| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08527665B2 |
Redirecting function calls
Redirecting a function included in an operating system is disclosed. The redirecting is achieved by identifying an original function call in a kernel and replacing the function call with a replacement function call so that the replacement function is called in place of the original function. In this way the original function call is bypassed and the original call is redirected to the replacement function. This may be done to augment or replace the original function. In one embodiment, when a packet is received, a replacement receiving function is called in place of the network receiving function that was provided with the kernel. In this way, different, less or additional processing of received packets may be performed. |
| US08527660B2 |
Data synchronization by communication of modifications
A system enables data synchronization for data files shared between or among multiple devices. When a shared data file is modified on one of the computing devices, metadata describing or otherwise enabling recreation of that modification are generated. To enable synchronization of the shared data file, the metadata—rather than the modified shared data file—are transmitted to other devices. These other systems can then use the metadata to recreate the modification of the shared data file and thus achieve data synchronization without requiring retransmission of the shared data file after each modification thereto. |
| US08527659B2 |
Method and system for optimizing CPNS enabler
A method and apparatus for providing enhanced functionalities in a CPNS enabler are discussed. According to an embodiment, a method includes receiving content translation capability information and function information from each of the CPNS entities; compiling CPNS translator information for the CPNS enabler based on the content translation capability information and the function information; receiving a request to translate a content along with the content from a certain CPNS entity among the CPNS entities; determining whether a CPNS server can translate the content in response to the request based on the CPNS translator information; translating the content if the determining step indicates that the CPNS server can translate the content; and transmitting the translated content to the certain CPNS entity. |
| US08527658B2 |
Domain traffic ranking
An automated method for determining domain traffic including receiving at authoritative name server a request to resolve a domain name that has n labels separated by periods. The leftmost label is the first label and the top level domain is the nth label. If the first label of the received domain name includes the string “www”, then a www hit counter and/or a www requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. If the received domain name has only two labels, then an exact hit counter and/or an exact requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. If the first label of the received domain name does not include the string “www” and does not have only two labels, then another hit counter and/or another requesting server counter for the domain name are incremented. A domain traffic score is calculated based upon a plurality of the counters, and calculating the domain traffic score includes applying a weighting factor to at least one of the counters. |
| US08527657B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamically adjusting update rates in multi-player network gaming
In a server-implemented video game or simulation, a method for providing updates to a remote client regarding a plurality of objects located in a virtual spatial field of the simulation. The method comprises operations of receiving an update locus from the remote client, the update locus indicating a client-specified position within the virtual spatial field of the server-implemented simulation; determining a distance of each of the plurality of objects from the update locus; sorting the plurality of objects according to their determined distances from the update locus; determining an update rate for each of the plurality of objects based upon their sorted order; and sending updates regarding each of the plurality of objects to the remote client according to the determined update rates. |
| US08527652B2 |
Inter-bay substation automation application
The present disclosure is directed to an exemplary interface description or structure of an inter-bay Substation Automation (SA) application. The interface of the application to other elements of the SA system, for example to a bay controller, IED, OPC server, HMI, and/or gateway, is examined to fully automate the inter-bay SA application configuration and implementation. A formal description or structure of the base SA system as for example, including an IEC 61850 SCD file can be used to generate a formal description of the interfaces of the inter-bay SA application to be engineered. Logical nodes can be connected to the process single line diagram and integrated into the SCD file of the base SA system, thereby generating an enhanced SCD file. |
| US08527651B2 |
Content identification method and system, and SCIDM client and server
A content identification method and system, and a secure content identification mechanism (SCIDM) client and server are provided. The content identification method includes: selecting an identification mechanism for a content to be identified; extracting identification information of the content to be identified corresponding to the selected identification mechanism; and sending a first content identification request, in which the first content identification request contains the selected identification mechanism and the identification information, and is adapted to request an SCIDM server to identify an attribute of the content to be identified by using the identification mechanism and according to the identification information. Thus, a load of a content identification system is reduced, and an efficiency of content identification is improved. |
| US08527646B2 |
Rendering in a multi-user video editing system
Methods and systems for remotely editing a video file involve: receiving, at a server, a video editing command from a remote client; modifying, at the server, a virtual representation of a media file in accordance with the received command, the virtual representation including a reference to a source media file stored on a storage device, the storage device being connected to the server over a high-speed link; and generating and transmitting, from the server to the remote client, a proxy representation of the source media file modified by the editing commands, wherein the various regions of the proxy representation are rendered either in the background or in real-time according to their complexity. Rendered frames, whether generated in the background or in real time, are stored for reuse. Individual frames of the edited video file may be transmitted upon request from a client. Simultaneous editing of independent projects by multiple users connected to the server via multiple thin clients is supported. |
| US08527644B2 |
Apparatus and method for provisioning wireless data communication devices
A system for provisioning wireless data communication devices for a plurality of users is provided in which the system includes a configuration server having an authorization program and a configuration program, and a database. The configuration server is connectable to a network for providing a network portal for the plurality of users to 10 allow each of them to have a wireless data communication device provisioned. The authorization program validates which one of a plurality of wireless host servers a user is authorized to use. The configuration program is configured to provision the wireless data communication device to communicate with the one of a plurality of wireless host servers to obtain email from one of a plurality of messaging servers. The database is in communication with the configuration server for storing configurations for each of the wireless host servers. |
| US08527641B2 |
Systems and methods for applying transformations to IP addresses obtained by domain name service (DNS)
Described herein are systems and methods for improving networked communication systems by transforming IP addresses. In particular, an intermediary device disposed in a network between a plurality of clients and a plurality of servers can receive a request for a service offered at a specified domain name. The appliance can also receive a DNS-resolved primary address for a server associated with the domain name, and transform the primary address to a secondary address for the server. The address transformation can be done by the intermediary to prevent service interruption between a client and server due, for example, to server maintenance. |
| US08527631B1 |
Web site reputation service using proxy auto-configuration
A Web site reputation service automatically redirects a browsing request for analysis by a rating server. On the browsing request, a proxy autoconfiguration (PAC) file is downloaded from a PAC server to a Web browser of a user computer. The function of the PAC file is executed, sending a request to a rating server along with a host name of a target Web site. The function does not immediately return a proxy server, but first requests a rating of the Web site. A rating result associated with the Web site is produced by the rating server. The rating server returns the rating result and the function returns an address of a proxy server to the Web browser based upon the rating result. A user can enable the Web Proxy Autodiscovery Protocol to use the service. Access control may be implemented by applying an HTTP authentication mechanism on the Web server that hosts the PAC file. |
| US08527628B2 |
Utilizing signatures to discover and manage derelict assets of an information technology environment
A set of asset signatures can be analyzed. Each asset signature can be associated with an asset. Derelict assets can be discovered based on the asset signatures. The asset can represent a fundamental structural unit of an information technology (IT) environment. A multi-stage screening process can be performed to discover derelict assets. In a first stage, assets having a normal state are able to be changed to a suspect state based on results of analyzing the corresponding asset signature. In a second stage, assets having a suspect state are able to be selectively changed in state to a normal state or to a derelict state. An asset management system record can be maintained for each of the set of assets. Each record of the asset management system can be a configuration item (CI), which indicates whether each of the set of assets is in a normal state, a suspect state, or a derelict state. The asset management system can periodically reclaim resources consumed by derelict assets. |
| US08527627B2 |
Intelligent mobility application profiling with respect to identified communication bursts
Systems and methods for analyzing mobile device applications within a wireless data network are presented herein. More particularly, described herein is a novel Intelligent Mobility Application Profiling Tool (iMAP) and/or other mechanisms, systems and methods for profiling and benchmarking applications associated with mobile devices in a wireless data network. Various systems and methods described herein expose cross-layer interaction associated with a network device in order to profile an application on the network device with respect to energy efficiency, performance, and functionality. As described herein, radio resource control (RRC) analysis can be performed to infer RRC states associated with a given application, identify tail time, etc. Further, analyzers are employed for various layers, including transmission control protocol (TCP) and/or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), as well as to analyze communication bursts associated with a given application. Analysis results are subsequently utilized to deliver application profiling results to a user. |
| US08527619B2 |
Remote power control system with tickle capability
An SNMP network comprises a power manager with an SNMP agent in TCP/IP communication over a network with an SNMP network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the SNMP network manager with MIB variables in response to GET commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The SNMP network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried. |
| US08527616B2 |
Network operation management system
A network management apparatus is previously registered with a physical connection relationship and positional information of a plurality of network relay apparatuses which form part of a network, as well as a configuration definition corresponding to the positional information, such that the network management apparatus can initially detect network relay apparatuses connected to the network management apparatus, and distribute a configuration definition, which takes into account a connection relationship, to the network relay apparatuses connected thereto to set the configuration definition in the network relay apparatuses in order. In this way, even if wiring is freely made, the configuration definition which should be set in each network relay apparatus can be appropriately distributed to and set in one adjacent network relay apparatus to another. Upon occurrence of a fault, the network can be appropriately recovered by a previously set recovering scheme. |
| US08527615B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining a program neighborhood for a client node in a client-server network
An apparatus and method for determining a program neighborhood of a client node in a client-server network is described. The program neighborhood of the client node includes application programs hosted by application servers on the network. The present invention enables a user of a client node to learn of these application programs. The user is not required to know where to find such applications or to manually establish links to such applications. To make the client node aware of its program neighborhood, a host server collects application-related information corresponding to application programs hosted by the servers in the network. The application-related information can include the application name, the server location of the application, minimum capabilities required of client nodes for executing the application, and those users who are authorized to use that application. User credentials are received from the client system. The user credentials are used to filter the application-related information. Information representing those application programs that are available to the client node is transmitted from the host server to the client system for display. In a Windows-based client node, the information can be represented by a graphical icon for each available application program. |
| US08527614B2 |
Method of deployment of remote patches to business office appliances
Software configuration and status information of one or more business office appliances operating behind a firewall are controlled remotely by a software patch management application. The software patch management application is connected to a network and transmits instructions and software patches via electronic mail to a network connection on the other side of the firewall. A device management application receives the instructions and/or software patches and communicates the instructions and/or software patches to one or more business office appliances for execution and/or installation without requiring re-boot of the business office appliances. |
| US08527609B2 |
Serializing document editing commands
A command stream is generated that includes serialized commands for editing a document. The command stream can be applied to a modified document to generate a single document that contains modifications to the document made using both a Web application and a client application. The command stream can also be utilized to recreate the edited state of a document following the disconnection from a Web application for editing the document, to load balance a server computer hosting the Web application even while editing sessions are in progress, to perform an upgrade of a server hosting the Web application while editing sessions are in progress, and for other purposes. |
| US08527608B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for reducing download of redundant attachments
A method, apparatus and system for reducing download of redundant attachments to a communication device from a server is provided. An identifier of an attachment to a message, for transmission from the server to the communication device, is compared with identifiers of attachments already stored in a memory at the communication device. The communication device is caused to retrieve a copy of the attachment from the memory if a match is found between the identifier and the identifiers of attachments already stored in the memory. |
| US08527607B2 |
Messaging mechanism
Exchange of small pieces of data among end user terminals and/or between end user terminals and a network has increased. Examples of such small pieces of data include presence information updates. A messaging mechanism piggybacking the data in a push session initiation request enables sending of small pieces of data with minimum delay and without an activated packet data connection, and without user interaction. |
| US08527606B2 |
Network system, network household appliance, content/metadata synchronous processing method, and computer program
[Object] To provide a network system capable of efficiently carrying out synchronous processing by positively notifying a home network appliance of an update content of a content or metadata.[Solving Means] A subscriber in a home network appliance acquires via a network an update notification message that stores update information of a content or metadata and in which a filter attribute for categorizing the update notification message is set. The appliance includes a service client that updates, by an application corresponding to a specific service, the content or the metadata in a local content/metadata database using the update information within the update notification message. The subscriber manages a correspondence between the service client and the filter attribute and specifies the service client that provides the update information within the update notification message based on the filter attribute set in the update notification message and the correspondence. |
| US08527605B2 |
Methods for performing client to client communication in a WLAN
Methods for performing client to client communication in a wireless local area network are disclosed. At an ‘n’ tier client in the wireless local area network, a signaling message from an ‘n−1’ tier client is received wherein the signaling message comprises a first period, a second period, and a third period. Communicating with the ‘n−1’ tier client during the first period and communicating with the ‘n+1’ tier client during the third period. At an access point in the wireless local area network, an association table identifying clients in the wireless local area network is created and a first period for client to client communication based upon the association table and traffic in the wireless local area network is determined where the access point does not communicate with the clients during the first period. |
| US08527603B2 |
In-system memory personalization
A method and system for personalizing a plurality of parts are disclosed. All of these parts have an identical part number and one or more programmable functions. The method comprises the steps of employing in a first product a first of said parts; and employing in a second product, a second of said parts. Prior to normal operation of the first product, a first code is set in the first part, and this first code causes the first part to provide a first programmable function during normal operation of the first product. Prior to normal operation of the second product, a second code is set in the second part, and this second code causes the second part to provide a second programmable function during normal operation of the second product. The said second programmable function is different from the first programmable function. |
| US08527597B2 |
Determining message prominence
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A request that a server system deliver textual posts to a computing device may be received. Posts may be associated with a geographical place of posting and a temporal age. A value that represents a geographical distance from the computing device to the geographical place of posting can be identified. A score for a post may be based on the value that represents the geographical distance and the temporal age of the post. An indication of the score for the particular post may be provided to the computing device so as to cause the computing device to display an indication of the post and to visibly indicate a prominence of the post. The indication of prominence of the post is based on the indication of the score for the post. |
| US08527593B1 |
Change of an archived email property in the email system local store
An email archive system and associated techniques are described. Archived emails may be stored locally on a user's client computer in a local archive store. The email archive system and associated techniques may interact with an email message system and an email client application. |
| US08527592B2 |
Reputation-based method and system for determining a likelihood that a message is undesired
A system and method for providing a reputation service for use in messaging environments employs a reputation of compiled statistics, representing whether SPAM messages have previously been received from respective a selected set of identifiers for the origin of the message, in a decision making process for newly received messages. In a preferred embodiment, the set of identifiers includes the IP address, a tuple of the domain and IP address and a tuple of the user and IP address and the set of identifiers allows for a relatively fine grained set of reputation metrics to be compiled and used when making a determination of a likelihood as to whether a received message is undesired in accordance with the invention. |
| US08527583B2 |
Communication device including a communication start request output unit and a response notification acceptance unit, communication system, and computer-readable medium
A communication device includes a communication start request output unit and a response notification acceptance unit. The communication start request output unit outputs a communication start request to an output destination communication device. The response notification acceptance unit accepts a response notification with respect to the communication start request from the output destination communication device. When the response notification acceptance unit accepts a response notification indicating connection rejection due to a mismatch of a communication standard as the response notification with respect to the output communication start request, the communication start request output unit again outputs the communication start request to the output destination communication device in the communication standard to which the output communication start request conforms. |
| US08527574B2 |
Device and method for high resolution time measurements
The invention relates to a device for determining the temporal position of an analogue trigger signal with relation to an analogue clock signal, comprising an analogue cross-correlator (30), which carries out an analogue cross-correlation between the trigger signal and clock signal to provide a fine resolution. |
| US08527571B2 |
Method and structure for producing high performance linear algebra routines using composite blocking based on L1 cache size
A method (and structure) for performing a matrix subroutine, includes storing data for a matrix subroutine call in a computer memory in an increment block size that is based on a cache size. |
| US08527568B2 |
Efficient computation of sketches
Determining a summary feature set is disclosed. A plurality of subsegments of a first segment are selected. For each subsegment, a plurality of values by applying a set of functions to each subsegment are computed. From all the values computed for all the subsegments, a first subset of values is selected. |
| US08527567B2 |
Random number generators having metastable seed signal generators therein
A random number generator includes a signal generator and a sampling unit. The signal generator is configured to generate an alternating sequence of metastable seed signals and oscillating signals during respective first and second half-periods of a clock signal. The oscillating signals having respective phases determined by corresponding ones of the metastable seed signals in the alternating sequence. The sampling unit is configured to detect a logic value of each consecutive oscillating signal during a portion of a respective half-period of the clock signal. The signal generator may be responsive to the clock signal and the sampling unit may be responsive to a delayed version of the clock signal. |
| US08527565B2 |
Selecting and reassigning a blade for a logical partition for service scheduling of a blade server
The present invention discloses a blade server and a service scheduling method of the blade server. The method includes the following steps. According to the requirement for processing capability of a service, a blade is selected for a logical partition storing the service data (A1); an identifier of the logical partition storing the service data is issued to the selected blade (A2); the blade starts the service from the logical partition corresponding to the identifier of the logical partition (A3), realizing the dynamic distribution of blades according to the service requirement, and enabling a high-performance blade to be selected at the peaks of the service, so as to ensure that the service is processed normally; while at the valleys of the service, a blade having relatively low performance is used to release the high-performance blade for processing other services. |
| US08527563B2 |
Remoting redirection layer for graphics device interface
Remoting a display. A method that may be practiced, for example, in a networked computing environment including a local computer system running one or more applications and a remote computer that displays graphical information to a user for the one or more applications at the local computer system. The remote computer includes a number of surfaces. Drawing information including drawing commands is sent to the remote computer. Meta information is sent to the remote computer defining information about which surface from among the number of surfaces the drawing information applies. Composition information is sent to the remote computer defining the display characteristics of the surface. |
| US08527560B2 |
Conservative garbage collecting with concurrent marking and concurrent sweeping for memory management
Aspects for conservative garbage collecting are disclosed. In one aspect, a heap of objects is generated during an execution of a script, and script objects in an unexecuted portion are traced to corresponding memory locations on the heap. The heap is then marked concurrently with executing the script such that a marked heap includes reachable and unreachable objects. Memory allocated to the unreachable objects is then freed concurrently with executing the script based on the marking. In another aspect, an object graph associated with a call stack is generated and traced such that script objects in an unexecuted portion of the stack are traced to corresponding memory locations on a heap. Heap objects are marked concurrently with executing the stack so that a marked heap includes reachable and unreachable objects. Memory allocated to the unreachable objects is then cleared concurrently with executing the stack based on the marked heap. |
| US08527559B2 |
Garbage collector with concurrent flipping without read barrier and without verifying copying
In an object-relocating garbage collector, objects are copied and new copies taken into use concurrently with mutator execution without needing to use a read barrier, and importantly, without requiring verification (read-back) of each copied word and without requiring atomic instructions for the copying. Write barriers, thread-local write barrier buffers and processing them by the garbage collector, and write propagation are used for achieving this. |
| US08527556B2 |
Systems and methods to update a content store associated with a search index
Some aspects include determination of second document identifiers added to a search index. The search index associates each of a plurality of words with at least one of a plurality of first document identifiers. For each of the second document identifiers, metadata of a document identified by the second document identifier is added to a content store storing metadata of each document identified by the plurality of first document identifiers. In some aspects, the content store comprises at least one flat file, and the metadata is appended to an end of one or more of the at least one flat file. |
| US08527555B2 |
Device and method for generating a media package
A device and method direct towards the packaging, transporting and extracting of essence files, metadata files and service data files are provided. The device and method include receiving content files (e.g., essence and metadata files) and service files, the service files identifying an application to be applied to the content files, combining the content files and the service files into a media package, and transmitting the media package. The device and method also include receiving the media package containing content files and service files and extracting the content files and the service files from the media package. The media package may further include command data that describes how to process the content files and the service files as well as identification data that identifies the content files and service files. The command data, and content and service files may be encrypted. |
| US08527554B2 |
Metadata retrieval for multi-function devices
Systems and methods are provided for retrieving metadata relating to a multi-function device. In some embodiments, metadata is retrieved using a plurality of identifiers (e.g., hardware identifiers each identifying at least one function performed by the device) received from the device. The plurality of identifiers are arranged into a sequence, and at least one of the identifiers in the sequence is associated with metadata specifying a characteristic of the device. Using the metadata that is retrieved, a client computer may present an graphical user interface displaying information relating to the device. |
| US08527550B1 |
Bridge inspection diagnostic system
A Bridge Inspection Diagnostic System (“BIDS”) for improving the efficiency and efficacy of the operations of a bridge inspection and management department. BIDS is able to store, automatically index and cross references, and provide access to over the Internet all bridge related data, such as inspection related data, repair related data, and historical background related data that is necessary for the operations of a bridge inspection and maintenance department. This information, which can be uploaded from different locations, including on site at a bridge, and at different times, is automatically sorted by the BIDS engine such that all of such information relating to any bridge is easily accessible when other information for that bridge is accessed. |
| US08527549B2 |
Cloud based operating and virtual file system
A method for managing a virtual distributed file system includes maintaining by a master device located in a cloud computing environment, a metadata data structure that stores metadata about locations of most updated versions of multiple file portions and security levels of the file portions, at least one file portion being stored at a user device coupled to the cloud computing environment, and maintaining by the master device, transaction of file portions to user entities, at least one user entity being hosted by the user device, based on at least metadata stored in the metadata data structure about the file portions. |
| US08527547B2 |
Sampling the space of ancestral recombination graphs
A method is provided for constructing an ancestral recombination graph. A value K is received representing K extant units. M non-mixing segments are also received. K vertices V are generated. K lineages for each of M trees are associated with each of the K vertices. An ancestral recombination graph is constructed. To construct the ancestral recombination graph, there is repeated, until only one lineage survives for each of the M trees, a process that includes the following. A tree is randomly selected tree. A first vertex v1 and a second vertex v2 are randomly selected. Two adjoining segments in the M non-mixing segments of the first and second vertices are combined together into a single vertex. A separate vertex is generated for at least one remaining segment in each of the M non-mixing segments of the first and second vertices. The vertices V are updated to be vertices that are non-interior vertices. |
| US08527545B2 |
Server system and method for exporting digital assets in enterprise information systems
Member objects of a computer system part(s) in an Enterprise Information System (EIS) are identified and categorized for export to a packaging process or to another computer system over tiers of network(s). An intermediate representation of the part(s) is made while applying context rule(s) to determine a standard specified context or a non-specified context of the parts. For a standard specified context, a directed search acquires the set of runnable and/or non-runnable member objects in a location(s) in the EIS. For a non-specified context, an implicit traversal search is performed for any of the set of runnable and/or non-runnable member objects in one or more locations in an Enterprise Information System (EIS). Set(s) of runnable and/or non-runnable member objects are accessed at their locations in the EIS and a preliminary package specification is made therefrom. Digital assets listed therein are updated with export descriptors added to the extended environment. |
| US08527543B1 |
System for categorizing database statements for performance tuning
A database statement categorization system can enable DBAs or other users to more easily find tunable database statements by categorizing the database statements. The database categorization system can analyze a DBMS to identify the types of database statements executed on the DBMS and can then categorize the statements automatically, outputting the categorization for presentation to a DBA (or other user). This categorization can advantageously separate less relevant statements that warrant less tuning or investigation from more relevant statements that may have a measurable impact on the performance of the database. By allowing users to focus on statements that are more likely to warrant attention, in certain embodiments the database categorization system streamlines the tuning process. |
| US08527539B2 |
System and method for a central index for RFID data with data privilege indicia
In one embodiment, a central data repository stores product code information. The central data repository can receive permissions from providers of the produce code information. The permissions can indicate whether the product code information can be provided to a third party. |
| US08527534B2 |
Bootstrap and adapt a document search engine
Architecture that employs a modeling technique based on language modeling to estimate a probability of a document matching the user need as expressed in the query. The modeling technique is based on the data mining results that various portions of a document (e.g., body, title, URL, anchor text, user queries) use different styles of human languages. Thus, the results based on a language can be adapted individually to match the language of query. Since the approach is based on adaptation, the framework also provides a natural means to progressively revise the model as user data are collected. Different styles of languages in a document can be recognized and adapted individually. Background language models are also employed that offer a fallback approach in case the document has incomplete fields of data, and can utilize topical or semantic hierarchy of the knowledge domain. |
| US08527532B2 |
Transforming function calls for interaction with hierarchical data structures
Exemplary embodiments involve a processor receiving a function call formatted to interact with a relational database. The function call references an object in the relational database by referencing at least one table of the relational database and at least one column of the at least one table. The processor transforms the function call into a transformed function call formatted for interacting with a hierarchical data structure. The hierarchical data structure comprises a plurality of nodes, wherein each node has a single parent node. The processor applies the transformed function call to one or more nodes of the hierarchical data structure. |
| US08527527B2 |
Content enrichment using unified system of unique identifiers
A unified system of unique identifiers is used to match enrichment content with primary content being delivered by subscribers, e.g. broadcasters, in different markets, market segments, etc. Songs, video, advertisements, or other content from multiple different content publishers or databases, each of which may be assigned identifiers using different identification systems, are assigned a unified, unique identifier. The unique identifiers are also mapped to content identifiers used by subscribers. When subscribers provide primary content, for example by broadcasting the content to end users, enrichment content is matched to the unified, unique identifier associated with the content, and appropriate enrichment data and content are sent to the subscriber for distribution along with the primary content. If subscribers or content publishers change their own identifiers associated with content, the content can be un-matched and re-matched with the same or a different unique identifier. |
| US08527523B1 |
System for enhancing expert-based computerized analysis of a set of digital documents and methods useful in conjunction therewith
An electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues, the method comprising, for at least one individual issue from among the set of issues, receiving an output of a categorization process applied to each document in training and control subsets of the at least N documents, the output including, for each document in the subsets, one of a relevant-to-the-individual issue indication and a non-relevant-to-the-individual issue indication; building a text classifier simulating the categorization process using the output for all documents in the training subset of documents; and running the text classifier on the at least N documents thereby to obtain a ranking of the extent of relevance of each of the at least N documents to the individual issue. The method may also comprise evaluating the text classifier's quality using the output for all documents in the control subset. |
| US08527520B2 |
Method and system for indexing and searching timed media information based upon relevant intervals
A method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving information from timed media files based upon relevance intervals. The method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving this information is based upon relevance intervals so that a portion of a timed media file is returned, which is selected specifically to be relevant to the given information representations, thereby eliminating the need for a manual determination of the relevance and avoiding missing relevant portions. The timed media includes streaming audio, streaming video, timed HTML, animations such as vector-based graphics, slide shows, other timed media, and combinations thereof. |
| US08527519B2 |
Query system for a hybrid voxel and feature database
A hybrid database can receive a hybrid query for an object having a real world analog. A feature of a set of feature records can be determined that corresponds to the object. Feature-level attribute values of the feature can be extracted from the feature records. A set of uniquely indexed voxels can be determined. Each voxel can be a volumetric unit of the volumetric storage space that represents the volume of real-world geography. Voxel-level semantic values can be extracted from the set of uniquely indexed voxels from voxel records. Extracted voxel-level semantic values and extracted feature-level attribute values can be combined to generate a hybrid result. The hybrid result can be conveyed to a requestor from which the hybrid query was received. |
| US08527518B2 |
Inverted indexes with multiple language support
A search query for a collection of electronic documents is parsed to identify one or more terms and such identified terms are associated with one or more languages (i.e., spoken languages such as English, German, Spanish, etc.). A terms inverted index and a language inverted index are accessed to identify documents responsive to the query. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08527492B1 |
Associating external content with a digital image
A method and system is provided for associating external content with a digital image. Aspects of the method and system include extracting metadata from the digital image; using the extracted metadata to query an online content server to retrieve content related to the digital image through at least one attribute of the extracted metadata; in response to receiving the content returned by the content server, associating the content with the digital image; and using the content when an operation is performed on the digital image. |
| US08527491B2 |
Expanded text excerpts
A system provides a list of search results, where one of the search results in the list of search results includes a snippet from a corresponding search result document. The system receives selection of the snippet and provides an expanded snippet based on the selection of the snippet. The expanded snippet includes the snippet and other text from a subset of the search result document. |
| US08527487B2 |
Method and system for automatic construction of information organization structure for related information browsing
The present invention provides a method and system for automatic construction of information organization structure for related information browsing. The method comprises: inputting a target entity; retrieving information objects related to the target entity from an information object set; extracting topics related to the target entity; searching an existing structure resource to identify existing structures and entities which are relevant to the target entity based on the extracted topics; and selecting a matched structure, which is used for organizing the retrieved information objects related to the target entity, from the identified existing structures by comparing the target entity with each of the identified entities. Compared with the prior arts, the present invention can largely improve the readability of the relevant generated information organization structure. |
| US08527486B2 |
Mobile application discovery through mobile search
A social mobile network enables discovery of application programs running on the mobile devices. A search for partial or full matches to a group of alphanumeric characters is performed on the data stored on the first mobile communication device on which the search is initiated. The search is also performed on data made available to the user of the first mobile communication device by other users, where each user is associated with a different one of a multitude of mobile communication devices. The sharing of the data and the search for shared data is made via a server with which the mobile communication devices are in communication. The discovery of applications whose names or descriptions are partially or fully matched to the alphanumeric characters is made despite the fact that user was not looking for or aware of the existence of such application programs. |
| US08527474B2 |
Acquirer device and method for support of merchant data processing
A method begins with receiving an indication that one of a plurality of merchant data files includes an inconsistency with respect to a corresponding merchant profile record in a merchant profile database. The merchant data file of the plurality of merchant data files includes merchant name, merchant business address, and merchant business information. The method continues with receiving a request to authenticate the updating of the corresponding merchant profile record when the inconsistency for the one of the plurality of merchant data files is addressed by a merchant device updating the corresponding merchant profile record. The merchant device corresponds to a merchant of the one of the plurality of merchant data files. The method continues with providing an authentication response regarding the updating of the corresponding merchant profile record. |
| US08527473B1 |
Identifying database request sources in multi-database systems
Recovering from a failure of a soon-to-fail database system among a plurality of database systems in a multi-database system in processing a request submitted to the multi-database system through a multi-database system session is accomplished. A query band is created for the request. The query band is defined to be an identifier that uniquely identifies the session and the request among the plurality of sessions and plurality of requests being processed by the multi-database system at the time that the request was submitted. The query band is attached to a transaction issued by the multi-database system to the soon-to-fail database system to execute the query. The status concerning execution of the transaction is reported by the soon-to-fail database system. The status includes the query band. The status is logged. The failure of the soon-to-fail database system is detected. The state of the soon-to-fail database system is reconstructed from the logged status as the state related to the processing of the transaction using the query band. The reconstructed state is used to continue processing of the transaction by an alternative database system. The alternative database system is one of the plurality of database systems in the multi-database system. The request is processed to produce a result and the result is stored. |
| US08527470B2 |
Recovery point data view formation with generation of a recovery view and a coalesce policy
Methods, software suites, networks, and systems of recovery point data view formation with generation of a recovery view and a coalesce policy are disclosed. In one embodiment, a network includes a virtualization module to form a data view around a recovery point, a recovery module to generate a recovery snapshot having an ability to position forward and backward from the recovery point when a rolling algorithm is applied, and an events module to generate a coalesce policy around the recovery point to reduce a storage requirement. The network may include an export module to transfer the data view to an external processing device as a virtual volume using one or more of an iSCSI and a fiber channel transport interface. The export module may automatically communicate the data view to a backup tape to provide extended data retention using a lifecycle management policy. |
| US08527468B1 |
System and method for management of retention periods for content in a computing system
Disclosed are embodiments of a system and method for establishing and managing document retention policy in a distributed computing environment. One embodiment comprises the steps of loading documents into a database as individual components or items; establishing a custodian for each document instance; categorizing its content into a plurality of categories; assigning retention periods to the content by category; and continuously monitoring retention policies according to the assigned retention periods. Any database capable of storing de-duplicated data can be adapted to implement embodiments of the invention. One embodiment utilizes codified algorithms to cross-match one or more retention policies with each document instance in the system based on the role of the custodian held at the time the instance was created and retained and/or the content or category of the content to which the document refers. If multiple policies apply, the retention period is set to the furthest in the future. |
| US08527462B1 |
Database point-in-time restore and as-of query
A database is queried as of any wall-clock time within a retention period, via undo that uses database snapshots and a list of page level modifications. The snapshot is user-identified, automatically generated, or extracted from a backup. The list is maintained in a transaction log by persisting page content before a page is re-used, persisting deleted rows before they are moved, persisting compensation log record undo information, and/or logging a full page. To rewind an entire database, the undo scans the transaction log in reverse LSN order and undoes all page modifications. Undo reverses reallocated pages, table truncation, and/or table deletion, as well as page-level modifications of a schema, metadata values, and/or system tables. An as-of query is handled using as-of page(s) from a sparse page file. If the sparse page file does not already contain the responsive page(s), they are created and added to it. |
| US08527461B2 |
Cross-ACL multi-master replication
Techniques for cross-ACL multi-master replication are provided. The techniques allow a replication site in a multi-master replication system implementing an asynchronous replication protocol and an access control policy to appropriately apply received data change updates to data maintained at the site even where a data change update is missing information because of the implemented access control policy. |
| US08527459B2 |
System and method for data replication between heterogeneous databases
A system and a method for replicating data among heterogeneous databases are described. The system includes an initialization module for creating and initializing shared memory, a message queue and a semaphore; a processing module including a data reader, a data adapter and a data loader; a replication module for replicating the data in the shared memory to a target database according to the messages in the message queue; and a cleaning module for releasing the shared memory after the replication. The method includes creating and initializing the shared memory, the message queue and the semaphore; reading data from the source database, then converting the data into target data for a target database, and loading the target data in the shared memory; replicating the target data in the shared memory to the target database according to the messages in the message queue; and releasing the shared memory after the replication. |
| US08527456B2 |
Interprocess communication using a single semaphore
A method to enable communication between software processes includes initiating a plurality of processes, the processes including both attachment processes and target processes. A single semaphore is created and initialized for use by the plurality of processes such that each of the target processes wait on the semaphore. An attachment process writes a message file, identifying a specific target process, to a location accessible by the target processes. The attachment process then increments the semaphore by the number of target processes, thereby unblocking the target processes and allowing them to check the message file. When the specific target process determines that the message file is intended for that target, a connection is established between the attachment process and the specific target process. The attachment process then decrements the semaphore to zero to block the target processes. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed herein. |
| US08527454B2 |
Data replication using a shared resource
Techniques are presented for data replication. Two or more nodes are engaged in data replication with one another. When a node acquires a write lock, the write is processed to a local disk associated with the node and communicated to a shared disk. During recovery of a particular node following a failure, the shared disk is accessed to assist in synchronizing that particular node. |
| US08527452B2 |
Construction of rules for use in a complex event processing system
A system and computer program product for specifying complex event processing (CEP) system rules. A rule construction interface is provided for constructing rules for a rule set of the complex event processing system, where the rules include definitions of one or more detected events and corresponding actions. In response to an identification of a new event or action during the rule construction process via the rule construction interface, a corresponding event or action logical construct is generated for representing the event or action in the complex event processing system. An intermediate logical construct is generated to provide a data connection for the event or action logical construct. The event or action logical construct is linked to a corresponding action or event logical construct via the intermediate logical construct so as to enable data flow between the objects. |
| US08527450B2 |
Apparatus and methods for analyzing and using short messages from commercial accounts
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for analyzing and using online short messages from promoting entity accounts (e.g., business or non-profit accounts). In one embodiment, a method of analyzing and using messages sent for a plurality of promoting entity accounts is disclosed. A plurality of models for classifying a plurality of messages based on a plurality of message features are obtained for each message. Each message is sent via a computer network between a selected one of the promoting entity accounts and one or more subscribing users that subscribe to receive messages from such selected promoting entity account, and each model is trained to identify whether a message belongs to a particular class based on a lexicon that was generated for such particular class and a training set of messages that belong to the particular class and message that do not belong to the particular class. A new message is classified based on the models and retaining classification information regarding the new message in a database that is accessible by a user so as to review the classification information on a computer display. |
| US08527448B2 |
System, method and apparatus for increasing speed of hierarchial latent dirichlet allocation model
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a data processing method including: sending global initial statistical information to each slave node; merging received local statistical information of each slave node, to obtain new global statistical information; if Gibbs sampling performed by a slave node has ended, calculating a probability distribution between a document and topic and a probability distribution between the topic and a word according to the new global statistical information; according to the probability distributions obtained through calculation, establishing a likelihood function of a text set, and maximizing the likelihood function, to obtain a new hLDA hyper-parameter; and if iteration of solving for an hLDA hyper-parameter has converged, and according to the new hLDA hyper-parameter, calculating and outputting the probability distribution between the document and topic and the probability distribution between the topic and word. |
| US08527447B2 |
Collaborative networking with optimized information quality assessment
A method for implementing information quality assessment includes receiving a value relating to a predicted outcome of an event from each of an entity and at least one other entity and a reputation score for the entity and the other entity. The method also includes generating a collective prediction value for the event that reflects a collective prediction for the event. The collective prediction value is generated from predicted outcome values from the entity and the other entity. The collective prediction value is calculated as a function of reputation scores corresponding to the entity and the other entity. |
| US08527439B2 |
Pattern identification method, parameter learning method and apparatus
In a pattern identification method in which input data is classified into predetermined classes by sequentially executing a combination of a plurality of classification processes, at least one of the classification processes includes a mapping step of mapping the input data in an N (N≧2) dimensional feature space as corresponding points, a determination step of determining whether or not to execute the next classification process based on the corresponding points, and selecting step of selecting a classification process to be executed next based on the corresponding points when it is determined in the determination step that the next classification process should be executed. |
| US08527432B1 |
Semi-supervised learning based on semiparametric regularization
Semi-supervised learning plays an important role in machine learning and data mining. The semi-supervised learning problem is approached by developing semiparametric regularization, which attempts to discover the marginal distribution of the data to learn the parametric function through exploiting the geometric distribution of the data. This learned parametric function can then be incorporated into the supervised learning on the available labeled data as the prior knowledge. A semi-supervised learning approach is provided which incorporates the unlabeled data into the supervised learning by a parametric function learned from the whole data including the labeled and unlabeled data. The parametric function reflects the geometric structure of the marginal distribution of the data. Furthermore, the proposed approach which naturally extends to the out-of-sample data is an inductive learning method in nature. |
| US08527429B2 |
Shipment preparation using network resource identifiers in packing lists
Example embodiments provide a Shipment Preparation System (“SPS”), which facilitates the preparation of shipments, such as by producing shipping labels. In one embodiment, the SPS is configured to receive shipment preparation information from a bar code or other machine-readable data block in a packing list. The shipment preparation information identifies a uniform resource identifier (“URI”) that identifies a code module that is remote from the SPS. The SPS then communicates with the remote code module in order to obtain information for the preparation of the shipment and/or for transmission of information about the preparation of the shipment. Obtaining information for the preparation of the shipment may include receiving an address to use for printing a label. Transmitting information about the preparation of the shipment may include posting an indication that a label has been printed, a shipment is ready for pick up, or the like. |
| US08527426B2 |
Using smartcards to enable probabilistic transactions on an untrusted device
The present intention permits a user to conduct remote transactions without a network while using an untrusted computing device, such as a hand held personal digital assistant or a laptop computer. The computing device is augmented with a smartcard reader, and the user obtains a smartcard and connects it to the device. This design can be used by an untrusted user to perform financial transactions, such as placing bets on the outcome of a probabilistic computation. Protocols are presented for adding (purchasing) or removing (selling) value on the smartcard, again without requiring a network connection. Using the instant protocols, neither the user nor the entity issuing the smartcards can benefit from cheating. |
| US08527423B2 |
Method for transmitting an information stream upon request from a receiving site
A method for transmitting information streams from a transmitting site of a provider to a receiving site of a user, the method including: providing a plurality of information streams stored at the transmitting site; providing a variety of different communication channels for transmitting an information stream; generating and allocating authorizations to the information streams at the transmitting site; generating an overview of the information streams available; transmitting the overview to the receiving site; acquiring, by the user, an authorization from a source other than the transmitting site in preparation for selecting an information stream; selecting an information stream and requesting transmission of it from the transmitting site by submitting the acquired authorization allocated to the selected information stream from the receiving site to the transmitting site; and selecting a communication channel and transmitting the selected information stream over it from the transmitting site to the receiving site. |
| US08527421B2 |
Virtual customer database
The present invention includes a virtual customer database system for delivering personalized services to a consumer operating a communication device. The virtual customer database system includes an administrator and a distributed database. The distributed database may be selectively loaded by the administrator with customer related information extracted from participating businesses. The distributed database includes secure databases associated with each participating business and a public participant database. The administrator may process push and pull service requests by selectively querying the distributed database. Sensitive customer specific information may remain with each corresponding participating business while responses to the requests may include personalized customer specific information provided via a common interface standard. |
| US08527420B2 |
Process and system for data transmission
The present invention relates to a process and a system for data transmission. Authentication data and an electronic key are generated, whereby the electronic key is stored as assigned to the authentication data. At least part of the electronic key is transmitted by means of an authentication module of the central module to a communications terminal. Asynchronously to that, data are encrypted into encrypted data by means of an encryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key. The encrypted data are transmitted between a central module and a communications terminal. The encrypted data are decrypted by means of a decryption module and by means of at least part of the electronic key. |
| US08527417B2 |
Methods and systems for authenticating an identity of a payer in a financial transaction
A system and computer-based method for using a one-time password (OTP) to authenticate an identity of a cardholder in a financial transaction initiated by the cardholder with a merchant via a first communication medium. A one-time password is generated at an interchange computer system and transmitted to the cardholder via a second communication medium. The cardholder is prompted to enter access credential information, including the one-time password. When the entered access credential information is verified (e.g., the entered one time password is equal to the generated one-time password), a successful authentication is indicated to the merchant. |
| US08527415B2 |
Techniques for conducting financial transactions using mobile communication devices
The present invention advantageously combines communications aspects of mobile devices with financial transaction system capabilities in a novel manner. This advantageous combination enables a user to automatically initiate a financial transaction with a merchant upon the user being located in a particular geographic vicinity. Numerous types of transactions can be enabled using the present invention. |
| US08527410B2 |
Control of billing in a communications system
The invention relates to the control of billing in a communications network. The objective is to accomplish a mechanism for minimizing credit losses caused by subscribers, while at the same time maintaining good performance of the system. A gateway receives service requests and filters out the requests for which the analysis performed indicates that a credit loss risk is involved. For these service requests an in-advance credit check is initiated. If the credit check indicates that the delivery is permissible, a reservation is made for the amount of money corresponding to the service price, i.e. the said sum is reserved in the subscriber account so that said sum cannot be used by another service request in the meantime. When the service has been delivered successfully, the reservation is confirmed and the said sum is debited from the balance of the subscriber account. Otherwise, the reservation is cancelled. |
| US08527404B2 |
Merchant-initiated adjustments
Tools for adjusting a debit transaction, which can allow a payee to adjust the amount of the transaction without having to provide cash back to the payor. Instead, the refund amount may be applied as a credit against the debit transaction. In an aspect, the credit may be for any amount up to the original amount of the check (less any credit already applied). Optionally, one or more security and/or anti-fraud measures may be implemented, e.g., ensuring that the check is not subject to a collection proceeding and/or ensuring that the requested credit is not more than the amount of the check itself). |
| US08527403B2 |
Lateness migration model
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for predicting population migration and analyzing migration-affecting programs. For example, an apparatus is provided having a memory device with population information and a plurality of migration factors stored therein. The population information includes information about population distribution across a plurality of classifications. Each of the plurality of migration factors corresponds to a particular classification of the plurality of classifications and indicates how population members of the particular classification migrate to other classifications over a particular time period. The apparatus also includes a processor communicably coupled to the memory device and configured to use the migration factors and the population information to forecast changes in the population distribution across each of the plurality of classifications over multiple time periods. In one embodiment, the systems, methods, and computer program products are configured to predict lateness characteristics of a lending portfolio. |
| US08527400B2 |
Automated account risk management
A computerized system and method for structuring risk management and assist a financial institution quantify financial, legal, regulatory and reputational risk associated with opening accounts related to management of financial assets and investments and facilitate analysis and quantification of risk. An automated account opening risk management system receives information quantifying factors relating to financial, legal, regulatory and/or reputational risk. The information is utilized to generate a risk quotient or other rating based upon a weighting algorithm applied to the criteria. The risk quotient is indicative of risk associated with an account. The quotient can be monitored on account opening, periodically or during a transaction. A log or other stored history can be created to help mitigate adverse effects relating to a problematic account by demonstrating to regulatory bodies, shareholders, news media and other interested parties that corporate governance is being addressed through tangible risk management processes. |
| US08527396B2 |
Method and system for computer-implemented trading of secondary debt market securities
Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for negotiating the price for a traded security. A security, and a bid or offer terms, are transmitted from at least one dealer to an investor. An indication of interest in purchasing the security is received from the investor and transmitted to at least one dealer. A first bid in response to the indication of interest is received from more than one dealer. The first bid is stored for at least one period of time. In the event that at least two of the stored bids are tied for best: a tie-breaking request is transmitted to each of the tied-for-best dealers, the stored bid for one or more of the tied-for-best dealers is updated with a second bid, the stored bids are transmitted to the investor, and an acceptance, a rejection, or a counter-offer is received from the investor. |
| US08527394B2 |
Method and apparatus for reference data scrubbing
A system, medium storing processor-executable process steps, method and apparatus for supporting a derivative transaction, the method including receiving data identifying a reference entity participating in the derivative transaction; receiving data identifying at least a first reference obligation associated with the derivative transaction; identifying a contractual relationship between the reference entity and the at least first reference obligation; and generating a data record associated with the derivative transaction, the data record including the data identifying said reference entity, the data identifying the at least first reference obligation, and data identifying said contractual relationship, wherein the data record is verified as accurate as of an issue date of the derivative transaction. |
| US08527393B2 |
Listing and expiring cash settled on-the-run treasury futures contracts
The disclosed embodiments relate to determining a listing date, an expiration date and the cash settlement price of a futures contract, i.e. a Treasury Futures, for the delivery of the most recently issued, referred to as an on-the-run, US treasury Note of a particular maturity by reference to the U.S. Treasury Auction cycle and the difference between a resultant industry surveyed swap rate and a resultant industry surveyed swap spread of the respective tenors (time remaining until maturity) of the on-the-run treasury futures. |
| US08527389B2 |
Bidding for energy supply to resellers and their customers
An auction service is provided that stimulates competition between energy suppliers (i.e., electric power or natural gas). A bidding moderator (Moderator) receives offers from competing suppliers specifying the economic terms each is willing to offer to resellers or customers of resellers for estimated quantities of electric power or gas supply (separate auctions). Each supplier receives feedback from the Moderator based on competitors' offers and has the opportunity to adjust its own offers down or up, depending on whether it wants to encourage or discourage additional energy delivery commitments in a particular geographic area or to a particular customer group. Each supplier's offers can also be changed to reflect each supplier's capacity utilization. The Moderator selects at least one supplier to provide electric power or natural gas to each reseller or customer of a reseller, with each supplier providing at least a portion of the electric power or natural gas to be used by each reseller or customer of a reseller during a specific future time interval. |
| US08527386B2 |
Asset investment tool
A case management tool devises an investment strategy and simulates a post-mortem asset distribution that reduces tax ramifications while increasing the transfer of the assets to a beneficiary of an asset holder. In one implementation, a portion of the assets that is estimated to survive the asset holder is invested into a life insurance policy having proceeds that transfer to the beneficiary. |
| US08527380B2 |
System and methods for servicing electronic transactions
A method for using an electronic transaction device with an electronic transaction service provider may include the steps of registering the electronic transaction device with the electronic transaction device service provider, registering a plurality of accounts corresponding to a plurality of service institutions, providing a data connection between the electronic transaction device and the electronic transaction device service provider, and storing account information for a plurality of service institutions at the electronic transaction device service provider. The method may also include the steps of providing access to a database of client information to the client and analyzing transactional information in the database of client information for a plurality of accounts. The method may also include the steps of designating a portion of the client database non-confidential; analyzing the portion of the client database designated as non-confidential for preferences and patterns; and providing analyzed transactional information to a plurality of vendors. |
| US08527377B2 |
Point code to billing ID
A method includes maintaining a repository of location identifiers and billing identifiers, wherein each of a plurality of network devices is associated with a location identifier in the repository, and each location identifier is further associated with at least one billing identifier. The method further includes receiving a communications message; determining a location identifier associated with the communications message; selectively retrieving a billing identifier from the repository based at least in part on the location identifier; and determining a billing rate based at least in part on the billing identifier. |
| US08527376B1 |
Income itemization
Information provided with a direct deposit, a deposited check, or other negotiable instrument may be used to determine state, city, county, and/or other local income tax liability. Based on information associated with the deposit, the financial institution may determine where a user performed the work that triggered the income payment, where the income payment took place, what type of work is associated with the income payment, etc. This information may be used by the financial institution to provide income itemization and income tax liability information to the user via a user computing device. |
| US08527366B2 |
Configuring a product or service via social interactions
Techniques are disclosed for configuring a product or service based on social interactions. In one embodiment, one or more users are selected to participate in configuring a desired product or service. The desired product or service may be associated with one or more configurable parameters. One or more configurations for the desired product or service may be determined, based on input received from the one or more users. |
| US08527361B2 |
Service for adding in-application shopping functionality to applications
An application management system modifies developer-submitted applications, such as mobile applications, to add various types of functionality before such applications are made available for purchase. The added functionality may, for example, enable end users to make in-application purchases of content items from an application store. As another example, Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionality may be added for controlling user access to content items, such as content items available in an application store. |
| US08527359B1 |
Immersive multimedia views for items
Disclosed are various embodiments that provide immersive multimedia views for items. Code for generating an immersive view for an item is obtained from a server, and the immersive view is rendered in the client. The immersive view features an image of the item surrounded by a user interface layer that provides information about the item. The user interface layer is hidden when a cursor moves onto a portion of the immersive view that corresponds to the image of the item. The image of the item may be replaced with a video of the item. |
| US08527356B2 |
Systems and methods for transferring items with restricted transferability
The invention is systems and methods for transferring items with restricted transferability. Initially, the systems and methods wait for a first consumer to make a request to transfer an item after having purchased the item from a provider. The systems and methods then send a request to transfer the item to the provider. This request may indicate inducements to the provider to authorize the transfer. If the transfer is authorized, the systems and methods then present information regarding the item to other consumers. This information may be presented as part of a bidding interface or as part of an advertising interface. Once the second consumer submits a winning bid for the item when the information is presented in a bidding interface, or an acceptable offer when the information is presented in an advertising interface, the transfer of the item can then be completed with or without the assistance of an intermediary. When the transfer is completed without the assistance of an intermediary, the first and second consumer may directly transfer the item and payment to each other. When the transfer is completed with the assistance of an intermediary, the first consumer may send the item to the intermediary and the second consumer may send payment to the intermediary. Once both the item and the payment have been received at the intermediary, the intermediary may send the item to the second consumer and all or part of the payment to the first consumer. |
| US08527355B2 |
Method and system for requesting prior art from the public in exchange for a reward
The present invention is a method and system for requesting from at least one member of the public, information that teaches or describes a technology, or a technology covered by one or more claims of a patent, in exchange for a reward where the information received can be combined with an investment strategy and/or auctioned. |
| US08527352B2 |
System and method for generating optimized bids for advertisement keywords
The present invention is directed towards systems and method for generating a bid amount for one or more keywords for a display of an advertisement associated with a given keyword. The method comprises calculating estimates of one or more advertising metrics for one or more keywords associated with one or more advertisements displayed at one or more positions. Target positions are identified for the one or more keywords at which a return on investment earned by the display of one or more advertisements in response to a query that matches a given keyword exceeds a threshold by a given probability on the basis of the estimates to select a given target position that provides a greatest estimated profit. Bid amounts are generated for the one or more keywords in order to obtain the display of associated advertisements at the given target position. |
| US08527350B2 |
Conversion crediting
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing events related to presented content. In one aspect, a method includes determining a time window count of a number of advertising events associated with an advertisement during at least one time window before a conversion event; and determining a credit that represents a strength of an association between the advertisement and the conversion event, wherein determining a credit includes selecting a weighting model for the at least one time window count. |
| US08527349B2 |
Methods, apparatus and computer program products for targeted and customized marketing of vehicle customers
Methods, systems and computer program products for targeted and customized marketing to customers and, specifically in some embodiments, customers having a previous relationship with the entity implementing the marketing tool. The embodiments of the invention herein disclosed provide for efficient identification of previous customers based on their current product, service or property and/or their previous, and in some instances, ongoing financial obligation related to the current product, service or property. A replacement product, service or property is identified and a financial transaction proposal, such as a sales or lease proposal, is generated for one or more of the identified previous customers based on customers meeting criteria associated with variable parameters of the proposed transaction. |
| US08527347B2 |
Integration architecture for mobile advertisement campaign management, marketplace and service provider interface
A communications marketing and advertising system is described for delivering advertising content to subscribers of a telecommunications network. The system includes a marketplace component accessible by advertisers and ad space owners, which is used to create ad space for delivering content to subscribers of a telecommunications network. The marketplace allows advertisers to submit bids on the ad space and the ad space owners to approve or reject the bids. The system also includes a campaign manager that creates a campaign upon determining that the bid has been approved by the ad space owner. The campaign includes a set of messages containing ad content to be sent out to the subscribers. The subscriber profile module of the system obtains profile data associated with the subscribers of the telecommunications network and customizes the content of the messages according to the profile data. The ad engine delivers the messages to the recipients. |
| US08527346B2 |
Method and system for scheduling electronic advertising
A method for scheduling advertising comprises the steps of: estimating a respective fraction of delivered advertisement impressions that result in a response from a user for each of a plurality of advertising contracts, estimating a value per impression for each of the advertising contracts, and scheduling an advertising line under the contract having the highest value per impression at a next available advertising window. |
| US08527345B2 |
System and method for adding an advertisement to a personal communication
A system and method is provided for adding an advertisement to a digital message and providing additional communication data to a recipient that interacts with the advertisement regardless of the network device the recipient is utilizing. An advertisement generator residing on a network host accepts digital messages from contributors and allows the contributors to select an advertisement to be displayed with their contributed messages. These digital messages may be sent to specified recipients or published on a Web site. Using stored personal data associated with the contributor and with the recipient of a digital message, in addition to the content of the message itself, the advertisement generator suggests advertisements to be included with the digital messages based on their contextual relevance. In exchange for including an advertisement with a digital message, a contributor is compensated. If the contributor-selected advertisement is provided by a third party advertiser, the message, contributor, and advertisement data is utilized to compensate the contributor of that message for sending it to at least one recipient or posting it on a Web site. If the advertisement is interactive, and the advertisement is interacted with, the advertisement generator will provide the recipient with additional communication data in a format that can be understood by the recipient network device. |
| US08527342B2 |
Method and system for electronic advertising
A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website and determining a hurdle rate, based at least on the intent of the user, that identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user interacting with the e-commerce website. The method may further include selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, one or more optimal advertisements having a combined advertiser bid that exceeds the determined hurdle rate. The method may further include providing one or more controls in a user interface of a client computer system, each of the controls being associated with a respective advertisement of the one or more optimal advertisements and adapted to enable the user to select one or more of the controls, and providing an element, responsive to an input of the user, that is adapted to display, to the user, the respective advertisements selected by the user. |
| US08527341B2 |
Method and system for electronic advertising
A method of delivering advertising in an online environment includes determining an intent of a user interacting with an e-commerce website, and determining a hurdle rate that is based at least on the user intent and which identifies a threshold amount to be bid by an advertiser in order to display an advertisement to the user. The method further includes selecting, from a plurality of advertisements, an optimal advertisement having an advertiser bid that exceeds the hurdle rate, and displaying the optimal advertisement to the user in an interface of a client computer system. |
| US08527338B2 |
Mobile advertisement methods and systems
A method of displaying an advertisement on a vehicle comprising the steps of detecting a user's wireless transmission, receiving information pertaining to an advertisement from a user via a wireless interface, activating an electronic paper screen by supplying power to the screen, displaying the advertisement on the electronic paper screen and removing the power to the electronic paper screen such that the advertisement may still be displayed on the electronic paper screen after the power is removed. |
| US08527337B1 |
Internet based system and apparatus for paying users to view content and receiving micropayments
An Internet search engine is configured to provide information to a user of the service in ranked order according to demographic profile information about the user provided by the user. Such information might include advertising information and/or search results (e.g., rendered as hyperlinks) to search queries posed by the user. The information may be returned in a ranked order according to reward credits offered by advertisers and/or content providers associated with the advertising information and/or web sites represented by the search results. Such reward credits may be posted to an account maintained by the user upon selection by the user of cursor-selectable objects (e.g., icons, banner ads, hyperlinks, radio buttons, check boxes, etc.) associated with the advertising information and/or search results. Ultimately, the reward credits may be redeemed through the Internet service for cash, Internet content or other value. A process for verifying whether or not an Internet operation (e.g., sending an e-mail message or accessing a web site) is being attempted by a human being or an automated process may be incorporated with the service by using a quiz process that requires user interaction. |
| US08527318B2 |
Campaign management in multiple communication channels
Methods and systems for managing marketing campaigns. A communication module is capable of executing a first step of a marketing campaign, and is capable of handling customer responses to the marketing campaign received through a variety of communication channels, regardless of which channel was used for contacting the customers. Customers may respond by email, telephone, fax, in person, through an internet site, by letter or by other modes of communication. An object generation module generates an object containing information from the response, uses the information to match the response with the marketing campaign, and links the object to the marketing campaign. A person may override the object generation module's matching by inputting the identity of another marketing campaign for matching. A campaign management module receives the object from the object generation module. A user may modify how the system matches responses with marketing campaigns. |
| US08527317B2 |
Service level agreement work prioritization system
A service task request ordering or prioritization system which has the intelligence to check all incidents on accounts supported by the Delivery Team in the current month, check the customer Service Level Agreement (“SLA”), check monthly ticket number average and calculate for a customer (or all customers) a priority level. The priority level assigned to a customer may be relative to other customers, or it may be an absolute indication of priority without regard to other customers. With this information, when a new ticket is opened, if this ticket is crucial to maintain the SLA according to the contract, the ordering will be based upon the priority level. For example, a light and/or sound alarm may turn on to indicate to the Delivery Team that a new ticket requires urgent attention based on its calculated priority level. This automation of priority level determination and/or the indications of priority level provided to the Delivery Team will drive them to fix the crucial tickets more quickly to avoid or minimize violations of the SLAs of the various customers. There is an accessible database which has information about tickets, and numbers of tickets in past periods. The system uses this ticket number information from past periods to determine risk attributes and/or prioritization levels. |
| US08527301B2 |
System and method for evaluating risk associated with a crop insurance policy
A system and method for evaluating the risk of insuring a grower comprises a communications interface for obtaining a geographic area yield (e.g., mean geographic area yield) of a crop for a particular geographic area (e.g., county) for a corresponding time period. A yield monitor or a yield sensor, associated with a ground-based or aerial work vehicle, obtains a benchmark grower yield (e.g., historic grower yield) for a particular grower within the particular geographic area. An analyzer determines a difference between the geographic area yield and the benchmark grower yield (e.g., historic grower yield). An estimator estimates a variability parameter indicative of a variation in forecasted grower yield in the geographic area. A data processor determines a forecasted grower yield, which may deviate from at least one of the geographic area yield (e.g., mean geographic area yield) and the benchmark grower yield, for the corresponding time period based on the difference and the variability parameter. A data processor determines a risk indicator based on the determined forecasted grower yield. |
| US08527300B2 |
Systems and methods for managing and/or administering prescription benefits
Systems and methods for allowing a user (e.g., a benefits administrator) to maintain and modify a contract or a group for a prescription drug plan may be provided. In response to receiving a request to modify a contract or a group, a prescription benefits management application may retrieve data relating to the contract or group and allow the user to input information relating to the contract or group, input broker information, input billing information, select a pharmacy network, select pricing options for the prescription plan, create a customized prescription plan, input brand/generic difference overrides, etc. In some embodiments, the modifications and/or additions made to a contract or group may be transmitted to a pharmacist, thereby allowing the pharmacist to fill one or more prescriptions in real-time or upon updating the system (e.g., within 48 to 72 hours). |
| US08527299B2 |
System and method for managing pedigree information
Methods and systems are provided for managing and transmitting pedigree information. The methods and systems allow a user to access a pedigree information portal to submit and transmit pedigree data to a recipient of the physical drug product. The method provides security and reliability in relaying the drug history and data. In addition, methods and systems are provided for associating the electronically transmitted pedigree information to the physical drug product. A user may thus retrieve and review pedigree information using, for example, one or more barcodes representing a sender identifier and recipient identifier. |
| US08527296B2 |
Medical information processing system, medical information processing method, and computer readable medium
There is provided a medical information processing system including a diagnosis information storing section that stores thereon frequency information in association with an initial diagnosis and a conclusive diagnosis, where the frequency information indicates a frequency with which a combination of the initial diagnosis and the conclusive diagnosis that is different from the initial diagnosis is observed, a diagnosis receiving section that receives a diagnosis during a diagnosis process, and a disease information presenting section that presents, to a diagnosis-making person, one of the conclusive diagnosis and the initial diagnosis which is stored on the diagnosis information storing section in association with one of the initial diagnosis and the conclusive diagnosis which is the same as the diagnosis received by the diagnosis receiving section, in a manner according to the frequency information stored on the diagnosis information storing section in association with the initial diagnosis and the conclusive diagnosis. |
| US08527294B2 |
Radiopharmaceutical dispensing, administration, and imaging
Apparatus is provided for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus including a container (22) containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and a portable computer-communicatable data carrier (120, 24) associated with the container (22), the data carrier (120, 24) containing imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08527284B2 |
System for personal mail piece tracking and tracing from multiple sources by user identifier
A system and method for linking data objects and physical objects of various kinds to an identified user is described. The system provides to the identified user information relating to the delivery status of mail pieces directed to or sent by the user, and the user then tracks and traces the mail pieces. The system further provides to the identified user information relating to continued sessions through which the user provides to a postal service system information relating to mailing labels and postage. |
| US08527279B2 |
Voice recognition grammar selection based on context
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes receiving geographical information derived from a non-verbal user action associated with a first computing device. The non-verbal user action implies an interest of a user in a geographic location. The method also includes identifying a grammar associated with the geographic location using the derived geographical information and outputting a grammar indicator for use in selecting the identified grammar for voice recognition processing of vocal input from the user. |
| US08527278B2 |
Intelligent home automation
An intelligent home automation system answers questions of a user speaking “natural language” located in a home. The system is connected to, and may carry out the user's commands to control, any circuit, object, or system in the home. The system can answer questions by accessing the Internet. Using a transducer that “hears” human pulses, the system may be able to identify, announce and keep track of anyone entering or staying in the home or participating in a conversation, including announcing their identity in advance. The system may interrupt a conversation to implement specific commands and resume the conversation after implementation. The system may have extensible memory structures for term, phrase, relation and knowledge, question answering routines and a parser analyzer that uses transformational grammar and a modified three hypothesis analysis. The parser analyzer can be dormant unless spoken to. The system has emergency modes for prioritization of commands. |
| US08527275B2 |
Transforming a tactually selected user input into an audio output
A contextual input device includes a plurality of tactually discernable keys disposed in a predetermined configuration which replicates a particular relationship among a plurality of items associated with a known physical object. The tactually discernable keys are typically labeled with Braille type. The known physical object is typically a collection of related items grouped together by some common relationship. A computer-implemented process determines whether an input signal represents a selection of an item from among a plurality of items or an attribute pertaining to an item among the plurality of items. Once the selected item or attribute pertaining to an item is determined, the computer-implemented process transforms a user's selection from the input signal into an analog audio signal which is then audibly output as human speech with an electro-acoustic transducer. |
| US08527274B2 |
System and method for delivering targeted advertisements and tracking advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts
The system and method described herein may use various natural language models to deliver targeted advertisements and track advertisement interactions in voice recognition contexts. In particular, in response to an input device receiving an utterance, a conversational language processor may select and deliver one or more advertisements targeted to a user that spoke the utterance based on cognitive models associated with the user, various users having similar characteristics to the user, an environment in which the user spoke the utterance, or other criteria. Further, subsequent interaction with the targeted advertisements may be tracked to build and refine the cognitive models and thereby enhance the information used to deliver targeted advertisements in response to subsequent utterances. |
| US08527268B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving speech recognition and identifying video program material or content
A system for identification of video content in a video signal is provided via a sound track audio signal. The audio signal is processed with filtering, frequency translation, and or non linear transformations to extract voice signals from the sound track channel. The extracted voice signals are coupled to a speech recognition system to provide in text form, the words of the video content, which is later compared with a reference library of words or dialog from known video programs or movies. Other attributes of the video signal or transport stream may be combined with closed caption data or closed caption text for identification purposes. Example attributes include DVS/SAP information, time code information, histograms, and or rendered video or pictures. |
| US08527267B2 |
Adding additional data to encoded bit streams
A method of adding additional data to encoded bit streams may include receiving a signal containing an encoded data frame, where the encoded data frame includes a plurality of data blocks. The method may further include transforming the encoded data frame into a modified encoded data frame by inserting at least one additional data block between a synchronization information block and an error check block, where the at least one additional data block includes the additional data, and modifying data in at least one of the synchronization information block and the error check block to account for the inserting of the at least one additional data block. |
| US08527266B2 |
Noise suppression device and noise suppression method
Disclosed is a noise suppression device capable of better noise suppression by means of a simpler structure and with a lighter computational load. A noise suppression device (100) has a noise suppression processor (150) to estimate the required information only from the observed information, which is the required information corrupted by noise. A correlator (154) calculates the correlation of the estimation error when the state quantity, which contains the required information, of the system at time n+1 was estimated from the information until time n or time n+1 for the observed information at only time n. A weighting coefficient calculator (156) uses the correlation calculated by the correlator (154) for the observed information at only time n to calculate the weighting coefficients for specifying the relationships of the optimum estimate of the state quantity at that time based on the information until time n+1, the optimum estimate of the state quantity at time n+1 based on the information until time n, and the estimation error of the observed quantity including the observed information. An optimum estimate calculator (158) uses the weighting coefficients calculated by the weighting coefficient calculator (156) for the observed information only at time n to calculate the optimum estimate of the state quantity at that time based on the information until time n or time n+1. |
| US08527263B2 |
Method and system for automatically generating reminders in response to detecting key terms within a communication
A computer-implemented method of automatically generating an electronic reminder is provided. The method includes identifying, using term-recognition circuitry, at least one key term within an electronic message received with an electronic communications device. The method further includes generating at least one reminder based upon the at least one key term. One or more reminders are, according to the method, electronically conveyed to a user at a time later than when the message was received. |
| US08527262B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic semantic role labeling of high morphological text for natural language processing applications
Systems and methods are provided for automated semantic role labeling for languages having complex morphology. In one aspect, a method for processing natural language text includes receiving as input a natural language text sentence comprising a sequence of white-space delimited words including inflicted words that are formed of morphemes including a stem and one or more affixes, identifying a target verb as a stem of an inflicted word in the text sentence, grouping morphemes from one or more inflicted words with the same syntactic role into constituents, and predicting a semantic role of a constituent for the target verb. |
| US08527260B2 |
User-configurable translations for electronic documents
Generally speaking, systems, methods and media for selectively modifying an electronic document by restoring user-selected portions of translated electronic document text to their original language are disclosed. Embodiments of a method for selectively modifying an electronic document may include receiving a request from a user to view a user selection of text of an electronic document in an original language instead of a second translated language where the electronic document has substantially all of its text in the second translated language. Embodiments may also include analyzing the request to determine an expanded selection to be changed into original replacement language. Embodiments may also include determining original replacement language associated with the determined expanded selection, selectively modifying the electronic document by permanently replacing text of the electronic document in the second translated language with text in the associated original replacement language, and storing the modified electronic document. |
| US08527259B1 |
Contextual translation of digital content
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for translating digital content from a source language to a target language. A message is displayed to a user. The message contains digital content to be translated from the source language to the target language, as well as the context of the digital content in the source language and/or a reference to a context in which the digital content occurs. A proposed translation of the digital content into the target language is received from the user. The proposed translation is submitted to a translation server. |
| US08527258B2 |
Simultaneous interpretation system
A simultaneous interpretation system includes headsets for inputting and outputting voice, and a portable terminal for receiving an original language voice speech signal to be interpreted that is output from the first headset. The portable terminal outputs an interpreted voice speech signal based on the original language voice speech signal that has been interpreted into a different language to the second headset. The portable terminal either performs the interpretation or accesses an interpretation server to provide the second headset with the interpreted voice speech signal. Hence, the simultaneous interpretation is carried out using the short-range communication between the users by medium of the single portable terminal and thus more efficient and unrestricted conversation is realized. |
| US08527256B2 |
Equivalent circuit model for multilayer chip capacitor, circuit constant analysis method, program, device, and circuit simulator
Improved equivalent circuits and circuit analysis using the same for a multilayer capacitor are provided. In one aspect, the equivalent series capacitance C and part of the equivalent series resistance R of a basic equivalent circuit for a multilayer chip capacitor are replaced with a capacitance CO, and capacitances Cm and C1 and the resistance Rc1 to take into consideration abnormal characteristics in electromagnetic distribution that occur at the corners and edges of the internal electrodes in the multilayer chip capacitor. In one aspect, additional circuit elements, such as resistances Rp1 and Rp2, the capacitance Cp, the inductances Lm and L1, and the resistance RL1, are provided to take into consideration the skin effects of the internal electrodes within the multilayer chip capacitor, electromagnetic proximity effects, losses and parasitic capacitance of the dielectric material, as well as parasitic inductance of the external electrodes. |
| US08527255B2 |
Methods and systems for lithography process window simulation
A method of efficient simulating imaging performance of a lithographic process utilized to image a target design having a plurality of features. The method includes the steps of determining a function for generating a simulated image, where the function accounts for process variations associated with the lithographic process; and generating the simulated image utilizing the function, where the simulated image represents the imaging result of the target design for the lithographic process. |
| US08527253B2 |
Modeling an arbitrarily polarized illumination source in an optical lithography system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that accurately models polarization states of an illumination source in an optical lithography system for manufacturing integrated circuits. During operation, the system starts by receiving a two-dimensional (2D) grid map for an illumination source pupil in the optical lithography system. The system then constructs a source-polarization model for the illumination source by defining a polarization state at each grid point in the grid map. Next, the system enhances a lithography model for the optical lithography system by incorporating the source-polarization model into the lithography/OPC model. |
| US08527251B2 |
Method and system for multi-component heart and aorta modeling for decision support in cardiac disease
A method and system for generating a patient specific anatomical heart model is disclosed. Volumetric image data, such as computed tomography (CT), echocardiography, or magnetic resonance (MR) image data of a patient's cardiac region is received. Individual models for multiple heart components, such as the left ventricle (LV) endocardium, LV epicardium, right ventricle (RV), left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA), mitral valve, aortic valve, aorta, and pulmonary trunk, are estimated in said volumetric cardiac image data. A multi-component patient specific anatomical heart model is generated by integrating the individual models for each of the heart components. Fluid Structure Interaction (FSI) simulations are performed on the patient specific anatomical model, and patient specific clinical parameters are extracted based on the patient specific heart model and the FSI simulations. Disease progression modeling and risk stratification are performed based on the patient specific clinical parameters. |
| US08527247B1 |
Nonlinear power flow feedback control for improved stability and performance of airfoil sections
A computer-implemented method of determining the pitch stability of an airfoil system, comprising using a computer to numerically integrate a differential equation of motion that includes terms describing PID controller action. In one model, the differential equation characterizes the time-dependent response of the airfoil's pitch angle, α. The computer model calculates limit-cycles of the model, which represent the stability boundaries of the airfoil system. Once the stability boundary is known, feedback control can be implemented, by using, for example, a PID controller to control a feedback actuator. The method allows the PID controller gain constants, KI, Kp, and Kd, to be optimized. This permits operation closer to the stability boundaries, while preventing the physical apparatus from unintentionally crossing the stability boundaries. Operating closer to the stability boundaries permits greater power efficiencies to be extracted from the airfoil system. |
| US08527246B1 |
Method for modeling conductor surface roughness
A method provides modeling of surface roughness effect of an electrical conductor. The method includes identifying first protrusions of a first level using an original flat surface of the conductor as a first base surface and determining a first correction factor of the first level using parameters of the first protrusions. The method further includes identifying second protrusions of a second level using the first protrusions and the first base surface as a second base surface, and determining a second correction factor of the second level using parameters of the second protrusions and regarding the second base surface as being a smooth surface, the smooth surface being a surface of the conductor without surface roughness effect. A final correction factor of the conductor is determined by combining the first correction factor and the second correction factor. |
| US08527241B2 |
Wireless telemetry system for a turbine engine
A telemetry system for use in a combustion turbine engine (10) having a compressor (12), a combustor and a turbine (16) and includes a sensor (118) in connection with a turbine blade (111) or vane (23). A transmitter assembly (117) includes a telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver may be affixed on a turbine blade (111) or seal plate (115) proximate the turbine blade with a first connecting material (119) deposited on the turbine blade (111) for routing electronic data signals, indicative of a condition of the turbine blade (111), from the sensor (118) to the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver. An induction power system for powering the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver may include a rotating data antenna (116) affixed to the seal plate (115) with an electrical connection (122) between the telemetry transmitting circuit/transceiver for routing electronic data signals from the telemetry transmitter circuit/transceiver to the rotating data antenna (119). |
| US08527235B2 |
Object position estimation system, object position estimation device, object position estimation method and object position estimation program
ID likelihoods and position likelihoods of an object are detected by a first observation device, and position likelihoods of the object and tracking states of the object are detected by a second observation device; thus, the object detected by the second observation device and the object ID are associated with each other by an association unit, and based upon information from the second observation device and the association unit, the ID likelihoods of the object detected by the second observation device are determined by a second object ID likelihood determination unit so that the object position is estimated by an object position estimation unit based upon the ID likelihoods and position likelihoods. |
| US08527228B2 |
Calibration for three dimensional motion sensor
An electronic device can include an inertial measurement unit (IMU) operative to monitor the movement of the electronic device. The IMU used in the device can be inaccurate due to the manufacturing process used to construct the IMU and to incorporate the IMU in the electronic device. To correct the IMU output, the electronic device in which the IMU is incorporated can be placed in a testing apparatus that moves the device to known orientations. The IMU output at the known orientations can be compared to an expected true IMU output, and correction factors (e.g., sensitivity and offset matrices) can be calculated. The correction factors can be stored in the device, and applied to the IMU output to provide a true output. The testing apparatus can include a fixture placed in a gimbal movable around three axes. |
| US08527226B2 |
Signal measurement apparatus and beam modulation apparatus used therein
An apparatus for modulating an incident beam includes a body that is non-transmissive and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the body. The body has a first set of features including transmissive features with respect to the incident beam along a first radial path at a first radial distance from the axis and a second set of features including data storage features along a second radial path at a second radial distance from the axis. The apparatus also includes a reference sensor disposed over a first position along the second radial path. In the apparatus. the radial distances are different and the numbers of transmissive features and data storage features are relatively prime. When the body is rotating, the first set of features modulate the incident beam and the reference sensor generates a reference signal based on the data storage features traversing the first position. |
| US08527223B2 |
Methods and systems for energy prognosis
In one embodiment, a method for managing an industrial process wherein a processor transforms electronic data into an energy prognosis is provided. An energy related test signal including effective power test data indicative of electrical energy consumed by an energy consuming machine may be received. The energy related test signal may be partitioned into an energy related test sub-signal. Mathematical functions may be applied to the energy related test sub-signal to extract a feature set of data from the energy related test sub-signal. The feature set of data may be transformed with a transformation matrix into a reduced test feature set. The reduced test feature set may be input into a performance assessment algorithm based at least in part upon a reduced training feature set derived from data indicative of electrical energy consumed during healthy operation. A power-based performance index may be generated with the performance assessment algorithm. |
| US08527219B2 |
System, method, and computer readable medium for calculating well flow rates produced with electrical submersible pumps
A system, method, and computer readable medium for calculating well flow rates produced with electrical submersible pumps using measured voltage, current, frequency and pressure data. An efficiency to flow rate ratio is calculated from the voltage, current, and pressure data. The efficiency to flow rate ratio is used to obtain a non-dimensional flow rate. The flow rate through the electrical submersible pump is calculated from the non-dimensional flow rate. |
| US08527211B2 |
Method to produce recombinant MBP8298 and other polypeptides by nucleotide structure optimization
A method for recombinant production of a polypeptide, exemplified by the therapeutic peptide MBP8298, by recombining and optimizing the nucleic acid encoding said polypeptide, expressing said nucleic acid in a microbial host cell, isolating said polypeptide from the host, and releasing embedded polypeptide from fusion partners or peptide concatamers are explained. Such method may provide increased production or simplified downstream processing for the polypeptide of interest. |
| US08527209B2 |
Rejuvenation or preservation of germ cells
Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of compositions, methods, devices, systems, kits, or products regarding rejuvenation or preservation of germ cells or gametes. Certain embodiments disclosed herein include, but are not limited to, methods of modifying germ cells or gametes, or methods of administering modified germ cells or gametes to at least one biological tissue. |
| US08527204B2 |
Volume of investigation based density image processing
Systems and methods which provide accurate formation information regardless of formation and borehole geometry, including those associated with high angle and horizontal wells, are shown. In providing processing of logging or image data, such as may be provided by a density tool or other tool, according to embodiments, formation attributes or features (e.g., density and dip angle) are estimated using raw data provided by a the tool. The foregoing estimations may thereafter be iteratively refined using effective volume of interest (EVOI) information. According to embodiments, depth boundaries of formation information provided by the tool are shifted as a function of azimuth for correct spatial positioning of formation features using EVOI information. Processing of formation attribute or feature data provided by embodiments may be used with respect to various tool configurations, including configurations with and without borehole standoff. |
| US08527203B2 |
Method for selecting well measurements
A method of determining a selection of well measurements and/or their respective control parameters is described based on a global target having predetermined sensitivities to a multitude of uncertainties associated with input variables to a model including the step of ranking measurements and control parameters in accordance with their capability to reduce the uncertainties of input variables identified as most sensitive input variables through simulations using the model or a reduced variant of the model. |
| US08527201B2 |
Azimuth detecting device and azimuth detecting method
An azimuth detecting device mounted in a mobile object and having: a geomagnetic sensor; GPS signal receiving means; and measuring means for measuring a position of the mobile object by using a GPS signal, the azimuth detecting device being characterized in calculating a gain correction amount by means of a method of least squares, using an output value of the geomagnetic sensor when a level of the GPS signal received by the GPS signal receiving means is lower than a predetermined level, and calculating a declination correction amount and/or an inclination correction amount on the basis of information obtained from the GPS signal and correcting the output value of the geomagnetic sensor, when the level of the GPS signal is at least the predetermined level. |
| US08527200B2 |
Visual aid for assisting a user in interpreting a digital map
A visual aid determination module (VADM) is described for presenting a visual aid that helps a user in interpreting a digital map. Namely, the visual aid helps the user in interpreting the relation of a currently-displayed map bounding region (MBR) to a center point of an inaccurate location region (ILR). The ILR, in turn, conveys a range of indeterminacy associated with a currently-assessed location of the user. In one case, the visual aid corresponds to a series of concentric circles. The curvature, placement, and spacing of the circles help the user determine his or her bearing with respect to the center point of the ILR. |
| US08527199B1 |
Automatic collection of quality control statistics for maps used in autonomous driving
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for generating accurate maps for autonomous vehicles. A map is stored at a computing device associated with a vehicle. The vehicle can be operated in a partially-autonomous mode, where the computing device can generate driving directions for manual execution along a route based on the map. The computing device can be configured to receive and store information related to features and a quality of driving along the route. The map can be updated and quality control statistics can be determined based on the stored information. The updated map can be promoted based on the quality control statistics. In response to promoting the updated map, the computing device can store the promoted map and enable the vehicle to operate in the autonomous-operation mode using the promoted map. |
| US08527195B2 |
Method to dynamically select a routing service option
A method of dynamically selecting a routing service including receiving a route request at a call center from a telematics unit via a wireless connection, determining a vehicle communication configuration responsive to the request, determining map data availability responsive to the request and selecting a routing service option based on the vehicle communication configuration determination and the map data availability determination. |
| US08527194B2 |
Portable navigation device, portable electronic communications apparatus, and method of generating radio data system information therefor
A portable navigation device includes a processing resource operably coupled to a Radio Data System communications unit and a location determination unit. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource supports a country code selector and is operably coupled to a data store capable of storing Radio Data System country code data. In at least one embodiment, the processing resource is also arranged to determine a first country associated with location data generated, when in use, by the location determination unit, the country code selector being arranged to identify a first country code from the country code data that does not correspond to the first country associated with the location data and a second country neighboring the first country. The processing resource is also arranged to use the first country code to generate a Program Identification code. |
| US08527185B2 |
Energy-based closed-loop control of turbine outlet temperature in a vehicle
A vehicle includes an engine and an exhaust system which ignites fuel from fuel injectors to purify exhaust gas. An air compressor delivers compressed intake air to the engine, and a turbine energizes the compressor. A controller calculates an engine thermal efficiency value using temperature and mass flow rate values from various sensors. The controller maintains a temperature of the exhaust gas downstream of the turbine using the thermal efficiency value. A control system includes the sensors and a host machine operable for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas above the threshold using the thermal efficiency value. A method for maintaining the temperature of the exhaust gas includes measuring the inlet and outlet temperatures of an air intake system, measuring the mass flow rate of compressed intake air, and using the host machine to maintain the temperature of the gas using the thermal efficiency value. |
| US08527184B2 |
SBS logical bio-diesel sensor
A logical sensor method is provided for internal combustion engines (Compression Ignited or Spark Ignited) based on a software algorithm (SBS). This algorithm identifies the mixture diesel/bio-diesel present in a vehicle's fuel tank and adapts the engine control strategy as a function of the fraction of FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters) vegetal-based oil or oil produced from organic waste blended into a crude oil based diesel fuel (average chemical formula C12H23). |
| US08527183B2 |
System and method for controlling the fuel injection event in an internal combustion engine
A controller, in electrical communication with the one or more of the injectors and a high-pressure fuel pump, generates a first signal responsive to which the valve in the injector opens or closes and a second signal responsive to which the high-pressure fuel pump increases or decreases the pressure level in the fuel accumulator. The system may also include one or more sensors to detect a pressure within the air manifold and to detect the pressure within the fuel accumulator. The controller is programmed to calculate an in-cylinder gas pressure. When the engine is operating at a maximum engine load and the in-cylinder gas pressure reaches or exceeds a maximum pressure limit, the controller transmits one or more signals to adjust the fuel injection timing and/or adjust the pressure in the fuel accumulator to maintain NOx and fuel consumption within acceptable limits. |
| US08527176B2 |
Method for measuring pressure in a pressure regulation unit of a motor vehicle braking system, and a motor vehicle braking system in which the method is implemented
A method and system for measuring pressure in a pressure regulation unit of a motor vehicle braking system, without using pressure sensors and having a motor pump unit with an electric motor and a hydraulic pump. The steps include producing a relative motor characteristic diagram for a series of the units. The diagram includes the data of motor-rotational-speed-dependent parameters, intensity of the motor actuation, and parameters relating to the level of the motor load. Further steps include; determining individual motor characteristic variables, determining a current rotational-speed-dependent parameter of an individual motor during the operation of the pump, and calculating a pressure which is characteristic of the braking system, by means of the diagram parameter of the individual motor and the value of the current motor actuation which determines the intensity of the motor actuation, wherein the individual motor characteristic variables are taken into account. |
| US08527174B2 |
Brake controlling apparatus
A brake controlling apparatus (electronic control unit) of a braking device including a booster valve to be opened at a time of request to boost a pressure of a brake liquid to supply to a wheel to be controlled, and a piston pump for supplying pressurized brake liquid to an upstream side of the booster valve, the brake controlling apparatus including a brake liquid pressure controlling unit that sets a duty ratio between a closing period and a opening period of the booster valve so that a dischargeable period of the brake liquid in the piston pump appears in the opening period of the booster valve and controls the booster valve based on the duty ratio. |
| US08527170B2 |
Method for operating a double clutch
A method of operating a double clutch that is actuated by a hydrostatic actuating system having two clutch actuators assigned to two individual clutches and each clutch actuator including a pressure sensor for sensing the operating pressure of the respective clutch actuator, the method having the step of limiting a total actuating force of the double clutch in the event of a fault using the pressure values sensed by the pressure sensors. |
| US08527168B2 |
Method and device for ascertaining a rotational speed parameter for determining a setpoint torque
A method for ascertaining a rotational speed parameter for determining a setpoint torque for driving a drivetrain. The drivetrain comprises a first and at least one second drive assembly for driving a hybrid vehicle. The first drive assembly can be coupled to the drivetrain by means of a clutch. The second drive assembly is mechanically coupled to the drivetrain. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven by means of at least the first drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a shaft rotational speed. When the hybrid vehicle is being driven only by means of the second drive assembly, the rotational speed parameter corresponds to the value of a determined rotational speed. |
| US08527166B2 |
Shift control device for vehicular continuously variable transmission
In a shift control device for a vehicular continuously variable transmission with an arrangement in which a normal shift mode is switched to an acceleration shift mode in response to an acceleration demand, a shift control is performed to prevent deterioration to running performance due to a transition to the acceleration shift mode by increased running resistance such as ascending road running or the like against a driver will. An acceleration demand determining value PAPL is set depending on a road surface gradient Φ such that the shifting mode is more difficult to be switched to the acceleration shift mode in a larger road surface gradient Φ, than in a smaller road surface gradient Φ. |
| US08527164B2 |
Method for controlling and/or regulating an automated transmission
A method of controlling and/or regulating an automated transmission of a vehicle in which a rolling function or a coasting function of the vehicle is activated in an automatic mode, under predetermined conditions, such that the drivetrain is disengaged and the drive motor is one of operated at idle or is switched off at times. The rolling function or the coasting function is automatically terminated if at least one of the predetermined conditions is no longer present. The rolling function or the coasting function can also be terminated manually by the driver, and a manually operable shifting strategy can be initiated. |
| US08527162B2 |
Control apparatus for an automatic transmission
A control apparatus for an automatic transmission prevents friction engagement elements from being kept in an engagement state in accordance with the traveling state of a vehicle when a shift lever is operated to the position where a neutral range is formed, even if the malfunction of a solenoid valves occurs. If the shift range is switched to an N range, an ECU controls an So3 solenoid valve to enter an energized state, and controls a speed change mechanism to enter a non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that vehicle speed V is smaller than an N range forming method changing threshold Vn. The ECU controls an SL1 linear solenoid valve to enter a de-energized state, and controls the speed change mechanism to enter the non-transmission state, when the ECU judges that the vehicle speed V is no less than the N range forming method changing threshold Vn. |
| US08527151B2 |
Side impact safety system with blind-spot detection radar data fusion
A motor vehicle blind-spot detection system has a remote sensor covering a rear-quadrant blind spot sensing zone and a forward-quadrant side impact sensing zone. A control module receives signals from a side impact sensor and the blind-spot detection sensor, calculates an approach vector of an object in the side impact sensing zone and/or the blind spot sensing zone, determines that the object will impact the vehicle, initializes a side impact algorithm controlling activation of an occupant safety device, detects an impact on the side of the vehicle and determines a magnitude of the impact, compares the magnitude of the impact with a threshold value established at least in part based upon the magnitude of the approach vector, and activates the occupant safety device if the magnitude of the impact exceeds the threshold value. |
| US08527148B2 |
Control system for controlling a motor arrangement for differentially driving left and right wheels of a motorized vehicle
A control system for controlling a motor arrangement for differentially driving left and right wheels of a motorized vehicle, the control system comprising: a comparator for receiving yaw rate sensor signals from a yaw rate sensor attached to the vehicle, the yaw rate sensor signals being indicative of actual yaw rates of the vehicle and for receiving yaw rate reference signals generated by a user input device, the yaw rate reference signals being indicative of user demanded yaw rates for the vehicle, the comparator arranged to output yaw rate error signals based on the difference between the yaw rate sensor signals and the yaw rate reference signals; a control loop for processing the yaw rate error signals to generate yaw rate correction signals for controlling the motor arrangement to reduce the yaw rate error signals, wherein the control loop comprises a variable limiter for limiting the yaw rate correction signals to values within a variable limit, the variable limit varying in dependence upon the yaw rate error signals. |
| US08527147B2 |
Methods and systems for automatic detection of vehicle configuration
A method for automatically detecting a control signal configuration of a vehicle component includes making a connection to a channel of the component, performing an electrical measurement on the channel, and identifying a control signal configuration based upon the measurement. A method for sending control signals from one vehicle component to another includes making a connection on a channel of one component, making a connection to a channel of the other component, performing electrical measurements on the channels, identifying control signal configurations based upon the measurements, and configuring a control signal interface. A control signal interface includes an input unit, a signal processing unit, and an output unit. The input and output units each can connect to a channel of a vehicle component and perform an electrical measurement. The signal processing unit can determine control commands based upon control signals. |
| US08527146B1 |
Systems and methods for updating vehicle behavior and settings based on the locations of vehicle passengers
A system and method for controlling one or more settings of a vehicle using a device comprising an electronic circuit is disclosed. The electronic circuit is configured to obtain a position of a passenger within the vehicle, identify said passenger, obtain information comprising one or more setting preferences for said passenger use the position and at least one of the information to determine whether one or more settings need to be changed, and change the one or more settings based on the position and identity of the passenger. The electronic circuit is also configured to identifying a driver, compare the identity of the driver with a predetermined list of drivers of the vehicle, and change a plurality of operational parameters based on the identity of the driver. |
| US08527139B1 |
Security systems and methods with random and multiple change-response testing
A diagnostic system for a vehicle includes a first processor module and a second processor module. The first processor module includes a first microprocessor and memory. The second processor module includes a second microprocessor and memory. The second processor module: selectively transmits a first challenge to the first processor module for a first challenge-response test; selectively transmits a second challenge to the first processor module for a second challenge-response test; selectively transmits a third challenge to the first processor module for a third challenge-response test; selectively transmits a fourth challenge to the first processor module for a fourth challenge-response test; and selectively diagnoses a fault based on responses of the first processor module to the first, second, third, and fourth challenges. The first, second, third, and fourth challenge-response tests are each different types of challenge-response tests. |
| US08527133B2 |
Device for managing piloting tasks carried out by a crew of an aircraft
The present invention lies in the field of embedded flight management systems on board aircraft. The invention relates notably to a system for managing alerts and procedures, and more precisely to a device for managing piloting tasks carried out by a crew of an aircraft. The device for managing tasks (1) according to the invention comprises: a module for managing alerts (4) generating alerts as a function of information originating from systems (2) of the aircraft, said module for managing alerts (4) being associated with a first display system (5) and with a first monitoring panel (7); a module for managing tasks (8) creating a task on receipt of an alert requiring at least one action on the part of the crew, creating a task associated with a procedure, said module for managing tasks (8) being associated with a second display system (11) and with a second monitoring panel (14); a module for managing a procedure (16) corresponding to a task selected by the crew, said module for managing a procedure (16) being associated with a third display system (17) and with a third monitoring panel (18). |
| US08527132B2 |
Energy maps and method of making
An energy map for a motor vehicle and a method of making the energy map are disclosed. The energy map includes energy information related to energy consumption and energy recharging of various power sources along various roadway segments. A probe vehicle is used to measure energy consumption and energy recharging for various power sources. |
| US08527131B2 |
Method for operating a drivetrain
A method of operating a drive-train of a motor vehicle having a hybrid drive with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, an electrical energy accumulator that can be charged when the electric machine operates as a generator and discharged when the electric machine operates as a motor, a transmission connected between the hybrid drive and a drive output, and at least one auxiliary power takeoff on either the transmission or the hybrid drive side such that the auxiliary power takeoff can be operated with variable energy demand within functional capability limits that depend on the auxiliary power takeoff. Depending on the current operating status of the hybrid drive unit, the electrical energy accumulator and/or the auxiliary power takeoff, energy available in the drive-train, but not required at the drive output, can bypass the electrical energy accumulator and be stored in the auxiliary power takeoff. |
| US08527128B2 |
Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle control method
A vehicle control apparatus is provided with a power generator driven by a torque transmitted between an internal combustion engine and a drive wheel. The vehicle control apparatus executes a torque control that smoothly changes a torque at the drive wheel by changing a torque of the power generator during deceleration of the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus determines whether a factor restricting the torque of the power generator is in effect during the deceleration of the vehicle, and controls a manner of the torque control to be different between when the restricting factor is in effect and when the restricting factor is not in effect. |
| US08527126B2 |
Power supply system for electrically powered vehicle and method for controlling the same
A power supply system includes a main power storage device and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is connected to selected one of the sub power storage devices to convert voltage between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line bidirectionally. When a request for switching the selected sub power storage device in use is generated, a converter steps up voltage on the electric power feeding line to a predetermined voltage, and thereafter a process for switching relays is performed. The predetermined voltage is higher than any of a voltage output from the main power storage device and a voltage output from a sub power storage device to be newly connected to the converter. Further, during the process for switching connection of the relays, upper limits on electric power input/output to/from the selected sub power storage device are set to 0. |
| US08527125B2 |
System and method for controlling traction
A traction control system for a machine having an electric drive configuration is disclosed. The traction control system includes an electric motor associated with at least one wheel and adapted to provide braking torque to the wheel. The control system further includes a controller configured to determine a rotational speed of the at least one wheel, compare the rotational speed to an allowable slide threshold, and adjust the braking torque to the at least one wheel during retarding if the speed is less than the allowable slide threshold. |
| US08527123B2 |
Vehicle response system and method
In a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the available energy from a battery may be inadequate to drive a motor to generate additional torque sufficient for driveability upon a request for an increase in wheel torque. The motor may then be operated in a lossy, inefficient mode. When the motor operates in the lossy mode, engine power can be increased such that the sum of the engine power and the maximum available battery power may exceed requested wheel power. The increased engine power may be dissipated as heat in the motor until an increase in wheel torque is requested, whereby the motor may switch from the lossy mode back to a normal, efficient mode. By switching back to the normal mode, the excessive engine power that was being dissipated as heat in the motor may contribute to the output torque of the motor. |
| US08527122B2 |
Drive control device for hybrid electric vehicle
A drive control device is mounted to a hybrid electric vehicle that has an engine and a motor as a running power source, wherein the hybrid electric vehicle runs under a plurality of running modes that is switched in accordance with accelerator operation. The drive control device specifies a present position of the vehicle. The drive control device defines a schedule of the accelerator operation for each of a plurality of sections in a route from an origin to a destination in order to achieve an enhanced fuel efficient running of the vehicle. The drive control device displays a recommended accelerator operation for a present section of the plurality of sections, in which section the vehicle is presently located, in accordance with the schedule of the accelerator operation and the present position of the vehicle. |
| US08527119B2 |
Method and device for optimizing a takeoff procedure of an aircraft
An optimization method and device for a take-off procedure of an aircraft. The device (1) comprising means (2, 10) for determining optimum values for take-off parameters and adapting them for the actual take-off conditions. |
| US08527117B2 |
Aircraft hover system and method
An aircraft hover system for enabling an aircraft to hover at a target spatial location represented by GPS location coordinates. The hover system includes a display screen rendering a display including live video feed of the terrain below the airborne aircraft, a first mark overlaying the video feed, the first mark representing the current position of the aircraft relative to the terrain, and a perimeter surrounding the first mark, the portion of the terrain within the perimeter being substantially magnified compared to that of the terrain outside of the perimeter. The hover system is configured such that, as the aircraft approaches the target spatial location, the distance between the first mark and a second mark on the display gradually decreases until and finally the first and second marks coincide; the second mark representing the target spatial location. |
| US08527113B2 |
Remote vehicle
A system for providing enhanced operator control of a remote vehicle driving at increased speeds comprises: a head-mounted display configured to be worn by the operator and track a position of the operator's head; a head-aimed camera mounted to the remote vehicle via a pan/tilt mechanism and configured to pan and tilt in accordance with the position of the operator's head, the head-aimed camera transmitting video to be displayed to the operator via the head-mounted display; and a computer running a behavior engine, the computer receiving input from the operator and one or more sensors, and being configured to utilize the behavior engine, operator input, sensor input, and one or more autonomous and/or semi-autonomous behaviors to assist the operator in driving the remote vehicle. The remote vehicle includes releasably mounted wheels and high-friction tracks. |
| US08527111B2 |
Device and a method for moving a jet member
A device for moving a jet member in a first path over a layer to be treated by the jet has means configured to enable input of data relating to a geometrical shape of a surface of said layer to be treated by the jet member and means configured to use said data for calculating end positions (S1, S2) of an impact point of the jet member for a plurality of consecutive stripes (S) extending substantially perpendicularly to a second path for indexing, each having a width substantially corresponding to an indexing step and together forming said geometrical shape. A control arrangement co-ordinates movement of the impact point of the jet member and said indexing for treating a surface of said layer having said geometrical shape by said jet member. |
| US08527109B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing an energy consuming load
A method for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads and a method for managing the group of energy consuming loads. The method includes generating sets of load state data from the loads, making enablement state decisions for one or more loads using the sets of load state data, and implementing the enablement state decisions. An apparatus for managing an energy consuming load in a group of energy consuming loads, including a transmitter, a receiver, a processor for processing sets of load state data to make an enablement state decision for the load, and a controller for implementing the enablement state decision. A method for managing an enablement state of an energy consuming load, including assigning an assigned duty cycle to the load, determining a load enabled utilization value for the load, and adjusting the assigned duty cycle using the load enabled utilization value. |
| US08527103B2 |
Method and system for mortar removal
A method and system for removing mortar from a plurality of joints between a plurality of masonry units in a masonry structure is provided. The steps for accomplishing the method include sensing the location of at least one of the plurality of joints between the plurality of masonry units and transmitting joint location data to a computer control system. Next, the computer control system computes a work path based upon the joint location data. In a further step, the computer control system controls the position and operation of at least one work tool such that the work tool moves along the work path to remove mortar from a portion of one of the plurality of joints along the work path. Finally, the dust and debris generated when the work tool removes mortar from a portion of one of the plurality of joints along the work path is contained and removed. |
| US08527102B2 |
Controlling the cooling of fermenters of a biofuel production plant
According to various embodiments, a biofuel production system includes a plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a cooling tower water system configured to supply cooling water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, a chiller water system configured to supply chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, and a cooling system coupled to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters, the cooling tower water system, and the chiller water system. The cooling system controls the flow rates of the cooling water and the chiller water to the plurality of parallel-operated fermenters based upon temperatures of fermentation products of the fermenters. |
| US08527099B2 |
Pneumatic control device and system
A control device may include at least a first electromechanical setpoint controller having a prime mover that applies a setpoint force in response to at least a controller signal, and a controller circuit that generates at least the controller signal in response to setpoint control data. A pneumatic controller may have at least one gas flow inlet and a flow regulator that varies a gas flow property in response to the setpoint force. |
| US08527097B2 |
Air conditioning management apparatus, air conditioning management method, air conditioning system, program, and recording medium
An air conditioning management apparatus has a measured value acquisition portion for obtaining measured values of the state of air conditioning equipment and an air-conditioned state, a law/regulation information acquisition portion for obtaining law/regulation information through a network, an equipment control portion for determining a control method of the air conditioning equipment to realize energy saving from the measured values and law/regulation information and controlling the air conditioning equipment, an adding/changing portion for measured value acquisition portion for adding/changing an object to be measured and a measurement method, through the network or by an input by the user, and an adding/changing portion for equipment control portion for adding/changing a determination method of an air conditioning equipment control method and a method of executing the control of the air conditioning equipment, through the network. |
| US08527096B2 |
Programmable controller and a user interface for same
A programmable controller includes a user interface which includes a default interface, a home screen, an indoor settings interface and one or more tab interfaces. As the home screen covers a predominant portion of the default interface and is associated with the indoor settings interface, the home screen enables an operator of the programmable thermostat to intuitively transition from the home screen to the indoor settings and one or more tab interfaces. |
| US08527089B2 |
Dispensing machine
A dispensing machine for dispensing items to customers comprising a cabinet having at least one window, a plurality of supports for supporting a plurality of different items to be dispensed to customers, a pointing device for selecting a desired item from the plurality of items, an indicator associated with the pointing device and operable to provide an indication, visible through the window, of which item is being selected by the pointing device without dispensing said selected item, and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the selected item in response to a dispensing instruction. |
| US08527087B1 |
Dunnage placer
A dunnage placing apparatus includes a chassis, a dunnage magazine, and a carriage movably supported by the chassis and adapted to receive dunnage pieces from the magazine. The carriage has a lower gate, an intermediate gate substantially above the lower gate, and an upper gate substantially above the intermediate gate. The apparatus includes a control system adapted to cause dunnage pieces to be released from the magazine and received into the carriage. The control system also causes the carriage to move relative to the chassis and to release dunnage pieces. The released dunnage pieces released from the carriage can be placed at respective predetermined locations. |
| US08527086B2 |
Return address destination discrimination technology
Methods, software and apparatus (FIG. 5) disclosed to maintain and update an association database (650) that enables relating updated address information to affected mailpieces (FIG. 7), and providing the benefits of that information to mailers, especially business or corporate mailers (600, 630, 632), and in the case of co-mingled mail, enabling a pre-sort house (610) to provide the updated information to their customers, or to update mailing lists maintained by or for their customers. |
| US08527081B2 |
Method and apparatus for automated validation of semiconductor process recipes
Methods and apparatus for automated validation of semiconductor process steps are provided herein. In some examples, a method for validating a semiconductor process recipe includes: selecting a rule set describing an operating window for a semiconductor process tool; checking parameter values defined by steps in the semiconductor process recipe against limit-checking rules of the rule set to produce first results; determining step types from the steps in the semiconductor process recipe using step definition rules of the rule set to produce second results; checking transitions between the step types against step transition rules of the rule set to produce third results; and generating, using the computer, validation data for use of the semiconductor process recipe with the semiconductor process tool based on the first, the second, and the third results. |
| US08527077B2 |
Service-oriented automation device and method for specifying a service-oriented automation device
A method for specifying the behavior of autonomous and collaborative automation devices in manufacturing plants with a service-oriented architecture and to a service-oriented automation device. In order to describe the operating behavior of such devices, the invention proposes the steps of original setting-up of the automation device, including configuration, depiction of services, establishment of connections to other automation devices and transfer of the set-up to waiting original status, receiving the events through service operations, internal device interfaces of inputs/outputs and/or generated directly from the controls, evaluating the received events, executing the events and changing the state of the model-based middleware shell, wherein the system achieves the next state and is capable of receiving further events. |
| US08527076B2 |
Control apparatus for music system comprising a plurality of equipments connected together via network, and integrated software for controlling the music system
Control node includes: current memories provided in corresponding relation to a plurality of equipments to store, for each of the equipments, a first current data set for remote-controlling an operational condition of the equipment and a second current data set for remote-controlling a logical connection between the equipment and another equipment; and library memories provided in corresponding relation to the equipments to store, for each of the equipments, a plurality of first data sets each for remote-controlling the operational condition of the equipment and a plurality of second data sets each for remote-controlling the logical connection between the equipment and another equipment. In response to a scene readout instruction, first and second data sets, corresponding to the scene designated by the instruction, are read out from the library memories and stored into the current memories as first and second current data sets, and a readout command for the designated scene is transmitted, via a network, to each of the equipments. |
| US08527069B2 |
Sternal closure wire for sensing and therapeutic energy delivery
An embodiment includes a sensor coupled to a sternal closure wire. The sternal closure wire holds two sternum portions of a patient adjacent to one another and the first sensor senses a biological signal of the patient. An embodiment includes a current source coupled to a sternal closure wire. The sternal closure wire holds two sternum portions of a patient adjacent to one another, and the current source delivers an electrical current to the patient via the sternal closure wire. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US08527064B2 |
System for stimulating autonomic targets from pulmonary artery
Various implantable medical device embodiments stimulate an autonomic neural target from within a pulmonary artery, and comprise at least one electrode, a power supply, a neural stimulator connected to the power supply, and an anchor structure. The neural stimulator is configured to generate a neural stimulation signal for delivery to the neural stimulation target through the at least one electrode. The anchor structure is configured to chronically and securely implant the neural stimulator, the power supply and the at least one electrode within the pulmonary artery. The anchor structure, the neural stimulator, the power supply and the at least one electrode are configured to be implanted through a pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery. In various embodiments, the neural stimulator is configured to be operational to implement a neural stimulation protocol when chronically implanted within the pulmonary artery without a wired connection through the pulmonary valve. |
| US08527053B2 |
Implantable stimulator with integrated plastic housing/metal contacts and manufacture and use
An implantable stimulator system includes a plastic housing, an electronic subassembly and at least one metal contact. The plastic housing defines an interior chamber and an exterior. The electronic subassembly is disposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing. The at least one metal contact is integrally formed with the plastic housing, coupled to the electronic subassembly, and accessible from the exterior of the housing. The plastic housing and the at least one metal contact form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly. |
| US08527051B1 |
Detection and reduction of phrenic nerve stimulation
The present invention provides implantable medical devices for detecting phrenic nerve stimulation. A pacing module is configured to deliver pacing pulses having a predetermined pulse amplitude and/or width within the refractory period of the left ventricle. The pacing pulses are repeatedly delivered during a number of cardiac cycles, and the pacing pulses are delivered at different delays relative to an onset of the refractory period of the left ventricle in different cardiac cycles. An impedance measurement module is configured to measure impedance signals in time windows synchronized with the delivery of pacing pulses in the refractory period of the left ventricle. A phrenic nerve stimulation, PNS, detection module is configured to gather at least one impedance signal from each time window, create aggregated impedance signals using the impedance signals from the different time windows, and analyze the aggregated impedance signals to detect PNS. |
| US08527049B2 |
Cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization using vector measurements obtained from realtime electrode position tracking
An exemplary method includes selecting multiple electrodes located in a patient; acquiring position information during one or more cardiac cycles for the multiple electrodes where the acquiring includes using each of the electrodes for measuring one or more electrical potentials in an electrical localization field established in the patient; calculating one or more vector metrics based on the acquired position information for one or more vectors, each vector defined by two of the multiple electrodes; and analyzing the one or more vector metrics to assess cardiac performance during the one or more cardiac cycles. Various other methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08527044B2 |
User interface method and apparatus for a medical device
A user interface method and apparatus is described for use with a defibrillator (100) such as an automated external defibrillator (AED). The user interface comprises a plurality of layered user interface components which become available to the operator of the defibrillator (100) as they become necessary or appropriate during the operation of the defibrillator (100) and treatment of the patient. In one embodiment, the layered user interface components comprise an on/off actuator (108), a lid (104), an electrode package (120) containing defibrillation electrodes (142, 144), and a shock key (170), as well as accompanying visual and aural instructions for operating the defibrillator (100) and for treating the patient. |
| US08527035B2 |
System, optode and cap for near-infrared diffuse-optical function neuroimaging
An optode for a functional infrared diffuse optical neuroimaging system uses a GRIN lens and prism for coupling to an optical fiber at a right-angle to the lens. The lens is inserted into a grommet for attachment to an elastomeric cap worn by a subject. In an embodiment, the cap also has an array of electroencephalographic electrodes, with optodes arranged such that an optical path exists between a transmitter and a receiver optode beneath each electroencephalographic electrode. In an embodiment, quadfurcated optical cabling is used to permit illumination of each of multiple optodes with wavelengths provided from each of multiple lasers, and permitting each laser to illuminated multiple optodes. |
| US08527031B2 |
Methods for fat quantification with correction for noise bias
Methods are disclosed for calculating a fat fraction corrected for noise bias of one or more voxels of interest using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. A plurality of image data sets are obtained each corresponding to NMR k-space data acquired using a pulse sequence with an individual associated echo time tn. A system of linear equations is formed relating image signal values to a desired decomposed calculated data vector having a component such as a water and fat combination having zero mean noise, or having a real fat component and a real water component. A fat fraction is calculated from at least one component of the decomposed calculated data vector. In another embodiment, the system of linear equations is normalized and can directly estimate a fat fraction or a water fraction having reduced noise bias. |
| US08527030B2 |
Microvascular blood volume magnetic resonance imaging
A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) that performs an inversion recovery magnetic resonance excitation sequence (70) having a blood-nulling inversion time (60) determined based on a blood T1 value appropriate for a selected magnetic field and blood hematocrit, whereby magnetic resonance of blood is substantially nulled. The inversion recovery excitation sequence (70) includes an inversion radio frequency pulse (74) applied with a small or zero slice-selective magnetic field gradient pulse to avoid inflow effects, and an excitation radio frequency pulse (80). The inversion pulse (74) and excitation pulse (80) are separated by the inversion time (60). The magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) subsequently performs a readout magnetic resonance sequence (72) or spectroscopy sequence to acquire a magnetic resonance signal from tissue other than the nulled blood. A reconstruction processor (44) generates a reconstructed image from the acquired magnetic resonance signal. |
| US08527025B1 |
Device and method for determining analyte levels
Devices and methods for determining analyte levels are described. The devices and methods allow for the implantation of analyte-monitoring devices, such as glucose monitoring devices, that result in the delivery of a dependable flow of blood to deliver sample to the implanted device. The devices comprise a unique microarchitectural arrangement in the sensor region that allows accurate data to be obtained over long periods of time. |
| US08527020B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a terminal main body, a stereoscopic cover portion constituting at least on portion of the terminal main body, and a light emitting portion disposed close to any one side of the stereoscopic cover portion. In the mobile terminal, the stereoscopic cover portion includes first and second members formed transparent or translucent to cover each other, a lens array layer stacked between the first and second members and having convex or concave lenses disposed in a lattice form, a first pattern layer formed on any one surface of the first member, and a shielding wall disposed between the light emitting portion and the lens array layer so as to decrease the transmittance of light irradiated to the lens array layer from the light emitting portion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a mobile terminal having an external appearance provided with various stereoscopic and visible effects. |
| US08527019B2 |
Sliding mechanism and sliding device
An object of the present invention is to provide a sliding mechanism with which when a state of two connected members is changed to a plurality of states by sliding, the state can be changed from an arbitrary state to another arbitrary state without passing through the other state. The sliding mechanism of the present invention is disposed between a first member and a second member and includes a body to be guided arranged on the first member and a guide body arranged on the second member and guides the body to be guided. The guide body includes an annular guide groove which guides the body to be guided. The guide groove is a groove section composed of at least three sides including an arc-shaped side and a linear side. |
| US08527016B2 |
Wireless device communication with multiple peripherals
Low power wireless communication techniques may be employed in devices that communicate via a wireless body area network, a wireless personal area network, or some other type of wireless communication link. In some implementations the devices may communicate via one or more impulse-based ultra-wideband channels. Inter-pulse duty cycling may be employed to reduce the power consumption of a device. Power may be provided for the transmissions and receptions of pulses by charging and discharging a capacitive element according to the inter-pulse duty cycling. Sub-packet data may be transmitted and received via a common frequency band. A cell phone may multicast to two or more peripherals via wireless communication links. |
| US08527014B2 |
Sleep mode for wireless communication device during out of service operation
The disclosure is directed to techniques for performing service signal searches with reduced power consumption when a wireless communication device is operating out of service. The techniques include placing the wireless communication device in a “deep sleep” mode when the wireless communication device is not in service. When operating in the deep sleep mode, the wireless communication device reduces power consumption by not looking for paging signals or searching for service signals. The wireless communication device then may periodically enter a wake-up period during which power consumption is increased to perform signal searches in one or more frequency bands. The wireless communication device returns to the deep sleep mode when the signal searches are unsuccessful. |
| US08527003B2 |
System and apparatus for high data rate wireless communications
A system and apparatus including a wireless network architecture that provides broadband data network coverage over an expandable geographic area. A media access control layer is also provided that facilitates access to the broadband wireless network. A high-frequency wireless modem enables high data rate access to the wireless network in a spectrally-efficient manner using SSB modulation. A wideband millimeter-wave antenna includes a cosecant-squared reflector enabling signal propagation between network elements thereby enabling seamless wireless communications. A millimeter-wave polarizer, and a septum polarizer each convert between linear and circular polarization. A cross-shaped horn antenna adapted for circularly polarized signals can also be used in combination with the septum polarizer. A combined horn antenna is fed using a microstrip patch antenna. |
| US08527001B2 |
Multi-mode mobile device based radio access technology selection method for idle mode operations
A method at a mobile device, and the mobile device, the method selecting a subset of radio access technologies available to the mobile device over which a predetermined set of services on the mobile device is available; and deselecting at least one radio access technology not within the selected subset of radio access technologies. |
| US08526998B2 |
Mobile terminal having pulse meter
A mobile terminal (10) of the present invention has a sensor (15) for detecting a pulse, in an upper end portion of a back surface of a main body of the mobile terminal (10). The sensor (15) is constituted by a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. A position of the sensor is determined so that a force acting on the sensor falls within a range from 50 gf to 200 gf in a case where the mobile terminal is supported at its lower end portion and at the sensor by a fingertip. Thus, the present invention provides the mobile terminal (10) which can be always carried with a user and which realizes easy and stable pulse measurement. |
| US08526993B2 |
Power control for home base station with GNSS receiver
Embodiments herein include a method and a network node in a wireless communications network for controlling a maximum output power of the network node. The network node comprises a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. The GNSS receiver receives signals from the GNSS. The method comprises determining whether a GNSS signal transmitted from the GNSS is considered detectable. If the GNSS signal is considered detectable, the method includes determining whether the GNSS signal is received directly from the GNSS or via a GNSS repeater. The method further includes selecting a power control method for controlling the maximum output power of the network node, based on at least one of the determination of whether the GNSS signal is considered detectable, and the determination of whether the GNSS signal is received directly from the GNSS or via the GNSS repeater. |
| US08526990B1 |
Determination of initial transmit power based on shared transmit-power information
Methods and systems are disclosed herein that may be used to share transmit-power information between mobile stations. An exemplary method involves a first mobile station: (i) determining a verified transmit power (VTP) for the first mobile station; (ii) using the VTP to generate a transmit-power message, wherein the transmit-power message is usable to determine an initial transmit power (ITP) for the second mobile station; and (iii) the first mobile station sending the transmit-power message to at least the second mobile station. For instance, the first mobile station may set the ITP for the second mobile station equal to the VTP for the first mobile station, and include an indication of the ITP in the transmit-power message. Alternatively, the first mobile station may calculate the ITP for the second mobile station by adjusting its VTP according to the ratio of the distance between the second mobile station and the serving base station, and the distance between the first mobile station and the serving base station. |
| US08526985B2 |
System and method of geo-concentrated video detection
An application server in a communication network receives a plurality of data streams from a plurality of mobile stations that include a client for the application server. The data streams may be video, audio or a combination thereof and include an indicator of originating location of the data stream. A subset of the plurality of data streams that originates from an area are determined. The first set may also be determined based on a tag that is included in each of the data streams of the first set, the tag indicating a sharing status for a respective data stream and/or a subject of the respective data stream. A first data stream of the first subset transmitted to a service subscriber having an interest preference corresponding to the tag of first set data streams. The transmitted first data stream may include overlay content associated with the service provider. |
| US08526984B2 |
Managing interference due to low power BSs
A system and method for managing radio frequency interference of a low power base station is disclosed. The method comprises determining that the low power base station is causing substantial interference in a data link between a mobile station and a macro base station. The low power base station is identified as having a closed subscriber group (CSG) that is in CSG-Closed mode. The CSG low power base station is converted from CSG-Closed mode to a CSG-Open mode to allow the mobile station to communicate through the CSG low power base station. |
| US08526980B2 |
Method of and apparatus for estimating received quality of communication area and program
An area to be estimated is sectioned to minute sections, the received signal qualities from a plurality of installed base stations (51, 52) are found, respectively in each of the minute sections, a difference between the received signal quality of each minute section and the received signal quality of a minute section adjacent to the above minute section is referred to as well as a change point at which a difference between a received signal quality used as a hand-over condition and the above received signal quality changes is detected so that an area in which a hand-over occurs can be accurately estimated. With this manner, there can be obtained a received signal quality estimation method capable of estimating an area in which a hand-over occurs very accurately in a mobile communication system. |
| US08526974B2 |
Locating a source of wireless transmissions from a licensed user of a licensed spectral resource
Own communication equipment locates a source of wireless transmissions, the own equipment including a serving base station (BS). The serving BS receives, from remote sensors including at least one user equipment (UE), sensing information from which transmitter location information (“location information”) can be determined. The location information is oriented in a serving BS coordinate system. The location information can comprise white space sensing information from which a direction of a transmitter relative to a position of the UE can be determined, and pilot signal sensing information from which respective directions of one or more BSs relative to the position of the UE can be determined. The BS transforms the white space and pilot signal sensing information into the location information. Geographical safety margins are determined from the location information, and BS transmissions are adjusted to limit transmitting signals beyond the geographical safety margin area. |
| US08526970B2 |
Systems and methods for mobile phone location with digital distributed antenna systems
Methods and systems for mobile phone location within a digital distributed antenna system (DAS) are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a request for location services from a subscriber unit located within a digital DAS, the digital DAS including a first partition of bandwidth for transporting digitized RF signals of one or more modulated signals and a second partition of bandwidth for an Ethernet pipe transporting IP formatted data; routing the request for location services to a subscriber locator center; instructing locator receivers within a geographical area of the digital DAS to listen for a signal from the subscriber unit; listening for the signal at a first locator receiver; when the signal is observed, recording a time the signal was received and generating subscriber unit ranging data; and transmitting subscriber unit ranging data back to the subscriber locator center in an IP formatted message via the Ethernet pipe. |
| US08526969B2 |
Nearby contact alert based on location and context
Attributes including presence and organization information for contacts of a subscriber are used in determining a subset of contacts matching a predefined criterion. Determined subset of contacts is sent as an alert to notify the subscriber to the subsets' nearby proximity. |
| US08526957B2 |
De-centralized transmit power optimization
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of the invention there is at least a method, apparatus, and executable computer program to perform operations including detecting that a cell in a wireless communication system is able to selectively increase or decrease its transmit power by an amount, where the cell is configured with a transmit power and a parameter that indicates a maximum difference in power change, resulting from a change in transmit power, that can exist between a power change of the cell and a power change of a neighbor cell, examining, at the cell, a signal comprising at least one value received from at least one neighbor cell, based on the examining, determining that a transmit power change is possible, modifying a value associated with the transmit power, and modifying the transmit power of the cell by the modified value, and signaling the modified value to the at least one neighbor cell in the wireless communication system. |
| US08526955B2 |
Movement predicting method
A movement predicting method is disclosed. The method utilizes at least one phone communicating in and moving between neighboring cells of base stations to predict population movement in a prediction interval. Firstly, obtain the traffic volumes in the cells generated by the phone and the handover information generated by the phone moving between the cells in a day. Next, calculate the traffic volumes and the handover information to obtain a movement probability for the population moving between the cells and an average residence time that the population stays in the region of each cell in the different periods of the day. Finally, according to the data obtained, predict an appearance probability that the population appears in each region at the end point of the prediction interval. |
| US08526953B2 |
Apparatus, method and computer program product providing auxiliary handover command
An auxiliary handover message is sent from a target eNB to a UE being handed over from a source eNB. The auxiliary handover message includes a context identifier that is established between the source eNB and the UE, which the source eNB provides to the target eNB during context data exchange when preparing for the handover. The UE uses the context identifier to verify that the auxiliary handover message is valid. Various approaches are detailed for minimizing signaling overhead and minimizing the time the UE must monitor the separate channel for the auxiliary handover message in the event the UE does not properly receive the original handover message from the source eNB. The context identifier may be a random number, a C-RNTI, an eNB-ID, or a token. The auxiliary handover command sent from the target eNB may be the context identifier with or without a copy of the handover command. |
| US08526951B2 |
Handover system
A base station of a mobile device's movement destination receives a diversity handover (DHO) start notification from a mobile station at the beginning of a DHO. This notifies a radio network control apparatus and an instruction is issued to the base station to add a radio link. The time for transmitting data to a mobile device is determined, the transmission timing is rounded up, and the data is transmitted from the base station to a mobile device. In this event, a search window's timing for receiving data from the mobile device is shifted with the round up of the transmission timing; and therefore the width of the search window is enlarged. The movement destination's base station also receives a DHO complete notification from a mobile device at the completion of the DHO. The movement destination's base station changes the width of the width-enlarged window back to the original width. |
| US08526950B2 |
Determining handover based on state of mobile terminal
The invention relates to applying a handover algorithm in a mobile terminal. In the method, the state of a user interface component of the terminal is checked, and the handover algorithm is applied on the basis of the current state of the user interface component. The handover algorithm is applied only if the current state of the user interface component is active. |
| US08526948B2 |
Base station apparatus and method
A base station apparatus including a reconnection request signal receiving unit configured to receive a reconnection request signal transmitted from a mobile apparatus, the reconnection request signal being for the mobile apparatus requesting reconnection to the base station apparatus, a status detection unit configured to detect whether a status of the mobile apparatus immediately before transmitting the reconnection request signal corresponds to a status where a frequency band measurement period is activated, the frequency band measurement period causing the mobile apparatus to measure a frequency band different from a frequency band for a radio access technology for use in radio communication between the mobile apparatus and the base station apparatus, a response signal generation unit configured to generate a response signal to the reconnection request signal, the response signal generation unit generating, if the status detection unit determines that the frequency band measurement period is activated, the response signal including an indication signal for causing the mobile apparatus to activate the frequency band measurement period and a response signal transmitting unit configured to transmit the generated response signal to the mobile apparatus is disclosed. |
| US08526941B2 |
Apparatus and methods for mobility management in hybrid terrestrial-satellite mobile communications systems
Communications between a terminal and a terrestrial base station are established. The terrestrial base station receives a request to monitor a satellite base station from the terminal. The terrestrial base station grants the request and receives monitoring information for the satellite base station corresponding to the request. Granting of the request may include suspending transmission from the terrestrial base station to the terminal for a period of time sufficient to allow the terminal to request the monitoring information from the satellite base station and receiving monitoring information may include receiving the requested monitoring information at the terrestrial base station via a communications path not including the terminal. Suspending transmission from the terrestrial base station to the terminal may be followed by resuming transmission to the terminal before receiving the monitoring information at the terrestrial base station. The communications path not including the terminal may include a terrestrial Access Service Network Gateway serving the terrestrial base station and a satellite Access Service Network Gateway serving the satellite base station. Handover techniques are also described. |
| US08526936B2 |
Limiting device operation without third party permission
Embodiments of the invention include a set of rules established by a third-party to control the execution of various functions offered by a device. The set of rules can block a function outright, or can specify particular combinations of days and times when the function can be executed and when it is blocked. Then, when the user of the device requests an instance of the function to be executed, the set of rules can be accessed to determine whether the requested function instance is permitted, after which the device can either block or execute the requested function instance. |
| US08526932B2 |
Performance zones
Performance of a mobile device can be regulated base on the performance zone in which the mobile device is located. Applications can be executed via the mobile device in accordance with locally imposed rules and policies associated with the performance zone. The rules and policies can be stored on the mobile device. The rules and policies can be associated with a color codes that are associated with respective performance zones. |
| US08526929B1 |
Mobile communication device provisioning and management
A mobile communication device provisioning and management system is provided. The system comprises a computer system and an application, that when executed on the computer system, receives instructions for provisioning a set of mobile communication devices, the instructions comprising a range of unique identifiers and user roles associated with the set. The system also receives a first message from a first mobile communication device, the first message containing a request for provisioning, a first unique identifier, a first user role, and a first user identifier. The system also matches the first unique identifier embedded in the first message with a unique identifier contained in the instructions. The system also matches the user role received in the first message with a user role specified in the instructions and sends a second message to the first mobile communication device, the second message containing provisioning information. The system also stores a record associating the first unique identifier, the first user role, and the first user identifier. |
| US08526928B2 |
Method and system for republishing mobile content
A system and method is provided for republishing content for a wireless device. In the wireless device, this may comprise: receiving a content manifest associated with a new content, the content manifest providing information about the new content; identifying any changes to existing content stored in the device, based on the information in the content manifest; retrieving updates in the new content corresponding to the changes; and storing the updates. |
| US08526926B2 |
Communication management features
A method for answering a communication includes the steps of receiving an incoming communication sent by a sender and intended for a communication device of a recipient and answering the communication with an injected audio, video, text, and/or graphic message. The injected message indicates to the sender, in effect, that the recipient is presently unable to respond to the communication but is or will be made aware of the communication. The method further includes the step of providing a promise fulfillment feature that alerts the recipient to the communication and any promise to follow-up with the sender made in the injected message. |
| US08526925B2 |
Environment independent user preference communication
Included are embodiments of a method for communicating user preferences to at least one environment. At least one embodiment includes receiving a request from an environment for preference information related to a user and receiving a user identifier from the environment, the user identifier obtained via a portable user device. Other embodiments include determining at least one user preference related to the user, determining capabilities related to the environment, and communicating at least one user preference to the environment. |
| US08526924B1 |
Off-device service platform discovery
Many mobile devices can access websites on the Internet. A mobile device running a web server application can host websites and provide services. For a first mobile device to access services on a second mobile device, the first mobile device needs the IP address of the second mobile device. The first mobile device sends a connection request to the second mobile device. The first mobile device receives, from the second mobile device, the network address of the second mobile device, identification of services that are available on the second mobile device, and a security token. The first mobile device selects a service and sends an HTTP or HTTPS request for the service to the network address of the second mobile device, and also sends the security token. The second mobile device authenticates the request based on the token and allows the first mobile device to access the selected service. |
| US08526922B1 |
Integrating two-dimensional barcodes and embedded links with call center operation
In various embodiments, advertising campaigns can be defined that incorporate technologies such as two-dimensional bar codes or embedded links in electronic material, for directing a user to communicate with a call center. For instance, in particular embodiments, the reading of a two-dimensional bar code may cause a communication to be sent to, and received at, the call center, where a calling campaign associated with an advertising campaign is identified using information associated with the communication. Likewise, in particular embodiments, the activation of an embedded link may cause a communication to be sent to publisher, who then sends a communication to the call center. Upon determining the calling campaign, an appropriate agent is selected and a communication, such as a voice call, is initiated to the user. In particular instances, if a no-answer condition is reached as a result of the communication, another communication may be scheduled for a later time. |
| US08526914B2 |
Self-synchronizing authentication and key agreement protocol
The present invention provides a method of wireless communication with at least one mobile unit and at least one authentication center in a wireless telecommunications network. The method includes generating at least one access request based upon at least one first sequence number associated with the mobile unit and receiving at least one message formed based upon the access request, the message including at least one second sequence number associated with the authentication center, the second sequence number selected to be acceptable to the mobile unit. |
| US08526901B2 |
Band adjustment device of polyphase filter and band adjustment method of polyphase filter
Provided is a base adjustment device and method of a polyphase filter that can reduce an area and power consumption, and operate at a high speed. The band adjustment device of the polyphase filter according to the present invention includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a polyphase filter that inputs an output from the VCO, a mixer that receives an output from the polyphase filter, an envelope detection circuit (envelope detector) that inputs an output from the mixer, and a band control signal generation circuit that inputs an output from the envelope detector. |
| US08526900B2 |
Automatic gain control in a wireless communication network
Techniques for performing automatic gain control (AGC) at a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In an aspect, the terminal may use different receiver gain settings to receive different types of signals in different time intervals. The terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for each signal type and may use the receiver gain setting to receive signals of that signal type. In another aspect, the terminal may determine a receiver gain setting for a future time interval based on received power levels for peer terminals expected to transmit in that time interval. The terminal may measure received power levels of signals received from a plurality of terminals. The terminal may determine a set of terminals expected to transmit in the future time interval and may determine the receiver gain setting for the future time interval based on the measured received power levels. |
| US08526899B2 |
Broadcast receiving apparatus and method of determining presence of noise performed by broadcast receiving apparatus
To provide a broadcast receiving apparatus including an AM detector, an AM noise detector, an FM detector, an FM noise detector and a noise determining unit. The AM detector performs AM detection on an IF signal in airwaves received by a receiving antenna that receives incoming airwaves to acquire an AM detection signal. The AM noise detector detects noise components in the AM detection signal. The FM detector performs FM detection on the IF signal to acquire an FM detection signal. The FM noise detector detects noise components in the FM detection signal. The noise determining unit determines a noise status of a broadcast signal based on detection results acquired by the AM noise detector and the FM noise detector. |
| US08526896B2 |
Feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter
A feedback compensation detector for a direct conversion transmitter includes a baseband processor, a direct up-converter, an antenna, and an impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit. The baseband processor generates an in-phase (I) baseband signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) baseband signal. The direct up-converter is coupled to the baseband processor, and combines the I and Q baseband signals with an RF carrier signal to generate an RF output signal. The antenna is coupled to the direct up-converter, and transmits the RF output signal. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit is coupled to the RF output signal and the I and Q baseband signals. The impairment detection and compensation feedback circuit down-converts the RF output signal to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal, measures as least one signal impairment in the IF signal, and pre-distorts the I and Q baseband signals to compensate for the measured signal impairment. |
| US08526895B2 |
Systems and methods of transmitter protection for wireless communications
Various embodiments provide for systems and methods for wireless communications that implement transmitter protection schemes using spatial combining. The protection scheme implemented by some embodiments provides for a number of benefits, including without limitation: hitless protection; constant power monitoring for each wireless channel being utilized; extra gain to wireless signals transmitted; beam steering, beam hopping, and beam alignment capabilities; and varying levels of transmission path protection (e.g., 1+1 protection, or 1+N protection). Additionally, the features of some embodiments may be applied to a variety of wireless communications systems including, for example, microwave wireless systems, cellular phone systems and WiFi systems. |
| US08526893B2 |
Power management unit for configurable receiver and transmitter and methods for use therewith
A configurable transceiver includes an RF receiver that generates a stream of inbound data from at least one received RF signal, wherein the RF receiver is configurable in response to a control signal. An RF transmitter generates at least one RF signal from a stream of outbound data, wherein the RF transmitter section is configurable in response to the control signal. A configuration controller generates the control signal based on channel data. A power management unit generates at least one receiver supply signal and at least on transmitter supply signal in accordance with a plurality of power consumption parameters, and wherein the power management unit adjusts at least one of the plurality of power consumption parameters based on the control signal. |
| US08526889B2 |
Shared soft metric buffer for carrier aggregation receivers
A method in a receiver includes receiving from a transmitter an aggregated-spectrum signal including at least first and second component carriers in respective spectral bands. Information related to processing one or more of the component carriers is buffered in at least one shared buffer, such that storage locations in the shared buffer are selectably assignable for storing at least first information related to the processing of the first component carrier and second information related to the processing of the second component carrier. The one or more of the component carriers are processed in the receiver using the information buffered in the shared buffer. |
| US08526887B2 |
Unscheduled protocols for switched antenna arrays
In an example embodiment, an apparatus, comprising a first wireless transceiver, a first directional antenna coupled to the first wireless transceiver, a second wireless transceiver, a second directional antenna coupled to the second wireless transceiver, and control logic coupled to the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver. The first wireless transceiver and second wireless transceiver can concurrently receive wireless signals that are spatially separated. The first wireless transceiver asserts a signal while communicating with another wireless device. The control logic is configured to prevent the second wireless transceiver from transmitting while the first wireless transceiver is asserting the signal. |
| US08526886B2 |
Wireless communication device and method for controlling beam to be transmitted
A controller controls the direction of a beam to be transmitted toward a correspondent wireless communication device to transmit a first wireless signal to the correspondent wireless communication device, and controls the direction of the beam within a predetermined shift from the direction of the first wireless signal, thereby transmitting a second wireless signal at a first timing before or a second timing after the timing of the control for the first wireless signal. |
| US08526885B2 |
Peer-to-peer host station
A method and system is disclosed for allowing the sharing of one or more system resources between multiple devices. In one embodiment, a requesting device transmits a resource access request to a target device using a near-field communication (NFC) protocol. The target device responds by using the NFC connection to return a listing of resources available for sharing to the requesting device. The requesting device may select one or more of the available resources and establish an appropriate connection to access the selected resource or resources. In one embodiment, the requesting device may lack external network connectivity capabilities while the target device includes wi-fi connectivity as a shared resource. Accordingly, the requesting device may access external network of the target device via the target as a conduit. |
| US08526874B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A transmission mechanism of an image forming apparatus includes: a first transmitting section transmitting a driving force of a drive mechanism to a first transporting roller; and a second transmitting section transmitting the driving force of the first transmitting section to a second transporting roller. The first transmitting section has a first gear rotatable integrally with the first transporting roller. The second transmitting section has a second gear engaged with the first gear; a shaft extended in a direction intersecting the rotational axes of the first and second transporting rollers, and rotatable integrally with the second gear; a third gear rotatable integrally with the shaft; and a fourth gear engaged with the third gear and rotatable integrally with the second transporting roller. The image forming apparatus is capable of transporting a paper favorably along a re-transporting path. |
| US08526872B2 |
Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An image forming unit including a toner supplier that comprises a cylindrical conveying passage member and a toner conveying rotational body that is inserted into the cylindrical conveying passage member, includes first/second spiral blades formed on different areas of a rotational axis in an axis direction, wound in directions opposite to each other and is rotated so that the first/second spiral blades convey toner in convergent directions. The rotational axis is inclined such that the second spiral blade is higher than the first spiral blade, and the cylindrical conveying passage member comprises a fresh toner receiving opening that receives fresh toner, a collected toner receiving opening that receives collected toner, and a toner supplier opening disposed at a position where the fresh toner conveyed by the first spiral blade and the collected toner conveyed by the second spiral blade meet, so as to supply the toner to the developer. |
| US08526868B2 |
Image alignment adjusting apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image alignment adjusting apparatus includes: an endless traveling belt; a pattern sensor configured to detect an adjustment pattern including plural colors imaged on the traveling belt; and a correcting unit configured to use, in initial adjustment, for image alignment adjustment, an initial adjustment value obtained by detecting a plurality of sets of the adjustment pattern imaged over the entire circumference of the traveling belt and use, in intermediate adjustment, for the image alignment adjustment an intermediate adjustment value obtained by correcting the initial adjustment value using an intermediate detection value obtained by detecting one set of the adjustment pattern imaged on the traveling belt. |
| US08526866B2 |
Image forming device
A transfer device of the invention includes an endless belt forming a loop-shaped path of movement passing over between a drive roller and an idle roller, a plurality of image bearing members disposed at positions along a direction of movement of the endless belt, and a plurality of transfer members disposed at positions on respective downstream sides of the plurality of image bearing members so as to oppose a plurality of respective image bearing members across the endless belt. The image bearing member disposed on the most upstream side in the direction of movement of the endless belt has a zone of contact in common with the opposed transfer member in the direction of movement of the endless belt. Whereas the other image bearing members do not have any zone of contact in common with the opposing respective transfer members in the direction of movement of the endless belt. |
| US08526862B2 |
Developer cartridge and developing unit including the same
A developer cartridge includes a developer container, an agitating member, a first shutter, and a first rotatable member. The developer container includes a first arc-shaped wall having an arc shape that is concave inward in a cross-sectional view. A first opening is formed in the first arc-shaped wall. The agitating member is positioned in the developer container and configured to agitate the developer. The first shutter has an arc shape in the cross-sectional view and is configured to rotate along a periphery of the first arc-shaped wall between a first position to open the first opening and a second position to close the first opening. The first rotatable member is positioned at at least one axial end of the first shutter. The first shutter is configured to rotate in response to rotating of the first shutter. |
| US08526861B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes image forming units which are detachably mounted on an apparatus body, and each of which includes an image holding body and a developing unit provided with a developing member that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image holding body, shaft members which rotatably support the developing units, urging members which urge the developing members toward the image holding bodies, supply devices which supply developers to the developing units, transport passages which are provided so as to extend toward the developing members and the image holding bodies, and elastic members which form a part of the transport passage and are extensibly deformed so as to absorb the deviation of the relative position between the supply port and the receiving port. |
| US08526859B2 |
Conductivity sensor with cleaning apparatus
A system and method for determining LEP ink conductivity are provided. A pair of electrodes is arranged to define a narrow gap there between. A non-conductive propeller rotates within the gap and causes liquid ink to flow over respective planar surfaces of the electrodes. The rotating propeller further prevents the accumulation of ink sludge on the planar surfaces of the electrodes within the gap. Electrical current is conducted between the electrodes. The electrical current is measured and the conductivity value of the ink determined there from. |
| US08526857B2 |
Charging member, process for its production, process cartridge and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided a charging member which can prevent any contaminants deposited on a cleaning member from adhering thereto by making low a surface free energy and coefficient of friction thereof. The charging member has a substrate, an elastic layer and a surface layer, and the surface layer contains a polymer having an Si—O—W linkage; the polymer having a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a constitutional unit represented by the following formula (2): |
| US08526853B2 |
Image forming apparatus having toner passage blocking mechanism
An image forming apparatus includes a handle member that is held by an operator when an orientation of the image forming apparatus is changed from a predetermined use orientation to a different orientation; and a blocking unit that is caused to block a path between the inside and an opening of a toner container, without being powered, in association with an operator operation performed to the handle member upon changing the orientation of the image forming apparatus from the use orientation to the different orientation. |
| US08526851B2 |
Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly and a process cartridge. The developing unit of the process cartridges includes a first portion to be urged and a second portion to be urged. The main assembly includes a guide portion for guiding the first portion to be urged and the second portion to be urged during mounting of the process cartridge in the main assembly. The guide portion includes, in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the main assembly, a first hole for permitting thereinto entry of the first portion to be urged and a second hole for permitting thereinto entry of the second portion to be urged. |
| US08526849B2 |
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge collectively accommodates at least a latent image carrier and a developer carrier carrying tonner for visualizing an electrostatic latent image formed on the latent image carrier and includes a side plate unit rotatably supporting the latent image carrier and the developer carrier. The side plate includes a bearing that rotatably supports a rotation shaft of the developer carrier; an elastic body that pushes the bearing against a rotation shaft of the latent image carrier; and a guiding unit that guides the bearing in a direction of the pushing. The guiding unit includes an abrasion preventing structure at a wall surface of the guiding unit that comes in contact with the bearing. |
| US08526846B2 |
Process cartridge and image forming apparatus
A process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a developing roller, a cleaning blade, a developer container including an opening, a developer conveyance member, a driving force transmission member having a driving force transmitted from the developer conveyance member, a seal member configured to seal the opening, and a winding member configured to wind the seal member such that the opening is opened, and the driving force transmission member is configured to take a first position at which the driving force is not transmitted to the winding member and a second position at which the driving force is transmitted to the winding member, and wherein the driving force transmission member is further configured to move from the first position to the second position after rotation of the developer conveyance member. |
| US08526845B2 |
Cleaning member for image forming apparatus including a core and an elastic layer, charging device, unit for image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus includes a core and an elastic layer helically put on an outer peripheral surface of the core and including a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer, the first elastic layer being an outermost layer and the second elastic layer being located closer to the core than the first elastic layer and having a compression set smaller than that of the first elastic layer. |
| US08526838B2 |
Image forming apparatus in which a print mode of a document image can be arbitrarily selected
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a document sensor to detect a width of a document stacked on an automatic document feeder (ADF), a sheet sensor to detect a width of a sheet stacked on a manual feed tray, memory to store, correspondingly to sheets of various sizes, print patterns based on which an entire area of a document image can be printed according to a document size, a controller which receives detection information from the sensors as input information, selects print patterns from the memory based on the input information, and displays the selected print patterns on a monitor, and a selector by which a user selects, from the print patterns displayed on the monitor, one pattern based on which a document image is printed on a sheet stacked on the ADF or the manual feed tray. |
| US08526837B2 |
Image forming apparatus with cassette detection and energy saving mode shifting control
An image forming apparatus having a first mode for operation with predetermined power consumption and a second mode for operation with less power consumption than the power consumption in the first mode includes: a paper cassette capable of being attached to a predetermined section of the image forming apparatus, the paper cassette storing paper therein; a detection part detecting the attachment and detachment of the paper cassette to and from the predetermined section; and a shift part, upon the detection by the detection part that the paper cassette has been attached to the predetermined section during the operation in the second mode, shifting the image forming apparatus from the second mode to the first mode. |
| US08526836B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and temperature control method for fixing device
First, a first temperature difference and a second temperature difference are calculated. The first temperature difference is a difference between (a) a first detected temperature that is a current temperature of the fixing member and (b) a difference of a control target temperature for the fixing member. The second temperature difference is a difference between (a) the first detected temperature and (b) a past temperature of the fixing member which past temperature was detected a predetermined time earlier than the current time. Then, by reading out, from a table prepared in advance, an amount of power to be supplied to a heating member which amount corresponds to a combination of the first temperature difference and the second temperature difference, the amount of power to be supplied to the heating member is determined. In accordance with this amount of power determined, an actual amount of power supplied to the heating member is controlled. This makes it possible to simply and effectively suppress a temperature ripple of the fixing member. |
| US08526829B1 |
System, method and apparatus for clockless PPM optical communications
A PPM transmitter includes an optical clock generator for generating equally-spaced optical pulses with a sampling period T; an encoder for transforming an incoming waveform U(t) into a linear combination V(t) of U(t) and a delayed output V(t−kT) according to a rule V(t)=U(t)+aV(t−kT), where k is a positive integer, V(t) is voltage generated by the encoder and a is a coefficient; and an optical delay generator for delaying optical pulses generated by the optical clock generator in proportion to the voltage V(t), such that Δtn=bV(t), where b is another coefficient and where Δtn is the amount of delay imposed by the optical delay generator. The PPM transmitter functions with a PPM receiver for communicating data without the need to transmit or otherwise provide a clock signal. The PPM receiver decodes an original series of the delayed optical pulses Q(t) and a second series Q(t−ckT) delayed by ckT where c is a coefficient. |
| US08526827B2 |
Optical time-delayed wavelength converter
There is described a method for converting the wavelength of a pulsed optical signal. An input pulsed signal containing information and having an input wavelength is buffering by propagating the input pulsed signal in a closed-loop optical regenerative cavity. The propagation comprises converting the input pulsed signal at the input wavelength to a buffer pulsed signal at an adjustable wavelength and propagating the buffer pulsed signal within the cavity. The adjustable wavelength is set to a buffer wavelength different from the output wavelength and the buffer pulsed signal contains the information encoded in the input pulsed signal. The output wavelength is determined from the information encoded in the input pulsed signal. Upon determination of the output wavelength, the adjustable wavelength of the buffer pulsed signal is set to the output wavelength in order to; outputting the buffer pulsed signal at the output wavelength from the cavity. |
| US08526826B2 |
Repeater and method for operating such a repeater
A repeater (1) includes a master unit (2) for communicating with a base station of a mobile network, a plurality of remote units (3) for communicating with mobile communications terminals, and a common optical waveguide (4) connecting the remote units (3) with the master unit (2) for transmitting the optical signals from each of the remote units (3) to the master unit (2). The remote units (3) include, as a transmitter for the optical signals, a laser (7) of a construction similar or somewhat identical to that of the other lasers (7). The lasers (7) have similar or somewhat identical nominal wavelengths (λN), and the individual lasers (7) are selected by adjusting their operating temperatures (TD1-TD4) in such a way that each laser transmits on a different transmission wavelength (λü1-λü4). |
| US08526812B2 |
Wavelength assignment in an optical WDM network
The path selection and wavelength assignment to a selected path are performed by mapping the wavelength reach to the demand distribution (agile reach) resulting in a 50-60% increase in the network reach. The network reach is further increased (about 2.2 times) when on-line measured performance data are used for path selection and wavelength assignment. The connections may be engineered/upgraded individually, by optimizing the parameters of the entire path or of a regenerator section of the respective path. The upgrades include changing the wavelength, adjusting the parameters of the regenerator section, controlling the launch powers, mapping a certain transmitter and/or receiver to the respective wavelength, selecting the wavelengths on a certain link so as to reduce cross-talk, increasing wavelength spacing, etc. |
| US08526808B2 |
TTL photographic wireless communication system and method
A system and method for synchronizing a remote lighting device to a camera using a hot shoe connection and a wireless communication device connected via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device receives a request for flash data from the camera via the hot shoe connector. The wireless communication device responds to the request with response data that mocks information that a photographic lighting device would provide if the photographic lighting device were connected to the hot shoe connector, such that the camera continues to provide TTL data via the hot shoe connector to the wireless communication device. |
| US08526803B2 |
Lens control device and image sensing device using same
There is provided a lens control device that feeds a motor current to a lens drive motor which drives lens according to the motor current, the lens control device including: a servo computation portion that calculates a motor current setting value such that a deviation of the position of the lens from a target position to which a correction offset has been added is reduced; a motor driver that generates the motor current according to the motor current setting value; and a calibration computation portion that adjusts the correction offset such that an average value of the motor current approaches zero. |
| US08526802B1 |
Collapsible image capture system
An image capture system that is capable of capturing images of both small and large target objects includes a collapsible frame and at least one image capture device. The frame is free-standing and adapted to support the image capture device over a generally flat surface, on which a target object can also be supported. The image capture device can be activated to capture an image of the target object for subsequent viewing, storage, retrieval, processing, etc. The collapsible frame is constructed of a plurality of structural components adjustably connected together in a unique configuration that enables the entire frame to be transformed between a stored configuration when not in use, and a deployed configuration during use. The stored configuration is substantially more compact than the deployed configuration, which allows the frame to be easily transported between different locations. |
| US08526800B2 |
Glass-ceramic cooktop and method of assembling the same
A cooking appliance includes a glass cooktop panel and a cooktop frame. A radiant heating element is positioned between the cooktop frame and the glass cooktop panel. The heating element has an upper surface biased toward a lower surface of the glass cooktop panel. A screwless spring clip is coupled to both the heating element and the cooktop frame so as to secure the heating element to the cooktop frame. |
| US08526799B2 |
Air dehumidifier system for enclosures and safes
An air dehumidifier for use in small enclosures such as gun and other types of safes is disclosed. The air dehumidifier provides a natural convection dehumidifier circulation system for use in enclosures that reduces natural convection airflow through a drying chamber and thereby dehumidifies and circulates air within the enclosure. Heated air released through the air flow apertures combine with air drawn in through the air intake apertures in the base, to provide air circulation and dehumidification within the safe interior. This invention also provides a drying chamber end cap which prevents articles within the enclosure from blocking the airflow out of the drying chamber. |
| US08526795B2 |
Information-processing apparatus, content reproduction apparatus, information-processing method, event-log creation method and computer programs
Disclosed herein is an information-processing apparatus including an event-log acquisition section acquiring an event log provided by a content reproduction apparatus capable of reproducing a content as an event log including at least information identifying the content and information indicating a reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of the content, an event-log analysis section deriving a reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of a content reproduced by the content reproduction apparatus from the event log, a playlist generation section generating a playlist, which is to serve as a set of pieces of information each used for identifying a content reproduced during a specific period of time, on the basis of the reproduction start date/time and reproduction end date/time of the content, and a playlist transfer section transmitting the playlist to the content reproduction apparatus. |
| US08526794B2 |
Method and apparatus for synthesizing a copy protection or content control signal with improved playability of a TV set
Playability of a copy protected video signal is improved by reducing the darkening and or venetian blind effects which tend to cause artifacts in a video signal display. To this end, the copy protection signal includes automatic gain control (AGC) signals or pulses in video lines in a portion of the active or viewable video field or frame, wherein the AGC pulses comprise non similar AGC signals from one video line to another video line. The dis-similar AGC pulses may include pulses which are deleted, blanked, attenuated, pulse width modified, modulated, etc. In addition, selected sync pulses may be pulse width, amplitude and or position modified. |
| US08526784B2 |
Digital video recorder collaboration and similar media segment determination
In one embodiment, a method for performing actions with media information using a digital video recorder is provided. In one embodiment, a user may mark a media segment in media using a digital video recorder. Characteristics for the media segment are then determined. A second media segment in second media may then be determined. For example, the second media segment may have similar characteristics to the first media segment. In one example, an advertisement that is similar to the advertisement marked as the first media segment may be determined. An action may then be performed with the second media segment. For example, the second media segment may be removed from the second media. |
| US08526783B2 |
Digital video recording system and its recording medium
In a DVD recording/playback system, a set top box STB receives an MPEG transport stream constituted by a plurality of transport packets, and a formatter extracts support information indicating if management information included in the transport packets includes predetermined items. A disc drive that records data on a recording medium having a management area and data area records the support information in the management area. |
| US08526781B2 |
Multiple output digital video recording system
A multimedia time warping system allows a user to store selected multimedia data streams while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing other multimedia data. Data streams are converted to digital streams for internal transfer and manipulation. A parser and event buffer decouple the CPU from having to parse the digital stream. Video segments are stored on a storage device and when data is requested for display, its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts them into display output signals and delivers the display output signals to a display. |
| US08526779B2 |
Creating and editing video recorded by a hands-free video recording device
A video recording hands-free device that includes a storage medium, an optical sensor to receive an input image signal, and a processor that is coupled to the storage medium and the optical sensor. The processor is configured to process the input image signal received from the optical sensor into an encoded video data stream and store the encoded video data stream as recorded video data in the storage medium. The processor is also configured to receive and process a video control command to create a video clip file from a logical segment of the recorded video data. |
| US08526774B2 |
Telecommunications panel and drawer arrangement
A cable management and termination arrangement constructed for use in both a sliding drawer application and a hinged panel application. The cable management and termination arrangement including a sliding drawer and first and second hinged access panels. In a sliding drawer application, the arrangement is horizontally mounted; the drawer slides between an open position and a closed position to provide access to the interior. In a hinged panel application, the arrangement is vertically mounted; the first and second hinged access panels pivot between open and closed positions to provide access to the interior. |
| US08526769B1 |
High speed optical transmitter producing modulated light signals
An optical system includes modulators positioned on a base. Each modulator includes a modulator waveguide that receives a light signal and guides the received light signal through the modulator. The system also includes drive electronics in electrical communication with the modulators. The drive electronics apply electrical energy to each of the modulators such that an electrical field is generated within the modulator waveguide so as to modulate one of the light signals into a modulated signal. The system includes multiple drive paths that each has a length from a contact pad on the drive electronics to a location where the electrical field is formed in one of the modulator waveguides. The modulators are configured such that the drive path length for each of the modulators is less than 0.5 mm. |
| US08526765B2 |
Super-resolution processor and super-resolution processing method
A super-resolution processor includes an N enlargement unit that generates an N-enlarged image by enlarging the input image by a factor N; an M enlargement unit that generates an M-enlarged image by enlarging the input image by a factor M; and a high-pass filter unit that extracts a high-frequency component of the M-enlarged image, as an M-enlarged high-frequency image. Additionally, a patch extraction unit extracts an estimated patch of a predetermined size from the M-enlarged high-frequency image, the estimated patch being a part of the M-enlarged high-frequency image; and an addition unit adds the estimated patch to a processing target block of the predetermined size in the N-enlarged image, to generate the output image, where M is smaller than N. |
| US08526764B2 |
Re-sizing image sequences
To modify the aspect ratio of images in a video sequence, a measure of image energy is provided at or around each pixel, for example by taking differences between adjacent pixels. A minimum energy path of contiguous pixels is then identified which extends across the image from one edge to another, for example vertically if the width of the picture is to be modified. Information concerning the location of a path in one image is used in the identification of a path in the next image, for example by biasing the energy measure of the path. The aspect ratio of each image is then modified by removing or by replicating the minimum energy path of contiguous pixels. |
| US08526761B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image sensing apparatus
An image processing unit includes a second-taken image generation unit which performs a blurring process on a first taken image including a plurality of small areas so as to generate a second taken image, a focus degree deriving unit which derives a focus degree of each small area, and a combination process unit which combines each small area of the first taken image with each second small area of the second taken image corresponding to each small area of the first taken image. The combination process unit sets a mixing ratio of the second taken image in the combination to a larger value as a focus degree of each small area derived by the focus degree deriving unit is smaller. The second-taken image generation unit includes a face area detection unit which detects a face image area from the first taken image, and a blurring process unit which performs the blurring process on the first taken image on the basis of the detected face image area so as to generate the second taken image. |
| US08526757B2 |
Imaging system and imaging method for imaging a region of interest
The invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest, in particular to a computed tomography system. First data for generating an image of the region of interest are provided, which are used by a reconstruction unit (12) for reconstructing an image of the region of interest using an adaptable artefact correction method. Second data are provided by simulating the providing of the first data using the reconstructed image of the region of interest by a second data providing unit (13). A deviation determination unit (14) determines a deviation between the first and second data. An adaptation unit (15) adapts the artefact correction method such that the deviation between the first and second data is reduced and the reconstruction unit (12) reconstructs an image of the region of interest from first the data using the adapted artefact correction method. |
| US08526754B2 |
System for enhancing depth of field with digital image processing
An electronic device may have a digital image sensor for capturing an image and may have storage and processing circuitry for processing the image to produce a corresponding enhanced depth-of-field image. Multiple image areas, within a given image may be processed. As each image area is processed, a signal-to-noise ratio may be computed. A kernel parameter characteristic curve may be used to select values to be used for kernel parameters for each image area based on the computed signal-to-noise ratio for that image area. Kernels may be generated for each image area and the generated kernels may be convolved with their respective image areas to modify the image areas. This allows each image area to be selectively sharpened or smoothed based on its signal-to-noise ratio. Image areas with low and high signal-to-noise ratios may be sharpened less those with moderate signal-to-noise ratios to enhance depth of field in the image. |
| US08526749B2 |
Apparatus, method, and medium encoding/decoding images through application of psycho-visual characteristics
A method, medium, and apparatus encoding and/or decoding an image according to human psycho-visual characteristics. According to a method, medium, and apparatus, error values corresponding to a range in which error values can be recognized because of the human psycho-visual characteristic are selectively encoded. |
| US08526745B2 |
Embedded graphics coding: reordered bitstream for parallel decoding
Reordering of a bitstream is able to be used to speed up the decoding in embedded graphics coding. In the reordering, the signaling bits of all of the groups are sent and then the refinement bits of each group follow. With this reordering, the decoder can decode the header, identify the number of refinement bits for each group and locate the starting point of each group within the bitstream, therefore parallel processing of each group is able to be implemented at the decoder side. |
| US08526744B2 |
Document processing apparatus and computer readable medium
A document processing apparatus includes a comparison source data acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of comparison source data each including a plurality of comparison source descriptions that are acquired from a comparison source document and ordered; a comparison target acquisition unit that acquires one or more comparison target data respectively acquired from comparison target documents; and a comparison result output unit that outputs a comparison result based on a minimum difference between one datum of the comparison source data and one data of the comparison target data corresponding to one of a plurality of combinations in each of which one of the comparison source data is combined with one of the comparison target data. |
| US08526739B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for determining document validity
A method according to one embodiment includes performing optical character recognition (OCR) on an image of a first document; generating a list of hypotheses mapping the first document to a complementary document using: textual information from the first document, textual information from the complementary document, and predefined business rules; at least one of: correcting OCR errors in the first document, and normalizing data from the complementary document, using at least one of the textual information from the complementary document and the predefined business rules; determining a validity of the first document based on the hypotheses; and outputting an indication of the determined validity. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are also presented. |
| US08526732B2 |
Text enhancement of a textual image undergoing optical character recognition
A method for enhancing a textual image for undergoing optical character recognition begins by receiving an image that includes native lines of text. A background line profile is determined which represents an average background intensity along the native lines in the image. Likewise, a foreground line profile is determined which represents an average foreground background intensity along the native lines in the image. The pixels in the image are assigned to either a background or foreground portion of the image based at least in part on the background line profile and the foreground line profile. The intensity of the pixels designated to the background portion of the image is adjusted to a maximum brightness so as to represent a portion of the image that does not include text. |
| US08526730B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of processing color image data that perform overdrive
Image processing apparatuses and methods of processing color image data that perform overdrive are provided. The apparatuses include a restoration block that restores R-, G-, and B-element values of respective pixels of previous one of successive frames based on Y-element values of the respective pixels of the previous one of the successive frames and the color image data of a current one of the successive frames. The apparatus further includes a correction block that compares the R-, G-, and B-element values of the respective pixels of the previous one of the successive frames that the restoration block restored and R-, G-, and B-element values of corresponding pixels of the current one of the successive frames and generates the corrected color image data. |
| US08526728B2 |
Establishing clusters of user preferences for image enhancement
An image enhancement system may match images to a matrix having various enhancements of images for groups of users. The matrix may define image enhancement settings for the particular images and groups of users, and the matching may apply enhancements to a new image that closely matches a user's preferences. After the matrix is initially populated, new users and new images may be added to increase the matrix's accuracy. The image enhancement system may be deployed as a cloud service, where images may be enhanced as a standalone application or as part of a social network or image sharing website. In some embodiments, the image enhancement system may be deployed on a personal computer or as a component of an image capture device. |
| US08526724B2 |
In-image accessibility indication
Methods and systems for in-image accessibility indication are described herein. These methods and systems are usable to receive an image being designed, locate colorblind inaccessible regions of the image based on located colorblind inaccessible points, and indicate the located colorblind inaccessible regions in the image to a designer while the designer is creating the image. As such, the designer is able to quickly identify regions of the designed image that may be difficult for colorblind viewers to see and, with this information, the designer is able to modify the image accordingly. |
| US08526722B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing image quality of image captured by using multiple color-filter aperture
Provided are an apparatus and method for enhancing image quality of an input image captured by an image capturing device having an aperture with a plurality of openings employing different color filters. The image quality enhancing apparatus includes an ROI (region of interest) classifying unit classifying ROIs according to distances from the image capturing device of a captured input image by using a cluster-based image segmentation algorithm, a color channel registering unit determining motion vectors of color channels corresponding to the respective ROIs by analyzing a high frequency component of image data included in the ROIs, and moving the color channels based on the determined motion vectors to obtain a registered image of the respective ROIs, and an image fusing unit fusing the registered images of the respective ROIs to obtain a fused image. |
| US08526721B2 |
Processing image data
A method of processing image data, to obtain image data for printing a junction area connecting a circular pad having a radius R with a linear line pattern by forming ink blots having a radius r in an overlapping manner, includes: setting a base pitch P as a base distance between adjacent ink blots; arranging image data of the pad, line pattern, and junction area, which is defined by an extension of the line pattern, in an x-y coordinate system; selecting a first determination point, which corresponds to one side of the junction area; comparing a distance from a center of the pad to the first determination point with a value of (R−r+P); and storing coordinates of the first determination point as print data if the distance from the center of the pad to the first determination point is greater than or equal to the value of (R−r+P). |
| US08526720B2 |
Imaging terminal operative for decoding
There is set forth herein an imaging terminal operative for decoding of bar codes. In one embodiment the terminal can include a color imaging assembly having a color image sensor array. The terminal can be operative for capture of a color frame of image data. Responsively to the capture of the color frame of image data the terminal can convert the color image data to monochrome image data while maintaining the color image data. The terminal can utilize the monochrome image data to search for a color bar code finder pattern. The terminal can be operative so that if the color bar code pattern is found utilizing the monochrome image data the terminal can utilize the color image data for attempting to decode a color bar code. |
| US08526712B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing three-dimensional images
A three-dimensional sense adjusting unit displays three-dimensional images to a user. If a displayed reaches a limit of parallax, the user responds to the three-dimensional sense adjusting unit. According to acquired appropriate parallax information, a parallax control unit generates parallax images to realize the appropriate parallax in the subsequent stereo display. The control of parallaxes is realized by optimally setting camera parameters by going back to three-dimensional data. Functions to realize the appropriate parallax are made into and presented by a library. |
| US08526711B2 |
Apparatus and method for ray tracing using path preprocess
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for ray-tracing using a path preprocess. The method for ray-tracing including launching a ray from a transmitting point at angles with regular intervals, setting a first side of an object where the launched ray is projected as a reference patch, and searching predetermined preprocessed path data for a counterpart patch corresponding to a second side of another object, the second side being exposed to the projected ray reflected or diffracted from the set reference patch, and tracing a transmission path of the reflected or diffracted ray. |
| US08526709B2 |
Methods and apparatus for detecting multiple objects
A method for determining physical placement data for a plurality of wafers is disclosed. The method includes obtaining raw CCD array data from a linear CCD array by clocking data from pixels of the linear CCD array into memory cells of the memory device and ascertaining pixel transition data to determine whether at least one of an upper edge error, a lower edge error, a wafer thickness error, and transition-per-slot error exists. If an error is found, the method includes generating an error signal. |
| US08526704B2 |
Measurement of functional microcirculatory geometry and velocity distributions using automated image analysis
The invention provides analysis algorithms for quantitative assessment of microvasculatory video sequences that provide vessel thickness, vessel length and blood velocity per vessel segment. It further provides a method of for calculating the functional microvasculatory density and blood velocity as distributed over vessels with different thickness, in the field of view. |
| US08526698B2 |
Method and apparatus for ductal tube tracking imaging for breast cancer detection and diagnosis, and product
A method apparatus and computer product for imaging a human breast to map the breast ductal tree is disclosed. First, a breast is diffusion tensor imaged with high spatial resolution. Then the breast ductal tree is tracked using a protocol for breast based on echo-planar imaging (EPI) diffusion designed for optimizing diffusion weightings (b values), number of non-collinear directions for tensor calculations, diffusion, echo and repetition times, spatial resolution, signal to noise, scanning time and a sequence for fat suppression. The diffusion tensor is calculated by a non-linear best fit algorithm and then diagonalized with principal component analysis to three eigen vectors and their corresponding eigen values. A vector field map is obtained for tracking of breast ducts of the ductal trees along the direction of the 1st eigenvector v1 and the ductal tree is displayed on a voxel by voxel basis in parametric images using color coding and vector pointing. |
| US08526690B2 |
Automatic detection of target tissues formed by linear structures from within three dimensional images
[Objective] To improve detection performance of target tissues formed by linear structures within three dimensional images.[Constitution] The directions of principal axes of target tissues formed by linear structures or the directions of lines normal to tissues formed by planar structures within detection regions are calculated. Normalization processes are administered with respect to candidate target regions that include candidate target tissues based on the directions of the principal axes or the directions of the normal lines. Features of the normalized candidate target regions are calculated, and judgments are performed regarding whether the target tissues are included in the candidate target regions, employing the calculated features. |
| US08526687B2 |
Method for filtering a fingerprint image continuation-in-part
The present invention relates to the digital processing of images, and, more particularly, to the digital filtering of fingerprint images. The present invention can be used in criminalistics for fingerprint identification.The object of the present invention is to develop a method for filtering a fingerprint image, that provides effective image processing in the areas where the curvature of fingerprint lines is high.This object is achieved by providing a method for filtering a fingerprint image, the method including the step of sequentially processing areas of the image by a directional filter having at least one central ridge and adapted to local properties of respective areas of the image, the local properties including distance between the ridges, orientation of the fingerprint line, and curvature of the same. Further steps include adapting the filter to the local curvature by curving at least one central ridge of the filter in the plane of spatial coordinates in such a way its curvature is brought into proximity with the curvature of the fingerprint line. |
| US08526674B2 |
Motion-based, multi-stage video segmentation with motion boundary refinement
A motion-based, multi-stage segmentation of a video frame is provided. A first segmentation stage identifies motion boundaries in a plurality of sub-blocks of the video frame. The motion boundaries are identified by computing an occlusion-insensitive localized motion cost and minimizing a MAP-MRF energy based on the localized motion cost. A second segmentation stage refines the motion boundaries by adding a color cost to the localized motion cost in the MAP-MRF energy. |
| US08526673B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for recognizing objects in images using transmitted dictionary data
An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with a plurality of servers stores image data including an object of recognition, and a plurality of recognition dictionaries. The image processing apparatus establishes communication with one of the servers to receive, from the server with which the communication has been established, designation information designating a recognition dictionary for recognizing the object of recognition included in the image data. The image processing apparatus identifies the recognition dictionary designated in the received designation information from among the stored recognition dictionaries and uses the identified recognition dictionary to recognize the object of recognition included in the image data. |
| US08526671B2 |
Threat detection sensor
The systems and methods disclosed herein address issues of cost and weight that prevent other threat detection systems intended to detect and identify locations of incoming munitions fire such as RPGs, anti-tank missiles, and other such weapons, from being used more broadly. Systems and methods disclosed herein relate, in part, to a portable, optical sensor that has a 360-degree horizontal field of view and a selectable vertical field of view that can cover up to 90 degrees. Variations of systems and methods discussed herein are meant for use and transport by an individual or group of individuals, and do not require significant support electronics or power supplies in excess of a typical car-battery in size and weight. Other embodiments may be vehicle mounted, or may be further enhanced to work with other detection or response systems. |
| US08526669B2 |
Method for multiple image parameter adjustment based on single user input
Systems and methods for determining scan parameters to be used during image acquisition are provided. Values of imaging effects can be input using user controls accessible from a user interface. A processor can determine scan parameters to be used during image acquisition based on the input imaging effect values. The determined scan parameters can be displayed using the user interface. Values of imaging effects and potential ranges of values of imaging effects can be constrained based on selected values of other imaging effects. Imaging effects can include image resolution, image penetration, frame rate and/or color flow sensitivity. Scan parameters can include: line density, number of focal zones, frequency, dynamic range, pulse repetition frequency, and/or number of compounding angles. An ultrasound imaging system can be used to acquire images using the determined scan parameters. |
| US08526667B2 |
Broadcasting receiver with function to determine as to whether instruction from operator is executable
In a broadcasting receiver, the receiver is so operated as not to disturb viewing by audiences other than an operator. The broadcasting receiver has an image pickup unit for photographing images of televiewers, a face detection unit for detecting faces of the televiewers from the photographed image, an individual discrimination unit for managing detected faces discriminately, a watching concentration degree calculation unit for calculating degrees of concentration of watching a television in respect of individual discriminated faces and an operation execution decision unit for deciding a television operator and deciding execution of operation in accordance with values of watching concentration degrees of the televiewers other than the operator. |
| US08526666B1 |
Method and system for rendering watermarked content using a watermark window
Methods and systems for rendering watermarks in a computer system are provided. One technique renders a content unit based on a call from an application, and renders a watermark for the content based on a call from a tool separate from the application. Another technique for rendering a watermark for content displayed on a display screen renders the content via a content window on the display, and renders the watermark via another window on the display that overlays at least a portion of the content window. |
| US08526665B2 |
Electro-acoustic transducer comprising a MEMS sensor
An electro-acoustic transducer (1) is disclosed, comprising a substrate (2) that comprises conducting paths (3), a cover (4) attached to said substrate (2) thus forming an inner chamber (A) and a space (B) outside said chamber (A), wherein said cover (4) comprises one or more ports (5). A MEMS sensor (6) of said transducer (1) has at least one hole (7) extending from a first side (C) to a second side (D). A membrane (8) is arranged in said hole (7) transverse to the hole axis (E) thus forming a first hole space (a) and a second hole space (b). The sensor (6) furthermore has electrical connectors (9) designed to carry electrical signals representing sound acting on said membrane (8), which connectors (9) are connected to said conducting paths (3). According to the invention, said MEMS sensor (6) is arranged inside said chamber (A) in such a way that said second hole space (b) is connected to said outside space (B) via said port or ports (5) and said first hole space (a) is connected to said inner chamber (A). |
| US08526660B2 |
Loudspeakers and systems
The invention provides, in one aspect, a loudspeaker that has electrodynamically-driven piston mounted in one external wall and that has movable panels in one or more other external walls. Those panels are air-coupled to the piston, e.g., via air within the enclosure, such that vibrational motion of the piston causes the vibration of the panels, thereby, improving the overall air coupling of the piston to the external environment, e.g., the listening room. Further aspects of the invention provide an improved driver for use, e.g., in the aforementioned loudspeaker. The driver comprises a three-part piston having first and second diaphragms coupled back-to-back with one another and having a voice coil face-mounted (or front-mounted) within the second diaphragm. |
| US08526657B2 |
Headphone set
A headphone set is equipped with left- and right-ear headphone units. Each unit includes a housing body having a first plane section and a second plane section that faces the first section, the sections being almost perpendicular to a cross section of a cavum conchae of a user's ear when the housing body is fit in the cavum conchae, a speaker and a microphone aligned between the sections, the speaker being located at the first section side, the microphone being located at the second section side. A sound output section is provided at the first section, to give off sounds output by the speaker to an outer space of the housing body. A sound pick-up hole is provided at the second section, through which the outer space communicates with an inner space of the housing body created between a sound pick-up section of the microphone and the second section. |
| US08526655B2 |
Loudspeaker enclosures for mounting in an aperture in a cavity wall
A loudspeaker enclosure for mounting in an aperture in a cavity wall with a part of the enclosure being located within the wall cavity adjacent the aperture, comprises a main enclosure unit for mounting in the aperture and housing one or more loudspeaker drive units, and a supplementary enclosure unit for location within the wall cavity and being acoustically connected in use to the main unit to increase the effective internal volume of the enclosure beyond that of the main unit. The supplementary unit is connected to the main unit by an articulated connection enabling the main unit to be angled relative to the supplementary unit while the supplementary unit is being inserted through the aperture and into the wall cavity, and enabling the main unit to be aligned with and acoustically coupled to the supplementary unit when the main unit is positioned in the wall aperture. |
| US08526653B2 |
Behind-the-ear hearing aid whose microphone is set in an entrance of ear canal
There is provided a behind-the-ear hearing aid that makes it easy for a hearing aid wearer to estimate a position of a sound source with respect to a front-back direction and that enables an increase in aesthetic property when the hearing aid is worn. A behind-the-ear hearing aid of the present invention is used while fitted to an ear of a human body, and includes at least a microphone 101 which collects ambient sound, thereby generating an input signal and signal processing unit 102 that generates an output signal from the input signal. The hearing aid also has a behind-the-ear portion 110 that can be fitted to the ear and a receiver 103 that reproduces output sound from the output signal. When the behind-the-ear portion 110 is fitted to the ear, the microphone 101 is arranged in an entrance of an ear canal that lies in the extension of an ear canal 220 and that is disposed closer to an eardrum than to a plane that is defined by a helix 901, a tragus 902, and an earlobe 903. |
| US08526652B2 |
Receiver assembly for an inflatable ear device
A diaphonic valve utilizing the principle of the Synthetic Jet is disclosed herein. A diaphonic valve pump is provided for the inflation of an in-ear balloon. More complex embodiments of the present invention include stacks of multiple synthetic jets generating orifices as well as an oscillating, thin polymer membrane. In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a novel application is provided for the creation of static pressure to inflate or to deflate an inflatable member (balloon). In addition, sound can be utilized to inflate or deflate an inflatable member in a person's ear for the purpose of listening to sound. |
| US08526651B2 |
Receiver module for inflating a membrane in an ear device
A receiver module configured to be seated within an ear canal and optimized for simultaneously inflating an inflatable membrane while generating acoustic waves transmitted to a user. The inflatable membrane can be used to secure the receiver module within the bony portion of the ear canal of the user. A multi-layer valve system and method of assembly are disclosed for a valve system to harvest static pressure from acoustic waves generated within the receiver and direct the increased pressure toward the inflatable membrane to inflate the membrane. The multi-layer valve system can be used to prevent a back flow of air and thereby maintain a static pressure differential between ambient air drawn in through an air ingress port and air forced into the inflatable membrane through an air egress port. |
| US08526650B2 |
Frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping in hearing assistance devices
Disclosed herein, among other things, is a system for frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping in hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to improved speech intelligibility in a hearing assistance device using frequency translation by high-frequency spectral envelope warping. The system described herein implements an algorithm for performing frequency translation in an audio signal processing device for the purpose of improving perceived sound quality and speech intelligibility in an audio signal when presented using a system having reduced bandwidth relative to the original signal, or when presented to a hearing-impaired listener sensitive to only a reduced range of acoustic frequencies. |
| US08526645B2 |
Method and device for in ear canal echo suppression
An earpiece (100) and acoustic management module (300) for in-ear canal echo suppression control suitable is provided. The earpiece can include an Ambient Sound Microphone (111) to capture ambient sound, an Ear Canal Receiver (125) to deliver audio content to an ear canal, an Ear Canal Microphone (123) configured to capture internal sound, and a processor (121) to generate a voice activity level (622) and suppress an echo of spoken voice in the electronic internal signal, and mix an electronic ambient signal with an electronic internal signal in a ratio dependent on the voice activity level and a background noise level to produce a mixed signal (323) that is delivered to the ear canal (131). |
| US08526643B2 |
Speaker
A speaker includes a base, a diaphragm, a separating module, a first electrode set and a second electrode set. The base and a porous structure are formed a cavity. The diaphragm is disposed in the cavity and includes a first part and a second part. The separating module is located in the cavity and contacts the diaphragm to separate the cavity into the first and the second chambers. The first electrode set disposed in the first chamber is connected to a first sound source signal, such that the first part of the diaphragm is vibrated and the first sound source signal is exported from the first chamber. The second electrode set disposed in the second chamber is connected to a second sound source signal, such that the second part of the diaphragm is vibrated and the second sound source signal is exported from the second chamber. |
| US08526642B2 |
Piezoelectric micro speaker including weight attached to vibrating membrane and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a piezoelectric micro speaker and a method of manufacturing the same. The piezoelectric micro speaker includes: a substrate having a cavity therein; a diaphragm that is disposed on the substrate, the diaphragm including a vibrating membrane that overlaps the cavity; a piezoelectric actuator that is disposed on the vibrating membrane; and a weight that is disposed in the cavity and attached to a center portion of the vibrating membrane. |
| US08526641B2 |
Customizable mass arrangements for bone conduction devices
A bone conduction device, comprising: a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing said acoustic sound signal; and a transducer configured to generate motion of a mass component based on said electrical signal so as to generate one or more mechanical forces resulting in one or more of motion and vibration of a recipient's skull thereby causing sound perception, wherein one or more of the size and shape of said mass component is selectable at least partially based on a desired mechanical force to be generated by said transducer. |
| US08526638B2 |
Gain control circuit and electronic volume circuit
A gain control circuit includes a comparator that compares an input gain value with a count value to generate a comparison result signal, a counter that counts up or counts down the count value in accordance with the comparison result signal, and a gain modulator circuit that modulates the count value to generate a gain control signal which changes in a time-divided manner. The gain modulator circuit modulates the count value so that a gain obtained by time-averaging a gain corresponding to the gain control signal matches a gain based on the count value. |
| US08526633B2 |
Acoustic apparatus
An acoustic apparatus without increasing noise etc. even when plural directional microphones collect sounds from a place of the same distances is provided. Sound signals output from the microphone arrays are subjected to phase shift by phase shift circuits 211A to 211H, and the sound signals are combined by an adder 212. The phase shift circuits 211A to 211H performs phase shifts according to installation positions of the microphone arrays. The phase shift circuit 211A makes the shift 0 degree, the phase shift circuit 211B makes the shift 45 degrees, the phase shift circuit 211C makes the shift 90 degrees, and sequentially to the phase shift circuit 211H, the shifts are made according to rotational angles. |
| US08526625B2 |
Stereo microphone
A stereo microphone includes a supporter that is made of an elastic material. The supporter fixes two unidirectional microphone units at certain angles. A moving part is used to apply external force to a part of the supporter so that an angle formed by main axes of the respective unidirectional microphone units is changed by deformation of the supporter. |
| US08526623B2 |
Device and a method for determining a component signal with high accuracy
A device for determining a component signal for a WFS system includes a provider for providing WFS parameters, a WFS parameter interpolator, and an audio signal processor. The provider provides WFS parameters for a component signal while using a source position and while using the loudspeaker position at a parameter sampling frequency smaller than the audio sampling frequency. The WFS parameter interpolator interpolates the WFS parameters so as to produce interpolated WFS parameters which are present at a parameter interpolation frequency that is higher than the parameter sampling frequency, the interpolated WFS parameters having interpolated fractions which have a higher level of accuracy than is specified by the audio sampling frequency. The audio signal processor is configured to apply the interpolated fractional values to the audio signal such that the component signal is obtained in a state of having been processed at the higher level of accuracy. |
| US08526622B2 |
Configurable filter for processing television audio signals
Television audio signal encoders include a matrix that sums a left channel audio signal and a right channel audio signal to produce a sum signal. The matrix also subtracts one of the left and right audio signals from the other to produce a difference signal. The encoders also include a configurable infinite impulse response digital filter that selectively uses one or more sets of filter coefficients to filter the difference signal and/or the sum signals. Each selectable set of filter coefficients is associated with a unique filtering application to prepare the difference signal for transmission. Decoders with the matrix are also disclosed. |
| US08526621B2 |
Method and apparatus for time-lapse cryptography
In one embodiment, a Time-Lapse Cryptography Service is provided based on a network of parties. Senders encrypt their messages with this public key whose secret key is not known to anyone—not even a trusted third party—until a predefined and specific future time T+.delta., at which point the secret key is constructed and published. In one example, the secret key can only be known after it is constructed. At or after that time, anyone can decrypt the cipher text using this secret key. In one embodiment, a method for cryptographic encoding is provided, including generation of cryptographic key components by a plurality of parties, where participation of the parties is verified. A public key is constructed from a plurality of key components. |
| US08526618B2 |
Multiple-stage system and method for processing encoded messages
System and methods for processing encoded messages at a message receiver are described. Encoded message processing is performed in multiple stages. In a first stage, a new received message is at least partially decoded by performing any decoding operations that require no user input and a resulting context object is stored in memory, before a user is notified that the new message has been received. When the user accesses the new message, any further required decoding operations are performed on the stored context object in a second stage of processing. The message can subsequently be displayed or otherwise processed relatively quickly, without repeating the first stage decoding operations. Decoding operations may include signature verification, decryption, other types of decoding, or some combination thereof. |
| US08526617B2 |
Method of handling security configuration in wireless communications system and related communication device
A method of handling security configuration for a mobile device using a mapped security context in a wireless communication system includes utilizing the mapped security context to derive ciphering and integrity keys when security configuration, indicating a key update based on a cached security context, is received. |
| US08526615B2 |
Storage system executing encryption and decryption processing
A storage system includes a channel interface (IF) unit having an interface with a server, a disk IF unit having an interface with a hard disk group, a memory unit for storing data to be read/written from/to the server or the hard disk group, a switching unit, and the hard disk group. The channel IF unit, the disk IF unit, and the memory unit are connected to each other through the switching unit, and an encryption and decryption processing unit is provided between a host IF unit and a transfer controller in the channel IF unit. |
| US08526611B2 |
Utilizing data reduction in steganographic and cryptographic systems
The present invention relates to methods for protecting a data signal using the following techniques: applying a data reduction technique to reduce the data signal into a reduced data signal; subtracting the reduced data signal from the data signal to produce a remainder signal; embedding a first watermark into the reduced data signal to produce a watermarked, reduced data signal; and adding the watermarked, reduced data signal to the remainder signal to produce an output signal. A second watermark may be embedded into the remainder signal before the final addition step. Further, cryptographic techniques may be used to encrypt the reduced data signals and to encrypt the remainder signals before the final addition step. |
| US08526608B2 |
Printing system and printer with electronic signature capability and method thereof
A printing system and printer with an electronic signature capability, and a method thereof are provided. To print security documents using an electronic signature stored in a portable memory, the printing system of the invention includes a portable memory for storing an electronic signature. A memory interface connects detachably to the portable memory. A printer receives the electronic signature from the memory interface, composes the received electronic signature with print data, and executes a print operation. Accordingly, a stamping or signature process on numerous documents can be facilitated, and excessive stamping or signature execution can be prevented. Moreover, the electronic signature of the invention can be executed on various types of forms or documents. |
| US08526603B2 |
Public-key encrypted bloom filters with applications to private set intersection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retrieving, from computer-readable memory, a set, the set including a plurality of elements, adding, using a computing device, elements of the set to a Bloom filter, the Bloom filter including a plurality of bits, and encrypting, using the computing device, each bit of the plurality of bits of the Bloom filter to provide an encrypted Bloom filter, encrypting being achieved using homomorphic, public key encryption. Implementations are further directed to performing operations on the encrypted Bloom filter, and performing private set intersection (PSI) using the encrypted Bloom filter. |
| US08526601B2 |
Method of improving operational speed of encryption engine
In the present method of implementing functioning of an encryption engine, a plurality of logic blocks are provided, each for running a function. Each function is run based on three variables, each of which may have a first or second value. The function is run with the first variable value selected as having its first value, and with the second and third variables having their actual values. The function is again run with the first variable value selected as having its second value, and again with the second and third variables having their actual values. An actual value of the first variable is determined, and the output of the logic block is determined by the actual value of the first variable. |
| US08526597B2 |
Proactive system and method for monitoring and guidance of call center agent
A system and a computer-implemented method for monitoring and guiding agents of call centers are described. The method includes receiving during an interaction call between an agent and a and a customer, real-time data associated with the interaction; retrieving by the call analysis system, a performance profile of the agent; using the performance profile of the agent and the real-time data associated with the interaction to determine whether a corrective action alert should be sent to the agent and generating and transmitting the alert to a terminal of the agent during the interaction if so determined. |
| US08526595B2 |
Auto-dialer blocking on network
A method and platform for reducing call blocking in a telecommunications network addresses problems caused by the use of auto-dialers and by mass calling events in the network. When a capacity excess is detected, information associated with excess calls, such as the Initial Address Message (IAM), is stored in an incoming call cache memory. A message may be played to the caller informing the caller of the status of the message. Once additional call capacity is open, the call is connected using the call information stored in the cache. The calls may be removed from the cache and connected on a first-in, first-out basis. |
| US08526590B2 |
Distinctive call waiting based on a redirecting number
A method includes receiving a query message at a controller communicatively coupled to a destination device. The query message includes inbound call data associated with a call to the destination device. The method includes determining that the call to the destination device is from a redirecting number based on the inbound call data. The redirecting number is compared to an authorized set of numbers. When the authorized set of numbers includes the redirecting number, the controller formulates a response message to the query message. The response message includes a distinctive tone for use at the destination device that is identified based on the redirecting number. The response message is sent as a reply to the query message. |
| US08526589B2 |
Multi-channel telephony
Techniques for providing multi-channel telephony are described herein. In different aspects, a multi-channel telephony apparatus may include a sound interface configured to process a multi-channel sound signal including at least one of causing speakers to emit multi-channel sound or receiving multi-channel sound from microphones and a network interface configured to transmit the multi-channel sound signal from the sound interface to one or more communication lines of a telephone network. In some aspects, a dialer may be configured with the network interface to establish a connection with the telephone network. |
| US08526585B2 |
Communication terminal device
A communication terminal devicecapable of being connected with an external telephone and of receiving and transmitting facsimile data from and to a network, includes: an off-hook detector configured to detect an off-hook condition of the external telephone, an semiconductor DAA (Data Access Arrangement) including an impedance switcher configured to switch impedances and a direct-current resistance switcher configured to switch direct-current resistances; an impedance switching controller configured to instruct the impedance switcher to switch the impedances; a direct-current resistance switching controller configured to instruct the direct-current resistance switcher to switch the direct-current resistances, wherein, when the off-hook detector detects the off-hook condition of the external telephone, the impedance switching controller instructs the impedance switcher to switch the impedances and the direct-current resistance switching controller instructs the direct-current resistance switcher to switch the direct-current resistances. |
| US08526580B2 |
System and method for voicemail organization
A stream of voicemail audio data is received. A text-based representation of a portion of the stream of voicemail audio data is generated. One or more identification tags from the stream of voicemail audio data and/or the text-based representation of the portion of the stream of voicemail audio data are obtained from a first user. The text-based representation of the portion of the stream of voicemail audio data and the one or more identification tags are provided to a second user through a graphical user interface. |
| US08526579B2 |
Notification system
A method for providing a notification includes receiving a notification request at a central location. The notification request includes an audible message, a notification time, and a destination. The audible message is stored at the central location and associated with the notification time and destination. A current time is determined and compared with the determined notification time. The method further includes connecting a telephone call to the destination based on the determination and transmitting the stored audible message to the destination during the telephone call based on the connection. |
| US08526576B1 |
Systems and methods for exchanging call routing policies for voice over IP calls
An emergency call handling system can provide emergency call routing and processing that compliments or modifies the routing and processing provided by conventional enhanced 911 (E-911) and next generation 911 (NG-911) systems. Both the routing and processing can be based on rule sets detailed in emergency call handling profiles (ECHPs). Any entity (e.g., SIP servers, switches, terminals, etc.) within the system can process and route the emergency call by executing the rule sets within the ECHPs associated with the call. The ECHPs are delivered to the entities within the system by value or by reference. A SIP server, e.g., may execute all or a subset of the rule set, and may communicate with an application server to execute other subsets of the rule set. |
| US08526575B1 |
Compound X-ray lens having multiple aligned zone plates
A compound zone plate comprising a first zone plate frame including a first zone plate, a second zone plate frame including a second zone plate, and a base frame to which the first zone plate frame and the second zone plate frame are bonded. In examples, two more zone plates are added to make a four element optic. In the assembly process, the microbeads are used to ensure the parallelism, dial in the distance precisely between the zone plates by selecting the microbead size, possibly in response to the width of the frames, and ensure low friction lateral movement enabling nanometer precision alignment of the zone plates with respect to each other prior to being fixed by the adhesive. That is, when the frames are pressed together to ensure parallelism, it is still possible to align them to each other since the microbead layer facilitates the inplane movement of the alignment process. |
| US08526573B2 |
Systems and methods for remote diagnostic imaging
Systems and methods for remote diagnostic imaging. The systems include a diagnostic imaging kiosk. The kiosk includes, for example, a first housing module and a second housing module. The first housing module is configured to house, among other things, a diagnostic imaging system (e.g., an X-ray system). The second housing module is configured to house electronics associated with the operation, control, and networking of the kiosk. The electronics include, for example, a primary controller, an X-ray controller, an X-ray generator, an internal display controller, an external display controller, one or more routers, and a digital radiology module. The kiosk is configured to communicatively connect to a remote technician's workstation, and a remote technician at the workstation is able to remotely control the kiosk through a packet-switched network. The control of the kiosk includes controlling access to the kiosk, the position of a diagnostic imaging unit, the capture of diagnostic images, the display of information to a patient, etc. |
| US08526571B2 |
Air bearing dynamic Z-axis balancing
A medical imaging system (100) includes a stationary gantry (102) and a rotating gantry (104) that rotates around an examination region (108) about a z-axis. An air bearing (106) rotatably couples the rotating gantry (104) to the stationary gantry (102). A radiation source (110) is affixed to the rotating gantry (104) and rotates with the rotating gantry (104) and emits radiation that traverses the examination region. A detector array (112) is affixed to the rotating gantry (104) on an opposite side of the examination region with respect to the radiation source (110) and detects radiation traversing the examination region (108). A dynamic z-axis imbalance determination system (116) determines an imbalance of the rotating gantry (104) in the z-axis direction directly from the air bearing (106), and the determined imbalance is used to position a balance mass (114) affixed to the rotating gantry (104) in the z-axis direction, thereby balancing the rotating gantry (104) along the z-axis. |
| US08526565B2 |
Fuel transfer system
A fuel transfer system is used for transporting spent fuel from a first room to a second room. The system includes a carriage configured for travel between the first room and the second room, and a boom assembly that extends and retracts between the first room and the second room, wherein the boom assembly facilitates travel of the carriage. The system also includes a hoist system positioned in the first room. The hoist system includes at least one boom cable interconnected with the boom assembly to extend and retract the boom assembly. The hoist system also includes at least one carriage cable interconnected with the carriage to move the carriage. |
| US08526564B2 |
Top guide inspection fixture
A fixture for performing visual inspections of the underside of the top guide of a boiling water reactor. The inspections are performed in the reactor vessel, under water, and includes a framed structure that rests on top of the top guide and supports a wheel track within a fuel assembly opening in the top guide, that follows the contour of the opening. A camera support, suspended from the frame, is then remotely, manually rotated to follow the contour of the wheel track as the fixture maintains the camera at a fixed angle and known constant distance from the underside of the top guide. |
| US08526563B2 |
Terminal elements for coupling connecting rods and control rods in control rod assemblies for a nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel, and a control rod assembly (CRA) including at least one movable control rod, a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) for controlling movement of the at least one control rod, and a coupling operatively connecting the at least one control rod and the CRDM. The coupling includes a connecting rod engaged with the CRDM and a terminal element connected with a lower end of the connecting rod and further connected with the at least one control rod. In some embodiments the terminal element includes a first portion comprising a first material having a first density and a second portion comprising a second material having a second density that is greater than the first density. In some embodiments the terminal element has a largest dimension parallel with the connecting rod that is greater than or equal to a largest dimension transverse to the connecting rod. |
| US08526562B2 |
Reactor power control apparatus of natural circulation reactor, generation system of natural circulation reactor and method for controlling reactor power of natural circulation reactor
In the present invention, a reactor power control apparatus of a natural circulation reactor comprises a power control apparatus for controlling reactor power and a pressure control apparatus for controlling reactor pressure. A power adjustment demand signal S4 is input from the power control apparatus into the pressure control apparatus. The pressure control apparatus controls degree of opening of a inlet port steam control valve provided in a moisture separation heater that is connected to a low-pressure turbine, based on the power adjustment demand signal S4.A reactor power control apparatus of the natural circulation reactor can suppress reactor power variation and obtain stable power. |
| US08526561B2 |
Methods for making and processing metal targets for producing Cu-67 radioisotope for medical applications
The present invention provides a method for producing Cu67 radioisotope suitable for use in medical applications. The method comprises irradiating a metallic zinc-68 (Zn68) target with a high energy gamma ray beam. After irradiation, the Cu67 is isolated from the Zn68 by any suitable method (e.g., chemical and/or physical separation). In a preferred embodiment, the Cu67 is isolated by sublimation of the zinc (e.g., at about 500-700° C. under reduced pressure) to afford a copper residue containing Cu67. The Cu67 can be further purified by chemical means (i.e., dissolution in acid, followed by ion exchange). |
| US08526560B2 |
Method of using deuterium-cluster foils for an intense pulsed neutron source
A method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: providing a converter foil comprising deuterium clusters; focusing a laser on the foil with power and energy sufficient to cause deuteron ions to separate from the foil; and striking a surface of a target with the deuteron ions from the converter foil with energy sufficient to cause neutron production by a reaction selected from the group consisting of D-D fusion, D-T fusion, D-metal nuclear spallation, and p-metal. A further method is provided for assembling a plurality of target assemblies for a target injector to be used in the previously mentioned manner. A further method is provided for producing neutrons, comprising: splitting a laser beam into a first beam and a second beam; striking a first surface of a target with the first beam, and an opposite second surface of the target with the second beam with energy sufficient to cause neutron production. |
| US08526559B2 |
Communication systems and clock generation circuits thereof with reference source switching
A clock generation circuit for a transmitter which transmits data according to an output clock signal is provided. The clock generation circuit include a clock generator and a phase locked loop (PLL). The clock generator generates a first clock signal. The PLL initially generates the output clock signal according to the first clock signal. When a frequency of the output clock signal generated according to the first clock signal is not within a range required for specification of the transmitter, the PLL generates the output clock signal according to a second clock signal. |
| US08526558B1 |
Recursive range controller
A method and apparatus for detecting out-of-specification data streams and voltage controller oscillator operation. Data may be received over evaluation periods. Each evaluation period is segmented into n sub-periods. Each n sub-period has the same length. Each n sub-period spans a portion of the data. The corresponding data period starting at each of the n sub-period is evaluated. The sub-period interval counts may be stored in a first-in-first-out register. |
| US08526551B2 |
Multiple-input, on-chip oscilloscope
An integrated circuit that includes a receive data path is described. The receive data path: equalizes a received analog signal, converts the resulting equalized analog signal to digital data values based on a clock signal, and recovers the clock signal in the digital data values. The integrated circuit also includes an on-chip oscilloscope. The oscilloscope includes: two comparators, a phase rotator that outputs an oscilloscope clock signal whose phase can be varied relative to that of the recovered clock signal, and an offset circuit that outputs a voltage offset. Based on the voltage offset and the oscilloscope clock signal, the comparators output digital values which can be used to determine eye patterns that correspond to the analog signal before and after equalization. The eye patterns can then be correlated with an error rate associated with the received data. |
| US08526550B1 |
System and method for wideband interference suppression
A wideband interference suppression system comprises at least one signal conditioning device receiving at least one input signal having a signal of interest portion and an interference signal portion, wherein the at least one signal conditioning device is adapted to provide selective, independent, and variable control of one of a phase, a time delay, an amplitude, a radio frequency signal division, and a radio frequency signal summation of the at least one input signal to produce a modified signal. A tunable cross correlator receives a signal representative of the modified signal and is adapted to estimate one of an amplitude, a time delay and a phase delay parameter of the interference signal portion and to generate a control logic signal therefrom, wherein the control logic signal is received by the at least one signal conditioning device for independently and selectively activating and adjusting the various components thereof to suppress the interference signal portion. |
| US08526549B2 |
Signal processing circuit and method thereof
A signal processing circuit is provided. The signal processing circuit, adjusting a received radio frequency (RF) signal according to a gain, and generating a digital signal accordingly, the signal processing circuit including a signal analysis circuit, for analyzing the digital signal to generate the gain, determining whether the received RF signal is a target signal, and generating a reference value according to the digital signal, and a baseband circuit, for performing a carrier frequency offset (CFO) compensation to the digital signal according to the reference value, wherein, the reference value is generated while the signal analysis circuit is determining whether the received RF signal is the target signal. |
| US08526543B2 |
Quadrature imbalance estimation using unbiased training sequences
A system and method are provided for removing quadrature imbalance errors in received data. The method accepts an unbiased training sequence in a quadrature demodulation receiver. An unbiased training sequence has a uniform accumulated power evenly distributed in a complex plane, and includes predetermined reference signals (p) at frequency +f and predetermined mirror signals (pm) at frequency −f. The unbiased training sequence is processed, generating a sequence of processed symbols (y) at frequency +f, representing complex plane information in the unbiased training sequence. Each processed symbol (y) is multiplied by the mirror signal (pm), and an unbiased quadrature imbalance estimate Bm is obtained at frequency (−f). Using quadrature imbalance estimates, channel estimates, and processed symbols, an imbalance-corrected symbol can be generated. |
| US08526537B2 |
Digital pre-distortion processing method and apparatus
This invention discloses a for digital pre-distortion processing method and apparatus, the method including that: training signals are sent to at least one radio frequency front-end device as needed (201); the output training signals of the radio frequency front-end devices are collected through a feedback channel as needed (202); digital pre-distortion (DPD) coefficients of the radio frequency front-end devices are trained as needed (203); after the coefficient training is completed, the DPD coefficients of the corresponding radio frequency front-end devices are updated as needed. There is no need to track the variation of the signals all the time and to compare the signals with a long-time statistical signal template to trigger the training in the invention. The invention can accommodate a multi-antennas application without configuring a corresponding digital pre-distortion feedback channel and coefficient training module separately for each antenna, thereby when the antennas are increased, the volume and cost are not increased and the invention can be of good feasibility from the perspective of commercialization. |
| US08526531B2 |
Apparatus and method for selection of precoding matrix
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for selection of a precoding matrix. In the present invention, a precoding matrix to enable an effective signal-to-noise ratio (ESNR) to have a maximum value with respect to a signal vector that requires retransmission is selected in a codebook and fed back to a transmitter. Accordingly, since the effective signal-to-noise ratio has the maximum value after the signal vector is retransmitted, it is possible to minimize a reception error probability of retransmission. |
| US08526524B2 |
Orthogonal reference signal permutation
A method for a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes analyzing a set of signal sources that are operably associated with a set of time domain windows. Often, the method periodically switches the association between the set of time domain windows and the set of signal sources in order to facilitate a determination of one or more signal paths generated by the signal sources. |
| US08526523B1 |
Highly-spectrally-efficient receiver
A receiver may be operable to receive a QAM-based, inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal at a signal-to-noise ratio of between 29 dB and 31 dB and process the QAM-based, ISC signal to output estimated symbols at a symbol error rate of between 2×10−1 and 1×10−3. The QAM-based, ISC signal may be a partial response signal generated by passing a first signal through a partial response pulse shaping filter. The partial response pulse shaping filter may provide greater capacity than a capacity achieved by passing the first signal through a root-raised-cosine-based pulse shaping filter. The receiver may comprises an input filter, and the processing of the QAM-based, ISC signal may comprises filtering the QAM-based, ISC signal via a filter configured to achieve a desired total partial response in combination with the partial response pulse shaping filter. |
| US08526520B2 |
Cyclostationary signal detection in the angular domain for communication systems
Apparatuses and methods for providing efficient spectrum sensing and signal detection using cyclostationary based spectrum sensing algorithms. A method embodiment is provided, comprising: receiving input samples of a signal having expected predetermined properties; transforming the input samples to angular form and obtaining data samples corresponding to at least one angle vector; performing a cyclostationarity test on the at least one angle vector, the cyclostationarity test being done entirely in an angular domain; wherein the cyclostationarity test comprises testing the at least one angle vector for a non-uniform distribution, the non-uniform distribution of the at least one angle vector indicating cyclostationarity in the input samples; and where cyclostationarity in the input samples is determined, refraining from transmitting radio frequency signals over an air interface at a frequency corresponding to the received signal. Apparatuses for implementing the methods are also disclosed. |
| US08526517B2 |
Blind SLM and PTS method with low decoding complexity of OFDM signals
Disclosed is a BSLM method of generating U independent alternative symbol sequences by changing a phase of symbol sequences by phase sequences and transmitting the alternative symbol sequences with a PAPR to lower the PARR of a transmission signal of a transmitter in an OFDM system. The transmitter uses m-sequences as the phase sequence and a receiver uses an ML decoder to distinguish the phase sequence. The BSLM method includes rotating phases in blocks according to the m-sequences used in the respective symbol sequences, selecting a signal sequence with a minimum PAPR among U alternative signal sequences generated by the m-sequences in the transmitter, and partitioning U alternative symbol sequences into U/2 blocks in the transmitter. Block partitioning and predetermined phase rotation are used to embed side information in an alternative signal sequence, and the BSLM scheme may be extended to a BPTS. Since low decoding complexity is given while detecting side information, the same BER performance is obtained as that of the conventional BSLM scheme in the AWGN channel. |
| US08526510B2 |
Estimation of traffic-to-pilot ratios
A method for coherent estimation of the traffic-to-pilot energy ratio is presented. A received preamble is decoded, and then re-encoded. The received preamble is then multiplied by the re-encoded preamble. The results are summed, squared, and then divided by a pilot energy value. In another method, a message carrying energy information can be inserted between a subpacket preamble and a subpacket. |
| US08526509B2 |
Deblocking filtering
Blocking artifacts at a block boundary (1) between a block (10) and a neighboring block (20) in a video frame are reduced by calculating an offset based on pixel values of pixels (11, 13) in a line (12) of pixels (11, 13, 15, 17) in the block (10) and based on pixel values of pixels (21, 23) in a corresponding line (22) of pixels (21, 23, 25, 27) in the neighboring block (20). The offset is added to the pixel value of the pixel (11) closest to the block boundary (1) in the line (12) of pixels (11, 13, 15, 17) and is subtracted from the pixel value of the pixel (21) closest to the block boundary (1) in the corresponding line (22) of pixels (21, 23, 25, 27). The resulting deblocking filter has good low-pass characteristics and is efficient for reducing blocking artifact. |
| US08526493B2 |
Double register array buffer for motion compensation
Provided are a method and apparatus for buffering image data for motion compensation. One of two buffers of a double register array buffer, i.e., a first buffer, is selected as a buffer in which data corresponding to a row of a block of an image is to be written and the other of the double register array buffer is selected as a buffer from which data corresponding to another row of the block is to be read, thereby speeding up motion compensation processing when compared with the use of a single register array buffer. |
| US08526492B2 |
Encoding method, decoding method, and encoding apparatus for a digital picture sequence
Rate control mechanisms for video encoding aim to provide the best possible video quality while keeping given conditions on transmission rate and decoding delay. In order to achieve a constant video quality, the anchor and non-anchor frames of different frame types are encoded using a different number of bits. However, since video sequences generally contain widely varying picture content and previously coded frames are used to predict a given frame, a suitable assignment of frame target bit rates is hard to determine, especially for non-anchor frames. According to the invention, non-anchor frames are coded using a fixed quantization parameter. Since the quantization parameter used for the encoding of non-anchor frames is directly derived from the average quantization parameter of the previously encoded anchor frame, such approach ensures a constant video quality. Beside of that, the complexity of the rate control strategy is reduced, because no macroblock-level rate control is applied for the encoding of non-anchor frames. |
| US08526490B2 |
System and method for video compression using feedback including data related to the successful receipt of video content
A computer-implemented system and method for performing video compression are described. For example, a method according to one embodiment comprises: encoding a first plurality of video frames or portions thereof, wherein each encoded video frame or portion thereof is dependent on a previously-encoded video frame or portion thereof, respectively; transmitting the first plurality of encoded video frames or portions to a client device; receiving feedback information from the client device, the feedback information usable to determine whether data contained in the video frames or portions has not been successfully received and/or decoded; in response to detecting that a video frame or portion thereof has not been successfully received and/or decoded, encoding a current video frame or portion thereof to be dependent on a previously-encoded video frame or portion thereof known to have been successfully received and/or decoded on the client device; and transmitting the current video frame or portion thereof to the client device. |
| US08526486B2 |
Decision feedback equalizer for portable environments
A method is provided. The method includes receiving a carrier signal and analyzing the received carrier signal to identify at least one of a static multipath delay and a dynamic multipath delay in the signal. The method also includes configuring an equalizer based upon the at least one of the static and dynamic multipath delays. |
| US08526478B2 |
Semiconductor optical integrated element
A semiconductor optical integrated element includes: a substrate; and a laser diode and a modulator which are integrated on the substrate. The laser diode includes an embedded waveguide having a core layer, both sides of which are embedded in a semiconductor material. The modulator includes a high-mesa ridge waveguide having a core layer, neither side of which is embedded in the semiconductor material. The core layers in the laser diode and the modulator are stripe-shaped. |
| US08526473B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamically generating tailored laser pulses
Processing workpieces such as semiconductor wafers or other materials with a laser includes selecting a target to process that corresponds to a target class associated with a predefined temporal pulse profile. The temporal pulse profile includes a first portion that defines a first time duration, and a second portion that defines a second time duration. A method includes generating a laser pulse based on laser system input parameters configured to shape the laser pulse according to the temporal pulse profile, detecting the generated laser pulse, comparing the generated laser pulse to the temporal pulse profile, and adjusting the laser system input parameters based on the comparison. |
| US08526472B2 |
ASE swept source with self-tracking filter for OCT medical imaging
An integrated swept wavelength tunable optical source uses a narrowband filtered broadband signal with an optical amplifier and self-tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal. The self-tracking arrangement is used where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary. |
| US08526468B1 |
Method and system for quality-of-service-differentiated reverse activity bit
The disclosure generally relates to service-tier-based regulation of reverse-link activity at an access terminal operating in a wireless access network. An exemplary method involves (a) receiving one or more reverse activity bits from a wireless access network; (b) based 5 at least in part on the received reverse activity bits, determining a Quick Reverse Activity Bit (QRAB) and/or a Filtered Reverse Activity Bit (FRAB); (c) applying a first service-tier filter to the determined QRAB, wherein the first service-tier filter corresponds to a service tier for which the access terminal is authorized; and (d) based at least in part on the service-tier filtered QRAB, determining an adjustment to reverse-link activity of the access terminal. The method may further involve applying a second service-tier filter to the determined FRAB and using the service-tier filtered QRAB in determining the adjustment to reverse-link activity. |
| US08526467B2 |
Facilitating transition of network operations from IP version 4 to IP version 6
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to facilitating transitions from IPv4 to IPv6 networks. In particular implementations, the invention facilitates or enables accessibility of network application services between IPv4 and IPv6 hosts, or traversal of network paths including both IPv6 or IPv4 domains. Particular implementations of the invention are directed to selective mapping of network layer addresses between IPv6 and IPv4 protocols and Domain Name System records under one or more policy controls. Other implementations of the invention are directed to a proxy-to-proxy based tunnel architecture allowing hosts implementing a first network layer protocol, such as IPv4, to traverse a network implementing a second network layer protocol, such as IPv6. |
| US08526464B2 |
Adaptive contention window in discontinuous wireless communication channels
A system and method for discontinuous wireless communication. The system and method include estimating a first likelihood of channel collisions at start of a discontinuous channel interval, wherein the estimated likelihood of collision is increased when a transmission failure is detected during a portion of one or more previous channel intervals; setting a size of a contention transmission window at start of a current channel interval, according to the first estimated likelihood of channel collisions; estimating a second likelihood of channel collisions for a next channel interval; and dynamically changing the size of the contention transmission window for the next channel interval, according to the second estimated likelihood of channel collisions. |
| US08526461B2 |
Methods and apparatus supporting adaptive decentralized traffic scheduling including a dynamic transmitter yielding threshold
Methods and apparatus relating to scheduling of air link resources, e.g., traffic segments, in a wireless communications system are described. Various described methods and apparatus are well suited to wireless peer to peer networks in which traffic scheduling is decentralized, e.g. an ad hoc peer to peer network. An individual wireless terminal corresponding to a peer to peer connection which desires to transmit traffic signals make transmitter yielding decisions on a traffic slot by traffic slot basis. The transmitter yielding decision, in some embodiments, includes comparing a link quality estimate corresponding to a higher priority link intending to use the same traffic segment concurrently, to a dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold. The dynamically generated transmitter yielding threshold is determined based on at least one of: quality of service information corresponding to its own link and historical link quality information corresponding to the higher priority link. |
| US08526460B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling asynchronous tasks to residual channel space
Systems (100)/methods (1000) for allocating performance of data service tasks (DST-1, . . . , DST-30) of a defined duration or data volume among time frames (2021-1, 2021-2, . . . , 2021-N, . . . , 20217-1, 20217-2, . . . , 20217-N) defined in separate communication channels (2001, . . . , 20017). Each time frame has a predetermined duration and number of time chips (3021-1, 3021-2, . . . , 3021-26624). The methods involve allocating portions of the time frames to synchronous type data service tasks (STDSTs). STDSTs (DTS-1, . . . , DST-14, DST-16, . . . , DST-18, DST-20, . . . , DST-30) must be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single channel. The methods also involve allocating residual channel space portions of the time frames to asynchronous type data service tasks (ATDSTs). ATDSTs (DST-15, DST-19) do not require data to be communicated in consecutive time chips of a single channel. |
| US08526459B2 |
Wireless device capability and enhanced control channel
A base station receives a first radio resource control (RRC) message comprising parameter(s) indicating whether a wireless device supports an enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). The base station transmits a second RRC message causing configuration of first radio resources of a first ePDCCH and second radio resources of a first data channel. The second RRC message indicates a frequency allocation for the first ePDCCH in terms of resource blocks in a subset of subframes. The base station transmits scheduling information on the first ePDCCH in a first subframe. |
| US08526454B2 |
Apparatus and method for bit remapping in a relay enhanced communication system
An apparatus and method for bit remapping at a relay node in a communication system. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a processor configured to remap an order of bits of a received signal from a source node to a different order of bits for a transmitted signal to a destination node when the transmitted signal is constructed with a modulation scheme different from the received signal. |
| US08526453B2 |
Linecard and method for telecommunication
Linecards and methods for processing signals are provided. |
| US08526451B2 |
Method and apparatus providing network coding based flow control
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing network based flow control is presented. A linear combination of packets to transmit from a transmit queue is determined. The linear combination of packets is transmitted across a network using a sliding window protocol. An acknowledgement (ACK) is generated, wherein a packet is acknowledged when a receiving node receives the linear combination of packets and determines which packet of the linear combination of packets has been newly seen. |
| US08526448B2 |
Call localization and processing offloading
In one embodiment, a gateway implements: receiving an indication that a first and a second end point of a communication session are both associated with a first gateway, the first gateway in communication with a second gateway to access services; receiving from the first end point at the first gateway a compressed packet; and communicating within the first gateway, the compressed packet from the first end point to the second end point, where the communicating is initiated in response to the indication that the first and second end points of the communication session are both associated with the first gateway, and where the communicated compressed packet is communicated through the first gateway without passing through the second gateway. |
| US08526447B1 |
H.323 to SIP fax interworking
A network device has a H.323 interface to communicate under a H.323 standard of the International Telecommunications Union. The device also has a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) interface. A processor converts signaling messages between H.323 and Session Initiation Protocol to establish a fax session for communication of packetized fax signals and data. |
| US08526445B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing domain information
An apparatus for providing domain information is disclosed. The apparatus includes a storage module that stores domain information regarding a domain, and a control module that transmits a response message including the stored domain information to the device through the communication-interface module in response to a domain-information-request message received from the device. |
| US08526444B2 |
Method for distributing data packets in a mobile node network and associated node
A method of broadcasting a data packet (D) in an ad hoc network comprising a plurality of groups of mobile nodes traveling along traffic lanes in a road network. The data packet (D) is broadcast within a group (G) during an intragroup broadcasting phase during which the data packet (D) propagates simultaneously in two opposing directions of movement (A1, A2), such that the packet (D) is received by peripheral nodes (B1, B2) of the group (G). During an intergroup broadcasting phase, a peripheral node (B) transmits the data packet (D) to another group. |
| US08526441B2 |
System and method for handling out-of-order frames
A system for reordering frames may include at least one processor that enable receiving of an out-of-order frame via a network subsystem. The at least one processor may enable placing data of the out-of-order frame in a host memory, and managing information relating to one or more holes resulting from the out-of-order frame in a receive window. The at least one processor may enable setting a programmable limit with respect to a number of holes allowed in the receive window. The out-of-order frame is received via a TCP offload engine (TOE) of the network subsystem or a TCP-enabled Ethernet controller (TEEC) of the network subsystem. The network subsystem may not store the out-of-order frame on an onboard memory, and may not store one or more missing frames relating to the out-of-order frame. The network subsystem may include a network interface card (NIC). |
| US08526438B2 |
Bandwidth variable communication apparatus and bandwidth variable communication method
A bandwidth variable communication apparatus includes: a route exchange unit including a route exchange function for switching an output port of a stream signal of one or more wavelengths input from an input port based on both or a part of wavelength and time, and including a bandwidth change function for changing passable frequency bandwidth in a section from the input port to the output port through which the stream signal passes; and a control unit including a control information transmit-receive function for transmitting and receiving control information for both or a part of the route exchange function and the bandwidth change function of the route exchange unit, and including a control function for controlling the route exchange unit based on the control information. All or a part of the input ports and the output ports are connected to other communication apparatuses via transmission routes. |
| US08526437B2 |
Communication system and communication control device
Provided is a communication system which connects a unified C/U router to a network having C/U separation, wherein the stopping of U-plane communication of the unified C/U router is prevented even when the messages transmitted from a C-plane controller of the network having C/U separation do not arrive because of faults in the network having C/U separation. The routing information of a C-plane message (routing protocol) received by a U-plane controller is sent to an adjacent peer without being reflected in a routing table of the U-plane controller. The routing table of the U-plane controller is generated on the basis of the routing information (FIB information) received directly from the C-plane controller. In addition, a keep-alive packet from the unified C/U router is not sent to the C-plane controller and keeps alive the connection with the user router at the transmission destination. |
| US08526436B2 |
Address search method and packet processing device
A packet processing device includes a first search table in which an entry including an index value and a destination address is registered and a second search table in which a combination of header information and a destination address is registered. The packet processing device receives as an input a combination of header information and a destination to be registered and calculates an index value by one-way function calculation using the input header information. If the calculated index value is different from the existing entry in the first search table, the calculated index value and the input destination are registered as a new entry in the first search table. If the calculated index value is the same as the index value of the existing entry, a combination of the header information and the destination address represented by the existing entry is registered together with a combination of the inputted header information and the destination address in the second search table, and the destination address of the existing entry is deleted. By using the header information of a transfer packet, the packet processing device searches the first and the second search tables in parallel for the destination of the packet. |
| US08526434B2 |
Routing manager hierarchy
There are provided a scalable method for mobility management applied to an IP-based network system including a plurality of routers and a plurality of servers, a part of which serve as a home routing manager (HRM), a part of which serve as local routing managers (LRM) for individual mobile nodes. The method at least comprises the steps of sending a first query about a routing address of a destination mobile node toward the HRM, based on an activation notification (AN) from an ingress access router (AR) of the plurality of routers, triggered by a source mobile mode, from an LRM receiving the activation notification; relaying the first query via one or more intermediate routing managers (IRM) closer to the HRM until the first query reaches the HRM; and in response to the first query, sending the routing address of the destination mobile node back to the ingress access router through the relay path from the HRM. |
| US08526433B2 |
Address resolution optimization procedure to effect a gradual cutover from a provider bridge network to a VPLS or provider backbone bridging network
A method and apparatus that operates two bridging protocols in a hybrid bridging node is described. The operation of the two bridging protocols in the hybrid node allows for an incremental transition of a provider bridging network from operating a legacy bridging protocol that shares MAC addresses to a bridging network that operates VPLS and/or PBB bridging protocols. The hybrid bridging node selectively broadcasts address resolution packets and unicast packets with unknown MAC addresses from the nodes operating VPLS and/or PBB to nodes operating a legacy bridging protocol. |
| US08526431B2 |
Operation methods in an ethernet passive optical network that includes a network unit with multiple entities
A method for registration of multiple entities belonging to a specific optical network unit (ONU). In one embodiment, the multiple entity registration method comprises checking by an optical line terminal (OLT) if a registration request message received from the specific ONU belongs to a certain grant, and based on the check result, registering an entity as either a first or as an additional entity of the specific ONU. In another embodiment, the method comprises checking by an OLT of a reserved value of a flags field inside a registration request message, and based on the check result, registering an entity as either a first or as an additional entity of the specific ONU. The knowledge by an OLT that multiple entities belong to a specific ONU is used for grant optimization and packet data flow optimization. |
| US08526427B1 |
Port-based loadsharing for a satellite switch
A method may involve: receiving a packet (e.g., via a port or uplink interface in a satellite switch) and conveying the packet between one or more ports and one of several uplink interfaces. The one or more ports and the uplink interface are associated with each other. The association can be independent of VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network). As an example, such a method can involve: receiving a first packet via a first port; conveying the first packet to a distribution-layer via a first uplink interface; receiving a second packet via a second port; and conveying the second packet to the distribution-layer via a second uplink interface, where the first uplink interface is associated with the first port and the second uplink interface is associated with the second port. In some embodiments, ports and uplink interfaces are associated by being assigned to the same virtual linecard. |
| US08526422B2 |
Network on chip with partitions
A network on chip (‘NOC’) that includes integrated processor (‘IP’) blocks, routers, memory communications controllers, and network interface controllers, with each IP block adapted to a router through a memory communications controller and a network interface controller, where each memory communications controller controlling communications between an IP block and memory, and each network interface controller controlling inter-IP block communications through routers, with the network organized into partitions, each partition including at least one IP block, each partition assigned exclusive access to a separate physical memory address space and one or more applications executing on one or more of the partitions. |
| US08526421B2 |
Arrangement and approach for time slot index synchronization for wireless communications
The time slot index for wireless signals is synchronized using an approach that facilitates rapid synchronization acquisition and tracking synchronization recovery. According to an example embodiment, a synchronization circuit (e.g., 300) uses data in symbols of a particular signal frame (e.g., 120) to set a time slot index synchronization characteristic for an acquired wireless signal, and further to track time slot index synchronization during processing of the signal. |
| US08526417B1 |
Adaptive initialization for wireless schedulers
A method, medium, and wireless system are provided for scheduling access terminals to prevent starvation of access terminals connected to a communication network when one or more recently-connected access terminals having limited historical information about their channel conditions request time slots to initiate network communications. The wireless system includes access terminals and base stations that communicate over the communication network. The access terminals measure channel conditions associated with communications to the base station and transmit requests that specify a desired communication rate to the base station. The base stations receive the requests from each access terminal and select an access terminal to communicate during a subsequent time slot based on, among other things, the channel conditions and weighted average functions of the communication rate corresponding to the access terminal. |
| US08526416B2 |
Method of performing polling procedure in a wireless communication system
A method of performing a polling procedure in a wireless communication system is disclosed. In a method of performing polling procedure in a protocol layer in a wireless communication system, wherein the protocol layer performs a data retransmission function, the method comprises triggering a polling procedure to request a receiving side to transmit a status report, and terminating the triggered polling procedure if a predetermined event occurs. |
| US08526409B2 |
Multi-interface mobility client
A mobile node comprises: a plurality of network interfaces, each with a respective device driver; a network layer; a multi-interface driver capable of communication with each network interface by way of the respective device driver for that network interface, the multi-interface driver handling communications from the network layer to any of the network interfaces; the multi-interface driver switching from a first one of the network interfaces to a second one of the network interfaces by changing the one of the plurality of network interfaces with which the multi-interface driver communicates, while hiding the switching from the network layer. |
| US08526408B2 |
Support of UICC-less calls
The invention relates to a method comprising initiating a session from a subscriber terminal, wherein the subscriber terminal does not comprise a specific user identification module, and authenticating the session based on a temporary identification of the subscriber terminal, by using a procedure performing a server authentication and avoiding a client authentication. |
| US08526407B2 |
Extended coordinated multipoint cells to mitigate inter-comp-cell downlink interference
Inter-CoMP cell interference is reduced by “extending” at least one CoMP cell to include UEs served by a neighboring CoMP cell in the extended CoMP cell's transmission calculations, so as to minimize interference to the UEs served by other CoMP cells. Each UE in a border sub-cell identifies neighboring CoMP cells from which it receives interference in excess of a threshold value, and includes the interfering CoMP cells in a close-neighbor set. The close-neighbor set is transmitted to the UE's serving CoMP cell controller. When downlink transmissions are scheduled to the target UE, the controller notifies the neighboring CoMP cells in the close-neighbor set, identifying the target UE. Those CoMP cells then use information about the channel conditions from their transmit antennas to the target UE receive antennas to compute transmissions to UEs they serve, with the constraint that interference to the target UE is below a predetermined level. |
| US08526403B1 |
Enterprise cognitive radio integrated with laser communications
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link. |
| US08526402B2 |
Radio network controller and transmitting power control method
Radio network controller includes a propagation delay acquisition part for acquiring a measurement value of a round-trip time between the base station device and the radio terminal, an offset acquisition part for acquiring an offset value indicating a delay at which the base station device transmits the information of transmitting power control to the radio terminal, from a reference timing, a channelization format determination part for determining the channel identification spread code transmitted to the base station device based on the measurement value of the round-trip time and the offset value acquired by the offset acquisition part, and a slot format determination part for determining the time slot information transmitted to the base station device based on the measurement value of the round-trip time and the offset value. |
| US08526400B2 |
Radio access system and method using OFDM and CDMA for broadband data transmission
A method and system for wireless data communication using a first wireless communication technology and a second wireless communication technology. The second wireless communication technology being different from the first wireless communication technology. A transmitter is arranged to transmit data using frame structures based on the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology in which the frame structure based on the second wireless communication technology has a timing structure, MAC and pilot that are also used with the frame structure of the first wireless communication technology. The transmitter is arranged to selectively change transmission on a frame by frame basis between the first wireless communication technology and the second wireless communication technology. |
| US08526399B2 |
Communications device used in CDMA
A transmitting device of the present invention is used in a CDMA communications system, and comprises: a plurality of spreading units for spreading user data; a managing unit for managing spread codes; a determining unit for determining a number of codes to be multiplexed based on use statuses of the spread codes managed by said managing unit; and a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the user data spread by spreading units a number of which corresponds to the number of codes to be multiplexed. |
| US08526397B2 |
TTI bundling indication to non-serving base station
The technology applies to a cellular radio communication system in which a mobile radio terminal transmits information in transmission time intervals (TTIs) that is received by a serving base station and by one or more non-serving base stations. A number N of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) transmissions transmitted together by the mobile terminal is determined. An HARQ transmission includes a first transmission, one or more retransmissions of the first transmission, or both. An indication of the number N of HARQ transmissions is provided either directly or indirectly to the one or more non-serving base stations so that the one or more non-serving base stations can take the number N into account when combining HARQ transmissions received from the mobile terminal. |
| US08526394B2 |
Method and system for hard handoff in a broadcast communication system
A method and system for a handoff in a broadcast communication system is disclosed. A subscriber-assisted handoff is impractical in a broadcast communication system due to e.g., a high signaling load, a difficulty to synchronize the broadcast transmission. On the other hand, the small number of broadcast channels enables the subscriber station to perform the handoff autonomously. While performing a handoff between broadcast transmissions, a disruption of service occurs due to lack of synchronization among the broadcast transmissions. To reduce the service disruption, upon detecting a need for handoff, the lower layers inform the application layer about the forthcoming handoff. The application layer thus may take measures to reduce or prevent the disruption. |
| US08526390B2 |
Methods and systems for dynamic sticky region allocation in map-based communication systems
Methods and apparatus for allocating, modifying, and terminating a fixed data region (termed “sticky region allocation”) in an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) or orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) frame are provided. With sticky region allocation, the sticky region may be negotiated during the establishment of a connection between a base station and a user terminal, and a single MAP information element (MAP IE) may inform the user terminal of the location of the sticky region. Then, a user terminal can receive/send data bursts for a certain connection in multiple OFDM/OFDMA frames without needing a MAP IE for locating each burst in subsequent frames. Accordingly, the size of the control overhead, such as the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) MAP messages, may be reduced. The reduced control overhead may increase the frame resources available for data traffic and thus, may boost the overall efficiency and performance of OFDM/OFDMA wireless systems. |
| US08526387B2 |
Method for transmitting control information and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for transmitting uplink control information and a device therefor, and the method comprises the steps of: selecting, from a plurality of uplink control channel resources, one uplink control channel resource corresponding to a plurality of HARQ-ACKs; and transmitting bit values corresponding to said plurality of HARQ-ACKs by using the selected uplink control channel resource. |
| US08526386B2 |
System for uplink scheduling packet based data traffic in wireless system
A system for allocating bandwidth resources among various mobile stations which are wirelessly connected to a base station. The length of the data queue in each mobile station is determined and information regarding that length is placed in a field in the outgoing data packet. When it is received in the base station, this field is decoded and the queue length information used to allocate bandwidth resources among the mobile station connections. This allows a very quick response to data queue lengths and accordingly better service. |
| US08526385B2 |
Method for generating reference signals
The present disclosure relates to a method for generating reference signals in a cellular wireless communication system having a set of resource blocks. Each resource block includes a plurality of resource elements. Each reference signal is associated with an antenna port in a cell. At least one reference signal in a cell is transmitted on at least one resource element only in resource blocks belonging to a subset of said set of resource blocks. The method includes shifting frequency in the resource blocks in the subset of resource blocks. The frequency shifting of the resource blocks belonging to said subset of resource blocks is cell-specific and is determined from an integer sequence having a length less than or equal to a total number of cell identities in said cellular wireless communication system. The disclosure also relates to methods and devices for transmitting and receiving such reference signals; and to a device for generating reference signals. |
| US08526383B2 |
System and method for allocating transmission resources based on a transmission rank
A method for wirelessly transmitting data using a plurality of transmission layers includes estimating a number of data vector symbols to be allocated to one or more user data codewords during the subframe and determining a number of bits in the one or more user data codewords. The method also includes calculating a nominal number of control vector symbols to allocate to control information based, at least in part, on the estimated number of data vector symbols and the determined number of bits in the one or more user data codewords. Additionally, the method includes determining an offset value based, at least in part, on a number of layers over which the wireless terminal will be transmitting during the subframe and calculating a final number of control vector symbols by multiplying the nominal number of control vector symbols and the offset value. The method also includes mapping one or more control codewords to the final number of control vector symbols and transmitting vector symbols carrying the one or more user data codewords and the one or more control codewords over the plurality of transmission layers during the subframe. |
| US08526377B2 |
DRX functionality in multi-carrier wireless networks
Mechanisms to provide independent DRX (discontinuous reception) functionalities for individual carriers of a multi-carrier wireless network (200) are described. DRX is a higher layer functionality indicating which TTIs (transmission time intervals) a user equipment (220) needs to read for control signals. Operating in the DRX cycle allows the user equipment (220) to reduce battery consumption. A connection is established between a base station (210) and the user equipment (220) over a plurality of carriers, where for each carrier, an independent DRX cycle is established. The plurality of carriers include anchor carriers which can carry commands from the base station (210). The anchor carriers have shorter DRX cycles than the non-anchor carriers. When a large amount of download data is to be transferred, the DRX cycles of multiple carriers are overridden and used for transfer to achieve fast download rates. The override commands are sent from the base station (210) to the user equipment (220) prior to the transfer. |
| US08526375B2 |
Communication connection device
The present invention provides a technique capable of processing to automatically and optimally select types of external networks and a communication system, and at the same time, capable of switching network selection upon a user's arbitrary opportunity. A communication connection device 1 is provided with: a network communication adaptor 13 connecting a terminal device 4; external network communication adaptors 11, 12 compatible with external networks; a network selection processing portion 102 automatically selecting a network from the external networks according to profile information 141 previously including at least one of types of networks and a communication system; re-selection processing instruction mechanisms 15, 103 designed to cause, as a result of a user's operation, the network selection processing portion 102 to start selection processing. |
| US08526370B2 |
Method, system and device for distributing resource of base station node
A method, system and device for distributing resources of a base station node (Node B) are disclosed to enable F-DPCH resources of a local cell to be sufficiently used. In this invention, Node B reports to the RNC the F-DPCH capability of the local cell so as to provide a decision-making basis about using or not using the F-DPCH to the RNC. If the local cell supports F-DPCH, when the UE initiates an RRC connection establishment request, the RNC instructs the Node B to distribute the F-DPCH and HSDPA resources to the UE, otherwise the RNC instructs the Node B to distribute DPDCH and DPDCCH resources to the UE. The F-DPCH capability of the local cell can be reported in a newly added IE or extended existing IE of the Audit Response message and Resource Status Indication message. |
| US08526366B2 |
Method and apparatus for a scheduler for a macro-diversity portion of a transmission
A method, apparatuses, and system of broadcasting content data in a macro-diversity region of a data frame includes receiving a stream of transport packets. Selecting at least one burst size, from amongst a set of a plurality of predetermined burst sizes. Allocating one or more data bursts with the selected burst size to the macro-diversity region of the data frame, each data burst comprising at least a portion of the received transport packets and wherein the at least one burst size is selected so as to minimize a number of data bursts allocated to the macro-diversity region. Then communicating the allocation of data bursts to a transmitter that includes the allocation of data bursts in the macro-diversity region of a data frame transmitted by the transmitter. |
| US08526361B2 |
Mobile communication system and method of data dispersion in said system
In a mobile communication system, which has a plurality of radio network controllers and a number of radio base stations connected to each of the radio network controllers, for sending and receiving user data between a host network and mobile stations via the radio network controllers and radio base stations, a plurality of transmission paths that pass through one or more radio network controllers are set up between a base station, which sends and receives radio signals to and from a mobile station, and the host network. When data is being sent and received using one transmission path from the host network to a base station through a radio network controller, traffic conditions on this transmission path are monitored. When traffic has increased, the user data is dispersed by being passed through a plurality of transmission paths. |
| US08526352B2 |
Method of controlling an entity of a remote network from a local network
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling at least one entity of a remote source network from a local home network. The method is implemented by a relay module, termed a roaming relay module, designed so that when the module is executed by an appliance connected to the home network, the module communicates with a relay module, termed a source relay module, executed by an appliance of the source network and serves as communication relay in relation to the at least one entity. The method includes: a step of reception of a first request by the roaming relay module via a control interface, complying with a first protocol usable to control the entity from the source network; and a step of sending from the roaming relay module to the source relay module, a second request intended to be converted by the source relay module into at least one third request complying with the first protocol. |
| US08526351B2 |
Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Channel characterization and training within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within such communication systems, there can be a number of devices (e.g., STAs) that communicate with a single device (e.g., AP). A multi-cast sounding frame may be transmitted from a transmitting device to a number of receiving devices. Appropriate scheduling or ordering of feedback signals from some or all of the receiving devices may be performed explicitly (e.g., sounding frame sent from the transmitting device to a receiving device) or implicitly (e.g., control information sent from the transmitting device to the receiving device, sounding frame sent to the transmitting device from the receiving device). Such characterization and training is with respect to a channel or path in which data will subsequently follow. Such characterization and training can be performed in accordance with group membership (e.g., with respect to only some of the receiving devices). |
| US08526349B2 |
Serial clear to send (CTS) to self (CTS2SELF) messaging procedure
Aspects of a serial clear to send to self message procedure are presented. Aspects of a system may include a wireless local area network station (STA), which enables transmission of a channel reservation confirmation message, such as a CTS frame, via a reference RF channel, for example, a primary channel. The STA may enable transmission of one or more subsequent channel reservation confirmation messages, for example CTS frames, via a corresponding one or more subsequent RF channels, for example, a secondary channel. The STA may enable transmission of data frames via the reference RF channel and/or at least a portion of the corresponding one or more subsequent RF channels. |
| US08526347B2 |
Peer-to-peer communication with symmetric waveform for downlink and uplink
Techniques for supporting peer-to-peer (P2P) communication are disclosed. In an aspect, P2P communication may be supported with a symmetric waveform for a P2P downlink and a P2P uplink. In one design, a first UE generates a first signal based on a particular waveform (e.g., a downlink waveform or an uplink waveform for a wireless network) and transmits the first signal to a second UE for P2P communication. The first UE also receives a second signal generated by the second UE based on the particular waveform and transmitted to the first UE for P2P communication. In another aspect, a proximity detection signal may be transmitted in a portion of a subframe instead of the entire subframe. The remaining portion of the subframe may be used to transmit control information and/or other information to support P2P communication. |
| US08526342B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptive resource multiplexing in a peer-to-peer network
A method of wireless communication includes determining resources available for peer discovery. The resources include first peer discovery resources with a first time interval and second peer discovery resources with a second time interval less than the first time interval. The method further includes communicating peer discovery signals through a first subset of peer discovery resources of the first peer discovery resources and a second subset of peer discovery resources of the second peer discovery resources. The second subset of peer discovery resources includes less resource elements than the first subset of peer discovery resources. |
| US08526336B2 |
Conference resource allocation and dynamic reallocation
In one embodiment, a system for conducting a conference session among a group of participants includes a server for establishing communication channels over a network connected with endpoint devices of the participants. The server operates to allocate initial resources on the network to conduct the conference session, the initial resources including the communication channels and at least one conferencing bridge. Code running on the server selects one or more different resources currently available during the conference session. The one or more different resources is selected to optimize a quality of service (QoS) criteria. Execution of the code causes the server to move the conference session to the one or more different resources responsive to a triggering event. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. |
| US08526335B2 |
Path setting device and path setting method
Disclosed is a path setting device capable of setting a distribution path of packets more speedily, when the originator of information is switched. The terminal (100) as the device sets the distribution path of the packets to a communication network which distributes the information from an unspecified terminal to a large number of terminals by transferring the packets. The terminal (100) comprises: an expanded distribution tree calculation unit (140) which calculates the distribution path in accordance with the position, on the communication network, of an origination candidate terminal which is a terminal capable of originating information; and a table setting server unit (150) which sets the calculated distribution path to the communication network. The distribution path calculated by the expanded distribution tree calculation unit (140) comprises: a distribution tree to transfer the packets from a root terminal to the large number of terminals; and a connection tree path to transfer the packets from the origination candidate terminal to the root terminal. |
| US08526330B2 |
Automatic-switchable network extension apparatus and a switching method
Disclosed herein are an automatically-switchable network extension apparatus and a switching method thereof. An automatic connection mechanism is particularly introduced into the apparatus. Exemplarily, a random number scheme is used to generate a value to be a basis for configuring the apparatus functioned as a CO or CPE operational mode. Based on the value, the method is to perform a connection with the other network extension apparatus. According to the embodiment, a set of connection parameters and the randomly-generated value are generated after the apparatus is initialized. The apparatus may be configured as CO or CPE operational mode according to the value, and simultaneously detect the operational mode of the apparatus to be linked. The apparatus accomplishes the connection if the two apparatuses have different modes, or the value is generated again to perform the connection. |
| US08526329B2 |
Hierarchical communication system providing intelligent data, program and processing migration
A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored. |
| US08526326B1 |
Lock-less access of pre-allocated memory buffers used by a network device
In general, the present disclosure describes techniques for both removing memory buffers from and adding memory buffers to a list (e.g., a linked list) of available buffers, for use by a network device, without locking the list during access. One example method includes allocating a list of memory buffers that are each available for use by multiple modules executed within the network device, wherein the list includes a first end and a second, opposite end, and removing a first memory buffer from the first end of the list by a first module of the multiple modules without locking the list. The method further includes adding the first memory buffer to the second end of the list by a second module of the multiple modules without locking the list. |
| US08526319B2 |
Reporting of channel quality indicators for a non-linear detector
Techniques for determining channel quality indicators (CQIs) for a non-linear detector at a user equipment (UE) are described. In one design, the UE may determine at least one parameter (e.g., at least one threshold) based on at least one constellation constrained capacity function. Each threshold may correspond to a maximum number of information bits for one stream when a particular modulation order is used for another stream. The UE may determine CQIs for multiple streams for the non-linear detector based on the at least one parameter. The UE may also select a precoding matrix (e.g., jointly with the CQIs) based on the at least one parameter. The UE may report the selected precoding matrix and the CQIs for the multiple streams. The UE may thereafter receive a transmission of the multiple streams, which may be transmitted based on the selected precoding matrix and the CQIs. |
| US08526318B2 |
Method and device of identifying the payload of a data packet in a TCP stream
A method and device of identifying payload of a data packet in a TCP stream. The method includes the steps of: calculating a payload signature according to information in header of the data packet in the TCP stream; comparing the payload signature with a pre-stored file signature; determining the payload of the data packet in the TCP stream as belonging to a file corresponding to the pre-stored file signature, in response to a match between payload signatures of multiple data packets and the pre-stored file signature. The present invention can monitor and identify TCP streams by using a more efficient and lower cost solution. |
| US08526316B2 |
System and method for dynamically modifying synchronized business information server interfaces
One or more embodiments of the invention enable a computer-implemented method for global data synchronization and a computer system for communicating with a global data synchronization network. A server interface configuration file is used which describes a server interface configuration comprises declarative definitions of data attributes, format information, and a data pool. |
| US08526310B2 |
Secondary cell sounding transmission
A wireless device receives message(s) configuring transmissions of sounding reference signals on a secondary cell in a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives an activation command to activate the secondary cell. The wireless device transmits the sounding reference signals if the secondary cell is activated, a timing advance command is applied to the secondary cell group, and a time alignment timer for the secondary cell group is running. The wireless device is configured to not transmit the sounding reference signals on the secondary cell during the period between receiving the activation command and applying the timing advance command. |
| US08526308B1 |
Interruption of wireless reverse link data transfer based on power change instructions
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device, where a wireless access node provides wireless access to communication services over a wireless link for the wireless communication device. The method includes transferring data in a series of frames to the wireless access node over a reverse link portion of the wireless link, where each frame comprises a series of subframes, and transferring a present frame at a first power level. The method also includes, during transfer of the present frame at the first power level, monitoring control information transferred by the wireless access node on a forward link portion of the wireless link, and in response to receiving a power change instruction in the control information, interrupting transfer of the subframes of a present frame at the first power level and restarting transfer of the subframes of the present frame at a second power level. |
| US08526306B2 |
Identification of patterns in stateful transactions
A system for the identification of patterns in stateful transactions may include a message interceptor, a message pattern processor, a message handler, and a memory. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept messages transmitted by a first device over a network to a recipient. The message interceptor may be operative to intercept the messages before the messages are received by the recipient. The message pattern processor may be operative to add the message to a message pattern and store the message pattern in a memory. The message pattern processor may compare the message pattern to a plurality of exemplary message patterns and identify when the message pattern matches at least one of the exemplary message patterns. The message handler may be operative to determine an action to take with respect to the message based on the at least one matching exemplary message pattern identified by the message pattern processor. |
| US08526301B2 |
Communication apparatus and method of controlling communication thereof for detecting that predetermined communication apparatus has left a first network and controlling such that another communication apparatus of the first network returns to a second network
Disclosed is a communication apparatus in a network system constituted by a plurality of communication apparatuses, wherein the fact that a specific communication apparatus connected to a temporary network constructed temporarily has left the temporary network is detected. In response to the specific communication apparatus leaving the temporary network, another communication apparatus connected to the temporary network is allowed to return to the original network. |
| US08526299B2 |
Method and device for processing cell out-of-service failures
The present invention discloses a method for processing cell out-of-service failures, which includes: monitoring and receiving cell outage faults; and according to an obtained cell outage fault, automatically attempting to recover the cell when the fault is caused by malfunction of an entity and there is a redundant entity for replacement. The present invention also discloses a device for processing cell out-of-service failures, which comprises a failure monitoring module and an automatic failure recovering module. The present invention can be used to reduce the costs of operation and maintenance, to shorten the time of solving problems, and to improve the efficiency of failure processing. |
| US08526296B2 |
Signal separation device and signal separating method
A signal separation device includes a column switching unit switching a column vector of a channel matrix obtained by estimating a propagation path characteristic so that a transmitted signal component of each transmit antenna is in a left end, a QR decomposition layering unit multiplying received signals by an output from the column switching unit, and outputting a received signal vector in which the received signal is layered so that a transmitted signal exists in a first row, an interference cancellation unit cancelling an interference component from a signal in the first row by using a signal other than the signal in the first row, a signal candidate point selecting unit selecting a prescribed number of signal candidate points from among signals output by the interference cancellation unit, and a signal separation unit separating the transmitted signal from the layered received signal vector using the selected signal candidate point. |
| US08526290B2 |
Data compression/decompression method, data decompression method, and optical disc drive utilizing the method
A data compression/decompression method for operation of an optical disc drive is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining data; and compressing at least one part of the data to generate compressed data, when the part of the data meets a predefined rule. |
| US08526289B2 |
Optical information reproducing apparatus and optical information reproducing method
An optical information reproducing apparatus includes: an irradiation section irradiating a light beam onto an optical information recording medium, in which holes are formed along a virtual track on a recording medium, along the virtual track; a light receiving section receiving a reflected light beam when the light beam is reflected by the optical information recording medium and sequentially generating a light receiving signal corresponding to the light intensity; a detection section detecting a variation pattern appearing when a signal level of the light receiving signal changes according to the hole; and a code string generating section, when generating a code string corresponding to the signal level, generating a code corresponding to the one hole from the variation pattern if the variation pattern falls within a range and generating a code string, which includes a plurality of codes, from the variation pattern if the variation pattern exceeds the range. |
| US08526288B2 |
Optical elements including light sources and waveguides and information storage devices including the same
An optical element and an information storage device including the same. The optical element may include an optical waveguide structure for transforming circularly polarized light into plasmon and transmitting the plasmon. The optical waveguide structure may emit a circularly polarized plasmonic field. The optical element may be used in an information storage device. For example, the information storage device may include a recording medium and a recording element for recording information on the recording medium, and the recording element may include the optical element. The information may be recorded on the recording medium by using the circularly polarized plasmonic field generated by the optical element. |
| US08526285B1 |
Apparatus and method for providing longitudinal position marks on an optical tape
In at least one embodiment, an apparatus for writing data and location marks on an optical tape is provided. The apparatus comprises an optical system that includes at least one laser source for transmitting a laser beam therefrom. The optical system further includes a plurality of lens for receiving the laser beam and for directing the laser beam onto at least one guard band on the optical tape to write the location marks thereon. The location marks being indicative of a longitudinal position of the data that is capable of being stored on a writeable section of the optical tape. |
| US08526281B2 |
Information recording method and apparatus, information recording medium, and information recording medium manufacturing method and apparatus
Content information (CI) is recorded, and then control information including an encryption key is recorded. The area in which the content information (CI) is written is shifted with respect to the user area (UIA) in a playback-only disc. The control information (SI) is written with an identical shift. As a result of the shift, content information (CI) or dummy data (DD) is written in the area (SIA) in which control information is recorded in a playback-only disc. Information indicating the value of the shift is selected randomly and deleted when the disc is removed from the recording apparatus. When encrypted content is downloaded and recorded on a recordable optical disc, the complete content can be recorded on the disc correctly just once. |
| US08526276B2 |
Optical disk drive capable of reducing power consumption
The present invention provides an optical disc drive and computer. The optical disc drive comprises: a tray for laying a disc therein; a drive means connected to the tray; and a control circuit for connecting the drive means and a power supply of a computer connected to the optical disc drive, wherein the drive means establishes an electrical connection with the power supply via the control circuit. The control circuit comprises: a determination unit for determining whether a optical disc drive power-off condition is valid and acquiring a determination result; and a power supply control unit for transmitting a power-off instruction to a computer host when the determination result indicates that the optical disc drive power-off condition is valid. The power-off instruction is configured for instructing the computer to control the power supply to stop supplying power to the control circuit and the drive means. The present invention enables complete power-off of the optical disc drive so that electrical power consumption is reduced to a maximum degree. |
| US08526273B2 |
Time interval indicating device
A device for indicating the passage of two or more time intervals is provided. In one embodiment, the device includes a base portion with a user interface and a light portion. The light portion includes three lights of different colors that are disposed in a vertical arrangement above the base portion. The user interface includes a display and a keypad for programming the device with one or more time durations, and for associating one or more of the lights with each time interval. A controller is in communication with the user interface and operatively coupled with the lights to illuminate and turn off each light during its associated interval. The device may include an audio section linked to the controller for further indicating the intervals or transitions therebetween by outputting one or more sounds. |
| US08526268B2 |
Method for deghosting and water layer multiple reflection attenuation in marine seismic data
A method is disclosed for deghosting and water surface multiple reflection attenuation in marine seismic data. The method includes decomposing data acquired at two water depths with sensors that measure the same parameter into upgoing and downgoing wavefield components. The decomposing includes, in one embodiment, transforming the data into the spatial Fourier domain and separating the upgoing and downgoing wavefield components in the transformed data. A substantially multiple-free wavefield is then determined from the decomposed wavefield components. |
| US08526265B2 |
Three state word line driver for a DRAM memory device
A memory bank includes an array of memory cells, word lines for accessing the memory cells, and word line drivers coupled to the word lines. When the memory bank is being accessed, the word line drivers are coupled to receive a first supply voltage, which is applied to the non-selected word lines of the memory bank. The first supply voltage turns off access transistors of the memory cells coupled to the non-selected word lines. When the memory bank is not being accessed, the word line drivers are coupled to receive a second supply voltage, which is applied to each of the word lines of the memory bank. The second supply voltage turns off the access transistors of the memory cells coupled of the word lines. The first and second supply voltages are selected such that the first supply voltage turns off the access transistors harder than the second supply voltage. |
| US08526260B2 |
Dynamic random access memory and boosted voltage producer therefor
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) is selectively operable in a sleep mode and another mode. The DRAM has data storage cells that are refreshed in the refresh mode. A boosted voltage is provided for the operation of the DRAM. A boosted voltage provider includes a group of charge pump circuits that are selectively activated by a pump control circuit based on a refresh time for refreshing data in the DRAM cells in the sleep mode. |
| US08526259B2 |
Disk drive with state-information data buffer
A hard-disk drive (HDD) is described. During operation of the HDD, measured internal temperatures in the HDD may be stored in a first table, and state information specifying operational states of the HDD associated with ranges of internal temperatures may be stored in a second table. Note that a given operational state in the second table may be associated with a corresponding internal temperature in the first table. Furthermore, during operation of the HDD, the first table and/or the second table may be stored on: a rotatable medium in the HDD, a semiconductor memory in the HDD, or both. This stored table information may facilitate error detection and diagnosis. |
| US08526257B2 |
Processor with memory delayed bit line precharging
A processor includes an array of memory cells, a control module, a precharge circuit, and an amplifier module. The control module generates a clock signal at a first rate, reduces the first rate to a second rate for a predetermined period, and adjusts the second rate back to the first rate at an end of the predetermined period. The precharge circuit: based on the first rate, precharges first bit lines connected to memory cells in a first row of the array of memory cells; based on the second rate, refrains from precharging the first bit lines; and precharges the first bit lines subsequent to the end of the predetermined period. The amplifier module: based on the first rate, access first instructions stored in the first row; and based on the second rate, accesses second instructions stored in the first row or a second row of the array. |
| US08526256B2 |
Single-ended sense amplifier with read-assist
A sense amplifier is provided that comprises, responsive to receiving a set signal to turn on a set device and a precharged voltage level read bit line signal, a keeper device that turns on responsive to receiving a LOW signal from an inverting amplifier and pulls up the voltage at a first node so that a HIGH signal is output onto a global bit line. Responsive to receiving the set signal to turn on the set device and a read bit line signal that is discharging through a read stack path to ground and responsive to the read bit line signal discharging below a first predesigned voltage level, a read assist device in the sense amplifier turns on responsive to receiving a HIGH signal from the inverting amplifier and pulls down the voltage at the first node so that a LOW state is output onto a global bit line. |
| US08526255B1 |
Method and apparatus for memory test
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a scrambler configured to provide a driving address and associated data to an envelope based on a memory configuration for using a memory array. The driving address and the associated data are used to test the memory array according to a test pattern. The envelope is configured to translate the driving address into a corresponding physical address of the memory array based on the memory configuration. |
| US08526249B1 |
Methods and systems for detecting and correcting timing signal drift in memory systems
Methods and systems for detection and correction of timing signal drift in memory systems are provided. A start time and an end time of a first time interval is determined with control circuitry such that a last falling edge in a first of a plurality of data strobe sequences received from the memory occurs outside of the first time interval. A start time and an end time of a close-enable time interval is adjusted based at least in part on determining whether a second of the plurality of data strobe sequences occurs within the first time interval. Sampling of data received from the memory is disabled in response to determining that the last falling edge in the second received data strobe sequence occurs within the close-enable time interval. |
| US08526248B2 |
Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus may include a bonding pad; a control signal pad; and an operation mode signal generation unit configured to generate a plurality of operation mode signals in response to a bonding signal inputted through the bonding pad and a control signal inputted through the control signal pad. |
| US08526245B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing open blocks in nonvolatile memory device
A memory system comprises a multi-bit memory device and a memory controller that controls the multi-bit memory device. The memory system determines whether a requested program operation is a random program operation or a sequential program operation. Where the requested program operation is a random program operation, the memory controller controls the multi-bit memory device to perform operations according to a fine program close policy or a fine program open policy. |
| US08526236B2 |
Programming methods for a memory device
Methods for programming, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for programming, a target memory cell is partially programmed to a final target programmed state where the partial programming is verified by applying a ramped voltage having a first voltage range (e.g., where the first voltage range is selected in response to program coupling effects from memory cells adjacent to the target memory cell.) A programming operation following the partial programming operation is performed on one or more adjacent memory cells which is then followed by additional programming of the target memory cell to adjust the memory cell from the partially programmed state to the final programmed state. A ramped voltage having a second voltage range different from the first voltage range is utilized to verify the programming of the target memory cell to the final programmed state. |
| US08526235B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing read disturb in memory
Various aspects of a NAND memory include have multiple versions of a high threshold voltage distribution—a version with a reduced maximum, and another version. The version with a reduced maximum has a reduced word line pass voltage. |
| US08526233B2 |
Ramping pass voltage to enhance channel boost in memory device, with optional temperature compensation
In a non-volatile storage system, one or more substrate channel regions for an unselected NAND string are boosted during programming to inhibit program disturb. A voltage applied to one or more unselected word lines associated with at least a first channel region is increased during a program pulse time period in which a program pulse is applied to a selected word line. The increase can be gradual, in the form of a ramp, or step-wise. The boosting level of the first channel region can be maintained. The increase in the voltage applied to the one or more unselected word lines can vary with temperature as well. Before the program pulse time period, the voltage applied to the one or more unselected word lines can be ramped up at a faster rate for a second, adjacent channel region than for the first channel region, to help isolate the channel regions. |
| US08526225B2 |
Non-volatile memory device
A memory device comprises an array of memory cells for storing data and a voltage application unit for applying voltages to the cells for writing data to the cells. Each memory cell has a first layer comprising copper in contact with a second layer comprising a chalcogenide material. The voltage application unit is arranged to write data by switching each cell between a first resistance state and a second, lower, resistance state. The voltage application unit is arranged to switch a cell to the first resistance state by applying a potential difference across the first and second layers such that the potential at the first layer is higher than the potential at the second layer by 0.5 volts or less. The voltage application unit is arranged to switch a cell to the second resistance state by applying a potential difference across the first and second layers such that the potential at the second layer is higher than the potential at the first layer by 0.5 volts or less. The current flow when switching between resistance states is less than 10 μA. The memory cells of the device can be toggled between the resistance states, and the resistance states are non-volatile. |
| US08526221B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit for low and high voltage operations
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprising a first circuit area for a low voltage operation and a second circuit area for a high voltage operation. The circuit areas comprise two vertically stacked backend patterned metal layers that are separated by an inter-metallic dielectric (IMD). The two metal layers and the IMD form a combination that is operable at the low voltage. The first circuit area uses a first portion of the combination for operating at the low voltage and the second circuit area uses a second portion of the combination for routing at the high voltage, the two metal layers in the second portion being interconnected through the IMD by via hole, for withstanding the high voltage. The first portion may comprise an array of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices and the second circuit area may comprise a display drive circuit. |
| US08526219B2 |
Enhanced static random access memory stability using asymmetric access transistors and design structure for same
A memory circuit includes a plurality of bit line structures (each including a true and a complementary bit line), a plurality of word line structures intersecting the plurality of bit line structures to form a plurality of cell locations; and a plurality of cells located at the plurality of cell locations. Each of the cells includes a logical storage element, a first access transistor selectively coupling a given one of the true bit lines to the logical storage element, and a second access transistor selectively coupling a corresponding given one of the complementary bit lines to the logical storage element. One or both of the first and second access transistors are configured with asymmetric current characteristics to enable independent enhancement of READ and WRITE margins. Also included within the 6-T scope are one or more design structures embodied in a machine readable medium, comprising circuits as set forth herein. |
| US08526217B2 |
Low-complexity electronic circuit and methods of forming the same
An electronic circuit such as a latch or a sequencer includes a plurality of transistors, all of the transistors being either NMOS transistors or PMOS transistors, and dissipates less than or approximately the same amount of power as an equivalent CMOS circuit. |
| US08526216B2 |
Memory device and manufacturing method the same
A semiconductor device that can transmit and receive data without contact is popular partly as some railway passes, electronic money cards, and the like; however, it has been a prime task to provide an inexpensive semiconductor device for further popularization. In view of the above current conditions, a semiconductor device of the present invention includes a memory with a simple structure for providing an inexpensive semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof. A memory element included in the memory includes a layer containing an organic compound, and a source electrode or a drain electrode of a TFT provided in the memory element portion is used as a conductive layer which forms a bit line of the memory element. |
| US08526207B2 |
Bi-directional switch, alternating-current two-wire switch, switching power source circuit, and method of driving bi-directional switch
A semiconductor device 101 in a bi-directional switch includes: a first electrode 109A, a second electrode 109B, a first gate electrode 112A, and a second gate electrode 112B. In a transition period: when the potential of the first electrode 109A is higher than the potential of the second electrode 109B, a voltage lower than the first threshold voltage is applied to the first gate electrode 112A and a voltage higher than the second threshold value voltage is applied to the second gate electrode 112B; and otherwise, a voltage higher than the first threshold value voltage is applied to the first gate electrode, and a voltage lower than the second threshold value voltage is applied to the second gate electrode. |
| US08526206B2 |
Drive circuit
The present invention relates to a DC to AC inverter comprising a plurality of voltage controlled switching devices, where one or more of the voltage controlled switching devices is driven by a drive circuit comprising: a bridge switching circuit (59), a transformer (28) with a primary winding (29) and a secondary-winding (30), a transition selection circuit (60) coupled to a control terminal of a respective voltage controlled switching device (40) of the inverter, at least one inductance (37) that forms at least one resonant circuit with the input capacitance (41) of the control terminal, wherein the bridge switching circuit (59) can be operated to generate drive pulses via the selection circuit (60) to operate the respective voltage controlled switching device (40). |
| US08526204B2 |
Power converter with electrical switching element
A power converter is preferably mounted in a vehicle. The converter has a power converting unit including an electrical switching element electrically switched on and off selectively in response to a duty ratio of PWM (pulse-width modulation) signal given to the switching element. The converter further has a controller including a drive unit that generates the PWM signal, in addition to a controlling unit and a limiting unit. The controlling unit controls the duty ratio of the PWM signal such that a voltage inputted to the power converter is converted to a voltage to be outputted depending on the duty ratio. The limiting unit limits at least one of a time change amount of the duty ratio of the PWM signal and a maximum duty ratio of the PWM signal. |
| US08526202B2 |
System and method for synchronous rectifier
A synchronous rectification circuit for a power converter includes a power switch coupled to a transformer and an output capacitor and a switching control circuit configured to provide a control signal to the power switch in response to a first state and a second state of the voltage across the power switch. In the switching control circuit, the second state is determined prior to the first state is determined. In an embodiment, the switching control circuit includes a voltage comparing unit configured to act in response to the first and second inputs. The voltage comparing unit is also configured to output a logic signal according to the voltage difference between the sensed voltage drop across the power switch and a reference threshold voltage. A logic processing circuit is coupled to the voltage comparing unit and configured to provide the first state and the second state of the voltage across the power switch. |
| US08526200B2 |
Connection lug
A connection lug comprises an electrically conductive body, an electrically conductive blade connector extending from a first end of the body, and a cable hole located in a second end of the body configured to receive a cable. A clamping cam in the connection lug may rotate inside of the body and clamp against the cable. A screw hole may be configured to receive a clamping screw. A portion of the clamping cam may extend into the screw hole and insertion of the clamping screw into the screw hole may push against the portion of the clamping cam and rotate the clamping cam into the cable hole. |
| US08526196B2 |
Method for receiving an electric/electronic component and corresponding mounting method and covering for said type of device
An apparatus is provided for receiving, at least partially, an electric/electronic component in an internal housing area, in particular for commercial vehicles. A first housing component at least partially forms the internal housing area and a cover at least partially surrounds the internal housing area. The cover is designed such that at least one electrically conductive connecting element for electrically coupling the electric/electronic component to at least one additional electric/electronic component provided outside of the internal housing area is fixed by the cover. A method for assembling the apparatus is also provided. |
| US08526195B2 |
Electrical connection terminal
The disclosure concerns an electrical connection assembly comprising: a conductive plate with a drillhole, a first column with a hole passing axially through it and comprising a shoulder to abut against one of the faces of the conductive plate, and a second column with a hole passing axially through it and comprising a shoulder to abut against the other face of the conductive plate, a first cylinder with a radius sized to enable it to enter the hole in the first column and a length sized such that, when the shoulder is in abutment, the free end of the first cylinder projects beyond the conductive plate, and a second cylinder with a radius sized to enable it to enter the drillhole, wherein the free end of the first cylinder is crimped by radial expansion and then by axial compression in the hole in the first column. |
| US08526194B2 |
Anti-ultraviolet memory device and fabrication method thereof
The invention provides an anti-UV electronic device and fabrication method thereof. The anti-ultraviolet (anti-UV) electronic device includes an integrated circuit die, wherein the integrated circuit die has an ultraviolet (UV) light erasable memory; and an anti-UV light layer is formed on and covers the ultraviolet (UV) light erasable memory. |
| US08526186B2 |
Electronic assembly including die on substrate with heat spreader having an open window on the die
An electronic assembly includes a workpiece, a through substrate via (TSV) die including a substrate and a plurality of TSVs, a topside and a bottomside having TSV connectors thereon. The TSV die is attached to the workpiece with its topside on the workpiece. A heat spreader having an inner open window is on the bottomside of the TSV die. Bonding features are coupled to the TSV connectors or include the TSV connectors themselves. The bonding features protrude from the inner open window to a height above a height of the top of the heat spreader that allows a top die to be bonded thereto. |
| US08526182B2 |
Cooling circulation system of server
A cooling circulation system of a server includes a cabinet assembly, a plurality of first fan modules, a plurality of second fan modules, and two air guide hoods. The first fan modules and the second fan modules are disposed on the cabinet assembly. The first fan modules blow a first airflow towards a first direction, and the second fan modules blow a second airflow towards a second direction. The air guide hoods are respectively installed on two ends of the cabinet assembly. The first airflow and the second airflow join each other through the air guide hoods, so as to form a cooling circulation loop inside the cabinet assembly. |
| US08526179B2 |
Laptop computer user thermal isolation apparatus
A laptop computer user thermal isolation apparatus is provided for inhibiting the transfer of waste heat from internal heat generating components to a user. The thermal isolation apparatus includes a casing substantially enclosing the heat generating components, the casing including at least one panel having a sealed enclosed cavity disposed between the heat generating components and an outer surface of the casing. |
| US08526173B2 |
On-vehicle display device
An on-vehicle display device includes: an image display unit 6; wiring boards 8, 9 mounting a control circuit for controlling the image display unit 6; a magnesium alloy case 7 of which front recess receives the image display unit 6, and of which rear recess receives the wiring boards 8, 9; and a shield member 10 attached to the magnesium alloy case 7 for covering the rear recess. The magnesium alloy case 7 is thermally coupled to the image display unit 6 and works as a heat radiating device. The magnesium alloy case 7 is electrically coupled to the shield member 10 and works as an electromagnetic shield device together with the shield member 10. |
| US08526171B2 |
Supporting structure module and electronic device using the same
This disclosure provides a supporting structure module and an electronic device using the same. The supporting structure module in the invention is used in the electronic device. The electronic device includes a first casing, a hinge, and a second casing rotatable relative to the first casing via the hinge. The supporting structure module includes a first supporting structure, and the first supporting structure includes a first bracket and a first hinge cover. The first bracket is fixed to and exposed from the first casing. The first hinge cover is connected with the first bracket by integral forming, and the first hinge cover is exposed from the first casing and covers a part of the hinge. |
| US08526168B2 |
Power outlet box for electronic displays in a retail environment
A power outlet box for housing electronics and powering electronic displays suspended in a retail environment may include a first housing portion including a first set of vertical support features and a second set of vertical support features. A second housing portion may include a third set of vertical support features and a fourth set of vertical support features. The power outlet box may have (i) a closed configuration when the first and third sets of vertical support features are aligned and (ii) an open configuration when the second and fourth set of vertical support features are in contact with one another. The second set of vertical support features may be adapted to support the fourth set of vertical support features when the power outlet box is in the open configuration. A power supply device may be fixedly positioned within the power outlet box when in the closed configuration. |
| US08526166B2 |
Lithium ion capacitor
Provided is a lithium ion capacitor. The lithium anode capacitor includes an anode including an anode active material layer including an anode current collector, first active material particles disposed on at least one surface of the anode current collector, and second active material particles disposed in pores between the first active material particles, increasing energy density of the lithium ion capacitor. |
| US08526165B2 |
Dielectric ceramic and laminated ceramic capacitor
A dielectric ceramic (and capacitor containing it) balancing high temperature load characteristics and temperature characteristics of capacitance even when layer thickness is less than 1 μm has a mixture of different crystal grains containing a barium titanate compound as the main constituent. The first crystal grains can contain rare earth element solid solution region 1 at the surface layer section. The second crystal grains have a core-shell structure including a shell section having a rare earth element solid solution present. The first and second crystal grains are 12% to 84% f and 16% to 88%, respectively, of the total number of crystal grains. |
| US08526163B2 |
Multilayered ceramic electronic component and fabrication method thereof
A multilayered ceramic electronic component includes: a ceramic element having a plurality of dielectric layers laminated therein; first inner electrodes formed on the dielectric layers disposed in upper and lower portions in the ceramic element, the width of a portion of each of the first inner electrodes exposed from one end face of the ceramic element being less than that of a portion thereof disposed within the ceramic element; and second inner electrodes formed on the dielectric layers disposed in the middle portion in the ceramic element, the width of a portion of each of the second inner electrodes exposed from one end face of the ceramic element being equal to that of a portion thereof disposed within the ceramic element. |
| US08526162B2 |
Feedthrough multilayer capacitor
A conducting portion includes a plurality of conducting inner electrodes. Each of a pair of capacitance portions includes a plurality of signal inner electrodes while adjacently opposing each other in the laminating direction, a plurality of first grounding inner electrodes while adjacently opposing each other in the laminating direction, and a plurality of second grounding inner electrodes while adjacently opposing each other in the laminating direction. The plurality of first grounding inner electrodes are located between the conducting portion and the plurality of signal inner electrodes, while one of the first grounding inner electrodes adjacently opposes one of the first signal inner electrodes in the laminating direction. The plurality of second grounding inner electrodes are located between principal faces opposing each other in the laminating direction in the outer surface and the plurality of signal inner electrodes. |
| US08526160B2 |
Electrically insulated coverings for electric stun device darts
An electrically insulated covering applied to specific parts of electric stun device darts that will negate the protective properties of electrically conductive garments designed to nullify the debilitating effects of electric stun devices and rendering such devices inoperable thus protecting the electric circuitry of the and permitting proper operation of the electric stun device. |
| US08526155B2 |
Phase-control switchgear and phase-control method for switchgear
A phase-control switchgear includes a circuit breaker, a phase difference detection unit, a storage unit, and a circuit breaker control unit. The phase difference detection unit detects a phase difference between voltages of a specific phase (U-phase) of buses to which three-phase generators are respectively connected, at a plurality of time points. The storage unit stores the detected phase differences. When the three-phase generators are out of synchronization, the circuit breaker control unit estimates a breaking time point at which the phase difference between the voltages of the U-phase of the buses will be in the range of not less than −80° and not more than 80°, based on the phase differences at the plurality of time points stored in the storage unit. The circuit breaker control unit opens the circuit breaker to break a current at the estimated breaking time point. This makes it possible to suppress a transient voltage generated between electrodes of the circuit breaker after the current is broken. |
| US08526153B2 |
Auxiliary tripping unit for a circuit breaker
In an undervoltage tripping unit of at least one embodiment, an armature acts on a tripping slide via a drum. During tripping, an auxiliary switch is closed. In order to reset the under-voltage tripping unit after tripping, a latching mechanism of an associated circuit breaker acts on the drum via a driver bolt. At the same time, a projecting element is formed on the drum and closes the auxiliary switch when the drum is rotated back. The auxiliary switch therefore need not itself be directly coupled to the latching mechanism. |
| US08526151B2 |
Shared memory architecture for protection of electrical distribution equipment
A power equipment protection system includes a plurality of trip units including at least a first trip unit and a second trip unit, wherein each of the plurality of trip units is configured to monitor operation data. The system also includes a shared memory device coupled to the plurality of trip units via a network, wherein the shared memory device is configured to transmit a synchronization request to at least the second trip unit, receive a response from the second trip unit, including operation data associated with the second trip unit, receive a data request from the first trip unit, and transmit the operation data associated with the second trip unit to the first trip unit via the network. |
| US08526150B2 |
Central control and instrumentation system for a technical installation and method for operating a central control and instrumentation system
A central control and instrumentation system with a plurality of functional modules interconnected by data transmission is provided. The functional modules are monitored by a central control module. Functional modules with a data output after completing a predefined number of action cycles, which are specific to each module, allow a provision of a fast motion functionality for simulation purposes and are subjected to a correction parameter of the number of action cycles for a user-controlled variation of the respective cycle to be completed. |
| US08526149B2 |
Limiting current circuit that has output short circuit protection
A limiting current circuit that has output short circuit protection is connected to an external voltage source and comprises an output terminal, an input current unit, a driving transistor, a voltage control resistor, a voltage control transistor and a delay unit. The output terminal is connected to a load and has an output current. The driving transistor has an internal resistance, a drain current and a gate voltage. The voltage control resistor has a resistor voltage. The voltage control transistor has an internal resistance and a parasitic capacitance. The delay unit makes the resistor voltage charging the parasitic capacitance to extend the period of lower internal resistance of the voltage control transistor and the period of higher internal resistance of the driving transistor, makes the internal resistance of the voltage control transistor is less than the internal resistance of the driving transistor when the load is shorted. |
| US08526145B2 |
Power on reset GFCI
A circuit interrupting device, such as a GFCI receptacle device, is provided that automatically resets itself when power is initially applied to the device, for example, when the device is first installed or when power is reapplied after a power outage occurs. When power is applied correctly to the line side of the device, as opposed to the load side, a voltage is generated that turns on a switching device. Turning on the switching device allows a low level of electric current to flow which, in turn, allows a higher level electric current to flow which closes the latching mechanism of the device and places the device in the reset condition. |
| US08526143B2 |
Methods and appraratus for ground fault circuit interrupt detection using a single transformer
A device is provided for use with an AC power system having a line conductor, a neutral conductor and a transformer, the line conductor and the neutral conductor are coupled between a source and a load, and the transformer includes a first primary winding coupled in series with the line conductor, a second primary winding coupled in series with the neutral conductor, and a secondary winding. The device includes a first circuit coupled to the secondary winding, providing a first detection signal if a current from the line conductor to ground exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and a second circuit coupled to the secondary winding, having a source that provides an AC signal at a specified amplitude and a specified frequency to the secondary winding. The second circuit provides a second detection signal if an impedance between the neutral conductor and ground is less than a second predetermined threshold. |
| US08526142B1 |
Hard disk drive DSA suspension having PZT encapsulation dam
A dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension includes a dam-like structure that holds epoxy along the outside lateral side of the PZT microactuators while that epoxy hardens. In the illustrative embodiment, the dam-like structure is in the form of a wing rail that is integrally formed with the suspension base plate, and extends parallel to the outside face of the PZT. The wing rail has an upturned edge to help contain the epoxy while it hardens. The wing rail has springs at its fore and aft ends so that the rail does not unduly limit movement of the PZTs and hence microactuator stroke length. The wing rail does not touch the PZT electrodes. The encapsulation dam allows epoxy to be dispensed after the PZT has been located on the suspension, so as to substantially cover all sides of the PZT and thus prevent the shedding of contaminating particles during operation. |
| US08526140B2 |
Reverse flow preventer unit
Disclosed are a slider for a memory device and a memory device having the same. The slider for a memory device includes a slider body configured to fly over the surface of a medium at a particular height; and a reverse flow preventing unit disposed at part of the slider body adjacent to a trailing edge of the slider body and configured to prevent a reverse flow of air between the medium and the slider body. |
| US08526129B2 |
Lens unit, camera module and manufacturing method of lens unit
To implement the alignment of lenses with a simple configuration or by a simple method. A lens unit includes a plurality of lenses each including a lens portion and a flange portion surrounding the lens portion, and a tube portion that holds the plurality of lenses successively arranged along an optical axis. The holder body includes first and second receive portions successively formed along the optical axis. The first receive portion holds the lenses by pressing the side of the flange portion that extends along the optical axis. The second receive portion receives the lens such that the lens can be moved in a direction crossing the optical axis. |
| US08526124B2 |
Optical system with long focal length and optical apparatus having the same
An optical system, in order from an object side to an image side, includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive or negative refractive power. The first lens unit is configured by a first partial lens unit and a second partial lens unit each having a positive refractive power. The first partial lens unit is configured by a positive single lens, and has at least one aspherical surface. The second partial lens unit is configured by a positive lens and a negative lens, and has a diffraction optical surface of a diffraction optical element rotationally symmetric with reference to an optical axis direction. The second lens unit is a focus lens unit that is movable in the optical axis direction. And a paraxial lateral magnification βasph meets a predetermined condition. |
| US08526122B2 |
Lens barrel
A lens barrel includes a zoom optical system in which a focal distance is changeable; a first group frame moving together with the first lens group; and first and second cam mechanisms transmitting drive force to the first group frame. In a zoom region, each of a first group cam groove and a cam slot includes a first section, a second section which adjoins the first section and has an absolute value of a gradient smaller than that of the first section, and the third section which adjoins the second section and has the absolute value of the gradient larger than that of the second section, and in which a sign of the gradient is the same as that of the first section. A distance from an imaging surface to the first group frame in the optical axis direction has a local minimum in the second section. |
| US08526119B2 |
Compact zoom lens
A zoom lens includes a first lens group including an optical path change member that changes an optical path, a second lens group including at least one negative lens and at least one positive lens, and lens groups having a positive refractive power. The first lens group is closer to an object side of the zoom lens and is fixed relative to an image plane during a zooming operation. The second lens group is adapted to move during the zooming operation. Each of the lens groups includes at least one positive lens, and the lens groups are closer to an image plane side of the zoom lens. The zoom lens satisfies vdLP>71, vdL2p<40, and ndL2m>1.71, wherein “vdLP” is an Abbe number, “vdL2p” is an Abbe number, and “ndL2m” is a refractive index. |
| US08526118B2 |
Zoom lens and image capturing apparatus
An inner focus type zoom lens includes a first lens group that has positive refracting power and is normally located at a fixed position, a second lens group that has negative refracting power and is movable in an optical axis direction for zooming, a third lens group that has positive refracting power, a fourth lens group that is movable for correction of a focal position due to the zooming and for focusing, and a fifth lens group that has positive refracting power, in order from an object side, wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens, a first positive lens, and a second positive lens arranged in order from the object side, wherein a first face of the negative lens has a shape of a concave surface turned on the object side, and wherein the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional equation (1) −10.0 |
| US08526116B2 |
Zoom lens with bent optical path and image pickup apparatus using the same
A zoom lens with a bent optical path comprising, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear lens unit group having a positive refractive power as a whole. The first lens unit includes a reflecting member. The rear lens unit group includes three lens unit including, in order from the object side to the image side, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The distances between the lens units change during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. The zoom lens satisfies the predetermined conditional expressions. |
| US08526115B2 |
Imaging lens system
This invention provides an imaging lens system including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens group with negative refractive power comprising a single first lens element with negative refractive power; a second lens group with positive refractive power comprising, in order from the object side to the image side: a second lens element with positive refractive power; a third lens element with negative refractive power; an aperture stop; and a fourth lens element with negative refractive power; and a third lens group with positive refractive power comprising a single fifth lens element with positive refractive power; wherein by moving the first lens group and the second lens group along the optical axis while keeping the third lens group stationary, the zooming operation is performed such that the system switches between a wide-angle mode and a telephoto mode. |
| US08526110B1 |
Spectral-beam combining for high-power fiber-ring-laser systems
A ring-laser system that includes a plurality of ring-laser gain elements and a spectral-beam-combining output stage configured to combine a plurality of beams coming from the gain elements into an output beam and that includes chromatic-dispersion compensation. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of highly reflective dielectric-coated focussing elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a plurality of high-efficiency dielectric-coated grating elements. In some embodiments, the output stage includes a mostly reflective but partially transmissive output mirror and a highly reflective beam-reversing mirror configured to reflect a majority of a backward-traveling signal beam such that it becomes forward traveling. In some embodiments, each gain element further includes a photonic-crystal-rod power amplifier. Some embodiments have an amplitude modulator configured to pulse the plurality of beams, and a timing controller configured to synchronize the pulses of the plurality of beams. Some embodiments further include a non-linear wavelength-conversion device. |
| US08526107B2 |
Method for manufacturing array substrate and array substrate, and method for manufacturing screen and screen
A method for manufacturing an array substrate includes forming a plurality of holes in a film shape substrate having thermal plasticity, in which the holes have a diameter of 0.25 times to 2 times a thickness of the substrate, and a pitch of 5 times to 40 times the diameter of the holes; and heating a molding member provided with a plurality of convex portions or concave portions in an array pattern, pressing the substrate provided with the plurality of holes, and transferring the plurality of convex portions or concave portions to the substrate. |
| US08526106B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing optical non-uniformities in seaming processes
Methods to substantially reduce or eliminate optical non-uniformity across an interface may also substantially improve the strength and ease of seam manufacturing, including joining substrates. The methods may include managing optical non-uniformities at least by broadening a region over which a change in optical loss may occur and/or by maintaining a substantially constant average optical loss across an interface. The methods may also include forming a seam that substantially reduces the appearance of optical non-uniformities at the seam, which may include maintaining approximately constant average loss in the vicinity of the seam by substantially controlling reflectivity in the vicinity of the seam, in which substantially controlling reflectivity in the vicinity of the seam may include employing a backer treated to minimize optical reflectivity over a range of angles. |
| US08526105B2 |
Structural illumination and evanescent coupling for the extension of imaging interfermetric microscopy
In accordance with the invention, there are imaging interferometric microscopes and methods for imaging interferometric microscopy using structural illumination and evanescent coupling for the extension of imaging interferometric microscopy. Furthermore, there are coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopes and methods for coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) microscopy, wherein imaging interferometric microscopy techniques are applied to get material dependent spectroscopic information. |
| US08526102B2 |
PLC-type demodulator and optical transmission system
The invention provides a PLC-type DP-QPSK demodulator that reduces connection loss between a polarization beam splitter and a 90-degree hybrid circuit and aims at reducing the manufacturing cost and an optical transmission system using the same. In an embodiment of the invention, a PLC-type DP-QPSK demodulator that receives a DP-QPSK signal includes one PLC chip having a planar lightwave circuit. Input ports and output ports of signal light are provided at an input end and at an output end of the PLC chip, respectively. Within the planar lightwave circuit, there are integrated a polarization beam splitter that splits the DP-QPSK signal into an X-polarization QPSK signal and a Y-polarization QPSK signal, and two 90-degree hybrid circuits that mix the X-polarization QPSK signal and local oscillation light and the Y-polarization QPSK signal and local oscillation light, respectively, split each QPSK signal into orthogonal components I, Q and output them. |
| US08526100B2 |
Display method and display device
The invention provides a display method for displaying an image by deposition of metal fine particles. The display method includes at least depositing metal fine particles, from an electrolytic solution that has at least a metal ion of the metal particles and that is provided between a pair of substrates having at least one translucent substrate, onto a surface of any one of the pair of substrates by imparting one stimulus. A concentration of the metal ion of the metal fine particles in the electrolytic solution after imparting the stimulus is about 200 mmol/l or less. The invention further provides a display device which uses the display method. |
| US08526098B2 |
Microsystem and method for the production of a microsystem
The invention relates to a microsystem having at least one micromirror (1) and at least one micromirror actuator (2) for pivoting the at least one micromirror (1) about at least one axis from a relaxed resting position, comprising a frame chip and a transparent cover (3) disposed on the frame chip, wherein the frame chip has a chip frame (10), on which the at least one micromirror (1) is articulated in an elastically pivoting manner, wherein the at least one micromirror (1) is further disposed within the chip frame (10) and in a cavity (11) that is formed between the transparent cover (3) and a carrier layer. To this end, the at least one micromirror (1) is articulated on a frame (14) pivotally about the at least one axis, the frame (14) in turn being pivotally articulated on the chip frame (10), wherein the frame (14) is permanently pivoted out of a chip plane defined by the carrier layer such that the micromirror (1) in the resting position thereof is tilted about a non-pivoting angle relative to the chip plane. The invention further relates to a method for the production of such a microsystem. |
| US08526096B2 |
Mechanical light modulators with stressed beams
The invention relates to a spatial light modulator including a substrate having a surface and a modulation assembly coupled to the substrate including a modulation element and a compliant beam. The modulation assembly is configured to limit the bending of the compliant beam towards an opposing surface that would otherwise be caused by inherent stresses within the compliant beam. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a spatial light modulator including the steps of forming and releasing a modulation assembly that has a modulation element and a compliant beam formed in a pre-release position to have an intended inherent stress state. As a result of the stress state in the compliant beam, upon release of the compliant beam, the compliant beam bends into a rest position which is different than the pre-release position, where the rest position is based in part on the intended inherent stress state. |
| US08526095B2 |
Electrochromic display device
Disclosed is an electrochromic display device comprising: a first and a second substrates; a first and a second electrodes; and an electrochromic composition layer, wherein the device is of a passive matrix drive where the a display and an erasion are performed by an energization in reverse directions between the electrodes, the first and the second electrodes respectively comprise a plurality of electrodes, a pixel is formed where the electrodes are in a grade separated crossing, and the display is performed by voltage application processing where: (i) the first electrode is set as negative, and the second electrode is set as positive, to apply a voltage of a first potential difference, immediately followed by (ii) the first electrode being set as positive, and the second electrode being set as negative, to apply a voltage of a second potential difference equal to or more than the first potential difference. |
| US08526092B2 |
Programmable optical label
The present invention is a programmable and latching retro-reflective construct suitable for use as an optical label in an optical labeling system. The invention contains retro-reflective structures such as lens beads, corner cubes or other retro-reflecting type structures. The retro-reflective construct further comprises a wavelength selective, programmable and latching reflecting structure located at the reflecting surfaces of the retro-reflective structures. The optical construct can optionally contain additional optical filtering structures. Methods for fabricating the invention are also described. |
| US08526091B2 |
Aberration-correcting method, laser processing method using said aberration-correcting method, laser irradiation method using said aberration-correcting method, aberration-correcting device and aberration-correcting program
In an aberration-correcting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in an aberration-correcting method for a laser irradiation device 1 which focuses a laser beam on the inside of a transparent medium 60, aberration of a laser beam is corrected so that a focal point of the laser beam is positioned within a range of aberration occurring inside the medium. This aberration range is not less than n×d and not more than n×d+Δs from an incidence plane of the medium 60, provided that the refractive index of the medium 60 is defined as n, a depth from an incidence plane of the medium 60 to the focus of the lens 50 is defined as d, and aberration caused by the medium 60 is defined as Δs. |
| US08526090B1 |
Double layer interleaved p-n diode modulator
An optical modulator device includes a body portion operative to propagate an optical mode along a longitudinal axis of the body portion, the body portion comprising a first layer disposed on a second layer, wherein the first layer includes a first p-type doped region adjacent to a first n-type doped region along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and the second layer includes a second n-type doped region disposed on the first p-type doped region and a second p-type doped region adjacent to the second n-type doped region along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the second p-type doped region disposed on the first n-type doped region. |
| US08526089B2 |
MEMS scanning micromirror
A MEMS scanning micromirror including a mirror body 50, the mirror body 50 having a rotation axis 58 with a pair of extension bars 56 parallel to the rotation axis 58; a frame 60 forming a mirror recess 62 with a recess periphery 64, the frame 60 having a pair of opposed frame bars 66 on the recess periphery 64 along the rotation axis 58; a pair of cantilever beam assemblies 70, each of the pair of cantilever beam assemblies 70 being fixed to one of the pair of opposed frame bars 66 and coupled to one end of the pair of extension bars 56; and a pair of vertical support beams 40 connected between each of the pair of opposed frame bars 66 to the mirror body 50 along the rotation axis 58. |
| US08526088B2 |
Device for holographic reconstruction of three-dimensional scenes
A device for holographic reconstruction of three-dimensional scenes includes optical focusing means which directs sufficiently coherent light from light means to the eyes of at least one observer via a spatial light modulator that is encoded with holographic information. The device has a plurality of illumination units for illuminating the surface of the spatial light modulator; each unit comprises a focusing element, and a light means that emits sufficiently coherent light such that each of these illumination units illuminates one separate illuminated region of the surface, whereby the focusing element and the light means are arranged such that the light emitted by the light means coincides close to or at the observer eyes. |
| US08526087B2 |
Hologram recording medium
Disclosed herein is a hologram recording medium, wherein in a volume hologram, the hologram recording medium is covered with a partially patterned optical functional film on the side closer to the viewer than a hologram recording layer without the medium of air, and wherein the hologram recording medium maintains its appearance approximately unchanged irrespective of the presence or absence of the optical functional film. |
| US08526085B2 |
Grid image
The present invention relates to a grating image (30) for depicting a motif (24) that moves upon tilting the grating image (30) about a tilt axis (20), having two or more grating fields (32, 34, 36) having a viewing-angle-dependent visual appearance, that each include an electromagnetic-radiation-influencing grating pattern composed of a plurality of grating lines, and exhibit a preferred direction that establishes a viewing angle from which the appropriate grating field (32, 34, 36) is visually distinguishable, wherein, according to the present invention, the grating fields (32, 34, 36) are formed from a plurality of sub-regions nested within each other (32-i, 34-i, 36-i), and each grating field (32, 34, 36) displays a motif (24) view (24-A, 24-B, 24-C) that is shifted substantially along the tilt axis (20), wherein the viewing angles for the visual distinguishability and the shifts of the motif views (24-A, 24-B, 24-C) of the grating fields (32, 34, 36) are coordinated with each other such that, upon tilting the grating image (30), a motif (24) depiction that moves substantially along the tilt axis (20) is created for the viewer. |
| US08526084B2 |
Holographic structure and method for producing the same
The presented invention is a preprinted holographic label or printed material for use in labeling squeezable tubes or containers as well as compact discs, computer software, cosmetics, and the like is provided. The holographic structure provides for selectively reverse-printing a reflective coating directly onto a micro-embossed holographic film or coating which is affixed to a clear thin-film and contains the micro-embossed structure. Non-reflective coatings and support structures are also provided for protecting both the graphics and embossed holographic image from contamination. |