| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08533404B2 |
Hardware and operating system support for persistent memory on a memory bus
Implementations of a file system that is supported by a non-volatile memory that is directly connected to a memory bus, and placed side by side with a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), are described. |
| US08533397B2 |
Improving performance in a cache mechanism by way of destaging data in partial strides
A method for improving performance in a storage system is provided. The method comprises receiving a request to destage a partial stride of data from a storage cache; reserving space for a full stride of data on one or more storage devices; allocating the partial stride of data to the reserved space; adding padding for unallocated blocks, wherein the unallocated blocks are reserved for future updates; and destaging the full stride of data to the storage devices, wherein the full stride of data comprises the allocated partial stride of data and the padded unallocated blocks. |
| US08533395B2 |
Moveable locked lines in a multi-level cache
A processor includes a multi-level cache hierarchy where a lock property is associated with a cache line. The cache line retains the lock property and may move back and forth within the cache hierarchy. The cache line may be evicted from the cache hierarchy after the lock property is removed. |
| US08533394B2 |
Controlling simulation of a microprocessor instruction fetch unit through manipulation of instruction addresses
Instruction fetch unit (IFU) verification is improved by dynamically monitoring the current state of the IFU model and detecting any predetermined states of interest. The instruction address sequence is automatically modified to force a selected address to be fetched next by the IFU model. The instruction address sequence may be modified by inserting one or more new instruction addresses, or by jumping to a non-sequential address in the instruction address sequence. In exemplary implementations, the selected address is a corresponding address for an existing instruction already loaded in the IFU cache, or differs only in a specific field from such an address. The instruction address control is preferably accomplished without violating any rules of the processor architecture by sending a flush signal to the IFU model and overwriting an address register corresponding to a next address to be fetched. |
| US08533393B1 |
Dynamic cache eviction
A cache manager monitors storage capacity levels of a cache node storing data as cache entries. Upon determining a storage capacity threshold is reached, the cache manager begins evicting cache entries. In evicting the cache entries, the cache manager identifies a reduction level, and configures one or more time steps. The cache manager evicts cache entries within the one or more time steps until the reduction level is achieved. |
| US08533390B2 |
Circular buffer in a redundant virtualization environment
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for a circular buffer in a redundant virtualization environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a head indicator storage location, an outgoing tail indicator storage location, a buffer tail storage location, and fetch hardware. The head indicator, outgoing tail indicators, and buffer tail indicators are to indicate a head, outgoing tail, and buffer tail, respectively, of a circular buffer. The fetch hardware is to fetch from the head of the circular buffer and advance the head no further than the outgoing tail. The buffer tail is to be filled by software and advanced no further than the head. |
| US08533383B2 |
System and method for locking memory areas in a JVM to facilitate sharing between virtual servers
A system and method for locking memory areas in a Java Virtual Machines (JVM) to facilitate sharing between virtual servers. In accordance with an embodiment, the system comprises a computing/virtual execution environment, which includes one or more physical computers, computer systems, server computers, or similar computing devices, a hypervisor, and a virtual machine or JVM. The JVM allows one or more application images to be run on the computer, wherein the application images can include application server instances. The application server uses a first large page in memory during its startup process, and is configured so that it signals to the JVM when the application server has completed its startup and has potentially pre-optimized important code. When the JVM receives this signal, it internally write-protects or locks the page used for application server code memory, so that any new JITed code or re-optimized code is subsequently written into a new large page. The original page will therefore be undisturbed and will always be shareable between the virtual servers running within the hypervisor. |
| US08533382B2 |
Method and system for frequent checkpointing
A virtualization platform provides fault tolerance for a primary virtual machine by continuously transmitting checkpoint information of the primary virtual machine to a collector process, such as a backup virtual machine. When implemented on a hardware platform comprising a multi-processor that supports nested page tables, the virtualization platform leverages the nested page table support to quickly identify memory pages that have been modified between checkpoints. The backup virtual machine provides feedback information to assist the virtualization platform in identifying candidate memory pages for transmitting actual modifications to the memory pages rather than the entire memory page as part of the checkpoint information. The virtualization platform further maintains a modification history data structure to identify memory pages that can be transmitted simultaneous with the execution of the primary virtual machine rather than while the primary virtual machine has been stunned. |
| US08533379B2 |
Serial communication device configurable to operate in root mode or endpoint mode
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide serial communication devices which are pin-configurable at power on to operate as either a root (20) or endpoint (22) device. In conjunction with, for example, PCI Express specified I/O data buses (24), such devices provide for efficient transfer of serial data between systems and devices. |
| US08533376B1 |
Data processing method, data processing apparatus and robot
A data processing method includes generating a data storing area in a memory space. An area address of the data storing area is designated to a basic I/O control on the user space in a memory. The memory has a user space and a kernel space. A function is called in the kernel space using the basic I/O control. Whether the data storing area is inside the memory space is determined. The area address of the data storing area is set as an argument of the function in a case where it is determined that the data storing area is included in the memory space. |
| US08533374B1 |
Techniques for adaptive data transfer
Techniques for adaptive data transfer are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for adaptive data transfer comprising receiving a write request at an application protocol layer, buffering the write request, transferring to electronic storage a first portion of data of the buffered write request using a first setting value in a range, measuring, a transfer rate of the first portion of transferred data, varying the first setting value by a small amount in a first direction to identify a second setting value, transferring to electronic storage a second portion of data of the buffered write request using the second setting value, measuring a transfer rate of the second portion of transferred data, and replacing the first setting value with the second setting value if the transfer rate of the second portion of transferred data is greater than the first transfer rate. |
| US08533373B2 |
Wireless station and method for selecting A-MPDU transmission characteristics
A dynamic A-MSDU enabling method is disclosed. The method enables the recipient of an aggregate MAC service data unit (A-MSDU) under a block ACK agreement to reject the A-MSDU. The method thus distinguishes between A-MSDU outside of the block ACK agreement, which is mandatory, from A-MSDU under the block ACK agreement, which is optional. The method thus complies with the IEEE 802.11n specification while enabling the recipient to intelligently allocate memory during block ACK operations. |
| US08533372B2 |
Information processing device and method of collection process of device information in the information processing device
An information processing device collects status information for a large number of input and output devices simultaneously. A bridge circuit having a multicast function connects an information processing unit with a plurality of input and output devices. By setting the multicast to the bridge circuit, the bridge circuit forwards a packet which instructs a copy of the status information to the plurality of input and output devices by multicast, and a DMA circuit in the plurality of input and output devices simultaneously starts DMA transfer of the status information to the processing unit. |
| US08533371B2 |
Data recording apparatus and method
A data recording apparatus includes a connection unit which is capable of connecting, as a recording medium, a first recording medium having a predetermined function and a second recording medium that does not have the predetermined function. The data recording apparatus detects a connection status of the recording medium to the connection unit, controls a menu concerning setting of the predetermined function. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu operable. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is removed and then detects that the second recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu inoperable, and maintains the menu in the operable state during a period from removal of the first recording medium to connection of the second recording medium to the connection unit. |
| US08533363B2 |
Updating multiple computing devices
A system includes a server site that includes a memory for storing update data sets that correspond to data sets stored on multiple computing devices of a user. The system also includes a synchronization manager for determining that one computing device associated with the user and another computing device associated with the user are absent one or more data updates stored in the memory at the server site. The synchronization manager is configured to send in parallel, absent establishing a data transfer lock, the one or more data updates to the both computing devices of the user for updating the corresponding data stored on each computing device. |
| US08533361B1 |
Content selectable trusted DNS resolvers
Methods and systems for DNS resolution are provided. A method for DNS resolution may include identifying a domain name to be resolved. The method may further include providing resolver information associated with the identified domain name. The resolver information indicates that a global DNS resolver is available to resolve the identified domain name. A further embodiment may include requesting DNS resolution of the identified domain name with the global DNS resolver without using a local DNS resolver. A system for DNS resolution may include a domain identification module, a resolver information module and a resolution requester. |
| US08533360B2 |
Method and apparatus to report resource values in a mobile network
In current systems, a typical way to collect application statistics includes sending requests to a resource manager that can access the resource hardware via a device driver. Current systems require multiple synchronous transactions between the processes, which results in the systems consuming large amounts of central processing unit resources that lead to sub-optimal rates of information retrieval. A method and apparatus configured to use asynchronous messaging across all modules and to return hardware statistics directly from the hardware to an application process, thereby bypassing transactions between the application and the resource manager, and bypassing similar transactions between the resource manager and a device driver. Embodiments of the invention are provided for minimizing the power consumed by the memory and minimizing the amount of dedicated memory necessary to perform. |
| US08533358B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fragmenting system information messages in wireless networks
Methods and apparatus for sending system information (SI) associated with media directed to a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of fragmenting system information into a plurality of fragments, and transporting the fragments to a device. I another embodiment, a method for receiving system information associated with media directed to a device includes receiving system information fragments, and reassembling the fragments to recover the system information. |
| US08533352B2 |
Method for internet access and for communication
Methods using a portable USB communication device that is plug connectable to an external USB port of a first computing device for enabling phone calling. Upon plug connecting the portable communication device to the first computing device, a phone calling application running at the first computing device is enabled by employing at least in part a phone calling software component stored in the portable communication device. The portable communication device includes a controller unit to facilitate installation of at least part of phone calling software for running at the computing device. Subsequent to disconnecting from the first computing device, the user may also alternatively connect the portable communication device to an Ethernet port of a second computing device for enabling Internet access and phone calling without the first computing device. |
| US08533345B2 |
System and method for managing connections for networks used by a communication device
The invention relates to a system and method for managing a profile list for connections to networks for a communication device. The method comprises: upon detection of a connection for the device to a network, determining whether the connection is known to the device; if the connection is not known to the device, creating a temporary profile for the connection; adding temporary profile is added into a profile list of accessible connections for the device; evaluating the values of set of profile activation conditions to determine the profile should remain active; and if the values indicate that the temporary profile is to be terminated, then removing the temporary profile from the profile list. As part of defining the profile, the profile contains a set of profile activation conditions and related values for the temporary profile. |
| US08533344B2 |
Live connection enhancement for data source interface
The invention provides for the connection of a plurality of remote applications with a data source, to maximize the speed and reliability of data transfer. An interface module interfaces with a remote application such as a web browser. A port module interfaces between interface module and a data source. A connection manager facilitates the interface between the interface module and the port module. The port module detects the unavailability of the data source in response to an initial request for the data source by the remote application. The port module may then dynamically detect the availability of the data source in response to a subsequent request for the data source and re-connect to the data source to the remote application in response to the subsequent request without having to reinitialize the connection manager. |
| US08533340B2 |
IP multimedia subsystem virtual call/session control functions
Systems and methods provide virtual CSCFs in an IMS system. The Virtual CSCFs may be virtual S-CSCFs or virtual P-CSCFs. A master virtual CSCF may be used to distribute subscriber data and initial filter criteria to the virtual CSCFs in a group. Thus one of multiple servers may be used for processing call sessions for the same subscriber, thereby avoiding overloading a particular CSCF in an IMS system. |
| US08533337B2 |
Continuous upgrading of computers in a load balanced environment
The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for performing maintenance on computers included in a group of load balanced computer. A maintenance agent identifies a computers in the group as requiring maintenance, and a second computer as having up-to-date maintenance and a load level below a limit. The load balancer may assign a request to the second computer responsive to the identification. Responsive to a determination that spare capacity from the plurality of computers available to receive requests is above the threshold and that the first computer is idle, the maintenance agent may remove, for maintenance, the first computer from the plurality of computers available to receive requests. The maintenance agent may identify the first computer as having up-to-date maintenance responsive to the maintenance. |
| US08533325B2 |
Provisioning for enterprise service
Identifying an incoming call as from a mobile device of an enterprise communication system. Creating a first list relating mobile devices of the enterprise communication system with Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) number of the device. Creating a hashmap comprising keys. Each key comprising the last n digits assigned as a PLMN number to at least one mobile device of the enterprise communication system. The hashmap further comprising a plurality of buckets. Each bucket corresponding to a key, and comprising a second list identifying each enterprise-associated mobile device having a PLMN number ending with the key. Receiving an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) number of an call incoming to the enterprise communication system. Retrieving at least one bucket corresponding to a key comprising the last n digits of the ANI number. Searching the retrieved bucket for the unique identifier associated with the full PLMN number. |
| US08533319B2 |
Methods and systems for prioritizing network assets
Methods and systems for restoring networks to normal behavior are disclosed. For example, in various embodiments an apparatus for addressing device abnormalities in a network may include node monitoring circuitry configured to monitor device abnormalities in the network, and ranking circuitry that may receive information from the node monitoring device and, upon receiving information from the monitoring circuitry that multiple devices in the network are compromised, may provide ranking information as to which of the multiple compromised devices in the network is to be attended to first. |
| US08533318B2 |
Processing and presenting multi-dimensioned transaction tracking data
An approach is provided that receives a set of tracking data from a monitored activity. The set of tracking data includes name-value pairs. The received set name-value pairs are compared with context masks. Each context mask include one or more name-filter pairs. One of the sets of context masks is selected in response to determining that the incoming name-value pairs matches the mask name-filter pairs of the selected context mask. Name-value pairs are selected based upon the selected context mask. The selected name-value pairs are then stored in an aggregate data store. If the received set of tracking data fails to match at least one of the name-filter pairs then the received set of tracking data is disregarded and none of the name-value pairs are stored in the aggregate data store. |
| US08533316B2 |
Management computer for setting configuration information of node
Provided is a management computer which reduces the workload of an administrator of a network in setting node when the normal network is changed to a network with redundancy. The management computer manages a plurality of nodes that constitute a network accommodating VLANs. The plurality of nodes include a first node and a second node which make a redundancy pair and which divides the network into an active path and a standby path. The management computer stores port management information showing connection relations for respective nodes and identifiers of VLANs allocated to ports of the nodes, and creates the redundancy pair by updating the port management information of the first node such that a VLAN allocated to one of ports of a connected node that is connected to the first node is allocated to one of ports of the first node that is connected to the connected node. |
| US08533311B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling mobile communication devices
A system for remotely controlling mobile communication devices includes a redirection system, a remote control system and a mobile data communication device. The redirection system detects a triggering event at a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network. The mobile data communication device receives data items from the wireless network and executes a plurality of device operations. The remote control system receives control information from a user interface and transmits the control information through the redirection system to the wireless network. The control information is received and executed by the mobile data communication device to remotely control one or more of the device operations. Methods of controlling the operation of mobile data communication devices are also disclosed. |
| US08533308B1 |
Network traffic management through protocol-configurable transaction processing
A traffic management device or other intermediate network device is configured to enable the device to support connection splitting and/or connection aggregation or to otherwise process network transactions for an arbitrary transaction-oriented protocol. The configuration may be accomplished by providing one or more traffic management rules defined by way of a scripting language and provided to an interpreter. The traffic management rule may follow a basic approach common to many protocols and is adapted to the particular protocol being supported. The rule may configure the network device to inspect incoming data, extract length and record type specifiers, buffer an appropriate amount of data to determine transactions or transaction boundaries, and perform other operations. Transaction processing may be enabled for various kinds of protocols, including application-level, proprietary, quasi-proprietary, and special-purpose protocols, protocols for which limited information is available, and protocols not natively supported by the network device. |
| US08533305B1 |
System and method for adapting a system configuration of a first computer system for hosting on a second computer system
Some embodiments provide a method for a server hosting environment having several nodes. Each node is for using one or more hypervisors in order to host several configurations of several computer systems. The method receives a first configuration of a computer system. The first configuration includes an operating system that directly accesses hardware of the computer system. The method generates a second configuration that is based on the first configuration. The second configuration includes the first configuration modified to be operable on a particular hypervisor of a particular node in the several nodes. The method installs the second configuration on the particular node in order to allow the particular node to operate on the second configuration in conjunction with the particular hypervisor. The second configuration accesses a set of virtual hardware provided by the particular hypervisor. |
| US08533300B2 |
Storage device, controller, and address management method
A storage device has a wide link in which any one of addresses that a server has is assigned to a plurality of ports that are connected to the server. A change detecting unit detects a change in the state of any port of the ports. When a change is detected, an address acquiring unit acquires the addresses that are assigned to the ports. An address expecting unit and a physical-address acquiring unit, in accordance with the acquired addresses and with identification information for identifying the ports, manage addresses that the plurality of connection-ports-connected-server can possibly have. |
| US08533299B2 |
Locator table and client library for datacenters
A system including a plurality of servers, a client, and a metadata server is described herein. The servers each store tracts of data, a plurality of the tracts comprising a byte sequence and being distributed among the plurality of servers. To locate the tracts, the metadata server generates a table that is used by the client to identify servers associated with the tracts, enabling the client to provide requests to the servers. The metadata server also enables recovery in the event of a server failure. Further, the servers construct tables of tract identifiers and locations to use in responding to the client requests. |
| US08533295B2 |
Shared file system
A shared storage distributed file system is presented that provides users and applications with transparent access to shared data stored on network attached storage devices by utilizing layering techniques to inherit file management functionality from existing file systems. The present invention stores meta-data for the shared data as real-data in a standard, non-modified, client-server distributed file system, such as NFS. In effect, the standard client-server file system acts as a meta-data server. The name space consisting of inode files stored as real-data on the meta-data server acts as the name space for the shared data. Similarly, file attributes of the inode files are utilized as the file attributes of the shared data. By utilizing an existing client-server system as the meta-data server, development time and complexity are greatly reduced, while speed advances in the underlying client-server system may be incorporated without alteration of the present invention. A method for communicating with network attached storage devices over layered file systems is also presented. |
| US08533294B2 |
Terminal device and content data processing method
A terminal device includes a communication section configured to communicate with a server including content data, a reproduction processor configured to reproduce the content data obtained through the communication, a bookmark creator configured to, in accordance with an instruction from a user, create a bookmark on the basis of information regarding a reproduction location of the content data in the process of being reproduced and information regarding a storage location of the content data, a bookmark storage section configured to store the bookmark therein, and a controller configured to, in the case where an instruction for reading out the bookmark is issued by the user, perform control to read out the bookmark from the bookmark storage section, transmit a request for acquisition of the content data specified by description of the read-out bookmark to the server, and cause the reproduction processor to reproduce the content data transmitted by the server. |
| US08533293B1 |
Client side cache management
A system, method and computer-readable medium for client-side cache management are provided. A client request for content is returned that includes executable code for generating a request for preload information. Based on processing the executable code, a client computing device requests preload information from a content delivery service provider. The content delivery service provider provides an identification of content based on resource requests previously served by the content delivery service provider. The client computing device processes the preload information and generates and obtains identified resources for maintenance in a client computing device memory, such as cache. |
| US08533289B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth allocation
According to the invention, a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content objects from a content provider to a recipient is disclosed. The CDN includes a dynamic pricing engine and a second web location. The dynamic pricing engine is coupled to a first web location. The first web location, which is associated with a content provider, allows the recipient to order a content object. The delivery quote is solicited by the first web location for delivering a content object one or more times. The second web location delivers the content object to a recipient system of the recipient. The second web location is associated with the dynamic pricing engine. The dynamic pricing engine automatically produces the delivery quote, which is affected by at least one of the content object or a web location of the recipient system. |
| US08533288B2 |
Interactive server side components
Server side internet applications are created by placing interactive server side components (ISSC's) on internet pages. ISSC's encapsulate dynamic page functions including processing of user responses on the server and thus can be reused, which drastically reduces programming effort. The ISSC technique remembers information (in form of an ISSC object) about each ISSC during dynamic page generation on the server. Then, it generates HTML code in a way such that the ISSC event is sent to the server using a conventional HTTP GET or POST request. On the server, the event is then passed to the corresponding ISSC object. All components work without disturbing each other, even when nested or combined. A browser based editor can also be used to place ISSC's on pages and to modify their properties. During dynamic page generation, scripts and handles are embedded into the page that permit editing of the page itself. |
| US08533287B2 |
Motor vehicle having an internet connection and method of operating same
In a motor vehicle having an Internet connection and at least two computer units to which at least one operating location respectively is assigned for using the Internet, each operating location includes at least one display unit and operating devices. By each computer unit, at least one browser application for the display of Internet pages is implementable such that, by way of the input devices, Internet pages can be called at each operating location via Internet addresses and can be displayed on the display unit. An Internet address used at a first operating location, which is assigned to a first computer unit, can be automatically stored in a central address memory such that the Internet address can be made available by an access taking place from a second computer unit to the address memory at a second operating location assigned to this second computer unit. This permits a facilitated address input by the operating devices of the second operating location. |
| US08533284B2 |
Sharing of media and other content through a communication channel
Multiple contact lists of a user, which individual lists are maintained in varying formats associated with varying internet-based services or computer-based applications, are federated through the use of an intermediate schema used by a federating messenger application. The federating messenger application may be instantiated as a client resident at a computer system and/or as a server-based application accessible via a Web browser or dedicated client application. In one instance, the federated messenger application includes both client-based and server-based components, and on the client-side may be resident as a browser extension or similar application. |
| US08533280B1 |
Distributed origin content delivery network
Updating a node of a content delivery network is disclosed. In some embodiments, an indication of an event associated with a piece of content, which event is associated with a change in a corpus of content associated with a content delivery network, is received at a node of the content delivery network; and in response to the received indication, an action is performed at the node, if applicable, such that at least a portion of the corpus of content associated with the content delivery network stored at the node is updated based on the event. |
| US08533277B2 |
System and method for providing configuration data such as for configuring electronic mail access
A system, method and computer-readable medium provides configuration data, such as for electronic mail access. A configuration module retrieves the configuration data from a source of configuration data, such as a user system. The configuration in one aspect could be for accessing different electronic mailboxes of a user. Data object are generated. Each data object is submitted as a distributed object module to a web service. The web service in one aspect of the invention could be for a pass-through access for configuring electronic mailboxes. |
| US08533261B2 |
Extensible and programmable multi-tenant service architecture
An extensible, multi-tenant software-as-a-service business application platform is provided for hosting multiple organizations. Organization services are provided by virtual or physical servers with dedicated data stores assembled in scalable groups. Distributed interaction between components of the scalable groups may enable extensibility and reliability, while changes in locations of organization services are provided to the client(s) for seamless continuation of the client's access to the services. Customizable and dynamic APIs for accessing each organization's data and applications isolated from the others and pluggable third party authentication services may also be integrated into the platform. |
| US08533254B1 |
Method and system for replicating content over a network
A system and method is directed to replicating packet transactions over a network. The system includes a replication component and a plurality of servers enabled to include substantially the same content. The replication component receives a packet from a client and forwards it to a first server. If the packet is to be replicated, a replicate of the packet is forwarded to the other servers in the plurality of servers so that at least a portion of the content on the first server and the other servers are synchronized. Forwarding of the replicate packet may be delayed for some period of time, and need not be concurrent. If responses received from each server are substantially the same, a message is sent to the client. Moreover, transaction replication can occur across servers arranged in different configurations, including disparate databases. |
| US08533251B2 |
Optimized corner turns for local storage and bandwidth reduction
A block matrix multiplication mechanism is provided for reversing the visitation order of blocks at corner turns when performing a block matrix multiplication operation in a data processing system. By reversing the visitation order, the mechanism eliminates a block load at the corner turns. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a corner return is referred to as a “bounce” corner turn and results in a serpentine patterned processing order of the matrix blocks. The mechanism allows the data processing system to perform a block matrix multiplication operation with a maximum of three block transfers per time step. Therefore, the mechanism reduces maximum throughput and increases performance. In addition, the mechanism also reduces the number of multi-buffered local store buffers. |
| US08533249B2 |
Weight function generating method, reference signal generating method, transmission signal generating apparatus, signal processing apparatus and antenna
A rectangular wave for determining a range of a weight function is transformed to frequency domain by an FFT or the like, and after being multiplied by a window function (BlackmanHarris window function, for example) generated on a frequency axis by a multiplier, the frequency domain is transformed again to the time domain by an IFFT or the like thereby to generate a weight function. |
| US08533247B2 |
Arrangement for generating poly-phase sequences
The electronic circuit arrangement is used for generating poly-phase sequences as synchronization sequences and/or reference sequences in radio communications systems. It comprises a first adder, a first multiplier, a first register, a second register, a first counter and a trigonometry device. The first adder adds a value (km) formed from the value (k) of the counter to the value (B) of the first register. The first multiplier multiplies the value (A) of the second register by a value (y) formed from the value (B) of the first register and the value (k) of the counter. The trigonometry device forms the real part and the imaginary part of the present value of the poly-phase sequence (ak) from a value formed at least from the output value (wk) of the first multiplier. |
| US08533245B1 |
Multipliers with a reduced number of memory blocks
Techniques for implementing multipliers using memory blocks in an integrated circuit (IC) are provided. The disclosed techniques may reduce the number of memory blocks required to implement various multiplication operations. A plurality of generated products is normalized. The normalized products are scaled to generate a plurality of scaled products. Scaled products with the least root mean square (RMS) error are identified. The scaled products with the least RMS error are then stored in a plurality of memory blocks in an IC. The scaled products may have a reduced number of bits compared to the plurality of generated products that have not been normalized and scaled. |
| US08533244B2 |
Method, apparatus and instructions for parallel data conversions
Method, apparatus, and program means for performing a conversion. In one embodiment, a disclosed apparatus includes a destination storage location corresponding to a first architectural register. A functional unit operates responsive to a control signal, to convert a first packed first format value selected from a set of packed first format values into a plurality of second format values. Each of the first format values has a plurality of sub elements having a first number of bits. The second format values have a greater number of bits. The functional unit stores the plurality of second format values into an architectural register. |
| US08533243B2 |
Representation converting apparatus, arithmetic apparatus, representation converting method, and computer program product
When converting an affine representation representing a 2r-th degree algebraic torus T2r(Fq) (r is a prime number, and q is an integer) to a projective representation representing a quadratic algebraic torus T2(Fq^r), a representation converting apparatus acquires member (c0, c1, . . . , cr-2), (ci is a member of a finite field Fq, where 0≦i≦r−2) of a 2r-th degree algebraic torus T2r(Fq) represented by the affine representation. The apparatus performs a multiplication operation on the acquired member. The multiplication operation is determined by a condition under which a member of a quadratic algebraic torus T2(Fq^r) is included in the 2r-th degree algebraic torus T2r(Fq), a modulus and a base of a quadratic extension, and a modulus and a base of an r-th degree extension. The representation converting apparatus then performs an addition and subtraction operation determined by the condition, the moduli, and the bases. |
| US08533241B2 |
File-sharing system and method for processing files, and program
Provided is a technique capable of efficiently operating files and directories that are stored in storage located in a physically far place from a file server, without causing a network latency. An index creation program is also loaded in a cloud computing environment, and a flag, which indicates whether or not to execute batch processing to a directory that has been migrated to the cloud side, is provided, whereby it becomes possible to collectively execute index creation processing for the migrated directory on the cloud side. More specifically, upon completion of migration of all files under a given directory to the cloud side, a flag, which indicates whether or not to perform batch processing on the cloud side, is validated for the metadata of the directory. Such a batch processing flag can be held for each application such as applications of the index creation processing and the virus check processing. |
| US08533233B2 |
Generic framework for porting legacy process automation assets to a new control system
An extensible, object-oriented framework describes various generic elements of legacy automation systems. That framework is used as a basis for porting one or more of those elements to another (“target”) automation system. Objects in the framework, known as “extensions,” adapt information from the legacy system to a corresponding, generic representation. Compilers express those representations in the target system. The framework thus translates the “old” automation configuration for use in a “new” automation system. The scheme can be extended to accommodate arbitrary control systems (i.e., other manufacturers and product lines), new sub-domains within the automation domain (e.g. operator interfaces, batch control etc.) and new target systems without altering the core framework. |
| US08533226B1 |
System and method for verifying and revoking ownership rights with respect to a website in a website indexing system
A website may have a number of owners. According to certain embodiments, site owner-information of current owners of the website is provided to a user to enable the user to re-verify the current owners of the website. |
| US08533224B2 |
Assessing accuracy of trained predictive models
A system includes a computer(s) coupled to a data storage device(s) that stores a training data repository and a predictive model repository. The training data repository includes retained data samples from initial training data and from previously received data sets. The predictive model repository includes at least one updateable trained predictive model that was trained with the initial training data and retrained with the previously received data sets. A new data set is received. A richness score is assigned to each of the data samples in the set and to the retained data samples that indicates how information rich a data sample is for determining accuracy of the trained predictive model. A set of test data is selected based on ranking by richness score the retained data samples and the new data set. The trained predictive model is accuracy tested using the test data and an accuracy score determined. |
| US08533222B2 |
Updateable predictive analytical modeling
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for training and retraining predictive models. A series of training data sets for predictive modeling can be received, e.g., over a network from a client computing system. The training data included in the training data sets is different from initial training data that was used with multiple training functions to train multiple trained predictive models stored in a predictive model repository. The series of training data sets are used with multiple trained updateable predictive models obtained from the predictive model repository and multiple training functions to generate multiple retrained predictive models. An effectiveness score is generated for each of the retrained predictive models. A first trained predictive model is selected from among the trained predictive models included in the predictive model repository and the retrained predictive models based on their respective effectiveness scores. |
| US08533220B2 |
Retrieving data in batches from a line of business system
A line of business data integration (“LOBI”) stack is provided that is configured to store an abstract representation of a mechanism utilized by a line of business (“LOB”) system to return requested LOB data in batches. When a request is received from a client for the LOB data, the LOBI stack utilizes the abstract representation to retrieve the requested LOB data from the LOB system in batches. In this manner, the batching mechanism utilized by the LOB system is abstracted from the client. |
| US08533219B2 |
Adjusting one or more trace filters in a database system
Methods and systems for adjusting trace filters in a database system are described. During operation, an embodiment may receive, from a user, an indication of a performance problem. Next, the embodiment may determine settings of one or more trace filters based on the indication of the performance problem. The embodiment may then collect trace data based on the one or more trace filters. While the trace data is being collected, the embodiment may perform the following set of operations one or more times: (1) obtain database system performance metrics, (2) analyze the trace data to obtain an analysis result, and (3) adjust the settings of the one or more trace filters based on the database system performance metrics and the analysis result. |
| US08533215B2 |
Geo-targeted data collection or other action
Information may be associated with geographic locations, and requests for this information may be used to determine future actions. In one example, a search engine returns results that refer to places having physical geographic locations. If imagery of the geographic locations is available, the imagery may be shown to the person who requests the information. If imagery is not available, this unavailability may be treated as a failure. If a number of failures occurs in a geographic area, then resources (e.g., a car with a camera) may be deployed to collect imagery of that area. In another example, knowledge about a geographic concentration of requests might be used to disambiguate a request relating to a larger area (e.g., requests relating to “Minneapolis” might be focused on the area near the I-35 bridge, if data show that many requests in Minneapolis are for the area around that bridge). |
| US08533213B2 |
Apparatus and method for integrating applications into a computerized environment
A method and apparatus for automatically suggesting further applications to a user using an executed application in a computerized environment, comprising receiving metadata provided by the executed application; searching an index for suggested applications which receive as input the data provided by the executed application; assigning a priority for each of the suggested applications; sorting the suggested applications according to the priority; and displaying to the user a list comprising the applications that received the highest priorities. |
| US08533208B2 |
System and method for topic extraction and opinion mining
Methods, apparatus, and systems to determine a niche market of items or services, the first phase of which identifies a gap between demand and supply for a set of items. Session logs may be evaluated to compare transactions involving a specific item to those of a larger group of items. The resultant information identifies areas of high demand, but with low availability. The niche market information may be provided as direct merchandising items for sellers. In one example, the method generates niche market item web pages in specific categories. Additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed. |
| US08533207B2 |
Information processing method, apparatus and program in XML driven architecture
This invention relates to the development of a business program in an XML driven architecture. First, XML data corresponding to a form screen is analyzed and a business class corresponding to a tag included in the XML data is specified. Then, by referring to a business class manager in which the business classes to be created are registered, it is judged whether or not the specified business class has not been registered in the business class manager, and if the specified business class has not been registered in the business class manager, the specified business class is registered in the business class manager. After this, each of the business classes has to be specifically programmed. On the other hand, at the execution time of the programmed business classes, XML data including tags corresponding to data inputted or selected for the form screen is obtained, and the business classes that correspond to the tags included in the XML data and are programs to carry out a processing relating to the tags. Then, the specified business classes are called among the business classes that are defined in advance and loaded in a memory. |
| US08533206B1 |
Filtering in search engines
In an embodiment, the size of a filter in a search engine is dynamically adjusted in order to reduce filter error. The filter, for example, may be a domain filter that contains domain(s) of preferred search results. A search engine processes the query and the domain filter to create a set of search results that are relevant to the query terms and for which a selected portion of the search results satisfy the domain filter, in that such portion of the documents come from domains in the filter. The search results may then be provided to the user, as a set of search results that are relevant to the query terms and which include some portion of results that match the query labels. The construction of the domain filter may be done with a Bloom filter approach, using domain prefixes from annotations. |
| US08533202B2 |
Entropy-based mixing and personalization
Techniques are provided for selecting a diverse mix of content items that may be displayed to a user. Content items such as user-generated events are received from a variety of sources. One or more content items are added to a set of content items based on a diversity of characteristics. The diversity of characteristics for the one or more content items may be calculated by measuring a diversity of characteristics of the set as if the one or more content items were added to the set. Content items that produce a greater diversity are selected for addition to the set. The set is displayed to the user, who is provided with a more meaningful mix of content due to the greater diversity in content. |
| US08533198B2 |
Mapping descriptions
An item record in an item database contains an item description generated by a seller of an item. A server machine is configured to access the item database, analyze the item description, and extract descriptive information by inferring an attribute and a corresponding attribute value from the item description. The attribute and its attribute value constitute an attribute-value pair. The server machine uses the attribute-value pair to map the item record to a product record stored in a product database. The mapping of the item record to the product record is based on comparing the attribute-value pair of the item record to a reference attribute-value pair in the product record to identify the product record. The mapping is performed upon detection of a match between the attribute-value pairs. |
| US08533197B2 |
Continuous content sharing through intelligent resolution of federated hierarchical graphs
Systems, methods and computer readable media for media for continuous content sharing between systems through intelligent resolution of federated hierarchical graphs are described. A Multi-Topology Middleman (MTM) is used between the source and target systems to handle the content sharing. The MTM builds on traditional import/export infrastructure; it tracks the import/export of individual objects between systems. When a conflict is found between systems, the MTM learns the conflict resolution and stores the conflict resolution as a rule for the conflicting object, and applies the rule for subsequent import/export process on that object. The MTM also tracks the mapping of objects between the source and target systems and updates the target object in accordance with a change in the source object. The MTM is also capable of undoing the import process. |
| US08533194B1 |
System for enhancing expert-based computerized analysis of a set of digital documents and methods useful in conjunction therewith
An electronic document analysis method using a processor for analyzing N electronic documents, the method comprising providing a set of control electronic documents from among the electronic N documents; and using the set of control electronic documents and a processor to evaluate at least one aspect of a computerized text-classifier based electronic document categorization process performed on the N documents including computation of at least one statistic; wherein providing includes providing an initial set of control electronic documents; computing, using a processor, an estimated validation level of the at least one statistic assuming the initial set is used, and comparing the estimated validation level to a desired validation level, using a processor, and enlarging the initial set of control electronic documents if the estimated validation level falls below the desired validation level. |
| US08533192B2 |
Content capture device and methods for automatically tagging content
A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. An apparatus includes a content capture mechanism configured for capturing content including an object, and a processor configured for automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. A method for using a user device for automatically tagging content includes capturing content including an object, receiving object information associated with the object when a sensor associated with the object is detected, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content, where the information structure includes at least a portion of the object information associated with the object. |
| US08533190B2 |
Method and system for selecting records from a database
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for searching and retrieving records from a database and in particular to capturing a user's preferences to facilitate retrieval of records from the database in accordance with those preferences. The invention is suitable for use in applications in which the records retrieved from the database correspond to books, films, music or the like and it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that exemplary, but non-limiting, application. |
| US08533187B2 |
Augmentation of place ranking using 3D model activity in an area
Aspects of the invention relate generally to ranking geographic locations based on perceived user interest. More specifically, a database of three-dimensional models of buildings or other architectural features may be used to determine the level of user interest in a particular location and accordingly rank, for example, geographic locations or web or map search results with local intent. For example, various signals such as the number of models created by users for a particular location, the number of clicks or requests for the models of the particular location, the number of POIs contained within or associated with the models associated with the particular geographic location, number of categories associated with a model associated with the geographic location, number of embedded views or views of the models associated with the particular location on other web sites, and the age of the models associated with the particular geographic location. |
| US08533182B1 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for efficient graph pattern matching and querying
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for efficient graph pattern matching and querying are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes providing a graph comprising vertices and edges associated with the vertices. Further, the method includes sending one or more first activation messages to a first set of the vertices, wherein each of the first activation messages has a value. The method also includes determining, at each vertex of the first set of vertices, whether the values of the one or more first activation messages received at the vertex meets a query condition. Further, the method also includes sending, at each vertex of the first set of vertices, one or more second activation messages from the vertex to a second set of vertices in response to determining that the values of the one or more first activation messages received at the vertex meets the query condition. |
| US08533181B2 |
Partition pruning via query rewrite
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with query pruning via query rewrite are described. One example method includes receiving a query on a partitioned table that will result in a first query plan that includes accessing a local domain index on each partition in the database. The query is rewritten to generate a second query that will result in a second query plan that includes accessing a global domain index instead of the local domain index on each partition in the database. |
| US08533180B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing a geographic information system database with operational data
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for providing data about an airport from an airport mapping database. A first set of elements are stored in the airport mapping database, wherein the first set of elements are visible objects and are identified using a set of geometric features. A second set of elements are stored in the airport mapping database, wherein the second set of elements are non-visible objects and are identified using the set of geometric features. A first element from the first set of elements is associated with a second element in the second set of elements based on an operational relationship between the first element and the second element. A responsive set of elements containing one element from the first set of elements and another element from the second set of elements based on associations between elements in the first set of elements and the second set of elements are returned in response to a query. |
| US08533174B2 |
Multi-entity-centric integrated search system and method
Disclosed herein is a multi-entity-centric integrated search system and method. The multi-entity-centric integrated search system includes an entity information acquisition server for receiving and analyzing a query term and determining entities and types of entities, and an integrated search result provision server for configuring an integrated search results page using results acquired from unit service calling units, such as an external API calling unit, a search engine calling unit, and an inference engine calling unit, and presenting integrated search results. The present invention is advantageous in that precise search results can be shown more rapidly, satisfaction with search results for a query term in which multiple entities coexist can be improved, the ambiguity of query terms is overcome, and an open platform capable of operating in conjunction with various types of web services is provided. |
| US08533170B1 |
System and method for determining the latest version of a stored data object
Systems and methods that provide versioning in a storage system may automatically determine the latest version of a stored object when a version identifier is not specified for an access operation. For example, retrieve type operations may behave differently when they specify a version identifier than when they do not. The system may determine and fill in the version identifier of the latest stored version of an object having a specified key for a retrieve type operation if a version identifier is not specified. Key map elements representing each object stored in the system may include an indication of the time at which the object was created or modified. The latest version of an object may be ascertained by locating the first element among ordered elements in the key map with the specified user key, or an adjacent element with the specified key that has a more recent creation/modification date. |
| US08533167B1 |
Compressed set representation for sets as measures in OLAP cubes
A cardinality of an incoming data stream is maintained in real time; the cardinality is maintained in a data structure that is represented by an unsorted list at low cardinalities, a linear counter at medium cardinalities, and a PCSA at high cardinalities. The conversion to the linear counter makes use of the data in the unsorted list, after which that data is discarded. The conversion to the PCSA uses only the data in the linear counter. |
| US08533165B2 |
Conflict resolution via metadata examination
A provided computing device detects a synchronization conflict between two versions of a file and may examine corresponding metadata fields. The computing device may characterize a nature of a difference between metadata fields as immutable, mergeable, or subsumable. Core metadata fields may be defined such that a nature of a difference, or conflict, is categorized as immutable. Non-core metadata fields may be defined such that a nature of a difference, or conflict, is characterized as either mergeable or subsumable. A conflict between corresponding mergeable non-core metadata fields may be resolved by merging values of the corresponding non-core metadata fields. A conflict between corresponding subsumable non-core metadata fields may be resolved by replacing a value of a non-core metadata field of an older of the two versions of the file with a value of a corresponding non-core metadata field of a younger of the two versions of the file. |
| US08533161B2 |
Fixed content storage within a partitioned content platform, with disposition service
A content platform (or “cluster”) that comprises a redundant array of independent nodes is logically partitioned. Using a web-based interface, an administrator defines one or more “tenants” within the cluster, wherein a tenant has a set of attributes: namespaces, administrative accounts, data access accounts, and a permission mask. A namespace is a logical partition of the cluster that serves as a collection of objects typically associated with at least one defined application. Each namespace has a private file system with respect to other namespaces. This approach enables a user to segregate cluster data into logical partitions. Using the administrative interface, a namespace associated with a given tenant is selectively configured without affecting a configuration of at least one other namespace in the set of namespaces. One configuration option is a “disposition service” that, once enabled for a namespace, automatically deletes objects that were once under retention and whose retention time has expired. Preferably, the disposition service deletes objects that do not have a “retention hold” associated therewith. The service enables the content platform to automatically reclaim cluster capacity while minimizing external involvement and archive load. |
| US08533159B2 |
Processing materialized tables in a multi-tenant application system
A method, system and computer program for processing materialized tables in a multi-tenant application system, wherein in the multi-tenant application system, a plurality of tenants share one or more basic-tables. According to the data access history information of the plurality of tenants, an update pattern analyzer analyzes the similarity of the update patterns for one or more basic-tables by the plurality of tenants. Furthermore, according to the similarity analyzed by the update pattern analyzer, a tenant grouping means groups the plurality of tenants into a plurality of tenant groups. Additionally, according to the tenant groups grouped by the tenant grouping means, a materialized table constructor constructs the tenant group materialized tables from the one or more basic-tables. |
| US08533154B2 |
Method and system for server synchronization with a computing device
A method and system for synchronizing a main database of a server and a local database of a handheld device. A user can use an application residing in the handheld device to make transactions in the local database. During a synchronization operation, the handheld device and server are coupled. The system then determines whether the application should be updated and, if so, causes the server to provide an update. The system also causes the handheld device to provide to the server information related to the transactions made by the user to the local database. The system causes the server to perform transactions on the main database based on the transaction information. The system also causes the server to extract data from the main database. The server can then provide at least some of the extracted data to the handheld device to update the local database. |
| US08533152B2 |
System and method for data provenance management
A method for deriving data provenance information corresponding to a workflow process having lower-level workflow processes includes deriving internal provenance information for data pertaining to at least one of the lower-level workflow processes, identifying data objects that are shared between at least a pair of lower-level workflow processes to derive external provenance information for the identified data objects, in response to a user-submitted query, using the internal and external provenance information to retrieve the data provenance information for the workflow process, and outputting the derived data provenance to a user. |
| US08533151B2 |
Generating a local copy of a virtualized application package from a local installation
Technologies are described herein for generating a local copy of a virtualized application package from a local installation. An empty copy of the virtualized application package is generated from a skeleton file. The skeleton file contains a hash value computed from each data block in the virtualized application package. The component files of the application are retrieved from a virtual file system representation of the location installation of the application, and each component file is divided into one or more blocks of data. A hash value is computed for each block of data and the skeleton file is searched for a hash value corresponding to a data block of the virtualized application file that matches the hash value computed for each block of data. If a match is found, the block of data is copied to the corresponding data block of the empty copy of the virtualized application package. |
| US08533146B1 |
Identification of over-clustered map features
A system and method for managing online map information determines map records that represent more than one map feature by identifying map feature records where at least one attribute of the map feature record has more than value wherein each of the values has a probability of being correct that exceeds a threshold. |
| US08533145B2 |
Ubiquitous monitoring system capable of performing integral monitoring for smart objects
There is provided a ubiquitous monitoring system comprising a plurality of sensing nodes; one or more monitoring agents receiving and transmitting sensing data of the sensing nodes; a monitoring module receiving the sensing data from the one or more monitoring agents and managing the sensing data for each type and time; an analysis module deducing one of function information, performance information, and status information for each of smart objects in a ubiquitous space, based on the sensing data, deducing one of function information, performance information, and status information of a ubiquitous service performed by coupled smart objects, and transmitting a result of deduction; and a monitoring viewer displaying the result of deduction to a user. |
| US08533138B2 |
Data classification methods and apparatus for use with data fusion
Methods and apparatus for classifying data for use in data fusion processes are disclosed. An example method of classifying data selectively groups nodes of a classification tree so that each node is assigned to only one of a plurality of groups and so that at least one of the groups includes at least two of the nodes. Data is classified based on the classification tree and the selective grouping of the nodes, and the results displayed. |
| US08533136B1 |
Method and system for generating nonlinear simulation model
A method and system are provided for generating a nonlinear simulation model of a device under test (DUT). The method and system include receiving large-signal nonlinear waveform data based on responses of the DUT to input signals, determining a set of first dynamical variables and a set of second dynamical variables from the nonlinear waveform data, calculating values of second dynamical variables, providing nonlinear constitutive relations as functions of the first dynamical variables and the calculated values of the second dynamical variables, and compiling the nonlinear simulation model of the DUT using the identified nonlinear constitutive relations. |
| US08533132B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a machine-learning agent to retrieve information in response to a message
Mixed-initiative message-augmenting agent systems and methods that provide users with tools that allow them to respond to messages, such as email messages, containing requests for information or otherwise requiring responses that require information that needs to be retrieved from one or more data sources. The systems and methods allow users to train machine-learning agents how to retrieve and present information in responses to like messages so that the machine-learning agents can eventually automatedly generate responses with minimal involvement by the users. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to build message-augmenting forms containing the desired information for responding to messages and to demonstrate to the machine-learning agents where to retrieve pertinent information for populating the forms. Embodiments of the systems and methods allow users to modify and repair automatically generated forms to continually improve the knowledge of the machine-learning agents. |
| US08533131B2 |
Method and device for classification of sound-generating processes
Sound-generating processes are classified using at least one sensor for detecting sound signals caused by the sound-generating processes. A storage stores a reference model which has statistical distribution parameters for predetermined characteristics of a sound signal. An adaptation unit extracts the characteristic from the detected sound signals of the processes and calculates a similarity between the sound signals detected based on the extracted characteristics for grouping the processes into various process clusters having sound signals that are similar to each other. The adaptation unit adapts the stored reference model as a function of the statistical distribution parameters of those processes in a process cluster having the maximum number of processes, then a classification unit classifies the sound-generating processes based on the adapted model. |
| US08533125B2 |
System and method for analyzing transportation data
A system and method of analyzing transportation data includes receiving a transportation data set including transportation data corresponding to at least one item. A portion of the transportation data is converted into an event string, which includes a plurality of event symbols corresponding to a plurality of transportation events. The event string is selectively filtered according to a query to produce a filtered event string, and transportation data associated with the filtered event string may be reported. |
| US08533118B2 |
Online challenge-response
Embodiments of the invention enable cardholders conducting an online transaction to be authenticated in real-time using a challenge-response application. The challenge-response application can be administered by an issuer or by a third party on-behalf-of an issuer. A challenge question can be presented to the cardholder, and the cardholder's response can be verified. The challenge question presented can be selected based on an analysis of the risk of the transaction and potentially other factors. A variety of dynamic challenge questions can be used without the need for the cardholder to enroll into the program. Additionally, there are many flexible implementation options of the challenge-response application that can be adjusted based on factors such as the location of the merchant or the location of the consumer. |
| US08533116B2 |
Internet payment, authentication and loading system using virtual smart card
A system loads, authenticates and uses a virtual smart card for payment of goods and/or services purchased on-line over the Internet. An online purchase and load (OPAL) server includes a virtual smart card data base that has a record of information for each smart card that it represents for a user at the behest of an issuer. The server includes a smart card emulator that emulates a smart card by using the card data base and a hardware security module. The emulator interacts with a pseudo card reader module in the server that imitates a physical card reader. The server also includes a client code module that interacts with the pseudo card reader and a remote payment or load server. A pass-through client terminal presents a user interface and passes information between the OPAL server and a merchant server, and between the OPAL server and a bank server. |
| US08533115B2 |
Payment services for multi-national corporations
A central coordinating body (CCB) is part of a global commercial card processing system. The CCB provides standards, relationships, management protocols, problem resolution, processing, data sourcing and reporting capabilities. The local card issuer services a client locally on behalf of the lead card issuer. The lead issuer and CCB enter into an agreement that defines services that will be performed for the client by local issuers and services to be performed by CCB. The local issuers and CCB enter into an agreement defining the services to be provided for the client. A list of services to be provided is published that describes the services provided by a local issuer. The agreements specify a bid process for when an RFP is received from a client. Revenue from transactions received by a local issuer is sent to the lead issuer. The local issuer and CCB charge fees for the services provided to the lead issuer. |
| US08533110B2 |
Methods and apparatus for verifying employment via online data
A computer-implemented method for verifying employment of a first user with a computer system programmed to perform the method includes receiving a first name for a user-represented employer via a user-application, receiving a first plurality of social network data associated with the first user from a first social network server, wherein the first plurality of social network data includes a second name associated with an user-represented employer via a user-profile on the first social network, determining a relationship between the employer associated with the first name and the employer associated with the second name, in response to the first name and to the second name, determining an employment verification indicator in response to the relationship between the employer associated with the first name to the employer associated to the second name and outputting with the computer system, the employment verification indicator. |
| US08533109B2 |
Performance of control processes and management of risk information
Control processes are managed within an organization, the organization including a plurality of divisions, by receiving process data provided from a first local user associated with a first division of the organization, the first local user providing the data via a first user interface, and the data defining one or more processes associated with the first division. The process data is stored in a database to be associated with the first division. The stored process data is provided to a second local user, associated with a second division of the organization, for selection of a process associated with the first division. The selection of the second user is received and stored in the database as further being associated with the second division. |
| US08533107B2 |
Returns-timing for multiple market factor risk models
Until recently, risk models have been built using low frequency data, such as weekly or monthly data. This approach has resulted in a necessary compromise between model stability for which one needs a long history of data, and model responsiveness, for which, the shorter the history, the better. Stability plus responsiveness can be achieved if one uses daily data, which allows for a large number of observations to be used in model estimation without using long out-of-date data. Daily data have other problems, however, as the differing closing times of markets worldwide may induce spurious relationships across model factors. In particular, correlations between markets may appear lower than they truly are due to a market lag effect. To address such issues, a stable, daily data-based factor risk model is described which takes account of the differing market closing times and corrects the model factor correlations and specific returns accordingly. |
| US08533106B2 |
Regulating order entry in an electronic trading environment to maintain an actual cost for a trading strategy
Techniques for regulating order entry based on an acceptable slop range for a trading strategy are described. According to one example embodiment, a trader may define an acceptable slop range for a trading strategy as a percentage. Using a spread trading algorithm, a spread price axis is generated and the trader may place an order for the trading strategy at a desired price, comprising placing an order in one leg market dependent on the market conditions of another leg market. Using the acceptable slop range, the system keep the net cost to the trader within the acceptable slop range, by regulating orders in the leg markets. Defining an acceptable slop range as a percentage allows the trader to monitor and regulate their profits and loss, regardless of the type of spread trading algorithm used or the placement of an order on the spread price axis. |
| US08533102B2 |
System and method for money management using a plurality of profit levels in an electronic trading environment
A system and method for money management in an electronic trading environment are presented. According to one embodiment, a money management application intercepts an order before the order is sent to an exchange, and determines a plurality of P/L levels, based on which the money management application then selects a set of money management parameters to be used to control or modify order parameters before the order is sent to the exchange. The plurality of profit levels may include a net profit level determined based on a trader's net position and a current market level, a realized profit level determined based on trader's sells and buys associated with the tradeable object, or an open profit level determined based on the realized and net profit levels. The set of money management parameters may include a maximum order quantity and a maximum net position so that, for example, if the order quantity associated with the order is higher than the maximum order quantity associated with the applicable set of money management parameters, the order quantity may be modified to the maximum order quantity. |
| US08533098B2 |
Automated trading system and methodology for realtime identification of statistical arbitrage market opportunities
A program for identifying and automatically acting on statistical arbitrage opportunities between related equities and contracts. The present invention describes an improved technique to perform statistical-pairs arbitraging in a dynamic marketplace with less risk than prior art approaches. The present invention employs an array of recent data and performance ratios involving bid and ask prices for correlated items, such as stocks. |
| US08533097B2 |
Transaction arbiter system and method
A transaction arbiter system and method is disclosed which incorporates a merchant function database under control of a transaction arbiter that permits merchants to interact in an automated way with bids generated by other merchants. Rather than utilizing fixed price schedules as taught by the prior art, the present invention permits each merchant to define a set of functions which describe how the merchant will respond to a customer request-for-quote for a given product or service. These merchant functions interact with both the customer request-for-quote and the results of other merchant functions to generate a dynamic real-time bidding system which integrates competition among merchant bidders to achieve an optimal consumer price for a given product or service. |
| US08533091B2 |
Method and system for generating and trading derivative investment instruments based on a volatility arbitrage benchmark index
A system and method for creating a volatility arbitrage bench mark index is disclosed. The method includes obtaining closing prices of an underlying instrument, such as a derivative investment instrument, and calculating a value representing a volatility arbitrage benchmark. The value may be displayed at a trading facility and volatility arbitrage benchmark quotes may be transmitted by the trading facility to a market participant. |
| US08533090B2 |
Security futures contract with selectable expiration and method and system for the creation, listing, purchase and sale, and trading of the same
The embodiments of the invention provide a novel financial instrument and system and method for creating, listing, purchase and sale, and trading said financial instrument wherein the instrument comprises a security futures contract with a selectable expiration date. A request for quotes process is also provided, which in one embodiment permits the creation and listing of a security futures contract with a selectable expiration date. A method and system for permitting the automated entry of an exchange-for-physicals (EFP) trade including a security futures contract with a selectable expiration date is also provided. |
| US08533087B2 |
Pension fund systems
There is provided a computer-implemented method of estimating a capital reserve requirement to cover the longevity risk exposure of a financial instrument in the case of a future longevity shock, the financial instrument undertaking to pay to an investor sums according to a payment schedule of amounts arranged to match with the future cash flow obligations of a pension scheme to at least a portion of its members. The method comprises: (a) calculating, using computing apparatus, an expected payment schedule of the financial instrument by calculating what the cash flow obligations of the pension scheme to its relevant members would be in the case of an expected longevity scenario for the pension scheme membership occurring; (b) calculating, using computing apparatus, a present value of the financial instrument in the case of a stressed longevity scenario for the pension scheme membership in which a longevity-related shock to the expected longevity scenario of the pension scheme membership occurs; and (c) calculating, using computing apparatus and using the calculations of the expected payment schedule and a present value of the financial instrument in the case of a stressed longevity scenario, an estimate of the longevity capital reserve required to ensure that the future cash flow obligations of the financial instrument would be covered in the event that the stressed longevity scenario were to occur. |
| US08533081B2 |
System and method for dynamic value added attribution
A system, method and computer program product provides for portfolio analysis in one or more exemplary periods. The method may includes determining weight and return measures between a plurality of assets based upon the likely performance of the assets. The method may also includes determining at least one allocation measure (AM) of the plurality of assets, and decomposing the at least one allocation measure (AM) respectively into at least one static allocation (SA) measure and at least one dynamic allocation (DA) measure. The method may also include determining at least one variance measure (VM); and decomposing the at least one variance measure (VM) into at least one static variance (SV) measure and at least one dynamic variance (DV) measure. The measure may also include attributing performance of the active portfolio of the at least one active portfolio manager across the SA, DA, SV and DV. |
| US08533077B1 |
Apparatus and method for operating a cold storage facility as a master limited partnership
A computer readable storage medium includes a master limited partnership module with instructions to distinguish a cold storage facility real estate owner from a cold storage facility service operator. The receipt of cold storage rental fees and cold storage service fees is tracked. The cold storage rental fees, but not the cold storage service fees, are attributed to the cold storage facility real estate owner. Master limited partnership income is distributed based upon the cold storage rental fees. |
| US08533074B1 |
Lost and damaged items in a fulfillment network
Disclosed are various embodiments for identifying damaged and/or missing items in a fulfillment center. Embodiments of the disclosure can also evaluate loss claims made by a seller for items the seller believes are missing from an inbound shipment to the fulfillment center. Embodiments of the disclosure can also generate a resolution in the form of compensation to the seller if a claim is valid. Shipment data that can include carrier data from a carrier system can also be analyzed to determine the validity of loss claims submitted by a seller. |
| US08533073B2 |
Electronically implemented floorplan auditing system and method
An electronic method of auditing floorplan loans is provided. The floorplan loans are provided by a lending source to a plurality of vehicle dealers. The method includes, for each of the plurality of vehicle dealers, an entity other than the lending source or a dealer (i) retrieving the lending source's records corresponding to the dealer's floorplan loan; (ii) retrieving the dealer's internal financial records used by the dealer for tracking sales; (iii) comparing the lending source's records with the dealer's internal financial management records to determine a variance between the lending source's records and the dealer's records; and (iv) reporting the variance to the lending source. |
| US08533057B2 |
Personalized virtual goods holiday or event calendar
A printed calendar, method and system for preparing the printed calendar, and system for redeeming virtual goods are provided herein. The printed calendar includes at least one form sheet having printed thereon one or more occurrences of time. The one or more occurrences of time being coupled with at least one viewing panel capable of hiding and revealing an image. The printed calendar further includes at least one back sheet having printed thereon at least one graphical representation associated with the one or more occurrences of time. The at least one graphical representation being aligned with the form sheet, such that, the graphical representation is visible through the at least one viewing panel coupled to the one or more occurrences of time. The at least one graphical representation representing a virtual good accessible to the selected recipient at one of the one or more occurrences of time. |
| US08533051B2 |
Multi-language multi-platform E-commerce management system
A computerized system for sale of products having non pre-catalogued parameters in a multi-lingual environment wherein a buyer and a seller communicate in different languages, the system including a non pre-catalogued parameter database, a listing engine operative to prompt in a first language a listing seller to enter multiple non pre-catalogued parameters relating to a product being listed and to store the non pre-catalogued parameters in the non pre-catalogued parameter database and a non pre-catalogued multiple language parameter description engine which is operative to provide human-readable descriptions of the non pre-catalogued parameters in at least one language other than the first language. |
| US08533050B2 |
Audio playlist system and method
Information about desired songs is collected on a portable memory device in communication with a radio tuner. The radio tuner may receive signals from a terrestrial or satellite digital radio transmission, or from an analog radio transmission. These transmissions may include text data about the current song being played. Upon activation by a user, song data is stored on the memory device. The memory device is then connected to a computer system, which uses software to extract the song data and uniquely identify the song. The identified songs are stored on the computer system, and can be used to allow the user easy access to the identified song through prior art techniques. If no textual data is stored about a song, the song is identified by identifying the radio station that played the song and the time at which the user activated the mechanism. |
| US08533044B2 |
Considering user-relevant criteria when serving advertisements
The present invention is directed to selecting an advertisement to be presented in an ad space of a webpage. A criterion (e.g., keyword, image, audio element, etc.) is selected to evoke the advertisement. In an embodiment, the criterion is selected based on a relevance of the criteria to a user, and not necessarily based solely on a relevance to the webpage. Whether a criterion should be used to evoke the advertisement might be based on various factors, such as the likelihood that the user will select a criterion-evoked advertisement, regardless of whether the criterion appears in among content of the webpage, and an expected gain of presenting the criterion-evoked advertisement. |
| US08533040B2 |
System and method for optimizing the selection and delivery of advertisements
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for generating weights with which one or more advertisements comprising an advertisement group are selected for distribution. The method of the present invention comprises retrieving analytics data for the one or more advertisements comprising the advertisement group, and retrieving advertiser specified configuration data associated with the one or more advertisements comprising the advertisement group. A score is calculated for the one or more advertisements comprising the advertisement group, and weights are assigned to the one or more advertisements comprising the advertisement group based upon the scores and analytics data associated with the one or more advertisements. |
| US08533039B1 |
System for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption
Disclosed herein is a method and system for online sales providing automatic rebate and coupon redemption corresponding to online purchases. Purchase orders from customers may be fulfilled and the products shipped to customers by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption. The system may provide customers with the ability to make online purchases using applicable coupons and rebates from merchants or manufacturers thereby passing the savings on to the customer. The system may also automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for use during an online purchasing activity for items in a shopping cart during a shopping activity. |
| US08533038B2 |
Offer delivery system
An offer delivery system provides a mechanism for coordinating presentation of offers to customers that may originate from multiple different sources and that may be delivered to the customers over different channels. The systems makes use of rules to prioritize, select, and time the delivery of offers to any particular customer, allocate limited resources in the channels to deliver offers to a set of customers, and provide mechanisms for users or their agents to limit the delivery of offers, for example, by their frequency or type. |
| US08533037B2 |
Reward exchange method and system with control of exchanged rewards and monetary consideration
An item may be purchased using a combination of rewards and monetary consideration, wherein a maximum allowable reward payment portion (or correspondingly a minimum monetary consideration amount) is established by the merchant, the reward issuer, or an online reward exchange operator. The user may select, using for example a user interface slider control, the desired number of rewards to redeem (up to the maximum allowable amount) and the corresponding monetary consideration portion is displayed. The transaction may then be executed wherein the selected rewards are redeemed and the balance is paid for with the corresponding monetary consideration. |
| US08533035B2 |
Team shopping
A method of improving sales volume includes the steps of distributing redeemable offers to teams of shoppers wherein the shoppers are able to receive whatever basic discounts or other benefits that may be available to all shoppers, but also to receive a “kicker” benefit when the team achieves a specified purchasing objective such as a total of all sales to members of the team. Teams may compete for prizes or other benefits beyond those offered to individual teams. |
| US08533031B2 |
Method and system for retaining customer loyalty
A system and method for providing incentives to customers where the incentives are tailored to the customer's needs and expectations while achieving profitability to the provider are presented. The present invention determines a set of incentives based on customer segmentation, card segmentation, call type as well as other factors. Upon receiving a request for termination or other request, the customer may be routed to an appropriate person, department, or group. Information regarding the account may be identified and retrieved and the customer may be verified. Based on customer payment history and other information, the customer segment may be identified. Incentives are then determined based on customer segmentation data, product information, and call type. These incentives are offered to the customer for approval. If the customer does not accept the incentive, other sales opportunities may be offered to the customer in an effort to retain customer loyalty. |
| US08533029B2 |
Clinical monitoring device with time shifting capability
The present invention is designed to develop research protocols for clinical trials. The invention can track and enhance subject compliance with a research protocol. The invention further provides evaluability data related to subject performance in the clinical trial. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, a portable electronic device is used to query and collect data from the subject. |
| US08533026B2 |
Method and system for maximizing revenue generated from service level agreements
A method for maximizing revenue generated from a plurality of service level agreements (SLAs) that includes receiving a first subset of the plurality of SLAs for executing a first plurality of jobs, wherein each SLA in the first subset specifies a first maximum requested delay that is greater than an initial minimum offered delay, and wherein a price of each SLA in the first subset is defined by the maximum requested delay and a price/delay function, calculating a first expected revenue from executing the first subset, and optimizing a second subset of the plurality of SLAs by replacing the initial minimum offered delay on the initial price/delay function with a new minimum offered delay based on the expected revenue, wherein each SLA in the second subset specifies a second maximum requested delay that is greater than the new minimum offered delay. |
| US08533020B2 |
Management of user events scheduled during a user absence period
User events scheduled during a user absence period are managed by identifying a user absence period and a buffer period on a user calendar. At least one calendaring repository is searched to determine whether there are user events with a due date coming due during the user absence period that were scheduled prior to a user defining the user absence period and a response is made to each located user event. Moreover, at least one calendaring repository is searched to determine whether there are user events with a due date coming due during the buffer period that were scheduled prior to the user defining the buffer period and a response is made to each located user event in a manner differently from responding to user events coming due during the user absence period. |
| US08533018B2 |
System for construction machine maintenance based on predicted service life
To predict the service life of a construction machine more accurately, and to make it possible to draw up an appropriate overhaul implementation plan at an early stage.A first service life prediction unit 311 predicts the service lives of main components such as an engine and the like, based upon their actual wear states. And a second service life prediction unit 312 predicts the service lives of the same components, based upon their cumulative load amounts. An order setting unit 320 selects the ones of these two predicted service lives which are the shorter, and sets a priority order for overhaul in order of shortness of predicted service life. An overhaul schedule table generation unit 330 creates a schedule table D1 based upon this priority order. The contents of this schedule table D1 are decided upon by a judgment unit 340, and, if necessary, are corrected by a correction unit 341. And a plan creation unit 350 creates an overhaul implementation plan document D2 and the like, based upon the corrected schedule table D1a. The result of the overhaul task and the present states of components are tested, and these test results are reflected by the service life prediction units 311 and 312. |
| US08533016B1 |
System and method for selecting a portfolio
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to selecting a portfolio. One embodiment of the present invention includes identifying a network comprising a source node, a target node, a first set of intermediate nodes that correspond to a set of objects from which a portfolio is selected, a second set of intermediate nodes, and a plurality of directed links. Also, the embodiment comprises initializing a network flow through the directed links and redistributing the flow through a subset of the plurality of directed links including directed links extending between the source node and the first set of intermediate nodes, between the first set of intermediate nodes and the second set of intermediate nodes. Further, the embodiment includes identifying members of the portfolio by determining which nodes of the first set of intermediate nodes have a network flow from the source node equal to or greater than a threshold value. |
| US08533014B1 |
System and method providing levelness of a production schedule
A system and method is disclosed for providing levelness of a production schedule. The system includes a computer configured to access demand data of one or more items to be processed within a sequence of tasks, access the demand data of the one or more items, calculate one or more time intervals for each of the one or more items, and calculate a weighted average for each of the one or more items. The computer is further configured to calculate a time ratio according to the sequence of tasks by calculating the average of the calculated time intervals and the calculated weighted averages and calculating a minimum ratio of an adjusted time interval for each of the one or more items and the calculated weighted averages. The computer is still further configured to generate a production schedule based on a sequence of tasks having a predetermined calculated time ratio. |
| US08533012B2 |
Fare rules summarizer for travel planning
A user interface for a fare summary tool is described. The user interface is for display on a monitor and includes a fare evaluation result table that displays fare rule summaries for fares in slices of an itinerary. A method for producing a rule summary is also described. The method retrieves fares and fare rules for a city pair over a specified time period and evaluates the retrieved fares against the retrieve rules to return a status corresponding to pass, fail defer. The method produces a summary of the results of evaluating the rules that indicates the status of the rules for each category of rules and displays the summary on a user output device. |
| US08533010B2 |
De-synchronization monitoring system and method
A method and a system are provided to analyze passenger name records (PNRs) stored in a PNR database (DB). The method includes automatically analyzing each action performed on a PNR stored in the PNR DB. When an action results in an occurrence of a de-synchronization event between the PNR and a corresponding electronic ticket, the method further includes automatically changing a status in the PNR from Established to Orphan. If a final status of the PNR is determined to be Orphan, the method sets a flag in the PNR to enable at least the display of information to an agent, where the displayed information is based on data included in the PNR and is displayed automatically to an agent, and at least indicates the occurrence of the de-synchronization event and a reason for the occurrence of the de-synchronization event. |
| US08533006B2 |
Patient-interactive healthcare management
A patient-interactive health care management system provides means for healthcare services rendered by a physician to a patient to be confirmed by the patient immediately after the healthcare services are rendered. The patient is provided the ability to verify the accuracy of an invoice for the rendered services/goods and provide an assessment of the rendered services/goods. In an example embodiment, the patient provides this information via an information station located at the healthcare facility in which the healthcare services/goods are rendered. The information gathered from the patient is provided to the party responsible for paying for the rendered healthcare services/goods. In an example embodiment, the paying party compares the patient provided information with the invoice received from the healthcare provider to assess the accuracy of the invoice. |
| US08533001B2 |
System and method for computing athletic performance
A system and method of calculating athlete performance, may include receiving information relating to at least one date of performance of physical activity and generating a proposed training schedule, including one or more training sessions, corresponding to the at least one date of performance of physical activity. Further, the system and method may include receiving information relating to records of the athlete's prior performances, and determining a performance model including predicted athlete performance based on the calculated training schedule and the prior performances. |
| US08533000B1 |
System and method for integrated customer management
An automated system and method for customer management deploys customer databases to profile customer service requests for distribution to appropriately assigned agent representatives. The representatives adopt particular roles according to customer care volume, inquiry type, time of day and other customer management needs. Consumer profiles may be accessed in real time to combine customer care events with cross-selling and other promotions related to the consumer's transaction history and other factors. |
| US08532999B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating a multi-channel synthesizer control signal, multi-channel synthesizer, method of generating an output signal from an input signal and machine-readable storage medium
An apparatus and a method for generating a multi-channel synthesizer control signal, a multi-channel synthesizer, a method of generating an output signal from an input signal and a machine-readable storage medium are provided. On an encoder-side, a multi-channel input signal is analyzed for obtaining smoothing control information, which is to be used by a decoder-side multi-channel synthesis for smoothing quantized transmitted parameters or values derived from the quantized transmitted parameters for providing an improved subjective audio quality in particular for slowly moving point sources and rapidly moving point sources having tonal material such as fast moving sinusoids. |
| US08532994B2 |
Speech recognition using a personal vocabulary and language model
In one implementation, speech or audio is converted to a searchable format by a speech recognition system. The speech recognition system uses a language model including probabilities of certain words occurring, which may depend on the occurrence of other words or sequences of words. The language model is partially built from personal vocabularies. Personal vocabularies are determined by known text from network traffic, including emails and Internet postings. The speech recognition system may incorporate the personal vocabulary of one user into the language model of another user based on a connection between the two users. The connection may be triggered by an email, a phone call, or an interaction in a social networking service. The speech recognition system may remove or add personal vocabularies to the language model based on a calculated confidence score from the resulting language model. |
| US08532992B2 |
System and method for standardized speech recognition infrastructure
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for selecting a speech recognition model in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure. The system receives speech from a user, and if a user-specific supervised speech model associated with the user is available, retrieves the supervised speech model. If the user-specific supervised speech model is unavailable and if an unsupervised speech model is available, the system retrieves the unsupervised speech model. If the user-specific supervised speech model and the unsupervised speech model are unavailable, the system retrieves a generic speech model associated with the user. Next the system recognizes the received speech from the user with the retrieved model. In one embodiment, the system trains a speech recognition model in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure. In another embodiment, the system handshakes with a remote application in a standardized speech recognition infrastructure. |
| US08532984B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for wideband encoding and decoding of active frames
Applications of dim-and-burst techniques to coding of wideband speech signals are described. Reconstruction of a highband portion of a frame of a wideband speech signal using information from a previous frame is also described. |
| US08532983B2 |
Adaptive frequency prediction for encoding or decoding an audio signal
In one embodiment, a method of transceiving an audio signal is disclosed. The method includes providing low band spectral information having a plurality of spectrum coefficients and predicting a high band extended spectral fine structure from the low band spectral information for at least one subband, where the high band extended spectral fine structure are made of a plurality of spectrum coefficients. The predicting includes preparing the spectrum coefficients of the low band spectral information, defining prediction parameters for the high band extended spectral fine structure and index ranges of the prediction parameters, and determining possible best indices of the prediction parameters, where determining includes minimizing a prediction error between a reference subband in high band and a predicted subband that is selected and composed from an available low band. The possible best indices of the prediction parameters are transmitted. |
| US08532981B2 |
Corpus-based system and method for acquiring polar adjectives
A system, method, and computer program product for generating a polar vocabulary are provided. The method includes extracting textual content from each review in a corpus of reviews. Each of the reviews includes an author's rating, e.g., of a specific product or service to which the textual content relates. A set of frequent nouns is identified from the textual content of the reviews. Adjectival terms are extracted from the textual content of the reviews. Each adjectival term is associated in the textual content with one of the frequent nouns. A polar vocabulary including at least some of the extracted adjectival terms is generated. A polarity measure is associated with each adjectival term in the vocabulary which is based on the ratings of those reviews from which the adjectival term was extracted. |
| US08532976B2 |
Information processing device for managing identifiers for a plurality of connected controllers
To provide an emulator capable of targeting a device capable of accepting connection of an expansion device for expanding a controller connection port to a plurality of controller connection ports. The emulator, targeting a device having at least one controller connection port and capable of accepting connection of an expansion device for expanding the controller connection port to a plurality of controller connection ports so as to accept connection of a plurality of controllers, emulates operation of the targeted device. The emulator assigns port identification information to each of controllers connected via wire or radio, the port identification information indicating to which of a controller connection port of the targeted device and the controller connection ports of the expansion device connected to the device the controller is assumed to be connected. The assigned port identification information is provided to a process for receiving an operation carried out on the controller. |
| US08532972B2 |
Method and a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for simulating a manufacturing process of a structure
According to one embodiment, a method of simulating a manufacturing process of a structure including adjacent components, the method includes causing a computer to perform operations of: importing mesh and material data set for each component; specifying, as a calculation target, a region in a first component in which impurities are to be diffused among the components; setting a virtual film of a desired thickness in contact with the region whose material is the same as that of a second component in contact with the specified calculation target; setting boundary conditions at interface between the region and the virtual film, based on the material data; incorporating the boundary conditions into diffusion equations to solve the diffusion equations of the region and the virtual film; and bringing data on the concentration of impurities of the region obtained by the calculation into data on the structure before the specification of the region. |
| US08532966B1 |
Translating of geometric models into block diagram models
Methods and systems for translating models generated in one modeling environment into models that can be used in other modeling environments are disclosed. Because models are created using different data formats in different modeling environments, models generated in one modeling environment are generally incompatible with other models in other modeling environments. Therefore, the present invention provides a neutral data format that can store information on models generated in one modeling environment, and that can be used by other modeling environments to create their models. The present invention may export models created in one modeling environment into the neutral data format. The neutral data format may subsequently be imported into other modeling environments in which new models are generated using the information contained in the neutral data format. The present invention also provides animation of the newly generated models by animation clients via open animation interfaces. The open animation interfaces support multiple animation clients at a simultaneous time. |
| US08532963B2 |
Assessing the maturity of an industry architecture model
A system creates and maintains an industry business architecture model over a network. The system defines specific levels of maturity for the model. Associations, relationships, and linkages between content elements are also determined. From these, a specific level of aggregate maturity is defined according to an algorithm. |
| US08532961B2 |
Method and system to account for angle of attack effects in engine noise shielding tests
There is provided a method to account for aircraft angle of attack effects in engine noise shielding in aircraft configurations having one or more engines mounted above a wing or a lifting body. The method includes computing a local flow field from a known standard full aircraft configuration oriented at a nonzero angle of attack. The method further includes computing a mean flow field in a test dataset from a small scale aircraft model test configuration oriented at a zero angle of attack. The method further includes matching the local flow field with the mean flow field to identify a selected noise measurement dataset. The method further includes rotating the selected noise measurement dataset in a far field directivity rotation angle to match the nonzero angle of attack, thus resulting in engine noise shielding results for the full aircraft configuration at the nonzero angle of attack. |
| US08532959B2 |
Methods and systems for high confidence utilization of datasets
Methods and systems for high-confidence utilization of datasets are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a metric for determining substantially optimal combination of true positives and false positives in a data set, applying an optimization technique, and obtaining, from the results of the optimization technique, a value for at least one optimization parameter, the value for at least one optimization parameter resulting in substantially optimal combination of true positives and false positives. A number of true positives and a number of false positives are a function of the one or more optimization parameters. |
| US08532958B2 |
Remote identification of non-lambertian materials
In one example of a method for remote identifying a non-Lambertian target material, a spectral signature for a target is determined from each of at least two different sets of imagery acquired at different angles, and compared to a predicted signature for a candidate material for each of the at least two different angles. The predicted signatures take into account the known anisotropy of reflectance, and thus also radiance, of the candidate material. |
| US08532957B2 |
Aircraft weight estimation method
A method of measuring the weight of an aircraft is disclosed. The method comprises, in a self-propelled aircraft undercarriage having a electrical rotating machine, the steps of: measuring the current and voltage going into the rotating machine using current and voltage measuring means, calculating the power into the rotating machine, measuring the speed (or torque or acceleration) of said machine using speed sensing means, and comparing the power and speed (or torque or acceleration) results with a database of power and speed relationships of comparable aircraft of varying weights. |
| US08532956B2 |
Method and system for rotation tracking of a turbomachine component
Disclosed is a method for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including locating at least one tilt sensor at the turbomachine component and rotating the turbomachine component about a central axis to observe a portion of interest on the turbomachine component. The at least one tilt sensor detects an angle of rotation of the turbomachine component and transmits the angle of rotation from the at least one tilt sensor to a device which converts the angle of rotation to an indicia of the portion of interest. Further disclosed is a rotor including at least one tilt sensor and a system for tracking rotation of a turbomachine component including at least one tilt sensor and a device. |
| US08532951B2 |
Method for calibrating a transducer array
An iterative method for calibrating a transducer array characterized by calibration parameters, based on time delay measurements between transducer pairs, comprising the steps of: creating a distance data set that includes pairwise distances between estimated positions of transducer; forming a time delay measurement data set that includes time delay measurements between transducer pairs; generating from the time delay measurement data set an estimate of at least one calibration parameter; modifying the time delay measurement data set and the distance data set based on the estimated calibration parameters; denoising the modified distance data set with an iterative algorithm; updating the estimated positions of transducers based on the denoised modified distance data set; and repeating at least a portion of the steps until the difference between the estimated positions of transducer pairs and updated estimated positions of transducers satisfies a stopping criterion. |
| US08532948B2 |
Contactless sensing device
A contactless sensing device comprises a magnetic stripe fixed on a tested object, a detector and a processor. The magnetic stripe has arranged plurality of N-pole and S-pole blocks. The detector includes a fixed magnetic layer with fixed magnetic direction, a free magnetic layer with changeable magnetic direction influenced by external magnetic field, and an insulating layer separated the fixed magnetic layer from the free magnetic layer. While the object is moving to make the magnetic stripe pass through the detector, the magnetic direction of the free magnetic layer is influenced by the N-pole and S-pole blocks, such that the magnetic direction of the free magnetic layer is parallel or anti-parallel to the fixed magnetic layer. The induced change of the magnetoresistance further result in the obvious change of the output signal to the processor, and then the information of the object is sensed and calculated from the processor. |
| US08532944B2 |
Intelligent electronic device configuration verification
An exemplary Substation Automation testing tool for IEC 61850 compliant substations is disclosed. The testing tool verifies the configuration of a first Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) that is part of a Substation Automation (SA) system and initially configured to perform measurement, protection and/or control functions in accordance with a substation configuration specification. Configuration information is first read from an internal server of the first IED and transformed according to a dedicated data model. Related information is then read from a second IED that has initially been configured to perform the same functions as the first IED, or from a Substation Configuration Description (SCD) file, and likewise transformed. The transformed data is then compared in order to identify discrepancies or inconsistencies and to resolve errors introduced by the IED configuration process. |
| US08532943B2 |
Method and apparatus for the measurement of the mass fraction of water in oil-water mixtures
An apparatus for measuring the mass fractions of water and oil in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes a sensor portion that measures sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time and at a second time. The apparatus includes a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid which changes the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount between the first time and the second time. A method for measuring water mass fraction in a flowing mixture of oil and water through a pipe includes the steps of measuring sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a first time with a sensor portion. There is the step of changing the temperature of the flowing oil water mixture by a measurable amount with a temperature changer in thermal communication with the flowing fluid. There is the step of measuring sound velocity and temperature of the flowing oil water mixture at a second time with the sensor portion. |
| US08532932B2 |
Consistent signal selection by signal segment selection techniques
According to embodiments, techniques for selecting a consistent part of a signal, including a photoplethysmograph (PPG) signal, are disclosed. A pulse oximetry system including a sensor or probe may be used to obtain a PPG signal from a subject. Signal peaks may be identified in the PPG signal. Characteristics of the signal peaks, including the amplitude levels of the signal peaks and/or the time-distance between the signal peaks may be used to determine if the PPG signal is consistent. In an embodiment, signal peaks are processed based on a consistency metric, and the processed signal peaks are compared to the consistency metric to determine if the PPG signal is consistent. If the PPG signal is determined to be consistent, the PPG signal may be further analyzed to determine an underlying signal parameter, including, for example, a patient respiration rate. If the PPG signal is determined to be inconsistent, the inconsistent portion of the signal may be removed from the overall signal or otherwise transformed. |
| US08532927B2 |
Generating photogenic routes from starting to destination locations
A method of computing at least one photogenic route from a starting location to a destination location, including; computing photogenic values for images in a large collection representing a geographic region that includes the starting location and the destination location; computing a photogenic index for each route segment based on computed photogenic values of images taken along the route segment; computing at least one photogenic route from the starting location to the destination location and presenting the route(s) to a user. |
| US08532924B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying three-dimensional terrain and route guidance
An information display device for displaying three-dimensional route and terrain includes a plurality of databases for storing information; a display control unit to dynamically manage the information with different levels-of-detail (LODs); and a user interface communicatively coupled with the control unit to display the managed information with different levels of detail. In one embodiment, the control unit may include a terrain scaling unit to dynamically increase or decrease the height or “3D-ness” of the terrain based on the angle and height of the viewing. The control unit may also include an LOD control unit and a scene stitching unit. In addition, the information display device provides a three-dimensional real-time rendering environment including three-dimensional guidance information which allows the user to understand complex maneuvers without using two-dimensional overlays. |
| US08532923B2 |
Navigation system for determining a route to a destination
A pedestrian route navigation system (“PRNS”) in a vehicle capable of determining a route from a final parking position of the vehicle to a predetermined destination, comprising a final parking position unit and a pedestrian route calculation unit. The PRNS may include a display unit capable of outputting data concerning the route to the predetermined destination, and a transmitting/receiving unit capable of transmitting the data to a mobile information unit of the user of the vehicle. |
| US08532920B2 |
Automatic origin determination for faster route request initiation and resulting system response time
When a user enters, initializes, or otherwise starts using a navigation function, such as a navigation function on a mobile phone or a stand-alone device, a current location is automatically estimated, prior to or in the absence of a GPS fix, for use as an origin in route determination. The estimation of current location is performed using a database of GPS fixes that are mapped to cell tower identifiers. For example, the database can include one or more fixes associated with each cell tower that the mobile device has used. Thus, when navigation on the device is begun, one or more cell towers to which the device can communicate are identified. If any has a GPS fix in the database, then a location derived from such GPS fix(es) can be used as an origin for navigation functions. Such navigation functions can include estimating a time of arrival at a destination, producing a route to the destination, and checking for traffic updates. |
| US08532918B2 |
System and method for vehicle position sensing with helical windings
A system and method are provided for determining the position of a vehicle on a guideway. For operation, the vehicle carries a magnetic array having a wavelength “λ”. Further, the guideway includes a propulsion winding for carrying a propulsion current. Also, the guideway is provided with a position winding that has the same wavelength “λ” and includes two helical wires that are displaced from each other by “λ/4”. Importantly, a transmitter is located on the vehicle for emitting a position current that interacts with the position winding to generate a return signal from each helical wire. Also, the system includes a processor for receiving and evaluating the return signals to determine the position of the vehicle on the guideway. As a result, the determined position is used to maximize the interaction of the propulsion current with the magnetic array for propulsion of the vehicle. |
| US08532916B1 |
Switching between best views of a place
A system and method of selecting and presenting geolocated views. Views may encompass various types of visual and audio information. In one aspect, a server receives a request for information associated with a geographic location. The server identifies a feature at the location. The server uses the identified feature to determine a category of views. The server also selects a view which is associated with the determined category of views and with the geographic location of the request. |
| US08532914B2 |
Live traffic congestion detection
A server device may receive information related to traffic congestion on a road at a particular geographic location; analyze the information to identify an occurrence of congestion at the particular geographic location; request additional information from a first user device that is within a particular distance from the particular geographic location; receive the additional information from the first user device; receive, from a second user device, a request for congestion information associated with the particular geographic location; and provide, to the second user device, at least a portion of the additional information received from the first user device. |
| US08532913B2 |
Start-up control system for internal combustion engine
An object is to provide a technology that enables starting of fuel injection under a condition that allows injected fuel to ignite and burn at the time of start-up of an internal combustion engine. To achieve the object, a start-up control system for an internal combustion engine according to the invention estimates, at the time of start-up of the internal combustion engine, the amount of rotation of a crankshaft in a period since the start of cranking until a crank position sensor outputs an effective pulse signal and determines, based on the stopping position of the crankshaft specified by the value thus estimated, whether or not fuel is to be injected at the first fuel injection time. |
| US08532912B2 |
Engine control system
An engine control system includes a unit which outputs a command for changing an air-fuel ratio of an exhaust gas, a unit which computes an in-cylinder oxygen concentration, a memory which stores a first value and a second value of parameters (ignition timing, injection pressure, pilot injection quantity). The first value is set in a case that the in-cylinder oxygen concentration is a first oxygen concentration. The second value is set in a case that the in-cylinder oxygen concentration is a second oxygen concentration which is higher than the first oxygen concentration. The values of the parameters are set in such a manner as to correlate to the in-cylinder oxygen concentration of during a transition period of the air-fuel ratio. The values of the parameters are obtained by an interpolation based on the first and the second value of the parameter and the in-cylinder oxygen concentration. |
| US08532911B2 |
Adaptive diesel engine control for cetane variations
A method and system for adaptively controlling a diesel engine to account for variations in the cetane number of the diesel fuel being used. An engine controller includes various control modules with algorithms for estimating the fuel cetane number, or determining the ignition delay that the engine is experiencing, or both. With this information, the controller can adjust the amount of exhaust gas recirculation that is used, thus varying the amount of oxygen that is available in the intake charge to burn the fuel. The controller can also adjust the timing of the fuel injection event, as another way of altering the nature of combustion. Using these techniques, the controller can optimize the engine operation based on the fuel currently being used. |
| US08532910B2 |
Method and apparatus to determine a cylinder air charge for an internal combustion engine
A method for determining a cylinder air charge for an internal combustion engine includes determining engine operating parameters including an intake air charge density, an engine delta pressure as a ratio of an intake manifold pressure to an exhaust pressure, and an engine speed. An open-throttle volumetric efficiency corresponding to the engine operating parameters is determined, and a closed-throttle volumetric efficiency corresponding to the engine operating parameters is also determined. The cylinder air charge is determined using a selected one of the open-throttle volumetric efficiency and the closed-throttle volumetric efficiency. |
| US08532906B2 |
Vehicle stability control system and method
A vehicle stability control system comprises a 5-sensor cluster and a stability controller configured to communicate with the 5-sensor cluster and receive signals corresponding to a lateral acceleration, a longitudinal acceleration, a yaw rate, a roll rate, and a pitch rate from the 5-sensor cluster. The stability controller can also be configured to determine a braking amount or a throttle amount to maintain vehicle stability. The system also comprises a brake controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a braking request from the stability controller, and a throttle controller configured to communicate with the stability controller and receive a throttle request from the stability controller. The system may also comprise a braking or throttling command computed based on various scenarios detected by measured and calculated signals. |
| US08532905B2 |
Fuel-efficient driving system
A fuel-saving driving system which gradually decreases a target vehicle speed from a start of control to passage of a descending-slope starting point in a linear form and can obtain fuel-saving and smooth driving feeling without repeating fuel-cut and injection. A vehicle-position specifying device is provided for specifying the position of a vehicle, a storage device for storing data of a descending slope located in the vehicle traveling direction, a vehicle speed measuring device for measuring a speed of the vehicle, and a controller The controller has a function of determining a target speed of the vehicle from the vehicle speed and the data of the descending slope. |
| US08532899B1 |
Inclinometer Using Acceleration
An inclinometer using speed, acceleration and yaw angle rate to measure inclination angle. The accuracy of the inclination angle measurement may be improved by compensating for a position offset of an accelerometer; Kalman filtering with an external altitude measurement; and/or compensating for an accelerometer bias. The accelerometer bias may be calculated based on a last incline angle before a dormant time period and/or by Kalman filtering. |
| US08532898B2 |
Control device of omnidirectional vehicle
An omnidirectional vehicle capable of enhancing straight-line stability is provided.Within a period from the instant the execution of velocity component attenuation processing for reducing continuously or stepwise the magnitude of a desired velocity vector ↑Vb_aim of a predetermined representative point of a vehicle 1 having a traveling motion unit 5 capable of moving in all directions, including a first direction and a second direction, on a floor surface is started to the instant the magnitude of ↑Vb_aim attenuates to zero, the orientation of ↑Vb_aim is brought closer to the first direction. The first direction is defined as the fore-and-aft direction of an occupant aboard the vehicle 1, while the second direction is defined as the lateral direction of the occupant. |
| US08532896B2 |
Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles
A method of and system for detecting absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source includes steps of determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source; determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output at vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal; determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration; and processing the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal. |
| US08532894B2 |
Shifting range sensing device and shifting operation device with the same
A shifting range sensing device may include an electronic communication unit that includes a housing fixed to an outside of an external bracket of a shift lever, a magnet being disposed in the housing and rotatable in a forward-backward direction therein wherein the magnet pivots with rotation of the shift lever in the forward-backward direction, and a Hall sensor sensing the forward-backward direction movement of the magnet, and a microswitch electrically connected with the electronic communication unit and engaged to a side of the shift lever, wherein the microswitch may be turned on/off in accordance with a left-right rotation of the shift lever, wherein the microswitch transmits on/off signal to the electronic communication unit and the electronic communication unit transmits information sensed by the Hall sensor and the on/off signal sensed by the microswitch to a transmission controller. |
| US08532893B2 |
Automatic transmission
In an automatic transmission with a speed changer having a plurality of engagement elements and configured to shift the speed changer into a selected one of a plurality of shift stages by switching engaged and disengaged states of the engagement elements, a first rotation sensor is provided for detecting input rotation of the speed changer and a second rotation sensor for detecting output rotation of the speed changer. Also provided is a transmission controller configured to determine whether a change in input torque inputted into the speed changer occurs. The transmission controller is further configured to determine that interlock has occurred in the speed changer, when there is no pulse signal output from the second rotation sensor though, during a vehicle stopped state, the input-torque change has occurred and the pulse signal from the first rotation sensor has been outputted. |
| US08532891B2 |
System for control of gearshift points
A system for control of one or more gearshift points, including at least one control unit for controlling a gearbox in a motor vehicle. The engine is connected to, in order to drive, the gearbox, wherein the speed of the engine is controlled by an accelerator pedal which is connected to the engine and gearbox and can assume a plurality of positions. A shift point is controlled by the accelerator pedal and represents an engine speed at which the gearbox effects a downshift or upshift. The system operates in a first mode in which the one or more shift points are controlled on the basis of movements of the accelerator pedal, and also applies a limitation upon the change in the one or more shift points per unit time. Also a method, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product for the system are disclosed. |
| US08532890B2 |
Driven wheel torque estimation systems and methods
A wheel position determination module determines first and second wheel positions based on first and second signals generated using first and second wheel speed sensors. The first and second wheel speed sensors generate the first and second signals based on rotation of driven wheels of the vehicle, respectively. The wheel position determination module determines third and fourth wheel positions based on third and fourth signals generated using third and fourth wheel speed sensors. The third and fourth wheel speed sensors generate the third and fourth signals based on rotation of other wheels of the vehicle, respectively. A first average determination module determines a first average of the first and second wheel positions. A second average determination module determines a second average of the third and fourth wheel positions. An estimation module selectively generates an estimate of torque at the driven wheels based on the first and second averages. |
| US08532878B2 |
Method and device for detecting and compensating for a transverse inclination of a roadway on which a vehicle is traveling
A method and a device detect a transverse inclination of a roadway on which a vehicle is traveling. The transverse inclination is detected on the basis of a transverse acceleration of the vehicle that is generated by the transverse inclination of the roadway. A transverse acceleration of the vehicle is measured with a measuring device. A transverse acceleration that is generated by driving maneuvers of the vehicle is determined by a transverse inclination observer. The transverse acceleration of the vehicle due to the transverse inclination of the roadway is subsequently determined by determining a difference between the transverse acceleration generated by the driving maneuvers and the transverse acceleration measured by the measuring device. A method and a device are also provided for compensating for the transverse inclination of the roadway on which a vehicle is traveling. A steering angle which compensates for the transverse acceleration of the vehicle that is caused by the transverse inclination of the roadway, by way of a transverse inclination compensator. The steering angle is set by taking into consideration the transverse acceleration of the vehicle caused by the transverse inclination of the roadway. |
| US08532877B2 |
Coaxial two-wheeled vehicle and its control method
To provide a coaxial two-wheeled vehicle capable of performing a turning movement with stability and its control method. A coaxial two-wheeled vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes drive means to drive two coaxially-arranged wheels, turning reference-input input means to input a turning reference input, and control means to control the drive means according to a turning gain based on a turning reference-input input by the turning reference-input input means to thereby perform a turning movement. The control means preferably brings the turning gain to substantially zero when the coaxial two-wheeled vehicle is in a backward traveling state with a backward speed greater than or equal to a first speed, and sets the turning gain to a value greater than zero when a vehicle speed is substantially zero. |
| US08532876B2 |
Vehicle steering control apparatus
A vehicle steering control apparatus includes an actuator to vary a steering gear ratio of a vehicle wheel steer angle of a steerable wheel to a steering wheel angle. A controller controls the actuator to produce an actuator torque in a steering direction at a start of a driver's steering operation. |
| US08532874B2 |
Method for operating a control unit for heat-sensitive actuators
A method for operating a control unit for heat-sensitive actuators includes first disabling the control unit after a thermal loading, which is calculated on the basis of the computing model, of at least one actuator has reached a threshold. |
| US08532873B1 |
System to remotely unlatch a pickup box tailgate
A pickup truck includes a tailgate that is movable between open and closed positions. A powered latch provides for remote release of the latches of the tailgate. The tailgate is biased from the closed position towards the open position such that release of the latch causes the tailgate to shift automatically from the closed position to the open position. |
| US08532869B2 |
Vehicle device controller and temperature sensor anomaly detection method therefor
There is provided a controller for controlling a vehicle device, which includes a circuit board having mounted thereon a control circuit that controls operations of the vehicle device, a first temperature sensor mounted on a first specific region of the circuit board to output a first signal responsive to a temperature of the first specific region of the circuit board and a second temperature sensor mounted on a second specific region of the circuit board to output a second signal responsive to a temperature of the second specific region of the circuit board. The control circuit has an anomaly detection portion that judges the occurrence or non-occurrence of an output anomaly in the first temperature sensor based on the first and second signals of the first and second temperature sensors. |
| US08532866B1 |
Concurrent vehicle data port communication system
A method of concurrently communicating data from a vehicle data port to a plurality of computing devices includes a transceiver that handles a plurality of requests from a plurality of independent computing devices. The transceiver is connected to the vehicle data port either directly or indirectly through a pass-thru interface. The plurality of computing devices may each send separate (that is, independent and diverse) requests for data or communications to the vehicle through the transceiver. The transceiver maintains a queue of communications requests from each computing device and orders and sequences the vehicle communications so that timing requirements are properly met and collisions and other types of problems are avoided. The transceiver may also handle duplicative requests by sending only one request to the vehicle data port but providing responses to each requesting computing device. |
| US08532864B2 |
Control apparatus for autonomous operating vehicle
In an apparatus for controlling an autonomous operating vehicle, a traveling direction and traveled distance are calculated based on outputs of wheel speed sensor and angular velocity sensor, and the vehicle is controlled to, as traveling straight, perform the operation using an operating machine in accordance with a predetermined travel pattern in a travel-scheduled area based on the calculated traveling direction and traveled distance. It is determined whether a difference between a scheduled-travel distance scheduled in the predetermined travel pattern and an actual traveled distance exceeds a permissible value when the vehicle is traveled straight and a center value of the outputs of the angular velocity sensor is corrected when the difference is determined to exceed the permissible value. |
| US08532860B2 |
Methods and systems for automatically yielding to high-priority traffic
A method of navigating a mobile robotic device may include receiving, by a mobile robotic device, a wireless transmission from a transponder associated with an object, where the object is within a range of the mobile robotic device and in response to receiving the notification, altering a navigation course by the mobile robotic device to allow the object to pass the mobile robotic device. The mobile robotic device may be preprogrammed with at least a portion of the navigation course. The method may include resuming the navigation course by the mobile robotic device. |
| US08532858B1 |
Multi-speed hybrid powertrain with series and parallel operating modes
A hybrid powertrain has a prime mover with a drive member and a multi-speed transmission with an input member and an output member. A first motor/generator is continuously connected for common rotation with the drive member. A second motor/generator is continuously connected for common rotation with the input member. A damper is connected with the input member, and a damper clutch is selectively engageable to connect the first motor/generator and the drive member for common rotation with the second motor/generator and the input member through the damper. The hybrid powertrain includes a controller operatively connected to the motor/generators and the damper clutch. The controller is configured to establish at least a hybrid series operating mode and a hybrid parallel operating mode. |
| US08532857B2 |
Power-assisted system for bicycle
A power-assisted system is to be assembled to a derailleur-equipped bicycle for providing an auxiliary force to the bicycle. The power-assisted system includes: a microcomputer; a pedaling-rate sensor; a bicycle-speed sensor; a shift-position source; and an auxiliary-force database including data about at least a pedaling rate, a running speed, a current gear ratio and the auxiliary force, for defining a ratio between the running speed and the current gear ratio as a first comparison value, and defining the pedaling rate as a second comparison value wherein an auxiliary-force comparison table is made of levels of the auxiliary force to be output corresponding to the first and second comparison values. The microcomputer uses a determining logic circuit to determine the suitable level of the auxiliary force to be output and control the auxiliary-force providing device to output the auxiliary force in the determined level. |
| US08532856B2 |
Temperature-based state optimization of a hybrid transmission
A hybrid electric vehicle has a controller, an engine, a traction motor, and a transmission. The controller is configured for calculating, using a costing function, the total system losses incurred at each operating point of the HEV, including the losses for each of the engine, the traction motor, and the transmission. The controller selectively modifies the calculated cost of at least one of the engine, the traction motor, and the transmission in a designated one of the transmission states as a function of transmission fluid temperature. An optimal transmission state is then selected as the state having the optimal cost relative to the other transmission states. Selectively modifying the calculated cost may include penalizing the cost of using designated transmission states when the measured fluid temperature exceeds certain calibrated temperature limits. Designated operating states may be disabled above an upper temperature limit to protect the transmission from overheating. |
| US08532853B2 |
Drive-train system of a vehicle, and method for controlling the operation of a drive-train system of a vehicle
A drive-train system of a vehicle having at least one internal combustion engine, which may be started using an electric machine able to be coupled thereto via a clutch and controllable via an engine-speed controller. A control value of the engine-speed controller is detected toward the end of at least one startup operation of the internal combustion engine while the clutch is still subject to slip, and a comparison of the control value with a setpoint value is used to determine a value deviation, which is able to be compensated with the aid of a correction value in a renewed startup operation. Furthermore, a corresponding method is also described. |
| US08532852B2 |
Control device and method for controlling a hybrid drive
A control device for a hybrid drive, in particular for a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle having at least one combustion engine and at least one electric motor as driving motors, whose torques are coupled together to form a total torque. A controller is provided which generates an actuating signal for controlling the speed of each of the driving motors, a first actuating signal acting on the electric motor having a higher dynamic response than a second actuating signal acting on the combustion engine. |
| US08532851B2 |
Train information display system and train information display device
In a train information display system that displays an operation information on each train in a train, a ground system adds the information on the degree of influence on the passengers of each train to the operation information, and transmits the resultant operation information to a transmission-reception device. A content data server stores in advance, as normal-time display information, at least one of advertisement information and destination guidance information that are to be displayed during normal operations. Instruction output devices instruct content display units to display the operation information and normal-time display information in a display sequence corresponding to the influence information received by the transmission-reception device. |
| US08532846B2 |
Helicopter sling-load stability control and release system
A sling load computer-operated hook assembly for helicopter or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) use is provided. The hook assembly allows automated pick-up and delivery. The computer hook assembly also (1) directs navigation of the aircraft, (2) finds and engages loads for pickup, (3) controls stability of the sling load enroute, and (4) releases the load at the delivery point. The self-contained feature allows the hook assembly to be moved from aircraft to aircraft. The hook assembly senses weight, motion and position of the load for stability control. An integral GPS unit is used to direct navigation. These data are transmitted to the aircraft autopilot and flight director instruments to provide navigation to the designated points and to control load stability enroute. Mission data for pick-up and release points can be received remotely from a command and control tactical data net. Alternately, mission data can be locally entered. |
| US08532844B2 |
Methods and systems for displaying annotations on an aircraft display
Methods and systems are provided for presenting content on a display device onboard an aircraft. A method comprises displaying, on the display device, information corresponding to a first procedure and displaying an annotation associated with the first procedure on the display device. The first procedure is associated with an airport and prescribes operation of the aircraft in a vicinity of the airport, and the annotation comprises user-defined information pertaining to the first procedure. |
| US08532842B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling rail vehicles
Systems and methods for remotely controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a remote operator control system includes a communication link to send and receive rail vehicle information, an operator interface, and a controller. The controller is configured to send, through the communication link, a request to establish communication with a positive train control system on-board a selected rail vehicle based on an operating condition. In response to receiving confirmation of communication with the positive train control system, the control is configured to receive positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle through the communication link, and display the positive train control information for the selected rail vehicle on the operator interface. |
| US08532841B2 |
Rehabilitation device
A rehabilitation device includes a moving body, a motor, a control system and a sensor module. The moving body has a housing and a moving mechanism. The motor, disposed in the housing, connects to the moving mechanism and drives the moving mechanism. The control system is disposed in the housing and coupled to the motor. The sensor module is disposed on the moving body and coupled to the control module. The control system controls the operation of the motor to move the moving body according to information detected by the sensor module. |
| US08532840B2 |
Method for diagnosing brake pedal contactors
A method for diagnosing brake pedal contactors of an automobile that includes an electronic control unit (ECU), the contactors being connected to the ECU and supplying thereto information on the pedal position. In the method the ECU tests the signals from the contactors. If the signals indicate the operation state is a so-called incoherent state, in which the brake pedal is considered by the ECU to be both depressed and released, the ECU initiates a time out, the duration of the time out depending on the vehicle speed. |
| US08532836B2 |
Demand response load reduction estimation
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for estimating demand response load change. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for estimating energy usage change associated with a demand event. The method may include determining energy potential change during a demand event for one or more devices associated with a location; estimating energy usage patterns for the location over predefined time periods before and after the demand event; determining pre-demand event and post-demand event energy rebounds based at least in part on the estimated energy usage patterns; determining an energy change profile associated with the location based at least in part on the determined energy potential change, and the pre-demand event and post-demand event energy rebounds. |
| US08532826B2 |
System and method for controlling temperature in an information handling system
Systems and methods for controlling temperature in an information handling system is provided. In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving a desired threshold value, determining if a current real-time system value exceeds the desired threshold value, determining if a power shedding mode is enabled, if the power shedding mode is enabled, adjusting power supplied to the information handling system, and if the power shedding mode is not enabled, dynamically adjusting a fan speed of a cooling fan associated with the information handling system. |
| US08532825B1 |
Software compensation for kinematically singular machines
A software compensation command is generated to command a linkage to move an end body in a work space. A manipulator Jacobian is computed given a nominal linkage command; and a normalized Jacobian is computed from the manipulator Jacobian, a joint space normalizing matrix Q, and an error space normalizing matrix E. The normalized Jacobian and the Q and E matrices are used to produce the software compensation command. |
| US08532823B2 |
Disruptor guidance system and methods based on scatter imaging
A system and method for guiding a disruptor robot in disruption of an explosive device. The system includes a source of penetrating radiation, having a coordinated position on the robot with respect to a disrupter coupled to robot, and at least one detector for detecting radiation produced by the source and scattered by the explosive device. An analyzer produces an image of the explosive device and facilitates identification of a disruption target of the explosive device. A controller positions the disruptor with respect to the explosive device so that the disruptor is aimed at the disruption target. |
| US08532822B2 |
System and method for determining the location of a machine
A system is employed for defining a position (location) of a receiving element inside an area surrounded by a wire loop, along the perimeter (a perimeter wire loop), of a work area or other bounded area. In particular, the system can determine whether the receiver is inside or outside the loop, and evaluate its distance from the perimeter wire. |
| US08532818B2 |
Vacuum chamber
A vacuum chamber includes: a vacuum vessel arranged at the backward side, where a wafer of a processing subject is processed inside an internal processing chamber; a transfer chamber arranged at the forward side, where said wafer is transferred at the inside thereof under atmospheric pressure; a cassette stage arranged at the forward of this transfer chamber, where a cassette storing said wafer is mounted; a lock chamber connected with said transfer chamber at the backward of said transfer chamber; a robot arranged inside said transfer chamber, where said wafer is transferred between said cassette and said lock chamber; and an aligning machine for making position of said wafer fit with the predetermined position, wherein the wafer is transferred to said lock chamber, after performing alignment of said wafer on said aligning machine, in the case where displacement amount of position of this wafer is larger than the predetermined value. |
| US08532815B1 |
Method for electronic temperature controlled curing of concrete and accelerating concrete maturity or equivalent age of concrete structures and objects
The invention comprises a method of forming a concrete structure or object. The method comprises detecting the temperature of a quantity of curing concrete and selectively adding heat to the curing concrete, so that the temperature of the curing concrete follows a predetermined temperature profile during at least a portion of the concrete curing process. Apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed. |
| US08532814B2 |
Method for producing a vessel from a preform, with feedback depending on the expansion end point of the preform
A method for producing a vessel (2), involving: placing a preform (3) into the mold; at the pre-blowing cue (tp), controlling the opening of an electrovalve (22) for establishing communication between the preform (3) and a source (20) of gas at a predetermined pre-blowing pressure (Pp); measuring the pressure (P) inside the preform (3); at the blowing cue (tS), controlling the opening of an electrovalve (26) for establishing a communication between the preform (3) and a source (24) of a gas at a blowing pressure (PS) higher than the pre-blowing pressure (Pp); memorising the variations of the pressure (P) inside the preform (3) at least during the interval between the pre-blowing cue (tp) and the blowing cue (tS); detecting the expansion end moment (tC) from which the pressure in the preform (3) increases in a linear manner; and advancing the blowing cue (tS) according to the expansion end moment (tC). |
| US08532803B2 |
Apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof
A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving, by an audio processing apparatus, an input signal; extracting a low frequency signal, a mid frequency signal and a high frequency signal from the input signal; obtaining at least one of a low-band gain and a harmonic control factor, based on a loudspeaker characteristic; obtaining mid-band gain based on the loudspeaker characteristic; generating a modified low frequency signal by applying the low-band gain to the low frequency signal; when the harmonic control factor is obtained, generating a harmonic signal from the modified low frequency signal using the harmonic control factor, generating a modified mid frequency signal by applying the mid-band gain to the mid frequency signal; and, generating a mixed signal by mixing the modified mid frequency signal, the high frequency signal, and at least one of the modified low frequency signal and the harmonic signal. |
| US08532802B1 |
Graphic phase shifter
Systems and methods for editing digital audio data are provided. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes receiving digital audio data. The computer implemented method includes receiving digital audio data and displaying a representation of the digital audio data. The method also includes receiving a selection including a portion of the digital audio data, analyzing a feature of the audio data for the selected portion with respect to a plurality of frequency bands in the digital audio data, calculating a feature value for each frequency band over a specified period of time, and using the feature value for each frequency band to adjust the feature of the audio data. |
| US08532792B2 |
Helix retraction assist mechanism
An active fixation implantable medical lead may include an electrode base that is configured to accommodate an extraction stylet that may be used if the fixation helix is not otherwise easily retracted. An extraction tool may be used in combination with the extraction stylet in extraction techniques designed for retraction of a fixation helix. |
| US08532789B2 |
Subcutaneous lead fixation mechanisms
A medical device that includes a lead having a lead body extending from a proximal end to a distal end, and a housing having a connector block for receiving the proximal end of the lead body. A fixation mechanism is positioned proximal to an electrode coil located at the distal end of the lead body, and includes a locking sleeve and a mating portion positioned along the lead body proximal to the electrode. The fixation mechanism is capable of being advance from a first state corresponding to a first inner diameter of the locking sleeve and a second state corresponding to a second inner diameter of the locking sleeve greater than the first inner diameter to fixed position the electrode at a target site. |
| US08532788B2 |
Electrical stimulation lead with stiffeners having varying stiffness zones
In one embodiment, a neurostimulation lead comprises an elongated body of insulative material, comprising a first end portion and a second end portion; a plurality of terminals longitudinally positioned along the first end portion; a plurality of electrodes longitudinally positioned along the second end portion; a plurality of conductors electrically coupling the plurality of electrodes to the plurality of terminals; a flexible metal longitudinal stiffener positioned within the elongated body wherein the stiffener has a plurality of longitudinal zones and each zone has a different column strength, the column strength of one or more zones of the plurality of longitudinal zones being defined by cuts or gaps in the stiffener, the stiffener causing the neurostimulation lead to exhibit a greatest amount of column strength adjacent to one end portion of the elongated body and to transition to a lower column strength toward a medial portion of the elongated body. |
| US08532787B2 |
Implantable therapy system having multiple operating modes
A therapy system for applying an electrical signal to an internal anatomical feature of a patient includes an implantable component and an external component. The implantable component is configured to receive a selected therapy program and a selected therapy schedule from the external component. The implantable component is adapted to be selectively configured into one of a training mode and a delivery mode. The implantable component is configured to apply therapy to the internal anatomical feature in accordance with the selected therapy program and the selected therapy schedule when configured in the delivery mode. The implantable component is configured to simulate application of therapy when configured in the training mode. |
| US08532785B1 |
Therapy delivery method and system for implantable medical devices
Recent advancements in power electronics technology have provided opportunities for enhancements to circuits of implantable medical devices. The enhancements have contributed to increasing circuit miniaturization and an increased efficiency in the operation of the implantable medical devices. The therapy delivery circuits and techniques of the disclosure facilitate generation of a therapy stimulation waveform that may be shaped based on the patient's physiological response to the stimulation waveform. The generated therapy stimulation waveforms include a stepped leading-edge that may be shaped having a varying slope and varying amplitudes associated with each of the segments of the slope. Unlike the truncated exponential waveform delivered by the conventional therapy delivery circuit which is based on the behavior of the output capacitors (i.e., i=C(dV/dt)), the stimulation waveform of the present disclosure may be dynamically shaped as a function of an individual patient's response. The dynamically shaped therapy stimulation waveforms facilitate achieving lower capture thresholds which reduces the device's supply consumption thereby increasing longevity of the device and facilitate a reduction of tissue damage. |
| US08532780B2 |
Surgical implant for electronic activation of dysfunctional eustachian tube
This invention comprises a totally implantable Eustachian tube activation device which is intended for patients suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction ailment. The device electrically stimulates the muscles activating the Eustachian tube to perform the opening maneuver of the Eustachian tube valve to aerate the middle ear cavity. The unit is hermetically sealed in a suitable biocompatible container and implanted in a suitable location in close proximity to Eustachian tube. The frequency of the stimulation of the implant may be fixed or can be altered depending on the condition of the patient. |
| US08532778B2 |
Restoring cough using microstimulators
A method of inducing forced expiration in a subject is disclosed. The method can include percutaneously placing an injectable microstimulator adjacent at least one thoracic spinal nerve that innervates an intercostal muscle. For example, the microstimulator is placed within 8 cm externally of a neuroforamen through which the spinal nerve emerges from a thoracic vertebra. The method can also entail applying a stimulating electrical current from the microstimulator to the thoracic spinal nerve at a sufficient intensity and duration to induce a forced contraction of the intercostal muscle innervated by that spinal nerve. |
| US08532774B1 |
Detection and reduction of phrenic nerve stimulation
The present invention provides methods for detecting phrenic nerve stimulation. A pacing module is instructed 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 wherein the pacing pulses are delivered at different delays relative to an onset of the refractory period of the left ventricle in different cardiac cycles. Impedance signals are measured in time windows synchronized with the delivery of pacing pulses in the refractory period of the left ventricle using at least one electrode configuration. At least one impedance signal is gathered from each time window, aggregated impedance signals are created using the impedance signals from the different time windows, and the aggregated impedance signals are analyzed to detect PNS. |
| US08532767B2 |
Device for medical applications and electromedical implant
A device for medical applications, comprising an elongated conductive element having one proximal end and one distal end, wherein the latter undergoes a temperature increase by absorbing energy from an electromagnetic field, comprising a separating element disposed in the elongated conductive element for the galvanic separation of the proximal end from the distal end. |
| US08532766B2 |
Pulse detection apparatus, software, and methods using patient physiological signals
The presence of a cardiac pulse in a patient is determined by evaluating physiological signals in the patient. In one embodiment, a medical device evaluates two or more different physiological signals, such as phonocardiogram (PCG) signals, electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, patient impedance signals, piezoelectric signals, and accelerometer signals for features indicative of the presence of a cardiac pulse. Using these features, the medical device determines whether a cardiac pulse is present in the patient. The medical device may also be configured to report whether the patient is in a VF, VT, asystole, or PEA condition, in addition to being in a pulseless condition, and prompt different therapies, such as chest compressions, rescue breathing, defibrillation, and PEA-specific electrotherapy, depending on the analysis of the physiological signals. Auto-capture of a cardiac pulse using pacing stimuli is further provided. |
| US08532763B2 |
Cardiovertor/defibrillator
Cardiovertor/defibrillator with electronics (12) that receives a detection signal from a detection device (16) indicating whether a heart of a mammal is fibrillating, processes the detection signal by running a program and generates a control signal for a stimulation device (17) based on the detection signal in order to allow the stimulation device (17) to provoke defibrillation of the heart by a resuscitating stimulation in the area of the pharynx of the mammal. The apparatus has a nose plug. |
| US08532761B2 |
Resuscitation device and method for resuscitation
The invention relates to a resuscitation device for humans. The resuscitation device is designed to provide resuscitating stimulation of the respiratory area of the human brain stem, preferably from a location distant from said respiratory area. The invention further relates to a method for providing a resuscitating treatment to a human. Parameters are measured by a number of sensor means and processed by a processing means for providing a response by a number of stimulation means. The stimulation means are electrical, mechanical or chemical stimulation means. |
| US08532760B2 |
Method and apparatus for a small power source for an implantable device
One example includes a battery that includes a stack of at least one substantially planar anode and at least one substantially planar cathode, wherein the stack defines a contoured exterior, and a battery housing enclosing the stack, the battery housing defining a battery housing exterior, wherein the contoured exterior of the stack is shaped to conform to a contoured interior of the battery housing that approximately conforms to the battery housing exterior, the battery produced by the process of modeling, using fluid dynamics, an exterior of a biocompatible housing and shaping the battery housing to conform to at least some of the exterior of the biocompatible housing. |
| US08532757B2 |
Stimulation electrode selection
Bioelectrical signals may be sensed within a brain of a patient with a plurality of sense electrode combinations. A stimulation electrode combination for delivering stimulation to the patient to manage a patient condition can be selected based on a frequency domain characteristic of the sensed bioelectrical signals. In some examples, a stimulation electrode combination is selected based on a determination of which of the sense electrodes are located closest to a target tissue site, as indicated by the one or more sense electrodes that sensed a bioelectrical brain signal with a relatively highest value of the frequency domain characteristic. In some examples, determining which of the sense electrodes are located closest to the target tissue site may include executing an algorithm using relative values of the frequency domain characteristic. |
| US08532753B2 |
Non-linear filtering for the reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram from an endocardial electrogram
An active medical device using non-linear filtering for the reconstruction of a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) from an endocardial electrogram (EGM) is disclosed. The device for the reconstruction of the surface ECG comprises: a plurality of inputs, receiving a corresponding plurality of EGM signals from endocardial or epicardial electrogram (x1[n], x2[n]), each collected on a respective EGM derivation of a plurality of EGM derivations, and at least one output delivering a reconstructed surface ECG electrocardiogram signal (y[n]), related to an ECG derivation, and a non-linear digital filter (12′, 12′, 14) with a transfer function that determines the reconstructed ECG signal based on said plurality of input EGM signals. The non-linear digital filter includes a Volterra filter type (12, 12′, 12″) whose transfer function includes a linear term (h1) and at least one quadratic (h2) and/or cubic (h3) term(s). |
| US08532750B2 |
Process and device for detection of precancer tissues with infrared spectroscopy
A process for determining whether tissue is precancer, in which tests discriminating between precancer and benign tissue and between precancer and normal tissue are combined, and tissue that is classified as precancer in both tests is determined to be precancer, in which neither of the tests to be combined is the most selective. Further, a process and device in which certain optimal wavelengths of glycogen, phosphate and lipid, but not protein, discriminate between normal and precancer tissues. |
| US08532746B2 |
Automatic atherectomy system
An automatic atherectomy system uses a rotary burr at the tip of a catheter as a sensing device, in order to measure both electrical conductivity and permittivity of surrounding tissue at multiple frequencies. From these parameters it is determined which tissue lies in different directions around the tip. A servo system steers the catheter tip in the direction of the tissue to be removed. In non-atherectomy applications the rotary burr can be replaced with any desired tool and the system can be used to automatically steer the catheter to the desired position. The steering may be done hydraulically, by pressurizing miniature bellows located near the catheter tip. |
| US08532740B2 |
Measurement device and measurement method
A measurement device and measurement method make it possible to eliminate the load generated by stopping on a measurement subject that is moved among multiple magnetic field generating devices. The measurement device includes a first external magnetic field generating device that generates a magnetic field of a set size, a second external magnetic field generating device that generates a magnetic field of a size that differs from that of the magnetic field of the first external magnetic field generating device, a rotating table that causes the subject of measurement to pass in sequence through the magnetic fields of the first and second external magnetic field generating devices by causing the subject of measurement to move rotationally, and an OMRI measurement processing part and MRI measurement processing part that measures images such as functional images or structural images of the subject of measurement while it is being moved rotationally by the rotating table. |
| US08532739B2 |
Non-invasive imaging for determination of global tissue characteristics
Evaluating tissue characteristics including identification of injured tissue or alteration of the ratios of native tissue components such as shifting the amounts of normal myocytes and fibrotic tissue in the heart, identifying increases in the amount of extracellular components or fluid (like edema or extracellular matrix proteins), or detecting infiltration of tumor cells or mediators of inflammation into the tissue of interest in a patient, such as a human being, is provided by obtaining a first image of tissue including a region of interest from a first acquisition, and obtaining a second image of the tissue including the region of interest during a second, subsequent acquisition. The subsequent acquisition may be obtained after a period of time to determine if injury has occurred during that period of time. Such a comparison may include comparison of mean, average characteristics, histogram shape, such as skew and kurtosis, or distribution of intensities within the histogram. |
| US08532735B2 |
Device and method for examination and use of an electrical field in an object under examination containing magnetic particles
The present invention relates to a device for examination and use of an electrical field in a magnetic gradient field, containing magnetic particles in an examination area of an object under examination. The invention also relates to a method of determining the, especially three-dimensional, conductivity distribution in an examination area of an object under examination using a device according to the invention, a method for drug or active ingredient release, especially in locally targeted manner, in an examination area of an object under examination likewise using a device according to the invention, as well as use of a device according to the invention for electro-stimulation. |
| US08532730B2 |
Analyte sensor
Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes a vascular access device, a sensor and sensor electronics, the system being configured for insertion into a host's peripheral vein or artery. |
| US08532728B2 |
Pulse oximeter probe-off detector
A processor provides signal quality based limits to a signal strength operating region of a pulse oximeter. These limits are superimposed on the typical gain dependent signal strength limits. If a sensor signal appears physiologically generated, the pulse oximeter is allowed to operate with minimal signal strength, maximizing low perfusion performance. If a sensor signal is potentially due to a signal induced by a dislodged sensor, signal strength requirements are raised. Thus, signal quality limitations enhance probe off detection without significantly impacting low perfusion performance. One signal quality measure used is pulse rate density, which defines the percentage of time physiologically acceptable pulses are occurring. If the detected signal contains a significant percentage of unacceptable pulses, the minimum required signal strength is raised proportionately. Another signal quality measure used in conjunction with pulse rate density is energy ratio, computed as the percentage of total energy contained in the pulse rate fundamental and associated harmonics. |
| US08532723B2 |
Portable communication device and slide-type cradling apparatus thereof
A portable communication device that cradles a first and a second display units at a same angle, and a slide-type cradling apparatus thereof are disclosed. The portable communication device includes: a first housing; a second housing including a first display unit and facing the first housing when being slid and cradled at a known incline angle; and a third housing including a second display unit, and being introduced into the first housing before the second housing is slid and being withdrawn from the first housing after the second housing is slid such that the second housing is inclined and the third housing is inclined in an extension direction of the second housing. |
| US08532718B2 |
Mobile communication device with low power signal detector
A mobile communication device comprising a low power signal detector and a manner of utilizing a low power signal detector in a mobile communication device. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise a first module adapted to receive a communication signal. A second module may be adapted to operate in a plurality of operating modes, comprising a first mode and a second mode. The first mode may, for example, comprise characteristics of a sleep mode. The second module may, in the second mode, process the received communication signal (e.g., determining information communicated by the received communication signal). A third module may be adapted to determine, based at least in part on a non-informational characteristic of the received communication signal, whether to operate the second module in the first mode or in the second mode. |
| US08532701B2 |
Synchronization of multiple processors in a multi-mode wireless communication device
A multi-mode communication device is disclosed and includes a host baseband processor configured to operate in a first communications system of a plurality of communications systems, and a baseband co-processor configured to operate in a second communications system of the plurality of communications systems. The second communications system is different from the first communications system. The host baseband processor is operable to time synchronize the second communications system to the first communications system based on timing information generated by the baseband co-processor. The host baseband processor may include circuitry for issuing, from the host baseband processor, a timer capture interrupt to the baseband co-processor during a predetermined timer phase of the first communications system. |
| US08532699B2 |
Method for power efficient activation of an inactive communication interface in a mobile station having multiple communication interfaces
A method of providing communication services for a mobile station having a plurality of communication interfaces is disclosed. Each communication interface has an active power mode and an inactive power mode. In the method, a communication service level is assessed for an active first communication interface. A second communication interface is activated and a communication service level is assessed for the activated second communication interface. A comparison is performed of the communication service levels of the first and second communication interfaces. If the second communication interface can provide a greater communication service level, then the first communication interface is deactivated by changing the first communication interface from the active power mode to the inactive power mode, and a communication service is provided through the second communication interface. Otherwise, a communication service is continued through the first communication interface. |
| US08532698B2 |
Distributed antenna communications system
One embodiment is directed to a distributed antenna system that comprises a hub to receive a plurality of downlink transceiver signals output from a plurality of transceiver units and to send a plurality of uplink transceiver signals to the plurality of transceiver units. The plurality of downlink transceiver signals has overlapping frequencies and contains different communication content. The distributed antenna system further comprises a plurality of distributed antenna units, each located at a respective a remote location. The hub is configured to route a respective downlink transport signal to each of a plurality of distributed antennas, wherein each of the downlink transport signals is derived from one of the plurality of downlink transceiver signals received at the hub. Each of the distributed antenna units is configured to transmit a respective downlink radio frequency signal derived from the downlink transport signal that is routed to that distributed antenna unit. |
| US08532697B2 |
Electronic device with passively combined antennas
Electronic devices may be provided that contain wireless communications circuitry. The wireless communications circuitry may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry coupled to multiple antennas though a passive coupler. When transmitting signals, the passive coupler can divide transmitted signals between each of the multiple antennas. When using the antennas to receive signals, the received signals can be combined using the passive coupler. The combined signals may be provided to a receiver in the transceiver circuitry. A tap may be interposed in a path between the passive coupler and one of the antennas to monitor radio-frequency signal power. Phase-shift elements may be interposed in the paths between the antennas and the passive coupler to adjust the relative phase between signals associated with the first and second antennas. |
| US08532692B2 |
Transmission power control method, and radio network controller
A transmission power control method for controlling a transmission power of an E-DPCCH, includes: determining, at a radio network controller, that a mobile station transmitting the E-DPCCH to only a first cell should transmit the E-DPCCH to the first cell and a second cell; determining, at the radio network controller, an E-DPCCH Transmission Power Offset which is an offset from a transmission power of a DPCCH based on the determination; notifying, at the radio network controller, the E-DPCCH Transmission Power Offset to the mobile station; determining, at the mobile station, the transmission power of the E-DPCCH to be transmitted to the first cell and the second cell, based on the notified E-DPCCH Transmission Power Offset; and transmitting, at the mobile station, the E-DPCCH to the first cell and the second cell using the determined transmission power. |
| US08532687B2 |
Methods for geographic optimization of cellular telephone transmit power settings
Portable user devices are provided that communicate wirelessly with base stations. A user device may include a transceiver, a power amplifier, a voltage supply, and a global positioning system (GPS) unit. The device may transmit signals at a certain transmit power to a neighboring base station. The device may log the time spent transmitting at each power level. Each data point may be tagged with the current location of the device. The logs of each device may be aggregated by a power optimization server. The power optimization server may calculate optimum power settings for each region and for each type of device. A region may be any desirable size ranging from the size of a single cell to an entire continent. Device users may download updated optimum settings. A device may automatically detect and select the optimum transmit power setting during operation depending on its current location. |
| US08532681B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing short message systems (SMS) in WiMAX systems
In accordance with a method for implementing Short Message Service (SMS) in a WiMAX network, a mobile station may send a mobile station SMS request message to a base station. The mobile station SMS request message may include mobile-originated SMS data. In response, the base station may send a base station SMS response message back to the mobile station. For mobile-terminated SMS data, the base station may send a base station SMS request message to the mobile station. The base station SMS request message may include the mobile-terminated SMS data. In response, the mobile station may send a mobile station SMS response message to the base station. Ranging procedures and medium access control (MAC) management messages may be used to allocate bandwidth for the various messages. |
| US08532676B1 |
Estimating whether a wireless terminal is indoors versus outdoors using probabilities and classifications
Methods for generating more accurate location estimates are based on indicative factors. The factors are gleaned from wireless signals that were received by a wireless terminal and from other network-specific data. Each factor is probative of whether the wireless signals were received by the wireless terminal: (i) indoors versus outdoors, and/or (ii) “above-the-clutter” versus “below-the-clutter” of ambient wireless signals, and/or (iii) while moving at a certain speed classification, e.g., stationary/pedestrian versus vehicular speeds. Each factor tends to prove or disprove the particular characteristic. The result is an estimated probability, such as the probability that the wireless terminal received the signals indoors. The estimated probability is applied to the analysis of candidate locations, eliminating some candidates from further consideration. This enables computational resources to focus on the remaining higher-likelihood candidate locations and provides improved accuracy in the location estimate. |
| US08532674B2 |
Method of intelligent vehicle dialing
A method of operating a vehicle telematics unit includes determining the location of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle telematics unit; determining if telematics dialing software operated by the vehicle telematics unit includes a verbal dialing protocol used at the determined vehicle location; if not, identifying one or more verbal dialing protocols used at the determined location of the vehicle; requesting telematics dialing software that includes the one or more identified verbal dialing protocols; receiving the requested telematics dialing software from a central facility; and storing the received telematics dialing software at the vehicle. |
| US08532673B2 |
Method and apparatus for inter network retrieval of user related data
Data related to a subscriber in a communications network is to be retrieved. A first Generic User Profile (GUP) server receives an incoming request for the subscriber related data from a data consumer in a first communication domain and determines that the data is located in a second communication domain. An outgoing request for the data is then transmitted to a second GUP server in the second communication domain via an interface. The second GUP server then retrieves the requested subscriber related data from a network repository and transmits the requested data to the first GUP server, which forwards the requested data to the data consumer. Service access to subscriber data located in other domains than the GUP Server is enabled, for example when the subscriber is roaming. The subscriber related data can also be distributed in both the first and second communication domain. |
| US08532672B2 |
Radio localization database generation by capturing cognitive radio spectrum sensing data
Technologies are generally described herein for determining a location of a computing device using radio frequency (“RF”) information. Some example technologies may receive a local RF fingerprint for radio signals detected by the computing device. The technologies may determine a location of the computing device by identifying a subset of RF information matching the local RF fingerprint. The technologies may provide the location to the computing device. |
| US08532667B2 |
System and methods for monitoring the geospatial context associated with a mobile communication device
Systems, methods and interfaces are disclosed for managing communications associated with a mobile communication device. Mobile communication devices process environmental inputs and transmit mobile communication device context information to a communication management system. The context information may, for example, reflect the motion and/or geographic location of the mobile device, and may reflect the risk associated with using the device to handle a call or other communications session. The communication management system uses the context information, optionally in combination with communication device profiles, to determine how to manage incoming and/or ongoing calls or other communication sessions. Mobile device users may also be inhibited from initiating communication sessions. |
| US08532665B2 |
Overlay micro cell structure for universal mobile telephone system network
A wireless telephony communications system includes at least one macro cell for communicating both voice and data with a mobile communications device across a first wireless link and at least one micro cell for communicating data with the mobile communications device across a second wireless communication link. Each micro cell communicates signaling information through the macro cell via a wireless link to a control element that manages the micro cells. Using a wireless link to communicate signaling between each micro cell and the control element in the UMTS system eliminates the need for a wired back haul link, thereby reducing access costs. |
| US08532661B2 |
Network gateway configured to provide a handover, converting and routing function
Methods are provided for handing over a connection from a source base station to a target base station. The methods include receiving, at a gateway, a handover required message transmitted from the source base station, the handover required message indicating that a user equipment-connection serviced by the source base station should be handed over to a target base station; generating, at the gateway, a handover request message in response to receiving the handover required message; and transmitting, from the gateway, to the target base station the handover request message. The gateway acts as a proxy of a core network control node for a plurality of base stations that are connected to the gateway. Related devices are also provided herein. |
| US08532651B2 |
Method of rejecting radio links based on timing information regarding a detected cell
An exemplary method of controlling wireless communications includes providing a list of cell identifiers to a mobile station. The list comprises a target active set of a controller that indicates candidate cells for possible communication with the mobile station. An indication received from the mobile station indicates that the mobile station has detected a cell identifier on the provided list. A determination is made whether timing information regarding the cell corresponding to the detected cell identifier is within a predetermined acceptable range. The cell corresponding to the detected cell identifier is allowed to remain in the controller target active set and added to the active set of the mobile station only if the determined timing information is within the predetermined acceptable range. |
| US08532649B2 |
Communications management
A communications manager is disclosed that is provided on a telecommunications network and a terminal registered with that network. The communications manager comprises in the network and on the terminal a service manager; a data manager and a connection manager. The service manager and data manager collect and store data from a plurality of sources. The connection manager prioritises and schedules delivery of the data from the network to the terminal (or vice versa), and selects a communication method to provide the data in accordance with the priority of that data. The communication method may be SMS for high priority data or an activated packet data connection for lower priority data. |
| US08532648B2 |
Generating an OD matrix
Computers, a user equipment, a computer system, computer program products, and a method for a computer system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises the steps of: receiving user IDs, cell IDs and time stamps associated with the cell IDs and the user IDs; requesting and receiving, from a cell ID database, geographical coordinates corresponding to the cell IDs; finding stations and times for each user ID based on, at least in part, the geographical coordinates and time stamps associated with each user ID; exchanging the stations with a place for each one of the stations; generating at least one OD sub-matrix associated with each user ID based on, at least in part, places and times of arrival and departure associated with these places; and merging the OD matrices into an OD matrix. |
| US08532646B2 |
Mobile communication system using adaptive multi-antenna
A mobile communication system using an adaptive multiantenna realizes improvement of reception characteristics, effective use of the band, and optimization of the throughput in comparison with a system in which application of the same multiantenna communication method is continued irrespective of a variation of the number of radio relay stations. The mobile communication system comprises a radio base station, a radio relay station, and mobile terminal stations for communicating with the radio base station through a radio relay station. The radio base station has a multiantenna and is characterized in that the radio base station judges if there is any variation of the number of radio relay stations when the radio base station carries out transmission through a radio relay station, and the radio base station communicates with the mobile terminal station by switching the multiantenna communication method using the multiantenna depending on the delay time of the feedback signal from the mobile terminal station if there is a variation of the number of radio relay stations. |
| US08532645B2 |
System, method and apparatus for wireless communication between a wireless mobile telecommunications device and a remote wireless display
A method and apparatus provide for removal of a display screen from a wireless device, or, in a different embodiment, provide for a display screen as a separate and additional device that functions in real time in the same way as if the screen were incorporated in the wireless device. This functionality is enabled by a short range wireless connection, such as Bluetooth, between transceivers located in the wireless device and the display screen device. The display screen device allows a user to monitor the associated wireless device without needing to operate the full device. The display screen device may also have control capability for controlling the wireless device. Thus, a user can monitor, and control, a mobile device from a smaller remote display device while being presented with the information that would be displayed on the display screen of the wireless device. |
| US08532639B2 |
Call correcting relay system for optimizing call relaying between different telecommunication networks
The invention relates to a device for call correcting relaying of telecommunication connections between at least two telecommunication terminal devices, wherein the telecommunication terminal devices each are registered in different telecommunication networks, comprising at least two telecommunication terminal devices, wherein each telecommunication terminal device has a software component set up for initializing outgoing call requests from the telecommunications terminal devices and thereby for providing information about a desired target telephone number by means of an established telecommunication connection, wherein the software component is further set up for analyzing the identity of the calling location for incoming call requests and declining particular call requests on the basis of the identity analysis and initializing an outgoing call request as a response to the declining; at least one fixed network server, wherein the fixed network server comprises at least one switching component and comprises devices providing interconnection functionality, so that the fixed network server constitutes a neutral telecommunication network; and software-implemented device on the fixed network server that are set up so that an incoming call request to the fixed network server from a first telecommunication terminal device is analyzed with regard to the identity of the requesting telecommunication terminal device and a connection to the requesting telecommunication terminal device is permitted and established as a reaction to the identity analysis, and a desired telecommunication connection to a second telecommunication terminal device is produced on the basis of the identity analysis and the established connection. |
| US08532626B2 |
Apparatus and method for forming event picture in mobile communication terminal
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for forming an event picture in a mobile communication terminal. If an event such as call reception, alarm or message reception occurs while a service picture is displayed on a screen of the terminal, the current service picture is backed up, a command input through the buttons provided to the terminal is interrupted and the event picture is overlapped over the current service picture, thereby allowing a user to perceive the corresponding event. Accordingly, the terminal user can correctly perceive the event occurred during the service. In addition, when the event occurs, the command input through the buttons is interrupted, so that it is possible to prevent an unintended event processing or erroneous operation due to an erroneous button manipulation. |
| US08532625B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing multimedia message retrieval in mobile communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for preventing multimedia message retrieval in a mobile communication system. It is determined if a message indicating an elapse of an expiration time of a multimedia message is received from an multimedia message service center (MMSC), and disables a retrieval process for a multimedia message the expiration time of which has elapsed, when the message indicating the elapse of the expiration time is received. |
| US08532623B2 |
Methods and devices for automatic display of prepay information
Described are methods of a mobile communication device for processing a balance information message from a service provider in response to a balance information query. A method includes obtaining a service provider identity from a SIM, determining a format of a balance information message and identifying a balance information message from the service provider according to the format of the balance information message. Also described is a mobile communication device that includes a transceiver, a controller, and a memory configured to store format information including a format of a balance information message. The controller is configured to generate a communication to the service provider for transmission via the wireless transceiver, the communication being based on format information including the format of a balance information query, and to determine whether an incoming message received by the wireless transceiver from the service provider conforms to the balance information message. |
| US08532621B2 |
Data session authentication credentials update for a wireless communication device
Techniques in a wireless device for use in accessing a common data application with a service network which is external to a plurality of wireless networks are described. The device receives a data session configuration file which includes a list of the plurality of wireless networks mapped against authentication credentials associated with each wireless network. The device communicates with a current one the wireless networks. The device selects from the list one of the authentication credentials that is associated with the current wireless network. The device submits, via the current wireless network, the selected authentication credentials for establishing a packet data session via the current wireless network. The device then accesses, via the current wireless network using the packet data session, the common data application with the service network which is external to the current wireless network. |
| US08532620B2 |
Trusted mobile device based security
A method for performing user security operations using a mobile communications device includes, storing at least one security credential for a user in the mobile communications device, receiving a request from a client computer to perform an action requiring the stored at least one security credential, wherein the request includes information regarding a service application for which the action is requested, determining a response to the request based upon at least one user configured personal security preference at the mobile communications device, and transmitting the determined response to the client computer. Corresponding system and computer program products are also described. |
| US08532616B2 |
Systems and methods for identification of mobile phones in a restricted environment
Methods and systems for identifying mobile communication terminals that are used in an unauthorized manner in a restricted environment. A monitoring system monitors mobile communication terminals that operate in the vicinity of a restricted environment, such as a prison. A profiling system analyzes the communication of the solicited terminals, and produces respective activity profiles of the terminals. Based on the activity profiles, the profiling system identifies communication terminals that are operated illegitimately. Various actions can be taken with respect to such illegitimate terminals. In a prison application, the profiling system identifies communication terminals that are operated illegitimately by prisoners. |
| US08532615B2 |
Base station and mobile terminal
To provide a security technique (a base station and a mobile terminal) for easily guarding a building such as a house for an average family or a small office at a low price by using a cellular phone terminal and a small base station (femtocell). A base station (FCL) of a mobile communication system placed in a building includes a communication unit (140) for communicating with the mobile communication system via a communication line; an obtaining unit (123) for obtaining an opened state of a fitting set to an opening of the building from the fitting or a switch placed near the fitting for detecting the opened state of the fitting; a registering unit (121) for registering information on a mobile terminal that uses the base station; a processing unit (122) for processing location registration of the mobile terminal; and a control unit (120) for controlling the communication unit to transmit a predetermined message to a predetermined addressee via the communication line if information received from the mobile terminal does not match the information registered in the registering unit when the location registration of the mobile terminal is performed by the processing unit after the opened state of the fitting is obtained. |
| US08532611B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling and rewarding wireless resource sharing
A method and apparatus determines whether a wireless apparatus (106a) that is operative to communicate over both a wireless wide area network (104) and a wireless local area network (102), will allow shared use of its short range wireless resources, such as LAN radio frequency bandwidth, optical bandwidth or other local area wireless resources, with other proximal wireless units (106b-106n) in the wireless local area network (102). In addition, the method and apparatus generated reward data (116) to provide a reward, such as free telephone calls, account credits, price reductions, or other rewards, so that a billing system is updated when a wireless apparatus (106a-106n) has been designated as allowing shared use of its wireless resources by other proximal wireless units. |
| US08532598B1 |
Multi-channel RX/TX calibration and local oscillator mismatch mitigation
A method and system of optimizing transmit beam forming in a multiple radio wireless system is provided. A stimulus signal can be provided to an analog receive input of a device under test (DUT), wherein the DUT includes multiple radios. A receive phase and amplitude can be measured at baseband using the stimulus signal for each radio. At this point, a receive weight and its conjugate can be determined using the receive phases and amplitudes. A calibration vector and its conjugate can also be determined, wherein a product of the receive weight conjugate and the calibration vector conjugate generate a transmit weight. This transmit weight can be applied to transmit signals during the transmit beam forming using the multiple radios. |
| US08532596B1 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a display configured to display a first screen layer corresponding to one of a back screen of the mobile terminal and an execution screen of an application installed on the mobile terminal, and to display a second screen layer corresponding to a note function of the mobile terminal; and a controller configured to control the display to selectively display the second screen layer based on an input request for requesting the second screen layer, to receive a touch input on the first or second screen layers and to execute a function corresponding to the received touch input on the first or second screen layers. |
| US08532594B2 |
Portable cell phone and a proximity regulation system for use with a portable cell phone
Proximity regulation systems for use with a portable cell phone and portable cell phones are disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable cell phone includes: (1) an operation mode input or circuit and (2) means for determining a transmit power level of the portable cell phone based on the operation mode input or circuit. |
| US08532593B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing frequencies
A method, in a wireless communications apparatus, the method comprising: identifying a previously used frequency as incompatible with a parameter storage area; performing an arithmetical operation on the value of the previously used frequency to give a modified value of the previously used frequency; and storing the modified value of the previously used frequency in the parameter storage area. |
| US08532587B2 |
Usage mode-based antenna selection
Embodiments of devices and methods employ usage mode based antenna selection. One disclosed method embodiment comprises determining a usage mode of a device, and selecting a subset of the available antennas in the device. The subset that is selected corresponds to the usage mode. |
| US08532585B2 |
Electronic device with rotary knob multi-functional control
Control of multiple functions of an electronic device is provided by using a single control element (102) including a switch body (312) adjustable between multiple switch positions, a primary actuator (302) with lateral (302b) and distal surface (302a) portions extending from the switch body and configured for adjusting the switch body between the switch positions, and a pressure sensor (314) operable via an activation force at the lateral surfaces of the primary actuator. A first function can be controlled responsive to motion of the primary actuator during an activation of the pressure sensor. Additionally, a second function can be controlled responsive to the motion of the primary actuator of the control element exclusive of the activation of the pressure sensor. Further, a third function can be controlled in responsive to activation of the pressure sensor for at least a first period of time exclusive of motion of the primary actuator. |
| US08532581B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and method for selecting quality-reporting sub-carrier bands based on sub-carrier band quantity information from base station
A wireless communication method and apparatus are provided for selecting quality-reporting sub-carrier bands based on sub-carrier band quantity information received from a base station. The method includes generally four steps. First, from a base station, information indicating quantity of sub-carrier bands is acquired. Second, channel quality of each of a plurality of sub-carrier bands within a communication band is measured from a received signal. Third, sub-carrier bands are selected from the plurality of sub-carrier bands, wherein quantity of the selected sub-carrier bands corresponds to the quantity of sub-carrier bands indicated by the acquired information. Fourth, information indicating channel quality of the selected sub-carrier bands is reported to the base station. |
| US08532580B2 |
Monitoring system for distributed antenna systems
A distributed antenna system (DAS) provides a plurality of DAS coverage areas for a wireless network. A plurality of statically deployed monitoring devices, each of which includes at least one radio frequency (RF) transmitter/receiver, are configured to run application tests, for example, for voice, messaging, or locations-based services, to provide testing of the wireless network to thereby generate test information related to the wireless network. An evaluation component and a control component respectively analyze the test information and adjust one or more parameters of the wireless network based on the test information. |
| US08532579B2 |
Radio base station, radio equipment, and radio equipment controller
A radio equipment in a radio base station is configured to measure received signal strength of an uplink signal transmitted by a mobile station and includes a TRX function unit configured to transmit IQ data and control information to a radio equipment controller by using a frame including an IQ data region for mapping the IQ data and a control region for mapping the control information, the IQ data being obtained by subjecting the uplink signal to demodulation processing (orthogonal demodulation processing), and the TRX function unit is configured to map information indicating the received signal strength (RSSI) measured by the measurement unit to a fixed region in the control region. |
| US08532570B2 |
Wireless communication device and wireless communication system
A wireless communication device is provided and includes: a first data communication unit performing communication by an electromagnetic induction system, a second data communication unit performing communication at higher speed than the first communication unit by using a system and/or a communication frequency band different from the first data communication unit, and a control unit controlling communication operations of the first data communication unit and the second data communication unit. The control unit performs communication by using the second data communication unit while a carrier signal is transmitted from the first data communication unit. |
| US08532569B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system is disclosed. The wireless communication system performs data transmission using spatially multiplexed streams from a first terminal including N antennas to a second terminal including M antennas (N and M are integers larger than or equal to 2 and N>M). |
| US08532563B2 |
Portable electronic device with configurable operating mode
A portable electronic device including a user interface, a sensor configured to provide an output signal when the device is oriented from resting on a first housing surface portion to resting on a second housing surface portion, and a controller coupled to the user interface and to the sensor, wherein the controller is configured to invoke a mode of operation in response to an output signal from the sensor and wherein the mode of operation is indicated at the user interface. |
| US08532555B2 |
Release-agent-resistant fixing belts, fixing devices and methods of making fixing belts
Fixing belts, fixing devices and methods of making fixing belts are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing belts includes an inner layer comprising a first surface forming an inner surface of the fixing belt and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the inner layer comprising a first polymer; an intermediate layer overlying the second surface of the inner layer, the intermediate layer including a third surface, a first end face and a second end face opposite to the first end face, the intermediate layer comprising silicone rubber; and an outer layer including a fourth surface forming an outer surface of the fixing belt, the outer layer overlying the third surface, the first end face, the second end face and portions of the second surface disposed outward from the first end face and second end face, the outer layer comprising a second polymer. The outer layer seals and protects the intermediate layer from exposure to a liquid release agent applied to the fourth surface. |
| US08532553B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus including same
A fixing device includes a rotary heating member; a heat source disposed near the rotary heating member to heat the rotary heating member; a stationary member disposed in sliding contact with a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the rotary heating member; a flexible fixing belt looped around the rotary heating member and the stationary member; and a rotary pressure member disposed in pressure contact with the stationary member via the fixing belt to form a nip between the fixing belt and the rotary pressure member. The rotary heating member, the stationary member, the fixing belt, and the rotary pressure member are arranged in a direction in which pressure is applied to form the nip. A pressing force acting between the rotary heating member and the rotary pressure member via the fixing belt and the stationary member creates pressure at the nip. |
| US08532548B2 |
Method for calibrating a printing machine using semi-transparent sheets
A method for calibrating a printing machine having a plurality of printing units includes transporting a first group of at-least-semi-transparent sheets at least once through the printing units. A second group of at-least-semi-transparent sheets is transported at least twice through the printing units, with the sheets being turned over between passages. Registration marks are printed on one of the sheets of the first group of sheets, and on one of the sheets of the second group of sheets during their second passage through the printing units. No registration marks are printed on the sheets of the second group of sheets during their first passage through the printing units. The registration marks are measured at a registration sensor located downstream of the printing units. Calibration parameters are determined using the measurements of the first and second registration marks provided by the registration sensor. |
| US08532547B2 |
Transfer belt unit and image forming apparatus
A transfer belt unit satisfies the following conditions. An intermediate transfer belt has a thickness not less than 100 micrometers and not more than 200 micrometers, a tension not less than 80 N/m and not more than 180 N/m, and a tensile elastic modulus not less than 1000 megapascals and not more than 2000 megapascals. A secondary-transfer bias roller has an Asker C hardness not less than 35 degrees and not more than 50 degrees. Stretching rollers for stretching the intermediate transfer belt have an outer diameter not less than 6 millimeters. |
| US08532545B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
A developing device in an image forming apparatus includes: a first developer carrier that rotates in a same direction as a rotating direction of an image carrier of the image forming apparatus so as to supply developer to the image carrier; and a second developer carrier that rotates in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the image carrier so as to supply the developer to the image carrier. The developing device simultaneously performs a refreshing operation of performing replacement of the developer and a filming removal operation of causing the image carrier to rotate idle while forming an image for use in the refreshing operation and causing the first and second developer carriers to rotate in their respective rotating directions. |
| US08532539B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a development device that includes a toner carrier which is disposed opposite to the image carrier, carries and supplies toner to the image carrier, and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the image carrier; and a control means that performs a refresh process in which toner is ejected from the toner carrier to the image carrier in a time an image is not formed, and a toner ejection pattern which is formed by ejecting a line image a plurality of times that has an acute angle to a main scan direction at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction of the image carrier over a total width of a development region. |
| US08532538B2 |
Image forming apparatus featuring supply of developers having different toner ratios
A developing device includes a developer carrying member; a first feeding path in which a developer is to be supplied and fed to the developer carrying member at a position in which the first feeding path opposes the developer carrying member; a second feeding path, communicating with the first feeding path, for forming a circulation path with the first feeding path; a discharge opening for permitting discharge of an excessive developer in the developing device; a first supply opening, located downstream of the first feeding path opposing the developer carrying member with respect to a developer feeding direction and located upstream of the discharge opening with respect to the developer feeding direction, for permitting supply of a first developer containing at least toner; and a second supply opening, located upstream of the first feeding path with respect to the developer feeding direction and located downstream of the discharge opening with respect to the developer feeding direction, for permitting supply of a second developer which has a toner ratio lower than that of the first developer or is consisting only of a carrier. |
| US08532534B2 |
Charging member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
A charging member includes a conductive substrate and a conductive resin layer. The conductive resin layer includes a binder, conductive fine particles, and bowl-shaped resin particles each of which has an opening. The bowl-shaped resin particles are contained in the conductive resin layer in such a way as not to be exposed to an outer surface of the charging member, and the surface of the charging member has concavities derived from openings of the bowl-shaped resin particles and protrusions derived from edges of the openings of the bowl-shaped resin particles. The bowl-shaped resin particles each has a roundish concavity and includes inner walls lined with the conductive resin layer. |
| US08532532B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a controllable drive coupling
An image forming apparatus for forming image on a recording medium includes a photosensitive member, a motor, a belt, and a drive member to rotate the belt, the drive member including a driven coupling. The apparatus also includes a drive coupling to rotate by a driving force generated by the motor, the drive coupling being movable in an axial direction to take an engagement position at which the driving force is transmittable to the driven coupling, and a release position. The apparatus further includes a transfer member to transfer a toner image onto the recording medium or the belt, a voltage application unit to apply a voltage to the transfer member, and a control unit to cause the voltage application unit to apply the voltage to the transfer member after the drive coupling moves to the engagement position and the driving force is transmitted to the driven coupling. |
| US08532531B2 |
Image forming apparatus comprising a charging unit including plural conductive fibers
A charging member that charges residual toner on an intermediate transfer belt is a charging brush constituted by conductive fibers including an electric insulating portion and an electric conductive portion. Part of the outer circumferential surface of each conductive fiber is the conductive portion. |
| US08532525B2 |
Image-forming apparatus
An image scanner section is disposed above a printer section. The image scanner section is supported by the printer section in such a manner as to be pivotable about a pivotal axis. The printer section has a lower housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The image scanner section has an upper housing having a substantially rectangular shape as viewed from above. The upper housing and the lower housing are configured such that a second upper corner portion, which is a corner portion of the upper housing, projects beyond a second lower corner portion, which is a corner portion of the lower housing and is located just under the second upper corner portion. |
| US08532519B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus including a fixing part that heats and fixes an unfixed toner image formed on a recording material, onto the recording material, an electric field generation member that forms an electric field in a space in which a component evaporated from a wax flows, the component being generated during the heating and fixing, and a collection member to which a voltage is applied, the collection member electrostatically collecting the component passing through the space in which the electric field has been formed. The image forming apparatus prevents conveyance failures resulting from evaporated components of a release wax adhering to parts within the image forming apparatus. |
| US08532515B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is operable in a mode in which a speed of an intermediary transfer belt is changed after all of the toner images are primary-transferred onto the intermediary transfer belt, and the toner image primary-transferred on the intermediary transfer belt is passed through a secondary transfer position and primary transfer position in this order to reach the secondary transfer position, where the toner image is secondary transferred onto the transfer material, and a controller for making, before the image forming apparatus is operated in the mode to change the speed of the intermediary transfer belt, a potential difference between the intermediary transfer belt and the photosensitive member at the primary transfer position smaller than a potential difference between the intermediary transfer belt and the photosensitive member when the toner image is primary transferred from the photosensitive member onto the intermediary transfer belt. |
| US08532513B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus when a transfer material is fed at a first speed, a moving speed of an image bearing member, an exposure speed of an exposure device in a moving direction of the image bearing member, and a moving speed of an intermediary transfer member are equal to the first speed. When the transfer material is fed at a second speed which is lower than the first speed, the moving speed of the image bearing member is equal to the first speed, and the exposure speed of the exposure device and the moving speed of the intermediary transfer member are equal to the second speed. |
| US08532510B2 |
Image forming apparatus with image detector
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus employing a contact development system, contact of a development roller against a photosensitive drum is started while forming an electrostatic latent image of a detection pattern for detection in each individual apparatus, and a developed toner image is detected at a predetermined position. At this time, a time from the time when contact of the development roller was started until the time when the toner image was detected is measured, and a delay time from a time when contact operation of the development roller was started until a time of actual contact is calculated by subtracting the time needed until the developed toner image reaches the detection position. The time when contact of the development roller is started is delayed by this time. The same sort of control is also performed for the separation time. |
| US08532508B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method for forming an image at different image forming speeds
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet; a receiving unit that receives a command that makes the image forming unit form an image; and a controller that controls the image forming unit so that the image forming unit forms an image on a sheet at a first image forming speed if a number of sheets on which images are to be formed due to the command is larger than a threshold and controls the image forming unit so that the image forming unit forms an image at a second image forming speed if a number of sheets is equal to or smaller than the threshold, the second image forming speed being higher than the first image forming speed. |
| US08532504B2 |
Coherent optical receiver with adaptive equalizer initialization system
An adaptive-equalizer initialization system performs three functions: frequency offset estimation, taps estimation for chromatic dispersion filters, and taps initialization for an adaptive equalizer. The system contains hardware FFT and peak detector units that sense a pure tone that marks the beginning of a known, short data sequence. |
| US08532503B2 |
Optical receiver and optical receiving method
An optical receiver includes a photo-detector that converts a received optical signal into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, a converter that converts the electric signal into a parallel data signal and outputs the parallel data signal, and parallel-number changer changing a parallel number of the parallel data signal in accordance with a bit rate of the optical signal and outputting the parallel data signal having the changed parallel number. |
| US08532502B2 |
Filter coefficient adjustment apparatus
In present invention, a filter coefficient adjustment apparatus is used in a polarization demultiplexer which demultiplexes the input signals by using filters to obtain demultiplexed output signals, said filter coefficient adjustment apparatus being used for adjusting the coefficients of the filters, wherein said filter coefficient adjustment apparatus comprises: an logarithm partial derivative calculation unit for calculating the logarithm partial derivative value of a target probability density function of the demultiplexed output signals when its self-variable value is the present demultiplexed output signal value; a gradient calculation unit for calculating the gradient of a target optimizing function for optimizing the distribution of the multiplexed output signals based on the logarithm partial derivative value calculated by the logarithm partial derivative calculation unit; and a filter coefficient updating unit for updating the coefficients of the filters based on the gradient calculated by the gradient calculation unit. |
| US08532501B2 |
Apparatus for receiving optical signal and method of controlling phase offset for differential quadrature phase shift keying
An apparatus for receiving optical signals in DQPSK and method of controlling a phase offset in receiving optical signals for DQPSK is provided. An original optical signal modulated in DQPSK is received. The original optical signal is delayed by one bit to make a delay optical signal such that an interference on the original optical signal and the delay optical signal is performed. A control signal is generated by use of an interference result between the original optical signal and the delay optical signal. A phase offset for the interference between the original optical signal and the delay optical signal is controlled by use of the generated control signal. In receiving optical signals, the phase offset between the delay optical signal and the original optical signal is precisely controlled, thereby optimizing the transfer characteristics of an optical delay interferometer. |
| US08532493B2 |
Optical communication apparatus and optical communication method
An optical communication apparatus is disclosed. The optical communication apparatus includes a light transmission section, a light reception section, and a control section. The light transmission section causes a light emitting portion which outputs light in a visual line direction of a user to transmit information. The light reception section causes a light receiving portion which receives light from the visual line direction of the user to receive information. The control section determines whether or not another optical communication apparatus is an information communication target based on identification information when the light reception section has optically received communication request information and the identification information from the other optical communication apparatus and causes the light transmission section to optically transmit communication response information to the other optical communication apparatus when the control section has determined that the other optical communication apparatus be the information communication target. |
| US08532492B2 |
Optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems, components, and related methods for calibration thereof
Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The communications can be distributed between a head end unit (HEU) that receives carrier signals from one or more service or carrier providers and converts the signals to RoF signals for distribution over optical fibers to end points, which may be remote antenna units (RAUs). In one embodiment, calibration of communication downlinks and communication uplinks is performed to compensate for signal strength losses in the system. |
| US08532490B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for integrating wireless technology into a fiber optic network
The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic network configuration having an optical network terminal located at a subscriber location. The fiber optic network configuration also includes a drop terminal located outside the subscriber location and a wireless transceiver located outside the subscriber location. The fiber optic network further includes a cabling arrangement including a first signal line that extends from the drop terminal to the optical network terminal, a second signal line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver, and a power line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver. |
| US08532487B2 |
Managed PON repeater and cross connect
One embodiment provides an intelligent passive optical network (PON) node. The intelligent PON node includes a number of optical line terminal (OLT)-side transceivers coupled to a first optical fiber, a number of optical network unit (ONU)-side transceivers, a switching mechanism configured to couple the OLT-side transceivers and the ONU-side transceivers, and a controller configured to control the coupling operation of the switching mechanism. The OLT-side transceivers are configured to transmit optical signals on a number of wavelength channels to and receive optical signals on a number of wavelength channels from the OLT. A respective ONU-side transceiver is configured to transmit optical signals to and receive optical signals from a downstream PON. |
| US08532486B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting radio-frequency signals using a dispersive fiber optical loop
An apparatus comprising a dispersive fiber optical loop for delaying a first and second sideband, relative to each other, of a light modulated by a radio frequency signal to create a pair of pulses, a coupler for tapping a replica of the pair of pulses from the loop; and an auto-correlation module, coupled to the coupler, for correlating the replica of the pair of pulses with each other. |
| US08532483B2 |
Method to diagnose an optical communication network
A method for diagnosing an optical communication network having a control system, an optical hub, and multiple optical network terminators. The hub communicates with all the network terminators via an inband management channel. In case one network terminator disturbs the communication from the network terminators to the hub and the communication from the hub to the network terminators is functional, the control system sends a shut-off command to one network terminator, checks if the disturbance is gone, if the disturbance is not gone, sends a pulse mode activation command to this network terminator, checks if there is a superposition signal of the disturbance signal with a pulse mode signal and marks the network terminator as bad, if the pulse signal is not superimposed. |
| US08532478B2 |
Image pickup apparatus capable of selecting focus detection area
An image pickup apparatus 101 includes a line sensor constituted by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and capable of performing a photoelectric conversion of a pair of object images formed by luminous flux from an image pickup optical system 102, focus detectors 105 and 118 which detect a focus state of the image pickup optical system based on a pair of image signals outputted from the line sensor, and a block dividing portion 118 which divides the line sensor into a plurality of photoelectric conversion element blocks to form a plurality of effective focus detection areas in an image taking region. The block dividing portion changes a pattern by which the line sensor is divided into the plurality of photoelectric conversion element blocks so that an arrangement of the effective focus detection areas in the image taking region is switched in accordance with an operation by a user. |
| US08532476B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for photographic flash synchronization
A system and method for controlling one or more remote photographic flash devices from a camera body having a lower portion and an upper portion. An antenna is connected to the upper portion of the camera body. Wireless functionality within a camera body provides wireless communication of a signal from within the camera body to one or more remote devices. In one example, a flash synchronization signal of the camera body may be wirelessly communicated using a wireless communication functionality within the camera body and the antenna. The wireless communication can be utilized for actuating one or more remote devices, such as for triggering one or more remote flash devices. |
| US08532472B2 |
Methods and apparatus for fast seeking within a media stream buffer
A method of seeking within a time shift buffer includes receiving a media stream from a remotely located media source over a network, and generating a time shift buffer associated with the media stream. The time shift buffer includes a number of frames with keyframes provided at a certain intervals. When a seek request associated with a desired time within the media stream is received, the system determines a nearest keyframe within the set of keyframes that is previous to and closest in time to the desired time, displays the nearest keyframe, then considers in turn each of the frames subsequent to the nearest keyframe until a desired frame corresponding to the desired time is reached displayed. The system cancels the previous examining step and determines a new nearest keyframe in the event a second seek request is received. |
| US08532469B2 |
Distributed digital video processing system
A project network application can provide functionality for a plurality of worker systems to perform digital video editing so as to at least partially perform two- to three-dimensional conversion of a video. The project network application may, for instance, include tools for performing rotoscoping, depth mapping, object offsetting, occlusion filling, and the like. |
| US08532468B2 |
Moving image data editing apparatus, moving image data reproducing apparatus, moving image data editing method, and moving image data reproducing method
This invention is directed to the provision of a moving image data editing apparatus 1 for applying masking to a portion of an image by editing moving image data in which each frame is divided into pixel blocks of a predetermined size and encoded on a pixel block basis. Moving image data editing apparatus 1 comprises: pixel block extracting means 11 for extracting from an input data stream of moving image data 71 pixel blocks BL2 and BL4 that are located within the region 72 to which masking is to be applied; fixed pattern inserting means 12 for inserting precoded fixed pattern data 73 into the original positions of extracted pixel blocks BL2 and BL4 in the data stream; and pixel block inserting means 13 for inserting extracted pixel blocks BL2 and BL4 as user data into the data stream. |
| US08532464B2 |
Methods and systems for use in controlling playback of content in relation to recorded content
Some embodiments provide methods of playing back multimedia content relative to a portable storage medium to detect, at a playback device, an initial access to a portable storage medium; request pre-roll content corresponding to content recorded on the portable storage medium; and disguise the requesting of the pre-roll content and receiving of the pre-roll content such that a user of the playback device does not experience a delay in playback of content while the pre-roll content is being received, wherein the disguising comprises: playing back disguise content, locally accessible by the playback device, while requesting and receiving the pre-roll content at the playback device; and halting playback of the disguise content and initiating playback of the pre-roll content received from the remote source such that the user of the playback device does not perceive a delay associated with obtaining the pre-roll content from the remote source. |
| US08532463B2 |
Program reservation display system and method
Provided is a network system having connected thereto (i) a plurality of television receivers each having a function for specifying television program reservations, and (ii) a recording device, such that a list of the program reservations configured by all of the television receivers can be viewed on one television receiver. The recording device produces a predefined common reservation code, and sequentially receives and records the program reservation instructions with the common reservation codes in memory. When a list of the reservations is requested by one television receiver, a program reservation instruction is sent from memory with the common reservation code, and a list of reservations is compiled based on the common reservation codes. |
| US08532460B2 |
Information recording method, information recording medium, and information reproducing method, wherein information is stored on a data recording portion and a management information recording portion
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface. |
| US08532459B2 |
Fast channel change in a digital television receiver
A multiple-tuner digital video storage device, providing live-pause television program viewing from digital television program data recorded on a storage device, reduces channel change delay when changing digital television channels. The digital video storage device processes and stores video data from a digital television channel to which a channel change expected (predicted) concurrent with storing video data from a digital television channel that is currently selected. The digital video storage device substantially simultaneously reads the stored video data for the currently selected digital television channel and the predicted digital television channel, and decodes the video data of the currently selected digital television channel for presentation to a Decoding display associated with the digital video storage device. Upon receipt of a channel change request for the predicted digital television channel, the digital video storage device starts decoding the read video data of the predicted digital television channel for presentation to the display. |
| US08532457B2 |
Method of manufacturing optical waveguide, optical waveguide and optical transmission device
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide which includes a core configured to transmit an optical signal, and a mirror portion configured to reflect the optical signal, the method includes: forming a mask layer patterned in a predetermined shape, on a first crystal plane of a substrate made of a crystalline material; etching the first crystal plane by a wet-etching using the mask layer to form a groove having a plurality of crystal planes; providing a metallic reflection film on at least one of the plurality of crystal planes to form the mirror portion; and providing the groove with a core material to form the core. |
| US08532446B2 |
Scalable silicon photonic multiplexers and demultiplexers
An optical multiplexer/demultiplexer is described. In this optical multiplexer/demultiplexer, multiple coupled-waveguide grating devices are optically coupled to a bus optical waveguide. A given coupled-waveguide grating device has a band-pass filter characteristic that encompasses multiple optical channels, thereby providing coarse optical filtering. Moreover, the optical multiplexer/demultiplexer includes multiple add/drop filters (such as ring resonators) that optically couple to the coupled-waveguide grating devices. A given add/drop filter has a filter bandwidth corresponding to a given optical channel, thereby providing fine optical filtering. Furthermore, the band-pass filter characteristic of the given coupled-waveguide grating device is approximately equal to or less than a free spectral range (FSR) of the given add/drop filter. |
| US08532445B2 |
Optical assembly
An optical assembly includes a first transparent substrate having first and second surfaces, a second transparent substrate having substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, a reflective portion on the second transparent substrate, a plurality of filters between the first substrate and the reflective portion, the plurality of filters filtering light beams incident thereon, the plurality of filters and the reflective portion forming a bounce cavity within the second transparent substrate, a collimating lens for collimating light beams to be input to the bounce cavity, a tilt mechanism for introducing tilt to light beams input to the bounce cavity; an input port receiving light beams and an output port transmitting light beams. The tilt mechanism may be between the first and second substrate. |
| US08532444B2 |
Compact multiplexer/demultiplexer
The present invention relates to a multiplexer/demultiplexer with a connection for inputting and/or outputting an optical signal which has signal components of different wavelengths, a carrier plate (8) with at least one wavelength-sensitive element (11), a focussing member (13) with at least two focussing elements (14, 14′) as well as a detector or signal-generator plate (1), on which at least two detectors (4) or signal generators are arranged. To achieve this, it is proposed according to the invention that the focussing member (13) has at least one fiber stop, preferably formed integrally with the focussing member for adjusting a waveguide, and is connected to the detector or signal-generator plate (1) or to the carrier plate (8) via an elastic connecting element (23). |
| US08532441B2 |
Optical device for wavelength locking
An optical device comprising a 1×2 optical coupler on a planar substrate and a waveguide on the planar substrate, the waveguide having a first arm and a second arm coupled to the 1×2 optical coupler. The device also comprises an optical resonator on the planar substrate, wherein the optical resonator is optically coupled to the first arm and the optical resonator is substantially athermalized. |
| US08532436B2 |
Method and apparatus for scaling an image in segments
A method and an apparatus for scaling an image in segments are disclosed. The method includes: identifying scene features in each input video frame, and obtaining information about distribution of multiple features in the video frame; obtaining multiple feature distribution areas corresponding to the information about distribution of the multiple features, and obtaining multiple scale coefficients; and scaling the corresponding multiple feature distribution areas in each video frame according to the multiple scale coefficients. |
| US08532435B1 |
System and method for automatically adapting images
In various example embodiments, a system and associated method to automatically adapt images is provided. A request to render a stored image is received. The request comprises an output parameter indicative of a display constraint to be applied in the rendering of the stored image, while the stored image has region characteristics associated therewith. An adaptation process to apply to the stored image is determined using the output parameter. An output image is then rendered using the adaptation process and the region characteristics. The output image is then provided to a display device. |
| US08532431B2 |
Image search apparatus, image search method, and storage medium for matching images with search conditions using image feature amounts
With the conventional techniques, when the images taken under various conditions such as plural aspect ratios, horizontal shooting and vertical shooting are collectively selected and searched, the search conditions adaptable to all the images can not be specified, whereby there was a problem that the search could not be made as intended. In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an image search apparatus comprising search object image designation means for designating a search object image, search condition input means for inputting the search conditions, feature amount extraction means for extracting a feature amount thereof from the search object image, feature amount transformation means for transforming the feature amount to adapt to the inputted search conditions, and determination means for determining whether or not the search object image is matched with the search conditions using the feature amount after transformation. |
| US08532429B2 |
Methods and systems for noise reduction and image enhancement involving selection of noise-control parameter
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for image enhancement, wherein an input image may be separated into two images: a first image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be sharpened; and a second image comprising image content, from the input image, which may be attenuated. One aspect of the present invention relates to determining a value for a noise-control parameter that controls the amount of attenuation applied to the second image. |
| US08532421B2 |
Methods and apparatus for de-blurring images using lucky frames
A sharp frame and a blurred frame are detected from among a plurality of frames. A blur kernel is estimated. The blur kernel represents a motion-transform between the sharp frame and the blurred frame. Using the blur kernel, a static region measure for the sharp frame and the blurred frame is estimated. A de-blurred frame is generated by replacing one or more pixels of the blurred frame as indicated by the static region measure. |
| US08532420B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and storage medium storing image processing program
An image processing apparatus for correcting a positional deviation between a plurality of images obtained in time series and performing synthesis processing on the plurality of corrected images determines a motion vector between the plurality of images, corrects the positional deviation between images on the basis of the determined motion vector, and generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the plurality of images subjected to the positional deviation correction. The image processing apparatus extracts a filter area in which filter processing is to be performed on the basis of a degree of inconsistency occurring when the positional deviation between the plurality of images is corrected, determines a filter kernel on the basis of an imaging condition, and performs filter processing based on the filter kernel on the filter area of the synthesized image. |
| US08532411B2 |
Multi-view image coding method, multi-view image decoding method, multi-view image coding device, multi-view image decoding device, multi-view image coding program, and multi-view image decoding program
In the disclosed multi-view image encoding/decoding method in which a frame to be encoded/decoded is divided and encoding/decoding is done to each region, first, a prediction image is generated not only for the region to be processed, but also for the already encoded/decoded regions neighboring to the region to be processed. The prediction image is generated using the same prediction method for both kinds of regions. Next, correction parameters for correcting illumination and color mismatches are estimated from the prediction image and decoded image of the neighboring regions. At this time, the estimated correction parameters can be obtained even at the decoding side, therefore, encoding them is unnecessary. Thus, by using the estimated correction parameters to correct the predicted image that was generated for the region to be processed, a corrected predicted image that can be actually used is generated. |
| US08532410B2 |
Multi-view video coding with disparity estimation based on depth information
Various implementations are described. Several implementations relate to one or more encoding modes that use depth information to determine a corresponding reference block. According to a general aspect, a portion of a first-view image from a first view in a multiple-view system is encoded. The portion is all or part of the first-view image. It is determined that a portion of a second-view image from a second view in the multiple-view system corresponds to the portion of the first-view image. The determination is based on a second-view depth value providing depth information for the portion of the second-view image. The portion of the second-view image is encoded using information from the encoding of the portion of the first-view image. |
| US08532409B2 |
Adaptive motion search range determining apparatus and method
Provided is an adaptive motion search range determining apparatus and method for encoding UHD-class high-resolution images. The adaptive motion search range determining apparatus includes an MVD average/standard deviation calculation unit calculating an value average and a standard deviation of MVDs of neighboring macroblocks of a current macroblock, and a motion search range determination unit determining a motion search range of the current macroblock using the value average and the standard deviation. According to the adaptive motion search range determining apparatus, it is possible to enable each macroblock to have an adaptive search range by variably adjusting a motion vector search range of a current macroblock with reference to motion vectors of neighboring macroblocks of the current macroblock. |
| US08532408B2 |
Coding structure
Apparatuses and techniques relating to encoding a video are provided. An encoding device includes a motion coding module configured to determine a coding block level for processing an image data, and further configured to determine a block formation for a motion coding of the image data according to the coding block level; and a texture coding module configured to determine a block size for a texture coding of the image data according to the block formation to thereby generate a coded bit stream. |
| US08532394B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an encoding manner storing section that stores encoding manners in association with quantities of characteristics of objects, a characteristic region detecting section that detects a plurality of characteristic regions from an image, and a compressing section that compresses the images of the plurality of characteristic regions by encoding manners stored in the encoding manner storing section in association with the quantities of characteristics of objects included in the plurality of characteristic regions respectively. |
| US08532390B2 |
Semantic parsing of objects in video
The invention provides an improved method to detect semantic attributes of human body in computer vision. In detecting semantic attributes of human body in computer vision, the invention maintains a list of semantic attributes, each of which corresponds to a human body part. A computer module then analyzes segments of a frame of a digital video to detect each semantic attribute by finding a most likely attribute for each segment. A threshold is applied to select candidate segments of the frame for further analysis. The candidate segments of the frame then go through geometric and resolution context analysis by applying the physical structure principles of a human body and by analyzing increasingly higher resolution versions of the image to verify the existence and accuracy of parts and attributes. A computer module computes a resolution context score for a lower resolution version of the image based on a weighted average score computed for a higher resolution version of the image by evaluating appearance features, geometric features, and resolution context features when available on the higher resolution version of the image. Finally, an optimal configuration step is performed via dynamic programming to select an optimal output with both semantic attributes and spatial positions of human body parts on the frame. |
| US08532387B2 |
Methods and apparatus for procedural directional texture generation
Methods and apparatus for procedural directional texture generation. A procedural directional texture generation method may, for example, be used to design hair or hairstyles. The method may obtain one or more strokes, one or more optional masks, and one or more optional user maps. One or more interpolated orientation maps may be generated from the input. The orientation maps, possibly along with one or more optional user maps, may be used to compute synthetic low-frequency lighting. A noise map may be generated at one or more frequencies and used, along with the interpolated maps, to generate high-frequency lighting. Alternatively, a flow-guided texture synthesis method may be used to generate high-frequency lighting. The low- and high-frequency lighting may then be combined to generate a desired frequency spectrum. Color may be added to the full structure, or alternatively color may be added at an earlier step. |
| US08532383B1 |
Method of processing a viewport within large format imagery
A method of processing a viewport within large format imagery is described. In one embodiment, the method includes dividing the image into a matrix of a plurality of tiles, each tile in the plurality of tiles having a plurality of pixels; defining a viewport within the image, the viewport including one or more tiles in the plurality of tiles, the viewport having an origin point and a width and a height; and reading a strip of pixel data in each column of the matrix of tiles within the viewport starting at a column in the matrix of tiles containing the origin point. The strip of pixel data starts at a first line of the viewport and ends at the height of the viewport from the first line. |
| US08532380B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for addressing chromatic abberations and purple fringing
Methods and systems for detecting and correcting chromatic aberration and purple fringing are disclosed. Chromatic aberration can be addressed by separating an image into color planes and then adjusting these to reduce chromatic aberration by using a specific calibration image (calibration chart) as an empirical method to calibrate the image acquisition device. Purple fringing can be corrected by initially addressing color aberration resulting from the lateral chromatic aberration (LCA). The LCA is first removed and then the correction is extended to purple fringing. A discovery is relied upon that the purple fringing is created in the direction of the chromatic aberration and is more pronounced in the direction of the chromatic aberration. |
| US08532373B2 |
Joint color channel image noise filtering and edge enhancement in the Bayer domain
A method for image noise filtering is provided that includes receiving a Bayer domain image with four color channels, generating a hierarchical representation of the four color channels comprising a set of coefficient arrays at each level of the hierarchical representation, modifying the coefficient arrays of the color channels jointly to remove noise, and generating a noise filtered and edge enhanced Bayer domain image based on the jointly modified coefficient arrays. |
| US08532367B2 |
System and method for 3D wireframe reconstruction from video
In one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method, a computer program product and a system for reconstructing scene features of an object in 3D space using structure-from-motion feature-tracking includes acquiring a first camera frame at a first camera position; extracting image features from the first camera frame; initializing a first set of 3D points from the extracted image features; acquiring a second camera frame at a second camera position; predicting a second set of 3D points by converting their positions and variances to the second camera position; projecting the predicted 3D positions to an image plane of the second camera to obtain 2D predictions of the image features; measuring an innovation of the predicted 2D image features; and updating estimates of 3D points based on the measured innovation to reconstruct scene features of the object image in 3D space. |
| US08532364B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting defects in wafer manufacturing
Apparatus for inspecting a semiconductor wafer (8) has a plurality of light sensors (2) arranged relative to a light source (1) and wafer inspection platform (4), so that images of different angle views of a surface of the wafer can be received and compared with corresponding images taken of a reference wafer to automatically detect defects based on image comparison. The light sensors (2) may receive superposed images of light (7) reflected directly from the light source (1) off the wafer surface and light (6) indirectly reflected off the wafer surface after first reflecting off a dome (3) with a diffusely reflecting inner surface (5) positioned over the platform (4). |
| US08532357B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing image artifacts
A method and apparatus are provided for reducing motion related imaging artifacts. The method includes obtaining an image data set of a region of interest in an object, obtaining a motion signal indicative of motion of the region of interest, and determining a displacement and a phase of at least a portion of the motion signal. The method also includes mapping the image data set into a matrix based on the displacement and phase of the motion signal, and generating an image of the region of interest from the matrix. |
| US08532356B2 |
Method for automatic separation of segmented tubular and circular objects
A method for labeling connected tubular objects within segmented image data, including: receiving segmented image data; and labeling the segmented image data to identify a plurality of components in the segmented image data, wherein the labeling includes: processing the segmented image data to create a processed image that represents centerline and radii estimates of the connected tubular components; determining seed point candidates in the processed image that are within a band of radii; grouping the candidates based on their physical distance from each other and their radii estimates; partitioning the segmented image data in accordance with the grouped candidates; and assigning a separate color label to each of the plurality of components that are different from each other. |
| US08532353B2 |
Synthetic visualization and quantification of perfusion-related tissue viability
A computing system and method for generating, displaying and manipulating synthetic 2D and 3D brain tissue viability images and associated metrics from multiple perfusion maps derived from CT or other imaging system input image datasets. Stored linguistic tissue classification rules characterizing infarct, ischemic and/or normal or other tissue classes as a function of one or more perfusion parameters are used. The perfusion maps are normalized to normal brain tissue regions. Elements of the input image dataset are classified into one of the tissue classes as a function of the normalized perfusion maps and the classification rules. The classification includes ranking each of the plurality of tissue classes for elements of the input image dataset, and assigning one of the classes to elements of the dataset as a function of the ranks. |
| US08532351B2 |
Methods and systems for image data processing
Methods, storage mediums, and systems for image data processing are provided. Embodiments for the methods, storage mediums, and systems include configurations to perform one or more of the following steps: background signal measurement, particle identification using classification dye emission and cluster rejection, inter-image alignment, inter-image particle correlation, fluorescence integration of reporter emission, and image plane normalization. |
| US08532349B2 |
Encapsulated image acquisition devices having on-board data storage, and systems, kits, and methods therefor
A method of one aspect may include receiving an encapsulated image acquisition device having an internal memory. The internal memory may store images acquired by the encapsulated image acquisition device. The images may be transferred from the internal memory to an external memory that is external to the encapsulated image acquisition device. An image analysis station may be selected from among a plurality of image analysis stations to analyze the images. The images may be analyzed with the selected image analysis station. Other methods, systems, and kits are also disclosed. |
| US08532339B2 |
System and method for motion detection and the use thereof in video coding
A system and method for motion detection and the use thereof in video coding are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of defining a region of motion within a video frame in a sequence of video frames comprises loading a current video frame and at least one reference video frame from the sequence, the reference video frame being different from the current video frame. The method further comprises applying filtering operations on the current and the reference video frame in order to obtain at least two scales of representation of the current and the reference video frame. The method further comprises determining for each of the scale representations a video-frame like representation of the structural changes between the current and the reference video frame. The method further comprises combining the video-frame like representations of different scales. The method further comprises determining one or more regions of motion from the combination. |
| US08532338B2 |
System and method for compensating for motion blur in optical navigation
A method and system for compensating for motion blur in optical navigation adds a correction offset to an image navigation value to adjust for varying velocities along a moving web. Reference and comparison images are acquired at different times from a moving web. An optical navigation value is computed representative of the movement of the web from the reference image to the comparison image. Blur distances for the two images can be calculated. A navigation error correction value is computed as one-half the difference between the reference blur distance and the comparison blur distance. A compensated navigation value is computed by adding the error correction value to the computed navigation value to compensate for varying web velocities. |
| US08532336B2 |
Multi-mode video event indexing
Multi-mode video event indexing includes determining a quality of object distinctiveness with respect to images from a video stream input. A high-quality analytic mode is selected from multiple modes and applied to video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images if the determined level of detected quality of object distinctiveness meets a threshold level of quality, else a low-quality analytic mode is selected and applied to the video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images, wherein the low-quality analytic mode is different from the high-quality analytic mode. |
| US08532334B2 |
Methods and arrangements for processing image data
An image can be encoded to define one or more spatial regions that are detectable by a suitably-equipped mobile device (e.g., a smartphone), but are imperceptible to humans. When such a mobile device senses one of these regions, it takes an action in response (e.g., rendering an associated tone, playing linked video, etc.). The mobile device may send an excerpt of captured imagery to a cloud processor, which responds with an estimate of the viewing angle by which the image was captured. The mobile device can perform further operations (e.g., re-sampling, watermark decoding) based on this viewing angle estimate. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08532333B2 |
Selecting representative images for establishments
Establishments are identified in geo-tagged images. According to one aspect, text regions are located in a geo-tagged image and text strings in the text regions are recognized using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) techniques. Text phrases are extracted from information associated with establishments known to be near the geographic location specified in the geo-tag of the image. The text strings recognized in the image are compared with the phrases for the establishments for approximate matches, and an establishment is selected as the establishment in the image based on the approximate matches. According to another aspect, text strings recognized in a collection of geo-tagged images are compared with phrases for establishments in the geographic area identified by the geo-tags to generate scores for image-establishment pairs. Establishments in each of the large collection of images as well as representative images showing each establishment are identified using the scores. |
| US08532330B2 |
Security printing analysis system and method for enhancing security printing
A method for enhancing security printing includes generating data for a region of interest (14), where the data includes information for at least one of locating or analyzing the region of interest (14) using a secure registry (18). The method further includes encrypting a deterrent (12) with the data, and printing the deterrent (12) and the region of interest (14) on an object (10). |
| US08532324B2 |
Headphone
A headphone including a housing that includes a speaker unit, and a protruding portion, provided at a specified area of one surface of the housing, that outputs playback sound generated from the speaker unit. When being worn on the head, the one surface of the housing comes in to contact with an outward facing surface of an auricle surrounding a cavity of a concha, and the protruding portion is inserted in to the cavity of the concha. |
| US08532318B2 |
Hearing aid device
With the hearing aid device of the present invention, when the power is turned on, communication starts between the first and second hearing aids, and until this communication is established, it is recognized that the power has not been switched on to the second hearing aid, and the user is notified. Also, if the battery of the second hearing aid should die during use, a dead battery notification is sent to the first hearing aid, and if communication between the first and second hearing aids is blocked, the user is notified on the side of the first hearing aid that is operating. |
| US08532315B2 |
High powered high speed switch
An amplified signal switching system comprises a plurality of transducers, and a switch operable for diverting amplified transient signals to selected transducers and preventing the amplified transient signals from being sent to non-selected transducers, wherein the amplified transient signals are AC or acoustic signals, wherein the plurality of transducers comprise a plurality of speakers, and wherein the plurality of transducers are isolated from one another. The switching system further comprises an amplifier operable for sending the amplified transient signals to the switch. The switch selectively turns the amplified transient signals on and off to the selected transducers in order to prevent the non-selected transducers from receiving the amplified transient signals. Moreover, the switch minimizes signal distortion in the selected transducers, and alternatively, the switch eliminates signal output to the non-selected transducers. |
| US08532314B2 |
Audio volume control circuit and method thereof
An audio volume control circuit includes a signal intensity calculating circuit for generating a first signal intensity value corresponding to a signal intensity corresponding to an audio channel data; a low-pass filter for filtering the first signal intensity to generate a second signal intensity value; an averaging unit for averaging the second signal intensity value and previous M−1 second signal intensity values to obtain a third signal intensity value, with M being a natural number greater than 1; a gain calculating circuit for obtaining an original gain value according to the third signal intensity value with reference to the adjustment condition; a buffer for temporarily storing the audio channel data; and an audio volume adjusting circuit for generating an adjustment gain value according to the original gain value to adjust the audio channel data stored in the buffer. |
| US08532312B2 |
Mobile device having acoustic shock prevention circuit and related operation method
A mobile device has an acoustic shock prevention circuit and prevents an acoustic shock unexpectedly occurring when receiver signals and speaker signals are output through a receiver-integrated speaker. The acoustic shock prevention circuit is preferably disposed between the receiver-integrated speaker and an audio processing unit is enabled in a receiver mode and disabled in a speaker mode. When the audio processing unit outputs audio signals partly exceeding a given output range, the enabled acoustic shock prevention circuit removes the exceeded parts of the audio signals. |
| US08532309B2 |
Signal correction apparatus and signal correction method
According to one embodiment, a signal correction apparatus includes a sound quality estimation module, a sound quality enhancement processing controller, and a sound quality enhancement processor. The sound quality estimation module is configured to generate channel importance information based on correlations of channels for signals input from one or more channels, and to generate frequency importance information based on noise levels. The sound quality enhancement processing controller is configured to decide valid channels and valid frequency components which are to undergo sound quality enhancement processing of the signals based on the channel importance information and the frequency importance information, and to generate valid channel information and valid processing frequency information. The sound quality enhancement processor is configured to apply sound quality enhancement processing to signals of the valid channels and the valid frequency components based on the valid channel information and the valid processing frequency information. |
| US08532306B2 |
Method and an apparatus of decoding an audio signal
A method of decoding an audio signal is disclosed, The present invention includes the steps of receiving the audio signal having a plurality of channel signals including an ambient component signal and a source component signal, extracting the ambient component signal and the source component signal of each of the channels based on correlation between the channel signals, modifying the ambient component signal using surround effect information, and generating the audio signal including a plurality of channels using the modified ambient component signal and the source component signal. Accordingly, in an apparatus for decoding an audio signal and method thereof according to the present invention, an ambient component signal is extracted and modified based on correlation and the modified ambient and source component signals are outputted using different signal output units, respectively. Therefore, the present invention enhances a stereo effect of the audio signal. And, a signal output unit for outputting a ambient component signal is arranged to have an output direction different from that of another signal output unit for outputting a source component signal, whereby a listener can be provided with an audio signal of which ambient sound is enhanced. |
| US08532305B2 |
Diffusing acoustical crosstalk
When two loudspeakers play the same signal, a “phantom center” image is produced between the speakers. However, this image differs from one produced by a real center speaker. In particular, acoustical crosstalk produces a comb-filtering effect, with cancellations that may be in the frequency range needed for the intelligibility of speech. Methods for using phase decorrelation to fill in these gaps and produce a flatter magnitude response are described, reducing coloration and potentially enhancing dialogue clarity. These methods also improve headphone compatibility and reduce the tendency of the phantom image to move toward the nearest speaker. |
| US08532303B2 |
Symmetric key distribution framework for the internet
A method, device, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes receiving measured health information from a client on a key distribution server. Once the measured health information is received the server is capable of validating the measured health information to see if it is authentic. The server is also capable of sending a session key to the client when the measured health information is validated. When the client receives the session key, the client is capable of initiating an encrypted and authenticated connection with an application server in the domain using the session key. |
| US08532301B2 |
Key distribution method and system
This invention discloses a key distribution method and system. The method includes: notifying, by an application provider management platform, a supplementary security domain of an application provider that is set on a smart card and corresponds to the application provider management platform to generate a public/private key pair including a public cryptographic key and a private cryptographic key; receiving, by the application provider management platform, the public cryptographic key from the supplementary security domain of the application provider that has been encrypted by the public key of the application provider obtained in advance and has been signed by a Controlling Authority Security Domain (CASD) on the smart card through a card issuer management platform; authenticating, by the application provider management platform, a signature and using the private key of the application provider to perform decryption to obtain the public cryptographic key; and sending, by the application provider management platform, a trust point's public key used for external authentication and a certificate of the supplementary security domain of the application provider to the supplementary security domain of the application provider after the trust point's public key and the certificate have been encrypted by the public cryptographic key of the supplementary security domain of the application provider and the encrypted data have been signed by the private key of the application provider, to complete distribution of a key of the supplementary security domain. |
| US08532299B2 |
Method for producing two-dimensional code and reader for reading the two-dimensional code
A method of producing a two-dimensional code having a code area in which data codes coded as codewords are mapped. First type of data codes is mapped in the code area. The first type of data codes are coded as the codewords and indicating data to be disclosed. An end identification code is added to an end of a code string composed of the first type of data codes, the end identification code showing the end. Second type of data codes are mapped after the end identification code in the code area, the second type of data codes being coded as the codewords and indicating data to be kept in secret. Filler codes showing no data after the second type of data codes are mapped to fill up the code area, when a total amount of the codewords in the code area is less than a capacity of the code area. |
| US08532298B2 |
Encryption key distribution method in mobile broadcasting system, and system for the same
An encryption key distribution method for service and content protection in a mobile broadcasting system, and a system for the same which includes generating, by a network, a first encryption key when the broadcast service is first provided; transmitting a generalized rights object message, which includes identification information for identifying the generated first encryption key, to the terminal; generating a second encryption key before the lifetime of the first encryption key expires; and transmitting the generalized rights object message, which includes identification information for identifying the generated second encryption key, to the terminal. |
| US08532297B2 |
Techniques for transmitting control channel information
Techniques for protecting information elements transmitted to mobile stations from intruders. The technique can involve applying a randomized mask over an information element and then providing a scrambled cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value. A seed for the randomized mask can be different from a seed for the scrambled CRC value. |
| US08532295B2 |
Method for the secure loading in a NFC chipset of data allowing access to a service
A method for the secured loading of data into a first secured host processor of an NFC system comprising an NFC interface circuit for sending and receiving data, enabling a service to be accessed, the method comprising: generating a secret data, transmitting the secret data to the first host processor through a secured link, ciphering data to be loaded into the first host processor using a public key of the first host processor, and transmitting the ciphered data to the system for the first host processor which deciphers the data using a private key corresponding to the public key. |
| US08532293B2 |
Method and system for securely providing and storing content in a multiple dwelling unit system
A communication system 10 includes a head end 12. The head end communicates with a system gateway 26. A plurality of user devices 28 is coupled to the gateway 26 that includes a memory device 94 for storing content therein. The gateway 26 receives the plurality of first encrypted signals and stores the signals in the memory device 94. The storing in the memory device 94 may be performed after further encryption. One of the user devices 28 generates a request for content and communicates the request to the gateway 26. The gateway 26 communicates content corresponding to the request to the user device 28. |
| US08532289B2 |
Fast computation of a single coefficient in an inverse polynomial
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for computing a resultant and a free term of a scaled inverse of a first polynomial v(x) modulo a second polynomial fn(x), including: receiving the first polynomial v(x) modulo the second polynomial fn(x), where the second polynomial is of a form fn(x)=xn±1, where n=2k and k is an integer greater than 0; computing lowest two coefficients of a third polynomial g(z) that is a function of the first polynomial and the second polynomial, where g ( z ) = def ∏ i = 0 n - 1 ( v ( ρ i ) - z ) , where ρ0, ρ1, . . . , ρn−1 are roots of the second polynomial fn(x) over a field; outputting the lowest coefficient of g(z) as the resultant; and outputting the second lowest coefficient of g(z) divided by n as the free term of the scaled inverse of the first polynomial v(x) modulo the second polynomial fn(x). |
| US08532283B1 |
Integrating 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 a publisher, who 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. |
| US08532275B2 |
Cloud-based virtual tandem
Peering partners register with a peering grid for direct broadband routing of call offers. The peering grid terminates call offers on behalf of peering partners, collecting call detail records, summarizing termination usage, and calculating a payment to be provided to the peering partner in return for using the services of the peering grid. A call detail record may be generated for the peering partner, which may include a market value of call traffic, a variable cost of the call traffic, and a determined compensation amount. The market value is based on revenue for terminations of the call traffic from the peering grid, the variable cost is a function of sharing the market value between the peering grid and the peering partner, and the compensation amount due is a function of the variable cost. |
| US08532271B2 |
Cybercrime detecting and preventing method and system established by telephone number code, authorization codes and source identification code
A cybercrime detecting and preventing method and system includes a website, an interface dynamic web page, a search program, and a database. When a network user inputs a “telephone number code” and “authorization code” of a network server using an internet accessing device, the user is also required to input a “source identification code.” When access to a network receiver or server is requested, a “telephone number code and authorization code” set is input to the website for comparison with “telephone number codes” and “authorization codes” stored in the database. If the input “telephone number code and authorization code” set does not match the stored “telephone number code and authorization code” set, the “source identification code” is transmitted to a computer to be analyzed and determine the location of the cybercriminal and relay information on the cybercrime to an appropriate public security organization. |
| US08532269B2 |
In-band signaling in interactive communications
Architecture that employs a combination of in-band signaling (e.g., DTMF) with speech recognition to deliver usability improvements. The in-band signaling allows the user to indicate to the system when a barge-in operation is occurring and/or when to start listening to subsequent speech input and optionally, when to stop listening for further speech input. The in-band signaling can be utilized during a telephone call and using wireline and wireless telephones. Moreover, the architecture can be incorporated at the platform level requiring little, if any, application changes to support the new mode of operation. |
| US08532265B2 |
Power distribution module with monitoring and control functions
A modular form factor power module system with monitoring and control functions is disclosed. The power module system is configured to power, monitor and/or control telecommunications equipment at the circuit level. |
| US08532264B2 |
ID-programming by SELT/MELT
The present invention relates to a method and a ID-programming tool (30) for assigning a unique network entity identity number to a network entity (10). The network entity (10) is adapted to perform said method. The network entity (10) comprises a number of subscriber lines (12) and the network entity is adapted to perform at least one line condition test on said subscriber lines at a predefined occasion. Said subscriber lines are encoded to comprise a unique network entity identity number information by means of the ID-programming tool (30). Further, decoding means (42) is adapted to decode the network entity identity number information resulting from said test to gain said network entity identity number. Said network entity identity number is stored in a storage device (20) on the network entity (10). |
| US08532263B2 |
Radiation imaging system and relay station selection method
This invention includes a radiation detector to detect the radiation transmitted through an object while being in a portable state or mounted on a detector holder, a control unit to control capturing of a radiographic image using the radiation detector, and a plurality of relay stations to relay wireless communication from the radiation detector. The detector holder includes a detection unit to detect the mounting of the radiation detector. The control unit determines the usage pattern of the radiation detector or the mounting of the radiation detector on a detector holder based on detection information from the detection unit or a connection request from the radiation detector, and selects one of the relay stations based on the determination result. |
| US08532260B2 |
Mobile X-ray apparatus
A technique for aiding the determination of whether or not desired imaging can be performed by a mobile-type X-ray apparatus for X-ray imaging using a battery mounted therein as a drive source. From the imaging list showing scheduled imaging and pre-stored information about the power consumed when each region is imaged, a prediction of the consumption of the battery power of when all the imaging in the imaging list is performed is computed and presented together with the remaining battery power to the user. Various corrections can be applied to the computation. The difference between the remaining battery power and the predicted consumption of the battery power may be displayed. |
| US08532258B2 |
Method for determining the projection geometry of an x-ray apparatus
In a method for determining the projection geometry of an x-ray apparatus, an x-ray image of an object inside the patient is generated using the x-ray apparatus. A first measurement of a characteristic dimension of the imaged object is determined in the x-ray image. A second measurement of the characteristic dimension is determined using real geometry data of the object. The projection geometry is then determined using the first and second measurements. |
| US08532254B2 |
Extra-oral digital panoramic dental X-ray imaging system
An extra-oral digital panoramic dental x-ray imaging system for multi-layer panoramic and transverse X-ray imaging providing with an X-ray source and a digital imaging device providing real time frame mode output and autofocusing. The X-ray source and imaging device are mounted in a mechanical manipulator defining the trajectory of a predetermined image layer. The imaging device communicates with a processor that generates a frames memory from which an image reconstruction mechanism composes the final images. |
| US08532252B2 |
X-ray shield grating, manufacturing method therefor, and X-ray imaging apparatus
A two-dimensional X-ray shield grating which may be manufactured more easily and to a manufacturing method to provide therefor is provided. The method of manufacturing the X-ray shield grating includes: a first step of forming a plurality of columnar structures periodically arranged in two directions; and a second step of forming a film which surrounds at least side surfaces of the respective plurality of columnar structures, in which, in the second step, portions of the film formed on side surfaces of columnar structures which are adjacent to each other in the two directions among the plurality of columnar structures are connected to each other in the two directions, and in which the film is formed so that a columnar aperture is formed between columnar structures which are diagonally adjacent to each other with respect to the two directions among the plurality of columnar structures. |
| US08532250B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus and control method for X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus has an X-ray source, an X-ray detector, a temperature sensor, a data acquisition unit and a controller. The X-ray source generates an X-ray. The X-ray detector detects the X-ray. The temperature sensor detects a temperature of the X-ray detector. The data acquisition unit acquires data from the X-ray detector. The controller controls a temperature of the X-ray detector through adjustment of a workload of the data acquisition unit during a non-scanning time. |
| US08532249B1 |
System and method of prior image constrained image reconstruction using short scan image data and objective function minimization
A computerized tomographic system configured to acquire short scan data of an object within a single revolution of a detector array about the object over a first angular range of rotation of the detector array about the object, define a temporal subset of the acquired short scan data over a second angular range of rotation of the detector that is less than the first angular range of rotation, generate a mathematical function that is based on the acquired short scan data and the defined temporal subset of data, minimize the mathematical function, and generate an image of the object using the minimized mathematical function and the data acquired over the second angular range of rotation of the detector. |
| US08532248B2 |
Shift register unit circuit, shift register, array substrate and liquid crystal display
Embodiments of the disclosed technical solution provides a shift register unit circuit which operates based on two clock signals and comprises input terminals, a pre-charging circuit, a level pulling-down circuit, a outputting circuit and a scan signal output terminal. Embodiments of the disclosed technical solution also provides a shift register having at least two shift register unit circuits connected in cascade, and further provides a liquid crystal display array substrate and a liquid crystal display. The disclosed technical solution stabilizes the wave output from the scan signal output terminal and has small noise by means of a design of pulling down the level, and may realize the GOA circuit utilizing less TFTs circuits, so that the circuit structure is simple and power consumption is small. |
| US08532245B2 |
Core shroud corner joints
A core shroud is provided, which includes a number of planar members, a number of unitary corners, and a number of subassemblies each comprising a combination of the planar members and the unitary corners. Each unitary corner comprises a unitary extrusion including a first planar portion and a second planar portion disposed perpendicularly with respect to the first planar portion. At least one of the subassemblies comprises a plurality of the unitary corners disposed side-by-side in an alternating opposing relationship. A plurality of the subassemblies can be combined to form a quarter perimeter segment of the core shroud. Four quarter perimeter segments join together to form the core shroud. |
| US08532244B2 |
System and method for determining coolant level and flow velocity in a nuclear reactor
A boiling water reactor includes a reactor pressure vessel having a feedwater inlet for the introduction of recycled steam condensate and/or makeup coolant into the vessel, and a steam outlet for the discharge of produced steam for appropriate work. A fuel core is located within a lower area of the pressure vessel. The fuel core is surrounded by a core shroud spaced inward from the wall of the pressure vessel to provide an annular downcomer forming a coolant flow path between the vessel wall and the core shroud. A probe system that includes a combination of conductivity/resistivity probes and/or one or more time-domain reflectometer (TDR) probes is at least partially located within the downcomer. The probe system measures the coolant level and flow velocity within the downcomer. |
| US08532242B2 |
Distributed antenna system with combination of both all digital transport and hybrid digital/analog transport
A communication system includes master host unit, hybrid expansion unit, analog remote antenna unit, and digital remote antenna unit. Master host unit communicates analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using first bands of analog spectrum. Master host unit and hybrid expansion unit communicate first N-bit words of digitized spectrum over first digital link. Hybrid expansion unit converts between first N-bit words and second bands of analog spectrum. Hybrid expansion unit and analog remote antenna unit communicate second bands over analog medium. Analog remote antenna unit transmits and receives first plurality of wireless signals over air interfaces. Master host unit and digital remote antenna unit communicate second N-bit words of digitized spectrum over second digital link. Digital remote antenna unit converts between second N-bit words and third bands of analog spectrum. Digital remote antenna unit transmits and receives second wireless signals over air interfaces. |
| US08532240B2 |
Decoupling sampling clock and error clock in a data eye
In described embodiments, a transceiver includes an eye monitor, clock and data recovery, and adaptation modules. Data sampling clock phase and error clock phase determined from a data eye are decoupled in the transceiver during a sampling phase correction process. Decoupling these clock phases during the sampling phase correction process allows relative optimization of system equalization parameters without degradation of various adaptation algorithms. Such adaptation algorithms might be employed for received signal gain and equalization such as, for example, Decision Feedback Equalizer (DFE) adaptation. Deriving the data sampling clock and error clock phases from the same clock generation source and with independent clock control enables an iterative sampling phase correction process that allows for accelerated clock and data recovery (CDR) without disturbing the data eye shape. |
| US08532239B2 |
Method for error compensation in an OFDM system with diversity
A method provides for an improved compensation of Fourier channel characteristics in a wireless communication embodiment. The method identifies one or more information carriers as pseudo pilot tones whose information may be realized to enhance the determination of the complex coefficient of the communication channel. |
| US08532236B2 |
Quadrature signal generation in radio-frequency apparatus and associated methods
A radio-frequency (RF) apparatus, which may reside in a receiver or transceiver, includes receive-path circuitry. The receive-path circuitry includes a poly-phase filter and a harmonic filter. The poly-phase filter accepts an input signal and generates two output signals. One output signal of the poly-phase filter constitutes an in-phase (I) signal. The other output signal of the poly-phase filter constitutes a quadrature (Q) signal. The a harmonic filter couples to the poly-phase filter. The harmonic filter accepts as input signals the in-phase and quadrature output signals of the poly-phase filter. |
| US08532235B2 |
UWB delay and multiply receiver
An ultra-wideband (UWB) delay and multiply receiver is formed of a receive antenna; a variable gain attenuator connected to the receive antenna; a signal splitter connected to the variable gain attenuator; a multiplier having one input connected to an undelayed signal from the signal splitter and another input connected to a delayed signal from the signal splitter, the delay between the splitter signals being equal to the spacing between pulses from a transmitter whose pulses are being received by the receive antenna; a peak detection circuit connected to the output of the multiplier and connected to the variable gain attenuator to control the variable gain attenuator to maintain a constant amplitude output from the multiplier; and a digital output circuit connected to the output of the multiplier. |
| US08532233B2 |
Apparatus and method for frequency offset estimation
A user terminal transmits a preamble signal generated using a Zadoff-Chu sequence. A correlation processing unit calculates autocorrelation of a received preamble signal. A preamble detection unit detects a side peak position of the autocorrelation of the preamble signal and calculates the main correlation value representing correlation at the main peak position and the side correlation value representing correlation at the side peak position. A frequency offset estimation unit estimates frequency offset that has occurred in the wireless transmission path according to the main correlation value and the side correlation value. |
| US08532231B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data to provide high-speed data communication and method thereof
In the present invention, data generated from a source unit are distributed to at least one bandwidth; the data distributed to the respective bandwidths are encoded in order to perform an error correction; the encoded data are distributed to at least one antenna; a subcarrier is allocated to the data distributed to the respective antennas, and an inverse Fourier transform is performed; a short preamble and a first long preamble corresponding to the subcarrier are generated; a signal symbol is generated according to a data transmit mode; and a frame is generated by adding a second long preamble between the signal symbol and a data field for the purpose of estimating a channel of a subcarrier which is not used. |
| US08532222B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data
A digital broadcast transmitter includes a block processor encoding mobile service data at a coding rate of 1/H and first interleaving the encoded mobile service data, wherein H is an integer equal to or greater than 2, a deinterleaver deinterleaving the first-interleaved mobile service data to output a first data group, an interleaver second interleaving the first data group to output a second data group including the mobile service data, a trellis encoding module trellis encoding data of the second data group, and a multiplexer multiplexing the trellis-encoded data with segment synchronization data and field synchronization data, wherein the block processor is concatenated with the trellis encoding module. |
| US08532221B2 |
Transmission protection for wireless communications
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes identifying devices to receive spatially steered data frames during a transmission opportunity (TXOP), the data frames being included in a multi-user frame; transmitting, during the TXOP, request to send (RTS) information to the identified devices; receiving clear to send (CTS) responses from the identified devices; determining bandwidth configurations for the identified devices based on the CTS responses; selecting a bandwidth configuration for the multi-user frame based on the bandwidth configurations to produce a selected bandwidth configuration that enables the data frames to be spatially steered and transmitted concurrently within the multi-user frame; and transmitting, during the TXOP, the multi-user frame to the identified devices in accordance with the selected bandwidth configuration. The bandwidth configuration can indicate one or more frequency bands that are available during at least a portion of the TXOP. |
| US08532220B2 |
Methods and apparatus for secure distribution and storage of data using N channels
Methods and apparatus are provided for secure distribution and storage of data using N channels. An input data sequence, X, is distributed using a plurality, N, of channels. In one embodiment, the input data sequence, X, is split into N subsequences; and the N subsequences are encoded into N bit streams using a set of Slepian-Wolf codes with N separate encoders and a joint decoder. The Slepian-Wolf codes can be selected to ensure a computational complexity to obtain a portion of the input data sequence grows exponentially with respect to a length of the input data sequence unless all of the N bit streams are compromised. In another embodiment, the input data sequence, X, is compressed using a lossless data compressing techniques; and the compressed input data sequence is split into N subsequences that are distributed. |
| US08532217B2 |
Method for transmitting data in multiple antenna system
A method of sending data in a multiple antenna system includes the steps of generating a transmission signal by applying channel-dependent precoding to a first antenna cluster and a second antenna cluster, each comprising a plurality of antennas, wherein the channel-dependent precoding is performed by a precoding weight matrix in which a precoding weight for each of the antenna clusters has a block diagonal form and the precoding weight is represented by P×V for a number of transmission antennas P, included in each of the antenna clusters, and a number of layers V applied to each of the antenna clusters (P and V are an integer greater than 0) and sending the transmission signal. |
| US08532211B2 |
Methods and apparatus for power control based antenna switching
A method for selecting an antenna is described. The method may include transmitting using a first antenna with a first metric and a radio frequency (RF) chain for a first dwelling period. The method may include switching to transmitting using a second antenna with a second metric for a first testing period. The second antenna may use the same RF chain as the first antenna. The first metric may be compared with the second metric to determine an optimal antenna. The optimal antenna may be selected. |
| US08532208B2 |
Transmission method and transmission apparatus
A transmission apparatus obtains, for each transmission to a reception apparatus, information on a per-bit transmission of a transmission bit string, and controls a per-bit transmission condition for a current transmission bit string such that a per-bit transmission quality of the transmission bit string approaches evenly based on cumulative information on the transmissions up to the last transmission. |
| US08532204B2 |
Peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) reduction based on active-set tone reservation
In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second processing blocks, which may each include hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The first processing block is operable to generate a first peak-reducing vector. And the a second first processing block is operable to receive a first data vector, the data vector comprising a plurality of samples, the first data vector having a first peak with a first index and a first magnitude, a second peak with a second index and a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude, and a first peak-to-average power ratio, and to generate a second data vector having a second peak-to-average power ratio that is lower than the first peak-to-average power ratio by using the first peak-reducing vector. |
| US08532203B1 |
Communication systems and methods using blind channel estimation based on cumulants
Embodiments of the present invention include communication systems and methods using channel estimation based on cumulants. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a receiver comprising a sampler coupled to a communication channel for receiving an input signal and providing samples of the input signal at a first sample rate, a channel estimation circuit coupled to receive the sampled input signal, the channel estimation circuit estimating the amplitude response of the communication channel by autocorrelating the input signal, estimating the phase response of the communication channel using a fourth order cumulant of the input signal, and generating an estimated impulse response of the communication channel using the estimated amplitude response and the estimated phase response, and a channel initialization circuit coupled to the channel estimation circuit for configuring the receiver using the estimated impulse response. |
| US08532202B2 |
Near soft-output maximum likelihood detection for multiple-input multiple-output systems using reduced list detection
A method and apparatus for generating soft-decision output values for a set of transmitted spatial streams in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication system are described. The apparatus includes a processor and memory with executable instructions. A plurality of constellation points for respective transmitted spatial streams are looped over to estimate values for other transmitted streams based at least in part on Reduced List Detection (RLD). The plurality of constellation points is a subset of all possible constellation points determined around a spatial stream where more constellation points are assigned to spatial streams with a weaker signal strength than for spatial streams with a stronger signal strength. A set of distance metrics as values of the plurality of constellation points for the respective transmitted spatial streams are determined. Soft-decision outputs for the respective transmitted streams based at least in part on the set of distance metrics are generated. |
| US08532201B2 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying a preamble sequence and for estimating an integer carrier frequency offset
In accordance with a method for identifying a preamble sequence and for estimating an integer carrier frequency offset, a signal that comprises a preamble sequence from a set of possible preamble sequences is received. A reduced set of integer carrier frequency offset (CFO) candidates may be determined. Cross-correlation operations may be performed with respect to the received signal and multiple candidate transmitted signals. Each candidate transmitted signal may include one of the set of possible preamble sequences. In addition, each candidate transmitted signal may correspond to one of the reduced set of integer CFO candidates. Multiple correlation values may be determined as a result of the cross-correlation operations. The correlation values may be used to identify the preamble sequence and to estimate the integer CFO. |
| US08532200B1 |
System and method for side band communication in SERDES transmission/receive channels
A system includes a side band transmission module configured to combine side band data with a clock signal to generate a modified clock signal. The system also includes a serializer configured to provide a waveform corresponding to serialized input data. The modified clock signal adjusts at least one of a leading edge or a falling edge of N half cycles of the waveform based on the side band data to form a modified waveform. The serializer is configured to output the modified waveform. N is greater than or equal to 1. |
| US08532198B2 |
Banding artifact detection in digital video content
A method and system for identifying and determining banding artifacts in digital video content composed of a sequence of moving video pictures includes creating a mask image corresponding to a picture from said sequence of moving video pictures based on global gradient changes to detect potential areas containing banding artifacts. The values of the mask image are scaled thereby making banding artifact detection possible using gradient operators. The banding artifacts are then identified/detected based on the local gradients. |
| US08532197B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting temporally oscillating sources in video signals using a recursive infinite impulse response (IIR) filter technique
A method for detecting a temporally oscillating source in digital video signals includes: using an imaging device to capture a sequence of input images of a scene; generating digital video signals from the sequence of input images; and processing the digital video signals using a recursive Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter technique based on a differentiated version of Goertzel's Algorithm to detect a temporally oscillating source in the digital video signals. In various embodiments, the method also includes generating a visual display of the scene including one or more graphical elements at least one of which pertains to a detected temporally oscillating source. |
| US08532195B2 |
Search algorithms for using related decode and display timelines
A sequence of video images represented using multiple related timelines can be searched by identifying a first point on a first timeline associated with the sequence of video images, wherein the sequence of video images is comprised of one or more samples, determining a search range on a second timeline associated with the sequence of video images based on a positive offset and a negative offset associated with the one or more samples, and searching the second timeline based on the determined search range for a second point that corresponds to the identified first point. A display offset can be associated with each of the samples comprising the sequence of video images, wherein one or more of the display offsets can comprise a negative value. Additionally, the search range can be based on a maximum positive display offset and maximum negative display offset associated with the one or more samples. |
| US08532193B1 |
Block error compensating apparatus of image frame and method thereof
An apparatus and method are provided for compensating a block error in an image frame. This may include a video codec decoder for decoding an inputted image frame, and outputting a decoded image frame. An error concealment block may detect an error-generated block in the decoded image frame and compensate the detected error block through a median filter, and output the compensated image frame. |
| US08532192B2 |
Video processing apparatus and a method of processing video data
A video processing apparatus and method are provided, the video processing apparatus comprising first stage video processing circuitry and second stage video processing circuitry. The first stage video processing circuitry receives input video data and performs one or more processing operations on the input video data to generate an intermediate representation of the input video data. The intermediate representation comprises first and second separate data portions, with the first data portion containing transient data derived from the input video data and the second data portion containing long term data derived from the input video data. Transient data is only required for processing of a single video frame, while the long term data is required for processing of at least two video frames. The first stage video processing circuitry is arranged to output the first and second separate data portions for storing in a buffer, and the second stage video processing circuitry then retrieves the first and second data portions from the buffer and performs one or more further processing operations on those data portions in order to generate output video data. The transient data is compressed prior to being stored in the buffer, and then decompressed when retrieved from the buffer by the second stage video processing circuitry. Such an approach enables the operations of the second stage video processing circuitry to be decoupled from the operations of the first stage video processing circuitry, while reducing the storage capacity requirements of the buffer. |
| US08532187B2 |
Method and apparatus for scalably encoding/decoding video signal
The present invention relates to a method that uses a motion vector of a predictive video frame of a sub-layer to encode a video signal and decode encoded video data. The method encodes a video signal using a preset method to a bit stream of a base layer while encoding the video signal using a scalable MCTF method to a bit stream of an enhanced layer. When an arbitrary frame of the video signal is encoded, information, enabling at least one vector, derived from a first motion vector of a first block included in the bit stream of the base layer in the same direction as the first motion vector, to be used as a motion vector of an image block in the arbitrary frame, is recorded in the bit stream of the enhanced layer. The first motion vector is directed in the same direction as a temporal direction from the arbitrary frame to the first block. |
| US08532183B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal with inter-view reference picture list construction
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining identification information indicating whether a coded picture of a current NAL unit is an inter-view picture group, obtaining interview reference information of the inter-view picture group, and constructing a reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the inter-view reference information according to the identification information, wherein the inter-view reference information includes view identification information of an inter-view reference picture. |
| US08532180B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal with inter-view reference picture list construction
A method of decoding a video signal is disclosed. The present invention includes obtaining identification information indicating whether a coded picture of a current NAL unit is an inter-view picture group, obtaining interview reference information of the inter-view picture group, and constructing a reference picture list for inter-view prediction using the inter-view reference information according to the identification information, wherein the inter-view reference information includes view identification information of an inter-view reference picture. |
| US08532179B2 |
Method and device for optimizing the compression of a video stream
A method and device for compressing at least a portion of a video image such that a compressed video stream includes, or does not include, an encoding of a residual depending on whether it is advantageous to do so in terms of costs in rate and in distortion. The size of the video stream and resources needed for decompression are optimized through encoding only the most relevant data in the video stream. If the information added by the residual is insufficiently relevant or useful, the residual is not encoded. Factors associated with the residual are only encoded if use of the residual limits the distortion in a satisfactory manner and if the encoding of the associated factors does not generate too high a rate. Use of the method makes it possible to optimize resources needed for a decoder by optimizing the encoding of the residual. |
| US08532177B2 |
Motion adaptive image processing
A method of image processing for image conversion, comprises the steps of calculating a difference measure of the difference in pixel values between corresponding blocks of a current image field and a preceding image field, calculating a variability measure of the variability of pixel values from at least one of said corresponding blocks, determining whether the difference measure exceeds the variability measure, and if the difference measure exceeds the variability measure, then setting an inter-image mixing value for each pixel in the corresponding block of the current image field to indicate that the current image field should not be mixed with the preceding image field at that pixel position. |
| US08532176B2 |
Methods and systems for combining layers in a multi-layer bitstream
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for managing and combining data contained in layers in a multilayer bitstream such that one or more transform coefficients in a first layer are used to modify one or more coefficients in a second layers that in turn is reconstructed using the modified one or more coefficients. |
| US08532173B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting video traffic
A method and apparatus for predicting video traffic are provided. The method includes extracting the statistical properties of previous Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG)-4 video traffic and predicting the size of a subsequent frame based on the statistical properties of the previous MPEG-4 video traffic. Therefore, it is possible to address such problems associated with traffic bursts as transmission delays or low throughputs and thus to improve the performance of communication and network systems that transmit video traffic. |
| US08532167B2 |
Signal processing device having feed forward equalizing units with different tap numbers utilized in communication system
The present invention provides a signal processing device. The signal processing device includes a first feed forward equalizing unit, a first data slicing unit, a second feed forward equalizing unit, and a second data slicing unit. The first feed forward equalizing unit is utilized for performing a compensation operation according to a digital input signal so as to generate a first equalized signal. The first data slicing unit is coupled to the first feed forward equalizing unit, and utilized for generating a first output signal according to the first equalized signal. The second feed forward equalizing unit is coupled to the first data slicing unit, and utilized for generating a second equalized signal according to the first equalized signal. The second data slicing unit is coupled to the second feed forward equalizing unit, and utilized for generating a second output signal according to the second equalized signal. |
| US08532161B2 |
Method and apparatus that facilitates estimating Doppler spread for uplink transmissions
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for performing a Doppler spread estimation. In a first embodiment, an energy associated with a communication from a wireless terminal is ascertained based on at least one pilot symbol and at least one data symbol. Each of an energy variance and a noise variance are then determined to facilitate estimating a speed of the wireless terminal based on the energy variance normalized by the noise variance. In another embodiment, a signal received from a wireless terminal is decoded and replicated. A channel estimate associated with a set of data symbols is then ascertained from the replica, which is used to estimate the speed of the wireless terminal. |
| US08532158B2 |
Melting and mixing of materials in a crucible by electric induction heel process
Apparatus and method are provided for electric induction heating and melting of a transition material that is non-electrically conductive in the solid state and electrically conductive in the non-solid state in an electric induction heating and melting process wherein solid or semi-solid charge is periodically added to a heel of molten transition material initially placed in a refractory crucible. Induction power is sequentially supplied to a plurality of coils surrounding the exterior height of the crucible at high power level and high frequency with in-phase voltage until a crucible batch of transition material is in the crucible when the induction power is reduced in power level and frequency with voltage phase shifting to the induction coils along the height of the crucible to induce a unidirectional electromagnetic stir of the crucible batch of material. |
| US08532156B2 |
Semiconductor laser with test pads
A laser diode includes a junction surface configured to interface with an integrated optics slider. Cathode and anode electrical junctions are disposed on the junction surface. The cathode and anode electrical junctions are configured for electrical and mechanical coupling to the integrated optics slider. At least one test pad is disposed on the junction surface that is physically separate from and electrically coupled to one of the cathode and anode electrical junctions. The test pad is configured to be contacted by a test probe and is not configured for electrical or mechanical coupling to the integrated optics slider. |
| US08532154B2 |
Laser diode arrangement
A laser diode arrangement having a multiplicity of laser diodes (11) arranged along side one another, comprises a heat sink (9) on which the laser diodes (11) are mounted and a cooling body (1) which is in intimate contact with the heat sink (9), wherein the cooling body (1) has two coolant channels (2; 3), which run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heat sink (9) and are embodied as a feed channel (2) and as a discharge channel (3) for a coolant. According to the invention a multiplicity of cooling channels (5, 7; 6, 8) lying along side one another are provided, which branch off from the feed channel (2), lead past the heat sink (9), and open into the discharge channel (3), wherein cooling channels (5, 7; 6, 8) lying directly alongside one another branch off at different locations of the periphery of the feed channel (2) and of the discharge channel (3). |
| US08532153B2 |
Thermal chirp compensation in a chirp managed laser
Thermal chirp compensation in a chirp managed laser. In one example embodiment, a laser package including a laser and an optical spectrum reshaper configured to convert frequency modulated optical signals from the laser into an amplitude modulated optical signals is provided. A thermal chirp compensation device is in communication with the laser package and a laser driver. The thermal chirp compensation device includes means for generating bias condition and temperature specific thermal chirp compensation signals that each corresponds to a predetermined level of thermal chirp that is induced in the laser by operating the laser at a particular bias condition and temperature. |
| US08532151B2 |
Passively Q-switched microlaser
A passively Q-switched laser comprises a pump laser diode, a micro laser resonant cavity including a lasing medium and a saturable absorber, a filter and a photodiode. The lasing medium and saturable absorber are bonded together, and dielectric film is coated on the surfaces of the bonded body to form the laser resonant cavity. The filter reflects a portion of the Q-switched laser pulse beam. The photodiode can detect and convert the laser pulse to electric signal for triggering purpose. |
| US08532150B1 |
Generating laser light of high beam quality and high pulse quality in large mode area fiber amplifiers based on suppression of high optical modes by fiber coiling
Techniques and devices for generating laser light that use large mode area fiber amplifiers and designed coiling fiber sections to achieve desired operations in a fundamental fiber mode with high pulse quality and optical beam quality while reducing presence of high order fiber modes in continuous wave (CW) and pulsed laser devices. |
| US08532149B2 |
Updating routing and outage information in a communications network
After power is restored to a node in a utility network, that node employs one or more of its neighboring nodes as proxies to route a message to a central control facility of the utility. The message contains information about the restored node, and possibly one or more of its neighbor nodes. This information may include reboot counters, the amount of time that the node was down, momentary outages or power fluctuations, and/or the time of power restoration. The node that creates and initially sends the message can be the restored node itself, or another node that recognizes when a restored node has recently come back online. |
| US08532147B2 |
Residential gateway for voice over internet protocol communications
A method and system are provided for preventing data loss in a VoIP system. In particular, during a VoIP call, it is determined whether incoming ringing on a POTS line causes an unacceptable level of signal loss or errors. If so, for subsequent VoIP calls, the CO handling calls to the POTS line is instructed to either answer each call with a busy signal or automatically forward calls to the POTS line to the VoIP line or other selected telephone. Calling returns to normal upon ending of the VoIP call. In this manner, incoming ringing on the POTS line does not result in call dropping or lengthy retraining processes. |
| US08532145B2 |
Method and apparatus for channelizing sampled broadband signal
A system for isolating individual channels in a broadcast signal is provided. The system includes a plurality of multipliers, each having an input and an output. A summer coupled to the outputs of each of the plurality of multipliers is provided to generate an output. A multiplication factor system provides a multiplication factor to each of the multipliers to select a predetermined frequency channel of the input signal. |
| US08532143B2 |
Method and device for decoding, corresponding computer program product, storage means and destination node
A method is proposed for decoding a plurality of data packets received through a meshed communications network for the retrieval of source packets transmitted by one or more source nodes, the meshed communications network comprising relay nodes generating combined packets, each combined packet consisting of a linear combination of source packets. During the decoding by a destination node, this method consists in performing two decoding operations of which the first is a decoding by group of packets and the second is a decoding that takes account of pieces of likelihood information resulting from the first decoding. The fact of first of all carrying out a decoding with groups of packets makes it possible to exploit the repetitions (or redundancies) of packets in a meshed network to optimize the bit error rate during the decoding of source data transmitted on the communications network. |
| US08532137B1 |
Network architecture for a packet aware transport network
A method and architecture for Packet-Aware Transport Networks (PATN) which supports both packet and traditional TDM services and which leverages an assemblage of emerging technologies to provide efficient aggregation and switching of packet traffic in metro networks. The PATN provides significant cost savings to carriers by reducing the number of network elements, reducing transport costs through statistical multiplexing, and eliminating the need for redundant multiplexing operations. |
| US08532132B2 |
Communication method in a home-automation installation
The communication method applies to a home-automation installation comprising at least one sending element, a self-powered receiving element and an element for substituting for the receiving element. The method is such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, the substitution element receives and records information sent by the sending element for the attention of the receiving element and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in sleep mode, the substitution element sends the information for the attention of the receiving element. |
| US08532123B2 |
Handoffs in a hierarchical mobility label-based network
A system establishes a communication path between a mobile node and a first label edge router, registers the mobile node at the first label edge router, and creates a mobility binding at the first label edge router. The system also establishes a label switched path between the first label edge router and a second label edge router by propagating the mobility binding in the system, and establishes communication between the mobile node and a corresponding node over the label switched path. The system further maintains the communication between the mobile node and the corresponding node over the system when the mobile node moves from one physical location to another physical location and causes a handoff of the mobile node between two layer 2 grooming networks. |
| US08532118B2 |
Communication technique in network including layered relay apparatuses
This method includes: obtaining first data including identifiers of selected computers for invocation of parallel processes among plural computers connected to lowest-layer relay apparatuses in a network including relay apparatuses in plural layers, wherein the network includes paths between a relay apparatus in a first layer and plural relay apparatuses in a second layer that is an immediately upper layer than the first layer; and selecting, for each of the selected computers and from network identifiers for respective communication routes, network identifiers to be used for communication with other selected computers so as to avoid coincidence of communication routes between the selected computers for which a same difference value is calculated between identification numbers, wherein the network identifiers are associated in advance with an identifier of each of the plural computers and are used for routing in the network, and the identification numbers are assigned for ordering the selected computers. |
| US08532115B2 |
Negotiated secure fast table lookups for protocols with bidirectional identifiers
During connection establishments for a protocol with bidirectional identifiers, connection data is allocated, the locally selected identifier is a pointer to the allocated connection data, and a mathematical transformation is applied to the pointer. The pointer and a result of the mathematical transformation are included in a first and second portion of the connection establishment packets respectively. Upon receipt of a data packet for that protocol, a first and second portion of the data packet (which correspond to the first and second portion of the connection establishment packets) are extracted. The same mathematical transformation used during connection establishment is applied to the data extracted from the first portion of the data packet. The result of that mathematical transformation is compared with the data extracted from the second portion of the data packet. If the values match, then the data extracted from the first portion is trusted and dereferenced to access the allocated connection data associated with that data packet. |
| US08532109B2 |
Methods and systems for reroute and generation of backward routing information
Methods and systems for reroute and generation of backward routing information are provided. When an originator node wants to transmit a packet to a destination node and cannot transmit the packet to a next node recorded in a routing table, the originator node records a backward packet tag and information of the originator node into the packet, and transmits the edited packet to a backup node recorded in the routing table. The backup node retrieves a backward routing table in response to the backward packet tag to see whether a forwarding node corresponding to the originator node and the destination node is a backward routing terminal. If not, the backup node transmits the packet to the forwarding node. If so, the backup node removes the backward packet tag and the information of the originator node from the packet, and transmits the packet to the forwarding node. |
| US08532106B2 |
Header compression mechanism for transmitting RTP packets over wireless links
A header compression method for a MAC protocol that combines contention-free and contention-based MAC protocols into a heterogeneous MAC protocol used for forwarding VoIP traffic in VoIP systems on wireless networks using multiple base stations that reduces packet overhead thus allowing for transmission of high bit-rate data to multiple users over wired and wireless means. |
| US08532104B2 |
Communication apparatus capable of traffic controlling in serial connected queues
A communication apparatus includes a plurality of first queues to which priorities or predetermined bandwidths are assigned respectively, a plurality of second queues which are corresponded to any of the plurality of first queues and to which the priorities are assigned respectively, a first writing portion which writes data blocks into any of the plurality of second queues or any of the plurality of first queues which is not corresponded to the second queues in accordance with a rule, a second writing portion which reads the data blocks stored in the plurality of second queues in order of the priorities assigned to the second queues respectively, and writes the data blocks into at least one of the first queues which is corresponded to the second queues, and a transmitting portion which reads the data blocks stored in the plurality of first queues in order of the priorities assigned to the first queues respectively or at time intervals corresponding to the bandwidths assigned to the first queues respectively, and transfers the data blocks to the communication network. |
| US08532102B2 |
Simple fairness protocols for daisy chain interconnects
A method for transmitting packets, including forwarding a first set of upstream packets and a first set of local packets by inserting at least one of the first set of local packets between subsets of the first set of upstream packets according to a first insertion rate; calculating a second insertion rate after forwarding a predetermined number of upstream packets generated by a single upstream source, by dividing a cardinality of the first set of upstream packets by a greatest common divisor of the predetermined number and the cardinality of the first set of upstream packets; and forwarding a second set of upstream packets and a second set of local packets from the local switch to the downstream switch by inserting at least one of the second set of local packets between subsets of the second set of upstream packets according to the second insertion rate. |
| US08532095B2 |
Techniques configuring customer equipment for network operations from provider edge
Techniques for configuring customer premises equipment for communication with a provider network include establishing a physical layer network connection between a particular customer node and a first provider node. The particular customer node is an intermediate network node on a customer premises. The first provider node is an intermediate network node on a first provider network of a first service provider different from the customer. Configuration data for one or more network interfaces on the particular customer node are automatically received through the physical layer network connection. The particular customer node is automatically configured based on that configuration data. The automatic provisioning of the customer node allows equipment to be more economically shipped and installed at customer premises and allows upgraded or replacement equipment to be more economically swapped in place of equipment previously installed. Traffic management data can also be automatically received and used at the particular customer node. |
| US08532093B2 |
Voice over internet protocol marker insertion
A watermark is inserted or overwritten into a packetized voice stream in a VoIP environment to characterize the voice data stream for various functions, such as providing certain in-band audible information or markers for detection. A visual type of marker can be inserted to measure delay for various applications, such as the round trip delay associated with providing directory assistance services, including measuring the delay from providing a prompt to a caller to the their response. The visual marker facilitates use of processes to detect measuring points for measuring delays. Audible markers can be used to provide various types of audible signals, including informational tones to agents, as well as announcements to callers. |
| US08532089B2 |
Call intercept for voice over internet protocol (VoIP)
A device receives, from a calling party, a call to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) subscriber, and generates a request for the calling party to record information. The device also receives information from the calling party based on the request, and provides the information from the calling party and call handling options to the VoIP subscriber. The device further receives a response from the VoIP subscriber to the call handling options, and handles the call based on the VoIP subscriber response. |
| US08532087B2 |
Optical network, optical edge router, program thereof, cut through method, and edge router
An optical network has: sections for establishing optical paths; a plurality of optical edge routers for connecting external IP networks to the optical network (1001); and a plurality of optical cross connects, for connecting the optical edge routers by the optical paths, having switching sections with respect to an optical pulse unit. In the optical network, each of the optical edge routers has both of: (1) an optical network control instance (INSp) for maintaining topology information in the optical network and switching/signaling the optical paths; and (2) an IP network instance (INSi) for maintaining a routing table in each of the external IP networks and activating routing protocols between the external IP networks and the IP network instance. By doing this, it is possible to realize a multi-layer cooperative function and provide highly safe optical networks, etc. |
| US08532086B1 |
Method and system for multi level switch configuration
Switch systems and method to configure switch systems are disclosed. A switch system includes a first leaf module and a first spine module. The first leaf module includes a plurality of internal ports and external ports. The first spine module includes a plurality of ports. A midplane is configured to couple each of the internal port of first leaf module to a port of a first spine module such that a subset of internal ports of the first leaf module are always coupled to a known subset of first spine module. Other switch systems and methods to configure switch systems are disclosed. |
| US08532085B2 |
Directory number mobility utilizing dynamic network distributed dial-peer updates
Methods, logic, apparatus, and systems are provided to support cross cluster directory number (DN) extension mobility (EM) using dynamic network distributed dial-peer updates in a communication networks, which includes a plurality of clusters or systems and each of the plurality of clusters including a call control agent (CCA). Identification data corresponding to an identity of an associated user is received into a first cluster of a multiple cluster telecommunication network. A directory number and associated first telecommunication device corresponding to the user are registered with a first call control agent of the first cluster in accordance with received identification data. Registration data corresponding to the registered directory number is communicated to at least a second cluster of the telecommunications network. An incoming connection request associated with the registered directory number is routed directly to the first CCA without redirection to any other CCAs within the multiple cluster telecommunication network. |
| US08532084B2 |
Method and system for synchronization in communication system
A method can be used for facilitating an uplink synchronization between a first transceiver and a second transceiver within a cell in a multi-user cellular communication system. The first transceiver receives a reference from the second transceiver and generates a set of signature sequences based on the reference. The first transceiver selects a first signature sequence from the set of signature sequences and incorporates the first signature sequence into a signal. The first transceiver transmits the signal to the second transceiver. The signal is used for a uplink synchronization between the first transceiver and the second transceiver. The set of signature sequences are generated from sequences with zero-correlation zone. |
| US08532083B2 |
Method for allocating dynamic transmit time interval
A method for allocating various transmit time intervals (TTIs) if a sub-frame structure is used, in a radio access system is provided. A transmitter transmits a super frame header including TTI information of a sub-frame included in a super frame to a receiver and transmits a sub-map including resource allocation information to the receiver, thereby dynamically allocating the TTI. Since the TTI information may not be received via the sub-map in every sub-frame, it is possible to prevent waste of a radio resource. |
| US08532080B2 |
Method and system for single weight (SW) antenna system for single channel (SC) MIMO
Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may comprise receiving WCDMA signals via M receive antennas, tracking a plurality of received clusters within the received WCDMA signals, and estimating a complex phase and amplitude of a portion of each of the received clusters. A single cluster may comprise an aggregate of received WCDMA signal paths and (M−1) phase shifters may be utilized for the estimating of the complex phase. Complex waveforms, comprising in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) components for the received clusters within the received WCDMA signals, may be processed. The processed complex waveforms comprising the in-phase and quadrature components may be filtered to a WCDMA baseband bandwidth. A phase and/or amplitude for at least one of the received WCDMA signals may be adjusted utilizing the estimated complex phase and amplitude. The phase and/or amplitude may be adjusted continuously and/or at discrete intervals. |
| US08532077B2 |
Frame format techniques for non-resolvable long training fields in wireless networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides non-resolvable long training field (LTF) formatting methods used in wireless networks, comprising defining the non-resolvable LTF frame format so that a transmission of VHT-SIG-B is aligned for all users, thereby requiring that a VHT-LTF portion of a packet be of a same duration for all users. |
| US08532076B2 |
Telecommunications system and method
A telecommunications system communicates data packets to and from a mobile terminal in accordance with a mobile internet protocol. The system includes a packet radio network having a first radio access interface and a gateway support node and includes a wireless access network having a second radio access interface and a home agent The mobile terminal is arranged to connect to one of the packet radio network or the wireless access network and, when connected, to detect which of the packet radio network and the wireless access network the mobile terminal has connected. Upon detection that the mobile terminal is attached to the packet radio network, the mobile terminal and the home agent are arranged so that data packets are transmitted to and from the mobile terminal via the gateway support node, and mobile internet protocol operations through the home agent are deactivated or suppressed. |
| US08532072B2 |
System and method for adaptively setting the probability of generating a beacon broadcast in a wireless network
A system and method of operating a wireless network having a plurality of nodes. Each node determines whether to replace the beacon node. When a node determines that the beacon node is to be replaced, the node determines whether it should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node. The decision whether to nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node is a function of a nomination probability associated with the node. If the node determines that it should nominate itself as a potential replacement beacon node, the node sends out one or more beacon signals. Each node then adaptively modifies the probability of nominating itself as a function of the number of beacon signals received from other nodes. Beacon signals are received by potential replacement nodes and, if the potential replacement beacon node has received a beacon signal from a higher ranking potential replacement beacon node, the node removes itself as a candidate for the replacement beacon node. |
| US08532068B2 |
Method of mobile communication and apparatus therefor
Particular orthogonal codes are transmitted from the mobile stations to the base station as alert signals indicating the presence of data to be transmitted. The base station checks whether particular orthogonal codes are contained in the alert signals, and when the particular orthogonal codes are detected in the alert signals, information representing the detected orthogonal codes and the schedules for transmitting the data from the mobile terminals to the base station are transmitted from the base station to the mobile terminals as an alert response to the alert signals. When the information representing the orthogonal codes used for the alert signals are contained in the alert response transmitted from the base station to the mobile terminals, the data waiting to be transmitted is transmitted from the mobile terminals to the base station according the data transmission schedules in the alert response. |
| US08532067B2 |
CDMA to packet-switching interface for code division switching in a terrestrial wireless system
An access radio port is provided that spreads a payload data signal, extracted from an ATM packet, with a uniquely assigned orthogonal code, transmits the spread payload data signal to one of a group of mobile subscriber terminals located within a microport cell of a wireless terrestrial network, and releases the uniquely assigned orthogonal code. In another aspect, a mobile subscriber terminal, is located within a microport cell of a terrestrial wireless network that interfaces with an access radio port. The mobile subscriber terminal receives an assignment of a unique orthogonal code, spreads a payload data signal using the unique orthogonal code, modulates and forwards the spread payload data signal to the access radio port, and releases the assignment of the unique orthogonal code. |
| US08532061B2 |
Adaptive handover mechanism for heterogeneous wireless network
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or a method that facilitates optimizing handover in connection with an access network. An access network can include at least one device exchanges data therewith, wherein the device communicates with at least one access station within the access network to exchange data. A rules engine can create a user-defined rule based upon at least one of a resource requirement for a device application or a user input related to a quality of service (QoS) experience with the device. The rules engine can enforce the user-defined rule to employ handover related to the device and at least one of an access station within the access network or a disparate access network. |
| US08532060B2 |
Distributed learning method for wireless mesh networks
In a wireless mesh network, an algorithm is used by mesh points in the network to predict the success of and interference created by a new transmission opportunity. In particular, it is provided a method for mesh points, in a mesh network, to determine whether to transmit to another mesh point simultaneously while another transmission is taking place on the same communication link. A mesh point should not transmit to another mesh point if the mesh point's transmission interference disturbs a simultaneous transmission from another mesh point. Furthermore, a transmitting mesh point should not transmit to a receiving mesh point if the transmission will be disturbed at the receiving mesh point from interference from a simultaneous transmission from another mesh point. |
| US08532053B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for assuring communication quality of packet flow
A base station or packet control apparatus, constituting a wireless access network system to be connected to an IP network via a node apparatus, includes a QoS authorization and admission control function for verifying a first communication quality request received from a wireless mobile station based on communication quality level information assured previously to the wireless mobile station, converting the request into a second communication quality request assured to the wireless mobile station, and converting the second communication quality request into a third communication quality request acceptable to communication resources of the wireless access network, and a QoS admission control function for converting, when a second or third communication quality request is received from another node apparatus connected to another wireless access network on account of handover of a wireless mobile station between node apparatuses, the received communication quality request into a communication quality request acceptable to the communication resources. |
| US08532051B2 |
Method and systems for conveying scheduling information of overlapping co-scheduled users in an OFDMA-MU-MIMO system
Methods and systems for conveying or transmitting to any given user in an OFDMA-MU-MIMO system scheduling information of other co-scheduled users to permit the user to perform error-correction on received data and/or interference reduction on its received signals. The scheduling information can include resource block assignment, modulation constellations employed, coding rates employed, power levels utilized and precoder matrix indices used. Further, the scheduling information can be conveyed in part through dedicated reference symbol layers or pilot streams. Moreover, a base station may transmit a preliminary estimate of the total number of users the base station expects to schedule, or an upper-bound on the total number of users, to the MU-MIMO users to permit the MU-MIMO users to determine preferred precoder matrix indices and indications of channel quality indices. |
| US08532047B2 |
Methods and apparatus for uplink control transmit diversity
A method and apparatus in a user equipment transmit a subframe shared by multiple users through a dual-antenna transmission scheme by using space-time coding. A first and a second plurality of modulation symbols are generated. A third and a fourth plurality of modulation symbols are generated by performing Alamouti coding on each pair of modulation symbols in each of the first and second pluralities of modulation symbols. A spread matrix is generated for each modulation symbol such that the first and third pluralities of modulation symbols are mapped to a first slot of the subframe, and the second and third pluralities of modulation symbols are mapped to a second slot of the subframe. The subframe is transmitted such that the first and second pluralities of modulation symbols are transmitted via a first antenna, and the third and fourth pluralities of modulation symbols are transmitted via a second antenna. |
| US08532045B2 |
Method and system for spectrum management
A method and apparatus for defining spectral usage at a base station in a wireless network. In various embodiments, the wireless network is divided into a plurality of regions, such that each of the regions may have associated with it one or more interfering adjacent regions, which are associated with different portions of a spectral allocation. |
| US08532040B2 |
Method for random access based on priority
A random access method based on priority is disclosed. A priority-based random access method for use in a random access method supporting emergency communication including selecting, by a user equipment (UE), a random access slot corresponding to priority of the UE, among several random access slots to which at least two priorities are allocated, selecting an arbitrary sequence by the UE, and transferring the selected sequence to a base station via the selected random access slot. The method minimizes a UE access delay time requesting emergency communication by assigning priority to resources, and is able to reduce an amount of wasted resources by effectively distributing resources to not only a high-priority UE but also a low-priority UE according to individual situations. |
| US08532038B2 |
Methods and apparatus for frame exchange for SDMA uplink data
Certain embodiments provide a method for scheduling simultaneous transmissions of data from multiple wireless nodes in a wireless communications system. |
| US08532030B2 |
Techniques for initiating communication in a wireless network
Techniques are described for a device to request a new service flow for best effort (BE) category traffic to assign a priority to the new service flow. For example, a Traffic Priority parameter in a media access control (MAC) message can be used to transmit the priority level for a new BE category service flow. The MAC message can be an AAI DSA-REQ message (specified in IEEE 802.16m draft 9 (2010)). Either a base station or a mobile station can request a new service flow using the MAC message. |
| US08532027B2 |
System and method for SSS detection under carrier frequency offset in an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access downlink channel
A system and method for SSS detection under carrier frequency offset in an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) downlink channel. A processor receives a signal sample that includes a transmission on a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a transmission on a one secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The processor determines a correlation “P” of a first symbol transmitted in the PSS of the signal sample to a first known symbol at each time “t” of time increments k of the signal sample and a correlation “S” of a second symbol transmitted in the a SSS to a second known symbol at each time t-.5/7 msecs. The processor receives a candidate phase rotation of θi from a set of “i” candidates and determines a correlation “Cmax” over the time increments k representing a maximum amplitude of a combined correlation of S and P, with P rotated by θi. The processor determines the cell identifier from the first and second known symbols that produced S and P of C max and an estimation of the frequency offset between a transmitter of the signal sample and a receiver of the signal sample. |
| US08532025B2 |
Signaling overhead reduction methods and systems using SUB-DL-UL-MAP and HARQ-MAP in mobile WiMAX
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may allow WiMAX signaling overhead to be reduced by sending burst allocation information to MSs using messages that may be transmitted using more efficient modulation coding schemes (MCSs) than that allowed for DL-MAP and UL-MAP messages. For example, burst allocation information may be sent in SUB-DL-UL-MAP or HARQ-MAP messages that may be encoded with selectable MCSs that result in higher data rate than an MCS used for conventional DL-MAP and UL-MAP messages. For certain embodiments, MSs may be partitioned into groups based on CINR and the burst allocation information for each group may be transmitted using an MCS that is appropriate for that group based on the CINR for MSs in that group. |
| US08532023B2 |
Interference aware routing in multi-radio wireless mesh networks
A method and system using inter-node interference data to improve the routing of data within a wireless mesh network. |
| US08532022B2 |
Wireless station and method for controlling wireless station
A wireless station communicates with a plurality of wireless apparatuses by air and connects to other wireless stations via a network. The wireless station creates a supplementary table in which wireless apparatuses are associated with corresponding wireless stations on the basis of the status of wireless apparatuses that are connecting to the wireless station and the status of wireless apparatuses that are connecting to the other wireless stations. Before a wireless apparatus sends a connection request to the wireless station, the wireless station determines on the basis of predetermined conditions and the supplementary table whether the wireless apparatus can connect to the wireless station. |
| US08532020B2 |
Multi-hop communication setup subject to boundary values
A method controls the setup of multi-hop communications. For this purpose, boundary values for the multi-hop communications are determined, actual values of the multi-hop communications are detected and multi-hop communications to subscriber terminals are only established if the actual values do not exceed the determined boundary values. |
| US08532019B2 |
Method and system for implementing a single weight (SW) single channel (SC) MIMO system
Methods and systems for processing signals in a receiver are disclosed herein and may comprise generating at least one control signal that may be utilized to control a first received signal. A phase of the first received signals may be adjusted via the generated control signal so that the phase of the first received signal may be equivalent to a phase of a second received signal, where the phase of the first signal may be adjusted within a processing path used to process the first received signal. An amplitude of the first received signal may be adjusted via the generated control signal so that the amplitude of the first received signal may be equivalent to an amplitude of a second received signal, where the amplitude of the first signal is adjusted within the processing path used to process the first received signal. |
| US08532016B2 |
Methods and apparatus for operating a wireless communications system
A method of operating a wireless communications system comprising at least a base station, a first relay station, a second relay station and one or more subscriber stations; using at least a first wireless protocol with the first relay station, and using at least a second wireless protocol with the second relay station. Operation of the method comprises using a subframe which comprises: a first-protocol access period; a firstprotocol relay period; a second-protocol access period; and a second-protocol relay period. The subframe further comprises an idle period to avoid communications using the first wireless protocol interfering with communications using the second wireless protocol and the overall frame structure is arranged to position the idle period for the first relay station between the first-protocol access period and the first-protocol relay period, to accommodate switching of the first relay station between transmit and receive modes. |
| US08532015B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for transmitting downlink control signaling on wireless relay link
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises allocating a control channel resource in a wireless relay transmission frame on a wireless relay link; generating a control signaling based on at least one of a resource allocation scheme, a status of the wireless relay link and a traffic condition of the wireless relay link; mapping the control signaling to the allocated control channel resource via at least one of a time-first mapping, a frequency-first mapping, and a multiplexing mapping; and transmitting the control signaling in the allocated control channel resource on the wireless relay link to at least one associated relay node. |
| US08532013B2 |
Method and apparatus in a plurality of rendezvous points for together processing multicast traffics from mobile multicast source
The invention proposes method and apparatus in a plurality of rendezvous points for together processing multicast traffics from mobile multicast source. Wherein, a first rendezvous point and at least one second rendezvous point compose an anycast group which is used for sharing the processing task of the multicast data packets of the mobile multicast source point together, the first rendezvous point and the at least one second rendezvous point share a route forwarding table, the route forwarding table comprises corresponding relation among the care-of-address, the home address and the multicast address of one or more multicast sources. The first rendezvous point obtains the multicast data packets, forwards the multicast data packets to the at least one second rendezvous point, when needing to forward the multicast data packets to the at least one second rendezvous point; the first rendezvous point searches the route forwarding table, according to address information of the multicast packet; determines the corresponding shared multicast tree, when the address information matches the care-of address and/or home address and matches the multicast address of an candidate multicast source; and forwards the multicast data packet according to the shared multicast tree. |
| US08532008B2 |
Systems, devices, and methods of managing power consumption in wireless sensor networks
Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems, methods, and devices for managing power consumption in a wireless sensor network. Such embodiments may include a remote server, a wide area network coupled to the remote server, at least one access point device coupled to the remote server through the wide area network, one or more sensors coupled to each other and to the access point and datasinks through the network. Each datasink can be a data coordinator and receive sensor information from the one or more sensors and transmit sensor information to the at least access point. Further, a first set of sensors are configured to be routing sensors and a second set of sensors are configured end point sensors based on a graph theoretic algorithm to reduce transmitting power of each sensor and reduce overall power of the wireless sensor network, and configuring a first operational wireless sensor network. |
| US08532003B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing packet routing through internally-powered network devices in wireless sensor networks
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for managing packet routing through internally-powered network devices in wireless sensor networks. An example embodiment includes a hybrid network having an externally-powered node and an internally-powered node, the method includes configuring a role that the internally-powered node will take during an operations phase of the hybrid network, the role including whether the internally-powered node will act as a router or a non-router; demoting the internally-powered node to a non-router role if the internally-powered node is not needed for routing; and promoting the internally-powered node to a router role if the internally-powered node is needed for routing. |
| US08531998B2 |
Communications apparatus and method to avoid interference
A technique for time domain avoidance of communications link interference sources characterized by intermittent, periodic short bursts of energy. A transmitting source can be assigned two time slots within a time domain multiple access data frame over which each data packet can be transmitted. The time slots are separated by a duration greater than that of an interference burst, such that an interference burst does not affect both time slots in any given frame. Therefore, the data packet can be received on at least one of the two assigned time slots. Transmitter power consumption can be reduced by calculating the timing of the periodic interference bursts, and only transmitting a data packet on one of the two assigned time slots that will not coincide with an interference burst in each frame. Communications link capacity can be improved during the presence of interference by synchronizing the data frame to the timing of the interference bursts. The bursts then occupy fixed time slots in each data frame, enabling standard single time slot transmissions for the remaining communications channels in the data frame. |
| US08531997B2 |
Method of performing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) in wireless communication system
A method of performing hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes receiving downlink assignments in a first subframe, a downlink assignment being transmitted based on a control channel element (CCE), the CCE being a logically indexed resource unit, receiving downlink data on a downlink shared channel in the first subframe, the downlink shared channel being assigned according to the downlink assignments, generating ACK/NACK signals which indicate successful or unsuccessful reception of the downlink data, and transmitting in a second subframe, the ACK/NACK signals by using uplink resources of a subset, the subset being mapped to the first subframe, at least one of the uplink resources being mapped to a plurality of CCEs in the first subframe. Limited resources for uplink feedback are effectively used to support HARQ operation. |
| US08531996B2 |
Communication device and remote management system
A communication device is provided in a network including a plurality of network segments to which customer devices are connected respectively, the communication device being connected through a cable or radio communication line to a central management device so that management information required for remote management of the customer devices is exchanged between the communication device and the central management device through the communication line. In the communication device, a searching unit searches customer devices connected to a predetermined network segment among the plurality of network segments in the network by predetermined timing. A transmitting unit transmits segment configuration information of the predetermined network segment as a result of device searching by the searching unit through the communication line to the central management device by predetermined timing. |
| US08531993B2 |
Floor control in a communication system
A method (400) of implementing floor control in a communications system (100). The method can include receiving a random symbol from each of a plurality of communication devices (104, 106, 108, 110, 112) or network nodes (204, 206, 208, 210, 212). From the plurality of random symbols, a random symbol that satisfies a criteria can be identified. Floor ownership can be granted to a selected one of the communication devices associated with the identified random symbol or from which the identified random symbol was received. |
| US08531991B2 |
Multi-chassis emulated switch
A solution is provided wherein the interfaces between multiple chassis (e.g., edge switches) in a network of layer 2 devices and a spanning tree device are treated as a single emulated switch. This emulated switch effectively enables two different views to the two different sides. Thus, frames from the network of layer 2 switches destined to any port of the emulated switch may take any of the links (through any of the physical switches), thereby enabling effective load-balancing for frames traveling from the layer 2 network side into the spanning tree device. Meanwhile the spanning tree device does not recognize an illegal loop in its connection to two different edge switches as it views the two links as a single logical EtherChannel. |
| US08531989B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing ad hoc wireless networking
This disclosure involves methods and systems for implementing IBSS networks between peer client devices. Devices function as registrar or enrollee in the network depending upon whether they are in configured or unconfigured mode. The WPS-PBC configuration routine allows the unconfigured enrollee device to obtain the necessary network configuration profile from the configured registrar device upon a successful WPS handshake process. Once a device has received the network configuration protocol, its status is switched to configured, allowing it to function as a registrar for the network for the subsequent addition of new devices. When both devices are initially in an unconfigured state, one is chosen to act as registrar so that it can automatically generate the necessary network configuration profile and pass it along to the other device. Following this process, both devices are set to configured mode. |
| US08531986B2 |
Network tools for analysis, design, testing, and production of services
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device publishes a test service profile to a group of communications devices, in which the test service profile provides for beta testing of the test service profile for a service on a network, and the test service profile includes service policy settings; and monitors use of the service by the group of communications devices based on the test service profile. |
| US08531985B2 |
System and method for configuration and management of queue sets
A network device includes port interfaces and a traffic buffer configured with queue sets for buffering packets transmitted or received on the port interfaces. The network device also includes a management module that stores one or more queue set profiles. The queue set profiles specify configuration parameters for buffering and managing traffic in the queue sets. To configure a queue set, one of the queue set profiles is associated with the corresponding port interface and the configuration parameters are applied to the queue set. This queue set is then configured in accordance with the queue set profile. Management of port interfaces is thus performed by applying a queue set profile to similar groups of queue sets. |
| US08531977B2 |
System reliability evaluation method for routing policy
A system reliability evaluation method for routing policy is disclosed. The single minimal path of the routing policy includes plural arcs between a start node and a terminal node in a flow network. The method includes the steps of providing a virtual network in a computer for simulating the flow network; inputting a transmission requirement, a budget restriction and a time restriction; distributing the transmission requirement in a first minimal path of the virtual network for getting a first feasible probability; if the first minimal path is inactive, distributing the transmission requirement in a second minimal path of the virtual network and getting a first inactive probability of the first minimal path; getting a second feasible probability of the second minimal path; and computing a system feasible probability of the virtual network by the first feasible probability, the first inactive probability and the second feasible probability, defining the system reliability. |
| US08531976B2 |
Locating tunnel failure based on next-next hop connectivity in a computer network
In one embodiment, a trigger is signaled to protect a tunnel from a head-end node to one or more tail-end nodes in a computer network via one or more intermediate nodes along the tunnel. One or more receiving nodes along the tunnel receive the trigger, and in response, establish a tunnel connectivity verification session from the receiving node to a corresponding downstream next-next-hop (NNHOP) node along the tunnel. Illustratively, the head-end node may thus recompute a new tunnel path excluding a path segment corresponding to a particular failed tunnel connectivity verification session. |
| US08531974B2 |
Technique for testing peers in multicast network domain
A technique for testing peer nodes in a multicast domain (such as an access network) interconnected with an Ethernet network via an Intermediate Bridge (IB), especially helpful when an individual MAC address of a destination peer node is unknown. The technique comprises a) issuing a Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) message from the Ethernet network, and introducing into the CFM message alternative destination data being different than the individual MAC address of the destination peer node; b) utilizing the alternative destination data, at the IB, for determining topological position or address of the destination peer node, and c) forwarding contents of the CFM message only to the destination peer node. |
| US08531971B2 |
Method for controlling charging of packet data service
A method for controlling the charging of packet data service is disclosed, which includes: monitoring a number of event triggers; and when one of the event triggers is met, a TPF requesting charging rules from a CRF. In this way, the timing that the TPF requests charging rules from the CRF becomes controllable, and redundant information caused by the unnecessary charging rule from the TPF becomes avoidable, which enables interaction between the TPF and the CRF more effective and the charging control of packet data service reasonable and perfect. |
| US08531970B2 |
Scheme for randomized selection of equal cost links during restoration
The present invention relates generally to restoration of services in a network. More particularly, the invention encompasses a scheme for randomized selection of equal cost links during restoration in a communication network. The invention further includes multiple schemes for restoring services. The network could consist of optical, ATM, FR, or IP/MPLS switches and cross-connects. |
| US08531969B2 |
Path computation systems and methods for heterogeneous multi-domain networks
The present disclosure provides path computation systems and methods operating over heterogeneous multi-domain networks. Specifically, path computation systems and methods utilize PCE mechanisms with additional functionality enabling heterogeneous domain characteristics. In an exemplary embodiment, a network includes a plurality of domains with each domain having a PCE implemented either as a separate server-based application or resident application in a network node. Different methods may be utilized for determining what PCE to access for information. Instead of a list of nodes and links given in a common format, each PCE can compute a path within its domain using a node and link address/identification format of its own, without having to ensure that it can be interpreted by nodes in other domains. This path segment can be further distinguished by a path identifier that verifies that it is created for a particular domain, and avoiding misinterpretation. |
| US08531963B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and filter control method
A semiconductor integrated circuit of the invention comprises a plurality of cores, and an interconnecting network including adaptors connected to each of the cores and a plurality of routers connecting the adaptors to communicate therebetween. Transmission side adaptors store first delivery information, and control delivery of the request signal to be received from the first core in accordance with the first delivery information. Reception side adaptors store second delivery information, and control delivery of the request signal to be received through the interconnecting network to the second core in accordance with the second delivery information. The first delivery information and the second delivery information are hierarchically set. |
| US08531962B2 |
Assignment of ACK resource in a wireless communication system
Techniques for assigning acknowledgement (ACK) resource to a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system are described. In one design, a first parameter indicative of radio resources (e.g., the lowest index of at least one physical resource block) allocated to the UE for data transmission may be obtained. A second parameter indicative of another resource (e.g., a cyclic shift of a reference signal sequence) assigned to the UE for data transmission may also be obtained. The first and/or second parameter may be restricted, and each restricted parameter may be limited to a set of allowed values among all available values for the parameter. ACK resource assigned to the UE for data transmission may be determined based on the first and second parameters. In one design, sequential first parameter values may be mapped to sequential ACK resources indices. In another design, mirror mapping with different mapping directions may be used for different allowed values of the second parameter. |
| US08531959B2 |
Method for sending ACK
A method for sending an ACK from the receiver to the sender is disclosed. The receiver starts an ACK timer with the ACK timeout value being smaller than the RTX timeout value. The ACK timer is stopped or cancelled when an ACK is sent from the receiver to the sender. When the number of the delayed ACK for I-frames is close to the receive widow size of the receiver or the ACK timer is timeout, the receiver sends an ACK to the sender actively. When the receiver receives a Poll frame from the sender due to RTX retransmission timeout, the receiver sends an ACK to the sender passively. The receiver adjusts the ACK timeout value used next time based on the following: timeout value of a current ACK timer, RTX timeout value of the sender, the receive widow size of the receiver and the number of I-frames for which ACKs have not been sent, in order to reduce the S-frames and stops of data transmission, thus improving the data transmission speed and the bandwidth utilization. |
| US08531958B2 |
Communicating a feedback data structure containing information identifying coding to be applied on wirelessly communicated signaling
To perform wireless communications in a closed loop multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system, a feedback data structure is communicated over a wireless channel between a first wireless node and a second wireless node, where the feedback data structure contains indicators identifying coding to be applied by the second wireless node on signaling communicated between the second wireless node and the first wireless node, where the information in the feedback data structure is based on wireless channel conditions detected at the first wireless node. The indicators identify different codings to be used for different corresponding bands in the wireless channel. |
| US08531950B2 |
Dynamically multiplexing user sessions among multiple terminal devices
Methods, systems, and devices are described for dynamically multiplexing user sessions among multiple terminal devices. A switch device establishes a session with a host device on behalf of a user logged in to a first terminal device communicatively coupled with the switch device. The switch device forwards packets received from the host device to the first terminal device, the packets associated with the session. The switch device may receive a selection of a second terminal for association with the session while maintaining the session with the host device on behalf of the user. The switch device forwards at least a portion of the packets associated with the session from the host device to the second terminal device responsive to receiving the selection of the second terminal device. |
| US08531949B2 |
Method and arrangement for transferring information in a packet radio service
A method and an arrangement for transferring information including delay sensitive data, such as speech and video data, in a packet radio service is provided. Data blocks are transmitted from a mobile station to a radio resource entity during a first active data transfer period using an uplink temporary block flow (TBF) connection. The uplink TBF connection is maintained during a passive period that follows the first active data transfer period, wherein during the passive period the mobile station does not send data blocks to the radio resource entity. |
| US08531947B2 |
Single and dual internet protocol bearer support
An apparatus operable in a communication system and having the capability to discard an internet protocol address is described. The apparatus is configured to receive an assignment of a first internet protocol address of a first type for a first application and a second internet protocol address of a second type for a second application for a data connection to a network. The apparatus is also configured to determine that the apparatus is currently not able to handle both the first internet protocol address and the second internet protocol address. The apparatus is further configured to determine an internet protocol address to discard, and discard the determined internet protocol address. |
| US08531944B2 |
Systems and methods for providing virtual fair queuing of network traffic
Systems and methods for dynamically controlling bandwidth of connections are described. In some embodiments, a proxy for one or more connections may allocate, distribute, or generate indications of network congestion via one or more connections in order to induce the senders of the connections to reduce their rates of transmission. The proxy may allocate, distribute, or generate these indications in such a way as to provide quality of service to one or more connections, or to ensure that a number of connections transmit within an accepted bandwidth limit. In other embodiments, a sender of a transport layer connection may have a method for determining a response to congestion indications which accounts for a priority of the connection. In these embodiments, a sender may reduce or increase parameters related to transmission rate at different rates according to a priority of the connection. |
| US08531941B2 |
Intra-domain and inter-domain bridging over MPLS using MAC distribution via border gateway protocol
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a first autonomous system border router (ASBR) of a first autonomous system (AS), a first plurality of provider-provisioned media access control (B-MAC) addresses via Interior Border Gateway Protocol (I-BGP). Each of first plurality of B-MAC addresses is associated with a provider edge (PE) device of the first AS. The first ASBR sends the first plurality of B-MAC addresses to a second ASBR of a second AS using Exterior Border Gateway Protocol (E-BGP). The first ASBR also receives via E-BGP a second plurality of B-MAC addresses each of which is associated with a PE device of the second AS. The first ASBR then distributes the second plurality of B-MAC addresses to each of the PE devices of the first AS using I-BGP. |
| US08531940B2 |
Technique for interconnecting functional modules of an apparatus
An apparatus such as a mobile telephone or a network card is described. In one implementation, the apparatus comprises a first functional module, a second functional module and a hub circuit. The hub circuit includes a first downstream port connectable to the first functional module, a second downstream port connectable to the second functional module and an upstream port adapted to be coupled to an external device. The hub circuit is configured to couple the upstream port with at least one of the first and second downstream port. Moreover, the hub circuit comprises a switching mechanism adapted to selectively couple the first downstream port internally within the hub circuit with the second downstream port to enable a data transfer between the first functional module and the second functional module. |
| US08531935B1 |
Plant gain calibration for an optical storage servo system
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for calibrating gains of an optical storage servo system having a plant. The method includes translating a first signal of the plant from a time domain effort signal into a frequency domain effort signal, translating a second signal of the plant from a time domain error signal into a frequency domain error signal, determining a first gain of the optical storage servo system based on the first signal and the second signal, comparing a third signal from an optical disk of the optical storage servo system with a predetermined threshold, and asserting a defect flag when the third signal drops below the predetermined threshold to avoid calibrating the first gain based on the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08531932B2 |
Adjusting method for recording condition and optical disc device
In a optical disc system with constraint length equal to or greater than 5, under assumption that continuous 2T count included in a predetermined evaluation bit array is denoted by i and that length of evaluation bit array of interest is given by (5+2i), judgment is passed on whether binary bit arrays include the evaluation bit array. Previously prepared are the error vectors calculated on the basis of target signals corresponding to the evaluation bit arrays and the target signals derived from the binary bit arrays, and the selection of a desired error vector is performed depending on the result of the judgment. At the same time, an equalized error vector is calculated from the target signal derived from the binary bit array and the reproduced signal, and the inner product of the equalized error vector and the selected error vector is calculated. |
| US08531931B2 |
Optical disk inspecting apparatus and method
An optical disk inspecting apparatus 10 plays an optical disk at a high speed and determines, based on error information provided during the high-speed reproduction, whether or not errors of a number exceeding a first threshold value have occurred. Then, when it is determined that errors of a number exceeding a first threshold value have occurred, the optical disk inspecting apparatus 10 performs high-speed principal determination of executing high-speed reproduction in this segment and determining presence or absence of errors of a number exceeding a second threshold value and also performs low-speed principal determination of executing low-speed reproduction in this segment and determining presence or absence of errors of a number exceeding the second threshold value. When errors of a number exceeding the second threshold value are detected, it is determined that there is a defect, and NG is outputted. |
| US08531930B2 |
Optical pickup device and optical disc apparatus
For obtaining stable servo-signals without receiving ill influences of stray lights from other layers, on both a focus error signal and a tracking error signal, when recording/reproducing a multi-layer optical disc having small gap between layers thereof, a light beam is divided with using a first and a second diffraction gratings. The first diffraction grating is a polarization diffraction grating, and is mounted on an actuator. The second diffraction grating is disposed on a fixed portion. The first diffraction grating has a first region having a center of a light beam and other(s), and among signal lights reflecting from the disc, the light beam entering into the first region is diffracted, and the light beam entering into the second region transmits therethrough. The second diffraction grating transmits the light beam diffracting on the first region of the polarization diffraction grating therethrough, while diffracting the light beam diffracting on the second region. |
| US08531929B2 |
Recording methods and devices for recording information on dual layer recordable disks
The invention relates to recording methods for recording information on a dual layer recordable disk, and to corresponding recording devices. In one such method and recording device the OPC-area is variably located on a layer of the disk. In a preferred embodiment the OPC-area is located relative close to the radius where the data stream switches from the first layer to the second layer. This reduced additional time required for jumping to a fixed OPC-area. Furthermore, in another such method and device the information to be recorded is equally divided over both layers of the dual layer disc. This avoids additional time required for finalization. |
| US08531924B2 |
System and method for a robotic storage system organized by heat value of storage media
Provided is a system and method for a organizing a robotic storage system. The robotic storage system includes a plurality of storage locations of varying priority and varying distance to a data read/write device. The robot storage system further includes a plurality of portable data storage elements each having at least three fields, a load field, a read/write field and a user determined field. A temporary storage location within the robotic storage system for each data storage element is determined at least in part by evaluating the data storage element's load field, read/write field and user determined fields to determine a heat value and correlating the heat value to the storage locations. An associated method of use is also disclosed. |
| US08531922B2 |
Striking watch provided with a gong insulator
The striking watch (1) includes at least one gong (3) fixed to a gong-carrier (2) and at least one hammer (4) for striking the gong. The watch further includes a magnetic gong insulator arrangement (20) for preventing any inadvertent contact between the gong and a neighboring part (5, 6) of the watch. This magnetic insulator arrangement (20) includes at least one moving permanent magnet (21) arranged on one part of the gong (3) at a distance from the gong-carrier (2) and at least one fixed permanent magnet (22, 23) arranged on a watch part (5, 6) close to the gong. This fixed permanent magnet is capable of generating a magnetic field of opposite polarity to the magnetic field of the moving permanent magnet facing the fixed permanent magnet. |
| US08531918B2 |
Underwater communications
An environmental monitoring system including at least one underwater measurement device and a transmitter for transmitting data from the measurement device to an above water station using a magnetically coupled antenna. |
| US08531914B2 |
Method of imaging a target area of the subsoil from walkaway type data
A method of imaging a target area of the subsoil from “walkaway” data having application to development of oil reservoirs or monitoring of geologic storage sites is disclosed. After acquisition of seismic data of walkaway type and estimation of the rate of propagation of the seismic waves in the subsoil, p illumination angles are selected. The seismic measurements are then converted to data Dp by illumination angle. The distribution of acoustic impedances best explaining data Dp is determined within the target by using a non-linear inversion which minimizes a difference between the data Dp obtained from measurements and data by illumination angle resulting from an estimation. This estimation is performed by solving a wave propagation equation from the velocity field, an acoustic impedance distribution and a pressure distribution at the level of the top of the target for each illumination angle. |
| US08531912B2 |
Method and device to acquire marine seismic data
The invention concerns a method to acquire seismic waves by means of a streamer towed by a vessel and comprising a plurality of seismic receivers. The streamer comprises a head portion that is slanted relative to the water surface and a tail portion having at least one section with a different slant. |
| US08531907B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method
In an embodiment, a method of operating a memory cell coupled to a first port and to a second port includes determining if a first port is requesting to access the memory cell and determining if a second port is requesting to access the memory cell. Based on the determining, if the first port and the second port are simultaneously requesting to access the memory cell, the second port is deactivated, the memory cell is accessed from the first port, and an accessed memory state is propagated from the first port to circuitry associated with the second port. |
| US08531906B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for operating the same
A semiconductor memory device includes first and second write driving blocks to perform a data write operation on first and second memory banks in response to first and second bank strobe signals, respectively, and a common input driving block to transmit data to the first and second write driving blocks through a common data line in response to access information of the first and second memory banks. |
| US08531905B2 |
Memory apparatus and refresh method thereof
A memory apparatus includes a memory cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells connected with a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of word lines, a page buffer unit connected to the plurality of bit lines and latch data read from a memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells, and a control unit configured to generate a refresh signal according to a prestored current status and provide the refresh signal to the page buffer unit in order to substantially prevent loss of the data latched by the page buffer unit. |
| US08531904B2 |
Methods and apparatus for extending the effective thermal operating range of a memory
Apparatus and systems are provided for thermal regulation of a memory integrated circuit (“IC”). The apparatus and systems may include a thermal sensor on a memory IC, and a heating element coupled to the thermal sensor. The heating element is adapted to heat the memory IC in response to a signal from the thermal sensor. Other aspects are also provided. |
| US08531902B2 |
Sensing circuit
A circuit includes a degeneration p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor (PMOS) transistor, a load PMOS transistor, and a clamp transistor configured to clamp a voltage applied to a resistance based memory element during a sensing operation. A gate of the load PMOS transistor is controlled by an output of a not-AND (NAND) circuit. |
| US08531900B2 |
Techniques for increasing a lifetime of blocks of memory
Techniques are described for increasing a lifetime of blocks of memory. In operation, respective life expectancy scores for each of the blocks are calculated based at least in part on a respective number of times each of the blocks is respectively erased, and further based at least in part on at least one other factor that affects the lifetime of the blocks. An order to write and recycle the blocks is determined, based at least in part on at least some of the respective lifetime expectancy scores. A total amount of the blocks that are erased and written is minimized while lifetime expectancy score variation between the blocks is equalized. |
| US08531898B2 |
On-die termination circuit, data output buffer and semiconductor memory device
An on-die termination circuit includes a termination resistor unit connected to an external pin, and a termination control unit connected to the termination resistor unit. The termination resistor unit provides termination impedance to a transmission line connected to the external pin. The termination control unit varies the termination impedance in response to a plurality of bits of strength code associated with a data rate. |
| US08531896B2 |
Semiconductor system, semiconductor memory apparatus, and method for input/output of data using the same
A semiconductor system, a semiconductor memory apparatus, and a method for input/output of data using the same are disclosed. The semiconductor system includes a controller and a memory apparatus where the controller is configured to transmit a clock signal, a data output command, an address signal, and a second strobe signal to a memory apparatus. The memory apparatus is configured to provide data to the controller in synchronization with the second strobe signal, and in response to the clock signal, the data output command, the address signal, and the second strobe signal received from the controller. |
| US08531895B2 |
Current control circuit
A current control device is disclosed, which reduces a standby current of a semiconductor memory device and a turn-on current of a transistor. The current control device includes an input controller configured to combine a trigger signal and a set signal controlling a circuit operation status, and a drive unit configured to drive an output signal of the input controller, wherein the drive unit includes a current controller for selectively providing a ground voltage in response to an activation status of a pull-down driving signal. |
| US08531894B2 |
Semiconductor memory device having low power consumption type column decoder and read operation method thereof
The present invention relates to a semiconductor memory device having a low power consumption type column decoder and read operation method thereof. In accordance with the semiconductor memory device and read operation method thereof according to the present invention, one of a plurality of decoding units of a column decoder is selectively operated according to a logic value(s) of one of some of bits of a column address signal. It is thus possible to reduce unnecessary switching current. |
| US08531893B2 |
Semiconductor device and data processor
In a data processor having a bus controller that performs timing control of access from the CPU operated in synchronization with a high-speed first clock signal to a peripheral circuit operated in synchronization with a low-speed second clock signal, a timing control circuit is provided between the peripheral circuit and the bus controller, and the bus controller causes, in response to a read instruction from the peripheral circuit, the timing control circuit to output data held by the peripheral circuit to the bus controller in synchronization with the cycle of the high-speed clock signal, causes the timing control circuit to start, in response to a write instruction directed to the peripheral circuit, writing into the peripheral circuit in synchronization with the cycle of the high-speed clock signal, and terminates the writing in synchronization with the cycle of the low-speed clock signal. |
| US08531885B2 |
NAND-based 2T2b NOR flash array with a diode connection to cell's source node for size reduction using the least number of metal layers
A NAND-based NOR flash memory array has a matrix of NAND-based NOR flash cells arranged in rows and columns. Every two adjacent NAND-based NOR flash cells in a column share a common source node which is connected to a common source line through a diode. The source line may be made of a metal layer and is in contact directly with the source node or through an ohmic contact to form a Schottky barrier diode. The source line may also be made of a polysilicon or metal layer and connected to the source node through a pillar-structured polysilicon diode and a conduction layer. The diode may also be formed in the source node by enclosing a P/N+ junction diode in a heavily N+ doped region of the source node. |
| US08531876B2 |
Unipolar spin-transfer switching memory unit
A memory unit includes a magnetic tunnel junction data cell electrically coupled to a bit line and a word line. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by passing a unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell. A diode is electrically coupled between the magnetic tunnel junction data cell and the word line or bit line. A voltage source provides the unipolar voltage across the magnetic tunnel junction data cell that writes the high resistance state and the low resistance state. |
| US08531872B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and manufacturing method thereof
High manufacturing yield is realized and variation in threshold voltage of each MOS transistor in a CMOS·SRAM is compensated. Body bias voltages are applied to wells for MOS transistors of each SRAM memory cell in any active mode of an information holding operation, a write operation and a read operation of an SRAM. Threshold voltages of PMOS and NMOS transistors of the SRAM are first measured. Control information is programmed into control memories according to results of determination. Levels of the body bias voltages are adjusted based on the programs so that variations in the threshold voltages of the MOS transistors of the CMOS·SRAM are controlled to a predetermined error span. Body bias voltage corresponding to a reverse body bias or an extremely shallow forward body bias is applied to a substrate for the MOS transistors with an operating voltage applied to the source of each MOS transistor. |
| US08531866B2 |
Nonvolatile memories and reconfigurable circuits
A nonvolatile memory according to an embodiment includes at least one memory cell including: a variable resistance memory comprising one end connected to a first terminal, and the other end connected to a second terminal, a drive voltage being applied to the first terminal; and a diode comprising a cathode connected to the second terminal, and an anode connected to a third terminal, a ground potential being applied to the third terminal. An output of the memory cell is output from the second terminal, the output of the memory cell depends on a resistance state of the variable resistance memory. |
| US08531864B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor integrated circuit for controlling sensing voltage
A nonvolatile semiconductor integrated circuit includes a memory cell array configured to include each of memory cells having a variable resistor; a current sensing unit configured to convert a current which depends on the variable resistor of a corresponding memory cell, into a sensing voltage; and a voltage control unit configured to receive the sensing voltage for a predetermined time in response to a sensing control signal, regulate the received sensing voltage, and provide a sensing output voltage. |
| US08531857B2 |
Power supply device and method for driving the same
In a reverse conducting semiconductor device, which forms a composition circuit, a positive voltage that is higher than a positive voltage of a collector electrode may be applied to an emitter electrode. In this case, in a region of the reverse conducting semiconductor device in which a return diode is formed, a body contact region functions as an anode, a drift contact region functions as a cathode, and current flows from the anode to the cathode. When a voltage having a lower electric potential than the collector electrode is applied to the trench gate electrode at that time, p-type carriers are generated within the cathode and a quantity of carriers increases within the return diode. As a result, a forward voltage drop of the return diode lowers, and constant loss of electric power can be reduced. Electric power loss can be reduced in a power supply device that uses such a composition circuit in which a switching element and the return diode are connected in reverse parallel. |
| US08531855B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a controller which outputs a signal for controlling ON and OFF of a switch which changes over connection between a second input terminal and the output end of a coil. The controller includes an MPPT control unit which follows a maximum power point with a period based on a zero-cross detection signal of a system voltage based on an input signal acquired by subtracting a value obtained by multiplying a droop gain simulating drooping characteristics, a control unit which outputs a direction value in such a manner that a difference between a reference output from the MPPT control unit and the input signal becomes zero, and a PWM comparator which outputs a PWM signal based on the direction value and a triangular wave voltage. |
| US08531850B2 |
Capacitor circuit and power conversion circuit including a resonant frequency adjustment element
A capacitor circuit includes a first capacitor line including a film capacitor and a second capacitor line including a ceramic capacitor that are connected in parallel with each other. The second capacitor line includes an inductance element that is connected in series with the ceramic capacitor. The inductance element is set to a value such that a series resonant frequency of the first capacitor line and a series resonant frequency of the second capacitor line are matched. |
| US08531846B2 |
Integrated AC/DC power supply and platform for military radio
An AC/DC power supply and platform for a military radio has been developed. The apparatus includes a base that supports at least one SINCGARS RT-1523 radio. The base is connected to an AC power supply and at least one DC power supply. The AC supply and DC power supply are configured to switch automatically to the DC power supply should the AC power supply fail. |
| US08531844B2 |
Sliding portable electronic device
Provided is a sliding portable electronic device having a waterproof structure which does not restrict a circuit design. Provided is a sliding portable electronic device having a waterproof structure which does not restrict a circuit design. The sliding portable electronic device according to the present invention comprises a pair of housings engaging slidably with each other. An electric component built in one housing is connected to an electric component built in the other housing through a flexible lead. The other housing is provided with an opening, through which the flexible lead passes, and the opening is blocked by a waterproof sheet. The flexible lead, which is drawn out from the electric component of the one casing, passes between the abutment surfaces of the waterproof sheet and the other casing and is connected to the electric component of the other housing. |