| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08495289B2 |
Automatically detecting discrepancies between storage subsystem alignments
A computer-implemented method and apparatus for detecting misalignment in a data storage stack by opening a first storage layer in the data storage stack, performing a plurality of accesses of the first storage layer, each of the plurality of accesses starting at a different offset, and determining an optimal offset based on a performance benchmark of each of the plurality of accesses. |
| US08495288B2 |
Storage controller and duplicated data detection method using storage controller
A storage controller of the present invention narrows down the target for data comparison by comparing hash codes beforehand and rapidly detects duplicated data. A hash value setting unit sets a hash code in data received from a host. Hash code-attached data is stored in a logical volume. A microprocessor unit compares the hash codes for each comparison-targeted data. When hash codes match with one another, a data comparator compares the target data, and determines whether or not the data is duplicated data. When duplicated data is detected, the microprocessor unit removes the duplicated data. |
| US08495282B2 |
Flash-aware storage optimized for mobile and embedded DBMS on NAND flash memory
Reliable storage for database management systems (DBMS) running on memory devices such as NAND type flash memory utilizes minimum I/O overhead and provides maximum data durability. A virtual page map is utilized between the flash memory and a page access component to record changes to the DBMS pages and prevent overwriting or data loss. There is no need for journaling and logging, and performance is increased by reducing the write and erase counts on the flash memory. The logical page numbers of the DBMS are mapped to physical page numbers in the page map, such that the virtual page map allocates an available page from the physical pages when changes to a page occur, and the updated information is stored in the allocated page. The allocated page number is mapped to the logical page number of the original page, thus maintaining a modified page representation while preventing physical in-place updates. |
| US08495281B2 |
Intra-block memory wear leveling
A method for intra-block wear leveling within solid-state memory subjected to wear, having a plurality of memory cells includes the step of writing to at least certain ones of the plurality of memory cells, in a non-uniform manner, such as to balance the wear of the at least certain ones of the plurality of memory cells within the solid-state memory, at intra-block level. For example, if a behavior of at least some of the plurality of memory cells is not characterized, then the method may comprise characterizing a behavior of at least some of the plurality of memory cells and writing to at least certain ones of the plurality of memory cells, based on the characterized behavior, and in a non-uniform manner. |
| US08495279B2 |
Flash file system and driving method thereof
The present invention discloses a flash file system and drive method thereof, characterized in that, after reception of an access function, it verifies the parameters in the access function and analyzes the file name of the file to be accessed included therein, then queries the starting position of the file to be accessed, and finally controls a physical driver module to access data from the flash according to the starting position and such parameters. The flash file system according to the present invention does not require FAT (File Allocation Table) file system and block interface, thereby simplifying the complexity of file system and enhancing system performance. |
| US08495278B2 |
Controller which controls operation of nonvolatile semiconductor memory and semiconductor memory device including nonvolatile semiconductor memory and controller therefore
A controller includes an instruction table memory, a program counter, a first decoder, and a first executing unit. The instruction table memory stores an instruction code obtained by coding a sequence to access a nonvolatile semiconductor memory. A read address in the instruction table memory is set to the program counter. The first decoder decodes the instruction code read from the instruction table memory to output a first decode signal. The first executing unit executes access to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory on the basis of the first decode signal output from the first decoder. |
| US08495275B2 |
List structure control circuit
A list structure control circuit includes memories each individually stores data, selection circuits arranged for each of the memories and series-connect the memories so that data stored in each memory has an order relation, and an update control circuit that adds a position selection signal which specifies a position for data insertion or data removal to a fixed value, or subtracts the position selection signal from the fixed value, generates an enable signal based on the calculation result, and controls data retention performed in the memories or data update performed in the memories using data of a memory in precedent stages based on the generated enable signal, wherein the selection circuits are controlled based on the position selection signal at the time of the data insertion, and data stored in a memory located at the position specified by the position specification signal is updated with data to be inserted. |
| US08495274B2 |
Address translation table to enable access to virtual functions
In response to detecting a PCI host bridge (PHB), a first address translation table may be allocated in a first portion of a memory. The first address translation table may be associated with the PHB. If an input/output adapter accessible to the PHB is configured as a virtualized adapter, a first table manager may be assigned to manage the first address translation table. The first address translation table may be configured for an initial number of virtual functions. If a requested number of virtual functions is greater than the initial number of virtual functions, additional virtual functions may be configured. A second address translation table may be allocated in a second portion of the memory. The second portion of the memory may be non-contiguous with reference to the first portion of the memory. Entries may be created in the second address translation table for the additional virtual functions. |
| US08495271B2 |
Injection of I/O messages
A data processing system includes a processor core, a system memory coupled to the processor core, an input/output adapter (IOA), and an input/output (I/O) host bridge coupled to the processor core and to the IOA. The I/O host bridge includes a register coupled to receive I/O messages from the processor core, a buffer coupled to receive I/O messages from the IOA, and logic coupled to the register and to the buffer that services I/O messages received from the register and from the buffer. |
| US08495269B2 |
Administering computing system resources in a computing system
Administering computing system resources in a computing system, the computing system comprising at least one slot adapted to receive an electrical component having a set of pins, the slot configured to couple pins of the electrical component to the computing system, installed within the slot a presence detectable baffle, the presence detectable baffle comprising a passive chassis having a form factor consistent with the electrical component and a presence detectable pin set connected to the passive chassis, the pin set consistent with the electrical component, including: identifying, by a system manager, the presence detectable baffle; and managing, by the system manager, computing system operating attributes in dependence upon presence detectable baffle attributes. |
| US08495266B2 |
Distributed lock
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a distributed lock and distributed locking protocol to allow multiple communicating entities to share access to a computing resource. Certain embodiments of the present invention employ a data storage register implemented by the communicating entities to hold a value reflective of a distributed lock state. |
| US08495263B2 |
Universal interface compatibility of a sensor
A method and apparatus of a universal interface compatibility of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a universal interface method includes acquiring an electrical power of an external source and conditioning the electrical power to provide to a sensor. The universal interface method further includes transferring the processed electrical power to the sensor, receiving a sensor output, converting the sensor output to a compatible form, and communicating the compatible form to an interface. The external source may include at least one of a USB power source, a battery, and a wall charger. The electrical power may be conditioned by at least one of detecting an input voltage, adjusting a variance of the electrical power, and altering a voltage of the electrical power. The compatible form may include at least one of a digital signal and an analog signal. |
| US08495261B2 |
Redispatching suspended tasks after completion of I/O operations absent I/O interrupts
Input/output (I/O) interrupts are avoided at the completion of I/O operations. A task requests (implicitly or explicitly) an I/O operation, and processing of the task is suspended awaiting completion of the I/O operation. At the completion of the I/O operation, instead of an I/O interrupt, an indicator associated with the task is set. Then, when the task once again becomes the current task to be executed, the indicator is checked. If the indicator indicates the I/O operation is complete, execution of the task is resumed. |
| US08495258B2 |
Implementing storage adapter performance optimization with hardware accelerators offloading firmware for buffer allocation and automatically DMA
A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with automatic chained hardware operations eliminating firmware operations, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. The controller includes a plurality of hardware engines and a control store configured to store a plurality of control blocks. Each control block is designed to control a hardware operation in one of the plurality of hardware engines. A plurality of the control blocks is selectively arranged in a respective predefined chain to define sequences of hardware operations. An automatic hardware structure is configured to build the respective predefined chain controlling the hardware operations for a predefined hardware function. The predefined hardware function includes buffer allocation and automatic DMA data from a host system to the controller for write operations, eliminating firmware operations. |
| US08495241B2 |
Communication apparatus and method therefor
Provided are a communication apparatus and a method therefor that are capable of executing a checksum attachment processing without increase of a circuit scale. A data generating unit (for example, a CPU) that forms a communication apparatus generates data, and stores the data in a memory. A checksum processor calculates a checksum for the data read from the memory, and writes the checksum into a predetermined position in the data stored in the memory. A data sending unit (for example, a transmission processor, a MAC processing circuit, and a PHY processing circuit) reads the data having the written checksum from the memory, and sends the data to a network. |
| US08495237B1 |
Techniques for providing a media stream to a mobile computing device based on a predicted route of the mobile computing device
Techniques for providing a media stream to a mobile computing device based on a predicted route of the mobile computing device include obtaining a predicted route of the mobile computing device and determining whether the predicted route travels through an area of reduced network capabilities. If the predicted route travels through the area, the techniques include determining whether to adjust the bit rate encoding of the media stream such that playback of the media stream is not interrupted. |
| US08495236B1 |
Interaction of user devices and servers in an environment
In an environment where video display devices are available for simultaneous viewing, servers provide audio streams to user devices for listening. People may, thus, listen to the audio streams through their user devices while watching the video display devices. An application on the user devices determines which audio streams are available, and the servers may indicate which audio streams are available. The application sends a request to a server to transmit a selected audio stream. The server transmits the selected audio stream, e.g. over a wireless network in the environment. A variety of additional features are enabled by the interaction of the application and the servers. |
| US08495234B2 |
Storage device with multimedia interface connector
Storage devices with multimedia interface connectors and methods are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a controller coupled to a memory, a streaming media capture circuit coupled to the controller, and a video playback circuit coupled to the controller. A multimedia interface connector is coupled to the streaming media capture circuit and further coupled to the video playback circuit. In response to detecting streaming multimedia data incoming from an external device via the multimedia interface connector, the incoming streaming multimedia data is provided to the streaming media capture circuit to generate multimedia file format data that is stored to the memory as a multimedia file. |
| US08495231B1 |
System and method for remote call control
A remote call control method is provided, the method comprising exchanging a session initiation protocol message, wherein the message indicates a call control request is associated with the message; identifying a resource associated with the call control request, wherein the resource includes one or more parameters of the call control request; and performing a call control operation according to the parameters of the call control request.A communication platform and endpoint are provided for executing a call control operation according to a call control request. The communication platform and endpoint comprise a processor component operable to exchange a session initiation protocol message, identify a resource associated with the call control request, and execute a call control operation according to the parameters of the call control request. The message indicates a call control request is associated with the message, and the resource includes parameters associated with the call control request. |
| US08495226B2 |
Data path selection method for communication session
A network controller may receive a communication session request from a user device via a network gateway. The communication session request may include a request to establish a communication session between two or more devices. The network controller may also determine that a communication session corresponding to the communication session request requires a network boarder controller, access a data structure that associates network gateways with network border controllers according to distance, and use the data structure to identify a network border controller that is located nearest to the network gateway. The network controller may establish a communication session comprising a data transport path between the network gateway and the network border controller, of a plurality of network border controllers, nearest to the network gateway. |
| US08495223B2 |
Access control method, access control apparatus, and access control program
An object is to reduce the loads on resources and to flexibly handle increase in access. An access control apparatus 1a includes: session data 21a in which an identifier of a user terminal, session information, and an update time are associated with each other; update means 12 for, upon receipt of an update request, storing updated [0]session information into the session data 21a in association with an update time, and broadcasting, to the other access control apparatuses, an synchronous update request that requests update of the session information of the identifier of the update-target user terminal; and synchronous update means 11 for, upon receipt of the synchronous update request from another access control apparatus, updating the session data 21a on the basis of the synchronous update request in association with the update time. |
| US08495222B2 |
Network system, server, client terminal, timeout information providing method, timeout information display method, and programs
To prevent unexpected Http session timeouts on the web and enable reliable business processing on the Web, a unit for notifying a user of timeouts of Web and a unit for the user to change timeout intervals in the processing of Web applications such as online shopping. The present invention includes an application system which provides application services via a network and clients which receive the application services via the network, in which the application system sends to the clients a program for generating a window which displays information about timeouts on Web sessions of application services, and the clients display the window based on the program received. |
| US08495220B2 |
Managing CDN registration by a storage provider
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing registration, by a network storage provider, of one or more resources with a CDN service provider are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains registration information for registering the one or more resources with a CDN service provider. The registration information may include a request to publish one or more resources to a CDN service provider, an identification of the one or more resources, CDN selection criteria provided by the content provider or otherwise selected, and the like. The network storage provider transmits a CDN generation request corresponding to the registration information to the CDN service provider. Then, the network storage provider manages and processes data pursuant to registration of the one or more resources with the CDN service provider. |
| US08495215B2 |
Service URL management device and service URL management method
An information processing device is configured to communicate with a network device via a network using UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). The information processing device includes a management component and a memory component. The management component is configured to manage a plurality of service URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) of the network device with the service URLs specifying locations of XML (Extensive Markup Language) files that indicate different services provided by the network device. The memory component is configured to store a management record of the service URLs of the network device with the management record having a common record that includes a MAC (Media Access Control) address, an IP (Internet Protocol) address and a port number of the network device, and a plurality of service records that includes a plurality of directory file paths to the XML files. |
| US08495213B2 |
Terminal and method for managing secure devices
A mobile terminal and method for managing secure devices associated with the terminal are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes acquiring at least one of availability information and delegation information from each of at least one secure device associated with the mobile terminal; establishing a secure device delegation rule set for the at least one secure device based on the acquired information; receiving a request for establishing a communication connection with a secure device from a server; and establishing a communication connection between the server and one of the at least one secure device based on the secure device delegation rule set. |
| US08495212B2 |
Internet identity graph and social graph management system and method
A server computer provides to a client computer a web page permitting an internet user to enter an internet identity to be secured. The server receives an input indicating that an internet user has entered an identity and requested that the identity be secured on a plurality of web sites. The internet identity is registered on the plurality of web sites and the registration is verified to said internet user. |
| US08495211B2 |
Network service system and mechanism for searching service registries
A network service system comprises a service registry adapted to interact with registry clients. The service registry includes a service registry interface operatively coupled to a service data registry and a metadata registry for processing unstructured queries from registry clients. |
| US08495207B2 |
Network system for policing resource intensive behaviors
A system may include a network traffic policing system configured to monitor resource intensive users and applications of a wireless communication network. The network traffic policing system may include a processing device configured to determine policy actions; and a plurality of policy nodes in communication with the processing device and configured to: gather statistics regarding key variables of the wireless communication network, the statistics including at least one non-data usage variable, forward updated information relating to the key variables to the processing device, and enforce at least one policy action determined by the processing device. |
| US08495204B2 |
Remote invocation mechanism for logging
One or more events occurring within a client-side web application are logged at a remote server using a script-based invocation mechanism. The mechanism comprises a client-side script, and associated server-side code. Upon occurrence of an event to be logged, a script object is created on the client and used to pass logged data to the server, which then issues a response to destroy the script object. In this manner, the script object is created and persists in the client only as long as it is needed to log the event. |
| US08495195B1 |
Cookie preservation when switching devices
Cookies differentiate users and maintain data related to a user during navigation. Cookies are used for activities such as authenticating, session tracking, and maintaining specific information about users. An embodiment facilitates a method of preserving cookies associated with a first mobile device operated by a user who begins using a second mobile device. Includes receiving a plurality of cookies associated with the first mobile device and storing the cookies in a data store associated with a gateway server. A cookie request is received from the second mobile device and the cookies are provided to the second mobile device. |
| US08495189B2 |
Managing the performance of an application carried out using a plurality of pluggable processing components
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for managing the performance of an application carried out using a plurality of pluggable processing components, the pluggable processing components executed on a plurality of compute nodes, that include: identifying a current configuration of the pluggable processing components for carrying out the application; receiving a plurality of performance indicators produced during execution of the pluggable processing components; and altering the current configuration of the pluggable processing components in dependence upon the performance indicators and one or more additional pluggable processing components. |
| US08495188B2 |
Sensor information management system, sensor information management method, and computer-readable storage medium
A sensor information management system is connected to a network including a plurality of sensors and a computer including a service providing unit for providing services using data presented by at least one of the plurality of sensors. The sensor information management system includes: a sensor profile information record unit for recording sensor profile information; a sensor request information record unit for recording sensor request information; a scenario record unit for recording scenario data; a scenario generation unit for determining an operation for allowing the sensor, and recording the scenario data including the operation; and a scenario management unit for generating a control signal for allowing each sensor and transmitting the generated signal to the each sensor. |
| US08495182B1 |
Scalable systems management abstraction framework
A system and method for scalable systems management where a plurality of devices in a system is managed with a systems management infrastructure. An abstraction layer software application is implemented overlaying the systems management infrastructure for managing task distribution and status gathering for the plurality of devices in the system. A web interface is provided by the software application, the web interface being useable by a user to manage the task distribution and the status gathering. The task distribution may include gateway load balancing, distributing software updates, distributing new software for installation, or distributing software fixes. The status gathering may include performing a hardware inventory scan of a device, performing a software inventory scan of a device, identifying what software is installed on a device, or identifying types of hardware components in a device. |
| US08495181B2 |
Systems and methods for application based interception SSI/VPN traffic
A method for intercepting, by an agent of a client, communications from the client to be transmitted via a virtual private network connection includes the step of intercepting communications based on identification of an application from which the communication originates. The agent receives information identifying a first application. The agent determines a network communication transmitted by the client originates from the first application and intercepts that communication. The agent transmits the intercepted communication via the virtual private network connection. |
| US08495180B2 |
Server architecture supporting a personal media exchange network
Certain aspects of the invention may be found in a method and system for setting up devices for communication on a communication network and may include a headend that may detect when a first device is initially coupled to the communication network and assign an address to the first device. The headend may transfer the assigned address to the first device and in response to receiving the transferred assigned address and/or an identifier of the first device from the first device, the headend may communicate the transferred received assigned address and/or the identifier of the first device to at least one communication server coupled to the communication network. The assigned address of the first device may be a static address, a dynamic address and/or an embedded device address such as a MAC address. The identifier of the first device may be a digital certificate and/or a serial number. |
| US08495179B2 |
Method and system for facilitating the exchange of information between a vehicle and a remote location
The present invention is directed to a system and method that includes a vehicle that exchanges information with the remote location by way of a communication network. A remote server transmits vehicle-related information to the vehicle by way of a communication system. Information may also be broadcast to and received by the vehicle by way of a broadcast communication system. A receiver of the vehicle provides user access to only a subset of the broadcast information based on user preferences of a user profile. The user may update the user profile by accessing and updating it at either the vehicle or by accessing a database. The user may access the database through a network, such as the Internet. The vehicle also selectively transmits vehicle-related information to the remote location when a predetermined event occurs. The vehicle-related information is compiled and analyzed at the remote location, and the analyzed information is transmitted back to the vehicle. |
| US08495174B2 |
Method and apparatus for resource transfer
A method and apparatus for transferring resources from a server to a client, wherein the resources are for an object in an application. According to the present invention, resources needed by the object are determined. Resources which have usages that are less than a threshold according to statistics are removed from the determined resources. The remainder of the determined resources, which are needed by the object, is transferred to the client. According to the present invention, users do not have to wait for a long time before they can see a web page. |
| US08495170B1 |
Service request management
A computer-implemented system and method for managing service requests are disclosed. The system includes a service provider, having a number of server devices, that provides a service response in response to a client service request. The service response includes a service instance ID associated with a server and a connection lease. A communication processing component routes a first client service request to one of the servers. Subsequent client service requests and responses are transmitted directly between the client device and the server device associated with service instance ID included in the first service response for the duration of the connection lease. |
| US08495169B2 |
Method and system for managing a hierarchical information base with an application layer protocol
Presented is a method and system for using the Simple Network Management Protocol, SNMP, to manage a hierarchical information base comprising a plurality of entries each defining one or more object attributes. The method comprises mapping each of a plurality of objects of an SNMP Management Information Base, MIB, to a unique attribute of the information base. |
| US08495166B2 |
Optimized caching for large data requests
An optimized caching mechanism for byte range requests from a web service is provided. When a large file that is not already in cache or being transferred is requested, a background thread may be created to transfer the file and a shared data structure created to track portions of the file that are transferred. For each subsequent request for portions of the same file, the data may be sent back in chunks and the request to read each chunk from the file blocked until that chunk is filled by the background thread. Thus, the locally stored and partially filled file is shared among multiple requestors. |
| US08495164B2 |
Data transfer device and data transfer method
An object of the present invention is to efficiently perform a data transfer by using a plurality of data transfer devices. A storage apparatus 10 includes: a channel control unit 11 having a first DMA 1142, a second DMA 1112, and a memory 113; a processor unit 12; and a drive control unit 13 that communicates with a storage device 17. When the channel control unit 11 transfers to a host computer 3 data stored in a cache memory 14, the first DMA 1142 receives from a processor unit 12 a setting of a first transfer parameter 151 for the first DMA 1142 containing a second transfer parameter 152 for the second DMA 1112, performs a first data transfer from the cache memory 14 to the memory 113 according to the first transfer parameter 151, and sets the second transfer parameter in the second DMA 1112 thereby to cause the second DMA 1112 to perform a data transfer from the memory 113 to the host computer 3. |
| US08495162B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus and communication method of communication system
A communication system in which a plurality of communication apparatuses and a communication control apparatus are daisy chained. The communication control apparatus transmits control data to the plurality of communication apparatuses, and receives data transmitted by the plurality of communication apparatuses. Each communication apparatus receives data from another communication apparatus on a different side from a communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data, and transmits data to one of the communication control apparatus and another communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, and following the transmission, to transmit data received to the one of the communication control apparatus and the other communication apparatus on the communication control apparatus side, in synchronous with receipt of the control data. |
| US08495160B2 |
System for controlling retention of data messages
Subscribers connected to a publish/subscribe message broker receive messages on topic names to which they have subscribed. The subscribers receive any number of messages on each topic to which they have subscribed. When the broker receives a message on a second, pre-specified, topic, associated with a first topic, the broker removes any existing retained message related to the first topic. Thus any subsequent subscribers to the first topic do not receive the retained message when they subscribe, and thus do not receive out-of-date information. If, at a later date, a new message is published on the first topic subscribers will receive the new message if they are still subscribed. |
| US08495158B2 |
Method for delivering wills and messages
Disclosed herein is a method of delivering wills and messages, in which the death of an invitor is verified by one or more invitee(s)/verifier(s) close to the invitor, and then the will and message of the invitor are delivered to the invitee(s). The method of delivering wills and messages enables not only an invitor to efficiently and reliably leave behind a will and a message to one or more invitee(s) but also the death of the invitor to be quickly determined by the invitee(s), thereby improving the reliability of the determination of death. |
| US08495157B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributed policy-based management and computed relevance messaging with remote attributes
An embodiment of the invention provides a technique that extends relevance-based computation to include computation based on information accessed from or exchanged with other agents. Mechanisms are provided by which an agent accesses or exchanges information between or among other agents and may include one or more of: central bulletin board, broadcast, direct request—pull, direct request—push, and server-routed. Architectural models of distributed decision making to facilitate a distributed and policy-based management of IT infrastructure are provided. |
| US08495156B2 |
Enabling identification of online identities between different messaging services
A method and system for populating identities in a message service involves registering a user of a first messaging service with a second messaging service. User identities for users other than the registered user may be identified. These user identities may be associated with the first messaging service and may be stored in a list associated with the registered user. It is determined if each identified user identity has a matching user identity associated with the second messaging service. If so, a database associated with the second messaging service is populated with the matching user identities. Determining whether a matching user identity exists may be performed, for example, by making character strings comparisons between user identities or using a database that stores a mapping of first messaging service user identities to second messaging service user identities. The mapping database may be generated as corresponding user identities are discovered. |
| US08495155B2 |
Enterprise management of public instant message communications
Techniques are described that enable enterprise management of public instant message (IM) communications. When a user requests a connection with a public IM service, the connection request is redirected to a gateway server that is associated with a domain specified in the user's user ID. The gateway server acts as a pass through server between the user's IM client application and the public IM service. The gateway server may be configured to log IM communications in which the user participates. The gateway server may also be configured to control whether or not the user is able to participate in point-to-point communications through the user's IM client application. An enterprise routing server may also be implemented in a geo-distributed enterprise to route a redirected public IM connection request to an enterprise IM gateway server based on a geographic location associated with the user. |
| US08495147B1 |
Threading of mixed media
The present invention provides methods and systems for automatically threading multiple media into a single document. More specifically, a single conversation may be distributed among a number of different contacts and replies to those contacts. The distributed contacts and the corresponding replies may be chronologically ordered and analyzed. Then the repetitive portions of the documents and replies are removed. After repetitive portions of the conversation have been removed, the multiple documents are threaded together as a single representation of the conversation. |
| US08495143B2 |
Inferring user profile attributes from social information
User profile information for a user of a social networking system is inferred based on information about user profile of the user's connections in the social networking system. The inferred user profile attributes may include age, gender, education, affiliations, location, and the like. To infer a value of a user profile attribute, the system may determine an aggregate value based on the attributes of the user's connections. A confidence score may also be associated with the inferred attribute value. The set of connections analyzed to infer a user profile attribute may depend on the attribute, the types of connections, and the interactions between the user and the connections. The inferred attribute values may be used to update the user's profile and to determine information relevant to the user to be presented to the user (e.g., targeting advertisements to the user based on the user's inferred attributes). |
| US08495135B2 |
Preventing cross-site request forgery attacks on a server
Preventing Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) security attacks on a server in a client-server environment comprises: embedding a nonce and a script in all responses from the server to the client, the script adapted for executing to add the nonce to each request from the client to the server; sending the response with the nonce and the script to the client; and verifying that each request from the client includes the nonce. The script preferably modifies all objects, including dynamically generated objects, in a server response that may generate future requests to the server to add the nonce to the requests. The server verifies the nonce value in a request and optionally confirms the request with the client if the value is not the same as the value previously sent by the server. Server-side aspects might be embodied in the server or a proxy between the server and the client. |
| US08495131B2 |
Method, system, and program for managing locks enabling access to a shared resource
Provided are a method, system, and program for managing locks enabling access to a shared resource. A first server receives a lock request from a client for the shared resource. A determination is made as to whether a second server owns the client locks. The first server issues a request to the second server to transfer ownership of the client locks to the first server, wherein the client lock requests are handled by the server owning the client locks. |
| US08495129B2 |
Energy-aware code offload for mobile devices
A method described herein includes an act of, at a mobile computing device, receiving an indication that a portion of code of a program executing on the mobile computing device is to be offloaded to a second computing device for execution on the second computing device, wherein the indication is based at least in part upon an estimated energy savings of the mobile computing device by offloading the portion of the code for execution on the second computing device. The method also includes an act of transmitting data to the second computing device that causes the second computing device to execute the portion of the code. |
| US08495127B2 |
Improving scalability and throughput of a publish/subscribe network
Improving scalability and throughput in publish/subscribe messaging systems by allowing the spoke systems to vary the member of the hub collective that it attaches to. The scalability is improved because the spoke systems do not have to have a long lasting attachment to a specific hub system. Instead, the spoke systems can be redistributed more evenly when new spoke systems are added or removed. The throughput is increased by distributing workload and fan-out responsibilities within hub collectives. Availability is improved because single points of failure are removed. Ease of administration is also improved over a hierarchy by allowing child nodes to automatically change parent nodes if a parent node is modified or removed. |
| US08495126B2 |
System and method for managing the deployment of an information handling system
A system and method for automated deployment of an information handling system are disclosed. A method for managing the deployment of an information handling system may include executing a deployment application on an information handling system, the deployment application including one or more tasks associated with the deployment of the information handling system. The method may further include automatically determining for a particular task whether an execution time for the particular task is within a predetermined range of execution times. The method may further include automatically performing an error-handling task in response to determining that the execution time for the particular task is not within the predetermined range of execution times. |
| US08495125B2 |
DSP engine with implicit mixed sign operands
A processor may have at least one multiplier unit which can be controlled to operate in a signed, an unsigned, or a mixed sign mode; a multiplier unit mode decoder coupled with the multiplier unit which receives location information of a first and second operands, wherein the multiplier mode decoder controls the multiplier unit when in the mixed sign mode depending on the location information to operate in a signed mode, an unsigned mode, or a combined signed/unsigned mode. |
| US08495123B2 |
Processor for performing multiply-add operations on packed data
A method and apparatus for including in a processor instructions for performing multiply-add operations on packed data. In one embodiment, a processor is coupled to a memory. The memory has stored therein a first packed data and a second packed data. The processor performs operations on data elements in said first packed data and said second packed data to generate a third packed data in response to receiving an instruction. At least two of the data elements in this third packed data storing the result of performing multiply-add operations on data elements in the first and second packed data. |
| US08495122B2 |
Programmable device with dynamic DSP architecture
Described is a programmable logic device (PLD) with columns of DSP slices that can be cascaded to create DSP circuits of varying size and complexity. Each slice includes a mode port that receives mode control signals for dynamically altering the function and connectivity of related slices. Such alterations can occur with or without reconfiguring the PLD. |
| US08495118B2 |
Tunable random bit generator with magnetic tunnel junction
A random number generator device that utilizes a magnetic tunnel junction. An AC current source is in electrical connection to the magnetic tunnel junction to provide an AC current having an amplitude and a frequency through the free layer of the magnetic tunnel junction, the AC current configured to switch the magnetization orientation of the free layer via thermal magnetization. A read circuit is used to determine the relative orientation of the free layer magnetization in relation to the reference layer magnetization orientation. |
| US08495114B1 |
System and methods for determining attributes for arithmetic operations with fixed-point numbers
In a computational device, a method is provided for determining attributes for results of arithmetic operations with fixed-point numbers, in an environment for fixed-point algorithm development. An indication is received of a plurality of possible word lengths to be used for storing a plurality of digits representing a result of arithmetic operation with fixed-point numbers. An indication is received of how a placement of a radix point is to be determined in the plurality of digits representing the results of the arithmetic operation with fixed-point numbers. When calculating a selected fixed-point arithmetic operation, one of the word lengths in the plurality of possible word lengths is employed for storing the plurality of digits representing a result of the selected fixed-point arithmetic operation. A placement of a radix point in the plurality of digits representing the result of the selected fixed-point arithmetic operation is based on the received indication of how the radix point is to be determined. |
| US08495111B1 |
System and method of hierarchical space management for storage systems
A system and method for storing data. In one embodiment, a storage system includes a resource manager and a hierarchical entry tree describing storage entities of the storage system. At each given level of the tree higher than the bottom level, metadata entries summarize storage availability at a level below the given level. The resource manager receives a request to store data of a target size at a target location corresponding to a first portion of the entry tree and scans the entry tree to determine if contiguous, free storage entities of the target size are available at the target location. In response to determining that contiguous, free storage entities of the target size are not available at the target location, the resource manager scans portions of the entry tree outside the first portion to identify contiguous, free storage entities of the target size, where it stores the data. |
| US08495110B2 |
Concurrent processing of transactions and read operations achieving serialization and isolation in clustered file systems
Systems. Methods, and Computer Program Products are provided for concurrent processing of transactions and read operations for achieving serialization and isolation in a clustered file system (CFS). Users, performing read only operations, are allowed to currently access the CFS while mutually excluding and serializing transactions of users affecting a same portion of the CFS. Transactions are ordered across a cluster of nodes of the CFS according to the transactions termination time. |
| US08495106B2 |
Write instruction datasource for database write procedure
A computer implemented system and method for enabling a database write operation for an application that only has a database read operation is disclosed. At least one data source is stored in a database, the data source having at least one pre-coded stored write operation. A database read operation that calls the data source is received. The read operation is performed on the database, the read operation causing the database to execute the pre-coded stored write operation on the database. |
| US08495104B2 |
Database child object wizard
Embodiments presented herein provide systems and methods for creating child objects for a database. A child object wizard provides one or more user interfaces that allow a database administrator to select or create a child object. One or more other interfaces allow the administrator generate object attributes. The user interfaces allow the database administrator to follow a simpler process to create a child object. The process saves time and money for the database administrator. |
| US08495102B2 |
Method, system, and program product for organizing a database
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for organizing a database containing a plurality of objects based on a task list of a user. In one embodiment, the invention includes accessing a database containing a plurality of objects; defining at least one of the plurality of objects as included in a task list of a user; displaying the defined object(s); determining a time at which each defined object was last accessed by the user; modifying the display based on at least one determined value; and searching the modified display. |
| US08495101B2 |
Defining a data structure for pattern matching
An information processing method for defining a data structure for pattern matching, the method executed by an information processing apparatus, comprises generating, by the apparatus, an ordered tree structure by defining transition edges between nodes using, as transition conditions, respective constraints from one or more constraint patterns each including plural constraints; searching, by the apparatus, for a second substructure similar to a first substructure from a root node by determining a set relation between transition conditions of respective transition edges; and defining, by the apparatus, an additional transition link from a tail node of the second substructure to a child node at a tail end of the first substructure, the additional transition link adding a constraint to be met by an indeterminant identified from the set relation. |
| US08495100B2 |
Semantic version control system for source code
A computer implemented method and computer usable program product for version control of source code. In one embodiment, a source code file is scanned for relationships between source code sections. A semantic graph with dependencies and metadata describing the source code sections is constructed. The dependencies indicate the relationships between the source code sections. If changes are received for the semantic graph, the semantic graph is modified with the changes to form a modified semantic graph. |
| US08495098B1 |
Method and system for transforming and storing digital content
Embodiments of systems and methods disclosed may serve to normalize digital content into a canonical format to in a way that decouples the digital content from a format that may be required by consuming devices. Specifically, certain embodiments may create a container for storing the digital content and store structured representations and metadata associated with that digital content in that container. |
| US08495095B2 |
Systems and methods of networking enhancements using location based services
A location based service and method configured to provide a mechanism for information to a subscribing user. The method is implemented on a computing infrastructure and includes querying one or more databases for matching information of a third party that is associated with one or more mobile devices that pass within a predefined location at one or more predefined intervals. The method further includes providing location information to a subscribing user of the one or more mobile devices that have the matching information and pass within the predefined location. |
| US08495087B2 |
Aggregate contribution of iceberg queries
One or more embodiments determine a distance between at least two vectors of n coordinates. A set of heavy coordinates is identified from a set of n coordinates associated with at least two vectors. A set of light coordinates is identified from the set of n coordinates associated with the at least two vectors. A first estimation of a contribution is determined from the set of heavy coordinates to a rectilinear distance between the at least two vectors. A second estimation of a contribution is determined from the set of light coordinates to the rectilinear distance norm. The first estimation is combined with the second estimation. |
| US08495083B2 |
Generation and retrieval of incident reports
Upon detection of an anomaly, a report is generated that includes a description the anomaly. A description of the anomaly contained in the report is examined to determine a proposed remedy for the anomaly. |
| US08495079B2 |
Initializing a multi-tenant database
A method and system for initializing a multi-tenant database. The method includes the steps of: executing a trial of a legacy initialization tool on a trial database; capturing database statements issued by the legacy initialization tool during the step of executing a trial; capturing trial execution results of the database statements; executing the legacy initialization tool on a multi-tenant database; intercepting the database statements issued by the legacy initialization tool during the step of executing the legacy initialization tool on the multi-tenant database; and executing a mock of intercepted database statements corresponding to types of the database statements, types of tables involved in the database statements, and the trial execution results of the database statements, where at least one of the steps is carried out using a computer device. |
| US08495078B2 |
System and method for abstraction of objects for cross virtual universe deployment
A system and method for abstracting objects in a virtual universe (VU) deployment is provided. The system and method abstracts VU objects for editing in a common abstraction utility and for deploying to one or more VU grids containing one or more VU architectures and/or platforms (servers). The method can be implemented in a computer infrastructure having programming instructions operable to: obtain an object associated with a first virtual universe server; translate the object with syntax specific to at least a second virtual universe server, the syntax being different than that used with the first virtual universe server; and deploy the translated object to the second virtual universe server. |
| US08495077B2 |
Database systems and methods for linking records and entity representations with sufficiently high confidence
Disclosed are a system for, and method of, determining whether records correspond to the same individual. The system and method provide such a determination with a known minimum level of confidence. That is, the system and method provide an indication that records correspond to the same individual along with an associated confidence level. The system and method may be used to link records in a database that correspond to the same individuals, creating entity representations in the database. |
| US08495072B1 |
Attribute-based identification schemes for objects in internet of things
Methods and arrangements for object identification. An identification request is received from different objects of a network. Attributes and values of each object are ascertained, and at least one attribute-value pair from each object is filtered out. An ID is generated for each object based on at least one remaining attribute-value pair from the filtering. |
| US08495071B1 |
User productivity by showing most viewed messages
A computer-implemented method is provided, according to which, an indication of a plurality of attributes of user interaction with one or more electronic messages in a user account is received, a rank value for each of the one or more electronic messages based on the plurality of attributes of user interaction with the one or more electronic messages is determined, the one or more electronic messages in the user account based on the determined rank value are sorted, and the sorted one or more electronic messages are provided for display in accordance with the determined rank value. |
| US08495062B2 |
System and method for generating search terms
A text object(s) such as a document containing a plurality of text items (e.g., chapters, paragraphs, etc.) is used to generate a search term. At least one, but not all, of the text items in the text object are selected based on a profile. The selected text item(s) are parsed to generate one or more search terms. This allows a user to drag-and-drop a graphical text object into a search engine icon to automatically perform a search based on the profile. Alternatively, a non-text object (e.g., an image) containing any identifiable item is used to generate the search term. Based on the profile, the item is parsed to generate a text representation of the item. The text representation of the item is used to generate one or more search terms. |
| US08495061B1 |
Automatic metadata identification
A system determines whether text of a document includes a document identifier and uses the document identifier to locate metadata in a database when the text of the document includes the document identifier. The system compares the metadata to the text of the document and associates the metadata with the text of the document when at least some of the metadata matches the text of the document. |
| US08495059B2 |
Method of searching for personal information management (PIM) information and handheld electronic device employing the same
A method of searching for Personal Information Management information of a handheld electronic device includes accepting input of one or more search criteria, such as text search criteria and/or name search criteria; accepting input of a representation of a plurality of different databases or applications of the handheld electronic device including Personal Information Management information to be searched; and conducting a search of the different databases or applications based upon the one or more search criteria and the representation of different databases or applications. The method determines one or more search results from the search and displays those search results. |
| US08495050B2 |
Identifying universal resource locator rewriting rules
A computer-implemented process for identifying universal resource locator rewriting rules may receive input of universal resource locators of an application, to form received universal resource locators, may represent the received universal resource locators in a specialized graph and may apply analysis algorithms and heuristics to properties of the specialized graph. The computer-implemented process may further identify universal resource locator rewriting patterns using the specialized graph to form detected patterns and may generate rewrite rules corresponding to the detected patterns. |
| US08495048B2 |
Applying user-generated deployment events to a grouping of deployable portlets
A mechanism is provided for applying individual user-generated deployment events to a grouping of bookmarked deployable Web archive files. The mechanism allows a user of a bookmarking service for deployable Web archive files to group bookmarked Web archive files according to criteria, such as tag names, and to perform actions, such as a deploy action, to all members of the group in a single user-generated event. The mechanism allows a user to perform a search of portlets meeting specified criteria. The user may then select portlets from the result set for deployment as a group. The mechanism also allows a user of the bookmarking service to tag pre-configured portlet groupings, or portal tabs. Users may choose to deploy not just a tagged portlet, but an entire tab of portlets in a single deployment action. The mechanism may also allow a user to deploy a collection of portal tabs. |
| US08495047B2 |
Method and system for automated intelligent electronic advertising
A method and system for automated intelligent electronic advertising. The method and system parse electronic information messages (e.g., e-mail, IM, SMS, MMS, social networking messages, etc.) using information theory for keywords and make search engine queries or database queries for electronic links based on the identified keywords. Hierarchical electronic links are added to the electronic information messages creating a modified electronic information message. This allows additional electronic information to be accessed from the modified electronic information message based on information content of the original electronic information message via pre-determined hierarchy. |
| US08495046B1 |
Encoding locations and using distances for resources
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing locations and distances related to resources referenced in search results. Location data for an entity are processed to determine physical locations of an entity. The physical locations are used to generate a coverage area data, and the location data and coverage area data are associated with Internet resources of the entity. The coverage area data and location data are used to filter search results and adjust the rank of individual search results that are responsive to a query associated with a query location. |
| US08495045B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating an activity record in a business management system from an email message
Methods and apparatus are provided for storing email messages into activity records in business management system. In an embodiment, an user interface for an email application program may receive a request may be received to create an activity record in a business management system based on a received email message, and in response an activity record may be created in a database in the business management system. |
| US08495044B2 |
File system node updates
In response to a request to a file system to perform a requested update, a lock of a first node in a file system can be acquired, and an update of the first node can be performed while the lock of the first node is held. Also in response to the request, a lock of a second node can be acquired, and an update of the second node, which reflects the update of the first node, can be performed while the lock of the second node is held. The update of the first node can be independent of acquiring the lock of the second node. A file system can allow a pair of update operations to be performed in parallel where both operations include updating the same container node. Additionally, while a file system is running, new namespace types can be defined, and the file system can be extended to manage nodes within the new namespace types. |
| US08495041B2 |
Data structure, computer system, method and computer program for searching database
A database system that issues a reference transaction by designating a time stamp. Data structures are provided for making an inquiry about the latest value at a designated time using a database in which values and information on times associated with the individual values are contained in a table. One of the data structures includes, for each of IDs associated with the values in the database, at least one time stamp that is sorted in chronological order (hereinafter referred to as a first time stamp); values belonging to the individual first time stamps; and a pointer that designates one of the first time stamps, the first time stamps indicating the times when the values become valid. The other of the data structures includes, for each of the IDs, the designated first time stamp and a value belonging to the designated first time stamp. |
| US08495037B1 |
Efficient isolation of backup versions of data objects affected by malicious software
A system for efficient isolation of backup versions of data objects affected by malicious software includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the processors. The memory comprises program instructions executable by the processors to implement a backup manager configured to receive an indication that a data object is infected by malicious software. In response to the indication, the backup manager is configured to identify a particular backup version of the data object to be excluded from a data set to be used for a restore operation. |
| US08495035B2 |
Systems and methods for providing data integrity protection in a storage medium
A method for data integrity protection includes arranging data in a plurality of data blocks. A respective block signature is computed over each of the data blocks, thereby generating multiple block signatures. The data blocks and the block signatures in an integrity hierarchy are stored in a storage medium, the hierarchy comprising multiple levels of signature blocks containing signatures computed over lower levels in the hierarchy, culminating in a top-level block containing a top-level signature computed over all of the hierarchy. A modification is made in the data stored in a given data block within the hierarchy. The respective block signature of the given data block is recomputed in response to the modification, and the recomputed block signature is stored in the top-level block for use in verifying a subsequent requests to read data from the given data block. |
| US08495031B2 |
Records declaration filesystem monitoring
Techniques for managing records on a filesystem to enforce a record disposition protocol. Embodiments identify records on the filesystem using one or more record definitions. Each record definition may contain a conditional statement which, if satisfied by a particular file on the filesystem, indicates the particular file as a record. Embodiments may then monitor file activity for each of the identified records and upon detecting the file activity, may enforce the record disposition protocol for the record. Such enforcement may include preventing the file activity, and may further include logging information related to the file activity. |
| US08495029B2 |
Maintaining a data structure with data set names and pointers to a plurality of catalogs
A plurality of catalogs are maintained, and wherein each catalog of the plurality of catalogs includes data sets and attributes of the data sets. An indication that a new data set is to be defined is received. A selected catalog is determined from the plurality of catalogs, wherein the selected catalog is suitable for including the new data set and attributes of the new data set. An entry that indicates a data set name corresponding to the new data set and an index to the selected catalog is inserted in a group table. |
| US08495027B2 |
Processing archive content based on hierarchical classification levels
Processing archive content based on hierarchical classification levels is performed by indexing a first newly archived file of a current set of archive content at a first classification level defining a plurality of types of metadata to be derived, wherein the first classification level is selected from a hierarchy of classification levels having at least two classification levels, indexing a second newly archived file of the current set of archive content at a second classification level, wherein the second classification level includes fewer types of metadata than the first class of metadata, and flagging the second newly archived file of the current set of archive content. By classifying and flagging the second newly archived file differently than the first newly archived file, the system can easily retrieve such data at a later instance to update and/or change the data, re-index the data, and the like. |
| US08495025B2 |
Foldering by stable query
Instead of adding resources into a folder by specifying a list of identifiers, client applications add resources to a folder by specifying a search query that matches the resources to be added. The virtual folder is, therefore, a collection of search queries rather than a collection of resource identifiers. This allows the data archive systems to easily store folder information in a database. A client application can then search by specifying the folder as its search criteria to list all content associated with the folder. Additionally, to ensure that the list of results associated with a particular query does not change after the query is added into a folder, the data archive system also captures generation information associated with the particular query (i.e., the iteration of the search indexes at the time the query is received) and stores the generation information with the query as part of the folder. |
| US08495024B2 |
Navigation of electronic backups
Systems and methods for navigating within snapshots are provided. In one implementation a method is provided. The method includes receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view be displayed. The history view is displayed in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, the earlier version including a hierarchical structure wherein a first element of the earlier version includes a second element. There is received, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view be modified according to the second element. The method includes modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view according to the second element. |
| US08495022B1 |
Systems and methods for synthetic backups
A computer-implemented method for synthetic backups may include identifying a full backup of a volume of files. The computer-implemented method may also include identifying a set of incremental backups that were performed subsequently to the full backup. The computer-implemented method may further include identifying a set of storage devices that store the full backup and the set of incremental backups. The computer-implemented method may additionally include identifying a request to create a synthetic backup incorporating the full backup and the set of incremental backups. The computer-implemented method may moreover include generating a sorted catalog for the synthetic backup by indexing files for the synthetic backup in an order based on at least one characteristic of the files. The computer-implemented method may also include creating the synthetic backup of the indexed files in the sorted catalog by reading the indexed files in an order based on locations of the indexed files on the set of storage devices. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08495020B1 |
Mobile information system
A time-based intelligence system provides robust storage, access, and processing of information on a mobile device. An automated mobile assistant system provides automated, proactive and anticipatory services for the user of the system. In an example, a customizable personal mobile device for communication and organization can include a core engine and a plurality of modules coupled to the core engine to perform a different one of a plurality of classes of functionality of the mobile device, where each said module includes a processing element and memory dedicated for use by said module. |
| US08495018B2 |
Transitioning application replication configurations in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for providing non-disruptive transitioning of application replication configurations and proactive analysis of possible error scenarios. Specifically, under embodiments of the present invention, a common integration model (CIM)-compatible representation of a system replication plan is provided in a computer data structure. Based on the representation, a hierarchical tree data structure having a set of nodes is created. A set of system configuration updates pertaining to the set of nodes are then classified (e.g., based upon the type of configuration update). Once the set of nodes has been classified, the set of nodes may then be analyzed to determine if any nodes of the set are isomorphic. If so, the plan can be modified accordingly. In any event, the replication plan (or modified replication plan) may then be implemented. |
| US08495011B2 |
System and method for management of research subject or patient events for clinical research trials
A system and method for managing clinical research trials is disclosed. The system and method may include a centralized secure database with information on clinical research trial participants, clinical research trial events, investigator and administrator inputs, and communication of participants, investigators and administrators. In one embodiment, the system and method allows investigators to contact participants without disclosing confidential contact information of the participants to the investigators by storing health information and contact information in separate databases. In one embodiment, administrators may access clinical research trial information through a secure web portal. |
| US08495010B2 |
Method and system for adaptive metadata replication
A method for writing a data block to a storage pool. The method including receiving a write operation for a block, determining whether the block comprises metadata, and if the block comprises metadata: determining a first replication type for the block, and writing the block to the storage pool in accordance with the first replication type. If the block does not comprise metadata: determining a second replication type for the block and writing the block to the storage pool in accordance with the second replication type. |
| US08495007B2 |
Systems and methods for hierarchical aggregation of multi-dimensional data sources
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for aggregating data from data sources according to a hierarchical mapping generated from dimensions of the data sources. A set of applications such as online analytical processing (OLAP) applications can access the combined data of a set of multi-dimensional data sources via a transform engine. The set of data sources can be configured with diverse dimensions and associated data, which in general do not reflect a strictly hierarchical structure. In embodiments, the transform engine can combine or aggregate the set of data sources using common dimensions or data points, and build an index into a transform table reflecting the hierarchical level of dimension from each data source in a combined hierarchical mapping. An OLAP or other application can therefore perform searches, sorts, and/or other operations on the combined hierarchical mapping based on the resulting ordering of data, even when the original multi-dimensional data sources do not contain an explicit common hierarchy. |
| US08495002B2 |
Software tool for training and testing a knowledge base
A software tool for creating, training and testing a knowledge base of a computerized customer relationship management system is disclosed. The software tool includes corpus editing processes for displaying and editing text-based corpus items, and assigning selected categories to individual corpus items. Knowledge base construction processes construct a knowledge base by analyzing a first subset of the corpus items, and testing processes test the knowledge base on a second subset of the corpus items. Reporting processes generate reports containing indicia representative of the testing results, which may be utilized to edit the corpus items and retrain the knowledge base so as to improve performance. |
| US08494998B2 |
Link spam detection using smooth classification function
A spam detection system is disclosed. The system includes a classifier training component that receives a first set of training pages labeled as normal pages and a second set of training pages labeled as spam pages. The training component trains a web page classifier based on both the first set of training pages and the second set of training pages. A spam detector then receives unlabeled web pages uses the web page classifier to classify the unlabeled web pages as spam pages or normal pages. |
| US08494996B2 |
Creation and revision of network object graph topology for a network performance management system
An embodiment of the invention comprises, providing an initial object graph to a database, the initial object graph being generated by applying a set of rules to resources included in a resource set at a specified time, or by revising a previous object graph at the previous time, the resource set at the specified time comprising an initial resource set. The method includes providing the initial object graph to a working memory, maintained in separation from the database; discovering a changed fact associated with one of the resources of the initial resource set; and upon discovering the changed fact, determining modifications required by the changed fact to the initial object graph. If modifications are required, the initial object graph is revised in the working memory to include such modifications. The same revisions are then made to the initial object graph in the system database. |
| US08494994B2 |
Fast adaptation in real-time systems
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for online convex optimization is provided. The method includes performing a step that relies on the selection of x at a time t (xt), where x is a variable involved with the step. A resulting cost (ƒt(xt)) is calculated that results from selecting xt when performing the step, where ƒt is a cost function. A minimum possible cost (ƒt(x*t)) associated with the selection of x* is then found and the difference between the resulting cost (ƒt(xt)) and the minimum possible cost (ƒt(x*t)) is determined. A direction of movement from xt to xt+1 is selected and a subsequent step that relies on the section of xt+1 is then performed. |
| US08494993B2 |
Systems and methods for quantum computation using real physical hardware
Iterative approaches to quantum computation are described. Incongruities in the behavior of the various individual elements in a quantum processor may be managed by establishing a set of equivalent configurations for the elements of the quantum processor. The quantum processor is programmed and operated using each equivalent configuration to determine a set of solutions. The solutions are evaluated to determine a preferred solution that best satisfies at least one criterion. Furthermore, thermodynamic effects from operating a quantum processor at non-absolute zero temperature can cause the ground state to be the most probable state into which the system will settle. By running multiple iterations the ground state may be identified as the state with the most frequent reoccurrences. Alternatively, the energy of each unique state may be calculated and the state that corresponds to the lowest energy may be returned as the solution to the problem. |
| US08494987B2 |
Semantic relationship extraction, text categorization and hypothesis generation
Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to systems, methods, computer readable media, and other means for extracting entities, determining the semantic relationships among the entities and generating knowledge. More particularly, some embodiments of the present invention are directed to generating a hypothesis and/or gaining knowledge by automatically extracting semantic relationships from electronic documents stored at remote databases, which are accessed over the Internet. Some embodiments of the present invention also include textual categorization and new approaches and algorithms for solving the problems of relationship extraction, computing semantic relationships and generating hypotheses. |
| US08494985B1 |
System and method for using network application signatures based on modified term transition state machine
A method for profiling network traffic of a network. The method includes identifying a training set having captured payloads corresponding to a set of flows associated with a network application, determining a set of signature terms from the training set, representing a portion of the captured payloads as regular expressions, representing a regular expression as a path in a modified term transition state machine (MTTSM) including states coupled by at least a link that is assigned a signature term, and analyzing, based on the MTTSM, a flow separate from the set of flows and associated with a server in the network to determine the server as executing the network application. |
| US08494983B2 |
Object-sensitive image search
Methods and systems for object-sensitive image searches are described herein. These methods and systems are usable for receiving a query for an image of an object and providing a ranked list of query results to the user based on a ranking of the images. The object-sensitive image searches may generate a pre-trained multi-instance learning (MIL) model trained from free training data from users sharing images at websites to identify a common pattern of the object, and/or may generate a MIL model “on the fly” trained from pseudo-positive and pseudo-negative samples of query results to identify a common pattern of the object. As such, the user is presented with query results that include images that prominently display the object near the top of the results. |
| US08494982B2 |
Emotion model, apparatus, and method for adaptively modifying personality features of emotion model
Disclosed are an emotion model, and an apparatus and method for adaptively learning personality of the emotion model. The emotion model, which maintains personality information, creates emotion information according to the personality information and takes a predetermined behavior according to the emotion information. The personality information may change adaptively in correspondence to a user's response to the behavior performed by the emotion model. Accordingly, the emotion model may react adaptively to the user through interactions with the user. |
| US08494979B2 |
Detection of unknown scenarios
The present invention provides methods, systems and apparatus for detecting unknown scenarios in a data processing system. An example method includes the steps of: providing known scenario data describing one or more known scenarios in a database; generating element data depending on the known scenario data to form a set of elements, wherein each element is related to at least an actor and the behavior of the actor; computing subsets of elements by combining at least some of the elements of the set in dependence on their corresponding behavior; generating new scenario data related to new scenarios depending on the subsets of elements; and comparing the known scenario data with the new scenario data in order to identify the unknown scenarios. |
| US08494974B2 |
Targeted security implementation through security loss forecasting
A method of selecting security actions is provided. The method comprises estimating a maximum forecast loss, identifying general, sector specific, and targeted threats. The method further comprises forecasting a security loss based on the estimated maximum forecast loss and the threats, estimating a reduction in the security loss based on a first investment on a general threat countermeasure, on a second investment on a sector specific countermeasure, and on a third investment on a targeted threat countermeasure. The method further comprises allocating at least a portion of a security investment budget among the first, the second, and the third investments to maximize the estimated reduction in security loss. An aspect disclosed comprises a method that determines rates of return on security investment and selects security investments based on the rates of return. An aspect disclosed comprises a system for forecasting a security loss based on a security investment. |
| US08494973B1 |
Targeting review placement
An existing distribution of reviews for an entity across a plurality of review sites is evaluated. A determination is made, on behalf of the entity, that the existing distribution should be adjusted. An indication of at least one review site on which the placement of at least one additional review should be targeted is provided as output. |
| US08494972B2 |
Valuation using credit score
A method of appraising the value of a property based on obtaining a credit score of an owner of a property and assigning an ownership responsibility indicator to the property. The ownership responsibility indicator provides insight into the condition of the property without performing a complete inspection. A more accurate value of the property can then be determined. |
| US08494969B2 |
Cryptographic server with provisions for interoperability between cryptographic systems
The invention is a cryptographic server providing interoperability over multiple algorithms, keys, standards, certificate types and issuers, protocols, and the like. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a secure server, or trust engine, having server-centric keys, or in other words, storing cryptographic keys on a server. The server-centric storage of keys provides for user-independent security, portability, availability, and straightforwardness, along with a wide variety of implementation possibilities. |
| US08494968B2 |
Terminal data encryption
A method is disclosed. The method includes generating an initial key after interacting with an access device, storing the initial key at a key storage location, altering the initial key with a public key to form an altered key, and sending the altered key to a server computer along with an identifier for the access device. The altered key is changed to the initial key at the server computer and is stored with the identifier in a database in operative communication with the server computer. The initial keys that are stored at the key storage location and in the database are used to alter and restore transaction data associated with multiple financial transactions that are conducted using the access device. |
| US08494964B1 |
Software as a service via virtualization
A system, method, and computer program product for managing limited-use software on a host computer having an operating system is disclosed. A software application can be installed in the operating system as a virtualized application using light weight virtualization technology. Rights usage information for the software application is received, the rights usage information comprising a rule describing permitted use of the software application on the host computer. A determination is made whether to enable the virtualized application based at least in part on the rights usage information. Responsive to the determination, the virtualized application is enabled to be executed on the host computer. |
| US08494960B2 |
System, program product, and computer-implemented method for loading a loan on a pre-paid card
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, program products, and methods of loading a loan on a pre-paid card. A bank receives authorization from a lender to credit loan proceeds from the lender to an approved borrower on a pre-paid card associated with the pre-paid card processor so that release of the loan proceeds is pending an activation of a pre-paid card. Next, the bank receives notice of an activation of a pre-paid card associated with the pre-paid card processor responsive to an activation request on behalf of the approved borrower. Then the bank credits the pending loan proceeds to the pre-paid card processor for the activated pre-paid card so that the loan proceeds are released to the approved borrower and are immediately available. |
| US08494951B2 |
Matching of trading orders based on priority
A system comprises a memory that stores a first trading order for a trading product, the first trading order received from a first trader and comprising a display portion and a reserve portion. The memory further stores a second trading order for the trading product, the second trading order received from a second trader after the first trading order and comprising a display portion and a reserve portion. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to receive from a counterparty trader a counterorder for the trading product. The processor uses the counterorder to fill the display portion of the first trading order and the display portion of the second trading order. After filling the display portion of the second trading order, the processor exclusively offers at least a portion of the counterorder to the first trader for a configurable period of time. |
| US08494950B2 |
System for conducting an exchange of click-through traffic on internet web sites
A system for exchanging click-through traffic between web sites of interested exchange partners on the Internet employs an intermediary web site for registering interested exchange partners and conducting a trial process for click-through traffic between exchange partners' web sites during a trial period prior to opening a bidding process of the interested exchange partners for an exchange partner's click-through traffic. Each exchange partner's web site is linked to the intermediary web site by embedding a links code which points to an addressable file stored with the intermediary web site containing the link content of each interested exchange partner's web site to be displayed in the links area on an exchange partner's web site during the trial process. The results of the exchange trials are compared with metrics for the exchange parameters that inform the exchange participants of the success of their interaction. The intermediary web site can then conduct a bidding process where the exchange participants can bid for click-through traffic from the exchange partner's web site. Based on the bidding process, the best matched exchange partners can establish an exchange relationship in which mutual click-through traffic is exchanged between the exchange partners' web sites. |
| US08494947B2 |
Method and system for providing option spread indicative quotes
A computer network and method for electronically trading combinations of derivatives. One preferred method of trading includes providing quotes information to a central server, and determining indicative quotes for combination trades, and providing the non-binding, indicative quotes to market participants (which typically includes subscribers, but may also include market makers). A participant may then submit an e-RFQ, which is a request for a binding quote for the combination of derivatives. Market Makers may then elect to submit a binding quote for the corresponding derivative combination. Market participants may then elect to enter a binding order. |
| US08494944B2 |
System, report, and method for generating natural language news-based stories
The present invention generally relates to a system, report, and method for automatically generating a series of natural language news-based stories to be presented via a digital interface or printed publication to a portfolio user. The disclosure relates to a filter or selection of a handful of relevant and desired financial instruments, or events created in a large group of events such as sports results, travel information, auction related data, online shopping tools, social media, retail store promotion generation, search engine daily report, etc. for a specific use. These financial instruments, based on different selections from a portfolio manager via a management tool, are then used to either produce a strategies page where a list of useful covered call trade and hedged trade are displayed in the form of a table, or natural language news-based stories relating to a selected list of financial instruments found in a portfolio. The events are based on different selections from a portfolio manager via a management tool and are then used to either produce a secondary page where a list of the selected event data is displayed or natural language news-based stories relating to a selected list of events found in a portfolio from a large event database. |
| US08494935B2 |
System and method for payment reconciliation against expressive contracts
In a computer-implemented method of conducting expressive payment reconciliation, a purchase transaction is stored in a computer storage accessible to a processor. The processor identifies a contract against which the purchase transaction is made and a first payment amount for the purchase transaction. Contract data is stored in the computer storage and the processor determines a second payment amount for the purchase transaction based on at least one good or service associated with the purchase transaction and the data about the contract. In response to a difference in the first and second payments, the processor either stores computer storage a modified invoice with a modified payment amount, stores in the computer storage a reconciliation payment equal to the payment difference; outputs over a computer network an explanation of the modified payment; or outputs over a computer network a dispute notification. |
| US08494932B2 |
Fluid flow measurement system
Sub-metering of fluid use is performed using a single acoustic transducer positioned at a common supply point. A computer attached to the transducer determines when each consumption point is active and measures the respective amount of fluid drawn by each. Acoustic signatures of each consumption point differ depending on the length of piping runs, location of elbows, tees, and other structures which cause acoustic energy as the fluid flows through. The acoustic signatures are recorded by the computer and are used to simultaneously differentiate fluid use at each consumption point. |
| US08494930B2 |
Pay for use and anti counterfeit system and method for ink cartridges and other consumables
Systems and methods of a pay-for-use pricing plan for consumables associated with a machine. The systems and methods include a machine that can detect a use of a consumable by a consumer. The use can be an installation of the consumable in the machine or an actual use of the consumable in the machine. The machine can detect a charge associated with the use of the consumable. Further, the machine can prompt the consumer for a payment and receive the payment from the consumer. In embodiments, the consumer can have an updatable account associated with the consumable usage. The machine can send an indication of the payment or updated account information to a supplier of the consumable. |
| US08494929B1 |
Salary advisor for small business employers
The invention relates to a method for providing advice regarding compensation of a candidate. The method involves obtaining a plurality of compensation records from multiple sources, where at least one of the multiple sources is a financial application of a first entity, aggregating the compensation records, receiving a request for a compensation report from a second entity, where the compensation report includes compensation advice, and where the request includes a compensation profile of a candidate including multiple parameters, identifying a subset of the plurality of compensation records matching at least one of the multiple parameters in the compensation profile, generating the compensation report based on the subset of the multiple compensation records and the request, and providing the compensation report for the candidate. |
| US08494927B2 |
Method for providing a web-based payroll and payroll related software as a service
A method for providing payroll processing software as a service to payroll providers such as payroll vendors and end users. The software developer contracts with the payroll provider to provision, administer and support the payroll processing software thereby allowing the payroll provider to concentrate on its core business of payroll processing. |
| US08494922B2 |
Interactive internet platform for assessing and executing residential energy solutions
A dynamic, fully-integrated computer-server-based platform (platform) provides users with tools for making informed decisions about available energy upgrades and for implementing desired home energy upgrades. In various embodiments, the platform provides various combinations of: (i) a variety of educational and assessment tools, including a Virtual Home Energy Audit (VHEA), which provides users with a customized home energy-savings plan detailing the financial and/or environmental impact of each upgrade alternative on a relative and absolute basis, (ii) product selection and purchase, (iii) access to arrangement and scheduling of in-home services through a network of professionals, (iv) financing solutions, and (v) a data registry that verifies completed upgrades and associated savings. The platform takes a holistic view of energy solutions, and provides tools across a broad spectrum of energy-related products and/or services. |
| US08494920B2 |
Techniques for acquiring products from vendor websites
A method for retrieving product codes from a Vendor Website over a network and inserting the product codes into an Affiliate Website. A search of the Vendor Website is conducted based on a keyword list created by a registered affiliate and product codes are acquired including graphic data and descriptive text for products obtained in the search. A unique identification code is inserted into the product codes, which are stored in a products database and displayed along with manually activatable editing buttons which allow the registered affiliate to edit the products database. The products database is uploaded to a server to serve the products database along with the Affiliate Website so that viewers of the Affiliate Website can purchase the products. |
| US08494917B2 |
Systems and methods for transacting business over a global communications network such as the internet
A business process is described for conducting business transactions over the Internet, allowing buyers an opportunity to reduce the price of a product/service based on the buyer's performance during a Price-Determining-Activity (PDA). Sellers offer the product/service within a specified price range, and buyers agree to a binding agreement, in exchange for the opportunity to close the transaction at the lowest price by achieving a high score or performance during the PDA. The price may change during the PDA, and the available price at any given time may be displayed or otherwise made available to the buyer. The price change may be continuous, at intervals, in response to certain events. The PDA may be a video game, electronic board game, sports bet, card game, or any other activity, or against the seller, a software opponent, or a computer opponent. The PDA may involve another buyer competing for the same product/service. |
| US08494914B2 |
Promoting offers through social network influencers
Mechanisms are provided to facilitate buying and selling products utilizing social pricing. Sellers initiate sale of a product with volume discounts for a limited time. In other words, the more people that buy a product, the lower the price for the group. Buyers have a real incentive to become prosumers that not only purchase a product but also promote purchase by others. A social pricing system brokers interaction between sellers and buyer groups, and provisions mechanisms to aid promotion of products by consumers utilizing social networks and other online activities. |
| US08494913B2 |
Multi-party payment object oriented system and method
The present invention involves a server for accommodating multiple e-commerce payments. The server includes a processor with a communications device and software modules. The vendor software module receives payment requirements from a vendor, and also receives payment parameters from an initiator. The payment parameters include an item payment amount and an identification of contributors. The contributor software module obtains payment information from the initiator and/or contributors sufficient to authorize the commitment of funds to a transaction. The aggregation software module sends participation messages to contributors. The participation messages include information on the item, the item payment amount, and directions for the contributor to interact with the contributor module. Further, the aggregation software module maintains a total of committed funds and initiates a payment transaction when the committed funds are sufficient to pay the vendor. |
| US08494906B2 |
System for providing for a revenue generator to bid individually on mobile search traffic originating from each mobile carrier in a plurality of mobile carriers
A system is described for providing for a revenue generator to bid individually on mobile search traffic originating from each mobile carrier in a plurality of mobile carriers. The system may include a processor, a memory and an interface. The memory may store a plurality of bids, a keyword, a plurality of mobile advertisements and a mobile search request. The interface may communicate with a user and a revenue generator. The processor may receive, via the interface, the plurality of bids and the plurality of mobile advertisements from the revenue generator. Each bid and each mobile advertisement may be associated with at least one mobile carrier. The processor may receive from the user, via the interface, a mobile search request. The processor may determine which mobile carrier the mobile search request originated from and the processor may serve the mobile advertisement associated with the determined mobile carrier to the user. |
| US08494904B2 |
Method and stored program for accumulating descriptive profile data along with source information for use in targeting third-party advertisements
A method of accumulating descriptive profile data uses a databank that can be contacted by profile providers who contribute profile elements about an online visitor. The method includes keeping track of which profile provider contributed which elements, so that use of particular elements in targeting electronic third-party advertisements automatically can result in compensation. |
| US08494903B2 |
Universal advertising model utilizing digital linkage technology “U AD”
A system and method of providing a linking module to link an identifier to media content in order to create embedded advertising content. A system enabler receives a registration of the identifier and further provides embedded advertising content to be transmitted to a client. The system enabler further provides an extraction module to extract the identifier from the embedded advertising content to allow a client interaction with an advertising experience. The client interactions with an advertising experience are tracked by the system enabler to result in tracked client interactions. After receiving the tracked client interactions, the system enabler compares the tracked client interactions to compensable action items to update an account. |
| US08494901B2 |
Methods and systems for multi-merchant couponing
Methods and systems for enabling multi-merchant coupon campaigns within an online publication system are described. In an example, a method can include generating an item listing, receiving information specifying a set of coupon criteria, detecting an event within a multi-merchant publication system, and present a coupon in response to detecting the event. The generating an item listing can be based on information received from a merchant-computer. If the set of coupon criteria is detected it can result in presenting a coupon for the item listing. The event can satisfy a particular coupon criteria from the set of coupon criteria. |
| US08494899B2 |
Dynamic talk radio program scheduling
Methods and systems for dynamically scheduling a talk radio program include registering potential participants of a talk radio program service and receiving participant preferences for each of the potential participants, wherein the participant preferences include at least one topic of interest and a time availability; scheduling a talk radio program for production when a combination the participant preferences reach predetermined thresholds; and sending the potential participants a notification of the scheduling of the talk radio program. |
| US08494892B2 |
Tracking substances over various business processes
The disclosure provides a method, software, and system for monitoring substances. In one embodiment, a method includes identifying a first document associated with a business process of an enterprise. A first volume of a substance based, at least in part, on the business document is determined. A second document associated with the business process of the enterprise is identified. A second volume of the substance based, at least in part, on the business document is determined. The first volume and the second volume is aggregated. A file associated with the business process is updated with at least the aggregated volume. |
| US08494885B2 |
Modeling distribution of emergency relief supplies for disaster response operations
A method and system to supply multiple items through a network of inventory staging areas and distribution points by determining inventory stocking levels for a staging area and distribution points, and inventory shipments from said staging area to distribution points and between the distribution points, using an optimization formulation whose objective is to cover maximum overall demand at the distribution points in a given period of time, and to minimize total cost of meeting demand. |
| US08494883B2 |
Insurance claim payment card system
A system for the adjudication of insurance claims, such as automobile repair claims, by an insurance provider is provided. A claim submitted by a policyholder is received is received by the insurance provider. The claim is assigned to an insurance adjuster. The insurance provider receives a determination of a dollar value of the claim from the adjuster, and uses this information to determine how much money to disburse to the policyholder. The insurance provider then issues an account funded with the dollar value of the claim to the policyholder, accessible by the policyholder through a card. As the card is used, the insurance provider collects purchase information, such as information relating to the date, place, and amount of each purchase made on the account. The insurance provider may then collate the purchase information in a database and analyze the data for mathematically significant trends and relationships. |
| US08494881B1 |
Method and system for providing a user-selected healthcare services package and healthcare services panel customized based on a user's selections
A method and system for allowing a user to select a healthcare services package is disclosed where a central server generally receives personal information data from the user over the Internet regarding the user's preferences with respect to healthcare service providers and the user's sponsor, i.e., the party responsible for paying for all or part of the user's healthcare costs (such as an employer, an insurance company or the user himself). The server thereafter provides a list comprising a plurality of healthcare service providers and information regarding the healthcare service providers (e.g., specialty, rate, location, hospital affiliation, etc.) to the user for selection by the user of a healthcare services panel. Once the server has received the selected healthcare services panel from the user comprising at least one of the listed healthcare service providers, the server determines a healthcare services package and provides the determined healthcare services package to the user for selection by the user. The method and system also provides for registration with the server by healthcare service providers that are interested in being listed for selection by the user, wherein the healthcare service providers are paid according to their registered rates. |
| US08494878B2 |
Personal business service system and method
A system and method of computerizing traditional companies with customized individual addressable electronic direct marketing, self-service automation, and customer care support. The system relates to a personal agent carried by a user and a network of companies, manufacturers, stores, doctors, pharmacists, financial institutions and others. In particular, a doctor can have a professional unit that communicates with a user's personal unit including the transfer of drug prescriptions, medication information, etc. The personal agent can provide drug information to the user as well as a reminder to take the medication and an actual storage and dispensing of medication. |
| US08494873B2 |
Endoscopic inspection information administering system, endoscopic inspection information administering method and computer readable medium
An endoscopic inspection information administering system includes: an unlinking unit for canceling a link between a first piece of inspection request information selected from the inspection request information on a database and a first piece of inspection result information linked with the first piece of the inspection request information; a retrieval display unit for retrieving, from the database, second pieces of the inspection request information including the same patient ID as a patient ID included in the first piece of the inspection request information and displaying the retrieved second pieces of the inspection request information, and a recording control unit for recording, into the database, a piece of the inspection request information selected from the displayed second pieces of the inspection request information in link with the first piece of the inspection result information. |
| US08494865B2 |
Audio decoder, audio encoder, method for decoding an audio signal, method for encoding an audio signal, computer program and audio signal
An audio decoder for providing a decoded audio information on the basis of an entropy encoded audio information includes a context-based entropy decoder configured to decode the entropy-encoded audio information in dependence on a context, which context is based on a previously-decoded audio information in a non-reset state-of-operation. The context-based entropy decoder is configured to select a mapping information, for deriving the decoded audio information from the encoded audio information, in dependence on the context. The context-based entropy decoder includes a context resetter configured to reset the context for selecting the mapping information to a default context, which default context is independent from the previously-decoded audio information, in response to a side information of the encoded audio information. |
| US08494864B2 |
Multi-mode scheme for improved coding of audio
The present invention relates to an improved scheme for coding of audio. In particular, the present invention relates to an encoder device and a method for coding an input signal in an encoder system. The method comprises applying a first mode to the input signal to form a first output and applying a second mode to the input signal to form a second output. A first processed output is then formed from at least a part of the first output, and a second processed output is formed from at least a part of the second output. Forming a second processed output comprises estimating a part of the input signal from at least a part of the second output. Then, an optimum mode is determined based on the first processed output and the second processed output, and the output according to the optimum mode is selected. |
| US08494863B2 |
Audio encoder and decoder with long term prediction
The present invention teaches a new audio coding system that can code both general audio and speech signals well at low bit rates. A proposed audio coding system comprises a linear prediction unit for filtering an input signal based on an adaptive filter; a transformation unit for transforming a frame of the filtered input signal into a transform domain; a quantization unit for quantizing a transform domain signal; a long term prediction unit for determining an estimation of the frame of the filtered input signal based on a reconstruction of a previous segment of the filtered input signal; and a transform domain signal combination unit for combining, in the transform domain, the long term prediction estimation and the transformed input signal to generate the transform domain signal. |
| US08494862B2 |
Method for triggering at least one first and second background application via a universal language dialog system
At least one transaction and at least one transaction parameter that is allocated thereto are determined based on at least one user statement in order to trigger at least one first and second background application via a universal language dialogue system, first transactions and first transaction parameters being assigned to the first background application and second transactions and second transaction parameters being associated with the second background application. The first and second transactions as well as the first and second transaction parameters are linked together via a universal dialogue specification which is evaluated to determine the at least one transaction and at least on associated transaction parameter in order to trigger at least one of the background application via the universal language dialogue system. |
| US08494861B2 |
Movable barrier control system component with audible speech output apparatus and method
An automated movable barrier control system component (11) as comprises a part of a movable barrier control system (10) has an audible speech output device (21) operably coupled thereto. These elements can share a common housing (22). The audible speech output device (21) can audiblize one or more items of stored speech content relating to one or more aspects of the component itself, other components within the system, and/or the system itself. |
| US08494860B2 |
Voice output device, information input device, file selection device, telephone set, and program and recording medium of the same
A device, computer program and method for outputting linguistic information. The voice output device, for example, includes an output information acquisition unit acquiring linguistic information and attribute information. Attribute information includes an attribute added to each linguistic element included in the linguistic information. A tactile pattern storage unit stores a predetermined tactile pattern corresponding to each linguistic element. A tactile pattern acquisition unit acquires the tactile pattern from the tactile pattern storage unit. A voice output unit reads aloud the linguistic elements and a tactile pattern output unit outputs, in parallel with reading aloud each linguistic element, the tactile pattern corresponding to the attribute added to the linguistic element, thereby allowing a user to sense the tactile pattern by the sense of touch. |
| US08494856B2 |
Speech synthesizer, speech synthesizing method and program product
According to one embodiment, a speech synthesizer includes an analyzer, a first estimator, a selector, a generator, a second estimator, and a synthesizer. The analyzer analyzes text and extracts a linguistic feature. The first estimator selects a first prosody model adapted to the linguistic feature and estimates prosody information that maximizes a first likelihood representing probability of the selected first prosody model. The selector selects speech units that minimize a cost function determined in accordance with the prosody information. The generator generates a second prosody model that is a model of the prosody information of the speech units. The second estimator estimates prosody information that maximizes a third likelihood calculated on the basis of the first likelihood and a second likelihood representing probability of the second prosody model. The synthesizer generates synthetic speech by concatenating the speech units on the basis of the prosody information estimated by the second estimator. |
| US08494855B1 |
Method, system, and computer readable medium for comparing phonetic similarity of return words to resolve ambiguities during voice recognition
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for a speech recognition system to select a return value corresponding to a spoken input. The method comprises generating a dictionary comprising return values associated with data provisioned in the speech recognition system; generating a grammar for each return value in the dictionary; analyzing the grammar to determine a subset of return values from the dictionary that are likely alternatives for each return value in the dictionary, based on the grammar; selecting a return value corresponding to the spoken input based on the grammar; and if the selected return value is not confirmed by a user, then presenting the likely alternative for the selected return value to the user. |
| US08494850B2 |
Speech recognition using variable-length context
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for recognizing speech using a variable length of context. Speech data and data identifying a candidate transcription for the speech data are received. A phonetic representation for the candidate transcription is accessed. Multiple test sequences are extracted for a particular phone in the phonetic representation. Each of the multiple test sequences includes a different set of contextual phones surrounding the particular phone. Data indicating that an acoustic model includes data corresponding to one or more of the multiple test sequences is received. From among the one or more test sequences, the test sequence that includes the highest number of contextual phones is selected. A score for the candidate transcription is generated based on the data from the acoustic model that corresponds to the selected test sequence. |
| US08494847B2 |
Weighting factor learning system and audio recognition system
A weighting factor learning system includes an audio recognition section that recognizes learning audio data and outputting the recognition result; a weighting factor updating section that updates a weighting factor applied to a score obtained from an acoustic model and a language model so that the difference between a correct-answer score calculated with the use of a correct-answer text of the learning audio data and a score of the recognition result becomes large; a convergence determination section that determines, with the use of the score after updating, whether to return to the weighting factor updating section to update the weighting factor again; and a weighting factor convergence determination section that determines, with the use of the score after updating, whether to return to the audio recognition section to perform the process again and update the weighting factor using the weighting factor updating section. |
| US08494845B2 |
Signal distortion elimination apparatus, method, program, and recording medium having the program recorded thereon
Provided is a signal distortion elimination apparatus comprising: an inverse filter application means that outputs the signal obtained by applying an inverse filter to an observed signal as a restored signal when a predetermined iteration termination condition is met and outputs the signal obtained by applying the inverse filter to the observed signal as an ad-hoc signal when the predetermined iteration termination condition is not met; a prediction error filter calculation means that segments the ad-hoc signal into frames and outputs a prediction error filter of each frame obtained by performing linear prediction analysis of the ad-hoc signal of each frame; an inverse filter calculation means that calculates an inverse filter such that a concatenation of innovation estimates of the respective frames becomes mutually independent among their samples, where the innovation estimate of a single frame (an innovation estimate) is the signal obtained by applying the prediction error filter of the corresponding frame to the ad-hoc signal of the corresponding frame, and outputs the inverse filter; and a control means that iteratively executes the inverse filter application means, the prediction error filter calculation means and the inverse filter calculation means until the iteration termination condition is met. |
| US08494842B2 |
Vibrato detection modules in a system for automatic transcription of sung or hummed melodies
The technology disclosed relates to audio signal processing. It includes a series of modules that individually are useful to solve audio signal processing problems. Among the problems addressed are buzz removal, selecting a pitch candidate among pitch candidates based on local continuity of pitch and regional octave consistency, making small adjustments in pitch, ensuring that a selected pitch is consistent with harmonic peaks, determining whether a given frame or region of frames includes harmonic, voiced signal, extracting harmonics from voice signals and detecting vibrato. One environment in which these modules are useful is transcribing singing or humming into a symbolic melody. Another environment that would usefully employ some of these modules is speech processing. Some of the modules, such as buzz removal, are useful in many other environments as well. |
| US08494840B2 |
Ratio of speech to non-speech audio such as for elderly or hearing-impaired listeners
The invention relates to audio signal processing and speech enhancement. In accordance with one aspect, the invention combines a high-quality audio program that is a mix of speech and non-speech audio with a lower-quality copy of the speech components contained in the audio program for the purpose of generating a high-quality audio program with an increased ratio of speech to non-speech audio such as may benefit the elderly, hearing impaired or other listeners. Aspects of the invention are particularly useful for television and home theater sound, although they may be applicable to other audio and sound applications. The invention relates to methods, apparatus for performing such methods, and to software stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform such methods. |
| US08494839B2 |
Apparatus, method, and recording medium for morphological analysis and registering a new compound word
Disclosed herein is an information processing apparatus for analyzing text data, including: acquisition means for acquiring the text data; morpheme information registration means for registering morpheme information for use in analyzing the text data morphologically; morphological analysis means for analyzing the text data acquired by the acquisition means; compound word processing rule registration means for registering compound word processing rules for creating a compound word not registered in the morpheme information registration means; and compound word processing means, by use of the compound word processing rules registered in the compound word processing rule registration means, for combining the morphemes included in the morphological analysis information created by the morphological analysis means, into the compound word not registered in the morpheme information registration means and detecting the created compound word. |
| US08494838B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for dynamic content management and delivery
Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for linking virtual content to various types of object, such a static physical objects, through the use of triggers of varying formats. The virtual content can be updated by a content curator over time. The virtual content can be translated into a plurality of languages and can be selectively transmitted to a mobile communications device upon receipt of the trigger. |
| US08494837B2 |
Active learning systems and methods for rapid porting of machine translation systems to new language pairs or new domains
Systems and methods for active learning of statistical machine translation systems through dynamic creation and updating of parallel corpus. The systems and methods provided create accurate parallel corpus entries from a test set of sentences, words, phrases, etc. by calculating confidence scores for particular translations. Translations with high confidence scores are added directly to the corpus and the translations with low confidence scores are presented to human translations for corrections. |
| US08494832B2 |
Method and apparatus for software simulation
A software simulation method and program storage device for software defect detection and obtaining insight into software code is disclosed, where simulation consists of executing target software program code for multiple input values and multiple code paths at the same time, thus achieving 100% coverage over inputs and paths without actually running the target software. This allows simulation to detect many defects that are missed by traditional testing tools. The simulation method runs a plurality of algorithms where a plurality of custom defined and pre-defined rules are verified in target software to find defects and obtain properties of the software code. |
| US08494829B2 |
Sensor fusion and probabilistic parameter estimation method and apparatus
A probabilistic digital signal processor using data from multiple instruments is described. Initial probability distribution functions are input to a dynamic state-space model, which operates on state and/or model probability distribution functions to generate a prior probability distribution function, which is input to a probabilistic updater. The probabilistic updater integrates sensor data from multiple instruments with the prior to generate a posterior probability distribution function passed (1) to a probabilistic sampler, which estimates one or more parameters using the posterior, which is output or re-sampled in an iterative algorithm or (2) iteratively to the dynamic state-space model. For example, the probabilistic processor operates on fused data using a physical model, where the data originates from a mechanical system or a medical meter or instrument, such as an electrocardiogram or pulse oximeter to generate new parameter information and/or enhanced parameter information. |
| US08494825B2 |
Computer-guided system for orienting the acetabular cup in the pelvis during total hip replacement surgery
A method for determining the orientation of a first object in space, wherein the first object is interactive with a second object, the method comprising the steps of: using kinematic action to generate a first data set reflective of the current spatial relationship between the first object and the second object; and comparing the first data set with a database of known data sets reflective of known spatial relationships between the first object and the second object in space so as to identify the current orientation of the first object in space. |
| US08494822B2 |
Method for joint modeling of mean and dispersion
The present invention describes a system and a computer program product for joint modeling of a mean and dispersion of data. A computing system derives a loss function taking into account distributional requirements over the data. The computing system represents separate regression functions for the mean and the dispersion as stagewise expansion forms. At this time, the stagewise expansion forms include undetermined scalar coefficients and undetermined basis functions. Then, the computing system chooses the basis functions that maximally correlate with a corresponding steepest-descent gradient direction of the loss function. The computing system obtains the scalar coefficients based on a single step of Newton iteration. The computing system completes the regression functions based on the chosen basis functions and obtained scalar coefficients. |
| US08494820B2 |
Computing device and method for analyzing scattering parameters passivity
A computing device and a method measures scattering parameters (S-parameters) values at ports of a circuit at different signal frequencies, and creates a non-common-pole rational function of S-parameters by applying a vector fitting algorithm to the S-parameters. A matrix of the non-common-pole rational function is converted to a state-space matrix, and the state-space matrix is substituted into a Hamiltonian matrix. The device and method further analyzes if eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian matrix have pure imaginaries, to determine if the non-common-pole rational function of the S-parameters satisfies a passivity requirement. |
| US08494809B2 |
Tool for calculating the performance of progressive lenses
The invention relates to a method for computer-assisted evaluation of the performance of progressive lenses, specifically while taking into account individual parameters of a given eyeglass wearer, the individual parameters including at least personal prescription data, in particular, additional spherical, astigmatic, and/or prismatic power, and/or personal wearer data for the eyeglass wearer, in particular, forward inclination, horizontal frame inclination, corneal vertex distance, and/or interpupillary distance. The method includes the following steps: determining the individual parameters; calculating a total performance factor P in each case for at least two quality classes of progressive lenses as a function of the individual parameters, the total performance factor P being correlated with the quality of the monocular visual acuity and/or binocular visual impression; and outputting the calculated total performance factor P for the quality classes. |
| US08494803B2 |
Device for testing an electrical component
A device for testing an electrical component is provided, having a simulation device for generating a simulation signal, a testing device for connecting the electrical component, at least two connecting devices, and a selection device for selecting the connecting device, wherein the simulation device and the testing device can be connected in an electrically conducting manner to at least one of the connecting devices by the selection device and the individual connecting devices differ from one another in at least one electrical property. Thus, a device for testing an electrical component is provided with which in a simple manner the testing accuracy can be increased by minimizing the signal corruption due to a parasitic property of the connecting device. |
| US08494793B2 |
Structure of a magnetic-field gradient sensor and process for fabricating it in integrated technology
A process for measuring the gradient or an n-th order derivative, in which n is greater than 1, in a direction z, of a component Hx of a magnetic field, the component being invariant, at least locally, in a direction y. The method includes: a) positioning of N (N>n+1) elementary field sensors, each sensor being offset, relative to the neighboring sensors, along y by a distance Ty and along the z axis by a distance Δz, b) measurement of the field by each of the N sensors, and c) calculation of the desired gradient, or the desired nth-order derivative, as a function of the measurements of the field obtained during b). |
| US08494791B2 |
Methods and systems for improved correlation of shear displacement waveforms
Methods and systems for improving correlation of shear displacement waveforms are presented. The method includes delivering one or more reference pulses to a plurality of target regions to detect corresponding initial positions. Further, a plurality of pushing pulse segments are delivered to one or more pushing locations, where one or more parameters corresponding to the plurality of pushing pulse segments are adapted for generating a shear displacement waveform with a desired wave shape. Additionally, one or more tracking pulses may be delivered to the plurality of target regions for detecting displacements of at least a subset of the target regions as a function of time. Particularly, the displacements are determined as time samples of the shear displacement waveform. Subsequently, a shift between the shear displacement waveform detected at least two different target regions in the subset of the plurality of target regions is detected. |
| US08494787B2 |
Magnetic ink for marking defective parts or assemblies during manufacturing
Magnetic ink is used to mark defective parts or assemblies during manufacturing, thereby allowing the defective parts or assemblies to be detected in products following manufacturing, even if they are concealed or hidden in the final product. An example of such a defect-containing product is a laminated microfluidic device which contains a defective capillary. |
| US08494783B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing and processing molecular information
The molecular information providing system of the invention has the terminal units to including molecular structure input/output means, and a molecular information providing apparatus connected via a network to the terminal units and including a database storing a molecular structure, an intermediate representation generated from the molecular structure, and a characteristic decided depending on the molecular structure. The molecular information providing apparatus comprises a coordinate system transforming part for calculating the principal axes of inertia from an atomic arrangement notation specifying the molecular structure, and registering in the database an intermediate representation that is a coordinate transformation of the atomic coordinates into a coordinate system in the directions of the principal axes of inertia, and a retrieval executing part for retrieving the molecular structure stored in the database, employing the intermediate representation. |
| US08494782B1 |
Rapid polymer sequencer
Method and system for rapid and accurate determination of each of a sequence of unknown polymer components, such as nucleic acid components. A self-assembling monolayer of a selected substance is optionally provided on an interior surface of a pipette tip, and the interior surface is immersed in a selected liquid. A selected electrical field is impressed in a longitudinal direction, or in a transverse direction, in the tip region, a polymer sequence is passed through the tip region, and a change in an electrical current signal is measured as each polymer component passes through the tip region. Each of the measured changes in electrical current signals is compared with a database of reference electrical change signals, with each reference signal corresponding to an identified polymer component, to identify the unknown polymer component with a reference polymer component. The nanopore preferably has a pore inner diameter of no more than about 40 nm and is prepared by heating and pulling a very small section of a glass tubing. |
| US08494780B2 |
Data transformation methods for multiplexed assays
Methods to improve the performance of an array assay are described. A correlation between fluorescence intensity-related parameters and negative control values of the assay is determined. The parameters are then adjusted as a function of the correlation. As a result, sensitivity of the assay is improved without changes in its specificity. |
| US08494773B2 |
Environmental sensing and communication
One apparatus embodiment includes an electronic assembly, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition. The assembly includes a logic circuit coupled to: one or more environmental sensors, memory that provides data storage, and a wireless communicator. The logic circuit is configured to perform time measurement, perform environmental measurement with the one or more environmental sensors, store time-stamped environmental data in the memory, and communicate with particular other electronic assemblies, equipped to sense one or more changes in an environmental condition, via the wireless communicator. The logic circuit is also coupled to a power source that provides power to at least one of the logic circuit and the wireless communicator. |
| US08494772B2 |
Method for calculating hydrogen storage inventory
Methods for accurately and conveniently calculating the inventory of hydrogen storage in a stationary storage vessel using the external ambient temperature and the internal pressure are disclosed in the present invention. To account for the delay in the heat transfer from the ambient air to the storage vessel and then to the hydrogen gas a first order filter can be used on the external ambient temperature. Following the application of the first order filter on the external ambient temperature, an empirical equation is used to calculate the mass of hydrogen in the stationary storage vessel. |
| US08494770B2 |
Method and system for generating savings routes with a portable computing device
A method and system for calculating savings routes for display on a portable computing device (PCD) are described. The method includes receiving at least one of a product category and a service category from an operator of a PCD. The PCD may also receive a destination address. With this information, circle of influence data based on an offer for at least one product or service corresponding to the product category or service category may be generated and provided to the PCD. The circle of influence data may impact edge weights of a graph search algorithm. The graph search algorithm solves a single-source shortest path problem for a graph with non-negative edge path costs. The circles of influence in combination with the graph search algorithm allow a PCD to calculate one or more savings routes based on a start point and the desired destination address provided by the operator of the PCD. |
| US08494769B2 |
Information system, terminal device, and information center device
An information center device computes a guided route. It selects a newly opened road connecting to the guided route and traces the newly opened road from the connection point to a point at which the newly opened road intersects another road. Then, it determines block maps containing the traced newly opened road as those to be transmitted to the automobile navigation system. Therefore, the automobile navigation system can utilize block maps containing the newly opened road connected to the guided route as well as block maps associated with the guided route. As a result, the user can get information on where the newly opened road leads and connects, and easily deviate from the guided route and select a route going through the newly opened road at his/her own will. |
| US08494762B2 |
Sub room level indoor location system using wideband power line positioning
An indoor location system uses an electrical power line, power line signal injection devices, and portable position receivers (tags) to generate location data relating to positions of the tags in a structure such as a residence or business. The indoor location system fingerprinting of multiple signals transmitted along the power line to achieve sub-room-level localization of the positioning receivers. In one embodiment, the fingerprinting techniques utilizes wideband power line positioning (WPLP) that injects up to 44 different frequencies into the power line infrastructure of a structure. The WPLP technique improves upon overall positioning accuracy, improved temporal stability and may be implemented in commercial indoor spaces. |
| US08494761B2 |
Method and device for aiding the evaluation of a flight trajectory intended to be followed by an aircraft in a constrained environment
A device and method aids the evaluation of a flight trajectory that is intended to be followed by an aircraft within a constrained environment. The method includes receiving information from a processing unit regarding stationary and moving obstacles, implementing a collision trial based on this information, and displaying any collision risks to the pilot on a display device in the cockpit. Consequently, a pilot can know within the constrained environment whether a flight trajectory needs to be modified to avoid potential collisions. |
| US08494759B2 |
Vehicle speed indication using vehicle-infrastructure wireless communication
An example traffic control system includes a vehicle unit associated with a vehicle on a highway, one or more roadside units proximate the highway, and a traffic controller. The vehicle unit transmits a vehicle speed to the roadside unit, when in wireless communication range. The roadside unit transmits the vehicle speed to the traffic controller. The traffic controller receives vehicle speed data from a plurality of vehicles, and determines a suggested speed for each vehicle. The suggested speed may be correlated with an average speed of vehicles on a portion of the highway, for example the same highway portion on which vehicle is located, or a highway portion towards which the vehicle is heading. |
| US08494755B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling the speed of an internal combustion engine
The apparatus according to the invention comprises a controller for forming a speed signal arranged to receive speed measurement data of the internal combustion engine as well as speed reference data. The apparatus additionally comprises a module for forming the internal speed reference value instead of the speed reference value set to be used when forming the control signal. |
| US08494753B2 |
Method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine can be operated by a fuel mixture consisting of a base fuel and an alternative fuel. Concentration values (ETH_PERC) of the alternative fuel are determined in at least two different ways for operating the internal combustion engine. A reliable concentration value of the alternative fuel is determined depending on the various determined concentration values (ETH_PERC). |
| US08494750B2 |
Engine control system
This disclosure relates to a method of configuring an engine control system for controlling the engine of a vehicle. The method involves displaying one or more graphical representations of functional elements to be performed by the engine control system and then modifying the one or more functional elements by making changes to the displayed graphical representations. This allows the engine control system to be readily reconfigured by a user. This disclosure also relates to an apparatus for configuring an engine control system and a new engine control system. A computer program product including a computer readable medium having a computer program recorded on it for configuring an engine control system is also disclosed. |
| US08494747B2 |
Method and device for stabilizing a single-track motor vehicle
A method for stabilizing an unstable driving state in a single-track vehicle, in particular a motorcycle, wherein a prespecified driving situation, in particular braking, particularly while driving in a straight trajectory or a nearly straight trajectory, is detected; at least one yaw rate ({dot over (ψ)}) and/or one side slip angle (β) of the vehicle is determined for the detection of an unstable driving state of the vehicle; the determined yaw rate ({dot over (ψ)}) and/or the determined side slip angle (β) is/are evaluated; and when an unstable driving stat is detected, the braking torque of one wheel, in particular the front wheel, is reduced. A device for stabilizing an unstable driving state in a single-track vehicle is also disclosed. |
| US08494746B2 |
Inverted pendulum type vehicle
A desired travelling velocity of a representative point of a vehicle 1 is set under such a condition that it does not exceed a velocity permissible range which is defined to have anisotropy according to a posture of an occupant seated on a seat 3. An operation of a travelling motion unit 5 is controlled by controlling an operation of an actuator 7 on the basis of the desired travelling velocity. |
| US08494739B2 |
Slip operation of a clutch in hybrid drive devices
A method for operating a hybrid drive device of a motor vehicle that has at least two different drive aggregates, in particular an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, and having a clutch, the drive aggregates being capable of being operatively connected using the clutch. It is provided that, in a diagnostic and/or adaptation operating mode; the clutch is operated with a slippage. In addition, the present system relates to a hybrid drive device, a control device for a hybrid drive device, and a motor vehicle aggregate that has both the control device and the hybrid drive device. |
| US08494738B2 |
Control of selectable one-way clutch in a transmission
A powertrain in a vehicle includes an electro-mechanical transmission having a selectable one-way clutch mechanically-operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine and configured to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member. A control method includes monitoring a vehicle speed, monitoring a transmission gear state, comparing the vehicle speed to a threshold low speed range, transitioning a selectable one-way clutch into an engaged mode when said vehicle speed is not in a forward direction in excess of the threshold low speed range, and maintaining the selectable one-way clutch in the engaged mode based upon the transmission gear state remaining in a first gear state and the vehicle speed remaining within said threshold low speed range, a neutral state, or a reverse state. |
| US08494736B2 |
Method and device for vehicle driving assistance
A method and device for driving assistance for a propulsion unit of a vehicle with manual control of the transmission gear ratio, using a control system with a calculator controlling an indication to a driver of a recommended gear ratio based on a request information from the driver and depending on driving conditions of the vehicle at any moment, and a mapping of the gear change rules from which the ratio to be recommended is determined, depending on the vehicle speed at each moment, for an optimal fuel consumption and a minimized pollutant emission. The recommended ratio for an optimal consumption is corrected in successive steps by taking into account, one after the other, a set of constraints concerning the driving safety and comfort, each step having priority over the previous one so that the ratio finally recommended is an optimal balance between the different constraints while putting an emphasis on driving safety. |
| US08494734B2 |
Shifting control device for vehicle
It is provided a shifting control device for vehicle for electrically controlling a switching of a transmission to a parking range for performing a parking lock in response to an operation by a driver, the shifting control device for vehicle configured to determine the switching to the parking range when the driver performs a predetermined operation for switching to the parking range, based on whether plural vehicle speed signals different in response relative to an actual vehicle speed satisfy a predetermined condition; and the switching to the parking range being determined (i) using a corrected value obtained by correcting a vehicle speed signal having a slower response such that a difference in a vehicle speed based on the vehicle speed signal having the slower response and a vehicle speed signal having a quicker response is suppressed, or (ii) using a corrected value obtained by correcting a predetermined vehicle-speed threshold value associated with the vehicle speed signal having the quicker response such that the slower the response of the vehicle signal having a slower response is, the larger is the corrected value than the corrected value associated with the vehicle speed signal having the quicker response. |
| US08494733B2 |
Prime mover rotation speed control system for hydraulically driven vehicle
A prime mover rotation speed control system for hydraulically driven vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump driven by a prime mover; a hydraulic motor for traveling driven with pressure oil supplied from the hydraulic pump; an operation member that outputs a travel command in accordance with an amount of operation by the operation member; a flow control device that controls one of a flow of the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and a flow rate of the pressure oil discharged from the hydraulic motor, based on the travel command that is output in accordance with the amount of operation by the operation member; a target rotation number outputting device that outputs a target rotation number of the prime mover based on a command; a rotation number control device that controls a rotation number of the prime mover to be the target rotation number; a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed; and a vehicle speed calculation device that calculates a target vehicle speed in accordance with the amount of operation by the operation member. The rotation number control device includes a correction device that adjusts the target rotation number based on the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detection device and the target vehicle speed calculated by the vehicle speed calculation device. |
| US08494725B2 |
Stabilization of a mast for vehicles and ships
A system and a method are disclosed for stabilization of a mast (3) on a moving carrier, for example a vehicle. An actuator device (6′) is connected to the mast and allows the mast (3) to pivot with its longitudinal direction relative to the carrier (2), about at least one pivoting axis. A mast sensor device determines the position of the mast (3) relative to a predetermined absolute spatial direction, and supplies this to an electronic control device, which compares the position of the mast with a predetermined set value and derives a manipulated variable for the actuator device from this, in order to stabilize the longitudinal direction of the mast. A securing device (7) blocks the mast if a predetermined acceleration value is exceeded. |
| US08494720B2 |
Vehicle motion stability control system
Provided is a vehicle motion stability control system that combines the VSA and RTC devices in a favorable manner, and is able to effectively control the behavior of the vehicle over an entire operating range including an extreme operating region and a normal operating region. An output of the RTC is transformed by a certain transfer function, and the front wheel steering angle δf inputted to the actual vehicle model for the first control device (VSA) is modified according to the output of the transfer function. It means that the input front wheel steering angle is modified according to the thrust angle or toe angle of the RTC. Thereby, a harmonized control of the VSA and RTC is enabled, and such a harmonized combination can be effected without making changes to the structure of an existing VSA. |
| US08494718B2 |
Steering device for adjusting a wheel steering angle
A steering device for adjusting a wheel steering angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle is disclosed, which steering device has a wheel guide member and a steering control unit. The steering control unit includes a basic steering function and an actuator travel control system for adjusting travel of the wheel guide member on the basis of a steering angle setpoint value. |
| US08494715B2 |
Vehicle steering apparatus
A motor is driven based on an axis current value in a rotating coordinate system that rotates in accordance with a control angle that is a rotational angle used in a control. The control angle is calculated by adding an addition angle to an immediately preceding value of the control angle in each predetermined calculation cycle. A command steering torque is set based on a predetermined steering angle-torque characteristic. The addition angle is calculated based on the deviation of a detected steering torque from a command steering torque. The addition angle based on the deviation is changed when a predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US08494711B2 |
Automated start-stop systems and methods for internal combustion engines
An automated start/stop system for a vehicle comprises an auto-stop module, a diagnostic module, and an auto-start module. The auto-stop module selectively initiates an auto-stop event and shuts down an engine while the vehicle is running. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in a clutch pedal position sensor of the vehicle. The auto-start module, while the vehicle is running and the engine is shut down, selectively initiates an auto-start event after the fault has been diagnosed when current drawn by a starter motor is less than a predetermined maximum starting current. |
| US08494709B2 |
On-vehicle communication device
An on-vehicle communication device capable of suppressing a delay in providing information, avoiding congestion, and sufficiently securing transmission power, includes a communication controller to controls a transmission cycle and transmission power when data is transmitted from a transmitting/receiving device. The communication controller uses its own vehicle information and surrounding vehicle information to estimate a degree of risk and a safe distance of its own vehicle. The communication controller controls the transmission cycle of its own vehicle based on a communication channel utilization rate of its own vehicle, a communication channel utilization rate of a surrounding vehicle and the degree of risk of its own vehicle, and controls the transmission power of its own vehicle based on the communication channel utilization rate of its own vehicle, the communication channel utilization rate of the surrounding vehicle and the safe distance. |
| US08494706B2 |
Electric fuel pump tester and method
The system and method for determining the operational condition of an electric fuel pump (16). The test apparatus (22) is configured to perform first, second and third tests. During the first test, a low voltage, low current signal is applied to produce an inductive reflectance from the pump armature winding. During the second test, continuity is assessed in the coil winding circuit. During the third test, a higher power, short duration pulse is applied to create rotational movement of the pump armature for the purpose of detecting mechanical and/or electrical issues not otherwise discerned from the prior tests. An optional fourth test may be conducted in which the pump (16) is run for a short period of time at standard operating power to generate a current waveform. Collected test data is compared to stored reference data sets using a processor contained within the test apparatus (22). If collected test data corresponds within an acceptable threshold range to the reference data, a PASS signal is generated. |
| US08494701B2 |
Method and device for operating a hybrid vehicle
In a method and a device (8) for operating a hybrid vehicle (1), the internal combustion engine (2) of the hybrid vehicle is started automatically in case the hybrid vehicle (1) is in a ready-to-drive mode and an opening of an engine covering (4) of the hybrid vehicle is detected. |
| US08494700B2 |
Derivative-based hybrid drive motor control for driveline oscillation smoothing
A method minimizes driveline disturbances in a vehicle having a motor generator unit (MGU) and a controller, which may be a motor control processor or a hybrid control processor. The method includes determining a set of motor values of the MGU, including a change in motor speed, a derivative of the change in motor speed, and a motor jerk value; calculating a corrective final torque value for the MGU as a function of the set of motor values; and commanding the corrective final torque value from the MGU during a predetermined event, e.g., engine restart. Calculations and commanding the corrective final torque value are conducted by the controller within a calibrated minimum processing loop time. A vehicle includes first and second MGUs, and a controller electrically connected to the second MGU. The controller has the algorithm for minimizing driveline disturbances as noted above. |
| US08494696B2 |
System, method, and computer software code for improved fuel efficiency emission output, and mission performance of a powered system
A method is provided including determining a first power level required from a diesel powered system. The first power level corresponds to a first proportion of a maximum power. The method also includes determining an emission output for a mission based on the first power level. The method further includes determining a second power level corresponding to a second proportion of the maximum power, wherein alternate use of the second power level and at least one of the first power level or a third power level results in a lower emission output for the mission, with the overall resulting power being proximate the minimum power required. The method also includes automatically controlling operation of the diesel powered system by using the second power level alternately with at least one of the first power level or the third power level. |
| US08494695B2 |
Communications system and method for a rail vehicle
A rail vehicle includes of one or more locomotives and may further include one or more rail cars, and the rail vehicle further includes a locator element, a communications device and a control module located on the rail vehicle. The locator elements provide a location information of the rail vehicle to a control module. The control module is coupled to the communications device and the locator element. The control module determines control settings for controlling the operations of the communications device based on the location of the rail vehicle. The communications device sends and/or receives data, including communications data, off-board the rail vehicle. |
| US08494687B2 |
Method for enhancing a three dimensional image from a plurality of frames of flash LIDAR data
A method for enhancing a three dimensional image from frames of flash LIDAR data includes generating a first distance Ri from a first detector i to a first point on a surface Si. After defining a map with a mesh Θ having cells k, a first array S(k), a second array M(k), and a third array D(k) are initialized. The first array corresponds to the surface, the second array corresponds to the elevation map, and the third array D(k) receives an output for the DEM. The surface is projected onto the mesh Θ, so that a second distance Rk from a second point on the mesh Θ to the detector can be found. From this, a height may be calculated, which permits the generation of a digital elevation map. Also, using sequential frames of flash LIDAR data, vehicle control is possible using an offset between successive frames. |
| US08494684B2 |
Substation automatic control system
According to one embodiment, there is provided a substation automatic control system. An automatic power adjusting apparatus activates an automatic voltage adjusting apparatus when a phase tap is controlled. The automatic voltage adjusting apparatus activates the automatic power adjusting apparatus when a voltage tap is controlled. The automatic power adjusting apparatus suppresses the effective power on a transmission line to the value smaller than the prescribed value while the automatic voltage adjusting apparatus is performing an automatic control, thereby maintaining transmission-side system voltage within a tolerant system voltage range. |
| US08494683B2 |
Hybrid irrigation controller
The present invention is directed to a system, method and software program product for detecting and counteracting a temperature sensor failure with an irrigation controller operating in auto adjust watering mode. A plurality of pseudo temperature data are created from solar radiation for a particular location using unique pseudo temperature conversions for each temperature parameter. The pseudo temperature values can be compared to corresponding measured temperature values from the sensor to validate the integrity of the measurement. These pseudo temperature values are used in place of the measured temperatures for calculating a potential evapotranspiration water deficit for the site. Furthermore, if some valid measured temperature data existed prior to the sensor failure, the measured temperature data is compared to the corresponding pseudo temperature data. Any differences detected between the two values can be used to correct the pseudo temperature toward the measure temperature. The accuracy of the potential evapotranspiration water deficit using the corrected pseudo temperature values approach that of using measured temperature values. |
| US08494681B2 |
Controller for a climate control system
A system is provided for controlling at least one climate control apparatus for conditioning a space. The system includes a controller mountable to a climate control apparatus that is segregated from the space to be conditioned. The controller has a plurality of selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller to operate at least one of a plurality of climate control apparatus, and a plurality of visual indicators for visually indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter. A user interface is adapted for installation in the space, and has a display for displaying selectable setting parameters for configuring the controller. The user interface includes user input controls for enabling selection of at least one displayed selectable setting parameter, where the controller responsively activates at least one visual indicator for indicating the selection of at least one selectable setting parameter by the user-interface. |
| US08494679B2 |
Control of the converter process by means of exhaust gas signals
Modern steel production processes require precise knowledge of the current composition and temperature of the liquid metal being processed. In particular during steel production in a converter, high match rates for final carbon content and bath temperature are required. Quantitatively precise blowing of oxygen corresponding to the final target carbon content, and the metal temperature, are decisive factors affecting the economic efficiency of the process and the quality of the steel produced. In order to allow relatively precise process monitoring, various processes and procedures are known, the application thereof being based on measuring exhaust gas composition and on mass flow balances. All models work at an exactness that depends on the precision of the input data, particularly with respect to the weight data of the raw materials and the chemical properties of the metal used. In order to allow control of the converter process for producing steel independently of the predefined process model, in particular when blowing oxygen, the invention proposes that detected values for the critical decoking point (t′crit) and for the end of O2-blowing (t′EoB) are obtained by means of a submodel operating as a process monitor based on the exhaust gas analysis and independent of the process model, by sensibly combining the constituent signals obtained, by means of which values the oxygen content predicted by the process model is corrected at the start of the process and matched to the actual conditions near the end of the decoking period. |
| US08494674B2 |
Fast-access self-repairing tape library using mobile robots
In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of tape reels positioned on a lower surface, a tape drive for reading data from a tape on one of the plurality of tape reels, and at least one mobile robot configured for selectively retrieving at least one of the plurality of tape reels and transporting the at least one retrieved tape reel to the tape drive. |
| US08494673B2 |
Warehouse system and method for operating the same
The invention relates to a warehouse system and a method of operating the same, whereby a plurality of different packaging units (2) are placed in storage on delivery pallets as storage units in a goods-in store (4). The properties of the packaging units are detected in a data bank and a conveying property is determined from the packaging unit properties, and a classification group is assigned to the packaging units (2) by a computer. The packaging units (2) are distributed, temporarily stored and loaded onto despatch pallets in the warehouse system in accordance with the classification group. |
| US08494671B2 |
Grinding machine having the function of measuring distance
The invention relates to a grinding machine for grinding a workpiece, which has been set on a chuck top surface, by moving a rotating grinding wheel in relation to the workpiece. The grinding machine includes: a microscope configured to be vertically movable; a CCD camera configured to take an image viewed through the microscope; and an image processor configured to process the image taken by the CCD camera to measure a vertical distance between a reference plane of the microscope and an object of the microscope. The image processor is adapted to measure the vertical distance between the reference plane of the microscope and the object of the microscope based on sharpness of the image, which corresponds to how clear the microscope is focused. |
| US08494667B2 |
Apparatus for encoding and decoding audio signal and method thereof
A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is disclosed, in which a downmix gain is applied to a downmix signal in an encoding apparatus which, in turn, transmits, to a decoding apparatus, a bit stream containing information as to the applied downmix gain. The decoding apparatus recovers the downmix signal, using the downmix gain information. A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is also disclosed, in which the encoding apparatus can apply an arbitrary downmix gain (ADG) to the downmix signal, and can transmit a bit stream containing information as to the applied ADG to the decoding apparatus. The decoding apparatus recovers the downmix signal, using the ADG information. A method and/or apparatus for encoding and/or decoding an audio signal is also disclosed, in which the method and/or apparatus can also vary the energy level of a specific channel, and can recover the varied energy level. |
| US08494666B2 |
Method for generating and consuming 3-D audio scene with extended spatiality of sound source
A method of generating and consuming 3D audio scene with extended spatiality of sound source describes the shape and size attributes of the sound source. The method includes the steps of: generating audio object; and generating 3D audio scene description information including attributes of the sound source of the audio object. |
| US08494665B2 |
Method for processing board game move record information
The present invention comprises a method for processing move information obtained from a board game move-recording device in order to produce an accurate record of the moves of the game. In particular, the present invention is intended for use with board games such as chess in which the game pieces move between fixed locations. Further, the present invention is intended for use with a simpler and less expensive class of board game move-recording devices that are capable of detecting the presence or absence of a game piece on any one of the game board's fixed locations, but which are not further capable of determining the identity of the detected piece. The objective of the present invention is to resolve any ambiguities found in the move information produced by those devices and, thereby, enable those devices to produce complete and accurate game records. |
| US08494657B2 |
Resorbable anchor arrangements for implantable devices and methods of making and using
An implantable device includes a device body and at least one anchoring unit configured and arranged for anchoring the device body in a patient upon implantation. The anchoring unit includes a resorbable material that resorbs into the patient over a period of time after implantation. |
| US08494655B2 |
Electrode devices with resistive elements
Apparatus is provided for applying current to a nerve. A cathode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a cathodic longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a cathodic current to the nerve. A primary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a primary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a primary anodal current to the nerve. A secondary inhibiting anode is adapted to be placed in a vicinity of a secondary anodal longitudinal site of the nerve and to apply a secondary anodal current to the nerve, the secondary anodal longitudinal site being closer to the primary anodal longitudinal site than to the cathodic longitudinal site. |
| US08494653B2 |
Paddle lead configurations for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using
A paddle lead includes a paddle body with a plurality of electrodes disposed on the paddle body. The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed laterally around the circumference of the paddle body. At least one connecting wire is disposed on, or within, the paddle body to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08494644B2 |
Systems and methods for implantable leadless bone stimulation
Systems and methods are disclosed to enhance bone growth by stimulating bone sites for bone regrowth, fusion, or grafts. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the bone site, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the bone site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-transmitter, which could be incorporated into an orthopedic device, such as pin, cage, plate or prosthetic joint used for bone healing. |
| US08494642B2 |
Systems and methods for implantable leadless spine stimulation
Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate spine tissue to treat medical conditions such as pain and spinal injury. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the spine, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined brain site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on around the spine. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different locations in the spine region to provide therapeutic benefit. |
| US08494641B2 |
Implantable neurostimulator with integral hermetic electronic enclosure, circuit substrate, monolithic feed-through, lead assembly and anchoring mechanism
An implantable medical device is provided for the suppression or prevention of pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, cerebrovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, sleep disorders, autonomic disorders, abnormal metabolic states, disorders of the muscular system, and neuropsychiatric disorders in a patient. The implantable medical device can be a neurostimulator configured to be implanted on or near a cranial nerve to treat headache or other neurological disorders. One aspect of the implantable medical device is that it includes an electronics enclosure, a substrate integral to the electronics enclosure, and a monolithic feed-through integral to the electronics enclosure and the substrate. In some embodiments, the implantable medical device can include a fixation apparatus for attaching the device to a patient. |
| US08494639B2 |
Systems and methods for implantable leadless brain stimulation
Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate brain tissue to treat medical conditions such as movement disorders, pain and epilepsy. The disclosed invention uses electrical stimulation of the brain tissue, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined brain site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be either implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located under the skull, within the brain, on the dura, or in the cranial space close to the brain. As a therapeutic treatment, the implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates the brain sites that are effective in altering brain activity. |
| US08494637B2 |
Systems and methods for implantable leadless gastrointestinal tissue stimulation
Systems and methods are disclosed to stimulate gastrointestinal tissue to treat medical conditions such as eating disorders, gastroparesis, and gastric reflux. The invention uses electrical stimulation of the nerve, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the pre-determined gastrointestinal tissue site. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be implanted or located externally. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which could be located in the various regions on or around the gastrointestinal tissue that needs to be stimulated. The implantable receiver-stimulator stimulates different gastrointestinal tissue to provide the desired therapeutic benefit. |
| US08494636B2 |
Feed-through connector assembly for implantable pulse generator and method of use
A connector assembly for a medical device for connecting the medical device to a relatively large plurality of electrodes that can support, in some cases, 24 or more stimulation channels for stimulating one or more stimulation regions of a patient. Also the medical device and the stimulation system and the stimulation therapy utilizing the connector assembly. |
| US08494635B2 |
Method for sintering electrical bushings
One aspect relates to a method for producing an electrical bushing for an implantable device, a corresponding electrical bushing, and a corresponding implantable device. The method according to one embodiment is characterized in that a green blank is produced and sintered from an electrically insulating base body green blank made of a ceramic slurry or powder and at least one electrically conductive bushing body green blank made of a cermet material. The at least one bushing body green blank is inserted into a bushing opening of the base body green blank to form a composite green blank, a shape of the at least one bushing body green blank and a shape of the at least one bushing opening are complementary to each other at least in sections thereof and prevent slippage of the bushing body green blank through the bushing opening. The composite green blank is sintered while applying a force that keeps the bodies together. |
| US08494634B2 |
Vector configuration detection and corrective response systems and methods
In one aspect a system includes an external communication device configured to interrogate a pulse generator, an external programmer device communicatively coupled to the external communication device; the external programmer device configured to receive a listing of valid electrode pairs from the pulse generator through the external communication device, the external programmer device configured to prevent a pacing, sensing, or shocking vector from being programmed by the user if a pair of electrodes needed for the vector are not included within the listing of valid electrode pairs. In another aspect a system includes an implantable medical device configured to detect the presence or absence of electrodes on an implanted stimulation lead coupled to the implantable medical device and to generate a valid electrode pair listing and compare the programmed electrode pairs with the valid electrode pair listing. Other embodiments are also included herein. |
| US08494629B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatic optimization of atrioventricular delay for an active medical device
An active medical device such as pacemaker, defibrillator and/or resynchronizer with automatic optimization of atrioventricular delay is disclosed. The active medical device is adapted for analyzing a signal delivered by a hemodynamic sensor such as an endocardial acceleration sensor, whose variation according to the AVD is represented by a sigmoid function. An optimal AVD is searched by: applying a reference AVD (XC), at least one left AVD (XL, XLL) and at least one right AVD (XR, XRR); measuring the corresponding hemodynamic parameters (Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5); evaluating the second derivative of the function at the respective points (XC, Y3; XL, Y2, XR, Y4) of the characteristic corresponding to the reference AVD, to the left AVD and to the right AVD; estimating from these values of second derivatives, the position of an intermediate point of the characteristic for which the second derivative is zero or minimum, and determining the corresponding AVD for that intermediate point as the optimal AVD. |
| US08494626B2 |
Implantable neurostimulators having reduced pocket stimulation
Neurostimulators and methods of using neurostimulators are provided. The neurostimulator is implanted within a tissue pocket of a patient, and electrical energy is conveyed from the neurostimulator to stimulate a target tissue site remote from the tissue pocket. The neurostimulator has a case with which one or more electrodes are associated. The electrical energy is returned to the electrode(s) in a manner that prevents, or at least reduces, pocket stimulation that may otherwise occur due to the return of electrical energy to the case of the neurostimulator. |
| US08494625B2 |
Methods and apparatus for electrical stimulation of tissues using signals that minimize the effects of tissue impedance
A tissue stimulation system that generates an electrical tissue stimulation signal configured to reduce tissue impedance and increase depth of signal penetration. The use of leads is dynamically controlled and altered between conducting biopotential voltages, conducting electrical tissue stimulation signals, and grounding, in response to a computational analysis of biopotential data acquired from a region of tissue to be stimulated. |
| US08494624B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing noise in brain signal measurements
A method and apparatus for reducing noise in brain signal measurements. The method provides an array of sensors providing for spatial oversampling, and multiple samplings over time to produce measurement data. The measurement data have a variance common to the sensors, and a remaining variance that can be safely assumed to be sensor or channel specific noise and that is accounted for by a suitable modification of the measurement data. The apparatus provides clusters of the sensors positioned in correspondence to the vertices of substantially equilateral triangles that are defined by tensile elements connecting the clusters. |
| US08494620B2 |
Electrocardiograph for magnetic resonance imaging and electrode patch for same
An electrode patch (40, 40′) enables securing five electrodes (E′, A′, S′, I′, N′) or six electrodes (V1′, V6′, LA′, RA′, LL′, RL′) in a predefined pattern. The electrode patch is configured for disposal as a unit on a subject (SUBJ) in a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner (8), and has a maximum electrodes separation (dmax) of at least 20 centimeters and not more than 50 centimeters. The predefined pattern enables 12-lead electrocardiographic signals to be synthesized from signals acquired by the five or six electrodes in the predefined pattern. A method that can use the electrode patch comprises: acquiring magnetic resonance data with a subject disposed in a MR scanner; securing a plurality of electrodes to the subject in the magnetic resonance scanner, the plurality of electrodes comprising fewer than ten electrodes; and synthesizing twelve leads corresponding to a conventional 12-lead electrocardiograph from electrocardiographic signals acquired by the plurality of electrodes with the subject disposed in the MR scanner. |
| US08494618B2 |
Intracardiac impedance and its applications
A system to measure intracardiac impedance includes implantable electrodes and a medical device. The electrodes sense electrical signals of a heart of a subject. The medical device includes a cardiac signal sensing circuit coupled to the implantable electrodes, an impedance measurement circuit coupled to the same or different implantable electrodes, and a controller circuit coupled to the cardiac signal sensing circuit and the impedance measurement circuit. The cardiac signal sensing circuit provides a sensed cardiac signal. The impedance measurement circuit senses intracardiac impedance between the electrodes to obtain an intracardiac impedance signal. The controller circuit determines cardiac cycles of the subject using the sensed cardiac signal, and detects tachyarrhythmia using cardiac-cycle to cardiac-cycle changes in a plurality of intracardiac impedance parameters obtained from the intracardiac impedance signal. |
| US08494615B2 |
Apparatus and method for doppler-assisted MIMO radar microwave imaging
A method and apparatus for enhanced microwave imaging of an object collects microwave responses for multiple combinations of transmit antennas, receive antennas, and object movement states. The responses are grouped into sets of responses corresponding to at least two object movement states. An image is reconstructed from the set of responses for each movement state, and a differential image representative of object movement is generated from the reconstructed image for each of the at least two object movement states. The differential image is overlaid on a reconstructed image to obtain an enhanced composite image of the object. |
| US08494611B2 |
Cardiac diagnostics using time compensated stress test cardiac MRI imaging and systems for cardiac diagnostics
Methods of cardiac diagnostics of a patient are provided that include administering a stress test to the patient, acquiring a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, adjusting the plurality of MRI cine loops based on a heart rate associated with respective ones of the MRI cines so as to compensate for differences in heart rate and evaluating the compensated MRI cine loops so as to assess a state of coronary physiology of the patient. Furthermore, the administration of the stress test may be adjusted based on the evaluated compensated MRI cine loops. Also, the evaluation of the compensated MRI cine loops may determine a presence or absence of coronary artery disease based on the compensated cine loops. |
| US08494608B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping a structure
An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data. |
| US08494607B2 |
Handheld diabetes management device having a database management system
A handheld diabetes management device having a database management system is disclosed. The device comprises a plurality of input modules, including a blood glucose reader, a user interface, a communications interface, and a continuous blood glucose input module. The input modules output data used to generate data records of different record types. The device further comprises N databases, each database having a different frequency range associated thereto, wherein the new record is stored in a particular database of the N databases based on the frequency range of the particular database and the frequency of the particular record type, and N is an integer greater than 1. The device further includes a database operation module that performs database operations on the N databases. The database management system provides increased reliability in the keeping of records on which medically important decisions are made. |
| US08494606B2 |
Photoplethysmography with controlled application of sensor pressure
Systems, methods, and devices for obtaining consistently reproducible diagnostic measurements with a photoplethysmographic sensor are provided. In one embodiment, a method for obtaining such a diagnostic measurement includes applying a pressure between a photoplethysmographic sensor and a patient, increasing the pressure until the photoplethysmographic sensor outputs a plethysmographic waveform of minimal amplitude, decreasing the pressure by a predetermined fraction, and obtaining a diagnostic measurement using the photoplethysmographic sensor. The pressure may be applied using a pressure device that includes, for example, a clip, a wrap, an inflatable balloon or bladder, or an inflatable cuff or any combination thereof. |
| US08494605B2 |
Non-invasive blood component measuring device and a computer program product
A noninvasive blood component measuring device configured so as to resolve the variance of measuring results depend on the fixing position to the living body. Concretely, a non-invasive blood component measuring device comprising a light source section for illuminating a living body which includes a blood vessel, an imaging section for imaging the living body illuminated by the light source, and a controller is disclosed. The controller includes a memory under control of a processor. The memory stores instructions enabling the processor to carry out following operations: calculating a blood component concentration based on a blood vessel in a living body image obtained by the imaging section imaging a living body; determining the position of the blood vessel in the living body image; preparing at least a first luminance distribution which is distributed along the blood vessel based on the position of the blood vessel; obtaining an index which reflects the amount of blood contained in the peripheral tissue of the blood vessel based on the first luminance distribution; and correcting the blood component concentration based on the index. Non-invasive blood component measuring method and a computer program product capable of achieving above mentioned function are also disclosed. |
| US08494604B2 |
Wavelength-division multiplexing in a multi-wavelength photon density wave system
Multi-wavelength photon density wave medical systems, methods, and devices are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-wavelength photon density wave patient monitor includes multiple light sources, a driving circuit, a fiber coupler, a sensor cable connector, a wavelength demultiplexer, detectors, and data processing circuitry. The driving circuit may modulate the light sources to produce several single-wavelength input photon density wave signals, which the fiber coupler may join into a multi-wavelength input signal. The sensor cable connector may provide this multi-wavelength input signal to a sensor attached to the patient and receive a multi-wavelength output signal. The wavelength demultiplexer may separate the multi-wavelength output signal into single-wavelength output signals for detection by the detectors. Based on a comparison of one of the single-wavelength output signals to a corresponding one of the single-wavelength input signals, the data processing circuitry may determine a physiological parameter of the patient. |
| US08494601B2 |
Communication device
The communication device includes: a first body; a second body; a connecting portion that connects the first body and the second body, so as to be capable of switching between a closed state in which the first body and the second body are superimposed with each other, and an opened state in which a degree of mutual superimposition is smaller than that of the closed state; a first conductive portion that is disposed in the first body; a second conductive portion that is disposed in the second body; a signal line that electrically connects the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion via the inside of the connecting portion; a first antenna, which is disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body, and which is electrically connected to the first conductive portion or the second conductive portion; and a second antenna, which is disposed in at least one of the first body and the second body, and which is capacitively coupled with the first conductive portion or the second conductive portion. |
| US08494594B2 |
Method for controlling power saving mode of UE in the mobile communication system
A method for controlling, a power saving mode of a mobile station (MS) in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method differently defines operations of power saving modes of individual cases in association with message traffic distinguished from user traffic of a service, so that it can effectively reduce power consumption of the mobile station (MS). Firstly, the listening window of the power saving mode is used. Secondly, a method for transmitting a request message for pending the sleep mode is used. If the sleep-mode pending is requested, the sleep-mode resume message may be used in the case of a reactivation, or the reactivation can be automatically performed if a current time reaches a predetermined time. |
| US08494593B2 |
Method and system for wireless coverage redundancy
Devices and methods are provided for providing wireless coverage redundancy in case, for example, the backhaul of an access point (AP) base station is not available. In one embodiment, the method involves monitoring the backhaul, and in response to the backhaul being available, facilitating communication between an access terminal (AT) and the macro network via the backhaul. In addition, or in the alternative (e.g., when the backhaul is not available), a communication signal between the AT and a macro base station (or another AP base station) may be boosted. |
| US08494591B2 |
Disabling operation of features on a handheld mobile communication device based upon location
Methods and devices for implementing subsystem or functional aspect restrictions on a wireless handheld communication device. Data defining geographical boundaries of a restricted operating area is stored on the device. The present position of the device is ascertained and a determination is made whether the device is located within the restricted operating area. A restriction on the subsystem or functional aspect is imposed when it is determined the device is within the restricted operating area. The subsystem or functional aspect restriction can be communicated to the device via a wireless communication network. Additionally, the restrictions and boundaries can be communicated to the device as part of an IT security policy. |
| US08494589B2 |
Service discovery via mobile imaging systems and methods
A method of receiving content associated with media includes using a mobile device to acquire an image from media. The image has corresponding content. The method also includes using the mobile device to process the image to thereby produce the content and displaying at least a portion of the content on a display of the mobile device. |
| US08494587B2 |
Architecture, devices and methods for supporting multiple operators in a wireless basestation
Devices, systems, and methods are presented for a wireless Base Station (BS) capable of simultaneously providing service to subscribers of multiple Operators. Depending upon the particular deployment requirements or equipment capabilities, each Operator may be operating on the same or different frequencies (in which different frequencies may be adjacent, closely separated, or widely separated). The wireless BS will distinguish and logically separate and route the traffic between each subscriber device and its relevant Operator's Core Network, potentially supporting different logical or even different physical interfaces between the wireless BS and each Operator. |
| US08494574B2 |
System and method for controlling a feature of a telecommunications device based on the body temperature of a user
A method for controlling a feature of a telecommunications device includes determining a proximity of a user to the telecommunications device by detecting the body heat of the user. In response to determining proximity of the user, a feature of the telecommunications device is toggled between an activated state and a deactivated state. |
| US08494567B2 |
Method for selecting an effective angle of reception of a directional antenna of a receiver node, corresponding storage means and receiver node
It is proposed a method for selecting an effective angle of reception of a directional antenna of a receiver node, the receiver node belonging to a wireless communications network comprising a plurality of emitter nodes.The method is implemented by the receiver node and comprises steps of: determining at least two possible angles of reception associated with a first emitter node, and for each of said at least two possible angles of reception, determining a difference between that angle and an angle of reception associated with a second emitter node different from said first emitter node, and selecting the effective angle of reception from among said at least two possible angles of reception associated with said first emitter node as a function of the determined differences. |
| US08494563B2 |
Dead spot prediction method for wireless vehicular applications
A wireless communication method includes providing a plurality of vehicles, and sensing a plurality of dead spot regions encountered by the vehicles while traveling. The sensing is performed within the vehicles. Locations of the sensed dead spot regions are recorded within the vehicles. The dead spot region locations sensed by the vehicles are transmitted from the vehicles to a central controller. The dead spot region locations transmitted by the vehicles are sent back to the vehicles such that each vehicle has access to ones of the dead spot region locations sensed by other ones of the vehicles. The dead spot regions are mitigated, within the vehicles, by use of the sent dead spot region locations. |
| US08494559B1 |
Method and system for selecting a wireless access technology using location based information
A method and apparatus is disclosed whereby location based information (LBI) is used to make access and routing decisions within a network. Such LBI is sent from mobile devices to the core network when the mobile device registers with the network and is updated periodically. Over time, this collected LBI data represents the position of mobile devices over time and periodic patterns of usage in different geographic areas. When a network receives an indication that a mobile device requires registration with the network, the network determines as a function of said LBI, a desired network access technology to use to connect said mobile device with the network. Instructions are then transmitted to the mobile device to establish a connection using said desired network access technology and the device is registered with the network. Dynamically updated LBI information from mobile devices is also used for IP network routing optimization. |
| US08494557B2 |
Timed fingerprint locating in wireless networks
Systems and techniques for determining the location of user equipment (UE) in a wireless network are disclosed. These techniques leverage geometric calculations for an overlaid bin grid framework mapping the wireless network area to store differential values for each frame of the bin grid framework for each pair of relevant NodeBs. A timing offset can be determined, such that when a time value from a target UE is accessed, the location can be quickly determined with minimal real time computation. In an aspect, the target UE time value can be search for in the pre-computed differential value data set indexed by a relevant NodeB site pair to return a set of frames (forming a hyperbola between the site pair) that can be intersected with a second set of frames for a second NodeB site pair for the same UE. The intersecting frames can represent the location of the UE in the wireless network. Further, the data can be leveraged to correct timing in the network. |
| US08494555B2 |
Mobile communication circuit reporting location information and methods thereof
Mobile communication circuit reporting location information and methods thereof are provided. The circuit comprises a receiver, a transmitter, and a control circuit. The receiver receives first and second location information requests comprising respective first and second timing periods at first and second reference times respectively. The transmitter transmits first location information at a first reporting time having a first timing lapse from the first reference time in response to the first location information request and the second location information at a second reporting time in response to the second location information request. The control circuit, coupled to the receiver and the transmitter, calculates a timing difference between the first reporting time and the second reporting time, and determines second location information according to the first location information when the timing difference is less than or equal to a predetermined timing difference threshold. |
| US08494547B2 |
Self-learning transceiver
The invention pertains to a transceiver (10) used in a determined geographical zone (100), comprising a learning module (123) for adapting its operating characteristics, bound by the regulations and/or by the specifications of the said geographical zone A, by other regulations and/or specifications of other geographical zones B, characterized in that it comprises means of identification (125) of the geographical zone B, and means (122) of checking the said characteristics as a function of the said zone.The user can thus check that he is using a permitted frequency band and adapt his transceiver to suit if necessary. |
| US08494546B2 |
Method of inter-system communications dynamic spectrum access network systems-logical control connections
This invention relates to cognitive radio based wireless communications of dynamic spectrum access networks, and more particularly to a method of addressing inter-systems (cells) communications for coexistence and spectrum sharing. A method, called Logical Control Connections, is described for reliable connection-based inter-system coordination and communications, which can be established and maintained either over the air or over the backhaul with very low incurred communications overhead in terms of spectrum bandwidth, messaging latency, and hardware/software complexities. |
| US08494545B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for acquiring load information
The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for acquiring load information. In one method, a source access controller and a target access controller can interact through inter-Radio Access Technology (RAT) handover related messages so that a source RAT system can acquire load information of a target RAT system when an inter-RAT Packet Switched (PS) handover is performed. This enables load balancing between different RAT systems so as to guarantee communications quality of the systems. In another method of the present invention, the source access controller and the target access controller interact through a Radio Access Network (RAN) Information Management (RIM) based load information request message and an RIM based load information response message, so that the source RAT system can acquire load information of the target RAT system before an inter-RAT PS domain handover is performed. |
| US08494541B2 |
VoIP service threshold determination by wireless router
A wireless router establishes a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) that supports wireless communications within a WLAN service area. The wireless router establishes broadband communications via a broadband connection with a Voice over IP (VoIP) service accumulator. The wireless router receives a query from the VoIP service accumulator requesting information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router. In response, the VoIP service accumulator receives information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls. The wireless router and the VoIP service accumulator subsequently service VoIP calls within the WLAN based upon the information regarding the prior servicing of, or ability to service, VoIP calls by the wireless router. |
| US08494540B2 |
Methods and apparatus for channel selection in a peer to peer network
Various embodiments relate to using available spectrum for peer to peer communications and for selecting which of several possibly available channels should be used. Various methods and apparatus are well suited to peer to peer networks in which channel usage decisions are made in a decentralized manner. A wireless terminal generates a list of potential available channels to be used for peer to peer communications, e.g., based on FCC information and/or local sensing. Channels are filled in accordance with a predetermined channel ordering. A wireless terminal migrates between the channels in accordance with changes in the number of peer devices using a channel. The network, in a distributed manner, changes the number of channels in use at a location in response to changes in numbers of active peer devices at a location. |
| US08494533B2 |
Beamforming for cell edge capacity improvement in a heterogeneous network
The present disclosure relates to providing a method of improving data rates in a heterogeneous network which is composed of macro cells and pico cells. User equipment is connected to the network via a macro base station serving a macro cell or a low power node serving a pico cell. A signal strength indicator is received from one or more UEs located in a macro cell and adjacent one or more pico cell. The location of a UE within a region of a macro cell or a pico cell is identified according to the signal strength indicator. Then, a weak coverage area of macro cell is identified according to the signal strength indicator and a beam forming antenna of a macro base station serving the macro cell where the UE is located, is directed to steer the antenna beam to an area of the cell requiring an improved signal strength indicator. |
| US08494532B2 |
Method to filter unauthorized mobile devices in code division multiple access networks
A method for managing an attempted connection between a home base station (HBS) and a device not registered with the HBS is provided. The method includes transferring the connection when the attempted connection can be transferred to a traditional base station. When the attempted connection cannot be transferred to a traditional base station, it is determined whether a portion of the resources of the HBS can be used by the device not registered with the HBS. When a portion of the resources can be used, the portion is used. When a portion of the resources cannot be used, the attempted connection is not completed. |
| US08494529B2 |
Server for control plane at mobile communication network and method for controlling SIPTO based session
Disclosed is a method of controlling a session in a serving server taking charge of the control plane within a mobile communication network. The control method may include receiving, by the serving server, a tracking area update (TAU) request message of a terminal from a target base station; retrieving, by the serving server, a previous server that has taken charge of the control plane for the terminal; receiving, by the serving server and from the retrieved previous server, a context response message comprising information indicating that a session for the terminal had been established to be passed through a path over the nodes within a fixed network different from a mobile communication network; deciding, by the serving server, whether gateway relocation is needed; releasing, by the serving server, the established session; transmitting, by the serving server, an accept message comprising information for the processing result to the terminal through the target base station; and establishing, by the serving server a session passing through a path over the nodes within a fixed network different from a mobile communication network based on the information. |
| US08494528B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for priority based cell reselection in a multi-RAT environment
A method, apparatus and computer program product are therefore provided that may enable a network sending broadcast and/or dedicated priorities to a mobile terminal to also include priorities with respect to a RAT that does not support the priority algorithm. As such, for example, priority parameters for a legacy network that does not support the priority algorithm may be supplied to a mobile terminal to enable the mobile terminal to make cell reselection decisions without running two different cell reselection algorithms in parallel (e.g., a ranking based algorithm and a priority based algorithm). The provided method includes the steps of receiving an indication of a plurality candidate cells with respect to said cell reselection of a mobile terminal; assigning, toward each of said plurality of candidate cells, a priority, wherein at least one candidate cell of the plurality of candidate cells does not support priority based cell reselection; and providing said priorities to said mobile terminal. |
| US08494524B2 |
Method for collecting interference status information of subscriber station by coexistence base station
A method and a system for collecting interference status information of a subscriber station by a coexistence base station includes: during an initialization process of a neighbor base station, after a broadcast contact message containing contact information received from the neighbor base station, a subscriber station in an overlapping area of the neighbor base station and a coexistence base station sending a report message to the coexistence base station, wherein the report massage comprises interference status information of the subscriber station, and the coexistence base station is a serving base station of the subscriber station; and collecting and saving, by the coexistence base station, the interference status information of the subscriber station according to the report message. By the present invention, the coexistence base station may collect the interference status information of all subordinate subscriber stations in time during the initialization process of a neighbor base station, and update and save the collected information in a coexistence database. |
| US08494519B2 |
Method for solving conflict between network searching and mobile phone traffic and a multi-card multi-by mobile phone
A method for solving conflict between network searching and mobile phone traffic of a multi-card multi-standby mobile phone is provided. The method comprises storing network searching information of a first user card and processing the mobile phone traffic of a second user card, when conflict occurs between the network searching of the first user card and the mobile phone traffic of the second user card, and continuing to perform the network searching according to the stored network searching information of the first user card after completing the mobile phone traffic, when processing time of the mobile phone traffic of the second user card is less than or equal to a time threshold value. A multi-card multi-standby mobile phone is provided too. The mobile phone comprises a RAM for storing the network searching information, a timer unit for measuring the processing time of mobile phone traffic, a comparing unit set with the time threshold value for comparing the processing time of the mobile phone traffic with the time threshold value, and a MCU for continuing to perform the network searching according to the stored network searching information of the first user card when the processing time of the mobile phone traffic is less than or equal to the time threshold value. The present invention promotes the efficiency of the network searching. |
| US08494518B1 |
Interfrequency access handoff in home carrier network
Disclosed herein is a method and corresponding system to help a wireless communication device (WCD) stay within a home system's network coverage after an access attempt failure. According to one embodiment of the method, a WCD receives a channel list message (CLM) in a given coverage area and transmits an access attempt on a carrier listed in the received CLM. Upon the failure of such an access attempt, the WCD may transmit an additional access attempt on another carrier listed in the received CLM, rather than switching over to a roaming system. According to another embodiment, a WCD receives a channel list message (CLM) in a given coverage area and transmits an access attempt on a carrier listed in the received CLM. Upon the failure of such an access attempt, the WCD may transmit an additional access attempt on another carrier not listed in the received CLM, rather than switching over to a roaming system. According to yet another embodiment, a WCD receives a CLM from a first coverage area and thereafter moves into a second coverage area and subsequently receives a CLM from the second coverage area. The WCD transmits an access attempt on a carrier listed in the second CLM and upon the failure of such an access attempt, transmits an additional access attempt on a carrier listed in the first CLM. |
| US08494513B2 |
Spatio-temporal random voting scheme for cognitive networks
A spatio-temporal random voting scheme is provided that incorporates location distribution, spatial randomness, and temporal randomness in the collection of information from a plurality of sensing devices within the cognitive network. The region is divided into a plurality of sectors, where each sector is a portion of the region. A subset of sectors is selected from the plurality of sectors in the region to provide spatial randomness. A device is randomly selected from each sector in the subset of sectors to provide additional spatial randomness to the information collection process. Temporal randomness may be introduced by randomly selecting a timeslot within a sensing window period in which devices are to scan a frequency spectrum band to determine if a signal energy above a threshold is detected. Sensing reports are then collected from the selected sensing devices and used to determine whether the frequency spectrum band is available or in use. |
| US08494512B2 |
Communication terminal, mobile communication system, and communication control method
A communication terminal includes a first wireless communication unit that communicates with a base station; a second wireless communication unit that communicates with another communication terminal including an equivalent of the first wireless communication unit; a temperature measurement unit; and a control unit that selects one of the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit according to a temperature measured by the a temperature measurement unit. |
| US08494510B2 |
Provisioning applications for a mobile device
Methods and systems for provisioning an application for a mobile device are provided. A user may request an application. A request concerning the application is sent to a provisioning device. The request includes information concerning the mobile device and/or the user of the mobile device. The information is used to determine the requirements for operating the requested application on the mobile device. A hyperlink for downloading the requirements information is sent to the user of the mobile device via text messaging and/or email. The requirements information may be provided directly to the mobile device, to a personal computing device associated with the user of the mobile device, or a combination. |
| US08494504B2 |
Methods and systems for telephony processing, including location based call transfers
The present invention provides flexible call processing. In one embodiment, an inbound call from a calling party is received at a call processing system. The inbound call is intended for a called party. A determination is made that a first condition has occurred and/or is occurring. The called party's location is determined via a location based service associated with the mobile device of the called party. Based at least in part on the called party's mobile device location, a phone number stored in computer readable memory is selected. The calling party is connected to a communication device associated with the selected phone number. |
| US08494495B2 |
Mobile information terminal
A mobile information terminal with improved operability, having a display part and a control part. The display part has a first display region and a second display region. In the first display region, information for specifying a function is displayed. In the second display region, information on conditions of a function executed by a function execution section is displayed. The control part displays the function specifying information in a standby state where the display of the execution information in the second display region of the display part is suppressed and also displays standby information, different from the execution information, in the second display region. In the standby state, when function specifying information is selected in response to the operation detected by an operation detection part, the control part displays execution information of the function specified by the function specifying information selected while the display of the function specifying information on the first display region is maintained. |
| US08494493B2 |
Mobile machine
Among other things, generating a dynamic digital data file for transferring to a mobile communication device includes receiving from a user a phone number associated with a mobile communication device. Also, a user selected digital data file is received. Authorization to access the received digital data file is verified. When detected that the received digital data file is verified as an authorized file, the user is able to edit the received digital data file to generate mobile content. A data connection with the mobile communication device associated with the received phone number is also established. Further, one or more operational parameters of the mobile communication device based on the established data connection are determined. The generated mobile content is transcoded into a format compatible to the determined operational parameters, and the transcoded mobile content is delivered to the mobile communication device. |
| US08494487B2 |
Method and apparatus for authenticating mobile terminal on handover
A method and apparatus for authenticating a mobile terminal are provided. A list of potential Network Access Servers (NASs) corresponding to a NAS are maintained in a backend authentication server, authorization information corresponding to each of the potential NASs is transmitted, from the backend authentication server to each of the potential NASs, when the mobile terminal is authenticated via the NAS. The mobile terminal detects whether a new NAS is pre-authenticated, when the mobile terminal moves to a domain of the new NAS, the new NAS detects whether the mobile terminal is pre-authenticated, and the new NAS authenticates the mobile terminal via a Pre-Shared Key (PSK) method, when the mobile terminal and the new NAS are pre-authenticated. |
| US08494479B2 |
System and method for optimizing power supplies in a wireless transceiver
Different components in a wireless transceiver are powered using different power supplies. For example, one or more first tasks in the wireless transceiver can be powered with a Galvanic cell, and one or more second tasks in the wireless transceiver can be powered with a fuel cell. The one or more first tasks could represent higher-current or intermittent tasks, and the one or more second tasks could represent lower-current or continuous tasks. The one or more first tasks could include transmission of a radio frequency (RF) signal, which may involve RF signal modulation or RF signal amplification. The one or more second tasks could include RF signal tuning, RF signal reception, RF signal demodulation, analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, digital signal processing, operation of a controller, illumination of a display, operation of an audio speaker, operation of a microphone, or operation of a keypad. |
| US08494477B2 |
Power management for an electronic device
A control device includes a selector and a controller. The selector is to select power signals to be supplied to respective power domains of an electronic product. The controller is to compare a level of a first power signal selected by the selector to a first target level, and to generate a first setting signal to reduce a difference between the first power signal level and the first target level. The controller, selector, and power domains may be located on a same chip different from a power manager chip from which the power signals are generated or otherwise output. |
| US08494475B2 |
Direct mixer with transistor and sample-and-hold module
A direct mixer includes a transistor and sample-and-hold module and uses a transposition of an RF signal into baseband with a configuration with high dynamic range and low noise factor. |
| US08494473B2 |
Processing a radio frequency signal
Circuitry and a method for use in a radio frequency receiver for processing a radio frequency signal are provided. The circuitry comprises a mixer arranged to receive the radio frequency signal and down-convert the received radio frequency signal to a lower frequency. The received radio frequency signal has an interference component and the interference component in the down-converted signal is within an interference frequency range. The circuitry also comprises an LC based notch filter arranged to receive the down-converted signal from the mixer, filter the down-converted signal, and output the filtered signal for processing by a baseband processing block. The LC based notch filter has a notch centered within said interference frequency range, such that the LC based notch filter is arranged to attenuate the interference component in the down-converted signal. |
| US08494468B1 |
Mobile wireless communications device including sensing transistor and hysteretic comparator and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing, and a supply modulator carried by the portable housing. The supply modulator may include an output node, a linear amplifier coupled to the output node, and a switching amplifier also coupled to the output node. The switching amplifier may include at least one sensing transistor configured to sense current output from the linear amplifier and generate a drive voltage, and a hysteretic comparator coupled to the at least one sensing transistor and configured to be driven by the drive voltage. The mobile wireless communications device may also include a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier coupled to the output node of the supply modulator, and a wireless transceiver carried by the portable housing and coupled to the RF power amplifier. |
| US08494457B2 |
Systems, methods and transceivers for wireless communications over discontiguous spectrum segments
Methods of transmitting a plurality of communications signals over a plurality of discontiguous bandwidth segments in a frequency band include defining a plurality (NFFT) of orthogonal subcarriers across the frequency band, defining a plurality (N) of available physical subcarriers from among the orthogonal subcarriers. The available physical subcarriers are distributed among the plurality of discontiguous bandwidth segments. The methods further include multiplexing the plurality of communications signals onto the plurality of available physical subcarriers. Multiplexing the plurality of communications signals onto the plurality of available physical subcarriers may include assigning the communications signals to respective ones of a plurality (N) of logical subcarriers, and mapping the plurality of logical subcarriers to corresponding ones of the plurality of available physical subcarriers. Related transmitters, receivers and communications systems are also disclosed. |
| US08494452B2 |
Apparatus and methods for determining network access performance of a wireless device
Apparatus, methods, processors and computer readable media for determining the wireless network access performance or capability of a wireless device. Embodiments include a wireless device having a computer platform with a processing engine operable to generate a plurality of network access performance data during processing activities on the wireless device. The wireless device further includes a network access performance module operable to collect selected ones of the plurality of network access data associated with a predetermined data processing capability of the wireless device, and based on a predetermined collection configuration. The embodiments may also include an apparatus operable to generate the predetermined collection configuration, and operable to receive the collected network access data and to generate a performance report characterizing the network access performance or capability of the wireless device. |
| US08494450B2 |
Method and system for managing communication in a frequency division multiple access (FDMA) communication network
The present invention provides method and system for managing communication in a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) communication network. The method comprises reserving a first segment downlink time slot and/or a first segment uplink time slot for a first segment in the FDMA communication network. The first segment belongs to a plurality of segments used in the FDMA communication network. Thereafter, a communication is scheduled between a base station and one or more mobile stations based on the first segment downlink time slot and/or the first segment uplink time slot. The base station uses the first segment at a high power level for the communication. Further, the one or more mobile stations can be scheduled for an uplink transmission, based on a location of the one or more mobile stations. A mobile station can be located in one of a plurality of sectors of a cell area of a base station. |
| US08494449B2 |
Wireless communications system and method
A system for communicating information facilitates wireless communication between electronic devices. The system includes a transceiver provided in a vehicle. The transceiver communicates with an electronic device located external to the transceiver. |
| US08494446B2 |
Transmitting circuit for a contactless communicating communication partner device
In a communication partner device (1) intended for the contactless transmission of digital data to be transmitted having a transmission circuit (2), the transmission circuit (2) comprises a modulation circuit (17) for the amplitude modulation of a carrier signal (CS), which modulation circuit (17) comprises a circuit stage (20, 20′) for producing a plurality of different resistance values (RW 1, RW 1′) that act on a signal output (TX1, TX2), which resistance values (RW1, RW1′) can be transformed, by means of a signal processing circuit (3) arranged to transform resistance values that belongs to the communication partner device (1), into transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′), which transformed resistance values (RW2, RW2′) are responsible for damping a transmission coil (7) of the communication partner device (1) when modulated low-level carrier signal sections are generated in a modulated carrier signal. |
| US08494444B2 |
Assembly of a low-noise block converter and a filter for a satellite antenna system, and connecting component thereof
An assembly of a low-noise block converter and a filter for a satellite antenna includes a low-noise block converter, a filter, and a connecting component. The low-noise block converter includes an output circuit, and the filter includes a filtering circuit. The connecting component includes a sleeve part for engaging threadedly the low-noise block converter and the filter, and a core extending through the sleeve part and interconnecting electrically the output circuit and the filtering circuit. By virtue of the sleeve part of the connecting component, connection between the low-noise block converter and the filter can be reinforced to reduce interference. The sleeve part can also serve as a ground circuit between the low-noise block converter and the filter so as to shorten a ground path, thereby reducing signal loss. |
| US08494439B2 |
Application state and activity transfer between devices
A method of operating a personal electronic device and an in-vehicle infotainment system includes running an application on one of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system. It is sensed that the personal electronic device has been, or soon will be, moved into or out of a proximity of the in-vehicle infotainment system. Information regarding a state of the one of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system is transferred to the other of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system. An application is selected for the other of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system. The selected application is used to replicate the state of the one of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system on the other of the personal electronic device and the in-vehicle infotainment system. |
| US08494435B2 |
Image forming system and image forming device
Disclosed is an image forming system including an image forming device to form an image on a paper and a plurality of post processing devices, and the image forming device includes an ejecting place information informing unit, a comparing unit and a stopping permission information informing unit, and the post processing devices include a determination unit, a permission request unit and an actuation determination unit. |
| US08494433B2 |
Recording-medium positioning device and image forming apparatus employing the device
A recording-medium positioning device includes a gate, a roller pair, a roller-pair shift unit, a recording-medium detector, and a drive control device. The gate is disposed at an upstream side of a fixing device in a conveyance direction of a recording medium. The roller pair includes two roller members disposed at an upstream side of the gate. The roller-pair shift unit moves the roller pair in accordance with a first position of the recording medium in the conveyance direction to shift the recording medium in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. The recording-medium detector is disposed between the fixing device and the gate to detect a second position of the recording medium in the width direction. The drive control device moves the recording medium to a reference position by driving the roller-pair shift unit in accordance with the second position and cyclically shifts the reference position. |
| US08494430B2 |
Apparatus and method for the registration and de-skew of substrate media
According to aspects described herein, there is disclosed an apparatus and method for de-skewing substrate media in a printing system. The apparatus includes at least one sensor for measuring skew of the substrate media being transferred relative to a process direction, and a nip assembly for moving the substrate media in the process direction. The nip assembly includes a nip having a drive roller and an idler roller for engaging the substrate media. The nip assembly is pivotal from a default position an amount responsive to the measured media skew. The drive roller is selectively stopped to permit a leading edge of the substrate media to engage the stopped drive roller. |
| US08494422B2 |
Transfer belt driving controller and electrophotographic image forming apparatus having the same
A transfer belt driving controller includes an idle roller that is installed on a rotating shaft of one of a plurality of supporting rollers in such a way that the idle roller may freely rotate, and is wrapped and rotated by a transfer belt, where the plurality of supporting rollers are arranged in the transfer belt and to be a predetermined distance apart from each other; an encoder wheel that rotates with the idle roller; an encoder that detects information regarding rotation of the encoder wheel; and a control unit that controls a linear velocity of the transfer belt by feedback controlling a driving source for driving the supporting rollers based on the information regarding rotation of the encoder wheel detected by the encoder. |
| US08494419B2 |
Processing unit including developing roller having roller body and covering layer covering circumferential surface of roller body, and supporting member that supports developing roller
A processing unit is provided. The processing unit includes: a housing; a developing roller that carries developer on a surface thereof, the developing roller including, a roller body, and a covering layer covering an outer circumferential surface of the roller body; a photosensitive drum that contacts the developing roller, wherein an end face of the photosensitive drum at a first side in an axial direction of the developing roller is located at an outer side in the axial direction compared to an end face of the developing roller at the first side in the axial direction, and wherein the developer on the developing roller is supplied to the photosensitive drum; and a supporting member that contacts an inner circumferential surface of the roller body at the first side in the axial direction, and supports the developing roller rotatably in the housing. |
| US08494418B2 |
Development device and image forming apparatus having the same
The development device includes a developer storage part storing a developer, a developer carrier having a carrying surface for carrying the developer and a first magnet, and receiving the developer from the developer storage part on the carrying surface while rotating in a predetermined direction, and supplying the developer to a predetermined image carrier, a magnetic member formed from a magnetic material, forming a predetermined regulatory gap with the carrying surface, and arranged opposite to the first magnet, a second magnet disposed more upstream than the magnetic member when viewed from the rotating direction of the developer carrier, and having a magnetic pole of the same polarity as the first magnet, and a deterioration suppressing part suppressing deterioration of the developer transported to the regulatory gap along with the rotation of the developer carrier. |
| US08494416B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes a first development unit, a second development unit, and a control unit. The first development unit forms a first developer image with a first developer absorbing a light having a prescribed wavelength. The second development unit forms a second developer image with a second developer permeating the light having prescribed wavelength therethrough. The control unit controls print of a background design image by the first development unit and print of a print image by the second development unit. |
| US08494415B2 |
Light emitting element array, light emitting device, and image forming apparatus
A light emitting element array that can perform a time-division driving operation with a small number of driving ICs is provided. A light emitting element array chip (1) includes n switch thyristors (S) (wherein n is an integer equal to or greater than 2), n signal transmission lines (GH) connected to N-gate electrodes (d) of the switch thyristors (S) individually, a plurality of light emitting thyristors (T) having N-gate electrodes (b) connected to one of the n signal transmission lines (GH). Anodes (e) of selection thyristors (U) are connected to the N-gate electrodes (d) of the n switch thyristors (S), and N-gate electrodes (f) of the selection thyristors (U) are connected to a common selection signal transmission line (CSL). |
| US08494414B2 |
Driving device and image forming apparatus
A drive device has a drive source; a rotatable member gear rotated by a driving force from the driving source; a follower gear, including a pair of gears which are coaxially disposed with each other and are rotatable at the same rotational speed and including an urging device for urging the pair of gears in rotational directions opposite from each other, for being rotated at the rotational speed higher than that of the rotatable member gear; a rotation detecting device for detecting rotation of the follower gear and including a flag rotatable together with said follower gear and provided coaxially with said follower gear and includes a detecting portion for detecting passing of the flag; and a driving source control portion for controlling said driving source on the basis of the computation result stored in the storing portion. |
| US08494408B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a chassis, a cover, photosensitive members, an intermediate transfer belt, primary-transfer members, a secondary-transfer roller, a first feed roller, a cleaner device, a waste toner container, which is movable along the predetermined direction to be removably installed in the chassis through a first opening and stores residual toner, a connector, a first feeding path, a second feeding path being a path for a recording sheet inserted through a sheet inlet and includes a sheet guide to guide the recording sheet, and a second feed roller. The second feed roller is movable along with at least a part of the sheet guide. The waste toner container is movable through space, which is occupied by the second feed roller in an upper position, and the first opening when the second feed roller is in a lower position. |
| US08494407B2 |
Laser printer cartridge with increased toner storage capacity
Remanufactured laser printer toner cartridges and methods of manufacture by which predetermined structures internal to the toner hopper section are removed preferably by a robotic laser cutter, a volume increasing cap is provided for the modified toner hopper section and the cartridge is re-assembled to yield a remanufactured toner cartridge that has a capacity to store toner that is significantly increased in comparison to the storage capacity of the OEM toner cartridge. |
| US08494403B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus using the same
A developing device includes an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a developing member facing the image carrier to supply a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier, a rotary member facing the outer circumference of the image carrier in a non-contact state to collect toner scattered from the developing member, and a gear train to drive the rotary member. An effect that the developing member is subjected to by the driving of the rotary member is minimized, thereby preventing deterioration of image quality. Also, the scattering of the developing agent is effectively prevented by adjusting the drive rotational velocity of the rotary member. |
| US08494400B2 |
Developing device with moveable flexible sheet for preventing toner deposition on developing device casing and image forming apparatus including the same
A developing device includes: a developer carrying member for supplying a developer to an image bearing member at an opposing region opposing to the image bearing member, the developer carrying member being arranged so as to be opposed to the image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; a blade for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a casing for housing the developer carrying member and the blade, the casing including a wall portion opposed to the developer carrying member between the blade and the opposing region; a sheet member that is flexible, provided on the wall portion, has a free end, forms a part of an inner wall surface of the wall portion, and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the inner wall surface; and a moving portion provided on the wall portion, for moving the sheet member. |
| US08494396B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device for fixing a toner image onto a recording sheet, the fixing device comprising: a fixing belt including, on an inner circumference side thereof, a resistance heating layer, extending over entire circumference of the fixing belt, operable to emit heat upon flowing of an electric current therethrough; a pressing member operable to press an outer circumference of the fixing belt to form a fixing nip therebetween so that, while the recording sheet passes through the fixing nip, the toner image is fixed onto the recording sheet; and a pair of power supply members arranged inside the fixing belt along the circumferential direction with a predetermined distance therebetween, the power supply members being in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the resistance heating layer in an electrically conductive state along a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. |
| US08494393B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer readable medium
An information processing apparatus includes: a display unit that displays a screen including at least one operation target item constituting a target of an operation; a recording unit that records pieces of information depicting operations performed by a user on operation target items displayed on the display unit as pieces of operation history information; and a screen reproducing unit that reproduces screens displayed at points in time at which the respective operations were performed on the basis of the pieces of operation history information recoded in the recording unit. |
| US08494388B2 |
Image forming apparatus with controlled heating width
Provided is an image forming apparatus, including: a heating section; a coil that is opposed to the heating section, for heating the heating section; a core that has a circumferential surface covered with a magnetic shielding plate having different lengths in an axis direction in a plurality of steps according to a position in a circumferential direction; a rotary section for causing the core to rotate; a plurality of temperature sensing elements for sensing temperatures of the heating section; and a control section for controlling a heating width by controlling the rotary section to control a rotation angle of the core, setting the heating width corresponding to a size of a paper sheet at a start of a print job, and setting the heating width wider than at the start of the print job midway through the print job. |
| US08494386B2 |
Image forming apparatus featuring control of toner supply between image bearing member and cleaning blade
An image forming apparatus includes a first drum for bearing an electrostatic latent image and a cleaning blade of a first cleaning device when formation of the toner image to be transferred onto a sheet is not carried out. The control device selects between a toner supply process using the toner accommodated in a first developing device and a toner supply process using the toner accommodated in a second developing device, in accordance with an amount of the toner accommodated in the first developing device or the second developing device. |
| US08494385B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a color toner image forming unit that forms a color toner image on a recording medium; a first colorless transparent toner image forming unit that forms a first colorless transparent toner image on the color toner image; a first fixing unit that fixes the image on the recording medium; a gloss level increasing device that increases a gloss level of the entire image on the recording medium that has been fixed; a second colorless transparent toner image forming unit that forms a second colorless transparent toner image on the image whose gloss level has been increased; and a second fixing unit that fixes the second colorless transparent toner image on the recording medium. |
| US08494384B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a forming section that forms an image on a side of paper; a fixing section that applies heat to fix the image onto the side of the paper; a paper reversing section that reverses a front and back of the paper having the image fixed onto a first side in the fixing section; a first measuring section that is provided between a registration roller and the forming section to measure a first moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on the first side, and a second moisture content of the paper before an image is formed on a second side, after the image is fixed on the first side; and a calculating section that calculates amount of change of the size of the paper on the basis of the difference between the first moisture content and the second moisture content. |
| US08494382B2 |
Switching mode power supplying apparatus, fusing apparatus to prevent a flicker phenomenon from occurring, and image forming apparatus including the same
A switching mode power supply apparatus includes an alternating current (AC) power input unit to receive an AC voltage from an AC power supply source, a first rectifier to output a direct current (DC) voltage by rectifying the received AC voltage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator to output a PWM signal, a transformer to transform the DC voltage output from the first rectifier into an AC voltage according to a turn ratio and outputting the AC voltage according to the PWM signal, a second rectifier to output a DC voltage by rectifying the AC voltage output from the transformer, a feedback unit to provide as feedback a change of the DC voltage output from the second rectifier to the PWM signal generator, a DC power input unit to receive a DC voltage from a DC power supply source, a DC voltage input detector to detect whether a DC voltage is input to the DC power input unit based on connectivity with the DC power input unit, and an AC power input controller to stop input of the AC voltage from the AC power supply source based on whether a DC voltage is input to the DC power input unit. |
| US08494376B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing transmitters in optical fiber networks
An eye mask is provided that is defined at least partially in terms of absolute, or non-relative, optical power level values. In essence, the eye mask of the invention is a hybrid of the traditional eye mask in that the eye mask of the invention includes power level values on the optical power axis that are based on the minimum OMA set forth in the applicable standard or data sheet specification rather than on measured power level values obtained from the part being tested. Using the hybrid eye mask of the invention obviates the need to perform at least some of the tests often used to measure transmitter attributes. In addition, using the hybrid eye mask of the invention reduces the possibility that a transmitter may fail the eye mask test even though the transmitter operates satisfactorily. |
| US08494374B2 |
Portable light providing illumination and data
A system may comprise a portable light and a receiver therefor. The portable light for illuminating may comprise: a light source, a housing supporting the light source, a processor selectively energizing the light source from an electrical power source to produce illumination, a switch controlling the processor, and a memory storing data relating to the portable light, wherein the processor modulates the light source responsive to the stored data. The receiver receiving data transmitted by the portable light may comprise: a receiver housing including a light sensitive receiver receiving data emitted by the light source; and a receiver processor reproducing a representation of the data stored in the memory and providing the decoded received data for perception by a human and/or for use by a computing device. |
| US08494366B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network using external seed light source
Provided are a wavelength division multiplexing-passive optical network (WDM-PON) in which a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) is used as each optical transmitter of an optical line termination (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU) and additional spectrum-sliced light is injected into RSOAs of each of the OLT and the ONU, and a WDM-PON that is combined with time division multiple access (TDMA) technology, by which the number of included ONUs increases and conventional TDMA ONUs can be used. |
| US08494365B2 |
Random gap insertion in an optical ring network
The invention provides a burst transmission optical fiber wavelength routed ring network and method comprising a plurality of nodes on a network ring where each node can drop and add a wavelength. The network has a control means to control the wavelength to be transmitted on the network ring in a burst transmit mode from each node over a scheduling interval. The invention provides a random generator for generating a plurality of gap intervals over the scheduling interval, such that the gap intervals allow for wavelengths from different nodes to transmit wavelengths in said gaps to achieve a fair access to bandwidth and fair latency in the ring network. |
| US08494359B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus having a protection ring which protects a supporting device coupling section such that it is difficult for a user to touch the supporting device coupling section is provided. A supporting device can be coupled to a camera body, and the camera body includes a supporting device coupling section and a protection ring. The supporting device coupling section has a screw hole to which the supporting device can be coupled, and a supporting device coupling surface which is formed and exposed around the entrance of the screw hole. The protection ring includes a return spring which restricts the position of the protection ring, a return spring stopper which supports the return spring, and a supporting device contact surface which protrudes outward of the exposed surface formed around the entrance of the screw hole of the supporting device coupling section, in a direction toward a housing outside. |
| US08494354B2 |
Focus adjusting apparatus and focus adjusting method
There is provided an apparatus that includes a receiving unit configured to receive instructions for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an object image input through a focus lens; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area to be used at a time of detection of a focus state of the focus lens; a light control unit configured to control an amount of light incident on the image-pickup unit; and a focus adjusting unit configured to detect a focus signal representing the focus state in the focus detecting area to move the focus lens based on the focus signal and a position of the focus lens corresponding to the focus signal. |
| US08494351B1 |
Decorative lighting with scent dispensers
A fragrance generator provides a scent dispenser for mounting on a light emitter of a decorative light, such as those used at holidays. A silicone rubber scented sleeve is placed over and around a cylindrical light emitter. Upon energizing the decorative light, the heat generated by the light emitter warms the scented sleeve and thereby enhances the rate of scent emission from the scented sleeve. An optional scent reservoir formed at one end of the scented sleeve enables the retention of additional amounts of liquid fragrance oil(s). Placement of the light emitter within and extending it throughout the sleeve, and into the fragrance reservoir, results in a further enhancement in amount and duration of scent emission. |
| US08494346B2 |
Identifying a performer during a playing of a video
An apparatus capable of, and a method comprising the steps of: receiving, from a user, during a playing of a video, a request for information identifying a performer of a character that is depicted during the playing of the video; pausing the playing of the video in response to the request for information; providing, the user, the name and a visual depiction of the depicted character, and the name and a visual depiction of the performer of the depicted character; and providing, the user, the option to obtain a filmography corresponding to the performer of the depicted character. |
| US08494345B2 |
Video reproducing device and video reproducing method
A television personal computer 40, when saving video data 43 by recording a video content, extracts a section including a predetermined type of scene from within the video content, then specifies, when accepting a skip instruction from an operator during reproduction of the video content, a resuming point based on a relationship between the section extracted from the video content and the reproducing point, and resumes the reproduction of the video content from the resuming point. |
| US08494339B2 |
Combining material and data
A method of generating a file at a header metadata creator apparatus, the method including: generating, at the header metadata creator apparatus, a file, the file including: a file header, a file body, and a file footer, wherein the file header includes at least KLV encoded header metadata, the KLV encoded header metadata including at least a universal label, length data and variable length data, the variable length data including a plurality of KLV encoded metadata sets, each one of the KLV encoded metadata sets includes a predetermined universal label, essence length data and a plurality of KLV encoded metadata items, and each KLV encoded metadata item includes at least an item universal label, variable item length data and item value data. |
| US08494337B2 |
Light guide
A light guide is provided. The light guide has an uneven light input face and even side faces, which are arranged directly downstream of the light input face. Furthermore, an optoelectronic component with such a light guide is provided. |
| US08494333B2 |
Dispensing cable from an internal cable spool of a fiber optic enclosure
A fiber optic enclosure assembly includes a housing having an interior region and a bearing mount disposed in the interior region of the housing. A cable spool is connectedly engaged with the bearing mount such that the cable spool selectively rotates within the housing. A termination module disposed on the cable spool so that the termination module rotates in unison with the cable spool. A method of paying out a fiber optic cable from a fiber optic enclosure includes rotating a cable spool, which has a subscriber cable coiled around a spooling portion of the cable spool, about an axis of a housing of the fiber optic enclosure until a desired length of subscriber cable is paid out. A termination module is disposed on the cable spool. |
| US08494328B2 |
Armored fiber optic assemblies
Armored fiber optic assemblies and methods are disclosed that include a dielectric armor and at least one bend-resistant multimode optical fiber. The dielectric armor has an armor profile, thereby resembling conventional metal armored cable to the craft. The dielectric armor provides additional crush and impact resistance and the like for the optical fibers and/or fiber optic assembly therein. The dielectric armor is advantageous to the craft since it provides the desired mechanical performance without requiring the time and expense of grounding like conventional metal armored cables. Additionally, the armored fiber optic assemblies can have any suitable flame and/or smoke rating for meeting the requirements of the intended space. The use of at least one bend-resistant multimode optical fiber allows for improved bend performance for the armored fiber optic assemblies, allowing for tighter cable routing as compared to armored fiber optic assemblies having conventional multimode optical fiber. |
| US08494326B2 |
Telecommunication cable equipped with tight-buffered optical fibers
A telecommunication cable is equipped with at least one optical fiber coated by a tight buffer layer made from a polymeric material having an ultimate elongation equal to or lower than 100% and an ultimate tensile strength equal to or lower than 10 MPa. The above combination of features of the polymeric material forming the buffer layer provides an optical fiber which is effectively protected during installation operations and during use, and at the same time can be easily stripped by an installer without using any stripping tools, simply by applying a small pressure with his fingertips and a moderate tearing force along the fiber axis. |
| US08494323B2 |
Optical system having a symmetrical coupling region for coupling light between waveguides including an optically resonant element
A system having an optical-coupling region for evanescently coupling light between first and second optical-waveguiding structures is disclosed. Within the optical-coupling region, the first and second optical-waveguiding structures exhibit mirror symmetry with respect to each other across or about at least one of a plane and an axis and include a segment that is not straight. |
| US08494322B2 |
Side-hole cane waveguide sensor
A side-hole optical cane for measuring pressure and/or temperature is disclosed. The side-hole cane has a light guiding core containing a sensor and a cladding containing symmetrical side-holes extending substantially parallel to the core. The side-holes cause an asymmetric stress across the core of the sensor creating a birefringent sensor. The sensor, preferably a Bragg grating, reflects a first and second wavelength each associated with orthogonal polarization vectors, wherein the degree of separation between the two is proportional to the pressure exerted on the core. The side-hole cane structure self-compensates and is insensitive to temperature variations when used as a pressure sensor, because temperature induces an equal shift in both the first and second wavelengths. Furthermore, the magnitude of these shifts can be monitored to deduce temperature, hence providing the side-hole cane additional temperature sensing capability that is unaffected by pressure. Additionally, the side-hole cane can be used to measure a differential pressure between a first pressure ported to the side-holes and a second external pressure. |
| US08494321B2 |
Diode laser having a device for beam forming
A diode laser having a beam-forming device and a method for producing it are described. The diode laser includes at least one diode laser bar, the diode laser bar having a multitude of emitters, the emitters being disposed next to each other in the direction of their longitudinal axes. The diode laser includes a beam-forming device assigned to the diode laser bar, for the laser beam emerging from the diode laser bar, the beam-forming device having a light-guide device having a plurality of fibers, into which the laser beam is coupled. The maximum thickness of the optical fibers at their end facing the diode laser bar is considerably smaller than their width. |
| US08494320B2 |
Optical element and method for manufacturing the same
An optical device includes: an optical waveguide; and a plurality of diffraction grating layers, provided along the optical waveguide, each including a diffraction grating defined by a discontinuous first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer having a refractive index different from a refractive index of the first semiconductor layer and burying the first semiconductor layer, one diffraction grating layer of the plurality of diffraction grating layers including a third semiconductor layer being continuous with the diffraction grating and made from a material different from materials of the first and the second semiconductor layers. |
| US08494319B2 |
Arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) with different radii in the input and output slab regions
Arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) circuits are disclosed, having different radii in the slab regions to supplement and/or replace other mechanical techniques which enable athermal AWGs. Dual band, interleaved pairs of athermal AWGs are also disclosed, with improved cost, space and center wavelength properties, for, e.g., optical line terminal (OLT), and remote node (RN) applications. |
| US08494314B2 |
Fabrication tolerant polarization converter
The present invention provides a polarization converter, and a method for fabricating the same. The polarization converter includes a geometric shape which induces rotation of a polarization of an optical signal from a first polarization state to a second polarization state as the optical signal propagates along the polarization converter. The performance of the polarization converter is maintained in light of inconsistencies in fabrication processes resulting in improved manufacturability. |
| US08494307B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining misalignment
A method of determining misalignment between a first image and a second image, the first and second images being viewable stereoscopically, the method comprising: determining a feature position within the first image and a corresponding feature position within the second image; defining, within the first image and the second image, the optical axis of the cameras capturing said respective images; and calculating the misalignment between at least one of scale, roll or vertical translation of the feature position within the first image and the corresponding feature position within the second image, the misalignment being determined in dependence upon the location of the feature position of the first image and the corresponding feature position of the second image relative to the defined optical axis of the respective images is described. A corresponding apparatus is also described. |
| US08494303B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for adaptively processing an image using an enhanced image and pixel values of an original image
An image processing apparatus for automatically improving the contrast of an input image that is obtained from a digital camera or the like, and obtaining a sharper and clearing image. A contrast improvement unit performs a contrast improvement process on the input image by comparing an object pixel in the input image with pixels in the surrounding area. An image combination unit combines the enhanced image obtained by the contrast improvement process with the input image. The combined image is then output to a desired device such as a printer by an image output unit. |
| US08494302B2 |
Importance filtering for image retargeting
A content-aware image retargeting technique uses an “importance filtering” technique to preserve important information in the resizing of an image. The image saliency is first filtered, guided by the image itself to achieve a structure-consistent importance map. The pixel importance is then used as the key constraint in computing the gradient map of pixel shifts from the original resolution to the target resolution. Finally the shift gradient is integrated across the image by a weighted filtering process to construct a smooth pixel shift-map and render the target image. The weight is again controlled by the pixel importance. The two filtering processes enforce the maintaining of structural consistency while preserving the important contents in the target image. The simple nature of the present filter operations allow for real-time applications and easy extension to video retargeting, as the structural constraints from the original image naturally convey the temporal coherence between frames. |
| US08494296B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image by using rotational transform
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an image. The image encoding method includes: generating a first frequency coefficient matrix by performing spatial transform (e.g. discrete cosine transform (DCT) on a current block; determining an angle parameter based on whether the current block is intra or inter predicted; generating a second frequency coefficient matrix by performing a partial switch between at least one of rows and columns of the first frequency coefficient matrix based on the determined angle parameter; and encoding the second frequency coefficient matrix and information about the angle parameter. |
| US08494292B2 |
Image processing apparatus
An apparatus calculates a change predicted value of a value of an interest pixel included in an interest field. The apparatus calculates a change predicted value before correcting the value of the interest pixel based on the interest field and at least one of fields which neighbors the interest field and is stored in the plurality of field memories, respectively calculates interframe difference coefficients based on any of two fields having a field interval of 2 of a plurality of fields stored in the plurality of field memories, and a field which is being input, calculates a correction value of the change predicted value based on the interframe difference coefficients calculated, and corrects the change predicted value before correction calculated by the change predicted value calculator based on the correction value calculated by the correction value calculation unit and output a change predicted value after correction. |
| US08494289B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image compression method, and storage medium
If reusable data is included in a record of VDP data, a compression level used in compressing page data including the reusable data is associated with the reusable data and stored together with the reusable data. If, after that, a record of VDP data including reusable data similar to the stored reusable data is generated, the page data is compressed according to the record based on the compression ratio associated with the stored reusable data. |
| US08494282B2 |
Blur estimation
A method and apparatus for removing blur in an image is disclosed. The blur in the image is caused by relative motion between the imaging device and the object being imaged. A set of differences between the pixel values in the image is calculated. The set of differences in pixel values are divided into two groups, wherein the first group of differences in pixel values corresponds to differences in pixel values due to noise, and the second group of differences in pixel values corresponds to differences in pixel values due to noise and motion. An estimate of the motion blur is determined using the second group of differences in pixel values. The estimate of the blur is then used to remove the blur from an image. |
| US08494273B2 |
Adaptive optical character recognition on a document with distorted characters
A computer implemented method for adaptive optical character recognition on a document with distorted characters includes performing a distortion-correction transformation on a segmented character of the document assuming the segmented character to be a candidate character. The method further includes comparing the transformed segmented character to the candidate character by calculating a comparison score. If the calculated score is within a predetermined range, the segmented character is identified with the candidate character. The method may be implemented in either of computer hardware configured to perform the method, or in computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium. Also disclosed are corresponding computer program product and data processing system. |
| US08494272B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and computer readable medium for judging if images are matched
An image processing device including: an image acceptance unit accepting a first image and a second image; a perimeter measurement unit measuring a perimeter of an object image within the first image or an object image within the second image; an area measurement unit measuring an area of the object image within the first image or the object image within the second image; a first reference area generation unit generating a first reference area based on the perimeter and area measured; a datum point extraction unit extracting datum points from the first image and the second image; and a first match judgment unit making the datum points coincide with each other, and judging whether or not the object image within the first image and the object image within the second image are matched, based on densities of the first and second image within the first reference area. |
| US08494263B2 |
Image processing system for skin detection and localization
An image processing system provides faster than real-time skin detection and localization. The system uses the highly optimized architecture of a graphics processing unit to quickly and efficiently detect and locate skin in an image. By performing skin detection and localization on the graphics processing unit, the image processing system frees the main system processor to perform other important tasks, including running general purpose applications. The speed with which the image processing system detects and localizes skin also facilitates subsequent processing steps such as face detection and motion tracking. |
| US08494261B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable medium
An image processing apparatus comprises: an unit configured to sequentially determine, as a processing object, each of blocks, and to compare color data of respective pixels in the block that is the processing object, thereby specifying a pattern flag indicating an arrangement pattern of color data; an unit configured to extract first color data from a pixel, and further to extract second color data to fourth color data corresponding to the arrangement pattern; an unit configured to hold the pattern flag of each of the blocks, the first color data, and the second color data to fourth color data; and an unit configured to specify addresses in a memory, at which the first color data and the second color data to fourth color data in a block to be composed are held. |
| US08494257B2 |
Music score deconstruction
Data set generation and data set presentation for image processing are described. The processing determines a location for each of one or more musical artifacts in the image and identifies a corresponding label for each of the musical artifacts, generating a training file that associates the identified labels and determined locations of the musical artifacts with the image, and presenting the training file to a neural network for training. |
| US08494256B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, learning apparatus and method, and program
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, a learning apparatus and method, and a program which allow reliable evaluation of whether or not the subject appears sharp.A subject extraction unit 21 uses an input image to generate a subject map representing a region including the subject in the input image, and supplies the subject map to a determination unit 22. The determination unit 22 uses the input image and the subject map from the subject extraction unit 21 to determine the blur extent of the region of the subject on the input image, and calculates the score of the input image on the basis of the blur extent. This score is regarded as an index for evaluating the degree to which the subject appears sharp in the input image. The present invention can be applied to an image capture apparatus. |
| US08494255B2 |
System and method for linking real-world objects and object representations by pointing
A system and method are described for selecting and identifying a unique object or feature in the system user's three-dimensional (“3-D”) environment in a two-dimensional (“2-D”) virtual representation of the same object or feature in a virtual environment. The system and method may be incorporated in a mobile device that includes position and orientation sensors to determine the pointing device's position and pointing direction. The mobile device incorporating the present invention may be adapted for wireless communication with a computer-based system that represents static and dynamic objects and features that exist or are present in the system user's 3-D environment. The mobile device incorporating the present invention will also have the capability to process information regarding a system user's environment and calculating specific measures for pointing accuracy and reliability. |
| US08494253B2 |
Three-dimensional (3D) image processing method and system
A three-dimensional (3D) image processing method is provided. The method includes receiving from an image source a 3D image containing compressed first image pixel data and compressed second image pixel data, and storing the received compressed first image pixel data and compressed second image pixel data in a line register group. The method also includes determining a relationship between lines of the compressed first image pixel data and compressed second image pixel data, and using reading and writing operations on the line register group based on the relationship and a predetermined timing sequence to decompress the compressed first image pixel data and compressed second image pixel data. |
| US08494251B2 |
System and method for measuring image quality
The present invention provides an improved system and method for measuring quality of both single and stereo video images. The embodiments of the present invention include frequency content measure for a single image or region-of-interest thereof and disparity measure for stereo images or region-of-interest thereof. |
| US08494248B2 |
Noise suppression in cone beam CT projection data
A method for suppressing noise in a diagnostic 3-D image, executed at least in part on a logic processor, captures, at each of a number of projection angles, 2-D image projection data, wherein each 2-D image projection has a central pixel and arranges the 2-D image projection data to form a 3-D data set. Each of the 2-D image projections is processed by performing a diffusion filtering process that obtains a homogeneity value for the 3-D data set, generates a diffusion conductance function according to an intensity gradient between adjacent digital image elements, and applies the diffusion filtering process to digital image elements according to the obtained homogeneity value, the generated diffusion conductance function, and a weighting value that relates to the distance of each pixel in the projection from the central pixel. The diagnostic 3-D image is reconstructed from the processed 2-D image projections. |
| US08494240B2 |
Vessel centerline determination
A method of centerline determination for a tubular tissue in a medical image data set defined in a data space, comprising receiving at least one start point and one end point inside a tubular tissue volume; automatically determining a path between said points that remains inside said volume; automatically segmenting said tubular tissue using said path; and automatically determining a centerline for said tubular tissue from said segmentation, wherein said receiving, said determining a path and said segmenting, said determining a centerline are all performed on a same data space of said medical image data set. |
| US08494239B2 |
Image processing device, method and program
A second order partial derivative matrix and at least one first order partial derivative value of a pixel value at each pixel position in an image are calculated. Based on values of the calculated second order partial derivative matrix, an evaluation value of a likelihood of being a line-like structure and/or an evaluation value of a likelihood of being a plate-like structure for the pixel position are calculated, such that the larger the first order partial derivative value, the smaller the evaluation values. |
| US08494237B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing digital image representations of a head shape
A method for processing digital image representations representative of a subject head shape comprises: providing a database library of a first plurality of first digital image representations of subject head shapes captured directly from corresponding subjects, and a second plurality of second digital image representations of corresponding modified head shapes. The method includes proving a support vector machine and utilizing the database library plurality of said first and second digital image representation to train the support vector machine to operate on new digital image representations. The method further includes receiving a new digital image representation of a subject head shape captured directly from a new subject; and operating the support vector machine such that the support vector machine operates on the new first digital image representation to generate a corresponding new second digital image representation that replicates a corresponding modified head shape. |
| US08494236B2 |
System and method for cardiac segmentation in MR-cine data using inverse consistent non-rigid registration
A method for cardiac segmentation in magnetic resonance (MR) cine data, includes providing a time series of 3D cardiac MR images acquired at a plurality of phases over at least one cardiac cycle, in which each 3D image includes a plurality of 2D slices, and a heart and blood pool has been detected in each image. Gray scales of each image are analyzed to compute histograms of the blood pool and myocardium. Non-rigid registration deformation fields are calculated to register a selected image slice with corresponding slices in each phase. Endocardium and epicardium gradients are calculated for one phase of the selected image slice. Contours for the endocardium and epicardium are computed from the gradients in the one phase, and the endocardium and epicardium contours are recovered in all phases of the selected image slice. The recovered endocardium and epicardium contours segment the heart in the selected image slice. |
| US08494235B2 |
Automatic detection of lymph nodes
A method for detecting lymph nodes in a medical image includes receiving image data. One or more regions of interest are detected from within the received image data. One or more lymph node candidates are identified using a set of predefined parameters that is particular to the detected region of interest where each lymph node candidate is located. The identifying unit may identify the one or more lymph node candidates by performing DGFR processing. The method may also include receiving user-provided adjustments to the predefined parameters that are particular to the detected regions of interest and identifying the lymph node candidates based on the adjusted parameters. The lymph node candidates identified based on the adjusted parameters may be displayed along with the image data in real-time as the adjustments are provided. |
| US08494233B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
A feature point detection unit (153) and feature amount extraction unit (154) extract a plurality of features of an object from input image data. When there are unextracted features of the plurality of features, a weight setting unit (155) sets weights for the extracted features. A facial expression determination unit (156) executes recognition processing of the object based on the features weighted by the weight setting unit (155). |
| US08494229B2 |
Device and method for determining gaze direction
An eye tracker device (200) comprises a diffractive beam expander (207) to provide two substantially collimated illuminating light beams (B11, B12). The collimated light beams (B11, B12) provide two reflection spots (G1, G2) appearing in the image of the eye. The gaze direction (GZD) is calculated from the positions of the reflection spots (G1, G2) with respect to the pupil (P) of the eye (E1). The two illuminating beams (B11, B12) are provided by splitting an infrared laser beam (B4) into two in-coupled beams (B5, B6), which propagate in different directions in the substrate (7) of the beams expander. The in-coupled beams (B5, B6) are expanded and their light is subsequently coupled out of the substrate (7) by an out-coupling grating (230) to illuminate the eye (E1). The same substrate (7) may also be used to implement a virtual display device (100) for displaying virtual images to said eye (E1). |
| US08494227B2 |
System and method for using three dimensional infrared imaging to identify individuals
Calibrated infrared and range imaging sensors are used to produce a true-metric three-dimensional (3D) surface model of any body region within the fields of view of both sensors. Curvilinear surface features in both modalities are caused by internal and external anatomical elements. They are extracted to form 3D Feature Maps that are projected onto the skin surface. Skeletonized Feature Maps define subpixel intersections that serve as anatomical landmarks to aggregate multiple images for models of larger regions of the body, and to transform images into precise standard poses. Features are classified by origin, location, and characteristics to produce annotations that are recorded with the images and feature maps in reference image libraries. The system provides an enabling technology for searchable medical image libraries. |
| US08494226B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for use in assessing carcass grading
Methods, systems and devices are implemented in connection with measuring the relative content of intramuscular fat (IMF) in a portion of muscle tissue. Consistent with one such method a probe is presented to the portion of muscle tissue. The probe produces a response-provoking signal in the muscle tissue. A resulting signal is used to determine the relative content of IMF in the portion of muscle tissue as a function of the pressure being exerted between the probe and the portion. |
| US08494225B2 |
Navigation method and aparatus
An automated guidance system for a moving frame. The automated guidance system has an imaging system disposed on the frame; a motion sensing system coupled to the frame and configured for sensing movement of the frame; and a processor communicably connected to the vision system for receiving image data from the vision system and generating optical flow from image data of frame surrounding. The processor is communicably connected to the motion sensing system for receiving motion data of the frame from the motion sensing system. The processor is configured for determining, from kinematically aided dense optical flow correction to frame kinematic errors, due to errors in motion data from the motion sensing system. |
| US08494224B2 |
Perspective improvement for image and video applications
A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion. |
| US08494222B2 |
Classifier anomalies for observed behaviors in a video surveillance system
Techniques are disclosed for a video surveillance system to learn to recognize complex behaviors by analyzing pixel data using alternating layers of clustering and sequencing. A combination of a self organizing map (SOM) and an adaptive resonance theory (ART) network may be used to identify a variety of different anomalous inputs at each cluster layer. As progressively higher layers of the cortex model component represent progressively higher levels of abstraction, anomalies occurring in the higher levels of the cortex model represent observations of behavioral anomalies corresponding to progressively complex patterns of behavior. |
| US08494219B2 |
Image extraction device and image extraction method
An image extraction device for extracting an image showing a document from an image of the document shot by an imaging device includes a document table on which a document is placed, a side detection unit, an opposing side estimator, and an image extraction unit. The side detection unit detects a side of the document on the document table based on the shot image of the document. The opposing side estimator estimates a position of a side opposite the side detected by the side detection unit. The image extraction unit segments the image of the document from the shot image of the document based on the side detected by the side detection unit and the opposite side estimated by the opposing side estimator. |
| US08494217B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a dynamic body detecting unit for detecting a dynamic body contained in a moving image, a dynamic body region setting unit for, during a predetermined time from a time point the dynamic body is detected by the dynamic body detecting unit, setting a region containing the dynamic body at the detection time point as a dynamic body region, and a fluctuation removable processing unit for performing a fluctuation removal process on a region other than the dynamic body region set by the dynamic body region setting unit. |
| US08494210B2 |
User interface for use in security screening providing image enhancement capabilities and apparatus for implementing same
An apparatus, method and system for facilitating visual identification of a prohibited object in an image during security screening are provided. Data derived from an apparatus that scans the receptacle with penetrating radiation conveying an image of the contents of a receptacle is received. Information from an automated threat detection processor is also received and indicates an area of interest in the image potentially containing a prohibited object. The image is then processed to generate an enhanced image. In a first example, portions of the enhanced image outside the area of interest are visually de-emphasized. In a second example, features appearing inside the area of interest are visually emphasized. The enhanced image is then displayed on a display device. Optionally, thumbnail images associated with previously screened receptacles are displayed and a user is enabled to select one or more thumbnail images. An enhanced image corresponding to the selected thumbnail image is then displayed. In alternative implementations, an apparatus, method and system for use in screening a person for facilitating visual identification of a prohibited object thereon is provided. |
| US08494209B2 |
Low axial vibration receiver armature and assembly
An armature apparatus includes a first tine member, a second tine member, a center tine member, and a connecting portion. The first tine member has a first length and a first width and these define a first surface. The second tine member has a second length and a second width and these define a second surface. The first surface generally faces the second surface and the first surface is generally parallel relation to the second surface. The center tine member has a third length and the third length is generally parallel to the first length and the second length. The connecting portion couples the center tine member to the first surface along the first length and to the second surface along the second length. The center tine member is generally disposed in a plane extending between the first tine member and the second tine member and the plane divides the first surface of the first tine member and the second surface of the second tine member. |
| US08494206B2 |
Electronic device and method thereof
An electronic device includes a host and an earphone. The host includes a application module, the earphone includes at least one speaker, and at least one vibrator. The host generates a first vibration signal according to an original audio signal from the application module, and sends the original audio signal and the first vibration signal to the earphone. The earphone generates a second vibration signal according to the original audio signal, sends the first vibration signal and the second vibration signal to the at least one vibrator, and sends the original audio signal to the at least one earphone speaker. The electronic device may also generate audio signals according to an original vibration signal from the application module. |
| US08494205B2 |
Base station, wireless headset and headband thereto
A base station, wireless headset and headband, the headset being powered by a rechargeable battery, the base station having a cradle with charging output points, and the headset having a cradle-neck with charging input contact points. The headset may be cradled in a charging position to ensure electrical connection between the base station and the rechargeable battery through the electrical contact points. The wireless headset includes attachment sites for releasable attachment thereto of the headband to form a headband-headset assembly. |
| US08494202B2 |
Replaceable hearing protection membrane for hearing devices
A device as hearing aid to be worn in the ear or in or at the auditory canal comprises at least a sound or acoustic exit opening with a protection element (10) to prevent the contamination of the device. The protection element (10) comprises a thin, at least almost flexible or elastic membrane (15) made out of a thermoplastic polymer. |
| US08494201B2 |
Hearing aid with occlusion suppression
A hearing aid includes an ambient microphone configured to receive and convert environmental sound into an electronic input signal, a hearing loss processor configured to process the electronic input signal in accordance with a hearing loss of a user, and generate an electronic output signal, a receiver, an ear canal microphone configured for converting ear canal sound pressure into an ear canal signal, an occlusion suppressor for reception and processing of the ear canal signal and for transmitting an occlusion suppression signal, and a signal combiner configured for combining the occlusion suppression signal and the electronic output signal to form a combined signal, and for transmitting the combined signal to the receiver, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the combined signal, and convert the combined signal into an acoustic output signal, and wherein the receiver has a frequency response with a lower cut-off frequency that is less than 40 Hz. |
| US08494200B2 |
Hearing aid microphone protective barrier
Embodiments of the invention provide microphone assemblies for hearing aids which are resistant to moisture and debris. An embodiment provides a microphone assembly for a CIC hearing aid comprising a microphone housing including a housing surface having a microphone port, a fluidic barrier structure coupled to the housing surface, a protective mesh coupled to the barrier structure and a microphone disposed within the housing. The microphone housing can be sized to be positioned in close proximity to another component surface such as a hearing battery assembly surface. At least a portion of the housing surface and/or the barrier structure are hydrophobic. The barrier structure surrounds the microphone port and is configured to channel liquid and debris away from entry into the microphone port including matter constrained between the housing surface and another surface. |
| US08494199B2 |
Stability improvements in hearing aids
A hearing aid includes an input transducer for provision of an input signal, a high pass filter configured for providing a high pass filtered part of the input signal, a low pass filter configured for providing a low pass filtered part of the input signal, a synthesizing unit configured for generating a synthetic signal from the high pass filtered part using a model based on a periodic function, wherein a phase of the synthetic signal is at least in part randomized, a combiner configured for combining the low pass filtered part with the synthetic signal for provision of a combined signal, a hearing loss processor configured for processing the combined signal for provision of a processed signal, and a receiver coupled to the hearing loss processor, wherein the receiver is configured for converting an audio output signal into an output sound signal. |
| US08494198B2 |
Method for operating a hearing system, hearing system and audio gateway devices
A body-worn audio gateway device transmitting audio signals comprised in close-range electromagnetic signals may be used outside a car, where it may provide for hands-free mobile telephony and listening to music streamed directly to hearing devices worn by a user. When the user enters the car, he or she may want to use a corresponding in-car audio gateway device for the same purposes. This typically requires manual interaction e.g. to trigger the switch-over and to maintain hands-free operation of a carried mobile phone. Furthermore, the audio gateway devices may disturb each other, which may lead to malfunction, more troublesome interaction and/or reduced audio quality. To overcome this, the invention foresees means for detecting when the user enters and/or leaves the car and for automatically disabling functions of the first audio gateway device when the user is in the car. |
| US08494191B2 |
Neckloop for teleloop hearing aid system
The invention relates to a neckloop for being coupled with a transformer element and for generating an electromagnetic signal for being received by a telecoil of a hearing device or by an induction receiver. In order to avoid strangulation of the person wearing the neckloop the neckloop comprises a teleloop cable having a first end and a second end, and a first magnet and a second magnet for forming a clasp of the neckloop. The first and second magnets are of opposite polarity. The first magnet is provided with a first plating and the second magnet is provided with a second plating. The first plating is in direct contact with the first end and the second plating is in direct contact with the second end. |
| US08494189B2 |
Virtual sound source localization apparatus
In a virtual sound source localization apparatus, a distance between two loudspeakers and a shortest distance between a line connecting the loudspeakers and a listening position are set beforehand, and a listener operates an operating section to localize a Cch sound source at an approximately center of the loudspeakers, thereby adjusting a sound balance of the loudspeakers. In addition, a controller calculates a difference in distance from the loudspeakers to the listening position, sets a delay amount of delay correctors such that sound emitted from the loudspeakers substantially reaches the listening position simultaneously, and adjusts sound output timing of the loudspeakers. In this way, even though the listening position is changed, the listener can operate the operating section to optimize a virtual surround effect. |
| US08494183B2 |
Audio processing apparatus
A switching section causes the first amplification section to amplify the expansion left audio signal and supply the amplified expansion left audio signal to the first speaker terminal and causing the second amplification section to amplify the expansion right audio signal and supply the amplified expansion right audio signal to the second speaker terminal when the Bi-Amp function is not used. The switching section causes the first amplification section to amplify the left audio signal for Bi-Amp and supply the amplified left audio signal for Bi-Amp the first speaker terminal and causing the second amplification section to amplify the right audio signal for Bi-Amp and supply the amplified right audio signal for Bi-Amp to the second speaker terminal when the Bi-Amp function is used. |
| US08494182B2 |
Feedback limiter with adaptive time control
The invention relates to a compressor and method for amplifying an input signal with a controlled gain. An output signal representing the input signal is amplified by an initial gain and a signal level of the input signal or of the output signal is compared with a threshold level. If the signal level is below the threshold level, the initial gain value is updated using an adaptive control characteristic, and if the signal level is above the threshold level, the initial gain value is updated using a fixed control characteristic or an adaptive control characteristic respectively. The adaptive control characteristic is dependent on the signal level and the fixed control characteristic is independent from the signal level. |
| US08494181B2 |
Method for providing a mute control function for multiple microphones connected to a computer
A method for providing a mute control function in a computer having multiple microphones is disclosed. A set of mute state information is stored in a control table of a portable computer. The mute state information is for controlling a mute state. Device identifiers (IDs) of all microphones that are connected to the portable computer are registered with the control table. The microphones corresponding to the device IDs registered in the control table are controlled to be in the same mute state based on the mute state information. In response to a detection of an activation of the mute button, the mute state information are inverted. The device IDs registered in the control table are to be controlled in the same mute state based on the inverted mute state information. |
| US08494179B2 |
Mixer with adaptive post-filtering
A noise reduction system includes multiple transducers that generate time domain signals. A transforming device transforms the time domain signals into frequency domain signals. A signal mixing device mixes the frequency domain signals according to a mixing ratio. Frequency domain signals are rotated in phase to generate phase rotated signals. A post-processing device attenuates portions of the output based on coherency levels of the signals. |
| US08494170B2 |
Redundant key server encryption environment
Provided are a computer program product, system and method for a redundant key server encryption environment. A key server receives from at least one remote key server public keys associated with the at least one remote key server. The key server receives a request for an encryption key from a requesting device and generates the encryption key for use by the requesting device to unlock a storage. The key server generates a first wrapped encryption key by encrypting the encryption key with a requesting device public key, a second wrapped encryption key by encrypting the encryption key with a public key associated with the key server, and at least one additional wrapped encryption key by encrypting the encryption key with the at least one public key provided by the at least one remote key server. The key server transmits the generated keys to the requesting device. |
| US08494168B1 |
Locating cryptographic keys stored in a cache
Example embodiments provide various techniques for locating cryptographic keys stored in a cache. The cryptographic keys are temporarily stored in the cache until retrieved for use in a cryptographic operation. The cryptographic key may be located or found through reference to its cryptographic key identifier. In an example, a particular cryptographic key may be needed for a cryptographic operation. The cache is first searched to locate this cryptographic key. To locate the cryptographic key, the cryptographic key identifier that is associated with this cryptographic key is provided. In turn, the cryptographic key identifier may be used as an address into the cache. The address identifies a location of the cryptographic key within the cache. The cryptographic key may then be retrieved from the cache at the identified address and then used in the cryptographic operation. |
| US08494166B2 |
Use of indirect data keys for encrypted tape cartridges
A method, system and program are provided for enabling selective access to multiple users' encrypted data in a single storage cartridge. A unique, derived key is generated for each user's data by performing cryptographic operations on a combination of a common base key and metadata related to the data to be encrypted (e.g. its total block count). The base data key is wrapped with one or more encryption keys to form one or more encryption encapsulated data keys (EEDKs). The base key and the derived key are wrapped to create a session encrypted data key (SEDK), which along with the EEDKs, are conveyed to the tape drive, where the SEDK is decrypted. The EEDKs are then stored in one or more places on the storage cartridge. The base key and the derived key are used to encrypt a predetermined user's data, with the derived key stored on the cartridge with the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be subsequently decrypted by retrieving the EEDK and decrypting it with a decryption key to extract the base data key. The extracted base data key can then be used with other information to calculate the derived key. Once calculated, the derived key is used to decrypt its associated encrypted data. |
| US08494161B2 |
Content protection message extraction
A system for extracting a video-watermark embedded in a video sequence, comprising a decryption and decoding engine to receive the video sequence in a video-codec-encoded format and encrypted, then decrypt the video sequence yielding a decrypted video sequence, then decode the decrypted video sequence yielding a decrypted decoded video sequence, and then output the decrypted decoded video sequence to a display device for rendering thereon, a measurement module to measure memory usage utilized by the engine decoding at least part of the video sequence yielding measurements of memory usage, a memory usage analyzer to analyze the measurements to determine an arrangement of video frames of at least one frame type in the video sequence, and an encoding feature analyzer to analyze the arrangement of the video frames to extract the video-watermark from the video sequence. Related apparatus and methods are also described. |
| US08494160B2 |
Method and apparatus for decrypting encrypted content
The present invention provides a method for decrypting encrypted content transmitted from an operator to a plurality of users where said operator further provides security information allowing for the decryption of said content. The method has the advantage of satisfying the goal of providing the capability for detecting a fraudulent user who retransmits control words extracted from the security information to other users. The method provides for the achievement of the goal without incurring extra overhead in addition to the transmitted content and security information. The method makes use of control words which are based on multiple solutions provided by collisions in mathematical functions and involves the observation of choices of control words retransmitted by the fraudulent user. |
| US08494156B2 |
System, architecture and method for secure encryption and decryption
There is disclosed a system, architecture and method for encryption and decryption of a record. In an embodiment, a method comprises identifying a target record to be encrypted; analyzing one or more clear text linguistic attributes of the target record; generating a linguistic encryption key based on the analysis of one or more clear text linguistic attributes; and encrypting the target record with the linguistic encryption key, the linguistic encryption key operable to decrypt the encrypted target record in a reverse operation. |
| US08494151B2 |
System and method for balancing call session assignments on an agent console
A system and method for balancing call session assignments on an agent console is provided. Incoming call sessions and one or more agent consoles, each managed by an agent, are monitored. An absolute upper limit on a number of the call sessions allowed at each agent console at any given time is assigned. A load of call session assignments is balanced on each agent console. Objective conditions regarding call sessions already assigned to each agent are collected. Subjective conditions regarding the agent's opinion of a current call session are also collected. The objective and subjective conditions are evaluated against the absolute upper limit to determine a load factor. Each incoming call session is assigned to one such agent console based on the load factor. |
| US08494149B2 |
Monitoring device, evaluation data selecting device, agent evaluation device, agent evaluation system, and program
It is possible to efficiently evaluate utterance while ensuring the effectiveness of the result of the evaluation. A selection unit 4 selects recognition data, which is used in agent evaluation from a data storage unit 7, from recognition data generated by a voice recognition unit 6 on the basis of voice data of utterance by applying a selection operation corresponding to evaluation viewpoint information with reference to an evaluation viewpoint management table 2 through an evaluation viewpoint management unit 3. An evaluation unit 5 displays recognition data and plays the voice data by an evaluation viewpoint management unit 3 by applying an output operation corresponding to evaluation viewpoint information with reference to an evaluation viewpoint management table 2. |
| US08494148B2 |
Dynamic IVR dialog based on analytics data
A method comprising receiving, at a call-processing switch, a call from a calling entity in which the calling entity is a natural person and a telecommunications terminal, and, wherein the call received at the call-processing switch comprises (i) the identity of the caller telecommunications terminal, (ii) the identity of the caller, and (iii) the geo-location of the calling entity. Upon receiving the call, the call-processing switch identifies (i) global contextual information, (ii) contextual information at the calling entity, and (iii) contextual information at the call-processing switch, wherein the temporal order and the hierarchical order of menu items in a menu are reconfigured for presentation to the calling entity based on (i) the identity of the caller telecommunications terminal, (ii) the identity of the caller, (iii) the geo-location of the calling entity, (iv) global contextual information, (v) contextual information at the calling entity, and (vi) contextual information at the call-processing switch. |
| US08494146B2 |
Ringback replacement insertion system
A ringback replacement insertion system for customizing a communication network is disclosed. The system includes a first communication station associated with a first network service provider and a second communication station associated with a second network service provider. A network gateway is provided for connecting a call placed from the first communication station to the second communication station. The first network service provider receives information regarding a proximity location of the first communication station. The storage device transmits at least a portion of the at least one announcement to the first communication station that is related to information within a predefined geographical distance from the first communication station, where at least a portion of the at least one announcement is delivered as a call signal after establishing contact with a communication network. |
| US08494145B2 |
Method and system for managing a call request in a network
A method and system for managing a call request in a network (100) is disclosed. The network (100) includes a plurality of call servers. The method includes a call request being received (304) by a central server (120) from a call server of the plurality of call servers (114 and 116) corresponding to a request from a source terminal. The central server (120) manages the call request received from the call server. Further, the method includes determining (306) the status of the called party. Moreover, the method includes processing (308) the call request, based on the status determined for the called party. |
| US08494142B2 |
Methods to improve fraud detection on conference calling systems based on observation of participants' call time durations
An embodiment of the invention includes a method for detecting fraudulent use in a conference calling system. One or more time duration thresholds are received for a conference call. The conference call is monitored to determine an attendee duration, a participants duration, and/or a conference call duration. The attendee duration represents the call duration of an attendee of the conference call; the participants duration represents the total call duration of all of the attendees combined; and, the conference call duration represents the call duration of the conference call. The time duration thresholds are compared to the attendee duration, participants duration, and/or conference call duration. Actions are performed by a processor if the attendee duration, participants duration, and/or conference call duration exceeds the time duration thresholds. |
| US08494141B2 |
Rules-based teleconferencing
Rules-based teleconferencing that may include receiving criteria regarding invitees to a teleconference call, generating rules based on the criteria, and generating a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules. The criteria may include a quorum of a minimum number of invitees that must be in attendance at the teleconference call or a list of specific invitees required to be in attendance at the teleconference call. A processing device may include a network interface, one or more second interfaces configured to establish a connection between at least three telephones, and a controller configured to establish a teleconference call between the at least three telephones, receive criteria regarding invitees to the teleconference call, generate rules based on the criteria, and generate a notification regarding the invitees to the teleconference call based on the rules. |
| US08494140B2 |
System and method for voice activated provisioning of telecommunication services
A system and method for provisioning communications services. A remote device controlled by a user is linked with a provisioning system. A verbal selection of a menu associated with a library is received for performing one or more actions within the provisioning system. One or more verbal commands associated with the menu are received. A determination is made of an action within the library associated with the one or more verbal commands. The action associated with the one or more verbal commands is performed in the provisioning system to provision the communications services. |
| US08494138B2 |
Profile management system including user interface for accessing and maintaining profile data of user subscribed telephony services
Subscriber profile data is managed. The subscriber profile data is associated with a communications service subscribed to by a subscriber. A request to retrieve the subscriber profile data is received based upon a client sending a request for the subscriber profile data. The client hosts a user interface configured to allow the subscriber to obtain and update the subscriber profile data. The subscriber profile data is retrieved from the communications network in response to the request to retrieve the subscriber profile data. A request to update the subscriber profile data is received based upon the client sending a request to update the subscriber profile data. An update for the subscriber profile data is forwarded to the communications network based upon receiving the request to update the subscriber profile data. |
| US08494132B2 |
Tethered digital butler consumer electronic remote control device and method
The present invention relates to a tethered digital butler consumer electronics product and method. The tethered digital butler, of a price and form factor suitable for consumer electronics markets of developed and developing countries, includes a communications and multi-media console and a wireless remote. The remote may resemble a handheld personal computer (HPC), a palm-held personal computer (PPC or PDA) or a smart phone, but has a low cost and feature set supported by the console that is novel in the consumer electronics market. In particular, this disclosure relates to combining telephone service, device control and, optionally, a fingerprint reader for easy user identification/authorization and personalization. As another option, a camera can be incorporated into the remote, thereby enabling video conferencing and other visual features. Alternatively, the remote may be packaged separately from a console and sold to interact with capabilities of a communications and console, set-top box, multi-media PC or other consumer electronics device from a different source, such as one running on a Windows, OS X or Linux platform, with or without telephone capabilities. The remote may include a media reader and remote USB port. |
| US08494130B2 |
Facsimile device
A facsimile device may be capable of sending and receiving facsimile data by utilizing a first communication line. The facsimile device may comprise an information input device configured to input information, a line connecting device that connects the first communication line in a case where predetermined information is input to the information input device, a line disconnecting device that disconnects the first communication line in a case where facsimile sending instruction information is input to the information input device when the first communication line is in a state of having been connected by the line connecting device, and a facsimile sending device that re-connects the first communication line disconnected by the line disconnecting device and sends facsimile data by utilizing the first communication line in accordance with the facsimile sending instruction information. |
| US08494128B2 |
Performance monitoring in a telephone network
A method of monitoring performance of a telephone network, wherein the telephone network includes at least one exchange configured for collecting signaling messages, which are received at the at least one exchange and/or which are generated at the at least one exchange. The method includes acquiring from the exchange a set of signaling messages indicating unsuccessful call setup procedures relative to calls addressed to a plurality of destinations associating with each signaling message of the set of signaling messages respective destination information which is indicative of the destination of the unsuccessful call which generated the signaling message; and processing the set of signaling messages and the corresponding associated destination information, thus obtaining information relative to the unsuccessful call setup procedures according to call destinations. |
| US08494122B2 |
Interactive voice response (IVR) system call interruption handling
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to interactive voice response (IVR) system session management and provide a method, system and computer program product for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for call interruption handling in an IVR data processing system can include detecting a call interruption of a telephone call between a caller and an IVR system during an established IVR session for the caller. The method also can include saving state information for the established IVR session in connection with the caller in response to detecting the call interruption. |
| US08494116B2 |
Methods and devices for orthovoltage ocular radiotherapy and treatment planning
A method, code and system for planning the treatment a lesion on or adjacent to the retina of an eye of a patient are disclosed. There is first established at least two beam paths along which x-radiation is to be directed at the retinal lesion. Based on the known spectral and intensity characteristics of the beam, a total treatment time for irradiation along each beam paths is determined. From the coordinates of the optic nerve in the aligned eye position, there is determined the extent and duration of eye movement away from the aligned patient-eye position in a direction that moves the patient's optic nerve toward the irradiation beam that will be allowed during treatment, while still maintaining the radiation dose at the patient optic nerve below a predetermined dose level. |
| US08494111B2 |
System and method for image reconstruction for helical cone beam computed tomography with factorized redundancy weighting
A method and system for computed tomography were weighted data is used to reconstruct an image. The apparatus includes an x-ray source producing a cone-beam of x-rays, an x-ray detector disposed to receive x-rays from the x-ray source, a data collection unit, and a processing unit for processing the data using a weighting function using contributions from fan-beam and cone-beam weighting functions. The apparatus can produce images with reduced artifacts. |
| US08494110B2 |
X-ray imaging method and device with three-dimensional processing
X-ray imaging method, in which the data (c(a), ρ(b)) are processed by a programmed computer using the following formula: C = ρ ( b ) n + c ( a ) n - 1 2 n 2 ( ∑ k = 1 n c k ( a ) + ∑ u = 1 n ρ u ( b ) ) to calculate a value (C) of the attenuation coefficient at a point (P0) of a set of points {P0}, for a given pair of said angular positions θa and θb, in order to obtain an image representing an X-ray attenuation coefficient for said set of points {P0} of the body (3). According to the invention, the computer is programmed to perform the following stages: (1) pre-calculate the positions on the detector (9) of a first impact point T(a) of a ray i and a second impact point R(b) of a ray j, (2) pre-calculate the positions on the detector of first and second load calculation lines, along detection points Tp,k; k=1→n; p=1→m and Rq,u; u=1→n; q=1→m, and (3) calculate the value of the attenuation coefficient at point P0 in the volume irradiated by using the pre-calculated positions of the first and second impact points T(a); R(b) and the pre-calculated first p and second q load calculation lines Tp,k(a); k=1→n; Rq,u(b); u=1→n that pass closest to the first and second impact points (T(a); R(b)) respectively. |
| US08494108B2 |
Switch device and shift register circuit using the same
A shift register circuit includes plural shift register stages for providing plural gate signals. Each shift register stage includes an input unit and a pull-up unit. The pull-up unit is utilized for pulling up a gate signal according to a system clock and a driving control voltage. The input unit is employed for outputting the driving control voltage according to a control signal and an input signal. The input unit includes a switch device having a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor has a first end for receiving the input signal, a gate end for receiving the control signal, and a second end. The second transistor has a first end electrically connected to the second end of the first transistor, a gate end electrically connected to the first end of the first transistor, and a second end for outputting the driving control voltage. |
| US08494102B2 |
Methods and apparatus for orthogonal modulated signals
Methods and corresponding systems for providing and demodulating an orthogonal modulated signal where demodulation includes separating a sampled orthogonal modulated signal into in phase and quadrature samples, deriving first and second equalizer coefficients based on corresponding in phase and quadrature samples and further, respectively, based on a first and second training sequence, programming a first plurality of equalizer filters with the first equalizer coefficients and a second plurality of equalizer filters with the second equalizer coefficients; and processing, after programming with first and second coefficients, the in phase samples and the quadrature samples through a first and second plurality of equalizer filters to provide demodulated symbols. |
| US08494101B2 |
System and method for multiple signal carrier time domain channel estimation
The present invention provides a method of characterizing a frequency response of a transmission channel between a transceiver and a subscriber unit. The method includes once per predetermined interval of time, the transceiver transmitting a signal including multiple carriers, a plurality of the carriers including training symbols, a plurality of the carriers including information symbols. The subscriber unit generates frequency response estimates at the frequencies of the carriers including training symbols, each interval of time. The frequency response estimates are converted into a time domain response generating an impulse response once per interval of time. The impulse responses are filtered over a plurality of intervals of time. A channel profile is determined from the filtered impulse responses. The channel profile is converted to the frequency domain generating a channel interpolator. The characterized frequency response is generated from the channel interpolator and the frequency response estimates. The filtering can include averaging the impulse responses over a plurality of intervals of time, accumulating the impulse responses over a plurality of intervals of time, or weighted averaging of the impulse responses over a plurality of intervals of time. The weighted averaging can be dependent upon a phase error between the impulse responses, and/or an amplitude error between the impulse responses. |
| US08494096B2 |
Automatically setting an operative state of a wideband amplifier
A multi-channel receiver (200) comprises: an input (111) for receiving a wideband signal potentially comprising multiple channels, a tuner stage (110), a wideband amplifier (201) connected between the input (111) and the tuner (110), a controllable switch (202) bridging the amplifier (201) and a switch controller (203) designed to generate a switch control signal (BSC).For controlling the switch, the switch controller (203) is designed to measure at least one signal quality parameter and to generate its switch control signal (BSC) on the basis of the measured parameter. The decision of switching the switch (202) to its open state (amplifier active) is exclusively taken during at least one time interval when the receiver is switched to a channel. |
| US08494094B2 |
Demodulation of data collected prior to bit edge detection
An apparatus and method begin creation and storage of correlation sums to be demodulated (“early-collected sums”) prior to determination of a location of a bit of data in a wireless signal relative to a local clock. Such early storage allows demodulation of these early-collected sums at a later time, specifically on determination of the data's location in the wireless signal, thereby to yield early-collected data bits. Additionally, after determination of the data bit's location in the wireless signal, additional data bits are further generated in the normal manner, by demodulating the wireless signal, thereby to yield normally-collected data bits. Use of early-collected data bits in generating navigation data reduces the time to start data demodulation, and enables fewer normally-collected data bits to be used to generate navigation data, in several aspects of the invention. |
| US08494092B2 |
CDR with sigma-delta noise-shaped control
In described embodiments, a receiver includes a clock and data recovery (CDR) module with a voltage control oscillator (VCO) and a Sigma-Delta modulator in an integral loop control of the VCO. Providing finer resolution by the Sigma-Delta modulator reduces quantization noise in the integral control loop when compared to a loop without a Sigma-Delta modulator in the integral loop. Sigma-Delta modulation within the integral loop control of a VCO-based CDR reduces effective quantization of the VCO integral word control, allowing the proportional loop control compensation to i) reduce effective quantization of the VCO integral word control and, ii) enhance receiver jitter tolerance in presence of periodic-jitter, serial data whose frequency is offset from the nominal rate and serial data whose nominal frequency is modulated by a spread spectrum clock. |
| US08494088B2 |
Transmitting/receiving apparatus and method thereof in codebook based multiple antenna system
A transmission/reception apparatus and a method thereof in a codebook-based multiple antenna system is provided. In a transmission method in a codebook-based Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system, feedback information is received from a receiver. A downlink Open-Loop Single User MIMO (OL SU-MIMO) codebook subset is determined within a base cookbook based on the feedback information. At least one data stream is transmitted via at least one antenna using the determined downlink OL SU-MIMO codebook subset. |
| US08494087B2 |
Method and system to reduce PAPR in single carrier and SCBT communications systems
The system (800), transmitter (600), receiver (700), and method of the present invention provide a technique to reduce the Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) for the single carrier and single carrier block transmission (SCBT) modulations, especially when non-symmetric constellations (e.g. BPSK) are used. The constellation used for the modulation of each symbol, is rotated by a phase. Only the constellation is rotated, and the mapping of the bits into each constellation may or may not be similar. Further, in alternative embodiments the modulated bits are either encoded or not encoded. In a further alternative embodiment, a Trellis Coded Modulation (TCM) is used. Because the phase rotation is known a priori, or can be determined from a priori known information, it can easily be corrected at the receiver. |
| US08494084B1 |
Reuse of a matrix equalizer for the purpose of transmit beamforming in a wireless MIMO communication system
A beamforming technique used in a MIMO wireless transmission system determines a transmitter beamforming steering matrix using a matrix equalizer of a transmitter or a receiver within the MIMO communication system, to thereby increase the speed and/or to decrease the processing needed to implement effective beamforming within the transmitter of the communication system. While this beamforming technique may not provide the best possible set of steering coefficients that obtain the best possible transmission and reception in the communication system, this technique can provide increased performance over no beamforming without significantly increasing the processing overhead of the transmission system. This beamforming technique can used when a transmitter, with multiple transmitter antennas, is used to communicate with one or with multiple receivers within the communication system. |
| US08494082B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting layered data
A transmission apparatus, including: a first encoding unit to encode first layer data based on a first encoding scheme and generate first encoded data; a second encoding unit to encode both the first encoded data and second layer data based on a second encoding scheme and generate second encoded data; and a transmission unit to transmit the second encoded data to a receiving apparatus. |
| US08494080B2 |
Radio communication system, reception device, and reception method
A reception device which receives a signal transmitted by a transmission device which changes at least one of a modulation scheme and a coding rate. The reception device includes an equalization unit which equalizes a received signal in frequency domain, a reliability calculation unit which calculates the reliability of a transmitted bit from the received signal after equalization, a mutual information amount calculation unit which calculates a mutual information amount based on the reliability of the transmitted bit calculated by the reliability calculation unit, and a notification signal generation unit which sets at least one of a modulation scheme and a coding rate based on the mutual information amount calculated by the mutual information amount calculation unit to generate a signal to be reported to the transmission device. |
| US08494075B2 |
Single stream phase tracking during channel estimation in a very high throughput wireless MIMO communication system
In a multiple-input, multiple-output system, the wireless node's receive chain demodulation function is enhanced to include phase tracking. Instead of performing phase tracking during the data symbols which is cumbersome for very high throughput wireless networks, the VHT Long Training Fields (LTFs) embedded in the preamble of a frame are used for phase tracking. Single stream pilot tones are added during the transmission of VHT-LTFs. This is exploited on the receive side to be able to estimate the channel using the pilot tones in the first set of the Long Training Fields. Second set of the Long Training Fields are then used to estimate the phase of the pilot tones using the estimated channel. The phase estimation so obtained is continuously applied to other received data tones throughout the VHT-LTFs of the data symbols. The phase errors due to PLL mismatches and phase noise are reduced at reception, leading to better signal to noise ratio for different levels of parts per million drift and offset in frequency. Further, MIMO channel estimation is more accurate, which improves the overall wireless network when this accurate MIMO channel estimation data participates in calibration and handshake between wireless nodes. |
| US08494074B2 |
Multiple-input multiple-output communication system using explicit feedback
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system using an explicit feedback is provided. In the MIMO communication system using the explicit feedback, a receiver may generate an explicit feedback vector by calculating an explicit channel matrix, and by vectorizing the explicit channel matrix or an explicit channel matrix processed using a predefined function. Feedback information generated based on the explicit feedback vector may be provided to a transmitter. The transmitter may reconfigure the explicit channel matrix or the processed explicit channel matrix based on the feedback information. The transmitter and the receiver may share the explicit channel matrix or the processed explicit channel matrix using an adaptively transformed codebook. |
| US08494071B2 |
Device and method for correcting a data error in communication path
There are provided a transmission and reception device having a function for correcting a data error in a communication path. In the transmission device, a redundant bit addition unit adds a redundant bit to each data bit which has been divided by one bit by a division unit; and an interleaver performs interleave. The transmission device transmits a signal which has been subjected to FM modulation by an FM modulation unit. In the reception device, a symbol decision unit performs a symbol decision at a Nyquist point for a signal which has been FM-demodulated by an FM demodulation unit; a bit conversion unit performs bit conversion according to the result of symbol decision; and a frame recovery unit deletes the redundant bit added by the redundant bit addition unit of the transmission device, from the bit string de-interleaved by a de-interleaver. Thus, it is possible to surely perform an error correction with a simple configuration even when the communication state is not in a preferable environment. |
| US08494070B2 |
Channel impulse response (CIR)-based and secondary synchronization channel (SSC)-based (frequency tracking loop (FTL)/time tracking loop (TTL)/channel estimation
Methods and systems are disclosed for channel estimation and frequency tracking in mobile communication systems. Particularly, various ways of using the time domain impulse channel response based on the staggered frequency domain pilot tones are presented that enable rapid frequency error estimation and frequency tracking control. A mathematical model is developed that provides a convenient metric for evaluating tolerable frequency error, as well as modes for switching between channel impulse response (CIR)-based and secondary synchronization channel (SSC)-based frequency tracking. |
| US08494069B2 |
Phase correcting apparatus and distortion compensating apparatus for radio transmitter
A phase correcting apparatus, for a radio transmitter which obtains a first radio signal (RS1) based on a first baseband signal (BB1), includes a demodulator which demodulates a feedback signal from which a part of RS1 is extracted by a first carrier signal (CS1) and which generates a second baseband signal (BB2), a modulator which modulates a difference signal between BB1 and BB2 by a second carrier signal (CS2) and which outputs a second radio signal (RS2), a power amplifier which amplifies RS2 to obtain RS1, a detector which detects a phase difference between BB1 and BB2, and a phase rotator which rotates any phase of BB1, BB2, CS1, or CS2 as a target phase correction amount, wherein the detector converts a desired analog signal obtained by multiplying BB1 and BB2 into a digital signal, and which detects the phase difference based on digital data. |
| US08494068B1 |
Method and apparatus for equalization and decoding in a wireless communications system including plural receiver antennae
A method and apparatus for processing a frequency domain digital Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol. The method includes generating an estimate of a channel for each sub carrier of the OFDM symbol, generating channel state information corresponding to each sub carrier of the OFDM symbol, and generating a plurality of demodulated symbols based, at least in part on, the estimate of the channel for each sub carrier of the OFDM symbol. Each demodulated symbol corresponds to a given sub carrier of the OFDM symbol. The method further includes performing a soft decision decoding on each demodulated symbol to generate a corresponding soft decision decoded symbol. The soft decision decoding of each demodulated symbol is based, at least in part, on the channel state information corresponding to the given sub carrier associated with the demodulated symbol. |
| US08494066B2 |
Method and system for low complexity channel estimation in OFDM communication networks using circular convolution
A mobile device in an OFDM system receives an OFDM signal comprising a plurality of RS tones and data OFDM symbols. The received RS tones are extracted for channel estimation, which is performed by masking channel responses of the extracted RS tones. Pointers of the extracted RS tones are shifted so that the extracted RS tones are spaced in a subcarrier at regular intervals. Pointers of associated positive counted or indexed subcarriers are shifted one subcarrier lower while no pointer shifting on associated negative counted or indexed subcarriers. IFFT operation is applied to the resulting pointer shifted RS tones to determine the channel impulse responses. Desired channel taps are weighted using non-zero masking values, while undesired channel taps and/or channel tap replicas are weighted using zero. The masked channel impulse responses are back shifted in subcarrier prior to channel equalization. |
| US08494061B2 |
Methods and devices for re-synchronizing a damaged video stream
The invention concerns methods and devices for concealing artefacts induced by transmission errors in a video sequence transmitted over a network between a server and a client making it possible to avoid abrupt resynchronization following a transmission error. When an error is detected, a video stream is created from a first video stream not containing any error and data representing artefacts induced by that error. The influence of the data representing the artefacts diminishes with time such that the created video stream converges towards the video stream not containing any error. The creation of the video stream in which the effects due to a transmission error are progressively removed may be carried out by the server or by the client. |
| US08494060B2 |
Inter-layer prediction method for video signal
The present invention relates to a method for conducting interlayer texture prediction in encoding or decoding of video signal. The present method constructs a pair of frame macro blocks from vertically-adjacent two field macro blocks of a base layer, selectively applies a de-blocking filter to the constructed pair of frame macro blocks, and uses texture information of the pair of frame macro blocks in interlayer texture prediction of a pair of frame macro blocks of a current layer. |
| US08494057B2 |
Video encoding apparatus and method
A video encoding apparatus includes a motion estimation module, an information providing module, a filtering module, a motion compensation module, and a converting module. The motion estimation module performs a plurality of modes of motion estimations on macro-blocks included in an input frame and provides a motion-estimated frame which conforms to a predetermined standard. The information providing module receives motion vectors and mode information of the plurality of modes of motion estimations to provide an encoding information signal. The filtering module filters the motion-estimated frame to provide a filtered frame based on the encoding information signal. The motion compensation module performs motion compensation on the filtered frame to provide a motion-compensated frame. The converting module performs a spatial conversion on the motion-compensated frame. |
| US08494056B2 |
Method and system for efficient video transcoding
A method and system for an efficient transcoding of a sequence of input images in a first format to a sequence of output images in a second format are described. The method utilizes the encoding block mode, the motion vectors and the residual information extracted during the decoding of the input image that are effectively reused to select an optimal transcoding block mode and to perform selective refinement of motion vectors. A corresponding system for video transcoding is also provided. |
| US08494054B2 |
Motion vector computation for video sequences
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for computing motion vectors in a digital video sequence are disclosed. A recursive hierarchical method is used to determine a motion vector by using multiple resolution levels of the image frames. A best motion vector is first determined for the lowest resolution level. The best motion vector is propagated to a higher resolution level, where some adjustments are made and a new best motion vector is determined. The new best motion vector is propagated to yet another higher resolution level, where more adjustments are made and another new best motion vector is determined. This process is repeated until the highest, original, resolution level has been reached and a best motion vector has been identified. The identified best motion vector at the original resolution level is used for performing motion compensation. |
| US08494053B2 |
Method and apparatus of temporal filtering for side information interpolation and extrapolation in Wyner-Ziv video compression systems
A method (and system) for video coding includes receiving a first reference frame having a first pixel value at a first pixel position, a second reference frame having a second pixel value at a second pixel position, and a third reference frame having a third pixel value at a third pixel position, determining a first motion vector between the first pixel position and the second pixel position, determining a second motion vector between the second pixel position and the third pixel position, and determining a fourth pixel value for a fourth frame based upon a linear or nonlinear combination of the first pixel value, the second pixel value, and the third pixel value. |
| US08494052B2 |
Dynamic selection of motion estimation search ranges and extended motion vector ranges
Techniques and tools for selecting search ranges and/or motion vector ranges during motion estimation are described. For example, a video encoder performs motion estimation constrained by a first search range, which results in multiple motion vectors. The encoder computes motion vector distribution information for the motion vectors. To compute the distribution information, the encoder can track the motion vectors in a histogram and count how many of the motion vectors fall within each of multiple intervals for the distribution information. The encoder then selects a second search range and performs motion estimation constrained by the second search range. Selecting the second search range can include selecting a motion vector range, which in some cases in effect determines the second search range. |
| US08494051B2 |
Method and system for estimating global motion in video sequences
Global motion between frames of a motion-compensated inter-frame encoded video sequence is estimated directly from the motion vectors encoded within the frames. For any particular frame, the motion vectors are first decoded, and a finite number of sets of vectors are selected. An affine or other geometrical transform is then used to generate a motion estimation for each set, and then the least median squared error present in each motion estimation is calculated for each estimation. The motion estimation with the smallest least median squared error is then selected as being representative of the global motion in the image of the frame. A panoramic image generating method and system makes uses of the global motion estimations thus obtained. |
| US08494049B2 |
Long term reference frame management with error video feedback for compressed video communication
An apparatus, software encoded in tangible media, and a method at an encoder. The method includes sending compressed video data including a reference frame message to create a long term reference frame to a plurality of decoders at one or more destination points, receiving feedback from the decoders indicative of whether or not the decoders successfully received the reference frame message, and in the case that the received feedback is such that at least one of the decoders did not successfully receive the reference frame message or does not have the indicated recent frame, repeating sending a reference frame message to create the long term reference frame. Using the method can replaces I-frame error recovery with long term reference frames, even in the case where the reference frame management messages are lost to at least one decoder. |
| US08494044B2 |
Video-information encoding method and video-information decoding method
A video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. By limiting the amount of data to be input into/output from a CABAC encoding unit and decoding unit on a unit-of-encoding basis, such as one picture, slice, macroblock or block, and by encoding uncompressed video data, it is possible to provide a video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. Thereby, an apparatus with a guarantee of the processing time can be mounted. |
| US08494043B2 |
Video-information encoding method and video-information decoding method
A video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. By limiting the amount of data to be input into/output from a CABAC encoding unit and decoding unit on a unit-of-encoding basis, such as one picture, slice, macroblock or block, and by encoding uncompressed video data, it is possible to provide a video-information encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus with a guarantee of a fixed processing time. Thereby, an apparatus with a guarantee of the processing time can be mounted. |
| US08494042B2 |
Inter-layer prediction method for video signal
The present invention relates to a method for conducting interlayer motion prediction in encoding or decoding of video signal. The present method checks whether at least one of vertically-adjacent two macro blocks on a base layer is intra mode, and if only one of the two macro blocks is identified to intra mode, motion information of an inter-mode macro block of the two macro blocks is copied to the other intra-mode macro block in order to set the intra-mode macro block to a macro block having motion information. |
| US08494040B2 |
Method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver and related methods
A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver may include measuring a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given RF frequency. The method may further include applying a Huber function to the measured plurality of bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver. The method would also include using the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver. |
| US08494038B2 |
Common mode noise reduction within differential signal
A receiver circuit detects an eye margin within a differential signal having a true component and a complement component. A transmitter circuit adjusts a phase between the true component and the complement component of the differential signal, based on the eye margin, to improve the eye margin. Improving the eye margin results from a reduction in common mode noise within the differential signal. |
| US08494031B2 |
Protocol operation and message design for SDMA data transmission to a plurality of stations
An apparatus including a processing system configured to construct a coding matrix from channel state information and encode a plurality of spatial streams with the coding matrix for transmission to one or more nodes. A method for performing the process is also disclosed herein. |
| US08494022B2 |
Surface emitting laser, surface emitting laser array, light source and optical module
A surface emitting laser is formed of a composition in which bandgap energy of layers from immediately above a current confinement layer to a second conductivity type contact layer is reduced towards the second conductivity type contact layer in a stacking direction, and a composition in which bandgap energy of layers from immediately below the current confinement layer to a first conductivity type contact layer is reduced towards the first conductivity type contact layer in a stacking direction while bypassing a quantum well layer or a quantum dot of an active layer, and includes a second conductivity type cladding layer including a material for reducing the mobility of carriers. |
| US08494021B2 |
Organic laser device
To provide a small and lightweight organic laser device which can be manufactured in a reproductive manner and from which laser light with a desired wavelength can be obtained. A first substrate provided with a light-emitting element having a light-emitting layer between a pair of electrodes and a second substrate provided with a laser medium including a laser dye face each other and one of the pair of electrodes, which is placed between the light-emitting layer and the laser medium, has a light transmitting property. With such a structure, a laser device with which a laser medium and a light source are integrated can be provided. |
| US08494019B2 |
Multi-beam semiconductor laser device
Within a semiconductor laser device, mounting a semiconductor laser element array of multi-beam structure on a sub-mount, the semiconductor laser element array of multi-beam structure comprises one piece of a semiconductor substrate 11; a common electrode 1, which is formed on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor layer 2, which is formed on the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and has a plural number of light emitting portions 7 within an inside thereof; a plural number of anode electrodes 3 of a second conductivity type, which are formed above the plural number of light emitting portions, respectively; and a supporting portion 25, which is provided outside a region of forming the light emitting portions, wherein on one surface of the sub-mount is connected an electrode 3 of the semiconductor laser element array through a solder 4, and that solder 4 is formed to cover a supporting portion and an electrode neighboring thereto, and further on the electrode 3 is formed a groove portion 9 between the supporting portion 25 neighboring and the light emitting portions 7. |
| US08494016B2 |
Mode locked laser system
A laser resonator cavity is presented. The laser resonator cavity comprises an optical manipulator of different longitudinal modes propagating along different optical paths. The optical manipulator is configured for adjusting a difference in optical lengths of the different optical paths thereby adjusting a frequency spacing between the different longitudinal. |
| US08494014B2 |
Laser device
A laser apparatus for producing mode locked pulses includes a closed optical system adapted to connect to a fiber grain medium to form a laser cavity. The fiber gain medium is adapted to receive pulses characterized by a first state and to output pulses characterized by a second state. The closed optical system is adapted to receive the pulses in the second state and output pulses in a state similar to the first state. |
| US08494013B2 |
Photodarkening resistant optical fibers and fiber lasers incorporating the same
Photodarkening resistant optical fiber lasing media and fiber lasers incorporating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical fiber lasing medium includes a core portion formed from silica-based glass comprising a rare-earth dopant and deuterium, the core portion having an index of refraction nc, a numerical aperture NAc. A concentration of defect color centers in the core portion is less than 1×1016/cm3. Deuterium is combined with the defect color centers to form reacted defect color centers that do not absorb ultraviolet and visible wavelengths of light. A first cladding portion is formed from silica-based glass, the first cladding portion surrounding and directly contacting the core portion and having an index of refraction n1, wherein the index of refraction n1 of the first cladding portion is less than the index of refraction nc of the core portion. Methods of forming the photodarkening resistant optical fiber lasing media are also disclosed. |
| US08494003B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data packets and method and apparatus for receiving data packets
The invention relates to a data packet structure for conveying data of service data units (SDU) using protocol data units (PDU). The data packet comprise a data packet payload comprising at least one protocol data unit (PDU), wherein a protocol data unit (PDU) comprises a service data unit (SDU) or a fragment of a service data unit; and a data packet header comprising an indicator (FFF,SFF) indicating whether or not the data packet payload begins with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit and whether or not the data packet payload ends with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit. |
| US08494001B2 |
Concatenated frame structure for data transmission
A method of transmitting data frames over a data network with a MAC protocol, such as a wireless network using IEEE 802.11 protocol, in which a plural number of MAC (Media Access Control) data frames are transmitted with only a single PLCP (Physical Layer Control Procedure) overhead including PLCP preamble and header. In the frame structure used in the method, a single concatenated MAC header is added to the plurality of MAC data frames. |
| US08493999B2 |
System and method for using resources in a communication system
In a method for using resources in a communication system, a communication region is divided into inter-sector boundary regions, sector central regions, and a sector common region, and predetermined resources are allocated to the divided regions. |
| US08493998B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling forward data bursts in wireless network
In a 3G CDMA2000 network, permanent virtual pipes of different data rates (153.6 kbps, 76.8 kbps, 38.4 kbps and 19.2 kbps, for example) are provisioned at a base station on the Forward Supplemental Channel (F-SCH) for the transmission of data bursts to requesting mobile terminals by allocating and grouping together a set of resources (i.e., contiguous Walsh codes, contiguous ASIC real estate, etc.). Data bursts arriving from the network are scheduled onto timeslots on all the pipes in a manner such that at least one burst segment of each active burst is scheduled into a timeslot on the highest data rate pipe. The other burst segments of a burst are scheduled onto all the pipes so they migrate through the various rate pipes in order to give all bursts opportunities on the higher rate pipes. |
| US08493997B2 |
Providing a network node with service reference information
Service reference information is added to an IP telephony signaling protocol message and the IP telephony signaling protocol message is then sent to the network node in order to provide a network node using the IP telephony signaling protocol, e.g., SIP, with service reference information needed for billing purposes. |
| US08493986B2 |
Service gateways for providing broadband communication
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing broadband communication are described. A service gateway may be situated outside of one or more households. The service gateway may include a termination component and a broadband modem. The termination component may be configured to connect to a source of a broadband data signal and receive the signal from the source. The broadband modem may be configured to receive the signal from the termination component and output at least a portion of the signal for receipt by a remote device situated within a household. Additionally, the service gateway may optionally include a router in communication with the broadband modem. The router may be configured to function as an intermediary between the modem and the remote device. |
| US08493985B2 |
Network message transformation device and methods thereof
A method of transforming messages for communication via a network includes receiving a message from an application being executed at a processor. The message is received at a connection object, which transforms the received message based on characteristics of the connection object. The characteristics can be determined via a negotiation between the source and target of the message. The connection object provides the transformed message to a protocol layer, which forms packets based on the message. The connection object thus transforms each message independent of the transmission protocol used to communicate the message to the target, thereby improving communication bandwidth and efficiency. |
| US08493984B2 |
System and method for establishment of a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) tunnel
In one embodiment, a method for receiving a request from a first interface to establish a session with at least a second interface in a communication network is provided. The request is transmitted to an application layer signaling device via an application layer signaling protocol dialog, wherein the application layer signaling protocol dialog is configured to facilitate communication between the first interface and the application layer signaling device. The method further includes communicating parameters for establishing a session tunnel to a first edge router via the application layer signaling protocol dialog, wherein the first edge router is configured to dynamically establish the session tunnel between the first edge router and at least a second edge router, wherein the second edge router is positioned proximate to the at least second interface in the communication network. |
| US08493982B2 |
Two and three-stroke discovery process for 10G-EPONs
The invention relates to a method to discover Optical Network Units (ONU) with different speed capabilities in an Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) by an Optical Line Termination (OLT), where logical links in the network are identified by Logical Link IDs, and the OLT can transmit and receive data with 1 Gbit/s-speed (1 G) and 10 Gbit/s-speed (10 G), and the discovery process is handled in the OLT by a Multi Point Control Process (MPCP), which exchanges messages as Data Units (MPCPDU) with the ONUs. This is achieved by extending the standard MPCPDUs in a way, that backward compatability is assured. |
| US08493981B2 |
Switch module
A switching module can route packets between a network fabric and a local network, both of which form a closed network such as a vehicular network. The switching module provides local network management functions, and handles packet transfers between the local network and the network fabric. The switching module uses network information, which can include information about packet content type and network topology, to determine a packet's priority, and an appropriate switching protocol to use for processing and routing packets. |
| US08493976B2 |
Multi-stage switch system
A multi-stage switch system includes a line card chassis (LCC) and a fabric card chassis (FCC). The LCC is configured with multiple line cards (LCs) and the FCC is configured with a stage-2 switch element (S2). The multi-stage switch system further includes a first switch combination and a second switch combination. The first switch combination and the second switch combination are configured on the LCC and the FCC respectively, and multiple LCs establish cross communication through the first switch combination, the second switch combination, and the S2. The first switch combination includes a stage-1 switch element (S1) and a first buffer area and the second switch combination includes a stage-3 switch element (S3) and a second buffer area. The multi-stage switch system can forward packets within the chassis by means of buffering the packets when guaranteeing the three-stage packet forwarding, and thus reducing the bandwidth occupancy of the FCC. |
| US08493975B2 |
Communication system
A communication system is provided with a plurality of FlexRay network nodes (FRK) by which respective data packets are provided in an IP data packet format or an Ethernet data packet format, and a FlexRay bus system (FRB), by whose physical layer, data are transmitted between the FlexRay network nodes (FRK). The IP data packet format or the Ethernet data packet format each has a plurality of bit positions. The FlexRay network nodes (FRK) each include a media access layer (MAC) which is set up such that the data packets provided in an IP data packet format or Ethernet data packet format are converted into a preset media-independent data format (MII), and an adaptation layer (ANP) which is set up such that the data provided in the media-independent data format (MII) are converted onto corresponding signals of the physical layer of the FlexRay bus system (FRB). |
| US08493972B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting denial of service attacks
A method for detecting malicious packets includes comparing a sequence number of an input packet with sequence numbers of one or more previously input packets and detecting a malicious packet when the sequence number of the input packet matches at least one of the sequence numbers of the previously input packets. |
| US08493971B2 |
Path calculation system
A network management system (NMS) maintains topology information of a network allowing coexistence of PDH network and SDH network. The network management system (NMS) generates a topology data for path calculation in a path calculation device in accordance with the topology information of the network after converting topology information of the PDH network into topology information of an SDH network. The path calculation device calculates the optimum path in answer to a path calculation request from the network management system (NMS) on the basis of the topology data for path calculation generated therein, and returns the calculation result. The network management system (NMS) reverts the SDH network topology information generated through conversion from the PDH network topology information among the SDH network topology information included in the calculation result received from the path calculation device to the PDH network topology information before the conversion. |
| US08493969B2 |
Internet telephony system with automated call answering
A system and method for automatically answering a call from a calling party to a called party that originates via the Internet, includes and involves a data storage system and processor that is coupled to the data storage system. The processor is operative to initiate an automated call answering service in response to an Internet telephony call from the calling party which is intended to be received by the called party, to receive a message from the calling party via the Internet in accordance with the automated call answering service, and to store the message in the data storage system for processing by the processor in accordance with the automated call answering service. |
| US08493965B2 |
H.323 to SIP interworking for call transfers
In one embodiment, a first end device associated with a first user and a second end device associated with a second user may be participating in a call. During the call, the second user may wish to transfer the call to a third user. The second user has the choice of using a blind transfer or a consult transfer. In one embodiment, a gateway determines interworking information that is needed to interwork an H.450.2 message for the H.323 protocol to a SIP REFER message, and vice versa, to allow the call transfer. |
| US08493964B2 |
Method of performing cell search in wireless communication system
A method of performing cell search includes receiving a primary synchronization signal (PSS) comprising a primary synchronization code (PSC) and receiving a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) comprising a first secondary synchronization code (SSC) and a second SSC, wherein the SSS includes a first SSS and a second SSS, the first SSC and the second SSC are arranged in that order in the first SSS, and the second SSC and the first SSC are arranged in that order in the second SSS. Detection performance on synchronization signals can be improved, and cell search can be performed more reliably. |
| US08493963B1 |
Multiple time accurate strobe (TAS) messaging
An apparatus includes Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry, multiple message sources and strobe multiplexing logic. The RF circuitry is configured to synchronize communication of RF signals based on reception of strobe messages. The multiple message sources are each configured to generate respective ones of the strobe messages for synchronizing the RF circuitry. The strobe multiplexing logic is configured to multiplex the strobe messages originating from the multiple message sources, and to send the multiplexed strobe messages over a single digital interface to the RF circuitry. |
| US08493962B2 |
Method and device for selecting and transmitting variable frame formats
A network includes a first transceiving station and a further transceiving station. In one arrangement the data is transmitted from the first transceiving station to the second transceiving station according to a frame structure having a payload portion for payload data and a synchronization portion for synchronization data. The frame structure is selected from candidate frame structures having differing durations of the synchronization portion, according to a data loading factor which depends on the amount of data that is required to be transmitted. The payload capacity may be optimised by reducing the duration of the synchronization portion when a large amount of data is required to be transmitted. |
| US08493959B2 |
Multiple media access control (MAC) addresses
A method for providing multiple media access control (MAC) addresses in a device of a master/slave system may include providing a first MAC address in a MAC address storage of the device. The method may also include providing a second MAC address in a multicast table entry of a multicast hash filter of the device. |
| US08493948B2 |
Method of exchanging message and devices in wireless network
A method of exchanging messages at a device in a wireless network comprises transmitting a change request message for requesting a change of a beacon position among configuration parameters of the wireless network to a coordinator; and receiving a response message in response to the request message from the coordinator. |
| US08493938B2 |
Processing circuit switched services in an evolved packet network
The present invention discloses for the ability for processing circuit switched (CS) services in an evolved packet network. For example, embodiments provide a method that includes: by a mobility management entity (MME), receiving a mobile terminated (MT) service indication from a mobile switching center (MSC); sending the MT service indication to user equipment (UE); and receiving an MT service response returned by the UE and performing subsequent operations according to the MT service response. In the method of the present invention, when an MT service arrives, the MME does not trigger the evolved NodeB (eNodeB) to hand over the packet switched (PS) services of the UE but notifies the UE of the MT service and performs subsequent operations according to the MT service response returned by the UE, thus avoiding the waste of network resources caused by a meaningless handover of PS services. |
| US08493933B2 |
Providing session-based services to event-based networks using partial information
A method for communication includes, during a call conducted among two or more subscribers in a circuit-switched network, which operates in accordance with a first communication protocol that manages calls among the subscribers by exchanging discrete events among elements of the circuit-switched network, receiving from the circuit-switched network an incomplete subset of the events related to the call. Based on the incomplete subset of the events, at least one emulated communication session is generated in a packet-switched network that operates in accordance with a second communication protocol. Using the emulated session, a service platform in the packet-switched network is caused to provide a communication service to the call conducted in the circuit-switched network. |
| US08493930B2 |
Communication system, base station and mobile station used in the communication system, and base station switching method
There are provided an OFDMA communication system capable of reducing a time necessary for a handover without releasing a wireless communication with a base station as a handover source to search base stations, a base station and a mobile station used in the communication system, and a base station switching method.In an OFDMA communication system in which data communication is performed between a plurality of base stations 10 and a plurality of mobile stations, each base station 10 includes subchannel assignment setting unit 15-1 which sets assignment of subchannels including a first subchannel and a second subchannel for each of the mobile stations, the first subchannel including information indicating usable or unusable subchannels of the respective mobile stations and being assigned to the respective mobile stations, the second subchannel including actually-used data. When a request for switching the first subchannel is received from one of the mobile stations 20, the second subchannel is collected and assigned to a same slot as the first subchannel assigned to the one of the mobile stations 20. |
| US08493929B2 |
Handover method and apparatus employed by mobile node to reduce latency in internet protocol configuration
A method and apparatus perform a handover of a mobile node with a decreased latency that occurs when the mobile node performs an Internet protocol (IP) configuration. The method of performing a handover of a mobile node includes: when the mobile node is connected to a network before the handover is performed, receiving first information on an IP configuration method to be used in a new network after the handover is performed from an information server (IS); when the mobile node is connected to the new network, receiving second information on the IP configuration method of the new network from a point of attachment (PoA) of the new network; determining whether the first information and the second information are identical; and, if it is determined that the first and second information are identical, performing an IP configuration according to the first information. |
| US08493928B2 |
Wireless system, for packet communication between base station and mobile stations
Disclosed herewith is a wireless system capable of reducing packet sending delay occurrence and packet sending delay jittering at the time of hand-over processing executed therein. In the wireless system, upon estimating occurrence of a hand-over event, a subject mobile station and its base station extend the packet buffering period respectively and furthermore, the base station changes the current burst scheduling method for another. The base station and the mobile station then exchanges messages required to execute the hand-over procedure in a period between when sending of a burst ends and when sending of the next burst begins. |
| US08493927B2 |
Control apparatus, control method and control program
In a control apparatus which transmits/receives data from a central processing unit via a serial transfer channel to a communication control unit, and groups/distributes data of input/output units from the communication control unit via a parallel transfer channel, the control apparatus initiates a diagnosing unit of the parallel transfer channel in response to an instruction issued from the central processing unit, and diagnosis the input/output units subsequent to the diagnosis of the transmission channel. Data input/output timing of the input/output unit is also instructed from the central processing unit, so that the central processing unit can suppress lowering of response speeds caused by the diagnoses, and can maintain the periodicity of the data input/output. |
| US08493924B2 |
Preamble generation method for random access in a wireless communication system
A method for generating a preamble for a random access in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes: dividing a preamble sequence into sequence subsets each corresponding to each of a plurality of antennas; and generating a preamble by using the sequence subsets corresponding to each of the plurality of antennas. A method for generating a preamble for a random access supporting multiple antennas in a wireless system can be provided. |
| US08493922B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting frequency division multiplexing or time division multiplexing in wireless peer-to-peer networks
A method of operating a wireless device includes determining a preferred subset of bands of a set of bands for communicating with a first node, communicating a scheduling request with the first node, and determining whether to schedule a data transmission on each band of the set of bands based on the preferred subset of bands and the scheduling request. |
| US08493918B2 |
Communication system and method for discovering end-points that utilize a link layer connection in a wired/wireless local area network
Aspects of the invention provide a communication system and method in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. At least one discovery message may be broadcasted to at least one of a plurality of access points. A response may be received from one or more of the access points. The response may report a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points. A status of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points may be requested from the access points. |
| US08493916B2 |
MIMO transmission device and MIMO transmission method
Provided are a MIMO transmission device and a MIMO transmission method which can improve reception quality of a response signal. A terminal (100) as the MIMO transmission device maps a first and a second element of the ACK/NACK signal vector formed from ACK/NACK signals onto a first and a second stream, respectively, and transmits the elements contained in a 2SC-FDMA symbol in a single slot. In the terminal (100), a response signal vector formation unit (140) forms [aSack, O] as the ACK/NACK signal vector in a first SC-FDMA symbol and [O, aSack] as an ACK/NACK signal vector in a second SC-FDMA symbol. A precoding unit (165) uses a unitary matrix to precode the ACK/NACK signal vector formed in the response signal vector formation unit (140). |
| US08493914B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting recording information for uplink transmission in multi base station MIMO system
A PMI combination ratio (PCR) being used for generating a uplink precoding matrix W is transmitted by a base station to a mobile station. Using the PCR, a PMI maximizing transmission performance and PMIMin minimizing interference to a neighboring base station are combined into the uplink precoding matrix W. Overall operations of a system can be simplified and the load of calculation for generating the uplink precoding matrix W in the mobile station can be reduced, because the PCR is provided by the base station. |
| US08493913B2 |
Providing session-based service orchestration to event-based networks
A method for communication includes, during a call conducted among two or more subscribers in a circuit-switched network, which operates in accordance with a first communication protocol that manages calls among the subscribers by exchanging discrete events among elements of the circuit-switched network, receiving from the circuit-switched network a sequence of the events related to the call. Based on the sequence of the events, at least one emulated communication session is generated in a packet-switched network that operates in accordance with a second communication protocol. Multiple call services are provided to the call conducted in the circuit-switched network from the packet-switched network by cascading multiple service sessions, each providing a respective one of the call services, in the packet-switched network responsively to the emulated communication session. |
| US08493911B2 |
Method of restricting scheduling request for effective data transmission
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method for restricting a use of particular control channel in an Evolved Universal Mobile telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. |
| US08493907B2 |
Frequency offset estimation scheme in scheduled based wireless system
A technique to provide frequency offset estimation for packets transmitted during a service period allocated strictly for designated source and destination devices. The destination device obtains coarse and fine frequency offset estimation from the short and long preambles. A residual frequency offset is tracked for the data blocks and combined with the coarse and fine frequency offset to obtain a total frequency offset to apply to the data blocks. The total frequency offset value at the end of the first packet is saved and, instead of again estimating the coarse and fine frequency offset values with the short and long preambles of the second packet, the saved total frequency offset value is used as the initialization value to add to the residual frequency offset in the second packet. The saved offset value at the end of each packet becomes the initialization value for the subsequent packet. |
| US08493905B2 |
Wireless clone mode display
Wireless sinks, such as displays, may receive wirelessly transmitted audio/video information in clone mode. In one embodiment, the same audio/video stream may be provided to a plurality of sinks daisy chained from a wireless receiver. |
| US08493904B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting short messaging service of mobile station during idle mode in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for supporting a Short Message Service (SMS) of a Mobile Station (MS) during an idle mode in a wireless communication system are provided. An MS operation method for supporting an SMS in a wireless communication system includes receiving an SMS message from a Base Station (BS) through a ranging message in an idle mode, upon receiving the SMS message from the BS, starting a timer, while the timer operates, waiting UpLink (UL) resource allocation for transmission of an ACKnowledge (ACK) message about the SMS message, and, upon being allocated a UL resource for the ACK message transmission, transmitting the ACK message using the UL resource. |
| US08493902B2 |
Opportunistic listening system and method
A system and method for using multiple peer listeners in order to improve the ability to receive a transmitted signal. A peer link is established between the peer listeners. At least some of the peer listeners also have a data link to a sender communicating with an outside source. In the simplest embodiment, a peer listener receiving data over the sender data link communicates that data to one or more other peers which may have an impaired ability to presently utilize its own data link to the sender. In more complex embodiments, multiple peer listeners can receive and process portions of needed data over the data link to the sender, then communicate portions of the data to other peer listeners on an as-needed basis. |
| US08493898B2 |
Macro diversity in a mobile data network with edge breakout
Macro diversity is managed at the edge in a mobile data network with edge data Macro diversity is managed at the edge in a mobile data network with edge data breakout with a component in a Mobile Internet Optimization Platform (MIOP) referred to as MIOP@NodeB. A set of NodeBs that are in simultaneous communication with user equipment are defined as an active set. One of the MIOP@NodeBs of the active set is selected as a master, with the remaining MIOP@NodeBs in the active set being designated slaves. During uplink of signaling data, the signaling data is sent from the UE to all the NodeBs in the active set, which send the signaling data to each of their corresponding MIOP@NodeBs. Each slave MIOP@NodeB sends its data to the master MIOP@NodeB, which combines the data from all into a best packet. |
| US08493897B2 |
Systems and methods for providing categorized channel reservation
A wireless communications system for categorized channel reservation is provided with a first wireless communications module and a second wireless communications module. The first wireless communications module transmits or receives a plurality of first wireless signals. The second wireless communications module transmits a first control packet according to an activity schedule of the first wireless communications module to disable a plurality of wireless communications stations from data transmissions, and transmit a second control packet to enable a predetermined number of the wireless communications stations to perform the data transmissions. |
| US08493896B2 |
Switching between two communication modes in a WLAN
Method and system for switching a network application operating in a first communication mode to a second mode within a wireless local area network, comprising: judging whether mobile nodes are neighboring according to location information; when nodes are neighboring inquiring whether mobile nodes want to switch to second mode to run network applications; when all mobile nodes agree to switch to second mode, downloading and installing network application provided by the application server to one of the mobile nodes; configuring each of the mobile nodes with the communication parameters under the second mode; and switching all mobile nodes to the second communication mode to continue the previous network application. The invention dynamically switches between Infrastructure mode and Ad-hoc mode to balance system resources, improve QoS, reduce the communication traffic, waiting time and the cost of the users, and increase the income of the provider of the network service. |
| US08493895B2 |
Method for transmitting sub-frame designation information to a downlink in a radio communication system
A method of transmitting subframe designating information in downlink in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes generating the subframe designating information for designating a subframe of a specific type in a radio frame and transmitting the generated subframe designating information to a user equipment, wherein the subframe designating information includes initial location information indicating an initial location of the subframe of the specific type on the radio frame and period information indicating a period for the subframe of the specific type to be repeated. |
| US08493889B2 |
Backhaul fabric for wireless network
A managed surface-space network fabric is presented. The surface-space network fabric can include a spaced-based network fabric and a surface-based network fabric integrated together to form a single fabric managed by a global fabric manager. The global fabric manager cooperates with other fabric managers local to each fabric to establish a communication topology among all the nodes of the fabric. Preferred topologies include paths from any port on a node to any other port on another node in the fabric. The surface-space fabric, and each individual fabric, can function as a distributed core fabric operating as a single, coherent device. |
| US08493887B2 |
Centralized control of peer discovery pilot transmission
Techniques for centralized control of peer discovery pilot transmission are described. In an aspect, a designated network entity (e.g., a base station or a network controller) may control transmission of peer discovery pilots by stations located within its coverage area. In one design, the network entity may receive signaling triggering peer discovery pilot transmission. The network entity may direct each of at least one station to transmit a peer discovery pilot to allow one or more stations to detect the at least one station. The peer discovery pilot may include at least one synchronization signal or at least one reference signal. The network entity may receive pilot measurements from the one or more stations for peer discovery pilots from peer stations and/or reference signals from base stations. The network entity may determine whether or not to select peer-to-peer communication for two stations based on the pilot measurements. |
| US08493882B2 |
Optimization evaluation system, optimization evaluation device, optimization evaluation method, and optimization evaluation program
Provided is an optimization evaluation system, wherein the effect of the optimization of traffic characteristic in a communication network is quantitatively evaluated. An optimization evaluation system which evaluates effects of optimization done by an optimization function in a communication network that has the optimization function for optimizing a communication traffic characteristic, including: a communication traffic analyzing module which acquires a communication traffic variation distribution based on measured communication traffic data; and a communication traffic evaluation module which executes processing for quantitatively evaluating the effects of the optimization of the communication traffic characteristic executed by the optimization function based on a fact whether or not the variation distribution calculated by the communication traffic analyzing module is a power function. |
| US08493879B2 |
Node apparatus, route control method, route computation system, and route computation apparatus
A node apparatus wherein when a topology change occurs on a network used for packet transfer between node apparatuses, the node apparatus performs dynamic route control for establishing a new normal route. The node apparatus has a device that receives, from another node apparatus, a route control message which includes information required for route determination; a device that computes a route on the network based on the received route control message; a device that sends another node apparatus a route control message which includes information required for said another node apparatus to determine a route on the network; a device wherein when receiving the route control message, this device computes an operation start time for route control operation by the route computation and the message sending, based on a distance between a topology change part and said node apparatus of oneself; and a device that controls the execution of the route control operation based on the computed operation start time. |
| US08493878B2 |
Flexible parameter cache for machine type connections
The present invention relates to a method for improving parameter cache in a communication system, the system enabling Machine Type Communication, MTC, connection between at least one MTC device (10) and at least one MTC server (11), via a Packet Data Network, PDN, connection. The communication system for at least a first MTC connection performing the steps of: a Gateway, GW (17), in the communication system establishing (23) a new Gx session with a Policy Control Node, PCN (15), the PCN (15) performing (24) session binding with the GW (17), The method is particularly characterized in that the communication system further performs the step of: when the first MTC connection has been inactive for a certain time period, the GW (17) as part of a cache upload procedure sends (25) a first set of PDN connection parameters to the PCN (15) and releases memory resources associated with this first set of PDN connection parameters. |
| US08493875B2 |
System and method for estimation of round trip times within a TCP based data network
A system and method for estimation of round trip times (RTTs) within a TCP based data network is described. The system provides for a passive monitoring of the network round-trip latency by simply observing existing TCP connections in operation. In this way, it is possible to measure RTT out to a remote site without having to send any traffic to that site with the result that there is no impact on the network, and it is possible to estimate what production traffic is experiencing. |
| US08493874B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing channel quality feedback in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system
In an OFDM communication system, a mobile station provides a radio access network (RAN) a channel quality metric second order statistic, in one embodiment a signal to noise plus interference power ratio (SINR) second order statistic and in particular an SINR standard deviation and/or variance, along with a mean channel quality metric, that is, a mean SINR. By providing both a mean channel quality metric and a channel quality metric second order statistic, the communication system permits the RAN to create a more accurate fading profile of an associated air interface, and in particular a downlink of the air interface, thereby facilitating an improved scheduling decision over the prior art and assuring that a packet has a higher probability to go through a downlink channel without too many retransmissions. |
| US08493869B2 |
Distributed constraints-based inter-domain network traffic management
A distributed inter-domain constraints-based routing technique is provided herein. A problem solving request is sent to nodes in a plurality of network domains that have a potential path between a source node and the destination node. The problem solving request includes one or more constraints associated with a routing function for traffic between the source node and destination node. Local path solutions are generated at nodes in domains that receive the problem solving request, where the local path solutions representing possible paths from a previous neighbor network domain to a next neighbor network domain that satisfy the one or more constraints. Based on the local path solutions, a determination is made as to whether there is at least one path from the source node to the destination node that satisfies the one or more constraints. |
| US08493867B1 |
Retransmission and flow control in a logical network tunnel
A system includes a network tunnel, an ingress network device coupled to send packets via the network tunnel, and an egress network device coupled to receive packets sent via the network tunnel. The egress network device is configured to provide information to the ingress network device. The information indicates whether a packet transmitted from the ingress network device to the egress network device was dropped in the network tunnel. The ingress network device can retransmit the packet to the egress network device if the packet is dropped in the network tunnel. |
| US08493865B2 |
System for permitting control of the purging of a Node B by the serving radio network controller
A system and method which permit the RNC to control purging of data buffered in the Node B. The RNC monitors for a triggering event, which initiates the purging process. The RNC then informs the Node B of the need to purge data by transmitting a purge command, which prompts the Node B to delete at least a portion of buffered data. The purge command can include instructions for the Node B to purge all data for a particular UE, data in one or several user priority transmission queues or in one or more logical channels in the Node B, depending upon the particular data purge triggering event realized in the RNC. |
| US08493862B2 |
System and method for lost packet recovery with congestion avoidance
Devices and techniques for overcoming lost packets and avoiding congestion when conducting media conferences over packet switched networks are described herein. To avoid the problem of lost packets, redundant information is inserted into the media stream that permits the receiver to reconstruct any lost packets from the redundant information. Congestion avoidance techniques include adjusting the bitrate of the media stream to find the highest bitrate that can be supported without packet loss due to congestion. When increasing the bitrate to a higher rate, the additional bits can come from the redundant information used for lost packet recovery so that any lost packets caused by network congestion will not adversely affect the bitstream. |
| US08493861B2 |
Method and transmitting unit for reducing a risk of transmission stalling
The present invention relates to a method and a transmitting unit for reducing a risk of transmission stalling between a transmitting unit and a receiving unit in a communication network system comprising said transmitting unit arranged to transmit data blocks to said receiving unit. Each data block comprises a block sequence number and transmitted data blocks are stored in a transmission buffer. A transmission buffer window is arranged to control the flow of retransmission of said transmitted data blocks. When the block sequence number has been acknowledged in a piggybacked acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement field, it is only set as acknowledged upon receipt of a packet uplink acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement message or a packet downlink acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement message comprising an acknowledgement for said block sequence number. |
| US08493860B2 |
Fair congestion detection for transport network layer WCDMA communications
Congestion is detected in a radio access transport network including one or more radio network controllers each coupled to one or more radio base stations. Multiple data packet flows are each associated with a mobile radio terminal communication, and each flow is controlled in the radio access transport network by a corresponding flow control entity. They are monitored for congestion in the transport network. If a congestion area in the transport network is detected for one of the monitored data packet flows, then a determination is made whether other monitored data packet flows share the detected congestion area. Congestion notification information is communicated to the flow control entities corresponding to the other monitored data packet flows that share the detected congestion area. Based on the congestion notification information, the informed flow control entities may take a flow control action, e.g., to enable fair sharing of communications resources in the transport network. |
| US08493856B2 |
Energy efficiency with rate adaptation
A system and method of rate adaptation is disclosed for energy efficiency. The system and method of rate adaptation for energy efficiency provides for parsing a heterogeneous network into rate-adaptation domains that are fully isolated with respect to the control of their operating states. The system and method is particularly useful for creating the conditions for the incremental introduction of rate-adaptive devices in existing networks; combining the best properties of sleep-state exploitation and rate scaling techniques by defining a class of state-setting policies for rate adaptation schemes that enforce tight deterministic bounds on the extra delay that the schemes may cause to network traffic at every node where they are deployed. |
| US08493843B2 |
System and method for using an alternative wire pair for communication on initial wire pair failure
A system and method for using an alternative wire pair for communication on initial wire pair failure. Upon detection of a failure in a wire pair, an alternative set of one or more wire pairs can be used to support the Ethernet communication. In one embodiment, the alternative wire pairs are kept in a hot standby mode to enable almost instantaneous switching. In another embodiment, an enhanced autonegotiation process is used to automatically identify the alternative set of wire pairs that can support the Ethernet communication. |
| US08493841B2 |
Wireless communication system and nodes
A wireless communication system includes a first node, multiple second nodes, and multiple third nodes that communicate with the first node through the second nodes. The second and third nodes transmit control information to their neighboring third nodes, which calculate link costs from the reception status of the control information. The control information transmitted by each node includes a path cost indicating the cost of a path between the transmitting node and the first node. From the path costs in received control information, each third node selects a second node through which to communicate with the first node, and selects a parent node as the destination of the first hop on the path through the selected second node to the first node. Routing is thereby accomplished autonomously without having the second nodes flood the system with routing requests. |
| US08493834B2 |
Content-adaptive multimedia coding and physical layer modulation
This disclosure describes content-adaptive coding and modulation techniques. In particular, this disclosure describes techniques in which both a multimedia coding mode and a physical layer modulation scheme are adaptively selected based on content of a multimedia sequence. When the content changes such that either the coding or the modulation scheme can be improved, the coding and/or modulation may be changed to better optimize to the changed content. In one aspect, this disclosure provides a method of processing multimedia data, the method comprising selecting a multimedia coding mode for an encoder to encode the multimedia data and a physical layer modulation scheme for transmission of the multimedia data based on content of the multimedia data. |
| US08493828B2 |
Media recording/reading device and media recording/reading method
Disclosed are media recording/reproducing method and device in which recording stop due to over retrials during replacement process and wasteful conversion processing in the recording/reproducing device are suppressed when a method of managing the spare area of a write-once medium by the use of an NAP is employed to manage the spare area of a rewritable medium. During format or replacement process of the medium, the NAP is so updated that defective blocks registered as unusable clusters or as usable cluster type 2 within DFL entries in the spare area are not shown. |
| US08493827B2 |
Optical disc and optical disc apparatus
An optical disc recording method for recording disc information to be used in recording/reproducing control on an optical disc, comprises the following steps of: providing a first disc information unit and a second disc information unit, each having a predetermined data size, in a predetermined management information area of the optical disc; the disc information includes write strategy information; separating the write strategy information into first write strategy information and second write strategy information; recording the first disc information into the first disc information unit; and recording the second disc information into the second disc information unit. |
| US08493823B1 |
Variable data transfer rate optical tape drive system and method
An optical tape drive system includes n total optical pickup units and a controller. The controller writes readable data in logical wraps each having less than n physical tracks to the optical tape via at least some of the optical pickup units such that for each of the logical wraps that contain readable data, all physical tracks within the logical wrap contain readable data. |
| US08493822B2 |
Methods, systems, and program products for controlling the playback of music
Methods, systems, and program products for controlling the playback of music are disclosed. In an embodiment a method for controlling the playback of music includes the steps of: initiating the playback of a first music track; stopping the playback of the first music track; initiating the playback of alternative audio content; stopping the playback of the alternative content; and determining whether to initiate the playback of the first music track or to initiate the playback of a second music track. |
| US08493821B1 |
Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head including a shield
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a main pole having an end face located in a medium facing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator having a near-field light generating part located in the medium facing surface; and a shield located on the rear side in the direction of travel of a recording medium with respect to the main pole. The shield has an end face located in the medium facing surface and lying on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium with respect to the end face of the main pole. The end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield are at a distance of 50 to 300 nm from each other. The near-field light generating part is located between the end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield in the medium facing surface. |
| US08493820B1 |
Matched CTE drive
A thermally compensated fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a stationary member and a rotatable member rotatable about the stationary member. A hub is coupled with the rotatable member and includes ceramic material with a first coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein the hub is operable to be coupled with a data storage disk. Further the first coefficient of thermal expansion is substantially equal to a second coefficient of thermal expansion of the data storage disk. |
| US08493816B2 |
Electronic timepiece, time adjustment method for an electronic timepiece, and control program for an electronic timepiece
An electronic timepiece includes a reception unit that receives satellite signals transmitted from a positioning information satellite; an information acquisition unit that processes the received satellite signals to acquire time information and positioning information; a time difference information acquisition component that acquires time difference information based on the acquired position information; a time difference information display that displays as time difference candidates the acquired time difference information; an external input device; a time difference information selection component that selects time difference information from the displayed time difference candidates; a time calculation component that calculates current time based on the acquired time information and the selected time difference information; and a time display that displays the current time. |
| US08493815B2 |
Streamer cable with enhanced properties
The present invention relates to streamer cables. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for preparing a streamer cable. The method may comprise retrofitting the streamer cable with a solid void-filler material, where the streamer cable was configured as a liquid-filled streamer cable. The retrofitting may comprise introducing a void-filler material into the streamer cable when the void-filler material is in a liquid state and curing or otherwise solidifying the void-filler material to a solid state. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a streamer cable comprising an outer skin and-at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin. The streamer cable may also comprise a solid void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the solid void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor. |
| US08493807B2 |
Semiconductor device having hierarchically structured bit lines and system including the same
A system includes a first circuit and a second circuit that are constituted by a semiconductor device, the second circuit controlling the first circuit. The first circuit includes an interface unit that performs communication with the second circuit, a plurality of sense amplifiers including a first sense amplifier, each of the plurality of sense amplifiers performing communication with the interface unit, a first global bit line, a dummy global bit line, a plurality of first memory blocks, each of the first memory blocks including a first hierarchy switch that is connected to the first global bit line, a dummy memory block including a dummy hierarchy switch that is connected to the dummy global bit line, and a first dummy local bit line connected to the dummy global bit line, and a control circuit that controls the first hierarchy switches and the dummy hierarchy switch. |
| US08493804B2 |
Memory cell array latchup prevention
An embodiment includes configuring a current-limiting device to place along a power-supply bus to limit current through a first complimentary-metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit coupled to the power-supply bus so that current does not exceed a trigger current level of a pnpn diode in a second CMOS circuit coupled to the power bus. |
| US08493802B1 |
Memory controller having a write-timing calibration mode
A memory controller outputs address bits and a first timing signal to a DRAM, each address bit being associated with an edge of the first timing signal and the first timing signal requiring a first propagation delay time to propagate to the DRAM. The memory controller further outputs write data bits and a second timing signal to the DRAM in association with the address bits, each of the write data bits being associated with an edge of the second timing signal and the second timing signal requiring a second propagation delay time to propagate to the DRAM. The memory controller includes a plurality of series-coupled delay elements to provide respective, differently-delayed internal delayed timing signals and a multiplexer to select one of the delayed timing signals to be output as the second timing signal based on a difference between the first propagation delay time and the second propagation delay time. |
| US08493798B2 |
Apparatus and method for outputting data in semiconductor integrated circuit
An apparatus for outputting data in a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a clock generation block configured to activate a first clock signal for outputting a data signal and a second clock signal for outputting a data strobe signal based on a predetermined timing, and a data output block configured to latch a pre-data signal and a pre-data strobe signal in response to the first clock signal and the second clock signal, respectively. |
| US08493796B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged therein, each of the memory cells having a charge storage layer and a control electrode; and a control unit configured to execute a write cycle multiple times, the write cycle including a write operation and a write verify operation, the write operation being an operation for applying a write pulse voltage multiple times to the control electrode selected for data write, and the write verify operation being an operation for determining whether data write is completed or not. During one time of the write operation, the control unit makes a voltage value of a finally applied write pulse voltage larger than a voltage value of an initially applied write pulse voltage. |
| US08493794B2 |
Non-volatile memory cell and methods for programming, erasing and reading thereof
A non-volatile memory cell and methods for programming, erasing and reading thereof are provided. A non-volatile memory cell includes a well region having a first conductive type. A first transistor and a second transistor having a second conductive type are disposed on the well region, wherein a first gate of the first transistor is coupled to a second gate of the second transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor share a drain region, coupling to a bit line. A first source region of the first transistor and a second region of the second transistor are coupled to a first select line and a second line, respectively. A bit is stored in the first and second gates by controlling the first select line and the second line. A bit stored in the first and second gates is erased by controlling the first select line or the second line. |
| US08493789B2 |
Nonvolatile memory devices, channel boosting methods thereof, programming methods thereof, and memory systems including the same
Non-volatile memory device channel boosting methods in which at least two strings are connected to one bit line, the channel boosting methods including applying an initial channel voltage to channels of strings in a selected memory block, floating inhibit strings each having an un-programmed cell among the strings, and boosting channels of the floated inhibit strings. |
| US08493785B2 |
Page-buffer and non-volatile semiconductor memory including page buffer
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. The memory device further includes an internal data output line for outputting data read from the bit lines of the memory array, and a page buffer operatively connected between a bit line of the memory cell array and the internal data output line. The page buffer includes a sense node which is selectively connected to the bit line, a latch circuit having a latch node which is selectively connected to the sense node, a latch input path which sets a logic voltage of the latch node in the programming mode and the read mode, and a latch output path which is separate from the latch input path. |
| US08493782B2 |
Memory device and program method thereof
Provided are a flash memory system and a driving method thereof. A flash memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, and a control logic. The control logic performs control for one-bit information to be stored in the plurality of memory cells. The control logic controls storing data in the plurality of memory cells multiple times without an erasion operation. Accordingly, the flash memory device does not execute an erasion operation, increasing an operation speed. |
| US08493770B2 |
Non-volatile semiconductor storage device with concurrent read operation
A semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell array including memory cells arranged at respective intersections between first wirings and second wirings. Each of the memory cells includes a rectifier element and a variable resistance element connected in series. A control circuit is configured to apply a first voltage to a selected first wiring and a second voltage lower than the first voltage to a selected second wiring so that a certain potential difference is applied to a selected memory cell positioned at an intersection between the selected first wiring and the selected second wiring. The control circuit performs a concurrent read operation to perform a read operation from plural memory cells concurrently by applying the first voltage to a plurality of the first wirings concurrently. It is possible to switch the number of the first wirings to be applied with the first voltage concurrently in the concurrent read operation. |
| US08493767B2 |
One-time programmable device having an LDMOS structure
According to one embodiment, a one-time programmable (OTP) device having a lateral diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) structure comprises a pass gate including a pass gate electrode and a pass gate dielectric, and a programming gate including a programming gate electrode and a programming gate dielectric. The programming gate is spaced from the pass gate by a drain extension region of the LDMOS structure. The LDMOS structure provides protection for the pass gate when a programming voltage for rupturing the programming gate dielectric is applied to the programming gate electrode. A method for producing such an OTP device comprises forming a drain extension region, fabricating a pass gate over a first portion of the drain extension region, and fabricating a programming gate over a second portion of the drain extension region. |