| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08496250B2 |
Method for adjusting a random number generator used for wagering by adjusting payouts or using liquid funds
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to implement a wagering game which uses a random number generator to affect outcomes. The random number generator can be weighted by the player in exchange for a change in payouts. The random number generator can also be weighted in exchange for a cash purchase from the player or a cash payment to the player. |
| US08496249B2 |
Method and apparatus for diverting printed products into three streams
A diverter for receiving printed products in a single stream and diverting the printed products into a plurality of streams is provided. The diverter includes a first rotating body rotating about a first axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the first axis. Each circumferential section of the first rotating body extends radially a different distance from the first axis. The diverter also includes a second rotating body rotating about a second axis and including first, second and third circumferential sections positioned around the second axis. Each circumferential section of the second rotating body extends radially a different distance from the second axis. The first and second rotating bodies divert the printed products into three separate streams at a diverting area between the first and second axes. The diverter also includes a steeple positioned downstream of the diverting area. A method for diverting printed products in a folder, a printing press, a method for adjusting a diverter and a steeple for a diverter are also provided. |
| US08496248B2 |
Printer with bracket for holding paper tray
A printer includes a main body capable of printing and outputting paper, a bracket attached to the main body, two sliding blocks, and a tray configured for receiving the paper. The bracket includes two sidewalls. A retaining member is secured to each sidewall. The sliding blocks are slidably attached to the sidewalls of the bracket. The tray is received in the bracket and has tray posts corresponding to the retaining members. The sliding blocks bring the tray to slide in the bracket. The retaining members have a first position, where the tray posts urge the retaining members to slide before passing across the retaining members, and a second position, where the tray posts are blocked by the retaining member when the tray is released from the sliding blocks. |
| US08496244B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and sheet processing method
A sheet processing apparatus includes a control section configured to control a rotating speed of a longitudinal alignment roller, which is set on a recording medium stacking surface of a processing tray and configured to align a recording medium in a longitudinal direction, such that acceleration and deceleration of the rotating speed is performed at least twice during one longitudinal alignment operation and a paddle including a striking paddle configured to strike the recording medium, a dropping paddle configured to drop the recording medium, a draw-in paddle configured to draw the recording medium in a direction of a stopper, a dropping-paddle supporting member configured to support the dropping paddle from the back in a rotating direction of the paddle, and a draw-in-paddle supporting member configured to support the draw-in paddle from the back in the rotating direction. |
| US08496239B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus, image forming system, and sheet processing method
A sheet processing apparatus includes a pair of first aligning members movable in a sheet conveyance direction and a sheet width direction, a pair of second aligning members to align lateral sides of a bundle of sheets, a stapler movable in the sheet width direction to staple a trailing end portion of the bundle, a driving unit to move the first aligning members, and a controller. The first aligning members include a stack portion to contact and support a trailing edge of the bundle. When the stapler staples the bundle at two positions symmetrically relative to a center position in the sheet width direction, the controller selects either first positions inside the two stapled positions or second positions outside the two stapled positions in accordance with multiple stapling-related variables, and the first aligning members are set at the selected positions to align the trailing edge of the bundle. |
| US08496238B1 |
Tubular gripping apparatus with locking mechanism
A tubular gripping apparatus has a jaw assembly that has a tubular-contacting surface at an end thereof, a drive yoke that has a tubular-contacting surface at an end thereof, an actuator connected to the drive yoke, and a locking mechanism interconnected to the drive yoke. The drive yoke is connected to the jaw assembly. The actuator moves the jaw assembly and the drive yoke such that the tubular-contacting surfaces thereof move radially inwardly for a substantially identical distance. The locking mechanism directs a load away from the actuator while the jaw assembly and the drive yoke grip the tubular. The locking mechanism has a cylinder yoke positioned around the piston-and-cylinder assembly, and a wedge assembly positioned adjacent the bearing bar and the cylinder yoke. The wedge assembly is suitable for contacting the cylinder yoke so as to prevent a movement of the cylinder yoke. |
| US08496234B1 |
Thermodynamic balancing of combined heat and mass exchange devices
A carrier-gas mixture is directed through a fluid flow path in a combined heat and mass transfer device operating at a sub-atmospheric pressure. Heat and mass are transferred from or to the carrier-gas mixture via interaction with a liquid composition that includes a vaporizable component in a liquid state to substantially change the content of the vaporizable component in the carrier-gas mixture via evaporation or condensation of the vaporizable component. The mass flow rate of the carrier-gas mixture is varied by extracting or injecting the carrier-gas mixture from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path, and/or the mass flow rate of the liquid composition is varied by extracting or injecting the liquid composition from at least one intermediate location in the fluid flow path; and the flow of the carrier-gas mixture or the liquid composition is regulated to reduce the average local enthalpy pinch in the device. |
| US08496233B2 |
Vaporization filter for humidification, vaporization filter laminate for humidification and humidification method using these
Provided is a vaporization filter for humidification including a filter substrate, and an anchor layer containing a film-forming polymer and a hydrophilic layer being provided on the substrate in this order. Further provided is a vaporization filter laminate for humidification which includes the vaporization filters for humidification being laminated each with a distance, and a humidification method using the same. |
| US08496232B1 |
Misting device for boats
A misting device for a boat featuring a fan component mounted atop an adjustable fan shaft; a connector disposed on the fan shaft for operatively connecting the misting device to the boat's factory light for obtaining power; a water pump mounted in the fan shaft, the water pump has a water line for inserting into a lake or a water tank; at least one filter component disposed in the water line; and a tubing fluidly connecting the water pump to a nozzle disposed on the fan component, wherein the water pump functions to pump water from the lake or water tank through the tubing to the nozzle where the water is ejected from the nozzle as mist. |
| US08496231B2 |
Steel rope safety system with compacted ropes
A steel rope safety system includes at least one steel rope having at least one strand, and the at least one rope or at least one strand is compacted. Further, a method is provided for making a steel rope safety system comprising the step of providing at least two wires, the step of stranding the wires thereby forming a strand for a rope and the step of compacting the strand. The steel rope safety system includes a guardrail system having vertical poles and horizontal compacted ropes which are held in place by hooks. The steel rope safety system may include non-round shaped, such as trapezoidal shaped compacted wires. There is likewise provided the use of compacted steel ropes as impact reducing material. |
| US08496229B1 |
Powered fish tape
Taught is a powered fish tape having an integrated electric rewinding mechanism that winds a tape onto a rotating reel using an electric motor. A cross-member is mounted to the rotating reel. A flexible shaft and a mechanical clutch couple the cross-member to the electric motor. The powered fish tape is beneficially powered by a rechargeable battery. |
| US08496225B2 |
Valve device
A valve device includes a wire channel through which wires are routed from the inside of a gas tank to the outside of the gas tank, and a hermetic connector in which a sealing member is provided around wire pins that constitute part of the wires is provided in the wire channel. In addition, the wire channel has multiple (two) bent portions formed on the outer side of the hermetic connector. When pulling force acts on the wires from the outside, stress concentration portions are formed in the wires at these bent portions. |
| US08496223B2 |
Sideform end seal or cap
A sideform molding accessory (10) includes a cap member (12) for capping an end (14) of a sideform (16). The cap member (12) includes a pair of opposed sides (12.1) and (12.2) and a peripheral portion (13) with at least a part of a profile (18) of the peripheral portion (13) complementing a molding surface (20) of the sideform (16) A retaining member (22) extends from one of the sides (12.2) of the cap member (12) for retaining the cap member (12) in position relative to the end (14) of the sideform (16). |
| US08496219B2 |
Seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle
Disclosed is a seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus provided with a pair of lower rails fixed to the vehicle floor and a pair of upper rails fixed to a vehicle seat. The seat sliding apparatus causes screw shafts supported at the upper rail to rotate relative to nut members fixed to the lower rails and the upper rails to move relative to the lower rails in the seat forward-rearward direction. A speed reducer-equipped motor comprises a motor, a gear mechanism, and a gear housing. The gear housing is designed so that the axis of the output shaft of the gear mechanism extends in the seat width direction. A manipulation switch comprises a manipulating portion fixed to the gear housing such that the operation switch is exposed at a forward end of the seat. |
| US08496217B2 |
Pressure-applying telescopic spacer
The present invention relates to a pressure-applying telescopic spacer formed by two attached tubes telescopically coupled to one another with sheet metal rings pushed by a spring for establishing a wedging and driving of the sheet metal rings on the inner tube and blocking the axial movement of the latter with respect to the outer tube. The assembly of sheet metal rings and push spring being located in a head belonging to a sleeve with anchoring devices for the fixing thereof on the outer tube. The body determined by the sleeve and the head or expansion forming a handle for manually handling the spacer. Support plates are connected with movable devices for adjusting the spacing length of the spacer itself to the desired measurement are included at the ends. |
| US08496216B2 |
Vehicle-mounted display appararus
In order to enable mounting of a cabinet 1 having a display unit to a supporting base 9, axial members 121 and 131 in the shape of a regular polygonal prism are disposed in the cabinet 1 and fitting holes 91 and 92 into which the regular polygonal prisms can be fitted, respectively, are disposed in the supporting base 9. By opening and then closing, or opening and then moving the axial members 121 and 131, the user can fit or remove them into or from the fitting holes 91 and 92, respectively, so as to mount or demount the cabinet to or from the supporting base. By tilting the cabinet by an angle when fitting the axial members into the fitting holes, respectively, the user can change the rotational attitude of the cabinet 1 with respect to the supporting base. Thereby, the user can use the display unit at different times and at different positions with simple manipulations. |
| US08496215B2 |
Elbow bracket for aeronautical equipment
An elbow bracket for cables or pipes, supported by a structure of an aeronautical device, in which a reinforcing rib of the elbowed main plate is not assembled with the elbowed main plate by welding but by tightening following a twisting of end-pieces traversing slots of the main plate and causing an outer face of the plate to be trapped against an upper face of oblong slits partially cutting into the end-pieces. The support is faster to construct, and has sufficient resistance. |
| US08496213B1 |
System and apparatus for mobile information handling
An apparatus for mounting a mobile information handling device, comprising a mount for mounting the mobile information handling device, at least one cooling assembly coupled to the mount and suitable for cooling a mobile information handling device mounted on the mount, and a plurality of stabilization assemblies suitable for stabilizing the mobile information handling system mounted on the mount. The apparatus for mounting a mobile information handling device further comprises a dock connecting assembly suitable for providing docking of a peripheral device. |
| US08496212B2 |
Bipod assembly with terrain-gripping end effecters
A bipod comprises first and second tubular, spring-loaded telescopically extendable legs terminating distally in substantially triangular, claw-like end effectors. Each end effecter includes a substantially planar central segment having an upper surface defining a polygon resembling a truncated triangle with the first, second and third corners projecting downwardly at an acute angle. The first second and third downwardly projecting corner segments define substantially planar, triangular claw members, and so form a cup-shaped three pointed claw ideally well suited to grasp but not sink into any terrain surface. |
| US08496211B2 |
Self-correcting conductor positioning bracket
The invention relates generally to a bracket adaptable to mount upon a wall stud and resist displacement of the bracket in response to external forces, thereby maintaining one or more securely enclosed conductors at least a fixed distance from an installed sheet of drywall. A mounting portion is shaped to permit fastening to a wall stud. A lateral support portion is attached to the mounting portion and at an angle relative to the mounting portion such that upon fastening of the bracket to the wall stud an edge of the lateral support portion engages the wall stud and resists displacement of the bracket. The lateral support portion includes an aperture wherein the conductors may be placed such that they extend substantially parallel to the plane of the wall stud, and are also thereby positioned at least a fixed distance from the plane of the sheet of drywall. |
| US08496208B1 |
Orbit debris removal and asset protection assembly
An orbital debris removal assembly is provided. The orbital debris removal and asset protection assembly includes a plurality of spaced layers of netting. Each netting layer includes a plurality of sub-layers of meshed composite fibers that are configured and arranged to break up debris that comes in contact with the assembly. |
| US08496206B2 |
Structural panels for use in aircraft fuselages and other structures
Structural panels for use in manufacturing aircraft fuselages and other structures are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a structural panel configured in accordance with the invention includes a skin and at least first and second stiffeners. The first stiffener can have a first flange portion mated to the skin and a first raised portion projecting away from the skin. The second stiffener can have a second flange portion mated to the skin and a second raised portion projecting away from the skin. At least one of the first flange portion of the first stiffener and the second flange portion of the second stiffener can extend toward the other of the first flange portion and the second flange portion to form an at least approximately continuous support surface to which a frame can be attached. |
| US08496205B2 |
Dual pivot pallet type cargo load restraint
A dual pivot load restraint for cargo aircraft for restraining pallet type loads from vertical movement having an upper pivot member pivotally mounted on a lower pivot member and the lower pivot member is pivotally mounted on a base member and the upper pivot member having an engagement portion having an engagement position for projecting into pockets on a pallet type cargo load and abutting against a lower wall thereof, and the lower pivot member having an engagement position for the upper pivot member in the engagement position thereof, and the walls of the pallet type cargo load engaging the engagement portion of the upper pivot member to move the upper pivot member to a retracted position for movement of the pallet type cargo load in the aft direction of the aircraft, and the walls of the pallet type cargo load engaging the engagement portion of the upper pivot member to move the upper pivot member with the lower pivot member to a retracted position of the lower pivot member, and having resilient members for resisting movement of the upper pivot member and the lower pivot member from the engagement positions thereof and urging the movement of the upper pivot member and the lower pivot member to the engagement positions thereof after movement therefrom. |
| US08496203B2 |
Aircraft with vertical stabilizers arranged on a central fuselage body and method, as well as control unit, for compensating a negative pitching moment
An aircraft includes, but is not limited to a central fuselage body without horizontal stabilizer, at least one high-lift control surface, at least one vertical stabilizer that is arranged on the central fuselage body and at least one extendable compensation control surface. The compensation control surface may be moved independently of the high-lift control surface of the aircraft and generates a positive tail-heavy pitching moment when it is moved into the flow against the aircraft. Due to this measure, a negative pitching moment during the actuation of high-lift control surfaces may be at least partially eliminated without influencing the high lift. Rudder segments that may be moved opposite to one another on two vertical stabilizers that are arranged mirror-symmetrical referred to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft preferably are used for this purpose. |
| US08496198B2 |
Automated tissue dispenser
An automated dispenser includes a rotatable carousel including a mounting station for a primary roll of sheet product and a mounting station for a reserve roll of sheet product; mounting brackets configured for mounting the carousel such that it is movable between a locked, rearward position for dispensing and a forward position where the carousel is rotatable for reloading; a drive system including a motor coupled to a drive roller and control circuitry; a transfer mechanism adapted so as to be operable to urge a tail of the reserve roll toward a dispensing nip of the drive system upon depletion of the primary roll; a housing; and an auxiliary access aperture fitted with an access door, the auxiliary aperture and access door being configured and adapted to be manually operable to expose the reserve roll for manual dispensing. |
| US08496197B2 |
Paper shredder with staple and clip remover
A paper shredder includes a housing, cutters positioned in the housing, and a feeder base adapted to support a stack of paper. The feeder base includes a feeder slot. The feeder base further includes a first aperture on one side of the feeder slot, the first aperture providing a first communication pathway between a top surface of the feeder base and a waste area below the feeder base, and a second aperture on a same side of the feeder slot as the first aperture, the second aperture providing a second communication pathway between the top surface of the feeder base and the waste area below the feeder base. The first and second communication pathways are separated from one another. |
| US08496194B2 |
Method and apparatus for retaining highly torqued fittings in molded resin or polymer housing
A module for mounting on the end of a handle of a coating material dispensing device comprises at least a coating material fitting for coupling to a source of coating material. The module further includes a first fractional module component and a second fractional module component. The coating material fitting is captured between the first fractional module component and the second fractional module component when the first and second fractional module components are assembled together. |
| US08496191B2 |
Seal arrangement for a fuel injector needle valve
A seal arrangement for a needle valve in a fuel injector (100) includes a nozzle housing (122) forming an outer cavity (216) and defining a needle valve seat (218). A plurality of nozzle openings (204) are formed in the nozzle housing (122) and arranged symmetrically around its centerline at a first radial distance (R1). An outer needle valve (104) is reciprocally mounted in the outer cavity (216) and has a seat portion (224) arranged to abut the needle valve seat (218) when the outer needle valve (104) is seated or closed. A first ledge (502) formed on the seat portion (224) of the outer needle valve (104) sealably contacts the needle valve seat (218) along a first line contact seal (220) and a second ledge (508) formed on the seat portion (224) of the outer needle valve (104) sealably contacts the needle valve seat (218) along a second line contact seal (222). |
| US08496184B2 |
Method and apparatus for packaging surface acoustic wave transponder for down-hole applications
A method and apparatus for packaging a surface acoustic wave transponder for use in harsh environments is provided. An exemplary transponder comprises a surface acoustic wave piezoelectric device, wire bonds, an antenna element, an antenna substrate, a dome structure, and casing. The exemplary surface acoustic wave piezoelectric device is attached directly onto the antenna substrate and wire bonded to an antenna element. The surface acoustic wave piezoelectric device is protected under the dome structure, which is sealed and attached to the antenna substrate. The components are encased and sealed within a transponder casing. The transponder may be part of or incorporated into substantially any shape or form factor. |
| US08496179B2 |
Methods and apparatus for imaging bar code scanning
Improved systems and techniques for imaging bar code processing. One or more cameras are deployed in a bar code scanner, oriented so that an imaging device of each camera is oriented such that rows of data elements in the imaging device are oriented nonorthogonally with respect to a preferred orientation of a bar code. One or more imaging devices captures bar code data representing light and dark spaces of the bar code. The captured bar code data is analyzed to create one or more rows of data completely transecting the bar code, and the rows of data are processed to generate a scan signal which is in turn processed to extract bar code data. |
| US08496178B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing customer side imaging as well as bar code scanning imaging
Systems and techniques for image based bar code scanning. A rotating spinner is positioned to reflect images to an imaging device within the scanner so that a field of view of the scanner encompasses images reflected by the spinner to the imaging device. The rotation of the spinner causes the field of view of the scanner to change. Mirrors positioned and oriented to reflect images to the spinner and from the spinner to the imaging device further shift the field of view of the scanner as the rotating spinner causes images reflected from different mirrors to be delivered to the imaging device so that both cashier and customer side imaging sensing may be employed. The image field may be automatically shifted from cashier side imaging to customer side imaging, shifted based on detection of customer presentation of an item in a customer presentation window field of view, or manually shifted by a cashier. |
| US08496175B2 |
System and method for improving smart card reader reconnections
Upon recognizing a loss of a first connection to a computing apparatus, such as a personal computer, a smart card reader may maintain an open session with a smart card and may associate an identity of the computing apparatus of the first connection with the open session. Some time later, the smart card reader may establish a second connection with a computing apparatus. The smart card reader may compare an identity of the computing apparatus of the second connection with the identity of the computing apparatus of the first connection. Responsive to determining that the identities do not match, the smart card reader may close the open session with the smart card. Responsive to determining that the identities do match, the smart card reader may maintain the open session with the smart card. |
| US08496172B2 |
Sheet switch, sensing mechanism, and card reader
Provided is a sheet switch suitable as a sensing mechanism to sense the removal of a subordinate device from a host device. Specifically, the sheet switch is provided with a contact electrode formed in a dome shape with a conductive metal, a counter electrode disposed facing the contact electrode, and a metal sheet made of metal that is disposed on the opposite side of the counter electrode from the side facing the contact electrode with insulating members interposed therebetween. The sheet switch becomes conductive when the contact electrode and the counter electrode touch. |
| US08496169B2 |
System and method for electronic ticket verification, identification, and authorization with a wireless communication device
An enhanced security system utilizes a consumer wireless device and independent secure servers to enhance identification and authentication of the electronic ticketing. The consumer may make an eTicket purchase using a network, such as the Internet, in a conventional manner. The server involved in the purchase may send an eTicket confirmation to a consumer wireless device. However, master records of the transaction are sent via a secure link to a vendor server, typically associated with a wireless service provider. At a point just-in-time, the vendor server transmits symbology to the consumer wireless device and transmits additional data related to the symbology to a security server. When the consumer arrives with the eTicket, the consumer also uses the displayed symbology on the consumer wireless device. The symbology is scanned and compared with data transmitted from the vendor server to the security server. If authenticated, the eTicket may be authenticated. In addition, a near field communicator in the consumer wireless device may be programmed to provide additional security. The programmed NFC may be scanned to provide additional authentication. |
| US08496166B2 |
System for associating RFID tag with UPC code, and validating associative encoding of same
An assemblage for preparing and validating a smart label including an RFID inlay and selected symbology includes a workstation with a symbology printer and an RFID printer, and a validation station. The validation station includes a digital control device for storing software and housing digital hardware, a symbology reader, an RFID transceiver for reading data encoded on an RFID tag, an encoding and validation chamber, and a computer. The workstation is configured to occupy a minimal area for optimizing the preparation and validation of an associated RFID tag and symbology, and the associated RFID tag and symbology can be contemporaneously printed, encoded with data specific to an item to which the RFID tag and symbology are to be affixed, and validated individually and with respect to one another. |
| US08496163B1 |
Systems and methods for high speed document mailing
High speed document mailing comprises receiving package tracking data electronically from a courier for a document to be shipped via the courier, digitally placing the package tracking data onto a page within the document, printing out the document, and automatically inserting the document into an envelope such that the package tracking data on the page is visible through a window of the envelope. |
| US08496158B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring free air ball (FAB) formation in wire bonding
A method for monitoring free air ball (FAB) formation during a wire bonding process includes attaching a dummy bond wire to an unused location on a first surface of a semiconductor chip carrier, extending the dummy bond wire a predetermined distance from the first surface such that a tip of the dummy bond wire is spaced from the first surface, and forming a dummy FAB at the tip of the bond wire. A profile of the dummy FAB is inspected with an imaging unit to identify any defects in the dummy FAB. An alarm is triggered and the wire bonding process is halted if the dummy FAB is defective so that bonding parameters may be adjusted. The wire bonding process is restarted after the bonding parameters have been adjusted. |
| US08496157B2 |
Tilting anvil for annular surgical stapler
A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed, the instrument having a handle assembly, a body portion having a staple cartridge assembly, and an anvil assembly. The anvil assembly includes an anvil head, an anvil member, an anvil shaft, and a biasing member. The anvil shaft defines a longitudinal axis and the anvil member is pivotally secured to the anvil head. The biasing member is supported on the anvil assembly to urge the anvil member from a first position to a second position defining an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. |
| US08496156B2 |
Cartridge for applying varying amounts of tissue compression
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a staple cartridge and an anvil member. The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners disposed in rows of retention slots. The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface that includes a number of pockets arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge. |
| US08496155B2 |
Surgical stapler with angled feeder belts
An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, including an upper surface with two substantially-planar angled surfaces positioned lateral to and angled relative to each other. The staple holder may include staple channels within it, and each staple channel may open to a corresponding angled surface. The stapler may also include at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder and staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt. Generally, at least one staple is held within a corresponding staple channel of the staple holder. |
| US08496154B2 |
Pair of double staple pusher in triple row stapler
A staple cartridge includes outer and inner rows of retention slots that are adapted and configured to retain staples. The staple cartridge further includes a staple pusher including a plurality of pusher plates. A staple pusher includes pusher plates that are laterally spaced apart to engage staples within the outer rows of at least three rows of retention slots. |
| US08496153B2 |
Anvil-mounted dissecting tip for surgical stapling device
A surgical stapling device including a handle assembly, an endoscopic portion and an end effector is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a first longitudinal axis. The end effector defines a second longitudinal axis and includes an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion and includes a dissecting tip extending therefrom. The cartridge assembly is pivotably mounted adjacent the distal end of the endoscopic portion. The cartridge assembly is mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the anvil assembly between open and approximated positions. |
| US08496150B2 |
Flat display panel cutting apparatus
An apparatus for cutting a flat display panel prevents a light emitting surface of a flat display panel from being damaged due to a pit or a scratch. The apparatus for cutting a flat display panel includes a stage supporting a rear substrate of the flat display panel, a chip blocking unit disposed to correspond to a non-scrap portion of the flat display panel, and a scrap breaker to grip a scrap portion of the flat display panel that is to be separated from the flat display panel. A scribing line is formed between the scrap portion and a non-scrap portion of the flat display panel. |
| US08496147B2 |
Roof rack system for a motor vehicle
A roof rack system for a motor vehicle, specifically for a passenger car, having at least one roof rack has an attaching device for location on the roof of the vehicle. The attaching device has at least one mounting bolt to pass through at least one roof opening. A seal allocated to the mounting bolt extends around the mounting bolt and rests on the roof with the roof rack installed and thereby surrounds the roof opening. |
| US08496146B2 |
Convertible vehicle storage rack
A convertible roof rack is provided that is generally comprised of a light bar and a roof rack that is spaced from the roof of a vehicle. The roof rack is also rotatably interconnected to a support structure associated with the rear of the vehicle such that it is capable of moving from a first position of use adjacent to the roof to a second position of use away from the roof where the light bar remains interconnected to the vehicle adjacent to the windshield. As such, electrical connections associated with the light bar remain intact when the roof rack is rotated away from the roof. |
| US08496142B2 |
Foam-dispensing pump container
The foam-dispensing pump container according to the present invention has the valve seat portion which protrudes inwardly below the air-liquid mixing unit and which is formed of the flexible member that can come into contact with the outer peripheral face of the latch portion of the rod-shaped valve body, and immediately after the nozzle head starts rising, the flexible valve seat portion comes into contact with the rod-shaped valve body before the upper opening end of the liquid chamber comes into contact with the rod-shaped valve body, thereby significantly reducing a backflow of the foam or liquid into the air passage, and consequently improving the usability of the foam-dispensing pump container. |
| US08496138B2 |
Fluid dispensing apparatus and method
A fluid dispenser includes a control module and a hose module. The hose module includes a housing and at least a portion of a fluid hose within an interior volume of the housing, a fluid nozzle supported by a boot when enclosed within the housing; a first door allowing removal of the fluid nozzle from the boot through a first opening created when the first door is adjusted from a closed position to an open position; a second door adjacent the exterior of the housing and adjustable from a shut position to a retracted position, where the second door allows access to the fluid hose when the second door is in the retracted position; and a linear motor adapted to adjust the second door from the shut position to the retracted position based on a received signal indicating the first door in the open position. |
| US08496124B2 |
Rack with holder sheet members for holding cap-shaped items
A rack includes a supporting open frame, a flat baffle bonded to the supporting open frame, and a flat holder sheet member attached to the supporting open frame over the flat baffle for holding cap-shaped items vertically in a line. The flat holder sheet member has an upper opening, a lower opening, and an elongated slot connected between the upper opening and the lower opening and kept in proximity to the flat baffle. |
| US08496123B2 |
Process for cross-linking cellulose ester membranes
The invention relates to a process for making porous cross-linked cellulose membranes and processes for coupling a chromatography ligand to cross-linked cellulose membranes. The invention provides methods for separating a first component from a second component in a solution based upon a difference in the size of the first and second components, and methods for separating target molecules from other components in a solution comprising use of membranes obtainable by the process of the invention. The method has particular utility in separating proteins from cell lysates and cultures. |
| US08496122B2 |
Permselective membrane and process for manufacturing thereof
The present invention relates to a membrane being suitable for, for example, hemodialysis. Said membrane comprises at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. According to the present invention the outer surface of the hollow fiber has pores in the range of 0.5-3 μm and the numbers of said pores in the outer surface are in the range of 10,000 to 150,000 pores per mm2, preferably in the range of 18,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2, and most preferably in the range of 20,000 to 100,000 pores per mm2. The present invention further relates to a process for the preparation of said membrane and use of said membrane in hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration and hemofiltration, and in dialysis and filtration in general, for example in water purification or dehydration. |
| US08496115B2 |
Foaming agent and method for floatation of insoluble components of raw salts
The invention relates to a method for separating insoluble components from sylvinite, wherein the sylvinite is suspended in a saturated salt brine, a coagulating agent is added to the suspension, and a foaming agent is then added to the composition thus obtained, said foaming agent comprising and ether and/or ester, wherein a) the ethers of formula 1 correspond to R—O—R′ (1), where R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl groups having 2 to 30 carbon atoms and R′ is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl groups having 1 to 30 carbon atoms; b) the esters are derived from monovalent or multivalent alcohols having 1 to 30 carbon atoms (alcohol radicals); or c) the ethers and/or esters are cyclic, wherein the ring size is 6 to 30 carbon atoms. |
| US08496114B1 |
Trash separator
An apparatus for processing a sample of fibers and trash, having a cylinder for receiving the sample. Pins extend from the surface of the cylinder and retain the fibers. A knife extends along the cylinder adjacent the pins, and removes the trash that is not retained by the pins. The trash is separated from the sample along a downward direction. A counter-flow of air in an upward direction is directed towards the cylinder, where the velocity is sufficient to blow the fibers that are not originally retained by the pins up toward the cylinder, and yet is insufficient to prevent gravity from pulling the trash downward. |
| US08496111B2 |
Double hinge display package and method of use
A clamshell package for supporting an article is provided including a covered manufacturing hinge adapted to divide the clamshell into first and second parts adapted to form a cavity. The first and second parts partially overlap to form a flange adjacent the manufacturing hinge. The second part includes an uncovered operating hinge, about which the second part is adapted to pivot away from the first part to an open position. The clamshell package includes a panel adapted to engage the manufacturing hinge and flange to retain the manufacturing hinge in a folded position, with the panel being spaced from the operating hinge. |
| US08496107B2 |
Re-closable container with integrated fingers
Methods and apparatus for grasping an object using a re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves. The re-closable bag includes a flexible side panel, an opening on a top end of the bag, and at least two flexible finger sleeves connected to the side panel. The opening includes a closure adapted, when closed, to seal the bag. The at least two flexible finger sleeves, when in a first position, are disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the side panel. Each finger sleeve in the two or more finger sleeves is adapted to accept at least a portion of a human finger. In some aspects, an object grasped using the finger sleeves can be retracted into the re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves and stored within the bag. |
| US08496105B2 |
Roller-top belt with beam stiffness
A modular roller-top conveyor belt and multi-piece rollers for the belt. The roller-top belt has axles unitarily molded with the belt modules. Each of the pieces of the multi-piece rollers can be installed radially onto an axle and joined together in a puzzle pattern to form a complete roller that can rotate on the axle. Parallel ridges extending across the width of the modules add stiffness to the belt. |
| US08496104B2 |
Extendible conveyor systems and methods
Communications systems and methods for transmitting extendible conveyor control signals along an extendible conveyor. A conveyor communication system includes a first transceiver for use on a stationary boom of an extendible conveyor system, configured to communicate with a conveyor main control of the extendible conveyor system. The conveyor communication system includes a second transceiver for use at an end boom of the extendible conveyor system, configured to communicate with a control station on the end boom. The second transceiver is configured to receive wireless communications from the first transceiver over a wireless communications link. |
| US08496102B2 |
Collecting conveyor
A method and device for collecting bodies, which are delivered in an irregular sequence, on a collecting belt, with the following features: a) the bodies which are delivered are moved more rapidly than predetermined by the running speed of the collecting belt (7), b) a pimpled belt (8) having ridges (12) is located in the end region of the collecting belt (7) and can be raised over the upper edge of the collecting belt (7) by means of a lifting device (5), c) the pimpled belt (8) is raised and accelerated as a function of being completely covered with bodies, and also a control program for carrying out the method. |
| US08496101B2 |
Medium recovery device for medium processing device
A medium recovery device for medium processing device may provide a barrier that is internally provided to be inclined, and may increase a storage amount of uncollected media stacked in the media retraction device. |
| US08496100B2 |
Coin processing device with temporary coin withholding mechanism
A coin processing device includes a temporary coin-withholding mechanism for driving coin withholding levers using a single driving device. The temporary coin-withholding mechanism includes a single driving mechanism, a first coin withholding lever for withholding/releasing a coin guided by a first coin sorting route, a second coin withholding lever for withholding/releasing a coin guided by a second coin sorting route, and a link mechanism including detecting whether a coin is withheld in the first coin sorting route. When the retention is detected, the first lever is shifted from the withholding position to the release position to allow the driving mechanism to drive only the first coin lever without driving the second coin lever. When the retention is not detected, the second lever is shifted from the withholding position to the release position to allow the driving mechanism to drive the second coin withholding lever. |
| US08496098B1 |
Manual seat height adjuster mechanism
A manual seat height adjuster mechanism for a seat of a vehicle includes a freewheel brake mechanism having a rotatable output pinion to engage and rotate an adjustment component of the seat to adjust a height of the seat and a locking mechanism selectively engagable and disengageable with the freewheel brake mechanism to allow the height of the seat to be adjusted and to prevent the height of the seat from moving once the height has been adjusted. |
| US08496097B2 |
Mount damper and image forming apparatus using the mount damper
A mount damper comprises electrode plates placed on a motor side and a support body side respectively, a control unit for adjusting voltage between the electrode plates, and an electrostrictive polymer member for changing a distance between the electrode plates by the voltage therebetween. The electrostrictive polymer member is also an elastic body sandwiched between the electrode plates and has a hardness changeable with a change in the interelectrode distance. A motor is mounted through this mount damper. The control unit adjusts voltage applied between the electrode plates to a value different from a value causing resonance of the motor and the electrostrictive polymer member, thereby absorbing vibration of the motor during rotation thereof, irrespective of a rotation speed. Thus, the mount damper and the image forming apparatus using it can reliably prevent resonance and absorb vibration constantly even if a device selectively uses plural levels of the rotation speed. |
| US08496093B2 |
Brake pad of a disc brake
A brake pad of a disc brake is provided, in particular for a commercial vehicle. A pad carrier plate supports a friction lining. A pad-retaining spring, which is movable relative to the pad carrier plate in the clamping direction, is nonreleasably connected by a hood fastened on the pad-retaining spring. An electric final wear indicator is attached with a sensor fitted on the edge of the pad carrier plate. The sensor is retained captively in the fitted position of the brake pad by the pad-retaining spring. The brake pad is designed such that the distance of the fitted pad-retaining spring from the pad carrier plate in the relaxed or substantially relaxed position of the pad-retaining spring in the region of the sensor is the same size as or larger than the associated dimension size of the sensor. |
| US08496092B2 |
Parking brake lever apparatus for vehicle
A parking brake lever apparatus for a vehicle includes a first latchet member and a second latchet member arranged along the direction of an axis of a rotating shaft of a holder member which rotatably supports a parking brake lever. The first latchet member and the second latchet member are arranged so that respective teeth thereof come into contact with each other at end surfaces facing in the direction of the axis of the rotating shaft when the parking brake lever is in an unlocked position. The first latchet member is moved toward the second latchet member by springs so that the respective teeth of the first latchet member and the second latchet member are engaged with each other when the parking brake lever is in a locked position. |
| US08496089B2 |
Integrated lubrication module for compressors
In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a modular approach to a lubrication package. Certain components such as the filter and cooler are directly connected to a block that has connections to accept them and internal porting to establish the proper flow paths for circulation, cooling and filtration of the circulating lubricant. The block can accept one or more coolers and one or more filters. The isolation valving for redundant equipment can also be integrated into the block. Many connections that had been used in past designs for the piping network are integrated into the block. The block can also be close mounted to the reservoir while a submersible pump further saves space and piping connections. Indeed, having the ability to maintain mechanical equipment (e.g., remove and replace filters and coolers) without shutting down, allows for continuous process flow, which eliminates down-town scheduling, loss of product and/or redundant backup, all of which comes at a considerable cost. |
| US08496086B2 |
Membrane having a multipart structure
The invention relates to a composition of a speaker membrane, consisting at minimum of the following layering sequence: a first cover layer (3) made of a plastic, a first adhesive layer (2), and a first layer (4) manufactured from a non-woven material (fleece) made of fibers. |
| US08496080B2 |
Wheel driven mechanism
This invention relates to a wheel driven mechanism for a vehicle such as a wheelchair, an electrical bicycle, or a motorcycle, especially to a vehicle which has a wheel driven by power but without using an independent electric motor. The wheel driven mechanism comprises a rotor, a plurality of permanent magnets, a stator, and a plurality of electromagnets. The rotor is divided into a first block and a second block, and the permanent magnets are disposed within the first block to reduce the weight and the cost of the wheel driven mechanism. Furthermore, the user can easily rotate the handwheel mechanism during power off. |
| US08496079B2 |
Electric vehicle and on-board battery charging apparatus therefore
An electric vehicle and a range extender engine are shown including the controls to operate the same. |
| US08496074B2 |
Power tool
In a power tool, a housing is composed of two divisional housings to be combined together; two receptacle blocks are provided on inner surfaces of the two divisional housings, respectively, and configured to protrude opposite to each other from the inner surfaces of the two divisional housings to surround an electric component and to hold the electric component in place when the two divisional housings are combined together into the housing; and a seal layer of an elastic material is formed integrally with one or each of the two receptacle blocks. The seal layer formed on a first receptacle block is pressed against a second receptacle block or another seal layer formed on the second receptacle block to provide sealing between opposed surfaces of the two receptacle blocks when the two divisional housings are combined together. |
| US08496072B2 |
Preloaded drop hammer for driving piles
A drop hammer for driving a pile comprising a ram member supported within a housing chamber for movement relative to the housing member between the lower position and the upper position and a lifting system for moving the ram member from the lower position to the upper position. When the lifting system raises the ram member above a preload position, ambient air substantially freely flows into and out of the housing chamber through a vent port. When the ram member falls below the preload position, fluid is prevented from flowing through the vent port such that ambient air within a preload chamber portion of the housing chamber compresses to create a preload force that is transmitted to the pile. When the ram member moves into the lower position, an impact force generated by the ram member is transmitted to the pile. |
| US08496067B2 |
Device and method for protecting an object against fire
Example embodiments provide a device for protecting an inner space of an object against fire, including a housing provided with at least one passage opening; an aerosol-forming extinguishing element arranged in the housing and which may include a container for holding extinguishing material which can be activated at a fixed activating temperature; at least one outlet opening which can be connected to the passage opening in the housing and along which the activated extinguishing material can be carried into the inner space of the object so as to extinguish the fire; an activating element for bringing at least part of the extinguishing material to the activation temperature; at least one detection unit arranged in or close to the housing for detecting at least one physical and/or chemical parameter representative of fire in the inner space; and a control unit arranged in the housing for causing thermal activation of the extinguishing element by the activating element when a preset activation value of the detected physical and/or chemical parameter is reached. The housing may be embodied for placing in the inner space of the object. |
| US08496065B2 |
Release assembly for a downhole tool string
A release assembly (200) for releasing a portion of a tool string in a wellbore. The release assembly (200) includes an outer housing (202) having a fishing receptacle (206) disposed therein. The fishing receptacle (206) includes a fishing neck (208). A support assembly (214) is disposed within the housing (202). The support assembly (214) has a first position wherein the support assembly (214) engages the fishing neck (208) to prevent separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202) and a second position wherein the support assembly (214) is disengaged from the fishing neck (208) no longer preventing separation of the fishing receptacle (206) from the housing (202). An actuator (224), disposed within the housing (202), maintains the support assembly (214) in the first position until actuation thereof allows the support assembly (214) to shift to the second position. |
| US08496060B2 |
Method for sequestering carbon dioxide in geological formations
A method for enhancing the storage of carbon dioxide underground. The method comprises locating a geological formation comprising a first storage reservoir having a first surface and a second surface, a first seal layer adjacent the first surface of the first storage reservoir, a second seal layer adjacent the second surface of the first storage reservoir, and a second storage reservoir adjacent the first seal layer opposite the first storage reservoir; directing carbon dioxide into the first storage reservoir, the carbon dioxide being at a first pressure within the first storage reservoir; directing a fluid into the second storage reservoir, the fluid being at a second pressure within the second storage reservoir; and maintaining the second pressure at generally the same or larger pressure than the first pressure of the carbon dioxide to reduce leakage of CO2. |
| US08496056B2 |
System and method for low damage fracturing
A method of fracturing a subterranean formation comprising at least in part shale formation, comprises providing a carrier fluid; providing a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 microns and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.75; combining the carrier fluid and the particulate blend into a fracturing slurry; fracturing the formation with the fracturing slurry to create at least a fracture; and removing the second amount of particulates from the fracture. |
| US08496054B2 |
Methods and apparatus to sample heavy oil in a subterranean formation
A method for sampling fluid in a subterranean formation includes, reducing a viscosity of a fluid, pressurizing a portion of the subterranean formation and collecting a fluid sample. Specifically, a viscosity of a fluid in a portion of the subterranean formation is reduced and a portion of the subterranean formation is pressurizing by injecting a displacement fluid into the subterranean formation. A sample of the fluid pressurized by the displacement fluid is then collected. |
| US08496048B2 |
Vortical boiling phenomenon based water cooling block
A convective cooling cell is providing the vortical boiling regime of flow of coolant inside of it that allows exploiting important advantages of the vortical boiling phenomenon: highest coefficient of the heat transfer at very small increase of the hydro-resistance, unchangeable or even increasing performance (thermo-resistance) at increase of the coolant's discharge, and anti-adhesive action of stream inside the cooling cell.The cell comprises a heat intake box, inlet-diffuser channel and outlet-confuser channel with couplers on their ends for convenient connection with the external coolant supplying system.The dense triangular lattice of non-potential segmental spherical dimples on the top and bottom inner sides of the heat intake box provides self-generation of a coherent system of vortical tubes of coolant that effectively are sucking heat from the heat-generating body that is in reliable thermal contact with external surface of the attached wall of said heat intake box.Essentially, the cell allows many technologies of manufacturing: milling, stamping, melting, and/or their combinations. |
| US08496046B2 |
Method for producing alloy ingot
Disclosed is a method for producing alloy ingot including: a step of: charging alloy starting material into a cold crucible in a cold-crucible induction melter, and forming melt pool of the alloy starting material by induction heating in inert gas atmosphere; a step of continuing the induction heating and adding first refining agent to the melt pool, and then reducing the content of at least phosphorus from among impurity elements present in the melt pool; and a step of forming alloy ingot by solidifying the melt, the phosphorus content of which has been reduced. The first refining agent is mixture of metallic Ca and flux, where the flux contains CaF2 and at least one of CaO and CaCl2. The weight proportion of the sum of CaO and CaCl2 with respect to CaF2 ranges from 5 to 30 wt % and the weight proportion of metallic Ca with respect to the melt pool is 0.4 wt % or greater. |
| US08496045B2 |
Die-cast casting apparatus and die-cast casting method
A ladle (100) for a casting apparatus (1) includes a cylindrical melt pouring spout (120) through which a melt (M) is poured from an accommodation portion (110). Protrusions (121, 122) are formed on opposite sides along the inner circumference of the melt pouring spout (120) along the lower side and upper side in the vertical direction of the melt pouring spout (120). The cross sectional area of the protrusions (121, 122) in the axial section of the melt pouring spout (120) gradually increase, while the phase of the protrusions varies gradually in one circumferential direction of the melt pouring spout (120) from the upstream side towards the downstream side in the flow direction of the melt (M). In addition, the protrusions (121, 122) become gradually thinner and curve gradually in the respective phase variation direction towards the inside in the radial direction of the melt pouring spout (120). |
| US08496044B2 |
Method of manufacturing massive mixture of aluminum nitride and aluminum
A method of manufacturing a massive mixture of aluminum nitride and aluminum includes a first heat treatment process of manufacturing the massive mixture of aluminum nitride and aluminum by heating aluminum powder (21) and aluminum pieces (20) inserted into a vessel (13) at a temperature of a melting point of aluminum or higher under a nitrogen atmosphere. An oxide film is formed over the surface of the aluminum powder (21). The oxide film is, for example, a natural oxide film. The weight ratio of the aluminum powder (21) to the aluminum pieces (20) is, for example, 0.1 or less. |
| US08496042B1 |
Accordion-type storm shutter having reinforced hinge member for storm slats
An accordion-type shutter assembly including a plurality of elongated vertically extending corrugated or flat shutter slats hingedly held together in an edge-to-edge arrangement for limited pivotal movement between adjacent slats between the assembly being open and closed. The shutter assembly is used to protect a window or door from flying object damage and building intrusion caused by storm or hurricane. The female hinge half along one of the edges of each slat has lengthwise extending rib reinforcements for greater impact resistance to better withstand the impact of airborne flying objects produced during storms and hurricanes. |
| US08496037B2 |
Adhesive injection device
Provided is an adhesive injection device for injecting an adhesive between the substrates of laminates which each comprise at least two substrates that face each other. The adhesive injection device is provided with: a cassette which holds multiple laminates aligned along the direction of lamination of the substrates; and an adhesive injector which injects adhesive into each inter-substrate space, as the laminates are being held in the cassette, so that the actions of injecting the adhesive into each inter-substrate space overlap chronologically. Holding multiple laminates in the cassette makes it possible to treat the multiple laminates as a unit. By injecting adhesive into each inter-substrate space, as the laminates are being held, so that the actions of injecting the adhesive into each inter-substrate space overlap chronologically, the injection of adhesive into multiple laminates is simplified, and the time required for injection can be reduced. |
| US08496031B2 |
Tipless can filling valve
A filling valve is provided for filling containers such as beverage cans. The valve includes a tipless nozzle having ports oriented for directing flow. The nozzle includes a valve seat having a planar sealing surface. A spring actuated vent seal is provided for closing the vent tube. The valve stem may have protrusions for centering the stem in the valve body. The filling valve may have a bell forming a cavity between the bell and the valve body, and an aperture for directing cleaning fluid from within the bell to the cavity. The valve body may have a duct for directing cleaning fluid from the cavity to an outlet. |
| US08496030B2 |
Hydraulic accumulator, especially pulsation damper
A hydraulic accumulator, especially a pulsation damper, comprises a metal bellows (19) that has a terminal element (35) which can be displaced along the wall of a housing (1) at least on one bellows end (31) during expansion and compression of the bellows (19), a guiding means (47) being interposed between the terminal element and the housing. Said guiding means comprises, on at least one peripheral zone of the terminal element (35), on its outer periphery, first annular sections (51) that are radially spaced apart from the wall of the housing (1) and that are separated from each other by second annular sections (53) and radially project over the first annular sections (51). |
| US08496025B2 |
Electronic faucets for long-term operation
An electronic faucet (10) mounted on a countertop (12) includes a housing, at least one fluid inlet line (24a, 24b) extending into the housing, a fluid outlet (46) from the housing, a solenoid (142, 143) for operating a valve controlling the fluid flow between at least one inlet line and the outlet, and a control circuit (206) for controlling the opening and closing of the valve. |
| US08496024B2 |
Paint circulation system with coiled back pressure regulator
A paint circulation system for use in painting a workpiece. The paint circulation system operates to deliver paint to a paint applicator placed adjacent a workstation such as a paint spray booth. The paint is continuously circulated through the system and is returned to a paint reservoir through a paint return conduit. A coiled tube back pressure regulator located on the paint return conduit between the paint return manifold and paint reservoir functions to achieve a desired pressure drop in the paint circulation system while reducing paint shear and degradation typically associated with conventional pressure regulators. |
| US08496022B2 |
Device and method for supplying gas while dividing to chamber from gas supplying facility equipped with flow controller
The invention supplies a quantity Q of gas while dividing at flow rate ratio Q1/Q2 from a gas supply facility equipped with a flow controller. A total quantity Q=Q1+Q2 of gas is supplied into a chamber at flow rate Q1 and Q2 through shower plates fixed to ends of branch supply lines by providing open/close valves with a plurality of branch supply lines GL1 and GL2, respectively, to supply the specified quantity of gas from the gas supply facility, and by utilizing bypass line BL1 on the downstream side of the open/close valve OV1 and branched from GL1 ,bypass line BL2 on the downstream side of the open/close valve OV2 and branched from GL2 ,pressure type division quantity controller connected to the bypass line BL1 and the bypass line BL2 ,a sensor measuring pressure inside branch supply line GL1 ,and another sensor measuring pressure inside branch supply line GL2. |
| US08496020B1 |
Tap and draining device for a filter cartridge
A tap and draining device for a filter cartridge that allows removal of excess fluids to be removed from a filter prior to filter removal in an effort to reduce fluid spillage and associated contamination includes an angled hollow punch in fluid communication with a valve and flexible tube for controlled drainage. A magnet is provided along a top surface to hold and seal the device against the oil filter. A user taps a bottom surface of the device, thereby causing the beveled tap to penetrate the filter. Once fully inserted, the device allows fluid to drain through an internal port and out the attached tubing, preferably into a container where it may be discarded or recycled as required. |
| US08496017B2 |
Survival walking stick
A walking stick has a shaft and a hand guard at one end of the shaft, the hand guard being detachedly secured to the shaft so that it can be removed, inverted, and reattached. The hand guard has a yoke shape with two arms with spaced apart ends for receiving an elastic band therebetween. The hand guard is positionable with the arms of the yoke extending away from the shaft so as to comprise a slingshot. |
| US08496014B2 |
Cleaning device
The invention relates to a device for cleaning carpets, fabric and upholstery. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of pressurized aerosol containers for cleaning carpets, fabric and upholstery. |
| US08496013B2 |
Nail clipper holding device
A fingernail clipper holding device includes a housing having a hollow interior and having a generally ellipsoid ergonomic configuration that is easy to grip. An upper portion of the housing may include a channel having a configuration to receive the housing of a fingernail clipping device and to hold it securely. The housing defines a receiving area on which a user may position his finger adjacent the cutting head of the fingernail clipping device. A gripping member is attached to a lower portion of the housing to receive a user's fingers or hand. Stabilizing members may be attached to the bottom surface of the lower portion to hold the housing stationary on a flat surface. |
| US08496007B2 |
Asymmetrical and complexly-curved, passive, device for relieving back and spinal postural mechanical pain
A device avoiding the use of any motor or perpendicular or rectangular elements, having a convex asymmetrical longitudinal curve, a central longitudinal groove, and mirrored perpendicular and latitudinal, symmetrically-matched convex curves extending from the central groove to the sides, and optimally surfaced with a soft dense foam, uses gravitational force on the body of a user to provide an effective, yet gentle stretch along the length and across the width of the back, particularly at the thoracic vertebrae thereby relieving postural mechanical shoulder, back or spine pain. Additional alternative embodiments using a heating, cooling, or vibrational element along the central longitudinal groove are also described and claimed herein. |
| US08496004B2 |
Device for evacuating breathing gas from the interior of a breathing mask, and breathing mask arrangement comprising said device
A diversion device is provided for diverting breathing gas, which is laden with CO2, from a pressurized region of an arrangement that includes a breathing mask and serves for delivering a breathing gas at a pressure level that is above the ambient pressure. The device has a tubular stub structure which defines a breathing gas conduit that extends between an inlet cross section on the hose side and an outlet cross section on the mask side, and which is provided, in a region located between the inlet cross section and the outlet cross section, with an outflow orifice portion by way of which the breathing gas to be carried reaches the environment. In a region located between the outflow orifice portion and the outlet cross section on the mask side of the breathing gas conduit, a double-walled structure that surrounds the breathing gas conduit is embodied for sampling the breathing gas to be carried away from a mask interior, while largely circumventing the breathing gas conduit. |
| US08496001B2 |
Process and device for the automatic identification of breathing tubes
A process and a device/system are provided for the automatic identification of the type of a breathing tube. A memory element (5) is connected to the breathing tube (4). The memory element carries stored data identifying the breathing tube (4). The data are read by a reading unit (6), which is part of a respirator (1). The data may be read when the breathing tube (4) is brought into the vicinity of the respirator (1) or connected thereto. |
| US08495998B2 |
Inhaler
A portable, handheld breath-actuated inhaler comprises a generally cylindrical body that comprises body portions 1, 3 that receive a canister 2 of pressured fluid such a nicotine to be inhaled in an aerosol by a user, a mouthpiece 7 in the first body portion 1 configured to deliver an amount of the aerosol to the mouth of the user from the canister. A trigger is cocked ready for releasing pressurized fluid from the canister by manually sliding the body portions 1, 3 towards one another. The trigger comprises a compression spring 26 and a cam 33 which engages a pressure sensitive puff lever 28 with a plate 29 that releases the cocked trigger when a user sucks on the mouthpiece and draws in air through air inlet opening 26. Release of the trigger releases spring 26 which slides the body portions apart and also opens a valve in the canister so as to deliver the aerosol to the mouthpiece. |
| US08495997B1 |
Solar panel clip and method for attaching a solar panel
An apparatus, system, and method for attaching a solar panel to a purlin is disclosed, the solar panel further including a frame having a set of frame holes. The apparatus includes a solar panel clip including a solar panel clip bearing surface, a key formed on the solar panel clip bearing surface, a perpendicular locking surface coupled to the solar panel clip bearing surface, and an upper solar panel spacing section configured to provide an expansion joint. The apparatus also may include a solar panel clip washer mount. A solar panel is positioned on the solar panel clip bearing surface and is secured to the purlin. |
| US08495992B2 |
Controlling exhaust gas flow divided between turbocharging and exhaust gas recirculating
A method of controlling exhaust gas flow in an internal combustion engine system, and products and systems using same. |
| US08495991B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
A method for operating an internal combustion engine in which combustion air is supplied to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, which air is compressed with the aid of a pulse supercharger, the pulse supercharger being controlled in such a way that optionally, in a first operating mode, the combustion air is compressed in order to support a compressor of a turbocharger, or in a second operating mode, the combustion air compressed with the aid of the compressor is cooled. |
| US08495989B2 |
Gasket of an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine
A gasket of an internal combustion engine includes a discharge line installed in an intermediate layer and having an outer end exposed from the outer peripheral edge of the gasket to be a first connection part and an inner end exposed from a inner peripheral edge around the opening to be an electrode, configured such that discharge is generated between electrodes with voltage applied between first connection parts; an antenna installed at least partly in the intermediate layer at the inner peripheral edge around the opening to radiate electromagnetic waves into a combustion chamber; and an electromagnetic wave transmission line installed in the intermediate layer, having an outer end exposed from an outer peripheral edge to be a second connection part and an inner end connected to the antenna, and guiding electromagnetic waves to the antenna. |
| US08495988B2 |
Fuel storage and vapor recovery system
A fuel vapor storage and recovery system for a vehicle includes a fuel tank containing a volume of fuel and first and second vapor storage devices fluidly connectable via a controllable valve device. The second vapor storage device includes an electrically heatable substrate thermally coupled to fuel vapor adsorbent material. A vent valve connects to atmospheric air via a second end of the second vapor storage device. |
| US08495986B2 |
Retrofit injector mount
An injector mount clamp for coupling an injector of an exhaust gas treatment system to an exhaust conduit of an engine while the conduit is in an installed position includes a resilient monolithic clamp body having an aperture extending therethrough and being shaped as a split collar having a first end spaced apart from a second end a distance allowing the clamp body to be transversely moved relative to an exhaust flow direction to a position circumferentially surrounding the exhaust conduit. An injector mounting boss is disposed on the clamp body and defines a passage that fluidly communicates with the aperture of the clamp body. The mounting boss has a mounting face configured to oppose the injector. |
| US08495984B2 |
Spark voltage limiting system for active fuel management
An engine control system for a vehicle includes a variable displacement module that deactivates N of M cylinders of an engine during a fuel management mode. N is an integer and M is an integer greater than 1. A spark control module generates a spark timing signal for the N cylinders based on a pre-dwell time and a fuel management dwell modifier during the fuel management mode. The spark control module reduces dwell time of the N cylinders during the fuel management mode based on the fuel management dwell modifier. |
| US08495980B2 |
Adjustable camshaft arrangement
A camshaft arrangement for a motor vehicle engine has a hollow outer shaft and an inner shaft supporting inner shaft cams. The inner shaft cams are non-rotatably attached to the inner shaft by at least one connection element that protrudes with clearance through an aperture in the outer shaft and is attached to the respective inner shaft cam which is rotatably mounted on the outer shaft. When inserted into a receiver in the inner shaft, a portion of the connection element protrudes out of the receiver, and the protruding portion is at least partially inserted into an aperture located at the joint diameter of the inner shaft cam. This aperture is open at least towards an end face of the inner shaft cam. The protruding portion has at least two opposite-lying side surfaces lying with an interference fit against corresponding inner surfaces of the aperture of the inner shaft cam. |
| US08495973B2 |
Thin film vaporizer
This invention provides a thin film vaporizer. The vaporizer includes a primary body having an inlet, an outlet, and an internal surface therebetween. The inlet, outlet and internal surface defining a gas passage between the inlet and the outlet. A first liquid provider is disposed proximate to the inlet and structured and arranged to provide liquid flow upon at least a portion of the internal surface. A first vaporizing zone is provided downstream from the first liquid provider and structured and arranged to provide wetting of the provided liquid flow upon at least a portion of the internal surface. The first vaporizing zone is further structured and arranged with the gas passage to permit vaporizing of the liquid and mixing with a first gas received from the inlet about contemporaneously. A heat source is thermally coupled to the first vaporization so as to apply heat by conduction, convection, radiation and or combinations thereof. An associated method of use and fuel cell incorporating the thin film vaporizer are also provided. |
| US08495972B1 |
Automated injection system
The injection system provides an automated means to safely inject a target animal. In the preferred embodiment, the automated injection system injects an animal with a radio frequency identification device (RFID). The automated injection system includes a baiting station with multiple sensors that confirm the position of a target animal and initiate the injection process. A controller actively controls the injection process and records the identification data associated with each injected animal. |
| US08495967B2 |
Wakeboard tower with bimini cover and ski tow point
A wakeboard tower having an elevated tow point and a bimini or other sun cover integrated to the tower in a manner that does not interfere with the tow point. |
| US08495960B2 |
Railway vehicle with exhaust gas cleaning
A rail vehicle comprising a vehicle body defining a vehicle interior, an internal combustion engine and an exhaust gas system in communication with the internal combustion engine for evacuating the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust gas system comprises an additive supply unit designed to supply an additive for pollutant reduction to the exhaust gas stream of the internal combustion engine, and the additive supply unit comprises a reservoir for the additive and a supply section connected thereto for supplying the additive to the exhaust gas stream. The reservoir and/or the supply section is arranged in at least one body chamber of the vehicle body, wherein the at least one body chamber is provided with sound insulation and/or thermal insulation at least in the areas adjacent to the vehicle interior and/or the environment of the vehicle, which are frequented by passengers. |
| US08495959B2 |
Kinetic fireball incendiary munition
A kinetic fireball incendiary munition is provided having an outer shell or bomb casing, one or more incendiary submunitions therein, and an igniter therefore. Each of the submunitions includes an incendiary portion, at least one rocket motor that propels the submunition inside of a target volume, and an oxidizer for the incendiary portion and rocket motor. The submunitions liberate sufficient heat to produce elevated temperatures inside of a target structure to thermalize the contents thereof without creating a substantial overpressure or explosive effect. The incendiary portion includes a solid propellant and, optionally, one or more energetic materials selected from the group consisting of phosphorous, boron, magnesium, aluminum, Fluorinert™-aluminum and BKNO3. The incendiary submunition may be in the shape of a ball or a circular disk with a rocket motor therein. The circular disk-shaped incendiary munition is provided with an outer layer of an insulation which is bonded to the propellant/incendiary material. A portion of the insulation on the top and bottom of the disk is weakened so as to break away when the top and bottom surfaces are ignited. In place of the rocket motor, the submunition may incorporate one or more barrels embedded in the incendiary material with a powder charge and projectile in each barrel. Ignition of the incendiary material results in detonation of the powder charge which propels projectiles radially outwardly and upwardly causing damage to containers of chemical/biological materials. |
| US08495958B2 |
Printer for corrugated cardboard sheet and box making machine for corrugated cardboard sheet
In a printer for corrugated cardboard sheets and a box making machine for corrugated cardboard sheets, a control device that controls an operation of an air cylinder is provided such that an ink supply roll is moved toward or away from a printing cylinder relative to an intermediate position of a gap between ends of a printing plate attached on a surface of a printing cylinder. With this configuration, ink of an ink supply roll is appropriately transferred to the printing plate, an ink film on the printing plate is uniformized, and then printing precision is enhanced. |
| US08495957B2 |
Image-forming machine having speed priority setting based on sheet traveling routes
An object of the present invention is, in an image-forming machine equipped with plural paper feeders that feed paper to a drum unit at different paper feed speeds due to the difference in the shapes of paper traveling routes, to control the image-forming machine so as to select a paper feeder suitable for the condition of printing-speed-priority. A stencil printing machine has three paper feeders; a paper feed table, a first tray, and a second tray. The maximum allowable printing speeds to a drum unit of the three paper feeders: differ from each other in accordance with the difference in the shapes of traveling routes; increase in the order of the paper feed table, the first tray, and then the second tray; and are stored as data. When a user carries out printing at the setting of speed-priority, a control unit of the machine and a paper feeder selection device select the paper feeder of the highest maximum allowable image-forming speed and carry out the printing. |
| US08495954B2 |
Equipment for roasting coffee beans and edible seeds in general
In one embodiment, a piece of equipment for roasting edible seeds like coffee beans and the like includes a body sized to contain the product to be roasted, an air intake fan for conveying an air flow into the containing body, and a heater for heating the air flow. The containing body is fixed and houses a rotary shaft provided with one or more substantially radial arms or blades suited to stir the product during roasting, and may include a rotary drum that is integral or that may not be integral with the arms during rotation. |
| US08495950B2 |
Method and apparatus for brewing coffee via universal coffee brewing chart generation
An information handling system (IHS) includes a coffee design application. The IHS receives first input information from a user that specifies a coffee design mode. The IHS receives second input information from a user that enables the IHS to define a unitless brew formula line ratio of water weight to coffee weight. The IHS displays a brew formula line on a universal brewing control chart graph, the brew formula line being dependent on the brew formula ratio. The IHS operates in a selected one of a brew water volume mode, a desired coffee yield mode and a ground coffee weight mode. The IHS converts input values to selected units and resultant output values to selected units in real time. The IHS projects a target total dissolved solids (TDS) % value on the brew formula line and plots a universal brewing control chart. |
| US08495949B2 |
Apparatus for beverage formation with automated water delivery to heating tank
A apparatus for forming a beverage using a beverage formation device. Opening of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid from a reservoir to a heating tank that is used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, opening of the brew chamber may cause a valve to be opened or otherwise permit flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. The valve may open simultaneously and automatically with a brew chamber lid, and may close when the brew chamber lid is closed. |
| US08495948B2 |
Power distribution unit with a hydrostatic and mechanical power branch
A power distribution transmission unit (1) having a hydrostatic power branch (2) and a mechanical power branch (3) connected by a connection system (8). The connection system (8) at least partially damps transfer of oscillations between the power branches. The power flow can be passed between the power branches, via a connecting shaft (22) that compensates axial offset between a hydrostat shaft (18) of the hydrostatic power branch (2) and a mechanical branch shaft (20) of the mechanical power branch (3). The connecting shaft (22) is a hollow shaft and a spring device (27), elastically prestressing the hydrostat shaft (18), is arranged within the connecting shaft. The tooth profiles (23, 25) of the connecting shaft (22) are formed as curved outer teeth which engage in tooth profiles (24 and 26) of the hydrostat shaft (18) of the hydrostatic power branch (2) and of the shaft (20) of the mechanical power branch (3), in each case made as inner teeth. |
| US08495945B1 |
Weapon and weapon station system and method for loading, testing, targeting, and/or launching a weapon
A system that provides wireless power transfer between a weapon and a platform. A method for loading, testing, targeting, and launching a weapon. |
| US08495944B2 |
Blast treatment method and blast treatment device
A blast treatment method for blasting a treatment subject having an outer shell and a chemical agent charged into an interior of the outer shell includes the steps of: disposing an explosive on the outer side of the outer shell such that a difference occurs in a detonation pressure of the explosive, that acts on the outer shell from an outer side, between one side and another side of a predetermined cutting position of the outer shell and the outer shell is cut by a shearing force generated as a result of the difference in the detonation pressure; and detonating the explosive, wherein, in the step of detonating the explosive, the chemical agent is exposed by cutting the outer shell in the cutting position through detonation of the explosive, and the chemical agent is decomposed using the detonation. |
| US08495941B2 |
Sectioning device and method of use
A sectioning device for sectioning food and non-food items includes a frame, a cutter removably positioned on the frame and press means positioned on the frame for pushing an item against and through the cutter. The sectioning device also includes means for moving, in a single continuous motion, at least one of the cutter and the press means between a neutral position and a sectioning position. The press means and the cutter are configured such that an item to be sectioned, positioned between the cutter and the press means is sectioned in its entirety upon movement from the neutral position to the sectioning position. |
| US08495938B2 |
Displacement unit
The present invention relates to a displacement unit, serving to create a translational displacement movement of a cutting head of a cutting machine, particularly a slicer for slicing food products, wherein the head can be attached to the displacement unit. The displacement unit has a housing assembly and an actuator disposed in the housing assembly, the actuator comprising a stationary part in the displacement direction, and a part displaceable in relation to the stationary part in the displacement direction, for carrying out the displacement movement. The displacement unit further has at least one bearing that is attached to the housing assembly and is elastically deformable in the displacement direction, the displaceable part engaging on this bearing. |
| US08495935B2 |
Multi-scale mechanism
A multi-scale mechanism comprising a rotatable driving shaft; a first scale mounted along the axis of said rotatable driving shaft, said scale including first and second sets of coarse scale divisions for indicating a coarse range of magnitude in two different systems of units as a function of the position of said first scale with respect to said rotatable driving shaft; a second scale for indicating a fine scale range of magnitude in one of said systems of units; a third scale for indicating a fine scale range of magnitude in the other of said systems of units; said third scale operatively connected to said rotatable driving shaft; and a gear assembly connected between said second scale and said third scale having a predetermined gear ratio such that said second scale is caused to move at a different rate than said third scale. |
| US08495930B2 |
Power tong device
A power tong device (1) for handling of a threaded pipe connection wherein the power tong device (1) comprises a frame (6) having a power tong (10) and a holding tong (8) and also a drive gear (12) for the power tong (10), and wherein the power tong (10) is displaceable relative to the holding tong (8) along its rotational axis, as the power tong (10) is radially displaceable relative to the holding tong (8), and wherein the power tong (10) is connected to the drive gear (12) by means of a radially displaceable coupling (26, 54). |
| US08495922B1 |
Sampling system for ground level aircraft engine particle matter (PM) emission measurement
A sampling system for ground level aircraft engine PM emission measurements has been developed. |
| US08495918B2 |
Sensor assembly and medical device incorporating same
Apparatus are provided for sensor assemblies and related medical devices. An embodiment of a sensor assembly includes a rigid structure and a beam structure having an outer portion in contact with the rigid structure and an inner portion. The beam structure includes one or more beams extending between the outer portion and the inner portion of the beam structure and a cantilevered portion extending from the inner portion to inhibit displacement of the inner portion toward the rigid structure. Each beam has a sensing element disposed thereon. |
| US08495914B2 |
Handheld ultrasound detection apparatus having a flexible tube
A handheld ultrasound detection apparatus of the present disclosure has a housing comprising a display device and a flexible tube attached at its distal end to the housing, the flexible tube housing an ultrasound receiver for receiving ultrasound energy and converting the ultrasound energy into an electronic signal. The handheld ultrasound detection apparatus further has logic configured to receive the electronic signal and convert the electronic signal to digital data, the logic further configured to display data indicative of the digital data to the display device. |
| US08495913B2 |
Level measurement system
An apparatus and method for the identification of different phases (11-20) in a multi-phase medium includes at least two arrays (26A, 26B) of ultrasound transducers capable of transmitting and receiving ultrasound through the medium separating them. The method and apparatus is useful for the location of phase interfaces in vessels such as oil separators. |
| US08495912B2 |
Device for a vertical electromagnetic field component receiver
A device for disposing an antenna dipole arranged to be submerged in a water mass is described. A first electrode is placed, in an operative position, approximately vertically above and at a distance from a second electrode. A mast is pivotally secured, at a portion distant from, in the operative position, a lower end portion, to a stand. The first electrode is arranged near, in or on an upper end portion of the mast. The second electrode is arranged near, in or on the lower end portion of the mast. The mast and/or stand includes means which are arranged to keep the mast in a prescribed position. The mast and stand are formed substantially of non-magnetic materials. |
| US08495911B2 |
Wind turbine siting and maintenance prediction
A computer-implemented method for determining a site for a wind turbine within a confined geographical target region on the basis of an estimate of a maintenance parameter comprises determining a wind climate at the target region, the wind climate including e.g. average wind speed, pre-dominant wind directions, or turbulence intensities. A function expressing the maintenance parameter of the wind turbine as a function of the flow characteristics is defined, and the function is applied to the geographical position to compute an estimated value of the maintenance parameter at that position. Meteorological measurements may be used to obtain the flow characteristics. Wind measurements performed at one location may be numerically extrapolated by numerical methods, e.g. by CFD, to other locations. The maintenance parameter may be expressed as a maintenance risk, number of component replacements, or as a maintenance cost per energy unit. Three-dimensional visualization of wind turbines, e.g. in GoogleEarth™ is further provided by the invention. |
| US08495907B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring drying time of quick wet and dried fabrics
Disclosed is a method for measuring the drying time of a moisture-wicking and quick-drying material that enables convenient and precise measurement of the drying time of the material by creating an environment similar to the skin surface of a human body wearing clothes. The method includes: creating a temperature and humidity state similar to a condition in which sweat of a human body is shed on the bottom surface of a test material; blowing wind to the upper surface of the test material at a speed similar to a speed at which a human being is walking; dropping distilled water to the upper surface of the test material with the temperature and humidity state and the wind speed being maintained constant; and measuring the drying time of the test material with the distilled water having been dropped to the upper surface of the test material. |
| US08495906B2 |
Degasifier and liquid chromatograph equipped therewith
The present invention relates to a deaerator 2 including: a liquid flow space; reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C; gas permeable films 21A, 21B, and 21C that separate these spaces; and a pump for discharging gas from within the reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C to the outside, and to a liquid chromatograph equipped with the deaerator 2. The deaerator 2 further includes gas partial pressure variation suppression means 23A, 23B, 23C, 25Ab, 25Bb, 25Cb, 29A, 29B, and 29C for suppressing variations in partial pressures of a specific gas in the reduced-pressure spaces 25A, 25B, and 25C. |
| US08495903B1 |
Calibration system for a deburring tool
A method and apparatus for calibrating a tool. A moveable blade connected to the tool may be deflected towards an inward position with respect to the tool. A force applied to the moveable blade may be detected by a biasing mechanism in the tool using a sensor when the moveable blade is in the inward position with respect to the tool. The biasing mechanism in the tool may be adjusted if the force is not a desired force. |
| US08495901B2 |
Shaping tool having a rotatable base member
A shaping tool as depicted in exemplary FIG. 3 comprising a rotatable base member having at least one profiled bending roller (13) which is mounted on a circular track and is rotatable about a rotation axis. The bending roller (13) arranged on a radially movable slide (11) is movable from a position defining a maximum working aperture for the tool, by means of a spring-loaded lever (9) which has an axial configuration, into a position defining a minimum working aperture for the tool. |
| US08495900B2 |
Device for satinizing and embossing packaging foils
The device for satinizing and embossing packaging foils comprises at least two embossing rollers that are each provided with a toothing consisting of individual teeth, the pyramidal teeth having an essentially rectangular horizontal projection, and the sides of the teeth being essentially parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the longitudinal axis of the embossing roller. In contrast to the prior art, the opening angle (α) between the radially aligned adjacent tooth flanks is smaller than the opening angle (β) between the axially aligned adjacent tooth flanks, and the tooth height in the radial direction, measured from the tooth tip to the tooth bottom, is greater than the tooth height in the axial direction measured from the tooth tip to the tooth bottom. This dimensioning and arrangement of the teeth provides an improved gearing with a reduced specific pressure as well as an improved processing of the paper part of the foil that results in its better folding, curling, and tubing behavior. |
| US08495899B2 |
Electromechanical lock
An electromechanical lock comprises a housing, a rectilinear locking lever slidable within the housing, a blocking element positioned adjacent the locking lever that is movable between a first position that engages with the locking lever and a second position that disengages with the locking lever, and an actuating device operable to control movement of the blocking element between the first and second positions. |
| US08495888B2 |
Adaptive real-time optimization control
A computerized method for operating a process includes using at least one sensor to determine when to transition a state machine between a first operating state wherein the process is operated using extremum seeking control and a second operating state wherein the process is operated without extremum seeking control. The method further includes, in response to the determination, automatically transitioning from the first operating state to the second operating state. |
| US08495883B2 |
Cooling of turbine components using combustor shell air
A turbine engine assembly for a generator including a turbine engine having a compressor section, a combustor section and a turbine section. An air bleed line is in communication with the combustor section for receiving combustor shell air from the combustor section and conveying the combustor shell air as bleed air to a plurality of stages of the turbine section. Bleed air is controlled to flow through the air bleed line when an operating load of the turbine engine assembly is less than a base load of the engine to bypass air exiting the compressor section around a combustor in the combustor section and effect a flow of high pressure combustor shell air to the stages of the turbine section. |
| US08495881B2 |
System and method for thermal control in a cap of a gas turbine combustor
A system comprises a turbine combustor cap. The turbine combustor cap includes a plurality of segments. Each segment of the plurality of segments has edges abutting at least two fuel nozzle receptacles. Moreover, each segment of the plurality of segments does not completely surrounding any one fuel nozzle receptacle. |
| US08495878B1 |
Feedwater heating hybrid power generation
The technology combines a secondarily-fueled boiler with a primary-fueled Rankine steam cycle combustion system in a hybrid process. Outputs from a secondarily-fueled combustion system are fed into the feedwater heater(s), deaerators, feedwater heating lines, and/or reheat lines of a primary-fueled Rankine system. The integrated steam flow eliminates or reduces one or more extractions from the steam turbine generator, thereby allowing it to generate more electrical power using the same Rankine system input energy or generate equivalent electrical power using energy inputs from multiple fuel sources. The technology can be utilized in any type and/or configuration of secondary fuel or secondarily-fueled combustion technology and/or can utilize any type of primary-fueled steam source. |
| US08495877B2 |
Compound turbocharger system having a connectable compressor
The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having a turbocompound system. The turbocompound system encompasses an exhaust-gas turbocharger, a turbo intercooler, and a power turbine. The power turbine is connectable, via a transmission with clutch, to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine. A connectable compressor, which is couplable either to the power turbine or to the internal combustion engine, is received in a multiple-flow intake pipe. |
| US08495876B2 |
Two-stage supercharging system with exhaust gas purification device for internal-combustion engine and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to a two-stage supercharging system for an internal-combustion engine (10) comprising at least one cylinder (12) with an intake distributor (16) and an exhaust manifold (18), as well as a recirculation line (78) for recycling the exhaust gas to the intake of said engine, said system comprising a high-pressure supercharging stage (22) with a turbocharger including an expansion turbine (26) connected to a compressor (30) and a low-pressure supercharging stage (24) with a turbocharger including an expansion turbine (28) connected to a compressor (32), and exhaust gas purification means arranged between exhaust outlet (40) and turbine (26) of the high-pressure turbocharger.According to the invention, the system comprises an exhaust gas bypass branch (70) going from outlet (40) of the engine exhaust and ending at turbine (28) of low-pressure turbocharger (24). |
| US08495875B2 |
Turbocharger for an internal combustion engine
A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, in which a mechanical energy flow can be generated from an exhaust gas flow of the internal combustion engine for providing engine intake airfow under pressure. The turbocharger includes a mechanical energy converter connected between the exhaust gas flow and the intake airflow, by which converter the mechanical energy flow can be transferred and transmitted. The turbocharger also includes an electrical energy converter associated with the mechanical energy flow for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, or vice versa, to enable improved intake airflow charging of an internal combustion engine. By means of the electrical energy converter, an electrical energy flow can be selectively branched off to a battery or fed into the mechanical energy flow. |
| US08495874B2 |
Warming intake air using EGR cooler in dual-throttle boosted engine system
A method for providing intake air to an engine in a vehicle comprises delivering compressed fresh air and EGR to the engine via first and second throttle valves coupled to an intake manifold of the engine. During a higher engine-load condition, an EGR exhaust flow is cooled in a heat exchanger and the cooled EGR exhaust flow is admitting to the intake manifold. During a lower engine-load condition, fresh air is warmed in the heat exchanger, and the warmed fresh air is admitted to the intake manifold. |
| US08495872B2 |
Energy storage and recovery utilizing low-pressure thermal conditioning for heat exchange with high-pressure gas
In various embodiments, gas is compressed to store energy and/or expanded to recover energy to or from high pressures, and the gas is exchanges heat with a heat-exchange fluid that is thermally conditioned at low pressures. |
| US08495868B2 |
Control strategy for heated fluid lines
A control strategy selectively controls the heating of fluid lines equipped with line heaters that may be utilized with a selective catalytic reduction system. The control strategy measures a tank temperature representative of reductant agent in a storage tank and a representative ambient temperature representative of an ambient temperature proximate the fluid line. The control strategy determines a lowest possible reductant agent temperature (“LPRAT”) based on the measured tank temperature and representative ambient temperature. The LPRAT is compared with a desired reductant agent temperature and, in response to the comparison, the control strategy may activate the line heater. |
| US08495865B2 |
Control unit for turbocharged internal combustion engine
A control unit for a turbocharged internal combustion engine is provided. The control unit includes a first exhaust valve that opens/closes a first exhaust passage that is communicated with a turbine; a second exhaust valve that opens/closes a second exhaust passage that bypasses the turbine; and a closing timing of the second exhaust valve that is controlled so that an opening period of the second exhaust valve overlaps with an opening period of an intake valve under high engine load. The opening characteristic of the second exhaust valve and a fuel injection amount are controlled so that the air-fuel ratio of gas that is filled in a cylinder approximates an output air-fuel ratio and the air-fuel ratio of gas flowing into a three-way catalyst that is arranged in a post-junction exhaust passage approximates a theoretical air-fuel ratio under high engine load. |
| US08495858B2 |
Method of operating a gas turbine power plant with auxiliary power to reduce emissions
A method of operating a gas turbine power plant including an auxiliary power output for reducing power plant emissions. A heat recovery steam generator receives an expanded working medium from a gas turbine and removes heat from the expanded working medium to form a reduced temperature exhaust gas and to generate steam from the heat removed from the expanded working medium. A steam turbine and generator assembly operates on the steam to produce an auxiliary plant output. A selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system is provided for receiving the reduced temperature exhaust gas; and an auxiliary fan is powered by the auxiliary plant output to supply dilution air for further reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas to prior to passing the exhaust gas through the SCR system. |
| US08495856B2 |
Front mounted rotary hay rake
A rotary type rake having a plurality of finger wheel rotary raking elements mounted on a frame and movable thereon from one to the other of a raking position to rake material on the ground into a windrow and a retracted raised traveling position. The frame is partly supported by a pair of caster wheel assemblies that are disposed in spaced apart relation with respect to one another and a distal end of the frame which connects securely to a front end loader mounted on a tractor. Oscillatory movement of the caster wheel assemblies is restrained by a brake acting on the shaft of the caster wheel assembly by which it is mounted on the frame. |
| US08495851B2 |
Acoustical sound proofing material and methods for manufacturing same
An improved acoustical damping wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminar structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more constraining layers, such as metal, ceramics, composites, cellulose, wood, or petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl, plastic or rubber. |
| US08495843B1 |
Buck system
A buck system for forming and framing an opening in a poured concrete foundation includes a plurality of buck sections matching the desired dimension of an opening. Each of the buck sections is affixed to an adjacent buck section forming a closed geometric shape. Each buck section has an inner surface defining an inside dimension of the opening and each of the buck sections has a first channel and a second channel. The first channel snuggly accepts an edge of a first insulated concrete foundation wall of the insulated concrete foundation walls and the second channel snuggly accepts an edge of a second insulated concrete foundation wall of the insulated concrete foundation walls. |
| US08495842B2 |
Flush jamb
A door jamb which is flush with the wallboard. Also a door jamb which provides a pocket into which wallboard fits. The preferred embodiment of this invention comprises a central web having a first surface a second surface, a first side and a second side, with a first right triangular section at the first side and a second right triangular section at the second side. The adjacent leg of the first right triangular section is in line with the second surface and the opposite leg of the first right triangular section projects away from the first surface. Further the adjacent leg of the second right triangular section is in line with the first surface and the opposite leg of the second right triangular section projects away from the second surface. |
| US08495841B2 |
Window assembly for vehicle
A window assembly for a vehicle includes a frame configured to mount to a transit vehicle, a fixed window panel affixed to a portion of the frame, and a movable window assembly having a movable window panel circumscribed by a movable frame. The movable frame has opposite end members and a pair of opposite slide rail members. The slide rail members are slidably received in respective channels along opposite portions of the frame. Each of the slide rail members includes a co-extruded slide rail having a semi-rigid or rigid rail portion, a flexible window seal co-extruded with the rail portion for sealing against the movable window panel, and a flexible sliding seal co-extruded with the rail portion for slidably engaging the opposite portions of the frame when the movable window assembly is assembled to the frame and is moved between its opened and closed positions. |
| US08495840B2 |
Solar wall tube
A Solar Wall Tube, including a tube and one or more glass blocks, that integrates with masonry construction and guides natural light into a building is described. The tube structure provides a much cleaner aesthetic over previous glass block installation methods while guiding more natural light to the building interior. The Solar Wall Tube also offers advantages of significantly improved thermal insulation and structural integrity over a single glass block and longevity of an enclosed building material. |
| US08495839B2 |
Installation structure of solar cell module
An installation structure of a solar cell module comprising: a solar cell module including a solar panel, an eaves-side frame in a long shape holding an edge on an eaves side, a ridge-side frame in a long shape holding an edge on a ridge side opposite to the edge on the eaves side, and a lateral frame in a long shape holding edges of the solar panel different from the above edges; and a fixing member fixed to a predetermined structural member in a roof at a position on a ridge side further than the ridge-side frame and configured to prevent the ridge-side frame from moving towards the ridge side of the roof and in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the solar panel, the eaves-side frame of another solar cell module being positioned above the ridge-side frame and supported by the fixing member from outside. |
| US08495834B2 |
Obstruction detector power control
A method of powering an obstruction detector. Power is provided to an obstruction detector when a motor is executing a first movement and is suppressed to the obstruction detector when the motor is idle and when the motor is executing a second movement. The first movement moves a movable barrier towards a closed position, and the second movement moves the barrier towards an open position. |
| US08495829B2 |
Printable wristband form
A printable wristband form includes a plurality of wristbands cut into a multi-layer sheet of the form. Each wristband includes a release tab formed at an end thereof. A release liner is disposed between layers of the sheet in a single region defined by the release tabs. The form preferably includes adult sized wristbands and infant sized wristbands arranged on the same sheet for use in hospital maternity settings. |
| US08495827B2 |
Pants pressing machine with laser assisted alignment
The present invention relates to a pressing machine to be used for pressing the upper portion of a pair of wrinkled pants. The pressing machine has the contour shape of the upper portion of a pair of pants. The shape of the pressing machine makes it easier for an operator to drape a pair of pants over the machine for pressing. The shape of the pressing machine allows pants of all sizes to be pressed. The pressing machine is operated manually by pressing on two foot pedals. |
| US08495826B2 |
Work implement and retaining pin assembly
A work implement includes a ground engaging tool with a first through-hole, an adapter with a second through-hole, a retaining pin, a metal bushing and a metal retainer. The retaining pin is inserted into the first and second through-holes disposed in a state in which the ground engaging tool is in contact with the adapter. The retaining pin is inserted in an inside of an cylindrical member of the bushing, which is disposed at an end portion of the retaining pin inside the first through-hole. The metal retainer prevents the bushing from coming loose from the retaining pin by sandwiching the bushing between the metal retainer and the adapter at the end of the retaining pin. The bushing is disposed in a state that allows movement in an axial direction of the retaining pin between the adapter and the retainer on an outer peripheral face of the retaining pin. |
| US08495822B2 |
Heat pump module and drying apparatus using the same
A heat pump module and a drying apparatus having the same are provided. The heat pump module may include a housing, an evaporator provided in the housing that condenses humid air introduced into the housing via evaporation of a refrigerant, a condenser provided in the housing that heats the air having passed through the evaporator via condensation of the refrigerant, and at least one condensed water guide or remover provided in the housing that removes condensed water generated on a surface of the evaporator therefrom. |
| US08495809B2 |
Vaginal delineating device
A gynecological instrument for delineating the fornix of the vagina during laparoscopic operations having a solid ring with a guiding groove for easy and safe opening of the vagina laparoscopically. The solid ring has a protrusion outward which pushes the vaginal wall toward the peritoneal cavity, creating a bulging of the vaginal wall, making it easily identifiable. The solid ring is permanently attached to the proximal end of the base by a semi-cylindrical wall which creates a window anteriorly, for better visualization of the cervix and easy insertion of a cannula or delineator into the uterine cavity. The vaginal delineator is locked to the head of the uterine mobilizer by inserting the locking end of a cannula, delineator or vaginal delineator lock, through the hole of the delineator and into the head of the uterine mobilizer. An elastic diaphragm is provided with different sizes for obstruction of the vagina, which does not allow flow in any direction. This instrument can be used to mobilize the uterus, to inject dye into the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and to delineate the fornix of the vagina, even when the uterus Has been previously removed. |
| US08495798B1 |
Door fixture with decorative panels
The present invention relates to a door fixture with decorative panels. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door fixture comprising a handle attached to a door plate, a handle panel attached to the handle and a door plate panel attached to the door plate, the door plate being affixed to a door. |
| US08495795B2 |
Top pin door assembly with hold open device
An improved top pin assembly is provided for a traffic door which integrally is provided with a hold open device for maintaining the door in either one of opposite fully open positions. |
| US08495788B2 |
Filter locking arrangement for a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner has an improved filter locking arrangement. A locking tab protrudes upwardly from a motor housing. The tab is received within an aligned slot in the filter housing and extends into a pocket formed in the filter frame. The tab prevents the filter frame from being rotated with respect to the filter housing and the motor housing while the filter housing is mounted to the main housing. |
| US08495787B2 |
Windshield wiper
A windshield wiper comprises a wiper blade including a squeegee portion for contacting a surface and a body supporting the squeegee portion. A primary spline is engaged with the body and has a first closed end and a second open end. A support structure is provided to attach the wiper to a wiper arm on a vehicle. At least one spoiler is slidingly disposed on the primary spline above the secondary spline. A secondary spline is slidingly disposed between the body and the support structure, whereby the secondary spline is retained in place by caps disposed at the first and second ends of the primary spline. The secondary spline is removably disposed between said wiper blade and said support structure and retained in place by end caps. |
| US08495785B2 |
Advanced cleaning tool
/A cleaning tool including a first support member, an absorbent member disposed below the first support member; and a plurality of brush bristles which extend into the absorbent member. Further embodiments of the present invention provide a cleaning tool including a first support member and a second support member, an absorbent member disposed below the second support member, an elastic compressible substrate sandwiched between the first support member and the second support member; a plurality of brush bristles which extend into the absorbent member; and an adjusting mechanism for varying the position of the second support member relative to the first support member, such that the cleaning tips of the brush bristles can be inside, outside or coincident with the absorbent member. |
| US08495784B2 |
Device having dual renewable blades for treating a target surface and replaceable cartridge therefor
A device for treating a target surface, such as occurs when cleaning a window. The device has a squeegee blade or other member to apply pressure to the target surface. A sheet movably covers the blade, to present a fresh covering to the target surface with each use. The fresh surface provides for improved removal of the liquid from, or improved treatment of the liquid on, the target surface. Additionally a sheet may comprise a prewetted substrate to apply the liquid to the target surface. One or both of the sheets may be disposed in a cartridge insertable to and removable from the device. |
| US08495783B2 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning of a burner
The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a burner by a burner cleaner. The method comprises removing a burner nozzle, partly inserting the burner cleaner into the burner, connecting a threaded guide of the cleaner to the burner at a thread of an inlet pipe, bringing a shaft being a part of the burner cleaner and partly surrounded by the guide to rotate by a motor, thereby bringing a flare brush connected to the other end of the shaft to hit inner surface of the burner and remove deposit from it, and moving the shaft with the flare brush in the guide enabling the flare brush to clean the inner surface of the burner. The invention further provides a burner cleaner, comprising a shaft, an annular, threaded guide mounted around and co-axially with the shaft, and being shorter than the shaft, a flare brush connected at one end of the shaft, and a motor connected to other end of the shaft. |
| US08495782B2 |
Device for the partial removal of coating from pipes, in particular from metal pipes
The invention relates to a device for the partial removal of coating from pipes, in particular from metal pipes, having a base body, an accommodation area for a pipe formed on the base body, at least two supporting means for supporting the pipe arranged on a first side of the accommodation area, and a scraper head arranged on an opposite side of the accommodation area, wherein the scraper head has two prismatic scraper edges. The invention furthermore relates to the use of a device according to the invention for the at least partial removal of coating from pipes. |
| US08495778B2 |
Washing machine and washing control method of the same
A washing machine and a washing control method of the same that is capable of controlling laundry to be effectively washed with bubbles depending upon load of the washing machine. The washing control method includes supplying wash water and detergent into a water tub, heating concentrated detergent liquid including the wash water and the detergent mixed with each other, generating and supplying bubbles into the water tub when the temperature of the heated concentrated detergent liquid reaches a predetermined bubble generation temperature, and washing laundry with the supplied bubbles. |
| US08495776B1 |
Toy sleeve
An infant adaptable system includes a rectangular-shaped base member that is made of a soft, flexible material and has a plurality of holes formed between, and parallel to, the sides of the base member. A first cushion and a second cushion are mounted on the base member between the holes and a respective side of the base member. Fasteners are provided along each side of the base member for engagement with each other to configure the system for wear on an arm of a user or for attachment to an infant carrier. Toys can be selectively engaged with the holes on the base member, and held on the base member, to distract the infant during a use of the system. |
| US08495774B2 |
Hospital chair beds with articulating foot sections
A hospital bed includes a base, a lifting mechanism, a rotating frame configured to rotate horizontally relative to the base, and a patient support surface pivotally secured to the rotating frame. The patient support surface includes a back section, a seat section, and foot section that articulate relative to each other. The patient support surface translates from a bed configuration to a side-egress chair configuration. The foot section includes a plurality of panels that translate relative to each other from a substantially co-planar relationship when the patient support surface is in a bed configuration to a relationship where one of the foot section panels is substantially orthogonal to another foot section panel when the patient support surface is in a chair configuration. A mattress supported by the patient support surface has a retractable foot portion that adjusts its length in response to translation of the foot section panels. |
| US08495769B1 |
Urinette
The present invention discloses urinal that introduces a water use reduction method for flushing which supplies an accommodating solution for men and women as well. The water conserving urinal comprising an open-top funnel with a flexible hose thereon terminating in a rigid tube with a U-shaped gas trap section. In one of the embodiments of the present invention the apparatus is stored in the inside of a vanity cabinet. The instant application also discloses a completely new way to install the portable urinal in residential, and even commercial locations with the objective to conserve up to 12½ gallons of water per day per person. |
| US08495768B2 |
Foot actuated toilet seat lifting and self-lowering mechanism
A mechanism (100) composed of three primary assembled components, a housing assembly (10), a cable assembly (50), and a lift arm assembly (70) that work in unison to lift a toilet seat (102) via the application of pressure to a foot pedal (32). |
| US08499360B2 |
Atomic force microscopes and methods of measuring specimens using the same
Atomic force microscopes and methods of measuring specimens using the same. An atomic force microscope may precisely measure a 3D shape of a specimen using both a short-stroke scanner and a long-stroke scanner. The atomic force microscope may include a stage to transfer a specimen, at least one cantilever which includes a probe such that a driving displacement and a driving frequency are changed by attractive force and repulsive force in relation to atoms of the specimen, at least one short-stroke scanner which includes the cantilever so as to perform short-stroke scanning of the specimen, at least one long-stroke scanner which includes the short-stroke scanner so as to perform long-stroke scanning of the specimen, and at least one coarse approach system for transferring the short-stroke scanner and the long-stroke scanner to the specimen. |
| US08499356B2 |
System for dynamically encrypting information for secure internet commerce and providing embedded fulfillment software
A data distribution system is provided which supplies customers with an executable for requested secured data files to provide the customer with fulfillment software, obviating the need for the customer to download fulfillment software prior to requesting secure data. The data distribution system is characterized by server technology which can dynamically encrypt secured data files just prior to a customer request to download the data file. A framework for building a universal data distribution infrastructure is provided which employs Requesters. |
| US08499346B2 |
Secure authentication at a self-service terminal
A method of providing secure authentication of a service user at a self-service terminal is described. The method comprises: detecting attempted access by the service user to a restricted function on the self-service terminal and ascertaining if a predefined operating system account is present on the terminal. In the event that the predefined operating system account is not present, then the method comprises permitting access to the restricted function by the service user. In the event that the predefined operating system account is present, then the method comprises requesting the service user to provide login credentials and authenticating the login credentials using the operating system account. If the login credentials are not authenticated, access to the restricted function is denied; whereas, if the login credentials are authenticated, access to the restricted function is permitted. |
| US08499344B2 |
Audio-video telephony with firewalls and network address translation
The present invention relates to a communications system (1) for making multimedia calls. The system comprises two multimedia terminals (10,12) and communication means for making a multimedia call over a shared communications network (20), including a firewall (26) through which the multimedia call must pass, and which restricts certain types of communication. Each terminal (10,12) has a number of logical communication ports for the multimedia call, including at least one dynamically assigned port. In the course of setting up the multimedia call, at least one of the terminals (10,12) is adapted to send a request to the other of the terminals to open up one or more of the dynamic ports in the other terminal. The system includes a proxy server (40) between the terminals (10,12) that acts for each terminal as a proxy for the other terminal during the course of the call. The proxy server (40) has logical communication ports for communication with the terminals including one or more pre-assigned ports. The firewall (26) is configured not to restrict communication between one or both terminals (10,12) and the pre-assigned port(s) of the proxy server (40). The proxy server (40) is configured to receive and forward the request(s) to open up said dynamic port(s) via one of its pre-assigned ports. |
| US08499343B2 |
Hosted media content service systems and methods
An exemplary system includes 1) at least one computing device within a first computing subsystem associated with a hosted media content service, the at least one computing device configured to authenticate a user to the hosted media content service and provide at least one encrypted token to a user device associated with the user, and 2) at least one other computing device within a second computing subsystem associated with the hosted media content service, the at least one other computing device configured to store hosted media content associated with the hosted media content service, receive the at least one encrypted token from the user device, validate the at least one encrypted token, and perform, in response to the validation, at least one action on media content as part of the hosted media content service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08499340B2 |
IMS network identity management
Methods and apparatus for enabling secure communications between a UE (user equipment) device operating though a packet-switched network and a 3rd party service outside of the user's home domain. The packet-switched network may be, for example, configured according and IMS architecture and use SIP control signaling. An identity server in the user's home domain is coupled with a proxy server or gateway and receives control messages, on which the identity server effects identity translation if needed. Translating messages targeted for the third party serve includes stripping user identifying information and adding a domain identifier to the message. It may also include adding an identity token. Where an identity token is not added, it may be provided upon request to a 3rd party service entity. Translating messages targeted for the UE includes adding a user identifier for home domain routing. |
| US08499334B2 |
System, method and apparatus for enabling transactions using a user enabled programmable magnetic stripe
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus that includes a user device having a magnetic field generator disposed within a substrate that is normally inactive, an initiator mounted on the substrate, a memory disposed within the substrate and a processor disposed within the substrate that is communicably coupled to the magnetic field generator, the initiator and the memory. The processor is operable to process information received from the initiator, generate a time varying code in response to the received information and activate the magnetic field generator. A power source is also disposed within the substrate. The magnetic field generator can create a spatial magnetic signal using a magnetic stripe and one or more induction coils, or create a time-varying magnetic signal for emulating data obtained from swiping a traditional magnetic stripe card through a magnetic card reader. |
| US08499325B2 |
Method and system for multiplexed transport interface between demodulators (DEMODS) and set-top box (STB) system-on-chips (SoCs)
A multiplexed transport interface (MTSIF) may be utilized during communication between a demodulation module and a video processing system-on-chip (SoC). The MTSIF may enable concurrent demodulation of a plurality of input modulated video streams, via a plurality of demodulator chips within the demodulation module, by multiplexing data generated by the demodulator chips via the MTSIF during communication between the demodulator module and the video processing SoC. The MTSIF may also be utilized for communicating control signals, which may be used in controlling and/or managing operations of the demodulation module, the video processing SoC, and/or the MTSIF. Communication via the MTSIF may be synchronized. Packets communicated via the MTSIF may be timestamped. Timestamp counters may be used in the demodulation module and the video processing SoC to generate and/or track timestamps in communicated packets. The timestamp counter may be synchronized, using control signals communicated via the MTSIF. |
| US08499324B1 |
Mobile platform advertising system and method
The communication system can be configured to generate revenue by using advertising elements or storing web pages. The communication system can allow internet access or programs to be performed. The mobile platforms can be automobiles, aircraft, boats, ships, trains or other vehicles. Advertising elements can be stored on the mobile platform. |
| US08499320B2 |
Next generation user interface for audio video display device such as TV with multiple user input modes and hierarchy thereof
A television user interface allows viewer commands to be input using a remote control, voice input, and hand movements in free space, as well as facial recognition using a camera integrated into the television. All three input modes can be active simultaneously, and so a hierarchy of modes is established to resolve conflicting commands received more or less simultaneously in different modes. |
| US08499319B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing image
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus including: an image processing unit which processes and displays a broadcasting signal; a user input unit through which a user inputs a key selection signal; and a controller which performs a switch to a favorite channel or performs a certain function in association with the favorite channel if an input time of the key selection signal is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. With this, a viewer can more directly and conveniently search favorite channels. |
| US08499317B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling a broadcast content display therein
The present invention includes comparing a content rating value set on a received broadcast content to a reference rating value set on the mobile terminal, if the content rating value meets the reference rating value as a result of the comparing step, displaying the broadcast content, receiving an input of a viewing restriction command signal in the course of displaying the broadcast content, if the viewing restriction command signal is inputted, adjusting at least one of a plurality of field values configuring the reference rating value to prevent the content rating value from meeting the reference rating value, and if the content rating value fails to meet the reference rating value as a result of the adjusting step, stopping a display of the first broadcast content. |
| US08499314B2 |
Disc loading device to load different size discs
Disclosed herein is a disc loading device applied to small-sized and slim type disc players. The disc loading device may include a first guide lever, a second guide lever, a trigger lever, a chucking unit, a slider, and a connecting unit. The connecting unit may be selectively operatively connected to the second guide lever, upon loading a first disc or a second disc, to change a timing at which a rotational force of the trigger lever may be transmitted to the slider. |
| US08499309B2 |
Application event handling methods and systems
An exemplary method includes an application event handling system 1) detecting an occurrence of an event initiated by a user and associated with an application configured to be executed by a computing device, 2) determining, in response to the detecting, that another event previously initiated by the user and associated with the application is either already being processed by the computing device or already scheduled for processing by the computing device, 3) directing, in response to the determining, the computing device to ignore the previously initiated event, 4) scheduling, in response to the determining, the event to be processed by the computing device after a delay timer expires, and 5) starting, in response to the scheduling, the delay timer. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08499300B2 |
System and method for task management of rule based tasks
System and methods for task management of rule based tasks. The task management system of the invention includes various modules that work together to accomplish task monitoring, scheduling, prioritization, compliance and reporting. A task management module facilitates the development of task compliance by scheduling and prioritizing tasks based on the needs of the enterprise. The tasks are provided in task modules that set out specific steps for completing the tasks. A common database is operatively connected to the task management module, task module and other modules to maintain the rules and policies, the tasks to be completed and the responses to those tasks. |
| US08499299B1 |
Ensuring deterministic thread context switching in virtual machine applications
Techniques for ensuring deterministic thread context switching in a virtual machine application program include, in one embodiment, providing a single application-level mutex that threads of the executing application program are forced to acquire to execute application code of the virtual machine application program. During a first recorded execution of the virtual machine application program, a record is created and stored in a computer that indicates the order in which threads acquire the application-level mutex. In a subsequent replay execution of the virtual machine application program from the recording, threads of the virtual machine application program are managed to ensure that the application-level mutex is acquired by threads in the same order indicated in the record such that any race conditions that occurred during the recorded execution as a result of executing application code are reproduced during the subsequent replay execution thereby aiding application development personnel in identifying and isolating program errors and bugs related to race conditions. |
| US08499298B2 |
Multiprocessing transaction recovery manager
A multiprocessing transaction recovery manager, operable with a transactional application manager and a resource manager, comprises a threadsafety indicator for receiving and storing positive and non-positive threadsafety data of at least one transactional component managed by one of the transactional application manager and the resource manager; a commit protocol component for performing commit processing for the at least one transactional component; and a thread selector responsive to positive threadsafety data for selecting a single thread for the commit processing to be performed by the commit protocol component. The thread selector is further operable to select plural threads for the commit processing to be performed by the commit protocol component responsive to non-positive threadsafety data. |
| US08499297B2 |
Low overhead fault tolerance through hybrid checkpointing and replay
A virtualized computer system provides fault tolerant operation of a primary virtual machine. In one embodiment, this system includes a backup computer system that stores a snapshot of the primary virtual machine and a log file containing non-deterministic events occurring in the instruction stream of the primary virtual machine. The primary virtual machine periodically updates the snapshot and the log file. Upon a failure of the primary virtual machine, the backup computer can instantiate a failover backup virtual machine by consuming the stored snapshot and log file. |
| US08499296B2 |
Multi-branch management for updating software
A system for managing updates of an executable component in accordance with an updating tree with multiple branches is provided. In one implementation, specific updates are provided to users with specific problems while general updates are provided to all users of the executable component. A range of lower version numbers is reserved for the general updates. When a specific update with a version number higher than those in the reserved range has been installed on a computing device, an installer may prevent a new general update with a lower version number to be installed. The installer may determine a new specific update corresponding to the general update and provide an indication to the user to install this new specific update instead of the general update. This multi-branch update delivery system enables users to elect to receive only updates that are necessary. |
| US08499293B1 |
Symbolic renaming optimization of a trace
A method and apparatus for optimizing a sequence of operations adapted for execution by a processor is disclosed to include associating with each register a symbolic expression selected from a set of possible symbolic expressions, locating an operation, if any, that is next within the sequence of operations and setting that operation to be a working operation, where the working operation has associated therewith a destination register and zero or more source registers, and processing the working operation when the working operation and any symbolic expressions of its source registers, if any, match at least one of a set of rules, where each rule specifies that the working operation must match a subset of the operation set, where each rule also specifies that the symbolic expressions, if any, of any source registers of the working operation must match a subset of the possible symbolic expressions, and where the rule also specifies a result, then posting the result as the symbolic expression of the destination register. |
| US08499287B2 |
Analysis of thread synchronization events
Thread blocking synchronization event analysis software uses kernel context switch data and thread unblocking data to form a visualization of thread synchronization behavior. The visualization provides interactive access to source code responsible for thread blocking, identifies blocking threads and blocked threads, summarizes execution delays due to synchronization and lists corresponding APIs and objects, correlates thread synchronization events with application program phases, and otherwise provides information associated with thread synchronization. The visualization may operate within an integrated development environment. |
| US08499286B2 |
Module testing adjustment and configuration
In one embodiment, a method for testing adjustment and configuration is disclosed. The method can include accessing source code of a test framework that is configured for testing a module, creating a configuration folder having a property override for a test suite for the module testing, determining a source root folder for the test suite, starting the test framework by passing in an identifier for the test suite, and adding a custom test to the source root folder using the configuration folder to customize the test suite. The method can further include compiling the test framework with each of the plurality of test folders enabled. The method also may use a refactoring tool to make changes in a file within the test framework. |
| US08499281B2 |
Identifying impact of database changes on an application
A technique is disclosed for identifying impact of database changes on an application. Given a proposed database change, affected source code is identified that is affected by the proposed database change. References to the affected source code are created and organized into a hierarchy. A user can ascertain the extent of the impact by viewing the hierarchy and by using the hierarchy to access and view the affected source code in a visually distinct manner. |
| US08499278B2 |
System and method for software development
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing software. In one embodiment, a method for facilitating the distributed development of software components includes providing a skill rating for software developers, communicating specifications for a software component to a subset of the developers, receiving submissions from the developers, scoring the submissions, and selecting one submission to be included in a software repository. In another embodiment, a method for compensating a software developer includes soliciting software developers for the submission of computer software components, receiving software components in response to the solicitation from the developers, evaluating the received software components, selecting one or more of the submissions for potential distribution to the public, and allotting the proceeds from the distribution to the developers. |
| US08499275B2 |
Planar manufacturing drawing production support device, planar manufacturing drawing production support method, planar manufacturing drawing production support program and branch angle design support device
The present invention aims to improve accuracy of a planar manufacturing drawing used to instruct manufacture of a three-dimensional structure in a planar form. According to path plan information is acquired by a path plan information acquisition unit 11a and manufacturing requirement information is acquired by a manufacturing requirement information acquisition unit, a layout configuration production unit 11c produces a layout configuration model in which the three-dimensional structure is laid out in a planar manner based on a manufacture layout and distortion of the wire harness. Then, a simulation unit 11d simulates a transformation from the layout configuration model to the mounting configuration model with which the three-dimensional structure is mounted to a mount object. Then, an evaluation item evaluating unit 11e evaluates a predetermined evaluation item by comparing the simulation result and the three-dimensional structure indicated by the path plan information. Then, an evaluation result information output unit 11f outputs the evaluation result to support path designing of the three-dimensional structure and/or production of the planar manufacturing drawing. |
| US08499273B1 |
Systems and methods for optimizing placement and routing
Systems and techniques are described for optimizing placement and routing by providing global information during early stages of a computer aided design (CAD) flow to produce better place and route solutions. Moreover, the systems and techniques described herein use natural connectivity information inherently provided in a design hierarchy. |
| US08499271B2 |
Integrated circuit apparatus, systems, and methods
High density circuit modules are formed by stacking integrated circuit (IC) chips one above another. Unused input/output (I/O) locations on some of the chips can be used to connect other I/O locations, resulting in decreased impedance between the chips. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08499270B1 |
Configuration of programmable IC design elements
A system and method are provided for configuring a programmable integrated circuit including a number of function blocks. In one embodiment, the system includes a programmable integrated circuit including a number of function blocks, and a host computing device to configure the number of function blocks to perform a number of functions. The host computing device utilizes a graphical user interface to provide specification of configuration parameters of the function blocks, and the graphical user interface updates a given configuration parameter if a value of the given configuration parameter is affected by a value specified for another configuration parameter. Other embodiments are also provided. |
| US08499268B2 |
Method of supporting layout design of semiconductor integrated circuit
In a method of supporting a layout design, a net list of an integrated circuit is divided into net lists of clock domain circuit aggregations. A timing constraint is generated to each of the clock domain circuit aggregations. An arrangement order of the clock domain circuit aggregations is determined to satisfy the timing constraint. A layout of the integrated circuit is generated by carrying out arrangement and wiring of the clock domain circuit aggregations based on the arrangement order. |
| US08499266B2 |
Race logic synthesis for large-scale integrated circuit designs
Techniques for performing race logic synthesis on an integrated circuit (IC) are described herein. According to one aspect of the invention, HDL (hardware description language) and/or ESL (electronic system level) design source files of an IC design are compiled into a common design database. Race logic analysis is performed on the IC design, either by a third-party tool or by the same EDA (electronic design automation) tool that also performing race logic synthesis, if the latter has built-in race logic audit functions. Based on the race logic audit results, race logic synthesis is performed on the common design database, and getting rid of all identified race logic in the IC design. This renders the EDA tool can perform concurrent analysis of the IC design, via the race-free common design database, using multi-CPU/core computers and the results will be the same as if the EDA tool had performed serial analysis of the IC design using a single-CPU/core computer. Another aspect of the invention is outputting the re-synthesized logic in the common design database to new HDL/ESL source files. User may use these revised source files to analyze the IC design using other third-party EDA design/verification tools. |
| US08499260B2 |
Optical proximity correction verification accounting for mask deviations
Solutions for accounting for photomask deviations in a lithographic process during optical proximity correction verification are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes: identifying a wafer control structure in a data set representing one of a first chip or a kerf; biasing the data set representing the first chip in the case that the wafer control structure is in the data set representing the first chip; biasing the data set representing the kerf or a second chip distinct from the first chip, in the case that the wafer control structure is in the data set representing the kerf or the second chip; simulating formation of the wafer control structure; determining whether the simulated wafer control structure complies with a target control structure; and iteratively adjusting an exposure dose condition in the case that the simulated wafer control structure does not comply with the target control structure. |
| US08499259B2 |
Polishing estimation/evaluation device, overpolishing condition calculation device, and computer-readable non-transitory medium thereof
A polishing estimation/evaluation device includes a dividing unit, an overpolished area extracting unit, and a dummy modifying unit. The dividing unit divides a layout of an integrated circuit into a plurality of partial areas. The overpolished area extracting unit refers to an overpolishing condition indicating whether overpolishing occurs in a vicinity of a partial area based on a wiring density in the partial area and a wiring density in surrounding areas of the partial area, and extracts a partial area where the overpolishing occurs from the plurality of partial areas obtained by the division by the dividing unit. The dummy modifying unit modifies dummy wiring in the partial area where the overpolishing occurs extracted by the overpolished area extracting unit and/or dummy wiring in surrounding areas of the partial area to reduce the number of partial areas where the overpolishing occurs. |
| US08499258B1 |
Touch input gesture based command
A touch input gesture made on a touch sensitive display is described for providing a quick and efficient method for initiating the opening of a text input box. The initiation of opening the text input box following the touch input gesture may be made during the running of a separate application. Further, certain characteristics related to the shape, size and length of the touch input gesture will be referenced to determine certain characteristics of the text input box that is initiated in response to the touch input gesture. |
| US08499257B2 |
Handles interactions for human—computer interface
A system is disclosed for providing on-screen graphical handles to control interaction between a user and on-screen objects. A handle defines what actions a user may perform on the object, such as for example scrolling through a textual or graphical navigation menu. Affordances are provided to guide the user through the process of interacting with a handle. |
| US08499254B2 |
Surfacing and management of window-specific controls
The functionality traditionally provided by an application program through a window presented as part of a window-based user interface can be accessed while the window remains hidden. A toolbar, or similar collection of user interface elements, can be presented when a user indicates an intention to interact with an application program whose window is hidden. The toolbar can comprise elements associated with functions specific to the hidden window. The user's selection can be communicated to the application program so that it can perform the requested function. If the user no longer indicates an intention to interact with the application program, the toolbar can be removed. In one embodiment, the toolbar can be presented together with a thumbnail of the relevant window in a floating display element. |
| US08499253B2 |
Individualized tab audio controls
According to one general aspect, a method may include detecting an audio signal configured to be played from a local loudspeaker. The method may also include determining which of one or more applications is included with the audio signal, wherein the determined application includes one or more tabs. The method may include determining which tab of the one or more tabs of the determined application is included with the audio signal. The method may comprise providing a graphical user interface (GUI) included with a handle of the determined tab, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to facilitate the manipulation of the audio signal by a user. The method may include manipulating the audio signal, based upon a command generated by the graphical user interface in response to a user interaction. |
| US08499250B2 |
Apparatus and methods for interacting with multiple information forms across multiple types of computing devices
A system and method for interacting with multiple information forms across multiple types of computing devices and platforms is provided. A computer-readable storage media for interacting with multiple information forms across computing devices is also provided and includes computer-readable instructions to cause one or more computer processors to execute operations including authenticating a user; establishing a channel grid framework for the user on a first platform, the channel grid framework providing access to a first computer application displayed on a display device as a channel; deploying the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform to a second platform in response to a user selecting the channel from the channel grid framework on the first platform and performing a copy operation of the channel to the second platform; and establishing a run time application of the first computer application on the second platform. |
| US08499246B2 |
System and method for providing single click enterprise communication
Systems and methods for providing single click enterprise communication are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a profile is associated with each individual of an enterprise. A single click selection of a communication type from a plurality of communication types for a particular individual may then be received. The profile associated with the individual is then reviewed to determine one or more contact identifiers associated with the selected communication type. Using the determined contact identifiers a communication may be established with the individual. |
| US08499244B2 |
Automation-resistant, advertising-merged interactive services
Systems and methodologies for implementing automation-resistant interactive computing services are provided herein. Function invocation mechanisms can be utilized as described herein to facilitate invocation and/or activation of one or more functions of an interactive service upon performance of an interaction falling within a predefined class of interaction with selected multimedia content. The described functionality invocation mechanisms can operate similarly to a traditional captcha image by requiring interaction that is easily understandable and performable by a human user but is prohibitively difficult for an automated program to carry out. Techniques such as masking relationships between user interaction and function invocation and varying elements of the selected multimedia content for respective accesses can be utilized to provide additional resistance to automation. Described invocation mechanisms can additionally be merged with advertising, which can optionally be targeted to a particular user(s). |
| US08499242B2 |
Image editing method, image editing device, and computer readable medium for storing image editing program
An image editing method comprises: a step of acquiring identification information on each of a plurality of operation instruction units for instructing editing of an image, a step of automatically selecting one or more images for editing from a group of images to classify the one or more images into a group of usable images based on the identification information, a step of determining a right to edit reaching contents of processing which each operation instruction unit is authorized to perform against each image in the group of usable images, and a step of performing editing processing on an image to be edited in the group of usable images based upon the determined right to edit according to an editing instruction supplied from each operation instruction unit. |
| US08499240B2 |
Rule-based presentation of log messages on a graphic timeline
Systems, methods, computer program code, and means are provided for the rules-based presentation of log messages on a graphical timeline. Pursuant to some embodiments, a request to view log file information is received, and a plurality of log file messages are retrieved based on the request. The plurality of log file messages are aggregated based on timestamp information contained in each of the log file messages and the aggregated log file messages are displayed along a graphical timeline. |
| US08499233B2 |
Systems and processes for transforming and displaying accounting and financial information
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and processes for transforming and displaying accounting and financial information. One embodiment relates to the selection, or creation, and use of graphical symbols to represent the flow of cash in an organization, with the size of the graphical symbols presented approximately to scale. Another embodiment relates to the use of alternative units for displaying accounting and financial information, while another embodiment uses sound to present accounting and financial information, and yet another embodiment uses tactile display to present accounting and financial information. |
| US08499232B2 |
Differential dynamic content delivery with a participant alterable session copy of a user profile
Differential dynamic content delivery with a participant alterable session copy of a user profile. Typical embodiments include providing a session document for a presentation, where the session document includes a session grammar and a session structured document; providing a session copy of a participant's user profile including a user classification; receiving, from the participant, a user classification instruction to change a user classification in the session copy of the participant's user profile; changing the user classification in the session copy of the participant's user profile in dependence upon the participant's user classification instruction; selecting from the session structured document a classified structural element in dependence upon a user classification in the session copy of the participant's user profile in the presentation; and presenting the selected structural element to the participant. |
| US08499231B2 |
Systems and methods for reduced format non-binary decoding
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a data detecting circuit having: a first vector translation circuit, a second vector translation circuit, and a data detector core circuit. The data detecting circuit is operable to receive an input data set and at least one input vector in a first format. The at least one input vector corresponds to a portion of the input data set. The first vector translation circuit is operable to translate the at least one vector to a second format. The data detector core circuit is operable to apply a data detection algorithm to the input data set and the at least one vector in the second format to yield a detected output. The second vector translation circuit operable to translate a derivative of the detected output to the first format to yield an output vector. |
| US08499230B2 |
Critical path monitor for an integrated circuit and method of operation thereof
A path monitor, a method of monitoring a path, an integrated circuit and a library of standard logic elements. In one embodiment, the path monitor includes: (1) a delay element having an input couplable to an input of a clocked flip-flop associated with a path to be monitored and configured to provide a predetermined delay and (2) a clocked exclusive OR gate having a clock input, a first input coupled to an output of the delay element, a second input couplable to the output of the clocked flip-flop and an output at which the clocked exclusive OR gate is configured to respond to a clock signal to provide an error signal only when logic levels of the first input and the second input differ. |
| US08499227B2 |
Memory quality monitor based compensation method and apparatus
In one embodiment, an encoder reads a set of data from memory cells to obtain retrieved data influenced by one or more distortion mechanisms as a result of having been stored. A quality metric is generated responsive to the retrieved data that changes in value responsive to differences between the user data and the associated retrieved data. A quality monitor establishes a relationship between a current value of the quality metric and a threshold value and monitors the relationship as being indicative of a degradation of the quality of the retrieved data, and selectively initiates an error response. In another embodiment, a correction value is iterated through a set of values as a quality metric is monitored such that the value of the quality metric which most closely approaches the value of the quality metric immediately subsequent to an initial writing of the data can be selected. |
| US08499222B2 |
Supporting distributed key-based processes
Supporting distributed key-based processes is described. In an embodiment, servers at a data center provide a key-based process for carrying out computationally expensive tasks and are connected using point to point connections in a geometric topology such as a torus. In an example, aggregation trees are built on top of the geometric topology of the data center, each aggregation tree being a sequence of servers in the data center that forms a tree structure. In an embodiment packets of data are sent from the leaves of the trees to the root and at each server along the tree the packets are aggregated using a combiner function of the key-based process. In an embodiment, if a server fails, the trees are dynamically recomputed and a recovery phase is triggered to resend any packets lost at the failed server. In some embodiments, packets are scheduled by inspecting the content of the packets. |
| US08499221B2 |
Accessing coded data stored in a non-volatile memory
Adaptive endurance coding including a method for accessing memory that includes retrieving a codeword from a memory address. The codeword is multiplied by a metadata matrix to recover metadata for the codeword. The metadata includes a data location specification. The data in the codeword is identified in response to the metadata and the data is output as read data. |
| US08499220B2 |
Systems and methods for re-designating memory regions as error code corrected memory regions
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and circuits for memories and utilization thereof. As one example, a memory system is disclosed that includes a flash memory device and a flash access circuit. The flash access circuit is operable to perform an error code encoding algorithm on a data set to yield an error code, to write the data set to the flash memory device at a first location, and to write the error code to the flash memory device at a second location. |
| US08499217B2 |
Memory device and error control codes decoding method
Memory devices and/or error control codes (ECC) decoding methods may be provided. A memory device may include a memory cell array, and a decoder to perform hard decision decoding of first data read from the memory cell array by a first read scheme, and to generate output data and error information of the output data. The memory device may also include and a control unit to determine an error rate of the output data based on the error information, and to determine whether to transmit an additional read command for soft decision decoding to the memory cell array based on the error rate. An ECC decoding time may be reduced through such a memory device. |
| US08499216B2 |
Semiconductor storage device, method of controlling the same, and error correction system
A semiconductor storage device, a method of controlling the same, and an error correction system allow reduction in power consumption and circuit scale without detriment to error correction capability. An error correction code (ECC) circuit of a solid state drive (SSD) performs first error correction on read data using a first error correction code (Hamming code), and further performs second error correction on the result of the first error correction using a second error correction code (BHC code). Furthermore, the ECC circuit performs third error correction on the result of the second error correction using a third error correction code (RS code). |
| US08499215B2 |
Multi-level cell memory devices and methods of storing data in and reading data from the memory devices
A multi-level cell (MLC) memory device may include ‘a’ number of m-bit MLC memory cells; an encoder that encodes ‘k’ bits of data at a code rate of k/n to generate an encoded bit stream; and a signal mapping module that applies pulses to the MLC memory cells in order to write the encoded bit stream in the MLC memory cells. In the device, ‘a’ and ‘m’ may be integers greater than or equal to 2, ‘k’ and ‘n’ may be integers greater than or equal to 1, and ‘n’ may be greater than ‘k’. A method of storing data in the device may include encoding ‘k’ bits of data at a code rate of k/n to generate an encoded bit stream. A method of reading data from the device may include decoding ‘n’ bits of data at a code rate of n/k to generate a decoded bit stream. |
| US08499214B2 |
Data processing apparatus and data processing method
The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and a data processing method which can improve the tolerance to errors of data. A demultiplexer 25 replaces, in accordance with an allocation rule for allocating code bits of an LDPC code to symbol bits representative of symbols, mb bits from among the code bits and sets the code bits after the replacement as symbol bits of b symbols. For example, when m is 12 and b is 1, where the i+1th bits from the most significant bit of the 12×1 code bits and the 12×1 symbol bits of one symbol are represented as bits bi and yi, replacement for allocating, for example, b0 to y8, b1 to y0, b2 to y6, b3 to y1, b4 to y4, b5 to y5, b6 to y2, b7 to y3, b8 to y7, b9 to y10, b10 to y11 and b11 to y9 is carried out. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a transmission system for transmitting an LDPC code and so forth. |
| US08499212B2 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive forward error correction with merged automatic repeat request for reliable multicast in wireless local area networks
A method and apparatus are described for increasing multicasting reliability, including receiving content and a first layer of a plurality of a forward error correction coded packets from a first multicast group and joining an additional multicast group in order to receive one of additional layers of forward error correction coded packets and the content along with a further additional layer of the plurality of forward error correction coded packets. |
| US08499209B2 |
At-speed scan testing with controlled switching activity
Test patterns for at-speed scan tests are generated by filling unspecified bits of test cubes with functional background data. Functional background data are scan cell values observed when switching activity of the circuit under test is near a steady state. Hardware implementations in EDT (embedded deterministic test) environment are also disclosed. |
| US08499208B2 |
Method and apparatus for scheduling BIST routines
The content and order of a predetermined sequence of hard-coded and/or quasi-programmable test patterns may be altered during a Built-In Self-Test (BIST) routine. As such, knowledge gained post design completion may be reflected in the selection and arrangement of available tests to be executed during a BIST routine. In one embodiment, a sequence of hard-coded and/or quasi-programmable tests is executed during a BIST routine by receiving test ordering information for the sequence of tests and executing the sequence of tests in an order indicated by the test ordering information. A corresponding BIST circuit comprises a storage element and a state machine. The storage element is configured to store test ordering information for the sequence of tests. The state machine is configured to execute the sequence of tests in an order indicated by the test ordering information. |
| US08499207B2 |
Memory devices and method for error test, recordation and repair
In a memory device, an on-die register is provided that is configured to store a row address as well as a column address of a memory cell that fails a test. Storing the row address frees testing from being limited to activating at one time only rows related to a common redundant segment. Storing the row address also guides repair using segmented redundancy. As an addition or alternative, information may be stored in an anti-fuse bank that is designed to provide access to a redundant cell but has not yet enabled access to that cell. If the information stored in the anti-fuse bank relates to the failure of the redundant cell, such information may be used to avoid repairing with that redundant cell. |
| US08499206B2 |
Memory system and method for preventing system hang
A memory system includes an error detection circuit having an error counter. When a bit error rate (BER) determined by the error counter exceeds a reference BER, the memory system reduces the BER by adjusting its operating speed or operating voltage, re-performing data training or impedance matching, or by adjusting a data swing width. Accordingly, a method of controlling a bit error rate may be performed, and a system hang is prevented. |
| US08499201B1 |
Methods and systems for measuring and presenting performance data of a memory controller system
Mechanisms for measuring, analyzing, and presenting performance data associated with a memory controller system are described. The mechanisms include a performance monitor that detects and analyzes performance including efficiency and latency of a memory controller system. In addition to determining performance, the systems identifies reasons for loss of memory controller system efficiency. Moreover, the reasons, the efficiency, and the latency are analyzed and presented in a manner easily understandable to a user. |
| US08499199B2 |
GPU computational assist for drive media waveform generation of media emulators
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for testing devices that will be connected to a computer storage media device by generating a complex test waveform that emulates operation of the computer storage media device using at least one Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and applying the generated complex test waveform to the device(s) being tested. The complex test waveform may be generated by calculating a plurality of discrete individual portions of the complex test waveform in parallel, in real-time, and continuously using the parallel processing features of the GPU(s). The discrete individual portions of the complex test waveform may be representative of various characteristics of the emulated computer storage media device operation such as operational characteristics of the computer storage media device, environmental effects on the computer storage media device, application of filters to the computer storage media device signal, etc. Various embodiments may generate the base data signal waveform from the emulated computer storage device such that the entire complex test waveform is calculated. Other embodiments may use a pre-existing base data signal waveform provided from another source and modify/alter the pre-existing base data signal waveform to generate the complex test waveform. When available, one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs) and/or CPU cores may also perform calculations in parallel with the calculations performed by the GPU(s). |
| US08499198B1 |
Testing data storage devices running different versions of an operating system
A data storage device (DSD) test system is disclosed comprising a first DSD tester operable to download a first version of an operating system to a first DSD and execute a first test on the first DSD, and a second DSD tester operable to download a second version of the operating system to a second DSD and execute a second test on the second DSD while the first DSD tester is executing the first test on the first DSD. |
| US08499196B2 |
Application portal testing
A first test script that includes at least one first step for executing a test of a test portal is provided in a computing device. An indication that an event has occurred in response to the test is received in the computing device. A second test script that includes at least one second step for executing the test is generated in the computing device, the at least one second step being at least in part a response to the event. |
| US08499194B2 |
Information handling system forced action communicated over an optical interface
A forced power down signal issues from an I/O device to an information handling system through an optical interconnect if the information handling system fails to power down in response to a normal power down message. A 100% duty cycle signal issues from an optical interface at the I/O device and is detected by an optical interface of the information handling system, which issues a command to force a power down of the information handling system in response to the forced power down signal. |
| US08499193B2 |
Integrated dissimilar high integrity processing
A self-checking network is provided, comprising a first command processor configured to execute a performance function and a second command processor configured to execute the performance function, coupled to the first command processor. The self-checking network also comprises a first monitor processor configured to execute a monitor function that is coupled to the first command processor and a second monitor processor configured to execute the monitor function that is coupled to the second command processor. The first and second command processors compare outputs, the first and second monitor processors compare outputs, and the first monitor processor determines whether an output of the first command processor exceeds a first selected limit. |
| US08499190B2 |
Portable device and backup method thereof
An embodiment of the invention provides a backup method for a portable device to back up a first data to a backup server. The backup method includes steps of determining whether the backup server can be accessed; when the backup server can be accessed, establishing a first data transmission path that the first data would be backed up to the backup server via a third party, a second data transmission path that the first data would be backed up to the backup server via a router, and a third data transmission path that the first data would directly backed up to the backup server; selecting one data transmission path among the first, second and third data transmission paths; and backing up the first data via the selected data transmission path. |
| US08499188B2 |
Processing device for determining whether to output a first data using a first clock signal or a second data using delay from the first clock signal according to a control signal
An embodiment of a processing device includes a function unit and a control unit. The function unit receives input data and performs a specific operation to the input data to generate result data. The control unit receives the result data and generates an output signal. The control unit latches the result data according to a first clock signal to generate first data and latches the result data according to a second clock signal to generate second data. The control unit compares the first data with the second data to generate a control signal and selects the first data or the second data to serve as data of the output signal according to the control signal. The second clock signal is delayed from the first clock signal by a predefined time period. |
| US08499185B2 |
Determining redundancy of power feeds connecting a server to a power supply
Methods, system, and computer program products are provided for determining redundancy of power feeds connecting a server to a power supply. Embodiments include receiving, by a redundancy monitoring manager, from each of a plurality of redundancy monitoring interposers, connection information, wherein each redundancy monitoring interposer comprises a device that provides an electrical contact between a power circuit and one of a power supply, the server, and another power circuit; in dependence upon the connection information, determining, by the redundancy monitoring manager, for each power feed provided to the server, which power circuits supply the power feed; determining, by the redundancy monitoring manager, if any of the power feeds are supplied by the same power circuit; and indicating, by the redundancy monitoring manager, that the server has at least one non-redundant power feed when multiple power feeds of the server are supplied by the same power circuit. |
| US08499184B2 |
Method 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 reception 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. |
| US08499183B2 |
Plug assembly adapted to an adapter and a computer device
A plug assembly includes a first plug and a second plug. The first plug includes a main body whereon a first positive electrode, a first negative electrode and a first engaging portion are formed. The second plug has a chamber structure formed inside for containing the main body. A second positive electrode, a second negative electrode and a second engaging portion are formed on the chamber structure and located in positions corresponding to the first positive electrode, the first negative electrode and the first engaging structure, respectively. As the chamber structure completely contains the main body, the second positive electrode and the second negative electrode are respectively coupled to the first positive electrode and the first negative electrode, and the second engaging portion engages the first engaging portion, such that the main body is hold inside the chamber structure. |
| US08499182B2 |
Semiconductor device and data processing system
A semiconductor device has reduced power consumption and processing time associated with the release of a low power consumption state set by a central processing unit thereof. The semiconductor device controls a relationship between a forcible release and reset of the low power consumption state previously set by the central processing unit. In one embodiment, a forcible release control circuit forcibly releases the supply and stop of power and clocks previously set to one or more controlled circuits, only during a period required by a signal outputted from a requesting circuit, which requesting circuit may be either internal to the device or external to the device. Once the request signal from the requesting circuit has ended, the controlled circuits and, if appropriate, the central processing unit as well, are restored to the original low power consumption state. |
| US08499180B2 |
IC card with low precision clock
An IC Card may include electronic components to receive a power supply and a main clock signal by a reader device. The power supply may be provided to a subset of the electronic components during a main clock stop status wherein the main clock signal is suspended for avoiding a maximum power consumption threshold. The IC Card may also include a low precision clock included in the subset of electronic components for measuring time in the main clock stop status. |
| US08499171B2 |
Mobile security system and method
A system and method for providing a secure environment for mobile telephones and other devices are disclosed. The system and method may utilize trust zoning, layered memory, and a secure matrix model having, for example, a memory protection module for protecting memory; a secure debug module for ensuring security of the debug module; a secure file system module for protecting the secure file system; and a trusted time source module for protecting components. Embodiments of the present invention may protect against security attacks on a variety of hardware and software components while permitting suitable levels of accessibility for developmental and maintenance purposes. |
| US08499169B2 |
Client authentication device and methods thereof
A method of authenticating a data processing device includes receiving a request to authenticate the data processing device. In response, an authentication key is accessed an authenticated at an authentication module. The authentication key is stored at a storage module that is located within the same integrated circuit package as the authentication module, so that the authentication key can be communicated to the module without exposing the key to unauthorized probing. The integrated circuit package also includes a tamper detection module to determine whether a memory of the data processing device has been accessed. In response to determining the memory has been accessed, the tamper detection module instructs the authentication module to not authenticate the data processing device. |
| US08499164B2 |
Biometric authentication utilizing unique biometric signatures and portable electronic devices
A method and system for the authentication of a user at a point of entry. Biometric data can be provided after preliminary identification of the user based on identification information wirelessly provided from a portable electronic device carried with the user when the user is located near a point of entry, such as, for example, a border crossing or access point to a secure facility. Such a method and system can incorporate RFID tags, cellular wireless communications data and links, and/or Bluetooth communications link, etc. |
| US08499162B2 |
Non-transitory computer readable medium storing program, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process including: accepting an instruction for verifying an electronic signature added to information; verifying the electronic signature on the basis of an electronic certification corresponding to the electronic signature in accordance with the accepted instruction; calculating, when it is determined that the information has not been tampered with, a hash value of a combination of the information, the electronic signature, and validity-period information indicating a validity period of the electronic certification; adding a time stamp to the calculated hash value; outputting the information, the electronic signature, the hash value, and the validity-period information to a storage device; and outputting, when it is determined that the information has not been tampered with, a verification result including information indicating that the information has not been tampered with. |
| US08499160B2 |
Public key encryption with digital signature scheme
An improved encryption and digital signature system and method in accordance with the invention reuses an encryption ephemeral key pair from an encryption process in a digital signature process. The reuse of the encryption ephemeral key pair in the digital signature process advantageously results in reduced byte size of the digital signature and reduction of costly computation overhead. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is based on the El Gamal encryption scheme and the Nyberg-Rueppel signature scheme. The present invention is particularly useful for operation in conjunction with small communication devices having limited processing and storage, wherein such devices may communicate via bandwidth sensitive RF links. |
| US08499158B2 |
Anonymous authentication service method for providing local linkability
There is provided an anonymous service method of providing local linkability. The anonymous service method providing local linkability according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, an anonymous authentication operation based on a short group signature is performed, for which the concept of a local linkability is introduced to secure linkability within the same service domain. Namely, in the interior of a service provider, a virtual index having a fixed value is calculated for each service user, and in this case, although a plurality of service providers collude with each other, they cannot calculate a virtual index having the same value, whereby the linkability can be secured within the same service domain but not within the interiors of different service domains. |
| US08499155B2 |
Adaptive certificate distribution mechanism in vehicular networks using variable inter-certificate refresh period
A method for improving the reliability and performance of Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) networks where digital certificates are necessary for message authentication and some messages may be lost in transmission. The method uses a variable inter-certificate refresh period to optimize communications throughput based on network conditions such as node density and bandwidth saturation. In some network conditions, the inter-certificate refresh period may be increased, such that more certificate digests are sent between full digital certificates, to decrease average message size. In other network conditions, the inter-certificate refresh period may be decreased, to allow for more frequent message authentication by receiving nodes. Empirical data and an adaptive controller are used to select the refresh period which will provide the best performance based on network conditions. |
| US08499151B2 |
Secure platform voucher service for software components within an execution environment
Apparatuses, articles, methods, and systems for secure platform voucher service for software within an execution environment. An embodiment includes the ability for a Virtual Machine Monitor, Operating System Monitor, or other underlying platform capability to restrict memory regions for access only by authenticated, authorized and verified software components. A provisioning remote entity or gateway only needs to know a platform's public key or certificate hierarchy to receive verification for any component. The verification or voucher helps assure to the remote entity that no malware running in the platform or on the network will have access to provisioned material. The underlying platform to lock and unlock secrets on behalf of the authenticated/authorized/verified software component provided in protected memory regions only accessible to the software component. |
| US08499149B2 |
Revocation for direct anonymous attestation
Direct Anonymous Attestation involves a Signer using a credential supplied by an Issuer to anonymously prove to a Verifier, on the basis of a public key of the Issuer, the Issuer's attestation to the Signer's membership of a particular group. To facilitate membership revocation, the Issuer updates the public key at intervals, and also effects a complementary updating to the Signer's credential unless the Signer has ceased to be a legitimate group member. A non-updated credential is inadequate to enable the Signer to prove its Issuer attested group membership to a Verifier on the basis of the updated Issuer public key. |
| US08499148B2 |
System and method for virtual team collaboration in a secure environment
A computing platform for facilitating dynamic connection and collaboration of users to transact services in a secure computing environment. The users include service providers and service requesters. The platform includes a registration module for registering users including service requesters and service providers, a connection module for connect users to form groups based on users' selective invitations to other users, and a collaboration module for creating a virtual secure data room for collaboration and sharing of encrypted data by the connected users in a user-friendly and transparent manner. The platform further comprises a transaction module for settling payments between the service requesters and the service providers based on completion of previously agreed project milestones. |
| US08499136B1 |
Method, system, and apparatus for expanding storage capacity in a data storage system
A method, system, and apparatus for expanding the storage capacity of a data storage system are provided. According to one method, the physical storage devices that store the data and metadata for one or more logical disks are organized into a container. A logical disk segment is created within the container for each logical disk. When storage capacity is added through the addition of logical disks, a new logical disk segment is added to the end of the container for the new logical disk. When storage capacity is added through the addition of capacity to an existing logical disk, a new logical disk segment is added to the end of the container for the new logical disk segment within the logical disk. The devices within a container may be migrated between server computers or between CPUs with their associated mass storage controllers. |
| US08499130B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium that records history information control program
A method and an apparatus include storing history information into a first storage section that accumulates history information concerning a process performed, transmitting a received acquisition request of the history information accumulated into the first storage section, transmitting the accumulated history information to the history information accumulation section having transmitted the acquisition request, transmitting the history information to the another history information accumulation section, transmitting the acquisition request to the first history information accumulation section at a time of startup, and storing the transmitted history information into a second storage section. |
| US08499125B2 |
Control device for snoop tag
To prevent a decrease in performance of controlling a snoop tag. A queue is stored with REPLACE target WAY information and an index as an entry associated with a REPLACE request received from a processor, the index stored in the queue is compared with an index of a subsequent READ request, and, as a result of the comparison, a process based on the index-coincident READ request is executed with respect to the snoop tag corresponding to a content of a cache memory of the processor. Further, the REPLACE target WAY information of the READ request is replaced with the WAY information in the index-coincident entry within the queue. |
| US08499124B2 |
Handling castout cache lines in a victim cache
A victim cache memory includes a cache array, a cache directory of contents of the cache array, and a cache controller that controls operation of the victim cache memory. The cache controller, responsive to receiving a castout command identifying a victim cache line castout from another cache memory, causes the victim cache line to be held in the cache array. If the other cache memory is a higher level cache in the cache hierarchy of the processor core, the cache controller marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is less likely to be evicted by a replacement policy of the victim cache, and otherwise, marks the victim cache line in the cache directory so that it is more likely to be evicted by the replacement policy of the victim cache. |
| US08499123B1 |
Multi-stage pipeline for cache access
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a command processing pipeline operatively coupled to an N-way cache and configured to process a sequence of cache commands. A way of the N ways of the cache with which an address of a cache command matches is a hit way for the cache command in case the cache command is a hit. In one embodiment, the command processing pipeline may be configured to receive a first cache command from one of the plurality of processing cores, select a way, from the N ways, as a potential eviction way, and generate, based at least in part on the received first cache command, N selection signals corresponding to the N ways, wherein each selection signal is indicative of whether the corresponding way is (A). the hit way and/or the eviction way, or (B). neither the hit way nor the eviction way. |
| US08499118B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for optimizing image rendering on an electronic device
Portable electronic devices typically have reduced computing resources, including reduced screen size. The method, apparatus and system of the present specification provides, amongst other things, an intermediation server configured to access network content that is requested by a portable electronic device and to analyze the content including analyzing images in that content. The intermediation server is further configured to accommodate the computing resources of the portable electronic device as part of fulfilling content requests from the portable electronic device. |
| US08499110B2 |
Method of generating useful electromagnetic waves by controlling electromagnetic wave noise generated from bus within computer by means of software
Provided is a method of generating electromagnetic waves using software. The method includes setting electromagnetic wave pattern data in consideration of a number of a bus (140, 150) connecting a central processing unit (CPU, 110) with a main memory (130) and transmission characteristics of the bus, storing the electromagnetic wave pattern data in a register of the CPU (110), setting an address in the main memory (130) at which the electromagnetic wave pattern data will be recorded, and transferring the electromagnetic wave pattern data to the set address in the main memory (130) through all the lines of the bus (140, 150). Here, electromagnetic waves corresponding to the electromagnetic wave pattern data are generated while the electromagnetic wave pattern data is transferred to the main memory through the bus. |
| US08499108B2 |
Configurable health-care equipment apparatus
An apparatus, system and method for providing health-care equipment in a plurality of customizable configurations. A configuration includes a selection and arrangement of health-care equipment modules that each provide specialized support for the provision of health care, including the measurement of physiological parameters. Various types of configurations include those adapted to be mounted upon a desk top or a wall surface, or adapted for wheel mounting or hand-carriable mobile configurations. |
| US08499098B2 |
Storage system and storage system communication path management method
The present invention makes it possible to reassess respective host paths and reset priorities in accordance with the current state of a storage system. A management computer 400, in a case where either a failure or a configuration change occurs inside the storage system, assesses the respective host paths 501 through 506 in accordance with the status of a first communication network 500 and the status of a second communication network 600. The management computer 400, based on these assessment results, resets the priority of each host path. an alternate path program 112 of the host 100 are notified of the priorities, which have been set. |
| US08499094B2 |
Modification of small computer system interface commands to exchange data with a networked storage device using AT attachment over ethernet
A process executed by a computing device uses commands having a first format to exchange data through a network with a storage device configured to execute commands having a second format. A storage device controller identifies a command type associated with a command received from the process and identifies one or more physical memory addresses associated with the command. The storage device controller identifies a command having a second format associated with the received command and generates a network request including the command having the second format, the one or more physical memory addresses, a device identifier associated with the storage device and a tag. The network request is transmitted through a network to the storage device which executes the command having the second format. For example, an AoE request including an ATA command is generated from a received SCSI command. |
| US08499085B2 |
Advanced availability detection
A method is provided in which the present invention is for a method in which a telecommunications terminal determines whether its user is available to accept an incoming invitation to participate in a telecommunications session based on: (1) a characteristic of the use of a software application, (2) a characteristic of the use of a resource of a terminal, (3) a sensor input, (4) a characteristic of the incoming invitation or (5) any combination of (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5). |
| US08499084B2 |
System for conducting multi-media communication sessions
A system for conducting multi-media communication sessions between two or more terminals includes a smart client application to dynamically load application code and data from servers on demand using an application management protocol. In the present embodiment the smart client is maintained on each terminal and initially executes a core application. This core application provides a user interface for selectively establishing and maintaining a communication session with a remote terminal. The core application also provides a user interface for including shared applications in the session to which the remote terminal has access. The core application provides a further user interface for combining two sessions into one that includes all participants and shared applications from both original sessions. Each shared application provides a user interface to each participant of the session according to their access rights: the participant who added an application to a session will typically have full access, while other participants typically have more restricted access. The core application uses a session management protocol to maintain consistent session state between all terminals involved in a session. |
| US08499076B2 |
Method for measuring the performance of an IP network and associated system
The invention relates to a method for measuring the performance of a network (18). The method includes steps comprising: parameterizing requests pointing to resources that can be accessed from a computer connected to the network, the parameterized requests being stored in a database; creating a user session comprising grouping together various stored requests; running a test campaign comprising concatenating in time the emission of the various requests in a session, each request being emitted by a user terminal connected to the network; for each one of the emitted requests, waiting for a response and calculating the value of at least one typical variable of the received response; and, aggregating the various values of the typical variable calculated during the test campaign to determine the value of a network performance estimator. |
| US08499073B1 |
Tracking content across the internet
System, methods and articles of manufacture for tracking content across an Internet. An embodiment comprises receiving the content from a content source, wherein the content includes a unique content identifier, injecting the content into a content aggregation system, retrieving the unique content identifier from the content, analyzing the content based on the unique content identifier and data in the content aggregation system, and generating a report of the analyzed content. |
| US08499072B2 |
Self healing networking device systems and related methods
In one embodiment, a networking system can comprise a networking device comprising an operating system module and performance management modules. The performance management modules can comprise at least one of a channel hopping module or a channel bonding module. The channel hopping module can switch the networking device from a first channel to a second channel having less interference than the first channel. The channel bonding module can toggle the networking device between a single-channel communications mode and a bonded channel communications mode via a plurality of bonded channels. The operating system module can actuate at least one of the performance management modules to sustain a performance level of the networking device in response to one or more triggering events from a performance review operation executed by the operating system module. Other examples and related methods are described herein. |
| US08499070B2 |
Electronic device and method for monitoring communication within a network
An electronic device includes a communication component that connects the electronic device to a network and that enables the electronic device to communicate within the network. The electronic device also includes a listening unit connected to the communication component that monitors messages transmitted over the network. The electronic device includes a processing unit that determines a type of at least one monitored message. The electronic device also includes an output means for outputting at least a part of the monitored messages depending on the determined type. |
| US08499069B2 |
Method for predicting performance of distributed stream processing systems
A method comprises estimating a performance of a processing system using queueing theory wherein the processing system comprises a network that accepts at least one input message stream from a plurality of publishing clients, transforms the at least one input message stream into at least one output message stream utilizing the plurality of transforms distributed in a first assignment among the plurality of brokers, and delivers the at least one output message stream to at least one of the plurality of subscribing clients, performing optimization upon the assignment of the plurality of transforms using the estimated performance to produce a second assignment, and reassigning the plurality of transforms in accordance with the second assignment. |
| US08499066B1 |
Predicting long-term computing resource usage
Techniques are described for performing automated predictions of program execution capacity or other capacity of computing-related hardware resources that will be used to execute software programs in the future, such as for a group of computing nodes that execute one or more programs for a user. The predictions that are performed may in at least some situations be based on historical data regarding corresponding prior actual usage of execution-related capacity (e.g., for one or more prior years), and may include long-term predictions for particular future time periods that are multiple months or years into the future. In addition, the predictions of the execution-related capacity for particular future time periods may be used in various manners, including to manage execution-related capacity at or before those future time periods, such as to prepare sufficient execution-related capacity to be available at those future time periods. |
| US08499059B2 |
System and methods for buffering of real-time data streams
A computer-implemented system and methods for buffering of real-time data streams are disclosed. The apparatus and method in an example embodiment includes: configuring a content server for an initial content quality type associated with a content stream; receiving the content stream with the initial content quality type from a content feed; detecting a low watermark condition as the content stream is played on a playback device; reconfiguring the content server for a modified content quality type associated with the content stream while receipt of the content stream is in progress; and receiving the content stream with the modified content quality type from the content feed. |
| US08499057B2 |
System and method for performing flash crowd caching of dynamically generated objects in a data communication network
The present invention is directed towards a “flash crowd” technique for handling situations where the cache receives additional requests, e.g., nearly simultaneous requests, for the same object during the time the server is processing and returning the response object for a first requestor. Once all such nearly simultaneous requests are responded to by the cache, the object is flushed from the cache, with no additional expiry time or invalidation action needed. This technique of the present invention enables data to be cached and served for very small amounts of time for objects that would otherwise be considered non-cacheable. As such, this technique yields a significant improvement in applications that serve fast changing data to a large volume of concurrent users, such, for example, as real time stock quotes, or a fast evolving news story. |
| US08499055B2 |
File decoding system and method
A file decoding method uses a master server to decode multimedia files. The method records statuses of a plurality of slave servers in a status table, receives a decoding request to decode the multimedia file from a web server, and selects one slave server from the status table to process the decoding request by the master server. The method further sends an Internet protocol (IP) address of the selected slave server to a web browser by the web server, sends a decoding command to the selected slave server by the web browser, decodes the multimedia file by the selected slave server, and transmits decoded data of the multimedia file to the web browser. |
| US08499054B2 |
Method for viewing non-image attachments on a portable electronic device
Method for viewing an attachment of an email message on a portable electronic device in which the attachment has a renderable format is provided. The method includes: requesting to view the attachment in an attachment viewer of the portable electronic device, building a graph structure within an attachment server representing a map of the attachment, the graph structure including at least one renderable identifier corresponding to a page of the attachment, requesting rendering of the attachment, the rendering request being send from the attachment viewer to the attachment server and including the at least one renderable identifier, initializing a rendering library and storing rendering commands corresponding to command types of the graph structure in the rendering library, drawing the rendering commands in an off-screen bitmap, saving the off-screen bitmap as a JPEG file, sending the JPEG file to the electronic device and displaying the JPEG file in the attachment viewer. |
| US08499053B2 |
Segmenting access to electronic message boards
Systems and methods are provided for fine level access control over message content in an electronic messaging system. Access criteria associated with the message content define requirements that a user must satisfy in order to perform specified actions on message content. The user's complete profile is examined at run time and compared to access criteria to make a real time decision about the level of access that a user should have to message content. Depending on the access criteria associated with content, stronger authentication or weaker authentication of the user profile information may be performed on the user profile to determine the level of access that should be granted to the user. |
| US08499052B2 |
Auto-resolve recipients cache
In embodiments, mobile devices request and utilize recipient caches. Recipient caches store information regarding previous recipients of communications. The information on recipients includes when the recipient was last contacted and the frequency with which a recipient is contacted. In embodiments, a mobile device requests a recipient cache from a server. When a user types a string of text, the mobile device then uses the recipient cache as well as the contacts and emails on the mobile device and resolves a recipient list. In other embodiments, a recipient cache on a server is updated when a mobile device sends a message with new recipient information. In another embodiment, a server resolves conflicting messages by using recipient information. |
| US08499051B2 |
Multiple messaging communication optimization
Systems and methods for use with a communication system. A plurality of devices employing a plurality of messaging modalities may be used to send or receive message data. In any regard, message data may comprise a plurality of portions of message data in machine readable form. The plurality of portions of message data may be indexed. The indexing may include storing representations (e.g., vectors or other mathematical constructs) representing the content of the plurality of portions of message data in a message data index. The representations of the content of the plurality of portions of message data may be compared to one another to determine a relationship between the various representations. If the relationship between a first representation (e.g., a first vector) and a second representation (e.g., a second vector) exceeds a predetermined threshold, the portions of message data corresponding to the first and second vectors may be determined to be related. A notification and/or alert may be presented to a user regarding the related portions of message data. In one embodiment, the related portions of message data or messages from which the portions derive may be accessed by a user. |
| US08499048B2 |
Indexing and organizing messages in a messaging system using social network information
A messaging system receives a message that is intended for a recipient, who is a user of a social networking system. An object associated with the message is identified based on the message content and/or metadata associated with the message. The messaging system accesses a social networking system database to obtain social information about a relationship between the recipient and the identified object. The message is then indexed using the social information, wherein an entry for the message is stored in a message index based on the social information. This process may be repeated for each received message, and multiple different message indexes may be generated for received messages to track different types of social information. A user interface for viewing messages uses the message index to organize the messages, such as to filter, categorize, and/or sort the messages in the display. |
| US08499047B2 |
Method, apparatus and business system for online communication with online and offline recipients
The present invention comprises a method, apparatus and business system for allowing on-line communications with members of a group of recipients for whom the invention has been implemented. A group may, for example, comprise members of a particular business or profession. For example, a group may consist of doctors admitted to practice medicine in the United States. Individual members of the group may or may not have existing internet presences. The invention allows online users to communicate with each member of a given group regardless of whether or not the member has an existing internet presence. In one or more embodiments, the invention does so by setting up a database of contact information for members of the group, creating an internet presence for each member of such group, creating an on-line user interface allowing a user to access the member's created internet presence, and providing means of communications between the created internet presence and the member recipient. |
| US08499046B2 |
Method and system for updating business cards
Techniques for capturing images of business cards, uploading the images to a designated computing device for processing and recognition are disclosed. A mechanism is provided to update extracted data from the images when there are any changes. Depending on implementation, there are a number of ways to capture images of business cards (e.g., via a phone camera, a PC camera, or a scanning device). A transmission means is provided to transport the images to the designated computing device for centralized management of integrated contact information for individual users. As a result, a user may access his/her updatable integrated contact information database anywhere anytime from a chosen device. |
| US08499044B2 |
Formatted message processing utilizing a message map
A MIME or XML formatted message is stored and a map is processed in place of a message. The map is a compact representation of the message. The map is indicative of the content and structure of the message. The map comprises tags that map to and are indicative of portions of the message. When a portion of the message is to be accessed, the associated tag in the map is processed to determine the location of the associated portion of the message, and the associated portion of the message is accessed at the location. To allow accurate decryption of signed messages, the format of the message is preserved. |
| US08499043B2 |
Reports for email processing in an email response management system
One implementation provides a method for providing display information that represents a quantity of received email messages that have been held for processing by a specific entity for a predefined time period in an electronic mail (email) response management system. In this implementation, the method includes determining a first value associated with a first quantity of received email messages that have been held for processing by the specific entity for a first predefined time period, wherein each email message has been sent from one end user. Upon determination of the first value, the method further includes causing to be displayed in a graphical user interface (GUI) a first representation of the first value in spatial relation to representations of the specific entity and the first predefined time period. |
| US08499040B2 |
Sponsored-stories-unit creation from organic activity stream
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving sponsor specifications designating story characteristics; monitoring an organic activity stream for entries matching the story characteristics; and, in response to identifying an entry as matching the story characteristics, providing for display the entry in a predetermined area of a web page. |
| US08499038B1 |
Method and mechanism for performing cloud image display and capture with mobile devices
Disclosed is an improved approach for implementing participatory interaction at events using mobile devices. One approach is to utilize distributed display screens for the mobile devices in an audience to display a much larger collective image. Another approach is to utilize the distributed cameras of mobile devices in an audience to form a massive capture device from the different locations and perspectives of the audience members. Yet another approach is directed to the use of mobile devices in the audience to capture motion events among the audience, which are then used to synthesize new media items and types for the event. |
| US08499037B2 |
Automatic profile update in a mobile device
A method and system for managing mobile exchange of profile information between a requestor and a recipient. A mobile client is provided on a requestor's first mobile device. The requestor provides requestor profile to an information exchange server through the mobile client. The requestor requests for a connection with the recipient using the mobile client. The mobile client is provided on a recipient's second mobile device. The recipient provides recipient profile to the information exchange server through the mobile client. On acceptance of the request for connection by the recipient, the information exchange server transfers the recipient profile to the mobile client on the requestor's first mobile device and vice versa. The mobile client automatically updates the transferred recipient profile on the requestor's first mobile device based on changes made by the recipient to the recipient profile and vice versa. |
| US08499026B2 |
Distributed packet processing system for high-speed networks and distributed packet processing method using thereof
The present invention relates to a distributed packet processing system for high-speed networks and a distributed packet processing method using thereof, in which a FIFO-type packet processing engine having three packet processing steps is provided in plurality to process packet data in parallel in processing packets for high-speed networks, and, therefore, packet sequences are guaranteed, and packets can be further promptly process. |
| US08499024B2 |
Delivering voice portal services using an XML voice-enabled web server
An application server, configured for executing an application defined by XML documents for delivering voice portal services, accesses subscriber attributes from a standardized information database server (such as LDAP). The application server, upon receiving a request from a proxy browser serving a user, accesses the standardized database server to obtain attribute information for responding to the application request. The application server sends a request to a content server for media content based on the HTTP request and the attribute information. The application server generates an HTML page, for execution of the prescribed voice portal service application having XML tags configured for controlling delivery of the media content in an audible format, based on the HTTP request. |
| US08499022B1 |
Combining multiple clusterings by soft correspondence
Combining multiple clusterings arises in various important data mining scenarios. However, finding a consensus clustering from multiple clusterings is a challenging task because there is no explicit correspondence between the classes from different clusterings. Provided is a framework based on soft correspondence to directly address the correspondence problem in combining multiple clusterings. Under this framework, an algorithm iteratively computes the consensus clustering and correspondence matrices using multiplicative updating rules. This algorithm provides a final consensus clustering as well as correspondence matrices that gives intuitive interpretation of the relations between the consensus clustering and each clustering from clustering ensembles. Extensive experimental evaluations demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of this framework as well as the algorithm for discovering a consensus clustering from multiple clusterings. |
| US08499014B2 |
Functionality disable and re-enable for programmable calculators
A handheld calculator with disable/re-enable capability. The calculator includes a keypad, a display screen, and circuitry internal to the calculator. The circuitry includes a microprocessor, a storage unit for storing data and programs for execution by the microprocessor to implement calculator functions. The storage unit has stored therein a disable/re-enable program that recognizes a first predetermined calculator event and in response thereto disables one or more programs, and that recognizes a second predetermined calculator event and in response thereto re-enables the disabled program. The invention allows Apps, programs and additional information that may be embedded within the Apps and programs in a calculator or other handheld calculating device to be rendered temporarily inaccessible within a relatively short period of time, and then to be restored to the calculator, again, in a relatively short period of time. |
| US08499012B1 |
System and method for attached storage stacking
A system and method are provided for stacking storage drives in a network attached storage (NAS) system. The method provides a NAS stacking network including at least a first and second stackable building block (SBB), where each SBB includes a head, with an embedded processor and storage application, and a storage drive including client files. The method connects a first interface of the first SBB to a client computer device via a LAN switch, and connects a second interface of the first SBB to the first interface of the second SBB. A directory is built of client files stored in the first and second SBBs. The directory is maintained in both the first and second SBBs. In one aspect, the first SBB, acting as a primary SBB, provides access to NAS stacking network directory structure in response to an inquiry from a client computer connected to the LAN switch. |
| US08499011B2 |
Encoding method and apparatus and decoding method and apparatus
The disclosed embodiments relate to a multimedia data encoding/decoding method and apparatus. In some aspects, a decoding method comprises receiving multimedia data which comprises a media area including a video data area and an audio data area, a media information area including a video track area and an audio track area respectively corresponding to the video data area and the audio data area respectively, and a menu description area including description data for displaying a menu that provides an interface between a user and media data in the media area. The media information area further comprises segment metadata for searching segments of the media data included in the media area. The segment metadata having information regarding one or more segment groups which the segments are classified into, and the media information area and the menu description area are incorporated into a single file. |
| US08499010B2 |
Garbage collection in a multiple virtual machine environment
Garbage collection processes are automatically tuned on a system comprising a plurality of virtual machines running on a physical processing device with multiple physical processors. Tuning is implemented for each garbage collection process, by updating a load variable to reflect that a new garbage collection process has started, the load variable having a value that is based at least in part on a number of garbage collection processes that are currently running on the system. Tuning further comprises creating a number of garbage collection threads based at least in part on the current value of the load variable and/or number of processors, where the garbage collection threads are used to perform at least a portion of at least one phase of the new garbage collection process. Tuning further comprises re-updating the load variable to reflect completion of the new garbage collection process. |
| US08499009B2 |
Method and system for managing digital goods
A system and method for transferring digital goods facilitates bulk upload of file images to a central repository. The software gets a File ID and a path to each file image to be uploaded from a list, typically an XML file, of input attributes. After successful verification, the file image is uploaded to the central repository and linked with a corresponding metadata object. Each metadata object contains attributes that describe the corresponding file image. Although file attributes may be defined when the metadata object is created, the software determines file image attributes as the file image is being uploaded and records them in the metadata object. File images are either uploaded from a server, typically an FTP server, having been placed there by the goods vendor; or the file images can be uploaded directly from a computer operated by the vendor. |
| US08499006B2 |
Data migration system and data migration method
In a system for migrating data between document management applications, if an inheritance setting of an access right to a folder in a source document management application is a first inheritance setting for inheriting an access right to a parent folder, the inheritance setting of the access right is changed to a second inheritance setting for setting an access right exclusively for the folder while the same access right as the access right to the parent folder is set. Then, the folder is migrated to the destination document management application. If a hierarchy including the folder to be migrated exceeds an upper limit on the number of hierarchies in the destination document management application, the folder is stored in a shallower hierarchy in the destination document management application. |
| US08499005B2 |
Systems and methods for exporting, publishing, browsing and installing on-demand applications in a multi-tenant database environment
A computer implemented method of developing computer applications, the method comprising providing to multiple users access, over a network, to information on a data center, with a subgroup of the users having access to a sub-portion of the information that is different from the sub-portion accessible by the remaining tenants of the subgroup; and communicating with the data center over the network employing a computer system associated with a user of the sub-group to establish application functionality with the sub-portion that may be accessed, over the network, by additional parties authorized by the user. Also disclosed is a machine-readable medium and a data center, both of which facilitate carrying-out the steps of the method. |
| US08498997B2 |
Server image migration
A system includes a first site having a first server and a first storage system, a second site including a second server and a second storage system, and a third site coupled to the first and second sites, the third site having gold images. A method of migrating a virtual server image comprises storing a first gold image at the first site; storing a second gold image at the second site; creating a first snapshot volume at the first site based on the first gold image; sending the first gold image ID, update data of the first gold image, and address information for the update data, from the first site to the second site; creating a second snapshot volume at the second site based on the second gold image corresponding to the first gold image ID; allocating storage for storing the update data at the second site with reference to the address information; and storing the update data in the allocated storage. |
| US08498994B2 |
Social files
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods, and computer readable media for creating and sharing social files in an on-demand database service environment. In one embodiment, a first document file is received at a computing device configured to provide on-demand computing services via a network. The first document file may be capable of being displayed on a display device. The first document file may be stored on a storage medium accessible via the network. The first document file may be designated as being associated with a social file. A reference to the social file may be stored as a first one of a plurality of feed items in a feed table in a database. The feed items may be capable of being published in an information feed displayed on a display device. |
| US08498993B2 |
Information acquiring apparatus, information acquiring program, recording medium, information acquiring method and information acquiring system
There is provided an information acquiring apparatus which, when the user searches for information using a plurality of keywords, can facilitate an operation of selecting a plurality of keywords by means of a touch panel and improve the operability. The information acquiring apparatus makes an input means (109) integrated with a display means display a plurality of first objects (521) respectively corresponding to a plurality of keywords, and move positions of part or all of the first objects in response to the user's operation of the input means and display the first objects, when a plurality of first objects contact based on that the positions of at least part of a plurality of displayed first objects are moved and at least part of the first objects are displayed, determines a keyword corresponding to each contacting first object as a search key, and acquires search result information searched in either an external information search apparatus or inner information searching means based on the determined search key. |
| US08498988B2 |
Fast search
Data records in one or more databases may be scanned to create a search index. The search index may include an identifier for each data record scanned, and a list of fragments of data in one or more data fields of each scanned data record. Each fragment in the list may be created by extracting a fixed number of adjoining characters from data in each data field of a corresponding data record. The list of fragments may include all fixed number of adjoining character sequences in each data field of a data record. Multiple search indexes may be included, with each search index including a different fixed number of adjoining characters in the fragment list. Systems and methods may be provided. |
| US08498987B1 |
Snippet search
Indexing data is disclosed. A plurality of subunits of data is determined within received data. For a first subunit, a first mapping between the first subunit and a first dictionary entry is determined. For a second subunit, a second mapping between the second subunit and a second dictionary entry is determined. At least the first and second dictionary entries are aggregated into an aggregation and stored in an index. Searching data is also disclosed. A plurality of subunits of data is determined within a received query. For a first subunit, a first mapping is determined between the first subunit and a first dictionary entry. For a second subunit, a second mapping is determined between the second subunit and a second dictionary entry. The first and second dictionary entries are aggregated and used to search an index. |
| US08498983B1 |
Assisting search with semantic context and automated search options
A computer-assisted method for assisting a user to search for documents or other file objects includes receiving a query comprising a queried term from a user, wherein the queried term comprises a sequence of characters entered by the user, obtaining a first context term list comprising a first context term semantically related to the queried term, obtaining and displaying a first search result, dynamically displaying the first context term list in response to each character being entered in the query, allowing the user to select the first context term in the first context term list, obtaining a second context term list comprising a second context term semantically related to the queried term and the first context term, and displaying a second search result and the second context term list in a user interface in response to the selection of the first context term in the first context term list. |
| US08498982B1 |
Noise reduction for content matching analysis results for protectable content
A system and method (a “utility”) is provided for improving the accuracy of a content matching analysis that identifies a composition of an item of protectable content of a user. The item of protectable content may include a portion of source code or object code, individual or bundled source code or object code files, binary code files, directory structures and/or trees, open source software projects or packages, and/or proprietary software applications or packages. The utility involves storing a number of items of comparison content on a storage structure, receiving an item of user content at a computer-based content exchange, and comparing the item of user content to the items of comparison content to determine, from among the items of comparison content, one or more potential matches that each include a matched portion that is similar to a portion of the item of user content. The utility further includes selecting a noise reduction technique from a number of noise reduction techniques available to the content exchange and applying the noise reduction technique to eliminate noise and/or false positives (e.g., one or more redundant matches and/or erroneously identified matches) from the potential matches. |
| US08498980B2 |
Cherry picking search terms
In an electronic presentation of information, search is made easier and more personal by identifying words, symbols or images (collectively called terms) in text and allowing users to select any of those terms to refine their search. The technology is called “cherry picking” because it allows each user to select what they judge to be the best terms among many available terms in the text, and use those terms to their own advantage. Terms in text are identified by a visual indicator such as a change in the shape of the cursor. “Stop words,” words that do not change the outcome of the search, and words that meet other specific criteria are not selectable. |
| US08498975B2 |
Search query processing
Providing search results is disclosed. A search query is received and a plurality of preprocessing functions to be performed on the search query is determined based at least in part on a search label corresponding to the search query. The plurality of preprocessing functions is performed on the search query to obtain a plurality of preprocessed search queries. Based at least in part on precision levels associated with the plurality of preprocessed search queries, a search plan comprising a selected preprocessed search query is generated. The search plan is input to the search engine to obtain the search results. |
| US08498974B1 |
Refining search results
A computer-implemented method for processing query information includes receiving data representative of a search query from a user search session. The method also includes identifying a plurality of search results based upon the search query. Each search result is associated with a plurality of user characteristics and data that represents requestor behavior relative to previously submitted queries associated with the respective search result. The method also includes ordering the plurality of user characteristics based upon the data that represents requestor behavior relative to previously submitted queries and the respective search result. The method also includes adjusting the ordered plurality of user characteristics based upon at least one predefined compatibility associated with the user characteristics. The method also includes ranking the search results based upon the adjusted plurality of user characteristics. |
| US08498972B2 |
String and sub-string searching using inverted indexes
Inverted indexes for terms and for term separators are separately provided to minimize data redundancy. Search queries are parsed to identify terms and term separators, if any, and the corresponding inverted indexes are searched for responsive documents. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08498971B2 |
Maintaining consistency in a database
Maintaining consistent DNS information is disclosed. Information associated with a resource is received. A resource record is populated with the information. View information is derived from the resource record. |
| US08498963B2 |
Method and system for data synchronization
A method, system and computer program product for performing data synchronization by a terminal device, including receiving compatibility information between different versions of data schemas; performing compatibility verification on data by utilizing the received compatibility information between different versions of data schemas; and sending data that successfully passes through compatibility verification. |
| US08498962B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing single instance restoration of data files
A method and apparatus for providing single instance restoration of data files is provided. In one embodiment, a method for using a signature database to provide a single instance data restoration solution includes processing a restore request for a data file, wherein the data file is associated with a signature and examining a signature database using the signature to identify at least one locally available data file having at least one signature that matches the signature associated with the data file. |
| US08498961B2 |
On-demand replication in a content management system
The system and method of the present invention provide for automatic on-demand replication in a replication cluster of content management servers. A replication manager of a content management server receives newly created, modified, and deleted application item types along with their associated physical tables and automatically forwards the received application item types on-demand to the replication managers of other content management servers of the replication cluster. |
| US08498959B2 |
Policy enforcement
An enforcement system may include a policy decision point and an adaptive grid. Requests for service from users are passed to the policy decision point which uses enforcer agents in the adaptive grid to enforce policies by selecting from available policy enforcement points. The adaptive grid may also include explorer agents for evaluating enforcement capabilities available to the enforcement system. |
| US08498957B2 |
Optimal multi-factor evaluation in computing systems
Techniques are disclosed for optimally scheduling computations that involve multiple factors, the cost of evaluations and probabilities of success of which are known. For example, a methodology is provided for determining an optimal schedule of a multi-factor test in sub-quadratic time. While the methodology has wide ranging application, we illustrate a particular applicability to a security application involving multi-factor authentication in a cloud computing environment, as well as applicability to the contact center agent scheduling. |
| US08498954B2 |
Managing operations of a system using non-linear modeling techniques
A computer-implemented method for managing operations of a system includes deriving a nonlinear modeling function from a nonlinear response function, defining an allowed range for output values of the nonlinear modeling function, determining a range of a first set of input values of the nonlinear modeling function based on the allowed range of the output values, deriving a nonlinear probability function from the nonlinear response function, receiving the first set of input values, calculating the output values by processing each input value in the first set of input values through the nonlinear modeling function, determining, using the probability function, a relative probability of performing a first future system operation for each input value of the first set of input values and displaying, for each input value in the first set of input values, the corresponding output value and the corresponding probability. |
| US08498953B2 |
Method for allocating trip sharing
A method and system for allocating users as trip accompanies provides for: creating a first trip prediction algorithm, collecting input parameters, predicting by the first trip prediction algorithm using the collected input parameters as input, at least one first trip, executing a matching method, the matching method comparing attributes of the predicted at least one first trip with attributes of at least one second trip, and allocating the first and the second user to each other as trip accompanies in dependence of the matching score of the first and second potential trip data object. |
| US08498950B2 |
System for training classifiers in multiple categories through active learning
A system for training classifiers in multiple categories through an active learning system, including a computer having a memory and a processor, the processor programmed to: train an initial set of m binary one-versus-all classifiers, one for each category in a taxonomy, on a labeled dataset of examples stored in a database coupled with the computer; uniformly sample up to a predetermined large number of examples from a second, larger dataset of unlabeled examples stored in a database coupled with the computer; order the sampled unlabeled examples in order of informativeness for each classifier; determine a minimum subset of the unlabeled examples that are most informative for a maximum number of the classifiers to form an active set for learning; and use editorially-labeled versions of the examples of the active set to re-train the classifiers, thereby improving the accuracy of at least some of the classifiers. |
| US08498949B2 |
Supervised nonnegative matrix factorization
Supervised nonnegative matrix factorization (SNMF) generates a descriptive part-based representation of data, based on the concept of nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) aided by the discriminative concept of graph embedding. An iterative procedure that optimizes suggested formulation based on Pareto optimization is presented. The present formulation removes any dependence on combined optimization schemes. Analytical and empirical evidence is presented to show that SNMF has advantages over popular subspace learning techniques as well as current state-of-the-art techniques. |
| US08498945B1 |
Claim evaluation methods, systems, products, and data-structures
A method for evaluating a potential claim using a computerized platform is presented. The method comprises the steps of receiving into the computerized platform information relating to a potential claim. Specifically, that information relates to a value of the potential claim, a likelihood of success of the potential claim, and a cost of asserting the potential claim. The method further comprises the steps of calculating an estimated claim valuation based upon the information relating to a potential claim using the computerized platform, and presenting that estimated claim valuation to a user. |
| US08498940B2 |
Unified identity verification
Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to register one time, at a server associated with an authenticating entity, information comprising an identity uniquely associated with an individual account owner and an account held by the authenticating entity. Further activity includes receiving an authentication request at the server from a requesting party to authenticate an unauthenticated individual purporting to be the individual account owner, and authenticating, by the server, the unauthenticated individual as the individual account owner by matching a token presented by the unauthenticated individual, to the identity. Responsive solely to the authenticating, only a selected portion of the information previously authorized by the individual account owner is provided for sharing with the plurality of selected requesting parties. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08498939B1 |
Post-paid, single click payments
A deferred payment authorization system that allows users to exercise an instant purchase, deferred payment option for online payment without providing payment information. multiple transaction costs for frequent or recurring purchases can be reduced to a singe transaction that can be processed offline at the user's convenience, particularly for small, online purchases made on a frequent or reoccurring basis. |
| US08498936B2 |
One card system
This invention relates to a novel system which includes a new device (the DEVICE) and a new business process (the PROCESS) that combines multiple cards (for both financial and non-financial transactions) into one card in a secured manner. |
| US08498935B2 |
System and method for automated payment and adjustment processing
A system and method for automated adjustment processing using pre-configured sets of business rules is provided. The seller pre-configures a set of business rules for use in processing an adjustment for a specific buyer. The set of business rules may be variable for each buyer and/or globally set. When a payment is received from a seller and an adjustment is required, an adjustment management application retrieves the buyer's set of business rules from the seller. The set of business rules are then applied to attempt to match the received payment to one of the buyer's outstanding invoices. If the match is successful, the buyer's payment is processed. |
| US08498932B2 |
Card based transfer account
The invention contemplates a method of funds transfer is disclosed involving opening one or more trust accounts associated with a plurality of accounts with at least one financial institution, creating a plurality of money account cards with each of the plurality of money account cards associated with a live account associated with the entire amount in the trust account opened and maintained by company with at least one financial institutions, distributing the money account cards to retailers, retailing the money account cards to customers for distribution of the cards to cardholders, receiving money from the customers, applying the money to predetermined accounts of the plurality of accounts, receiving requests from cardholders to access the money in the predetermined accounts, and dispersing funds from the predetermined accounts in response to the requests from cardholders. |
| US08498925B2 |
Public offering risk management
The present invention provides an auction system that allows IPO sales to be offered in an open and transparent manner, wherein, a certain percentage (up to 100%) of shares in an IPO can be offered to qualified bidders at a “buy now” pre-auction price, set by an issuer and/or underwriter. Investors can be allowed to “bid some shares out of the auction process” and thus guarantee those investors' allocation while also allowing bidders to participate in an open auction for other shares. Shares of stock to be offered in an IPO can include a subset of pre-auction price shares and a subset of auction price shares. The pre-auction price shares are offered to pre-auction bidders at a pre-auction price, and auction shares are generally sold to the highest bidder. Pre-auction sales can serve as a catalyst for generating enthusiasm for an associated IPO auction. |
| US08498911B2 |
Particle generation factor determining system, charging method and storage medium
Provided is a charging method capable of offering a user an incentive to use a particle generation factor determining system. In the particle generation factor determining system including a user interface device 11 through which a user inputs a particle map and a server 13, the server 13 calculates accuracy of each of multiple particle generation factors based on the particle map; the user interface device 11 displays the calculated accuracy or a title of generation-factor-relevant information 27 on each particle generation factor corresponding to this accuracy; the server 13 provides the generation-factor-relevant information 27 to the user interface device 11; a charged fee for providing particle generation-factor-relevant information 27 is determined based on accuracy of a particle generation factor corresponding to the provided generation-factor-relevant information 27. |
| US08498910B1 |
Payroll change alert
The invention relates to a method for payroll notification. The method steps include obtaining, by a processor, a payroll rule comprising a message and a condition requiring a payroll dollar amount, obtaining, by the processor, the payroll dollar amount from a first paystub having a first gross pay and a first net pay for an employee evaluating, by the processor, the condition of the payroll rule, where the first gross pay equals a second gross pay on a second paystub having a second net pay for the employee, and outputting, by the processor and in response to the condition being satisfied, the message of the payroll rule onto the first paystub explaining a non-zero difference between the first net pay and the second net pay. |
| US08498909B1 |
System and method for associating financial transaction data with user's project data in cash transactions
This invention relates to an expense reporting system for viewing and manipulating a user's financial transaction data and a method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data. The system includes a user's financial transaction data hosted in a data storage unit, addressable on a network, and accessible by a remote user on a user interface unit having a user input means and a display; and an expense reporting module having a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to define project category data and associate representations of the user's financial data with the user-defined project category data. |
| US08498906B2 |
Collaborative product taxonomy instantiation
A method forms a collaborative product taxonomy instantiation by starting with or defining a base taxonomy instantiation and collaborating between trading parties to negotiate a collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. The taxonomy instantiation comprises a set of characteristics and values of a desired product. The method assigns a set of characters to the collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. The method uses the set of alphanumeric characters in an electronic trade exchange between a buyer software application and a seller software application. The seller software application may determine whether it has a product that is equivalent to the collaborative product taxonomy instantiation. |
| US08498904B2 |
Method, system, and program storage device for efficient fulfillment of work assignments
The present invention is directed to a computer-implemented method, system and apparatus to enable data-driven, multi-channel communications to facilitate business processes. By providing more than one channel for communication between market participants, which includes suppliers and consumers, real-time requests for information, services, or the like can be solicited in a way that those selected to provide responses have certain attributes, and the supplier is selected for the solicitation automatically and instantaneously notified of the request based on automatic selection of those attributes. The notification is instantaneously communicated using more than one channel of communication, potentially in a mode that the potential supplier has indicated is a more likely way of actually and instantly receiving the request. The system further provides at least one mechanism by which all of the selected suppliers can instantly respond to the request, which is then communicated to the requestor. |
| US08498902B1 |
Process and system for the clearing and settling of transactions
A method and system for the clearing and settlement of funds among a plurality of participants facilitates the integration of a “closed” special purpose industry sector, such as the transit industry, within an open financial payment system. A method for clearing and settling funds among a plurality of participants comprises receiving data relating to transactions from the plurality of participants, organizing the data into groups associated with each of the plurality of participants, summing the data in the groups to determine a total funds due to and from each of the plurality of participants, and settling the difference among the plurality of participants by transferring funds to the participants owed funds and collecting funds from the participants who owe funds. |
| US08498901B1 |
Method and system for virtual representation of currency
The invention relates to a method for representing a transfer of currency during a transaction. The method involves establishing a network connection with a computing device, receiving, from the computing device, transactional data associated with the transaction, receiving currency data associated with a financial account, and displaying a pictorial representation of currency based on the currency data, where a currency type and a currency denomination are depicted as a portion of the pictorial representation. The invention further involves designating an amount of currency from the pictorial representation to obtain image data, where the amount of currency is sufficient to complete the transaction, transmitting the image data to the computing device as part of the transaction, and sending instructions to transfer the amount of currency from the financial account based on the image data and the transactional data. |
| US08498899B2 |
Method for providing room service
A method of processing room service transactions in an institution such as a hotel, having a plurality of guest rooms includes displaying selected visual representations of food items at predetermined intervals with a user device including an interactive graphical user interface in a guest room, receiving inputs from a guest with the graphical user interface and transmitting the inputs to a food service server for fulfillment. |
| US08498898B1 |
System and method for point of use reward determination
A system and method that allows a group of organizations, e.g. a group of transit agencies, to provide their users with a stored value smart card payment method that rewards them for actual use. The system and method include a card interface device and a smart card for storing respective reward applications, wherein the card interface device reward application retrieves transaction and reward data from the smart card and processes the data within the card interface device in order to determine a transaction reward. |
| US08498895B2 |
Browser based user identification
An online behavior tracking system includes a unique ID module configured to determine attributes of a user device, and calculate a unique ID for a user from the attributes. The unique ID is used to track online behavior for the user across different domains. Also, the online behavior tracking system is used in a content evaluation system which delivers content treatments to users and tracks online behavior of the users in response to the delivered treatments. |
| US08498889B1 |
Product configuration modeling and optimization
A computerized system and related methods of identifying an optimum set of product configurations from a plurality of possible product configurations, wherein each product configuration has a plurality of features and each feature has a plurality of options, includes the steps of representing each of the possible product configurations as an ordered set or array of at least n-dimensions, each dimension of the array representing a predetermined one of the features, identifying a subset of valid product configurations, identifying which valid configurations are captured by other configurations through upgrades, conversions, or acceptance of different options, defining and solving an optimization model to identify the optimum set of valid product configurations based on a desired objective, such as to maximize profit, minimize cost, or maximizing coverage of customer demand, and then presenting the optimum set of valid product configurations that satisfy the desired objective. |
| US08498886B2 |
Method and system for creating an electric vehicle charging network
A method for creating an electric vehicle charging network includes receiving first location data from a first remote device; providing electric vehicle charger data to the first remote device as a function of the first location data; receiving second location data from a second remote device; providing the electric vehicle charger data to the second remote device as a function of the second location data; and, in response to the electric vehicle charger data, receiving interest data from the first and second remote devices to permit creation of a first electric vehicle charger. Further methods and systems are provided. |
| US08498882B2 |
System for making available individual or pooled, also anonymous patient data on the basis of molecular genome, transcriptome, proteome, epigenome, or metabolome data
The invention relates to a system for automatically, rapidly, and dynamically funding biological cells for transplantion, treatment, or research purposes between collection centers or banks (storage places) and hospitals, transplant centers, or research facilities, monitoring and assisting with processes from the transmission of requests, the delivery of cell preparation suitable for allogeneic transplantation, and the use of the found preparations to the monitoring of the result in the patient, and making said data available for statistical and other purposes, wherein samples are taken before and after the transplantation to analyze genomes, proteomes, transcriptomes, epigenomes, and/or metbolomes. |
| US08498881B2 |
Generation and data management of a medical study using instruments in an integrated media and medical system
In general, a computer-implemented method is described for retrieving by one or more computers an appointment schedule associated with a physician, the appointment schedule including one or more names of patients scheduled for a medical visit with the physician, receiving a first request to view appointment information for a selected patient, retrieving by one or more computers a first list comprising instruments completed by the selected patient, and receiving a second request to send one or more instruments completed by the selected patient to the physician. |
| US08498879B2 |
Automated systems and methods for obtaining, storing, processing and utilizing immunologic information of individuals and populations for various uses
A system and method for assessing the immunological status of one or more individuals in a patient population is presented. The method includes establishing a database comprising a plurality of records of information each representative of the immune status of an individual in the population, each of said records including (1) current information from one or more assays for the presence of a biochemical, and (2) individual specific information comprising one or more of said individual's medical history, said individual's doctors' observations and historical, demographic, lifestyle, and familial information relating to said individual. The method further includes processing the information in said database to find trends or patterns relating to the immune status of individuals in said patient population; and using the said trends or patterns as part of a health care related decision making process. |
| US08498876B2 |
Method for reduction of aliasing introduced by spectral envelope adjustment in real-valued filterbanks
The present invention proposes a new method for improving the performance of a real-valued filterbank based spectral envelope adjuster. By adaptively locking the gain values for adjacent channels dependent on the sign of the channels, as defined in the application, reduced aliasing is achieved. Furthermore, the grouping of the channels during gain-calculation, gives an improved energy estimate of the real valued subband signals in the filterbank. |
| US08498873B2 |
Establishing a multimodal advertising personality for a sponsor of multimodal application
Establishing a multimodal advertising personality for a sponsor of a multimodal application, including associating one or more vocal demeanors with a sponsor of a multimodal application and presenting a speech portion of the multimodal application for the sponsor using at least one of the vocal demeanors associated with the sponsor. |
| US08498870B2 |
Medical ontology based data and voice command processing system
A computerized integrated order entry and clinical documentation and voice recognition system enables voice responsive user entry of orders. The system includes a voice recognition unit for detecting spoken words and converting detected spoken words to data representing commands. A data processor, coupled to the voice recognition unit, processes the data representing commands provided by the voice recognition unit, to provide order and documentation related data and menu options for use by a user, by interpreting the data representing commands using an ordering and documentation application specific ontology and excluding use of other non-ordering or non-documentation application specific ontologies. The ordering application enables initiating an order for medication to be administered to a particular patient, or additional ordered services to be performed. A user interface processor, coupled to the data processor, provides data representing a display image. The display image, includes the order related data and menu options provided by the data processor and supports a user in selecting an order for medication to be administered to a particular patient. |
| US08498864B1 |
Methods and systems for predicting a text
Methods and systems for predicting a text are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to receive one or more typed characters that compose a portion of a text; and receive, a voice input corresponding to a spoken utterance of at least a portion of the text. The computing device may be configured to determine, based on the one or more typed characters and the voice input, one or more candidate texts predicting the text. Further, the computing device may be configured to provide the one or more candidate texts. |
| US08498862B2 |
Speech signal processing apparatus
A speech signal processing apparatus includes a control signal output unit configured to receive as an input signal either one of a first speech signal corresponding to a sound uttered by a user and a second speech signal corresponding to a sound output from an eardrum of the user when the user utters a sound, and output a control signal corresponding to a noise level of the input signal, and a speech signal output unit configured to output either one of the first speech signal and the second speech signal according to the control signal. |
| US08498861B2 |
Apparatus and method for concealing frame erasure and voice decoding apparatus and method using the same
An apparatus and method for concealing frame erasure and a voice decoding apparatus and method using the same. The frame erasure concealment apparatus includes: a parameter extraction unit determining whether there is an erased frame in a voice packet, and extracting an excitement signal parameter and a line spectrum pair parameter of a previous good frame; and an erasure frame concealment unit, if there is an erased frame, restoring the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the erased frame by using a regression analysis from the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the previous good frame. According to the method and apparatus, by predicting and restoring the parameter of the erased frame through the regression analysis, the quality of the restored voice signal can be enhanced and the algorithm can be simplified. |
| US08498857B2 |
System and method for rapid prototyping of existing speech recognition solutions in different languages
A system and method for porting of existing speech recognition solutions in a source language to a target language has been disclosed. The system envisaged by the present invention enables porting of a working speech recognition solution in the source language to a working system in the target language, thus minimizing the development process and reusing existing speech recognition solution components to recognize multiple languages. |
| US08498856B2 |
Simulation method, system and program
A simulation system having multiple peripherals that communicate with each other. The system includes a weighted graph with weights set as communication times. The peripherals are represented as nodes and connection paths are represented as edges. Among the communication times in the loop, the minimum time is set as first synchronization timing. Timing with an acceptable delay added is set as second synchronization timing. Timing set by a user to be longer than the first and second timings is set as third synchronization timing. The third synchronization timing is used in a portion where the timing is usable, thus synchronizing the peripherals at the longest possible synchronization timing. |
| US08498855B2 |
Circuit simulation based on gate spacing from adjacent MOS transistors
A circuit simulation apparatus is provided with a parameter calculating tool and a circuit simulator. The parameter calculating tool is configured to extract gate spacings between gates of a target MOS transistor and adjacent MOS transistors integrated in an integrated circuit from layout data of the integrated circuit, and to calculate a transistor model parameter corresponding to a threshold voltage of the target MOS transistor based on the extracted gate spacings. The circuit simulator is configured to perform circuit simulation of the integrated circuit by using the calculated transistor model parameter. |
| US08498854B2 |
Enabling end-to-end testing of applications across networks
End-to-end testing of applications across networks is enabled. To test the application and the infrastructure subsystems, an application server connected to the network contains an application under test. A response simulator is connected to the other end of the network. A test module is accessible to the application and to the simulator and contains a test message to be transmitted to the simulator, and an expected response message from the simulator. The application transmits each test message and compares a response message from the simulator to an expected response message. The simulator obtains the response to each test message from the test module. |
| US08498853B2 |
Petrophysical method for predicting plastic mechanical properties in rock formations
Method for prediction of mechanical properties used in the description of large-strain plastic deformation for any subsurface rock strata of interest. The method is not specific to any geographic region, geological environment or subsurface depth interval, nor is it constrained to a specific lithology or plastic mechanical property. Predictive algorithms for triaxial compressive strength and rock compressibility are derived (23) from a mechanical properties database (21), and used to predict subsurface variation in mechanical properties such as rock strength or rock compressibility, with petrophysical properties generated from, for example, geophysical wireline logs as input to the algorithms (26). |
| US08498850B2 |
Looking glass: a hybrid simulation system to model cascading events within a black box system
A hybrid simulation system to model cascading events within a black box system may include a tessellated field operable to allow a plurality of black box components to execute on a processor and communicate without needing a direct connection between the black box components. The black box components have transfer functions defined over a common coordinate system and time. |
| US08498848B2 |
Method for upscaling a reservoir model using deep reading measurements
A method of upscaling for reservoir simulation is disclosed, comprising: inverting a set of deep reading measurements constrained by upscaled multi-well data, and, in response to the inverting step, upscaling for reservoir simulation. |
| US08498846B2 |
Joint-aware manipulation of deformable models
This disclosure describes a joint-aware deformation framework that supports the direct manipulation of an arbitrary mix of rigid and deformable components. The deformation framework may include at least a joint-analysis and a joint-aware deformation enabling a more realistic deformation of a joint-aware model. |
| US08498844B2 |
Optimization processing method and apparatus
A first model expression having a first order and representing a relationship between evaluation indicators and the design parameters and a second model expression having a second order higher than the first order and representing a relationship between them are generated. Then, according to a quantifier elimination method, values of the design parameters, which realize an optimum solution of the first model expression, are calculated. And, a design parameter whose value is identical to an upper limit value or a lower limit value is identified, and the second model expression is transformed by substituting the upper limit value or the lower limit value, as a value of the identified design parameter, for the second model expression. Finally, according to the quantifier elimination method, values of the design parameters in the transformed second model expression, which realize an optimum solution of the transformed second model expression, is calculated. |
| US08498842B2 |
System and method for chaining graphical curves
A CAD system and corresponding method and computer program product. A method includes receiving a set of intersecting curves and receiving a selection of a source curve and a destination curve from the set of intersecting curves. The method includes receiving a selection intent rule and calculating a first chain of curves that includes the source curve, through the set of intersecting curves according to the selection intent rule. The method includes storing a selected path, the selected path being a chain of curves between the source curve and the destination curve with a minimum number of deviations from the selection intent rule. |
| US08498836B2 |
System and method for detecting thermographic anomalies
A thermographic analysis method and apparatus is provided. The method includes obtaining base-line and operational thermographic profiles of a subject area, calculating a difference profile from the base-line and operational thermographic profiles, and providing an indication from the difference profile. The indication may be also based on thermographic differences in portions of the subject area that are defined as thermographic zones. |
| US08498833B2 |
Method of, apparatus for, and program for inspecting stack body
A method of inspecting a stack body of at least a porous layer and a dense layer comprises the first step of measuring the length of the stack body before the stack body is fired, the second step of measuring the length of the stack body after the stack body is fired, the third step of calculating a shrinkage rate of the stack body based on a first measured value from the first step and a second measured value from the second step, the fourth step of determining whether the calculated shrinkage rate of the stack body is acceptable or not based on the calculated shrinkage rate, the fifth step of calculating an S/N ratio of the stack body based on the first measured value and the second measured value, and the sixth step of determining whether the current-voltage characteristics of the stack body are acceptable or not based on the calculated S/N ratio. |
| US08498832B2 |
Method and device for assessing and monitoring voltage security in a power system
Provided is a method and device for assessing and monitoring voltage security in a power system. More specifically, a method and device for assessing and monitoring the value of reactive power load when changes in reactive power outputs of at least some of the generators in the electrical power system cause all of the generators in the system to reach the combined operating limit of their reactive power output. In response thereto, the method and device are further adapted to initiate suitable control measures such as switching of transformer banks and/or capacitor/reactor banks, as well as shedding loads whenever necessary to mitigate an impending voltage stability problem. |
| US08498827B2 |
Combining redundant inertial sensors to create a virtual sensor output
Included are embodiments for determining an inertial quantity. One embodiment of a method includes combining readings from a plurality of inertial sensors to produce an estimate of the value of an inertial quantity in a manner that is fault-tolerant, more accurate than traditional sensor arrangements, and able to handle non-linear and non-Gaussian systems. Embodiments of a method also include utilizing a Monte Carlo estimation-based inference system to adaptively combine the inertial sensor outputs into a fault-tolerant highly-accurate inertial quantity estimate, an axis-reversed-paired physical arrangement of inertial sensors to minimize effects of environmental and process noise, and cross-associating sensors to ensure good sensor associations and reduce the effects of sample impoverishment. |
| US08498826B2 |
Method and system for machine condition monitoring
A method and system for monitoring a condition of a machine are provided. The machine monitoring system includes a housing mounted to a surface of a machine, a plurality of sensors configured to generate respective output signals for a parameter indicative of a condition of the machine, and a voting module positioned within the housing and configured to generate a corrected output based on the respective output signals. The machine monitoring system also includes a memory device including a store location configured to store manual input functions relating to a construction of the machine, a life calculator communicatively coupled to the voting module and the memory device wherein the life calculator is configured to determine a life remaining in the machine using the corrected output and the manual input functions, and a display positioned within the housing and configured to display the life remaining in the machine. |
| US08498825B2 |
Methods for high throughput genotyping
Methods for genotyping polymorphisms using allele specific probes are disclosed. A training set is used to generate a model for each polymorphism to be interrogated. The training set is used to obtain an estimate of the asymmetry between an intensity measurement for a first allele and an intensity measurement for a second allele of the same polymorphism. The intensity measurement obtained for a test sample is adjusted using the estimate of asymmetry prior to using the intensity measurements to make a genotyping call. In preferred embodiments the adjustment is applied to polymorphisms that have a likelihood of being heterozygous that is above a specified threshold. |
| US08498820B2 |
Genomic classification of non-small cell lung carcinoma based on patterns of gene copy number alterations
The invention is directed to methods and kits that allow for classification of non-small cell lung carcinoma tumors and cell lines according to genomic profiles, and methods of diagnosing, predicting clinical outcomes, and stratifying patient populations for clinical testing and treatment using the same. |
| US08498819B2 |
Determination of quality features in agricultural and horticultural crops
The present invention relates to a method for predicting the expected value of the quality features in agricultural and horticultural product and a method for predicting the expected optimal time of harvest by comparing expression parameters at the moment prior to harvest or during the postharvest path of genes and/or proteins related to such quality features for that agricultural and horticultural product, with (a) predetermined calibration line(s). The invention also comprises the markers M8, GAST and GDSL motif lipase and the uses thereof, as well as antibodies against them. |
| US08498818B1 |
Systems and methods for calculating emissions resulting from transporting a shipment
According to various embodiments, an emissions calculation system calculates the emissions resulting from transporting a shipment that includes an individual or group of packages. In certain embodiments, the calculated emissions are based on estimated amounts of fuel used in the transportation process based on historical fuel usage and shipment data. In addition, various embodiments of the system generate and display (or otherwise make available) one or more reports of the calculated emissions information. For example, the reports may provide a total amount of carbon dioxide emitted for a particular shipment or group of shipments. In addition, the report may provide a breakdown of the amount of emissions resulting from various operational activities in the transportation process (e.g., resulting from pickup, delivery, and/or transportation between carrier facilities, and resulting from stationary operational activities, such as sorting or movement within each carrier facility). |
| US08498817B1 |
Predicting location of a mobile user
Disclosed are various embodiments for predicting a future location of a mobile user. A recent location of a mobile user is received. Past location data for the mobile user is retrieved from storage. A future location of the mobile user is predicted based at least in part on the recent location and on the past location data. The prediction is provided in response to a query or by subscription. |
| US08498816B2 |
Systems including mobile devices and head-mountable displays that selectively display content, such mobile devices, and computer-readable storage media for controlling such mobile devices
A system includes a head-mountable display and a mobile device. The mobile device includes a position acquisition device that acquires positional information indicating a position of the mobile device. The mobile device includes a first orientation acquisition device that acquires first orientation information indicating an orientation of the mobile device with respect to a reference direction. The mobile device includes a first display that displays content based on the positional information and the first orientation information on the mobile device when a condition is satisfied. The mobile device includes a first receiver that receives second orientation information indicating an orientation of the head-mountable display with respect to one or more of the reference direction and the orientation of the mobile device. The mobile device includes a first transmitter that transmits content based on the positional information and the second orientation information when the condition is not satisfied. |
| US08498814B2 |
System and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence
A system and method for executing user-definable events triggered through geolocational data describing zones of influence is described. One or more zones of influence are defined. Each zone of influence is described by stored geolocational data and forms a logically enclosed physical space. One or more user-definable events are associated with each zone of influence. Each user-definable event specifies a trigger condition based on the stored geolocational data for the associated zone of influence. A location of a user device is identified based on further geolocational data and at least one user-definable event is triggered when the location of the user device substantially correlates to the stored geolocational data for the trigger condition of the at least one user-definable event. |
| US08498812B2 |
Stylized procedural modeling for 3D navigation
A method of displaying a navigation map includes determining a route of a vehicle. A two-dimensional footprint of a building disposed within a geographic area is received within the vehicle. The geographic area includes the route of the vehicle. Attribute information associated with the building is received. The attribute information is received within the vehicle. A visual representation of the building is rendered based upon the two-dimensional footprint and the attribute information. |
| US08498805B2 |
System and method for passive location storage
A system and method for automatically storing a geographic position, without requiring user interaction, makes use of the ability of a location-aware mobile device to detect its state of motion using velocity or type of movement information. A transition between motion states is used to determine a parking location of a vehicle. |
| US08498803B2 |
Arrangement and method for air traffic management and/or flight control of aircraft
The invention relates to an air traffic control of aircraft. At least one transmission station in an aircraft transmits a broadcast signal received by at least one receiving station and further transmits at least a part of the data contained in the broadcast signal to a central station or other organizations. At least part of the receiving stations are designed as satellite receiving stations, wherein the broadcast signal transmitted by the at least one transmission station to be secured is received by at least one of the satellite receiving stations and at least part of the data contained in the broadcast signal is further transmitted via a radio transmission route to a satellite ground control station and further to the air traffic control central station or another organization. |
| US08498801B2 |
Engine start control system and method
A 720-degree motor stage storage means for holding the result of stroke discrimination for the engine E also in the period for carrying out an idle stop control is provided. At the time of restarting the engine E from an idle stop state, a new stroke discriminating processing is not conducted, but the result of stroke discrimination stored in the 720-degree motor stage storage means is used, to thereby drive a fuel injection system and an ignition device. A stage decision unit for allocating a period of two revolutions of a crankshaft to 720-degree motor stages based on the result of stroke discrimination, a fuel injection and ignition stage correlation table having predetermined correlations of 720-degree motor stages with fuel injection stages and ignition stages, and restarting time motor stage conversion means for conversion of a 720-degree motor stage into a fuel injection stage and an ignition stage, are provided. |
| US08498800B2 |
Engine control unit
An engine control unit includes an anomaly judging section for judging whether or not there is any anomaly in throttle sensors based on the output of the throttle sensors, a throttle motor driving section for controlling the driving of a throttle motor, and a fuel injection control section for controlling the amount of fuel injection at the time of starting an engine by using the fuel injection map for starting. The throttle motor driving section stops the driving of the throttle motor if the throttle sensors are judged to be anomalous, and the fuel injection control section switches the fuel injection map for starting in a normal state into the fuel injection map for starting in an anomalous state at the time of restarting the engine after stopping the engine in a state wherein the throttle sensors are judged to be anomalous. |
| US08498796B2 |
Perception model for trajectory following autonomous and human augmented speed control
A speed control method of a vehicle including the steps of obtaining a steering angle, a velocity error and a distance error. The velocity and the distance error being determined by mathematical combinations of a GPS position, a required path and speed set points. The steering angle, velocity errors and distance error are applied to fuzzy logic membership functions to produce an output that is applied to a velocity rule base. An output from the velocity rule base is defuzzified to produce a speed signal. |
| US08498794B2 |
Anti-skid control apparatus configured to compensate for hydraulic pressure fluctuations
An anti-skid control apparatus comprises an anti-skid control means for controlling a pressure reducing valve and a pressure increasing valve, each of which operated for a target wheel when an anti-skid condition is established for the target wheel, the pressure increasing valve controlled in order to linearly change a pressure difference, an estimating means for estimating an occurrence of a factor by which the brake hydraulic pressure is fluctuated at the conduit connecting the master cylinder to the pressure increasing valve for the target wheel while the pressure increasing valve is controlled for the target wheel, and an output means for generating an output for maintaining the pressure difference during a predetermining time period in which the pressure increasing valve is controlled, when the occurrence of the factor is estimated. |
| US08498793B1 |
Accelerometer using acceleration
An altimeter using speed, forward acceleration and yaw angle rate to measure altitude. The accuracy of the measurement may be improved by compensating for a position offset of an accelerometer; Kalman filtering with an external altitude measurement; and/or compensating for an accelerometer bias. The accelerometer bias may be calculated based on a last incline angle before a dormant time period and/or by Kalman filtering. |
| US08498792B2 |
Efficiency score tracker for vehicle operations
Implementing efficiency score tracking for vehicle operations includes identifying an operator of a vehicle. At each time increment of a driving event, the efficiency score tracking includes determining mileage accrual and energy consumed, calculating an efficiency value as a function of the mileage accrual and the amount of energy consumed, assigning a point value to the efficiency value, adding the point value to previous point values assigned during the driving event, and displaying a sum of the point value and the previous point values to the operator. The sum reflects a cumulative number of points assigned for a corresponding time increment and any previous time increments of the driving event. The efficiency score tracking also includes presenting a total point value reflecting a sum of all of the point values assigned to the operator of the vehicle for all of the time increments associated with the driving event. |
| US08498790B2 |
Control device for automatic transmission
The driving output of the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop is learnt by gradually increasing the driving output of the electric oil pump after an engine automatic stop and discriminating a state immediately before engagement on the basis of the behavior of an input shaft rotation number and a turbine rotation number. Thereby, the working oil pressure supplied by the electric oil pump during an engine automatic stop immediately after an engine automatic stop can be made suitable even if a vehicle is in a stopped state without adding an oil pressure sensor and an oil pressure switch, and a vain increase in power consumption, a deterioration of acceleration responsiveness at the time of an engine restart, generation of shock, or a soaring of the number of engine rotations can be prevented. |
| US08498787B2 |
Method and system for monitoring the operation of a cable shovel machine
A monitor system for an electric cable shovel determines when the shovel has completed a digging operation, and a subsequent dumping operation. The system includes an inclinometer, a current sensor, and a monitor circuit. The inclinometer is mounted on the dipper arm for providing an output indicative of the inclination of the dipper arm. The current sensor senses the level of the electrical current supplied to the electric motor. The monitor circuit determines when the current sensor provides an indication of a current level in excess of a digging current threshold level for a period of time in excess of a predetermined period, and during such period of time the inclinometer indicates that the inclination of the dipper arm is below a digging threshold inclination. In such a case, the monitor circuit provides an output indicating that the shovel has completed a digging operation. A subsequent dumping operation is monitored in a similar manner, with the rotation of the monitor and the actuation of the trip lever being sensed. GPS receivers on the electric cable shovel body provide an indication of the location at which the shovel is digging, and a worksite model is referenced to determine the material being mined. |
| US08498784B2 |
Method for estimating the suspension stroke of a vehicle and apparatus implementing the same
The present invention refers to a method for estimating the suspension stroke of a vehicle comprising the steps consisting of: a) determining a variability law (10) that associates the stroke of the suspension with the pressure inside a shock absorber of the same, based on experimental data; b) estimating the suspension stroke value related to a measured pressure value, based on the variability law (10) identified in step (a); c) detecting/obtaining the longitudinal vehicle dynamics; d) recalibrating (30) the variability law (10) identified in step a), based on the longitudinal vehicle dynamics detected/obtained in step c). The present invention also refers to an apparatus for implementing the estimation method of the suspension stroke of a vehicle according to the invention. |
| US08498782B2 |
Apparatus for keeping a traffic lane and preventing lane-deviation for a vehicle and method thereof
The present invention relates to an apparatus for keeping a traffic lane and preventing lane-deviation for a vehicle that controls a steering direction and a steering amount so as for the vehicle to keep the traffic lane by using information on a left traffic lane of a vehicle while travelling and information on a curbstone provided at a right side of the vehicle and a method thereof. |
| US08498774B2 |
Method for transmission of data concerning transport means in transport monitoring systems
Provided is a method for transportation asset monitoring. In one example embodiment, the method comprises collecting data related to operation and location of a transportation asset, comparing the collected data with values of one or more predetermined parameter thresholds, and generating an alarm signal whenever the one or more predetermined parameter thresholds have been exceeded. The method may further comprise generating a report related to the transportation asset's operational characteristics and performance output. |
| US08498772B2 |
Control apparatus and method for a vehicle having idle stop function
In an idle stop vehicle, a starter has separately an electromagnetic switch for energizing a motor and a pinion control solenoid for engaging a pinion gear with a ring gear. A coil of the solenoid is energized by a battery through a relay. For starting an engine, an ECU turns on the relay and the electromagnetic switch so that the starter cranks an engine. During engine operation, the ECU turns on only the relay while maintaining turn-off of the electromagnetic switch. If a voltage of a current supply path between the relay and the coil is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the ECU prohibits automatic idle stop by determining that the current supply path to the coil has abnormality. |
| US08498771B2 |
Wireless vehicle servicing
Various embodiments include methods, systems, and computer-program products for wireless vehicle servicing. Instructions for performing a vehicle servicing operation may be received at a servicing terminal. Further, vehicle servicing operation data based on the instructions and data communication rules for communicating data to a vehicle computing system may be received. Servicing request data stored in computer-readable media may be generated and may include the vehicle servicing operation data and the one or more data communication rules. The servicing request data may be transmitted to the vehicle computing system and servicing return data may be received. Servicing status information may be presented on the servicing terminal based on the servicing return data. |
| US08498770B2 |
Vehicle parking assist system and method
Upon a driver of a vehicle setting a target parking position, a parking assist system calculates a recommended parking start position which the vehicle can reach with a current steering angle of the vehicle unchanged and from which the vehicle can reach the parking target position with a constant steering angle. The parking assist system then draws a parking start frame figure F2 indicating a recommended parking start position on an overhead image around the vehicle generated using images captured by onboard cameras and displays the same on the display unit. It is therefore possible to properly assist the driving operation for parking allow inexperienced drivers to easily perform parking. |
| US08498768B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a generator motor, a capacitor, and a driving force assisting unit. Further, the control device includes a switching unit that selects an appropriate traveling range from a plurality of traveling ranges including at least a normal traveling range and a charging priority range for preferentially charging the capacitor and switches the range, and a threshold value increasing unit that increases, when the charging priority range is selected by the switching unit, the predetermined determination threshold value as compared to when the normal traveling range is selected by the switching unit. |
| US08498767B2 |
Power-supply control apparatus of vehicle
A power-supply control apparatus of a vehicle comprises a first electricity-storage device to supply electric power to a starter for starting engine, a generator to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle during a vehicle deceleration to electric energy for energy recovery, a second electricity-storage device coupled to the generator to store the electric power from the generator thereat, a feeder circuit coupling the second electricity-storage device to an electric load with a relatively-small electric-load capacity via a DC/DC convertor, a coupling line coupling the second electricity-storage device to the first electricity-storage device via a coupling relay, and a controller to control the electric power passing through the feeder circuit and the coupling line, wherein the controller executes a control to make the coupling relay on the coupling line in an OFF state when the starter operates. |
| US08498765B2 |
Control device
A control device configured with a first control portion controls an engagement pressure of a first engagement device to make a rotational speed of the input member equal to a predetermined rotational speed during the specific electric power generation control. A second control portion controls an engagement pressure of the second engagement device in such a manner as to make a transfer torque capacity of the second engagement device equal to a predetermined transfer torque capacity during the specific electric power generation control. Another control portion determines a target rotational speed in such a manner as to maintain a state in which an electric power generation amount achieved by the rotating electrical machine coincides with a predetermined target electric power generation amount, in accordance with a magnitude of a differential torque as a difference between a torque transmitted via the first engagement device. |
| US08498764B2 |
Electric vehicle and method of controlling the same
An electric vehicle and a method of controlling the electric vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle includes i) a battery configured to provide electric energy to the motor, ii) a remaining energy-amount detector configured to detect a remaining energy-amount of the battery and iii) a manipulation unit configured to receive target information from a user. The vehicle also includes a guide information generator configured to generate driving guide information based at least in part on the remaining energy-amount of the battery and the target information and a display unit configured to display the driving guide information. |
| US08498762B2 |
Method of planning the movement of trains using route protection
A method of planning the movement of plural trains over a train network utilizing route protection for the route immediately ahead of a train to avoid undesirable changes to the planned route of the train. |
| US08498761B2 |
Method and system to assist conventional fixed-wing aircraft landing, without a runway
A system allows conventional, unprepared fixed-wing aircraft to land safely on very small, unprepared areas, enabling an aerodynamic capacitance in which the airplanes can fly in a controlled manner against coherent air current, being assisted by a combined system including both the air current control mechanisms and the automatic flight control system of the aircraft. |
| US08498760B2 |
System and method for simultaneously processing telemetry data
According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a method for use in telemetry processing includes receiving telemetry data originating from a satellite, such that the telemetry data comprises a plurality of data segments. The method includes processing the plurality of data segments simultaneously and transmitting a signal to the satellite, in response to the processing, for effecting a change in the direction of the satellite. |
| US08498751B2 |
Method for early detection and anticipatory control of consumer-end load shedding in an electrical grid, and apparatus for carrying out the method
A method for early detection and anticipatory control of consumer-end load shedding in a single-phase or polyphase electrical grid supplied with single phase or polyphase by at least one generator driven by at least one rotating machine includes measuring a current and a voltage between the at least one generator and the electrical grid and/or a current and a voltage in the electrical grid, deriving at least one signal from the measured current and voltage and using the at least one derived signal to act on the at least one rotating machine. |
| US08498750B2 |
System for monitoring a transient fluid
A system for monitoring a transient flow of a fluid for the presence of contaminants is disclosed. The system includes a fluid control valve having a body defining a fluid flow path therethrough. A fluid monitoring device is in fluid communication with the fluid flowing through the control valve. The fluid monitoring device is adapted to monitor the fluid flowing through the control valve for contaminants. |
| US08498749B2 |
Method for zone based energy management system with scalable map interface
A method of managing energy use of a network device located at a site with a mobile device is provided. The method proceeds by determining a plurality of zones about the site and detecting a current location of the mobile device relative to the plurality of zones. The method continues by altering the operating condition of the network device in response to detecting the mobile device changing zones. A graphical user interface (GUI) is displayed within the display screen of the mobile device. A map presenting the site location, the plurality of zones disposed about the site location, and the current location of the mobile device is displayed within the GUI along with a distance selector including selectable distance values. The method further includes automatically scaling the plurality of zones and the map in response to changing the selectable distance value using the distance selector. |
| US08498747B2 |
Drapery assembly with a powered carrier
A drapery assembly extends and retracts a drape with a powered carrier. The carrier receives both a power signal and a command signal from a controller via an electrically powered surface of a drapery rod. The carrier supports a portion of the drape and moves linearly along the length of the drapery rod in response to the control signal. |
| US08498743B2 |
Robot and method of controlling balance thereof
A finite state machine (FSM)-based biped robot, to which a limit cycle is applied to balance the robot right and left on a two-dimensional space, and a method of controlling balance of the robot. In order to balance an FSM-based biped robot right and left on a two-dimensional space, control angles to balance the robot according to states of the FSM-based biped robot are set. The range of the control angles is restricted to reduce the maximum right and left moving distance of the biped robot and thus to reduce the maximum right and left moving velocity of the biped robot, thereby reducing the sum total of the moments of the biped robot and thus allowing the ankles of the biped robot to balance the biped robot to be controlled, and causing the soles of the feet of the biped robot to parallel contact the ground. |
| US08498741B2 |
Dexterous humanoid robotic wrist
A humanoid robot includes a torso, a pair of arms, a neck, a head, a wrist joint assembly, and a control system. The arms and the neck movably extend from the torso. Each of the arms includes a lower arm and a hand that is rotatable relative to the lower arm. The wrist joint assembly is operatively defined between the lower arm and the hand. The wrist joint assembly includes a yaw axis and a pitch axis. The pitch axis is disposed in a spaced relationship to the yaw axis such that the axes are generally perpendicular. The pitch axis extends between the yaw axis and the lower arm. The hand is rotatable relative to the lower arm about each of the yaw axis and the pitch axis. The control system is configured for determining a yaw angle and a pitch angle of the wrist joint assembly. |
| US08498738B2 |
Methods to broadcast status of a self-service dispensing device
A method is provided to that allows for the broadcast the status of a self-service dispensing device that a user is likely or scheduled to visit. A diagnostic program may be installed on a self-service dispensing device and/or a central server. The diagnostic program monitors the health and status of the self-service dispensing device. If a problem is detected by the diagnostic program, the self-service dispensing device or the central server proactively contacts likely visitors to the device as well as creates a service call to support personnel in order to have the problem repaired. |
| US08498733B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing tool change operations
A method and system are provided which reorders a sequence of operations of a part program to reduce the number of tool changes during execution of the program. The reordered sequence maintains a sequence of at least a first portion of the operations. |
| US08498731B2 |
Method of using process-parameter prognostic system for predicting shape of semiconductor structure
Provided are a process-parameter prognostic system for predicting the shape of a semiconductor structure, a semiconductor fabrication apparatus having the process-parameter prognostic system, and a method of using the same. The process-parameter prognostic system may have a process prediction unit and a process-change point corresponding unit. The process prediction unit and the process-change point corresponding unit may obtain predicted parameters using measured parameters of semiconductor structures and sensor parameters of plasmas corresponding to the semiconductor structures. |
| US08498728B2 |
Remote high-performance modeling system for material joining and material forming
A system and method for creating computerized models of forming processes, wherein forming process parameters including material type, material geometry, forming method, incoming material properties, forming die geometry, forming die thermal management method, lubrication method, forming rate, material constraint conditions, incoming material temperature, and other possible parameters are preselected by a user. |
| US08498721B2 |
Coronary vein leads having pre-formed biased portions for fixation
A lead having a pre-formed biased portion is adapted for implantation with a body vessel and for connection to a signal generator. The lead is constructed and arranged so that when it is implanted, the electrodes are biased toward a vessel wall by the preformed biased portion, which operates to fixate the lead against the vessel wall. |
| US08498720B2 |
Implantable electrode and method of making the same
The implantable electrode system of the preferred embodiments includes a conductor, an interconnect coupled to the conductor, an insulator that insulates the interconnect, and an anchor that is connected to both the conductor and the insulating element. The anchor is mechanically interlocked with at least one of the conductor and the insulator. |
| US08498717B2 |
Neural electronic interface device for motor and sensory controls of human body
Provided is a neural electronic interface (NEI) device that includes: a deep brain monitoring and stimulation (DBMS) module that wirelessly receives power from a power transmitter at a hat put on a patient, monitors a state of a brain of the patient by collecting various signals of the brain through a probe pin device (PPD), and transmits the collected signals to a communicator of the hat, wherein a remote controller of the hat analyzes the collected signals and controls the DBMS through the controller to stimulate the brain. |
| US08498715B2 |
Systems and methods for implantable leadless cochlear stimulation
Systems and methods are disclosed to enable hearing in the deaf by stimulating sites in the cochlea. The invention uses electrical stimulation in the cochlea, where vibrational energy from a source is received by an implanted device and converted to electrical energy and the converted electrical energy is used by implanted electrodes to stimulate the cochlear nerve. The vibrational energy is generated by a controller-transmitter, which could be located either externally or implanted. The vibrational energy is received by a receiver-stimulator, which contains multiple electrodes to stimulate along selected sites in the cochlea. |
| US08498709B2 |
Planning system for neurostimulation therapy
A system for planning implantation of a neurostimulation probe is provided. The system comprises an input for receiving anatomical data comprising information regarding a position and an orientation of at least one fiber bundle in a target region, an input for receiving therapeutic information comprising information regarding a stimulation preferability of the at least one fiber bundle, an optimization module for based on the position, the orientation and the stimulation preferability of the at least one fiber bundle calculating at least one optimal position and at least one optimal orientation for implantation of the neurostimulation probe at which optimal position and orientation the probe is capable of generating an electric field gradient substantially parallel to at least one fiber bundle with a high stimulation preferability and/or substantially perpendicular to at least one fiber bundle with a low stimulation preferability and an output for providing the optimal position and orientation. |
| US08498701B2 |
Automatic external defibrillator with active status indicator
An AED includes defibrillation circuitry housed within an enclosure, a first processor programmed to periodically test the operability of the defibrillation circuitry and a second processor in communication with the first processor. The AED further includes a visual indicator, such as a red/green LED, positioned at the exterior of the enclosure that is operatively connected to the second processor. The second processor is programmed to control the visual indicator in response to the periodic test results provided to it by the first processor. |
| US08498700B2 |
Disposable internal defibrillation electrodes
A disposable electrode paddle assembly is provided and includes a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; a handle assembly supported at the proximal end of the shaft; a spoon supported at the distal end of the shaft; an electrical conductor extending from the handle assembly and establishing an electrical connection at the spoon; and an electrode assembly selectively, electrically connectable to the electrical connection provided at the spoon; wherein the electrode assembly includes a layer of silver/silver-chloride (Ag/AgCl) having one of an increasing and decreasing density extending in a radially outward direction. |
| US08498697B2 |
Classification of somatosensory evoked potential waveforms
Embodiments are disclosed relating to classification of somatosensory evoked potential waveforms. |
| US08498696B2 |
Health monitoring device and human electric signal processing method
A health monitoring device is provided and includes a detecting unit for detecting a first electric signal from a human body and a processing unit for performing the following steps: receiving the first electric signal; performing wavelet transform on the first electric signal, to filter frequency bands thereof which include undesired noises, and then perform a reverse wavelet transform to obtain a second electric signal; combining frequency bands of the first electric signal which include primary characteristics and then perform a reverse wavelet transform on the combined frequency bands to obtain a fourth electric signal; and comparing the fourth electric signal with a plurality of electric signal patterns of a database to determine whether the fourth electric signal is an electric signal for healthiness. |
| US08498695B2 |
Imaging system with a single color image sensor for simultaneous fluorescence and color video endoscopy
An endoscopic video system and method using a camera with a single color image sensor, for example a CCD color image sensor, for fluorescence and color imaging and for simultaneously displaying the images acquired in these imaging modes at video rates in real time is disclosed. The tissue under investigation is illuminated continuously with fluorescence excitation light and is further illuminated periodically using visible light outside of the fluorescence excitation wavelength range. The illumination sources may be conventional lamps using filters and shutters, or may include light-emitting diodes mounted at the distal tip of the endoscope. |
| US08498691B2 |
Robotic catheter system and methods
A robotically controlled guide instrument system, comprising an elongate flexible guide instrument; a drive assembly coupled to a proximal portion of the guide instrument and configured to maneuver a distal portion of the guide instrument; a master controller including a user interface that may be manipulated to actuate the drive assembly and thereby maneuver the distal portion the guide instrument; and a closure device detachably coupled to a delivery member carried by the guide instrument, the guide instrument maneuverable to position the closure device proximate an opening of a left atrial appendage of a person's heart such that the prosthesis may be detached from the delivery member and implanted to substantially close off the left atrial appendage. |
| US08498687B2 |
Body fat measurement device
A body fat measurement device includes: hand electrodes that make contact with both hands; back area electrodes that makes contact with the surface of the back area side of the trunk area; foot electrodes that make contact with both feet; a body impedance measurement unit that measures a body impedance in a body using these multiple electrodes; and a body fat mass calculation unit that calculates a body fat mass based on the body impedance measured by the body impedance measurement unit. The foot electrodes that make contact with both feet are provided on a platform unit in an exposed state, and the hand electrodes that make contact with both hands and the back area electrodes that make contact with the surface of the back area side of the trunk area are all provided on a fitting unit in an exposed state. |
| US08498684B2 |
Sine saturation transform
A transform for determining a physiological measurement is disclosed. The transform determines a basis function index from a physiological signal obtained through a physiological sensor. A basis function waveform is generated based on basis function index. The basis function waveform is then used to determine an optimized basis function waveform. The optimized basis function waveform is used to calculate a physiological measurement. |
| US08498683B2 |
Method for respiration rate and blood pressure alarm management
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to display features that facilitate observation of monitored physiological data. According to certain embodiments, a monitoring system may include a monitor capable of receiving data related to the physiological parameters and storing data related to the parameters. The monitor may include a microprocessor capable of determining a respiration rate baseline from the data and establishing an alarm sensitivity for respiration rate based on the respiration rate baseline. The alarm sensitivity may comprise a first tier, a second tier, and a third tier. Each tier may correspond to a specific respiratory rate range and the alarm sensitivity may be selected based on which specific respiratory rate range encompasses the respiration rate baseline. Further, in certain embodiments a blood pressure baseline may be determined and an alarm sensitivity established based on the blood pressure baseline. |
| US08498682B2 |
Optical determination of pH and glucose
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an optical sensor capable of measuring two analytes simultaneously with a single indicator system. In preferred embodiments, the sensor comprises a fluorescent dye having acid and base forms that facilitate ratiometric pH sensing, wherein the dye is further associated with a glucose binding moiety and configured to generate a signal that varies in intensity with the concentration of glucose. |
| US08498680B2 |
Electrode unit joining structure for superconducting wire, superconducting wire, and superconducting coil
An electrode unit joining structure for a superconducting wire includes: a superconducting wire comprising a first base member, a first superconducting layer provided on the first base member, and a first electroconductive layer provided on the first superconducting layer; an electrode provided on the first electroconductive layer at an end portion of the superconducting wire; and a superconducting cover tape comprising a second base member, a second superconducting layer provided on the second base member, and a second electroconductive layer provided on the second superconducting layer, the superconducting cover tape being provided so as to cover at least part of the electrode, wherein the second electroconductive layer of the superconducting cover tape is disposed on the electrode side, and the electrode, the superconducting wire, and the superconducting cover tape are electrically connected to each other. |
| US08498665B2 |
Information providing device, method therefor, program, and storage medium
User group DB (70) stores a serial number of the mobile phone of the user. Action DB (69) stores an individual identification number for identifying RFID which is set up by a service provider and an action associated with the individual identification number. A web server function (61) controls reception of the serial number and the individual identification number, which are transmitted from the mobile phone; and a service providing section (67) executes, when the serial number and the individual identification number are received, an action of providing a service of the service provider to the mobile phone of the user. |
| US08498663B2 |
Base station, mobile station, and power control method
A base station includes: means that derives a transmission power of a mobile station based on receive quality of an uplink pilot channel; means that reports the derived transmission power to the mobile station; and means that receives a control channel transmitted by the mobile station according to the reported information. Accordingly, irrespective of transmission power history over a past continuous time, the mobile station receives an instruction on the transmission power from the base station each time when transmitting a packet so as to be able to adjust the transmission power. |
| US08498662B2 |
Method to generate power control information and method of power control for uplink
In a communication system including a plurality of base stations and a plurality of terminals belonging to each of the base stations, the base station receives information on subcarriers allocated to a terminal that belongs to an adjacent base station from the adjacent base station. Thereafter, the base station generates power control information on the basis of the subcarrier information and transmits the power control information to the terminal, and the terminal controls uplink power on the basis of the received power control information. At this time, the power control information, as information based on estimating hitting between subcarriers used by the terminal that belongs to the base station and subcarriers used by the adjacent base station, may be a ratio found by dividing the total number of subcarriers used by each terminal that belongs to the adjacent base station by the entire number of subcarriers that can be used by the base station. |
| US08498660B2 |
Enhanced group calling features for connected portfolio services in a wireless communications network
Enhanced Group Calling Features for Connected Portfolio Services in wireless communications networks, such as a mobile or cellular phone communications networks. The Connected Portfolio Services include Mobile Conferencing (Scheduled/Instant/Reservationless Conference), Family Connect, Buddy Connect, and Quick Reach, while the Enhanced Group Calling Features include Voicemail Diversion (the recognition of a diversion to voicemail and dropping the leg), Reverse Quick Reach (where a terminating subscriber defines how a call dialed to his/her mobile number should be handled and directed), and Single Number Group Calling (an optimal design implementation of single number based group calling). |
| US08498658B2 |
Techniques and systems for providing data over power in communications based on time reversal
Techniques, apparatuses and systems for providing communications based on time reversal of a channel impulse response of a pulse in a transmission channel between a transmitter and a receiver to enhance reception and detection of a pulse at the receiver against various effects that can adversely affect and complicate the reception and detection of the pulse at the receiver. |
| US08498657B1 |
User interface update signaling
A system is provided for user interface update signaling. The system includes a user interface that executes on a mobile device, a signaling server, and a background application. The signaling server receives an update from a third party application and sends at least some of the update to the mobile device. The background application executes on the mobile device, receives the at least some of the update, and stores the at least some of the update in a file in the mobile device. The background application also provides a uniform resource locator that specifies where the file is located to the user interface to enable the user interface to display the at least some of the update. |
| US08498656B2 |
Electronic device with idle mode antenna switching
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communication circuitry. The wireless communication circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to multiple antennas. An electronic device may alternate between a sleep mode and a wake mode. During wake mode, the electronic device may monitor a paging channel in a wireless network for incoming paging signals. The device may use a selected one of the multiple antennas in monitoring the paging channel. If received signal quality is satisfactory, the device may maintain use of the selected one of the multiple antennas for subsequent wake period monitoring of the paging channel. If received signal quality falls below a threshold or is otherwise indicated to not be satisfactory, the device may switch to use of a different one of the multiple antennas in monitoring the paging channel. Other criteria may also be used in controlling the switching between antennas for paging channel monitoring. |
| US08498649B2 |
Method for wireless communication between user equipment and base station in wireless communication system supporting first user equipment that uses single frequency band and second user equipment that uses plurality of frequency bands
A method for wireless communication between user equipments (UEs) and a base station in a wireless communication system that supports a first UE using a single band and a second UE using multiple bands is provided. In the method, UE receives, from the base station, resource allocation information including information regarding a downlink component carrier (CC) and an uplink CC allocated to the UE, receives the allocated downlink CC, and transmits the allocated uplink CC by applying a cell ID thereto. The allocated downlink CC is one of downlink CCs to which different cell IDs are applied, pairs of CCs are predefined by associating uplink CCs respectively with downlink CCs in order to support the first UE. When the allocated downlink and uplink CCs do not belong to the pairs of CCs, the applied cell ID is a cell ID of a downlink CC that is paired with the allocated uplink CC in the predefined pairs of CCs. |
| US08498645B2 |
Method for allocating a temporary resource request identifier for accessing a target base station
The present disclosure provides for a method for allocating by a plurality of source base stations of a cellular wireless communication support infrastructure a temporary resource request identifier to a wireless communication device for accessing a target base station. The method includes identifying a list of temporary resource request identifiers associated with the target base station for use by one or more wireless communication devices, wherein the list includes a subset of one or more part time temporary resource request identifiers whose respective assignment to a corresponding grouping of one or more source base stations at a particular time is rotated between more than one of the plurality of corresponding groupings of one or more source base stations. |
| US08498639B2 |
Flexible channel quality indicator reporting
System(s) and method(s) are provided that facilitate a flexible channel quality indicator (CQI) reporting directives or policies. A CQI reporting directive delivers an improved tradeoff between reporting accuracy and overhead by establishing subband-specific reporting periods, reporting repetitions, or power requirements. The CQI reporting directive is based at least in part on channel conditions, traffic requirements, and scheduling techniques. Automated optimization and negotiation of a CQI reporting directive based on communication performance is also incorporated. |
| US08498636B2 |
State-machine-based operation of a coverage-model-related process
It is disclosed to operate a generating/updating process that comprises generating and/or updating at least one model for a coverage area of a communication node and/or at least one process associated with said generating/updating process in dependence on at least one state of a state machine. |
| US08498632B2 |
Determining network quality
Method, communications device and computer program product for determining network quality for the communications device which is capable of communicating over a communications network. The method comprises determining location information associated with a location of the device, querying a database using the determined location information, wherein the database stores a plurality of entries each comprising location information and corresponding network quality information, and obtaining, from the database in response to the query, network quality information from at least one entry of said entries which comprises location information corresponding to the determined location information. |
| US08498631B2 |
Activation of applications based on vibration of portable electronic device
The present disclosure relates to activation of applications based on a vibration of a portable electronic device. A portable electronic device comprises: a vibration detecting unit configured to detect a vibration of the portable electronic device, acquire the vibration response profile of the vibration, and detect, based on the vibration response profile, a vibration of which the vibration response has an intensity and an effective width within respective predetermined ranges as an effective vibration event; and an application activating unit configured to be triggered in response to the effective vibration event being detected by the vibration detecting unit, so as to activate an associated application provided in the portable electronic device. According to the present disclosure, some special application functions of the portable electronic device can be conveniently enabled, and particularly, a call transfer setting/cancelling operation of a mobile phone can be conveniently carried out. |
| US08498629B2 |
Extensible human machine interface (HMI) plugin architecture for radio software system and related method
A software-defined radio includes an executable radio software system operable with a radio circuit and conforming to the software communications architecture (SCA) specification and defining an operating environment that allows a waveform application to operate with a radio circuit for transmitting and receiving voice and data. An extensible Human-Machine Interface (HMI) plugin module is operable for allowing a selected waveform application to integrate with the radio circuit and provide an HMI user interface. |
| US08498628B2 |
Content delivery system and method
A method and system for delivering content to a plurality of devices is provided. In one embodiment, the method may be for delivering content elements of one or more presentations to a device configured to communicate via a wireless data network, wherein the content elements include static content elements, dynamic content elements, and on-demand content elements. The method may comprise delivering to the device, data, such as compilation data, of the content elements included in the one or more presentations; delivering the static content elements to the device via the wireless data network during one or more time periods of increased available wireless data network capacity; delivering the dynamic content elements to the device via the wireless data network substantially according to a schedule; and delivering the on-demand content elements to the device via the wireless data network substantially immediately after a user request for an on-demand content element. In addition, the method may comprise determining that the device is accessible via a communication link, such as a wireless local area network, that does not include the wireless data network and delivering one or more content elements to the device via the communication link. Further, the method may comprise determining that the device is communicatively coupled to an internet access device and delivering one or more content elements to the device via the internet access device. |
| US08498627B2 |
Intuitive computing methods and systems
The present disclosure relates generally to mobile devices and content recognition. One claim recites a method employing a mobile device having a processor configured to perform one or more acts of the method, the mobile device including at least one sensor. The method includes: obtaining information from the sensor; and selecting a user profile from among a plurality of different user profiles based on the information. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US08498626B1 |
Service-based access for enterprise private network devices to service provider network services
A system is configured to receive, from an enterprise device, a request to access a network domain, and is configured to determine whether the network domain is associated with a wireless service provider service. Based on determining that the network domain is not associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a private network associated with the enterprise device. Based on determining that the network domain is associated with the wireless service provider service, the system is configured to route the request to a domain name system server associated with the wireless service provider, receive a domain name system response to the request, the domain name system response identifying a network address, and route the domain name system response to the enterprise device. |
| US08498621B2 |
Cellular device management
A server device of a communication system provides a web interface to allow a user to modify user interface settings and contact information. The server device communicates the modified settings and contact information to the mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. Accordingly, the user can conveniently configure user interface settings, such as ring tones, alarm settings, or the like, via a web interface, rather than through a cumbersome interface at the mobile communication device. In addition, the user interface settings are communicated to the mobile communication device via the same wireless communication network that carries voice data. Thus, the user interface of the mobile communication device, as well as the stored contact information, can be updated without requiring the user to connect the device to a computer. |
| US08498615B2 |
Self provisioning of wireless terminals in wireless networks
Acquiring telecommunications service is disclosed. A wireless signal is received from a wireless network. A network identification is decoded from the wireless signal. A subscriber identification is selected based at least in part on the decoded network identification, and wireless service is acquired from the wireless network. |
| US08498609B2 |
Radio communication system and method
A mobile station is configured to use, a reception quality of GPS electric wave received by a mobile station, time needed in obtaining GPS location information (or the reception quality of preset television or radio broadcasting) as surrounding environmental information of the mobile station and to control, based on the surrounding environmental information, measurement of a link status (reception quality) and/or reporting of the measurement to a base station. A report from the mobile station is transmitted via the base station and a gateway to a management server which optimizes radio parameter based on the report. |
| US08498608B2 |
Method of network paging user equipment for error recovery in wireless communication system and related communication device
A method of a network paging a user equipment for error recovery in a wireless communication system when a network failure occurs includes the network sending a paging message to the user equipment according to an IMSI or an IMEI of the user equipment registered to the network in the attach procedure before the network failure. When the user equipment does not have the IMSI, the network uses the IMEI of the user equipment for paging the user equipment for error recovery. |
| US08498604B2 |
Double balanced mixer
An improved double balanced mixer is provided which in one embodiment includes a first balun for receiving a first single input and providing a first balanced output having two ports, a second balun for receiving a second single input and providing a second balanced output having two ports, and a balanced mixer core responsive to the first and second balanced outputs to provide a mixed signal from the first and second single inputs. The first balun includes an RC network coupled between at least one of the ports of the first balanced output and one of ground and a common mode node of the first balun to improve the linearity of the double balanced mixer. |
| US08498600B2 |
Automatic gain control system with dual-RSSI interference detection for optimization of sensitivity and adjacent channel rejection performance of RF receivers
A tuner includes a low noise amplifier (LNA), a first received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a mixer, an intermediate frequency (IF) filter, a second RSSI and an adjustment unit. The LNA amplifies a radio frequency (RF) signal. The first RSSI detects received signal strength indication of the RF signal and obtains a first signal strength voltage. The mixer is coupled to the LNA and down-converts the RF signal into a first IF signal according to a local oscillation frequency. The IF filter is coupled to the mixer and filters the first IF signal to obtain a second IF signal. The second RSSI detects received signal strength indication of the second IF signal and obtains a second signal strength voltage. The adjustment unit adjusts a gain of the LNA according to the first signal strength voltage and the second signal strength voltage. |
| US08498598B2 |
RF-demodulator, calibration circuitry and methods for calibrating an RF-demodulator
An RF-demodulator includes an RF-input, a demodulator output, a mixing and amplification stage coupled between the RF-input and the demodulator output, and a calibration circuitry. The calibration circuitry is configured to apply a calibration input signal at the RF-input and sense a resulting calibration output signal at the demodulator output to derive a gain of the mixing and amplification stage based on the relationship between the calibration output signal and the calibration input signal. |
| US08498593B2 |
Switching power supply
A power supply is disclosed herein. For example, the power supply can include a switching device and an aperture generator and control module. The switching device can be configured to down-convert an input voltage and pass the down-converted input voltage to an output voltage node. The aperture generator and control module can be configured to control the switching device. In response to a power efficiency of the power supply exceeding a predetermined threshold, the aperture generator and control module can deactivate the switching device and pass the input voltage to the output voltage node. |
| US08498590B1 |
Signal transmitter linearization
A linearizer for a non-linear transmitter and method include a gain regulator and predistorter adapted to be coupled to a non-linear transmitter in various configurations. Bounding controllers are coupled to the gain regulator and predistorter to maintain normal operation of a transmit path to prevent unstable transmitter operation. |
| US08498589B2 |
Polar modulator with path delay compensation
A modulation system comprising a signal processing unit and a modulator. The signal processing unit may generate a low frequency modulator signal, a high frequency modulator signal, and a modulator amplitude control signal. The modulator may generate a modulated signal for transmission via a wireless network based, at least in part, on the low frequency modulator signal, the high frequency modulator signal, and the modulator amplitude control signal. The signal processing unit comprises a delay compensation unit for delaying the generation of the high frequency modulator signal and the modulator amplitude control signal based, at least in part, on signal generation and modulation path delays associated with the low frequency modulator signal to substantially align the modulator signals at the output of the modulation system. |
| US08498588B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device with reduced microphone noise from radio frequency communications circuitry
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board in the housing and having radio frequency (RF) circuitry and a power amplifier and microphone mounted thereon. An antenna is carried within the housing and operative with the RF circuitry. An RF shield surrounds and isolates the microphone from the RF circuitry, power amplifier and antenna and shields the microphone from radiated energy generated from the RF circuitry, antenna or power amplifier. |
| US08498585B2 |
Apparatus and method for reducing self-interference in a radio system
Full duplex radio wireless systems and methods and especially transceivers for full duplex radio wireless systems with reduction of self-interference are described. MIMO (=multiple input multiple output several antennas for output and input) is used within one device with multiple antennas to remove self-interference in a proactive way. For example, a transceiver is described having self-interference suppression, comprising, within one transceiver device: two or more transmitters comprising one or more signal generators for transmitting transmit signals having transmit center frequencies in a selected first subchannel; and one or more receivers having receiver inputs for simultaneously receiving a desired receive signal in a second subchannel and an undesired accumulated interference signal due to said transmitted signals; and at least one of said transmitters also comprising a precompensation circuit that modifies the transmit signals such that said accumulated interference signal at the receiver(s) inputs is reduced. |
| US08498584B2 |
Frequency agile duplex filter
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter. |
| US08498576B2 |
Inverse-mode bipolar transistor radio-frequency switches and methods of using same
The various embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to inverse-mode Radio-Frequency (“RF”) switching circuits and methods of using the same. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inverse-mode RF switching circuit. The inverse-mode RF switching circuit comprises a bipolar transistor, a shunt element, a first RF channel, and a second RF channel. The bipolar transistor comprises a base, a collector, and an emitter, wherein the base and emitter are in electrical communication first via a base-emitter junction and second via an electrical connection element. The shunt element is in electrical communication with the collector. The first RF channel is in electrical communication with the base and emitter. The second RF channel is in electrical communication with the collector and the shunt element. The base-collector junction operates as a switching diode between the first RF channel and the second RF channel. |
| US08498573B2 |
Dynamic changes to a user profile based on external service integration
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method, system, and program product for dynamic changes to a user profile based on external service integration. The method, system and program product comprise establishing a direct two-way communication between a first mobile device and a second mobile device when a first mobile device direct transceiver and a second mobile device direct transceiver are within a range of each other. A number of data is gathered from a number of internal sources or a number of external sources. An analysis of the number of data to determine a modification to a first list stored in the first device is performed. A modified first list is generated based on the analysis. The modified first list is automatically sent from the first mobile device to the number of second devices responsive to establishing the direct two-way communication between the first mobile device and a number of second devices. |
| US08498564B2 |
Fixing roller/fixing belt, and process for manufacturing the same
A fixing roller/fixing belt having an elastic layer and a surface layer formed on a substrate material in the enumerated order, wherein the surface layer is a layer formed by thermally shrinking a PFA tube, and the surface layer and the elastic layer are bonded together through a PFA-containing adhesive material. In particular, a fixing roller/fixing belt in which the ratio of heat shrinkage of the PFA tube forming the surface layer is 3 to 20%. Also, a fixing roller/fixing belt, in which the quantity of PFA contained in the PFA-containing adhesive material is 20 to 30 wt %. |
| US08498562B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus comprising the same
Provided is a fixing device that uses an induction heating method and is capable of shortening a warm-up time period by accelerating the speed of increase in the temperature of a fixing belt. The fixing device forms a fixing nip by having a pressurizing roller pressurize a fixing roller, which is positioned inside a rotation path of a fixing belt having a hollow cylindrical shape, from outside the rotation path via the fixing belt. Given that Db is an inner diameter of the fixing belt, Dr is an outer diameter of the fixing roller, and a rate X is a value obtained by dividing the inner diameter Db of the fixing belt by the outer diameter Dr of the fixing roller, the fixing belt and the fixing roller that satisfy a relationship 0 |
| US08498561B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same having a reinforcing member including first and second flanges
A fixing device includes an endless belt, a fuser pad, a pressure member, a tubular belt holder, and a reinforcing member. The endless belt is looped into a generally cylindrical configuration extending in an axial direction. The fuser pad extends in the axial direction inside the loop of endless belt. The pressure member extends in the axial direction with the belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The pressure member is pressed against the fuser pad through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The belt holder extends in the axial direction inside the loop of endless belt to retain the belt in shape along an outer circumference thereof. The belt holder accommodates the fuser pad in a longitudinal side slot defined on one side thereof. The reinforcing member is disposed inside the tubular belt holder to reinforce the belt holder around the side slot. |
| US08498560B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus using this fixing device
A fixing device and an image forming apparatus using this, in which even if permanent warping is produced on a roller member that forms a fixing nip portion, no collision sound is produced due to the collision of gears, the fixing device including: two roller members that form a nip portion in which a recording medium is pressed by pressure means and transported; and a drive gear that engages with a shaft portion of one of the two roller members and transmits driving force to that roller member. A key is formed in the drive gear and a key groove having a gap opened therein is formed in the shaft portion, and when a rotation velocity of the roller member increases, transmission of driving force from the drive gear to the shaft portion is suspended and the drive gear slides on the shaft portion. |
| US08498559B2 |
Oil pressurized foam roll
This disclosure relates to a lubricating supply system for a fuser assembly of a printing process having a perforated sleeve, the perforated sleeve supporting a semi-porous foam roll. The perforated sleeve slips around the outer surface of a rotating shaft in order that the lubricant supplied to the hollow of the rotating shaft is diffused through the perforated sleeve and foam roll to lubricate a heated surface of the fuser assembly. A lubricant port connects a source of lubricant to the hollow portion of the rotating shaft. |
| US08498550B2 |
Image forming apparatus with ion generating function
A copier comprises a housing, an image reading section, an image forming section, a paper discharge section, a paper supply section and an ion generating unit. The ion generating unit is disposed below the paper discharge section and above the paper supply section. The ion generating unit includes a duct that defines a path of flow guiding air sucked from outside of the housing to outside of the housing again. |
| US08498548B2 |
Blower and image forming apparatus
A blower includes a fan; and an air duct having a passage formed therein, the air duct guiding the air and blowing the air onto the corona discharger, the air duct including an increasing-width portion in which a passage width gradually increases downstream in an air flow direction, a decreasing-height portion in which a passage height gradually decreases downstream in the air flow direction, an extension portion extending from a downstream end of the decreasing-height portion to a position near the corona discharger, a bent portion that is bent from a downstream end of the extension portion toward the corona discharger, an opening formed at a downstream end of the bent portion, and a plate-shaped member disposed in the passage at a position on an inner wall of any of the decreasing-height portion and the extension portion, the inner wall being on the corona discharger side. |
| US08498546B2 |
Toner supply container and image forming apparatus
A toner supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the toner supply container including a rotatable container body for containing toner; and a sensor, rotatable integrally with the container body, for detecting a remaining toner amount in the container body. |
| US08498543B2 |
Dispersion tolerant optical system and method
An optical communication system and method of use are described. The system comprises an optical source adapted to receive a digitally encoded data signal comprising sequences of data at a data rate (B) and comprising two signal levels representing a first state and a second state of the data signal, the optical source being adapted to produce an optical signal substantially frequency modulated with frequency excursion Δν comprising a first instantaneous frequency (ν0) associated to the first state and a second instantaneous frequency (ν1) associated to the second state; an optical converter adapted to receive the substantially frequency modulated optical signal, the optical converter having an optical transfer function varying with frequency and including at least one pass band, the at least one pass band having a peak transmittance and at least a low-transmittance region. |
| US08498541B2 |
Backdoor diagnostic communication to transceiver module
Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an optical transceiver module having a diagnostic communications link, wherein the link is configured to access diagnostic and other data contained within the transceiver controller via a backdoor interface. Controller data, including operational parameter values and module setup values, is accessible while the transceiver operates in conjunction with an external host and may be retrieved, and sometimes modified, in real time without interrupting normal transceiver operation or suspending the transmission of data over optical fibers. The data is accessed with an external user device via a backdoor interface on the outside of the transceiver module. |
| US08498539B1 |
Dielectric photonic receivers and concentrators for radio frequency and microwave applications
Techniques, devices and systems for using dielectric materials, without metal or electrically conductive materials, to construct photonic RF and microwave receivers and concentrators. |
| US08498538B2 |
Compact monolithic dispersion compensator
An optical signal control system is constructed from a portion of a material and allows for controlled amount of negative dispersion to be generated across a broadband input signal. The block may be made of a single portion of the material and have surfaces with reflective, transmissive, and/or diffractive optical characteristics. By adjusting the physical dimensions of the block substrate and the line pitch of a diffraction grating etched into a surface of the block, the magnitude of the dispersion can be varied. Laser systems that utilize the optical signal control system may have reduced size and weight as compared to existing compressors and be more robust against misalignment. |
| US08498535B2 |
Testing of elements used in communication links
A receiver for a communications link includes a receiver module and a host receiver. These two components can be tested independently. In one embodiment, the receiver module is characterized with respect to noise and distortion. The noise performance can be determined by comparing input and output signals of the receiver module, to determine the relative noise of the receiver module. The distortion performance can be determined by comparing the distortion of input and output signals of the receiver module, using a reference host receiver that includes an equalizer. The host receiver can be tested by using a reference receiver module. |
| US08498534B2 |
Epon with power-saving features
One embodiment provides a system for power saving in an Ethernet Passive Optic Network (EPON). The system includes an optical line terminal (OLT), an optical network unit (ONU), a traffic-detection module configured to detect status of traffic to and from the ONU, and a power-management module configured to place the ONU in sleep mode based on the detected traffic status. The ONU includes an optical transceiver that includes an optical transmitter configured to transmit optical signals to the OLT and an optical receiver configured to receive optical signals from the OLT. |
| US08498532B2 |
Digital camera with projector and digital camera system
A digital camera equipped with a projector, includes a photographing device; a projector device that projects an optical image; a mode switching operation member that outputs a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to one of a photographing operation mode in which image data photographed by the photographing device are saved as a photographic image file in a recording medium and a projection operation mode in which a reproduced image is projected by the projector device; a top surface operation member disposed at an upper surface of a casing; and a projection control device that controls the projector device based upon an operation signal provided by the top surface operation member upon receiving a switching operation signal indicating a changeover to the projection operation mode from the mode switching operation member. |
| US08498527B2 |
Water heating control and storage system
A water heating control and storage system, including an insulated tank for containing water to be heated. The tank has at least two heating elements, including an upper heating element and a lower heating element. An operation control device receives a demand response signal and enables each element to independently heat water for usage. A method for controlling a water heating storage system includes providing an insulated tank for containing water to be heated; providing an upper heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device and a lower heating element with a thermostat and thermal limiting device to heat upper and lower portions of water inside the tank; and providing a pair of switches for enabling each of the heating elements to independently heat upper and lower portions of the water for usage. |
| US08498522B2 |
Multimedia data recording/playing device and driving method thereof
A multimedia data recording and playing device and a method of driving the same are provided. The multimedia data recording and playing device includes a PVR processor for controlling to store received multimedia data in an activation mode where a time shift function can be performed, a storage for storing the received multimedia data under a control of the PVR processor, and a time shift function switcher for switching from the activation mode into a deactivation mode where the time shift function cannot be performed after determining whether the time shift function is performed or not. |
| US08498521B2 |
Video reproduction method and video reproduction device
Provided is a video reproduction method with a less difference between a target speed and an actual speed, when fast forward reproduction or fast rewind reproduction is performed on reproduction units consisting of a plurality of connected video units. When the video units are switched, in fast forward reproduction, as an elapsed jump time duration, a difference between a reproduction time of a last displayed picture in a source video unit and an end time of the source video unit is calculated (S104), then, as a remaining jump time duration, a value is calculated by subtracting the calculated elapsed jump time duration from the jump time duration corresponding to the designated speed (S105), then, as a reproduction start time, a time is calculated by adding the calculated remaining time duration to a start time of a destination video unit (S106), and the video is reproduced from the reproduction start time. |
| US08498518B2 |
Recording/reproducing device
A recording and playback apparatus capable of recording and playing back a content downloaded from a server, includes a recording unit configured to download the content with a playback time limit, stored in a server and record the content to a recording medium, an instruction receiver configured to receive an instruction for starting playback of the content, a playback unit configured to play back the content recorded in the recording medium in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction receiver, and a warning output unit configured to output warning information related to the playback time limit of the content before the playback unit stars playback of the content, when the instruction receiver receives the instruction for starting playback of the content during download of the content. |
| US08498517B2 |
Method and system of implementing multimedia recording and media resource handling device
A method of implementing multimedia recording, comprises the following steps of: (1) establishing a multimedia channel between a media resource handling device and a recording data source; (2) a media resource controller including media controlling parameters, and indicating the media resource handling device to start a multimedia recording operation via said multimedia channel; (3) depending on the parameters indicated by the media resource controlling device, the media resource handling device saving the received media data as a multimedia data file according to a format indicated by the parameters. A system of implementing multimedia recording and media resource handling device. Using this method, system and the media resource handling device of present invention can make the media resource controller indicate the media resource handling device to implement the multimedia recording operation. |
| US08498516B2 |
Personal video recorder and control method thereof for combining first and second video streams
The present invention provides a PVR system and control method thereof, by which a user is facilitated to synthesize and combine a multitude of videos or broadcast programs. The present invention includes a decoder selecting at least one of a plurality of reception video streams to decode the selected video stream, a PVR engine reading a first index file including video features and addresses of previously stored video streams, the PVR engine generating a second index file including video features and addresses of the selected video stream, the PVR engine links the first and second index files to each other to combine the previously stored video stream and the selected video stream, and a storage means for storing the video streams and the index files corresponding to the video streams. |
| US08498515B2 |
Recording medium and recording and reproducing method and apparatuses
In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at least one text subtitle stream from an external source. Each text subtitle stream includes text data to be displayed within a region of a display screen, first information specifying a global style of the region, and second information specifying a local style for a portion of the text data. The text subtitle stream is decoded using the first information and the second information. |
| US08498514B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information managing method and medium
This invention relate to an information processing apparatus comprising first recording means for recording one moving picture in at least one recording increment; second recording means for recording a still picture corresponding to the moving picture in keeping with the recording increment of the moving picture; and third recording means for recording information about the moving picture being recorded by the first recording means. |
| US08498512B2 |
Controlling beam intensity in an ophthalmic fiber optic illumination system using rotatable plate arrays
An ophthalmic illumination system includes a collimated light beam focused onto an optical fiber for transmission of the light beam to an ophthalmic light probe. A light attenuator includes a pair of arrays positioned serially in a path for the collimated beam. The arrays are movable in parallel in the path about a rotational axis orthogonal to the path and between the arrays. Each array includes a plurality of regularly spaced-apart parallel plates, the parallel plates of one array being non-parallel to the plates of the other array. |
| US08498503B2 |
Integrated optical coupler
An integrated optical coupler including in the medium separating a first integrated waveguide from a second substantially parallel integrated waveguide, a succession of strips parallel to one another and orthogonal to the general direction of the waveguides, said strips being made of a material having an absorption preventing the propagation of an electromagnetic wave across its volume, and having: a length H equal to kλ/2nmedium, where k is an integer, λ is the central wavelength used, and nmedium is the optical index of the medium between the waveguides; a period P smaller than λ/2nmedium; and ends at a distance shorter than λ/10 from the waveguides. |
| US08498502B2 |
Device for phase modulation
A phase modulator may include a middle layer having a first refractive index, a first surrounding layer of material in contact with the middle layer and having a second refractive index, a second surrounding layer of material in contact with the middle layer and may having a third refractive index, a first electrode in electrical contact with the first surrounding layer, and a second electrode may be in electrical contact with the second surrounding layer. When no voltage is applied across the first electrode and the second electrode, the first refractive index may be greater than the second refractive index and the third refractive index. When a voltage is applied across the first electrode and the second electrode, the first refractive index may be less than the second refractive index within a portion of the phase modulator substantially within an electric field induced by such voltage. |
| US08498501B2 |
Semiconductor optical modulator and semiconductor mach-zehnder optical modulator
Provided are a semiconductor optical modulator and a semiconductor Mach-Zehnder optical modulator of high efficiency and high reliability.The semiconductor optical modulator 10 of the present invention includes a substrate 11; a first n-type cladding layer 12; a semiconductor optical modulation layer 13; a p-type cladding layer 14; a second n-type cladding layer 15; a passivation film 19; and an electric field-relaxing layer 16, wherein the first n-type cladding layer 12, the semiconductor optical modulation layer 13, the p-type cladding layer 14, and the second n-type cladding layer 15 are laminated on the substrate 11 in this order to form a waveguide structure, the passivation film 19 is arranged at the side surfaces of the waveguide structure, the electric field-relaxing layer 16 is interposed between the p-type cladding layer 14 and the second n-type cladding layer 15, and an impurity concentration of the electric field-relaxing layer 16 is lower than that of the p-type cladding layer 14 and that of the second n-type cladding layer 15. |
| US08498492B2 |
Methods of analyzing a selected region of interest in medical image data
In methods and an apparatus for analyzing a selected region of interest in medical image data of a subject, an initial image data set is obtained, and the initial image data set is filtered to generate a filtered data set. The filtering includes computing, for each voxel of the initial image data set, a value of intensity for a standardized volume of interest centered on that voxel. A user selection of a region of interest in the initial image data set is registered, and from the filtered image data set a value of intensity for the selected region of interest is computed. |
| US08498489B2 |
Image inspection apparatus
The present invention provides a unified template matching technique which allows an adequate matching position to be provided even in an image with a distorted pattern shape and a variation in edge intensity. A correlation value contribution rate map is created for the vicinity of each of top candidate positions obtained by applying a centroid distance filter to a normalized correlation map resulting from template matching. A corrected intensity image is created from the correlation value contribution rate maps. Luminance correction is performed based on the corrected intensity image. Local matching is performed again on the vicinity of each candidate position. The candidates are then re-sorted based on candidate positions and correlation values newly obtained. Thus, even in an image with a distorted pattern shape and a variation in edge intensity, an adequate matching position can be provided in a unified manner. |
| US08498486B2 |
Response to detection of blur in an image
A system and method to respond to detection of blurry regions of interest in an image are disclosed. One embodiment includes a region locator to locate one or more regions of interest in an image captured by a digital image capturing device. The embodiment also includes a blurry region detector for detecting whether a region of interest is blurry. A blurry region indicator indicates to a user when a blurry region has been detected. When a blurry region is detected, a display interface provides an enlarged image of the detected blurry region. Some embodiments provide recommendations on how to capture the scene again with improved results. |
| US08498483B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer readable medium
Provided is an image processing apparatus, including a characteristic region detecting section that detects a characteristic region from an input image; an image generating section that generates, from the input image, a low-quality image, which is of lower quality than the input image, and a characteristic region image, which is of higher quality than the low-quality image at least at the characteristic region; a difference processing section that generates a characteristic region difference image indicating a difference between an image of the characteristic region in the characteristic region image and an image of the characteristic region in the low-quality image; and an encoding section that encodes the characteristic region difference image and the low-quality image. |
| US08498472B2 |
Image-based localization feature point registration apparatus, method and computer-readable medium
An image-based localization feature point registration apparatus includes a camera to capture an image, a feature point extractor to extract a feature point from the captured image, a calculator to calculate depth information about the feature point according to whether the feature point is one of two-dimensional (2D) and a three-dimensional (3D) corner, and a feature point register to register 3D coordinates of the feature point based on the depth information about the feature point and image coordinates of the feature point. |
| US08498469B2 |
Full-field mask error enhancement function
A technique for determining a full-field Mask Error Enhancement Function (MEEF) associated with a mask pattern for use in a photo-lithographic process is described. In this technique, simulated wafer patterns corresponding to the mask pattern are generated at an image plane in an optical path associated with the photo-lithographic process. Then, the full-field MEEF is determined. This full-field MEEF includes MEEF values in multiple directions at positions along one or more contours that define boundaries of one or more features in the one or more simulated wafer patterns. Moreover, at least one of the MEEF values is at a position on a contour where a critical dimension for a feature associated with the contour is undefined. |
| US08498468B1 |
Mask inspection
A method of inspecting a mask, where a structure on the mask is optically imaged at a resolution specified by a criteria set including at least one of a method by which the structure was formed, a tolerance, and a structure type, to produce an optical image. The optical image is compared to a baseline image, and the differences between the optical image and the baseline image are identified. The differences are compared to a threshold value, and any differences that exceed the threshold value are flagged as defects. |
| US08498466B2 |
Method of evaluation by comparison of an acquired image with a reference image
A method for evaluating the surfaces of a tire, said surfaces being molded with rigid elements, wherein a collection of N images of a given zone of the tire is constituted based on the images originating from one or more tires, each of the images of the collection being constituted by the values of physical magnitudes measured by a sensor sensitive to the reflection of the light at each of the points with coordinates i, j of said surface, and then the images of said collection are made to correspond by superposition, and the image of the zone of a tire from said collection to be evaluated is compared with a reference image. The value of the physical magnitudes of the reference image is calculated based on the value of each of these physical magnitudes measured on the N images of said collection. |
| US08498462B2 |
Image processing apparatus and program
An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores volume data associated with an area including a contrast-enhanced artery as an examination target, a first calculation unit which calculates a plurality of partial atherosclerotic indexes associated with a plurality of portions of the artery on the basis of morphological information associated with the artery which is obtained from the volume data, a second calculation unit which calculates a whole atherosclerotic index associated with the entire artery including the plurality of portions on the basis of the morphological information associated with the artery, and a display unit which displays evaluation information based on the calculated whole atherosclerotic index. |
| US08498458B2 |
Fingerprint liveness analysis
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for fingerprint liveness detection. In one embodiment, a method for determining fingerprint liveness is provided that comprises receiving a plurality of image analysis data of a fingerprint image; condensing the plurality of image analysis data; and determining liveness of the fingerprint image based upon the condensed data. |
| US08498456B2 |
Method and system for applying cosmetic and/or accessorial enhancements to digital images
A method for a creating a virtual makeover includes inputting an initial digital Image into and initiating a virtual makeover at a local processor. Instructions are transmitted from the main server to the local processor. Positions of facial features are isolated within the digital image at the local processor. Facial regions within the digital image are defined based on the positions of the facial features at the local processor. After receiving input, cosmetic enhancements or the accessorial enhancement are applied to the digital image at the local processor. A final digital image is generated including the enhancements. The final digital image is then displayed. At least the defining, applying, and generating steps include instructions written in a non-flash format for execution in a flash-based wrapper. |
| US08498450B2 |
Image discriminating method and image processing apparatus
Scenes can be discriminated automatically and optimum prints corresponding to the scenes can be obtained.A face of person is detected from an inputted image and it is determined whether or not a person is on the scene of the inputted image. If it is determined that a person is not on the scene of the inputted image, then it is determined that the inputted image is a landscape image. If it is determined that a person is on the scene of the inputted image, then the face area is calculated and the number of people is counted. If the face area is more than a predetermined ratio of the screen and the number of people is not less than a predetermined number of people, then it is determined that the inputted image is a snapshot of people image. If the face area is more than the predetermined ratio of the screen and the number of people is less than the predetermined number of people, then it is determined that the inputted image is a portrait image. |
| US08498447B2 |
Method of evaluating the horizontal speed of a drone, in particular a drone capable of performing hovering flight under autopilot
The method operates by estimating the differential movement of the scene picked up by a vertically-oriented camera. Estimation includes periodically and continuously updating a multiresolution representation of the pyramid of images type modeling a given picked-up image of the scene at different, successively-decreasing resolutions. For each new picked-up image, an iterative algorithm of the optical flow type is applied to said representation. The method also provides responding to the data produced by the optical-flow algorithm to obtain at least one texturing parameter representative of the level of microcontrasts in the picked-up scene and obtaining an approximation of the speed, to which parameters a battery of predetermined criteria are subsequently applied. If the battery of criteria is satisfied, then the system switches from the optical-flow algorithm to an algorithm of the corner detector type. |
| US08498446B2 |
Method of improving orientation and color balance of digital images using face detection information
A method of generating one or more new spatial and chromatic variation digital images uses an original digitally-acquired image which including a face or portions of a face. A group of pixels that correspond to a face within the original digitally-acquired image is identified. A portion of the original image is selected to include the group of pixels. Values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion are automatically generated, or an option to generate them is provided, in a manner which always includes the face within the one or more new images. Such method may be implemented to automatically establish the correct orientation and color balance of an image. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images. |
| US08498444B2 |
Blob representation in video processing
A method of processing a video sequence is provided that includes receiving a frame of the video sequence, identifying a plurality of blobs in the frame, computing at least one interior point of each blob of the plurality of blobs, and using the interior points in further processing of the video sequence. The interior points may be used, for example, in object tracking. |
| US08498440B2 |
Eartip with tether
An eartip made of a resilient body with an eartip core inside the open center of the body, and a tether attached to the eartip core at an attachment region along the length of the core. A free end of the tether extends outward from the eartip, allowing a wearer to remove the eartip from their ear by pulling on the tether. |
| US08498438B2 |
Condenser microphone
There is provided a gooseneck condenser microphone that is further strengthened the shield structure of a support pipe and is less prone to causing a trouble. This condenser microphone has a support pipe 30 for supporting a condenser microphone unit 10 and an output module part 20, a microphone cable 40 in which a shielding wire 44 is exposed is inserted in the support pipe 30, and a conductive sealant agent 50 is filled in a void between the microphone cable 40 and the support pipe 30. |
| US08498435B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method
A signal processing apparatus and signal processing method capable of correctly detecting that a conversation is established even in a daily environment are provided. In signal processing apparatus (100), excitation separation section (130) separates a mixed sound signal in which a plurality of excitations are mixed into the respective excitations. Speech detection section (140) performs speech detection on the plurality of separated excitation signals, judges whether or not the plurality of excitation signals are speech and generates speech section information indicating speech/non-speech information for each excitation signal. Identification parameter extraction section (150) extracts an identification parameter indicating a feature value of a daily conversation based on a plurality of excitation signals or speech section information. Conversation establishment degree calculation section (160) calculates and outputs a degree of establishment of a conversation based on the extracted identification parameter. Conversation partner identifying section (170) judges which excitation is a conversation partner using the degree of establishment of a conversation. |
| US08498432B2 |
Digital mixer and method of controlling the same
A digital mixer is configured to store, in response to a store operation by a user, values of parameters for one input channel stored in a current memory together with the bus type of each mixing bus at the time of the store into a library as one preset, and to recall, when recalling the values of the parameters in the stored one preset into the current memory in response to a recall operation by the user, the values of the parameters in the preset after converted into parameters corresponding to the bus type at the time of the recall regarding a part of the buses whose bus type stored does not coincide with the bus type at the time of the recall. |
| US08498431B2 |
Capacitor microphone
A capacitor microphone includes: a capacitor microphone unit including a diaphragm that vibrates upon receiving sound waves and a fixed electrode arranged opposite to the diaphragm with a space therebetween; and a polarization voltage generating circuit that generates polarization voltage to be applied across the diaphragm and the fixed electrode. The polarization voltage generating circuit includes an oscillating circuit that alternately turns on and off DC power, coils to boost the voltage of the power alternately turned on and off, and a DC boosting circuit including a rectifying circuit that rectifies the boosted voltage. The coils are formed of two inductors that are electromagnetically coupled and are provided with an electromagnetic coupling adjusting unit with which the level of electromagnetic coupling between the two inductors is adjusted to adjust the polarization voltage. |
| US08498429B2 |
Acoustic correction apparatus, audio output apparatus, and acoustic correction method
According to one embodiment, an acoustic correction apparatus includes an input module, a calculator, a divider, a converter, an extractor, a synthesizer, and a generator. The input module receives an audio signal propagated through a sound field. The calculator calculates an impulse response from the audio signal. The divider divides the impulse response into first and second impulse responses. The converter converts the first and second impulse responses into first and second frequency spectrums. The extractor specifies an amplitude component of the first frequency spectrum with a peak relatively higher than that of the amplitude component of the first frequency spectrum, and extracts the peak as a resonance component. The synthesizer synthesizes a first property and a second property for attenuating the resonance component. The generator generates a correction filter for performing correction to obtain the synthesized property. |
| US08498428B2 |
Fully integrated small stereo headset having in-ear ear buds and wireless connectability to audio source
A compact, wearable wireless headset for stereo audio reproduction contains first and second ear pieces. The ear pieces each contain a battery and a speaker, and are connected by connecting means. The first ear piece receives audio information via a short range radio, and communicates left channel audio information to the second ear piece by various means, including wirelessly, by wire, and via optical communication. In some embodiments, the battery in the second ear piece supplies power to circuitry located in the first ear piece. |
| US08498425B2 |
Wearable headset with self-contained vocal feedback and vocal command
A headset includes a wearable body, first and second earphones extending from the wearable body, controls for controlling an external communication/multimedia device wirelessly, a microphone for picking up vocal data from a user of the headset system and a signal processing unit. The signal processing unit includes circuitry for processing the vocal data into a distinctly audible vocal feedback signal, circuitry for enhancing the vocal feedback signal thereby producing an enhanced vocal feedback signal and circuitry for mixing the enhanced vocal feedback signal with audio signals originating from the external communication/multimedia device, thereby producing a mixed output signal and then sending the mixed output signal to the user via the earphones. The external communication/multimedia device comprises a vocal command application and the headset further comprises a vocal command control for sending vocal commands to the external communication/multimedia device and to the vocal command application. |
| US08498423B2 |
Device for and a method of processing audio signals
A method is provided which is suitable to cope with non-linear echo paths during acoustic echo cancellation in speakerphones. Non-linear paths occur particularly in hands-free operation of, e.g., a mobile phone, due to driving the amplifier and loudspeaker in the non-linear range. The idea is to combine the commonly known one microphone approach of linear acoustic echo cancellation using an adaptive filter and a post-processor together with a multiple microphone approach using beam forming which separately removes the non-linear part of the echo. |
| US08498420B2 |
Symmetric key distribution framework for the internet
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes receiving measured health information from a client on a key distribution server. Once the measured health information is received the server is capable of validating the measured health information to see if it is authentic. The server is also capable of sending a session key to the client when the measured health information is validated. When the client receives the session key, the client is capable of initiating an encrypted and authenticated connection with an application server in the domain using the session key. |
| US08498419B2 |
Wireless perimeter security device and network using same
A Radio Frequency based security system for providing security for wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) that allows the creation and maintenance of arbitrarily shaped secure wireless access areas with boundaries around said wireless Local Area Network and prevents access to the said wireless LAN from outside the perimeter of the secure area. The system includes a plurality of perimeter Radio Frequency Sentry Devices (RFSDs) that are employed to establish the boundaries of said secure area around said wireless LAN. The wireless LAN being secured may be an industry standard IEEE 802.11a, 801.11b or 802.11g based wireless LAN or any other wireless LAN that uses packet based communication protocols. The said RFSDs may be stand-alone devices or they may be connected to a wired or wireless Local Area Network. |
| US08498417B1 |
Automation of coordination of encryption keys in a SAN based environment where an encryption engine, device management, and key management are not co-located
A key management server in a storage area network (SAN) provides encryption keys for source and destination storage objects and also associates destination storage objects with source storage objects. When a source object is to be replicated, a replication facility in a storage system of a new destination object requests the key management server to associate the destination object with the source object and assign the data encryption key of the source object or a new data encryption key to the destination object. For recovery of the source object, a replication facility in the storage system of the source object obtains information from the key management server about the replica associated with the source object for replicating data from the destination object back to the source object. |
| US08498401B2 |
Mobile-to-mobile call determination
Methods and systems for determining call types are described herein. An intelligent node is configured to determine whether a call is a mobile-to-mobile call between subscribers of a telecommunication service provider based on a response to a request from the intelligent node. The intelligent node may further be configured to send a state request to an interconnecting network of the telecommunication service provider. A node of the interconnecting network determines whether a serving subscriber identifier is included in a routing database of that node. If the identifier is not included, the node responds with an error message. If the identifier is included, the node communicates with a relay function and responds to the request with a state received from the relay function. The intelligent node may also be configured to send an ENUM query and receive an identifier of the telecommunication service provider associated with the serving subscriber. |