identifier is determined from the second request to identify the mobile device as the source. The unique key, previously associated with the mobile device, is utilized to decrypt any data received from the mobile device. |
| US08477940B2 |
Symmetric cryptography with user authentication
A device uses a user authentication factor to generate a symmetric key for use in symmetric cryptography. The user authentication factor is encrypted and stored for authentication during decryption. |
| US08477939B2 |
Polarization-insensitive one-way quantum key distribution receiver, transmitter/receiver system
Provided are an apparatus for receiving a quantum cryptographic key and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a quantum cryptographic key at high speed without polarization drift of an optical pulse signal and phase drift of an interferometer. The apparatus for receiving a quantum key includes: a polarization-insensitive optical phase modulator parts for receiving an optical pulse signal, and modulating and outputting a phase of the optical pulse signal without being affected by the polarization state of the optical pulse signal; an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer for causing interference in and outputting the optical pulse signal received from the polarization-insensitive optical phase modulator parts; and a photon detectors for detecting the optical pulse signal received from the asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer. According to the apparatuses, it is possible to perform quantum cryptography communication at high speed without being affected by polarization drift of an optical pulse signal and phase drift of an interferometer. |
| US08477937B2 |
Methods and systems for providing interference based physical-layer encryption
A method for encrypting an information carrier comprising generating a sequence of data using a sequence generator, modulating, using a first modulator an output from the sequence generator such that an interference signal results, encoding the interference generator's synchronization information using an encoder, modulating, using a second modulator, the encoded synchronization information such that a synchronization carrier signal results, spreading the synchronization carrier signal using a spreader such that a spread sub-carrier synchronization signal results, and combining the modulated information carrier signal, interference signal, and spread sub-carrier synchronization signal using a signal combiner such that a composite signal results, the interference signal having one or more signal characteristics that results in obfuscation of the information carrier signal when the information carrier signal and interference signal are combined. |
| US08477936B2 |
Management system including display apparatus and data management apparatus for displaying data on the display apparatus, and data acquisition method
In order to restrict a destination of data for security and facilitate acquisition of the data at the destination, a conference system includes an MFP and a projector, wherein the MFP prestores data for display in an HDD and includes an access key generating portion to generate an access key for an access to the display data and a data transmitting portion to transmit the display data on the condition that the access key is received from a PC, and the projector includes a wireless communication portion to wirelessly communicate with PCs within a predetermined distance, a projecting control portion to display the data stored in the HDD in the MFP, an access key acquiring portion to acquire the access key, and an access key transmitting portion to cause the wireless communication portion to transmit the access key when receiving a request from the PC via the wireless communication portion. |
| US08477935B2 |
Method and apparatus for calculating a polynomial multiplication, in particular for elliptic curve cryptography
Safeguarding communication channels is required in particular in wireless networks. The use of encryption mechanisms in the form of software is limited by the required calculation and energy capacities of mobile terminals. Costs are of significance when using hardware solutions for cryptographic operations. The present invention provides an approach which simultaneously tackles all those points. It concerns a hardware accelerator for polynomial multiplication in extended Galois fields (GF), wherein the per se known Karatsuba method is iteratively applied in accordance with the invention. When using the invention the area requirement can be reduced for example from 6.2 mm2 to 2.1 mm2. The solution according to the invention also reduces the energy consumption in comparison with solutions in accordance with the state of the art by 30%. |
| US08477934B2 |
Pairing computation device, pairing computation method and recording medium storing pairing computation program
There is provided a pairing computation device provided with a CPU which computes pairing e(S,Q) with SεG1, QεG2, χ being a given integer variable, and F being a rational function calculated using Miller's algorithm with respect to multi-pairing (MMA). An order r, a trace t of the Frobenius endomorphism φp are specified preliminarily using the integer variable χ according to an embedding degree k. The CPU performs pairing computation by means of: an input unit which inputs the integer variable χ, the rational point S, and the rational point Q into respective predetermined registers; a computation unit which computes F; a computation unit which computes a value at a rational point Q(xQ, yQ) of a straight line passing through given rational points; a computation unit which computes f′ χ,S(Q) using the aforementioned F and the value; and a computation unit which computes the pairing e(S,Q) using aforementioned f′ χ,S(Q) as [F83].[F83] e(S,Q)=f′χ,S(Q)(pk−1)/r. |
| US08477932B1 |
System and/or method for encrypting data
In one embodiment, progress of an encryption process may be tracked. This may comprise, for example, storing progress of an encryption process so that the encryption process may be resumed after an interruption of the encryption process. As such, progress data may identify a point in the encryption process so that encryption may be resumed from that point. In at least one embodiment, storing progress of an encryption process may comprise storing and/or otherwise providing the last segment of data that was encrypted and/or the last segment of data that was not encrypted. Additionally, a data structure, may provide a capability to mark or indicate a point of interruption of the encryption process and provide data that may be utilized to resume from the point of interruption the overall encryption process. |
| US08477925B2 |
Call method, device, and communication system for private branch exchange user
A call method, a device, and a communication system for a private branch exchange (PBX) user are provided. User data of the private branch exchange user may be sent to an application server when the private branch exchange user has opened an account but not registered. The application server may continue normal calling by using the user data of the private branch exchange user. The PBX user can make a successful call without independent registration when implementing independent supplementary services. |
| US08477923B2 |
Mid-call hand-off between end user terminals
A method of supporting a mid-call hand-off feature (22) is provided in a telecommunications network (40). The method includes: connecting a first call through a first switching facility (20) of the telecommunications network (40) such that a first party served by the first switching facility (20) and a second party are participating in the call; making a decision to invoke the mid-call hand-off feature (22); placing a second call from the first switching facility (20) to a designated telephone number; and, connecting the second party to the second call. |
| US08477920B2 |
Systems and methods for managing the status of participants of a tele-networking meeting
Systems and methods for managing the status of participants of a tele-networking meeting are disclosed. During a tele-networking meeting, a network device may monitor the talk time of each participant of the meeting. If a participant's talk time exceeds the target talk time, the network device may prompt the chair, and the chair may take action. Action may include managing a participants status by muting, disconnecting, or spinning the participant off into a subconference. Additionally, during a tele-networking meeting, a chair may also create a subconference on network device. Thus, the chair may be able to spin off participants of a tele-networking meeting into a subconference controlled by a subchair. |
| US08477917B1 |
System and method for providing telecommunication services to transient customers
A system and method for providing wireline telephone services may include providing wireline telephone service to a residence for a customer to place telephone calls. In response to receiving an activate code, the wireline telephone service may be activated. In response to receiving a deactivate code, the wireline telephone service may be deactivated. The customer may be billed for the wireline telephone service. In one embodiment, the customer is billed a premium service charge when the wireline telephone service is active and a lower service charge when the wireline telephone service is inactive. |
| US08477914B1 |
Automated communication escalation
Allowing an initiating party to invoke automated communication attempts that continue and escalate and limit a targeted party's wireless device capabilities until satisfactory communication is established with the targeted party is provided. After a number of unsuccessful attempts at communicating with the targeted party, the initiating party may activate an automated escalating communication system that encourages the targeted party to eventually respond due to escalating communications automatically sent to the targeted party or his/her affiliates or due to limiting controls placed on the targeted party's communication device. |
| US08477908B2 |
System and method for beam focusing and control in an indirectly heated cathode
An indirectly heated cathode assembly is presented. The indirectly heated cathode assembly includes at least one electron source for generating a first electron beam, an emitter for producing a second electron beam when heated by the first electron beam and a focusing electrode for controlling, and directing the first electron beam towards the emitter. |
| US08477904B2 |
X-ray diffraction and computed tomography
An imaging system combines CT and XRD measurements, both measuring the XRD diffraction and the absorption as a function of energy. A goniometer 2, source 4 and two dimensional detector 10 may be used. Embodiments use relatively soft X-rays in the 5-25 keV range. An integrated mounting unit to mount the sample 8 close to detector 10 is also described. |
| US08477903B2 |
Validating a compensator for use in a radiation therapy machine to treat a cancer patient
A method of validating a compensator for use in a radiation therapy machine to treat a cancer patient involves determining a radiation treatment plan based on a compensator description file that includes data representative of an actual machined surface of the compensator. The plan includes operating parameters of the radiation therapy machine, and this plan is compared against actual radiation measurements taken during a non-patient test of the radiation therapy machine with the compensator mounted to the machine. If the comparison results in a match, the compensator is validated for use in the radiation therapy machine to treat the cancer patient. |
| US08477902B2 |
Radiation inspection apparatus and inspection method for object security inspection
The present invention relates to a radiation inspection apparatus for object security inspection, comprising: a ray generator configured to emit a ray, a collimator configured to collimate the ray emitted from the ray generator, and a detector configured to receive the collimated ray collimated by the collimator, wherein the collimated ray forms an irradiated area on the detector included by an effective detect area of the detector. The present invention also relates to a method of performing a security inspection to a body using a radiation inspection apparatus. With the above technical solutions, the present invention can achieve a low single inspection absorptive dose and a micro dose inspection while meeting inspection requirements to improve public radiation security. |
| US08477899B2 |
Method for operating a reactor of a nuclear plant
A method of operating a nuclear reactor is disclosed. The reactor (1) encloses a core having a plurality of fuel rods (9). Each fuel rod (9) includes a cladding and fuel pellets of a nuclear fuel. The fuel pellets are arranged in an inner space of the cladding leaving a free volume comprising an upper plenum, a lower plenum and a pellet-cladding gap. The reactor is operated at a normal power and a normal inlet sub-cooling during a normal state. The reactor is monitored for detecting a defect on the cladding of any of the fuel rods. The operation of the reactor is changed to a particular state after detecting such a defect. The particular state permits an increase of the free volume in the defect fuel rod. The reactor is operated at the particular state during a limited time period, after which the reactor is operated at the normal state. |
| US08477898B2 |
Highly flexible fractional N frequency synthesizer
One embodiment of the present invention provides a phase-locked loop (PLL) for synthesizing a fractional frequency. The PLL can include a 1/N frequency divider, a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a programmable phase mixer, and a phase detector. The programmable phase mixer can be coupled between an output of the VCO and an input of the frequency divider, wherein the programmable phase mixer is configured to receive the output clock signal from the VCO and generate a first clock signal of frequency f1 by varying a phase of the output clock signal. The frequency divider is configured to receive the first clock signal from the programmable phase mixer and generate a second clock signal of frequency f2=f1/N. The phase detector can receive a reference clock signal and the second clock signal as inputs, and the phase detector's output can be used to generate the control voltage for the VCO. |
| US08477896B2 |
Structure for window comparator circuit for clock data recovery from bipolar RZ data
A clock-data recovery doubler circuit for digitally encoded communications signals is provided. A window comparator includes two thresholds. A clock output is created by the window comparator and also used internally as feedback. Based on the clock output, the window comparator circuit collapses the thresholds while sampling input Bipolar return to zero data. |
| US08477894B2 |
Method and system for communication channel characterization
In accordance with the present invention, a method of processing a signal is described that includes receiving a signal having an encoded digital packet, wherein the digital packet includes packet data and a packet frame, wherein the packet frame includes a common digital signal that is common to each one of a plurality of digital packets. The method further includes sampling a signal associated with the received signal to provide a sampled signal. The method further includes performing a channel characterization by contrasting a signal representative of the sampled signal with a signal representative of the common digital signal. A corresponding system is also described. |
| US08477893B2 |
Multi-rake receiver
A receiver includes a select module, an enable module, and a receiver module. The select module is configured to detect (i) a number of antennas in the receiver, or (ii) a number of enabled receiver paths in the receiver. The select module is also configured to generate a receiver select signal and an adjustment signal based on (i) the number of antennas detected, or (ii) the number of enabled receiver paths detected. The enable module is configured to, based on the receiver select signal, (i) determine that at least one of the enabled receiver paths is an unnecessary receiver path, and (ii) disable the at least one of the enabled receiver paths. The receiver module is configured to, based on the adjustment signal, adjust a bandwidth of the receiver or coefficient values of the receiver. |
| US08477892B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigation of interference
A method of reducing error in transmissions received in a receiver is provided. A transmission containing a synchronization signal is inputted through a first filter to a synchronization correlator, to generate a timing error of the synchronization signal. An amount of delay of the synchronization signal sufficient to reduce the timing error is determined. The transmission is delayed by the amount of delay by being passed through at least a second, variable filter whose delay is determined using a stochastic gradient algorithm. The synchronization correlator may also generate a deviation error of the synchronization signal and determine an amount of deviation correction sufficient to reduce the deviation error as well as generating a frequency error of the synchronization signal and determining an amount of frequency correction sufficient to reduce the frequency error. |
| US08477890B2 |
Geometric detector for communicating through constant modulus (CM) interferers
A desired signal modulated with N symbols is detected in the presence of a constant modulus (CM) interferer that produces M symbols. Observation samples corresponding to the desired signal and the interferer are obtained from a signal recovery stage. N observation constellations are defined, each having M constellation points corresponding to the symbols produced by the interferer, and the points form a circular perimeter of the constellation with a radius corresponding to the strength of the interferer. The perimeter of each constellation is centered on one of N defined symbol points representing the different possible symbols of the desired signal. Distances between the observation samples and the circular perimeter of each observation constellation are determined. For each observation sample, the symbol point on which the constellation perimeter closest to the sample is centered, is selected as a symbol of the desired signal. |
| US08477887B2 |
Systems and methods providing frequency-domain automatic gain control (AGC)
A method for Automatic Gain Control (AGC) in a receiver is performed by a circuit having an inner loop and an outer loop. The method includes performing an outer loop energy detection, mitigating interference using the outer loop energy detection, and performing a frequency domain energy measurement in the inner loop. The method also includes adjusting a digital gain component in the inner loop and an analog gain component in the outer loop in response to the frequency domain energy measurement. |
| US08477884B2 |
Accelerated turbo transceiver and method for MIMO system
A reception apparatus including: a detection unit detecting extrinsic information based on a tentative symbol decision signal, a channel estimation signal, a noise variance estimation signal, and a received signal that are obtained from a previous iteration process; a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) aided channel decoding unit outputting an interleaved bit or a posteriori information thereof based on the extrinsic information; a tentative symbol decision unit determining a tentative transmission symbol based on an output of the CRC aided channel decoding unit; a channel estimation unit estimating a channel based on an output of the tentative symbol decision unit; and a noise variance estimation unit estimating a noise variance based on the output of the tentative symbol decision unit and an output of the channel estimation unit is provided. |
| US08477881B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining receiver beam forming vectors in multi-user MIMO systems
According to one embodiment there is provided a method of determining receiver beam forming vectors for a plurality of receivers in a MIMO system. Each receiver comprises a plurality of receiver antennae. The MIMO system also comprises a plurality of transmitter antennae. The method comprises quantifying the properties of the channels of the MIMO system in a channel property matrix including interference between individual channels and performing Cholesky decomposition of the receiver property matrix row-by-row into a lower triangular matrix with unit elements along its diagonal, a diagonal matrix and the Hermitian transpose of said triangular matrix. Performing the Cholesky decomposition comprises determining, when performing a step of the Cholesky decomposition for a row, a receiver-beam forming vector associated with the row that maximises the component of the diagonal matrix in the row. |
| US08477880B2 |
Method and apparatus for signal detection based on MMSE in MIMO communication system
In a multi-input multi-output communication system receiving signals transmitted through a plurality of transmission antennas by using a plurality of reception antennas, a matrix determining a position of a symbol to be detected from a received signal is calculated at a first symbol detection step, and from the subsequent step, a matrix at the current step is acquired through a simple relationship from the matrix calculated at the previous step to determine a position of a symbol to be detected. |
| US08477877B2 |
Feed-forward carrier phase recovery for optical communications
The carrier phase of a carrier wave modulated with information symbols is recovered with a multi-stage, feed-forward carrier phase recovery method. A series of digital signals corresponding to the information signals is received. For each digital signal, a coarse phase recovery is performed to determine a first phase angle which provides a first best estimate of the information symbol corresponding to the digital signal. Using the first best estimate as input, a second stage of estimation is then performed to determine a second phase angle which provides an improved (second) best estimate of the information symbol. Additional stages of estimation can be performed. The multi-stage, feed-forward carrier phase recovery method retains the same linewidth tolerance as a single-stage full blind phase search method; however, the required computational power is substantially reduced. The multi-stage, feed-forward carrier phase recovery method is highly efficient for M-QAM optical signals. |
| US08477876B2 |
Fast blind channel search
A method for searching a digital transmission having unknown carrier and symbol frequencies in a modulated reception signal, includes performing successive trials of several carrier and symbol frequencies, using decreasing values of the symbol frequency, demodulating the reception signal with the tried carrier frequency, filtering the demodulated signal in a band having a width corresponding to the currently tried symbol frequency, and producing samples of the filtered signal. For each currently tried symbol frequency, forming a complex indicator having a real component and an imaginary component established from the successive samples of the filtered signal such that they have cyclostationary properties and that one of the components tends to cancel when the other component tends towards a relative maximum, building the spectrum of the variation of the complex indicator, searching for a singular spike in the spectrum, and determining the real symbol frequency from the frequency of the spike. |
| US08477871B2 |
Radio station and active antenna array
The present disclosure relates to a radio station providing a digital predistortion to be imposed on a payload signal. The digital predistortion is usable as a general predistortion for several transmit paths of the radio station. The radio station provides coupled transmit signals to be combined within a combiner forming a common feedback signal. The common feedback signal is relayed along a common feedback path. A digital predistortion update unit to updates the digital predistortion in order to linearize a transfer characteristics of the transmit paths. The disclosure relates to a method of digitally predistorting a payload signal in order to linearize a transmit characteristics of the transmit paths. The disclosure further relates to computer program products for the manufacture of the radio station and/or a computer product for the execution of the method digitally predistorting. The disclosure further relates to an antenna array comprising the radio station. |
| US08477869B1 |
Equal power output spatial spreading matrix for use in a wireless MIMO communication system
A symbol encoder unit is configured to produce two or more encoded spatial data streams, wherein a number, NSS, of the encoded spatial data streams is less than a number, NTX, of transmission antennas to be used to transmit the encoded spatial data streams. A spatial spreading unit is configured to utilize a spatial spreading matrix Q to distribute two or more encoded spatial data streams to the transmission antennas. Q has NTX rows and NSS columns, and Q satisfies one or more of the following two constraints: ∑ l = 1 N SS Q ( t , l ) 2 = A t B ( a ) for all t=1 . . . NTX., or ∑ l = 1 N SS S l Q ( t , l ) 2 = A t B ( b ) for all t=1 . . . NTX when Sl is equal to (i)−1 or (ii) 1. Q(t,l) is a component of Q at row t, column l, Sl is a symbol in an 1-th spatial stream. B is a constant, and A1, A2, . . . , ANTX is a sequence of constants. |
| US08477866B2 |
Calibration method for Tx/Rx path characteristic of channel sounder
The method includes performing a wired back-to-back test by forming M wired paths connecting one of the N transmission antennas with the M reception antennas through M cables, separating ith digital data corresponding to an ith receiver wired path from the plurality of digital data stored in the receiver wherein i is a natural number greater than 1 and smaller than M, extracting a time delay by decimating the separated ith digital data and performing sliding correlation on the decimated data, and extracting attenuation and phase characteristics of the ith receiver wired path by extracting samples after the time delay among the decimated samples. |
| US08477865B2 |
MIMO receiving apparatus and method
A coherent bandwidth calculation unit (41) calculates a coherent bandwidth based on a channel response in the time domain obtained from reception signals (R1-RN) for each path between transmitting antennas and receiving antennas. A weight calculation control unit (42) determines target subcarriers of equalization weight calculation based on the coherent bandwidth. A weight calculation unit (31) calculates the equalization weight of each target subcarrier. A weight interpolation unit (43) performs interpolation processing using the equalization weights so as to obtain equalization weights for the subcarriers that have not undergone equalization weight calculation yet. |
| US08477864B2 |
Method of multiple-antenna communication having improved utilization of channel correlations
A MIMO transmission scheme is provided which provides some advantages of the Alamouti code but which can be adapted so as to provide enhanced performance for a given amount of antenna correlation. A block of complex scalar input symbols is mapped to a block-code matrix which is transmitted as a spacetime signal matrix from an array of two or more antennas. The block-code matrix is assembled by combining input data with specified dispersion matrices. Each of the dispersion matrices is determined, in part, by an adjustable parameter which relates to a degree of beam-forming behavior by the transmission antenna array. |
| US08477862B2 |
Apparatus and method for trellis-based detection in a communication system
An apparatus for trellis-based detection in a communication system including a processor and memory having computer program code configured to construct a trellis representing a transmitted signal formed from a plurality of symbols, each having a constellation size, transmitted by a number of transmit antennas, and form a log likelihood ratio at nodes of the trellis as a log-sum of a number of exponential terms including a priori information corresponding to a hypothesized transmitted bit value of the plurality of symbols. The number of exponential terms is limited by a number of most likely paths of the trellis extending from each node of the trellis and the constellation size. The processor and memory including computer program code are configured to form a list at each node of the trellis of a size limited to the number of the most likely paths of the trellis extending from each node. |
| US08477855B2 |
Signal transmission system and semiconductor integrated circuit device
Disclosed is a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a transmitting circuit and a receiving coil inductively coupled to a transmitting coil. The transmitting circuit transmits data by supplying a current through the transmitting coil not at the time of transition of data but at every rising edge or falling edge of a clock used in transmission of data. At every rising edge or falling edge of the clock, a receiving circuit captures a voltage induced in the receiving coil due to the current flowing through the transmitting coil, reproduces the transmitted data and outputs the reproduced data. |
| US08477850B2 |
Information recording/reproducing apparatus
A video camera is provided not only with means for receiving any general captured images but also with means for receiving images from any other video input source. The video camera is also provided with an image input arbitration section that captures, after arbitration, video data coming from these two input means, and stores the resulting data into a memory. As such, when the video input source is a video output terminal of a car navigation system, the screen of the car navigation system, i.e., map information, can be stored in a memory together with a user's captured image. When the video camera is used for monitoring, data capturing into a memory is also enabled when the video input source is a medium already carrying therein map image data, e.g., USB flash memory and SD card, and means for reading the map image data from the medium. The data in the memory is subjected to a process of compression and encoding as moving images so that the image of position information and the user's captured image can be processed as a set of moving images. This accordingly enables to provide a system and method for recording and reproducing a set of moving images of the combination of an image of position information and a user-captured image with no need for a complicated process. |
| US08477844B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting video
A method of transmitting a coded media frame comprises determining a plurality of media frame sizes including a media frame size, transmitting an element comprising the plurality of media frame sizes, and thereafter receiving an input media frame. The method also includes processing the input media frame according to the media frame size to provide a coded media frame, and transmitting the coded media frame. |
| US08477842B2 |
Encoding method of screen frame and electronic device applying the same
An encoding method of screen frame and its application of electronic devices, which rapidly detect motion regions and motionless regions from lossless screen frames captured by software, and then encode the motion regions with lower image quality while encode motionless regions with higher quality to display higher quality images and smooth video at a receiving end in real-time. Furthermore, the above-mentioned encoding method is optimized for lossless screen frames which does not need complicated operations of video encoder of prior art, such as motion estimation, motion compensation, etc., so that the method can be implemented with minor system resources and lower latency delay. |
| US08477836B2 |
System and method for comparing an input digital video to digital videos using extracted and candidate video features
A method for managing digital videos includes extracting a feature of an input digital video, searching for candidate features having similarity to the extracted feature, and comparing the extracted feature with each of the candidate features to select at least one of the candidate features similar to the extracted feature and provide information on a digital video corresponding to the selected candidate feature. |
| US08477831B2 |
Multi-protocol multiple-data-rate auto-speed negotiation architecture for a device
An interface for use in a local device includes a transmitter portion programmably configurable to at least three data rates, a receiver portion programmably configurable to those at least three data rates, and an automatic speed negotiation module operatively connected to the transmitter portion and the receiver portion to configure the transmitter portion and the receiver portion for communication with a remote device at a single data rate that is a best available one of those at least three data rates. The date rate can be adjusted by adjusting transmitter data path width and receiver data path width, adjusting a frequency of said transmitter data path and said receiver data path, and oversampling. Byte serialization or deserialization can be enabled or disabled to alter the width of the data, depending on the data rate, for transfer to/from the remainder of the local device. |
| US08477830B2 |
Light monitoring system using a random phase multiple access system
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving monitor data from a lighting equipment monitor. A data stream is created based upon the monitor data. The data stream is spread with a common pseudo-noise (PN) code that is used by a plurality of nodes in communication with an access point. A frequency offset to the spread data stream based at least in part on a timing of the access point is applied. The spread data stream is transmitted with a randomly selected timing offset. |
| US08477829B2 |
Differential detection a communication system
In one embodiment, a detection unit includes a sequence providing unit to provide a third group of derived sequences. The third group for each first pseudo noise (PN) sequence has a derived sequence assigned to the first PN sequence. The detection unit includes a correlation unit, which is connected to the sequence providing unit and formed to calculate correlation results by correlating the differentially demodulated signal with each derived sequence of the third group. The detection unit includes an evaluation unit, which is connected to the correlation unit and is formed to derive the values of the data symbols by evaluating the correlation results. |
| US08477827B2 |
Spread-spectrum coding of data bursts
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method for generating spread-spectrum coded signals for transmission in a wireless communication system, and particularly for generating spread sequences of data with spreading codes that facilitate computationally efficient frequency-domain processing at a receiver. |
| US08477824B2 |
Semiconductor laser apparatus having collimator lens and path rotator
This invention relates to semiconductor laser apparatus with a structure for reducing the divergence angle of output light and for narrowing the spectral width. The semiconductor laser apparatus has at least a semiconductor laser array, a collimator lens, a path rotator, and an optical element with a reflecting function. The collimator lens collimates a plurality of laser beams from the semiconductor laser array, in a predetermined direction. The path rotator outputs each beam collimated in the predetermined direction, with a predetermined divergence angle in the predetermined direction in a state in which a transverse section of the beam is rotated by about 90°. The optical element is arranged at a position where at least a part of each beam from the path rotator arrives, and constitutes at least a part of an external resonator. This optical element reflects a part of each beam from the path rotator to return the reflected part of each beam to the active layer in the semiconductor laser array. |
| US08477821B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser, vertical cavity surface emitting laser device, and optical transmission device
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser that includes: a substrate; a first reflector of a first conductive type formed on the substrate; an active region formed on the first reflector; a second reflector of a second conductive type formed on the active region; and a current confining layer formed between the first reflector and the second reflector; and a metallic electrode that is formed on the second reflector, and is electrically connected to the second reflector. A conductive region with an anisotropy where a length in a longitudinal direction is different from a length in a short direction is formed in the current confining layer, and an opening defining a beam aperture is formed in the metallic electrode, and a diameter of the opening in the longitudinal direction is smaller than the length of the conductive region in the longitudinal direction. |
| US08477818B2 |
Gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device, and method for fabricating gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device
A gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device with reduced threshold current. The gallium nitride-based semiconductor laser device is provided with an n-type cladding layer, an n-side light guide layer, an active layer, a p-side light guide layer, and a p-type cladding layer. The n-side light guide layer and the p-side light guide layer both contain indium. Each of indium compositions of the n-side light guide layer and the p-side light guide layer is not less than 2% and not more than 6%. A film thickness of the n-type cladding layer is in the range of not less than 65% and not more than 85% of a total of the film thickness of the n-type cladding layer and a film thickness of the p-type cladding layer. |
| US08477817B1 |
Distributed feedback laser having enhanced etch stop features
In one example embodiment, a DFB laser includes a substrate, an active region positioned above the substrate, and a grating layer positioned above the active region. The grating layer includes a portion that serves as a primary etch stop layer. The DFB laser also includes a secondary etch stop layer located either above or below the grating layer, and a spacer layer interposed between the grating layer and the active region. |
| US08477814B2 |
Semiconductor laser module
A semiconductor laser module is disclosed, comprising a module carrier (20) having a mounting area (21), a pump device (1) arranged on the mounting area (21), a surface emitting semiconductor laser (40) arranged on the mounting area (21), and a frequency conversion device (6) arranged on the mounting area (21), wherein the mounting area (21) of the module carrier (20) has an area content of at most 100 mm2. |
| US08477813B2 |
Physical layer data unit format
In a wireless communication system wherein communication devices exchange information utilizing data units that conform to a first format, a beamforming training (BFT) data unit that conforms to a second format is transmitted, wherein a length of the BFT data unit is shorter than lengths supported by the first format, wherein the BFT data unit is for transmitting PHY beamforming training information. Information to indicate the BFT data unit conforms to the second format is transmitted to a receiving device. The BFT data unit is generated according to the second format, wherein the BFT data unit includes BFT information elements. The BFT data unit is then transmitted to the receiving device. |
| US08477803B2 |
Method and system for implementing a single weight (SW) single channel (SC) MIMO system with no insertion loss
In a RF communications system, aspects for implementing a single weight single channel MIMO system with no insertion loss may comprise generating at least one control signal that is utilized to control at least one of a plurality of received signals in a WCDMA and/or HSDPA system. A phase of a first of the plurality of received signals may be adjusted outside of a first processing path used to process that signal so that it is equivalent to a phase of at least a second of the plurality of received signals. A gain in the first processing path may be equivalent to a gain in a second processing path that is utilized to process the second of the plurality of received signals. The control signal may be utilized to adjust a phase and/or an amplitude of at least one of a plurality of received signals. |
| US08477800B2 |
Passive optical network system and operation method thereof
A master station includes an optical transmission interface for transmitting signals to a plurality of slave stations at a first transfer rate or a second transfer rate which is higher than the first one, packet buffers for accumulating the signals addressed to each of the plurality of slave stations, and a control unit for determining transmission timings and transfer rates of the signals on the basis of an amount of the signals accumulated in the packet buffers, transmitting the signals with the determined timings and rates, and notifying each of the slave stations about the determined timings and rates. Each of the slave stations includes an optical reception interface for receiving the signals of the first transfer rate or the second transfer rate, and a control unit for controlling the optical reception interface on the basis of the timings and rates which the slave stations is notified. |
| US08477799B2 |
Method for using flexible bandwidth in OFDMA-based cognitive radio system, base station and subscriber station using the same
Provided are a method for using a flexible bandwidth in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based cognitive radio system, and a base station (BS) and a subscriber station using the method. The method includes: allocating a channel band from among unused channel bands having a bandwidth that is a natural number times a bandwidth resolution to customer premises equipment (CPE), wherein the bandwidth resolution is a predetermined bandwidth smaller than a bandwidth of a broadcast channel band, and transmitting an OFDMA-based signal comprising band allocation information indicating information regarding the allocated channel band. |
| US08477794B2 |
Multiple communications protocol routing in advanced metering infrastructure context
Techniques for using an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system for Utility Automation (UA) purposes in a utility distribution system are disclosed herein. In an AMI system, a metering node often includes a communications option board for connecting to a wide area network (WAN), which can be shared between the AMI system and a UA system. The metering node may be near other devices that can be controlled by a utility company to monitor and control components of the utility distribution system. A data packet is received in a communication device. The communication device determines whether the received data packet is formatted according to a first protocol employed by the AMI system. If so, then the data packet is forwarded to a first device in communication with the AMI system. If not, then the data packet is forwarded to a second device in communication with the UA system. |
| US08477790B2 |
Apparatus and method for operating relay link in relay broadband wireless communication system
Provided is a relay broadband wireless communication system. The relay broadband wireless communication system includes a plurality of base stations, and one or more relay stations. The base stations perform communication with a relay station placed within a coverage area and generate state information to be provided to the relay station. The one or more relay stations are disposed at a location allowing communication with the plurality of base stations and select one or more serving base stations based on state information received from each of the base stations. |
| US08477788B2 |
Slot based persistent allocation scheme
There is provided a method for allocating a mobile station to an available resource slot of a plurality of resource slots within a stream of data frames, the stream of data frames broadcasted to the mobile station by a base station. The method includes scanning resource slots to identify an available resource slot, the available resource slot available for assignment to a resource, wherein the resource slots are included in all of the data frames in the stream of data frames, the scanning further including retrieving a data structure of the available resource slot, the data structure having nodes, the nodes associated with different periodicities and different offsets of the periodicities. The method also includes assigning the mobile station to one of the nodes of the available resource slot with an associated periodicity and an associated offset of the periodicity. |
| US08477787B2 |
Method for routing of messages within a data network
A data network includes a plurality of source nodes, at least one sink node, and at least one intermediate node, wherein routing of a reverse message from the sink node to a source node via at least one intermediate node is performed by the intermediate node using reverse path routing information data comprising a combination of source routing information data and transparent bridging information data, wherein the reverse path routing information data is constructed during propagation of a forward message from the source node to the sink node via the intermediate node. |