| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08539413B1 |
Frequency optimization using useful skew timing
A circuit analysis tool is provided for optimizing circuit clock operating frequency using useful skew timing analysis. The instructions supply clock signal with an optimized operating frequency. A first gate signal input slack time is determined with respect to the clock signal to the first gate. If the first gate signal input has a negative slack time, a delay is added to the first clock signal. A second gate signal input slack time is determined with respect to the clock signal to the second gate. If the second gate signal input slack time is negative, a delay is added to the second clock signal necessary to create a second gate signal input positive slack time. In response to the first and second gate signal input positive slack times, it is determined that the circuit successfully operates at the clock optimized operating frequency. |
| US08539406B2 |
Equivalence checking for retimed electronic circuit designs
Techniques and technology for formally verifying a first electronic design with a second electronic design that has been synthesized from the first electronic design, wherein the synthesis process included structural transformation operations, is provide herein. In various implementations, a first design and a second design are received. The second design having been synthesized from the first design, where no structural transformation operations were performed during synthesis of the second design. Additionally, a third design and a structural transformation guidance file are received. The third design having also been synthesized from the first design, but, where structural transformation operations were performed during synthesis of the third design. The structural transformation guidance file specifies what transformations where made during synthesis. Subsequently, a first formal verification process is implemented to verify the equivalence of the first design to the second design using conventional formal verification proofs. A modified second design is then generated, by applying changes to the second design to correspond to the structural transformations detailed in the structural transformation guidance file. After which, a second formal verification process is implemented to verify the equivalence of the third design and the modified second design. |
| US08539405B2 |
Method and system for implementing top down design and verification of an electronic design
Disclosed is a method and system for performing design and verification using stepwise refinement techniques, which can also include or be referred to as “top-down” design verification. With the present stepwise refinement approach, the electronic design can be acted upon at different levels of abstraction, but with approximately the same level of resolution at each abstraction level. A strong relationship of consistency exists between the successive abstraction levels of the design. On account of this consistency, properties that are established or true at one level of the design remain true for all subsequent levels of abstraction of the design. The present approach also allows designers to more efficiently and accurately perform hardware/software co-design. For the co-design process, consistency between different levels of abstraction allows a designer to safely implement a systematic and concurrent divide-and-conquer approach to the hardware and/or software elements in a design. |
| US08539403B2 |
Reducing observability of memory elements in circuits
A method, apparatus and computer program product for modifying a circuit design. The method comprising: obtaining a design of a circuit, the design comprising at least a first memory element and a second memory element. The method further comprising selecting the second memory element to be a dominant memory element over the first memory element. The method further comprising modifying the design of the circuit by replacing usage of an output signal of the first memory element with usage of an output signal of the dominant memory element in one or more cycles in which values of the output signals of the first memory element and the dominant memory element are equal. Whereby a reduction in observabiltiy of the first memory element in the design is achieved. |
| US08539402B1 |
Systems for single pass parallel hierarchical timing closure of integrated circuit designs
In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes partitioning an integrated circuit design into a hierarchy of a top level and a plurality of partitions, wherein the top level includes a top level netlist and each partition includes a partition netlist; receiving data path timing budgets and clock path timing budgets for each of the plurality of partitions of the integrated circuit design; and generating a timing budget model of each partition in response to the respective data path timing budgets and clock path timing budgets, wherein each timing budget model includes an intra-partition clock timing constraint for each respective partition for independent implementation of the top level. |
| US08539399B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing user-defined interfaces for a configurable processor
A technique that improves both processor performance and associated data bandwidth through user-defined interfaces that can be added to a configurable and extensible microprocessor core. These interfaces can be used to communicate status or control information and to achieve synchronization between the processor and any external device including other processors. These interfaces can also be used to achieve data transfer at the rate of one data element per interface in every clock cycle. This technique makes it possible to design multiprocessor SOC systems with high-speed data transfer between processors without using the memory subsystem. Such a system and design methodology offers a complete shift from the standard bus-based architecture and allows designers to treat processors more like true computational units, so that designers can more effectively utilize programmable solutions rather than design dedicated hardware. This can have dramatic effects not only in the performance and bandwidth achieved by designs, but also in the time to market and reuse of such designs. |
| US08539396B2 |
Stitch and trim methods for double patterning compliant standard cell design
A method for creating double patterning compliant integrated circuit layouts is disclosed. The method allows patterns to be assigned to different masks and stitched together during lithography. The method also allows portions of the pattern to be removed after the process. |
| US08539395B2 |
Method and apparatus for merging multiple geometrical pixel images and generating a single modulator pixel image
The present invention relates to customizing individual workpieces, such as chip, flat panels or other electronic devices produced on substrates, by direct writing a custom pattern. Customization can be per device, per substrate, per batch or at some other small volume that makes it impractical to use a custom mask or mask set. In particular, it relates to customizing a latent image formed in a radiation sensitive layer over a substrate, merging standard and custom pattern data to form a custom pattern used to produce the customized latent image. A wide variety of substrates can benefit from the technology disclosed. |
| US08539392B2 |
Method for compensating proximity effects of particle beam lithography processes
A method for compensating proximity effects of particle beam lithography processes is provided. The method includes the following steps. A control pattern is provided. A dissection process is provided. A set of control points are provided. The control pattern is defined as an input pattern of a lithography process. A target pattern is provided. A set of target points are produced. A set of target measurement values are provided. An actual pattern is defined. A set of actual measurement values are provided. A set of comparison values are calculated. An adjusting strategy is provided. A corrected pattern is produced. The corrected pattern is defined as an updated input of the lithography process. |
| US08539390B2 |
Determining manufacturability of lithographic mask based on manufacturing shape penalty of aspect ratio of edge that takes into account pair of connected edges of the edge
The manufacturability of a lithographic mask employed in fabricating instances of a semiconductor device is determined. Target edge pairs are selected from mask layout data of the mask, for determining a manufacturing penalty in making the mask. The manufacturability of the mask, including the manufacturing penalty in making the mask, is determined based on the target edge pairs as selected, and is dependent on the manufacturing penalty in making the mask. Determining the manufacturability of the mask includes, for a selected edge pair having first and second edges that are at least substantially parallel to one another, determining a manufacturing shape penalty owing to an aspect ratio of the first edge relative to a size of a gap between the first edge and the second edge. This penalty takes into account a pair of connected edges of the first edge that are at least substantially parallel to the first edge. |
| US08539386B2 |
Device, method, and graphical user interface for selecting and moving objects
A method performed at a computing device with a touch-sensitive display includes: displaying a plurality of user interface objects on the display, including a currently selected first user interface object; detecting a first contact on the first user interface object; detecting movement of the first contact across the display; moving the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact; while detecting movement of the first contact across the display: detecting a first finger gesture on a second user interface object; and, in response: selecting the second user interface object; moving the second user interface object in accordance with movement of the first contact subsequent to detecting the first finger gesture; and continuing to move the first user interface object in accordance with the movement of the first contact. |
| US08539376B2 |
Information processing apparatus, display method, and display program
This application discloses systems and methods for receiving information associated with a first set of processing instructions and presenting a second icon indicating a change in status of data associated with the first set of processing instructions. A user selection of one of a first icon or the second icon may then be received. The selection of the first icon may cause execution of the first set of processing instructions, whereas selection of the second icon may cause execution of a second set of processing instructions. |
| US08539374B2 |
Graphical user interface for electronic devices
An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display and a processor configured to control the display of a graphical user interface on the display. The electronic device further includes a computer readable medium containing instructions for configuring the processor to provide a menu. The menu includes a plurality of links. The links include at least one link that corresponds to a submenu. The submenu includes a further plurality of links. The processor monitors a plurality of user inputs and monitors the position of a cursor within the display. The processor displays the menu upon entry of a first user input, and displays the submenu upon selection of the corresponding submenu link within the menu. When the cursor is within a content portion of the display and the menu is not displayed, the processor displays the submenu upon entry of a second user input, without first displaying the menu. |
| US08539372B1 |
Pre-scrolling a search results page
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems and program products. A computing device receives user input that submits a search query. The computing device provides, by way of a search engine server system, the search query. The computing device receives, from the search engine server system, information that identifies search results that the search engine server system has determined are responsive to the search query. The computing device presents, in a first view of a search results page that is provided on a screen of the computing device in response to receiving the information identifying the search results, a portion of the search results page that includes a list of the search results, the search results page having been pre-scrolled to the portion of the search results page. |
| US08539368B2 |
Portable terminal with music performance function and method for playing musical instruments using portable terminal
Disclosed are a portable terminal with a music performance function and a method for playing a variety of musical instruments. The method includes: selecting a particular piece of music and a particular musical instrument from the portable terminal, according to a user request, and executing a music performance mode corresponding to the selected musical instrument; detecting a first input signal input to a screen according to the selected musical instrument in the musical performance mode; determining, if the first input signal is detected, whether a second input signal for executing audio source data is detected; analyzing the first and second input signals, in association with each other; and outputting audio source data of the selected music, according to the analyzed result, via audio signals. |
| US08539367B2 |
Automatic re-positioning of graphical program nodes during node placement or node movement
A system and method for automatically re-positioning one or more nodes in a block diagram of a graphical program in response to a new node being displayed in the block diagram are described. A new node may be displayed at a first position in the block diagram in response to user input. One or more of the plurality of nodes already in the block diagram may be automatically re-positioned in response to displaying the new node at the first position. In other embodiments, a particular node in the block diagram may be moved from a first position to a second position in response to user input, and one or more of the other nodes may be automatically re-positioned in response to the user moving the node. |
| US08539362B2 |
Method and system for inserting advertisements in unified messaging solutions
A method and an apparatus for inserting an included message into an e-mail message, wherein the e-mail message is transferred through a unified messaging solution have been provided. In one embodiment, the unified messaging solution detects transmission of a voice mail message as the e-mail attachment. The voice mail message is received by a system that facilitates the transfer of the e-mail message. The system associates the included message with the voice mail message. The included message is inserted into the e-mail message. The system sends the e-mail message along with the included message and the attached voice mail message to an intended user. In a preferred embodiment, the included message is an advertising message. |
| US08539358B2 |
Tracking rescheduled meetings on electronic calendars
Methods and computer program products for tracking rescheduled meetings on an electronic calendar. When a meeting is rescheduled from a first time to a second time, the visual appearance of the meeting notice for the first time is altered. A link that changes the calendar page to the page showing the second time is provided on the page corresponding to the first time, so that the user may move conveniently to the rescheduled meeting notice. The meeting notice at the second time may be provided with a link that changes the calendar page to the page showing the first time, so that the user may move conveniently to the meeting notice as originally scheduled. |
| US08539357B2 |
Media preferences
An electronic media device may be controlled based on personalized media preferences of users experiencing content using the electronic media device. Users experiencing content using the electronic media device may be automatically identified and the electronic media device may be automatically controlled based on media preferences associated with the identified users. |
| US08539355B2 |
Audio/video editing node processing and manipulation
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display information and obtain a custom node in a procedural renderer. A schematic view of a flow of clip image data, wherein a node in the schematic view represents an operator/function performed on or that affects another node or a particular layer of the clip image data is displayed. Two or more nodes are selected and grouped together. The schematic view is then altered to reflect the grouping of the selected nodes. Further, the selected node may be associated with a custom node bin, wherein the custom node bin represents a custom node that can be used in a schematic work area of the procedural renderer as often as desired. |
| US08539354B2 |
Method and apparatus for interactively sharing video content
Teachings presented herein provide a method of sharing video content over one or more communication networks. In particular, a first user can initiate a “video push,” wherein specified video content is delivered to a second user via a video call. Return video content from the second user is received over the video call. Sending the return video content to the first user allows the first user to observe the second user's reaction to the pushed video content, thereby enhancing the experience of sharing video content for both users. The return video content can be streamed back to the first user in real-time or near real-time, or can be buffered for non real-time return. Thus the outgoing leg of a video call pushes specified video content to a targeted user, and, advantageously, the incoming leg of the video call receives return video capturing the targeted user's reaction to the pushed video. |
| US08539352B2 |
Electronic apparatus having operation guide providing function
There is provided an electronic device which presents manipulation guidance to a user as appropriate, depending on whether it is a function that the user can infer the manipulation method or substance of manipulation of.An electronic device operating by switching between a plurality of types of manipulation targets includes: a storage section storing a database containing data of a guidance sentence concerning a switching manipulation for manipulation targets and guidance sentences concerning manipulations of executing functions of the respective manipulation targets; a detection section for detecting a switching of manipulation targets; a table generation section for generating a table based on the database in response to the detected switching of manipulation targets, such that the functions of the manipulation targets are classified in the table each into a common function for manipulation targets before and after a switching manipulation or a unique function; and a determination section for, if a function designated to be executed pertains to the common function, determining that a confirmation message concerning a switching of manipulation targets is to be presented, and if the function designated to be executed pertains to the unique function, determining that confirmation messages concerning the switching and the designated function are to be presented. |
| US08539351B2 |
Optimizing online advertising link and text characteristics
A method of modifying the color characteristics of advertising content and web page content to increase the click-through rate of the advertising content. The advertising content and web page content may include hyperlinks and text. The color characteristics may include saturation, hue, intensity, contrast, and RBG characteristics. The color characteristics may be modified to make the advertising content more visible to the user, which results in a higher click-through rate. |
| US08539350B2 |
Automatic language selection for improving text accuracy
A method, and a handheld electronic device that implements the method, for selecting a number of languages used by a text disambiguation function executed by an electronic device during a text entry session. The method comprises determining a context for the text entry session, and responsive to the determining, selecting at least some of the number of languages used by the text disambiguation function during the text entry session. |
| US08539348B2 |
Handheld electronic device providing proposed corrected input in response to erroneous text entry in environment of text requiring multiple sequential actuations of the same key, and associated method
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able in certain circumstances of erroneous input to provide proposed corrected output. |
| US08539346B2 |
Associating annotations with document families
The present invention generally provides methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for managing an annotation system that includes storing annotations for a document family, i.e., a series of versions of a data source. Annotations created for one version of the data source may be viewed in context from both subsequent and prior versions of the same data source. Embodiments of the invention associate annotations with both a data source “family identifier” as well as a “version identifier.” Other than adding a family ID to the data source, the data source remains unchanged. The family ID is maintained across different versions of the data source, whereas version IDs are determined for a specific version of the data source. Version IDs can be constructed from each data source directly, and do not need to be stored. |
| US08539338B2 |
Cooperative rendering cache for mobile browser
A cooperative rendering cache browser (CRC-Browser) for a mobile device may cooperatively manage cached content with a proxy server to reduce redundant transmissions of processed Web data. Additionally, the CRC-Browser may provide stateful, thin-client Web browsing to maintain synchronized information about rendering objects of a Web page. Further, the CRC-Browser may cache only stable and/or visible document object model (DOM) elements and communicate a list of IDs of the cached elements to the proxy. Such stateful thin-client browsers may be useful for reducing battery drain, poor responsiveness, and high wireless network costs of mobile Web browsing. |
| US08539337B2 |
Internet services and methods thereof
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computer-readable storage medium operating in a web server having computer instructions for receiving from an Internet browser a request to create a viewing profile for a web page, creating the viewing profile by generating an asynchronous script for processing at least a portion of data supplied by a web service, embedding the asynchronous script in the web page, and presenting at the Internet browser the updated web page with the embedded asynchronous script. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08539334B2 |
Document management system having automatic notifications
A method for storing, organizing and providing remote electronic access to documents. A cover sheet including a standard set of identification data characterizing each document is developed and stored. A digital version of each document is created and stored by scanning each contract. Each digital version includes a scanned image and a searchable text file, wherein the text is overlaid with the image. An index of bookmarks identifying sections of the digital version of each document is generated. Selected fields of information are captured from the digital version of the document. The documents are organized and cross-referenced in a database that includes the captured information and additional information related to each document. Designated parties are alerted of critical dates associated with each document. Remote electronic access to the documents is provided over the internet. |
| US08539333B2 |
Technique for changing the display of web pages as time passes
A display device for displaying a web page is provided, which displays each of the contents contained in a web page so that users can recognize whether the content is new or not. The display device has a displaying unit, an acquiring unit, and a changing unit. The displaying unit displays an image of each of the contents contained in the web page. The acquiring unit acquires a reference time point as a criterion of the age of each of the contents. The changing unit changes, for each of the contents, the image of the content displayed by the displaying unit to an image in which the age of the content is reflected in accordance with expiration of the reference time point. |
| US08539330B2 |
Method and system for dynamic web page breadcrumbing using javascript
According to the present invention, there are provided a dynamic client-side breadcrumbing method and system for improving navigation of a plurality of web pages within a Website. The method and system comprise executing a breadcrumbing engine embedded into a web page for: generating a breadcrumb for each web page downloaded to a web browser associated with a client from a web server associated with the Website, the generated breadcrumb including navigation information for each downloaded web page; storing breadcrumbs associated with web pages downloaded to the web browser at the client; updating the stored breadcrumbs with the generated breadcrumb to form a breadcrumb navigation trail of breadcrumbs associated with navigation of the web pages at the Website; and displaying the breadcrumb navigation trail on each downloaded web page for user selection. The method and system further comprise resuming navigation according to the breadcrumb navigation trail by downloading of a web page according to navigation information of a last breadcrumb in the breadcrumb navigation trail. |
| US08539329B2 |
Methods and systems for web site categorization and filtering
Methods for configuring website categorization software, categorizing websites and a method and system for controlling access to websites. A number of websites are selected, all of which relate to a single predetermined category of subject matter. In order to create a category profile, a website is selected from the set (3), the website markup language is read (5), page content information extracted (7) and then analyzed (9). The system may then check whether it has analyzed a sufficient number of websites to allow for a reliable categorization of subsequent websites (13). Individual websites are categorized by extracting their page content information (45) and categorizing (51) on the basis of the degree of similarity between the information and the category profile (55). To control access, the system compares a website identifier with the database of categorized identifiers. |
| US08539328B2 |
Systems and methods for noise injection driven parameter selection
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a noise injection circuit. The noise injection circuit is operable to: determine a difference between a first data output and a second data output to yield an error; and augment an interim data with a noise value corresponding to the error to yield a noise injected output. The interim data may be either the first data output or the second data output. |
| US08539325B2 |
Parity generating apparatus and map apparatus for turbo decoding
An apparatus for generating a parity bit for turbo decoding, and a MAP (Maximum A Posteriori) apparatus are provided. The apparatus for generating a parity bit for turbo decoding includes: a index converter calculating forward and reverse state matrices with respect to a parity bit by maintaining or changing the relationship between the forward and reverse state matrices with respect to information bits and input symbols according to an encoder state; and a parity calculation unit calculating a parity bit by using the forward and reverse state matrices calculated by the parity state matric calculation unit. |
| US08539323B2 |
Encoding and decoding methods and apparatus for use in a wireless communication system
The claimed subject matter relates to encoding and decoding information in a wireless communication system using soft-demodulation and interleaving of concatenated code received in a strip channel. A set of symbols is received containing a plurality of information bits, dividing the received set of symbols into a plurality of subsets of symbols, each subset corresponding to the input of an inner code demodulation selecting a set of initial a priori values of the inner code demodulation for each subset of symbols, and demodulating each subset of symbols, using the initial a priori values of the subset of symbols and an inner code generator matrix, to generate a plurality of first soft information values as the output of the inner code demodulation. |
| US08539313B2 |
System and method of data encoding
A method includes, after data is stored at a data area of a memory device and error correction code (ECC) data corresponding to the data is stored at an ECC area corresponding to the data area, detecting a triggering condition. In response to detecting the triggering condition, the method also includes storing second ECC data in the ECC area, where the second ECC data includes redundant information for a first portion of the data area and storing third ECC data at the memory device. The third ECC data includes redundant information for a second portion of the data area. |
| US08539312B2 |
Memory system and method using a memory device die stacked with a logic die using data encoding, and system using the memory system
A memory system and method using at least one memory device die stacked with and coupled to a logic die by interconnects, such as through silicon vias. One such logic die includes an ECC system generating error checking and correcting (“ECC) bits corresponding to write data. The write data are transmitted to the memory device dice in a packet containing a serial burst of a plurality of parallel data bits. The ECC bits are transmitted to the memory device dice using through silicon vias that are different from the vias through which data are coupled. Such a logic die could also include a data bus inversion (“DBI”) system encoding the write data using a DBI algorithm and transmitting to the memory device dice DBI bits indicating whether the write data have been inverted. The DBI bits are transmitted using through silicon vias that are shared with the ECC bits when they are unused for transferring the ECC bits. |
| US08539310B2 |
Memory device and refresh adjusting method
When a single error of data is detected by an ECC circuit, a cycle adjusting unit provided on a memory board shortens a refresh cycle T1 of a refresh request generating unit to T2 and causes a patrol controlling unit to intensively carry out an error patrol of an error-occurred address at a cycle T3, which is slightly longer than the changed refresh cycle T2. If an error is not detected for more than a predetermined period of time after the error patrol is started, the error patrol is stopped.Furthermore, if a single error is not detected for more than a predetermined period of time after the error patrol is stopped, the shortening of the refresh cycle is cancelled and returned to the original cycle. |
| US08539308B2 |
Method and apparatus for indicating a temporary block flow to which a piggybacked ACK/NACK field is addressed
A method and an apparatus for indicating a temporary block flow (TBF) to which a piggybacked acknowledgement/non-acknowledgement (PAN) field is addressed. A method and apparatus of performing receive processing to reduce the probability of false acceptance of erroneous PANs are also disclosed. A transmit station generates a PAN check sequence (PCS) and performs a channel coding on a PAN field and the PCS. The transmit station scrambles the encoded bits of the PAN field and the PCS with a TBF-specific scrambling code. Because of the scrambling, the PCS decoding at a receive station will pass if the data block is received by an intended receive station, while the PCS decoding will fail if received by a non-intended receive station. Alternatively, the scrambling may be performed before the channel coding. Alternatively, the transmit station may combine the PAN field and a temporary flow identity (TFI) to generate a PCS. |
| US08539303B2 |
Low overhead error correcting code protection for stored information
Embodiments of an invention for low overhead error-correcting-code protection for stored information are described are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a data storage structure, a first check value storage structure, a second check value storage structure, and check value generation hardware. The data storage structure is to store a plurality of first data values. The first check value storage structure is to store a plurality of first check values. The second check value storage structure is to store a plurality of second check values. The check value generation hardware is to generate the first check values and the second check values. The first check values provide a first level of error protection for the first data values and the second check values provide a second level of error protection for a plurality of second data values. Each of the plurality of first data value has a first data width, and each of the plurality of second data values has a second data width, the second data width being greater than the first data width. Each of the second data values is a concatenation of one of the first data values and at least another of the first data values. |
| US08539301B2 |
Message-wise unequal error protection
Message-wise unequal error protection is provided using codeword flipping to separate special and ordinary codewords without discarding any codewords. Special messages are encoded to ensure the codeword weight is less than a certain threshold weight. Ordinary messages are encoded to ensure the codeword weight is greater than the threshold weight. The bits of the codeword are flipped to enforce the weight criterion. Ordinary and special messages are encoded using different encodings to provide different levels of error protection. Upon receipt, codewords are separated into special and ordinary codewords for appropriate decoding. If a codeword is of indeterminate type, it is iteratively processed as both a special codeword and an ordinary codeword. The decoding result of each process is periodically checked to determine which decoding result satisfies decoding criteria. |
| US08539300B2 |
Information recording and reproducing apparatus for writing user data received from an external device to a recording medium using generated parity data corresponding to the user data
An information recording and reproducing apparatus writes user data received from an external device into a recording medium and reads the user data from the recording medium so as to transmit the user data to the external terminal. The information recording and reproducing apparatus includes an external interface unit operable to transmit and receive the user data to and from the external device, a first ECC generator operable to generate parity data corresponding to the user data, an access unit operable to control recording and reading of the user data or the parity data to and from the recording medium, a recording controller operable to record the user data and the first parity data to the recording medium via the access unit, an ECC correcting unit operable to correct an error of the user data read from the recording medium using the parity data read from a nonvolatile memory via the access unit, and a reproducing controller having a first reproducing mode for reading and reproducing the user data without reading the parity data from the recording medium at the time of reproducing data and a second reproducing mode for reading and reproducing at least the parity data from the recording medium, the reproducing controller operable to detect presence or non-presence of an error of the user data read from the recording medium during execution of the first reproducing mode and executing the second reproducing mode when the presence of an error is detected. |
| US08539299B2 |
LT decoding and retransmission for wireless broadcast
Methods and systems for doped rateless retransmission include receiving ratelessly coded symbols. An attempt is made to decode the coded symbols using a processor by creating an associated code graph that represents the structure of the rateless code used by the symbols. If the decoding attempt fails, an input node is selected from the code graph using a metric that gauges the number and degree of connections to the input node based on the code graph structure. The selected input node is then requested for retransmission of the selected input node by a feedback channel. |
| US08539296B2 |
Coordination of packet and acknowledgment retransmissions
Techniques generally related to a multi-copy transmission scheme are described. A first wireless communication device may transmit Xi copies of each ith packet in an N numbers of packets over a wireless communication link to a second wireless communication device. In response, the second wireless may transmit Y copies of an acknowledgement over the wireless communication link to the first wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device may retransmit the packets if it does not receive the acknowledgement within a predetermined time period. The second wireless communication device may retransmit the acknowledgment if it does not receive other packets within another predetermined time period. N, Xi, and Y may be optimized for one or more of throughput, latency, and energy consumption using calculations or simulations. |
| US08539288B1 |
Methods and apparatus for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) successive interference cancellation (SIC) with retransmissions
Systems and methods are provided for determining a successive interference cancellation (SIC) decoding ordering in a multiple input multiple output transmission (MIMO) system with retransmissions. A plurality of codewords is transmitted in a current transmission time. Some of the codewords may have been previously transmitted in previous transmission attempts according to a retransmission protocol. The plurality of codewords is received and an ordering metric is computed for a received codeword based on channels associated with multiple transmission attempts of the codeword. A decoding ordering of the codewords is determined based on the computed ordering metric. Performance parameters such as Packet Error Rate (PER), channel gain, and/or equalizer-output Signal-to-Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) may be used to evaluate a channel quality for each one of the transmission attempts of the codeword. The ordering metric may be updated recursively with each transmission attempt. |
| US08539287B2 |
Method for transmitting control information in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system is provided. A codeword is generated by performing forward error correction (FEC) encoding on control information to generate. An interleaved code is generated by interleaving the codeword. A combined code is generated by combining the codeword and the interleaved code. A transport block is generated by repeating the combined code and is transmitted. |
| US08539286B1 |
Method and apparatus of error reporting
A method includes receiving an error signal from a client device receiving a video stream. A portion of the video stream associated with the error signal is detected. An error selection listing based on the portion of the video stream is transmitted. The client device receives a selection based on the error selection listing. The selection is stored as an error listing. |
| US08539284B2 |
Application reliability and fault tolerant chip configurations
An application can specify reliability values via a communication path between the application and the registers. Application reliability could increase if the application itself could specify the timeout and retry values. For instance, some errors might be prevented if the timeout value is lengthened by a short amount. A longer timeout value would result in slower performance because the memory component could not be accessed during the timeout period. However, resolving errors in memory devices would prevent unrecoverable error indicators from being returned to the application, which would in turn limit application and system crashes. Creating a communication path between the application and the hardware registers would allow the application to modify the reliability of memory operations. |
| US08539282B1 |
Managing quality testing
A method is used in managing quality testing. Quality tests are mapped to characteristics of a product under test. Based on the mapping and a result of a previously executed quality test, a respective relevance level is determined for each of the quality tests. Based on the relevance levels, a priority is determined among the quality tests. |
| US08539281B2 |
Managing rollback in a transactional memory environment
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for managing rollback in a transactional memory environment is disclosed. The method includes, responsive to detecting a begin transaction directive by a processor supporting transactional memory processing, detecting an access of a first memory location not needing rollback and indicating that the first memory location does not need to be rolled back while detecting an access to a second memory location and indicating that a rollback will be required. The method also includes, responsive to detecting an end transaction directive after the begin transaction directive and a conflict requiring a rollback, omitting a rollback of the first memory location while performing rollback on the second memory location. |
| US08539280B2 |
Storage system and failover control method
A storage system is capable of configuring a failover system by use of a first storage processing device to which first storage media are connected and a second storage processing device to which second storage media are connected. The storage system sets the RAID level of the second storage media to a RAID level with lower redundancy than the RAID level of the first storage media, if the storage capacity of the second storage media is smaller than the storage capacity of the first storage media. |
| US08539277B2 |
Manycore networks-on-chip
A manycore networks-on-chip (NoC) formed by a plurality of clusters is provided. The manycore NoC includes redundant routers and connection channels therefore is fault-tolerant as long as the numbers of damaged routers and damaged connection channels are under predetermined thresholds. Moreover, the NoC can retain its original logical topology without isolating any core after resetting the connection channels in response to the damaged routers and connection channels. |
| US08539274B2 |
Load shedding during emergency power off event
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for load shedding during an emergency power off event. In one embodiment, power is supplied from a main power source to a plurality of electrical loads within a device enclosure. Power loss is detected from the main power source. Upon detecting the power loss, at least one of the electrical loads is disconnected from a supplemental power source such that power to at least one remaining load connected to the supplemental power source is sustained by the supplementary power source. |
| US08539273B2 |
Electronic device for detecting a type of a charger device during a sleep mode
An electronic device includes a microcontroller (MCU) and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU enters a sleep mode. The MCU determines whether a charger device is inserted in the electronic device according to whether power is supplied from the charger device, and wakes up the CPU when the charger device is inserted in the electronic device. After being awakened, the CPU detects a type of the charger device, and adjusts charging current from the charger device to the electronic device according to the type of the charger device. |
| US08539272B1 |
Reducing leakage current during low power mode
An apparatus is disclosed that may include an integrated circuit (IC) with an initialization bus configured to communicate with at least one low power mode latch operating during a initialization mode to set a value into the low power mode latch and configured to respond to the assertion of a low power mode signal by selecting the low power mode latch state to drive at least one logic gate to minimize leakage current during the low power mode. The IC may similarly configure and operate a RAM. A leakage control table may be used during initialization mode and created by other embodiments. The net list of a circuit block including at least part of the configuration block and lower power control latch may be used and/or modified to create a new net list to further minimize leakage current during low power mode. Installation packages and program systems are disclosed. |
| US08539271B2 |
Determining a power saving mode based on a hardware resource utilization trend
Techniques are disclosed for managing the amount of power consumed by server components of a computer system, each server component having multiple power modes. The utilization of each server component is monitored. Based on the monitored utilization, a time period is determined in which to apply a selected power mode to the respective server component. The respective server component is configured to operate in the selected power mode for at least the determined time period. |
| US08539269B2 |
Apparatus and method for high current protection
An apparatus may comprise one or more processor cores of a processor and a set of current limiters. Each current limiter may be coupled to a respective processor core and arranged to monitor processor activity in the processor, to compare the processor activity to one or more current limits of multiple current limits; and to initiate a current-limiting action when the one or more current limits is exceeded. |
| US08539266B2 |
Electronic device
A USB electronic device with a power source loaded therein, which is connected to another USB electronic device via a USB connector, comprises a voltage detection unit that detects a voltage at an identification pin of the USB connector, a power supply control unit that controls connection/disconnection between a power supply pin of the USB connector and the power source based upon a change in voltage at the identification pin detected by the voltage detection unit and an allow/disallow control unit that executes control to allow/disallow detection of the voltage change at the identification pin. |
| US08539264B2 |
Connection unit for patch cables of power-over-ethernet networks with an embedded switch controlled by a central control system
The connection unit is intended for connecting terminals (T) to networks (LAN) that provide electric energy (E) to the terminals (T) connected thereto. The connection unit (AE) is configured for generating electric energy for the connection unit (AE) from the energy (E) provided, and has a switching element (SE) for separating the supply of energy for the terminals (T), wherein the switching element (SE) is controlled via the network (LAN). It is advantageous that the energy supply of the terminals (T) can be separated or switched on via the network (LAN) by means of the switching elements (SE), for example as a function of the presence or the location of users of terminals (T). Since the separations of the energy supply to the terminals may be carried out over longer periods of time, such as during the night, the energy consumption of the terminals (T) or of the networks (LAN) providing the electric energy to the terminals (T) can be reduced significantly. |
| US08539263B2 |
Method of choosing a functioning mode of an integrated circuit device and relative device
A method is for choosing a mode out of a set of functioning modes of an integrated circuit (IC) device powered from different supply voltages from respective supply nodes. The IC device may include a mode pin for determining a functioning mode of the device, an internal control circuit coupled to the supply nodes and to the mode pin for sensing an electrical value on the mode pin and to start the IC device in a respective functioning mode depending on the supply node that is powered first. The method may include identifying the different supply voltage that first exceeds a threshold voltage, when the internal control circuit is powered, sensing the electrical value on the mode pin, and powering circuits of the IC device from the different supply voltage that first exceeded the threshold voltage and starting the device in a functioning mode determined by a value of the electrical value sensed on the mode pin and by the different supply voltage that first exceeded the voltage threshold. |
| US08539262B2 |
Apparatus, method, and system for improved power delivery performance with a dynamic voltage pulse scheme
An apparatus and method is described herein for providing a dynamic pulse scheme for a voltage supply. A load (current) demand event of a processor is either predicted and/or detected. In response to the current demand event, such as a change in the current demand; a temporary, transient voltage pulse is generated by a voltage supply to compensate for the current transient demand. As result, dynamic voltage supply pulses generated based on the load current or the prediction of the load current demand increases performance, decreases power consumption, and saves expensive addition of compensation components, such as capacitors to a processor package. |
| US08539257B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting an idle mode of processing equipment
Methods and apparatus for detecting an idle mode of processing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for monitoring a processing system may include a first system adapter for monitoring a first process chamber and determining a state thereof; and a first support adapter for communicating with the first system adapter and a first support system coupled to the first process chamber, the support adapter configured to communicate a readiness to operate the first support system at a low power mode to a controller of the support system in response to the state of the first process chamber being in an idle mode. |
| US08539253B2 |
System and method for securing information by obscuring contents of a persistent image
Files or directories in a persistent image such as a file system backup structure are hidden from general access by establishing a data set used by the file system when accessing the persistent image. The data set indicates a visibility status of the files or directories in the persistent image. Requests to the file system for access to the image are filtered through the data set to prevent unintentionally revealed information in the image from being generally available. Commands to add and remove entries in the data set are provided. The data set may be composed of combinations of lists, in which list entries indicate a hidden file or directory, or indicate a visible file or directory. The data set is maintained in system memory and updated on disk to permit restoration of the data set when a volume is mounted or during recovery from a system crash. Information that was unintentionally revealed in the active file system while a backup was being made can be obscured retroactively to provide protection from general access to improve information security in the file system. |
| US08539252B2 |
Method and system for protecting data
Methods and systems for protecting data may include controlling encryption and/or decryption, utilizing an encryption/decryption algorithm, rights related to the source and destination addresses, and encryption/decryption keys. The source location and/or destination of the data may comprise protected or unprotected memory. One or more of a plurality of algorithms may be utilized for the encryption and/or decryption. The rights may be stored in a key table, which may be stored on-chip, and may be reprogrammable. One or more keys for the encryption and/or decryption may be received from an external source or generated within the chip. The encryption/decryption algorithm may be selected based on two or more encryption/decryption algorithms, and additionally based on the source address, destination address, source rights, and destination rights. |
| US08539251B2 |
Memory for protecting data, memory system including the memory, and method of driving the memory
A memory for protecting data includes a first storage area storing a number of encryption keys, a second storage area receiving the encryption keys from the first storage area and storing again the received encryption keys, and a selection unit selecting one of the encryption keys stored in the second storage area according to a control signal, and encoding data input from outside the memory using a selected encryption key or decoding the data stored in the first storage area using the selected encryption key. |
| US08539248B2 |
Associating biometric information with passwords
Associating biometric information with passwords is disclosed. If biometric information received from a user matches stored biometric information, stored passwords associated therewith are retrieved. If these stored passwords are identical to access-enabling passwords, then the user is permitted to gain access associated with the access-enabling passwords. If the biometric information matches the stored biometric information but the stored passwords do not match the access-enabling passwords or are not present, then the user is requested to manually enter passwords, which are stored. If these stored passwords are identical to the access-enabling passwords, the user is permitted to gain access. However, if the biometric information does not match the stored biometric information, or if the biometric information has not been received from the user or is not present, then the user is requested to manually enter passwords. If these passwords match the access-enabling passwords, then the user is permitted to gain access. |
| US08539245B2 |
Apparatus and method for accessing a secure partition in non-volatile storage by a host system enabled after the system exits a first instance of a secure mode
In one embodiment, a peripheral controller coupled to a processor can include a storage controller. This storage controller can control access to a non-volatile storage coupled to the peripheral controller. The storage may include both secure and open partitions, and the storage controller can enable access to the secure partition only when the processor is in a secure mode. In turn, during unsecure operation such as third party code execution, visibility of the secure partition can be prevented. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08539244B2 |
Server, authentication server, content delivery system, and program
A service provider server has management means which manages a user ID corresponding to a service user and a device IDs corresponding to an information processing terminals of the service user in association with each other. |
| US08539235B2 |
Method for operating a network, a system management device, a network and a computer program therefor
The present invention relates to a method for operating a network comprising communicating devices representing nodes of the network. More precisely, the invention relates to a method for operating a network (1), comprising a node (D1) and a system management device (3), the system management device comprising a root keying material being a set of alpha-secure functions having a degree of complexity of, and the node being provided with a node keying material share of degree of complexity α derived from the root keying material. The method comprises the following steps, upon receipt at the system management device of a request for an external user (4) to gain access to the node (D1): the system management device generates an external user keying material share of degree of complexity α from the root keying material and an access identifier, the system management device generates an access keying material of degree of complexity less than α, from the external user keying material share and an identifier of the node, the system management device provides the external user with the access keying material share and the access identifier, the external user derives a key from the access keying material share, and transmitting this key and the access certificate to the node, the node computes a key from the access identifier and the node keying material share, and the node compares the key transmitted by the external user and the key computed by the node, so as to authenticate the external user. |
| US08539226B2 |
Certificate management and transfer system and method
A method and system for Certificate management and transfer between messaging clients are disclosed. When communications are established between a first messaging client and a second messaging client, one or more Certificates stored on the first messaging client may be selected and transferred to the second messaging client. Messaging clients may thereby share Certificates. Certificate management functions such as Certificate deletions, Certificate updates and Certificate status checks may also be provided. |
| US08539223B2 |
Network configuration setting generation system, device, and method
In a communication system of the present invention, second setting information is automatically generated according to first setting information used for performing predetermined processing between at least two devices when the first setting information is set to a first device of the at least two devices, where the second setting information is generated for a second device of the at least two devices. Then, the communication system transmits the automatically-generated second setting information to the second device. Otherwise, the communication system writes the automatically-generated second setting information onto a portable recording medium so that the second device can read the second setting information from the portable recording medium. |
| US08539222B2 |
System for securing virtual machine disks on a remote shared storage subsystem
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for secure distribution of virtualized storage. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for secure distribution of virtualized storage in a host in a cloud computing can include composing at least one virtual machine (VM) disk in a secure container and configured to deploy VM images into a cloud computing environment, encrypting the composed at least one VM disk, transmitting the encrypted VM disk to a hypervisor in the cloud computing environment receiving a request to activate a VM instance and generating a bootloader in the secure container, transmitting the bootloader to the hypervisor in the cloud computing environment and providing a key to the bootloader to unlock the at least one VM disk. |
| US08539215B2 |
Protocol converter for performing protocol conversion between loading an OS image using a first protocol in communication with a remote disk drive and second protocol to be used to load boot loader in communication with a memory
A protocol converter includes a MBR emulation unit connectable to a connector for an internal hard disk drive and configured to provide MBR in response to a request from a system BIOS, a first interface configured to acquire an OS from a remote hard disk drive through a network in response to an OS acquisition request from a secondary boot loader, a second interface configured to provide the secondary boot loader with the OS acquired by the first interface, and a conversion unit configured to perform conversion between a first protocol to be used by the first interface and a second protocol to be used by the second interface. |
| US08539214B1 |
Execution of a program module within both a PEI phase and a DXE phase of an EFI firmware
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable media for executing the same program module in a PEI phase and a DXE phase are disclosed. According to one method, a program module is first executed in the PEI phase. While the program module is executing in the PEI, it stores the memory address of a DXE entry point in a hand-off block. When the DXE phase is entered, the stored DXE entry point for the program module is retrieved from the hand-off block and the program module is executed at the DXE entry point. |
| US08539209B2 |
Microprocessor that performs a two-pass breakpoint check for a cache line-crossing load/store operation
A microprocessor breakpoint-checks a load/store operation specifying a load/store virtual address of data whose first and second pieces are within first and second cache lines. A queue of entries each include first storage for an address associated with the operation and second storage for an indicator indicating whether there is a match between a page address portion of the virtual address and a page address portion of a breakpoint address. During a first pass through a load/store unit pipeline, the unit performs a first piece breakpoint check using the virtual address, populates the second storage indicator, and populates the first storage with a physical address translated from the virtual address. During the second pass, the unit performs a second piece breakpoint check using the indicator received from the second storage and an incremented version of a page offset portion of the load/store physical address received from the first storage. |
| US08539205B2 |
Processing vectors using wrapping multiply and divide instructions in the macroscalar architecture
Embodiments of a system and a method in which a processor may execute instructions that cause the processor to receive an input vector and a control vector are disclosed. The executed instructions may also cause the processor to perform a product or quotient operation on another input vector dependent upon the input vector and the control vector. |
| US08539204B2 |
Cooperative thread array reduction and scan operations
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing aggregation operations across multiple threads that execute independently. Aggregation is specified as part of a barrier synchronization or barrier arrival instruction, where in addition to performing the barrier synchronization or arrival, the instruction aggregates (using reduction or scan operations) values supplied by each thread. When a thread executes the barrier aggregation instruction the thread contributes to a scan or reduction result, and waits to execute any more instructions until after all of the threads have executed the barrier aggregation instruction. A reduction result is communicated to each thread after all of the threads have executed the barrier aggregation instruction and a scan result is communicated to each thread as the barrier aggregation instruction is executed by the thread. |
| US08539202B2 |
Load/move duplicate instructions for a processor
A method includes, in a processor, loading/moving a first portion of bits of a source into a first portion of a destination register and duplicate that first portion of bits in a subsequent portion of the destination register. |
| US08539192B2 |
Execution of dataflow jobs
A method, system and computer program product for storing data in memory. An example system includes at least one multistage application configured to generate intermediate data in a generating stage of the application and consume the intermediate data in a subsequent consuming stage of the application. A runtime profiler is configured to monitor the application's execution and dynamically allocate memory to the application from an in-memory data grid. |
| US08539189B2 |
Indexed register access for memory device
Example embodiments of a non-volatile memory device may comprise receiving an index value at one or more input terminals of a memory device and storing the index value in a first register of the memory device. The first register may be implemented in a first clock domain, and the index value may identify a second register of the memory device implemented in a second clock domain. |
| US08539188B2 |
Method for enabling multi-processor synchronization
A method for providing at least one sequence of values to a plurality of processors is described. In the method, a sequence generator from one or more sequence generators is associated with a memory location. The sequence generator is configured to generate the at least one sequence of values. One or more read accesses of the memory location are enabled by a processor from the plurality of processors. In response to enabling the read access, the sequence generator is executed so that it returns a first value from the sequence of values to the processor. After executing the sequence generator, the sequence generator is advanced so that the next access generates a second value from the sequence of values. The second value is sequentially subsequent to the first value. |
| US08539187B2 |
On demand storage group management with recapture
A method to dynamically adjust the amount of free space in a storage group is disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, such a method may include monitoring the amount of free space in an active storage group. The method may further include maintaining an overflow storage group containing unused volumes. When the free space in the active storage group falls below a lower threshold value, the method may automatically move a volume from the overflow storage group to the active storage group. Conversely, when the free space in the active storage group exceeds an upper threshold value, the method may automatically transfer data from a volume in the active storage group to other volumes in the active storage group, and move the volume from the active storage group to the overflow storage group. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also disclosed herein. |
| US08539183B2 |
Memory cards including a standard security function
A memory card of one published standard, such as the Multi-Media Card (MMC) or Secure Digital Card (SD), is modified to include the function of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) according to another published standard. The controller of the memory card communicates between electrical contacts on the outside of the card and both the memory and the SIM. In one specific form, the memory card has the physical configuration of the current Plug-in SIM card with a few external contacts added to accommodate the memory controller and data memory. In another specific form, the memory card has the physical configuration of the current SD card, including external contacts. |
| US08539182B2 |
Method and apparatus for protected content data processing
Methods and an apparatuses that perform protected content data processing with limited access to system resources are described. One or more regions in a memory (including a source memory and a destination memory) can be allocated and unprocessed content data can be mapped to the source memory. A process can be initialized with the source and destination memories to process the content data. The process can be prevented from accessing resource other than the allocated regions in the memory. The processed content data can be stored in the destination memory. In one embodiment, the content data can include media content. A playing device can be instructed to play the media content based on the processed content data via the destination memory. |
| US08539180B2 |
System and method for migration of data
Systems and methods for data migration are disclosed. A method may include allocating a destination storage resource to receive migration data. The method may also include assigning the destination storage resource a first identifier value equal to an identifier value associated with a source storage resource. The method may additionally include assigning the source storage resource a second identifier value different than the first identifier value. The method may further include migrating data from the source storage resource to the destination storage resource. |
| US08539176B2 |
Data storage devices accepting queued commands having deadlines
A data storage device accepts queued read and write commands that have deadlines. The queued read and write commands are requests to access the data storage device. The deadlines of the queued read and write commands can be advisory deadlines or mandatory deadlines. |
| US08539174B2 |
Use by a host device having a first file system of a portable storage device having a second file system and supporting file segmentation
A host device includes a first file system, and a storage device includes a plurality of memory units and a plurality of controllers. While the host device is operative coupled to the storage device, the host device creates a second file system corresponding to the storage device and copies host content from the first file system to the second file system. The second file system is segmented into a plurality of segments, each of the plurality of segments being uniquely associated with a particular one of the plurality of controllers. The host device selects a data transfer rate to write the host content from the second file system to the storage device. |
| US08539173B2 |
Memory device, memory system and microcontroller including memory device, and memory control device
A memory device includes: a plurality of word lines and bit lines specifying addresses to be accessed; and a plurality of memory cells of consecutive addresses arranged to correspond to each of the word lines. The plurality of memory cells of the consecutive addresses are accessible in parallel by the plurality of bit lines each corresponding to one of the memory cells. Among the plurality of word lines, a first word line and a second word line that specifies an address next to that of the first word line have an overlapping address range, and a first memory cell connected to the first word line and a second memory cell connected to the second word line are assigned in dual fashion to a same address. |
| US08539160B2 |
Asynchronous cache refresh for systems with a heavy load
A method and system to refresh a data entry in a cache before the data entry expires. The system includes a client computing system coupled to a server via a network connection. In response to a request for data access, the client computing system locates a data entry in a cache and determines whether the data entry in the cache has exceeded a refresh timeout since a last update of the data entry. If the data entry in the cache has exceeded the refresh timeout, the client computing system retrieves the data entry found in the cache in response to the request without waiting for the data entry to be refreshed, and requests a refresh of the data entry from the server via the network connection. |
| US08539158B2 |
Merging data in an L2 cache memory
A method for merging data including receiving a request from an input/output device to merge a data, wherein a merge of the data includes a manipulation of the data, determining that the data exists in a local cache memory that is in local communication with the input/output device, fetching the data to the local cache memory from a remote cache memory or a main memory if the data does not exist in the local cache memory, merging the data according to the request to obtain a merged data, and storing the merged data in the local cache, wherein the merging of the data is performed without using a memory controller within a control flow or a data flow of the merging of the data. |
| US08539153B2 |
System on chip and electronic system having the same
An electronic system includes a system on chip (SOC). The SOC includes at least one internal memory that operates selectively as a cache memory or a tightly-coupled memory (TCM). The SOC may include a microprocessor, an internal memory, and a selecting circuit. The selecting circuit may be configured to set the internal memory to one of a TCM mode or a cache memory mode in response to a memory selecting signal. |
| US08539149B2 |
Storage system and communications method
Storage system arrangement wherein: when a transmission destination determines that a source-side serial number included in a received packet is the same as a current destination-side serial number in the transmission destination, the transmission destination processes a content of the received packet in accordance with a command included in the received packet; and when the transmission destination determines that the source-side serial number is not the same as the current destination-side serial number, the transmission destination does not process a content of the received packet. |
| US08539145B1 |
Increasing the number of ranks per channel
A computer-implemented method for increasing a number of ranks per channel. The channel comprises at least one buffered dual in-line memory module (DIMM). The at least one buffered DIMM comprises a conventional number of ranks and a conventional number of pins. The method includes receiving a memory access request at a memory controller, wherein the memory controller comprises a conventional number of pins. The method also includes encoding a plurality of chip-select (CS) signals at the memory controller, wherein the plurality of CS signals are based on the memory access request, such that the number of ranks per channel increases compared to a conventional number of ranks per channel while not requiring an increase in the number of pins in the memory controller compared to the conventional number of pins of the memory controller. |
| US08539144B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device with advanced multi-page program operation
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array having a plurality of banks and a cache block corresponding to each of the plurality of banks. The cache block has a predetermined data storage capacity. A page buffer is included which corresponds to each of the plurality of banks. A programming circuit programs all of the plurality of banks except a last of said banks with page data. The page data is loaded through each page buffer and programmed into each cache block such that when page data for the last bank is loaded into the page buffer, the loaded page data and the page data programmed into the respective cache blocks are programmed into respective corresponding banks. |
| US08539141B2 |
Optimized flash memory access method and device
A method for accessing a non volatile memory device including at least one group or sector of memory cells divided into regions programmable with two different data storage densities and accessible with at least two reading modes, for example a two-level mode and a multilevel mode. The memory regions are being organized into pages including a sub-group of memory cells for storing error correction codes of the data stored in the multilevel mode. The method includes providing at the beginning of each page at least one first cell wherein the information concerning the ECC protection or not of the whole page is to be stored. In the sub-group of cells at least one second cell intended for the storage of information concerning the programmed or erased state of the same page is provided. The content of the first and of the second cell is read before accessing, in programming, the corresponding page of the memory region. |
| US08539140B2 |
Storage device including flash memory and capable of predicting storage device performance based on performance parameters
A storage device includes a semiconductor memory storing data. A controller instructs to write data to the semiconductor memory in accordance with a request the controller receives. A register holds performance class information showing one performance class required to allow the storage device to demonstrate best performance which the storage device supports, of performance classes specified in accordance with performance. |
| US08539138B2 |
Flash memory device and method of programming flash memory device
A flash memory device performs a program operation using an incremental step pulse programming (ISPP) scheme comprising a plurality of program loops. In each of the program loops, a program pulse operation is performed to increase the threshold voltages of selected memory cells, and a program verify operation is performed to verify a program status of the selected memory cells. The program verify operation can be selectively skipped in some program loops based on a voltage increment of one or more of the program pulse operations, an amount by which threshold voltages of the selected memory cells are to be increased in the ISPP scheme, or a total number of program loops of the ISPP scheme. |
| US08539136B2 |
Techniques for dynamic disk personalization
Techniques for dynamic disk personalization are provided. A virtual image that is used to create an instance of a virtual machine (VM) is altered so that disk access operations are intercepted within the VM and redirected to a service that is external to the VM. The external service manages a personalized storage for a principal, the personalized storage used to personalize the virtual image without altering the virtual image. |
| US08539133B2 |
Embedded system capable of decreasing interrupt frequency of arm processor thereof
An embedded system includes an ARM processor and a number of b-bit peripheral processors connected to the ARM processor through a converting chip. The ARM processor includes pins P0˜Pa-1 divided into teams T1˜TN, each of which includes b pins, a and b are integral multiple of 8, wherein a=N×b. The number of the peripheral processors is N and each team corresponds to one peripheral processor. The converting chip reads an a-bit data from the ARM processor, converts the data into a plurality of b-bit data, and transfers each b-bit data to a peripheral processor, where the number of the b-bit data is N. The converting chip further reads one b-bit data from each peripheral processor in sequence, converts the read plurality of b-bit data into an a-bit data, and transfers the a-bit data to the ARM processor. |
| US08539126B2 |
Capacitive multidrop bus compensation
The signal integrity of a high speed heavily loaded multidrop memory bus is often degraded due the numerous impedance mismatches. The impedance mismatches causes the bus to exhibit a nonlinear frequency response, which diminishes signal integrity and limits the bandwidth of the bus. A compensating element, such as a capacitor which ties the bus to a reference plane (e.g., a ground potential), or an inductor wired in series with the bus, is located approximately midway between the memory controller and the memory slots. The use of the compensating element equalizes signal amplitudes and minimizes phase errors of signals in an interested frequency range and diminishes the amplitudes of high frequency signals which exhibit high degrees of phase error. The resulting bus structure has increased desirable harmonic content with low phase error, thereby permitting the bus to exhibit better rise time performance and permitting a higher data transfer rate. |
| US08539125B1 |
Combined USB flash drive cap audio device
A combined USB flash drive cap audio device is provided. In at least one embodiment, a thumb drive cap includes: a portable housing defined as a USB cap for a portable USB storage thumb drive; a female USB connector interface defined within the portable housing and configured to receive and electronically couple to a male USB connector on the portable USB storage thumb drive; a control unit disposed within the portable housing and configured to enable audio playback through the thumb drive cap of audio data stored on the connected portable USB storage thumb drive; and a plurality of user interface buttons disposed upon the portable housing and through which the thumb drive cap is controlled by a user for audio playback and audio record. |
| US08539123B2 |
Device management using a dedicated management interface
Management of data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system is provided. A peripheral device exposes to a host computer system multiple interfaces for data communication between the peripheral device and the host computer system. The multiple interfaces are exposed over a single physical interface between the peripheral device and the host computer system, for communicating data between the peripheral device and multiple applications executing on the host computer system. The multiple interfaces can include a dedicated management interface facilitating management of the peripheral device by a management application of the multiple applications executing on the host computer system. |
| US08539120B1 |
System and method of video decoding using hybrid buffer
In one embodiment the present invention includes an apparatus having a random access memory, a first interface, and a second interface. The first interface is coupled between the random access memory and a plurality of storage devices, and operates in a first in first out (FIFO) manner. The second interface is coupled between the random access memory and a processor, and operates in a random access manner. As a result, the processor is not required to be in the loop when data is being transferred between the random access memory and the storage devices. |
| US08539115B2 |
Server device, system, and operation environment management method
Certain embodiments provide a server device including: a first storage section which stores task execution device information for each of the identification information items of a plurality of task execution devices; a second storage section which stores operation environment information for each identification information item of an operating device; a receiving section which receives a requested task from the operating device to the task execution device; and a providing section which examines whether or not the requested task is executable and provides an examination result and the operation environment information corresponding to identification information to the operating device. |
| US08539113B2 |
Indicators for streams associated with messages
Techniques described herein provide for sending and receiving messages. The messages are associated with streams. Indicators associated with the streams determine if the messages are sent. |
| US08539111B2 |
Port switch
A method of processing a frame received at a networked device having a port switch and a general-purpose processor. The method can include receiving frame information at the port switch, determining at least one port for the frame, and directing the received frame information based on the determined port(s). |
| US08539108B2 |
Distributed robust clock synchronization
Technology is provided for synchronization of clock information between networked devices. One or more of the devices may include one or more applications needed access to data and a common time reference between devices. In one embodiment, the devices have applications utilizing data shared in a network environment with other devices, as well as having a reference to a local clock signal on each device. A device may have a layer of code between the operating system and software applications that processes the data and maintains a remote clock reference for one or more of the other devices on the network. |
| US08539107B2 |
Personal information management data synchronization
A data management application that may be implemented in a mobile device to perform two-way synchronization of electronic messages and/or PIM data with a server device. The device may be a mobile device such as a mobile phone or Smartphone, as well as a personal digital assistant, notebook computer, or other mobile device communicating using any of several wireless protocols. PIM data may include PIM application objects or other data, including but not limited to calendar, contact, and task object data. The data management application may synchronize e-mail and PIM data on a client device with that of a server where the server and client utilize one or more different protocols. |
| US08539103B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for selecting a stream server to which to direct a content title
A method of selecting a stream server of a plurality of stream servers to which to direct a content title, by (a) evaluating a cache ease-of-entry for each of a plurality of levels of a cache hierarchy for the plurality of stream servers; and (b) selecting the stream server from the plurality of stream servers to receive a content title, the selected stream server having a most favorable cache ease-of-entry over the plurality of levels of the cache hierarchy; (c) if none of the plurality of stream servers has a most favorable cache ease-of-entry over the plurality of levels of the cache hierarchy, selecting a stream server of the plurality of stream servers with a lowest miss traffic to which to direct the title; and (d) if none of the plurality of stream servers has a lowest miss traffic, selecting a stream server of the plurality of stream servers with a lowest stream traffic to which to direct the title. |
| US08539101B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer programs for detecting carrier-controlled requests for a web site
Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computers are disclosed for detecting and/or managing carrier-controlled requests for a web site. One embodiment is a method system for providing a web site to mobile communication devices. The system comprises a mobile communication device and a server. The mobile communication device is configured to communicate with the server via a communication network and comprises a carrier-controlled user interface for accessing a web site. The server is configured to provide the web site to the mobile communication device and comprises an on-deck detection system and an on-deck/off-deck management system embodied in a memory and executed by a processor. The on-deck detection system detects requests for the web site from the carrier-controlled user interface, and the on-deck/off-deck management system manages the requests. |
| US08539094B1 |
Ordered iteration for data update management
Host machines and other devices performing synchronized operations can be dispersed across multiple racks in a data center to provide additional buffer capacity and to reduce the likelihood of congestion. The level of dispersion can depend on factors such as the level of oversubscription, as it can be undesirable in a highly connected network to push excessive host traffic into the aggregation fabric. As oversubscription levels increase, the amount of dispersion can be reduced and two or more host machines can be clustered on a given rack, or otherwise connected through the same edge switch. By clustering a portion of the machines, some of the host traffic can be redirected by the respective edge switch without entering the aggregation fabric. When provisioning hosts for a customer, application, or synchronized operation, for example, the levels of clustering and dispersion can be balanced to minimize the likelihood for congestion throughout the network. |
| US08539091B2 |
Method and system for preempting control of data streaming
Methods and systems have been provided for preempting a secondary service provider from streaming information. The primary service provider sends an Ad-insert control packet for giving control of the streaming to the secondary service provider, during still periods determined on the basis of the Ad-insert control packet. When the primary service provider wants to take back control of streaming from the secondary service provider during the still periods, the primary service provider sends an Ad-insert preempt message. The secondary service provider is then preempted during the periods that are determined on the basis of the Ad-insert preempt message. |
| US08539089B2 |
System and method for vertical perimeter protection
Embodiments of the present invention include a method for processing packets through a plurality of protocol layers comprising accessing a packet associated with a connection and processing the packet through the plurality of protocol layers using a single thread wherein connection state information used by the plurality of protocol layers is preserved by mutual exclusion of other threads processing packets for the connection through the plurality of protocol layers. |
| US08539088B2 |
Session monitoring method, apparatus, and system based on multicast technologies
A session monitoring method based on multicast technologies is disclosed. The method includes: obtaining information about members of a multicast group that can be joined by a user in a session, wherein the session between a network and a member of the multicast group in the session is in an alive state; and checking whether the information about the members of the multicast group in the session includes user information corresponding to the user; if the member information includes the user information corresponding to the user, determining that the session between the network and the user as the member of the multicast group in the session is alive. A session monitoring apparatus, a session monitoring system, and an Access Node (AN) based on multicast technologies are also disclosed. |
| US08539082B2 |
Ad-hoc established device network
In an ad-hoc established device network, a profile based handover of the network control functionality is performed whenever a new device requests association with the network and the central controller does not support the profile of the new device. A database is searched for a controller-capable device that supports both the profiles of the network devices and the profile of the new device. The former central controller passes the control functionality to the controller-capable device, which becomes the new central controller. Thus it is possible to associate the new device with the net work. The invention allows to integrate devices supporting different profiles into a common network. |
| US08539080B1 |
Application intelligent request management based on server health and client information
Requests to a server farm are managed in an application intelligent manner based on server health and client information. A request management (RM) module is configured to make smart routing decisions, based on routing rules that relate the nature of requests to a dynamic topology of a server infrastructure. The RM may use its knowledge of server applications, servers, and clients to deny potentially harmful requests from entering the service, route good requests to the suitable machines, and maintain a history of the decisions and consequences automatic and/or manual optimization. |
| US08539076B2 |
Inter-server dynamic transfer method for virtual file servers
An object of the present invention is to dynamically transfer a virtual file server within a cluster that is configured by a plurality of file servers in which virtual file servers are set up. A storage system includes: a first file server; a second file server; and a disk subsystem, in which: the first file server and the second file server each include a virtual file server control unit that sets up the virtual file server; the virtual file server includes a routing table that stores path information necessary for communication; and the virtual file server started up in the second file server determines a communication path by using the routing table used by the virtual file server in the first file server after taking a failover from the virtual file server of the first file server to the second file server. |
| US08539064B1 |
Analysis of encrypted streaming media traffic
A method of analyzing streaming media traffic comprises intercepting a data stream that is at least in part encrypted, observing a characteristic associated with the data stream, deriving, based at least in part on the characteristic associated with the data stream, a characteristic associated with an IP telephony session. |
| US08539063B1 |
Method and system for containment of networked application client software by explicit human input
Method and system for containing networked application client software in order to perform specified transactions only given explicit consent of a legitimate user. In one embodiment, a confirmation interceptor intercepts a service request message, queries the user of the request for a confirmation, and then either passes the service request message onto server application software or drops the request, depending on the user's confirmation response. In soliciting and processing the confirmation response, query is formulated so that the required response cannot be automatically generated by software that attempts to automate and simulate the user's actions. |
| US08539054B2 |
Remote interface apparatus, control system, and the method thereof
A remote interface apparatus comprises a network interface, a peripheral device interface, an interface-providing mechanism and a network address setting mechanism. The network interface is configured to communicate with a remote host. The peripheral device interface is configured to connect to a peripheral device. The interface-providing mechanism cooperates with the network interface to transfer the peripheral device interface into a remote peripheral device connection port of the host. The network address setting mechanism is configured to automatically obtain a network address upon a connection to the network, and to broadcast information of the peripheral device interface. |
| US08539052B2 |
Control assistance system, information processing apparatus and computer-readable medium having a computer program
A control assistance system and method include transmitting identification information and part identification information of a managed apparatus, storing identification information of the managed apparatus and the part identification information in a correspondence manner, specifying a combination of parts of the managed apparatus based on a correspondence between the identification information received from the managed apparatus and the identification information stored in the database, writing the received identification information in the database according to the specified combination of parts of the managed apparatus and transmitting a signal of restricting an operation to the specified managed apparatus. |
| US08539049B2 |
Internet strawman and user interface therefor
A user account including a personal profile is stored by a server for subsequent use. The user is provided a list of displayable entries sortable using specified criteria in a manner that allows the user to review a selection of entries and to make a change to the selection prior to submitting a transaction for processing. Responsive to a request to log into the user account, the identity of the user is verified. Once verified, the transaction is facilitated between a vendor and the user pursuant to instructions from the user. The instructions are generated based on a shopping cart screen rendered by a client device of the user. The user is sent a confirmation message regarding the transaction while the user is logged in the server. The user can be provided an account screen allowing access to information relating to user transactions and information relating to an account balance. |
| US08539048B2 |
Electronic device and method for loading configuration files using the same
A method for loading a configuration file from a remote server to an electronic device includes obtaining a default configuration file from the remote server, and executing the default configuration file to boot the electronic device, identifying a corresponding MAC list in the remote server according to hardware configurations of the electronic device, and obtaining a specific MAC value corresponding to an unused status flag from the MAC list. The method further includes obtaining a default MAC value of a network card of the electronic device, replacing the default MAC value of the network card with the specific MAC value, obtaining a specific configuration file from the remote server according to the specific MAC value, and rebooting the electronic device according to the specific configuration file. |
| US08539045B2 |
Host system and remote device server for maintaining virtual connectivity during live migration of virtual machine, and connectivity maintaining method using the same
A host system includes: a virtual machine migration controller for performing live-migration of a virtual machine and driving the virtual machine; and a virtual connection unit for establishing a virtual connection with a remote device server to which a device allocated to the virtual machine is connected. The host system further includes and a virtual controller for providing information for establishing the virtual connection to a destination host of the live-migration, or receiving the information for establishing the virtual connection from a source host from which the live-migration starts and providing the information to the virtual connection unit, driving the virtual machine which has live-migrated. |
| US08539036B2 |
Modular transparent proxy cache
A device receives, from a client device, a request for a resource that is available from an origin device, and determines whether the resource is cached in a cache server or not cached in the cache server. The device forwards the request to the cache server regardless of whether or not the resource is cached in the cache server, and receives, when the resource is not cached in the cache server, a redirect command from the cache server based on the request. The device forwards the received redirect command to the client device, where the redirect command instructs the client device to obtain the resource from the origin device. The device receives, from the cache server and based on the request, the resource when the resource is cached in the cache server, and forwards the received resource to the client device. |
| US08539034B2 |
System and method for bulk data messaging
A system and method can broadcast a plurality of instant messages, at substantially the same time, via a computer network to a plurality of recipients. The recipients can respond via the network to a human or an automated agent. A predetermined reply message can be sent if all agents are busy. |
| US08539030B2 |
System and method for managing digests comprising electronic messages
A system and method for managing digests comprising electronic messages is presented. A selection criteria that defines message-based content for a digest is defined. Properties and characteristics of the content of the digest are defined. A delivery criteria that specifies periodic sending of the digest is accepted. The digest is constructed as a set of electronic messages. A dynamic stream of the electronic messages is monitored. One or more of the electronic messages is evaluated by filtering the electronic messages against the selection criteria. Only those electronic messages that satisfy the selection criteria are grouped into the digest to which the selection criteria corresponds. The digest is periodically delivered upon satisfaction of the delivery criteria. |
| US08539029B2 |
Pre-send evaluation of E-mail communications
A system for identifying attributes associated with content of an e-mail message and alerting a user includes a client device programmed to allow a user to create an e-mail message including at least one recipient and a message content, a server programmed to check an attribute of the e-mail message, and to send the e-mail message, and one or more information stores in communication with the server, the information stores including information about the e-mail message. The server is programmed to query the information stores to obtain information about the e-mail message as the message is being composed by the user, and the server sends a mail tip to the client regarding the e-mail message. The client is programmed to provide the mail tip to the user, the mail tip being formatted and positioned by the client so that it is integrated within a header section of the e-mail message. |
| US08539025B2 |
Zero client device with integrated serial or parallel ports
System and method for zero client communications. A zero client device includes a housing, and in the housing, a transcoding processing unit (transcoder) and a communications processing unit coupled to the transcoder. The transcoder is configured to receive input data from human interface device(s), encode the input data, and provide the encoded input data to the communications processing unit for transmission over a network to a server. The communications processing unit is configured to receive the encoded input data from the transcoder, transmit the encoded input data over the network to the server, receive output data from the server, and send the output data to the transcoder. The transcoder is further configured to receive the output data from the communications processing unit, decode the output data, and send the decoded output data to at least one of the human interface devices. |
| US08539024B2 |
System and method for asynchronous client server session communication
The invention provides a session-based bi-directional multi-tier client-server asynchronous information database search and retrieval system for sending a character-by-character string of data to an intelligent server that can be configured to immediately analyze the lengthening string character-by-character and return to the client increasingly appropriate database information as the client sends the string. |
| US08539018B2 |
Analysis of IT resource performance to business organization
A system, method and computer program product for determining at least one association between at least one business process and at least one network entity. The system maps at least one user to the business process. The system maps the user to at least one network end-point. The system maps the network end-point to at least one application. The system maps the network entity to the application. The system identifies the association among the business process, the user, the network end-point, the application and the network entity based on one or more of the mappings. |
| US08539017B2 |
Systems and methods for creating network architecture planning tools
A method of creating a network architecture planning tool includes receiving at a host computer system a request from a user computer to display a first object template, transmitting an electronic file comprising the object template to a user computer, receiving at the host computer system information defining a first object comprising at least a function defining a next object, receiving at the host computer system a request from a user computer to display at least a second object template, transmitting an electronic file comprising the at least a second object template to the user computer, receiving at the host computer system information defining at least a second object relating to a network, and storing the information defining the first object and the information defining at least the second object. |
| US08539014B2 |
Solving linear matrices in an integrated circuit device
Circuitry for solving linear matrix equations involving a resultant matrix, an unknown matrix and a product matrix that is a product of the resultant matrix and the unknown matrix includes matrix decomposition circuitry for triangulating an input matrix to create a resultant matrix having a plurality of resultant matrix elements on a diagonal, and having a further plurality of resultant matrix elements arranged in columns below the resultant matrix elements on the diagonal. The matrix decomposition circuitry includes an inverse square root multiplication path that computes diagonal elements of the resultant matrix having an inverse square root module, and the said inverse square root module computes inverses of the diagonal elements to be used in multiplication in place of division by a diagonal element. Latency is hidden by operating on each nth row of a plurality of matrices prior to any (n+1)th row. |
| US08539012B2 |
Multi-rate implementation without high-pass filter
A filtering method approximates a target Finite Impulse Response (FIR) (or transversal) filter and reduces computational requirements by eliminating high pass filtering required by known multi-rate filters. An input signal is copied into two identical signals and processed in parallel by a full-rate path, and by a reduced-rate path. Parallel filters are computed and applied in each path, the reduced-rate signal is up-sampled, and the two signals summed. The high pass filter required by known multi-rate filters is eliminated and the low pass filter in the prior art is implicit in a down sampling. Linear phase FIR filters are used for down and up sampling, resulting in constant group delay. Added benefits include the option of zero added latency through the filtering and the constant group delay added to the target FIR. The user may choose criteria such as minimum resolution in each band. |
| US08539006B2 |
Logical chart of accounts with hashing
A Chart of accounts (COA) is maintained as a logical set of constraints, criteria, and relationships and does not persist any of the valid combinations until a first time a particular combination is used. When any business logic or properties need to be set or referenced on an individual combination, that combination is physically persisted “just in time” and then becomes a physical combination that may be used going forward. A hash value is associated with each combination such that lookups are simplified. |
| US08539003B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying problems of a business application in a customer support system
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, methods and systems analyze potential logic errors or problems of a business application by receiving a model representing the business application and processing the model using an object-oriented tool. The errors or problems may be corrected in the model and the correction applied to the business application. In one exemplary embodiment, the logic errors or problems may be marked in the model for identification to a user. |
| US08539002B2 |
Subjective information record for linking subjective information about a multimedia content with the content
A subjective information record for inputting data that enables subjective information about a multimedia content to be represented with well defined syntax and semantics and linked to the multimedia content. The record includes a field for inputting data that identifies a multimedia content and a location of the multimedia content; a field for inputting data that identifies an author of subjective information about the multimedia content; a field for a language of the subjective information; and a field for subjective information about the content. |
| US08539000B2 |
Method and system for information modeling and applications thereof
Method, system, and programs for an information model to be used in representing data. The information model includes a plurality of features, one or more information allocation models, and a configuration that associates an information allocation model with each of the features, where an information allocation model is to be used to allocate a portion of information contained in the data to each of the features and the total amount of information allocated to the features equals a total amount of information contained in the data. |
| US08538999B2 |
String lookup using three-transition tree structure
A tree data structure for storing strings of searchable data divided into substrings has at least one first type node that has a substring associated with it and at least one second type node that does not having a substring associated with it. A second type node is directly linked to a first type node by a fail transition. A first type node is directly linked to a second type node by a match transition. An IP address lookup system has memory for storing a tree data structure and a controller for storing and loading an incoming IP address. The system has a finite state machine having three stages including a first stage for loading the IP address and performing a length calculation, a second stage for searching the data structure to find a match, and a third stage for determine the next-hop address index. |
| US08538994B2 |
Methods and procedures to provide complete test copy environment of hosted applications
Systems and methods that create a duplicate database instance on which database testing may be performed. The techniques for creating a test database instance enable database testing to proceed without impacting other organization's access to their data in the database or corrupting an organization's data. The ability to allow one organization (“org”) to test their portion of a database without interrupting other organizations from using their portions of the database enables a database system to support more than one organization as tenants. |
| US08538992B1 |
Methods, systems, and data structures for federating electronic calendars
The methods, systems, and data structures are taught for federating disparate calendaring systems into composite calendaring systems and composite calendars. First and second calendaring systems are bridged to a composite calendaring system using a bridging communication. The composite calendaring system tracks and presents selective information within a composite calendar. |
| US08538986B2 |
System for coordinating user images in an artistic design
A computer system coupled to a digital image database with images having image attributes. The image attributes are automatically evaluated in order to find a compatible digital template from a digital template database. The templates each include a plurality of windows for displaying the digital images and each of the template include template attributes to automatically select a template whose attributes are compatible with at least one of the image attribute. The data base of digital images is also automatically searched for additional images having an attribute compatible with the template attributes and with the first one of the image attributes. A display screen coupled to the computer system displays the selected template and at least one other image. |
| US08538976B2 |
Abstract data model extension through managed physical statement structures
A method and system for integrating a physical query statement in a data abstraction model comprising a plurality of logical fields are provided. The method involves receiving the physical query statement and parsing the physical query statement to provide physical fields. The next step is determining whether the physical fields can be directly mapped to logical fields in the data abstraction model to yield a first determination result. Following this step, if at least one first physical field cannot be directly mapped to logical fields in the data abstraction model, then the next step is determining whether the first physical field can be determined from fields in the data abstraction model to yield a second determination result. Finally, the method involves providing a representation of the first determination result and a representation of the second determination result. |
| US08538970B1 |
Personalizing search results
A system receives a search query from a user and performs a search of a corpus of documents, based on the search query, to form a ranked set of search results. The system re-ranks the set of search results based on preferences of the user, or a group of users, and provides the re-ranked search results to the user. |
| US08538969B2 |
Data format for website traffic statistics
A data format is optimized for storing data such as website traffic data. The data format enables easy access to and filtering of data, for example in generating website traffic reports. The data format also provides significant data compression. A method for generating a data file according to the data format employs linear compression and indexing to efficiently store the data. Data stored according to the format can be easily retrieved, particularly when a known value is specified and particular entries matching the known value are sought. |
| US08538966B2 |
Machine, program product, and computer-implemented method for file management, storage, and access utilizing a user-selected trigger event
A database stores a plurality of files assigned by a user to a plurality of categories representing notable events in a life of the user. The database can also store individual journal entries associated with the files. The user is prompted through a questionnaire to select a trigger event, for example, a death of the user, for making publicly available a file of the plurality of files and to approve terms of a legal document so that the user can designate a portion of the plurality of files, and optionally associated journal entries, to be made publicly available after the trigger event. Then third parties can be provided access the designated portion of the plurality of files after and responsive to the user-selected trigger event. A recipient entity, established for acquiring rights to the files, may determine conditions, including payment, for such access. |
| US08538963B2 |
Optimal persistence of a business process
Embodiments of the invention provide for automatically selecting optimal fetch settings for business processes as a function of database query load and relational context by determining whether data loaded for data retrieval points is dependent upon a query result from another query process and automatically selecting an eager fetch setting if dependent upon a query result from another query process, or a lazy fetch setting if not. Usage of the data retrieval points is monitored with respect to defined units of work to define retrieval patterns and automatically update the fetch settings, including by revising selected eager fetch settings to lazy fetch settings if a datasize of a defined retrieval pattern is larger than a permissible memory resource threshold. |
| US08538961B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes an extraction unit operable to extract metadata used for recognizing an event associated with a captured image from at least one of the captured image and attribute information concerning the captured image, and a recognition unit operable to recognize, on the basis of the metadata extracted by the extraction unit, the event associated with the captured image from among a plurality of predetermined events. |
| US08538959B2 |
Personalized data search utilizing social activities
Embodiments relate personalized data searches utilizing social activities. In one embodiment, a search query is received from a user. A set of search results that satisfy the search query is received from a search engine. A user interest profile associated with the user is identified. The user interest profile includes information associated with a set of activities performed by the user on one or more social systems. A ranking score is assigned to each result in at least a subset of search results in the set of search results based at least on the user interest profile. The subset of search results are sorted based on the score that has assigned to each result in the subset of results. The subset of search results that has been sorted is sent to the user. |
| US08538958B2 |
System and method for context map generation
Personalized services and targeted services demand the exploitation of context—say, context of an environment, context of a product, context of a service, and context of a customer or user or individual. In order for the personalized and targeted services to have a greater impact, the identified context used by a context aware processing engine needs to be accurate and current. Such an up-to-date context is called as context map and a system and method for generating a customer-specific context map involves the processing of customer transactions, abstracting and generalizing these transactions into entities, and inter-relating these entities. The context map, for example, is useful in ad targeting in mobile environments, and in quicker and efficient problem resolution in contact center environments. |
| US08538956B1 |
Geocoding results using geotopic annotation of web search results
Embodiments disclosed herein generally disclose how to provide geocoding results in response to location search queries. A geographical information system receives a search query for a map feature and identifies both web search results and geocoding results that are associated with the search query. The geographical information system determines which geocoding result to return based on the identified web search results. |
| US08538954B2 |
Aggregate function partitions for distributed processing
Systems and apparatuses are provided for a distributed aggregate user defined function processing system. A non-transitory computer readable medium stores instructions for a query compiler to identify a call to a distributed aggregate user defined function within a query of the distributed analytical data processing system, retrieve metadata associated with the distributed aggregate user defined function, and validate and resolve respective inputs and outputs of a plurality of function partitions associated with the distributed aggregate user defined function according to the retrieved metadata. A distributed processing engine includes a plurality of processing nodes to execute the plurality of function partitions and organize data flow from the plurality of function partitions to produce an output for the distributed aggregate user defined function. |
| US08538950B2 |
Method and apparatus for editing graphic user interface
A method and apparatus for editing a user created content (UCC)-based graphic user interface (GUI). The method includes storing at least one content file in a predetermined folder; configuring a first-content table using a file name-index table and a file name of each of the at least one content file stored in the predetermined folder; and outputting the GUI based on the first-content index table. |
| US08538945B1 |
Tailored intergenerational historic snapshots
A tailored intergenerational historic snapshot message informs a younger person about the world an older person lived in when they were young. The older person's age and the younger person's age are used to identify a historic time period in which the older person was the same age as the younger person. A circumstance which occurred in the historic time period is selected from a database or web search result. The message is tailored to the ages of the people involved. The message may also be tailored to recite circumstances specific to a topic area or a geographic location. |
| US08538944B1 |
Resource catchment areas
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a first search query that is associated with a particular query location. A first search result that is responsive to the first search query is selected. The first search result references a first resource that has a first catchment area. The first catchment area includes the particular query location. A second search result that is responsive to the first search query is selected. The second search result references a second resource that has a second catchment area. The second catchment area does not include the particular query location. The second catchment area does include a business location of the first resource. First data specifying selection of the first search result and the second search result in response to the search query are provided. |
| US08538940B2 |
Identification of shared resources
A method for identifying relevant shared resources for a requested browser criterion, the method comprising the steps of: receiving browser monitoring data for a shared resource, the browser monitoring data including an identification of a browser criterion; recording the browser monitoring data to a monitoring data store; parsing the monitoring data in the monitoring data store to identify relevant monitoring data for the requested browser criterion; and identifying shared resources associated with the relevant monitoring data. |
| US08538932B2 |
Extended logical worm data integrity protection with unique worm identifier in header and database
A data storage system stores logical data object(s), each identified by a logical identifier. A control is configured to assign a unique WORM (Write Once Read Many) identifier to the logical data object, and stores the unique WORM identifier as associated with the logical identifier, in a database maintained by the control so as to be persistent. Data storage is configured to write the logical data object with a header with the unique WORM identifier. The control, in order to allow the logical data object to be accessed externally to the control, requires matching the unique WORM identifier in the header of a logical data object to the unique WORM identifier of the persistent database for the logical object. The unique WORM identifier is formed of a checksum hash value related to nonce fields comprising at least the logical identifier of the logical data object, and an incrementing token. |
| US08538928B2 |
Flash-copying with asynchronous mirroring environment
A first command is sent from a primary host system to a primary storage controller device, specifying that a first primary volume is to be flash-copied to a second primary volume. Flash-copying provides for completion of copying the first primary volume to the second primary volume to be signaled prior to data on the first primary volume being physically copied to the second primary volume. A first state of the first primary volume and the second primary volume is verified by the primary storage controller device to determine whether the first state permits flash-copying of the first primary volume to the second primary volume. A first query is sent from the primary storage controller device to a secondary host system, requesting whether a first secondary volume can be flash-copied to a second secondary volume. The first and second secondary volumes asynchronously mirror the first and second primary volumes, respectively. |
| US08538924B2 |
Computer system and data access control method for recalling the stubbed file on snapshot
Proposed is a convenient computer system and data access control method which, while protecting data in a snapshot, enable restoration in operational volume file units.If a read request to read a stubbed file in the snapshot is supplied, the data of the file is acquired from a second logical volume of an archive destination by means of recall processing and the acquired data is transmitted to the source of the read request after writing the acquired data to the snapshot, but, if a write request to write to a file in the snapshot is supplied, the write request is rejected. |
| US08538923B2 |
Method, node and system for controlling version in distributed system
A method, node and system for controlling version in a distributed system. Wherein, the method includes: a management node is selected from each domain of the distributed system; one is selected as the synchronization source of the distributed system from all the management nodes, and all the management nodes synchronize the time with that of the synchronization source; all the management nodes control the time synchronization of the nodes in their own domain according to the synchronized time; the nodes of the distributed system control the version of the duplicate copy of the storage data according to the synchronized time. According to the technical scheme, it can be realized that the rough time synchronization of the distributed system, the expansibility and the practicability are improved, and the defects of the distributed system in the prior art, such as the poor expansibility and practicability, are solved. |
| US08538920B2 |
System and method for storage service
A storage service stores data from a network device. A data collector retrieves the data for the storage service based on reference data passed to the storage service from the network device. |
| US08538916B1 |
Extracting instance attributes from text
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for extracting instance attributes from text are described. In one aspect, a method exploits weakly-supervised and unsupervised instance relatedness data, available in the form of labeled classes of instances and distributionally similar instances. The method organizes the data into a graph containing instances, class labels, and attributes. The method propagates attributes among related instances, through random walks over the graph. |
| US08538908B2 |
Efficient service rules creation through subjective logic and temporal pattern recognition
A method for generating service rules corresponding to business data is disclosed. A plurality of business related data is gathered from various sources. The data is combined using a subjective logic technique. The data is then evaluated for temporal patterns. Finally a set of service rules corresponding to the combined business data are developed. |
| US08538906B2 |
System and method for medical treatment hypothesis testing using relative likelihood of treatment results
A computer-implemented system and method of evaluating the effects of medical treatments, the method including receiving patient record data; identifying relevant characteristics for evaluation; identifying a first treatment; identifying a second treatment; assigning a weight to each patient case; determining the relative likelihood, using the assigned weights, that an identified treatment will result in an identified effect when contrasted with a second identified treatment; and, outputting this estimated relative likelihood. |
| US08538899B1 |
Model-to-data and data-to-model traceability
A device, method and tangible computer-readable medium are provided for detecting output discrepancies between representations of a block in two system models. For example, a first representation of a block may represent a default configuration and may execute in a first model. A second representation of the block may represent a user-modified configuration for the block and may execute in a second model. The user may execute the first and second models and may compare results using an exemplary embodiment. The embodiment may allow the user to define criteria and weightings for the criteria and to use the criteria for generating objective functions and constraints. The objective functions and constraints may be used to evaluate the performance of the two models. The embodiment may further perform trace back operations with respect to a model to determine a location in the model that produces an output discrepancy. |
| US08538882B2 |
User alerts for monitored transactions at automatic teller machines
Transactions involving the financial account at a plurality of automatic teller machines are monitored. Responsive to identifying a transaction by a user at an automatic teller machine within the plurality of automatic teller machines, an image of the user is captured. The image of the user is associated with the transaction to form an alert for use in identifying patterns of use for the financial account. |
| US08538881B2 |
Method and apparatus for secure access payment and identification
According to one aspect, the invention provides a system for authenticating identities of a plurality of users. In one embodiment, the system includes a first handheld device including a wireless transceiver which is configured to transmit authentication information, a second device including a wireless receiver, where the second device is configured to receive the authentication information. |
| US08538878B2 |
Methods and systems for automated generation of bills
The present invention provides methods and systems for processing bills electronically. Generally, a bill is created for a customer using billing information and master data from a biller and master data from a customer. Billing information is received from the biller by a first processing module having access to the master data of the biller. The first processing module generates a bill using the billing information and the master data of the biller. A second processing module having access to the master data of the customer provides customer data to the first processing module. The bill is transformed into a format specified in the master data of the customer by the first processing module if the format of the generated bill is not the format specified in the master data of the customer. The generated or transformed bill is transferred to the second processing module by the first processing module. |
| US08538875B2 |
Process for linked healthcare and financial transaction initiation
Methods and systems for acquiring a pre-approval from a responsible party and receiving funds from a financial account related to the pre-approval in the healthcare field are described herein. A method for collecting payment from an individual for services rendered by a provider is disclosed. The method includes verifying an individual's eligibility for benefits, estimating an individual responsibility amount, acquiring authority from the individual for up to the individual responsibility amount on at least one financial account held by the individual, submitting one or more claims to one or more payer entities requesting compensation for the services rendered by the provider, deducting an amount from the at least one financial account held by the individual, and transferring the deducted amount to the provider. |
| US08538874B2 |
Pay yourself first with auto bill pay system and method
The invention encourages users to not only pay themselves first, but to pay themselves first in the largest amounts possible, even if they are not able to fully pay outstanding debts. In general, the system obtains information related to the user's income, income sources, user's debts (e.g., bills) and user's goals. The system then provides recommendations related to the prioritization of paying certain bills and the amount to pay for each bill based upon, for example, savings goals, minimum amounts due, due dates and available income. The system and/or the user may then determine a payment hierarchy which includes transferring funds to the user's savings account prior to paying all or a portion of certain bills. The system also transfers instructions related to payment of user debts to an automatic bill payment system to facilitate payment of the user debts. |
| US08538872B1 |
Credit card account shadowing
Account shadowing is provided such that when a charge is made on a first credit card (e.g., a high interest rate credit card) of a user, a transfer of funds is made from a second credit card (e.g., a low interest rate credit card) of the user to pay the charge made to the first credit card. This may transfer the balance from a user's high interest rate credit card to a user's low interest rate credit card. In this manner, the user may receive the reward incentives of a high interest rate credit card while using a low interest rate credit card to satisfy balances due. |
| US08538866B2 |
System and method for processing bankruptcy claims
A method is disclosed. The method includes sending bankruptcy notification messages to a plurality of creditors. The bankruptcy notification messages notify the creditors that various debtors have filed for bankruptcy. Requests are received from the plurality of creditors to file proofs of claims for debts owed by the debtors to the creditors with bankruptcy organizations. The requests are aggregated from the plurality of creditors, and the proofs of claims are filed with the bankruptcy organizations. |
| US08538865B2 |
Method of determining prior net benefit of obtaining additional risk data for insurance purposes via survey or other procedure
A method is disclosed for determining the prior net benefit of obtaining data relating to an individual risk in an insurance portfolio, via a survey or similar procedure. A risk model is developed at the individual risk level for mathematically estimating the probability of expected loss given a set of information about the risk. The risk model is incorporated into a profitability model. A probability distribution relating to the type of survey information to be obtained is developed, which is used for determining the gross value of obtaining the information. The method produces as an output a quantitative estimation (e.g., dollar value) of the net benefit of obtaining survey data for the risk, calculated as the gross value of the survey less the survey's cost, where the benefit of the survey relates to a quantitative increase in predictive accuracy resulting from incorporating the survey data into the predictive model. |
| US08538864B2 |
Providing payment software application as enterprise services
Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having payment functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described. |
| US08538863B1 |
System and method for facilitating a transaction using a revolving use account associated with a primary account
The present invention facilitates transactions by providing a revolving use account that is associated with a primary account number, wherein the revolving use account is presented to the merchant to initiate a transaction. More particularly, the system involves the process of registering a user's primary account (if not already pre-registered) to use in a transaction system; generating a revolving use account and issuing this number one or more separate users and/or transaction devices, where the user presents this revolving use account to a merchant to complete a transaction. Additionally, the revolving use account may also carry with it certain limitations-on-use conditions, where a transaction is not authorized unless these conditions are met. In generating a revolving use account, the issuer generates a random number and associates this number with the user's primary charge account. |
| US08538861B2 |
Use of adaptive and/or customized compression to enhance the efficiency of digital financial data exchanges
The present invention relates to a method for enhancing the efficiency of digitally communicated data exchanges and to a computer system that implements such a method. The invention particularly concerns the use of adaptive custom compression techniques, binary integers (“bits”), massively parallel processing, database optimization techniques and/or calculation optimization techniques to achieve such enhanced efficiency. The invention is applicable to any digitally communicated data exchange, but is particularly applicable to exchanges of financial information such as financial market buy/sell orders, market making, etc. |
| US08538858B2 |
Apparatus and method for commodity trading with automatic odd lot hedging
Apparatus and method for trading commodities with automatic hedging for odd lot offers. The apparatus automatically accepts odd lot offers on behalf of buyers and aggregates them with other odd lot offers of the same commodity symbol until there are enough bushels to reach a predetermined threshold, or “tipping point,” which causes the system to automatically calculate the optimum number of full lot futures contracts to sell at the market price in order to offset risk associated with accepting the odd lot offers, and to automatically secure the optimum number of full lot futures contracts. The system reduces or eliminates situations where no transactions are executed due to the market's failure to reach a certain price, and reduces the buyers' exposure to slippage on accumulated odd lots. |
| US08538857B2 |
Online trading system having real-time account opening
In one embodiment, the online trading system having a real-time account opening process comprises one or more computers coupled to a network. The computers maintain a brokerage account database, and service web page requests received over the network. The web pages are preferably configured to implement a real-time account opening (RTAO) process that establishes new brokerage accounts in the account database. The RTAO process may include (a) obtaining contact information; (b) creating a new record in the brokerage account database for the contact information; (c) obtaining brokerage account application information; (d) updating the new record with the application information; (e) displaying a brokerage account contract; and (f) securing online agreement to said brokerage account contract. The process preferably also includes obtaining funding information to automatically initiate a transfer of funds to the brokerage account. |
| US08538850B2 |
Method and system for creating and marketing employee stock option mirror image warrants
A warrant on company stock that is used to determine value of employee options for U.S. accounting purposes on company stock. The warrant comprises an amortization factor, an exercise term that is the same or substantially similar to an exercise term of the employee options, and a strike price that is the same or substantially similar to a strike price of the employee options. The warrant also comprises a provision to periodically determine the amortization factor based on early forfeiture and/or early exercise of the employee options, a provision to apply the amortization factor to the warrants, and a provision to determine an intrinsic value of the warrants. Value of the employee options for U.S. accounting purposes is determined using market value of the warrants at issue. |
| US08538844B1 |
System and method for integrating trading operations including the generation, processing and tracking of and trade documents
First and second components of the present invention, in combination, provide a customer interface for initiating a trade transaction and provides for the secure viewing of the status of the transaction. A third component assists in the automatic generation and verification of the voluminous and detailed documents required to support a trade transaction. The third component additionally tracks and assists in the management of the seller's manufacturing and shipment of the goods that form the basis of the trade transaction. A fourth component automatically generates a Letter of Credit from a Purchase Order and performs a reconciliation function on payments made pursuant to Letters of Credit or open Accounts. |
| US08538841B2 |
Method for establishing and administering a benefits program
A system and method for establishing and administering a benefits program for enrollees of a membership association of tenants including an indemnity plan backed by a licensed surety to guarantee association participants of rental properties against property damage and/or loss of rents due to actions of any tenant as an association member, comprising the steps of marketing the benefits program to association participants, indemnifying the association participants, managing the benefits program by the association sponsor, issuing a surety bond certificate by the association sponsor to each association participant, accepting prospective program members into the benefits program upon payment of an enrollment fee and qualification, establishing a loss pool account with a predetermined portion of the enrollment fees received from each association participant, disbursing predetermined portions of the enrollment fees to the plan surety and the loss pool account and, optionally, to association participants, submitting and approving claims for property damage and/or loss of rent to the association sponsor and paying the association participants' approved claims from the loss pool account. |
| US08538840B2 |
Financial services data model
A data model that allows for relationships between entities, also referred to as parties, to be modeled as attributes of an entity and for customization of the data model in a manner that facilitates upgrading of the data model. In some embodiments, the data model may facilitate creation and processing of financial applications. Using the data model, received application data can be stored in a financial application record, including data relating to a party's financial statements. In some embodiments, the data model may facilitate management of financial account data for multiple accounts. In some embodiments the data model may facilitate management of credit information, such as credit information collected by credit bureaus. |
| US08538839B2 |
System, method, and program product for unit transfer fee processing
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: accessing Transfer Fee data to be paid to a third party that is not the borrower or the lender of a security for a right to loan one or more units of the security; accessing loan data on a loan of units of the security, calculating an amount of a Transfer Fee for the right to loan the security; generating data for debiting an account or sending a bill for the Transfer Fee; sending or having sent data on revenue from one or more of the Transfer Fees to be paid to an issuer of the security; updating the database with data on the Transfer Fee. |
| US08538838B2 |
System for pairing vehicle components
The specification and drawing figures describe and show a system for pairing and decoupling vehicle components. The vehicle components may be disparate and distantly located from one another. The system includes a network management center having one or more data processing systems that may communicate with the vehicle components. An integrated wireless equipment management system is included whose components are mountable on the vehicle components, and operatively connectable to the network management center. Asset tracking units are located on each vehicle component, and are operatively connectable to the network management center. At least one executable program is included that is capable of processing data received across the integrated wireless equipment management system to establish a compatible communications connection between the asset tracking units to correctly pair the vehicle components. |
| US08538837B2 |
Methods and systems for providing wireless enabled inventory peering
Systems and methods for providing wireless enabled inventory peering are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a system for providing wireless enabled inventory peering includes a wireless enabled inventory peering vehicle system (WEIPVS). The WEIPVS is configured to receive an inventory search request. In response to receiving the inventory search request, the WEIPVS searches inventories of proximate technician vehicles. If a needed inventory item is located in an inventory of a proximate technician vehicle, the WEIPVS generates a request for an inventory transfer and sends the request to the proximate technician vehicle. When the item is received at the WEIPVS, the WEIPVS updates the inventory associated with the WEIPVS. |
| US08538836B1 |
Method and system for selecting and displaying items
Methods and systems for causing the display of items for the review and selection thereof by a potential purchaser has a plurality of search tools whereby a customer can select certain search criteria for displaying items corresponding to the search criteria for review and selection thereof and comparison therebetween. In one embodiment, the system provides a brand menu whereby a customer can select one or more brands of products for displaying the same in a common display window. |
| US08538833B2 |
Method for estimation of a payment for an existing report based on subsequent reports which provides incentives for reporters to report truthfully
A method and apparatus for paying for an existing report are provided. In the method, an existing report for which a first structure of entities is identified is received. Thereafter, a set of other reports for which respective second structures of entities are identified is received. A weighting for other reports in the set of other reports is assigned, based on the respective structures. A payment for the existing report is extracted based on the weighting, a selected scoring rule, and the set of other reports. |
| US08538831B2 |
Bidding to receive data after a consumer is in a zone
An announcement distributor distributes, or auctions an opportunity to distribute, an announcement to an announcement recipient such as a consumer, issuer, merchant, or acquirer within a payment processing system. The announcement when there has been a satisfaction of an announcement condition, such as the consumer being determined to be located within a predetermined spatial zone. The content of the announcement may, in turn, facilitate a subsequent cashless transaction for resources of merchants. Implementations describe various permutations of the content of the announcement, the announcement condition, and the announcement recipient. |
| US08538829B1 |
Enhancing a user's shopping experience
The subject disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing a purchasing experience by enabling a purchaser to receive a variety of real-time updates or recommendations regarding products that the purchaser, such as a user, may need or intend to purchase. A recommendation provided by the system may be based upon comparing the product with a plurality of sources. The recommendation may include a recommendation that a product may near depletion and thus may need to be replaced, a recommendation that the user may already have a sufficient amount or number of the product, a recommendation that the product may or may not match an existing item owned by the user, or a recommendation not to purchase a product. A virtual closet may also be created according the systems and methods of the subject disclosure, allowing users and contacts selected by the user to collaborate on products. |
| US08538828B2 |
Consumer-to-business exchange auction
Systems and methods for implementing an item exchange service are usable to aid users in exchanging old items for newer items. According to one embodiment, a system can be operable to receive a request to offer a vehicle in an auction, calculate a base exchange value for the vehicle and provide, to one or more vehicle resellers, auction information associated with the vehicle. Additionally, the system may be configured to receive an exchange bid for the vehicle, determine a final exchange value of the vehicle, and provide the final exchange value of the vehicle to a seller of the vehicle. Further, the system may be configured to allow the seller to determine a course of action regarding disposing of the vehicle after conclusion of the exchange auction. |
| US08538825B2 |
Purchase information notification system, method, and program product
A method, system, and computer program product for informing a user of purchase information in an online purchase situation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes determining whether an activation device indicator is within a predetermined proximity of a purchase-initiating button in a web browser; and initiating a tip message displaying the purchase information including at least one of: an historical balance, an existing balance, an available amount of credit, or a payment method. |
| US08538820B1 |
Method and apparatus for web-enabled random-access review of point of sale transactional video
Techniques disclosed herein include a reviewer interface for providing random-access review of point-of-sale (POS) video, visual indicators to point to point to objects within the point-of-sale video, and/or display of interactive statistical features. The system obtains video data of point-of-sale transactions, and corresponding transaction data correlated with the video data. The system identifies and displays transaction events of interest. In one embodiment, such a display includes displaying a visual indicator positioned at a spatial location within displayed video to identify a location of an object in the displayed video that corresponds to the transaction event identified as a transaction event of interest. The system also includes functionality to display visual indicators associated with transaction data to convey magnitude or quantity of transaction events of interest. The system also includes interactive graphs and filtering criteria for displaying transaction statistics and to browse details of transaction events. |
| US08538816B2 |
Method of rewarding the viewing of advertisements based on eye-gaze patterns
Users are rewarded for viewer interaction (based on tracked eye-gaze patterns) with Internet advertisements rendered on a display (such as a computer display), wherein the reward is computed based on the visual activity of the viewer. Payments are disbursed to any of the following: viewer, sponsor of the advertisement, creator of advertisement. Examples of reward computations include, but are not limited to, computing payments based on: the level of viewer interaction with the rendered advertisements, the amount/proportion of content interacted with by the viewer, the value of the text interacted with by the viewer. In one example, rewards are based on a combination of previously recorded viewer interests and computed payments based on user interaction. |
| US08538814B2 |
Systems and methods of providing advertising content
A system for providing advertising content includes a public display; a database configured to store the advertising content; and a central processing element configured to dynamically interact with participants in an activity and present the advertising content in connection with information about the activity on the public display. A method of providing advertising content includes conducting an activity involving participants; receiving input regarding the participants engaged in the activity; and displaying advertising content from a database concurrently with information regarding the activity. |
| US08538810B2 |
Methods and systems for member-created advertisement in a member network
Methods and systems for members of a member network to create and target advertisement to other members of the member network. A member can target advertisement to other members in the member network by establishing a member profile that includes associations and/or nexuses with the targeted members. Fees can be charged to members who create and disseminate advertisement to other members in the member network. |
| US08538809B2 |
Estimating on-line advertising inventory value based on contract eligibility information
Disclosed are apparatus and methods for apparatus and methods for pricing on-line advertisement inventory. In one embodiment, a method for pricing on-line advertisement inventory includes (i) receiving a request for a price of a new product, wherein the new product includes a plurality of specified characteristics of a type of on-line advertisement display, (ii) providing a sample of new impressions that are predicted to be delivered for such new product, (iii) for each new impression, determining which bookings could be served by such new impression so as to define a set of overlapping bookings, (iv) determining the price of each new impression based on a weighted average of a plurality of prices of such each new impression's corresponding overlapping bookings, (v) determining the price of the new product based on an average of the prices of the new impressions, and (vi) returning the price of the new product for use in a booking negotiation with a potential buyer of such new product. |
| US08538800B2 |
Event-based analysis of business objectives
Aspects of the invention relate to displaying on a graph data describing events and data describing key performance indicators (KPIs). The event data describes an occurrence that may influence the performance objectives of a business, such as the appearance of an advertisement for the business in a magazine. The KPI data describes a quantifiable measure of the business's performance, such as the number of sales of a product. The event data and KPI data are received and displayed on a graph so that the business owner can understand the relationship between the events and the KPIs. |
| US08538799B2 |
System for business monitoring in virtual organizations
A method and system to automatically monitor business collaborations. Collaboration participants can formally express obligations about their expected behavior during the collaboration in business terms, then automatically monitor processes carrying out the collaboration using the formulated obligations. The method and system extends existing service oriented monitoring standards and architecture, specifically, with additional business oriented metrics and plug-in components that allow the monitoring system to calculate business parameters from measurements of multiple services. |
| US08538796B2 |
Method for measuring and improving organization effectiveness
A method of evaluating the effectiveness of an organization. The method includes participants generating responses to a set of organizational statements as part of a one-day event. The participants are able to interact with each other during various phases of the one-day event in order to generate responses. The responses are entered into a software program running on a computer-based platform, and the software program operates on the responses to generate output results (evaluation results . . . e.g., scores associated with various organizational categories) as part of the one-day event. The results may be used to measure and benchmark effectiveness of the organization and to formulate suggestions and actions to be taken by the organization to improve the effectiveness of the organization. |
| US08538794B2 |
Method and apparatus for management of the creation of a patent portfolio
Start-up companies, as well as new businesses within established firms, have the challenge of creating a sensible intellectual property (IP) portfolio. With resources usually tight, not all of the IP can be protected due to cost or resource availability considerations. Accordingly, disclosed herein is an apparatus and method that provide an effective solution for management of identified intellectual property. By providing an effective scoring scheme and a simple display, management decision making is made simple and straightforward, while providing in a glance the entire distribution of the firm's IP. |
| US08538793B2 |
System and method for managing real-time batch workflows
A system and method for executing and managing a business process in a unified business process environment is provided. The methodology of the invention describes steps to execute a business process and thereafter monitor the executed business process in a unified business process environment. A business process is received in a unified business process environment. The business process comprises at least one workflow. The methodology further ascertains execution details of the at least one workflow based on a predefined attribute of the at least one workflow. Thereafter, the methodology processes the at least one workflow at a location selected from at least one of a grid processing environment and a local processing environment, based on the ascertained execution details of the at least one workflow. After which, the methodology monitors the at least one workflow, executed for processing at the grid processing environment and the local processing environment. |
| US08538781B2 |
Workers compensation system for determining a cost of insurance
A system for monitoring a business's operational characteristics and employee classifications, in real time, to obtain increased amounts of data relating to the total compensation for purposes of providing a more accurate determination of a cost of insurance for the risk, on a real-time basis, and to bill such charges directly to the risk according to their unique finance plan in direct relation to their payroll cycle. |
| US08538780B1 |
System for identifying and addressing concerns of medical patients
A system is adapted to extract patient's demographic information and identify possible concerns the patient may be having about the upcoming medical procedure based on that information. The system accesses a database containing a plurality of candidate concerns commonly associated with the identified medical procedure and establishes their relevancy to the patient based on the patient's demographic information. The system allows patient to select relevant concerns from the presented list, and provides responses addressing those concerns. The responses are ranked based on their efficacy of alleviating concerns. The system is also adapted to communicate the information regarding the medical procedure and medical updates to the parties identified by the patient. |
| US08538772B2 |
Health management guideline advising device
A health management guideline advising device includes input means for inputting personal information of a measuring subject; measurement means for measuring weight and body impedance of the measuring subject; estimation means for estimating a body composition distribution of the measuring subject from the inputted personal information and the measurement result by the measurement means; storage means for storing the measurement result by the measurement means and an estimation result by the estimation means with a measurement date and time, prediction means for predicting future weight fluctuation from the stored weight and the body composition distribution; and display means for displaying the predicted future weight fluctuation. Furthermore, target setting means for setting a weight reduction target and determination means for determining whether or not the weight reduction target can be achieved based on the prediction result by the prediction means are preferably arranged. |
| US08538768B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for delivery of advice to mobile/wireless devices
Methods and apparatuses to connect consumers to diverse advice sources of experts. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a list of experts to a mobile device via a wireless media channel for presentation to a consumer; responsive to receiving from the mobile device a selection of one expert from the list of experts, initiating a telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer prior to the consumer submitting a question for advice. In one example, the list includes information to indicate whether one or more of the experts are individually available to telephonically communicate with the consumer at a time when the list is provided to the consumer. In one example, initiating the telephonic connection includes: initiating a first call to the consumer; initiating a second call to the expert; and joining the first and second calls to make the telephonic connection between the expert and the consumer. |
| US08538766B2 |
Audio decoder, audio object encoder, method for decoding a multi-audio-object signal, multi-audio-object encoding method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium therefor
An audio decoder for decoding a multi-audio-object signal having an audio signal of a first type and an audio signal of a second type encoded therein is described, the multi-audio-object signal having a downmix signal and side information, the side information having level information of the audio signals of the first and second types in a first predetermined time/frequency resolution, and a residual signal specifying residual level values in a second predetermined time/frequency resolution, the audio decoder having a processor for computing prediction coefficients based on the level information; and an up-mixer for up-mixing the downmix signal based on the prediction coefficients and the residual signal to obtain a first up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the first type and/or a second up-mix audio signal approximating the audio signal of the second type. |
| US08538765B1 |
Parameter decoding apparatus and parameter decoding method
A parameter decoding apparatus includes a prediction residue decoder that finds a quantized prediction residue based on encoded information included in a current frame subject to decoding and an auto-regressive predictor produces a predicted parameter by multiplying a predictive coefficient with a past decoded parameter. An adder decodes a parameter by adding the quantized prediction residue and the predicted parameter, wherein the prediction residue decoder, when the current frame is erased, finds a current-frame quantized prediction residue from a weighted linear sum of a parameter decoded in the past and a future-frame quantized prediction residue. |
| US08538764B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivery of aligned multi-channel audio
There is provided a method of encoding audio and including said encoded audio into a digital transport stream, comprising receiving at an encoder input a plurality of temporally co-located audio signals, assigning identical time stamps per unit time to all of the plurality of temporally co-located audio signals and incorporating the identically time stamped audio signals into the digital transport stream. There is also provided a method decoding said encoded data, and encoding apparatus and decoding apparatus. |
| US08538763B2 |
Speech enhancement with noise level estimation adjustment
Enhancing speech components of an audio signal composed of speech and noise components includes controlling the gain of the audio signal in ones of its subbands, wherein the gain in a subband is reduced as the level of estimated noise components increases with respect to the level of speech components, wherein the level of estimated noise components is determined at least in part by (1) comparing an estimated noise components level with the level of the audio signal in the subband and increasing the estimated noise components level in the subband by a predetermined amount when the input signal level in the subband exceeds the estimated noise components level in the subband by a limit for more than a defined time, or (2) obtaining and monitoring the signal-to-noise ratio in the subband and increasing the estimated noise components level in the subband by a predetermined amount when the signal-to-noise ratio in the subband exceeds a limit for more than a defined time. |
| US08538759B2 |
Speech recognition system and data updating method
It is provided a speech recognition system installed in a terminal coupled to a server via a network. The terminal holds map data including a landmark. The speech recognition system manages recognition data including a word corresponding to a name of the landmark, and sends update area information and updated time to the server. The server generates, when recognition data of the area of the update area information sent from the terminal has been changed after updated time, difference data between latest recognition data and recognition data of the update area information at a time of the updated time, and sends the generated difference data and map data of the update area information to the terminal. The terminal updates the map data based on the map data sent from the server. The speech recognition system updates the recognition data managed by the terminal based on the difference data. |
| US08538753B2 |
Generating representations of group interactions
A transcript of a group interaction is generated from audio source data representing the group interaction. The transcript includes a sequence of lines of text, each line corresponding to an audible utterance in the audio source data. A conversation path is generated from the transcript by labeling each transcript line with an identifier identifying the speaker of the corresponding utterance in the audio source data. A representation of the group interaction is generated by associating the conversation path with a set of voice profiles, each voice profile corresponding to an identified speaker in the conversation path. |
| US08538751B2 |
Speech recognition system and speech recognizing method
A speech recognition system and a speech recognizing method for high-accuracy speech recognition in the environment with ego noise are provided. A speech recognition system according to the present invention includes a sound source separating and speech enhancing section; an ego noise predicting section; and a missing feature mask generating section for generating missing feature masks using outputs of the sound source separating and speech enhancing section and the ego noise predicting section; an acoustic feature extracting section for extracting an acoustic feature of each sound source using an output for said each sound source of the sound source separating and speech enhancing section; and a speech recognizing section for performing speech recognition using outputs of the acoustic feature extracting section and the missing feature masks. |
| US08538749B2 |
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products for enhanced intelligibility
Techniques described herein include the use of equalization techniques to improve intelligibility of a reproduced audio signal (e.g., a far-end speech signal). |
| US08538748B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing voice signal in noisy environment
A method and apparatus which enhance a voice signal received by a reception terminal from a transmission terminal, the method including: detecting a magnitude of a noise signal peripheral to the reception terminal; checking a volume level which is set in the reception terminal while the voice signal is received from the transmission terminal; and adaptively enhancing at least one of a volume and an articulation of the voice signal on the basis of a magnitude of the noise signal and the checked volume level. |
| US08538743B2 |
Disambiguating text that is to be converted to speech using configurable lexeme based rules
A software language including language constructs for disambiguating text that is to be converted to speech using configurable lexeme based rules. The language can include at least one conditional statement and a significance indicator. The conditional statement can define a sense of usage for a lexeme. The significance indicator can define a criteria for selecting an associated sense of usage. The language can also include an action expression that is associated with a conditional statement that defines a set of programmatic actions to be executed upon a selection of the associated usage sense. The conditional statement can include a context range specification that defines a scope of an input string for examination when evaluating the conditional statement. Further, the conditional statement can include a directive that represents a defined condition of the lexeme or the text surrounding the lexeme. |
| US08538741B2 |
Apparatus and method for partitioning a display surface into a plurality of virtual display areas
A method and apparatus that partitions a single display's viewable area into at least two virtual viewable areas, and emulates the at least two virtual viewable areas as at least two emulated physical displays with an operating system such that the operating system behaves as if interfacing with at least two actual independent physical displays. The method provides the operating system with generated display identification data (such as “EDID”) for each of the emulated physical displays in response to a query from the operating system. The method and apparatus also receive notification of an interrupt (where the interrupt corresponds to the single physical display), and reports to the operating system with at least two sets of interrupt reporting information, corresponding to the at least two emulated physical displays, as if two interrupts were received. The operating system is thereby “faked” into acting as if two physical displays are in operation. |
| US08538736B1 |
System and method for simulating object weight in animations
A system and method simulating object weight for computer-generated animation uses inverse kinematics for simulating object weight to generate new positions of an object being carried by an animated character. An object is assigned a weight and the object is attached to the animated character at one or more attachment points. A weight varying function is used to increase the weight when the character's foot contacts the terrain surface during a “step” and the increase is reduced between each step. A distance between the attachment point(s) and the terrain surface is reduced by a number of inches per pound when inverse kinematics is applied to generate new positions of the attachment point(s). |
| US08538735B2 |
Use of devices for measuring fluid movement conditions at a distance to reduce the design and manufacturing cost of moving-fluid-driven working devices
The present invention incorporates a device for measuring fluid movement conditions at a distance, such as LIDAR, into an underlying device for extracting useful work from a moving fluid, such as a wind turbine, for the purpose reducing the cost of designing and manufacturing the underlying device. |
| US08538732B2 |
Appendable system and devices for data acquisition, analysis and control
An appendable system includes a plurality of appendable devices that are adapted to interoperate with each other and/or a workstation via a communication network to monitor and/or control a process. Each of the appendable devices can communicate with one or more sensors and/or control outputs and includes a housing that facilitates mounting of the appendable device to a surface. |
| US08538730B1 |
Methods and systems for estimating usage of a simultaneous multi-threading processor
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining a CPU usage adjustment factor and for automatically applying the CPU usage adjustment factor to provide a CPU usage estimate for an SMT processor. In one implementation, the methods and systems obtain samples of CPU usage reported by the operating system at a predefined sampling rate over a predefined sampling interval. Thread states for the threads substantially corresponding to the reported CPU usage are so obtained at the predefined sampling rate and over the predefined sampling interval. This sampling may be performed for servers running different applications and having diverse processing loads. An estimate of the distribution of the number of threads running for the CPU usages reported may then be determined from the sampled data. A CPU usage adjustment factor may then be derived, based on the distribution, and used to provide a CPU usage estimate. |
| US08538729B2 |
Method and system of wind turbine condition monitoring
The invention relates to a method of condition monitoring of a wind turbine. Measurement data and operating condition parameters are captured. A subset of the operating condition parameters is selected. A set of n characterizing moments is calculated based on the subset of operating condition parameters. A finite n-dimensional space each representing possible values for one of the characterising moments is provided. The n-dimensional space is sub-divided into a number of bins each representing a n-dimensional interval defined by n one-dimensional intervals. Each one- dimensional intervals represents an interval in one of the n dimensions. Each bin defines an acceptable range for the set of n characterizing moments. The set of the characterising moments is determined if it belongs to one of the bins. The set of the characterising moments and measurement data are accepted if the set of the characterising moments belongs to one of the bins. |
| US08538726B2 |
Three dimensional shape measurement apparatus, three dimensional shape measurement method, and computer program
A 3D shape measurement apparatus for measuring a 3D shape of an object existing on a measurement area, comprising, a pattern projection unit for projecting a pattern having a periodicity onto the measurement area, and a capturing unit for capturing an image of the area where the pattern is projected, wherein the measurement area is specified by a reference plane, a projection area of the pattern projection unit, and a capturing area of the capturing unit, and the pattern projection unit projects the pattern to be focused on the reference plane. The apparatus further comprises a first calculation unit for calculating phase information of a pattern of the captured image, a second calculation unit for calculating defocus amounts of the pattern in the captured image, and a third calculation unit for calculating a 3D shape of the object based on the phase information and the defocus amounts. |
| US08538724B2 |
Apparatus and method for checking the attitude of a vehicle
An apparatus (1) for checking the attitude of a vehicle (2) includes: at least one target (3) defining a spatial reference system; a mobile unit (4) adapted for measuring the value of parameters representing the geometric characteristics of the wheels of the vehicle (2), and for viewing the target (3); a processor (13) is connected to a camera (14) mounted on the mobile unit, for calculating the position of the wheel (9) relative to the reference system to calculate the attitude of the vehicle (2); an interface (23) is provided, designed to make available in real time to the user driving the mobile unit (4) information relating to the position of the camera (14) relative to the wheel (9), wherein the mobile unit (4) can be driven manually by a user to be positioned in proximity of the wheel (9). |
| US08538723B2 |
Exercise mode automatic identification method
An exercise mode automatic identification method is provided. The automatic identification method includes the following steps. A step count taken by a user is obtained. A horizontal transient speed at which the user moves at the end of a predetermined period is obtained. The user's exercise mode is defined by a microprocessor according to the step count and the horizontal transient speed. |
| US08538722B2 |
Feature transformation apparatus and feature transformation method
A feature transformation apparatus recognizes activities of subjects in adaptation to each individual and improves recognition accuracy. The feature transformation apparatus includes a section that acquires respective prescribed activity data of one or more reference individuals and a subject when the one or more reference individuals and the subject perform a prescribed activity. A section extracts a reference individual feature of the one or more reference individuals and a subject feature of the subject. A calculation section calculates at least one standard feature based on the one or more reference individual features. A transform matrix between the standard feature and the subject feature is calculated. Recognition object activity data is acquired when the subject performs a recognition object activity. A recognition object feature of the subject is extracted from the recognition object activity data. The recognition object feature is transformed using the transform matrix. |
| US08538720B2 |
Cold boot test system and method for electronic devices
A cold boot test system and method can control an electronic device to perform a cold boot process to test whether the electronic device is operable. The method sets time parameters for a test period of the cold boot process, drives a data communication interface of a computer to generate a period control signal according to the time parameters, and sends the period control signal to a controller via the data communication interface. The method further transfers the period control signal to the electronic device by controlling a power switch to switch on and switch off, controls the electronic device to execute the cold boot process to generate test information correspondingly. In addition, the method obtains the test information from the electronic device, and displays the test information on a display screen of the computer upon the condition that the cold boot process is abnormal. |
| US08538719B2 |
Method for testing device descriptions for field devices of automation technology
In a method for testing device descriptions for field devices of automation technology, a finite state machine is produced from a device description to serve as a basis for a test script. For testing the device description, the test script is executed, with data being sent to and received from the device description. In such case, it is tested whether desired values set in the test script agree with actual values delivered e.g. from the field device. |
| US08538706B2 |
Method for affinity scoring of peptide/protein complexes
The present invention is related to a quantitative structure-based affinity scoring method for peptide/protein complexes. More specifically, the present invention comprises a method that operates on the basis of a highly specific force field function (e.g. CHARMM) that is applied to all-atom structural representations of peptide/receptor complexes. Peptide side-chain contributions to total affinity are scored after detailed rotameric sampling followed by controlled energy refinement. The method of the invention further comprises a de novo approach to estimate dehydration energies from the simulation of individual amino acids in a solvent box filled with explicit water molecules and applying the same force field function as used to evaluate peptide/receptor complex interactions. |
| US08538702B2 |
Geologic features from curvelet based seismic attributes
Method for identifying geologic features, such as hydrocarbon indicators, from geophysical data, such as seismic data, by taking a curvelet transform of the data. After the curvelet representation of the data is computed (350), selected geophysical data attributes and their interdependencies are extracted (355), from which geological features may be identified (360), either from attribute data volumes that are created or directly from the curvelet representation. |
| US08538701B2 |
Fluid conductivity measurement tool and methods
An apparatus and method for measuring the conductivity of borehole fluid. Based on the fluid conductivity, the fluid type may also be identified. The apparatus and method can be useful in differentiating between native water and injected water in oil recovery operations. The apparatus and method presented can also be used to calibrate testing and production equipment allowing for more reliable and accurate measurements. The apparatus and method presented can further be used to better characterize water to oil ratio in reservoirs. |
| US08538699B2 |
Rapid inversion of electromagnetic reconnaissance survey data
Method for rapid inversion of data from a controlled-source electromagnetic survey of a subterranean region. Selected (51) common-receiver or common-source gathers of the data are reformed into composite gathers (52) by summing their data. Each composite gather is forward modeled (in the inversion process) with multiple active source locations (53). Computer time is reduced in proportion to the ratio of the total number of composite gathers to the total number of original common-receiver or common-source gathers. The data may be phase encoded to prevent data cancellation. Methods for mitigating loss of far offset information by data overlap in the summing process are disclosed. |
| US08538696B1 |
Providing weather data for a location using weather data stored for a finite number of locations
Methods and systems of the invention provide appropriate weather data for a location by associating it with a location or locations for which weather data is stored. Such stored data may have been collected from one or multiple weather data sources. An image or video may be associated with weather data selected from near-current stored weather data for one or more nearby locations. Certain methods also allow observation and/or forecast weather data for any specified location to be provided using stored weather data for a finite number of locations from one or more weather data sources. For example, the location coordinates of a specified location may be used to determine an appropriate location (exact or substitute) for which weather data was previously collected and stored. |
| US08538694B2 |
Real-time route and recharge planning
A system may include a processing device and a routing application included on the processing device. The routing application may be configured to receive a destination location for a vehicle; determine a fuel efficiency of the vehicle; and determine a route for the vehicle from a current location to the destination location, the route being based on the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, a fuel capacity of the vehicle, an amount of fuel remaining for the vehicle, and navigation information including the location of at least one charging station. |
| US08538689B2 |
Map data, method for preparing the same, data product containing the same, storage medium containing the same, and navigation apparatus using the same
In map data, a road corresponds to a multilink defined as links connected consecutively with an identical attribute. The map data contains a road management information list, link information list, and coordinate information list of a real data list. In the road management information list, fixed-length road management information elements, each of which indicates the number of links in each multilink, are arrayed in an order. In the link information list, fixed-length link information elements, each of which indicates the number of coordinate points in each link, are arrayed in an order in which corresponding road management information elements are arrayed in the road management information list. In the coordinate information list, fixed-length coordinates information elements, each of which indicates coordinate points arranged in one link to illustrate a shape of the link, are arrayed in an order in which the coordinate points are arranged in the link. |
| US08538688B2 |
User generated pedestrian and indoor shortcut routes for navigation systems
A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product are disclosed for creating and displaying shortcuts and landmarks on a navigational map. The embodiments include storing context data in a mobile wireless device, the context data including at least one of travel class of a shortcut path, limits of a shortcut path, or restrictions of a shortcut path. The shortcuts may be categorized by their context in travel classes such as car, bike, pedestrian, pram, wheelchair, walker, blind pedestrian, disabled pedestrian, or the like. The embodiments register in the mobile wireless device a starting location for a shortcut path and record locations of the device as the device moves along the shortcut path. The embodiments receive signals describing a landmark at a landmark location along the shortcut path, including digital photographs, descriptive text and voice clips. The embodiments then form in a shortcut mapping file the recorded shortcut path, information about the landmark, and the context data. |
| US08538687B2 |
System for guidance and navigation in a building
A system for guidance and navigation in a building. For example, the system may determine a route for egress or rescue of one or more people from a building with a hazardous condition. The system may process the route into waypoints and segments developed within a set of constraint rules. Semantic information about the building may be associated with the waypoints and/or segments. The waypoints and segments may be processed into navigation commands. The navigation commands may be formed in natural language from sentence templates. The system may additionally have 3D beacon audio to assist in guidance and navigation of the one or more people in the building. |
| US08538683B2 |
Height output device, height output method, and program
A height output device includes a GPS processing unit that calculates a GPS height of a moving body based on GPS signals, an atmospheric pressure measurement unit that measures atmospheric pressure, a determination unit that determines reliability of the GPS height calculated by the GPS processing unit, and an output unit that outputs an absolute height of the moving body depending on the reliability determined by the determination unit. When the reliability satisfies a predetermined output reference, the output unit outputs the latest GPS height calculated by the GPS processing unit, as the absolute height of the moving body, and when the reliability does not satisfy the output reference, the output unit outputs a height, which is calculated by using a past output value of the absolute value and the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement unit, as the absolute height of the moving body. |
| US08538681B2 |
Navigation apparatus, navigation method and program
There is provided a navigation apparatus including a storage unit that stores vehicle lane information for a guidance point, a determination unit that determines a traveling direction of a vehicle, a detection unit that detects whether or not there is the guidance point in the traveling direction of the vehicle, and a decision unit that decides, when it is detected by the detection unit that there are at least two or more guidance points, a priority order of traveling vehicle-lanes at the next guidance point based on vehicle lane information for the two or more guidance points and the traveling direction of the vehicle. |
| US08538680B2 |
Real-time navigation electronic device and method based on determining current traffic rule information, and corresponding computer readable storage medium for storing program thereof
A real-time navigation electronic device based on determining current traffic rule information includes a positioning unit, a user interface, an information detecting-and-generating unit and a processing unit. The information detecting-and-generating unit detects and generates information for determining real-time traffic rule. The processing unit generates a navigation route according to the destination and the present position. The processing unit receives the information for determining real-time traffic rule. The processing unit determines if the information for determining real-time traffic rule conflicts with the navigation route or makes the navigation route not the quickest route. The processing unit re-generates the navigation route according to the destination, the present position and the information for determining real-time traffic rule when the information for determining real-time traffic rule conflicts with the navigation route or makes the navigation route not the quickest route. The processing unit outputs the navigation route. |
| US08538678B2 |
Method and apparatus for thematically modifying location and related information
An approach is provided for thematically modifying location and related information. A location modification platform determines location information of a device associated with a first user. The location modification platform then modifies the location information to indicate a location other than an actual location of the device according to a predetermined theme and causes, at least in part, actions that result in presentation of the modified location information to a second user. |
| US08538675B2 |
Non-kinematic behavioral mapping
A system and methodology/processes for non-kinematic/behavioral mapping to a local area abstraction (LAA) includes a technique for populating an LAA wherein human behavior or other non-strictly-kinematic motion may be present. |
| US08538673B2 |
System and method for planning/replanning collision free flight plans in real or accelerated time
A system and method for planning/replanning collision free flight plans in real-time (or accelerated-time) including planning individual flight plans for each flying asset, executing (or simulating) the planned individual flight plans, detecting violations of safety zones of each of the flying assets by negotiation and by other assets monitoring (radar sensing), and repairing the individual flight plans by real-time replanning. |
| US08538672B2 |
2D-coil collision sensor system
A collision sensing system for a vehicle (10) includes a two-dimensional coil sensor (14) that is attached to a vehicle structure (19) A controller (20) is in communication with the two-dimensional coil sensor (14) and detects a collision event in response to movement of the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10). A collision detection and safety countermeasure system (12) for a vehicle (10) includes a coil sensor (14) that is adhered to a vehicle structure (19). A controller (20) is in communication with the coil sensor (14) and generates a countermeasure signal in response to movement by the vehicle structure (19) relative to a conductive member (98) of the vehicle (10). |
| US08538671B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting position and orientation of mobile object
An apparatus for detecting a position and orientation of a mobile object includes: a relative position detection unit for acquiring a relative position with respect to movement of the mobile object; an absolute position detection unit for acquiring an absolute position of the mobile object; and a position updating unit for updating the position and orientation of the mobile object based on an initial or previous position of the mobile object and the relative position. The apparatus further includes: a position correction unit for updating a current position of the mobile object with the absolute position, and correcting the orientation of the mobile object by setting an orientation of the mobile object in the relative position equal to an orientation of the mobile object in the absolute position. |
| US08538670B2 |
Construction machine having a computer unit for determining an adjustment range
The invention relates to a construction machine having a carrier unit, an actuation unit, which is adjustable with respect to the carrier unit, at least one detecting means for detecting status data of the construction machine, and a computer unit, by means of which, based on the detected status data, at least one adjustment range of the actuation unit can be determined, in which the actuation unit is adjustable at a given safety against tilting of the construction machine. The invention also relates to a method for operating a construction machine of such type. |
| US08538666B2 |
CPS knock detection system
A control system includes a cylinder pressure sensor (CPS) that senses a cylinder pressure of an engine and generates a CPS signal based on the cylinder pressure. A CPS failure detection module selectively generates a failure signal based on characteristics of the CPS signal in a knock frequency range. A status detection module generates a CPS status signal based on the CPS signal and the failure signal. |
| US08538662B2 |
Variable valve device for internal combustion engine
In a variable valve device for an internal combustion engine, which has a cam phase variable mechanism including a split variable function, when the operation of the internal combustion engine is in a predetermined extremely low speed and load region, the phase of a second intake cam is controlled to a more advanced position (S1) than the phase in which the closing timing of a second intake valve is in a most retarded position. |
| US08538657B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling fuel flow to a turbine component
Systems and methods for controlling fuel flow to a turbine component are provided. One or more parameters associated with a fuel flow to a turbine component may be monitored. The fuel flow may be modeled based at least in part on the one or more monitored parameters. The fuel flow may be adjusted to a target flow based at least in part on the modeling of the fuel flow. |
| US08538654B2 |
Systems and methods for improved aircraft braking
Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A method is disclosed comprising determining, at a brake controller, an aircraft reference speed for an aircraft having a first wheel and a second wheel, identifying, at the brake controller, a state comprising the first wheel having a different rotational velocity than the second wheel, wherein the difference in rotational velocity sums to about zero, calculating, at the brake controller, a compensation factor for at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel, and adjusting, at the brake controller, a locked wheel trigger velocity in accordance with the compensation factor. |
| US08538652B2 |
Device and method for adjusting the driveability of an automobile
The invention relates to a method for adjusting the driveability of at least one wheel of a vehicle, in particular an automobile, that comprises a wheel driving engine (50), engine control means (40), means (62) for supplying information on an acceleration level desired by the vehicle driver, means (22) for providing information on the vehicle acceleration level, and an electronic control unit including computing means (70) for receiving the different information. The computing means (70) are adapted in order to obtain a vehicle acceleration level that corresponds to the acceleration level desired by the driver. The device further includes means for providing information on the vehicle inclination. |
| US08538644B2 |
Driver torque request systems and methods
A minimum torque module selectively determines a first minimum propulsion torque based on second and third minimum propulsion torques when a torque converter clutch is in unlocked and locked states, respectively. A zero pedal torque module selectively sets a zero pedal torque equal to the first minimum propulsion torque. A pedal request module determines a pedal torque request based on an accelerator pedal position, a vehicle speed, and the zero pedal torque. A driver request module determines a driver axle torque request based on the pedal torque request. A shaping module selectively shapes the driver axle torque request into a shaped driver axle torque request. A conversion module converts the first minimum propulsion torque into a minimum axle torque. A final driver request module sets a final driver axle torque request equal to a greater of the shaped driver axle torque request and the minimum axle torque. |
| US08538642B2 |
Range determination apparatus
A range determination apparatus for preventing a shift range from being undefined during speed change states of an automatic transmission with no manual valve. The range determination apparatus includes a gear speed change mechanism and a plurality of friction engagement elements operative to have respective operation states changed between an engagement and a disengagement state. The range determination apparatus is used for automatic transmissions subject to speed changes via a torque transmission path of the gear speed change mechanism changed by the operation states of the friction engagement elements. A real shift range determination is carried out on the basis of the operation states of the friction engagement elements, where a T-ECU is operative to determine a current shift range based on detection results obtained by oil pressure sensors and operation patterns preliminarily memorized when the operation states of the friction engagement elements are not being changed. |
| US08538641B2 |
Multi-motor drive system with differential speed regulated by CVT
In a system in which two or motors drive a common load, respective continuously variable transmissions are installed between each individual motor and a respective individual load in the form of a wheel group, the respective continuously variable transmissions providing a differential speed drive operation. |
| US08538639B2 |
Method for closed-loop power control of a road finishing machine or feeder and a road finishing machine or feeder comprising the same
In the hydrostatic working operation of a road finishing machine or a feeder which comprises a primary power plant with an internal combustion engine (M) and several hydraulic variable displacement pumps, which are hydraulically connected to hydraulic motors of working components, and which possesses a computerized control device, the internal combustion engine is operated within its engine-specific characteristic map in response to the load condition by dynamic speed adaptation in a characteristic zone with optimal consumption, and the displacements (VsHP) of the variable displacement pumps are simultaneously automatically adapted for keeping the volume flow rates for the hydraulic motors constant. In the road finishing machine or the feeder, in the control device or connected to the same, a control loop for evaluating the load condition of the internal combustion engine and the current displacement of the variable displacement pumps is provided, by means of which the speed can be dynamically adjusted to or in a characteristic zone with optimal consumption, and simultaneously with the adjustment of the speed for keeping the volume flow rates for the hydraulic motors constant, the displacements of the variable displacement pumps can be automatically adapted. |
| US08538635B2 |
Vehicle speed estimator and traction control device
A vehicle speed estimator includes a unit that selects a minimum rotation speed among rotation speeds of wheels detected by a rotation speed detector and calculates a reference wheel speed of a construction vehicle at every predetermined time. The unit includes: a variable filter processor that performs a low-pass filter processing to the minimum rotation speed, the variable filter processor having a variable time constant; and a time constant changer that changes the time constant of the variable filter processor in accordance with travel conditions of the construction vehicle. |
| US08538633B2 |
Power steering apparatus
The power steering apparatus according to the invention is a power steering apparatus with a power steering function to drive an oil pump by a motor to generate hydraulic pressure, and to assist in driver's steering through the hydraulic pressure. The power steering apparatus includes a power source voltage detecting unit which detects the voltage of a power source of the power steering apparatus; a motor rotating speed detecting unit which detects the rotating speed of the motor; and a control stopping unit which stops the power steering function when the voltage of the power source detected by the power source voltage detecting unit exceeds a predetermined power source voltage value, and the rotating speed of the motor detected by the motor rotating speed detecting unit is equal to or less than a predetermined motor rotating speed value. |
| US08538632B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
An electric power steering apparatus is provided that has a controller by which no current flows in one phase among current paths of three phases for supplying electric power from a motor driving circuit to a three-phase brushless motor and currents that have an identical absolute value and that have different signs flow in the other two phases. Thus, the status at one energization angle on the driving current waveform of the three-phase brushless motor can be given continuously and relatively-high currents can simultaneously flow in opposite directions in the contacts inserted to the two phases. By flowing of such high current in the contacts, a secure conduction check can be performed and foreign matters on the surface of the contact can be fused or thermally destroyed. |
| US08538625B1 |
Display system for use in a vehicle
In an embodiment, a display system and method configured to be used for providing a user with information regarding the operating conditions of the vehicle. The system comprises a sensor that is configured to measure an operating condition of the vehicle, wherein the sensor provides a measurement signal based on the measured operating condition. The system includes a processor which is coupled to the sensor and configured to receive the measurement signal. The system includes a display module, preferably an organic light emitting diode (OLED), which is mounted to the vehicle, wherein the OLED displays sensor data received from the processor which is associated with the measurement signal and is to be read by a user. The sensor data is selectively displayed in compliance with a customizably programmable display profile, whereby the user is able to create and transfer the display profile in which form desired. |
| US08538623B2 |
Method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle and controller
A method for monitoring a coolant temperature sensor of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein an actual value (TCOist=TCOSt) of a coolant temperature (TCO) is determined by a coolant temperature sensor when an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is started (t=tSt), and the coolant temperature sensor is diagnosed as a functional coolant temperature sensor if the actual value (TCOist) of the coolant temperature (TCO) drops briefly (tmin0) when the internal combustion engine is started (t=tSt). A controller, e.g., an engine controller, for performing such method is also provided. |
| US08538621B2 |
Charge reminder notification to increase electric only efficiency
The described method and system provide a reminder to an electric vehicle user to charge a battery of the electric vehicle to optimize electric-only driving opportunities. The electric vehicle includes a telematics unit, and the vehicle user is associated with a mobile communications device remote from the vehicle. The described technique includes determining a location of the vehicle, comparing the location to a home location of the vehicle user, and retrieving vehicle battery charge state and expected electric only range. If certain conditions are met, the user is prompted via the remote device to plug in the vehicle for charging and/or to alter the vehicle charge profile to achieve full charge in the time remaining. |
| US08538620B2 |
Creep cut-off control device for electric vehicle
A vehicle speed VSP enters a creep-cutoff-prohibiting speed region lower than V1 with a forward creep torque being outputted (t1), and then this state continues for a time duration set corresponding to a timer value NTM1 (t2). At this time, a creep cutoff is prohibited by setting a creep-cutoff-prohibition flag NFLAG at “1”. A braking force becomes larger than or equal to a creep-cutoff-permitting braking-force value to satisfy a creep-cutoff permitting condition related to the braking force (t3) while a creep-cutoff permitting condition related to the vehicle speed has been satisfied because of almost zero of the vehicle speed VSP. In response thereto, the creep-cutoff permitting flag FLAG is set at 1 at t4. However, the creep toque continues to be outputted also after t4 without the creep cutoff, so that a torque reduction accompanied with strangeness feeling can be prevented. |
| US08538617B2 |
Mode selection technique for onboard energy management
An auxiliary energy management system for a vehicle includes an energy storage device, solar panel array, a preconditioning device, a communication module and a solar control module. The solar panel array generates electrical energy. The pre-conditioning device generates a temperature change to the vehicle. The solar control module includes a processor for selectively configuring a distribution of electrical energy captured by the solar energy panel to one of the energy storage device and the preconditioning device. The processor includes a mode selector logic module for indicating one of a passive enablement or active enablement of the distribution of electrical energy based on a vehicle driving status and the electrical energy availability from the solar panel array. At least one of a recharging function or a preconditioning function is enabled passively or actively based on a configuration in the mode selector logic module or a personalized configuration. |
| US08538616B2 |
Power supply system for electrically powered vehicle, electrically powered vehicle, and method for controlling the same
A power supply system includes a main power storage device and a plurality of sub power storage devices. A converter is connected to selected one of the sub power storage devices to convert voltage between the selected sub power storage device and an electric power feeding line bidirectionally. When the travel mode of an electrically powered vehicle is an EV mode, switching processing of a sub power storage device is performed based on the selected sub power storage device's SOC. On the other hand, when the travel mode of the electrically powered vehicle is an HV mode, control under which the SOC of the main power storage device and the plurality of sub power storage devices as a whole is kept constant is carried out, and switching of the selected sub power storage device is prohibited. |
| US08538615B2 |
Smart electrical wheel for electrical bikes
A wheel assembly having a motor attached to a hub within the wheel assembly such that the motor powers the wheel assembly to rotate about an axle once the motor receives a predetermined amount of power. A battery system is configured to deliver power to said motor, the battery system is arranged to rotate with the wheel assembly. A sensor system within the wheel assembly provides data related to velocity and angle of orientation of the assembly. A control system within the wheel assembly receives data related to velocity and angle of orientation of the wheel assembly from the sensor system, with the control system having at least one output to from the battery system indicative of an amount of power that is delivered to the motor. |
| US08538612B2 |
Device for controlling hybrid construction machine
When an actuator in an operational mechanical system having a short continuous operation time is operated using a small-capacity electric motor (MG), an electric motor is rotated in the range exceeding a rated capacity, and during traveling with a long continuous operation time, the electric motor is rotated at the rated capacity or less. A controller (C) determines, from signals from mode sensors (5a, 12a), whether the construction machine is in traveling mode or in traveling halt operation mode. When determining that the construction machine is in the traveling halt operation mode, the controller (C) sets the construction machine to a high output setting in which the electric motor (MG) rotates in the rage exceeding the rated capacity. In the normal traveling mode, the controller (C) sets the construction machine to a low output setting so that the electric motor rotates at the rated capacity or less. |
| US08538610B2 |
System and method for determining whether a locomotive in a consist is in leading mode or trailing mode
By taking a pressure reading at a particular port on a multiple-unit braking valve, e.g. the MU-2-A valve, and comparing such a reading to a main reservoir pressure, one can identify whether the locomotive in which the valve is situated is in trailing mode or leading mode. In particular, it was found that the pressure on port 63 of the MU-2-A valve is indicative of which mode the locomotive is in since port 63 is exhausted to atmosphere in lead mode whereas it is at or near the pressure in the main reservoir which is readily distinguishable from atmosphere. |
| US08538609B2 |
System, method, and computer readable memory medium for verifying track database information
A system for verifying data in a track database comprises a track profile database stored in a memory having data relative to one or more track grades and geographic coordinates or range of coordinates associated with each of the one or more track grades. A vehicle trip plan is developed according to the track profile data that comprises a designated path of travel of the vehicle over the track system and a planned vehicle operating condition associated with each of the one or more track grades and the associated coordinates or range of coordinates of the track grades. A controller is configured to compare a stored current vehicle operating condition of the vehicle and associated geographic coordinates to the planned vehicle operating condition to verify the accuracy of the track grade data at the associated geographic coordinates. |
| US08538607B2 |
Systems and methods for providing aircraft heading information
Systems and methods for providing aircraft heading information are provided. In one embodiment, an attitude heading reference device comprises: at least one interface for receiving heading information from one or more IRUs; at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers; a memory device for storing data representing heading information received via the at least one interface; and a heading calculator coupled to the at least one interface, the at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers, and the memory device. The heading calculator generating a heading output signal based on heading information when reliable heading information is received over the at least one interface; the heading calculator generating the heading output signal based on data from the memory device regarding previously reliable heading information and an output of the at least one set of gyroscopes and accelerometers when reliable heading information is not received over the at least one interface. |
| US08538606B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for sensing flight direction of a spacecraft
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for sensing flight direction of a spacecraft. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for determining flight direction of a spacecraft. The method includes providing at least one imaging detector associated with a spacecraft; imaging at least a portion of a celestial body onto the at least one imaging detector; acquiring, by the at least one imaging detector, sequential images of at least a portion of the celestial body; and determining the spacecraft flight direction relative to the celestial body based at least in part on processing the sequential images, wherein the processing is performed by one or more computer processors. |
| US08538605B1 |
Steerable pallet range extension
A steerable container delivery system (“CDS”) includes a pallet configured with a pallet steering mechanism and a range extension device for steering a CDS cargo bundle during free fall when airdropped. The pallet steering mechanism and range extension device may be inflated shortly after deployment using compressed air carried by an air tank in the pallet. A flight management computer (“FMS”) continuously monitors the location of the CDS bundle using GPS technology and determines a vector to a drop location based on stored GPS measurements. The FMC continuously monitors and positions the CDS bundle over the drop location, and is able to independently control the position of the CDS bundle, either by rotating the CDS bundle or moving it laterally. At the appropriate altitude, the FMC causes the main parachute to open to slow the descent of the CDS bundle for impact. |
| US08538604B2 |
Method for distributing braking torque between braked wheels fitted to at least one undercarriage of an aircraft
A method for distributing braking energy between a group of the braked wheels numbered 1 . . . p and fitted to N undercarriages of an aircraft, each of the braked wheels having a brake furnished with a stack of discs to which a load is selectively applied so as to generate a torque for braking the wheel. Each brake is equipped with a unit for measuring a thickness of the stack of discs, and in which—the setting C j = E j E 1 + … + E p · N · C is an individual setting of braking to be generated by brake j, where p is the number of wheels concerned, C is the general setting of braking to be developed by the braked wheels of one and the same undercarriage, Ej is the thickness of the stack of discs of the brake of wheel j, and Cj the individual braking setting for wheel j. Each brake is controlled according to the individual braking setting thus determined. |
| US08538602B2 |
Flight control system and aircraft comprising it
A flight control system for an aircraft, in which control commands are transmitted between a flight control module and at least one actuator of a movable flight surface, the flight control module including at least one first and one second computer, each computer being adapted for computing, for each actuator, a control command established according to at least one predetermined law for control of the flight surface controlled by the actuator. Each actuator including at least two logic units adapted for receiving commands originating from all the computers, each logic unit being adapted for: comparing the commands received between them, and according to the result of the comparison, choosing in accordance with a predetermined logic common to all the actuators, a computer, referred to as master computer, whose control command is validated for execution by the actuator considered; and transmitting, to all the computers, a master computer choice information item; and in that each computer is adapted for self-determining as being a master computer or otherwise as being a computer referred to as slave, on the basis of master computer choice information items received from all the actuators, a sole master computer among all the computers finally being determined. |
| US08538598B2 |
Power and thermal optimization of processor and cooling
In some embodiments a processor is adapted to store a relationship of power as a function of temperature and voltage, wherein the stored relationship data is to be used for managing power in a system including the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08538596B2 |
Light timeout optimization
A lighting controller may optimize a timeout value of a lamp based on the goals of saving energy and providing occupant comfort. The lamp may illuminate a lighting area. The lighting controller may determine a false-negative rate for the lamp from sensor data that represents a frequency at which the lamp is timed out while the lighting area is occupied. The lighting controller may adjust the timeout value of the lamp over time so that the false-negative rate approaches a threshold false-negative rate. The false-negatives and occupancy periods may be detected from spikes in time distributions of motion data. The amount of energy that the lamp would consume at an increased timeout value of the lamp may be determined from motion data stored while the timeout value of the lamp is at an initial timeout value. |
| US08538594B2 |
Method for assigning transmission line of electric network
A method for assigning transmission line of electric network, which is used to select an optimal transmission assignment from a plurality of transmission assignment, is disclosed. The steps of the method includes: assigning a transmission line between a source and a relay node and another transmission line between the relay node and a sink to form one of the transmission assignments, and the states of the two transmission line are different; computing a network reliability of each transmission assignment; executing an algorithm to generate two offspring transmission assignments for replacing two of the transmission assignments, and the network reliabilities of the two of the transmission assignments are minimum; computing the network reliabilities for the two offspring transmission assignments; and selecting one of the transmission assignments with the maximal network reliability being the optimal transmission assignment. |
| US08538591B1 |
Fuel management system and method
A fuel management system and method that permits accurate accounting of fuel consumption within the context of a fuel consuming system is disclosed. The system/method may be broadly described as comprising a fuel level sensor, fuel level sensor transponder, fuel accounting system, and optional regulated fuel dispenser. The fuel level sensor accurately determines the contents of a fuel tank. This information is reported via fuel sensor transponder to a fuel accounting system that tracks the fuel consumption of the fuel consuming system and provides billing information based on the detected fuel consumption. This accounting information may be utilized within an optional regulated fuel dispenser to refill the fuel tank to an accurately predetermined fuel level for the next fuel management accounting cycle. While the present invention has many applications, one preferred embodiment targets fuel management within the context of rental/lease vehicles and the like. |
| US08538589B2 |
Building system with reduced wiring requirements and apparatus for use therein
An apparatus for use in a building automation system includes a plurality of microelectromechanical sensors disposed on a single substrate, a non-volatile memory, a communication device, and a processing device. The non-volatile memory stores configuration information corresponding to a first functionality of the apparatus. The communication device is operable to communicate sensor values to an external device. The processing device is operably coupled to each of the plurality of microelectromechanical sensors to receive measurement information therefrom. The processing device operable to provide the sensor values to the communication circuit. The sensor values provided by the processing device correspond to a select subset of less than all of the plurality of microelectromechanical sensors, the select subset based on the configuration information stored in the non-volatile memory. |
| US08538582B2 |
Robot and noise removing method for the robot
A robot includes: an arm driven by a motor; an angle sensor that detects a pivoting angle of the motor; an inertia sensor that detects an inertial force acting on the arm; a noise detecting unit that detects a noise frequency of the inertia sensor from both an output of the angle sensor and an output of the inertia sensor; a filter-constant determining unit that determines a characteristic of a filter from information of the noise detecting unit; and the filter that removes noise of the inertia sensor on the basis of the filter-constant determining unit. |
| US08538581B2 |
Article vending machine and method for authenticating received articles
An article dispensing machine, system and method for authenticating an article returned to the article dispensing machine and an article for use in such a machine and system. The article dispensing machine comprises an infrared light for illuminating the surface of the returned article, an image capture device for capturing the image of an authentication code on the returned article, and a processor for comparing the captured image to a master authentication code. The returned article comprises the authentication code printed in a carbon-containing ink and a substantially carbon free ink portion printed overtop of and at least partially concealing the authentication code, such that the authentication code is not visible in white light, but becomes visible when exposed to infrared light. |
| US08538579B2 |
Method and system for depalletizing tires using a robot
In a method and system for depalletizing tires using a robot, wherein the tires are randomly located on a carrier, the position and orientation of outer tires on the carrier are detected using a sensor, and a processor, using a signal from the sensor, determines a tire that can be gripped by a gripping tool of an industrial robot, and calculates a movement path for the gripping tool for that tire. If the calculated path is not collision-free, another tire from among the outer tires is selected, and a movement path for depalletizing that tire is determined. The procedure is repeated until a collision-free movement path for a tire from among the outer tires is established. The gripping tool is then guided according to this collision-free movement path to depalletize the tire having the collision-free path associated therewith. |
| US08538575B2 |
Automatic bore size control by completely integrating an air gage system into the machine control
A machine controller includes a memory and a processor configured for operating a machine control for automatically controlling apparatus for performing a machining process on a workpiece at least partially as a function of data relating to a parameter of the workpiece, and a gage control for automatically controlling gaging apparatus for collecting and processing the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece and storing the data in the memory. At least a portion of the memory in which the data relating to the parameter of the workpiece is stored, is configured as a shared memory so as to allow the machine control to immediately retrieve and use the stored data relating to the parameter of the workpiece. The controller has particular utility for use in controlling a honing process and a gaging process, which can be in-process or post-process, and which can be used for bore sizing and other parameters. |
| US08538571B2 |
Substrate processing system, group managing apparatus, and method of analyzing abnormal state
A maintenance engineer can analyze an abnormal state with less difficulty in a rapid and correct manner independent of his/her skill. A substrate processing system comprises: a substrate processing apparatus configured to operate according to a recipe defining a process sequence and process conditions, and a group managing apparatus connected to the substrate processing apparatus. The group managing apparatus comprises an analysis support unit. The analysis support unit is configured to extract check item information relating to both abnormal state information for indentifying an abnormal state occurring when the recipe is executed and apparatus type information for identifying the type of the substrate processing apparatus at which the abnormal state occurs, and to prepare a check item table comprising the extracted check item information. |
| US08538569B1 |
Method for forming faux distress marks in fiberglass doors
One or methods for improving a component are provided. The method can include using a processor with data storage and computer instructions in the data storage to allow a user to select from: drawing a custom mark in full size and producing a graphic file of a custom mark, selecting a pattern from a library of patterns for the component in a graphic file, or changing a photograph of an existing mark and changing the photograph into a graphic file. |
| US08538568B2 |
Audio data transmitting apparatus for webcasting and audio regulating methods therefor
A webcasting system and the audio data regulating methods to be used in the webcasting system are presented. The webcasting system includes a host and an audio playing apparatus. The host, which is loaded with an operating system and drivers, determines the audio data output according to an expected data received by the operating system. The drivers provide the expected data according to the audio data received and transform the audio data for network transmission. The audio playing apparatus receives the network data and processes the network data for audio playing. |
| US08538565B2 |
Music playing apparatus, music playing method, recording medium storing music playing program, and integrated circuit that implement gapless play
A music playing apparatus includes: a sound and silence determining unit determining whether or not each frame included in first and second output PCM data is a sound frame including a sample having an output level not lower than a predetermined threshold; a connection point extracting unit extracting a candidate connection point being a sample having a largest variation in a lean of a PCM waveform, from each of the determined sound frames; an end detecting unit detecting candidate connection points included in a last sound frame of the first output PCM data and an initial sound frame of the second output PCM data, respectively, as a first connection point and a second connection point; and a tune continuously-output unit connecting the first output PCM data to the second output PCM data at the first and the second connection points, and playing the connected data. |
| US08538560B2 |
Wireless power and communication unit for process field devices
A wireless power and communication unit for field devices is configured to connect to a field device and provide operating power and wired digital communication between the unit and the field device. RF circuitry in the unit is configured for radio frequency communication. In one embodiment, power supply circuitry in the unit includes one or more solar power cells that convert solar energy into electricity to power both the unit and the field device. The unit interacts with the field device in accordance with a standard industry communication protocol. The unit communicates wirelessly with an external device, such as a control room, based upon the interaction with the field device. |
| US08538558B1 |
Systems and methods for control with a multi-chip module with multiple dies
A multi-chip module includes a first die having a control processor to generate a signal to control an industrial process and an input/output interface. The multi-chip module also includes a second die having a supervisory processor and an input/output interface. A processor failure of one of the control processor and the supervisory processor is detected by the other of the control processor and the supervisory processor, and the processor that detects the failure is configured to assert a signal through its input/output interface to cause the industrial process to transition to a safe state in response to the failure. Additionally, the first and second dies are created using different process technologies. |
| US08538553B2 |
MRI compatible implantable lead
An implantable lead is provided that includes a lead body configured to be implanted in a patient. The lead body has a distal end and a proximal end, and a lumen extending between the distal and proximal ends and includes a connector assembly provided at the proximal end of the lead body. The connector assembly is configured to connect to an implantable medical device and includes an electrode provided proximate to the distal end of the lead body with the electrode configured to at least one of deliver stimulating pulses and sense electrical activity. A multi-layer coil is located within the lumen and extends at least partially along a length of the lead body. The coil includes a first winding formed with multiple winding turns, the winding turns being segmented in an alternating pattern of insulated segments and non-insulated segments along the length of the lead body. The multi-layer coil further includes a winding turn connective layer extending along and interconnecting the winding turns within at least one of the non-insulated segments. The multi-layer coil further includes a first winding formed with multiple winding turns, the winding turns being segmented into an alternating pattern of insulated segments and non-insulated segments along a length of the winding with a winding turn connective layer extending along and interconnecting the winding turns within at least one of the non-insulated segments. |
| US08538551B2 |
Leads with high surface resistance
Implantable medical leads having resistance characteristics adapted to dissipate radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy during medical procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. An illustrative medical device includes a lead having an inner electrical conductor operatively coupled to an electrode and a pulse generator, and one or more outer resistive shields that radially surround the inner conductor and dissipate RF energy into the surrounding body tissue along the length of the lead. |
| US08538544B2 |
Implantable RF telemetry devices with power saving mode
An electronic implantable device with a power saving circuit incorporates a radio frequency receiver with high power consumption. The first power radio receiver of high power is normally turned off during a period of inactivity. When an analyzer forming part of a second radio receiver and coupled to the first radio receiver detects a predetermined identification code in a received radio frequency signal received by the second radio receiver, it outputs a signal to turn on the first power receiver. |
| US08538539B2 |
System and methods for assessing the neuromuscular pathway prior to nerve testing
The present invention involves a system and methods for assessing the state of the neuromuscular pathway to ensure further nerve tests aimed at detecting at least one of a breach in a pedicle wall, nerve proximity, nerve direction, and nerve pathology, are not conducted when neuromuscular blockade levels may decrease the reliability of the results. |
| US08538538B2 |
Medical electrical stimulation with implantable simulated case electrode
This disclosure describes delivery of omnipolar electrical stimulation with an external electrical stimulator. Omnipolar electrical stimulation may involve stimulation with an electrode carried on the housing of an implantable medical device (IMD) while substantially simultaneously delivering stimulation via one or more implanted electrodes having the same polarity as the electrode on the housing. An external medical device (EMD) may simulate the IMD housing electrode with an electrode separate from the electrodes carried on leads implanted near target tissue. This electrode may be an external electrode carried on the external housing of the EMD or an external patch electrode. Alternatively, the electrode may be an implantable electrode coupled to the EMD. The conductivity of the external or implantable electrode may also be optimized to approximate the conductivity of the IMD housing electrode. This electrode coupled to the EMD may be utilized during trial stimulation or chronic, external, stimulation. |
| US08538536B2 |
Methods of improving neuropsychological function in patients with neurocognitive disorders
The present invention provides methods of improving neuropsychological function in a patient having a neurocognitive disorder by chemical or electrically modulating a target site(s) in the ventral striatum/ventral capsule region. Methods also include modulating the treatment based on a closed-loop feedback system that measures bodily activities associated with the neuropsychological function (i.e. that help to determine whether a neuropsychological function is or can be improved. |
| US08538535B2 |
Enhancing perfusion by contraction
Apparatus and methods are described including a mechanical support element that is placed inside a first vein of a subject. At least one electrode disposed on the mechanical support element is placed inside the first vein, in a vicinity of a site upstream of a bifurcation with a second vein of the subject. A control unit enhances downstream blood flow from the first vein by driving the at least one electrode to divert blood downstream into the second vein by constricting the first vein at the upstream site, by driving the at least one electrode to apply a current to the vicinity of the site. The mechanical support element prevents the first vein from collapsing by providing mechanical support to the vein. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08538534B2 |
Systems and methods for electrically stimulating the lower esophageal sphincter to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease
The present specification describes methods and devices using electrical stimulation to modulate lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. The electrical stimulation may be delivered to the LES via one or more electrodes that is placed in contact with the LES tissue. The methods and devices are useful to treat a number of conditions or disease conditions, including for example, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). |
| US08538533B2 |
Controlled vagal blockage therapy
Systems and methods for treating at least one of a plurality of disorders characterized at least in part by vagal activity. In embodiments, a method for treating obesity comprises positioning a first electrode on a vagus nerve of an obese patient at a location below a vagal innervation of the heart; treating the patient's obesity by applying an electrical treatment signal to the electrode with the electrical treatment signal having: a frequency selected for the signal to at least partially downregulate nerve impulses on the vagal nerve, wherein the signal has a frequency in excess of 200 Hz, and without simultaneously applying a neural impulse-inducing secondary electrical signal to the vagus nerve on a proximal side of the location whenever the electrical treatment signal is applied; and b) a plurality of on-times separated by a plurality of off-times, the signal applied during the on-times and not applied during the off-times, wherein the duration of the off-times is selected in response to a signal from a sensing electrode representing at least 50% of the activity of the vagal nerve as compared to baseline. |
| US08538531B2 |
Electromagnetic interference shielding in an implantable medical device
EMI shields for use in implantable medical devices that include inner and outer metal layers separated by a dielectric layer. When assembled as medical devices, the outer metal layer of an illustrative EMI shield is placed into electrical contact with a conductive inner surface of an associated canister for an implantable medical device. |
| US08538524B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting far-field oversensing based on signals sensed by the proximal electrode of a multipolar LV lead
A device senses cardioelectrical signals using a right atrial (RA) lead, which might include far-field R-waves as well as near-field P-waves. The device concurrently senses events using a proximal electrode of an LV lead, which can sense both P-waves and R-waves as substantially near-field events. Suitable templates are then applied to the signals sensed via the proximal LV electrode to identify the origin of the signals (e.g. atrial vs. ventricular) so as to properly classify the corresponding events sensed in the RA as near-field or far-field events. In this manner, far-field oversensing is conveniently detected. |
| US08538520B2 |
Method and apparatus for device controlled gene expression for cardiac protection
A gene regulatory system detects ischemia events and is capable of delivering a biologic therapy in response to the detection of an ischemic event or the reception of a command. The biologic therapy protects the heart from ischemic damage by regulating the expression of an exogenously introduced gene product. In one embodiment, the gene regulatory system includes an implantable system that emits at least one gene regulatory signal in response to the detection of the ischemic event or the reception of the command. The gene regulatory signal directly or indirectly regulates gene expression of the gene product. |
| US08538519B2 |
Method and system for treatment of mechanical cardiac asynchrony
A system and method for identifying patients with asynchronous ventricular contractions due to abnormal electro-mechanical coupling and computing optimal pacing parameters for restoring synchronous contractions is disclosed. Such patients may have normal intra-ventricular and inter-ventricular conduction and cannot be identified from intrinsic conduction data alone such as QRS width. Techniques for computing optimal resynchronization pacing in order to compensate for abnormal electro-mechanical coupling are also described. |
| US08538517B2 |
Implant, system and method using implanted passive conductors for routing electrical current
The present invention provides improvements to an implant, system and method using passive electrical conductors which route electrical current to either external or implanted electrical devices, to multiple target body tissues and to selective target body tissues. The passive electrical conductor extends from subcutaneous tissue located below either a surface cathodic electrode or a surface anodic electrode a) to a target tissue to route electrical signals from the target body tissue to devices external to the body; b) to implanted electrical devices to deliver electrical current to such devices, or c) to multiple target body tissues or to selective target body tissues to stimulate the target body tissues. The conductor has specialized ends for achieving such purposes. |
| US08538512B1 |
Method for amplifying abnormal pattern signal in observed brain activity of a subject for diagnosis or treatment
The present invention relates to a brain dysfunction and seizure detector monitor and system, and a method of detecting brain dysfunction and/or seizure of a subject. The various embodiments of the system of the present invention were developed for the brain activity and preferably EEG monitoring of a single patient or multiple patients. Preferably, the system or monitor of the present invention also includes one or more seizure detection algorithms. The analysis method is specifically optimized to amplify abnormal brain activity and minimize normal background activity. This analysis yields a seizure index whose value is directly related to the current presence of ictal activity in the signal. In addition, a seizure probability index based on historical values of the aforementioned seizure index, is derived for diagnostic purposes. The seizure probability index quantifies the probability that the patient has exhibited abnormal brain activity since the beginning of the recording. The real-time seizure index, and the historical seizure probability index, can be used in the context of an emergency and/or clinical situation to assess the status and well being of a patient's brain, or can be used to automatically administer treatment to stop the seizure before clinical signs appear. |
| US08538511B2 |
Apparatus for collecting a physiological signal
The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for collecting a physiological signal, comprising a main body, including two devices for taking out the physiological signal from a finger at each side of the main body by pressing the finger therein, each device for taking out the physiological signal from a finger including: a finger contacting element, provided thereon an electrode unit for taking out an electronic signal of the physiological signal at the time of being contacted by the finger; a receiving element, provided on an upper side of the finger contacting element; and an elastic element, being connected to the receiving element, wherein each elastic element is opened an angle at each receiving element according to elastic force of each elastic element, and each finger inserts into a space and engages with the finger contacting element and the receiving element. |
| US08538510B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying myocardial ischemia using analysis of high frequency QRS potentials
Detecting cardiac ischemia by detecting local changes in high frequency ECG parameters. Local changes may be, for example, local reduction in RMS of high frequency components, for example, during a stress test. |
| US08538505B2 |
Method for 3-D data collection with a biplane C-arm system with biplane acquisition multiplexing
A method for collecting three-dimensional data of an object from a series of projection images recorded by a biplane C-arm system is provided. A cardiac activity is recorded. The cardiac frequency and a start cardiac phase are determined for calculating parameters of the C-arm planes. The C-arm planes are set with the parameters and data is acquired in the start cardiac phase. The C-arm planes are uniformly rotated at a same speed in a forward motion over an angular area and record data at different angular areas at different cardiac phases. Data is acquired in the start cardiac phase after termination of the forward motion. The C-arm planes are uniformly rotated at a same speed in a backward motion over an angular area and records data at different angular areas at different cardiac phases. The captured data are reconstructed after termination of the backward motion upon completed acquisition. |
| US08538502B1 |
Method and device for quick press on EEG electrode
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for monitoring bioelectric potentials. In some instances, an electrode is applied to a patient's skin. The electrode may be at least partly inserted into the patient's skin, such as by inserting at least part of one or more teeth underneath the skin. |
| US08538500B2 |
System and method for probability based determination of estimated oxygen saturation
Present embodiments include providing an initial estimate of a value representative of a blood flow characteristic at a current timestep, and determining a probability distribution of transition, wherein the probability distribution of transition includes potential values of the blood flow characteristic at the current timestep with associated probabilities of occurrence based solely on the initial estimate. Present embodiments further include obtaining an initial measurement of the blood flow characteristic, and determining a probability distribution of measured values, wherein the probability distribution of measured values includes potential values of the blood flow characteristic at the current timestep with associated probabilities of occurrence based on the initial measurement. Further, present embodiments include combining the probability of distribution of transition with the probability of distribution of measured values to determine a meaningful blood flow characteristic value, and posting the meaningful blood flow characteristic value. |
| US08538499B2 |
Process and apparatus for non-invasive, continuous in vivo measurement of hematocrit
The invention provides a method and apparatus obtaining a hematocrit from a sample of in vivo tissue. The method comprises irradiating the sample with a single incident wavelength on a sample of tissue, simultaneously measuring wavelength shifted (IE) and unshifted (EE) light emitted from the tissue, and determining a relative volume of light emitted from two phases, wherein the two phases comprise a first Rayleigh and Mie scattering and fluorescent phase associated with red blood cells, and a second, non-scattering phase associated with plasma. The hematocrit is calculated from the volume of light emitted by the first phase relative to the total volume of light emitted from the first and second phases. |
| US08538498B2 |
Technique for effective communications with, and provision of global positioning system (GPS) based advertising information to, automobiles
In an automobile, communications to and from the automobile are in the form of messages. Such messages are referred to as “electronic car-mail” or “C-mail” messages as each message has a destination or origination address which includes an identifier, e.g., a vehicle identification number (VIN), identifying the automobile. The messages may be delivered to the automobile from a remote server through a communications network, e.g., the Internet. One such message may contain a recall notice to the automobile. Another message may contain just-in-time map information for navigation, depending on the current location of the automobile. Yet another message may contain advertising information concerning selected entities, e.g., restaurants, gas stations, department stores, etc., also depending on the current location of the automobile. The messages transmitted from the automobile to the remote server may contain, e.g., GPS information identifying the location of the automobile, dynamic data furnished by sensors in the automobile for analysis, an odometer reading and a speedometer reading for records, etc. |
| US08538497B2 |
Electronic device and fixing structure thereof
A fixing structure including a metal housing and a fixing base is disclosed. The housing has a carrying plane and the fixing base having a first contact end and, opposite, a second contact end is disposed on the housing. The perpendicular distance from the first contact end to the carrying plane is greater than that from the second contact end to the carrying plane. A wireless transmission device is disposed on the fixing base and in contact with the first contact end and the second contact end, so that a perpendicular distance from an antenna end of the wireless transmission device to the carrying plane is greater than a perpendicular distance from a fixed end of the wireless transmission device to the carrying plane. Therefore, a relatively great distance is kept between the antenna end and the housing for preventing the antenna end from being interfered by the metal housing. |
| US08538492B2 |
System and method for localized noise cancellation
A system and method for localized noise cancellation. An audio signal is received from an environment in close proximity to a primary area. The audio signal is processed to generate an inverse signal of the audio signal. The inverse signal is broadcast within the primary area to destructively interfere with the audio signal. The inverse signal is configured to prevent the audio signal from being broadcast through a telephone conversation ongoing in the primary area. |
| US08538491B2 |
System and method for spoken caller identification in a cellular telephone headset
The subject disclosure describes monitoring when a headset is in communication with a mobile communication device, detecting the headset, comparing a name of a caller and a telephone number of the caller against a list of names and telephone numbers previously stored in a memory, determining that the name of the caller or the telephone number of the caller matches one of the names and telephone numbers in the list, determining that the one of the names and telephone numbers is associated with a pre-recorded message that the user previously recorded and stored in the memory, retrieving the pre-recorded message, and performing a text-to-speech conversion on the name and telephone number of the caller to generate a synthesized speech signal spoken text message and sending the synthesized speech signal and the pre-recorded message to the headset. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08538490B2 |
Mobile electronic device
A system and method for operating a mobile electronic device is disclosed. An intermittent reception is performed to reduce or minimize power consumption during a sleep mode while the mobile electronic device is communicating with at least one base station. At least a first voltage is provided on a chip-enable terminal of an LED driving circuit to cause an LED to blink after the intermittent reception. |
| US08538489B2 |
Mobile communication terminal
In order to facilitate an operation for talking, a mobile communication terminal includes first and second LCDs which display images, the first LCD being changed in state between an open state where a display surface of the second LCD is exposed and a closed state where the display surface of the second LCD is covered by the first LCD, a state detecting portion which detects the open/closed state of the first LCD, a destination number accepting portion which accepts a telephone number of a call destination while the open state is being detected by the state detecting portion, and a communication control portion which originates a call to a telephone number accepted by the destination number accepting portion (S08) when the closed state is detected by the state detecting portion (YES in S07) after the telephone number has been accepted by the destination number accepting portion (S05). |
| US08538486B1 |
Communication device which displays perspective 3D map
The wireless communication device, wherein when the first function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of two-dimensional text images, and when the second function is implemented, the video image generator generates a three-dimensional map which is displayed in the manner perceived from the current geographic location of the wireless communication device. |
| US08538485B1 |
Communication device
The wireless communication device which displays images retrieved from camera and three-dimensional images which change in accordance with the current location of the wireless communication device. |
| US08538484B2 |
Providing a user with feedback regarding power consumption in battery-operated electronic devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing a user with feedback regarding power consumption in a battery-operated electronic device. In one aspect, a method is performed by one or more data processing apparatus. The method includes receiving, at the data processing apparatus, historical records of power consumption by a collection of battery-operated electronic devices that are operated by different users, aggregating and analyzing, by the data processing apparatus, the historical records to generate representative characterizations of the power consumption on different classes of the battery-operated electronic devices, and outputting, from the data processing apparatus, the representative characterizations of the power consumption by different applications that have executed on the different classes. Each of the battery-operated electronic devices belongs to a class. |
| US08538483B2 |
Computer program products, apparatuses and methods for associating and displaying messages in mobile terminals
Apparatuses for associating and displaying messages and contacts in a way that allows users to access either category of information is provided. One apparatus includes a processing element that associates the messages with corresponding contacts and also includes a memory element configured to store contacts and messages received or transmitted. The apparatus may also include a display such that the processing element may generate upon the display a visual representation of the contacts and messages. Messages are associated with corresponding contacts and are displayed according to the associations. For example, a message may be associated with a contact based on a common identifier of the contact and the message. Messages associated with a selected contact may be displayed, and contacts associated with messages that have been received or sent may also be displayed according to user inputs. Methods and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08538482B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting CoMP feedback information
A method of efficiently transmitting CoMP feedback information from an user equipment, which performs CoMP operation, in a wireless communication system to reduce inter-cell interference is disclosed. The user equipment requests a neighboring cell, which affects the user equipment through interference, to restrict use of a specific beam pattern group in a serving cell direction. In this case, whether the user equipment will request such restriction is determined based on a channel status value of the user equipment. If the user equipment determines to request such restriction, the user equipment transmits a request message to a serving base station, the request message requesting to restrict use of the specific beam pattern group. In this case, the user equipment performs scheduling and requests a specific neighboring cell to restrict use of the specific beam pattern group at a specific resource region. |
| US08538481B2 |
Processing device for the contactless communication with a data carrier which is detachably connected to the processing device
A processing device having a housing includes first communication device for receiving and/or transmitting an information signal and processor for processing the information signal received and/or to be transmitted, as well as second communication device for the contactless retrieval of control information stored in a data carrier which is detachably connected to the of the processing device, which processing of the information signal by the processing device can be influenced with the aid of the retrieved control information. |
| US08538477B2 |
Docking station for mobile device for displaying contact information
Embodiments disclosed herein include a docking station for a mobile device, for example. The docking station may include a docking port configured to physically receive a mobile device and a receiver to receive a list of contacts from the mobile device. The docking station may also include a display to show the list of contacts, wherein each contact is associated with a sensor for receiving an input from a user for selecting the corresponding contact. The docking station may further include a transmitter to send a selection of one of the contacts in the list of contacts, as input by the user via the sensor corresponding to the selected contact, to the mobile device to initiate a telephone call with a device associated with the selected contact. |
| US08538476B2 |
Cellular network computer adaptation system
A wireless communication system relating to a system for transferring a portable memory chip or other relevant data into a transmission device such that the transmission device can engage a computer to ultimately employ the network plan contained in the portable memory chip for full use on the computer and computer screen. In this manner, the computer will be enabled to perform all tasks of a mobile phone, as well as receive all data contained within the portable memory chip. However, the ability to transmit and receive voice and data communications is contingent upon the access granted through the network plan. |
| US08538472B2 |
User equipment and method for performing downlink and/or uplink power control
A user equipment includes a plurality of antennas to receive downlink signals from a base station, a plurality of receiver circuits each coupled to a respective one of the plurality of antennas to process the received downlink signals, an SIR estimation unit to estimate a quality of the received downlink signals, a power loop controller to generate transmit power control commands based on the estimated quality of the received downlink signals, the transmit power control commands being directed to the base station to adjust a power of the downlink signals and a diversity controller to selectively activate and deactivate one or more of the receiver circuits depending on the estimated quality of the received downlink signals. |
| US08538467B2 |
Methods and apparatus for delivering a message to two or more associated wireless communication devices
Techniques in a message-originating wireless communication device for use in communicating short messages via a wireless communication network are described. The message-originating device has a memory which stores an address of a wireless communication device in association with an additional address of an additional wireless communication device. In the technique, a request to deliver a short message to the address of the wireless communication device is received via a user interface of the message-originating device. The request may be made, for example, in response to a depression of a button, only once, to send the short message. In response to the request, the short message is transmitted, via the wireless network, to the address for delivery to the wireless communication device. The short message is additionally transmitted, via the wireless network, to the additional address for delivery to the additional wireless communication device. The additional address of the additional wireless communication device is selected for the additional transmission of the short message based on the stored association. |
| US08538466B2 |
Message filtering system using profiles
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method of filtering messages may be provided that includes receiving an SMS message intended for a recipient and receiving a user-restriction profile. The system and method includes determining whether the SMS message contains content that is indicated to be restricted by the user-restriction profile and, in response to the determination that the SMS message contains restricted content, delivering the SMS message to an authorized secondary receiver. Alternatively, in response to the determination that the SMS message does not contain restricted content, the SMS message may be delivered to the recipient. |
| US08538465B2 |
Method for receiving and transmitting a paging message
A method for receiving and transmitting a paging message is disclosed. A method for receiving a paging message in an idle mode of a mobile station comprises receiving a paging indicator channel included in a super frame header from a base station; if a paging message of the mobile station exists after identifying the paging indicator, identifying a wake-up time of the mobile station from mapping information of the paging indicator channel; and receiving the paging message from the base station by waking up at the wake-up time. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the paging indicator channel including information useful for the mobile station to receive the paging message is added to the IEEE 802.16m frame structure, whereby the power consumed to receive the paging message can be reduced. |
| US08538462B2 |
Synchronizing mobile and vehicle devices
Location information is received at a mobile device from the memory of a vehicle device. The mobile device is updated based on the location information. Sensor data is received from at least one sensor measuring movement of the mobile device, and an estimated location of the mobile device is calculated based at least in part on the location information and the sensor data. |
| US08538460B2 |
Method and system for exploiting location-dependent services in a cellular radio system
A communications system comprises base stations for providing mobile stations with communications links and services. The system changes the service selection offered to a given mobile station in response to information sent form the given mobile station indicating the arrival of the mobile station in at least one localized service area. |
| US08538459B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for configuring idle screen thereof
A mobile terminal and a method for configuring a screen of the mobile terminal are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes collecting status information and usage information of the mobile terminal while menus displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal are used, forming a menu usage pattern based on at least one of the status information and the usage information, and selectively changing, based on at least the menu usage pattern, at least one display configuration of menus to be displayed on the screen when the screen is idle. |
| US08538455B2 |
Storage medium storing relay control program, relay server device, and relay control method
A relay server receives from a mobile terminal a delivery request to a delivery server device that provides an application to the mobile terminal. The relay server obtains position information of the mobile terminal from a representative device connected to a position managing server that holds the position information of the mobile terminal. The relay server transmits the position information of the mobile terminal obtained from the representative device to a relay device that relays a communication to inquire about the position information of the mobile terminal to the representative device. The relay server updates the position information obtained from the representative device with the position information received from the relay device when the position information of the mobile terminal is received from the relay device. The relay server transfers the received delivery request to the delivery server device identified based on the updated position information. |
| US08538451B2 |
Location services
A wireless communications network for providing location services comprising: a network element comprising storage means for storing network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; a passive location data storage entity for storing passive location data and subscriber identities; and means for transferring the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to the passive location data storage entity whereby the location information constitutes said passive location data for providing location services to a location services client. |
| US08538444B2 |
Method of transmitting/receiving LTE system information in a wireless communication system
In a wireless mobile communications system, the system information is grouped or classified in different types according to the characteristics of the system information, and the system information is transmitted to channels with specific functions that allow the optimization of the resource usage and the reception by the User Equipment (UE). |
| US08538433B2 |
Method, radio system, and base station
In a radio system having at least one base station that is part of a public mobile network, at least one mobile terminal communicates with the at least one base station, a local breakout service network provides Internet protocol gateway services. A serving base station of a mobile terminal is configured to provide the local breakout service to the Internet protocol gateway while retaining user access control and a remote Internet protocol gateway of a packet core network of the public mobile network for the mobile terminal; to provide information on neighboring cells in which the local breakout service can continue; to make a handover decision based on measurement reports received from the mobile terminal; and to transfer user context data including local breakout service related information to a target base station during handover for providing mobility within the local breakout service area for the mobile terminal. |
| US08538428B2 |
Radio coverage mapping for telecommunications network
An arrangement for determining radio coverage provided by a telecommunications system to a user of a mobile device is disclosed. In the case of a GSM or UMTS mobile device, if the device is in the idle mode (step A) and if a paging operation is not scheduled (step B), the mobile device records and stores on the mobile device a characteristic of the radio coverage provided when the mobile device is at each of a plurality of locations visited by the user of the mobile device (step C). The arrangement also enables retrieval of the recorded and stored characteristic so that radio coverage provided to the device for the user at the locations can be evaluated. If the telecommunications system includes a plurality of networks, the mobile device will record and store the characteristic for each of the plurality of networks. The arrangement then enables the radio coverage provided by the respective networks to be evaluated, and an informed choice as to the best network for that particular user can be made. |
| US08538422B1 |
Reallocation of resources for dual-mode wireless devices
A wireless service of a first type is scanned. A first station associated with the first type is selected. A first indicator of expected service conditions associated with the first station is received. Based on the first indicator, a wireless service of a second type is scanned. A second station associated with the second type is selected. A second indicator of expected service conditions associated with the second type is received. Based on the first indicator and the second indicator, one of the first type and second type is selected to receive wireless service. |
| US08538419B2 |
Method and apparatus to enable patching of user equipment context through retrieval of partial contexts from various network servers
Devices and methods are provided for the patching of a UE context via retrieval of partial contexts when a UE transitions from a source system (e.g., UTRAN) to a target system (e.g., an LTE network). In one embodiment, the method may involve receiving a first identifier for a source system server (e.g., SGSN) storing first context information, and a second identifier for a target system server (e.g., MME) storing second context information. The method may involve retrieving and combining the first and second context information to generate the patched context for the UE. |
| US08538415B2 |
Trigger of inter-frequency measurments within mobile radio communications device
The invention provides for a method of initiating inter-frequency measurements within a mobile radio communications device and including the step of inspecting by way of a network the load state of the cell in which the mobile radio communications device is located, and further including the step of paging the mobile radio communications device with a Paging Type 1 message indicating that the mobile radio communications device can perform inter-frequency measurement on the cells identified within SIB before responding to the paging signal. |
| US08538413B2 |
Network layer test module for testing control channels and unidirectional radio bearers
A method and apparatus for testing point-to-multipoint services and other wireless communication services dependent on unidirectional radio bearers and/or unacknowledged mode operations is described herein. A wireless communication device activates a test module responsive to receiving a test activation message. During a test mode, the test module receives RLC data units from a test system via a unidirectional downlink radio bearer or a control channel. In one embodiment, the test module includes a metric evaluator that determines an error metric based on the received RLC data units. The test module reports the error metric to the test system. In another embodiment, the test module includes a loop-back module that loops-back at least a portion of the received RLC data units to the test system via a unidirectional uplink radio bearer. |
| US08538412B2 |
Mobile station, base station, and communication system capable of communication through a plurality of radio interfaces
A mobile station capable of communication through a plurality of radio interfaces differing in at least one among radio scheme and frequency band, includes a determining unit that determines execution of concurrent communication based on a communication state of the mobile station, the concurrent communication concurrently using the radio interfaces for communication; and a communicating unit that performs the concurrent communication based on a determination result obtained by the determining unit. |
| US08538410B2 |
User-customized mobility method and system in a mobile communication system
An access point to a restricted-access cell of a cellular network detects at least one cell of the cellular network in the vicinity of the cell in which it is located. It sends a server of the cellular network an identifier (RAC1) of the restricted-access cell, an identifier of the cell(s) detected, and an identifier of at least one user (U1) authorized to access the restricted-access cell. On reception of this information, the server stores it in a database (26) and can therefore send a mobile terminal (10) of said user (U1) the identifier (RAC1) of the restricted-access cell it is authorized to access. This identifier can be sent if the server detects that the mobile terminal (10) is in the vicinity of the restricted-access cell and/or periodically and/or in the event of a change to the information stored in the database (26) of the server. |
| US08538408B2 |
System and method for controlling vehicle systems from a cell phone
A system and method for controlling systems of a vehicle with a cell phone. The cell phone is associated with the vehicle through a user interface. User preferences are received through the user interface for sending commands from the cell phone to the vehicle for controlling the systems of the vehicle. A wireless connection is established between the vehicle and the cell phone. A distance is determined between the cell phone and the vehicle. One or more commands are sent to the vehicle to control the systems based on the user preferences. |
| US08538407B2 |
Fixed mobile convergence home control system
Systems and methods for controlling a building automation system with an FMC cellular device are provided. The FMC cellular device can locally interface with a building automation system via a femtocell base station or a wireless access point, remotely interface with a building automation system over a wide area network via a macrocell base station, or remotely interface with a building automation system via a GAN enabled wireless access point. |
| US08538405B2 |
Communication protocol preferences
Systems and methods for the management of communications related to telecommunications-based devices are provided. Telecommunications-based devices initiate requests to gateway computing devices corresponding to a radio communication network to establish data communications. The gateway computing device accepts the communication request and specifies an ordered preference of one or more communication protocols that will be used telecommunications-based devices accessing the wireless communication network. The telecommunications-based device processes the acceptance and selects a communication protocol from the ordered preference provided by the gateway computing device. |
| US08538402B2 |
Phone that prevents texting while driving
The present invention includes a phone able to detect or determine that a user of the phone is sitting in a driver seat of a moving vehicle. The determination may be based on, for example, captured front-side images, captured back-side images, captured audio, contextual analysis of textual messages, contextual analysis of phone conversations or intra-vehicular conversations, GPS data or other location data, or other parameters. Upon such determination, the phone may block one or more features or applications, such as texting or messaging. The present invention may reduce, eliminate or block occurrences of concurrent texting-and-driving, or other unsafe or illegal operations. |
| US08538400B2 |
Exchanging digital content
A first content selection stored on a portable media device is associated with a first tag. In addition, a second tag that is associated with a second content selection and that indicates that supplemental content related to the second content selection is stored on a peer device is accessed from a peer device. The first tag is compared to the second tag, and, if a commonality shared by the first content selection and the second content selection is identified, an exchange of the supplemental content from the peer device to the portable media device is initiated. |
| US08538396B2 |
Wireless extensions for a conference unit and methods thereof
A telecommunication conference device, system and method for enhancing participation within a conference call. The present application relates to telecommunications, and more particularly, to a conference phone capable of being connected with wireless devices such that they can be used as microphone extensions. In one embodiment, the conference phone can include a wireless interface and a microphone. The conference phone can connect with one or more wireless devices through the wireless interface. The conference phone can receive audio from the one or more wireless devices and at the same time, can receive audio from the microphone on the conference phone. The audio received by the conference phone, through the one or more wireless devices and the microphone, can be combined into a single audio stream using an audio mixer. The teleconference phone can remove echoing effects that are within the audio stream and then transmit the audio over a telephone network. |
| US08538395B2 |
System and method for identifying a contact associated with an electronic communication
A method is provided on an electronic communications device having a subscriber identifier, the method for disambiguating multiple contacts associated with an electronic communication. The method includes searching a plurality of stored contacts for an association with the electronic communication. For any contact associated with the electronic communication, verifying whether the contact has a subscriber identifier associated with the electronic device and identifying a contact as the initiator or recipient of the electronic communication if the contact is without a subscriber identifier. |
| US08538392B2 |
System and method for interrupt control on a handheld device
An interrupt message is sent over one of a plurality of transport mediums from a first mobile device to a second mobile device. The interrupt message may include a first mobile device identifier associated with a transport medium that is independent of the plurality of transport mediums. Upon receipt of the interrupt message at the second mobile device an interruption of any current mobile device operation may occur to notify a user of the interrupt message. |
| US08538385B2 |
Mobile device panic function with recordability
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to recording a conversation on a portable communications device. This allows the user to press a panic button or a series of buttons on their portable communications device to begin recording the conversation. This conversation may be stored on a memory of the portable communications device or in a network in communication with the portable communications device. With the conversation recorded, there is a record of what was said during the call. This record may later be used if necessary. |
| US08538382B2 |
Method, device, and system for network exit or de-registration of femto base station
The present invention discloses a method, a device, and a system for network exit or de-registration of a femto base station. The network exit method includes: performing, a de-registration procedure with an access gateway; de-authenticating the femto base station through a security gateway and an authentication server; and tearing down a tunnel between the femto base station and the security gateway. The de-registration method includes: receiving, a de-register request message from an access gateway, where the de-register request message carries a first identifier of a neighboring base station or/and a second identifier of an access gateway other than the access gateway; directing a terminal currently served by the femto base station itself to hand over to the neighboring base station corresponding to the first identifier or/and registering with the other access gateway corresponding to the second identifier; and sending a de-register response message to the access gateway. |
| US08538380B2 |
Method of data protection for communication device
A method of data protection is used in a communication device. The communication may read a phone number of a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, and further determines whether the phone number conforms to a preset phone number stored in the communication device. Personal data stored in the communication device will be locked if the phone number does not conform to the preset phone number. The communication device further transmits a warning and location information of the communication device to a preset called communication device. |
| US08538378B2 |
Mobile billboard and usage advisor
System for providing dynamic recommendations associated with usage of a wireless communication service from a service provider (SP) of a user. A memory area stores at least one or more of the following service usage information: a service plan of the wireless communication service of the user, a service charge structure of a wireless communication service, a service coverage area of the wireless communication service provider (SP), a usage information of the wireless communication service of the user, and tariff information associated with the usage. A processor is configured to execute computer-executable instructions for monitoring the usage of the wireless communication service. The processor is also configured to correlate the monitored usage with the service usage information stored on the memory area. The processor is configured to generate a recommendation based on the correlation of the monitored usage and the service usage information. The generated recommendation provides a cost analysis of using the wireless communication service by the user. An interface provides the generated recommendation associated with the usage to the user. |
| US08538375B2 |
Automated alert generation in response to a predetermined communication on a telecommunication device
A cell phone software application that automatically informs a person's ICE contacts when their cell phone has made an emergency 911 call. Also included are systems for sending the GPS location of the cell phone to both the emergency service responders and to the ICE contacts. Personal medical information can also be transmitted automatically to the emergency service when the emergency call has been made. A system for disabling the alerting of the person's ICE contacts is also included such that the cell phone user is free to make emergency calls on behalf of other people. |
| US08538368B1 |
Dynamic power limiter circuit
Apparatus and methods for limiting a radio frequency (RF) signal are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a detector configured to generate a detection signal based on a power of a RF signal on a signal path. A bias circuit may bias a switch circuit to dynamically limit the RF signal based on the detection signal. |
| US08538366B2 |
Rotating harmonic rejection mixer
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a mixer circuit to receive and generate a mixed signal from a radio frequency (RF) signal and a master clock signal, a switch stage coupled to an output of the mixer circuit to rotatingly switch the mixed signal to multiple gain stages coupled to the switch stage, and a combiner to combine an output of the gain stages. |
| US08538364B2 |
Filter circuit and receiver using the same
Gain setting can be performed at high speed while reducing DC offset due to a filter cutoff frequency changeover without the need for input signal muting. A filter circuit having first and second filters is capable of allowing settings of first and second cutoff frequencies. First and second filter switch circuits and a charging circuit including a charging resistor and a charging switch are provided. For a first time period, the first switch circuit is controllably turned on while the second switch circuit is controllably turned off, thereby providing the first filter function. For a second time period, the first switch circuit is controllably turned off while the second switch circuit is controllably turned on, thereby providing the second filter function. For the first time period, the charging switch is controllably turned on so that the second capacitor is charged via the charging resistor. |
| US08538361B2 |
TV tuner and the manufacturing method thereof
A TV tuner includes an Ultra High Frequency (UHF)/Very High Frequency (VHF) tracking filter, an UHF/VHF matching circuit and a single conversion Tuner IC. The UHF/VHF tracking filter includes a first Low-Temperature Co-fired Ceramics (LTCC) inductor, a first varactor diode and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF tracking filter. The UHF/VHF matching circuit includes a second LTCC inductance, a second varactor diodes and a fine-tune capacitor electrically connected to determine the maximum gain frequency of the UHF/VHF matching circuit. |
| US08538360B2 |
System and method for managing items in a list shared by a group of mobile devices
A method and system are provided for operating a mobile device, the method comprising: reading a barcode being displayed by another mobile device, to identify a group, by capturing at least one image of the barcode; and joining the group identified by the barcode. Another method and system are provided, the method comprising: storing a barcode on the mobile device, the barcode identifying a group; and displaying the barcode on a display of the mobile device such that the entire barcode is visible on the display to enable another mobile device to scan the barcode to join the group. Another method and system are provided, the method comprising: reading a barcode being displayed by another mobile device, to identify an individual associated with the other mobile device, by capturing at least one image of the barcode; and inviting the individual identified by the barcode to join a group. |
| US08538351B2 |
Radiation power level control system and method for a wireless communication device based on a tracked radiation history
A radiation power level control system for a wireless user equipment (UE) device. In one embodiment, the system comprises a tracking component for maintaining a history of power data for the wireless UE device, the power data comprising data tracked over a time window relative to one or more variables on a per transmission event basis. A SAR determining module determines one or more SAR values during a current transmission event involving the wireless UE device, wherein the SAR determining module uses the history of power data if the current transmission event occurred within a predetermined duration from a last transmission event. An adjustment module is provided for adjusting a transmit power level of the wireless UE device if at least one of the one or more SAR values exceeds a threshold. |
| US08538344B2 |
Communication scheme for channel quality information
The invention relates to a method for transmitting and a method for reconstructing channel quality information in a communication system. Further, the invention also provides a transmitter and receiver performing these methods, respectively. The invention suggests a scheme for communicating channel quality measures that on the one hand allows for an accurate reconstruction of the channel quality measures at the receiver and on the other hand requires an acceptable transmission overhead. This is achieved by partitioning channel quality measures into at least two partitions and to compress the values partition-wise, for example, by means of a discrete cosine transform and the transmission of only a subset of the resulting coefficients. |
| US08538343B2 |
Methods and apparatus to collect wireless information
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to collect wireless information are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves installing an operating system and a data collector to execute outside a context of the operating system on a wireless handheld device. A testing process is performed to ensure functionality of the wireless handheld device. An application is installed on the wireless handheld device to execute in the context of the operating system. The data collector is to collect usage information regarding the application and to provide the usage information to a network provider. |
| US08538339B2 |
Method for distributed interference coordination in a femtocell environment
Distributed inter-cell interference coordination in a communications system can include: at one other femtocell system, sending channel quality information of a subordinate device communicating with the other femtocell system to the first femtocell system; receiving the channel quality information of the at least one other femtocell system at the first femtocell system; estimating an influence of a use of a resource on the communications system at the first femtocell system according to the channel quality information received by one or more of the at least one other femtocell system; and determining at the first femtocell system whether to use the resource. |
| US08538338B2 |
Frequency division multiple access communications within a device
A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers. |
| US08538336B2 |
Radio LSI device and interfering wave detecting circuit
A radio LSI device includes an interfering wave detecting circuit that receives an RSSI signal for a current transmit/receive channel. The interfering wave detecting circuit includes a field intensity determiner that determines whether or not the value of the RSSI signal is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The interfering wave detecting circuit also includes a duration counter that counts the duration of an interfering wave whose RSSI value is greater than the predetermined threshold value. The interfering wave detecting circuit also includes a duration comparator that, if the duration exceeds a duration comparative value, generates an interrupt signal. The radio LSI device changes the setting of the current transmit/receive channel in response to the interrupt signal. |
| US08538333B2 |
Media exposure linking utilizing bluetooth signal characteristics
A computer-implemented method for establishing media data exposure for a computer processing device, where media data received in the computer processing device. The computer processing device pairs itself with a plurality of portable computing devices using a Bluetooth connection when media data is received. A signal strength characteristic of the Bluetooth connection is established in the computer processing device for each of the paired plurality of portable computing devices. Each signal strength characteristic with the received media data is then established to determine which signal strength characteristic is the strongest when the media data was received in the computer processing device. |
| US08538331B2 |
Vehicle control and communication via device in proximity
An apparatus, device, methods, computer program product, and system are to make a determination that a first device associated with a vehicle is in proximity to a wireless device, determine a user interface on the wireless device with respect to the vehicle based on the determination, and perform an operation with respect to the vehicle based on the determination.If the wireless device 100 is in proximity 106 to a TV in other systems 140, automatic invocation system 198 may be used to turn on to the show that user 104 has scheduled in his calendar for this time. If no default action is available (i.e., the user 104 has no calendar entry), the viewing history or preferences of the user 104 may be used to select a channel, if viewing history and/or preferences cannot be used, the system may turn on the TV as usual. Alternatively, if user 104 has a web browser application executing on the wireless device 100 and the web browser is pointed to the URL for CNN, for example, the TV may be tuned to CNN as well. |
| US08538330B2 |
Adaptive inductive power supply with communication
An adaptive inductive ballast is provided with the capability to communicate with a remote device powered by the ballast. To improve the operation of the ballast, the ballast changes its operating characteristics based upon information received from the remote device. Further, the ballast may provide a path for the remote device to communicate with device other than the adaptive inductive ballast. |
| US08538329B2 |
System with sub-nyquist signal acquisition and transmission and associated methods
A sensing and recovery system includes a sensing unit and a recovery unit coupled together. The sensing unit includes a sensor to generate a bandlimited continuous time analog signal, and a modulator coupled to the sensor to generate a modulated analog signal based upon modulation of the bandlimited continuous time analog signal at a modulating rate at least equal to a Nyquist rate for the bandlimited continuous time analog signal. A compressive sensing circuit is coupled to the modulator to generate a compressed sensed signal based upon conversion of the modulated analog signal at a sampling rate less than the Nyquist rate. The recovery unit recovers the bandlimited continuous time analog signal from the compressed sensed signal. |
| US08538318B2 |
Apparatus and methods for an interactive electronic book system
Apparatus and methods are provided relating to delivering audio content for an interactive electronic book system, including a book with a plurality of pages with overlaying magnets affixed thereto, a magnetic sensor, a temperature sensor, a speaker, a computer with calibration and temperature compensation data stored in non-volatile memory, and audio content related to the pages of the book, such that the computer determines which page the book is open to and causes the speaker to deliver audio content related to the open page. Apparatus and methods are provided for calibrating an electronic book system including temperature compensation steps. |
| US08538317B2 |
Image elimination apparatus, image eliminating method and image forming apparatus
An image elimination apparatus includes a first reader configured to read a status of a sheet, a first judgment portion configured to judge whether the read sheet is reusable or not, an image eliminator configured to eliminate an image formed on the sheet, a second reader configured to read the sheet passing through the image eliminator, a second judgment portion configured to judge whether the image formed on the sheet is eliminated or not, and a controller configured to control the first reader and the second reader so as to read with different reading precision. |
| US08538316B2 |
Printing apparatus and decurling device
With front face printing, the sheet fed from a sheet feeding unit is led into a nipped position between a first pinch roller and a decurling roller from a first direction, and is discharged by decurling force being applied thereto at the decurling roller. On the other hand, the sheet fed from a reverse unit is led into the nipped position from a second direction opposite to the first direction, and is discharged by decurling force being applied thereto at the decurling roller. |
| US08538315B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body, an image forming unit that is provided in the image forming apparatus main body and forms an image on a recording medium, and a transport unit transporting the recording medium, wherein the image forming apparatus main body has a forward port for forwarding the recording medium having the image thereon by the image forming unit to outside of the image forming apparatus main body, and further has a guide unit by which the recording medium forwarded to the outside of the image forming apparatus main body is guided to be retrieved into the image forming apparatus main body, and to be led to the transport unit. |
| US08538314B2 |
Duplex image forming apparatus with a single drive source
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium; a discharging roller capable of transporting the printing medium which passes through the image forming unit in forward and reverse directions; a driving source to supply a rotation driving force in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to the discharging roller and the image forming unit; a duplex roller to transport the printing medium towards the image forming unit, which was transported in the reverse direction by the discharging roller; and a swing gear unit to receive the rotation driving force in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions to transmit a driving force to the duplex roller in a uniform direction. |
| US08538306B2 |
Web feed system having compensation roll
An apparatus includes a photoreceptor belt, a fixed transfer roller positioned on the inside of the photoreceptor belt, and a movable transfer roller positioned on the outside of the photoreceptor belt. The fixed transfer roller and the movable transfer roller are positioned to form a nip, and the photoreceptor belt and a web of print media are positioned in the nip. Also, a support roller and a compensation roller contact the web of print media. The support roller is positioned between the compensation roller and the nip. A physical link is connected to the support roller and the compensation roller. The physical link moves the support roller and the compensation roller so as to keep a constant tension on the web of print media. |
| US08538304B2 |
Belt drive apparatus and image forming apparatus
A belt drive apparatus includes: a rotatable first roller; a rotatable second roller; a belt member stretched by the first and the second rollers so as to be capable of being conveyed by the first roller and the second roller; and a restraint member provided on at least one of the two ends of the second roller and including a belt receiving surface to be brought into contact with an edge portion of the belt member. The belt receiving surface and an axis of the second roller make an angle that is not smaller than 93° but not larger than 115°. |
| US08538303B2 |
Developer carrying member, method for its production, and developing assembly
A developer carrying member having less environmental dependence is provided. The developer carrying member has a substrate and a resin layer, which resin layer contains an acrylic resin; the acrylic resin having a unit (1) represented by the following formula (1) and a unit (2) represented by the following formula (2). In the formula (1), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an asterisk * represents the part of linkage to the part shown by a double asterisk ** in the formula (2). In the formula (2), R3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R4 represents an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atom(s); R5, R6 and R7 each represent an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms; A− represents an anion. |
| US08538301B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus with soft blocking dissolving features
A developing device for supplying a developer to an image bearing member is provided with a housing configured to define a passage for movement of the developer and a replenishment path configured to communicate with the passage and supply the developer to the passage; a conveyor configured to move the developer in the passage and the replenishment path; and a switching device configured to switch one moving direction to another moving direction of the developer by the conveyor to selectively move the developer toward the replenishment path. |
| US08538299B2 |
Wet type developing apparatus with plural cleaning blades
A wet type developing apparatus includes a set charger positioned opposite to a surface of the developing roller, a liquid developer applying device disposed at one of a position opposite to a surface of the developing roller and a position opposite to a surface of the cleaning roller, a first cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the cleaning roller downstream of the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the cleaning roller, and a second cleaning blade disposed in contact with a surface of the developing roller downstream of the area of rotational contact of the cleaning roller with the developing roller in the rotation direction of the developing roller. |
| US08538292B2 |
Image forming apparatus with supporting member set and force-exerting member set interacting with each other
An image forming apparatus includes a case, a photosensitive drum, a developing cartridge, a supporting member set, a force-exerting member set and a resilient member. The photosensitive drum forms a toner image. The developing cartridge, movably disposed within the case, includes a developing tank and a developing roller. The developing roller, mounted on the developing tank and positioned opposite the photosensitive drum, transfers toners to the photosensitive drum. The supporting member set is disposed on an inner wall of the case. The force-exerting member set, disposed on an outer wall of the developing tank, interacts with the supporting member set to maintain steady contact pressure between the developing roller and the photosensitive drum. The resilient member, disposed between the developing tank and the case, provides a restoring force for counteracting a weight of the developing tank and urging the developing roller towards the photosensitive drum. |
| US08538282B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method for controlling charger
An image forming apparatus including: one or a plurality of photosensitive drums; a plurality of chargers each having a grid, a voltage applying unit generating a charging voltage; a plurality of grid constant voltage circuits, each of the plurality of grid constant voltage circuits including: a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage based on a grid voltage which is generated in the grid; a first current detecting unit detecting a first current; a voltage control line making the grid voltage constant; and an operation control device performing a feedback control such that the detected voltage has a predetermined voltage value; at least one of a second current detecting units detecting a second current flowing; and a controller controlling the voltage applying unit such that a sum of the first current and the second current corresponding to one of the plurality of chargers becomes a predetermined current value. |
| US08538281B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier transferring the developer image to a material at a transfer position; plural developing units supplying developer of corresponding colors; a cleaner disposed downstream of the transfer position in the rotating direction of the image carrier with respect to the image carrier; a recycle developer storage unit storing the developer; a recycle developer developing unit supplying the developer to the image carrier; and a control unit controlling a recycle developer adjustment by supplying the developer from at least one of the plural developing units to the image carrier, forming a developer image on the image carrier, allowing the developer image to pass through the transfer position without being transferred onto the material, and allowing the developer of the developer image to be recovered in the cleaner to supply the developer to the recycle developer storage unit. |
| US08538280B2 |
Image erasing apparatus and image erasing method
An image erasing apparatus includes a scanning unit, a memory unit, an erasing unit, and a carrying unit. The scanning unit converts an image formed on a sheet into image data which is electronic data. The memory unit stores the image data converted by the scanning unit. The erasing unit erases the image formed on the sheet. The carrying unit carries the sheet to the scanning unit and the erasing unit in this order. |
| US08538279B2 |
Method and apparatus for carrier phase estimation and correction in a coherent optical system
An apparatus comprising a nonlinear lookup unit (NL-LUU) configured to add a phase shift to a signal sample to compensate for pattern dependent phase distortion, and one or more first phase adjustment units coupled to NL-LUU and configured to remove from the signal sample a nonlinear phase error from the NL-LUU, wherein the signal sample corresponds to a received signal polarization component of a polarization multiplexed (PM) coherent signal in a PM coherent optical system. |
| US08538276B2 |
Method and apparatus for visible light communication with image processing
According to one embodiment, a visible-light communication apparatus includes an image input unit, a calculation unit, a preamble detection unit, a bit train detection unit, and a reception unit. The image input unit is configured to input image data generated by photographing a source of visible light carrying data. The calculation unit is configured to generate, from the image data, luminance data about an image at a designated position. The preamble detection unit is configured to detect a preamble at the head of the data, on the basis of the luminance data. The bit train detection unit is configured to detect the data bit train from the image data, in accordance with the preamble. The reception unit is configured to reproduce the data from the data bit train. |
| US08538275B2 |
Multimode optical communication
An optical transmitter includes a set of optical waveguides and first, second, and third optical modulators. Output ends of the optical waveguides of the set form a two-dimensional array capable of end-coupling the optical waveguides of the set to a multimode optical fiber in response to the array being located to optically face one end of the multimode optical waveguide. The first optical modulator is optically connected to a first of the optical waveguides of the set, and each of the second and third optical modulators is optically connected to the second and third of the optical waveguides of the set. The set of optical waveguides is configured to provide a coupling matrix of rank three or more between the optical modulators and optical propagation modes in the multimode optical fiber. |
| US08538274B2 |
Optical relay system and method
An optical relay system is provided, which includes a first optical signal distribution device (101), a phase detection device (103), an amplitude regeneration device (102), and a phase regeneration and load device (104). An optical relay method is further provided, which includes the following steps. A received input signal is divided into two paths; phase information of one path of the input signal is extracted, and is converted to an amplitude modulated signal; an amplitude of the other path of the input signal is restored, so as to generate an amplitude regenerated signal; a phase is loaded on the amplitude regenerated signal by using the amplitude modulated signal, so as to generate a phase regenerated signal. The system and method eliminate a phase noise of the signal in a transmission process, improve a transmission performance of the signal, and realize a simple implementation method. |
| US08538269B2 |
DMM wireless adapter
The present invention is an adapter for providing wireless communication between a digital multimeter (DMM) and a computer. The adapter has a processor as well as a transmitter operable for transmitting signals to the (DMM) from the processor. The adapter also includes a receiver operable for receiving signals from the DMM, the processor is able to receive the signals from the receiver. The adapter of the present invention also includes at least one radio transmitter operable for providing wireless communication between the processor and the computer. The data measurements obtained through communication with the DMM via the receiver and transmitter are transferred wirelessly to the adapter. The data measurements obtained by the adapter are then transferred wirelessly from the adapter to the computer through the radio transmitter. The radio transmitter is operable to communicate wirelessly with the computer in one or more communication protocols, such as Zigbee and WiFi. |
| US08538265B2 |
Optical communication device and dispersion compensation method
An optical communication device comprises a variable dispersion compensator, a photoelectric converter, and a processor. The variable dispersion compensator compensates an amount of wavelength dispersion of an optical signal received from an optical transmission line. The photoelectric converter converts the compensated optical signal into an electrical signal. The processor is operative to extract a frequency of the converted electrical signal, and to discriminate bit information of the electrical signal based on the frequency extracted using a decision phase and a decision threshold. The processor is operative to detect bit error information that is information related to an error of the discriminated bit information, and to control the amount of wavelength dispersion based on the detected bit error information. |
| US08538260B2 |
Wavelength selection
A wavelength is selected for use in transmitting optical data along a path in an optical network. Wavelengths that are available for use end-to-end along the path are found, the wavelengths that are available on each link attached to each node on the path are found and a wavelength that is available end-to-end and that is more available on the links attached to the nodes is selected. |
| US08538259B2 |
Optical access network system
In an optical access network system in which a relay station receives a wavelength multiplexed and time-division multiplexed optical signal (WDM optical signal) from an optical network, and the relay station transmits optical signals having specified wavelengths to subscriber units, the relay station demultiplexes the WDM optical signal into a plurality of groups with one group having a plurality of optical signals having a fixed wavelength interval between signals, then divides the optical signals of each group into k branches (k is the number of subscriber units) and inputs the signals to optical switches, and by turning ON/OFF the optical switches such that they are spaced in time, inputs the branched optical signals to the respective specified subscribers units. |
| US08538258B2 |
Burst-mode data recovery for multi-gigabit passive optical networks
In a TDMA optical network, a clock data recovery module uses signal oversampling and preamble correlation together with enhanced performance modules to extract additional data from the upstream transmission signal. Information including duty cycle, ONT power estimation, signal noise and jitter can be extracted from the upstream signal using digital logic and used to tune network components and/or alleviate network conditions. |
| US08538257B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing line analysis of continuous data signals
A method for performing an optical line analysis of continuous data signals transmitted in a passive optical network (PON). The method comprises determining, from an optical signal of the optical line, at least one of a phase early/late indicator based on a phase position of an input continuous data signal relative to sampling clock signals, a difference phase indicator based on an input phase control code, and a low frequency jitter indicator based on an input phase control code; computing a plurality of statistical measures regarding frequency and amplitude components of a jitter of the input continuous data signal, wherein the statistical measures are computed based on one of the phase early/late information indicator, the difference phase indicator, and the low frequency jitter indicator; and analyzing the plurality of statistical measures to detect optical failures in the PON and determining a root cause of each of the detected failures. |
| US08538255B2 |
Camera with easy mounting decoration ring assembly
Cameras with an easy mounting decoration ring assembly are disclosed. A disclosed example camera includes a body; a barrel disposed in the body; a cover coupled to the body and including a through hole for externally exposing the barrel, and a recess unit extending along a circumferential direction by a predetermined length outside the through hole; and a decoration ring formed in a ring shape, coupled to the through hole of the cover to surround the barrel, and including a protrusion unit protruding toward the cover and inserted into the recess unit. |
| US08538253B2 |
Photographic stitching device
A photographic stitching device that has a generally planar structure having an offset aperture, a capture device mount proximate to the offset aperture, and a mounting structure to accommodate a camera frame. The photographic stitching device allows a photographer to capture a matrix of precisely overlapping photographs that can later be electronically stitched together to create a higher resolution composite image, a panoramic image, a vista, a stereoscopic image, a 3-D image, an artistic rendering, or similar custom and unique photographic products. |
| US08538250B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating with a device using one or more camera body controls
A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body. |
| US08538249B2 |
Broiler for cooking appliances
A broiler assembly for a cooking appliance, the cooking appliance having an oven cavity and the broiler assembly is disposed within the oven cavity. The broiler assembly includes a reflector having first and second sides, side retainers coupled to a respective one of the first and second sides, and at least one carbon emitter heating element mounted to the side retainers. The at least one carbon emitter heating element includes a carbon filament disposed within a lamp. |
| US08538248B2 |
Storage medium storing interactive graphics stream activated in response to user's command, and reproducing apparatus for reproducing from the same
A storage medium storing: video data; and graphics data for displaying a menu. The graphics data includes first graphics data displayed on the screen when an activation command is generated by a user and may also include second graphics data displayed on the screen at a designated time. |
| US08538246B2 |
Image data recording apparatus, image data recording method, program and memory medium
The image data recording apparatus includes an image data input device, a first write-in device, a second write-in device, and a controller for controlling write-in action to the first and second write-in devices, wherein the controller controls the second write-in device so that when the image data inputted by the image data input device is to be written into the first memory medium inserted into the first write-in device, the inputted image data may be precedingly written into the second memory medium, and controls the first write-in device so that during the ejection of the inserted first memory medium, the image data written into the second memory medium may be written into the first memory medium and also, the control information of the image data may be written into the first memory medium. |
| US08538243B2 |
Method and apparatus for recording manufacturer information on a recording medium and for determining whether the manufacturer information is effective
A recording medium and a recording apparatus for storing manufacturer information for supporting specific functions for each manufacturer and a method therefor. A reproducing apparatus for reproducing manufacturer information for supporting specific functions and a method therefor is also provided. If a recording apparatus modifies the contents of the recording medium, then it should record its manufacturer's identification code. A recording apparatus/reproducing apparatus should check the identification code on the recording medium before using its own manufacture information item for some specific function. Also, it is possible to reduce the time required to determine whether the manufacturer information items are effective. |
| US08538242B2 |
Compressed time ingestion of recorded video
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer programs for processing recorded digital video content in massively parallel computing networks. In one embodiment, a disclosed method of processing recorded digital video content includes receiving a video clip, dividing the video clip into a plurality of video clip segments, and scheduling each video clip segment for processing. The method further includes time stamping each of the video clip segments with an appropriate time offset, determining an available analytics engine and an available ingestion engine from a set of analytics engines and ingestion engines in a massively parallel computing network, and commanding said available analytics engine and said available ingestion engine to, respectively, analyze and ingest a specific video clip segment using at least in part the time offset to index metadata generated by the analytics engine and ingestion engine. |
| US08538238B2 |
Playback apparatus using a memory for storing a representative image
Provided is a playback apparatus that has a function of generating a representative image of a moving image recorded in a recording medium. When moving image data of a plurality of clips is played back from the recording medium, a signal processor generates representative image data indicating representative images of clips based on the played-back moving image data, and stores the data in a memory. A display controller generates an index screen using the representative image data stored in the memory, and displays this on a display unit. Here, a controller determines a clip for which representative image data is to be stored in the memory based on the time necessary to generate representative image data, causes the signal processor to generate representative image data of the determined clip, and causes the memory to store that data. |
| US08538237B2 |
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. |
| US08538232B2 |
Systems and methods for managing video data
Described herein are systems and methods for managing video data. In overview, various embodiments provide software, hardware and methodologies associated with the management of video data. In overview, a video management system (such as a surveillance system) includes a plurality of camera servers, each of which being configured to make available stored video data for one or more assigned cameras. A given one of the cameras is reassigned from a first one of the camera servers to a second one of the camera servers. The system is configured such that, in the event that a client places a request for video data from that camera for a time period overlapping with the reassignment, the client is provided with a playback stream that seamlessly traverses the reassignment. |
| US08538229B1 |
Pluggable variable optical attenuators and methods for making the same
Various designs of pluggable variable optical attenuator (VOA) are disclosed. A pluggable VOA has an optical fiber adaptor connected to an internal VOA via different fiber optical interface configurations. At least a pair of ports is provided to accept optical fibers or external optical fiber ferrules for optical pluggability. The VOA is controlled electronically or manually. To facilitate a control of the VOA via a hosting system, an electronic device and/or interface is provided. External commands take the control of the VOA and set an attenuation level within a specification when the pluggable variable optical attenuator device is connected to a hosting system. |
| US08538227B2 |
Furcation management structures
Furcation mounting structures for securing a plurality of furcation bodies of respective fiber optic cable assembles within the fiber optic shelf are disclosed. In one embodiment, the furcation mounting structure has a first type of aperture for attaching a first type of clip for securing a furcation body and a second type of aperture for securing a second type of clip for securing a furcation body. Consequently, the furcation management structures disclosed advantageously allow the mounting of different types of clips thereto. In other embodiments, the furcation mounting structure is mounted within the fiber optic shelf or assembly. |
| US08538226B2 |
Fiber optic equipment guides and rails configured with stopping position(s), and related equipment and methods
Fiber optic equipment guides and rails and related methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the fiber optic equipment guides and rails have at least one stopping member disposed therein to provide at least one stopping position during movement. The fiber optic equipment guides and rails can be included in fiber optic equipment to support movement or translation of the fiber optic equipment for access. Such fiber optic equipment can include, but is not limited to, fiber optic equipment chassis, drawers, equipment trays, and fiber optic modules. The fiber optic equipment guides and/or rails include at least one stopping member configured to provide at least one stopping position during movement. Stopping positions allow fiber optic equipment to be retained in a given position during access to the fiber optic equipment. The stopping positions are configured to be overcome with additional force to allow further movement of the fiber optic equipment. |
| US08538224B2 |
OLED light extraction films having internal nanostructures and external microstructures
A light extraction film having internal nanostructures and external microstructures for organic light emitting diode (OLED) devices. The light extraction film includes a flexible substantially transparent film, a low index nanostructured layer applied to the film, and a high index planarizing backfill layer applied over the nanostructured layer. External optical microstructures are applied to the flexible substantially transparent film on a side opposite the nanostructured layer to enhance light extraction from the OLED devices while providing for a more uniform luminance distribution. |
| US08538223B2 |
Method for making optical waveguides
A method for making a waveguide comprises (a) providing a waveguide structure comprising a substrate (22), a lower cladding (20) layer on the substrate, and a core layer (24) comprising silicon nitride, amorphous silicon, or amorphous silicon-germanium alloy on the lower cladding layer; (b) patterning the core layer; and (c) annealing (28) the waveguide structure. |
| US08538220B2 |
Manufacturing method of optical waveguide device and optical waveguide device obtained thereby
A manufacturing method of an optical waveguide device and an optical waveguide device obtained thereby. An under cladding layer is formed on the front surface of a colored-layer-coated PET substrate including a PET substrate portion and a colored layer of a color that absorbs irradiation light and formed on the back surface of the PET substrate portion, and then a photosensitive resin layer for the formation of cores is formed thereon. In forming the cores, when the irradiation light reaches the bottom surface of the PET substrate portion, most of the irradiation light is absorbed by the colored layer, so that there is little irradiation light reflected from the bottom surface of the PET substrate portion. This significantly reduces the irradiation light reflected diffusely from the PET substrate portion and reaching the photosensitive resin layer to thereby effectively suppress the surface roughening of the side surfaces of the cores. |
| US08538218B2 |
Unrepeatered long haul optical fiber transmission systems
A long haul optical fiber transmission system includes a transmitter having a modulated bit rate of at least 40 Gb/s. A receiver is optically coupled to the transmitter with a composite optical fiber span. The optical fiber includes a first optical fiber coupled to the transmitter and a second optical fiber coupled to the first optical fiber. The first optical fiber has an effective area of at least 120 μm2, an attenuation of less than 0.180 dB/km, and a length L1 from about 30 km to about 90 km. The second optical fiber has an effective area of less than 120 μm2, an attenuation of less than 0.180 dB/km, and a length L2. The sum of L1 and L2 is at least 160 km. The composite optical fiber span does not include a repeater along the length of the span between the transmitter and the receiver or any rare earth dopants. |
| US08538216B2 |
Fiber optic cables and assemblies for fiber toward the subscriber applications
Fiber optic cables and assemblies for routing optical networks closer to the subscriber. The fiber optic cables have a small-cross section yet robust design that is versatile by allowing use in aerial application with a pressure clamp along with use in buried and/or duct applications. Additionally, the fiber optic cables and assemblies have a relatively large slack storage capacity for excess length. Assemblies include hardened connectors such as plugs and/or receptacles suitable for outdoor plant applications attached to one or more ends of the fiber optic cables for plug and play connectivity. |
| US08538215B2 |
Optical package and related methods
A package for an electronic chip including an optical component protects the chip and the component, while allowing for an optical connection of the component with another optical device. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by forming a well in a protective material deposited over the chip to expose the optical component, and by providing alignment features in the protective material to align and connect the optical component with another optical device. |
| US08538213B2 |
SSC chip, fiber array attached with SSC, PLC module attached with SSC and method for manufacturing SSC
There is provided a SSC chip whose yield may be improved and whose processing steps may be simplified as compare to those of a prior art PLC chip having a light waveguide circuit to which a spot-size converter (SSC) is added, a fiber array attached with the SSC chip, a PLC module attached with the SSC chip and a method for manufacturing the SSC chip. The SSC chip has four spot-size converters and is fabricated separately from a PLC chip. Each SSC has a straight waveguide having the same core width and height with an end of an input/output waveguide of the PLC chip, a horizontally tapered waveguide in which the core width is enlarged in a tapered shape in the horizontal direction from the core width of the straight waveguide, a vertically tapered waveguide in which the core height is enlarged in a tapered shape in the vertical direction from the core height of the horizontally tapered waveguide and a spot-size enlarged portion whose core width and core height are both enlarged. Because it is unnecessary to fabricate the SSC at the end of the input/output waveguide of the PLC chip, a yield of the PLC chip may be improved. |
| US08538205B2 |
Multi-function summing machine
A system for processing an image including multiple pixels and intensity data thereof. An image memory is adapted for storing the image. An arithmetic core is connectible to the image memory and adapted for inputting the intensity data. The arithmetic core includes a multiple function processing units. One or more of the function processing units includes (i) a processing core adapted for computation of a function of the intensity data and for producing results of the computation, (ii) a first and (iii) a second accumulator for summing the results; and storage adapted to store the results. The function processing units are configured to compute the functions in parallel and sum the results simultaneously for each of the pixels in a single clock cycle. |
| US08538202B2 |
Computing higher resolution images from multiple lower resolution images
Super-resolution images may be produced by dividing a higher resolution image into a set of non-overlapping rectangular tiles of substantially the same size. Then, each pixel in each lower resolution image is mapped to the higher resolution image and it is determined which tiles are mapped to which lower resolution image pixels. A continuous buffer may be allocated for each tile and the relevant lower resolution pixels may be stored, together with optical flow vectors, in that continuous buffer. Then, the determination of gradients may use the information now stored in the buffer to facilitate symmetric multiprocessing using multi-core processors. |
| US08538199B2 |
Digital image scaling with non integer scaling factors
Non integer scaling of images to reduce artifacts is presented herein. One embodiment includes determining a scaling resolution based on a pixel resolution of the image and a pixel resolution of an output device (i.e., factors of the scaling resolution). The image is converted to the scaling resolution to change (e.g., increase) the pixels of the image by the first factor. A grid is generated to scale the converted image. The grid has a number of sections defined according to the second factor times the pixel resolution of an output device. The converted image is sectioned according to the grid. Each section of the grid includes an integer number of pixels of the converted image. The color values of the pixels of the converted image are averaged within each section of the grid to compute a single color value for each section of the grid and scale the image. |
| US08538198B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining misalignment
An apparatus for determining misalignment between a first image and a second image, the first and second images being viewable stereoscopically, the apparatus comprising: a determiner operable to determine a feature position within the first image and a corresponding feature position within the second image; a definer operable to define, within the first image and the second image, the optical axis of the cameras capturing said respective images; a calculator operable to calculate the misalignment between the feature position within the first image and the corresponding feature position within the second image using a model, the misalignment being determined in dependence upon the location of the feature position of the first image and the corresponding feature position of the second image relative to the defined optical axis of the respective images; and a tester operable to test the validity of the calculated misalignment using a random sample consensus technique, whereby the tested misalignment is valid when the random sample consensus technique achieves a predetermined condition. |
| US08538196B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method and computer readable medium
An image processing device includes: an acquisition section that acquires subject image information to be formed on a medium; an extraction section that selectively extracts a part of the subject image information corresponding to a portion of an image not formed due to a plurality of holes of a medium if an image relating to the subject image information is formed on the medium perforated with the plurality of holes; and a generation section that generates new subject image information by generating a command for forming the extracted part of the subject image information. |
| US08538193B2 |
Methods and systems for image enhancement and estimation of compression noise
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the compression noise present in an image or frame in a video sequence and for enhancing an image or frame in a video sequence. |
| US08538187B2 |
Defocus calibration module for light-sensing system and method thereof
A defocus calibration module is applied in a light-sensing system for sensing a measured object to generate a sensed image. The light-sensing system contains a light-emitting component, a focusing component, and an image sensor. The light-emitting component emits a detecting light to the measured object so that the measured object generates a reflecting light. The focusing component focuses the reflecting light to the image sensor, and the image sensor generates the sensed image according to the reflecting light. The defocus calibration module has a calibrating object for blocking a part of the detecting light and the reflecting light for forming images at a first and a second calibration imaging locations in the sensed image. In this way, the defocus calibration module calculates a defocus parameter representing the defocus level of the light-sensing system according to the first and the second calibration imaging locations, and accordingly calibrates the sensed image. |
| US08538185B1 |
Optimizing bounds checking in neighborhood processes
A computer-implemented method for optimizing bounds checking in a structured lattice having a regular pattern of neighboring nodes, includes the steps of: visiting a node in the lattice in a determined order, including bounds checking the node and performing a neighborhood process on the node; when said node is an interior node, calculating a distance k to a specified node in the determined order; visiting the next k nodes in the determined order without performing bounds checking and performing a neighborhood process on each of the next k nodes; and at least one of displaying or storing a result of the neighborhood process for the node. |
| US08538182B2 |
Image data decoding device
An image data decoding device includes a determination unit, a first pixel value generating unit, and a second pixel value generating unit. The determination unit receives compressed image data including information of one DC component, information of frequency components and a block end code for each block of an image as a result of frequency analysis and determines whether the block consists of the DC component and the block end code. The first pixel value generating unit performs inverse operation to the frequency analysis to generate pixel values of the block when the block is determined as not consisting of the DC component and the block end code. The second pixel value generating unit generates one and the same pixel value for all pixels of each block based on information of the DC component when the block is determined as consisting of the DC component and block end code. |
| US08538179B2 |
Image coding device, image decoding device, methods thereof, and programs
An image coding device including: an edge detecting section configured to perform edge detection using an image signal of a reference image for a coding object block; a transform block setting section configured to set transform blocks by dividing the coding object block such that a boundary between the blocks after division does not include an edge on a basis of a result of the edge detection; and a coding processing section configured to generate coded data by performing processing including an orthogonal transform of each of the transform blocks. |
| US08538178B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device includes: a plurality of encoding units that encode image data; a shared memory that stores reference image data which is used for encoding performed by each of the plurality of encoding units; and a control unit that secures an encoding unit from the plurality of encoding units, which is made to encode an intra-frame prediction encoded image and a forward prediction encoded image by priority, and that makes an encoding unit, which is not used to encode the intra-frame prediction encoded image or the forward prediction encoded image, encode a bidirectional prediction encoded image, using reference image data stored in the shared memory during a period where the secured encoding unit does not perform the encoding. |
| US08538177B2 |
Line and pixel based methods for intra frame coding
Images can be coded based on filters defined by filter coefficients or weights assigned to previously decoded pixel values of nearby lines. The filter coefficients can be selected based on evaluation of a set of predetermined filters, or filters can be adaptively generated and then evaluated. The filters generally are based on pixel values in previous rows or columns, but not values in the current row or column. In some examples, filters are adaptively generated pixel by pixel, or portions of previous rows, columns, or previously decoded portions of the current row or columns are used to provide line templates. A filter is generally selected to reduce coding error based on a least square difference between the current value and a prediction. |
| US08538175B1 |
System and method for representing and coding still and moving images
A method of and machine for representing an image or images includes detecting features of the image and representing the areas of one or more images. The method further includes detecting features and representations of the areas are encoded. Furthermore, a method of and machine for decoding and reproducing one or more images encoded based on the features and represented areas of one or more images is provided. |
| US08538167B2 |
Designating corridors to provide estimates of structures
In particular embodiments, analyzing data includes receiving sensor data generated in response to sensing one or more structures. The structural features of the sensor data are identified. Each structural feature is represented by one or more vectors. A score matrix describing relationships among the vectors is generated. Candidate corridors are identified from at least some of the vectors according to the score matrix. One or more candidate corridors are designated as designated corridors. Each designated corridor comprises an opening defined by at least two structural features. A layout of the structures is generated from the structural features and the designated corridors. |
| US08538166B2 |
3D geometric modeling and 3D video content creation
A system, apparatus and method of obtaining data from a 2D image in order to determine the 3D shape of objects appearing in said 2D image, said 2D image having distinguishable epipolar lines, said method comprising: (a) providing a predefined set of types of features, giving rise to feature types, each feature type being distinguishable according to a unique bi-dimensional formation; (b) providing a coded light pattern comprising multiple appearances of said feature types; (c) projecting said coded light pattern on said objects such that the distance between epipolar lines associated with substantially identical features is less than the distance between corresponding locations of two neighboring features; (d) capturing a 2D image of said objects having said projected coded light pattern projected thereupon, said 2D image comprising reflected said feature types; and (e) extracting: (i) said reflected feature types according to the unique bi-dimensional formations; and (ii) locations of said reflected feature types on respective said epipolar lines in said 2D image. |
| US08538165B2 |
Image measuring apparatus, program, and teaching method of image measuring apparatus
A data memory storing Gerber data containing closed area information of a work; a display displaying a pattern image based on the closed area information of the Gerber data; a detection specification information display program displaying on the display a detection tool specifying a location of edge to be detected, a detection direction and detection length, by superimposing on the pattern image; an image capturing program and an image capturer capturing an image of an area corresponding to the detection tool of the work; an edge detection program performing an edge detection of the location of the edge to be detected with respect to data of a captured image; and a condition determination program determining a light-dark change condition indicating whether an image is changing from a light section to a dark section or from a dark section to a light section along a detection direction. |
| US08538161B2 |
Dynamic radial contour extraction by splitting homogeneous areas
Systems and methods for extracting a radial contour around a given point in an image includes providing an image including a point about which a radial contour is to be extracted around. A plurality of directions around the point and a plurality of radius lengths for each direction are provided. Local costs are determined for all radius lengths for each direction by comparing texture variances at each radius length with the texture variance at a further radius length. A radius length is determined, using a processor, for each direction based on the accumulated value of the local costs to provide a radial contour. |
| US08538158B1 |
Image analysis and communication device control technology
Techniques are described for controlling communication devices using image analysis. For instance, when a communication is received by a communication device, the communication device outputs an alert to notify users of the received communication and accesses one or more images of an area proximate to the communication device. The one or more images cover an area proximate to the communication device at a time during which the communication device is outputting the alert. The communication device analyzes the one or more images to determine whether a user is present in the one or more images and in a position to perceive the received communication. The communication device handles at least one aspect of the received communication based on the determination of whether a user is in a position to perceive the received communication. |
| US08538154B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus for extracting heading region from image of document
An image processing apparatus analyzes an image of a document to thereby extract a heading region from the image. The image processing apparatus detects candidates for the heading region from the image, and defines a predetermined range in the image as a range to be processed. The apparatus further groups the candidates in the range to be processed, based on a feature quantity corresponding to a feature in terms of style of a character string. The apparatus selects a representative group from the resultant groups, and divides the range to be processed, at the position of a candidate belonging to the representative group. The apparatus newly defines each of the portions generated by the division as a range to be processed. |
| US08538152B2 |
System and method to enable correction of text handling mismatches via segmentation
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for processing image data using an image processing apparatus. The processor is configured to receive a PDL file of image data and raster image process (RIP) the PDL file to determine at least pixels representing text of a predetermined colorant. The ripped file is then segmented to determine at least any text pixels of the predetermined colorant not initially indicated by the ripped file. The results are combined to determine text pixels of the predetermined colorant for marking onto a substrate using marking material (e.g., ink). In some instances, pixels of the predetermined colorant can be tagged during segmenting using a tag plane to determine text pixels for marking by the output device. |
| US08538144B2 |
Methods and systems for color correction of 3D images
A system and method for color correction of 3D images including at least two separate image streams captured for a same scene include determining three-dimensional properties of at least a portion of a selected image stream, the three-dimensional properties including light and surface reflectance properties, surface color, reflectance properties, scene geometry and the like. A look of the portion of the selected image stream is then modified by altering the value of at least one of the determined three-dimensional properties and, in one embodiment, applying image formation theory. The modifications are then rendered in an output 3D picture either automatically and/or according to user inputs. In various embodiments, corrections made to the selected one of the at least two image streams can be automatically applied to the other of the image streams. |
| US08538140B2 |
Device and method for detecting whether an image is blurred
The present invention is directed to a method for detecting or predicting (302, 602) whether a test image is blurred. In one embodiment, the method includes extracting a training statistical signature (366) that is based on a plurality of data features (362, 364) from a training image set (14, 16), the training image set (14, 16) including a sharp image (14) and a blurry image (16); training a classifier (368) to discriminate between the sharp image (14) and the blurry image (16) based on the training statistical signature; and applying (302, 602) the trained classifier to a test image that is not included in the training image set (14, 16) to predict whether the test image is sharp (18) or blurry (20). The step of extracting can include measuring one or more statistical moments (576, 776) for various levels (L0-L5), estimating a covariance (577, 777) between adjacent levels (L0-L5), and/or extracting various metadata features (364, 664) from the images (14, 16). The step of training (300, 600) can include training a non-linear support vector machine (300) or a linear discriminant analysis (600) on the training statistical signature of the training image set (14, 16). |
| US08538139B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method, data processing apparatus and method, and program and recording medium
The present invention determines the adopting ratio (weight coefficient) between the high image quality processing using the tensor projection method and the high image quality processing using another method according to the degree of deviation of the input condition of the input image, and combines these processes as appropriate. This allows a satisfactory reconstruction image to be acquired even in a case of deviation from the input condition, and avoids deterioration of the high quality image due to deterioration of the reconstruction image by the projective operation. |
| US08538138B2 |
Global registration of multiple 3D point sets via optimization on a manifold
A method for registering multiple 3D point sets by determining optimal relative positions and orientations of the 3D point sets. Initial values are determined for the rotation matrices corresponding to the relative orientations of reference frames of the 3D point sets. A registration error cost function is optimized on a product manifold of all of the rotation matrices to determine optimal values of the rotation matrices. The optimal values of the rotation matrices are used to determine optimal values for translation vectors corresponding to the relative positions of the reference frames of the 3D point sets. The 3D point sets are registered on a common reference frame using the optimal rotation matrices and the optimal translation vectors. |
| US08538135B2 |
Pulling keys from color segmented images
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for pulling keys from color segmented images. Data indicative of a two dimensional image is stored in a data storage device, the two dimensional image comprising a plurality of pixels. A plurality of color segmented frames are generated based on the two dimensional image, wherein each color segmented frame comprises one or more objects. For each of the color segmented frames, a key is generated based on the one or more objects. A depth map is calculated for the two dimensional image based on the keys, wherein the depth map comprises data indicative of three dimensional information for each pixel of the two dimensional image. |
| US08538134B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving and generating image data stream including parameters for displaying local three dimensional image
Provided are a method and apparatus for receiving and generating an image data stream including a three dimensional (3D) image. The method of receiving an image data stream includes receiving an image data stream including at least one of two dimensional (2D) and 3D image data periods; extracting local 3D image parameters, which are parameters of each image data period, from the image data stream; and restoring at least one of 2D and 3D images by using the local 3D image parameters. In the method, each 3D image is composed of at least one of a base image and an additional image, and the local 3D image parameters include stereoscopic arrangement order information representing an arrangement order of the base image and additional image of the 3D image. |
| US08538133B2 |
System for guiding a drone during the approach phase to a platform, in particular a naval platform, with a view to landing same
This system for guiding a drone during the approach phase to a platform, particularly a naval platform, with a view to landing the same, is characterized in that the platform is equipped with a glide slope indicator installation emitting an array of optical guide beams over an angular sector predetermined from the horizontal, and in that the drone is equipped with a beam acquisition camera connected to image analysis means and to computing means of orders for commanding automatic piloting means of the drone to cause it to follow the guide beams. |
| US08538131B2 |
Defect inspection apparatus and method of defect inspection
A first defect classification section uses a pre-inspection test target as the inspected piece, and classifies the defects, based on results of the defect inspection executed a plurality of times by the defect detection system, into first defects detected constantly in each of the plurality of times of inspection, and into second defects detected only in a part of, but not in the residual part of the plurality of times of inspection. |
| US08538129B2 |
Mask program defect test
A method for characterizing the resolution of mask inspection tool using a test mask and a database containing defect data. A variety of defect types and sizes is programmed into the database, and the database is then used to inspect the defect-free mask. All defects programmed into the database are not captured in performing the method, so the resolution capability of an inspection tool can be determined. |
| US08538123B1 |
Apparatus and system for imaging currency bills and financial documents and method for using the same
A method of processing a deposit transaction involving a plurality of physical documents includes receiving a data file associated with the deposit transaction. The data file includes a plurality of customer records. Each customer record includes image data. The method further includes transmitting a credit instruction to credit a customer financial account for an amount in response to the receiving the data file. The method further includes receiving physical documents associated with the deposit transaction. The method further includes generating a financial institution record for each one of the received physical documents and comparing the plurality of customer records with the generated financial institution records to determine if all physical documents associated with the deposit transaction were received during the act of receiving physical documents. |
| US08538119B2 |
Particle image analysis method and apparatus
A particle image analyzing method is adapted so that while raising image-reviewing efficiency at a cropped image level of particle components in a sample, the entire sample can be observed without significantly changing a related apparatus configuration. Prior to image reviewing of an imaging region, cropped images thereof are reviewed and, with reference to the images arranged for each kind of particle component, if the operator judges any particles to have been falsely identified, the operator uses an operating unit to modify positions of the particles to those of correct component items. An overall image of the imaging region is displayed and if any components to be added (overlooked components) appear, the kinds of these components are identified and quantitative data on each kind of component is registered. Upon completion of the registration, the concentration of the sample is recalculated and a comment is entered in a comment field. |
| US08538117B2 |
Accurate pelvic fracture detection for X-ray and CT images
Accurate pelvic fracture detection is accomplished with automated X-ray and Computed Tomography (CT) images for diagnosis and recommended therapy. The system combines computational methods to process images from two different modalities, using Active Shape Model (ASM), spline interpolation, active contours, and wavelet transform. By processing both X-ray and CT images, features which may be visible under one modality and not under the other are extracted and validates and confirms information visible in both. The X-ray component uses hierarchical approach based on directed Hough Transform to detect pelvic structures, removing the need for manual initialization. The X-ray component uses cubic spline interpolation to regulate ASM deformation during X-ray image segmentation. Key regions of the pelvis are first segmented and identified, allowing detection methods to be specialized to each structure using anatomical knowledge. The CT processing component is able to distinguish bone from other non-bone objects with similar visual characteristics, such a blood and contrast fluid, permitting detection and quantification of soft tissue hemorrhage. The CT processing component draws attention to slices where irregularities are detected, reducing the time to fully examine a pelvic CT scan. The quantitative measurement of bone displacement and hemorrhage area are used as input for a trauma decision-support system, along with physiological signals, injury details and demographic information. |
| US08538115B2 |
Coil compression for three dimensional autocalibrating parallel imaging with cartesian sampling
A three dimensional image, in a phased array magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. Three dimensional k-space data within an auto calibration signal (ACS) region and outside the ACS region are acquired. The k-space data within the ACS region are converted into hybrid space ACS data. Compression matrices and alignment matrices of the compression matrices for the hybrid space ACS data are found along a readout direction. Alignment matrices are multiplied to the compression matrices to achieve the properly-aligned compression matrices along the readout direction. All k-space data are converted into hybrid space. The properly-aligned compression matrices are applied to the hybrid space data to provide compressed data with fewer channels. The compressed data are used to form a three dimensional image. |
| US08538110B2 |
Medical X-ray CT imaging apparatus, medical X-ray CT image display device, and medical X-ray CT image display method
A medical X-ray CT imaging apparatus, a medical X-ray CT image display device, and a medical X-ray CT image display method which perform CT imaging of living organs symmetrically located with respect to a predetermined plane and display CT images thereof. This is a method of displaying a medical X-ray CT image, where a CT image obtained by X-ray CT imaging, using a cone beam (B), of a first living organ and a second living organ which are symmetrically located with respect to the predetermined plane. In the present invention, the CT image of the first living organ and that of the second living organ are displayed for comparison on one display screen of a display means. |
| US08538108B2 |
Method and apparatus for accelerated elastic registration of multiple scans of internal properties of a body
Techniques for accelerated elastic registration include receiving reference scan data and floating scan data, and a first transformation for mapping coordinates of scan elements from the first scan to coordinates of scan elements in the second scan. A subset of contiguous scan elements is determined. At least one of several enhancements is implemented. In one enhancement cubic spline interpolation is nested by dimensions within a subset. In another enhancement, a local joint histogram of mutual information based on the reference scan data and the floating scan data for the subset is determined and subtracted from an overall joint histogram to determine a remainder joint histogram. Each subset is then transformed, used to compute an updated local histogram, and added to the remainder joint histogram to produce an updated joint histogram. In another enhancement, a measure of similarity other than non-normalized mutual information is derived from the updated joint histogram. |
| US08538107B2 |
Method for visualizing a sequence of tomographic volume data records for medical imaging
A method for visualizing a sequence of tomographic volume data records for medical imaging, which were recorded in temporal sequence with administration of contrast agents in vessels in an object volume, is provided. At least one extremal value and one time value are determined from the temporal sequence of the measured signal values for each voxel of the object volume, the time value describing a time lag of the extremal value compared to a fixed time during the recording of the volume data records. Each combination of time value and extremal value is assigned a color value and opacity value by a multi-dimensional transfer function. The transfer function is applied to the previously determined time and extremal values so that each voxel of the object volume is assigned a color value and opacity value. The voxel with the respective opacity and color values are displayed using volume rendering. |
| US08538099B2 |
Method and system for controlling image reconstruction
A method and system for controlling image reconstruction in an imaging system are provided. The method includes receiving scan data from an imaging system, and determining regularization parameters for a plurality of portions of an image for reconstructing the image based on the received scan data, wherein the regularization parameters vary for the plurality of portions of the image. |
| US08538097B2 |
User input utilizing dual line scanner apparatus and method
A user input method and apparatus may comprise a two line object imaging sensor having a primary line scan-sensor providing a primary line scan-sensor output and a secondary line scan-sensor providing a secondary line scan-sensor output, representing pixels in a current primary scan row and a current secondary scan row, and adapted to scan an object; storing for each scan time each current primary line scan-sensor output and each current secondary line scan-sensor output and a correlation unit correlating at least one of the current representations of pixels in a primary line sensor output with stored representations and the current representations of pixels in a secondary line sensor output with stored representations and, the correlation unit providing as an output a motion indicator. |
| US08538095B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing biometric images
A method and apparatus for applying gradient edge detection to detect features in a biometric, such as a fingerprint, based on data representing an image of at least a portion of the biometric. The image is modeled as a function of the features. Data representing an image of the biometric is acquired, and features of the biometric are modeled for at least two resolutions. The method and apparatus improves analysis of both high-resolution images of biometrics of friction ridge containing skin that include resolved pores and lower resolution images of biometrics without resolved pores. |
| US08538093B2 |
Method and apparatus for encouraging social networking through employment of facial feature comparison and matching
A social networking site providing facial similarity matching services to subscribers to the social networking site. A subscriber may upload a digital image of himself and have it compared to digital images of other member subscribers using software to interpret points of comparison on each digital image. Subscribers may effect the outcome of the matching process by designating a selection of images as close matches from a computer generated plurality of matching images. A collage of finally matched images is provided to the inquiring subscriber as well as contact information to communicate with the other subscribers. |
| US08538088B2 |
Capture device for biometrics authentication and biometrics authentication device
A disclosed capture device for biometrics authentication using an image of a person's palm includes an image sensor capturing the person's palm and acquiring an image of the person's palm and a guide member supporting the person's palm when the person's palm is captured by the image sensor. Further, the guide member has a V-shaped-type groove in which a finger of the person's palm is to be inserted. |
| US08538086B2 |
Image inspection apparatus, image inspection method, and computer program product
An image inspection apparatus that compares a reference image with an inspection image obtained by scanning a printed medium on which the reference image has been printed, to determine whether the printed medium is acceptable is provided. The image inspection apparatus includes a first inspecting unit that compares the reference image exclusive of an edge in the reference image with the inspection image exclusive of an edge in the inspection image to perform inspection; a line-image detecting unit that detects a line image that contains the edge from each of the reference image and the inspection image; a second inspecting unit that compares the line image detected from the reference image with the line image detected from the inspection image to perform inspection; and a determining unit that determines whether the printed medium is acceptable based on results of these inspections. |
| US08538085B2 |
Distance measurement method using speckle pattern
A distance measurement system provided by the present invention comprises a light source module, for projecting a light beam having a speckle pattern to a plurality of reference flat surfaces and an object which are located at different position points, so as to show an image of the speckle pattern on each of the reference flat surface and the object. The speckle pattern contains a plurality of speckles. The invention generates a plurality of reference image information through capturing the image of the speckle pattern on each of the plurality of reference flat surfaces and generates an object image information through capturing the image of the speckle pattern on the object. The Invention further generates a plurality of comparison results through comparing the plurality of reference image information, and computes the position of the object through performing an interpolation operation to generate the plurality of comparison results. |
| US08538081B2 |
Contextual boost for object detection
Aspects of the present invention includes systems and methods for generating detection models that consider contextual information of an image patch and for using detection models that consider contextual information. In embodiments, a multi-scale image context descriptor is generated to represent the contextual cues in multiple parameters, such as spatial, scaling, and color spaces. In embodiments, a classification context is defined using the contextual features and is used in a contextual boost classification scheme. In embodiments, the contextual boost propagates contextual cues to larger coverage through iterations to improve the detection accuracy. |
| US08538079B2 |
Apparatus capable of detecting location of object contained in image data and detection method thereof
An apparatus capable of detecting location of object contained in image data and its detecting method are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an image capturing module, a weight assignment module, and a processing module. The image capturing module is for capturing an image. The weight assignment module performs the pixel weight/probability assignment according to the priori information and the image, and figures out the initial gravity center of the object according to the object location initialization. The processing module performs the statistical analysis according to the result of the pixel weight/probability assignment and the initial gravity center of the object so as to obtain the analysis result and update the object location. The processing module determines whether or not the analysis result meets the preset value, if it does, the processing module outputs an estimated result; if it doesn't, the processing module repeats the foregoing processes. |
| US08538078B2 |
System for using three-dimensional models to enable image comparisons independent of image source
A method for identifying an object based at least in part on a reference database including two-dimensional images of objects includes the following steps: (a) providing a three-dimensional model reference database containing a plurality of estimated three-dimensional models, wherein each estimated three-dimensional model is derived from a corresponding two-dimensional image from the two-dimensional reference database; (b) sampling at least one image of an object to be identified; (c) implementing at least one identification process to identify the object, the identification process employing data from the three-dimensional model reference database. |
| US08538072B2 |
Systems and methods for operator detection
Various embodiments of the invention provide for methods and systems for detecting an operator's use of a secure system. Images are acquired from image sensors that monitor a detection zone about the secure system. Faces within the images are identified and tracked among subsequently acquired images. Upon receipt of a valid login at the secure system, one of the tracked faces is selected as a primary operator and tracked as they operate the secure system. |
| US08538064B2 |
Methods and devices employing content identifiers
Content identifiers are associated with respective metadata. Through use of the metadata, a user's experience with the content can be enhanced. A variety of other arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08538056B2 |
Hearing aid
A hearing aid (100) comprises a body case (2) that is worn behind an ear (1), a sound conductor (3) that is linked at one end to the body case (2) and is linked at the other end to an earpiece (6), and an engaging component (8) for holding the earpiece linked to the other end of the sound conductor in the external auditory canal (7) of the ear (1). The engaging component (8) is made up of a first arc part (8a) disposed on the earpiece (6) side, a second arc part (8b) that is larger than the first arc part (8a) and is disposed opposite the first arc part (8a), a first linking part (8c) that links one end of the first arc part (8a) and one end of the second arc part (8b), and a second linking part (8d) that links the other end of the first arc part (8a) and the other end of the second arc part (8b). The second linking part (8d) has a shape such that its center part protrudes toward the first linking part (8c). This constitution allows the hearing aid (100) to be put on more easily. |
| US08538053B2 |
Hearing device with frequency shifting and associated method
A hearing device has a feedback suppression unit. The hearing device further has a low-pass filter characterized by a first cut-off frequency, which couples out a low-frequency signal component from an output signal of the hearing device, and a high-pass filter characterized by a second cut-off frequency, which couples out a high-frequency signal component from the output signal of the hearing device. A frequency shift unit shifts the frequency of the high-frequency signal component to higher frequencies. A gap exists between the first and the second cut-off frequency. As a result of the different limit frequencies, signal distortions caused by frequency shifts are effectively suppressed. Feedback is suppressed continuously and rapidly at higher frequencies. |
| US08538052B2 |
Generation of probe noise in a feedback cancellation system
The invention regards a scheme for generating a probe noise signal to be used in an anti feedback system of an audio system. The audio system comprises e.g. a microphone for capturing an audio signal, an audio signal processor for adaptation of the audio signal and a receiver for generation of an audible signal. According to an embodiment of the invention, a noise signal is injected into the audio signal path between the microphone and the receiver and used for estimating acoustical feedback, the noise signal being generated by the following steps: converting a digitized audio signal to the frequency domain, in order to obtain a series of magnitude and phase values, changing the phase values such that the phase of the resulting signal becomes less correlated, preferably substantially un-correlated, to the original signal, converting the magnitude and phase back to a time domain signal using the changed phase values. The invention may e.g. be used in a hearing aid, a headset or a pair of headphones. |
| US08538049B2 |
Hearing aid, computing device, and method for selecting a hearing aid profile
A hearing aid includes a microphone to convert sounds into electrical signals, a transceiver configured to communicate with a computing device through a wireless communication channel, and a processor coupled to the microphone and the transceiver. The hearing aid further includes a memory accessible to the processor and configured to store a table including plurality of hearing aid profile identifiers (IDs). Each of the plurality of hearing aid profile IDs corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of hearing aid profiles. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor cause the processor to identify a hearing aid profile ID from the table based on a sound sample, retrieve a hearing aid profile from the computing device using the hearing aid profile ID, and apply the hearing aid profile to modulate an audio output signal. |
| US08538046B2 |
Speaker set and electronic device incorporating the same
An electronic device includes an enclosure and a speaker set received in the enclosure. The speaker set includes a shell, a pair of first and second speakers received in the shell. The first speakers provide high frequency acoustic output, and the second speakers provide low and middle frequency acoustic output. The shell includes a fixing plate. The fixing plate defines two tweet outlets aligning respectively with the first speakers, and two middle woof outlets aligning respectively with the second speakers. A central point of each middle woof outlet is located nearer to an imaginary central line of the fixing plate than a central point of each tweet outlet. A portion of each of the middle woof outlets is shaded by a portion of the electronic device. The tweet outlets are located beside the portion of the electronic device but not shaded by the portion. |
| US08538041B2 |
Audio-video reproduction apparatus
An audio-video (AV) reproduction apparatus capable of analyzing the spectrum of the audio component of an input or reproduced AV signal. The audio component is fed into an unused electronic graphic equalizer (106), the audio frequency bands corresponding to the frequency bands of the electronic graphic equalizer (106) are sampled one frequency band at a time, to obtain the peak level input of each frequency band. The collected peak level input for each frequency band is used to render graphics in the form of equal number segmented spiking bars, where the length of each segmented bar is rendered according to the peak level input of each frequency band. While the rendering is ongoing, another set of peak level input is collected to render the next set of segmented bars. The continuous process of collecting the peak level input and rendering the segmented bars creates a dynamic spectrum analyzer. The spectrum display is superimposed as a graphic over the video signal being reproduced by the apparatus. |
| US08538038B1 |
Audio mute concealment
Mute intervals of an audio signal are concealed by decreasing a user's perception of missing audio information. During the mute interval, different concealment techniques are activated at different times to form a concealment signal. The concealment signal is applied to the processed audio signal during the mute interval. A concealment technique may process buffered audio samples before the mute interval in order to obtain the concealment signal. Also, a previously activated concealment generator may be phased out while the currently activated concealment generator may be phased in during a transition period of a mute interval. Different concealment techniques may be used to generate a concealment signal, including a periodic extension concealment technique, a reverberation concealment technique, and a spectral replication technique. Further, the power levels may be matched between different periods of a mute interval. |
| US08538035B2 |
Multi-microphone robust noise suppression
A robust noise reduction system may concurrently reduce noise and echo components in an acoustic signal while limiting the level of speech distortion. The system may receive acoustic signals from two or more microphones in a close-talk, hand-held or other configuration. The received acoustic signals are transformed to frequency domain sub-band signals and echo and noise components may be subtracted from the sub-band signals. Features in the acoustic sub-band signals are identified and used to generate a multiplicative mask. The multiplicative mask is applied to the noise subtracted sub-band signals and the sub-band signals are reconstructed in the time domain. |
| US08538031B2 |
Method for representing multi-channel audio signals
A multi-channel input signal having at least three original channels is represented by a parameter representation of the multi-channel signal. A first balance parameter, a first coherence parameter, or a first inter-channel time difference between a first channel pair and a second balance parameter, or a second coherence parameter, or a second inter-channel time difference parameter between a second channel pair are calculated. This set of parameters is the parameter representation of the original signals. The first channel pair has two channels, which are different from two channels of a second channel pair. Furthermore, each channel of the two channel pairs is one of the original channels, or a weighted combination of the original channels, and the first channel pair and the second channel pair include information on the three original channels. For multi-channel reconstruction purposes, the parameters are used in addition to down-mixing information to generate a selectable number of output channels in a scalable fashion. |
| US08538029B2 |
Encryption key fragment distribution
An encryption key may be fragmented into n encryption key fragments such that k |
| US08538028B2 |
System and method for secure electronic communication services
A distributed and scalable system for public key registration, distribution and management is provided, comprising a hierarchical key server network providing key address resolution (kDNS) functionality based on a kDNS server hierarchy or a key-DNS server hierarchy and associated protocols. Thus, public-keys of users, such as email recipients, can be searched and retrieved over the internet based on a unique identifier of the user, facilitating secure communication between users in different network domains and organizations. |
| US08538021B2 |
Sending apparatus, receiving apparatus, sending method, and receiving method
A sending apparatus includes an encryption unit and a sending unit. The encryption unit encrypts each of data packets on the basis of a frame number of a frame and a determined cryptographic key. The sending unit transmits a frame including the data packets encrypted. A receiving apparatus includes a receiving unit and a decoding unit. The receiving unit receives the frame. The decoding unit decodes each of the data packets on the basis of the frame number of the frame and a determined decoding key. |
| US08538020B1 |
Hybrid client-server cryptography for network applications
In one embodiment, a system and associated processes for transparent client-side cryptography are provided. In this system, some or all of a user's private data can be encrypted at a client device operated by the user. The client can transmit the encrypted user data to a content site that hosts a network application, such as a social networking application, financial application, or the like. The content site can store the private data in its encrypted form instead of the actual private data. When the content site receives a request for the private data from the user or optionally from other users (such as social networking friends), the server can send the encrypted user data to a client associated with the requesting user. This client, if operated by an authorized user, can decrypt the private data and present it to the authorized user. |
| US08538019B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring nodes in a wireless network
Methods, systems, devices and computer programs for configuring nodes on a wireless network can include generating a security key for the network, setting the security settings on the access point based on the security key, and saving the security key in a profile data file on a removable memory device along with a portable configuration utility for using the profile data file for configuring other nodes on the network. The removable memory device can then be inserted into other nodes and the portable configuration utility can be run to match the same key on the other network nodes based on the information stored in the profile data file on the removable memory device. |
| US08538018B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mixing encrypted data with unencrypted data
Methods and apparatus for mixing encrypted data with unencrypted data are disclosed. A disclosed system receives data from a first media source, such as DVD-Audio content, and encrypts the data from the first media source using a key stream to form an encrypted data stream. The disclosed system may separate the encrypted data stream into a plurality of encrypted data streams and may combine the plurality of encrypted data streams with an unencrypted data stream associated with a second media source to form a mixed data stream. The mixed data stream is formed without decrypting the plurality of encrypted data streams and is transmitted to hardware or a hardware driver. |
| US08538017B2 |
Encryption device
According to one embodiment, in an encryption device, a segmentation unit segments masked plain data into pieces of first segmented data. A first processing unit generates pieces of second segmented data from the pieces of first segmented data. A nonlinear transform unit generates pieces of third segmented data transformed from the pieces of second segmented data. A data integration unit integrates fourth segmented data to generate masked encrypted data. An unmask processing unit generates encrypted data from the masked encrypted data. The exclusive OR of the pieces of second segmented data matches the exclusive OR of input data, subjected to nonlinear transform processing and calculated from the plain data, and the first mask. The exclusive OR of the pieces of third segmented data matches the exclusive OR of transform data, obtained when the nonlinear transform processing is performed on the input data, and the second mask. |
| US08538015B2 |
Flexible architecture and instruction for advanced encryption standard (AES)
A flexible instruction set for a general purpose processor is provided. The instruction set includes instructions to perform a “one round” pass for encryption or decryption and also includes instructions to perform key generation. An immediate may be used to indicate round number and key size for key generation for 128/192/256 bit keys. The flexible instruction set enables full use of pipelining capabilities because it does not require tracking of implicit registers. |
| US08538013B2 |
Rules-driven hash building
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for generating a hash. A data store including multiple hashing tables is provided. A set of data is received on which the hash is to be based. The set of data includes one or more components. An identifier is received. The identifier identifies one or more hashing tables to use when generating the hash. The received one or more components are processed in accordance with rules defined in the identified one or more hashing tables. The processed components are combined into a final hash. |
| US08538012B2 |
Performing AES encryption or decryption in multiple modes with a single instruction
A machine-readable medium may have stored thereon an instruction, which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform a method. The method may include combining a first operand of the instruction and a second operand of the instruction to produce a result. The result may be encrypted using a key in accordance with an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm to produce an encrypted result. The method may also include placing the encrypted result in a location of the first operand of the instruction. |
| US08538006B1 |
Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing interactive interfaces to call center agents
Embodiments of the present invention provide computer program products, methods, and systems for providing an interactive interface to a particular agent of a plurality of call center agents. In various embodiments, display criteria for providing the interface are defined that relate to a performance parameter associated with the plurality of call center agents. Further, in various embodiments, interaction criteria for providing an opportunity to interact with the interface are defined that relate to a second performance parameter associated with the plurality of call center agents. Thus, in particular embodiments, the interactive interface is provided to the particular agent as a result of the agent having a measurement of the performance parameter meet the display criteria and/or a measurement of the second performance parameter meet the interaction criteria. Once the interactive interface has been provided, the agent may be awarded with an award based on the agent's interaction with the interface. |
| US08537999B1 |
Managing precedence call preemption in a communication environment
An attempt by a first endpoint device to establish a particular communication session with a second endpoint device is identified during a first, preexisting communication session between the second endpoint device and a third endpoint device. It is determined whether the first communication session has priority over the particular communication session. If the precedence level of the attempted particular communication session preempts the precedence level of the first communication session, the first communication session is terminated and the particular communication session is established between the first and second endpoints. A notification is provided to the third endpoint corresponding to the end of the particular communication session. Alternatively, if the first communication session has priority over the particular communication session, the attempt to establish the particular communication session is denied. A notification is provided to the first endpoint corresponding to the end of the first communication session. |
| US08537995B2 |
Mobile communications terminal and method
An incoming call is detected from a calling entity. If the incoming call is associated with a subscription to presence information media data associated with the subscription can be output through an output unit in the telephone terminal. If the incoming call is determined to be associated with a subscription to presence information, it is determined whether the media data is present in the terminal, and if the media data is present in the terminal, the media data is output through an output unit in the telephone terminal. |
| US08537992B2 |
System and method for recording communication activities
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to monitor incoming and outgoing calls associated with one or more communication devices, identify communication identifiers initiating the incoming calls and communication identifiers targeted by the outgoing calls, determine one or more related communication identifiers for each of the initiating and targeted communication identifiers, record in a communications log the incoming calls with the initiating communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers, and record in the communications log the outgoing calls with the targeted communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08537991B2 |
Toll-free reverse least cost routing price management system and method
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for performing reverse least cost routing and price management. In particular, a telecommunications carrier monitors network traffic for a wholesale carrier customer using the carrier's telecommunication services. A new pricing scheme and/or rate for network usage by the wholesale carrier may be generated based on a set of policies created by the carrier, such as when it is determined that the wholesale customer's network usage has decreased. The generated rates and/or pricing schemes may be provided to the wholesale carrier customer in real time. |
| US08537986B1 |
Systems and methods for customizing messages
Systems and methods for customizing messages are described. The apparatus may include an interaction engine to enable interactions between a customer and an agent, a user interface module to display a listing of life events and a life event engine to retrieve the listing from a data store. The method may include receiving a life event indication and playing one of a plurality of life event messages using at least the life event indication. |
| US08537985B2 |
Mobile business client
The subject matter herein relates to computer software and client-server based applications and, more particularly, to a mobile business client. Some embodiments include one or more device-agnostic application interaction models and one or more device specific transformation services. Some such embodiments provide one or more of systems, methods, and software embodied at least in part in a device specific transformation service to transform channel agnostic application interaction models to and from device or device surrogate specific formats. |
| US08537981B1 |
Interrupting a conference call for an emergency situation
The present invention provides a system and method for providing an announcement to a plurality of communication devices when a subset of those communication devices are currently engaged in a call. More specifically, an announcement may be provided to different communication devices depending upon the location of the communication device. |
| US08537977B2 |
Apparatus and method for voice processing in mobile communication terminal
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for voice processing in a mobile communication terminal. A plurality of microphones are used to remove environmental noise at the time of voice communication, so that it is possible to perform high-quality voice communication and video telephony. Moreover, it is possible to perform voice recording even when a user does not open a mobile communication terminal. Furthermore, when voice is recorded or sound is recorded during moving image photographing, a plurality of microphones are effectively utilized to achieve good-quality recording and to perform recording conveniently even when the folder or the slider of the mobile communication terminal is closed. Therefore, it is possible to provide improved convenience in using the mobile communication terminal. |
| US08537975B2 |
System and method for providing a customized dialtone
A system and method for customizing communications for a communications device may include determining, at a network node, in response to determining that the communications device is in an off-hook state, that a user of the telephone has accepted to receive pre-dial content in substitution of standard pre-dial content. In response to determining that the user has accepted non-standard pre-dial content to be communicated in substitution of the standard pre-dial content, the non-standard pre-dial content may be communicated to the communications device in response to determining that the communications device is in an off-hook state. A signal from the communications device may be responded to before completion of the non-standard pre-dial content if the user pays a fee to enable interruption of the non-standard pre-dial content. |
| US08537971B2 |
Imaging apparatus and control method thereof
An imaging apparatus having an X-ray detector and an image display unit comprises first and second display magnification calculation units and a selection unit. The first display magnification calculation unit receives information of the detected image size, a binning condition and a display frame size, and thereby calculating a first display magnification so as to maximize a display area of the detected image. The second display magnification calculation unit temporarily changes the received binning condition, and by using the temporarily changed binning condition and the received detected image size, and calculates a second display magnification so as to maximize a display area. The selection unit selects the first display magnifications and the temporarily change binning condition if the first display magnification is closer to one and the second display magnification with one. |
| US08537970B2 |
X-ray radiator to generate quasi-monochromatic x-ray radiation, and radiography x-ray acquisition system employing same
For a quasi-monochromatic x-ray radiation with high radiation intensity, an x-ray radiator generates quasi-monochromatic x-ray radiation to expose a subject from a point-shaped radiation source that emits a polychromatic x-ray radiation, and having a diffraction device to diffract the polychromatic x-ray radiation. The diffraction device has a super-mirror made of crystalline material with a flat surface. In the super-mirror, the crystalline material has at least one (in particular continuous) variation of the lattice plane spacing of the crystal lattice. The radiation source and the diffraction device are arranged such that quasi-monochromatic x-ray radiation is generated from the polychromatic x-ray radiation by partial reflection at the super-mirror. |
| US08537968B2 |
Method and apparatus for inspection of materials
A method of and apparatus for obtaining radiation transmission data and especially an image of an object in such manner that allows some data about relative proportions of constituent materials to be derived is described. A radiation source and a radiation detector system able to resolve transmitted intensity across a plurality of frequencies within the spectrum of the source are used to produce transmitted intensity data for each such frequency. Measured data is compared numerically to a mass attenuation data library storing mass attenuation data, individually or collectively, for a small number of expected constituent component materials to fit each intensity data item to the relationship given by the exponential attenuation law: I/Io=exp[−(μ/ρ)ρt] in respect of the constituent component materials and derive therefrom an indication of relative proportions of each constituent component material. An image may be generated from the resolved transmitted intensity data. |
| US08537967B2 |
Short working distance spectrometer and associated devices, systems, and methods
A spectrometer includes a rigid body having a first planar face with an orientation and a second planar face with a different orientation than the first planar face. The first and second planar faces are configured to position Bragg diffraction elements, and the orientation of the first planar face and the different orientation of the second planar face are arranged to convey a predetermined spectral range of the electromagnetic radiation to non-overlapping regions of the sensor location via the diffraction elements. |
| US08537966B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus, X-ray imaging method, and X-ray imaging program
An X-ray imaging apparatus includes a phase grating, an absorption grating, a detector, and an arithmetic unit. The arithmetic unit executes a Fourier transform step of performing Fourier transform for an intensity distribution of a Moiré acquired by the detector, and acquiring a spatial frequency spectrum. Also, the arithmetic unit executes a phase retrieval step of separating a spectrum corresponding to a carrier frequency from a spatial frequency spectrum acquired in the Fourier transform step, performing inverse Fourier transform for the separated spectrum, and acquiring a differential phase image. |
| US08537965B2 |
Cone-beam CT
An X-ray source system for a CT scanner includes a plurality of X-ray sources, wherein each X-ray source of the plurality is provided with a cathode from which an electron beam is emitted, an anode to receive the electron beam and at least one grid electrode, wherein the grid electrodes are configured to selectably block radiation from said X-ray sources; a high voltage generator for applying voltage to the plurality of X-ray sources, wherein each of the plurality of X-ray sources are configured to present substantially the same load to the high voltage generator; a grid modulator configured to apply voltage to grid electrodes of each of the plurality of X-ray sources in turn; and a controller for controlling the grid modulator so that only one of the plurality of X-ray sources emits radiation at any one time. |
| US08537963B2 |
Shift register with voltage boosting circuit
An exemplary shift register is adapted for receiving a preceding-stage output signal to generate a preceding-stage supply signal and outputting an input signal as an extreme value of a current-stage output signal according to the preceding-stage supply signal. The shift register includes an active controller, a voltage boosting circuit and an output circuit. The active controller receives the preceding-stage output signal and thereby produces an active control signal. The voltage boosting circuit receives a first operating voltage, the preceding-stage supply signal and the active control signal, and uses a capacitive coupling effect to change the voltage value of the preceding-stage supply signal and thereby generates an output control signal. The output circuit is electrically coupled to the voltage boosting circuit, the active controller and the input signal and determines the time of outputting the input signal as the extreme value according to the output control signal. |
| US08537962B1 |
Advanced gray rod control assembly
An advanced gray rod control assembly (GRCA) for a nuclear reactor. The GRCA provides controlled insertion of gray rod assemblies into the reactor, thereby controlling the rate of power produced by the reactor and providing reactivity control at full power. Each gray rod assembly includes an elongated tubular member, a primary neutron-absorber disposed within the tubular member said neutron-absorber comprising an absorber material, preferably tungsten, having a 2200 m/s neutron absorption microscopic capture cross-section of from 10 to 30 barns. An internal support tube can be positioned between the primary absorber and the tubular member as a secondary absorber to enhance neutron absorption, absorber depletion, assembly weight, and assembly heat transfer characteristics. |
| US08537961B2 |
Hybrid integrated energy production process
Disclosed is an advanced process that relates to the enhanced production of energy using the integration of multiple thermal cycles (Brayton and Rankine) that employ multiple fuels, multiple working fluids, turbines and equipment. The method includes providing a nuclear reactor, reactor working fluid, heat exchangers, compressors, and multiple turbines to drive compressors that pressurize a humidified working fluid that is combusted with fuel fired in at least one gas turbine. The turbine(s) provide for electrical energy, processes or other mechanical loads. |
| US08537957B2 |
Clock synchroniser
A clock synchronizer for generating a local clock signal synchronized to a received clock signal. The clock synchronizer incorporates a reference oscillator providing a reference signal, and a synthesizer circuit arranged to synthesize a local clock signal from the reference signal. The synthesizer circuit comprises a phase-locked-loop circuit, including a phase detector receiving the reference signal, and a controllable divider arranged in a feedback path from a controlled oscillator to the phase detector, the divider being controllable to set a frequency division value N along the path to determine a ratio of the local clock frequency to the reference frequency. The clock synchronizer also incorporates a clock comparison circuit adapted to generate a digital signal indicative of an asynchronism between the local and received clock signals. A control link is arranged to link the clock comparison circuit to the divider. This link receives the digital signal and provides a control signal to the divider to adjust the frequency division value N according to the digital signal, to alter the local clock frequency and reduce the asynchronism. |