| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08490713B2 |
Handle assembly for endoscopic suturing device
A handle assembly for operating an articulatable surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing; an actuation shaft translatably and rotatably supported in the housing; a first trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the first trigger being configured to translate the actuation shaft to operate a first function of the surgical instrument; a second trigger supported on the housing and connected to the actuation shaft, the second trigger being configured to rotate the actuation shaft to operate a second function of the surgical instrument; and a second-trigger release supported in the housing, the second-trigger release having a first position blocking actuation of the second trigger and a second position permitting actuation of the second trigger, where the second-trigger release is actuated from the first position to the second position upon and complete actuation of the first trigger. |
| US08490711B2 |
Ripper assembly having a linkage assembly and an actuator
A ripper assembly includes a linkage assembly and an actuator. The linkage assembly has a mounting section, a frame member with a frame axis, a carriage member and a connecting member. The actuator is movable along an actuator axis between a retracted position and an extended position. The linkage assembly is movable between a ground engaging position at which the actuator is at the retracted position and a raised position at which the actuator is at the extended position. An angle between the frame axis and the actuator axis is between approximately 40 degrees and 65 degrees when the linkage assembly is in the ground engaging position. |
| US08490699B2 |
High solids content slurry methods
A method and system are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The method comprises: combining a carrier fluid and a solids mixture into a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of particle size distribution modes such that a packed volume fraction exceeds 0.75; contacting a screen with leak-off control agent to form a bridge; positioning the screen and circulating the slurry through the wellbore in any order such that the solids mixture is deposited between the screen and the wellbore; degrading the degradable material to increase porosity and permeability of the pack; removing the bridge; and producing a reservoir fluid from the formation. The system comprises the slurry, a tubing string and slurry pump to position the screen and circulate the slurry to form the bridge on the screen. |
| US08490698B2 |
High solids content methods and slurries
A composition and method are disclosed. The composition includes a carrier fluid and a solids mixture combined to form a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75, and wherein the solids mixture comprises a degradable material and includes a reactive solid. The method includes circulating the slurry through a wellbore to form a pack in a fracture and/or a screen-wellbore annulus; degrading the degradable material to increase porosity and permeability of the pack; and producing a reservoir fluid through the permeable pack. |
| US08490689B1 |
Bridge style fractionation plug
A bridge style fractionation plug for use in a wellbore to separate a lower fractionation zone from an upper fractionation zone with no communication between the zones. |
| US08490688B2 |
Methodology for setting of an inflatable packer using solid media
A seal includes a mandrel; an element disposed radially adjacent the mandrel; a chamber defined between the mandrel and the element; and a pressure regulator in fluid communication with the chamber, the regulator configured to resist fluid flow to a selected threshold pressure related to element expansion and method. |
| US08490687B2 |
Safety valve with provisions for powering an insert safety valve
A method of operating a valve can include installing an electrical actuator in a flow passage extending longitudinally through the valve, and operating a closure assembly in response to electrical power being supplied to the electrical actuator. An outer safety valve can include a closure assembly which selectively permits and prevents flow through a longitudinal flow passage, and at least one electrical connector which electrically connects to an insert safety valve positioned in the flow passage. A method of operating an outer safety valve in a subterranean well can include installing an insert safety valve in the safety valve, and operating the insert safety valve with electrical current flowing from the safety valve to the insert safety valve. |
| US08490686B2 |
Coupler compliance tuning for mitigating shock produced by well perforating
A method of mitigating perforating effects produced by well perforating can include causing a shock model to predict perforating effects for a proposed perforating string, optimizing a compliance curve of at least one proposed coupler, thereby mitigating the perforating effects for the proposed perforating string, and providing at least one actual coupler having substantially the same compliance curve as the proposed coupler. A well system can comprise a perforating string including at least one perforating gun and multiple couplers, each of the couplers having a compliance curve, and at least two of the compliance curves being different from each other. A method of mitigating perforating effects produced by well perforating can include interconnecting multiple couplers spaced apart in a perforating string, each of the couplers having a compliance curve, and selecting the compliance curves based on predictions by a shock model of shock generated by the perforating string. |
| US08490683B2 |
Flat plate type micro heat transport device
There is provided a flat plate type micro heat transport device formed of two plates coupled with each other to be opposite to each other, each of the plates includes: a reservoir formed to store a moving fluid charged via an inlet; a evaporator formed separated from the reservoir to generate vapor having latent heat by vaporizing the moving fluid; a vapor flow path formed to be connected to the evaporator, through which the vapor having latent heat is transported; a condenser formed to be connected to the vapor flow path and to condense the vapor having latent heat; and a liquid flow path formed to be connected to the condenser and the evaporator and separately from the vapor flow path to transport a liquid obtained by condensing the vapor. The device may efficiently control heat with respect to portable electronic devices by effectively transporting heat generated by a heat source. |
| US08490681B2 |
Fluid cooling system
The invention provides a fluid cooling system comprising a heat exchanger with an outer wall forming a chamber with an inlet and an outlet for circulating a heat exchange medium in the chamber. The chamber has an opening towards the component which is to be cooled, and to protect the component, the opening is closed by a flexible wall which is attached to the outer wall. To protect the cover and the component against overload, the flexible wall is attached to an inner wall inside the chamber. The cooling system could be applied to electronic systems, e.g. for cooling a DCB substrate or similar electronic components. |
| US08490680B2 |
Plate cooling fin with slotted projections
A plate cooling fin includes a plate member and projection parts disposed on the plate member. Each of the projection parts has rectangular slots disposed at the periphery thereof with a partition is disposed between adjacent rectangular slots respectively. Therefore, the cold airflow is guided to pass through the slots and turned into a turbulent flow surrounding the plate member so as to extend the stagnation time of the airflow at the plate member for a large amount of heat being carried outward the cooling fin to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency. |
| US08490677B2 |
Method for forming molds and core for casting metal
The present inventions provide a method for forming molds and a core which generates no gases with bad effects on the human bodies while the binders are heated. In particular, the present inventions provide a method for forming molds and a core comprising an aggregate material mixture consisting of granular aggregate materials, wherein the aqueous binders and water are foamed with stirring, filled into a space for forming molds, and caked with an evaporating water component. In an embodiment, molds can be further cured by adding cross linking agents before and after they are taken out from the space for forming. Further, an aggregate material mixture for forming molds used for the method for forming molds of the present inventions is provided. |
| US08490676B2 |
Multi-cavity mold
Four cavities are arranged on a concentric circle “C” with respect to the center “O” of a flow divider and a gate sleeve. Each of the cavities is connected to a sleeve stamp portion through each of four die side runners and each of four stamp side runners formed in a radial direction and separated from the neighboring runners. A semicircular arc-shaped reservoir is provided between the lower half side of the flow divider and the lower half side of the gate sleeve. This reservoir is connected to the sleeve stamp portion. A semi-solidified layer formed by pouring the molten metal into a sleeve is filled into the reservoir, so that the molten metal from which the semi-solidified layer is separated can be filled directly from each of the stamp side runners via the die side runners into each of the cavities evenly and simultaneously. |
| US08490675B2 |
Machine and a method for suctioning and exhausting air from a storage tank for sand in a molding machine
The present invention is to provide a machine and a method for suctioning and exhausting air from a storage tank for sand in a molding machine that has less on-off valves and prevents sand from adhering to the interior of the valve for exhausting air while the air is being exhausted. The machine for suctioning and exhausting air from the storage tank for the sand in the molding machine comprises a storage tank for sand in the molding machine, a porous body that is provided in the storage tank for sand and that is distant from an inner face of the storage tank for sand, an empty chamber that is formed by an outer face of the porous body and the inner face of the storage tank for sand, a seal that is placed at a rim of a tip of a nozzle of the storage tank for filling sand and that expands when compressed air is supplied inside the seal, a pilot-operated valve for both suctioning and exhausting air that is fluidly connected to the empty chamber, and an on-off valve that is fluidly connected to the pilot-operated valve for both suctioning and exhausting air and connected to an inside of the seal. |
| US08490674B2 |
Methods of forming at least a portion of earth-boring tools
Methods of forming at least a portion of an earth-boring tool include providing particulate matter comprising a hard material in a mold cavity, melting a metal and the hard material to form a molten composition comprising a eutectic or near-eutectic composition of the metal and the hard material, casting the molten composition to form the at least a portion of an earth-boring tool within the mold cavity, and adjusting a stoichiometry of at least one hard material phase of the at least a portion of the earth-boring tool. Methods of forming a roller cone of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include forming a molten composition, casting the molten composition within a mold cavity, solidifying the molten composition to form the roller cone, and converting an eta-phase region within the roller cone to at least one of WC and W2C. |
| US08490670B2 |
Build-out dowels for rolling protective shutters
An improvement in a rolling shutter assembly for covering an opening of a structure having an external protective surface, an underlying support structure and a subsurface disposed therebetween. The rolling shutter assembly includes a shutter housing, a shutter support member rotatably disposed within the shutter housing, a shutter coupled to the shutter support member, and a pair of side tracks. The improvement includes a plurality of dowels and corresponding openings through the external protective surface configured to receive the dowels. The dowels are disposed between the subsurface of the wall and the side tracks when the rolling shutter assembly is installed to minimize the portion of the external protective surface that is removed to accommodate the installation of the shutter assembly. |
| US08490668B2 |
Retractable safety barriers and methods of operating same
A retractable barrier system includes an example gear assembly that can be manipulated for rapidly deploying a flexible barrier, exerting high torque for the initial tightening of the barrier, maintaining high static tension in barrier when in use, and/or rapidly retracting barrier for storage. In some examples, the gear assembly is a worm drive with a worm that can be selectively disengaged from a worm gear. Other optional features of the barrier system include selective right-hand/left-hand configurations, an electric switch that can be added to indicate whether the barrier system is in use, an intermediate coupling that joins the distal ends of two barriers for creating an extra long barrier system, and removable vehicle-mounted posts for certain loading dock applications. |
| US08490666B2 |
Fire resistant tire
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising: at least one diene based elastomer; from 20 to 40 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of silica; and from 10 to 25 weight percent of aluminum hydroxide; wherein the composition is self-extinguishing at a temperature of 1000° C., and the composition is exclusive of halogenated paraffins and antimony trioxide. |
| US08490665B2 |
Vehicle wheel
There is provided a vehicle wheel that can suppress any detachment of a sub air chamber from a well portion when a fixing member between the sub air chamber and the well portion becomes defective by any possibility. A vehicle wheel comprises a sub-air-chamber member which reduces any air column resonance of a tire and which is disposed on an outer circumference surface of a well portion of a rim. The sub-air-chamber member is fixed on the well-portion outer circumference surface, the sub-air-chamber member is covered by a cover made of a rubber from an external side, and the cover is fixed on an outer circumference surface of the rim at both sides of the sub-air-chamber member in a rim width direction. |
| US08490661B1 |
Fuel tank filler neck
In at least one implementation, a filler neck for a fuel tank may include an outer tube attached to the fuel tank through which fuel is discharged into the fuel tank during a refueling event, and an insert. The insert may be carried by the outer tube and have a passage adapted to receive a refueling nozzle during a refueling event, a first barrier adapted to engage a refueling nozzle inserted in the passage and having one or more gaps through which fluid may flow between the refueling nozzle and first barrier, and a second barrier adapted to engage the first barrier to reduce the size of the gaps when the first barrier is engaged with a refueling nozzle. |
| US08490656B2 |
Method for operating a weaving machine comprising a shedding machine
A weaving apparatus includes a weaving machine and a shedding machine that carries out activatable and deactivatable movements of the shedding devices with a shedding drive that is controlled independently of a weaving drive of the weaving machine. After detection of an operating malfunction, e.g. a weft fault or a warp fault, the shedding devices are controlled such that measures for eliminating the operating malfunction can be carried out. In that regard, the rotational speed of the weaving machine is reduced, but the shedding machine is further operated at a relatively high rotational speed, preferably without stopping the shedding machine while the malfunction is eliminated. Then, the speed of the weaving machine is increased and again essentially synchronized with the shedding machine, to resume the regular weaving operation. |
| US08490654B2 |
Electromagnetic actuating unit
A hydraulic directional control valve which has a valve housing and a control piston that is arranged therein in a displaceable manner. The valve housing has at least one outflow connection, at least one inflow connection and a working connection. The control piston has a main body and at least one control section. The control section controls a pressure medium flow from the inflow connection to the working connection and/or a pressure medium flow from the working connection to the outflow connection, and the control section is made separately from the main body and is fastened thereon. |
| US08490652B2 |
Cage valve with flow trim for reduced fracturing
Cage valve, flow trim components and methods for reduced fracturing of flow trim. The valve is of the type having flow trim arranged across an inlet bore and aligned with an outlet bore, and including a stationary tubular cage and an external cylindrical flow collar slidable along the side wall of the cage to cover or uncover one or more flow ports in the cage side wall. The tubular cage is formed such that, at least in the ported portion in which the flow ports are formed, the cage includes a tubular outer cage member and a tubular inner cage member, the inner cage member and the outer cage member being formed from a tungsten carbide material, being concentrically aligned, having a length to span at least the ported portion, and being joined together by bonding at an interface formed between the inner cage member and the outer cage member. |
| US08490651B2 |
Fluid adjusting device
A fluid adjusting device is installed in a valve unit so as to control the volume or pressure of the fluid passing through the valve unit. The fluid adjusting device includes three parts retractably connected to each other and holes are defined through each of the three parts. By expanding or retracting the three parts, the holes can be exposed or hidden to adjust the volume or pressure of the fluid passing through the valve unit. |
| US08490648B2 |
Check valve
A top entry check valve including a valve body with an access port and clapper assembly with a compressible hanger positioned in alignment with the access port. The compressible hanger comprises a plate member stamped from a sheet of metal having at least one dimple formed in one of the upper side and the lower side and a corresponding protuberance formed on an opposing side so as to define a compressible area. A clapper is connected to the hanger so that the clapper is movable between a closed position and an open position. A closure member has an abutment surface engaging the hanger so that the hanger body is compressed between the closure member and the valve body. |
| US08490647B2 |
Fluid pressure control device
A fluid pressure regulating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a chamber having a first bore diameter, a second bore diameter, a fluid inlet for receiving fluid at an unregulated pressure, and a fluid outlet for discharging fluid at a regulated pressure. A shuttle assembly is located in the chamber, the shuttle assembly including a valve that is in fluid communication with both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, and a first sealing member located at an upper portion of the shuttle assembly and a second sealing member located at a lower portion of the shuttle assembly. An unregulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid inlet, a regulated pressure zone communicates with the fluid outlet and a fluid pressure control zone communicates with a portion of the shuttle assembly, the fluid pressure control zone controlling the regulated pressure at the fluid outlet. |
| US08490646B2 |
Diaphragm valve with mechanical pressure relief
A flush valve for a waste water system includes a valve body and a vent system. The valve includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a main valve element extending therebetween and adapted for movement to allow fluid flow therethrough based on a pressure differential across a portion of the main valve element. The vent system includes a control chamber, in flow communication with the fluid inlet of the valve and a vent outlet in flow communication with the fluid outlet of the valve. The flush valve further includes a relief system including a relief chamber with a relief inlet in flow communication with the control chamber and a relief outlet in flow communication with the vent outlet. A mechanical relief device is configured to open and close the relief inlet based on a predetermined fluid pressure at the relief inlet, thereby venting fluid from the control chamber to the vent outlet. The flush valve may further include a solenoid having a piston configured to open to establish flow communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to effect opening of the main valve element, and to close to prevent fluid communication between the control chamber and the vent outlet to close the main valve element. |
| US08490645B2 |
Pressure sensor, pressure-differential flow rate meter, and flow rate controller
In a pressure sensor that detects the pressure of liquid flowing in a main fluid flow path, a pressure measuring unit is installed by providing a pressure measuring space at a position branching from a straight-pipe portion of the main fluid flow path, and, in addition, the main fluid flow path and the pressure measuring space are connected with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe whose pipe diameters are smaller than the main fluid flow path. |
| US08490642B2 |
Fuel-outflow check valve
A fuel-outflow check valve includes: a casing, at least one portion of which is located in a fuel tank, the casing having a ventilation hole via which the interior of the casing and the interior of the fuel tank communicate with each other and an upper wall portion protruding inward from the inner peripheral face of the casing; a float that is disposed in the interior of the casing and is vertically movable; and a valve element that is provided on the float and can contact a valve seat formed at the casing. |
| US08490640B2 |
Latching pressure regulator
A system for regulating pressure supplied to a transmission control element, includes a control pressure source and line pressure source, a latch valve that opens and closes communication with the line pressure source in response to control pressure, and a regulator valve including a spool for regulating line pressure and producing control element pressure when the latch valve is closed, and an auxiliary piston responsive to line pressure and contacting the spool for connecting line pressure to the control element when the latch valve is open. |
| US08490637B2 |
Walking device
An improved walking device is disclosed wherein the walking device comprises an elongated body that is more than one foot in length, a movable arm coupled to the elongated body, a power source, and a first sensor, and wherein the first sensor is capable of detecting an orientation of the walking device and producing an electronic signal based on the orientation, and wherein the electronic signal is capable of at least partially causing a movement of the movable arm. |
| US08490634B2 |
Device for treating disc-like articles
A device for treating a disc-like article with a fluid, includes elements for dispensing a fluid onto the article and a chuck for holding and rotating the article around an axis perpendicular thereto. The chuck includes a base body, a drive ring, and gripping members for contacting the article at its edge. The gripping members are eccentrically movable with respect to the center of the article and driven by a drive ring rotatably mounted to the base body, so that the drive ring is rotatable against the base body around the axis. The relative rotational movement of the drive ring against the base body is carried out by either holding the base body and rotating the drive ring or by holding the drive ring and rotating the base body, whereby the to-be-held-part (drive ring or base body) is held without touching the respective to-be-held-part by magnetic force. |
| US08490626B2 |
Electrode data analysis to indicate catheter stability and/or needle penetration success
Determining stability of a catheter is described. A first signal originating from a first region of a patient is monitored and a second signal originating from a second region of the patient is monitored. First components from a recurring interval of the second signal are extracted, where the recurring interval is defined by the first signal. The first components are compared to determine a first similarity value of the first components over time. The first similarity value is compared to a threshold value to determine a stability evaluation for a source of the second signal. |
| US08490624B2 |
Patient interface with variable footprint
A system/method for reducing or eliminating application of continuous, repeated, and/or excessive pressure at the contact footprints of a patient interface device and headgear assembly. For example, a patient interface with a plurality of cushions, each producing a different contact footprint when worn by the patient is employed. As another example, a plurality of patient interface devices, each having a cushion that produces a different contact footprint when worn by the patient, are employed. As another example, a patient interface device having a cushion, the configuration/shape of which can be altered such that the contact footprint which it produces is also changed, is employed. The contact footprint to which the patient is exposed is altered after a predetermined time period. |
| US08490623B2 |
Mask and components thereof
A comfortable low-leak mask assembly for use with Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) is provided to improve patient compliance and/or treatment. The mask system may include headgear having straps that are substantially inextensible and/or micro-adjustable; and/or a mask and/or cushion that includes various structures to allow enhanced/tailored sealing and/or fit at selected locations on the patient's face. |
| US08490622B2 |
Closed suction catheter adapter with flush arrangement
A respiratory apparatus including an adapter assembly and a catheter assembly. The adapter assembly includes ventilator, respiratory, access, and flush ports. The access port includes a conduit defining a passageway. The flush port projects from the conduit and is fluidly open to the passageway at an outlet. The catheter assembly includes a catheter assembled to a fitting. The fitting includes a hub and a tube, with the tube defining an exterior surface, an interior surface forming a lumen, a circumferential groove in the exterior surface, and a plurality of apertures fluidly open to the lumen and the circumferential groove. The tube is sized to be slidably received within the passageway such that upon final assembly, a fluid pathway is formed between the flush port and a distal end of the catheter via the flush port outlet, the circumferential groove, the plurality of apertures, and the lumen. |
| US08490619B2 |
Solar energy alignment and collection system
A solar energy alignment and collection system includes at least two solar energy receivers having a central focal point, with each of the at least two solar energy receivers generating an energy output. An actuation system is operatively coupled to the at least two solar energy receivers and is configured and disposed to shift the solar energy receivers along at least one axis. A control system, operatively linked to the solar receivers and the actuation system, senses the energy output of each solar energy receiver and shifts the actuation system along the at least one axis causing solar energy to be directed at the central focal point. When solar energy is directed at the central focal point, the energy output of each solar energy receiver is substantially identical. |
| US08490613B2 |
Oven range with gas filter
Disclosed herein is an oven range with a filter member improving the purification efficiency of toxic gas in a cavity. The filter member includes a plurality of sections inclined upward or downward with respect to one another and interconnected, with curves irregularly formed along the sections. Accordingly, since the toxic gas being discharged through the filter member is dispersed, entangled and mixed by the irregular curves of the filter member, a reaction time between the toxic gas and a catalyst coating the filter member is increased, thereby improving the purification efficiency. |
| US08490608B2 |
Heavy particle oil separator splash shield
The present disclosure generally relates to a locomotive diesel engine and, more particularly, to a heavy particle oil separator splash shield. Specifically, provided is a system and method for reducing exhaust particulate emissions. The present shield prevents large oil droplets in close proximity to the oil separator from easily entering the element, thus preventing less saturation of the oil separator and increasing the efficiency of the oil separator. As a result, environmental pollution is reduced. |
| US08490605B2 |
Actuating drive for bidirectional actuator
An actuating drive for a bi-directionally adjustable actuator for at least on of an exhaust gas recirculation device and an exhaust gas turbocharger. The actuating drive includes an electric motor; a toggle lever, which articulates with the actuator via a first toggle lever bearing; and a gear mechanism, connecting the electric motor with the toggle lever, wherein the gear mechanism includes a toothing element on an output side mounted in a pivot bearing, wherein the toggle lever is articulating mounted via a second toggle lever bearing, wherein in a starting state of the actuating drive is associated with a starting position of the actuator, and wherein an acute angle exists between a first straight line extending through the first toggle lever bearing and through the second toggle lever bearing, and a second straight line extending through the pivot bearing and through the second toggle lever bearing. |
| US08490603B2 |
Fuel tank valve device and fuel tank ventilation device
A fuel tank valve device equipped with a casing, and a valve mechanism. The valve mechanism has a first valve unit having a first valve connecting hole, and a second valve unit that opens and closes the first valve connecting hole. The first valve unit completely closes the valve flow path by moving by the force in the valve closing direction when the pressure of the second communication path exceeds a preset first pressure value. In a state when the first valve unit is closing the valve flow path, when the pressure of the second communication path exceeds a preset second pressure value that is greater than the first pressure value, the second valve unit receives the pressure from the first valve connecting hole and moves to open the first valve connecting hole, communicating with the valve flow path. |
| US08490602B2 |
Sealed wire interface
A fuel pump module flange assembly includes a flange member with an outer surface, an inner surface, and an external boss protruding from the outer surface. The external boss defines an external cavity, and the flange member is monolithic. The assembly also includes an electrically conductive wire that extends through the flange member. The wire has a first portion that protrudes away from the inner surface, and the wire also includes a terminal end that is disposed within the external cavity of the external boss. The wire is monolithic from the terminal end to the first portion. |
| US08490598B2 |
Ignition coil with ionization and digital feedback for an internal combustion engine
Systems and methods for controlling an internal combustion engine include an ignition coil that generates a pre-discharge ionization signal during charging of the ignition coil after reaching a first threshold charge level and prior to spark discharge and a controller that determines an engine operating condition, such as pre-ignition or plug fouling, in response to the pre-discharge ionization signal. The ignition coil may also generate digital feedback and ionization signals used to by the controller for to control ignition coil dwell and repetitive sparking, as well as providing various combustion diagnostics. |
| US08490596B2 |
Vertical and horizontal engine
An engine lubrication and speed control method is provided. The four-cycle engine has a lightweight aluminum alloy engine block having a cylindrical bore and an enclosed oil reservoir formed therein. A vertical or horizontal crankshaft is rotatably mounted in the engine block for rotation about a crankshaft axis. A piston reciprocates within the bore and is connected to the crankshaft by a connecting rod. A trochoid or screw oil pump is driven by the camshaft connected with a cam gear, which mates with a crank gear that is driven by the crankshaft, inhales the oil from the oil reservoir to splash lubricate into the cylinder bore and valve chamber. The engine is provided with a cylinder head assembly defining a compact combustion chamber having a pair of overhead intake and exhaust ports and cooperating intake and exhaust valves. A commonality of parts between the horizontal and the vertical engine is highly achieved. |
| US08490594B2 |
Outboard motor
An outboard motor includes an engine including a vertically extending crankshaft, a rope reel, a transmitting member, a force accumulation spiral spring, and an engine cover arranged to cover these components. The rope reel includes a plate portion arranged to be rotatable about the rotational center axis of the crankshaft and a rope winding portion provided integrally with the plate portion at the peripheral edge thereof and arranged to be wound with a rope to start the engine. The transmitting member is arranged to be rotatable about the rotational center axis of the crankshaft and to transmit rotation to the crankshaft. The force accumulation spiral spring is disposed on the opposite side of the engine with respect to the plate portion of the rope reel. The force accumulation spiral spring is arranged to accumulate a torque applied to the rope reel and transmit the torque to the transmitting member, first and second ends of the spring being fixed, respectively, to the rope reel and the transmitting member. |
| US08490591B1 |
Valve arrangement
A valve arrangement for a four-cycle internal combustion engine is described.The arrangement includes a single poppet valve mechanically-timed by a unified single lobe cam in such a manner as to be totally dosed during the compression cycle and the power cycle and to be open during the exhaust cycle and the inlet cycle.During the period when the poppet valve remains open, the correct direction of the combustion gas exiting through the exhaust port and the air charge (direct fuel injected spark engines and compression ignition engines) or fuel/air mixture (indirect fuel injected and carburetted engines) entering through the inlet port is maintained by two passive unidirectional reed valves, preferably located close to the exit from the exhaust port and close to the entrance to the inlet port respectively.The invention requires substantially fewer mechanically-timed components, delivering key advantages in terms of cost, efficiency and adaptability. |
| US08490590B2 |
Hydraulic lash adjuster for internal combustion engine
A hydraulic lash adjuster capable of retaining a Large amount of hydraulic oil in a reservoir communicated with a high-pressure chamber when the engine is stopped. The hydraulic lash adjuster including: a cylindrical body (24) having an upper open end, a closed bottom, and a second oil supply hole (27a) formed in the sidewall of the cylindrical body; and a plunger having a top end serving as a plunging end, a sidewall, a bottom end, a high pressure chamber (29) at the lower bottom, and a first oil supply hole (24b) formed in the sidewall, the plunger being slidabic on the inner wall of the body. The plunger has a reservoir (28) that communicates with an external oil supply line (32) via the first oil supply hole (24b) and the second oil supply hole (27a). |
| US08490589B2 |
Rotor, in particular for a camshaft adjuster, method for producing a rotor and device for adjusting the angle of rotation of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft of an engine
A rotor (10), in particular for a camshaft adjuster, comprises a rotor base body (8) that comprises a hub part having a central oil inlet (14). In addition, at least one vane (18) arranged in a radial manner on the hub part (12) and also oil channels (16) that extend through the hub part (12) on both sides of each vane (18) and are connected to the central oil inlet (14) in such a manner as to allow the flow of oil are provided in the hub part (12). The process of manufacturing the rotor base body (8) is considerably simplified as the rotor base body (8) is divided along a dividing plane (T), so that it comprises two base body parts (6). |
| US08490588B2 |
Actuator device and variable valve apparatus of internal combustion engine
There is provided an actuator device for a variable valve apparatus. The variable valve apparatus has a control shaft to vary operation characteristics of an engine valve by an axial movement thereof. The actuator device has a rotatable screw shaft, a movable member axially movable with rotation of the screw shaft and a transmission mechanism unit that converts an axial movement of the movable member to the axial movement of the control shaft. An amount of the axial movement of the movable member is larger than an amount of the axial movement of the control shaft. |
| US08490586B2 |
Electromagnetic actuating unit of a solenoid valve, and method for the production of such an actuating unit
An electromagnetic actuating unit of a hydraulic control valve which has an armature disposed inside an armature chamber in an axially displaceable manner, and a pole core disposed in a recess. The pole core limits the armature chamber in a direction of movement of the armature. The geometry of the armature serves to adjust the characteristic line of the electromagnetic actuating unit. |
| US08490585B2 |
Work apparatus with a combustion-air flow diverted from the cooling air flow
The invention relates to a portable, hand-held work apparatus such as a chain saw, a cut-off machine, a brush cutter or the like with an air cooled combustion engine. A cooling air blower (4) which includes a cooling air spiral (6) and a fan wheel (5), moves a cooling air flow (13) for cooling the combustion engine. Further a combustion air channel (30) leads from the cooling air blower (4) to the combustion engine (2) and branches off from an air output window (20) provided in the base (14) of the cooling air spiral (6). The diverting device (21) includes a guide wall (22) which extends into the cooling air spiral (6) between the fan wheel (5) and the air output window (20). In order to divert a large volume of combustion air (19) with minimal disruption to the cooling air flow, the pass-through cross-section of the air output window (20) tapers in the direction of the diverted combustion air (19) from a first pass-through area (29) to a second pass-through area (31). |
| US08490580B2 |
Water heaters with sealed door assembly
A water heater door assembly includes a base plate sized and shaped to substantially sealingly cover an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and has at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a gas control valve, and a flexible seal positioned at least partly within the opening including an engaging portion substantially sealed to an edge portion of the opening, and a through hole that is shaped to receive the fuel supply and has a size slightly smaller than the size of an outer dimension of the fuel supply line such that the flexible seal and the fuel supply line are friction fit together to form a seal. |
| US08490573B2 |
Method and apparatus for material deposition
Broadly speaking, a method and an apparatus are provided for depositing a material on a semiconductor wafer (“wafer”). More specifically, the method and apparatus provide for selective heating of a surface of the wafer exposed to an electroless plating solution. The selective heating is provided by applying radiant energy to the wafer surface. The selective heating of the wafer surface causes a temperature increase at an interface between the wafer surface and the electroless plating solution. The temperature increase at the interface in turn causes a plating reaction to occur at the wafer surface. Thus, material is deposited on the wafer surface through an electroless plating reaction that is initiated and controlled by varying the temperature of the wafer surface using an appropriately defined radiant energy source. |
| US08490571B2 |
Coater, method for manufacturing coated article, and fluid blowing unit
A coater (1) includes: a droplet jet part (4) which ejects droplets of a first solution toward an object to be coated (2) to apply the droplets to the object to be coated (2); and a remoisturizing-drying part (6) which gives a residue of the first solution applied on the object to be coated (2) a solvent capable of dissolving the residue to form an applied body with a second solution containing the residue as a solute, and which dries the formed applied body with the second solution. |
| US08490568B2 |
Vessel for contagious fish disease control
The present invention relates to a vessel for handling of contagious or dead fish comprising: a hull with a generally closed deck (5), and an inlet (15) for receiving the fish externally to a fish grinder (11) arranged for grinding the fish through the grinder (11) and arranged for delivering ground fish mass to a closed, internal grinder tank (8) in the vessel, the grinder tank (8) arranged for receiving ensiling liquid from a chemical dosing plant (12) to the ground fish mass. In the vessel according to the invention the dosing plant (12) may be arranged for dosing ensiling liquid into the ground mass proportional to the amount of fish supplied to the grinder tank (8). |
| US08490562B1 |
Liquefied natural gas dynamic positioning system processing and transport system
A floating liquefaction vessel and transport system for receiving, storing, and transporting a liquefied natural gas, wherein the system can include a transport vessel for monitoring, receiving, storing, and transporting the liquefied natural gas. A transport vessel controller can dynamically position the transport vessel in proximity to a floating liquefaction vessel using motion sensors, fan beams, and dynamic global positioning systems. The floating liquefaction vessel can include receive a dry gas, and cool the dry gas to form liquefied natural gas for transfer to the transport vessel across a connecting device. The connecting device can connect the transport vessel to the floating liquefaction vessel, and can include: an inner walkway telescopically contained within an outer walkway. The inner walkway can extend and retract from the outer walkway in response to motions. |
| US08490558B2 |
Watercraft steering and thrust control system
A watercraft has first and second jet propulsion units. The first jet propulsion unit includes a first inlet, a first outlet, a second outlet, and a first valve. The second jet propulsion unit includes a second inlet, a third outlet, a fourth outlet, and a second valve. The watercraft also includes first and second discharge ports disposed on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline, a first pipe fluidly communicating the first discharge port with the second outlet, a second pipe fluidly communicating the second discharge port with the second outlet, third and a fourth discharge ports disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline, a third pipe fluidly communicating the third discharge port with the fourth outlet, and a fourth pipe fluidly communicating the fourth discharge port with the fourth outlet. |
| US08490557B2 |
Balance maintaining equipment for floating body
A balance maintaining equipment for a floating body includes a driving device for rotating a driving shaft; a first eccentric rotating body positioned at one side of the driving device and connected to the driving shaft to rotate around the driving shaft by the rotation thereof; and a second eccentric rotating body positioned at the other side of the driving device and connected to the driving shaft to rotate around the driving shaft by the rotation thereof, while having a phase difference of 180 degrees from the rotation of the first eccentric rotating body. The balance maintaining equipment generates the moment in the opposite direction to the roll of the floating body. Furthermore, when the roll period of the floating body is changed, the balance maintaining equipment varies the angular velocity of the driving shaft to interwork with the roll period of the floating body. |
| US08490553B1 |
Cake stacker system
A base plate has a center and a periphery. Lower and upper cake support plates have centers and peripheries and central apertures. A center post extends through the center apertures and is coupled to the base plate and the upper cake support plate. A plurality of dowels are coupled to the lower cake support plate and the upper cake support plate and extend downwardly therefrom. |
| US08490551B1 |
Portable convertible ice cooled serving table
A portable convertible ice cooled serving table comprised of two sections is foldable for carrying by a handle. The legs may be folded against the sections. Transparent covers to protect the food from insects and to keep atmospheric heat away from the food and cooling medium are removeably pivotally mountable to the sections when erected and are storable within the folded table, including handles thereon, for transport and storage. The two sections are pivotally openable to form a table and conveniently secured in table position wherein the bases of the two sections are in the same plane. The legs are also provided with easily insertable and releasable braces which are pivotally mounted to the bases of the sections. The sections may be preferably made of insulative material. |
| US08490548B2 |
Device for railway maintenance
A device (1) for the maintenance and the repair of rails and railroad apparatuses, includes: a frame (2); elements (3, 4, 5) of displacement on a rail; the elements of displacement including two wheels (4, 5) aligned with an axis (6) of displacement of the device along a rail (7). The frame (2) is arranged on the elements (3) of displacement so that, when the wheels of the device are positioned on a rail (7), the center of gravity (22) of the device is placed vertically to the rail. According to a preferred embodiment, each wheel is provided with two flanges (12, 13) having a substantially annular shape, the position of at least one of the flanges being axially adjustable. |
| US08490546B2 |
Method of imaging in crystalline colloidal arrays
A method of printing an image that diffracts radiation is disclosed. The method includes assembling an ordered periodic array of particles on a substrate, wherein the array of particles diffracts radiation in a wavelength band dependent on viewing angle; printing an imaging composition onto a portion of the array in a configuration of an image; shifting the wavelength band of radiation diffracted and changing the refractive index by the printed portion of the array so that the printed portion diffracts radiation at a different wavelength band and reflectivity intensity from a remaining portion of the array; and fixing the printed portion of the array, such that the printed portion of the array diffracts radiation and exhibits the image. |
| US08490545B2 |
Printing screens, frames therefor and printing screen units
A printing screen unit including a printing screen having two pairs of opposite edges and a frame including interface members bonded to opposite edges of the printing screen and coupled together at corners of the frame, wherein the frame holds the printing screen in an untensioned state when no tension is applied thereto by external tensioning mechanisms separate to the frame, and the frame is substantially rigid when in the untensioned state, but allows for relative movement of the respective pairs of interface members by a tension applied by external tensioning mechanisms separate to the frame to tension the printing screen. |
| US08490541B2 |
Method for determining at least one suitable parameter for a process of making a beverage
A beverage maker (1) comprises a chamber (8) for receiving at least one member containing at least one beverage ingredient. During operation of the beverage maker (1), fluid is conducted through the member for the purpose of making a beverage. In order to be capable of determining suitable parameters for processing the member, the beverage maker comprises means (12) for detecting at least one characteristic of a flow which is obtained when a flow of fluid is realized. Furthermore, the beverage maker (1) comprises controller means (10) for processing the detected characteristic, and memory means (11) in which predetermined values of the characteristic are stored, wherein each predetermined value is associated with a specific type of member and at least one suitable parameter for processing the member. By finding the predetermined characteristic which is closest to the detected characteristic, a suitable parameter for processing the member which is actually present in the beverage maker (1) is selected. |
| US08490540B2 |
Programmable brewer
A programmable brewer capable of brewing approximately 250 different brewing profiles for beverages, including a housing, having a base, the base capable of supporting a decanter, into which the brewed beverage is deposited. A cover is cantilevered forwardly at the top of the housing, and the housing incorporates a water tank capable of producing heating water for use of brewing purposes. The brewer cooperating with a hand held computer for producing limited programming functions available through the brewer during its usage, said computer providing for a calibration of the programming mode, to determine the parameters of a brewing cycle, regulating the temperature of the water, and a computer providing for establishing the operation mode of a cold water dispensing tube, and a hot water dispensing tube for determining the amount of water to be dispensed from said tubes during operations of a brew cycle. |
| US08490526B2 |
Processes for improving tool life and surface finish in high speed machining
Processes for high speed machining of workpiece materials using high performance tools with prolonged tool life and improved surface finish are provided by vibrating the tool and/or the workpiece at a frequency greater than the frequency of shear localization in the primary shear zone or chip segmentation occurring in the absence of tool vibration, with an amplitude sufficient to break up the tool-chip atomic contact, thereby decreasing the tool-chip contact length through decreasing the tool-chip contact time, thereby suppressing accelerated chemical tool wear caused by dissolution of the tool into the workpiece by nanocrystalline grain boundary diffusion and grain boundary sliding mechanisms by preventing shear localization associated with nanocrystalline grain formation in the primary shear zone of the chip, and suppressing oxidation wear of the tool by preventing segmentation of the chip. |
| US08490524B2 |
Systems and methods for adjusting bearing endplay
An apparatus for use in adjusting an endplay of a bearing of a wheel hub assembly includes an outer circumferential surface configured to be received within an annular space around the nut attached to a shaft of the wheel hub assembly and retaining the bearing on the shaft. An engaging surface is coupled to the outer circumferential surface and configured to engage the nut. A stopping surface is coupled to the engaging surface and configured to abut an outer surface of the nut opposite the bearing such that the engaging surface is positioned in an engaging position to engage nut engaging surfaces of the nut. An arm is connected to the stopping surface and extends out of the annular space away from the bearing and substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft when the stopping surface abuts the outer surface of the nut. |
| US08490523B2 |
Lockable folding multi-tool
A locking folding tool is disclosed. The folding tool comprises a housing having a pair of sidewalls in spaced relation to each other, and a support extending transversely between the pair of sidewalls. The folding tool may further have a plurality of work tools pivotally supported by the support. As such, the support may define a pivot axis for the work tools. Each work tool may further have an associated lock engaging member. The folding tool may also include a lock member movable between a first position and a second position. When the lock member is in the first position, it may engage the lock engaging members so that each of the work tools is inhibited from pivoting about the support. When the lock member is in the second position, it may disengage the lock engaging member so that the work tools are pivotable about the support. |
| US08490516B2 |
Screw driving machine having combustion-type power mechanism and electric power mechanism
A screw driving machine includes a bit that is movable to strike a screw against a workpiece and rotatable to rotate the screw to the workpiece, a combustion-type power mechanism including a spark plug that ignites combustible gas filled in a combustion chamber to apply striking force to cause the bit to strike the screw, a motor that generates a rotative force when supplied with electric force, and a power transmission mechanism that transmits the rotative force generated at the motor to the bit to cause the bit to rotate. |
| US08490512B2 |
Control cable assembly with dampening
In one implementation, a shifter assembly for a vehicle transmission, may include a shifter adapted to move between at least two positions corresponding to different modes of operation of the transmission, a cable connection feature associated with the shifter, and a cable connected to the cable connection feature and adapted to be connected to the transmission such that movement of the shifter is transmitted to the transmission by the cable. The cable may include a conduit, a core received within the conduit, and a dampener connected to the conduit. The dampener in the preferred embodiment bends the conduit and engages the core with the conduit. |
| US08490504B2 |
Fatigue evaluation of prostheses by radial excitation of tubular structures
Prostheses are fatigue tested using an apparatus under simulated physiological loading conditions. A fluid housing defines an entrance chamber having fluid outflow ports and an exit chamber having opposing fluid inflow ports and a central flow conduit in communication with the entrance chamber and the exit chamber. A plurality of housing tubes into which prosthesis are deployed may extend between the fluid outflow and inflow ports. Alternatively, tubular prostheses may be connected directly between the inflow and outflow ports. A reciprocating linear drive pump having a flexible diaphragm is provided to cyclically pressurize fluid through a common closed loop within the fluid housing and drive the pressurized fluid through the prosthesis being tested. The test system is capable of rotation independent of the motor drive for accurate diameter measurements of all test samples at elevated frequencies. |
| US08490503B2 |
Torque-adjusting machine for hinge
A torque-adjusting machine includes a securing fixture, a torque-detecting mechanism, a driving device and an adjusting mechanism. The securing fixture is capable of retaining a first bracket of a hinge. The driving device is capable of retaining a second bracket of the hinge. The torque-detecting mechanism is connected to the securing fixture and capable of detecting torque of the hinge through rotating the first bracket of the hinge relative to the second bracket of the hinge. The adjusting mechanism includes an adjusting pole. The adjusting pole is capable of moving from a first position, where the adjusting pole is capable of engaging with the hinge and adjusting the torque of the hinge by rotation, to a second position, where the adjusting pole is capable of being disengaged from the hinge. |
| US08490502B2 |
Liquid sample analyzer
The present invention removes an air bubble attaching to a detection part arranged in a concave portion on a wall surface in a flow path or an air bubble generated in the vicinity without requiring an external driving force, in a simple configuration. Specifically, the present invention includes: a liquid sample flow path for circulating a liquid sample; a detection part contained and arranged in a stepwise concave portion formed on an inner wall surface of the liquid sample flow path; and a projection part provided at a position facing to the stepwise concave portion on an inner wall surface of the liquid sample flow path, for generating a turbulent flow on a front side of an opening of the stepwise concave portion. |
| US08490501B2 |
Complex sensor and robot hand
A complex sensor comprises a touch sensor and a proximity sensor. The touch sensor comprises a flexible pressure-sensitive sheet covering a fingertip portion. The pressure-sensitive sheet comprises a front surface film and a rear surface film composed of a flexible conductive material, an intermediate film which is sandwiched between the films in a state in which the intermediate film is electrically connected and which is composed of pressure-sensitive conductive rubber, and first to fourth electrode terminals formed on the front surface and rear surface films. The size of a load acting on the pressure-sensitive sheet and the center position of the load can be detected based on the terminal voltage. A through-hole is formed in the pressure-sensitive sheet such that the sensing surface of the proximity sensor is exposed, thus the approach of a holding object can be detected. |
| US08490499B2 |
Sensor system for ascertaining a torque and for index detection
A torque sensor system having an index function and ascertaining a torque between an input shaft and an output shaft connected to each other via a torsion bar, includes: a magnetic unit having a magnetic pole wheel for generating a magnetic field, the magnetic unit being rigidly connected to one of the two shafts; a flux ring unit having a flux ring system for converting and conducting the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic unit, the flux ring unit being rigidly connected to the other shaft; and a sensor unit having at least one first magnetic field-sensitive sensor element for sensing changes in the magnetic flux through the flux ring system, the sensor unit being mounted in a stationary manner relative to the flux ring unit. The index function is implemented with the aid of an index magnet and a further magnetic field-sensitive sensor element. |
| US08490497B2 |
Microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure transducer
A pressure transducer for measuring pressure may include an all-polymer chamber that has no dimension greater than 1 mm. There may be fluid within the chamber, a gaseous bubble trapped within the fluid, and electrodes in contact with the fluid. The electrodes may enable a measurement of changes in the impedance of the fluid caused by changes in the volume of the gaseous bubble caused by changes in the pressure to be measured.The pressure transducer may be made by depositing the chamber, placing the fluid within the chamber, and generating the gaseous bubble within the fluid with electrolysis. |
| US08490495B2 |
Capacitive pressure sensor with vertical electrical feedthroughs and method to make the same
A sensing device capable of detecting pressure using micro-electro-mechanical system (“MEMS”) capacitive pressure sensor with vertical electric feed-through is disclosed. The sensing device includes a first sensing element, a second sensing element, and a sensing circuit. In one embodiment, the first sensing element is disposed over a semiconductor die and is configured to generate a first sensing signal upon detecting pressure. The second sensing element is also disposed over the semiconductor die adjacent to the first sensing element, and is configured to generate a second sensing signal upon sensing ambient conditions. The sensing circuit is capable of generating a pressure sensing signal in response to the first sensing signal and the second sensing signal. |
| US08490491B2 |
Extended overflow indication for high dynamic range ultrasonic fault detection systems
A method and apparatus for effecting ultrasonic flaw detection of an object processes an echo signal received from the object being tested in at least three signal channels, wherein the echo signal is scaled to different degrees along each channel to increase and extend the dynamic range of an associated A/D converter system, in a manner which dispenses with the need for using numerous analog high pass and low pass filters and a variable gain amplifier. This reduces complexity and avoids performance limitations. The digital to analog converters sample the differently scaled input signal and a selection circuit selects the output of the digital output obtained from that analog to digital converter which has the highest gain, but which has not overflowed. The digital outputs are seamlessly merged to produce an output that can be displayed as a scan display which shows the location of faults. |
| US08490489B2 |
Transducer array imaging system
The disclosed embodiments include a method, system, and device for conducting ultrasound interrogation of a medium. The novel method includes transmitting a non-beamformed or beamformed ultrasound wave into the medium, receiving more than one echoed ultrasound wave from the medium, and converting the received echoed ultrasound wave into digital data. The novel method may further transmit the digital data. In some embodiments, the transmitting may be wireless. The novel device may include transducer elements, an analog-to-digital converter in communication with the transducer elements, and a transmitter in communication with the analog-to-digital converter. The transducers may operate to convert a first electrical energy into an ultrasound wave. The first electrical energy may or may not be beamformed. The transducers also may convert an echoed ultrasound wave into a second electrical energy. The analog-to-digital converter may convert the electrical energy into digital data, and the transmitter may transmit the digital data. |
| US08490488B2 |
Edge-detect receiver for orthopedic parameter sensing
A sensor system uses positive closed-loop feedback to provide energy waves into a medium. A sensor comprises a transducer (604), a propagating structure (602), and a reflecting surface (606). A parameter is applied to the propagating structure that affects the medium. The sensor is coupled to a propagation tuned oscillator (416) that forms the positive closed-loop feedback path with the sensor. The propagation tuned oscillator (416) includes an edge-detect receiver (200) that generates a pulse upon sensing a wave front of an energy wave in propagating structure (602). The edge-detect receiver (100) is in the feedback path that continues emitting energy waves into the propagating structure (602). The edge-detect receiver (200) comprises a preamplifier (212), a differentiator (214), a digital pulse circuit (216), and a deblank circuit (218). The transit time, phase, or frequency is measured of the propagating energy waves and correlated to the parameter being measured. |
| US08490484B2 |
Apparatus for driving gyroscope sensor
There is provided an apparatus for driving a gyroscope sensor, including: a detector detecting voltage corresponding to the deformation of a gyroscope sensor due to vibrations generated by a driving voltage supplied through a driving electrode and Coriolis force by using a detecting electrode; a phase shifter shifting the voltage from the detector by a preset phase to generate the driving voltage, in order to meet oscillation phase conditions; an inverter inverting the voltage from the phase shifter to generate the inverting voltage, in order to stop the driving of the gyroscope sensor; a selector selecting any one of the driving voltage from the phase shifter and the inverting voltage from the inverter; and an amplifier amplifying the driving voltage or the inverting voltage from the selector to a preset gain and supplying it to the driving electrode of the gyroscope sensor, in order to meet oscillation amplitude conditions. |
| US08490481B2 |
Strain gauge with moisture barrier
A device for mounting on a structure surface includes a component, a circuit, a moisture barrier, and a protective cover. The moisture barrier is within the protective cover. The component and the circuit are within the moisture barrier. The component is for bonding to the structure surface with a bond susceptible to damage from moisture. The circuit includes a radio frequency transmitter. The circuit is for providing data derived from the component to the radio frequency transmitter for external transmission. |
| US08490480B2 |
Device for monitoring tire pressure
A device for monitoring tire pressure includes an antenna for transmitting pressure data, a printed circuit board with a circuit for measuring and transmitting pressure data that is connected to the antenna, a power source for supplying the circuit, and a housing surrounding the printed circuit board, According to the invention, the housing is produced by insert-molding the antenna. |
| US08490479B2 |
Tyre inflation valve connectable to a transducer
A valve for inflating tires of tired wheels associable with a transducer provided with electronic sensors for detection and transmission of certain operating parameters of the tire. The valve is arranged for being mounted on a rim of a wheel for vehicles so that the valve projects outside the rim and the transducer is positioned within a chamber delimited by the tire and by the rim. The valve includes signaling units which, once the valve has been mounted, are visible from the outside of the wheel. The signaling units are correlated univocally with the orientation of the transducer, and are arranged for indicating the position assumed by the transducer inside said chamber. |
| US08490473B2 |
Production method of a sensor film
The present invention relates to a production method for producing a sensor film for measuring cracks of a material surface using the comparative vacuum measurement method. A gallery having a predetermined gallery course is milled along a surface of the sensor film using a milling apparatus. The sensor film comprises a plastic material. |
| US08490472B2 |
System and method for detecting moisture
A technique facilitates the detection of moisture. The technique utilizes distributed sensor lines deployed along an insulated vessel, such as an insulated pipe. The sensor lines are used to measure temperature and to determine a differential temperature across the insulation between the sensor lines. Changes in the differential temperature can be detected, and those changes are used to determine whether moisture has intruded into a specific region of the insulation. |
| US08490471B1 |
Bench test screening method for fluid antifoam additives
A method for evaluating antifoam additives for lubricants. The method includes a step of aging a quantity of fluid containing an antifoam additive in one or more high shear simulator(s) for a period of time to provide an aged fluid. After the aging step, the fluid is evaluated in a foam tendency evaluation test to provide the foaming tendency for the fluid. |
| US08490468B2 |
Failure diagnosis system
Provided is a failure diagnosis system which can diagnose whether or not a sensitivity adjustment part is in failure. The failure diagnosis system includes: a plurality of sensors; various sensors that detect operating conditions of a device; a plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts that adjust receiver sensitivities of sensor signals from the plurality of sensors based on the detected operating conditions; and a failure diagnosis part that diagnoses whether or not the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts are in failure. The failure diagnosis part detects a failure condition of a sensitivity adjustment part when a difference between a comparison value calculated based on a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signals from the plurality of sensitivity adjustment parts at a given interval, and a maximum value of the adjusted sensor signal from the sensitivity adjustment part to be diagnosed at the given interval is larger than a given amount. |
| US08490467B2 |
Thermally insulating ceramic substrates for gas sensors
A gas sensor includes a substrate having a low thermal conductivity. Localized heating can be produced using a serpentined heater carried by the substrate. The low thermal conductivity of the substrate substantially confines the generated heat to a region local to the heater thereby reducing required power to operate the sensor. Multiple sensing elements can be deposited onto the substrate adjacent to respective heaters and relatively close together because of the thermal isolation provided by the substrate. In one embodiment, the sensor can include the ceramic substrate, the heater, catalytic material overlying the heater with a gas impermeable layer overlying, at least in part the catalytic material. |
| US08490458B2 |
Foil configuration device and method
A device for configuring foil comprising a first portion comprising a first configuration; a second portion comprising a second configuration; the foil dispenser adapted to dispense foil between the first and second portions, the first and second portions imparting a configuration to the foil as the foil exits the dispensing device. A method of creating a cross sectional configuration in foil comprising: passing the foil through an opening; the opening having first and second portions which impart a configuration to the foil; the first and second portions being configured to create elevated portions along the longitudinal axis of the foil. |
| US08490453B2 |
Extrusion press
A fixing device is configured by: a pushing device of the die unit capable of pushing the die unit from ahead in the direction of extrusion; and a pressing device of the die unit capable of pressing a die ring and the die cassette from above in a direction intersecting the direction of extrusion. The fixing device of the die unit is arranged between the discard cutting device and an end platen and at the same time, the pressing device of the die unit is provided with a fixing metal fitting of the pushing device of the die unit and a pressing metal fitting of the die ring and when the pressing device of the die unit operates and presses and fixes the die ring and the die cassette, the pushing device of the die is fixed. |
| US08490451B2 |
Method for rolling strip-shaped rolling stock, in particular metal strip
The invention relates to a method for rolling strip-shaped rolling stock, in particular metal strip. This method is characterized substantially by the following procedure: the metal strip A exiting the pickling line passes through the two roll stands (3, 4) of the reversing roll stand, wherein the start of a subsequent metal strip B has already been welded to the strip end of the metal strip A before entering the pickling line (5), said start of the metal strip B is then rolled as well, specifically over a length corresponding to the wind-on length until tension is built up on the reel and likewise rims on the reversing reel (1), during the subsequent reversing the metal strip B is separated from the metal strip A such that the already rolled start of the metal strip B remains on the still unrolled remaining metal strip B, then the complete metal strip A is reverse-rolled. |
| US08490447B2 |
Method for adjusting a state of a rolling stock, particularly a near-net strip
In a method and a control device for adjusting a state of a rolling stock, particularly a near-net strip, defined at least by an out-of-parallel condition and/or a curvature of the rolling stock, the rolling stock is transitioned from an initial into an intermediate state by a roll stand and by impressing a stress onto the rolling stock by an additional processing device, and the rolling stock is transitioned from the intermediate into a final state by at least one processing aggregate. By determining whether rolling stock should be fed into the at least one processing aggregate, the intermediate state requiring a non-zero out-of-parallel condition and/or curvature in order to achieve a predetermined final state, and the roll stand and/or the processing device are controlled and/or regulated as a function thereof to adjust the required intermediate state, the shape reliability of an ultimately parallel, non-curved rolling stock can be increased. |
| US08490446B2 |
Programmable lock cylinder assembly
A programmable lock cylinder assembly including a lock housing and a cylinder plug including a keyway extending therein. At least one locking member is moveable in the cylinder plug between a locked position wherein the cylinder plug is rotationally locked relative to the housing and an unlocked position wherein the cylinder plug is rotational relative to the housing. A plurality of pin sets are positioned in the cylinder plug. Each pin set includes a keyway pin component and a locking pin component and is positioned such that a portion of each keyway pin component extends across the keyway. The pin components are selectively engagable. A re-combinating member is engaged with one of the components of each pin set and is moveable between a first position wherein the keyway pin components are engaged with the locking pin components and a second position wherein the keyway pin components are disengaged from the locking pin components. A reset actuator is moveable between an engaged position wherein the re-combinating member position is locked relative to the cylinder plug and a non-engaged position wherein the re-combinating member position is moveable relative to the cylinder plug. |
| US08490443B2 |
Electronic lock for cabinet doors, drawers and other applications
An electronic lock replaces mechanical locks in cam lock, cabinet lock and switch lock applications, as well as other locks for file cabinets, desk and cabinet drawers, access panels and other secure situations that often utilize relatively simple lock mechanisms. In a preferred embodiment the lock is without a keypad, accessed by an electronic key making contact with a terminal. |
| US08490442B1 |
Flexible disposable lightweight secure handcuff system
A compact, lightweight, polymeric injection molded handcuff has a strap with a distal free end and a substantially rectangular head. The strap has knife grabbing features that include a plurality of hillocks with valleys therebetween. The strap head has an aperture surrounded by a deformable frame carrying an integrally molded slanted knife with a sharp knife-edge. The strap's distal end is inserted into the head's aperture and a ring is inserted half way therealong to form two loops for inserting a prisoner's hands therethrough. When the distal end of the strap is pulled to tighten the handcuff, the knife-edge rides the hillocks, which interfere therewith owing to deformation of the head's rectangular portion. Upon clearing the hillocks, the knife comes to rest in one of the valleys, thereby securing the prisoner. Attempts by the prisoner to release the handcuff dig the slanted knife-edge into an adjacent hillock, locking the handcuff. |
| US08490438B2 |
Laundry treatment device
A laundry treatment device is provided which includes a first space for laundry treatment, a second space formed separate from the first space, and an air supply device provided in the second space, the air supply device supplying heated dry air to the first space. |
| US08490434B2 |
Process and apparatus for producing glass member provided with sealing material layer and process for producing electronic device
To provide a process for producing a glass member provided with a sealing material layer, capable of favorably forming a sealing material layer even in a case where the entire glass substrate cannot be heated.A sealing material paste prepared by mixing a sealing material containing a sealing glass and a laser absorbent with an organic binder is applied to a sealing region of a glass substrate 2 in the form of a frame. The frame-form coating layer 8 of the sealing material paste is selectively heated by irradiation with a laser light 9 along the coating layer 8 to fire the sealing material while the organic binder in the coating layer 8 is burnt out to form a sealing material layer 7. Using such a sealing material layer 7, a space between two glass substrates is sealed. |
| US08490433B2 |
Method for applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to a glass melt
A method of applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to a glass melt by monitoring a glass melt temperature TY and transferring ultrasonic acoustic energy from an ultrasonic transducer to the glass melt at a controller power PC and a controller frequency vC through an ultrasonic probe positioned in the glass melt is provided. According to the method, the controller power PC is controlled in response to at least (i) the monitored glass melt temperature TY and (ii) a reference glass melt temperature TR. The controller frequency vC is controlled in response to at least (i) one or more input parameters from a temperature-viscosity curve characterizing the glass melt, (ii) one or more input parameters from one or more temperature dependent impedance response models of the glass melt, and (iii) ΔZ, where ΔZ represents a degree to which an impedance condition ZY of the ultrasonic probe differs from a reference impedance ZR when the ultrasonic probe is positioned in the glass melt. Systems for applying ultrasonic acoustic energy to glass melts are also contemplated. |
| US08490429B2 |
Article of jewelry having repulsive magnetic elements and methods of manufacturing
An article of jewelry including a pliable strand; and a plurality of precious or semiprecious objects movably positioned along the pliable strand. Each of the plurality of objects including a magnetic insert extending between opposing surfaces, which itself is formed from two magnets separated by a magnetic stabilizer and aligned such that the opposing ends of the magnetic insert have the same polarity thereby creating repulsive forces between each of the plurality of objects along the strand. |
| US08490427B2 |
Liquid desiccant chiller
A thermally activated air conditioning system is disclosed that both dries and chills the air being conditioned. Drying is by a liquid desiccant subsystem, and chilling is by an absorption chilling subsystem. A very high COP (1.25) is obtainable owing to the use of reject heat from the absorption subsystem to power the desiccant subsystem. The overall system (or cycle) is powered by relatively low temperature input heat (e.g. 245° F.). That heat can be obtained from flat plate or evacuated tube solar collectors, or other sources. The low driving temperature is made possible by the disclosed integration between the two subcycles. |
| US08490426B2 |
Door basket for refrigerator
Provided is a door basket of a refrigerator including a lighting device capable of emitting light. According to above-described configuration, illumination can be improved at the door basket, and an outer appearance thereof can be elegant. |
| US08490424B2 |
LED canopy light fixture
A refrigerated display case for maintaining food product at a desired temperature includes a product display area adapted to support and to display the food product such that the food product is accessible from the front of the case through an opening. An interior top wall is positioned above the product display area and includes an outlet adjacent the opening. An air passageway internal to the case and in fluid communication with the outlet permits refrigerated air from a refrigeration system to be supplied to the product display area through the outlet. The air discharged from the outlet defines an air curtain adapted to maintain the food product at the desired temperature. A light source is disposed adjacent the interior top wall and inside the air curtain and is adapted to illuminate the food product within the product display area. |
| US08490421B2 |
Controlling process for refrigerator
A method of controlling a refrigerator is provided in which a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber may be cooled at the same time the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber may be cooled sequentially, and a refrigerant recovery may then be performed. Accordingly, upon initial start-up of the refrigerator, a temperature within each chamber may be cooled more rapidly through simultaneous cooling. Further, when a compressor is actuated again after being off, refrigerant may be supplied to each evaporator smoothly through the refrigerant recovery. Accordingly, cooling performance of a freezing cycle may be improved. |
| US08490420B2 |
Refrigerating device
A refrigerating device for deep-frozen products has a coolant loop including a compressor, a condenser, a throttle, and an evaporator. The device also has a product chamber temperature-impinged by the evaporator, and a control unit provided for deicing, which works together with the coolant loop in such a way that upon deicing, both the evaporator and also a drainage channel provided for receiving the condensed water are heated. The evaporator impinges the temperature of the product chamber via the side wall of the product chamber, and at least the side wall impinged by the evaporator has the drainage channel, the evaporator at least partially heating the drainage channel upon deicing of the product chamber. |
| US08490419B2 |
Interlocked jets cooling method and apparatus
Dissipating heat and apparatus therefor from a heat dissipation surface is described. In an embodiment, first jets are streamed along the heat dissipation surface in a first direction and are spaced apart from one another. Second jets are streamed along the heat dissipation surface in a second direction at least substantially opposite the first direction and spaced apart from one another. Coolant used to provide the first jets and the second jets is exited away from the heat dissipation surface. The first jets and the second jets are offset from one another in a transverse direction with respect to the first direction and the second direction, and the first jets and the second jets pass side-by-side with respect to one another. |
| US08490414B2 |
Cryocooler with moving piston and moving cylinder
A thermal-cycle cryocooler, such as a Stirling-cycle cryocooler, has a single working volume that is utilized by both the compressor and the displacer. The compressor and the displacer have respective movable parts, one of which is surrounded by the other. One of the parts may be a piston, a portion of which moves within a central bore or opening in a cylinder that is the other movable part. The piston may be a component of the compressor and the cylinder may be a component of the displacer, or vice versa. The working volume is located in part in a bore of the cylinder, between the piston and a regenerator that is coupled to the cylinder. Movements of either the piston or the cylinder can directly (i.e. without the use of a gas transfer line or flow passage) cause compression or expansion of the working gas in the working volume. |
| US08490408B2 |
Continuous slot in shroud
A compressor shroud has a continuous slot defined in a gaspath side surface thereof for communicating through the body of the shroud. Spaced-apart structural bridges span a rear portion of the slot in the shroud to maintain structural rigidity of the shroud. The method of forming the continuous slot is also described. |
| US08490406B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a heating value of a low energy fuel
A method and apparatus to determine a first heating value of a low BTU fuel, determine a target fuel quality level based on a state of a turbine system, control a second heating value of a high BTU fuel, and inject the high BTU fuel into the low BTU fuel to achieve the target fuel quality level. |
| US08490398B2 |
Premixed burner for a gas turbine combustor
The disclosure relates to a burner for a single combustion chamber or first combustion chamber of a gas turbine, with an injection device for the introduction of at least one gaseous and/or liquid fuel into the burner, wherein the injection device has at least one body which is arranged in the burner with at least one nozzle for introducing the at least one fuel into the burner, wherein the at least one body is located in a first section of the burner with a first cross-sectional area at a leading edge of the at least one body with reference to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner, wherein downstream of said body a mixing zone is located with a second cross-sectional area, and at and/or downstream of said body the cross-sectional area is reduced, such that the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area. |
| US08490397B2 |
Compound closed-loop heat cycle system for recovering waste heat and method thereof
A waste heat recovery system includes a Brayton cycle system having an heater configured to circulate carbon dioxide vapor in heat exchange relationship with a hot fluid to heat carbon dioxide vapor. A Rankine cycle system is coupled to the Brayton cycle system and configured to circulate a working fluid in heat exchange relationship with the carbon dioxide vapor to heat the working fluid. |
| US08490395B2 |
Turbine regulating valve system
A regulated two-stage turbocharger system is provided. The turbocharger system includes high-pressure and low-pressure turbochargers in communication with one another. The turbocharger system includes a valve system having valves that are independently controllable so as to selectively control the gas flow into the turbine portions of the high-pressure turbocharger and the low-pressure turbocharger. The valves are asymmetric with differing perimeters, diameters, and sizes with respect to one another. |
| US08490394B2 |
Enhanced supercharging system and an internal combustion engine having such a system
The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power. |
| US08490393B2 |
Enhanced supercharging system and an internal combustion engine having such a system
The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power. |
| US08490378B2 |
Shortening annular fork for shortening a chain strand
The invention relates to a shortening device (1) for shortening a chain strand (23), the shortening device comprising a connecting section (3) with at least one connecting opening (7), a shortening member (4, 26), at least one anchoring receptacle (7) for receiving an end link (24a) of the chain strand (23), said anchoring receptacle being arranged on a side of the connecting section (3) which faces the shortening member (4, 26) and being closed by a retaining pin (8) inserted into a cutout (32), and a web (5) which connects the connecting section (3) to the shortening member (4, 26) and is arranged at an end of the cutout (32) pointing in the longitudinal direction. In order to provide a lighter and smaller shortening device (1), it is provided according to the invention that the connecting opening (7) is designed as a closed eye (7). |
| US08490375B2 |
Baler collector for collecting biomass from a combine harvester
A collector coupled to a baler defining a target for receiving crop material projected toward the baler from a combine harvester. |
| US08490372B2 |
Robotic tree trimmer
A robotic tree trimmer has a hydraulic system adapted to be mounted to a tractor and comprising an extendible vertical mast. A first hydraulic motor attached to the vertical mast and adapted to linearly extend and rotate the vertical mast 180 degrees around a first vertical axis. An extendible horizontal boom attached to a distal top end of the vertical mast and having an extension member on an end opposite the distal top end of the vertical mast; a second hydraulic motor attached to the extension member and used to rotate a trimming apparatus 360 degrees around a second vertical axis variably spaced from the first vertical axis by the extendible horizontal boom. |
| US08490371B2 |
Modular electric disc cutterbar and controller
An electric motor-driven rotary disc cutter module for a cutterbar in an agricultural harvester. In one embodiment, each rotary disc module includes an electric motor driver. Individual cutterhead modules are staggered fore and aft along the cutterbar to provide continuous cutting across the lateral width of the cutterbar without requiring synchronized rotation of the cutterheads. Individual speed and/or rotational direction adjustment of each cutterhead enables optimized crop cutting performance and/or crop movement within the header. A control system may be included to monitor performance and manage individual operation of the cutterhead modules. In a second embodiment, a pair of cutterheads are powered by a single electric motor wherein rotational input for the second cutterhead is transferred by a simple geartrain. The pair of cutterheads is combined into a modular arrangement with the modules being staggered fore and aft on the cutterbar to provide a continuous lateral cutting swath. |
| US08490370B1 |
Saddle pad assembly
A saddle pad assembly provides padding under a saddle while facilitating customization to inhibit undesirable pressure points from developing. The assembly includes a cover having a closed end and a perimeter wall extending from the closed end. An edge of the perimeter wall defines an open end opposite the closed end. A plurality of holes extends through the perimeter wall of the cover. The holes are arranged into a pair of opposed rows extending between the closed end and the open end. A pad is insertable into the cover through the open end. The pad has a row of apertures alignable with the rows of holes. A line may be laced through the rows and the apertures to couple the pad to the cover. |
| US08490367B2 |
Bagging assembly
A bagging assembly for bagging bales of fibrous material is disclosed. The bagging assembly incorporates a chute defining a channel for receiving a bale, which is pushed there between by a stuffing assembly. Aspects of the bagging assembly include raising a bale using a bale elevator to a higher elevation position so that the bale could be stuffed by the stuffing assembly and using a bag retrieving mechanism for retrieving a bag from a bag location for use in bagging the bale. |
| US08490351B1 |
Pipe flashing protector
A pipe flashing protector for protecting the vulnerable joint between a vent pipe and the roof flashing for a building, house or other architectural structure to prevent wear and decay of the joint and more specifically to protect the joint from ultraviolet light, moisture, and debris. |
| US08490346B2 |
Internal anchor board-up system
An internal anchor board-up system for windows is disclosed. The internal anchor board-up system may include an exterior window cover, one or more interior clamping beams, and bolts or fasteners connecting the cover to the beam. The exterior cover is preferably transparent, such as a plexiglass cover, so that the internal anchor board-up system is substantially more aesthetically pleasing than traditional board-up systems relying upon plywood. Further, a transparent plexiglass or acrylic cover is stronger and harder to cut through than plywood. |
| US08490342B2 |
Batten/joist support
A support means (100) for engaging a batten, joist or the like (200), includes a circular rotatable plate (110). The plate has depending legs (112) for engaging the support means with a support structure such as a pedestal jack or the like, in a manner which allows the support means to be rotated about a vertical axis passing through the centre (111) of the plate. The support means (100) further includes two opposed upstanding walls (120, 122) defining a gap for receiving the batten, joist or the like. The walls are disposed either side of the axis and extend from a centermost position closest to the axis (111) to a distal end farthest from the axis. The walls are at least partly convex, and the gap between the walls measured in a direction perpendicular to tangents to the walls decreases from the centermost part of the wall to the distal end of the wall, so that for a joist batten or the like having a predetermined width and positioned between the walls (120, 122), rotation of the support means about the axis in one sense causes the walls (120, 122) to tend to abut edges of the joist and in the opposite sense causes the walls (120, 122) to tend to move away from the edges of the joist. The walls define apertures (129) for fastening the walls to the joist with nails, screws or the like. |
| US08490339B2 |
Sunshades
A sunshade for mounting to a building structure has first and second extruded outriggers spaced apart from each other and louvers extending from the first outrigger to the second outrigger. The first and second outriggers have an elongated body, an upper leg extending from an upper portion of the elongated body, and a lower leg extending from a lower portion of the elongated body. The outriggers of adjacent sunshades face each other such that the upper legs face each other and the lower legs face each other. A pocket is formed between the adjacent outriggers. The outriggers also have a mounting notch at an end which is mounted to the building structure. The outrigger notch engages a hook on a sunshade anchor mounted to the building structure. |
| US08490337B2 |
Structural flange connection system and method
A structural flange connection system and method that utilizes structural flanges having a standard bolted connection and a mechanical bond to effectively manage and assist the retention of bolt preloads and substantially eliminate movement between the flange faces due to a reduction in the need for friction load being generated by the bolt clamping force in the flange connection. The structural flanges of the structural flange connection system and method each include an outer rim and a flange lip having a face and a shoulder. The structural flange connection system and method may be utilized in the manufacture and installation of a wind turbine tower, which may be made up of one or more tower sections, and each tower section may terminate in structural flanges of the structural flange connection system and method. When properly aligned, the structural flanges may be bolted together. When each tower section is properly aligned and bolted, the mechanical bond of the structural flanges is also joined together. Such manufacture of the wind turbine tower may occur in the field during installation of the wind turbine tower. |
| US08490336B2 |
Method of securing a heating cable to a roof
A method comprises forming a generally u-shaped bend in flashing, installing the flashing on a roof between converging surfaces of the roof, and with a clamp comprising an attachment portion having two sections spaced apart by a gap, attaching the clamp to the bend of the flashing by positioning the bend in the gap between the two spaced apart sections and biasing at least of the sections against the bend. The heating cable may then be secured to the clamp. |
| US08490335B2 |
Removable seats system
The removable seats system has a first vertically movable platform defining opposite upper and lower sides, a seat member comprising at least one seat and first and second complementary male-female engagement members respectively provided on the first platform and on the seat member. The seat member may be removably installed in an operative position on the upper side of the first platform through a releasable engagement of the first and second male-female engagement members with one another. |
| US08490329B2 |
Wrapper with decorative extension and method
A decorative cover for a flower pot is constructed of a sheet of material having at least one extension attached to a portion of the sheet of material. The sheet of material is formed about the flower pot to provide a decorative cover having the appearance of being formed of at least two separate, unattached sheets of material. |
| US08490328B1 |
Christmas tree stand
A Christmas tree stand includes a water-retaining pan and a plurality of legs for holding the pan. The radially inner end of each leg terminates in an upwardly extending tree stabilizer. A split ring is secured to the radially outward side of each tree stabilizer and the split rings collectively hold a cable that is disposed in surrounding relation to the tree after the tree is centered in the pan. A circular plate is centered on the bottom of the pan and has an upstanding sidewall mounted about its periphery. A disc fits atop the circular plate and an upstanding screw is secured to the center of the disc. Manual rotation of the disc advances the screw into the bottom of the tree trunk. The disc and tree trunk are guided into overlying relation to the circular plate and the cable is brought into encircling relation to the tree trunk. |
| US08490327B2 |
Integrated moving and anchoring system for movable agriculture structures
A movable greenhouse and track system may include a track configured to be anchored to a first plot of farming land and a second plot of farming land. The movable greenhouse and track system may further include a greenhouse is capable of being anchored to the track and an anchoring member. The greenhouse may include a series of hoops forming an interior area; a member attached to the hoops for keeping the interior area of the greenhouse a certain temperature different than a temperature from an area exterior to the greenhouse; and a member for facilitating movement of the greenhouse along the tunnel of the track. The interior area of the greenhouse may include the first plot of farming land. After a predetermined time, the member for facilitating movement allows the greenhouse to be moved from the first plot of farming land to the second plot of farming land. |
| US08490324B2 |
Bait dispensing system
Provided is a system and method for dispensing bait for the monitoring or control of pests. A garbage container includes garbage a storage member and a wheel assembly, which supports the storage member. The wheel assembly includes at least one wheel member and an axle joining the wheel member to the garbage storage member. A bait holding station is located inside the wheel member. Pests may enter the interior of the wheel member through an entrance aperture formed in a wall of the wheel member, such as an axle-engaging portion of the wheel member. |
| US08490321B1 |
UV reflective fishing lure system
A UV reflective fishing lure system for consistently illuminating underwater for prolonged periods and at multiple depths to attract various fish species. The UV reflective fishing lure system generally includes a base substance, a UV reflective substance and a colorant all mixed together and solidified to form at least a portion of a fishing lure. The UV reflective substance is comprised of barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, or powdered sugar, while the base substance is comprised of a liquid rubber or plastic and the colorant is comprised of a water based coloring. The formed fishing lure reflects UV light to be seen by fish species at various depths within water. |
| US08490320B1 |
Fork-shaped fishing lure
A fishing lure comprises a rear end enabled to be attached to a fishing line or leader and a front end having a plurality of outer tines with wires for attaching bait and a plurality of inner tines for retaining a fishing hook. The lure further comprises an attached spring-loaded weed guard. A lure skirt is placed over the tines and hook. The body of the lure is reflective and combines with the bait and lure skirt to catch the attention of nearby fish. |
| US08490319B2 |
Fishing lure system and kit having replaceable features and construction
A flexible fishing lure is provided that includes a outer shape having a transverse opening for receiving a plurality of alternatively formed lure fin members allowing a user to change the action of a lure by fin selection without replacing the lure. Multiple internal channels within the lure are adaptively provided for receiving a variety of scent sticks, sound generators, light generators, flavor generating means. Flow internal channels extend from a front opening to gill openings allowing a water flow along an inserted scent or flavor stick member to pass through the lure body and exit proximate fin, nair, belly, or other locations simulating an injured or wounded fish leaking bodily fluids or blood. Other features to simulate wounded features. Replacement fins and weighting constructions allow a user to tailor a weight and action enabling a circling or injured motion during retrieval. The lure includes a flexible holographic-type attractive film and physical shape having a level-maintaining physical shape. |
| US08490313B2 |
Apparatus for mounting accessories on the accessory rail of a weapon
The Accessory Mounting Apparatus uses a quick release clamp for mounting and securely attaching accessories to a dove-tail shaped accessory rail. This apparatus allows for quick assembling and disassembling of accessories and tactical equipment on a weapon accessory rail system. The Accessory Mounting Apparatus consists of a base, latching arm, and over-centered lever to apply clamping force, where the base of the clamping device is keyed to align with a dove-tail shaped rail and fix its location in the direction of the barrel. The latching arm is slid over the dovetail in the accessory rail and the over-centered lever is closed to clamp the device securely around the accessory rail, fixing it in all directions. |
| US08490311B2 |
Firearm grip sleeve with retention feature
A firearm grip sleeve with retention feature has a body including a central bore and a meeting element. The mating element is connected to a mating feature on the frame of a firearm. The mating element is connected to a mating feature on the frame of a firearm. The mating element prevents undesirable movement of the body with respect to the firearm while the mating feature is connected to the mating element. The mating element may prevent axial movement and upward longitudinal movement of the body. The firearm may include a removable back strap insert. |
| US08490308B2 |
Small caliber muzzle loading blackpowder firearm adapted to fire a skirted projectile and method of inserting such a projectile in the bore of such a firearm
A muzzle loading blackpowder firearm is disclosed having a barrel with a standard caliber bore therein. The firearm is adapted to fire a projectile having a skirted aft end of a larger initial diameter than the standard caliber bore of the firearm. The barrel has an enlarged bore at its outer end sized to receive the projectile aft end first, and a tapered transition between the enlarged bore and the standard caliber bore so that upon forcing the projectile through the enlarged bore and through the tapered transition, the tapered transition reduces the skirted aft end to the diameter of the standard bore. |
| US08490305B2 |
Motion greeting cards
The present invention and related disclosure describes greeting cards with moving elements or devices which are operable to create motion in connection with some portion of the greeting card. The greeting card may include a multi-panel greeting card body or a three-dimensional foam greeting card body. At least one movable object is contained upon or within the greeting card body. A sound module having at least one pre-recorded digital audio file saved therein and a motor module are contained and concealed within the greeting card body. One or more switches may be used to activate the sound and motor modules, causing the pre-recorded audio file to play and causing movement of the movable or mobile object. |
| US08490299B2 |
Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a knitted component
An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component. |
| US08490295B2 |
Insole with flexible, shock absorbing unit
An insole includes an upper foot contacting substrate and a lower substrate, wherein openings are provided in both the upper foot contacting substrate and the lower substrate. These openings are at least partially kept in alignment with each other to receive a flexible, shock absorbing unit therein. The insole according to the invention provides a good absorbance and at the same time improves the air flow inside the insole. Therefore, the moisture around the wearer's foot can easily escape, thus keeping foot dry. |
| US08490291B2 |
Dryer
A hand drying apparatus has a casing, a cavity formed in the casing for receiving a user's hands, a fan located in the casing and creating an airflow, and a plurality of openings communication with the fan and arranged to direct an airflow transversely across the cavity. The cavity has an entrance delimited by a front edge and a rear edge in which the openings are located. The shape of the front and rear edges is such that, when in use the user's hands are introduced to the cavity, the distance between the user's hands and the nearest opening is substantially uniform. Alternatively, one of the edges is substantially straight and the other of the said edges is curved so that the distance between the edges varies along the length of the cavity entrance. These arrangements enhance the drying efficiency of the dryer. |
| US08490287B2 |
Fence end spacer apparatus and method for use
A spacer apparatus of the invention is attached to a fence post to occupy a space between the fence post and a nearby structure. The subject fence end spacer apparatus includes space occupying members, and fence attachment members are connected to the space occupying members, for attaching the space occupying members to the fence post. The space occupying members fills the space between the fence post and a nearby structure. The space occupying members can include horizontal members connected to the fence attachment members and can include vertical members connected to the horizontal members. Together, the horizontal members and the vertical members provide a space-occupying fence portion. The fence attachment means can include first and second fence attachment members for contacting first and second portions of the fence post. The method of using the fence end spacer apparatus to removably fill the space between the fence post and the nearby structure. |
| US08490282B2 |
Method of manufacturing a porous catcher
According to one feature of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a porous catcher includes providing a catcher face material layer; forming pores in the catcher face material layer using a first etching process that is controlled by a first photolithographic mask; providing a reinforcing structure material layer that is in mechanical contact with the porous catcher face; forming openings in the reinforcing structure material layer using a second etching process that is controlled by a second photolithographic mask; and fluidically connecting the openings in the reinforcing structure and the pores of the catcher face using a material removal process. |
| US08490281B2 |
Method of manufacturing a metal component from metal powder
A method of manufacturing a metal component from metal powder comprises preparing (12) a metal powder, providing (14) gallium on at least part of the surface of at least some of the metal powder particles, encapsulating (16) the metal powder in a container, evacuating (18) the container to remove air and/or gas from the container, sealing (20) the container, hot isostatically pressing (22) the container to consolidate the metal powder particles to produce the metal component and removing (24) the container from the metal component. The process is used to produce gas turbine engine metal components, for example turbine discs with improved fatigue properties. |
| US08490279B2 |
Method of manufacturing an enhanced hard bias layer in thin film magnetoresistive sensors
A method of forming a hard bias (HB) structure for longitudinally biasing a free layer in a MR sensor is disclosed. A HB layer is formed with easy axis growth perpendicular to an underlying seed layer which is formed above a substrate and along two sidewalls of the sensor. In one embodiment, a conformal soft magnetic layer that may be a top shield is deposited on the HB layer to provide direct exchange coupling that compensates HB surface charges. Optionally, a thin capping layer on the HB layer enables magneto-static shield-HB coupling. After HB initialization, HB regions along the sensor sidewalls have magnetizations that are perpendicular to the sidewalls as a result of surface charges near the seed layer. Sidewalls may be extended into the substrate (bottom shield) to give enhanced protection against side reading. |
| US08490276B2 |
Apparatus and method for mounting a plumbing fixture
A device for mounting of a plumbing fixture such as a faucet or the like through a hole in a counter, a sink or the like and connection of the fixture to a supply line. A collar member of the device is slidingly retained on an inlet tube of the fixture by a connecting nut of the supply line. A rod, guided in its axial movement by a guide member that is connected to the collar member, has a flag member that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the device may be passed through the hole when connected to the plumbing fixture and the supply line. In the deployed position, the flag member increases the axial profile of the device and co-acts with the body of the plumbing fixture in retaining the plumbing fixture in the hole. |
| US08490272B1 |
Merge/diverge conveying apparatus and method of providing a conveyor belt for a merge/diverge apparatus
A conveyor belt for use with a merge or diverge conveying apparatus and a method of providing a new conveyor belt to the conveying apparatus. Polymeric loops attached to each end of the conveyor belt attach the ends of the conveyor belt to each other. Visible wear and tear to the nose bar of the merge or diverge conveying apparatus is reduced when compared to prior art conveyor belts for merge or diverge conveyors. |
| US08490271B2 |
Flexible substrate tensioner
Apparatus and method to aid in the reproducible and reversible tensioning of flexible substrates, such as polyimide or other file, to ensure planarity before, during, and after processing while mounted in tensioning apparatus. |
| US08490266B2 |
Manufacturing method of driving belt
A manufacturing method of a driving belt, which can measure and adjust an endplay of the driving belt including a ring and elements to improve productivity of the driving belt, the method including: obtaining a correlation among a circumferential length of the ring, a total weight of the elements fastened by the ring, and a range of a movement of the fastened elements in the length direction of the ring; determining a range of a required element weight as a total weight of the elements to be fastened by the ring, on the basis of the obtained correlation, a desired moving range of the element, and the length of the ring; feeding the elements in the amount within the range of the required element weight while measuring a total weight of the element being fed; and fastening the element fed at the element feeding by the ring. |
| US08490264B2 |
Disassembly station
An apparatus comprising a holding unit configured to hold a fuel injector for disassembly, a removal unit and an actuating unit. The removal unit comprises a first removal tool for removing a circlip and ferrule ring from the fuel injector, a second removal tool for removing a cone nut from the fuel injector, and a third removal tool for removing a screw from the fuel injector. The actuating unit comprises a first actuator configured to operate the holding unit, a second actuator configured to move the removal unit, and a third actuator configured to operate the third removal tool. |
| US08490262B2 |
Retaining clip installation and removal tool
A hand tool which features a self-aligning recessed seating feature for easy installation of retaining clips onto the groove of the shank of mining and trenching picks. The location and orientation toward the first end of the body of the tool of the recessed seating feature allows for easy installation from either the left or right side of the holder. The tool includes two prongs located at the same end of the tool as the recessed seating feature. The end surfaces of the two prongs correspond in shape and/or orientation to the contact surfaces of a retaining clip to improve removal of retaining clips from the groove of the shank of mining and trenching picks. |
| US08490257B2 |
Integrated logo fastening system
A functionally decorative fastening system includes first and second fastener portions, each fixable to an article, so as to selectively allow for the articles to be secured together purposes such as transit, storage or laundering. Complementary mating surfaces of each fastener portion include decorative features, such as artwork, logos, trademarks, or the like. The decorative mating surfaces serve functionally to selectively lock the two fastener portions together when aligned and pushed together. Such integrated fastening is accomplished via mechanical interaction between the decorative mating surfaces. |
| US08490256B2 |
Release mechanism
Arrangement with one or more buckles, wherein each buckle has at least two buckle parts that are detachably connectable with each other, at least one release mechanism, actuatable by means of pressure for detaching the buckle parts from each other, and at least one pressure accumulator connected via at least one pressure line with the buckle(s) for actuating the release mechanism of the buckle, and with at least one release valve for opening a pressure connection guided via the pressure line between the pressure accumulator and the buckle or the buckles, and with at least one trigger for actuating the release valve, wherein the arrangement has a pump for the build-up of pressure in the pressure accumulator. |
| US08490253B2 |
Apparatus and methods for spreading fiber bundles for the continuous production of prepreg
Apparatus for producing spread fiber bundles by strategic use of tension control throughout the device and use of higher differential speeds between driven rollers and line speed of the running fiber bundle are provided herein, along with methods for producing spread fibers, prepregs, and articles of manufacture therefrom. |
| US08490249B2 |
Hinge plate for connecting a leaf or a sash to a frame so as to be hinged about a hinge axis
A hinge plate for connecting a leaf of a door to a frame includes a frame hinge plate part comprising a frame fastening part and a frame hinge part. A leaf or sash hinge plate part comprises a leaf or sash fastening part and a leaf or sash hinge part. A primary coil is disposed in the frame hinge part and a secondary coil is disposed in the leaf or sash hinge part, each being configured to surround a hinge plate pin defining a hinge axis. The hinge plate pin is provided as a core for both the primary coil and the secondary coil and is configured to conduct magnetic flux lines. The hinge plate pin comprises a support element configured to transmit a mechanical force between the leaf and the frame. A flux element is configured to conduct the magnetic flux lines between the primary coil and the secondary coil. |
| US08490239B2 |
Beam blade windshield wiper assembly
The present invention relates to a wiper blade system that includes a wiper blade assembly having a wiping element, at least one elongated beam and a carrier that is operatively engaged to the elongated beam. The wiper blade assembly further includes an airfoil and a coupler that is removably engaged to the carrier and adapted to releasably attach the wiper blade assembly to a wiper arm attachment member. The coupler is universal in that it is used for connecting the wiper blade assembly to various styles of wiper arms. |
| US08490236B2 |
Combination sticky roller and brush
A combination brush and sticky roller apparatus used to clean a carpet or upholstery. The present invention comprises of a uniquely shaped bracket with a rubber brush and sticky roller. The rubber brush makes use of a plurality of rubber fingers that is able to reach into the deep layers of carpet or upholstery to dislodge and uproot dirt and debris. The uprooted dirt and debris are then accessible by the sticky roller to be collected and removed from the carpet or upholstery. |
| US08490230B2 |
Diaper bag having an integral changing pad
A diaper bag having an integral changing pad is disclosed which comprises a bag having an interior compartment with the bag having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cover for covering the interior compartment with the cover attached to the top portion for folding the cover over the top portion of the bag, and a changing pad having a first section connected to a second section and the second section connected to the bottom portion with the first section and the second section for being folded up in the interior compartment or unfolded out of the interior compartment. |
| US08490229B2 |
Gusseted foot canopy for bed top sheets, blankets, quilts or beds and the like
A bed top covering includes a top portion; and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a gusseted foot canopy therein configured to allow feet of a user to be extended in an upward direction therewithin and providing room and maneuverability for the feet of the user. A foot canopy for a bed, includes top and side portions. The top and side portions form a gusseted foot canopy. The side portions are configured to be removable and attachable to a mattress of a bed. The gusseted foot canopy is configured to allow feet of a user to be extended in an upward direction therewithin and provides room and maneuverability for the feet of the user. |
| US08490228B2 |
Easy to assemble, tool less, easy to recycle, mattress support
A bed form (10) is made from easy to recycle sections (12a, 12b, 12c, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) and can be quickly assembled without tools by means of fasteners (64) that can be secured by hand. An egg carton-like base (100) is formed from a first set of long sections (12a, 12b, 12c) having slots on the top edge (16a, 16b, 16c) thereof that engage with slots (38a, 38b, 38c, 38d) in the bottom edge (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) of a second set of shorter sections (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d). The long and short sections (12a, 12b, 12c, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) are preferably molded from structural foam and the top edge (16a, 16b, 16c) of the long sections (12a, 12b, 12c) include a plurality of threaded male projections (42a, 42b, 42c) molded into them. Fasteners (64) are used to attach upper deck sections (54a, 54b, 54c) to the threaded projections (42a, 42b, 42c) on the base (100). Each fastener (64) includes a top flange (66), a hollow cylindrical body (68) having an hand engageable fin (70) therein and a lower end having a female threaded section (72, 74) that engages the exterior treads of the threaded projections (42a, 42b, 42c) on the base (100). An individual places one of several fasteners (64) in one of the apertures (56a, 56b, 56c) in one of several deck sections (54a, 54b, 54c), grabs the interior fin (70), engages the threaded projection (42a, 42b, 42c) with the female interior threads (74), and manually rotates the fastener (64) until the flange (66) pulls the deck section (54a, 54b, 54c) firmly down onto the base (100). |
| US08490223B2 |
Toilet with ball valve mechanism and secondary aerobic chamber
A toilet includes a bowl with a receptacle to receive waste, with a secondary chamber, and with an opening in the receptacle to allow the waste to pass to the secondary chamber; a rinse pump that turns on to add an amount of rinsing water for cleaning the bowl; a flexible self cleaning gasket configured around the opening formed in the receptacle; a bowl valve that has a sealing part having a rounded shape, rotates to a closed position that creates a sealed effect between the sealing part and the gasket trapping the waste and rinsing water in the receptacle of the bowl and sealing odors in the secondary chamber, and also rotates to an open position that sweeps the sealing part to be swept across the gasket and allowing the waste to pass to the secondary chamber. The solenoid rotates the bowl valve between the closed to open positions. |
| US08490219B2 |
Protective garment comprising at least one tapered pocket
A firefighter jacket that comprises a torso-covering portion and a pair of sleeves, wherein at least one pocket is positioned on the torso-covering portion. The pockets comprise an interior chamber and an opening to the interior chamber. The interior chamber has a width and a depth that varies along the width. The opening to the interior chamber is of a width that is less than the width of the interior chamber. |
| US08490217B2 |
Glove with index finger grip and impact guard
A glove has a top panel and a bottom panel that together form a main glove body. Fingers, including an index finger and other fingers, extend from the main glove body, each of the fingers having a top side and a bottom side corresponding with the top panel and bottom panels of the main glove body. A thumb extends from the main glove body. A region, at a juncture of the index finger and the main glove body on or adjacent the top panel and/or the thumb, has an insulating pad covering a portion of the region. |
| US08495760B2 |
Atomic force microscope manipulation of living cells
Techniques for atomic force microscope manipulation of living cells include functionalizing a nanoscale tip of a microscale cantilever with a first ligand for a first receptor associated with a surface of a first type of cell. The method further comprises, controlling the cantilever to cause the first ligand on the nanoscale tip to contact the first receptor on a surface of a living cell of the first type in a particular temporal pattern to induce a target response by the living cell. Other techniques for controlling an atomic force microscope comprising a nanoscale tip include controlling the cantilever to cause the nanoscale tip to contact a living cardiomyocyte at a predetermined pressure. The cantilever is also controlled to turn off vertical deflection feedback after contacting the cardiomyocyte and collecting deflection data that indicates a time series of nanoscale vertical deflections of the microscale cantilever caused by the living cardiomyocyte. |
| US08495759B2 |
Probe aligning method for probe microscope and probe microscope operated by the same
Provided is an aligning method capable of setting a sample observation unit such as an optical microscope to a probe microscope observation position at high precision. A sample having a known structure is used in advance. A surface of the sample and a shape of a cantilever provided with a probe are observed using the sample observation unit such as the optical microscope. A sample observation position and a probe position which are obtained using the sample observation unit are verified, and a relative positional relationship therebetween is recorded. Then, a first mark indicating a position of the cantilever and a second mark which is displayed in conjunction with the first mark and has the relative positional relationship with the first mark are produced to align the sample relative to the second mark. |
| US08495757B2 |
System and method for placing an electronic apparatus into a protected state in response to environmental data
A system and method is disclosed for placing an electronic apparatus into a protected state in response to environmental data. The method discloses: receiving a set of environmental data applicable to an electronic apparatus; generating an environmental status applicable to the electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and placing the electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status. The system discloses an environment characterization module which receives a set of environmental data applicable to an electronic apparatus, and generates an environmental status applicable to the electronic apparatus based-on the environmental data; and an apparatus protection module which places the electronic apparatus into a protected state based-on the environmental status. |
| US08495755B2 |
Tracing traitor coalitions and preventing piracy of digital content in a broadcast encryption system
Embodiments of the invention relate to finding coalitions of receivers who collude to produce pirated protected content, then evaluates the confidence that particular members of each identified coalition are traitors versus innocent receivers incriminated by chance. Typically, each file in a group of original files is modified to include variations of critical file segments. The group of files is then broadcast with individualized codes that enable particular authorized receivers to properly process the modified files. The modifications in a pirated version of a file can identify which traitorous receivers contributed to its piracy. Candidate coalitions of differing size are first evaluated to determine if they cover observed file variations with greater than a predetermined likelihood that an innocent coalition is falsely incriminated by chance. Individual members of satisfactory coalitions are then evaluated. Traitors may be cryptographically revoked. |
| US08495754B2 |
Dual trust architecture
Mechanisms for executing a software routine in an application executing as a multi-user single address space subsystem in an operating environment having a trusted mode of operation for trusted routines and a reduced-trust mode of operation for untrusted routines. The application includes a control module for execution as a trusted routine and a trusted routine table including identifiers of trusted routines. The control module performs switches between a trusted mode of operation for execution and a reduced trust mode of operation based on various determinations regarding the nature of a calling routine being trusted or untrusted, a call stack, and whether the calling routine is being restored or not from the call stack. |
| US08495744B2 |
Evaluation of risk of conflict for security solutions integration
A method and a system for evaluation of risk of conflict between a number of integrating security solutions. In a computer system, a number of fragmentary security solutions are received. A set of the received fragmentary security solutions is integrated to form a composite security solution to satisfy a number of security requirements. In one aspect, the security requirements are established during a design of a computer system. A risk of conflict between the set of integrating fragmentary security solutions is evaluated. In another aspect, the risk of conflict between the set of integrating fragmentary security solutions exists at authority level and at configuration level. Conflict at authority level arises when different authorities control the same fragmentary security solution. Conflict at configuration level arises when integrating fragmentary security solutions share configuration data. |
| US08495743B2 |
Methods and apparatus providing automatic signature generation and enforcement
A system inserts at least one notifying identifier in the computer system. The at least one notifying identifier provides execution information associated with the computer system. The system receives execution information from the at least one notifying identifier, the execution information identifies details associated with a traffic flow on the computer system. The system then generates a signature based on a deterministic link provided by the execution information provided by the at least one notifying identifier. The signature is utilized to prevent further damage caused to the computer system by at least one attack. |
| US08495742B2 |
Identifying malicious queries
A framework identifies malicious queries contained in search logs to uncover relationships between the malicious queries and the potential attacks launched by attackers submitting the malicious queries. A small seed set of malicious queries may be used to identify an IP address in the search logs that submitted the malicious queries. The seed set may be expanded by examining all queries in the search logs submitted by the identified IP address. Regular expressions may be generated from the expanded set of queries and used for detecting yet new malicious queries. Upon identifying the malicious queries, the framework may be used to detect attacks on vulnerable websites, spamming attacks, and phishing attacks. |
| US08495741B1 |
Remediating malware infections through obfuscation
A computer has a storage device that is infected with malicious software (malware). The malware uses stealth or rootkit techniques to hide itself in the storage device. A security module within the storage device detects the malware by comparing the files read from the storage device to those reported by the operating system. Upon detecting the malware, the security module prepares the computer for malware obfuscation by storing information describing the location of the malware, deploying an executable file, and configuring it to run on reboot. The executable file executes upon reboot and locates the data on the storage device associated with the malware. The executable file obfuscates the data so that the malware no longer loads at boot time, thereby disabling the rootkit technique. The computer reboots and the security module remediates the malware infection. |
| US08495737B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting email spam and variants thereof
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting email spam and variants thereof. The systems and methods are configured to detect spam messages and variations thereof for different senders and with slight differences within the message body. In an exemplary embodiment, an incoming message body (m) is converted to a sequence of successive word lengths (Sm): m->Sm, a comparison is performed between the sequence, Sm, and a plurality of stored sequences (Sk) of known spam messages, and the incoming message is flagged as spam based on the comparison. Further, the plurality of stored sequences, Sk, may be continually updated based on user feedback and other spam detection techniques. The systems and methods of the present invention may be implemented through a computer, such as a mail server, through a cloud-based security system, through a user's computer via a software agent, and the like. |
| US08495734B2 |
Method and device for detecting an erroneous jump during program execution
The present disclosure relates to a method for executing, by a processor, a program read in a program memory, comprising steps of: detecting a program memory read address jump; providing prior to a jump address instruction for jumping a program memory read address, an instruction for storing the presence of the jump address instruction; and activating an error signal if an address jump has been detected and if the presence of a jump address instruction has not been stored. The present disclosure also relates to securing integrated circuits. |
| US08495733B1 |
Content fingerprinting using context offset sequences
One embodiment relates to a computer-implemented process of content fingerprinting. A context and a content for fingerprinting are received. The context comprises a set of context components for use in generation of content fingerprints. The content includes instances of at least some of the context components. The content is processed to generate context offset sequences, and a fingerprint for the content is formed from at least a portion of the context offset sequences. Another embodiment relates to a computer-implemented process for comparing a target content against a pool of contents. The process includes constructing an automata data structure based on the fingerprints in the pool. Context offset sequences of a target fingerprint are scanned against the automata data structure to determine matched offset subsequences. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US08495732B2 |
Entering an identifier with security improved by time based randomization of input steps
A secure method, apparatus or computer program incorporates a method for entering private information such as a user identifier, password or other secret code comprising at least one symbol or character. According to method in one illustrated embodiment, the user selects characters for input starting from presentation of an initial suggested character, moving under user control to presentation of a user's desired input character, and then followed by the selection by the user of that presented character as a character for data input. The method includes randomizing the timing of the display and/or reaction time to user input so that the number and timing of the key presses required to select any specific desired character for input is made unpredictable. This makes it difficult during entry of information to determine by covert means what specific information is being entered. |
| US08495731B1 |
Multiple domain smartphone
A commercial off-the-shelf smartphone is adapted, through software modifications only, to provide multiple operating domains or domains that provide differing levels of security and reliability. Each operating domain is isolated from the others. Detection of unauthorized modification is provided. Cross domain activity notification is provided. |
| US08495729B2 |
System for and method of authenticating device and user in home network
A system for authenticating a device and a user in a home network. The home network manages one or more devices through a home server. The system includes a service device for providing service contents according to the control of a control device. The system includes a home server for containing authentication information for the respective devices. The home server performs a network configuration for the respective devices according to the authentication information. A permission server is connected with the home server. The permission server contains service permission information according to the characteristics of the respective control devices. The control device performs a network authentication through the home server, and is provided with service contents from the service device according to whether the permission server allows the requested service contents. The system can perform an authentication procedure and a network configuration for the control devices. |
| US08495727B2 |
Spam reduction in real time communications by human interaction proof
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates authenticating a data communication. An interface component can receive data related to a real time data communication between two or more clients. A verification component can employ a human interaction proof (HIP) to a client participating within the real time data communication, wherein a human identity of the client is authenticated as a function of a response to the HIP. |
| US08495721B1 |
Data network security policies
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for specifying a data network security policy. In one aspect, a system includes a device-agnostic firewall policy that defines one or more rules for regulating data traffic on a data network. The device-agnostic firewall policy includes a policy definition and a security component. The policy definition delineates regulation of the data network traffic to be implemented by a firewall and a policy token definition that delineates a token used in the policy definition. The security component is implemented in hardware, in software executed on a data processing device, or in a combination thereof and is configured to permit a first group of one or more individuals to change both the policy definition and the policy token definition and a second group of one or more individuals to change the policy token definition while restricting the second group from changing the policy definition. |
| US08495718B2 |
Authentication method and apparatus
An identity authentication method is provided. The method comprises obtaining records information of a valid user, where the records information indicates behaviors having been executed by the valid user; mapping, based on an orthogonal behavior model having multiple mutually orthogonal dimensions, records information to the multiple dimensions, wherein behaviors indicated by records information mapped to different dimensions do not overlap therebetween and have no logical cause and effect relationship; sampling records information mapped to different dimensions, respectively, so as to generate an authentication questionnaire including a plurality of authentication questions; computing, responsive to answers of a client to the authentication questionnaire, a total confidence P for the client being a valid user; outputting a positive authentication result, responsive to the total confidence probability P falling into a confidence interval; and outputting a negative authentication result, responsive to the total confidence probability P failing to fall into a confidence interval. The present invention further provides a corresponding identity authentication apparatus. |
| US08495707B2 |
Quality assured analytical testing system and method thereof
A system and method for quality assured analytical testing is disclosed. A user is prompted by the system questions which relate to an analytical test to be conducted or an analytical instrument to be employed. Input received by the system from the user is evaluated to determine to which degree the inputs are correct. The user is certified if the determined degree is above a preset threshold. Next, the user is prompted by the system for a user identification and if the user is a certified user, access is provided to a testing routine of the analytical instrument. |
| US08495706B2 |
Television apparatus, display control device, and display control method
According to one embodiment, a television apparatus includes a receiving module, a display controller, a receiving controller, an obtaining module, a storage module, and a controller. The receiving module receives an operation for putting the television apparatus into a waiting state to connect to an external device. The display controller displays identification information identifying the television apparatus, security information generated randomly, and displays screen information received from the external device. The receiving controller receives the request for connection and the security information. The obtaining module obtains external-device identification information identifying the external device if communication with the external device is initiated. The storage module stores the external-device identification information. The controller controls the display controller to display the screen information without putting the television apparatus into the waiting state if a request for communication is received from the external device. |
| US08495696B1 |
Coaxial communication active tap device and distribution system
An apparatus, system, and method for affordably distributing cable communication signals at greatly reduced power consumption levels with high signal quality with an active tap having gain stage characterized by low power (less than 1 Watt), low noise figure (less than 3 dB), high bandwidth (typically DC-2 GHz), and high gain (at least 15 dBmV). |
| US08495695B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method
A digital broadcasting system for transmitting/receiving a digital broadcasting signal and a data processing method are disclosed. A program table information has an identifier identifying mobile service data and main service data in a broadcasting signal. The program table information is multiplexed with the mobile service data and main service data. Then, broadcast receiving system can receive and output the mobile service data by parsing the program table information and using the identifier. |
| US08495694B2 |
Video-enabled community building
A system and method that provide media content owners the capability to achieve community building goals by exploiting video processing capabilities using rich, interactive and compelling media content on a network or Internet website. The system and method additionally provide website community building mechanisms to community members, thereby allowing the members to customize the actual community websites that many companies and website owners seek in order to enhance e-commerce revenue generation. |
| US08495689B2 |
System and method for partial push video on demand
A system and method of delivering video content over a network in communication with a subscriber having an associated electronic device is disclosed. A plurality of staggered streams of video content is delivered over a network. A segment of the video content is pushed onto the electronic device. A request for the video content is received at the electronic device, the pushed segment of video content is retrieved from the electronic device and the pushed segment of video content is displayed to the subscriber. A staggered stream of video content delivered over network is located and recorded on the electronic device. |
| US08495688B2 |
System and method for fast start-up of live multicast streams transmitted over a packet network
A system for multicast streaming of programs over a packet network includes a node having a processor that conditions a video bitstream such that packets containing an I-frame are located near program specific information (PSI) packets, the processor marking a random join point (RJP) in the video bitstream immediately preceding the I-frame and PSI packets, the node outputting the conditioned and marked video bitstream across the packet network. An edge device of the network includes a buffer that caches packets of the conditioned and marked video bitstream video starting at the RJP, and sends the cached packets to a client receiver. |
| US08495681B2 |
Display processing apparatus, display processing system, and display processing method
A display processing apparatus is disclosed. The display processing apparatus includes: a unit configured to receive a content list from a content server; a content storage portion configured to store a content; a contract information storage portion configured to store contract information; a viewing history information storage portion configured to store viewing history information; a unit configured to create a recommended content list from the content list based on the contract information and the viewing history information, the recommended content list being one of a list of contents capable of being viewed and a list of contents capable of being stored in the content storage portion; a screen capable of displaying the recommended content list; and a unit configured to display the recommended content list in a predetermined area other than a center area of the screen, the recommended content list being smaller than the screen. |
| US08495676B2 |
Managing under-filled spot blocks
Changes to spot blocks to be broadcast via terrestrial stations can cause paid spots to be removed from corresponding spot blocks on a streaming station. If the streaming station has other spot blocks that are under-filled, the bumped spots can be automatically placed in under-filled spot blocks, allowing the bumped to be placed in an under-filled spot block faster than if human intervention was required. A media traffic system can keep track of the bumped spots, and in response to a request by a media automation system, provide a list of potential spots available for inclusion in the under-filled spot blocks. The automation system selects desired spots for placement in under-filled spot blocks, and notifies the traffic system about which potential spots have been placed. The traffic system removes the spots from its list of available spots to prevent selected spots from being included in future responses. |
| US08495674B1 |
Process for providing targeted user content blended with a media stream
A network system provides delivery of customized target content, such as advertising, to individual users. A profile is produced at a home client user having parameters with values associated with the home client user, such as geographic and demographic infonnation. The receiver software at the home client matches the spot content flame for each spot content to the profile of the user to select those spot content units which have a match. These selected spot content units are stored at the home user and are blended into the media stream at the locations of the spot markers to produce an information data stream for the user that is customized for that user. A spot auditor at the home client measures the type and quantity of play back of the spot content received by the home user and this is reported to the spot content provider for measurement of the effectiveness in the distribution of the spot content. |
| US08495673B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing and using content advisory information on internet contents
Provided are a method and apparatus for providing and using content advisory (CA) information on Internet contents. A method of providing CA information by using a CA information server, includes receiving a request for the CA information on a content, from an Internet Protocol television (IPTV); searching for CA information on the content; and transmitting the found CA information to the IPTV. A method of using CA information when an IPTV reproduces a content not having the CA information, according to the present invention, includes transmitting a request for CA information, to a CA information server; receiving the CA information from the CA information server; analyzing the CA information; and applying the CA information. |
| US08495671B1 |
Interactive video system
This application discloses a system and method for the delivery of television programming comprising of: a video source connected to a subscriber network to transport a primary video signal; a message source connected to said subscriber network to transport a supplemental video signal; wherein the primary and supplemental video signals are combined to display the primary and supplemental video signals concurrently. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the subscriber receives discounts relative to the amount of supplemental video signal that is viewed by the subscriber. |
| US08495669B2 |
Disk rotating device, disk, disk assembly, disk cartridge, and recording and reproducing device
A disk rotating device includes a flexible disk in which information is recordable, a turntable on which the disk is held, a spindle that rotates the disk held on the turntable, and a stabilizer that stabilizes the rotating disk. In the disk rotating device, a rotation transmitting device transmits the rotation of the spindle to the disk via the turntable, and a disk holding device holds the disk so that the disk is elastically deformable from a center of the rotation of the disk in a radial direction of the disk. |
| US08495667B2 |
Optical disc device having a blocking means for its optical pickup unit
An optical disc recording and/or reproducing device comprising a drive for rotating an optical disc around an axis of rotation, a movable optical pickup unit (5) and a frame (1) having at least one guiding rod (4) for guiding a displacement of the optical pickup unit (5) in a substantially radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation. The guiding rod (4) is provided with a protrusion (17) for restricting the movement of the optical pickup unit (5) when the guiding rod (4) is in a is in a predetermined rotational position. The guiding rod (4) is rotationally drivable by an electric drive motor in order to move the protrusion (17) for either releasing or blocking the optical pickup unit (5). |
| US08495660B1 |
Methods and systems for handling instant messages and notifications based on the state of a computing device
A computer-implemented method for handling instant messages based on state may include identifying an instant message, detecting a first state of a computing device, and handling the instant message based on the first state of the computing device. The method may further include receiving a first instant-message-handling rule, receiving a first definition of the first state, and associating the first instant-message-handling rule with the first state. A computer-implemented method for preventing the output of instantaneous notifications may include identifying an instant notification, detecting a first state of a computing device, and preventing the instantaneous notification from being sent to an output device of the computing device. Corresponding computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08495658B2 |
Adaptive content platform and application integration with the platform
An adaptive content platform and application integration of with the platform is described. The adaptive content platform includes one or more content-enabled, dependent applications forming an application layer and a services layer that has services shared by the each of the one or more content-enabled, dependent applications. The services layer includes at least workflow, repository, and publishing services. Each content-enabled, dependent application is object modeled in the repository services in a hierarchical structure. The object types modeled in the repository may have content associated with them. The content may be stored in a data layer that is in communications with the services layer. |
| US08495656B2 |
Ordered processing of groups of messages
A highly parallel, asynchronous data flow processing system in which processing is represented by a directed graph model, can include processing nodes that generate, and process, groups of dependent messages and that process messages within such groups in order. Other messages can be processed in whatever order they are received by a processing node. To identify a group of dependent messages, message identifiers are applied to a message. Processing of a message may generate child messages. A child message is assigned a message identifier that incorporates the associated message identifier of the parent message. The message identifier of the parent message is annotated to indicate the number of related child messages. When a group of messages is to be processed by a processing node in order, the processing node maintains a buffer in which messages in the group are stored. When a message is received, its message identifier indicates whether it is in a group, its parent node, if any, and the number of child nodes it has if it is a parent node. From this information, it can be determined whether all messages within the group have been received. When all of the messages within the group have been received, the processing node can process the messages in order. |
| US08495649B2 |
Scheduling threads having complementary functional unit usage on SMT processors
A method and system for scheduling threads on simultaneous multithreaded processors are disclosed. Hardware and operating system communicate with one another providing information relating to thread attributes for threads executing on processing elements. The operating system determines thread scheduling based on the information. |
| US08495642B2 |
Mechanism for priority inheritance for read/write locks
In one embodiment, a mechanism for priority inheritance for read/write locks (RW locks) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes setting a maximum number of read/write locks (RW locks) allowed to be held for read by one or more tasks, maintaining an array in each of the one or more tasks to track the RW locks held for read, linking a RW lock with the array of each of the tasks that own the RW lock, and boosting a priority of each of the tasks that own the RW lock according to a priority inheritance algorithm implemented by the RW lock. |
| US08495640B2 |
Component-specific disclaimable locks
Systems and methods of protecting a shared resource in a multi-threaded execution environment in which threads are permitted to transfer control between different software components, for any of which a disclaimable lock having a plurality of orderable locks can be identified. Back out activity can be tracked among a plurality of threads with respect to the disclaimable lock and the shared resource, and reclamation activity among the plurality of threads may be ordered with respect to the disclaimable lock and the shared resource. |
| US08495639B2 |
System and method for normalizing job properties
This disclosure provides a system and method for normalizing job properties. In one embodiment, a job manager is operable to identify a property of a job, with the job being associated with an operating environment. The job manager is further operable to normalize the property of the job and present the normalized property of the job to a user. |
| US08495638B2 |
Component-specific disclaimable locks
Systems and methods of protecting a shared resource in a multi-threaded execution environment in which threads are permitted to transfer control between different software components, for any of which a disclaimable lock having a plurality of orderable locks can be identified. Back out activity can be tracked among a plurality of threads with respect to the disclaimable lock and the shared resource, and reclamation activity among the plurality of threads may be ordered with respect to the disclaimable lock and the shared resource. |
| US08495636B2 |
Parallelizing single threaded programs by performing look ahead operation on the single threaded program to identify plurality of instruction threads prior to execution
A method and apparatus for speculatively executing a single threaded program within a multi-core processor which includes identifying an idle core within the multi-core processor, performing a look ahead operation on the single thread instructions to identify speculative instructions within the single thread instructions, and allocating the idle core to execute the speculative instructions. |
| US08495628B2 |
Para-virtualization in a nested virtualization environment using reduced number of nested VM exits
A para-virtualization method is provided. The method comprises implementing a virtual machine (VM) for guest software running on first host software. In response to a privileged instruction, the guest software causes a first VM exit. If the first host software is not running directly on hardware, the privileged instruction is managed without causing a second VM exit. Otherwise, the privileged instruction is managed normally. |
| US08495627B2 |
Resource allocation based on anticipated resource underutilization in a logically partitioned multi-processor environment
A method, apparatus and program product for allocating resources in a logically partitioned multiprocessor environment. Resource usage is monitored in a first logical partition in the logically partitioned multiprocessor environment to predict a future underutilization of a resource in the first logical partition. An application executing in a second logical partition in the logically partitioned multiprocessor environment is configured for execution in the second logical partition with an assumption made that at least a portion of the underutilized resource is allocated to the second logical partition during at least a portion of the predicted future underutilization of the resource. |
| US08495620B2 |
System and method for application configuration comparison and reuse
A system and method allow a user to extract the set of customizations performed on an application and use these to estimate the time and effort and cost of (a) migrating to a new version of the application and/or (b) consolidating systems. The user can browse the extracted data and select configuration elements for re-use. After downloading the one or more configurations and comparing them, the user selects elements of the configurations for re-use. The first step is to scan one or more application systems and extract the configuration data using a surveyor. The method according to the invention automatically identifies configuration differences. The user then selects configuration elements for re-use. A graphic user interface (GUI) can be provided which allows the user to make these selections by dragging and dropping selected elements to a “To Be” configuration. The selected configurations are then uploaded and installed on an instance of the application. |
| US08495619B2 |
Method and system for pre-deployment conflict checking
A method and system for pre-deployment conflict checking are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a software package from a computer source. A test package is created based on the received software package. The created test package is provided to a computer machine. The test package identifies a conflict between the software package and an application on the computer machine without installing a resource on the computer machine. |
| US08495613B2 |
Program execution service windows
Techniques for guaranteeing that a software program is executed on a machine only during designated periods of time are provided. Service windows define time periods during which software programs targeted to execute on a machine are allowed to execute on the machine. On the machine, the service windows work in conjunction with a client process that is executing on the machine to guarantee execution of the software programs by the client process only during available service windows. |
| US08495612B2 |
Systems and methods for upgrading a version of software
Described are systems and methods for upgrading a software program between sequential or non-sequential versions. An interface definition file of a first version of the software program is stored. The software program is upgraded from the first version to a second version. The second version of the software program is stored in the memory. A determination is made regarding the availability of a difference tool. The difference tool determines according to a static comparison one or more differences between the interface definition file of the first version and an interface definition file of the second version, and generates a results file that displays the determined differences. |
| US08495609B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for taking a snapshot of installed software on a data processing system as part of a software update process
Software is updated on a data processing system by invoking a software update operation and using a hypervisor layer to take a snapshot of a software image on the data processing system responsive to invoking the software update operation. |
| US08495607B2 |
Performing aggressive code optimization with an ability to rollback changes made by the aggressive optimizations
Mechanisms for aggressively optimizing computer code are provided. With these mechanisms, a compiler determines an optimization to apply to a portion of source code and determines if the optimization as applied to the portion of source code will result in unsafe optimized code that introduces a new source of exceptions being generated by the optimized code. In response to a determination that the optimization is an unsafe optimization, the compiler generates an aggressively compiled code version, in which the unsafe optimization is applied, and a conservatively compiled code version in which the unsafe optimization is not applied. The compiler stores both versions and provides them for execution. Mechanisms are provided for switching between these versions during execution in the event of a failure of the aggressively compiled code version. Moreover, predictive mechanisms are provided for predicting whether such a failure is likely. |
| US08495594B2 |
Method and system for providing a componentized resource adapter architecture
A computer program product comprises a computer useable medium. The computer useable medium has a computer readable program such that when the computer readable medium is executed on a computer, the computer is caused to configure an adapter such that the adapter is specific to a data source, provides a communication link to the data source, converts a format of the data source to a format native to a middleware system, and converts a format of metadata of the data source to a standard metadata format. Further, the computer is caused to configure an application interface component to convert an invocation of a function in the middleware system to an invocation of a function provided by an Enterprise Information System through the adapter, convert the data format of the middleware system to a format native to the Enterprise Information System accessed through the adapter, and maintain metadata describing a message format and a function provided by the adapter. |
| US08495592B2 |
Presenting completion progress status of an installer via join points
In an embodiment, a test installer is executed that includes woven advice located at join points. The join points are associated with methods in the test installer. When the advice in the test installer is executed, the advice saves identifiers of the associated join points and times of execution. Subsets of the join points are assigned to installation options. Each installation option causes a production installer to execute a combination of methods. In response to receiving an installation option, advice is woven into the production installer at the join points specified by the assigned subset. When the advice in the production installer is executed, the advice reports its join point identifier, and the production installer presents completion progress status based on the time that was saved for the join point identifier during execution of the test installer. In this way, progress status may be provided during the installation of programs. |
| US08495585B2 |
Method and system for testing websites
Methods and systems to test of web browser enabled applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, a browser application can allow a user to perform test and analysis processes on a candidate web browser enabled application. The test enabled browser can use special functions and facilities that are built into the test enabled browser. One implementation of the invention pertains to functional testing, and another implementation of the invention pertains to pertains to site analysis. |
| US08495584B2 |
Automated desktop benchmarking
A plurality of user interactions in a baseline computing system are intercepted and recorded, in an artifact file, with a benchmarking tool. The recorded user interactions from the artifact file are replayed and injected to a software stack of a system under test (whose performance is to be compared to the baseline system), using the benchmarking tool. During the replay, screen updates in the system under test are sequentially compared with expected screen images from the artifact file, until a match is observed in a given case. A response time associated with each of the matches is recorded. |
| US08495581B2 |
Code evaluation based on failure prediction
A method and apparatus for evaluating code. A likelihood that a set of segments of the code will not run as desired based on a policy is identified. A risk of the code not performing as desired is evaluated based on a result from a code coverage test and the likelihood that the set of segments of the code will not run as desired. |
| US08495576B2 |
Method for estimating testing efforts for software unit testing
A method of estimating testing efforts for software unit testing, has at least the steps of assigning each element of a software system present in a development environment a complexity factor, calculating a complexity factor of the software system present in the development environment, and estimating an effort needed for performing testing of a unit under test in the development environment. |
| US08495575B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing test coverage at an organizational level
Disclosed are methods and systems for calculating test coverage of a software organizational schema. The method and systems involve retrieving the software organizational schema associated with an application, receiving an assigned weight factor to the one or more software organizational schema components associated with the application, determining a number of processed code lines and a total number of the code lines associated with the one or more software organizational schema components, calculating a test coverage for the one or more software organizational schema components based on the weight factor, the number of processed code lines and the total number of code lines of the software organizational schema component. |
| US08495574B2 |
Code coverage tool
A code coverage tool tests a program under test that executes on a processor of an information handling system (IHS). The code coverage tool may apportion the program under test into code portions of interest that exhibit a user-specified granularity level. A user may request that the code coverage tool change the granularity level of the code portions of interest in real time. The code coverage tool conducts testing of the code portions of interest according to test criteria that the user may specify in real time. The code coverage tool may provide test results for each of the code portions of interest in real time. The code coverage tool may also provide a summary report after providing real time results for the code portions of interest. The user may specify that the code coverage tool generate real time test results in the form of sensory output, for example auditory output or visual output, for each of the code portions of interest. The code coverage tool may alter the type of sensory output in real time at the request of the user. |
| US08495573B2 |
Checkpoint and restartable applications and system services
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for checkpoint and restart of a process. In one embodiment, a process shell representing a restartable process is created on an arrival server in response to identifying a process on a departure server that is a restartable process. The process shell is frozen. A name of the restartable process, an identifier of the restartable process, and an identifier of a parent process of the restartable process is assigned to the process shell. The process shell is then unfrozen and exits. A parent process restarts the restartable process when the process shell exits. |
| US08495571B2 |
Computer method and apparatus for engineered product management including simultaneous indication of working copy status and repository status
A computer method and apparatus for managing revisions to engineered products includes a repository, a local data store (working copy) and a revision manager. Each engineered product is formed of one or more assets. The repository holds the plurality of assets and tracks changes of the assets. For a given asset, the revision manager provides, together in a certain screen view, display of (a) indications of changes made to a working copy of the given asset relative to the given asset as held in the repository, and (b) indications of changes made to the given asset in the repository relative to the working copy of the given asset. The certain screen view in one embodiment employs a tabular format with sortable columns, color coded symbols, textual summaries of changes made to assets and textual description of changes made to assets in the repository. |
| US08495568B2 |
System and method of identifying and tracking software pattern software recipes
A method and computer program product for identifying two or more software patterns within a software environment. At least one relationship between the two or more software patterns is identified. A software recipe is defined including the two or more software patterns and the at least one relationship. |
| US08495564B2 |
Automated merging in a software development environment
A system and method for merging changed elements in a software development environment is provided, in which the software development environment is provided with a set of at least one defect, comprising at least one changed element, associated with a software project that comprises a plurality of elements, the software project comprising a plurality of elements. The environment first obtains a list of changed elements in a defect record, for example from a defect database, and for each changed element in the list, attempts an automated merge of the changed element with a corresponding target. If any attempt fails, the environment may re-attempt the merge for any failed attempt, and may invoke a user interface for resolving the merge manually. |
| US08495559B2 |
Extracting platform independent models from composite applications
A system and method for extracting a platform independent model (PIM) from the existing implementation artifacts of a composite application via an intermediary platform specific model (PSM) using model-driven transformations. Meta-models for the PSM and PIM are prepared and mapping rules are specified therebetween. The mapping rules can be created manually or derived automatically via ontology mapping techniques. Once specified, model driven transformations that codify the mapping rules generate the PIM which may include the structural, behavioral and user experience models of the composite application. To enhance the reusability of the extracted PIM, a business level service model along with a service dependency model is generated rather than IT level classes. These higher levels of abstraction enable the models to be linked with business objectives, which is important for companies to understand and maintain their service portfolios. |
| US08495557B2 |
Highly available large scale network and internet systems
Described is a technology by which a system corresponding to a large scale application is built from subsystems that are differentiated from one another based on characteristics of each subsystem. Example characteristics include availability, reliability, redundancy, statefulness and/or performance. Subsystems are matched to known design patterns, based on each subsystem's individual characteristics. Each subsystem's characteristics are associated with that subsystem for subsequent use in operation of the system, e.g., for managing/servicing the subsystem. The known design patterns may be provided in a library, in a programming framework, in conjunction with a development tool, and/or as data associated with one or more operating system services, server systems and/or hosted services that include at least one configuration, policy and or schema. Certain design patterns and/or characteristics patterns may be blocked to prevent their usage. |
| US08495555B2 |
Computer aided design system and method
A computer aided design system comprises an interface creating module, a first calculating module, a dividing module and a second calculating module. The interface module creates a parameter setting interface to display the proposed design on the screen of the device formed with nets and cline segments and select at least one net in response to the user's operation. The first calculating module calculates the length of the cline segments of the potential net in order based on the coordinates of the cline segments and generates a dividing signal. The dividing module divides the cline segments into a first team and a second team based on the compared result with a predetermined width according to the dividing signal. The second calculating module adds the calculated cline segments length in the first team and in the second team to obtain a first length and a second length. |
| US08495553B2 |
Native threshold voltage switching
A computer-implemented method of determining threshold voltage levels within a macro of integrated circuit cells. In one embodiment, the method includes: referencing a library of the integrated circuit cells in the macro; estimating a leakage power and a dynamic power for a first integrated circuit cell in the macro; comparing the leakage power with the dynamic power; switching the first integrated circuit cell to a low threshold voltage level in response to determining the dynamic power is greater than the leakage power; and updating the library with a voltage level of the first integrated circuit cell. |
| US08495552B1 |
Structured latch and local-clock-buffer planning
Latches and local-clock-buffers are automatically placed during integrated circuit physical synthesis. Prior to physically laying out the datapath, locations are assigned for the latches based on a logical representation of the datapath and on the fixed placements of pins. The computed latch locations optimize the datapath according to some predetermined criteria. Local-clock-buffers are also preplaced together with the latches further improving datapath performance. |
| US08495544B2 |
Statistical delay and noise calculation considering cell and interconnect variations
The electrical circuit timing method provides accurate nominal delay together with the delay sensitivities with respect to different circuit elements (e.g., cells, interconnects, etc.) and variational parameters (e.g., process variations; environmental variations). All the sensitivity computations are based on closed-form formulas; as a consequence, the method provides rapidly and at low cost high accuracy and high numerical stability. |
| US08495540B2 |
Generating capacitance look-up tables for wiring patterns in the presence of metal fills
A computer system selects a signal conductor from an electronic circuit design layout and assigns a first potential to the selected signal conductor. Next, the computer system assigns a second potential to other signal conductors included in the electronic circuit design layout. The computer system then selects a metal fill from the electronic circuit design layout, which is void from carrying an electrical signal, and generates a zero charge equation for the selected metal fill. The zero charge equation establishes that a total charge residing on the selected metal fill is equal to zero. The computer system includes the zero charge equation in a system of equations, which includes grid point potential equations, and solves the system of equations. In turn, the computer system computes capacitance values for the signal conductors based upon the system of equation solutions, and simulates the electronic circuit design layout using the computed capacitance values. |
| US08495537B1 |
Timing analysis of an array circuit cross section
A method, system or computer usable program product for performing timing analysis on an array circuit including receiving in memory a set of pins to be timed, selecting with a data processor a cross section of the array circuit including the set of pins wherein a backtrace is performed from the set of pins to identify a set of bus groups, each bus group having a plurality of timing pins, and assigning timing for an assigned pin of a first bus group equal to timing calculated for a surrogate pin of the first bus group based on array circuit regularity. |
| US08495535B2 |
Partitioning and scheduling uniform operator logic trees for hardware accelerators
A circuit design is compiled for hardware-accelerated functional verification by removing internal gates of a uniform operator tree (e.g., an assertion tree) while retaining node information, and partitioning the circuit to optimize connectivity without being constrained by the uniform operator tree. After partitioning, sub-trees are constructed for the partitions, and aggregated to form a master tree. The sub-trees can have leaf nodes at varying depths based on ranks of the leaf nodes, and the master tree can similarly provide inputs from the sub-trees at varying depths based on simulation depths for the sub-trees. The resynthesized master tree is structurally distinct from the original uniform operator tree but, since the inputs are commutative (e.g., OR gates), the functional equivalence of the model is preserved. |
| US08495532B2 |
Systems and methods for creating frequency-dependent RC extraction netlist
A method includes approximating a physical characteristic of a semiconductor substrate with a frequency-dependent circuit, and creating a technology file for the semiconductor substrate based on the frequency-dependent circuit. The physical characteristic of the semiconductor substrate identified by one of an electromagnetic simulation or a silicon measurement. The technology file is adapted for use by an electronic design automation tool to create a netlist for the semiconductor substrate and is stored in a non-transient computer readable storage medium. |
| US08495529B2 |
Method, program product and apparatus for model based scattering bar placement for enhanced depth of focus in quarter-wavelength lithography
A method of generating a mask having optical proximity correction features. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a desired target pattern having features to be imaged on a substrate; (b) determining a first focus setting to be utilized when imaging the mask; (c) determining a first interference map based on the target pattern and the first focus setting; (d) determining a first seeding site representing the optimal placement of an assist feature within the mask relative to a feature to be imaged on the basis of the first interference map; (e) selecting a second focus setting which represents a predefined amount of defocus relative to the first focus setting; (f) determining a second interference map based on the target pattern and the second focus setting; (g) determining a second seeding site representing the optimal placement of an assist feature within the mask relative to the feature to be imaged on the basis of the second interference map; and (h) generating an assist feature having a shape which encompasses both the first seeding site and the second seeding site. |
| US08495528B2 |
Method for generating a plurality of optimized wavefronts for a multiple exposure lithographic process
A simplified version of a multiexpose mask optimization problem is solved in order to find a compressed space in which to search for the solution to the full problem formulation. The simplification is to reduce the full problem to an unconstrained formulation. The full problem of minimizing dark region intensity while maintaining intensity above threshold at each bright point can be converted to the unconstrained problem of minimizing average dark region intensity per unit of average intensity in the bright regions. The extrema solutions to the simplified problem can be obtained for each source. This set of extrema solutions is then assessed to determine which features are predominantly printed by which source. A minimal set of extrema solutions serves as a space of reduced dimensionality within which to maximize the primary objective under constraints. The space typically has reduced dimensionality through selection of highest quality extrema solutions. |
| US08495527B2 |
Pattern recognition with edge correction for design based metrology
A method for edge correction in pattern recognition includes generating a pattern recognition output for a pattern recognition process, including receiving, in the processor, a design layout, receiving a sample plan based on the design layout, receiving a first user-generated edge input, generating a pattern recognition recipe output from the design layout, the sample plan and the user-generated edge input, wherein the pattern recognition recipe output is configured to drive the pattern recognition process, generating a measurement model from the pattern recognition process, generating a measurement model pattern recognition output for an measurement model pattern recognition process, including receiving a second user-generated input and generating a measurement model pattern recognition recipe output from the measurement model and the second user-generated edge input, wherein the measurement model pattern recognition recipe output configured to drive the measurement model pattern recognition process. |
| US08495526B2 |
Method, program product and apparatus for performing decomposition of a pattern for use in a DPT process
A method of decomposing a target pattern containing features to be printed on a wafer into multiple patterns. The method includes the steps of: (a) defining a region of influence which indicates the minimum necessary space between features to be imaged; (b) selecting a vertex associated with a feature of the target pattern; (c) determining if an edge of another feature is within the region of influence with respect to the vertex; and (d) splitting the another feature into two polygons if the edge of another feature is within the region of influence. |
| US08495521B2 |
Relationship map generator
A relationship map includes multiple nodes that display related information from node to node in a tree-like, hierarchical fashion. The relationship map associates a formula with a particular node of the relationship map. The relationship map also associates range information with the particular node, the range information indicating a range of nodes to which the formula should be applied. The range information may indicate whether the nodes in the range extend leafward or rootward from the particular node in the relationship map. The relationship map displays the particular node updated with result information that a relationship map generator generates when applying the formula to the nodes specified by the range information. |
| US08495517B2 |
Multi-context iteractive directory filter
On a device having keys with multiple values, a user may perform either an iterative directory filtering operation or a direct-dial operation, without specifying which of the operations is intended. Hence, a user is allowed to perform any of a number of different operations to specify a number to be dialed or to identify a directory record, without requiring the user to specify a mode. A user's intended operation is determined by analyzing the entered keystrokes, and activates the appropriate feedback and functionality for the determined operation. In one embodiment iterative directory filtering is performed on multiple fields concurrently, including derived fields and combination fields. |
| US08495515B2 |
Methods, systems and computer readable media for modifying parameters of a configuration file
Disclosed is a method of configuring a medical device through utilization of a computing device that includes a user interface, a processor and memory. The method includes the steps of determining whether a configuration file contains a focal modified parameter, displaying the focal modified parameter, prompting a manual re-entry of the displayed focal modified parameter, receiving through the user interface the manual re-entry of the displayed focal modified parameter, and utilizing the processor to automatically determine whether the manual re-entry of the displayed focal modified parameter matches the displayed focal modified parameter. |
| US08495514B1 |
Transparency assisted window focus and selection
A scene manager, in response to detecting user input indicating an obscured window may initiate transparency assisted window focus and selection. The scene manager may cause the obscured window to be rendered fully opaque while causing any obscuring windows to be rendered highly, or at least partially, transparent allowing the contents of the obscured window to be at least partially visible through the transparent content of the obscuring windows. The scene manager may cause transparency-enabled applications to redraw obscuring windows to be highly transparent. Alternatively, the scene manager may utilize a graphics subsystem capable of rendering the obscuring windows highly transparent. The scene manager may be configured to cause obscuring windows to be rendered multiple times, each time with increasing levels of transparency so that the obscuring windows fade from opacity to transparency. |
| US08495511B2 |
Care label method for a self service dashboard construction
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interfaces and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically labeling widgets in a mashup dashboard can be provided. The method can include identifying a widget, assigning a care label to the identified widget based on a type of datafeed payload information associated with the identified widget and displaying the identified widget with the assigned care label in a user interface to enable a user to make a visually matched selection of widgets to create a self service dashboard. |
| US08495509B1 |
Cross-view undo/redo for multi-view editing environments
An editing environment is disclosed having both a design and code views, each with its own undo/redo stacks. The editing environment includes logic to form an object that encapsulates the edits and changes made during a code view editing session. The object is associated or pointed to an element in the design view undo/redo stack. When the editing environment receives an undo/redo command in which a code view edit block is to be undone, the design view takes the specific object, which is then translated back into the proper format for code view execution. The code view then executes the undo/redo entries and returns any remaining code view edits that were not undone or redone, to the design view to place back into a code view edit block in either of the design view undo/redo stacks, along with the new related object. |
| US08495506B2 |
Identifying mutual friends in online environments
The invention described herein detects an external user entering into a virtual world that includes a virtual area. In turn, the invention described herein identifies a plurality of joined users that joined each virtual area and computes a joined user weighting for each of the plurality of joined users. The joined user weightings include friend of a friend level weightings and commonality weightings. Next, the invention described herein computes a virtual area friendliness level for each of the virtual areas by aggregating each of the joined user weightings for each of the virtual areas, and provides the virtual area friendliness levels to the external user in order for the external user to select the appropriate virtual area. |
| US08495505B2 |
Perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world
A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The method may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar. |
| US08495503B2 |
Indicating the context of a communication
A method, system, and program for indicating a reaction response associated with the content of a communication to provide a context for the communication are provided. The content of a communication and the reaction responses to a communication provide the context for a communication. Varying portions of the content of a communication are analyzed to identify a particular reaction response associated with each of the varying portions of content. During a display of the content of the communication, a color within any of the varying portions indicates the associated reaction response. A reaction response may indicate a sender's intended response or an anticipated or actual response of a recipient. The colors may be added to a proposed communication and edited by a sender to achieve a particular desired response. |
| US08495502B2 |
System and method for interaction between users of an online community
There is disclosed a method of facilitating interaction between users of an electronic community. In an embodiment, the method comprises: reviewing a user activity log for each user in the electronic community; executing a natural language parser to extract significant noun phrases from the user activity log; updating user profiles from the newly extracted noun phrases, based on their usage frequency and importance value; and storing the updated profiles in a user profile and relationship data base; and executing a similarity based clustering algorithm to cluster user profiles, thereby discovering relationships among users and storing them in a user profile and relationship database. The method may further comprise displaying for each user the one or more relationships to which the user is assigned, together with a list of users assigned to the one or more relationships. The method may also comprise storing for each user the relationship to which the user is assigned in a user profile and relationship database. |
| US08495500B2 |
Portal-based podcast development
A computer-implementable method, system, and computer program product that creates a podcast template within a portal definition environment is presented. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: creating a standard two-dimensional portal page; and rendering a one-dimensional portlet from the standard two-dimensional portal page to create a podcast. |
| US08495496B2 |
Computer method and system automatically providing context to a participant's question in a web conference
Computer method and system provides context in an online meeting, a web conference or other shared slides application. A person (attendee or participant) asking a question does so in the specific section (slide) of the shared application. Screen images of these specific slides are captured and coupled to respective questions. The questions are queued for the presenter. Captured screen images provide context for the questions. Each question selected from the queue by the presenter automatically provides context without interrupting flow of the presentation and online meeting. |
| US08495489B1 |
System and method for creating and displaying image annotations
Disclosed herein are computer-implemented systems and methods for allowing an end-user to create and share annotated comments, modify published images, and/or otherwise interact with images published on digital content platforms (e.g., images published on a webpage, mobile application, etc.). The systems and methods may include: (1) providing an annotation interface to allow a first end-user to create an annotation on a published image; (2) providing a comment entry interface to receive a comment from the first end-user; (3) linking the annotation and the comment; (4) identifying when a second end-user accesses the image or comment on the digital content platform; and (5) displaying the comment and/or annotation to the second end-user. |
| US08495488B2 |
Tool for interacting with and comparing scores in marked documents
This invention concerns a document markup tool, that is an application where existing authored documents can be marked or annotated. For instance, formative or summative assessment submissions authored by students might be graded by a teacher using the markup tool. The tool itself is operable by a user at a computer user interface to: Recognize the members of a set of existing documents. Open one of the existing documents in a set and display its contents to a user together with a toolbar. And, select locations in the document and, using the toolbar, add commentary and scores to the document. Wherein the markup tool is automatically operable to: Total the scores made in a document. Display the scores in a graphical report in the document. Display a moderation panel which enables visual and statistical comparisons of the scores made in a document to the scores added to all the documents of the set. And, reflect changes to the scores made in a document in the displayed moderation panel. |
| US08495486B2 |
Look ahead of links/alter links
A computationally-implemented method comprises obtaining at least a portion of data from a data source, determining a content of the data, determining an acceptability of an effect of content of the data at least in part via at least two virtual machine representations of at least a part of a real machine having at least one end-user specified preference, at least one of the at least two virtual machine representations operating at least in part on an individual core of a multi-core system, and displaying at least one data display option based on the determining an acceptability of a content of the data. |
| US08495483B1 |
Using text surrounding hypertext links when indexing and generating page summaries
Web quotes are gathered from web pages that link to a web page of interest. The web quote may include text from the paragraphs that contain the hypertext links to the page of interest as well as text from other portions of the linked web page, such as text from a nearby header. The obtained web quotes may be ranked based on quality or relevance and may then be incorporated into a search engine's document index or into summary information returned to users in response to a search query. |
| US08495482B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for automatically and securely citing and transferring electronically formatted information and for maintaining association between the cited or transferred information and back-end information
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for automatically and securely citing and transferring electronically formatted information and for maintaining association between the cited or transferred information and back-end information are disclosed. According to one method, a selection of media content copied from an electronic source is received. The selection of media content is inserted into an electronic destination. Citation information is automatically determined for the selection of media content by parsing a data structure provided by an author or publisher of the media content. The citation information is automatically inserted into the electronic destination. The inserted selection of media content and the citation are made uneditable. |
| US08495477B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method for transmitting and receiving digital broadcast signal
A method of processing a digital broadcast signal is provided. Signaling data for signaling of mobile service data is encoded. Data groups are formed, the data groups including a first data group, a second data group and a third data group. The digital broadcast signal including the data groups is transmitted, the signaling data including first information indicating whether a segmented known data sequence of the second data group is concatenated to a segmented known data sequence of the first data group to form a known data sequence, and/or second information indicating whether a segmented known data sequence of the second data group is concatenated to a segmented known data sequence of the third data group to form a known data sequence. |
| US08495476B2 |
System and method for coding and interleaving for short frame support in visible light communication
A transmitter is capable of performing both Galois Field (GF) (16) and GF (256) encoding in a visual light communication system. The transmitter includes a GF (256) encoder. The transmitter also includes a first bit mapper configured to map a first number of bits to a second number of bits. The Galois Field (256) encoder is configured to receive and encode the second number of bits. The transmitter also includes a second bit mapper configured to map the second number of bits to the first number of bits. The transmitter also includes an interleaver unit that can pad bits based on a frame size and puncture the bits after interleaving and prior to transmission. |
| US08495474B2 |
Method and system for data transmission in a data network
The present invention relates to a method and system for data transmission in a data network. According to the method, a data packet is sent from a sender to a receiver. If a data packet is incorrectly received on the receiver, a repeat request is sent from the receiver to the sender. Upon receiving the repeat request on the sender, the data packet is resent from the sender to the receiver. After having received on the sender a predetermined number of repeat requests requesting the resending of the same data packet, a predetermined quantity of copies of the data packet is sent from the sender to the receiver, wherein the predetermined quantity includes at least two copies, or a predetermined quantity of additional information packets is sent from the sender to the receiver. |
| US08495473B2 |
Resource sharing in a telecommunications environment
A transceiver is designed to share memory and processing power amongst a plurality of transmitter and/or receiver latency paths, in a communications transceiver that carries or supports multiple applications. For example, the transmitter and/or receiver latency paths of the transceiver can share an interleaver/deinterleaver memory. This allocation can be done based on the data rate, latency, BER, impulse noise protection requirements of the application, data or information being transported over each latency path, or in general any parameter associated with the communications system. |
| US08495470B2 |
Efficient rewrite technique for tape drives
A method for efficiently rewriting data to tape is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes writing a data set to tape, the data set comprising S sub data sets of fixed size, each sub data set comprising N code word interleaves (CWIs). The method further includes reading the data set while writing it to the tape to identify faulty CWIs. While reading the data set, the method buffers the faulty CWIs (such as by storing, identifying, and/or marking the faulty CWIs) for later retrieval. When the end of the data set is reached, the method writes corrected versions of the faulty CWIs to the end of the data set. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed and claimed herein. |
| US08495468B2 |
Data storage apparatus and data writing/reading method
According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus including memory chips includes an error correction encoder, a RAID controller, error detectors and memory units. Each of the memory chips includes a semiconductor memory. The error correction encoder adds an error correction code to an encoded data stream. The RAID controller divides the encoded data stream from the error correction encoder into data blocks. The RAID controller generates a parity data block based on the data blocks. The RAID controller outputs the data blocks and parity data block to the error detectors, respectively. The error detectors add an error detection code to the data blocks and parity data block output from the RAID controller. Each of the memory units includes the memory chips. The memory units write the data blocks and parity data block from the error detectors to the memory chips. |
| US08495465B1 |
Error correction coding over multiple memory pages
A method for data storage includes encoding each of multiple data items individually using a first Error Correction Code (ECC) to produce respective encoded data items. The encoded data items are stored in a memory. The multiple data items are encoded jointly using a second ECC, so as to produce a code word of the second ECC, and only a part of the code word is stored in the memory. The stored encoded data items are recalled from the memory and the first ECC is decoded in order to reconstruct the data items. Upon a failure to reconstruct a given data item from a respective given encoded data item by decoding the first ECC, the given data item is reconstructed based on the part of the code word of the second ECC and on the encoded data items other than the given encoded data item. |
| US08495455B1 |
Systems and methods for parallel dual-mode turbo decoders
According to some embodiments, a turbo decoder configured for High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and Long Term Evolution (LTE) is provided, comprising: a plurality of maximum a posteriori (MAP) engines; a plurality of extrinsic memory banks accessible by a MAP engine of the plurality of MAP engines; and wherein when the turbo decoder is operating in HSDPA mode the plurality of extrinsic memory banks is configured such that during a first half of a decoding iteration, the MAP engine is able to read a first dataset from and write second dataset to the plurality of extrinsic memory banks in natural row and column order, and during a second half of the decoding iteration, the MAP engine is able to read a third dataset from and write a fourth dataset to the plurality of extrinsic memory banks in a predetermined row and column order in accordance with an interleaver table using a read column buffer and a write column buffer. |
| US08495454B2 |
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and architectures for quickly and reliably encoding and/or decoding system data
Methods, apparatuses, systems, and architectures for providing fast, independent, and reliable retrieval of system data (e.g., metadata) from a storage system, which enables minimal degradation in the reliability of user data. Methods generally include encoding the system data at least twice, at least once independently and at least once jointly along with user data. Methods can also include decoding the system data first, and upon a decoding failure, jointly decoding the system data and the user data. |
| US08495452B2 |
Handling corrupted background data in an out of order execution environment
Handling corrupted background data in an out of order processing environment. Modified data is stored on a byte of a word having at least one byte of background data. A byte valid vector and a byte store bit are added to the word. Parity checking is done on the word. If the word does not contain corrupted background date, the word is propagated to the next level of cache. If the word contains corrupted background data, a copy of the word is fetched from a next level of cache that is ECC protected, the byte having the modified data is extracted from the word and swapped for the corresponding byte in the word copy. The word copy is then written into the next level of cache that is ECC protected. |
| US08495451B2 |
Transmitting system and method of transmitting digital broadcast signal in transmitting system
A transmitting system and a method of transmitting digital broadcast signal are disclosed. This invention extends a region for mobile service data in a slot. Thus, the transmitter can transmit more mobile service data. This invention has an advantage enhancing the reception performance of a broadcast signal at a reception system, and a method for processing a broadcast signal by inserting additional known data in regions C, D and E. |
| US08495450B2 |
System and method for structured LDPC code family with fixed code length and no puncturing
A family of low density parity check (LDPC) codes is generated based on a mother code having a highest code rate. The low density parity check (LDPC) codes include a codeword size of at least 1344. The LDPC codes also include a plurality of parity bits in a lower triangular form. The mother code is constructed by: selecting m number of rows and n number of columns; setting maximum column weights and row weights; designing a protograph matrix based on the set column weights and row weights and selected m and n; and selecting circulant blocks based on the protograph matrix. |
| US08495444B2 |
Frequency modification techniques that adjust an operating frequency to compensate for aging electronic components
A number of performance parameters for the electronic system are determined at a particular age of the electronic system. The performance parameters can be correlated to maximum operating frequency of electronic components of the electronic system for the particular age of the electronic system. Operating frequency of the electronic components is adjusted in accordance with the performance parameters. The performance parameters may be predetermined (such as through reliability and burn-in testing), determined during the life of the electronic system, or some combination of these. Performance parameters can comprise prior operating frequencies, hours of operation, ambient temperature, and supply voltage. Performance parameters can comprise performance statistics determined using age-monitoring circuits, where an aged circuit is compared with a circuit enabled only for comparison. Performance statistics may also be determined though error detection circuits. If an error is detected, the operating frequency can be reduced. |
| US08495440B2 |
Fully programmable parallel PRBS generator
A pseudo random bit stream generator is disclosed which has a fully programmable pseudo random polynomial up to the supported width of the CSRs, fully programmable tap selection for providing any specified combination of generator state taps, and fully programmable parallel sequence generation which determines the number of sequential bits calculated and how much the sequence generator advances per clock. |
| US08495437B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device including a data bus inversion (DBI) determination unit, a first inverter, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) calculation unit, a second inverter, and a DQ pin. The DBI determination unit is configured to determine whether to perform DBI based on first data on a main data line and configured to generate DBI data. The first inverter is configured to invert or non-invert the first data according to the DBI data to generate second data. The CRC calculation unit is configured to generate CRC data based on the second data and the DBI data. The second inverter is configured to invert or non-invert the first data according to the DBI data to generate third data. The DQ pin is configured to output the third data externally. |
| US08495436B1 |
System and method for memory testing in electronic circuits
An electronic circuit includes first and second circuits that include corresponding built-in-self-test (BIST) engines to perform memory testing operations on corresponding first and second memory block and generate first and second memory repair data. A multiplexer receives the first and second memory repair data and selectively transmits the first memory repair data during a first test cycle and the second memory repair data during a second test cycle. A shadow register buffers the first memory repair data during the first test cycle and a fuse processor sequentially receives and stores the first and second memory repair data during the second test cycle. |
| US08495434B2 |
Failure source server and mail server administrator alert management programs, systems, and methods
A server management system includes a management server and a mail server. The management server includes a source determination unit and an alert mail creator. The source determination unit determines as a source a symbol identifying a failure cause of a system according to the failure cause. The alert mail creator creates an alert mail with the source and with the system administrator of the system as a destination. The mail server sends the alert mail to a terminal device that the system administrator uses. |
| US08495433B2 |
Microcomputer mutual monitoring system and a microcomputer mutual monitoring method
The present invention is related to a microcomputer mutual monitoring system in which mutual monitoring is performed between a first microcomputer 11 and a second microcomputer 12, characterized in that if a reset of the second microcomputer is performed due to an occurrence of an abnormal event in the second microcomputer, the monitoring of the first microcomputer is performed by an alternative monitoring function 142 incorporated in the first microcomputer instead of the monitoring of the first microcomputer by a monitoring function of the second microcomputer during the reset. With this arrangement, the microcomputer mutual monitoring system, which can prevent reduced marketability while maintaining reliability as a system, can be obtained. |
| US08495426B2 |
Meta-directory control and evaluation of events
Techniques for meta-directory control and evaluation of events are provided. Disparate events from heterogeneous processing environments are collected as the events are produced by resources within the processing environments. The events are filtered and organized into taxonomies. Next the filtered and organized events are assigned to nodes of a Meta directory, each node defining a relationship between two or more of the resources and policy is applied. Finally, additional policy is evaluated in view of the events and their node assignments with other events, and one or more automated actions are then taken. |
| US08495423B2 |
Flash-based memory system with robust backup and restart features and removable modules
A Flash-based memory system comprises a plurality of Flash memory devices, a Flash controller communicating independently with each Flash memory device to perform memory operations, a power circuit providing power the Flash memory devices, and a CPU configured to perform a controlled powering down procedure upon detecting a power failure. In some embodiments, the Flash-based memory system includes a backup power source having a charge storage device and charging circuitry, the CPU configured to perform one or more test procedures on the charge storage device to provide an indication of a charge storage capacity of the charge storage device. A plurality of Flash-based memory systems may be mounted on a Flash-based memory card, and multiple such Flash-based memory cards may be combined into a Flash-based memory module. A number of Flash-based memory modules may then be removably mounted in a rack-mountable housing to form unitary Flash-based memory unit. |
| US08495415B2 |
Method and system for maintaining backup copies of firmware
A method and system for maintaining backup copies of firmware. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes monitoring an execution of at least one firmware component, and causing a backup copy of the at least one firmware component to be generated if the at least one firmware component executes at a predefined standard of reliability for a predefined time period. According to the system and method disclosed herein, trustworthy backup copies are available if a given server of a multiserver system fails. |
| US08495414B2 |
SVC cluster configuration node failover system and method
Methods, systems, and computer programs are provided for failover responses to configuration node failures in SVC clusters. An SVC cluster manages a plurality of storage devices and includes a plurality of SVCs interconnected via a network, each SVC acting as a separate node. A storage device event log is saved, with an original configuration node. An entry is made in the storage device event log each time the original configuration node receives storage device events and setting the entry to a negative value indicating a storage device event has not been handled. The entry is set to a positive value indicating the storage device event has been handled after the original configuration node notifies respective subscribed clients about those of the storage device events the original configuration node receives. A new configuration node is activated in response to configuration node failures. |
| US08495413B2 |
System and method for providing a computer standby node
An apparatus for providing a computing environment in a computing system includes a first node, a second node, an operations server, and a communication link. The first node is capable of supporting a production computing environment and has a first disk storage. The second node is capable of supporting a second operational computing environment, independent of the production computing environment and has a second disk storage. The operations server manages the first and second node and can switch the production computing environment from the first node to the second node. The communications link allows communication between the first node, the second node, and the operations server. The second node can take over the production computing environment from the first node upon a failure of the first node by providing the second node with access to the first disk storage and rebooting the second node from the first disk storage. A method of switching a production computing environment from a first node, having a first disk storage, to a second node in the event of a failure on the first node includes determining if the first node had a failure and if the first node had a failure: reassigning ownership of the partition definition to the second node; restoring communications configuration on the second node; and booting the second node from the first disk storage. |
| US08495410B2 |
Sampling phase correcting host controller, semiconductor device and method
One embodiment provides a host controller which performs a phase shift correction of a sampling clock when sampling a signal received, includes a phase shift judging section which judges whether or not it is necessary to shift a phase of the sampling clock, and up/down counts a counter in accordance with a shift direction when judging that it is necessary to shift the phase, a limit value storage section which stores a variance range limit value of the phase shift, and a shift limit judging section which judges whether or not a value of the counter exceeds the limit value of the phase shift, notifies a host device of an error when judging that the counter value exceeds the limit value, and shifts the phase of the sampling clock in accordance with the counter value of the counter when judging that the counter value does not exceed the limit value. |
| US08495409B2 |
Host controller, semiconductor device and method for setting sampling phase
According to one embodiment, there is provided a host controller, which samples reception data in a VDS mode and an FDS mode, includes a VDS phase register which holds a phase shift amount in the VDS mode, an FDS phase register which holds a phase shift amount in the FDS mode, a mode setting unit configured to indicate in which of the VDS mode and the FDS mode data is sampled, a sampling position setting unit which selects the phase shift amount set in one of the VDS and the FDS phase register in accordance with a setting value of the mode setting unit, and provides the selected phase shift amount as a sampling position, and a clock phase shift unit which shifts a phase of an input clock signal in accordance with the shift amount, and provides the shifted input clock signal as a sampling clock. |
| US08495406B2 |
Apparatus for resuming a system from a power failure after the main power supply has recovered and prior to fully recharging the backup power supply by enabling the receiption of input/output commands by the cache memory at a rate proportational to the amount of charge on the backup power supply currently available
Following a loss of power, a storage system switches to a local power supply. The system switches to the local power supply, prevents the receipt of input/output commands and copies the content of cache memory to a local storage device. On detecting resumption of external power, the system charges a local power supply, copies the content of the local storage device to the cache memory and processes the content of the cache memory with respect to at least one storage volume. When the charge stored on the local power supply exceeds the charge required to copy the content of the cache memory to the local storage device by a predetermined amount, the system allows the receipt of input/output commands using a reduced portion of the cache memory. Once the charge stored on the local power supply has reached a predetermined level, the system allows the receipt of input/output commands using all cache memory. |
| US08495404B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive bluetooth low power discovery and wake up
Disclosed is a method of low power discovery (LPD) that extends the battery life of a portable Wi Fi device or portable media player (PMP) using an IEEE 802.11 interface. Battery life extension is effected by ensuring that a PMP host processor is only on when in designated 802.11 coverage or when needed by a user by employing probabilistic channel scanning. The method includes bringing an access terminal host equipped with an 802.11 interface to an advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) state S3 or an equivalent sleep state prior to the device or PMP going to sleep. Additionally, the method includes programming a Bluetooth (BT) device at the access terminal is to look for a certain IAC (inquiry access code), whereupon finding this IAC, the access sends a Bluetooth inquiry directing an access point (AP) to wake-up the device or PMP via a wake-up packet. |
| US08495403B2 |
Platform and processor power management
The present invention relates to platform power management. In some implementations, platform tasks, that require servicing by a host processor, may be serviced in groups to create longer or more idle periods to enable the host processor to be in lower power consuming states more often. |
| US08495401B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus includes an imaging forming unit configured to form an image; a main controller configured to control an operation of the imaging forming unit; a USB interface configured to receive and to transmit USB data from and to a host apparatus; a power supply configured to supply power to the image forming unit and the main controller; a switch configured to supply power selectively under the control of the main controller; and a sub controller configured to output a power control signal for turning on the switch if USB data is received from the host apparatus in a sleep mode during which the main controller is turned off. Power consumption is thereby reduced by turning off the power to the main controller in the sleep mode. |
| US08495400B2 |
Energy-efficient transitioning among device operating modes
Methods and devices are provided for managing the transitions between operating modes in a data device. In an illustrative example, a method includes storing, in a control system for a device, a value for a first interval of time. The value indicates a minimum interval of time required for the device to remain in a lower power operating mode to provide energy savings at least equal to an energy cost associated with transitioning between the lower power operating mode and a higher power operating mode. The method further includes receiving a signal that instructs the device to transition from the lower power operating mode to the higher power operating mode. The method also includes ensuring that the device has remained in the lower power operating mode for at least as long as the first interval of time before it transitions to the higher power operating mode. |
| US08495398B2 |
Information handling system remote input/output connection system
An information handling system (IHS) remote input/output (I/O) connection system includes an enclosure having a power button, a communication bus connection point, and an audio connection point. A cable dongle extends from the enclosure. The cable dongle has a first end and a second end. The cable dongle also includes a connection from the power button on the enclosure on the first end to a communication connection point plug on the second end, which mates with a connection point plug on a remote I/O device card that enables a parallel (ACPI) S5-capable power button from the IHS to exist on the enclosure. The cable dongle further includes a communication cable coupled to the communication bus connection point on the first end and having a communication connection point plug on the second end. In addition, the cable dongle includes an audio cable coupled to the audio connection point on the first end and having an audio connection point plug on the second end. |
| US08495395B2 |
Mechanism for controlling power consumption in a processing node
A system includes a plurality of processor cores and a power management unit. The power management unit may be configured to independently control the performance of the processor cores by selecting a respective thermal power limit for each of the plurality of processor cores dependent upon an operating state of each of the processor cores and a relative physical proximity of each processor core to each other processor core. In response to the power management unit detecting that a given processor core is operating above the respective thermal power limit, the power management unit may reduce the performance of the given processor core, and thereby reduce the power consumed by that core. |
| US08495390B2 |
System and method for data obfuscation based on discrete logarithm properties
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable storage media for obfuscating data based on a discrete logarithm. A system practicing the method identifies a clear value in source code, replaces the clear value in the source code with a transformed value based on the clear value and a discrete logarithm, and updates portions of the source code that refer to the clear value such that interactions with the transformed value provide a same result as interactions with the clear value. This discrete logarithm approach can be implemented in three variations. The first variation obfuscates some or all of the clear values in loops. The second variation obfuscates data in a process. The third variation obfuscates data pointers, including tables and arrays. The third variation also preserves the ability to use pointer arithmetic. |
| US08495389B2 |
Locking changing hard disk content to a hardware token
A method for preventing unauthorized use of a software program on a computing device includes updating a state of a software program on a computing device to an updated state. Transmitting an update signal from the software program to a hardware token coupled to the computing device and updating a state of the hardware token to an updated state in response to the received update signal. Performing a first cryptographic check using the updated state of the software program and the updated state of the hardware token with the hardware token. Transmitting the first cryptographic check from the hardware token to the software program and performing a second cryptographic check using the state of the hardware token and the state of the software program with the computing device. Comparing the second cryptographic check to the first cryptographic check with the computing device, and preventing the software program from running on the computing device if the first cryptographic check does not match the second cryptographic check. |
| US08495385B2 |
Adapter for portable storage medium and method of disabling data access
A portable storage medium adapter, which is connected to a computer to store data received from the computer in a portable storage medium, includes a holding part that detachably holds the portable storage medium, a detecting part that detects an unloading operation of the portable storage medium by a user, and a disablement executing part that executes a disabling process to disable external access to the data stored in the portable storage medium at a time when the unloading operation is detected in the detecting part. |
| US08495379B2 |
Method and system for managing a hierarchy of passwords
A method and system manage a hierarchy of passwords for users accessing a hierarchy of access control devices. First, a codeword is acquired and a syndrome of the codeword is determined. Next, the codeword is randomly modified with a probability p to produce a modified codeword. The modified codeword is selected and assigned to a user as a password, if the modified codeword is recoverable. |
| US08495374B2 |
Integrity protected smart card transaction
Systems, methods, and technologies for configuring a conventional smart card and a client machine, and for performing a smart card authorization using the configured smart card and client. Further, the combination of methods provides for mutual authentication—authentication of the client to the user, and authentication of the user to the client. The authentication methods include presenting a specified token to the user sufficient to authenticate the client to the user and thus protect the user-provided PIN. Security is strengthened by using an integrity key based on approved client system configurations. Security is further strengthened by calculating a PIN′ value based on a user-specified PIN and a modifier and using the PIN′ value for unlocking the smart card. |
| US08495373B2 |
Method of generating a cryptographic key, network and computer program therefor
The present invention relates to security systems for communication networks. More precisely, the invention relates to a method for generating a shared key between a first node (D1) and a second node (D2) for secure communication in a network (1), the first node storing a first node keying material share based on a root keying material and the method comprising the following steps: a) the first node receiving an identifier of the second node, b) the first node evaluating the first node keying material share at a second node's identifier, to generate the shared key, wherein the first node keying material share is a polynomial-based keying material over a finite field Fq and step b) comprises: b1) the first node applying a Horner's rule to factorize the first node keying material under the form of a combination of monomials, b2) the first node computing the result of each monomial operation by evaluating at a predetermined point a polynomial of degree r−1 with coefficients in a sub-field of Fq. The invention also relates to a network and a computer program thereof. |
| US08495370B2 |
Information processing apparatus and authentication bypassing method
In an information processing apparatus, when a command does not include information relating to whether to perform or not to perform authentication of firmware or a first control unit, authentication or authentication bypassing is performed based on a power state and an operation table, and when the command does include the information, the authentication or the authentication bypassing is performed based on the command. |
| US08495369B2 |
Information terminal apparatus, information processing apparatus and information communication system
When transmitting position/time information calculated by means of a GPS function to a server apparatus, authentication is carried out with the server apparatus. The position/time information may be certified as legitimate measured by a portable apparatus with a GPS reception function employed by a user. When transmitting information related to the position and the time acquired from a portable phone terminal having the GPS function and a network function by means of the GPS function to the server apparatus, authentication is carried out between the portable phone terminal and the server apparatus. The position/time information is transmitted to the server apparatus, only if the server apparatus is authenticated as a legitimate counterpart for connection. A secret key holding section is provided for holding different secret keys for different apparatuses. The position/time information measured based on an electromagnetic wave received from a positioning satellite is digitally signed by means of the secret key. The identification information and the position/time information having the digital signature are then transmitted to a counterpart. |
| US08495366B2 |
Secure kerberized access of encrypted file system
A file server receives a request from a client to mount an encrypted file system. The file server informs the client that the requested file system is encrypted and, in turn, receives a session ticket from the client that includes a security protocol mounting selection. The file server decrypts the client's user's encrypted private key, and then decrypts the requested encrypted file system using the private key. In turn, the file server sends the decrypted file system to the client over a secure channel, which is based upon the security protocol mounting selection. In one embodiment, a key distribution center server receives a request from the client for the client's user to access the encrypted file system at the file server. The key distribution center server retrieves an intermediate key; includes the intermediate key in a session ticket; and sends the session ticket to the client. |
| US08495361B2 |
Securely creating an endorsement certificate in an insecure environment
A method and system for ensuring security-compliant creation and signing of endorsement keys of manufactured TPMs. The endorsement keys are generated for the TPM. The TPM vendor selects an N-byte secret and stores the N-byte secret in the TPM along with the endorsement keys. The secret number cannot be read outside of the TPM. The secret number is also provided to the OEM's credential server. During the endorsement key (EK) credential process, the TPM generates an endorsement key, which comprises both the public key and a hash of the secret and the public key. The credential server matches the hash within the endorsement key with a second hash of the received public key (from the endorsement key) and the vendor provided secret. The EK certificate is generated and inserted into the TPM only when a match is confirmed. |
| US08495355B2 |
Operating system experience states
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to operating system experience states. Input may be received that requests a change from a current experience state to a target experience state. In response, state data may be obtained that indicates allowed experience states as well as component data that indicates components and relationships between components in the target experience state. This state data may then be used to change from the current experience state to a target experience state. The target experience state may be used, for example, to configure a server or other operating system. |
| US08495353B2 |
Method and circuit for resetting register
A method for reset a register includes the following step: a computer starts to be booted and perform a booting procedure. Wherein, the computer includes at least one register. Power is supplied to the at least one register. Determine if the computer is booted successfully. If it is determined that the computer fails to be booted, the at least one register is kept to be grounded for a predetermined period of time to reset the at least one register. After the at least one register is grounded, power is supplied to the at least one register again, and the computer is rebooted. |
| US08495352B2 |
System and method for instantiation of distributed applications from disk snapshots
A framework instantiates an application from its disk snapshots. The disk snapshots are taken from a different network environment and migrated to a virtualized environment. Modifications to operating systems and hypervisors are avoided, and no special network isolation support is required. The framework is extensible and plug-in based, allowing product experts to provide knowledge about discovering, updating, starting and stopping of software components. This knowledge base is compiled into a plan that executes various interleaved configuration discovery, updates and start tasks such that a required configuration model can be discovered with minimal start and update task execution. The plan generation automatically stitches together knowledge for the various products, thus significantly simplifying the knowledge specification. Once discovery is complete, the framework utilizes the discovered model to update stale network configurations across software stack and customize configurations beyond network settings. |
| US08495349B2 |
Generating a primary BIOS code memory address and a recovery BIOS code memory address, where the recovery BIOS service code is loaded when the primary BIOS code fails to execute
Administering computer processor execution of BIOS code that includes a primary BIOS code and a recovery BIOS code stored in ROM, the ROM operatively coupled to a control module and the processor, where administering processor execution of the BIOS code includes determining, by the control module, a size of the ROM; generating, by the control module in dependence upon the size of the ROM, an address for the primary BIOS code and an address for the recovery BIOS code; starting, by the control module, operation of the processor for execution of the primary BIOS code including providing, to the processor, the address for the primary BIOS code; and if executing the primary BIOS code fails, restarting, by the control module, operation of the processor for execution of the recovery BIOS code including providing, to the processor, the address for the recovery BIOS code to the processor. |
| US08495347B2 |
Control protocol for image enumeration and transfer
A control protocol is used to deploy and install an operating system image on a client. The data structure of the control protocol includes an operation code corresponding to an operation associated with the deployment and installation of the operating system image on the client. When a server receives a request packet from the client, the server parses the request packet and sends the parsed request packet to a provider. The provider then executes the operation associated with the operation code and generates a return value. The return value is sent to the server. The server then composes a reply packet including the return value and transmits the reply packet to the client. |
| US08495341B2 |
Instruction length based cracking for instruction of variable length storage operands
A method, information processing system, and computer program product manage variable operand length instructions. At least one variable operand length instruction is received. The at least one variable operand length instruction is analyzed. A length of at least one operand in the variable operand length instruction is identified based on the analyzing. The at least one variable operand length instruction is organized into a set of unit of operations. The set of unit of operations are executed. The executing increases one or more performance metrics of the at least one variable operand length instruction. |
| US08495339B2 |
Dynamic reconfiguration support apparatus, dynamic reconfiguration support method, and computer product
An apparatus controls a circuit having rewritable processor elements and includes an acquiring unit that acquires information concerning a first task under execution by the circuit; a reading unit that, when the information concerning the first task is acquired, reads from a memory, a completion time of the first task; a first calculating unit that calculates a deadline time using the read completion time; an identifying unit that refers to scheduling information in the memory and identifies for a second task, the quantity of processor elements to be rewritten by the deadline time; a second calculating unit that divides the identified quantity of the processor elements by the deadline time to calculate the quantity of processor elements to be rewritten per unit time; and an executing unit that causes the circuit to rewrite the processor elements for the second task, in the quantity per unit time calculated. |
| US08495338B2 |
Transaction log recovery
The present disclosure includes methods for transaction log recovery in memory. One such method includes examining a number of entries saved in a transaction log to determine a write pattern, reading the memory based on the write pattern, updating the transaction log with information associated with data read from the memory based on the write pattern, and updating a logical address (LA) table using the transaction log. |
| US08495337B2 |
Translated memory protection
A method of responding to an attempt to write a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction for execution by a host processor including the steps of marking a memory address including a target instruction which has been translated to a host instruction, detecting a memory address which has been marked when an attempt is made to write to the memory address, and responding to the detection of a memory address which has been marked by protecting a target instruction at the memory address until it has been assured that translations associated with the memory address will not be utilized before being updated. |
| US08495335B2 |
Data translation system and method
A data translation system and method. This invention provides a reverse approach to implement a M bit input to N bit output cumulative/monotonic transfer function (where M>N) by a (2**N)×M bit memory instead of the conventional (2**M)×N bit memory. The invention offers substantial circuit size savings without compromising on transfer function resolution and is independent of transfer function mapping algorithms. The M bit memory content of the reverse LUT contains input video group information for each output level and the (2**N) addresses of the reverse LUT represent the corresponding transfer function output levels. This data to address representation of the input to output relationship is exactly opposite to the conventional address to data format. Search and compare methods are employed to locate the input video group that the incoming video belongs to and the associated address of the reverse LUT represents the output. |
| US08495332B2 |
Controller for optimizing throughput of read operations
A controller, techniques, systems, and devices for optimizing throughput of read operations in flash memory are disclosed. Various optimizations of throughput for read operations can be performed using a controller. In some implementations, read operations for a multi-die flash memory device or system can be optimized to perform a read request with a highest priority (e.g., an earliest received read request) as soon as the read request is ready. In some implementations, the controller can enable optimized reading from multiple flash memory dies by monitoring a read/busy state for each die and switching between dies when a higher priority read operation is ready to begin. |
| US08495329B2 |
Type system support for memory isolation permissions
An object reference is tagged with an isolation permission modifier. At least two permissions can be included, and in an example three permissions are included. In implementing the permissions, type modifiers for controlling access to type members through references pointing at an object are defined. One of the type modifiers is associated with each occurrence of a type name. Each of the of type modifiers defines a different access permission to restrict operations on the object to which the reference points. |
| US08495328B2 |
Providing frame start indication in a memory system having indeterminate read data latency
A method for providing frame start indication that includes receiving a data transfer via a channel in a memory system. The receiving is in response to a request, and at an indeterminate time relative to the request. It is determined whether the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and “n” subsequent data transfers are captured in response to determining that the data transfer includes a frame start indicator. The data transfer and the “n” subsequent data transfers make up a data frame, where “n” is greater than zero. |
| US08495327B2 |
Memory device synchronization
A memory controller includes first and second output modules for driving first and second data, respectively, to be written to a memory device. The memory controller also includes a clock module for providing an internal clock signal and a timing control module for producing a first and second timing control signals. The first and second timing control signals are supplied to the first and second output modules, respectively. |
| US08495325B2 |
Computer system and data migration method thereof
Data migration can be preformed between source and target storage subsystems without stopping exchanging data between a host computer and each of the storage subsystems.After a next access path, which should be set instead of a specific access path in an available state among access paths, is set between the host computer and a migration target logical unit via a host port and a target port, the status of the next access path is set to an available state and the status of the specific access path is set to an unavailable state. After the next access path is set to an available state, data is migrated from a migration source logical unit of the source storage subsystem to the migration target logical unit of the target storage subsystem. |
| US08495323B1 |
Method and system of providing exclusive and secure access to virtual storage objects in a virtual machine cluster
A system, method, and medium for implementing I/O fencing in a virtual machine cluster sharing virtual storage objects. A volume manager driver receives access requests from virtual machines directed to a virtual storage object such as a volume. The volume manager driver then translates the access request to point to a storage device underlying the volume. The access request includes keys and/or other group reservation data required to implement an I/O fencing method so as to prevent access to shared data by malfunctioning or non-responsive virtual machines. |
| US08495317B2 |
System and method for improving performance of data container backups
A method for improving performance of data container backups comprises identifying a data container on a source computer to be backed up. A snapshot image of the data container is generated, wherein the snapshot image comprises one or more partitions. Data is read simultaneously from each of the one or more partitions to a destination computer over one or more transport paths. Each of the one or more transport paths comprises one or more threads. The data read to the destination computer is backed up such that the data retains a physical block sequence of the data container. |
| US08495311B2 |
Updating shared variables atomically
When a thread begins an atomic transaction, the thread reads one or more variables from one or more source addresses. The read portion of the transaction is constrained to a predetermined amount of time or number of cycles (N). The mechanism then performs a test and set operation to determine whether any other threads hold locks on the one or more source addresses. If the locks for the one or more source addresses are free, then the thread acquires locks on the one or more source addresses. The thread then performs work and updates the one or more variables. Thereafter, the mechanism delays for an amount of time or number of cycles greater than or equal to N before releasing the locks. If another thread attempts to acquire a lock on the one or more source addresses, then the test and set operation for that other thread will fail. |
| US08495302B2 |
Selecting a target number of pages for allocation to a partition
In an embodiment, a target number of discretionary pages is calculated for a first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is less than a number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a result page is found that is allocated to the first partition and the result page is deallocated from the first partition. If the target number of discretionary pages for the first partition is greater than the number of the discretionary pages that are allocated to the first partition, a free page is allocated to the first partition. |
| US08495301B1 |
System and method for scatter gather cache processing
A scatter gather cache system and method are provided, which increase performance of scatter-gather DMA operations by reducing the time taken by the DMA engine to perform a logical to physical address translation. This is done primarily by two-dimensional caching of scatter-gather elements of selected scatter-gather lists using a novel indexing, line swapping and replacement methodology. The cache can also include a context victim table (CVT) for storing scatter-gather list contexts from evicted cache entries and also allows for pre-fetching of SGL elements from Scatter-Gather Lists (SGL). It also provides coherency support when there are multiple instances of the cache accessing the same memory space. |
| US08495298B2 |
Method for processing parallel data storage and authentication and a terminal
The present invention discloses a method for processing parallel data storage and authentication and a terminal. In this case, the method comprises: a data processing thread of a terminal storing data into a corresponding cache area according to a type of the data, wherein the type of the data comprises authentication type and storage type, data of the authentication type is stored in a first cache area, and data of the storage type is stored in a second cache area; a scheduling processing thread of the terminal reading data from the first cache area and the second cache area alternately according to a reading rule associated with the data type, and sending the read data to a smart card of the terminal; and the smart card performing storage or authentication according to the type of the received data. By way of the present invention, the problem that data storage operation is failed when there is data authentication operation is solved, thus achieving the effect of improving terminal performance and user experience satisfaction. |
| US08495296B2 |
System and method for optimizing data remanence over hubrid disk clusters using various storage technologies
A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to optimize data remanence over hybrid disk clusters using various storage technologies. The programming instructions are operable to determine one or more data storage technologies accessible by a file system. The programming instructions are operable to determine secure delete rules for each of the one or more storage technologies accessible by the file system. The secure delete rules include a number of overwrites required for data to be securely deleted from each of the one or more storage technologies. The programming instructions are operable to provide the secure delete rules to the file system upon a request for deletion of data for each of the one or more storage technologies a specific amount of times germane to secure delete data from the one or more storage technologies. |
| US08495294B2 |
Management computer for managing storage system capacity and storage system capacity management method
A management system, which manages a plurality of storage systems, in a case where belonging to a storage system having a first function constitutes a condition for allocating a plurality of volumes to a host device, retrieves the storage system having the first function from among the plurality of storage systems, selects one or more unallocated logical volumes included in the retrieved storage system, acquires a logical volume capacity included in the selected logical volumes and notifies an output device of the acquired capacity as the capacity allocatable to the host device. |
| US08495287B2 |
Clock-based debugging for embedded dynamic random access memory element in a processor core
A method of debugging an embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) element of a processor core is provided. An aspect includes, based on an error occurring in the eDRAM element, stopping a functional clock, and not stopping a refresh clock. Another aspect includes, based on the functional clock being stopped, creating a fence signal that prevents all commands other than a refresh command, the refresh command being based on the refresh clock, from entering into the eDRAM element. Another aspect includes initializing a line fetch controller of the processor core with at least one of write data and read data. Another aspect includes restarting the functional clock. Another aspect includes performing at least one of write requests and read requests to the eDRAM element based on the at least one of the write data and the read data from the line fetch controller based on the functional clock. |
| US08495286B2 |
Write buffer for improved DRAM write access patterns
The present invention relates to a method and respective system for operating a DRAM main memory. One buffer line is provided for multiple pages. When writing data to the buffer it is decided which to which buffer-line the data is written to based on its destination main memory address. A tuple consisting of lower memory address and data is stored. Data entered into the buffer-line will be sorted by page in case the line is flushed to the main memory. Sorting the buffer entries results in less page openings and closings, since the data is re-arranged by memory address and therefore in logical order. By using one line for multiple pages only a fraction of memory of a common set-associative cache is needed, thus decreasing the amount of overhead significantly. |
| US08495285B2 |
Apparatuses and methods of operating for memory endurance
Methods of operating an apparatus such as a computing system and/or memory device for memory endurance are provided. One example method can include receiving m digits of data having a first quantity of digits represented by a first data state that is more detrimental to memory cell wear than a second data state. The m digits of data are encoded into n digits of data having a second quantity of digits represented by the first data state. The value n is greater than the value m. The second quantity is less than or equal to the first quantity. The n digits of data are stored in an apparatus having memory cells. |
| US08495283B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device, memory system comprising nonvolatile memory device, and wear leveling method for nonvolatile memory device
A nonvolatile memory device comprises a memory core and a controller for controlling the wear level of a memory block in the nonvolatile memory device. The controller determines the wear level of a memory block by obtaining data of an actual wear level from a charge measurement cell of a selected region of the memory cell, and stores the wear level of the selected region in an erase count table. |
| US08495277B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, system device including semiconductor integrated circuit, and semiconductor integrated circuit control method
A disclosed semiconductor integrated circuit interfaces an external circuit and a host for controlling the external circuit and obtains data used to interface the external circuit and the host from a rewritable external memory. The disclosed semiconductor integrated circuit includes external terminals to which an external signal line group is connected, the external signal line group including signal lines connecting the external circuit and the external memory in parallel; an external terminal interface circuit configured to interface the semiconductor integrated circuit and the external circuit or the external memory connected via the external signal line group; and a control circuit configured to activate or deactivate the external circuit and the external memory. The control circuit is configured to activate either the external circuit or the external memory that is to be accessed via the external terminal interface circuit. |
| US08495276B2 |
Power saving optimization for disk drives with external cache
A power conservation system implementable in a computer system. The system includes a non-volatile cache memory (NVCM) device for storing information. The NVCM device is operationally coupled to the computer system. The system also includes a data storage device coupled to the NVCM device. The data storage device is for storing said information. The system further includes a controller coupled to the NVCM device. The controller initiates an occurrence of writing the information in the NVCM device to the data storage device. The occurrence of writing causes powering up of the data storage device to which the data is to be written or from which data is to be retrieved. |
| US08495273B2 |
Switch employing precharge circuits
In versions 1.1a and 1.2 of the DISPLAYPORT™ standard, capacitors are used between a sourcing circuit and a switch for the auxiliary channel. As a result, these capacitors are generally uncharged when the switch activates the auxiliary channel, which can result in errors. Here, a switch is employed that uses precharge circuits to precharge these capacitors. Thus, errors due to charging of these capacitors can be reduced. |
| US08495272B2 |
Method to save bus switching power and reduce noise in an engineered bus
A computer implemented method, bus switching system, and computer usable program code are provided for saving bus switching power and reducing noise. A request for data is received from a requester by a first cache. A determination is made as to whether the data is stored on the first cache. Responsive to determining that the data is stored on the first cache, a bus in a plurality of buses is identified on which to return the data forming an identified bus. The data is sent to the requester on the identified bus. A logical state is initiated on the remaining plurality of buses stemming from the first cache in order to save bus switching power and reducing noise. |
| US08495270B2 |
Communication interface device and communication method
A communication interface device includes: a first interface circuit including a chip select terminal connected to a first terminal, a clock terminal connected to a second terminal, and a data terminal connected to a third terminal; and a second interface circuit including a second clock terminal connected to the first terminal and a data terminal connected to the third terminal. In a case of performing communication by the first interface circuit, a fixed signal fixed at a predetermined level is input into the first terminal, a clock signal is input into the second terminal, and a data signal is input into the third terminal, and in a case of performing communication by the second interface circuit, the clock signal is input into the first terminal and the data signal is input into the third terminal. |
| US08495265B2 |
Avoiding non-posted request deadlocks in devices by holding the sending of requests
Processing within a device is controlled in order to avoid a deadlock situation. A local request engine of the device determines prior to making a request whether the port of the device that is to service the request is making forward progress in processing other requests. If forward progress is being made, then the request is forwarded to the port. Otherwise, the request is held. This avoids a deadlock situation and allows the device to remain operative even in partial recovery situations. |
| US08495264B1 |
Alignment circuit for parallel data streams
Parallel data generated by demultiplexing received serial data such as in a Serial RapidIO (SRIO) data stream can become misaligned as a result of, e.g., clock tolerance compensation (CTC) processing at the receiver. In one embodiment of the invention, the misaligned parallel data is properly aligned based on a mapping from each of a finite number of possible previous alignment conditions (e.g., words A-D) to a corresponding finite number of possible subsequent alignment conditions (e.g., words B-G). The change from a previous alignment condition to a different subsequent alignment condition is recognized by determining the location of start-of-packet (SOP) or start-of-control-symbol (SOC) data in the parallel data stream. |
| US08495262B2 |
Using a table to determine if user buffer is marked copy-on-write
A method, system and computer program product for determining if a buffer is marked copy-on-write. A user applications selects a buffer in user space to store data involved in a write/read operation. The user application searches a table storing addresses of buffers in user space that are marked copy-on-write to determine if the address of the selected buffer is listed in the table. If the address is listed in the table, then the selected buffer is marked copy-on-write. If the address is not listed in the table, then the selected buffer is not marked copy-on-write. By having a table store a list of addresses of buffers in user space that are marked copy-on-write by the kernel, the user application is now able to know whether the buffer in user space is marked copy-on-write. |
| US08495257B2 |
Network direct memory access
In one embodiment, a system comprises at least a first node and a second node coupled to a network. The second node comprises a local memory and a direct memory access (DMA) controller coupled to the local memory. The first node is configured to transmit at least a first packet to the second node to access data in the local memory and at least one other packet that is not coded to access the local memory. The second node is configured to capture the packet from a data link layer of a protocol stack, and wherein the DMA controller is configured to perform one more transfers with the local memory to access the data specified by the first packet responsive to the first packet received from the data link layer. The second node is configured to process the other packet to a top of the protocol stack. |
| US08495256B2 |
Hard disk drive availability following transient vibration
A method and computer program product for sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive, setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive, sensing vibration in the hard disk drive, sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration, and, in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply. The rotational vibration sensor used by the hard disk drive for repositioning the read/write head may also be used to sense the vibration and form the basis for the vibration alert signal, such as a vibration error code. By extending the time out period during high vibration events, the hard disk drive can ride out the event without being tagged as having failed. Accordingly, the hard disk drive can then be available for use following the high vibration event. |
| US08495254B2 |
Computer system having virtual storage apparatuses accessible by virtual machines
The computer system includes a server being configured to manage a first virtual machine to which a first part of a server resource included in the server is allocated and a second virtual machine to which a second part of the server resource is allocated. The computer system also includes a storage apparatus including a storage controller and a plurality of storage devices and being configured to manage a first virtual storage apparatus to which a first storage area on the plurality of storage devices is allocated and a second virtual storage apparatus to which a second storage area on the plurality of storage devices is allocated. The first virtual machine can access to the first virtual storage apparatus but not the second virtual storage apparatus and the second virtual machine can access to the second virtual storage apparatus but not the first virtual storage apparatus. |
| US08495251B2 |
Hardware method for detecting timeout conditions in a large number of data connections
Tracking several open data connections is difficult with a large number of connections. Checking for timeouts in software uses valuable processor resources. Employing a co-processor dedicated to checking timeouts uses valuable logic resources and consumes extra space. In one embodiment, a finite state machine implemented in hardware increases the speed connections can be checked for timeouts. The finite state machine stores a last accessed time stamp for each connection in a memory, and loops through the memory to compare each last accessed time stamp with a current time stamp of the system minus a global timeout value. In this manner, the finite state machine can efficiently find and react to timed out connections. |
| US08495250B2 |
Asynchronous file operations in a scalable multi-node file system cache for a remote cluster file system
Asynchronous file operations in a scalable multi-node file system cache for a remote cluster file system, is provided. One implementation involves maintaining a scalable multi-node file system cache in a local cluster file system, and caching local file data in the cache by fetching file data on demand from the remote cluster file system into the cache over the network. The local file data corresponds to file data in the remote cluster file system. Local file information is asynchronously committed from the cache to the remote cluster file system over the network. |
| US08495247B2 |
Linking a user selected sequence of received World Wide Web documents into a stored document string available to the user at a receiving web station
Enabling the user to link a selected sequence of hypertext World Wide Web (Web) documents into a string and to store the string at his receiving Web display station so that these documents will be available for his use. An implementation at a receiving display station is provided for designating a received Web document as a starter document and for selecting a subsequently received Web document as a first next document. An implementation is provided for creating a hyperlink in the starter document to the first next document, together with means for storing said starter and next documents at said receiving display station. |
| US08495246B2 |
Method and system for updating playlists
Improved techniques for automatic (or dynamic) updating (or maintaining) of playlists for a media system that stores and plays media content for a user of the media system. The automatic update to playlists can occur when additional media content is added to or removed from the media system. The automatic update to playlists can also occur when previously stored media content is otherwise altered. |
| US08495245B2 |
Connectivity, adjacencies and adaptation functions
Example embodiments are directed to a method of publishing an element template from a first service provider to an administrative owner to determine an optimal end-to-end connectivity path from a source to a destination across at least one resource domain for data transport. The method includes determining, at the first service provider, adjacencies between a first resource domain of the first service provider and a second resource domain of a second service provider. The first service provider publishes to an administrative owner, an element template that identifies connectivity attributes, including adjacencies and adaptation capabilities of the first resource domain. The AO may develop a plurality of possible paths from a source end-point to a destination end-point to transmit data based on the element template from the first service provider and element templates from other service providers. The AO selects an optimal path from the plurality of possible paths. |
| US08495243B2 |
Dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system and method
A dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system and its method are disclosed. The dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system is designed to handle financial, medical, and other types of transactional information. The dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system provides intelligence for processing transactions in all phases of the system. The dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system is empowered by introducing the protocol of Level 4 Data which are supplementary data used by the decision-making engine in the system. The dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system has a capability of generating and processing tokenized data which includes tokens for predetermined numbers of transactions, tokens for predetermined periods of time, tokens for unlimited time, and chain-bound tokens shared across locations. The dynamic and recursive transaction gateway system provides a novel approach: recursive transaction processing. Through the recursive transaction processing, sub-transactions generated from an original transaction are recursively fed to the system. The sub-transactions are individually processed by the system and routed to different destination systems. |
| US08495242B2 |
Automated media delivery system
An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in parallel with an existing Web site infrastructure is provided. The system streamlines the post-production process by automating the production of media through content generation procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed by an author within URLs embedded within Web documents. |
| US08495240B2 |
Method and apparatus for data communication utilizing the North American terrestrial system
A method and apparatus for enhancing the current data communication capabilities of the North American Terrestrial System (NATS) Network is presented. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an airborne data server (ADS) is added to the airborne architecture of the current NATS Network and a ground data gateway (GDG) is added to the ground-based architecture of the current NATS Network. The ADS functions as a router/gateway connected to many local area networks (LANs) aboard the aircraft. The ADS provides for the automation of data services such as scheduling, routing and translation. The GDG is the central hub for the network and dispatcher of data to customer premises or to the aircraft. |
| US08495239B2 |
Using a signal route dependent on a node speed change prediction
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for receiving wireless data via a node-speed-change-prediction-dependent signal route and relaying at least a portion of the wireless data. |
| US08495235B2 |
System and method for music resource connection, selection and rating for providing a radio like user listening experience
A novel and useful system and method of automatic resource connection, selection and rating for providing a radio like listening experience to a user. The mechanism is operative to automatically establish a connection from a mobile communications device having media player capability to a music file collection. Playlists maintained on the device are periodically updated with new playlists downloaded to the device. The device generates playlists so as to eventually cycle though the entire contents of a music file collection. Users are given the ability to rate songs by title, artist, album, etc. These ratings are used to calculate scores for each song which are used to bias a random selection process for determining the next song to play. This provides a user with a radio like listening experience. |
| US08495233B2 |
Scheduling of multiple files for serving on a server
Multiple files a served using a server coupled to a data network. A plurality of files is determined, wherein a file includes an integer number of blocks, and wherein each block includes at least one input symbol. For each file, an indication of at least one channel on which to serve the file is determined, and, for each file, a rate at which to serve the file is determined. Also, a schedule for processing the blocks is determined, and output symbols for the blocks are generated according to the schedule. The output symbols are transmitted on the corresponding at least one channel, wherein the files are concurrently served at their corresponding rates. |
| US08495230B2 |
Method for scheduling service periods in a wireless local area network (WLAN)
A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes at least one hybrid coordinator (HC) and at least one Quality of Service Station (QSTA). The HC transmits a schedule frame element (SEF). The WLAN also includes a clocking mechanism that sets a substantially absolute start time of a service interval. A method of synchronizing the HC and the QSTA includes transmitting a schedule element frame (SEF), and setting a substantially absolute start-time of a service interval, and a first transmitted frame element. |
| US08495227B2 |
Method and system to distribute policies
A method to distribute policies may include transmitting one of an identification (ID) assigned to a policy template or the policy template associated with each policy to an enforcement point or selected enforcement points for enforcement. The method may also include transmitting one set of parameters to be used in each policy template to the enforcement point. |
| US08495221B1 |
Targeted and dynamic content-object storage based on inter-network performance metrics
Methods and systems for coordinating provisions of storage service for clients are provided. For each storage provider of a set of storage providers, a service-provider database stores a metric characterizing a property of a service provided by the service provider. The storage providers are independently owned and operated relative to each other. The metrics are repeatedly updated. A selection engine repeatedly selects a service provider from the set of service providers to store a content object of a client of the content delivery system. The selection is based on the repeatedly updated metrics for the set of service providers. For each service provider selected by the selection engine to store the content object of the client, a service manager coordinates with the service provider such that the service provider stores the content object of the client. |
| US08495219B2 |
Identity management method and system
An identity management method and system is disclosed. The method includes identity context management (ICM) clients monitoring access to Internet resources using dedicated Virtual Machines (VM). An ICM server monitors associations between Internet resource identifiers (IDs) and the Internet resources accessed by the VMs. The VMs register context for the ICM clients with the ICM server. An ICM client enables access to Internet resources and presentation of Webpages and Internet contents associated with the Internet resources within the associated Virtual Machine context. |
| US08495216B2 |
Communication control system, communication control method and computer-readable storage medium
A communication control system constituted by a communication terminal, a management apparatus that manages the communication terminal, and a wireless communication network in which the communication terminal and the management apparatus are communicable with each other. |
| US08495208B2 |
Migrating virtual machines among networked servers upon detection of degrading network link operation
Migrating virtual machines among networked servers, the servers coupled for data communications with a data communications network that includes a networking device, where migrating includes: establishing, by a virtual machine management module (‘VMMM’), one or more virtual machines on a particular server; querying, by the VMMM, the networking device for link statistics of a link coupling the network device to the particular server for data communications; determining, by the VMMM in dependence upon the link statistics, whether the link coupling the network device to the particular server is degrading; and if the link coupling the network device to the particular server is degrading, migrating a virtual machine executing on the particular server to a destination server. In some embodiments, migrating occurs is carried out only if non-degrading link is available. If no non-degrading links are available, the network device, rather than the link, may be failing. |
| US08495206B2 |
Method and system for job scheduling in distributed data processing system with identification of optimal network topology
The method of the present invention provides an automatic and optimized selection of the network topology for distributing scheduling of jobs on the computers of the modified network topology. The automatic and optimized selection of the network topology starts from the current topology and a desired number of additional connections. In this way the method of the present invention provides a higher convergence speed for the modified consensus algorithm in comparison, e.g., to a simple ring network. The method exploits the so called small-world networks. Small-world networks are more robust to perturbations than other network architectures. The preferred embodiment provides a workload scheduling system which is highly scalable to accommodate increasing workloads within a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. A modified average consensus algorithm is used to distribute network traffic and jobs amongst a plurality of computers. |
| US08495205B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating an overload in a network
A method and apparatus for managing an overload condition in a network are disclosed. For example, the method monitors the network for a traffic overload condition, and determines whether a more severe traffic overload condition or a less severe traffic overload condition is detected by using a network monitor and controller. The method then selects using a network monitor and controller agent in response to a command from the network monitor and controller, a different bandwidth preservation scheme if the more severe traffic overload condition or the less severe traffic overload condition is detected, wherein the different bandwidth preservation scheme is based on a selection of a codec type and is applied to a portion of the traffic. |
| US08495201B2 |
Assigning telecommunications nodes to community of interest clusters
The present invention provides techniques for assigning network nodes to community of interest clusters. A seed point representing a cluster is selected. One or more nodes are added to the cluster based on each node's geographic proximity to the selected seed point. Nodes that are adjacent to the cluster are identified and a clustering metric is computed that is representative of the affinity that each identified adjacent node has for the cluster. One or more of the identified nodes are added to the cluster when the clustering metric for the one or more identified nodes exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US08495200B2 |
Computerized system and method for handling network traffic
Methods and systems for processing network content associated with multiple virtual domains are provided. According to one embodiment, content processing of network traffic associated with multiple virtual domains is performed by a service daemon process initiated within a firewall. The service daemon process handles content processing of network traffic for the virtual domains by aggregating communication channels associated with the virtual domains and by applying to the network traffic an appropriate content processing policy corresponding to a virtual domain with which the network traffic is associated. |
| US08495198B2 |
Network resource monitoring and measurement system and method
A method and system for analyzing and measuring multiple sources of data over a communications network (18) so as to ascertain information or usage of one or more resources, such as resource servers (2). A data collection and processing means (20) collects and processes the data sources which are forwarded to a reporting server (34) as a combined data source made available to interested parties. |
| US08495196B2 |
Systems and methods for aligning media content delivery sessions with historical network usage
A networked computing system for coordinating the distribution of burdensome media content using historical usage patterns. The networked computing system includes multiple network resources (e.g., wireless and wireline network access points) that provide communications service, user equipment, and data communications network facilitating data communications. Within the networked computing system, a current reference to a communications location of a user equipment can be evaluated to determine if a schedule for a media content transfer session should be modified based on a comparison of the current reference with historical references to one or more prior communications locations of the same user equipment. When it is determined that the schedule for the media content transfer session should be modified, a preferred network resource or a preferred device state, facilitating a less burdensome media content delivery, is determined for subsequent communications. |
| US08495194B1 |
Connecting network deployment units
Efficient and highly-scalable network solutions are provided that each utilize deployment units based on Clos networks, but in an environment such as a data center of Internet Protocol-based network. Each of the deployment units can include multiple stages of devices, where connections between devices are only made between stages and the deployment units are highly connected. In some embodiments, the level of connectivity between two stages can be reduced, providing available connections to add edge switches and additional host connections while keeping the same number of between-tier connections. In some embodiments, where deployment units (or other network groups) can be used at different levels to connect other deployment units, the edges of the deployment units can be fused to reduce the number of devices per host connection. |
| US08495193B2 |
Centralized management tool for remote presentation session server farms
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are disclosed for configuring and managing a remote presentation session server farm. In an example embodiment, a central management server (CMS) receives a task to be carried out on a server farm (e.g. make an otherwise unused server operate as a remote presentation session server). The CMS then validates this request against a model of allowed tasks, and the current configuration of the server farm. Once validated, the CMS converts the task into operations to be carried out by one or more servers of the server farm. The CMS then sends these operations to the respective servers, where the operations are received by an agent process executing on the server. Each agent performs the received operations on the server upon which it executes, and sends an indication of whether the operations were completed successfully to the CMS. The CMS may then update its model and current configuration to reflect the current configuration of the server farm. |
| US08495190B2 |
Providing access by a client application program over an internet protocol (IP) network to a server application program instance
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed in which a temporary IP address is assigned to a selected instance of a server application program so as to provide processing continuity for processing with a client application program. |
| US08495185B2 |
Minimizing network resource overhead consumption by reports from one or more agents distributed in an electronic data network of nodes
A mechanism is provided for minimizing network resource overhead consumption by reports from one or more agents distributed in an electronic data network of nodes having a hierarchical reporting structure. Reports are received from other nodes in an electronic network of nodes or one or more agents further from a network root node in the electronic network of nodes. The reports are submitted to another node closer to the network root node in response to another node existing between the node and the network root node. The reports are submitted to the network root node in response to no other node existing between the node and the network root node. The node is adapted to only report variations in the expected report flow associated with the received reports. |
| US08495184B2 |
Resolution of conflicting network settings on a software partition server
A method, system and computer-readable medium for resolving conflicting network settings on a software partition server. In one embodiment, the method clones a software partition of a data processing system to obtain a second software partition. The method detects a conflict between a network configuration of the second software partition and an existing network configuration of an existing software partition on the data processing system. The method then dynamically resolves the conflict between the network configuration of the second software partition and the existing network configuration of the existing software partition without additional input from the user. |
| US08495178B1 |
Dynamic bandwidth discovery and allocation to improve performance for backing up data
A system and method for efficient transfer of backup data over multiple networks. A backup server and a client computer are coupled to one another via a network, such as a local area network (LAN). The backup server is coupled to at least one storage server via another network, such as the Internet. This storage server is coupled to another storage server via at least two networks, such as the Internet and a Fiber Channel connection. The at least two networks are discovered and initialized by the two storage servers. Two or more networks may be bonded together in a single logical communication channel for transferring backup data. In one embodiment, the backup data corresponds to a duplication operation. When two or more network channels are included in the logical communication channel, a load balancing scheme is used to assign backup data traffic to appropriate network channels. |
| US08495176B2 |
Tiered XML services in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) includes a value-add application with a first set of XML content services, one or more dedicated XML processing servers with a second and other sets of XML content services, and a core CMS with a third set of XML content services. The content management system may be designed to provide XML content services at any of these three tiers of processing. A first threshold is defined that allows the value-add application to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. A second threshold is defined that allows the core CMS to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. Callback services are included that allow each tier of XML content services to send or receive additional information to complete the XML processing. The result is a content management system that is very powerful and flexible. |
| US08495175B2 |
Method and service provider for managing expired or consumed applications being stored in mobile communication devices
A method for managing expired or consumed applications (app1, app2 . . . appx) that have been provided by a Service Provider (SP) and are stored in a memory element (SE) of a mobile communication device (MOB), e.g. a NFC mobile phone, comprises storing a representation (RP) of expired or consumed applications (app1, app2 . . . appx) in or on a storage medium that is separate from the memory element (SE). |
| US08495159B2 |
Caching email unique identifiers
Accessing, via an end user device, email messages of an external mail source. A direct access proxy is operative to reconcile the email contents of external email sources with the email contents of user devices through the use of lists of unique email identifiers (UIDs). A Partition Database returns UID lists reflective of the UIDs of email messages previously received from the external email source and forwarded to a network server of the system (forwarded UID lists). A memory cache external to the direct access proxy and its corresponding Partition Database returns forwarded UID lists. The direct access proxy determines the data reliability of the Partition Database and memory cache, and obtains forwarded UID lists from the memory cache when it determines that the memory cache is at least as reliable as the Partition Database. |
| US08495153B1 |
Distribution of messages in nodes connected by a grid architecture
A method, system, and a computer program product for transferring a message from a source node to recipient nodes connected by a grid architecture. According to an aspect, a source node stores a message in a message grid. An identifier and a message-type of the message are then received in a message manager node. If the type of message to be sent to the recipient nodes is the same as the message-type of the message stored in the message grid, the message manager node sends the identifier to the recipient nodes. The recipient nodes then retrieve the message from the message grid using the message identifier. Recipient nodes register with a registration grid specifying the type of message desired to be received. |
| US08495152B2 |
Device with multiple cue modules
A device includes a primary cue module, a secondary cue module, a processing module, and a wireless transceiver. The primary cue module obtains primary data regarding an object of interest and the secondary cue module obtains secondary data regarding the object of interest. The processing module is operably coupled to: convert the primary data and the secondary data into an outbound message; convert the outbound message into an outbound symbol stream; and convert an inbound symbol stream into an inbound message, wherein the inbound message includes information regarding the object of interest. The wireless transceiver is operably coupled to: convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal; and convert an inbound wireless signal into the inbound symbol stream. |
| US08495151B2 |
Methods and systems for determining email addresses
Disclosed herein is a method and system for a user to find an email address using the Internet. The user inputs the information that he wants to be verified or completed. A seeking unit determines the missing fields in the input information. The seeking unit may determine the missing information in the email address from various sources on the Internet, using a set of rules. The rules may be specified by the user or present in the database. The obtained search results are ranked by a ranking unit, based on the relevance of the scores. The seeking unit may also display the found email information along with the ranks to the user. The user has the option to sort the email information. The user may then select the most accurate email information, according to him, which is then used to populate the field in the information. |
| US08495150B2 |
Method and apparatus for bouncing electronic messages
A method and apparatus is provided that establishes user accounts that automatically forward a user's e-mail to the user's pre-selected forwarding e-mail address(es). Each user creates a forwarding directory, which may comprise multiple e-mail accounts, that the user activates and deactivates as needed. |
| US08495146B2 |
Source initiated autonomic recipient e-mail address correction redistribution
A computer system and associated method is disclosed for distributing electronic communication. The electronic communication is originated from a first originating destination and is to be sent to a distribution of recipient(s). The distribution can simply consist of one or a plurality of intended recipients. When delivery information is verified, any errors leading to delivery failure of the communication is corrected to be used in subsequent response communication originated by one or more of these recipients. |
| US08495145B2 |
Controlling receipt of undesired electronic mail
Spam and other unwanted electronic-mail may be controlled by a system in which a given external message transfer agent using a given Internet protocol address and a given domain name is limited in the number of connections that it may make and the number of messages it may deliver over a given time period. Based on the performance of that external message transfer agent, the passage of time and the number of connections, its assigned connection limit may be increased so that progressively trust is increased and more message connections and a higher number of messages delivered may be permitted. |
| US08495144B1 |
Techniques for identifying spam e-mail
In one embodiment, a support vector machine is employed to compute a spam threshold and weights of tokens and heuristic rules. An incoming e-mail is parsed to determine if it contains one or more of the tokens. Tokens identified to be in the e-mail are then used to determine if the e-mail satisfies one or more heuristic rules. The weights of tokens found in the e-mail and the weights of the heuristic rules satisfied by the e-mail may be employed in the computation of a spam score. The spam score may be compared to the spam threshold to determine if the e-mail is spam or legitimate. |
| US08495142B2 |
System and method for providing data channel management in a network environment
An example method can include establishing a session involving a first end user, the first end user is included in a virtual talk group, which includes at least one other end user. A media source is provided for the session. The method also includes initiating a request for a second end user to join the session, the second end user is added to the virtual talk group. A mobile device being used by the first end user controls which data from the media source is to be sent to the second user during the session. An internet protocol (IP) address associated with the media source is withheld from communications sent to the second user. In more detailed embodiments, a control channel can be established between the mobile device and a server, the control channel managing data being sent to end users in the virtual talk group. |
| US08495140B2 |
Fully distributed, scalable infrastructure, communication system
A fully distributed, scalable infrastructure, communication system. The system comprises at least on Space, at least one double agent and at least one non-space specific double agent. Devices and applications that wish to communicate with other members of the Community or outside of the Community insert objects into the Space. The Space then publishes the presence of that object to subscribed members of the community. The double agents are capable of communicating with any desired protocols on one side and the Space protocol on the other. Non-space specific agents handle routing, administrative and other tasks, such as communication between Spaces and Communities. |
| US08495134B2 |
Updating content list in local server in response to request from local reproduction device
A local server transmits list update information for requesting update of the content list serving as the content list to the local reproduction device. The local server receives a list update request from the local reproduction device, the list update request indicating that the list update information has been selected. The local server updates the content list according to the list update request. |
| US08495133B2 |
Interactive information system, interactive information method, and computer readable medium thereof
An interactive information system, an interactive information method, and a computer readable medium thereof are provided. The interactive information system comprises a reading apparatus, a first transmission interface, a processing unit, a second transmission interface, and an output apparatus. The interactive information system is adapted to use with a plurality of information gadgets. When an information gadget enters the reading range of the reading apparatus, the reading apparatus reads the information gadget, generates a signal related to the information gadget, and transmits the signal to the processing unit. Then, the processing unit identifies the information gadget indicated by the signal, retrieves a file according to the information gadget, and transmits the file to the output apparatus. Finally, the output apparatus then outputs the file received from the processing unit. |
| US08495130B2 |
Method and arrangement for locating services in a peer-to-peer network
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for locating services in a structured peer-to-peer distributed hash table, DHT, based, overlay communication network (310). The invention comprises two inter-related methods and nodes. The first method is used by a service node (321) to “advertise” to the overlay network (310) that it is providing a particular service (S1). This is done by distributing instances (351,352,353) of a service object (O1) that are stored in different nodes (331,332,333) in the overlay network (310) and where the instances (351,352,353) comprise an address to the service node (321). The other method is to locate at least one of these instances (351,352,353) with a predetermined probability and with a predetermined number of location request messages (390) from a user node (311) wishing to use the particular service (S1). |
| US08495124B2 |
Decimal floating point mechanism and process of multiplication without resultant leading zero detection
A decimal multiplication mechanism for fixed and floating point computation in a computer having a coefficient mechanism without resulting leading zero detection (LZD) and process which assumes that the final product will be M+N digits in length and performs all calculations based on this assumption. Least significant digits that would be truncated are no longer stored, but retained as sticky information which is used to finalize the result product. Once the computation of the product is complete, a final check based on the examination of key bits observed during partial product accumulation is used to determine if the final product is truly M+N digits in length, or M+N−1 digits. If the latter is true, then corrective final product shifting is employed to obtain the proper result. This eliminates the need for dedicated leading zero detection hardware used to determine the number of significant digits in the final product. The corrective final product shifting also incorporates adjustments to the coefficient of the product when the product's exponent is at its extremes and the final product must be brought to be within the precision and range of a given format. |
| US08495121B2 |
Arithmetic processing device and methods thereof
A device and methods are disclosed for communicating an unrounded result from one arithmetic calculation for use in a second, subsequent calculation. For example, an unrounded result of a first calculation can be forwarded to provide a multiplier, a multiplicand or an addend operand for the subsequent operation. The operand can be forwarded to the input of the same fused multiply addition module (FMAM) that supplied the result, or to another FMAM, and do so without regard to the precision of the forwarded operand, the precision of the subsequent operation, or the native precision of the FMAM. |
| US08495119B2 |
Efficient check node message transform approximation for LDPC decoder
In modern iterative coding systems such as LDPC decoder and turbo-convolutional decoder in which the invention may be used, the core computations can often be reduced to a sequence of additions and subtractions alternating between logarithm and linear domains A computationally efficient and robust approximation method for log and exp functions is described which involves using a simple bit mapping between fixed point fractional data format and floating point format. The method avoids costly lookup tables and complex computations and further reduces the core processing to a sequence of additions and subtractions using alternating fixed point and floating point processing units. The method is well suited for use in highly optimized hardware implementations which can take advantage of modern advances in standard floating point arithmetic circuit design as well as for software implementation on a wide class of processors equipped with FPU where the invention avoids the need for a typical multi-cycle series of log/exp instructions and especially on a SIMD FPU-equipped processors where log/exp functions are typically scalar. |
| US08495117B2 |
System and method for the parallelization of saturated accumulation operations
A system and method for parallelization of saturated accumulation is provided. In the method, an input sequence is divided into a plurality of subsequences. For each subsequence, three parallel saturating additions are performed. The local saturation minimum is the saturating addition of the global saturation minimum and the values of the subsequence. The local midpoint is the saturating addition of the values of the subsequence and the local saturation maximum is the saturating addition of the global saturation maximum and the values of the subsequence. In embodiments, the accumulation total for a subsequence is calculated as the saturating addition of the accumulation total for prior subsequences and the local midpoint of the current subsequence, wherein the accumulation total of the last subsequence is the result of the saturated accumulation for the sequence. In another embodiment, the saturated addition of subsequence results are further parallelized before the final result is reached. |
| US08495116B2 |
Circuit and method converting boolean and arithmetic masks
A circuit for converting Boolean and arithmetic masks includes “m” converting units, wherein m is an integer greater than 1. Each of the m converting unit includes; a first converting unit configured to receive first bits of input data, output one of the first bits as a first output bit, perform an XOR operation with respect to at least part of the first bits, and output an XOR operation result as a first intermediate result bit to a next converting unit in a sequence of converting unit ranging between 2 and n−1th; and an nth converting unit, wherein n is an integer greater than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to m, configured to receive n−1th bits and nth bits of the input data, and at least one of an n−1th intermediate result bit and n−1th output bit from an n−1th converting unit, perform an AND operation and the XOR operation with respect to a first group of the received bits, output an operation result for the first group as an nth output bit, perform the AND operation and the XOR operation with respect to a second group of the received bits, and output an operation result of the second group as an nth intermediate result bit. |
| US08495115B2 |
Apparatus and method for low complexity combinatorial coding of signals
The invention utilizes low complexity estimates of complex functions to perform combinatorial coding of signal vectors. The invention disregards the accuracy of such functions as long as certain sufficient properties are maintained. The invention in turn may reduce computational complexity of certain coding and decoding operations by two orders of magnitude or more for a given signal vector input. |
| US08495109B2 |
Downloading file reception process
An audiovisual data reproduction device includes a connection to a central server configured to distribute files to the device. Reception functions associated with a respective type of data are provided to the device The device is configured to: select an available storage area of a specified minimum size, open a reception file on the audiovisual data reproduction device in the selected available storage area, receive each packet of a file sent by the server and write each packet sent to the reception file (with each file including information representative of a type of data associated with the file), and for each file received, search for a respective reception function associated with each received file based on the information representative of the type of data associated with the file. Each reception function is configured to process associated received files and update the device according to the data included therein. |
| US08495107B2 |
System and method for use with garbage collected languages for enabling the allocated heap memory to be updated at runtime
A system and method for use with garbage collected systems and languages, for enabling an allocated heap memory to be updated (e.g., increased or decreased) at runtime, subject to sufficient availability of physical memory. In accordance with an embodiment, a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is associated with a management console, which allows a systems administrator to monitor current heap utilization at runtime. The heap is visualized as a contiguous chunk of memory with one or more extension points, e.g., by use of a trailing pointer to a null list. If later, at runtime, the heap size needs to be incremented then the trailing pointer can be set to a new chunk of memory with a size of (new value−old value), so that the cumulative new size is made equal to a new value specified on the console. The new chunk of memory can again end with a trailing pointer, to allow for further extension. The features can help ensure that an alert administrator will have the means to prevent an out-of-memory situation when the allocated heap proves insufficient at runtime. |
| US08495103B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining how to transform applications into transactional applications
A computing device monitors an application that includes at least one object over a time period. The computing device identifies a usage pattern of the at least one object over the time period. The computing device recommends, based on the usage pattern, at least one of a) that the at least one object be converted to a transactional object and b) a locking strategy for the at least one object. |
| US08495099B2 |
Method of manipulating information objects and of accessing such objects in a computer environment
A method is described which is used in a computer environment in order to produce a current view from at least one source information object that can vary. The method is characterized in that it includes the following steps: a reference of the view in relation to the source information object is established and stored; a user implements at least one information object modification tool in order to produce a transformed information object from the source information object; a difference information set that is representative of the modification actions performed by the user with the tool(s) is recorded in a memory element; and a current view is produced from the current version of each source information object and said difference information set. |
| US08495097B1 |
Traversing a hierarchical layout template
Methods and apparatus implementing systems and techniques for traversing a hierarchical layout template to accelerate a constraint-driven backtracking search for a solution of the layout template. In general, in one implementation, the techniques include identifying a shared content element constraint that defines a content requirement common to all layout structures possible in a choice substructure in a hierarchical layout template, and associating the shared content element constraint with a root node of the choice substructure in the hierarchical layout template. In another aspect, the techniques include receiving content elements to be presented according to a hierarchical layout template that includes a choice substructure including a root node having a shared content element constraint that defines a content requirement common to all layout structures possible in the choice substructure, and traversing the hierarchical layout template to generate a layout structure that accommodates the content elements, said traversing including traversing the hierarchical layout template based at least in part on the shared content element constraint associated with the root node. |
| US08495094B2 |
Fast signature scan
Systems and methods for scanning signatures in a string field. In one implementation, the invention provides a method for signature scanning. The method includes processing one or more signatures into one or more formats that include one or more fingerprints and one or more follow-on search data structures for each fixed-size signature or signature substring such that the number of fingerprints for each fixed-size signature or signature substring is equal to a step size for a signature scanning operation and the particular fixed-size signature or signature substring is identifiable at any location within any string fields to be scanned, receiving a particular string field, identifying any signatures included in the particular string field including scanning for the fingerprints for each scan step size and searching for the follow-on search data structures at the locations where one or more fingerprints are found, and outputting any identified signatures. |
| US08495092B2 |
Remote media personalization and distribution method
A method of producing a personalized data file includes the steps of providing a message comprising at least one word to a person present at a site on a network and specifying a first data file, and producing a personalized data file by digitally combining the first data file and the message. The message is prepared by the person to whom the message was provided prior to being digitally combined with the first data file. |
| US08495090B2 |
Storage medium containing parallel process control program, parallel processs control system, and parallel process control method
An efficient parallel process can be performed in a distributed manner by an original master node set in a highest-layer sub-cluster and one or more lower-layer master nodes set in respective lower-layer sub-clusters. |
| US08495089B2 |
System and method for optimizing media play transactions
A database interface for developing at least one media play is disclosed. The database interface for developing at least one media play includes a plurality of templates, generated in accordance with feedback prior ones of the at least one media plays, at least two desired criteria limiting circumstances for play of the media play received at one of said templates, and an accessor that accesses media play inventory and preempts certain of the media play inventory with an insertion of the media play according to said at least two desired criteria. |
| US08495088B2 |
Quick parts list—panel sub finder
The instant invention provides a method, executable by a processor based device, that eliminates the need to manually look up a list of support parts to determine the stock availability of one or more replacement part alternatives, based at least in part on the stock availability of one or more support parts for the one or more replacement part alternatives. |
| US08495085B2 |
Supporting efficient partial update of hierarchically structured documents based on record storage
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for performing a partial update of a hierarchically structured document referencing one or more records stored in a database. An expression specifying one or more updates to be applied to the document is received. The document is searched to find update target position(s). Based on the received expression, a pending update list is built. When an update target position is found, a row of a document column in a base table is updated with the new version number for the document. New database records for insertion into the new document version are generated from the pending update list. Old database records to be replaced are identified. A database table for the document is updated to mark the old database records as obsolete and to add new database records to be referenced in the new version of the document. |
| US08495080B2 |
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. |
| US08495075B2 |
Fuzzy string matching of media meta-data
A method accomplishes matching a particular media metadata record to one of a plurality of records of a first media metadata database. For the particular media metadata record, for each of at least some of the tokens of the particular media metadata record, a table is processed that correlates that token to records of the first media metadata database. Based on the processing, it is determined in which of the plurality of records (match candidate records) of the first media metadata database that token of the particular record appears. For each of at least some of the match candidate records of the first media metadata database, a value is determined that indicates a degree of match between that match candidate record and the particular media metadata record. The determined values are processed to determine one of the match candidate records is a nominal match to the particular media metadata record. |
| US08495070B2 |
Logic operation system
A storage unit stores at least one attribute each assigned an attribute identifier uniquely identifying the attribute. Each attribute identifier is associated with at least one piece of equivalent reference data each representing the attribute. Each attribute identifier is not a word representing the attribute, and is made of a symbol having no meaning per se. A weight of association between an attribute identifier and each of at least one piece of equivalent reference data represents a degree of relatedness between the attribute and the piece of equivalent reference data. An operation unit determines whether or not given data is the same as a piece of equivalent reference data, obtains a weight of association between the piece of equivalent reference data determined to be the same and an attribute identifier, and selects the attribute when a sum of at least one weight obtained for the attribute satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US08495069B2 |
Associating records in healthcare databases with individuals
Methods for associating healthcare records in healthcare databases with an individual are provided. One or more attribute types are located in first and second records. The one or more attribute types being associated with the individual. A weighted score is determined for the located at least one attribute type based on a comparison of the located at least one attribute type in the first record and the located at least one attribute type in the second record. The weighted score indicates a likelihood that the located at least one attribute type in the first and second records are both associated with the individual. A confidence is provided and is associated with the first and second records based on the weighted score. The confidence score indicates a likelihood that both the first and second records are associated with the individual. |
| US08495068B1 |
Dynamic classifier for tax and tariff calculations
Systems and methods are provided for classifying a new item for purposes of estimating import fees associated with shipping the item internationally. In some embodiments, the classification is determined by calculating a similarity score for each of a plurality of previously classified items, each similarity score representing the similarity between a given previously classified item and the new item, identifying a similar item match for the new item, the similar item match corresponding to the previously classified item having the highest similarity score among the plurality of previously classified items, and assigning an item classification code associated with the similar item match to the new item. |
| US08495067B2 |
Partitioning management of system resources across multiple users
A resource group attribute is assigned to a storage resource object representing at least one of the plurality of storage resources in a system configuration of the computing storage environment. The resource group attribute includes a selectable value indicating a resource group object to which the storage resource object is associated. A resource group label is provided in the resource group object and is a string having no wildcards. A user resource scope is assigned to a user ID and a value of the user resource scope provides a mechanism to match to the resource group label. The user ID is authorized to perform one of creating, deleting, modifying, controlling, and managing storage resources with an association to a resource group. |
| US08495064B2 |
Management of metadata for life cycle assessment data
Management of metadata applied to life cycle inventory (LCI) and life cycle assessment (LCA) data is provided. Life cycle inventory data may be provided through a secure framework to a data hub where it may be validated and audited and where the received life cycle inventory data may ultimately be used to generate a life cycle assessment score for a given product. Life cycle inventory data may be provided via a structured data template provided by a supplier or obtained by a supplier via a requested unit business process model. Metadata may be applied to each LCI data item to allow the data items to be stored, sorted, search, retrieved and used for validating and auditing the data and for comparing the data to other data items of similar data types for eventual use in the generation of the aforementioned life cycle assessment score for a given product. |
| US08495053B2 |
Method and system for advanced downloading of URLs for WEB navigation
A method, computer program product, and system for providing advanced downloading of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for a WEB browser running on a computer. The system is capable of providing a WEB browser with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The system comprises a client computer and a server. The client computer includes the WEB browser for use by a user and includes a URL component. The server provides WEB data to the client computer. The server includes a URL downloader, which is responsive to the URL component for downloading the URLs to the client computer. |
| US08495049B2 |
System and method for extracting content for submission to a search engine
A system and a method for automatically submitting Web pages to a search engine, which is preferably used for submitting dynamic Web pages, but may optionally be used for any type of Web page. The present invention features a gateway server for providing these Web pages to the search engine, either directly or optionally through an autonomous software search program. Optionally and more preferably, the gateway server modifies the Web page before serving it to the autonomous software search program and/or search engine. |
| US08495043B2 |
System and method for allowing updates to database objects
A system and method for allowing flexible and simultaneous updates to database objects from one or more users is disclosed. The system may receive a change request to the object from the first user and then from a second user. The system may determine if the object is locked and, if so, informing the first user. If an edit request is received from the second user, the second user may be provided with multiple options, such as incorporating changes made by first user and overwriting changes made by second user with changes made by first user, incorporating changes made by first user and overwriting changes made by first user with changes made by second user, and cancelling changes made by second user. |
| US08495042B2 |
Information extraction apparatus and methods
Automatic information extraction apparatus for extracting data for review by a human curator from digital representations of documents comprising natural language text, the automatic information extraction apparatus having a plurality of selectable operating modes in which the automatic information extraction apparatus is operable to extract different data for review by a human curator. In the different operating modes, the information extraction apparatus may extract data with a different balance between recall and precision. |
| US08495040B2 |
Systems and methods for providing an automated validity check of transactional data postings
Systems and methods are provided for providing an automated validity check of transaction data postings. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes entering at least one code for specifying at least one posting to be performed for a transactional data processing operation. The method may also include starting the transactional data processing operation, sending a request to a service component for performing a validity check of the at least one code, buffering one or more posting requests resulting from execution of the transactional data processing operation. Further, the method may include sending, in response to receipt of a first signal indicative of code validity from the service component, the one or more buffered posting requests with the at least one code to a posting component. |
| US08495039B2 |
Method for indexed-field based difference detection and correction
A method and system for indexed field based difference detection and correction. A data feed file is partitioned into a plurality of subsets based on an indexed field of the data feed file. A redundancy check value is calculated for each of the subsets, and the redundancy check value is compared to a database file which corresponds to each subset. If the redundancy check values do not match for a subset and a corresponding database file, a difference is detected between the subset and the corresponding database file and the corresponding database file is replaced by the subset. |
| US08495036B2 |
Blob manipulation in an integrated structured storage system
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer storage media for facilitating the structured storage of binary large objects (Blobs) to be accessed by an application program being executed by a computing device. Generally, the manipulation of Blobs in a structured storage system includes receiving a request for a Blob, which may be located by way of a Blob pointer. The Blob pointer allows for the data, such as properties, of the Blob to be identified and located. Expired properties are garbage collected as a manipulation of the Blob data within a structured storage system. In an embodiment, the Blob is identified by a key that is utilized within a primary structured index to located the requested Blob. In another embodiment, the requested Blob is located utilizing a secondary hash index. In an additional embodiment, the Blob is locate utilizing a file table. |
| US08495034B2 |
Numeric, decimal and date field compression
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for accessing data in a computer system. Compression and decompression functions are associated with a column of the table, in order to perform compression of decimal, numeric or date data stored in the column when the data is inserted or updated in the table, and in order to perform decompression of the data stored in the column when the data is retrieved from the table. The compression function compresses and stores the data in a fixed-length compressed field in the column without a length value, and the fixed-length compressed field has a size that is determined by a range of values for the data stored in the fixed-length compressed field. The decompression function retrieves and decompresses the data from the fixed-length compressed field. |
| US08495033B2 |
Data processing
Disclosed is a method for identifying inactive objects in an entity. The inactive objects may be purged from an entity to reduce the size of the entity. |
| US08495030B2 |
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. |
| US08495026B1 |
Systems and methods for migrating archived files
A computer-implemented method for migrating archived files may include (1) identifying a file system including a plurality of placeholder files that reference corresponding archived files stored on a first archival system, (2) identifying a request to migrate the archived files from the first archival system to a second archival system, (3) making the second archival system available to the file system for archival, and, while both the first archival system and the second archival system are available to the file system, (4) locating each placeholder file within the plurality of placeholder files on the file system, and, for each located placeholder file, (5) retrieving a corresponding archived file from the first archival system, and (6) archiving the corresponding archived file on the second archival system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08495023B1 |
Delta catalogs in a backup system
A method and mechanism for performing data backups in a computing system. A “delta” catalog is utilized for the maintenance of data backups. The delta catalog includes a backed up object table and an extent map. For a given backup, the backed up object table update stores entries which identify only those objects backed up during that backup. The backed up object table is further configured to store entries which identify objects which were deleted between the time of a prior backup procedure and a current backup procedure. The extent map is configured identify all objects present in the system at the time of a particular backup. The extent map identifies the objects which were present as one or more sequences of entries in the backed up object table. |
| US08495019B2 |
System and method for providing assured recovery and replication
The system and method for providing assured recovery and replication described herein may recover a master data source from a replica data source without impacting the master data source or the replica data source, and without having to install a standby version of an application associated with the master data source. In particular, a master snapshot may be created to copy application data stored in the master data source, wherein a replication server confirms that the replica data source can recover the master data source if the master snapshot and the replica data source are consistent. The replication server may create a replica snapshot to copy the replica data source and assign an identity associated with the master data source to the replica data source to recover the master data source. As such, replication may be resumed on a virtual machine disk file associated with the replica snapshot. |
| US08495017B2 |
Method and system to maintain strong consistency of distributed replicated contents in a client/server system
A method and a system for maintaining consistency of replicated files distributed over a plurality of independent processing slave nodes part of an application tier of a multi-tier client/server data processing system are described. The replicated files are distributed from a master node of a master tier. Upon reception of an update request to update a master database a new version of a replicated file is first generated and stored in a shared file system. A notification of availability of the new version is forwarded to a synchronizing slave node and broadcasted to all slave nodes. Each slave node preloads the new version of the replicated file from the shared file system and acknowledges successful completion. Upon reception of all acknowledgments in the synchronization slave node a notification of preloading achievement is forwarded to the master server which updates the master database. |
| US08495016B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and control method therefor
This invention uses a storage device more effectively than ever before to store image data in a predetermined storage device for future security chasing. A determination unit (203) determines whether related image data which can be considered substantially identical to image data acquired by an acquisition unit (210) is stored in a predetermined storage device (202) for future chasing. If related image data is stored, link information to the related image data is written instead of writing the acquired image data to the storage device (202). On the other hand, no related image data is stored, the acquired image data is written to the storage device (202). |
| US08495014B2 |
Asynchronous remote copy system and storage control method
Before starting asynchronous remote copy in the multihop method (asynchronous remote copy from the first to the second storage apparatus, and from the second to the third storage apparatus), the first initial copy which is the copy for making the contents of the first data volume in the first storage apparatus and the contents of the second data volume in the second storage apparatus consistent and the second initial copy which is the copy for making the contents of the second data volume and the contents of the third data volume in the third storage apparatus consistent are performed. In the second initial copy, the second storage apparatus creates a journal including the update number and the data in the second data volume, and the journal is transferred from the second storage apparatus to the third storage apparatus. The created update number is acquired from the first storage apparatus. |
| US08495008B2 |
Application-aware recording and replay
In one illustrative embodiment, a computer-implemented method for application-aware recording and replay of changes is provided. The computer implemented method executes an application in a source system to form a first domain context, and generates recorded information objects from the application in the first domain context. The computer-implemented method selects a target system having a second domain context, and replays the recorded information objects on the target system to form new information objects in the second domain context. The new information objects are returned to a requester. |
| US08495005B2 |
Methods for matching metadata from disparate data sources
Methods for matching a candidates with a target utilizing extract, transform and load (ETL) metadata utilizing a computer, the candidates originating from a number of secondary data sources are presented including: causing the computer to receive the target from a target data source; causing the computer to fetch the candidates from the number of secondary data sources; causing the computer to process match rules, the match rules configured for determining whether the candidates match with the target, where the ETL metadata provides data for the processing; if the number of match rules determines a potential candidate match, causing the computer to score the potential candidate match utilizing a weighting method, the weighting method corresponding with a degree of importance of the match, where the potential candidate match corresponds with one of candidates; and causing the computer to display the potential candidate match. |
| US08495004B2 |
Determining and storing at least one results set in a global ontology database for future use by an entity that subscribes to the global ontology database
Determining and storing at least one validated results set in a global ontology database for future use by an entity that subscribes to the global ontology database. If global ontology data is stored in a global ontology database, attempt to determine a mapping between first and second ontologies. If a mapping between the first and second ontologies can be determined from the global ontology data, the mapping is validated and the validated mapping is defined as a validated results set. If global ontology data is not stored in a global ontology database or a mapping between the first and second ontologies can not be determined from global ontology data stored in the global ontology database, the first and second ontologies are unified by determining a mapping between the first and second ontologies, the mapping is validated and the validated mapping is defined as a validated results set. The validated results set is stored in the global ontology database for future use by an entity that subscribes to the global ontology database. |
| US08495001B2 |
Systems and methods for semantic concept definition and semantic concept relationship synthesis utilizing existing domain definitions
Computer-implemented systems and methods for synthesis of concept definitions and concept relationships from a domain of data, utilizing different semantic processing protocols such as formal concept analysis and faceted classification synthesis from existing domain concepts that have a confidence gradient built into them. A cognitive or an input agent provides an input of an active concept which is matched against existing domain concepts. The resultant pool of relevant domain concepts is then used to derive virtual concept definitions using a semantic processing protocol. The derivation is then overlaid with a concept of relative proximity of an attribute from another within an attribute set. An additional layer of coherence is given by the relative proximity measure. The end result is a pool of related virtual concept definitions in a tree structure. |
| US08494999B2 |
Sensor based truth maintenance method and system
A truth maintenance method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor from RFID tags embedded in sensors, event data associated with events detected by said sensors. The computer processor associates portions of the event data with associated RFID tags and derives assumption data associated with each portion of the portions. The computer processor retrieves previous assumption data derived from and associated with previous portions of previous event data retrieved from the RFID tags and executes non monotonic logic with respect to the assumption data and the previous assumption data. In response, the computer processor generates and stores updated assumption data associated with the assumption data and the previous assumption data. |
| US08494995B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamically reconfiguring predictive analytics within workflows using selective user feedback
Methods and arrangements for managing and enhancing workflow. A work item is accepted and the is routed from a first node to a second node based on a predictive analytics model. The predictive analytics model is validated, and is reconfigured responsive to the validating. |
| US08494992B1 |
Ranking and vote scheduling using statistical confidence intervals
Method, computer-readable media, and systems for ranking content submissions and scheduling content submissions for additional voting in a distributed online community are disclosed. A statistical confidence interval is calculated for the approval ratio of each content submission based on one or more scaling formulae. A popularity ranking of the content submissions is generated based on the lower bounds of the confidence intervals calculated for the content submissions. Top-ranked content submissions in the popularity ranking are presented to users as the most popular content submissions. A voting priority ranking of the content submissions is generated based on the upper bounds of the confidence intervals calculated for the content submissions. Top-ranked content submissions in the voting priority ranking are selected as featured content submissions for additional voting. The selection of the top-ranked content submissions for additional voting is randomized based on a selected probability distribution. |
| US08494991B2 |
Optimizing traffic predictions and enhancing notifications
Travel-demand forecasting methods are described for predicting traffic volume based, at least in part, on user-entered data in the form of anticipated traffic routes, demographic data and/or other types of socioeconomic data. This data can source a prediction algorithm or be used to forecast traffic patterns. Methods and systems are described for, among other things, optimizing traffic predictions, forecasting traffic patterns using user-assigned trip patterns, associating rich attribute information to navigation routes, exposing personal-logistic information to a group, communicating traffic-situation-generated alerts based on user information, optimizing a presentation of user-defined traffic routes, and presenting location indications based on proximity (temporal or geographical). |
| US08494989B1 |
Cognitive network management system
This disclosure describes a cognitive network management system (CNMS) for managing a communication node including a radio platform. The system includes an engines layer including at least one sensor engine configured to collect sensor information relating to a location of the communication node and also includes a CNMS core including at least a database storing system settings and policies. The CNMS core is configured to communicate with the engines layer, receive the sensor information and store it in the database, and control the operations of engines layer and the radio platform based on the policies. The system further includes a cognition/learning based analysis module configured to receive the sensor information from the CNMS core, to analyze the effects of the policies based on the sensor information, and to modify the policies and store them in the database to improve system performance. |
| US08494988B2 |
Systems and methods for generating feasible solutions from two parents for an evolutionary process
Systems and methods may include receiving a pair of parent chromosome data structures, where each parent chromosome data structure provides a plurality of genes representative of variables that are permitted to evolve; combining genes of the two parent chromosome data structures to generate at least one first child chromosome data structure; evaluating the at least one first child chromosome data structures according to a plurality of constraint functions to generate a respective plurality of constraint function values for each of the at least one first child chromosome data structure, where the constraint functions define constraints on a feasible solution set; determining whether any of the at least one first child chromosome data structure is within the feasible solution set. |
| US08494986B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus for generating an algorithm determining a similarity between a pair of data. The apparatus includes: a feature-quantity-extraction expression list generation mechanism generating a feature-quantity-extraction expression list including a plurality of feature-quantity-extraction expressions including a plurality of operators by updating the feature-quantity-extraction expression list of a preceding generation; a calculation mechanism inputting first and second data given as teacher data into each of the feature-quantity-extraction expressions included in the feature-quantity-extraction expression list to calculate a feature quantity corresponding to each of the first and the second data; an evaluation-value calculation mechanism calculating the evaluation value of each of the feature-quantity-extraction expressions using the calculated feature quantities and a similarity between the first and the second data given as the teacher data; and a similarity-calculation expression estimation mechanism estimating a similarity calculation expression for calculating a similarity between the first and the second data given as the teacher data. |
| US08494981B2 |
Real-time intelligent virtual characters with learning capabilities
A system, method, and computer-readable instructions for real-time characters with learning capabilities. A plurality of rules are defined in a rules-based system, each of the rules defining a condition that determines a behavior of a virtual agent when the rule is triggered by the condition being satisfied so that upon triggering of multiple rules at the same time, each of the behaviors of the multiple rules whose conditions were satisfied are combined into a resultant behavior for the virtual agent. This resultant behavior is compared with a desired behavior to providing feedback in the form of rewards or punishments to each of the multiple rules based on their corresponding contribution to the resultant behavior as compared to the desired behavior. |
| US08494976B2 |
System for optimizing transportation scheduling and inventory management of bulk product from supply locations to demand locations
An optimization system for transportation scheduling and inventory management of a bulk product from supply locations to demand locations is provided. The system has a mathematical model containing mathematical programming equations. In one embodiment, the objective function of the mathematical model is to minimize a cost basis of the product transported. The system also has a database system for data input that interfaces with the mathematical model. The last component of the system is a mathematical optimization solver that solves the equations provided by the mathematical model after the mathematical model receives data from the database system. As a result, the optimization system provides optimized or simulated results for the input data. |
| US08494975B2 |
Method and tool for estimating a ship date profile for a business
A method and tool for estimating a ship date profile for a business (e.g., a business that is not in operation), includes simulating a plurality of dynamic events to estimate the ship date profile for the business. The plurality of dynamic events may include, for example, at least one of stochastic customer shopping traffic, an uncertainty of order size, a customer preference of a product feature and demand forecast, an inventory policy, a sourcing policy and a supply planning policy, and a manufacturing lead time. |
| US08494966B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating the transfer of a software license between computer systems
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates the transfer of a software license from a first client to a second client. The system operates by receiving a request at the first client to deactivate the software license for an associated application installed on the first client. The system then receives a deactivation request that includes an identifier for the license at a license activation server from the first client. Next, the system validates the identifier on the license activation server to determine if the identifier is a valid identifier. If so, the system sends a deactivation message to the first client, receives a deactivation response from the first client, and increments a count of license instances available for the identifier on the license activation server. |
| US08494965B2 |
Electronic copyright license repository
A content distribution system for transporting audio or video licenses between content players that use digital rights management (DRM) is disclosed. The content distribution system includes at least a second license repository and an authentication engine. The second license repository receives second information describing a second plurality of content licenses. A first license repository stores a first plurality of content licenses. The first plurality of content licenses enable use of a plurality of content objects with a first content player within confines of DRM. The second license repository is geographically distant from the first license repository. The authentication engine authorizes the second plurality of content licenses of the second license repository. The second plurality of content licenses enable use of the plurality of content objects with the second content player within the confines of DRM. |
| US08494962B2 |
Method and system for secure mobile remittance
This invention provides a system and method for reducing the fraud related to remittance transactions initiated at web portals. In one embodiment, mobile technologies that are available to consumers can be used to reduce fraud associated with remittance transactions. For example, a funding agency computer that enables a remittance transaction can request that a mobile platform computer verify a customer with a mobile personal identifier. The mobile platform computer can request the mobile personal identifier from a customer via the customer's mobile handset device. The mobile platform computer can determine whether the identifier received from the customer's mobile handset device matches the mobile personal identifier stored for the customer. If the mobile platform computer is able to verify the customer, the mobile platform computer can provide a verification confirmation message to the funding agency computer. |
| US08494959B2 |
Payment card with dynamic account number
A payment card comprises a processor, a trigger source coupled to the processor, and a display for outputting at least a portion of a dynamic account number under control of the processor responsive to the trigger source. The dynamic account number is determined based at least in part on a seed stored in the payment card and an output of the trigger source. In an illustrative embodiment, the dynamic account number is generated utilizing a time-based or event-based one-time password algorithm. For example, in a time-based embodiment, the trigger source may comprise a time of day clock, with the dynamic account number being determined based at least in part on the seed and a current value of the time of day clock. In an event-based embodiment, the trigger source may comprise an event counter, with the dynamic account number being determined based at least in part on the seed and a current value of the event counter. |
| US08494955B2 |
Method, system, and service for quantifying network risk to price insurance premiums and bonds
The invention broadly comprises a method for determining financial loss related to performance of an internetwork. The method correlates input information regarding performance of an internetwork to operations of a financial entity underwriting insurance premiums and bonds and translates the correlated input information into at least one operational risk for the entity. In some aspects, the internetwork is the Internet. The method gathers secondary external information other than directly from the internetwork, correlates the input and secondary external information, and translates the correlated input and secondary external information into at least one operational risk for the entity. For at least one subset and one peril, the method determines a spread in time and space of effects of the at least one anomaly and peril on the internetwork and on the at least one subset. |
| US08494949B2 |
Electronic trading for principal/broker trading
Electronic trading systems and methods which facilitate principal/broker trading are provided. In a first aspect of the invention, a database relating to trading participants in the trading system is designed to indicate which traders utilize a principal/broker relationship and what, if any, limitations are placed on the activity of the broker, trading commands submitted by the broker, and counterparties in a transaction with the broker. In another aspect of the invention, trading commands and executed trades involving principals/brokers may be presented to other traders using special designations. The ability to enter certain trading commands by, and in response to, brokers may be limited. In a further aspect of the invention, anonymous trading features may prevent traders from knowing whether another trader is a broker or principal, may restrict traders from being able to block trading with brokers, and may permit brokers to configure anonymous trading parameters. |
| US08494945B2 |
Methods for creating a group practice
A system for creating a service provider group including selecting a reference item, selecting a specification of the reference item, evaluating the specification against alternatives to the reference item, determining interchangeability between the reference item and alternatives based on evaluating of the specification in relation to the alternatives, where the determining of interchangeability is based on or includes determining at least one of quasi-fungibility and quasi-anti-fungibility. The method further including forming at least one set based on the determined interchangeability and creating a service provider group based on or including at least one of the set and at least one member of the set. |
| US08494943B1 |
Systems and methods for charitable lifetime giving program
Computer systems and computer-implemented methods related to an investment program for a non-profit, charitable organization that pairs a donated life insurance policy with one or more annuity contracts on the same donor's life. Preferably, the aggregate sum of the annuity premiums for the annuity contracts equals (or approximately equals) the death benefit payment amount of the donated life insurance policy. In addition, the ongoing annuity payments preferably are greater than the life insurance premiums, thereby providing the charitable organization with a positive rate of return that can be much higher than conventional fixed income investments. |
| US08494941B2 |
Feature-based similarity measure for market instruments
In one embodiment, first, second, and third inputs are received. The first input specifies a first market instrument and the second input specifies start and end dates of a first time series for the first market instrument. The third input specifies a feature set computer and the values of zero or more parameters thereof. A first feature set of the first market instrument is determined by applying the feature set computer to the first time series. A second feature set of a second market instrument is determined by applying the feature set computer to a second time series for the second market instrument, where the second time series is bounded by the start and end dates. The second feature set is correlated to the first feature set to determine a similarity score for the second market instrument, where the similarity score is a measure of the relationship between the second market instrument and the first market instrument. |
| US08494940B1 |
Asset portfolio evaluation
New metrics are provided for evaluating a portfolio of financial assets and/or for determining whether or not the portfolio is properly tracking the performance of a desired index. The technique involves calculating a correlative value for the portfolio relative to each of a number of different factors having data values that are likely to be correlated with an aggregate market value for the portfolio, where the correlative value for an item relative to a given factor is a measure of a tendency of the aggregate market value of the item to change based on a change in the data value for such factor (e.g., in the nature of a sensitivity or elasticity). Such metrics often can be used, according to the present invention, in conjunction with other information to facilitate the adjustment of the portfolio to more closely track the performance of the desired index. |
| US08494939B2 |
Method for corroborating a gaming jackpot payment
A method for authorizing a witness-less manual payment of a gaming jackpot includes comparing a jackpot transaction value from a payment user to a maximum witness-less hand-payment jackpot value and to a jackpot value from the gaming machine. Confirmed jackpots of suitable value can be authorized for hand-payment without a corroborating human witness. The maximum value is selectable by the casino. |
| US08494934B2 |
Electronic system for provision of banking services
An electronic system providing banking services, comprises a server having a first interface for communication with user mobile telephony devices over a mobile telephone network; and a second interface for communication with an intermediary acting as a gateway to banking records of multiple banking organizations. The first interface is adapted to allow at least balance enquiry requests to be submitted to one of the multiple banking organizations by means of the intermediary and to provide at least balance enquiry replies for display on the user mobile telephony device. The invention provides the functions of the high street ATM using the mobile phone environment. |
| US08494928B2 |
Methods and apparatus for complementing user entries associated with events of interest through context
Data validation techniques are provided. For example, such techniques complement user entries associated with events of interest through context. In one aspect of the invention, a technique for processing one or more user entries associated with one or more events of interest includes the following steps/operations. Context associated with the one or more events of interest is obtained. At least a portion of the obtained context is associated with one or more user entries representing events of interest. At least a portion of the one or more user entries is evaluated, responsive to at least a portion of the context. An indication of the one or more events of interest is provided, responsive to the evaluation. |
| US08494926B2 |
System and method for dispensing samples and computer readable recording medium
A method and a system for dispensing samples and a computer readable recording medium are disclosed herein, the system can establish a feedback mechanism and recommend one or more suitable samples for a user on the basis of identification information that is inputted by the user. |
| US08494921B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for electronic purchases
Methods, systems, and products facilitate electronic purchases. An electronic shopping cart is received at a server associated with a first merchant. The electronic shopping cart is inspected for an item selected for purchase from a different merchant. If the first merchant can offer better terms for the item, the server sends a recommendation to a customer to remove the item from the electronic shopping cart and to add a substitute item offered by the first merchant. If the customer approves, then the server replaces the item in the electronic shopping cart with the substitute item associated with the first merchant. |
| US08494919B2 |
Distributed electronic commerce system with centralized point of purchase
An electronic commerce system includes a broker that enables customers to purchase items from merchants. A customer interacts with the merchant to identify items to purchase, and the merchant directs the customer to the broker in order to complete the transaction. The broker receives a description of a virtual shopping cart generated by the merchant and presents the customer with an interface allowing the customer to select shipping and other options for the purchase. The broker calculates a total amount for the transaction based on the shopping cart description and the options selected by the customer. The broker informs the merchant of the purchase and coordinates the shipment of the purchased items from the merchant to the customer. |
| US08494918B1 |
System, method, and computering program product for applying an offer scheme to usage data using a user interface
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for applying an offer scheme to usage data using a user interface. In operation, usage data associated with a user is received from a server. Additionally, one or more offer schemes are displayed to the user using a user interface. Furthermore, the user is allowed to apply the one or more offer schemes to the usage data, utilizing the user interface. Still yet, the user is allowed to select one of the one or more offer schemes based on a result of the application, utilizing the user interface. |
| US08494916B2 |
Managing fresh-product inventory
Freshness inventory control problem may be formulated as a stochastic dynamic program. In one aspect, a stochastic dynamic programming formulation takes as input inventory status, stochastic demand forecast and cost information associated with on-hand inventory. The stochastic dynamic programming formulation is maximized to determine order quantity and depletion quantity of the product per period. |
| US08494915B2 |
Method and computer medium for tracking social interactions and targeting offers
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. |
| US08494910B2 |
Method, system and program product for supporting a transaction between electronic device users
The present invention allows trading partners to be matched with each other based on the proximity of their locations and their capability to complete a desired transaction. Specifically, under the present invention a requestor will issue a transaction request seeking to exchange goods, services and/or information. A trading partner who can fulfill the transaction request will be identified based on a proximity of location of the trading partner to the requestor, as well as the capability of the trading partner to fulfill the transaction. |
| US08494907B2 |
Systems and methods for interaction prompt initiated video advertising
Systems and methods for interaction prompt initiated video advertising are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises storing digital advertising content, the digital content including digital video, and digital slideshows. An XML file is served from an ad server to a player embedded in a web site. One or more advertisements are dynamically generated from the XML file and the digital content. The one or more advertisements are displayed with video content requested through the web site. |
| US08494898B2 |
Campaign management of direct mail
A machine-implemented method receives job specifications for a plurality of direct mail printing jobs from a user and automatically groups the multiple direct mail printing jobs into at least one campaign, using a computerized or processor-based machine. The machine automatically creates a plurality of workflows related to direct mail printing jobs within a campaign and transmits requests for bids on these job activities to entities (e.g., supply vendors) to allow the entities to bid on performing the job activities. The machine automatically selects winning bids on an individual job activity-by job activity basis from the bids received from the entities and combines the bids to provide cost and completion estimates for each of the workflows. The machine automatically combines estimates for the workflows to produce an overall estimate for the campaign. The overall estimate for the campaign is output to the user for review and approval. |
| US08494897B1 |
Inferring profiles of network users and the resources they access
An analytics system and associated methods are disclosed. The analytics system may be used by site owners and others for various purposes, such as to identify and compare network sites that satisfy particular criteria, to identify and compare keywords associated with these sites, and to assess characteristics of typical users of these sites. One feature of the system includes computer processes for inferring characteristics of users for whom user profile data is unknown or incomplete, and for using these inferred characteristics to more accurately assess the characteristics of typical users of particular sites. |
| US08494896B1 |
System and method for restaurant menu analysis
A computer-based system for restaurant menu analysis comprises at least one processor and machine-readable memory configured to execute a menu data entry module, a menu database, a menu analysis module and a menu element reporting module. A computer-based method for restaurant menu analysis comprises using the at least one processor and machine-readable memory to receive menu data from a plurality of menus in a menu data entry module, the menu data including, for each menu, at least: a restaurant name, a restaurant cuisine type, a menu influence indicator and a plurality of menu elements. The received menu data is stored in a menu database. Occurrences for each one of at least a portion of the entered menu elements are calculated, as well as total occurrences. A scored list of influential menu elements is determined based thereon, and displayed to the user. |
| US08494895B1 |
Platform maturity analysis system
A system comprising a computer having a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory is disclosed. The application, when executed by the processor, aggregates data of a plurality of types of data in a data store, analyzes the aggregated data to produce a first curve of a maturity metric of the first product platform versus time, and presents the first curve. |
| US08494894B2 |
Universal customer based information and ontology platform for business information and innovation management
A system constructed using one or more of the techniques described includes a collective set of data structures, uniquely designed entities, information tools, and computational and machine methods useful to store, append, interact with, retrieve, process, and present data and information in a fashion that enables associations to be made between the entities and the particular Jobs and Outcomes that pertain to the underlying markets, or possible markets, of an enterprise which have been identified by separate analysis following an Outcome Driven Innovation (ODI) methodology. |
| US08494893B2 |
Production plan making program, device, and method
A production plan enabling suppression of occurrence of excess stock is made. A shipping request representing the requested amount of shipping for each shipping request week is received. Among the shipping weeks of the shipping requests, the furthest future shipping request week is handled as the furthest future shipping week, and the amounts of shipping of shipping weeks near the present time are determined sequentially from the amount of shipping of the furthest future shipping week. |
| US08494891B2 |
Meeting scheduling system with options for resolving scheduling conflicts
Methods and systems are provided for sending out meeting notices that specify logistics for both a primary meeting and an alternate meeting. The invitees are to respond, indicating their availability for attending the primary and alternate meetings. Based on the invitee responses, the system sets up the meeting for either the primary time/place for the meeting or the alternate time/place for the meeting. The final meeting notices are sent out to the invitees informing them of the meeting logistics. |
| US08494890B2 |
Keeping working hours and calendar entries up-to-date
Techniques are disclosed for keeping calendars up-to-date, whereby a person's working hours, events, and actual availability are accurately reflected. In response to user-generated input and/or application-generated input, working hours can be updated and calendar events can be added to, deleted from, or changed on the user's calendar. This makes it easy for users to keep calendars (including working hours) up-to-date and helps both people and applications that use calendar data. Profiles are preferably used to specify working hours, and a particular user may have one or more profiles available (including a default profile); the user can then easily select from among these profiles to update the working hours for a date/day, or a range of dates/days. Preferences may be associated with the profiles, providing a convenient way of isolating information that applies only to a particular set of working hours. |
| US08494889B2 |
Optimized maintenance schedules based on smart city maintenance profiles
An approach is provided in which a maintenance optimizer receives a policy change threshold that corresponds to a system. The maintenance optimizer monitors real-time condition data associated with the system, and determines whether the real-time condition data has reached the policy change threshold. If the real-time condition data has not reached the policy change threshold, the maintenance optimizer generates a maintenance operation notification based upon the real-time condition data according to a maintenance schedule policy. However, if the real-time condition data has reached the policy change threshold, the maintenance optimizer generates an alternate maintenance operation notification based upon the real-time condition data according to an alternate maintenance schedule policy. |
| US08494888B2 |
Offline modification of business data
Concepts and technologies for offline modification of business data are disclosed. A client device caches a cached version of business data. A business connectivity services (“BCS”) application executing on the client device reviews modifications made to the cached version of the business data and generates one or more operations corresponding to the modifications. The BCS application maintains a queue of operations. The BCS application reviews the operations in the queue and combines or removes operations that can be combined or removed without affecting the dependencies between related operations. The client device accesses a business data server that hosts the business data, and transmits the operations to the business data server in the determined order. |
| US08494887B2 |
Generating an optimized pricing plan
Generating an optimized pricing plan includes accessing a hierarchy comprising a sequence of levels, where each level includes an objective function and a set of constraints associated with the objective function. A mathematical programming model representing a pricing plan problem is determined for an item group comprising items. The following is repeated for each level of the sequence of levels: selecting a level comprising an objective function and a set of constraints associated with the objective function, determining an optimized boundary for the objective function, and adding a constraint generated from the optimized boundary to the set of constraints of a next level. An objective function of a last level of the sequence is optimized subject to the set of constraints associated with the objective function to yield an optimized result. An optimized pricing plan is generated in accordance with the optimized result. |
| US08494882B1 |
Modeling recommended insurance coverage
A method for analyzing insurance coverage disparities includes providing a processor, providing a memory including data related to a plurality of claims, and generating a claim scenario, using the processor and the data related to the plurality of claims. The claim scenario includes monetary amounts for damage to property and injury to a person. The method also includes computing, a coverage disparity between at least one of a coverage limit of a policy associated with damage to property and the monetary amount for damage to the property or a coverage limit of the policy associated with injury to the person and the monetary amount for the injury to the person. The method further includes transmitting information for display, within a user interface, the coverage disparity and transmitting information for display, within the user interface, a coverage disparity for a peer group associated with the policy. |
| US08494880B2 |
Interactive patient medication list
Systems, methods and devices for managing patient medication data which include, in one implementation, displaying in a user-interface movable medication containers for medications in a list of medications for a patient, each medication container having a corresponding medication category; displaying a receptacle for organizing the medications, the receptacle having multiple layers having corresponding medication categories in a first dimension, each layer configured to receive one or more medication containers; and receiving a first medication container from the movable medication containers that is dragged into a layer in the first dimension having a corresponding medication category that matches the medication category of the first medication container. |
| US08494879B2 |
User interface improvements for medical devices
A method and system is disclosed for operating a medical device with or without a cassette in place. A method is disclosed for adding additional VTBI to an ongoing infusion without stopping the infusion and with maintaining the infusion parameters. A method and system is disclosed for changing the CCA without having to interrupt or completely stop an ongoing infusion. Quick titration buttons are provided to allow improved navigation between various delivery display screens. |
| US08494876B2 |
Method of increasing efficiency in a medical claim transaction, and computer program capable of executing same
A method of adjudicating a medical claim includes providing a requirements for a first claim and a second claim, receiving a medical claim for a medical procedure, setting a first score for the first claim and a second score for the second claim to an initial value, comparing components of the medical claim to the requirements of the first and second claims, changing the first and second scores for each one of the components that match one of the requirements and for each one of the requirements that is missing from the components, and selecting the first or second claim based upon predetermined criteria applied to their respective scores to determine either a monetary value of the medical procedure for a medical service provider associated with the medical procedure or a monetary value of medical coverage for a patient associated with the medical procedure. |
| US08494875B2 |
System and method for determining medical treatment values in children without data entry
A system is provided for providing patient treatment values in real-time, including: a database module comprising a database having a plurality of predetermined categories of patient selection criteria, patient condition categories, treatment types and precalculated treatment doses based on the predetermined categories and patient selection criteria; an input module in communication with the database module for inputting one or more of patient selection criteria, patient condition categories and treatment type at time of patient treatment; and a display module in communication with the database module and the input module for displaying a precalculated treatment dose based on one or more inputted patient selection criteria, patient condition categories and treatment type at time of patient treatment. |
| US08494874B2 |
System and method for recruiting patients for medical research across a vast patient population
A system and method for recruiting participants for medical research over an extended computer network is disclosed. The system and method comprise an enhanced services server built on the same architecture as a plurality of Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, an input device configured to receive search criteria corresponding to clinical criteria that a patient must satisfy to qualify to participate in the medical research, search functionality configured to search the patient data captured by each of the plurality of EHR systems based on the search criteria, an output device configured to output data for a plurality of qualifying patients identified by the search functionality as satisfying the search criteria, and messaging functionality configured to send an electronic message via a network connection to one or more healthcare provider sites at which patient data for at least one of the plurality of qualifying patients was captured, wherein, upon receiving authorization in response to the request, the researcher can access the patient-identifying information associated with the patient data for the at least one of the plurality of qualifying patients identified with the output data and use it to recruit that patient for medical research. |
| US08494871B2 |
Decision support system for acute dynamic diseases
A medical apparatus (901, 100) assists clinicians, nurses or other users in choosing an intervention for the treatment of a patent suffering from an acute dynamic disease, e.g. sepsis. The medical apparatus is based on a method where a model of the disease is adapted or personalized to the patient. To ensure that the apparatus remains capable of predicting the health of the patient, the apparatus is continuously provided with new, more recent patient values and the model is continuously adapted to the new patient values. Since the medical apparatus is configured to be continuously adapted to current state of health, the apparatus is able to assist the user by generating disease management information, e.g. suggestions for medications, to an output device (902, 104). |
| US08494870B2 |
System for supporting medicine filling operation
Provided is a system for supporting medicine filling operation determines whether or not a combination of a medicine container and a medicine is appropriate and performs filling operation reliably and quickly without making a mistake. A control means (7) determines whether or not a medicine and a mounting object conform to each other based on medicine identification information or mounting objects identification information received by a communication means (6) and based on a medicine master, mounting master, and exchange table stored in a storage means (4). Information on the medicine, information on the mounting objects, or determination result that is read by the control means (7) and received via the communication means (6) and communication section (10) can be displayed on a display section (9) of a portable terminal (3). |
| US08494867B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching buyers and sellers in an anonymous online marketplace
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for matching buyers and sellers in an anonymous online marketplace. One embodiment of a method for defining a community of network users includes collecting data relating to the network users, where the data is of at least one of the following types: demographic information relating to the network users, Internet Protocol address information relating to the network users, and Internet Protocol traffic information relating to the network users. The collected data is then anonymized, where the anonymizing is performed individually for each type of data. The anonymized data is aggregated to generate an activity-to-demographic mapping representative of network activity associated with particular demographics of the community of network users. |
| US08494859B2 |
Universal processing system and methods for production of outputs accessible by people with disabilities
DEAF-core technology converts inputs to outputs accessible to people with disabilities. Communication is improved with DEAF-core technology by using data storage and transmission format that includes both semantic information and content. User-defined input, responsible for conveying semantic information, and raw analog input, such as text, are converted into a unique XML format (“gh XML”). “gh XML” includes standard XML encoded with accessibility information that allows a user to communicate both verbal (text) and non-verbal (semantic) information as part of the input. “gh XML” is a temporary format which is further converted using XSLT (extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) into individual versions of XML specific to each output. After the “gh XML” is converted into the desired XML format, custom rendering engines specific to the desired output convert the individual version of XML into a viable analog format for display. |
| US08494857B2 |
Automatic measurement of speech fluency
Techniques are described for automatically measuring fluency of a patient's speech based on prosodic characteristics thereof. The prosodic characteristics may include statistics regarding silent pauses, filled pauses, repetitions, or fundamental frequency of the patient's speech. The statistics may include a count, average number of occurrences, duration, average duration, frequency of occurrence, standard deviation, or other statistics. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving an audio sample that includes speech of a patient, analyzing the audio sample to identify prosodic characteristics of the speech of the patient, and automatically measuring fluency of the speech of the patient based on the prosodic characteristics. These techniques may present several advantages, such as objectively measuring fluency of a patient's speech without requiring a manual transcription or other manual intervention in the analysis process. |
| US08494854B2 |
CAPTCHA using challenges optimized for distinguishing between humans and machines
An audible based electronic challenge system is used to control access to a computing resource by using a test to identify an origin of a voice. The test is based on analyzing a spoken utterance using optimized challenge items selected for their discrimination capability to determine if it was articulated by an unauthorized human or a text to speech (TTS) system. |
| US08494851B2 |
System and method for contextual social network communications during phone conversation
An embodiment of the invention includes methods and systems for contextual social network communications during a phone conversation. A telephone conversation between a first user and at least one second user is monitored. More specifically, a monitor identifies terms spoken by the first user and the second user during the telephone conversation. The terms spoken are translated into textual keywords by a translating module. One or more of the second user's web applications are searched by a processor for portion(s) of the second user's web applications that include at least one of the keywords. The processor also searches one or more of the first user's web applications for portion(s) of the first user's web applications that include at least one of the keywords. The portion(s) of the second user's web applications and the portion(s) of the first user's web applications are displayed to the first user during the telephone conversation. |
| US08494849B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting speech data to a remote device in a distributed speech recognition system
A method of transmitting speech data to a remote device in a distributed speech recognition system, includes the steps of: dividing an input speech signal into frames; calculating, for each frame, a voice activity value representative of the presence of speech activity in the frame; grouping the frames into multiframes, each multiframe including a predetermined number of frames; calculating, for each multiframe, a voice activity marker representative of the number of frames in the multiframe representing speech activity; and selectively transmitting, on the basis of the voice activity marker associated with each multiframe, the multiframes to the remote device. |
| US08494848B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating, updating and distributing speech recognition models
Techniques for generating, distributing, and using speech recognition models are described. A shared speech processing facility is used to support speech recognition for a wide variety of devices with limited capabilities including business computer systems, personal data assistants, etc., which are coupled to the speech processing facility via a communications channel, e.g., the Internet. Devices with audio capture capability record and transmit to the speech processing facility, via the Internet, digitized speech and receive speech processing services, e.g., speech recognition model generation and/or speech recognition services, in response. The Internet is used to return speech recognition models and/or information identifying recognized words or phrases. Thus, the speech processing facility can be used to provide speech recognition capabilities to devices without such capabilities and/or to augment a device's speech processing capability. Voice dialing, telephone control and/or other services are provided by the speech processing facility in response to speech recognition results. |
| US08494846B2 |
Method for generating background noise and noise processing apparatus
A method for generating background noise and a noise processing apparatus are provided in order to improve user experience. The method includes: if an obtained signal frame is a noise frame, a high band noise encoding parameter is obtained from the noise frame; weighting and/or smoothing is performed on the high band noise encoding parameter to obtain a second high band noise encoding parameter; and a high band background noise signal is generated according to the second high band noise encoding parameter. A noise processing apparatus is also provided. |
| US08494844B2 |
Automated sound segment selection method and system
A computerized method and system is provided for automatically selecting from a digitized sound sample a segment of the sample that is optimal for the purpose of measuring clinical metrics for voice and speech assessment. A quality measure based on quality parameters of segments of the sound sample is applied to candidate segments to identify the highest quality segment within the sound sample. The invention can optionally provide feedback to the speaker to help the speaker increase the quality of the sound sample provided. The invention also can optionally perform sound pressure level calibration and noise calibration. The invention may optionally compute clinical metrics on the selected segment and may further include a normative database method or system for storing and analyzing clinical measurements. |
| US08494843B2 |
Encoding and decoding apparatuses for improving sound quality of G.711 codec
An encoding apparatus and a decoding apparatus for reducing the quantization error of a G.711 codec and improving sound quality are provided. The encoding apparatus includes a G.711 encoder which generates a G.711 bitstream by encoding an input audio signal; an enhancement-layer encoder which chooses one of a static bit allocation method and a dynamic bit allocation method that can produce less quantization error based on the input audio signal and the G.711 bitstream, and outputs an enhancement-layer bitstream including encoded additional mantissa information obtained by using the chosen bit allocation method; and a multiplexer which multiplexes the G.711 bitstream and the enhancement-layer bitstream. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the quantization error of a G.711 codec and improve sound quality. |
| US08494841B2 |
Common scene based conference system
Conference bridge (1) for managing an audio scene comprising two or more participants, the conference bridge comprising a mixer (2) and several user channels (3a, 3b, 3N). The conference bridge is arranged to continuously create a 3D positional audio environment signal for each participant as a listening participant, by rendering the speech of each participant as a 3D positioned virtual sound source and excluding the speech of the listening participant, and to distribute each created 3D positional audio environment signal to the corresponding listening participant. Further, the conference bridge is arranged to place the virtual sound source corresponding to each participant at the same spatial position relative the listening participant in every created 3D positional audio environment. |
| US08494836B2 |
Technology for selecting texts suitable as processing objects
There is a system for selecting a text for output from among multiple texts according to whether or not a phrase is included in the multiple texts. The system includes a determination unit that determines whether or not each of predetermined multiple phrases is included in each of the multiple texts; an index calculation unit that, with respect to each of the multiple phrases, calculates a larger index for a text having the highest of priorities preset among texts including the phrase, then indexes for other texts; and an output unit that selects texts each having a larger sum of sums of the calculated index for each text and outputs a group of the selected texts. |
| US08494835B2 |
Post-editing apparatus and method for correcting translation errors
A post-editing apparatus for correcting translation errors, includes: a translation error search unit for estimating translation errors using an error-specific language model suitable for a type of error desired to be estimated from translation result obtained using a translation system, and determining an order of correction of the translation errors; and a corrected word candidate generator for sequentially generating error-corrected word candidates for respective estimated translation errors on a basis of analysis of an original text of the translation system. The post-editing apparatus further includes a corrected word selector for selecting a final corrected word from among the error-corrected word candidates by using the error-specific language model suitable for the type of error desired to be corrected, and incorporating the final corrected word in the translation result, thus correcting the translation errors. |
| US08494830B2 |
Method for predicting symmetric, automated, real-time Arc Flash energy within a real-time monitoring system
A system for making real-time predictions about an arc flash event on an electrical system comprises a data acquisition component communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system; an analytics server communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and comprising a virtual system modeling engine configured to generate predicted data output for the electrical system using a virtual system model of the electrical system, an analytics engine configured to monitor the real-time data output and the predicted data output of the electrical system, and an arc flash simulation engine configured to use the virtual system model updated based in the real-time data to forecast an aspect of the arc flash event. |
| US08494828B2 |
Upscaling of reservoir models by reusing flow solutions from geologic models
A method is provided for simulating a physical process such as fluid flow in porous media by performing a fine-grid calculation of the process in a medium and re-using the fine grid solution in subsequent coarse-grid calculations. For fluid flow in subsurface formations, the method may be applied to optimize upscaled calculation grids formed from geologic models. The method decreases the cost of optimizing a grid to simulate a physical process that is mathematically described by the diffusion equation. |
| US08494827B2 |
Method of predicting natural fractures and damage in a subsurface region
A method for predicting localized damage and naturally occurring fractures in a subsurface region is provided. This invention uses a hybrid FEM-DEM (i.e. finite-discrete element) framework combined with a fracture risking analysis and fracture initiation and propagation criteria, to model the transition of rock from a state of continuum to discontinuum. The risking analysis combines results from other natural fracture prediction tools (e.g. displacement discontinuity method, restoration analysis, curvature analysis, analytical solutions, continuum analysis) to augment FEM-DEM solutions, such as by providing remote and local boundary conditions and identifying potential regions of anticipated damage and fracturing. Natural fractures and damage information is extracted from the modeling results and may be used directly for predictions or used as input into other fracture analysis tools or techniques. The FEM-DEM and risking techniques can be incorporated into a variety of numerical simulation software packages that use a finite-discrete method solver. |
| US08494826B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing equipment failures and maintenance schedules
A computer implemented method may be used for analyzing equipment failures and maintenance schedules. An equipment maintenance system generates a model of equipment and components of each piece of equipment. In one embodiment, the model is a tree representation. The equipment maintenance system may then determine estimated failure information for each component based on a selected statistical model. The equipment maintenance system may also generate a maintenance schedule based on the determined estimated failure information for each component of the equipment. In one embodiment, the equipment maintenance system displays the equipment maintenance information. |
| US08494824B2 |
Methods and apparatus for integrating engineering models from disparate tools in support of model reuse
A computer system having stored in memory a set of executable software tools that include both producer tools and consumer tools, wherein one or more of the tools may be both a producer tool and a consumer tool, a model repository, and a set of software engines that include hybrid models each bridging semantics of a corresponding producer tool or a corresponding consumer tool that is importing or exporting to or from a neutral model representation of the information, wherein instantiations of the neutral models reside in the model repository. |
| US08494823B2 |
Method and system for determining service area of supply chain by simulating service cycle time
A method and system for determining supply chain service area by simulating service cycle time. A plurality of simulation parameters including stochastic factors are used with a supply chain simulation model. The supply chain simulation model is run repeatedly and generated simulated data is analyzed to determine service cycle time. The service cycle time is used to compute service area for a facility. |
| US08494821B2 |
Method for joint modeling of mean and dispersion
The present invention describes a method 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. |
| US08494817B1 |
Methods for yield variability benchmarking, assessment, quantification, and localization
A method is disclosed for localizing product yield variability to a process module. The method includes obtaining fail rate and critical area data for each process module layer in a number of test chips. A variance in a defect density (DD) probability density function (PDF) is determined based on the obtained fail rate and critical area data for each process module layer. A percent contribution from each process module layer to the variance in DD PDF is determined. Based on the determined percent contribution to the variance in DD PDF from each process module layer, one or more process module layers are identified as contributing to the determined variance in the DD PDF. Additionally, a method is provided to assess the impact on product yield due to reduction in the yield variability associated with a particular process module layer. |
| US08494816B2 |
Computer-implemented land planning system and method designed to generate at least one conceptual fit solution to a user-defined land development problem
A computer-implemented land planning system is designed to generate at least one conceptual fit solution to a user-defined land development problem. The system electronically creates at least one candidate solution to the land development problem. The candidate solution incorporates a number of engineering measurements applicable in development of an undeveloped land site. A fitness function quantitatively evaluates the candidate solution based on its fitness. A heuristic problem-solving strategy manipulates the engineering measurements of the candidate solution to achieve a more quantitatively fit solution to the land development problem. A computer output device outputs to a user documentation illustrating the fit solution to the land development problem. |
| US08494813B2 |
Method of designing a composite panel
A method of designing a composite panel, the panel comprising a plurality of zones, each zone comprising a plurality of plies of composite material, each ply in each zone having a respective orientation angle, and some of the plies running continuously between adjacent zones. A design is provided comprising a set of design variables including a thickness for each of the zones, and a ply percentage for each orientation angle for each of the zones, each ply percentage identifying a percentage of plies within a zone having a particular orientation angle.The design is modified in a series of iterations, each iteration including: analyzing the current design by calculating an objective function, a set of ply evolution constraint functions each indicating a degree of ply continuity between a respective pair of adjacent zones, and one or more structural constraint functions; performing a sensitivity analysis by calculating partial derivatives of the objective function for the current design with respect to a selected set of the design variables, and calculating partial derivatives of the constraint functions for the current design with respect to a selected set of the design variables; and generating a new design by determining an optimum update of the design variables in accordance with the analysis and the sensitivity analysis. |
| US08494807B2 |
Prognostics and health management implementation for self cognizant electronic products
The present invention provides a method to implement prognostics and health management (PHM) in individual electronic products (such as parts, components, boards, assemblies, devices, systems, and systems of systems). The PHM algorithm is performed during product screening tests, diagnostic processes, or after the manufacturer process. Certain performance, signal values and parameters, environmental and operational loads, or their correlations are recorded, extracted, and stored in electronic memory for that particular product. The stored data represents a the healthy baseline reference of that particular product at the initial point of its life. In one embodiment, where the healthy baseline is stored in the product, it can be updated according to different usage conditions. In one embodiment with the data is stored within the product, the PHM analysis can be performed in the field under conditions of use. In another embodiment the healthy baseline can be stored elsewhere and the product returned to the company storing the healthy baseline data, for PHM analysis. |
| US08494806B2 |
Method, program and apparatus for optimizing configuration parameter set of system
The method includes the steps of: storing a plurality of parameter sets; selecting one of the plurality of parameter sets as a test parameter set to be evaluated; measuring performance only for one batch job out of N (N is a positive integer) batch jobs constituting full set performance measurement for the test parameter set; and calculating an evaluation value on the basis of a difference between an integral of measurement values obtained until the performance has been measured for r (r is a positive integer smaller than N) batch jobs by using the test parameter set; and an integral of mean measurement values of the performance for the r batch jobs by using an optimal parameter set which is one of the parameter sets used in the performance evaluation having been performed; determining whether or not the evaluation value has deviated from a predetermined evaluation continuing range; and terminating the evaluation of the test parameter set on condition that it is determined that the evaluation value has deviated form the evaluation continuing range toward performance deterioration. It is preferable that the predetermined evaluation continuing range be of a width from a width W where r is equal to zero, to a width W′ (0≦W′ |
| US08494799B2 |
Dynamic compass calibration in a portable device
The magnitude of a sensed, raw magnetic field in a portable device is monitored over a given time interval. The monitored magnitude is compared with predetermined criteria. Based on the comparison, recalibration of a compass function is signed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08494794B2 |
Methods and systems for determining vascular bodily lumen information and guiding medical devices
Methods and systems for determining information about a vascular bodily lumen are described. An exemplary method includes generating an electrical signal, delivering the electrical signal to a plurality of excitation elements in the vicinity of the vascular bodily lumen, measuring a responsive electrical signal from a plurality of sensing elements in response to the delivered electrical signal, and determining a lumen dimension. Specific embodiments include generating a multiple frequency electrical signal. Another embodiment includes measuring a plurality of responsive signals at a plurality of frequencies. Still other embodiments include using spatial diversity of the excitation elements. Yet other embodiments use method for calibration and de-embedding of such measurements to determine the lumen dimensions. Diagnostic devices incorporating the method are also disclosed, including guide wires, catheters and implants. The methods and systems described herein are advantageous as they do not include injecting a second fluid for the measurements. |