| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08578009B1 |
Systems and methods for correlating online aliases with real-world identities
A computer-implemented method for correlating online aliases with real-world identities may comprise accessing a first user account associated with a first online communication mechanism, obtaining contact data associated with a first online alias from the first user account, identifying contact data associated with a second online alias, identifying, by comparing the contact data associated with the first online alias with the contact data associated with the second online alias, at least one common characteristic between the first online alias and the second online alias, and associating both the first online alias and the second online alias with a common contact. A graphical user interface may display a contact's name, online aliases for by the contact, and the online communication mechanisms that may be used to communicate with the contact. The method may also facilitate communication with a contact using online communication mechanisms. Corresponding systems and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08578006B2 |
Enabling selective policy driven propagation of configuration elements between and among a host and a plurality of guests
Configuration elements are selectively propagated between a host and multiple guests, based on a policy. Configuration elements of the host and guests are monitored. Changes made to monitored configuration elements are detected. It is determined whether to propagate changed configuration elements between operating system environments based on the policy. It can be determined to propagate changed configuration element(s) from a source to one or more destinations in response to factors such as the identity and/or classification of the source, or the type, attribute(s), content and/or identity of the changed configuration element(s). The creation of new guests is detected. In response, at least one configuration element from at least one source is automatically propagated to a newly created guest. |
| US08578005B1 |
Systems and methods for providing update notifications to mobile devices using mobile-IP extensions
The present invention provides systems and methods for notifying mobile devices of the presence of software and/or firmware updates using Mobile-IP extensions. When a mobile device seeks to engage in a Mobile-IP session, it sends a Mobile-IP registration request message. When it receives a reply to the registration request, the reply includes a Mobile-IP extension that indicates whether an update is available for the mobile device. If the extension indicates that an update is available, the mobile device responsively obtains the update. |
| US08578004B1 |
Methods and system for sharing gadgets between users
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates sharing gadgets. The system allows a sender to specify a gadget to share with a recipient and how a set of configuration parameters are to be shared with the recipient. The system further receives an identifier for the recipient. The system also communicates the gadget to the recipient, thereby allowing the recipient to use the gadget in accordance with the configuration parameters. |
| US08578001B2 |
Smart energy gateway with integrated plug
Various embodiments include a smart energy gateway. The smart energy gateway includes a housing and a power plug integrated into the housing. The smart energy gateway can be mounted to an electrical outlet via the power plug. The smart energy gateway also includes a controller configured to accept transmissions from a smart energy network and communicate a subset of the transmissions to an external network. Other devices and methods are disclosed. |
| US08577998B2 |
Systems and methods of detecting non-colocated subscriber devices
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving address configuration information for each of a plurality of subscriber devices associated with the same customer account. The method also comprises identifying, using the address configuration information, any of the subscriber devices that are not colocated with the other subscriber devices associated with the same customer account. |
| US08577997B2 |
Global hosting system
Network architecture supports hosting and content distribution on a global scale. The architecture allows a Content Provider to replicate and serve its most popular content at an unlimited number of points throughout the world. The inventive framework comprises a set of servers operating in a distributed manner. The actual content to be served is preferably supported on a set of hosting servers (sometimes referred to as ghost servers). This content comprises HTML page objects that, conventionally, are served from a Content Provider site. A base HTML document portion of a Web page is served from the Content Provider's site while one or more embedded objects for the page are served from the hosting servers, preferably, those hosting servers near the client machine. By serving the base HTML document from the Content Provider's site, the Content Provider maintains control over the content. |
| US08577996B2 |
Method and apparatus for tracing users of online video web sites
The method and/or apparatus monitors and records the times when a user interacts with a network video player, e.g. a web video player, while watching an online video clip. Specifically, a data collection agent (DCA) is loaded to the player or to a web page that displays the video clip. The DCA collects detailed viewing information and periodically sends this information to a central server. The viewing information is processed by the central server to generate at least one of: a viewership attention span report, a viewership demographics report, and a viewership geographic report. |
| US08577993B2 |
Caching provenance information
Techniques are disclosed for caching provenance information. For example, in an information system comprising a first computing device requesting provenance data from at least a second computing device, a method for improving the delivery of provenance data to the first computing device, comprises the following steps. At least one cache is maintained for storing provenance data which the first computing device can access with less overhead than accessing the second computing device. Aggregated provenance data is produced from input provenance data. A decision whether or not to cache input provenance data is made based on a likelihood of the input provenance data being used to produce aggregated provenance data. By way of example, the first computing device may comprise a client and the second computing device may comprise a server. |
| US08577989B2 |
Method and apparatus for a report cache in a near real-time business intelligence system
A method of optimizing the delivery of a set of data elements from a first device to a second device. The method includes retrieving from a data source the set of data elements, including a first subset of the set of data elements, a second subset of the set of data elements, and a third subset of the set of data elements. The method also includes transferring the first subset of the set of data elements to the second device. The method further includes selecting a fourth subset of the set of data elements, wherein the fourth subset can be comprised of data elements from the first subset and the second subset, or wherein the fourth subset can be comprised of data elements from the second subset and the third subset. The method also includes transferring a fourth subset of the set of data elements to the second device. |
| US08577988B2 |
Content device and control method thereof
A device includes a communication unit including at least one of a wireless communication module and a wired communication module. The device also includes a controller configured to access, based on communications received through the communication unit, a plurality of identifiers which each mark a manipulation of content performed by an electronic device. The plurality of identifiers mark manipulations of the content performed by different electronic devices. The controller also is configured to facilitate output, on an output unit, of a representation of the plurality of identifiers. The output unit is separate from the different electronic devices that performed the manipulations of the content marked by the plurality of identifiers. |
| US08577985B2 |
Load balancing and admission scheduling in pull-based parallel video servers
A pull-based parallel video server system and method of implementation useful in an on-demand video system includes a plurality of slave admission schedulers operating in parallel with a master admission scheduler to back up the master admission scheduler that controls access to an array of pull-based video servers according to a protocol that accounts for jitter and loss of packets, as well as network delays. A transport protocol is provided that improves video data throughput under such conditions. To determine the architecture and functional requirements of the redundant admission schedulers, an analytical tool in the form of a performance model has been developed that incorporates network delays, delay jitters and packet losses on the communication links between the clients, schedulers and servers. |
| US08577978B2 |
Automatically enabling the forwarding of instant messages
In some examples, an instant message addressed to an intended instant messaging recipient may be forwarded to the recipient's mobile telephone when the recipient's mobile telephone number is known to the instant message sender. In one example, an instant message is forwarded to the intended recipient's mobile telephone number when the instant message sender's contact information for the intended recipient includes an instant message address (e.g., a screen name or other type of instant message identifier) and a mobile telephone number, without dependence upon the intended recipient's presence on the instant message (IM) system or through actual login or registration with an IM forwarding service. In another example, an instant message addressed to an intended instant messaging recipient is forwarded to the recipient's mobile telephone when the recipient is known to the instant message sender. |
| US08577971B2 |
Email fetching system and method in a portable electronic device
In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method for fetching email from an email server to a portable electronic device is disclosed. The method includes fetching email from the email server upon occurrence of at least one of: expiration of a first period of time after activation of an email application running on the device; expiration of a second period of time after a prior email fetch while the email application is running in the foreground; expiration of a third period of time after the prior email fetch while the email application is running in background; or expiration of a fourth period of time after the portable device is unlocked. |
| US08577969B2 |
System and method for multimedia messaging
A system and method of multimedia messaging are provided. The system includes an input to receive a multimedia message sent to an address associated with a group profile. The system also includes a group profile database with at least one group profile. The group profile may include routing settings that specify at least one network address for each group member. The group profile may also include preferred data format settings that specify at least one preferred multimedia data format for a multimedia message to be sent to each group member. The system includes logic to select at least one network address and at least one preferred data format for each group member. The system includes a conversion module to convert the multimedia message to the preferred data format. The system further includes an output to send the converted message to the network address for each group member. |
| US08577963B2 |
Remote browsing session between client browser and network based browser
A remote browsing process is directed to the generation and management of a remote browse session at a network computing and storage provider. A client computing device requests a remote browse session instance at a network computing and storage provider. The browse session instance may correspond to one or more requested network resources. The network computing and storage provider instantiates the browse session instance and retrieves the requested content. The network computing and storage provider processes the requested content for display, and provides a processing result corresponding to a processed representation of the requested content to the client computing device. The client computing device may display the representation of the requested content in a browser, and may send user interaction data based on user interactions with the representation to the network computing and storage provider for processing. |
| US08577959B2 |
Managing recurring appointments
Concepts and technologies are described herein for managing recurring appointments without losing historical data associated with the recurring appointments. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a recurring appointment definition can be modified without deleting the recurring appointment definition and/or losing exceptions, notes, and/or other data associated with the recurring appointment definition. Additionally, the concepts and technologies disclosed herein allow the modification of an existing recurring appointment definition without creating a new recurring appointment definition. Thus, synchronization between rules-based calendaring applications and expansion-based calendaring applications can be accomplished without creating multiple instances of related recurring appointments created due to modifications of the recurring appointment definition. |
| US08577957B2 |
System and method for streamlining user interaction with electronic content
Various aspects and embodiments are directed to a graphical user interface that organizes interface elements into views of computer content for presentation to a user. Different views of are used to provide an interface that is responsive to configurations of the device and responsive to activity being performed by the user. Aspects include permitting the user to transition the device from one configuration to another during its use, for example from easel to laptop modes. Further the elements that comprise the graphical user interface are configured to present a summarized view of available actions and content, in order to simplify user interaction. The different views present different organizations of the interface elements and in some example display only certain ones of the modes of content in order to reduce the number of options a user must navigate to accomplish an objective. According to another aspect, methods and systems for streamlining user interaction with computer content are provided. In some embodiments, streamlining includes pre-configuring a user device based on received information. Other embodiments include presenting consistent visual representations used to navigated to views that present computer content. |
| US08577956B2 |
User-configurable network performance monitors
A network analysis system provides for a user-definable display of information related to messages communicated on the network. The network analysis system includes one or more display formats that provide a display of message exchanges between nodes of a network, and a display augmenter that provides additional information on the display based on a user-defined visualization. The user defined visualization includes augmenting the display based on user-defined coloring characteristics and/or augmenting the display with user-defined labels. To further facilitate user control of the augmentation of the display, the system accepts user-defined programs for discriminating among messages, for controlling the labeling of messages, and for controlling the coloring of messages and labels. Commonly used user-defined characteristics and labels are stored in a library, for use via a selection from among the library entries. |
| US08577951B1 |
Matrix operations in an integrated circuit device
Circuitry can be provided in a fixed logic device, or can be configured into a programmable integrated circuit device such as a programmable logic device (PLD) to perform vector-based matrix operations for matrices of arbitrary size, up to a predetermined maximum size. The circuitry may be used where input row vectors of a matrix are to be combined—e.g., by multiplication—with the same initial vector, which may be one of the rows. Column memories may be provided to hold the input matrix data, so that each row may be read by simultaneously accessing the same index in each column memory. In accordance with the invention, the number of column memories may be less than the actual number of columns so that multiple physical “row access” operations are used to access each logical row. A “circular latch” may be provided to hold the initial vector. |
| US08577950B2 |
Matrix multiplication operations with data pre-conditioning in a high performance computing architecture
Mechanisms for performing matrix multiplication operations with data pre-conditioning in a high performance computing architecture are provided. A vector load operation is performed to load a first vector operand of the matrix multiplication operation to a first target vector register. A load and splat operation is performed to load an element of a second vector operand and replicating the element to each of a plurality of elements of a second target vector register. A multiply add operation is performed on elements of the first target vector register and elements of the second target vector register to generate a partial product of the matrix multiplication operation. The partial product of the matrix multiplication operation is accumulated with other partial products of the matrix multiplication operation. |
| US08577940B2 |
Managing computer file system using file system trees
A system, method and computer program product for managing computer file system using file system trees. A plurality of Virtual Execution Environments (VEEs) running on a computer system is provided. The computer system has a common file system tree, which can be concurrently accessed by the VEEs. The shareable files are stored in the common file system tree located in a local storage of the computer system. The common file system tree includes a first set of files that can be accessed by VEEs directly using first redirection. The common file system tree also includes a second set of files that can be accessed by VEEs using first and second redirection. The files system accesses the files from the local storage using first redirection and from the network storage using first and second redirection. The local storage can also receive files from the network storage and store them in the common file system tree. |
| US08577939B2 |
Method for reliable and efficient filesystem metadata conversion
A method for converting metadata in a hierarchical configuration within a filesystem from a first format to a second format includes reading metadata in the first format within the hierarchical configuration; writing the metadata from the hierarchical configuration into a flat file; and writing the metadata back into the hierarchical configuration, the metadata being in the second format. The method can also include increasing the size of each of a first inode and a second inode within a first inode chunk in the filesystem, assigning the first inode to the first inode chunk, and assigning the second inode to a second inode chunk. |
| US08577938B2 |
Data mapping acceleration
A data mapping acceleration system may include a syntactic profile module to generate a syntactic profile of a data source to be mapped. A semantic classification module may generate a semantic classification of the data source. A similarity module may evaluate the syntactic profile and semantic classification to determine an overall similarity between attributes of data from the data source for mapping the data source. |
| US08577935B2 |
System and method for storing performance data in a transit organization
The present invention relates to systems and methods for storing performance data in a transit organization. Sets of performance data for runs over a plurality of routes are stored. The routes are divided into links. Associations between the sets of performance data and the links are also stored. |
| US08577934B2 |
System and method for a storage system response with data migration
Provided is a system and method for a storage system response. The system includes a first storage system adapted to be linked in communication with at least one client and with a second storage system, the second storage system retaining a plurality of digital assets. An asset map is adapted to track where in the first storage system or the second storage system each of the plurality of digital assets is retained. A migrator is also provided and structured and arranged to migrate each of the plurality of digital assets from the second storage system to the first storage system, the migrator further adapted to update the asset map regarding a status of migration for each of the plurality of digital assets. A server structured and arranged to fulfill digital asset requests received by the first storage system from the at least one client, the server structured and arranged to consult the asset map to determine where the requested digital assets resides. An associated method is also provided. |
| US08577930B2 |
Measuring topical coherence of keyword sets
Methods and apparatus are described for measuring the topical coherence of a keyword set while simultaneously partitioning the set into contextually related clusters. |
| US08577929B2 |
Visual manipulation of database schema
Methods, program products, and systems for visual manipulation of database schema are disclosed. In general, in one aspect, a system can display a schema view and a data view in graphic representation in an integrated GUI on a display device. The system can display a schema in the schema view, and one or more data records in the data view. The system can receive a touch input from the display device in the schema view, or the data view, or both. In response to the touch input, the system can modify the schema, or the data records, or both. The system can update the schema view and data view substantially simultaneously to reflect the modification in the schema or data records. |
| US08577925B2 |
Systems and methods for assigning hosts in response to a data query
Systems and methods consistent with the invention may include selecting a plurality of hosts to store data structures by defining a color incidence process used to model a host assignment process, determining, by the color incidence process, a color allocation, and assigning the data structures to one of the plurality of hosts based on the color allocation determined by the color incidence process. |
| US08577922B2 |
Information management apparatus, data processing method and computer program
An information management apparatus includes: a data receiving section, a collected data storage section, an aggregating section, a feature extracting section, a determining section, and an evaluation data storage section. The data receiving section periodically receives action data showing an action of a user. The collected data storage section stores the action data received by the data receiving section every user. The aggregating section generates a data set every user by aggregating action data containing an approximate content, of the action data stored in the collected data storage section. The feature extracting section extracts an index and a reference showing privacy confidentiality of the data set as a feature to incorporate in the data set. The determining section determines whether or not the privacy confidentiality of the feature of the data set is equal to or higher than a predetermined level. The evaluation data storage section stores the data set which passed the determining section. |
| US08577917B2 |
Systems and methods for improving cache hit success rate using a split cache
Certain examples provide a clinical cache system for retrieval of varying clinical content. The system includes an input to include a request for a content item and one or more parameters associated with the content item. The system includes a metadata cache to store one or more sets of metadata representing parameters associated with one or more content items. The one or more sets of metadata in the metadata cache are used to identify and distinguish one or more content items with respect to the request. The system includes a content cache to store one or more content items. The one or more content items are searchable based on associated metadata. The metadata cache and the content cache facilitate the request by first querying the metadata cache and then querying the content cache based on a result of the metadata cache query. |
| US08577912B1 |
Method and system for robust hyperlinking
A method includes analyzing a plurality of electronic documents available via a network service, selecting content of the documents encountered during the analysis to generate signatures for the documents based on the content of the documents, generating an index comprising the signatures, and updating the index by performing additional analysis. The index is updated to include documents having the same signatures. |
| US08577908B2 |
Automatic lock management in an abstract database
A method, system and article of manufacture for accessing data in a database independent of the particular manner in which the data is physically represented and for preventing alterations of data in the database when a query is executed against the database are provided. One embodiment provides a method of preventing alterations of data in a database when a query is executed against the database. The method includes providing a logical representation of the data defining a plurality of logical fields abstractly describing associated physical entities of the data; receiving an abstract query comprising at least one logical field of the plurality of logical fields; and locking the at least one logical field before executing the abstract query. |
| US08577907B1 |
Search queries improved based on query semantic information
A search query for a search engine may be improved by incorporating alternate terms into the search query that are semantically similar to terms of the search query, taking into account information derived from the search query. An initial set of alternate terms that may be semantically similar to the original terms in the search query is generated. The initial set of alternate terms may be compared to information derived from the original search query. One example of such information is a set of documents retrieved in response to a search performed using the initial search query. One or more of the alternate terms may be added to the original search query based on their relationship to the information derived from the original search query. |
| US08577904B2 |
Composite copy and paste for composite user interfaces
A selection of a composite copy command is detected via a computing device executing an application framework. The composite copy command is propagated to each active application associated with the application framework. A composite data element is received from each active application. The composite data element received from each active application is stored into a copy buffer. |
| US08577902B1 |
Data organization and indexing related technology
Data organization and indexing, in which data that includes information for multiple attribute classes is accessed and redundancy characteristics of the accessed data within each of at least two of the multiple attribute classes are identified. Based on the identified redundancy characteristics, a relative order among the multiple attribute classes of the accessed data is determined and the accessed data is organized based on the determined relative order. The organized data is compressed using run length encoding and an index that is descriptive of the compressed data is generated. The encoded data and the generated index are stored to enable subsequent searching of the encoded data using the generated index. |
| US08577887B2 |
Content grouping systems and methods
A method of grouping a plurality of media content is provided. The method includes converting at least a portion of the media content into at least one document object model (“DOM”) using a processor. The DOM can include a plurality of block elements, each comprising at least one content object. The method includes apportioning the content objects into a relevant portion and an irrelevant portion and extracting a set of keywords, the set comprising at least one keyword, within the relevant portion of the content objects. The method includes apportioning the relevant portion of the content objects into a related portion and an unrelated portion using at least a portion of the set of keywords and grouping the related portion of the content to provide a group of related content. |
| US08577885B2 |
Partitioning management of system resources across multiple users
A resource group attribute is assigned to a storage resource object representing at least one of the plurality of storage resources in a system configuration of the computing storage environment. The resource group attribute includes a selectable value indicating a resource group object to which the storage resource object is associated. A resource group label is provided in the resource group object and is a string having no wildcards. A user resource scope is assigned to a user ID and a value of the user resource scope provides a mechanism to match to the resource group label. The user ID is authorized to perform one of creating, deleting, modifying, controlling, and managing storage resources with an association to a resource group. |
| US08577883B2 |
Collaborative, incremental specification of identities
Methods and systems for collaborative, incremental specification of identities are provided. Users of an information processing system collaborate to define and refine identities of entities, and users can create references for those identities. Relationships among the identifiers imply related keywords that can be used to improve search, navigation, and integration. Relationship factoring can be used to maintain efficient logical and physical representations. |
| US08577878B1 |
Filtering search results using annotations
A search engine system accepts queries that include query terms and labels applicable to certain documents. A domain filter is constructed that is used to filter search results to certain domains, where the domains are determined based on the labels included in the query. The filtered search results are processed to ensure that certain portions of the results are from domains included in the filter. The results are further processed to include the query labels with certain ones of the results. |
| US08577875B2 |
Presenting search results ordered using user preferences
Systems and methods for presenting search results ordered, at least in part, based upon indicated user preferences are provided. User preferences for one potential search result over another that are free of position bias are obtained utilizing random relative order interchange of juxtaposed, ranked search results. Upon receipt of a search query, a determination is made to present at least a portion of search results satisfying the received query ordered based on user preferences, whether or not the order coincides with that determined using a ranking algorithm. In this way, presented search results are ordered, at least in part, according to user preferences, thus improving the relevance of the output relative to standard ranking algorithms alone. |
| US08577873B2 |
Determining a relative importance among ordered lists
Implementations and techniques for determining a relative importance among ordered lists are generally discussed. |
| US08577871B2 |
Method and mechanism for out-of-the-box real-time SQL monitoring
Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring database queries and executions is disclosed. The query syntax may conform to the structured query language (SQL). The approach supports various performance statistics to be monitored at each step of the query statement's execution plan and for each row processed in order to meet requirements of a near real-time query monitoring solution. Such statistics include timing information plus some miscellaneous statistics like the number of rows processed, the amount of memory used, the amount of data spilled to disk, etc. |
| US08577870B2 |
Statistics management for database querying
Methods and systems are provided for querying a database. One exemplary method for obtaining data from an on-demand database supporting one or more tenants involves obtaining model database statistics based on expected utilization information for a tenant and providing the model database statistics to the on-demand database. The on-demand database utilizes the model database statistics to generate a query plan and executes the query plan to obtain data from the model database statistics. |
| US08577869B2 |
Data storage method for an electronic device
To prevent memory cells from being damaged, the present invention provides a data storage method for an electronic device, which comprises dividing a first section of a memory of the electronic device into N blocks, wherein each of the N blocks is corresponding to a sequence number and assigned an index value; rewriting an assigned index value corresponding to an nth block of the N blocks according to index values corresponding to the N blocks; storing an input data in the nth block; and rewriting the nth block by stored data in the (n−1)th block before storing the input data in the nth block when the index values corresponding to the N blocks are not identical such that a number of times of accessing sections of the memory is averaged, to prevent the memory from being damaged; wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1, and 1≦n≦N. |
| US08577867B2 |
Method and system for expanding a website
Information regarding the structure of information in a content database is maintained in a structure database. The structure database is used to correlate the data structure of a query to the structure of the content database, in order to determine that information in the content database which needs to be provided to a searcher in response to the query. In one embodiment, this search method is used in an online forum, and the forum maintains a reputation score for users with respect to given subject matter. The reputation score is dependent upon the quality of a user's participation in the forum. A user's reputation score depends upon the evaluation by others of information he posts and upon the user evaluating information posted by others. |
| US08577865B2 |
Document searching system
Searching for documents using different sources includes receiving a search statement containing information for the documents, and determining a search strategy based on the search statement. The search strategy includes first and second search activities for searching first and second sources, respectively, where the first and second search activities are weighted. The first and second sources are searched using the first and second search activities, respectively, where an order in which the first and second search activities are performed is dictated by weightings of the first and second search activities. |
| US08577864B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a validation tool
Systems and methods for providing a validation tool may be configured to identify a plurality of words within a document, the document being provided in a first window within a user interface. Additionally, the systems and methods may be configured to determine, from a predetermined list that includes terms of interest, whether the words are matching words with terms of interest. The systems and methods may, in response to determining that the plurality of words are matching words with the terms of interest, highlight matching words in a document and access pieces of related data for matching words. |
| US08577859B2 |
Method and system for aggregating searchable web content from a plurality of social networks and presenting search results
There is disclosed a method and system for presenting indexed search results from a social network, concurrently with customary search results returned by a search engine hosted on a website, to a user performing a search from a user interface of a user device using the search engine. The user is registered on the social network and has connections thereon. The method comprises: indexing data related to users registered on the social network to produce indexed data, the data obtained from the social network hosted on a website different from the website hosting the search engine; receiving a search query along with a user identifier; performing a search on the indexed data specific to the user's connections to obtain indexed search results specific to the user's connections on the social network; and returning to the user device the indexed search results for presentation on the user interface. |
| US08577854B1 |
Apparatus and method for high speed flow classification
A flow classifier for a network device that processes packets including packet headers includes a hash generator that generates hash index values from search keys derived from the packet headers. A hash table receives the hash index values and outputs pointers. A flow table includes flow keys and corresponding actions. A variable length (VL) trie data structure uses the pointers to locate the flow keys for the search keys. The VL trie data structure selects different flow keys for the search keys that share a common hash index value. The pointers include node, NIL and leaf pointers. The flow classifier performs a default action for the NIL pointers. A pointer calculator accesses a VL trie table using the pointers. |
| US08577853B2 |
Performing online in-place upgrade of cluster file system
A shared file system for a group of host computer systems is upgraded in-place in a manner that the shared file system can remain online and accessible to the host computer systems. Each host computer system first loads a new file system driver that is backward compatible with a driver that is currently used by them to interact with the file system. Second, one of the host computer systems acquires locks to file system management data structures of the file system, upgrades the file system management data structures, and upon completion thereof, notifies the other host computer system that the upgrade to the file system management data structures is complete. |
| US08577845B2 |
Remote, granular restore from full virtual machine backup
In one embodiment, a backup application transmits a remote request to a virtual machine that includes an application to be backed up. The request solicits metadata from the application that describes a structure of the data stored by the application on the virtual storage devices of the virtual machine. Using the metadata, the backup application may identify objects within the virtual machine. Accordingly, a granular restore of data to the virtual machine may be possible without installing backup software within the virtual machine. |
| US08577841B2 |
Enablement of quasi time dependency in organizational hierarchies
Changes to a hierarchical organizational structure may be stored in different versions of a data structure depicting the hierarchical organizational structure. Each of these versions may include a validity period field representing a time period that the hierarchical organizational structure depicted in the version accurately reflects the organizational structure of the organization. Each of the versions may also be designated as active or inactive. In some instances, each of the versions may be designated as inactive except for a version that reflects the organizational structure of the organization at a particular time, which may change over time. Historical copies of versions may be stored and subsequently recalled to identify an organizational structure that was in effect at a particular time in the past. The recalled version may then be used to limit the results of a query to a selected node of the historical organizational structure. |
| US08577838B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing data processing program, server apparatus, and data processing method
A computer-readable recording medium storing a data processing program that causes a computer of a group of mutually communicable computers to execute, an acquisition procedure configured, when a processing request for an arbitrary data is inputted, to acquire the number of replicas set in the arbitrary data, a selection procedure configured to select computers, which serve as arrangement destinations of the arbitrary data and are as many as the number of replicas, from the computers of the computer group by using a predetermined algorithm, a transmission procedure of the number of replicas, configured to transmit the number of replicas of the arbitrary data, which number is acquired by the acquisition procedure, to all the computers of the computer group, and a processing request transmission procedure configured to transmit the processing request to each the computers that are selected by the selection procedure and as many as the number of replicas. |
| US08577837B2 |
Method and system for generic extraction of business object data
Systems, methods, and software for generic extraction of business object data are provided. One computerized method includes retrieving multiple identifiers of sub-nodes. The sub-nodes are associated with a root node of a business object. The method further includes generating a tree data structure. The tree includes multiple tree nodes and multiple tree edges. The multiple nodes correspond to the root node of the business object and the retrieved multiple identifiers. The method also includes traversing the tree to retrieve data associated with the root business object and the retrieved multiple identifiers. The method further includes storing the retrieved data. |
| US08577834B2 |
Methodologies and analytics tools for locating experts with specific sets of expertise
A method and analytics tools for locating experts with specific sets of expertise are disclosed, the method including providing a collection of documents P0; generating categories representing fields of expertise derived from the collection of documents P0; refining the taxonomy of the categories by applying user domain knowledge; extracting structured fields from the collection of documents P0; constructing a contingency table having a first axis defined by the extracted structured fields and a second axis defined by the categories; and using the contingency table to identify a set of experts having a related expertise. The method may also include a network graph analysis that aids visualization of the relationship between people and expertise. |
| US08577826B2 |
Automated document separation
Systems and methods for automated document separation. The system includes a host device that is configured to communicate with one or more client devices over a network. The host device includes a splitting module, a correction module, a knowledge base, and a document store. The splitting module is configured to perform a multi-level document splitting. Pages are grouped into documents based on the sender information, the lack of sender information, and whether the sender is known. The splitting module performs an automatic correction of the initial document separation based on information stored within the knowledge base. The knowledge base is updated each time a document is processed and a user provides feedback related to whether the documents were successfully separated. Based on the success or failure of a particular document separation, the knowledge base evaluates the modifications made by a user to learn from the errors made during document separation. |
| US08577822B2 |
Data-driven approach to modeling sensors wherein optimal time delays are determined for a first set of predictors and stored as a second set of predictors
A method, computer program product and system are provided for modeling non-controllable parameters affecting system performance. The method may include receiving historical values for each of a plurality of system parameters and grouping the system parameters into controllable, non-controllable, and performance parameters. The method may further include determining a first set of predictors from the non-controllable parameters using the historical values of these non-controllable parameters and, for each predictor in the first set, determining optimal time instances at which a value of each predictor is measured using non-uniform time scales. These optimal time instances may then be saved as a second set of predictors. One or more constraints may then be established for each of the controllable parameters. Finally, a dynamic model based on the second set of predictors, the controllable parameters, and the performance parameters may be constructed and optimized. |
| US08577821B1 |
Neuromimetic homomorphic pattern recognition method and apparatus therefor
A method and apparatus for encoding the amplitude of frequency signals, into a temporal electrical spike pattern and a method for decoding the generated pattern by recognizing and classifying it with a correlating (associative pattern recognition) neuron like device. The first part of the system takes signals and converts their amplitude into a set of timed pulses. The timing of that pulse is a function of the amplitude of the incoming signal. Once a series of timed pulses have been created, they can be sent to a decoder. The decoder circuit uses bandpass filters and delays/gains a low pass summation. The recognition portion compares the timed input spikes with a known sample. Only when the input signals match the sample signals will the amplitudes be sufficient to meet the trigger threshold. When the output spike is generated, a pattern match has been found. |
| US08577817B1 |
System and method for using network application signatures based on term transition state machine
A method for profiling network traffic of a network. The method includes identifying a training set having captured payloads corresponding to a set of flows associated with a network application, determining a set of signature terms from the training set, representing a portion of the captured payloads as regular expressions, representing a regular expression as a path in a term transition state machine (TTSM) including states coupled by at least a link that is assigned a signature term and a transition probability, the transition probability corresponding to a signature term transition to the signature term in the regular expression, and analyzing, based on the TTSM according to at least the transition probability, a flow separate from the set of flows and associated with a server in the network to determine the server as executing the network application. |
| US08577808B2 |
Methods for securely distributing computer software products
A product distribution and payment system for limited use or otherwise restricted digital software products. Digital content data comprising a software product to be rented is made available to customers through a detachable local storage medium, such as a DVD or CD-ROM disc, or over a network connection. The product digital content is capable of being accessed and played back through a computer or game console at the customer site. The software product may comprise a limited use product that is restricted in the number of plays or duration of use. The customer is allowed to download and purchase the product using his computer or playback console. The product purchase information is encoded and transmitted to the content distributor. When the preset time or number of plays has elapsed the software program is frozen and access to the program is not allowed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a two-way, public key/private key encryption system is implemented to transmit the product and usage information between the server providing the software product and the customer computer system. |
| US08577804B1 |
Method and system for securing payment transactions
A method for facilitating the widespread use of the PIN-Debit payment method for Internet “eCommerce” and mobile payments sales which requires little or no change for the cardholders, merchants, debit networks and card issuers based primarily on the introduction of a layer of middleware and wherein the Debit Networks and Issuing Banks may customize the implementation of the services based on individual strategy and cardholder preferences. |
| US08577803B2 |
Virtual wallet card selection apparatuses, methods and systems
The VIRTUAL WALLET CARD SELECTION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (“VWCS”) transform virtual wallet card selections by users utilizing mobile devices via VWCS components into virtual wallet card-based transaction purchase notifications. In one implementation, the VWCS obtains a user authentication request for a purchase transaction, and extracts a universal card account number from it. Upon querying a database, the VWCS determines that the user has access to a virtual wallet and obtains virtual wallet card selection options for the user from the database. The VWCS provides the virtual wallet card selection options to a user mobile device, and obtains a user selection of an account included among the options. The VWCS initiates a purchase transaction using the user selection. Also, upon completion of authorization of the purchase transaction, the VWCS provides a purchase receipt to the user mobile device. |
| US08577801B2 |
System and method for selection of payment systems from a payment system directory to process a transaction
Dynamically enabling and facilitating businesses or other entities to locate and transact with payment systems for the purpose of processing payments. A customer interacts with a supplier of an item (e.g., goods or services), selects an item for purchase, and provides the supplier with payment criteria. The supplier queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems for the transaction. The supplier then interacts directly with one or more of the payment systems to partially or fully process payment for the transaction. Alternatively, the supplier interacts with a gateway service, which queries a payment system directory to locate candidate payment systems and then interacts with one or more of the payment systems to process payment for the transaction. |
| US08577796B2 |
Financial charge rebate
Aspects of the disclosure relate to assisting credit account holders during economic hardship. More specifically, aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and methods for providing a rebate of at least a portion of a finance charge applied to a credit account. Unlike certain prior art systems and methods, embodiments disclosed herein may benefit both the credit account holder as well as the financial institution that extends the credit account. In one embodiment, it may be determined that several credit accounts meet a threshold of probability of having a charge-off. In certain embodiments, the number of accounts that receive a rebate may be limited to a certain percentage of credit accounts with a non-zero balance. |
| US08577788B1 |
Automatic strategy grouping for a trading system
A system for trading comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: receive an indication to automatically group a set of investment instruments; determine a set of possible strategies from the set of investment instruments; determine a set of groupings of strategies from the set of possible strategies; and determine one or more selected groupings from the set of groupings of strategies based at least in part on a selection criteria. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor instructions. |
| US08577786B1 |
System and method for providing systemic casualty reserve protection
A system, method and computer readable storage medium for calculating a first industry index amount at an index year based on selected loss values for the index year for a plurality of companies in a defined line of business and a predetermined number of years preceding the index year for the plurality of companies and loss estimates for a number of years subsequent to the index year corresponding to a predetermined term of a systemic risk product for the plurality of companies, calculating a second industry index amount based on selected loss values for the index year for the plurality of companies, a predetermined number of years preceding the index year for the plurality of companies and at least one year subsequent to the index year and calculating an industry index value based on the first and second industry index amount. |
| US08577784B2 |
Trading system having increased liquidity provision
An anonymous trading system includes a prime broker facility that allows a third party to trade on behalf of an institution. A deal is executed between the third party and a counter-party and a further deal is then executed between the third party and the party on whose behalf it has traded. The second deal may be for the same amount as the first deal or may be altered to include the third party's fee for conducting the first deal. Clients of the third party have prices available to them for trades made via the third party which are displayed at their trader terminals. The client sees that a better price is available though the third party than by dealing direct and selects to conduct a deal through the third party. |
| US08577783B2 |
System and method for trading multiple tradeable objects using a single trading interface
A system and method are provided for displaying information related to a plurality of tradeable objects using a single graphical interface. One example graphical interface includes at least two screen regions displayed in relation to each other, with each region including a plurality of locations. Each location in the first screen region corresponds to a value along a first value axis, and each location in the second screen region corresponds to a value along a second value axis. The graphical interface also includes a first indicator in the first region and a second indicator in the second region. In response to a repositioning command based on an algorithm, the graphical interface includes a repositioned first value axis and the second value axis, such that the indicators are displayed in new locations determined based on the algorithm. |
| US08577779B2 |
System and methods for facilitating informed trading of financial instruments
The invention relates to an improved means for interactive computerized communications having a facilitated capability for order entry and order execution, and providing an enhanced range of trading forms and methods to clients of brokerage firms dealing in financial instruments. In particular, the invention relates to a type of interactive computerized system and software program providing services based from trading patterns, to result in a more efficient and flexible range in the type of allowable trades, and that provides thereby innovative and strategic advantages to individual investors of brokerage firms, for actively managing financial instruments held in trading accounts. |
| US08577777B1 |
Machine, article, and method for servicing a specified event bond
A method, machine, article for servicing a specified event bond. The method can include: storing in memory terms of a bond indenture for a bond, the indenture including an agreement with at least one original investor in the bond whereby an issuer of the bond is obligated to pay to the investor a contingent liability in the bond if a specified event occurs; determining, by a computer accessing the memory and receiving market data, an amount of contingent liability corresponding to the obligation; and outputting, by the computer, the determined amount of the contingent liability. |
| US08577776B2 |
Risk and reward assessment mechanism
A data driven and forward looking risk and reward appetite methodology for consumer and small business is described. The methodology includes account level historical data collection for customers associated with accounts as part of a portfolio. The account level historical data is segmented into groups of customers with similar revenues and loss characteristics. Segmented data is decomposed into seasoning, vintage, and cycle effects. Statistical clusters are formed based upon the data and effects. A simulation is applied to the statistical clusters and prediction data is generated. A simulation strategy to forecast and simulate revenue and loss volatility is developed. Efficient frontier curves of risk (e.g., return volatility) and reward (e.g., expected return) are created for the current portfolio under various economic scenarios. |
| US08577773B2 |
Document processing systems and methods for regulatory certifications
A processing system is provided for regulatory or tax status certification of investors. Certificates are generated and synchronized with data. The certificates are indicative of entitlements to own or receive income on securities in accord with various governmental, tax or contractually determined constraints. Interest or dividend income can be paid to eligible investors free (or at reduced rates) of withholding tax once a valid certificate is obtained. Certificates can also be provided to permit a certified entity to purchase investments that are otherwise restricted from sale. Investors or investor banking representatives can introduce investor details into the system for use in generating certificates. Such certificates are sent out for execution (e.g., signature), and electronically transmitted back into the system. Tracking elements are provided to allow the certificates to be automatically matched to electronically stored investor data, thus forming the basis of an executed certification. |
| US08577772B2 |
System and method for generating liquidity
A system for generating liquidity includes a plurality of client user interfaces and a matching system. Each client user interface includes a trading desktop which stores unexecuted trading positions. The matching system is coupled with the plurality of client user interfaces and configured to receive information about the unexecuted trading positions. The system can identify as a match one or more first indications of interest which can fulfill one or more second indications of interest, based upon the information about the unexecuted trading positions. For the identified matches, the system can provide a notification of the match and an invitation to execute the match to corresponding client user interfaces. When an invitation is accepted, the system forwards an order to an order execution system for execution. |
| US08577770B2 |
System and method for measuring and utilizing pooling analytics
A system and method for quantifying the working capital benefit of pooling a number of separate cash accounts. The average (mean) cash balance of the pooled account is determined to be the sum of the means of each of the individual accounts. Similarly, the standard deviation of the pooled account is determined to be the square root of the sum of the squares of the standard deviations of the individual accounts. Accordingly, the minimum cash level of the pooled account is 2.3 times the square root of the sum of the squares of the standard deviations of the individual accounts. If pooling is to be beneficial, from a working capital perspective, the minimum cash required in the pooled account will be significantly less than the aggregate cash required by the separate companies. |
| US08577769B2 |
Multi-variable transaction system and method
A system for optimization of variables is provided. The system includes a buyer finance system for receiving asset data and buyer finance data. A seller variable system receives the asset data and the buyer finance data and applies a seller variable distribution to generate seller transaction state data. A finance variable system receives the asset data and the buyer finance data and applies a finance variable distribution to generate finance transaction state data. A variable optimization system receives the seller transaction state data and the finance transaction state data and generates transaction approval data. |
| US08577765B2 |
System and method for displaying profit related information in an electronic trading environment
A system and method for displaying a plurality of profit and risk related indicators are described. A graphical interface displays and dynamically updates a plurality of profit/loss (P/L) indicators including a realized, net, and open indicator. The net and open indicators are based on a trader's net position and a current market level, while the realized indicator is based on trader's buys and sells associated with a tradeable objects. In one embodiment, the plurality of indicators are displayed in relation to a plurality of money management regions defining a maximum order quantity and a maximum net position controlling the trader's trades, so that a trader can quickly determine his current as well as potential money management parameters. The graphical interface may also display a plurality of potential risk/gain indicators in relation to a realized profit indicator so that a trader, before entering an order having a predetermined order quantity, can view a potential risk/gain in entering into a predetermined net position in view of potential market movements. |
| US08577764B2 |
Goal insurance
Goal insurance is provided as a purchasable option to users who wish to have a goal tracking system monitor and enforce their goals. The user may define the goal, a reward to be given upon successful completion of the goal and penalties to be applied if the goal is not met. To avoid penalties, the user may purchase goal insurance that may be used or apply under specified circumstances. Such circumstances may include death, illness, unemployment or the like. Goal information and progress may be monitored by the goal tracking system and may further be published to one or more sites. Other users may contribute to the user's reward or send encouraging remarks. If the user does not purchase goal insurance, the predefined penalties may be applied upon expiration of a goal time period if the user has not achieved their goal. |
| US08577758B2 |
Financial accounting methods and systems to account for assets and liabilities
A method to calculate true ex-ante operating income, via a present value calculation and posting in a double-entry bookkeeping framework based upon credits and debits, is disclosed. The ultimate object is a true ex-ante net income accounting measurement that better serves financial statements users. |
| US08577751B2 |
Method of customized cleat arrangement
A method for producing articles of footwear with customized cleat arrangements is disclosed. The method includes a step of designing a customized cleat arrangement using a graphical interface system; a step of drilling holes into an outer plate according to the designed customized cleat arrangement; a step of inserting receiving members into the holes; a step of attaching the outer plate to an upper; and a step of associating a plurality of cleats with the receiving members. |
| US08577745B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for automatic real-time iterative commercial transactions over the internet in a multiple-buyer, multiple-seller marketplace optimizing both buyer and seller needs based upon the dynamics of market conditions
A method of communications network shopping by buyers of products and services for purchasing such from sellers in which buyers request an automatic reverse auctioneer or auction controller to initiate a reverse auction in real time amongst willing sellers and to solicit their automatic real-time iterative bidding price quotations for such products and services to be returned automatically over the network back to the controller under the iterative processing guidance of the controller to assure a best bid price quotation for the buyer; and automatically effecting buyer notification or purchase at such best price, all while the buyer may remain on-line, and without any manual intervention. |
| US08577740B1 |
System and method for combining fulfillment of customer orders from merchants in computer-facilitated marketplaces
Combining fulfillment of customer orders from merchants in computer-facilitated marketplaces. An order management system may include a virtual shopping cart interface that may be used with a number of merchants. Each merchant may be registered to receive fulfillment services from a fulfillment services provider for inventory items the merchant offers in commerce. The virtual shopping cart interface may be configured to receive requests to indicate various items within a virtual shopping cart corresponding to a customer. Different inventory items offered by different merchants may be placed within the virtual shopping cart. In response to the customer's request to finalize an order, the order management system may instruct the fulfillment services provider to ship the items in the virtual shopping cart to the customer. A single shipment may include items offered by several different merchants, and each of the merchants may be the merchant of record for its respective inventory item. |
| US08577739B2 |
Device and a method for ordering product at a premises via an integrated multimedia service system
A product ordering device provided at a digital home system at a user premises. The digital home system comprises a user terminal and a gateway device. The gateway device is coupled for communication with the user terminal and operable for communication with a wide area network outside the premises. The gateway device is configured for obtaining product data via the wide area network and providing the product data to the terminal for display on the display device. Upon placement of a product order by a user input through the terminal, the gateway device sends an order message outside of the integrated multimedia service system to request a corresponding vendor for the ordered product to deliver the ordered product at the premises. The product ordering service and the product data are provided and updated by a management server located outside of the premises. |
| US08577737B1 |
Method, medium, and system for application lending
Disclosed herein are techniques, including systems and methods, for enabling a lending user to lend an application to a borrowing user. The borrowing user may use the application for a trial period, and, once the trial period lapses, the borrowing user may be given an opportunity to purchase the application. If the borrowing user purchases the application, then the lending user may be credited with a commission. According to some embodiments, in addition to or instead of lending the application, the lending user may lend or sell a status/stake in the application to the borrowing user. For example, if the application is a game, the status/stake may unlock certain levels or features of the game. |
| US08577736B2 |
System and method for the analysis of pricing data including dealer costs for vehicles and other commodities
The sale of a vehicle may involve many cost and profit components. It is generally impossible for a potential buyer to know all of these components. For example, dealers may be paid by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on their Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) and volume bonus. Embodiments disclosed herein may determine and present to a user an accurate estimate of dealer cost, taking into consideration an aggregate of dealer cost components. For each component, a predictive model may be built to determine an expected value at a particular level. An average of the expected value of the component is then calculated for the most recent month. From that, an average bonus payout per vehicle for the most recent month may be determined. A base dealer cost is adjusted to account for these payouts to produce an accurate estimate of actual dealer cost. |
| US08577734B2 |
Method and medium for facilitate mobile shopping
A system is provided in which a handheld computing device may be used to provide a user with shopping assistance services. A shopping assistance service may allow a user to obtain directory information for a shopping mall. A user may use the handheld computing device to handle shopping lists. The handheld computing device may display promotional material based on the shopping lists. The handheld computing device may be used to obtain information on products being sold in a store. Products may be purchased using wireless financial transactions. Reminders and other messages may be sent to the handheld computing device. The location of the handheld computing device may be monitored. Services may be provided to the user based on the location of the handheld computing device. The handheld computing device may communicate with communications equipment in retail establishments using a local wireless link. |
| US08577733B2 |
Method and system for dynamic order fulfillment
A system and method to enable dynamic partner selection and subsequent order fulfillment by a service provider is presented. The system and method has an order entry device for obtaining an order, a service specification corresponding to the order, a flow execution engine, a partner selector mechanism, at least one partner, and at least one component obtained from the service specification, the component being broadcast from the partner selector mechanism to the partner, who responds to the broadcast, such that all of the partner responses are optimized by the partner selector mechanism for execution by said flow execution engine to fulfill the order. |
| US08577732B1 |
Method and system for providing custom background-downloads
A method and system of providing custom background-downloads, where content is selected for background downloading to a subscriber based on an analysis of the current time, the subscriber's current location, and online transaction history records regarding a plurality of subscribers over time, each record indicating content that was a subject of the transaction. A custom content server may determine the subscriber's current location and the current time, and the server may then select transaction history records reflecting transactions that occurred in the past at a similar location and time (possibly just records for transactions involving the subscriber currently at issue). The server may then select one or more pieces of available content based on their similarity to the content indicated by the selected transaction records. And the server may background-download the selected content to the subscriber. The invention can be used to provide custom-channel definitions or custom content-catalogs, for instance. |
| US08577731B1 |
Method of transaction processing to support proxy financial card
A method of completing a financial transaction after a point-of-sale terminal initiates a payment request and sends financial transaction information includes receiving financial transaction information from a point-of-sale terminal, the financial transaction information being associated with a transaction and identifying an individual that initiated the transaction. The method further includes accessing a database to determine a rule set associated with the individual, applying the rule set to the financial transaction information, and selecting a financial issuer based on the applied rule set. |
| US08577727B1 |
Advance order system
A system includes a master device and a slave device. The slave device is configured to provide a customer waiting to be seated at a restaurant with menu information for the restaurant, receive at least one of a drink order or a food order from the customer while the customer is waiting to be seated at the restaurant, and transmit the at least one of a drink order or a food order. The master device is configured to receive the at least one of a drink order or a food order from the slave device, and cause the at least one of a drink order or a food order to be forwarded to a kitchen of the restaurant based on at least one of a position of the customer on a waiting list or an estimated amount of time until the customer will be seated. |
| US08577726B1 |
Calculating bid amounts based on category-specific advertising expense factors and conversion information
A calculate bid system calculates bid amounts based on category-specific conversion information and category-specific advertising expense factors. The calculate bid system collects conversion information for keywords used in advertisements for categories of items purchased during converting sessions. The calculate bid system uses collected category-specific conversion information along with category-specific advertising expense factors to calculate a bid amount for a keyword. The calculate bid system may calculate a bid amount by generating a product for each category of the financial benefit for the category multiplied by the advertising expense factor for that category. The calculate bid system may then aggregate the products and normalize the aggregated product by dividing by a collected number of conversions. The calculate bid system may then multiply the normalized aggregated product by a forecast conversion rate to give the bid amount. |
| US08577720B2 |
Display of travel options with frequent travel award credit
Techniques, for automatically determining frequent traveler award redemptions by rule are disclosed. The frequent travel award redemption program is encoded in rules using predefined data structures based on fare by rule data structures. The techniques automatically determine a travel itinerary based on a query and the rules. Also included is a graphical user interface that displays a plurality of possible travel options for redemption using a frequent travel award. The rules include fields to determine co-pay options and for calculating mileage purchase options. |
| US08577718B2 |
Methods and systems for identifying, quantifying, analyzing, and optimizing the level of engagement of components within a defined ecosystem or context
A method and system for optimizing the level of engagement of components within a defined ecosystem or context includes defining an initial ecosystem or context ‘A’ in structural, functional, operational, and conceptual terms. One or more components are identified in the defined ecosystem or context ‘A’. It is determined whether all identified components account for all of the structural, functional, operational, and conceptual terms of the initial ecosystem or context ‘A’. If so, levels of disengagement and engagement are quantified for each of the identified components. For each of the identified components, one or more gaps are measured between a current component engagement level and a potential component engagement level. A report associated with the one or more identified components and the one or more measured gaps is produced and output. The report includes an organizational structure of the one or more components within a new ecosystem or context ‘B’. |
| US08577717B2 |
Method and system for predicting shrinkable yield for business assessment of integrated circuit design shrink
A method and a system for predicting shrinkable yield for business assessment of integrated circuit design shrink are provided. An assessment system is provided to determine cost benefits of a design shrink of an integrated circuit chip. A cost benefit analysis across different design shrink technologies is provided early in the process, so that business decisions regarding employment of design shrinks can be made as early as possible. |
| US08577715B2 |
Pushed ringtones based on device-side content
A ringtone service distributes selected ringtones to respective communication devices in a communication network. A particular ringtone for a respective communication device is selected is in accordance with at least one recommendation operation and ringtone selector data. The selector data is generated from user data associated with the particular communication device from which to make implicit observations of user behavior for predicting how a user will like a particular ringtone. A media purchase link, provided with the ringtone, assists with the purchase of an associated media file from a media purchase service. A ringtone may comprise a sample from a source (e.g. an audio or video recording) and the associated medial file may comprise a copy of the source. |
| US08577709B2 |
Workflow system, information processor, and method and program for workflow management
A workflow system is provided in which one person in charge efficiently processes each activity assigned to successive nodes. When a client request management program execution unit 330 of a workflow server 30 receives a request to terminate processing for a node from a user's computer terminal for operation 20, a definition for the node is referred to by a project management program execution unit 310. If processing of a process management program execution unit 320 is completed within a consecutive processing standby time t1 defined for the node, and it is determined that a next node can be processed by the user, a client request management program execution unit 330 requests a computer terminal for operation 20 to start processing of a next node. |
| US08577707B2 |
Methods and apparatus for overlaying electronic locate information on facilities map information and/or other image information displayed on a locate device
A digital image (e.g., a facility map, an aerial/satellite image, an engineering drawing) is displayed on a display device of a locate receiver used to detect a presence or absence of an underground facility. Image data used to generate the image is selected based on information obtained from a ticket associated with a locate operation for which the locate receiver is used, and geographic information indicative of a location of the locate receiver. Based on a strength of a magnetic field received by an RF antenna of the locate receiver, one or more electronic markings representing a detected presence of the underground facility are overlaid on the displayed digital image. |
| US08577703B2 |
System and method for categorizing driving behavior using driver mentoring and/or monitoring equipment to determine an underwriting risk
System and method for monitoring and mentoring driver behavior and vehicle operation and for categorizing or grading a driver's performance. The driver's classification or grade is used to determine or adjust insurance rates, premiums or coverages for the driver. The driver may receive discounted insurance rates for using monitoring and/or mentoring equipment in the vehicle. Insurance companies may use the driver classifications or grades to bid for coverage of groups of drivers having similar classifications or grades. |
| US08577695B2 |
Adjudicating and reimbursing care providers
A method for adjudicating and reimbursing a care provider for services provided for a clinical event is provided. The method includes referencing a transaction including a number of clinical event details electronically documented by a care provider at a point of care for a clinical event for which reimbursement is sought. A first knowledge base comprising a number of quality criterion for assessing quality of health care provided to patients is accessed. Quality criterion are selected based on the clinical event details, and an analysis of the clinical event details against the selected quality criterion is performed to determine the quality of health care provided to a patient. A level of reimbursement is determined based on the quality of health care provided to the patient using electronic health record data elements associated with the patient and using corresponding clinical event details electronically documented by the care provider at the point of care for the clinical event for which reimbursement is sought. The provider is reimbursed in real-time. |
| US08577694B2 |
System and method for healthcare advisory system
A system includes a Healthcare Advisory System (HAS) module and a server. The HAS module may send user location information to the server. Based on user information and environment information stored on the server, an alert may be generated and sent to a user via the HAS module. |
| US08577693B2 |
Specialty stents with flow control features or the like
Methods and systems are described for obtaining a parameter relating to a stent inventory shortage and for specializing one or more stents in response to obtaining the parameter relating to the stent inventory shortage. |
| US08577692B2 |
User interface improvements for medical devices
A method and apparatus is disclosed for operating a medical device with a screen having an improved graphical user interface, which selectively reallocates screen display for both single and multi-channel pumps. Channel indicators associate operation information with a specific delivery channel. Patient or drug order verification is facilitated with a rendering of the patient or the entire drug order/label on the screen. Decimal numbers are presented in vertically offset decimal format. A dual function button cancels the current operation and, after a delay, clears entered parameters. An area sensitive scrollbar cycles through information at various speeds. Screen brightness is adjusted based on an ambient light detector. A screen saver mode activates based on several operating conditions. The screen is incorporated in a removable user interface. |
| US08577689B1 |
Jewelry registration, verification and recovery system and method
A jewelry registration, verification and recovery system is disclosed, which includes a coding system that summarizes the physical characteristics of any piece of jewelry. The code includes various positions, with each position corresponding to a physical characteristic, such as the type of jewelry, the weight, the color of the metal, and so forth. Each position (or category) has a predetermined number of alphanumeric digits (or values) in the code, such as one, two, and so forth. A database is established to house the codes and locations of as many pieces of jewelry as possible, with nationwide, or even worldwide entries. In the event of a loss or theft of a particular piece of jewelry, the code (and optionally the location) of the lost piece is supplied to the database, which returns each database entry having the same code as the lost piece, along with its location and an indication if it has been reported stolen or missing, optionally within a particular time window. In this manner, a pawn shop may easily and quickly verify that a particular jewelry item brought in for sale is not stolen, prior to purchasing it. |
| US08577688B2 |
Alliance business relationship management method and tool
An alliance business relationship is managed by receiving a request for a relationship from a firm. An alliance taxonomy stored in a database is used to determine whether the request is an alliance. An opportunity in the request is identified and quantified. The alliance is formed, executed, and subsequently terminated. Thereafter, the alliance is again evaluated against the criteria in the taxonomy to determine whether another relationship type applies. |
| US08577687B2 |
Hierarchical coding of digital audio signals
The invention relates to a method for scalar quantization-based coding of the samples of a digital audio signal (S), the samples being coded over a pre-determined number of bits in order to obtain a binary frame of quantization indices (IPCM), the coding being carried out according to an amplitude compression law, where a pre-determined number of least significant bits are not taken into account in the binary frame of quantization indices. The coding method comprises the steps for storing (27) at least a part of the least significant bits that are not taken into account in the quantization index binary frame and for determination (28) of an enhancement bit stream (IEXT) comprising at least one bit thus stored.The invention also relates to an associated decoding method which comprises the steps for receiving (29) an enhancement bit stream (I′EXT) comprising one or more extension bits and for concatenation (30) of the extension bits behind the bits coming from the binary frame in order to obtain a decoded audio signal.The invention also relates to the coder and decoder implementing these methods. |
| US08577686B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding an audio signal
Method and apparatus for processing audio signals are provided. The method for decoding an audio signal includes extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal and generating a pseudo-surround signal using the downmix signal and the spatial information. The apparatus for decoding an audio signal includes a demultiplexing part extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal and a pseudo-surround decoding part generating a pseudo-surround signal from the downmix signal, using the spatial information. |
| US08577685B2 |
System and method for targeted advertising
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for targeted advertising, the method including receiving an audio stream containing user speech from a first device, generating text based on the speech contained in the audio stream, identifying at least one key phrase in the text, receiving from an advertiser an advertisement related to the identified at least one key phrase, and displaying the advertisement. In one aspect, the method further includes receiving from an advertiser a set of rules associated with the received advertisement and displaying the advertisement in accordance with the associated set of rules. The first device can be a converged voice and data communications device connected to a network. The communications device can generate text based on the speech. In one aspect, the method displays the advertisement on one or both of a converged voice and data communications device and a second communications device. A central server can generate text based on the speech. At least one key phrase in the text can be identified based on a confidence score threshold. In another aspect, the method further includes receiving multiple audio streams containing speech from a same user and generating text based on the speech contained in the multiple audio streams. The advertisement can be displayed after the audio stream terminates. |
| US08577683B2 |
Multipurpose media players
Disclosed are Multipurpose Media Players that enable users to create transcriptions, closed captions, and/or logs of digitized recordings, that enable the presentation of transcripts, closed captions, logs, and digitized recordings in a correlated manner to users, that enable users to compose one or more scenes of a production, and that enable users to compose storyboards for a production. The multipurpose media players can be embodied within Internet browser environments; thereby providing high availability of the multipurpose players across software platforms, networks, and physical locations. |
| US08577679B2 |
Symbol insertion apparatus and symbol insertion method
Enables symbol insertion evaluation in consideration of a difference in speaking style features between speakers. For a word sequence transcribing voice information, the symbol insertion likelihood calculation means 113 obtains a symbol insertion likelihood for each of a plurality of symbol insertion models supplied for different speaking style features. The speaking style feature similarity calculation means 112 obtains a similarity between the speaking style feature of the word sequence and the plurality of speaking style feature models. The symbol insertion evaluation means 114 weights the symbol insertion likelihood obtained for the word sequence by each of the plurality of symbol insertion models according to the similarity between the speaking style feature of the word sequence and the plurality of speaking style feature models and the relevance between the symbol insertion model and the speaking style feature model, and performs symbol insertion evaluation to the word sequence. |
| US08577678B2 |
Speech recognition system and speech recognizing method
A speech recognition system according to the present invention includes a sound source separating section which separates mixed speeches from multiple sound sources from one another; a mask generating section which generates a soft mask which can take continuous values between 0 and 1 for each frequency spectral component of a separated speech signal using distributions of speech signal and noise against separation reliability of the separated speech signal; and a speech recognizing section which recognizes speeches separated by the sound source separating section using soft masks generated by the mask generating section. |
| US08577672B2 |
Audible errors detection and prevention for speech decoding, audible errors concealing
A method and apparatus of providing an audio output to a user in a communications system in which the audio to be output to a user, preferably an audio frame, is assessed before it is broadcast to the user, and then selectively changed on the basis of the assessment. The assessment may be carried out in the audio encoding process, in the audio decoding process and/or after the audio decoding process. The selective changing of the audio output may comprise selectively replacing the audio output and/or re-encoding of the audio output. |
| US08577670B2 |
Adaptive construction of a statistical language model
A statistical language model (SLM) may be iteratively refined by considering N-gram counts in new data, and blending the information contained in the new data with the existing SLM. A first group of documents is evaluated to determine the probabilities associated with the different N-grams observed in the documents. An SLM is constructed based on these probabilities. A second group of documents is then evaluated to determine the probabilities associated with each N-gram in that second group. The existing SLM is then evaluated to determine how well it explains the probabilities in the second group of documents, and a weighting parameter is calculated from that evaluation. Using the weighting parameter, a new SLM is then constructed as a weighted average of the existing SLM and the new probabilities. |
| US08577666B2 |
Clock synchronization in a modular circuit emulation system
A modular circuit emulation system includes a global clock generator that generates a plurality of clock signals. A plurality of emulation boards each include at least one programmable circuit and a clock buffer. The clock buffer generates at least one synchronized clock signal for clocking the programmable circuit or circuits, based on at least one of the plurality of global clock signals. |
| US08577664B2 |
Symbolic switch/linear circuit simulator systems and methods
Interactive and real time web-based electrical circuit symbolic solvers and simulators. The invention includes an interactive and innovative graphical user interface (GUI) for creating circuit schematics and generating netlists, circuits symbolic solving and instant simulated solutions, their systems and methods. Users such as students can use GUI interfaces to remotely access a remote server controlled by educational institutions such as universities, or electronic book publishers, in order to draw, symbolically solve, and instantly simulate electrical circuits. |
| US08577662B2 |
Method of determining the particle sensitivity of electronic components
To analyze an electronic component, this component is exposed to a focused laser beam. The information provided by the laser mapping relating to the position and to the depth of the sensitivity zones of the component is used as input parameter in prediction codes for quantifying the sensitivity of the mapped component to ionizing particles in the natural radioactive environment. The prediction codes are used to determine the occurrence of malfunctions in the electronic component. Determination of the risks associated with the radiative environment imposes two aspects: one, probabilistic, takes into account the particle/matter interaction and the other, electrical, takes into account the charge collection inside the electronic component. |
| US08577661B2 |
Systems and methods for alarm filtering and management within a real-time data acquisition and monitoring environment
A system for filtering and interpreting real-time sensory data from an electrical system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component acquires real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine, and a decision engine. The virtual system modeling engine generates predicted data output for the electrical system. The analytics engine monitors real-time data output and predicted data output of the electrical system. The decision engine compares the real-time data output against the predicted data output to filter out and interpret indicia of electrical system health and performance. The client terminal is communicatively connected to the power analytics server and configured to display the filtered and interpreted indicia. |
| US08577660B2 |
Three-dimensional mechanical earth modeling
A technique includes receiving a first dataset that is indicative of seismic data acquired in a seismic survey of a field of wells and receiving a second dataset that is indicative of wellbore data acquired in a wellbore survey conducted in at least one of the wells. The technique includes determining a mechanical earth model for the field based at least in part on the seismic data and the wellbore data. |
| US08577657B2 |
Methods for estimating the effect of variations of design variables on the weight of an aircraft component
A method of designing an aircraft component formed by a number of elements that includes a phase to estimate the effect of a variation of a design variable on the component weight which method includes the following steps: a) providing the main primary structure basic data of the aircraft component and the Reserve Factors associated to its design criteria; b) obtaining a breakdown of the component weight by such design criteria using a fictitious weight calculated taking into account the relative importance of their critical design criteria; c) obtaining the weight effect of a design variable variation, recalculating firstly the new Reserve Factors using suitable functions for the variation of the Reserve Factors vs. the variation of the design variable and, secondly, recalculating the component weight using suitable functions for the variation of the element dimensions vs. the variation of the Reserve Factors. |
| US08577656B1 |
Methods and systems for numerically simulating inflation of an airbag configured with a plurality of connected flexible-boundary volumes
Systems and methods for numerically simulating inflation of an airbag configured with more than one connected flexible-boundary volumes (i.e., primary and secondary pouches) are disclosed. A finite element analysis model of such airbag is defined in the airbag's folded configuration. Numerical simulation of inflating the primary pouch is based on corpuscular particle theory by interacting simulated corpuscular or gas particles with one another and with the shell elements representing the primary pouch. The simulated corpuscular particles are created by flow characteristics generated by an explosive blast. Numerical simulation of inflating the secondary pouch is based on control volume theory by converting kinetic energy of those of the simulated corpuscular particles having flowed through the interconnected opening from the primary to the secondary pouch to a uniform pressure. The uniform pressure is then applied onto the shell elements representing the secondary pouch. |
| US08577654B2 |
Bi-directional projection
In an embodiment, one or more computer-readable media holding executable instructions is provided. The instructions may be executed on a processing device to project a specification to a platform environment that includes a system model. The media may hold one or more instructions for accessing an algorithm model, the algorithm model being associated with the specification. The media may further hold one or more instructions for projecting the specification to the system model via a forward projection. The media may hold one or more instructions for receiving a reverse projection that includes specification changes, the specification changes identifying suggested changes to the specification. The media may further hold one or more instructions for modifying the algorithm model based on the specification changes, and the media may hold one or more instructions for storing the modified algorithm model. |
| US08577652B2 |
Spreadsheet-based graphical user interface for dynamic system modeling and simulation
A method, computer-readable storage medium, and computer system for modeling a dynamic system comprising a plurality of components are disclosed. A computing device is used to provide a spreadsheet environment and a plurality of shape objects within the spreadsheet environment. The shape objects represent the physical components of the dynamic system. At least one shape object has a behavioral characteristic that is associated with a physical component of the dynamic system. A connector in the spreadsheet environment is used to specify a connection between at least two of the shape objects. The connection represents a relationship between the physical components represented by the connected shape objects. |
| US08577650B2 |
User interface for modeling thermal comfort
Predicting thermal strain and providing a visual representation of the predicted thermal strain on a subject. A computerized model combines subject data, fabric data, and environmental conditions to simulate the thermal comfort of the subject wearing a plurality of fabric layers over time. The visual representation indicates the simulated thermal comfort on an image of the subject with the plurality of fabric layers. A user interface enables a user to modify or define the input data to compare the predicted thermal comfort of the subject wearing different garments under the same working conditions. |
| US08577648B1 |
Simulating fluid flow at a moving boundary
A method of simulating fluid flow in a three-dimensional volume with a moving boundary is presented. The moving boundary is provided within a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) mesh. The CFD mesh includes mesh points defining three-dimensional mesh cells. Locations of the mesh points at the moving boundary are revised predicated on known motion characteristics thereof such that the CFD mesh undergoes distortion near the moving boundary. The distortion is minimized using an elastic deformation model that does not involve dimensional physical parameters. As a result, a revised CFD mesh is generated. A fluid flow simulation is then computed for the three-dimensional volume using the revised CFD mesh. |
| US08577642B2 |
Wireless transmission of temperature data for a geographic area
A user obtains an individual's body temperature data and transmits the data to a medical monitor (e.g., a medical device) for display. Additional data includes a timestamp and location of the body temperature data. Once the data is transmitted, a user may view the medical monitor for a temperature reading. For example, a doctor may take a patient's temperature and the temperature reading is displayed on a medical monitor. The body temperature data of each patient is detected using a preferred temperature detector, such as a temporal artery thermometer using an arterial heat balance approach. After collecting an individual's body temperature data, the body temperature data can be transferred to a processor. By sending body temperature data for many individuals for a geographic region, the processor can identify a pattern (e.g., a pandemic) in the body temperature data. |
| US08577640B2 |
Magnetometer bias and anomaly detector
The computer implemented method, system or computer program product comprises collecting magnetometer data from the device; and calculating a center of a shape of the magnetometer data as a result of minimization. The minimization of calculating the center of the shape further comprises calculating a plurality of running sums of the magnetometer data; storing the plurality of running sums; storing a count of the number of terms in each of the running sums; and calculating the center of the shape and setting the estimated magnetometer bias to the center of the shape. The radius of the sphere is calculated to ensure accuracy in the estimator of the magnetometer bias. |
| US08577639B2 |
Method and apparatus for accurately calibrating a spectrometer
A calibration assembly for a spectrometer is provided. The assembly includes a spectrometer having n detector elements, where each detector element is assigned a predetermined wavelength value. A first source emitting first radiation is used to calibrate the spectrometer. A device is placed in the path of the first radiation to split the first radiation into a first beam and a second beam. The assembly is configured so that one of the first and second beams travels a path-difference distance longer than the other of the first and second beams. An output signal is generated by the spectrometer when the first and second beams enter the spectrometer. The assembly includes a controller operable for processing the output signal and adapted to calculate correction factors for the respective predetermined wavelength values assigned to each detector element. |
| US08577637B2 |
System and method of magnetic compass calibration
A system and method of determining a magnetic field and magnetic compass calibration is disclosed. One embodiment is a method of determining a magnetic field vector, the method comprising storing, for each of a plurality of sensor orientations, one or more calibration components, determining, for a sensor orientation not included in the plurality of sensor orientations, a magnetic field vector and a gravity vector, iteratively estimating one or more calibration coefficients based on the stored components, the determined magnetic field vector, and the determined gravity vector, wherein the calibration coefficients are updated during each of a plurality of iterations, and determining a sensor-orientation-independent magnetic field vector based on at least one of the calibration coefficients. |
| US08577635B2 |
Calibrating method and system, recording medium for this method
A method for calibrating coefficients of an observer of a variable state of a physical system from measurements of physical quantities of the system, at different instants includes measuring a variable of the physical system at several instants, the variable being a function of a system state variable, and determining a vector of coefficients that minimizes a sum of the number of measurements of a square of a norm of a vector that is the difference between the measured variable and a function of the system state variable and the vector of coefficients. The minimization is subject to a constraint that the trajectory of the measured variable be within a corridor of uncertainty on either side of a trajectory of its estimate, at least for the measurement instants. |
| US08577634B2 |
Systems and methods for synchronizing sensor data
A magnetic field sensor including a bidirectional node is configured to perform at least one of generating sensor data, storing sensor data, or communicating sensor data in a serial data signal in response to a trigger signal received at the bidirectional node. An alternative sensor having a node that may or may not be a bidirectional node is configured to reset at least one of a sensor data signal, a clock, a register, or a counter in response to a trigger signal received at the node and is further configured to communicate the sensor data signal in response to the trigger signal. |
| US08577632B2 |
System and method for identification of complex permittivity of transmission line dielectric
A system and method for identification of complex permittivity associated with a transmission line dielectric is proposed. A network analyzer measures scattering parameters over a specified frequency band for at least two line segments of different length and substantially identical cross-section filled with a dielectric. A first engine determines non-reflective (generalized) modal scattering parameters of the difference segment based on the measured scattering parameters of two line segments. A second engine computes generalized modal scattering parameters of the line difference segment by solving Maxwell's equations for geometry of the line cross-section with a given frequency-dependent complex permittivity dielectric model. A third engine performs optimization by changing dielectric model parameters and model type until the computed and measured generalized modal scattering parameters match. The model that produces generalized modal S-parameters closest to the measured is the final dielectric model. |
| US08577631B2 |
Method and apparatus for discrimination of sources in stray voltage detection
A method and apparatus for discriminating between electric field sources. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a mobile detection system comprising a sensor probe for remotely measuring an electric field generated by an electric field source in a patrolled area; and a processor, coupled to the sensor probe, for processing data received from the sensor probe to generate a first field strength and at least a second field strength for determining whether the electric field source is potentially hazardous. |
| US08577628B2 |
System and method for modal identification using smart mobile sensors
Systems and methods for determining spatially dense dynamic properties of a structure are disclosed. In particular, spatially dense mode shapes are determined using acceleration records collected when one or several sensors are moving. The mobile sensor gathers vibration response data for the structure as the mobile sensor moves over the structure. The vibration response data is used to extract a fine grid of modal coordinates with a reduced number of sensors and without requiring mode shape expansion. The high spatially dense mode shapes can be included as part of accurate numerical models for the structure that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as damage detection, earthquake engineering, wind engineering, and other suitable purposes. |
| US08577627B1 |
Cable tensioning cycling system
A hydraulic operated system for testing cable under variable tensions and speeds with a lower input horsepower requirement. The system can include storage reels in series with multiple moveable sheaves. A moveable tensioning moveable sheave can be in series with the multiple moveable sheaves for receiving cable and for measuring load and speed of the cable using sensors. The system can include clutches and a clutch controller. The measured load and speed can be transmitted to a processor which can perform calculations and comparisons thereon, and can transmit related notifications to client devices through a network. |
| US08577623B2 |
Anti-terrorism water quality monitoring system
An Anti-Terrorism water quality monitoring system for continuously monitoring a potable water treatment system and related potable water distribution network that provides potable water to a municipality, city, housing development or other potable water consumer. The system includes the collection of data from the water distribution system and from the water treatment facility and from advanced separation processes which are integrated into analytical instruments. The data collected are stored in a remote database on a remote server computer or bank of computers and accessible by Homeland Security or its designated agency. Preferred parameters of monitoring include the turbidity and disinfectant such as chlorine, hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochloritc, ozone, chlorine dioxide, chloramines, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid. |
| US08577621B2 |
Biopolymer array reading
A method for processing biopolymer arrays and apparatus and computer program products for executing the method. The method may include reading a different array identifier for each biopolymer array from a tag associated with that array. At least some of the biopolymer arrays are read and results from each read array saved in a memory linked with the read identifier for that array. Different communication addresses and a selection of an array identifier for each, are received. For at least some of the arrays, the saved results for each are matched with one of the different communication addresses using the identifier, and the saved results transmitted for those arrays to the matched different communication addresses. A method of processing data from the reading of biopolymer arrays is also provided. |
| US08577617B2 |
Metabolic phenotyping
A method of generating models with which to characterize selected aspects of the metabolic phenotype of subjects without dosing a test substance to those subjects or with which to predict, without dosing, the post-dose responses of subjects where those responses are dependent on metabolic phenotype, the method comprising: obtaining pre-dose data relating to a plurality of subjects before dosing with a dosing substance; obtaining post-dose data relating to the plurality of subjects after dosing with the dosing substance; and correlating inter-subject variation in the pre-dose data with inter-subject variation in the post-dose data, and generating a pre-to-post-dose predictive model on the basis of the observed correlation. The models may be used to determine selected aspects of the metabolic phenotype of a subject or to predict, without dosing, the post-dose responses of subjects. This is achieved by analysing data relating to the un-dosed subject in relation to a model describing the correlation of pre-dose and post-dose data relating to a plurality of subjects when dosed with a particular substance which challenges the biochemical transformation or pathway of interest; and generating, according to the predetermined criteria of the model, a numerical measure or classification describing the metabolic phenotype of the un-dosed subject. |
| US08577616B2 |
System and method for plant identification
Methods of compiling a database of images of plant species and the use of the database to identify unknown plant species are described. Images of the apical complexes of the plant are obtained and stored in a database to allow a comparison of the apical complexes with unknown plant species. The invention provides a facile method for the identification of unknown or unidentified plant species. |
| US08577614B2 |
Information characterization system and methods
The present disclosure provides a method of normalizing characterization information comprising: defining a plurality of characteristics, for each characteristic defining a set of allowed values and defining a logging interval. The method further comprises: at a plurality of logging intervals, selecting a value from the set of allowed values for a characteristic of the plurality of characteristics, and storing the selected value for the characteristics at the plurality of logging intervals. The present disclosure also provides a system for correlating log information comprising: a core set log data module for storing core set log data information, an electrical log data module for storing electrical log data information, a correlation module for correlating the core set log data information with the electrical log data information, and an input/output module for inputting and displaying the core set log data information the electrical log data information. |
| US08577612B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for bounding accuracy on a forecast of photovoltaic fleet power generation
A computer-implemented system and method for bounding accuracy on a forecast of photovoltaic fleet power generation is provided. Measured irradiance observations for a plurality of locations are retrieved. The measured observations include a time series recorded at successive time periods. Forecast irradiance observations are retrieved. Error between the forecast and the measured observations is identified. A mean and standard deviation of the error is determined and combined into a fleet mean and fleet standard deviation. Sky clearness indexes are generated as a ratio of each measured observation and clear sky irradiance. A time series of the sky clearness indexes is formed. Fleet irradiance statistics are determined through statistical evaluation of the sky clearness indexes time series. A time series of power statistics is generated as a function of the fleet irradiance statistics and photovoltaic fleet power rating. A statistical confidence is associated with each power statistic in the time series. |
| US08577610B2 |
Navigation system with point of interest harvesting mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: generating an extraction job including a crawl task based on a location of a point of interest and a web form type of a website for harvesting the point of interest from the website; receiving a heartbeat from a distributed cache for determining when a client device is available to execute the extraction job; generating an assignment schedule of the extraction job based on the heartbeat for distributing the extraction job to the client device to retrieve a location-based field; and receiving the location-based field associated with the point of interest for displaying on a monitor device. |
| US08577602B2 |
Method and device for presenting information associated to geographical data
The invention relates to a method for presenting points of interest (POIs) via a graphical user interface (GUI) on an apparatus. Generally, data is received via a global positioning system (GPS) and map data is received via a communications network. Next, a reference location is determined, and based on the reference location a search area is determined. Next, POIs are found within said search area, wherein said reference location is comprised within said search area, and then said POIs are organized in a multilevel hierarchy tree. Finally, the found POIs are presented on the GUI. |
| US08577600B1 |
Navigation systems and vehicles for providing traffic information pertaining to pre-defined locations of interest
Navigation systems and vehicles for providing traffic information pertaining to pre-defined locations of interest are provided. A navigation system or a vehicle may present a traffic location input control on a display of the navigation system or vehicle, detect a tactile input indicative of a selection of a traffic location icon shown on the display, and automatically provide traffic information pertaining to a location of interest associated with the selected traffic location icon. A navigation system or a vehicle may determine a route between a current position and the farther of a first pre-defined location of interest and a second pre-defined location of interest, provide traffic information pertaining to the determined route, and deactivate turn-by-turn navigation. |
| US08577593B2 |
Navigation system for hearing-impaired operators
A method for producing navigation instructions is disclosed. The method includes generating a navigation route. The generated navigation route is translated from textual instructions and/or audio prompts to sign language symbols, and the sign language symbols are provided to a vehicle. |
| US08577592B2 |
Vehicle collision warning system and method of operating the same
A vehicle collision warning system and method may be used to detect a potential or impending collision with another vehicle and to send a corresponding warning to the driver. In an exemplary embodiment, the collision warning system uses one or more target vehicle readings (e.g., a relative velocity reading (Δv), a target vehicle acceleration reading (aTAR), and a relative distance reading or range (Δd)) to solve a unified collision warning algorithm. If the unified collision warning algorithm determines that there is a potential collision with the target vehicle, then the system sends a corresponding warning to the driver. |
| US08577589B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing location information-based scheduling service of portable terminal
A method and apparatus for providing a location information-based scheduling service is disclosed. The method includes determining a meeting point or appointed place based on location information associated with a plurality of portable terminals. The method includes suggesting various routes and means to travel to the appointed place; and providing data content to a user of a first portable terminal until one or more users associated with the other portable terminals arrive at the appointed place. The appointed place can be determined based on a distance between all the portable terminals and/or their respective movement times. Users can share their expected arrival times and information regarding their current locations while traveling towards the appointed place. If a portable terminal user requests a content while waiting for other users to arrive, the surplus time can be calculated and available contents can be provided within the surplus time. |
| US08577584B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
A method for operating an internal combustion engine, in which a setpoint torque to be output by the internal combustion engine is restricted to a specifiable torque, in particular in response to an error in the control of the internal combustion engine. An engine speed of the internal combustion engine is determined as a function of at least one performance quantity of the internal combustion engine, and the specifiable torque is modified as a function of the determined engine speed. |
| US08577571B2 |
Clutch pressure control device
A clutch pressure control device includes a request filter unit that calculates a target clutch pressure value from a requested clutch pressure value input in the request filter unit. A feedforward clutch pressure control model unit calculates, from the target clutch pressure value input by the request filter unit, a feedforward current value. A PID control unit calculates a feedback current value from a valve pressure target value for a hydraulic proportional valve controlling the clutch pressure and a feedback actual pressure value. A first calculation unit calculates a hydraulic proportional valve target current value from the input feedforward current value and the feedback current value. The device utilizes measurement methods to find values for a kisspoint pressure of the clutch, a preload pressure of the clutch, and a fill volume of the clutch. |
| US08577568B2 |
Supervisory thermal management system and method for engine system warm up and regeneration
This disclosure provides a thermal management system and method that can recommend operational behavior to an operator of an engine system to optimize fuel economy over a period of time in which a components of the engine system is in a warm up and/or regeneration state. In one representative embodiment, the expected temperature change of the engine component at a later time is determined based on inefficient operation of the engine, such as a transmission down shift resulting in higher engine speed and lower engine torque, and the expected temperature change of the engine component resulting from operating the engine under current conditions or expected conditions at that later time is determined. A determination is made as to whether the inefficient engine operation is the optimal operation in view of fuel economy and a recommendation is generated for the operator based if optimal operation is determined. |
| US08577565B2 |
Limiting branch pressure to a solenoid valve in a fluid circuit
A vehicle includes a clutch, pump, pressure control variable force solenoid (PVFS) valve in a branch supplying oil from the pump to the clutch through a flow control VFS (QVFS), and a controller. The controller calculates an area of a variable orifice of the QVFS valve at the start of a clutch shift, records the area as a maximum area, and calculates a maximum branch pressure as a function of the area. The controller limits pressure in the branch during the shift event to the calculated maximum branch pressure. The transmission may be a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with the clutch being a DCT input clutch. A control system includes a host machine, temperature and pressure sensors, a computer-readable medium with instructions for limiting branch pressure as a function of the maximum area noted above and using sensor values from the sensors. A method of limiting branch pressure is also disclosed. |
| US08577564B2 |
System and method for controlling movement along a three dimensional path
A system for automated movement of a reference point along a three dimensional path stores a three dimensional path including a plurality of spaced apart points. A velocity vector of the reference point and a look ahead vector extending from the reference point define a plane of travel. A directional vector of the reference point is determined along the plane of travel, and a command vector directs movement of the reference point at least in part based upon the directional vector. The velocity vector and the look ahead vector may be used to determine the directional vector. A method is also provided. |
| US08577560B2 |
Controller of hybrid construction machine
An efficient use of discharged energy of a boom cylinder is provided. A control unit has a function of receiving an output signal from a sensor provided in a boom operated valve and determining a manipulated direction and a manipulated variable of the boom operated valve, and a function of, in accordance with the manipulated direction and the manipulated variable, controlling the degree of opening of a proportional solenoid valve and operating the tilt-angle control units to control the tilt angles of a sub pump and an assist motor. An output of the assist motor is used to assist in an output of the sub pump and an output of the electric motor. |
| US08577556B1 |
Electronically controlled gimbaled platform for steadying illumination sources on vehicles
The invention is an electronically controlled gimbaled platform that is installed on a vehicle. An illumination source mounted on the gimbaled platform provides a steady source of illumination in a desired direction. The desired direction of illumination is initially set and stored in a digital control unit. Subsequently, the digital control unit receives real-time measurements of instantaneous rotations experienced by the vehicle. The digital control unit uses the instantaneous vehicle rotation measurements to compute control signals that compensate for vehicle's movements. The compensatory control signals are communicated to actuators that control the orientation of the gimbaled platform in real-time. The effect of the compensatory control signals is to correct for the dynamic disturbances experienced by the vehicle and thereby provide a steady source of illumination unaffected by changes in the vehicle dynamics. Therefore, the invention facilitates in safer operation of vehicles. |
| US08577554B2 |
Navigation system activation of a vehicular directional signal
Devices, methods and systems describe a turn signal activation system. As the navigation system determines that the vehicle is approaching a turn or other operation, the turn signal may be automatically activated in the appropriate direction (e.g., right-turn signal for a right turn, and a left-turn signal for a left turn). Once the navigation system determines that it is appropriate to deactivate the turn signal, the turn signal may be automatically deactivated. In this fashion, other drivers on the road may be able to anticipate the actions of the vehicle based on the activation and deactivation of the turn signals, and thereby prevent accidents from occurring. |
| US08577553B2 |
Lateral motion control apparatus for a vehicle
A lateral motion control apparatus for a vehicle includes a control stop determination unit that determines whether or not to stop the control for the control target by the control target control unit based on a steering operation amount inputted by a driver of the vehicle, and a degeneration control amount determination unit that determines a degeneration control amount for the control target such that the control amount for the control target degenerates after the time when the control stop determination unit has determined that the control for the control target is to be stopped. When the control stop determination unit has determined that the control for the control target is to be stopped, the control target control unit controls the control target based on the degeneration control amount determined by the degeneration control amount determination unit. |
| US08577551B2 |
Steer control maneuvers for materials handling vehicles
A materials handling vehicle automatically implements steer maneuvers when objects enter an environment around the vehicle. A steer correction maneuver is automatically performed by steering the vehicle away from the detected object, wherein an angle of steer correction and/or a rate of change of the steering angle that is implemented to achieve a desired angle of steer correction is dependent upon how far from a reference coordinate associated with the vehicle the detected object is determined to be. |
| US08577550B2 |
System for vehicle control to mitigate intersection collisions and method of using the same
A control system and method to mitigate intersection crashes is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an electronic control module equipped with memory and in communication with at least one radar sensor system, at lest one environmental sensor system, at least one vehicle stability system, an operator advisory system, a brake control system, a controllable steering system, and a powertrain control system. In one embodiment, the method may include determining whether a vehicle is entering an intersection, determining whether the operator is responding correctly to the sensed conditions in the intersection, activating the controlled brakes, determining any intersection threat, determining whether any sensed threat is imminent, activating the accident mitigation adviser, reducing engine torque while in the intersection, and actuating steering and brake control systems while in the intersection. |
| US08577546B2 |
Method and device for monitoring the driving behavior of a railway vehicle
A method for monitoring the driving behavior of a railway vehicle, wherein at least one measurement variable characterizing the vibrational behavior of at least one wheel set of the railway vehicle, is captured by at least one sensor providing a corresponding measurement signal. The method includes the steps of identifying at least one significant event or a combination of multiple significant events within the time trace of the measurement signal and identifying the event time at which the significant event took place, deriving the frequency from the time trace of the measurement signal starting from the event time, comparing the derived frequency to at least one stored reference frequency, evaluating the vibrational behavior of the wheel set as a function of the deviation of the derived frequency from the at least one stored reference frequency. |
| US08577544B2 |
Method for examining a state of an electric circuit of a motor vehicle
In a method for examining a state of a circuit of a motor vehicle, a state for the circuit is requested, whereafter it is checked whether the requested state is actually set. An actual value for a quantity related to the circuit is measured by a measuring unit of the motor vehicle and is compared by a control unit of the motor vehicle with values for the quantity specified for the requested state of the circuit. In parallel, corresponding steps are initiated or performed by a control unit disposed outside the motor vehicle. A message is outputted when the control unit determines that the requested state for the circuit is set. A motor vehicle using the method is also disclosed. |
| US08577540B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting tire having decreased internal pressure, and program for detecting tire having decreased internal pressure
A method for detecting a tire having a decreased internal pressure by making a relative comparison of wheel speeds of tires. The method includes a step of detecting wheel rotation information of the respective tires of the vehicle; a step of calculating wheel speeds based on the detected wheel rotation information; a step of calculating a decreased pressure determination value; and a step of determining a tire having a decreased internal pressure. The method further comprises a step of setting a threshold value, in which the predetermined threshold value is set based on a decreased pressure sensitivity calculated from a relation between a load sensitivity and a decreased pressure sensitivity during vehicle turning with regard to tires that is calculated in advance and a load sensitivity obtained through a turning running during initialization. |
| US08577536B2 |
Electronic device and exhibition guide method for same
A method provides an exhibition guide using an electronic device. The method obtains exhibit information of a plurality of exhibits in a preselected exhibition from a remote computer, obtains location coordinates of the electronic device, calculates a distance between each exhibit and the electronic device, and determines one or more exhibits which are adjacent to the electronic device. The method further obtains an indicating direction of the electronic device, compares the indicating direction of the electronic device with a display direction of each adjacent exhibit to obtain a matched exhibit, and plays commentary of the matched exhibit on the electronic device. |
| US08577529B2 |
Control apparatus for vehicle
A control apparatus (30) estimates a status of charge (SOC) by a first estimation method by temporarily changing the SOC of a battery (B) so that the SOC of the battery (B) falls within a first region in the case a period, during which the estimated value of the status of charge of the battery (B) falls within a second region, exceeds a prescribed period. |
| US08577524B2 |
Watercraft propulsion device
A watercraft propulsion device includes an engine, a drive shaft, a propeller shaft, a rotational speed detector, and a controller. The drive shaft transmits power from the engine. The propeller shaft is rotationally driven by power transmitted from the drive shaft. The rotational speed detector detects an engine rotational speed. The controller executes a suppression control to suppress the engine rotational speed when a change rate of the engine rotational speed is equal to or larger than a prescribed value. |
| US08577523B2 |
Method for verifying the toe angle of a ship's rudders
A method of checking a toe angle of at least one port rudder (1) and at least one starboard rudder (2) of a ship, which are electronically adjusted via a control device, such that different toe angles are set for the at least one port rudder (1) and the at least one starboard rudder (2) and from which an optimal toe angle is determined, in real time, for each of the at least one port rudder (1) and the at least one starboard rudder (2). |
| US08577522B2 |
Method for monitoring at least one system parameter which influences the operating behaviour of vehicles or trains of vehicles
A method monitors at least one system parameter which influences an operating property of vehicles or trains of vehicles, using an adaptable theoretical model which generates a theoretical behavior of a vehicle or train of vehicles from operating data of the vehicle or train of vehicles. The method includes determination of a real behavior of a vehicle or train of vehicles from operating data such as acceleration and/or deceleration of the vehicle or of the train of vehicles, comparison of the real behavior of the vehicle or train of vehicles with the theoretical behavior of the vehicle or train of vehicles, and monitoring of the system parameter by the theoretical model if the theoretical behavior of the vehicle or train of vehicles corresponds to the real behavior of the vehicle or train of vehicles. |
| US08577521B2 |
On-board aeronautical system with dynamic reconfiguration, associated method and aircraft carrying such a system
The present invention relates to an on-board aeronautic system intended to be dynamically reconfigured, especially an on-board information system, and to an associated method as well as to an aircraft comprising such a system. In particular, the system comprises a plurality of heterogeneous equipment items, at least part of the said equipment items being reconfigurable, and comprises a reconfiguration management center set up to receive state messages from the said plurality of equipment items and to emit reconfiguration messages destined for the said reconfigurable equipment items as a function of at least the said received messages, the said state messages being emitted according to the same format by monitoring means encompassed in each of the said equipment items, the reconfigurable equipment items encompassing reconfiguration means capable of processing at least one of the said reconfiguration messages in order to reconfigure the said associated equipment item. |
| US08577520B1 |
Altitude control of an indoor flying toy
Altitude control of a toy flying vehicle intended for indoor hovering flight comprises providing a selected altitude level for the vehicle. A position control signal is transmitted from the vehicle towards a surface. A receiver in the vehicle receives the signal reflected from the surface. A level of the reflected signal by the receiver is determined, and a change of the reflected signal is an indicator of a change of altitude of the vehicle relative to the selected altitude level. The vehicle receiver communicates with the remote controller, and the remote controller can adjust and control speed and direction of the vehicle. |
| US08577519B1 |
Rapidly deployed modular telemetry system
The present invention is a telemetry system, and more specifically is a rapidly deployed modular telemetry apparatus which utilizes of SDR technology and the FPGA programming capability to reduce the number of hardware components and programming required to deploy a telemetry system. |
| US08577514B2 |
Ambient temperature estimation
A method for predicting an ambient temperature around a moving motor vehicle includes utilizing measured ambient temperatures and Newton's Cooling Law. A linear best fit line describing the time constant as a function of vehicle speed can be generated utilizing measured data. In use, the b values can be determined from the best fit line, and the b values can be utilized to provide a predicted or estimated ambient temperature before the measured temperatures drop to the ambient temperature. |
| US08577513B2 |
Power system, power receiving apparatus, and power transmission control method
There is provided a power system including a power transmitting apparatus and a power receiving apparatus. The power transmitting apparatus includes: a power generating unit generating power using renewable energy; a first power measuring unit measuring a power amount generated in a specified period; and a power transmitting unit transmitting the generated power in the specified period and information on the measured power amount to the power receiving apparatus. The power receiving apparatus includes: a power receiving unit receiving the power and the information on the power amount from the power transmitting apparatus; a second power measuring unit measuring a power amount received in the specified period; a determining unit comparing the received power amount and the measured power amount and determining whether such amounts match; and a power reception control unit operable when the amounts do not match, to stop reception of the power and the information. |
| US08577506B2 |
Method for conditioning a control valve
A control valve conditioning method in an electrohydraulic pressure control unit comprising at least one electrically triggered solenoid valve that is controlled in an analog manner. The solenoid valve is operated at a specific operating current according to a functional correlation or characteristic diagram between the valve current and the differential pressure characteristic curve when the pressure is controlled, said functional correlation or characteristic diagram being stored in the pressure control unit. The method comprises the following steps: a) temporarily applying at least one anti-hysteresis pulse to the solenoid valve during which a current is set far below or far above the operating current in the valve; b) applying the anti-hysteresis pulse at the desired operating current before or during controlled operation, and c) applying the anti-hysteresis pulse wherein the duration is limited in such a way that the anti-hysteresis pulse has largely no influence on the brake pressure. |
| US08577504B1 |
System for suppressing vibration in turbomachine components
Disclosed is a system for suppressing vibration and noise mitigation in structures such as blades in turbomachinery. The system includes flexible piezoelectric patches which are secured on or imbedded in turbomachinery blades which, in one embodiment, comprises eight (8) fan blades. The system further includes a capacitor plate coupler and a power transfer apparatus, which may both be arranged into one assembly, that respectively transfer data and power. Each of the capacitive plate coupler and power transfer apparatus is configured so that one part is attached to a fixed member while another part is attached to a rotatable member with an air gap therebetween. The system still further includes a processor that has 16 channels, eight of which serve as sensor channels, and the remaining eight, serving as actuation channels. The processor collects and analyzes the sensor signals and, in turn, outputs corrective signals for vibration/noise suppression of the turbine blades. |
| US08577502B2 |
Liquid processing apparatus, liquid processing method, computer program, and storage medium
A processing apparatus is provided for enhancing throughput in the manufacture of semiconductor wafers and/or liquid crystal substrates, by reducing the time required for performing a rinsing process. A position of an object to be processed is controlled, such that a distance between the surface position of a rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and a top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the surface position of a chemical liquid upon a chemical liquid process and the top end position of the object to be processed. Alternatively, the position of the object to be processed is controlled, such that the distance between the surface position of the rinsing liquid upon the rinsing process and the top end position of the object to be processed becomes shorter than a distance between the bottom face position of the rinsing liquid and a bottom end position of the object to be processed. |
| US08577500B2 |
Robot apparatus, position detecting device, position detecting program, and position detecting method
A robot apparatus includes: an image pickup device; a goal-image storing unit that stores, according to sensitivity represented by an amount of change of a pixel value at the time when a target aligned with a goal position on an image at a pixel level is displaced by a displacement amount at a sub-pixel level, goal image data in a state in which the target is arranged; and a target detecting unit that calculates a coincident evaluation value of the target on the basis of comparison of image data including the target and the goal image data stored by the goal-image storing unit and detects positional deviation of the target with respect to the goal position on the basis of the coincidence evaluation value. |
| US08577499B2 |
Method and a device for optimizing a programmed movement path for an industrial robot
A device and method for optimizing a programmed movement path for an industrial robot holding a tool to carry out work along the path during a work cycle. The movement path includes information on positions and orientations for the tool at a plurality of target points on the movement path. The method includes for at least one of the target points: receiving a tolerance interval for the orientation of the tool in the target point, determining movements of the robot between the target point and one or more of the other target points on the path for a plurality of different tool orientations within the tolerance interval, selecting one of the different tool orientations as the tool orientation for the target point based on the determined movements of the robot and with regard to minimizing cycle time, and generating a robot program based on the selected orientation of the tool at the target point. |
| US08577496B1 |
Moving objects across a surface using a vertically-adjustable low friction transfer module
An approach is provided to move an object across a surface using a grid of vertically-adjustable low friction transfer modules. A first set of transfer modules is selected from the grid, with the first set of modules being underneath the object. Back-side and front-side sets of modules are identified from the selected first set of modules, with the back-side sets being toward the back of the object opposite to the horizontal direction and the front-side sets being toward the front side of the object that faces the horizontal direction. The back-side and front-side sets are vertically adjusted so that the average of the back-side sets of vertical heights is higher than the average of the front-side sets of vertical heights. The vertical adjustment of the transfer modules causes the object to move across the tops of the transfer modules in the horizontal direction. |
| US08577493B2 |
Method and system for designing and producing dental prostheses and appliances
A virtual model of an intraoral cavity is provided, wherein this process is initialized by a dental clinic, and the design and manufacture of a suitable dental prosthesis for the intraoral cavity is shared between a dental lab and a service center. |
| US08577488B2 |
Method and system for optimizing film production and minimizing film scrap
The present invention relates to a method of optimizing self-supporting film production. The method includes the steps of: determining at least one scrap factor which relates to a total amount of scrap in processing a film product; correlating the at least one scrap factor to at least one processing parameter; and adjusting the at least one processing parameter to reduce the total amount of scrap in processing the film product. The present invention also relates to a system for optimizing film production. |
| US08577486B2 |
Method and apparatus for contextualizing energy consumption data
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with contextualizing energy consumption are described. One example method includes accessing stored energy consumption data and stored operation status data from production-related equipment; correlating the operation status data with the energy consumption data; and categorizing energy consumed by the production-related equipment as value-added or non-value-added based, at least in part, on the correlating of the operation status data with the energy consumption data. The example methods may also include determining an energy classification for an energy-consuming entity; identifying child entities of the energy-consuming entity; accessing energy consumption data for the energy-consuming entity and the child entities; aggregating the energy consumption data for the energy-consuming entity and the child entities; and classifying the aggregated energy consumption data with the energy classification for the energy-consuming entity. |
| US08577480B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated predictive design space estimation
Described are computer-implemented methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for estimating an optimal value for each input factor of a design space. The design space is defined by the input factors and output responses for a physical process. The optimal values for the input factors represent a starting point for estimating the design space. Data is received for the input factors, the output responses and criteria. An initial design space is estimated based on the received data. The optimal values for the input factors are determined from the initial design space. |
| US08577471B2 |
Apparatus and method for the cardio-synchronized stimulation of skeletal or smooth muscles
An apparatus for the cardio-synchronized stimulation of skeletal or smooth muscle, but excluding the heart muscles, in a counterpulsation mode of a patient. The apparatus comprises an active and a passive electrode for attachment to said patient, a signal processor having a configuration input for varying a time delay associated with counterpulsation mode stimulation, and a sensing system for sensing information relating to the performance of the patient's heart and for transmission of information signals to said signal processor, said signal processor producing control signal information relating to stimulation signals to be applied to said active electrode in a counterpulsation mode, a stimulation signal generator associated with said active electrode for generating stimulation signals, wireless transmission means for transmitting said control signal information from said signal processor to said stimulation signal generator whereby said stimulation signal generator applies stimulation signals to said active electrode in accordance with said signal information. |
| US08577470B2 |
Systems and methods for improving memory in Alzheimer's patients
In many aspects, the invention relates to systems and methods for providing memory therapy by modulating neural firing rhythms, in particular in Alzheimer's patients. The stimulation of neurons is controlled through a feedback process whereby neuron firing rhythms are altered based on naturally occurring electrical and chemical activity in the brain. Neurons in the nucleus basalis and dentate gyrus may be targeted in order to establish neural signaling pathways and establish communication between these regions. |
| US08577468B2 |
Apparatus and method for extending implant life using a dual power scheme
A device according to some embodiments may include a housing configured for location external to a body of a subject. The device may also include at least one processor associated with the housing and configured for electrical communication with a power source, and an antenna associated with the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be configured to communicate with an implant circuit located within the body of the subject, cause the implant circuit to receive power in a first power mode and in a second power mode, wherein a first level of power delivered in the first power mode is less than a second level of power delivered in the second power mode, and wherein during a therapy period, power delivery in the first mode occurs over a total time that is greater than about 50% of the therapy period. |
| US08577467B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling energy delivery as a function of degree of coupling
A device for delivering energy as a function of degree coupling may include an external unit configured for location external to a body of a subject and at least one processor associated with the implant unit and configured for electrical communication with a power source. The device may further include a primary antenna associated with the at least one processor. The processor may be configured to determine a degree of coupling between the primary antenna and a secondary antenna associated with the implant unit, and regulate delivery of power to the implant unit based on the degree of coupling between the primary antenna and the secondary antenna. |
| US08577459B2 |
System and method for estimating battery capacity
A method for estimating capacity of a battery in an implantable medical device includes obtaining a characteristic curve of voltage versus resistance for the battery, periodically determining voltage and resistance of the battery, and comparing the resistance with a third derivative function of the characteristic curve, the third derivative function having roots representing near depletion of the battery and end of service of the battery, respectively. Remaining time of service of the battery can also be determined by comparing the resistance value with a curve of battery capacity versus resistance for the battery. |
| US08577458B1 |
Implantable device for providing electrical stimulation of cervical vagus nerves for treatment of chronic cardiac dysfunction with leadless heart rate monitoring
An implantable device for providing electrical stimulation of cervical vagus nerves for treatment of chronic cardiac dysfunction with leadless heart rate monitoring is provided. A stimulation therapy lead includes helical electrodes configured to conform to an outer diameter of a cervical vagus nerve sheath, and a set of connector pins electrically connected to the helical electrodes. A neurostimulator includes an electrical receptacle into which the connector pins are securely and electrically coupled. The neurostimulator also includes a pulse generator configured to therapeutically stimulate the vagus nerve through the helical electrodes in alternating cycles of stimuli application and stimuli inhibition that are tuned to both efferently activate the heart's intrinsic nervous system and afferently activate the patient's central reflexes by triggering bi-directional action potentials. Finally, the neurostimulator includes an integrated leadless heart rate sensor configured to sense heart rate and to record the sensed heart rate as data into a memory. |
| US08577456B2 |
Measuring autonomic tone using atrioventricular delay
An autonomic status indicator representative of a sympathetic/parasympathetic balance of a subject can use atrioventricular (AV) delays measured during recovery from (or in response to) elevated atrial pacing while the subject is at rest. |
| US08577452B2 |
Method of acquiring a physiological response
A method for acquiring a physiological response from a test subject, particularly an auditory brainstem response, by presenting a plurality of stimuli, such as a Maximum Length Sequence, detecting electrophysiological signals in response to the stimuli, generating a recover signal based on the stimuli and determining the physiological response from the electrophysiological signals and the recovery signal. |
| US08577447B2 |
Optic-based contact sensing assembly and system
The invention relates to an optic-based sensing assembly and a system incorporating the assembly and related use of the assembly. In particular, the invention relates to an optic-based catheter assembly and related system used to determine contact between a catheter and surrounding proximate environment, such as tissue. An embodiment of such a system may, for example, be used for visualization, mapping, ablation, or other methods of diagnosis and treatment of tissue and/or surrounding areas. |
| US08577445B2 |
Miniature confocal optical head with integrated scanning and confocal imaging system using same
An optical head includes: a point source producing an excitation beam, optical elements adapted to converge the optical beam into an excitation point located in a subsurface plane relative to the surface of a sample, the plane being perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical head; and elements for scanning the excitation point so as to define an observation field in the subsurface plane along two perpendicular scanning directions, a rapid online scanning and a slow columnar scanning. The invention includes micro-electrical mechanical systems designed to move in translation along a selected displacement at least one of the optical elements, which is mobile along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis so as to obtain at least one of the scanning directions. The invention provides the advantages of maintaining an axial illumination of the sample and of using a miniature head. |
| US08577443B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and image processing apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first data acquisition unit, a second data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The first data acquisition unit acquires first data from a slice to be a target after a first delay time from a reference of a first heart rate synchronized with an electrocardiogram. The second data acquisition unit acquires second data from the slice after a second delay time from a reference of a second heart rate which is different from the first heart rate. The image data generating unit generates image data with image reconstruction processing using the first data and the second data. |
| US08577429B2 |
Mobile device accessory
An accessory configured to couple to a mobile device is disclosed. The accessory may include at least one finger engaging portion having an exterior surface and a clip portion adjacent the exterior surface. The clip portion may include a tab and a device engaging portion. The accessory further may include an extension portion extending outward from the exterior surface of the finger engaging portion, wherein the device engaging portion extends between the tab and the extension portion. |
| US08577427B2 |
Headset with adjustable display and integrated computing system
The adjustable headset is an all in one device that include an adjustable support band, an adjustable screen, a first and second ear cover, a computer system, a communications system, and a power source. The adjustable support band connects to each ear cover, allowing the virtual goggles to rest atop a user's head, with the ear covers being adjacent to a user's ears. The screen is attached to the ear covers by adjustable screen bars, which allow a user to change the distance, angle, and general orientation of the screen. The computer system is capable of storing and running software programs, such as an operating system, as well as interfacing with connected devices by means of a set of connection ports, located on the ear covers, or the communications system. Thus the virtual goggles serve to adjust to meet individual comfort needs and interface with a wide variety of technologies. |
| US08577425B2 |
Automatic recharging wireless headset
A wireless headset has a body, an ear clip, and at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power. The body includes an RF integrated circuit in electrical communication with an antenna and a baseband circuit, the baseband circuit being in electrical communication with a microphone and a speaker. The at least two devices for converting at least two different sources of energy into electrical power are in electrical communication with the RF integrated circuit and the baseband circuit. The ear clip is engaged to the body. The at least two sources of energy are selected from the group consisting of solar energy, thermoelectric energy, piezoelectric energy, and vibration energy. |
| US08577421B2 |
Mobile terminal, control method of mobile terminal, and recording medium
To provide a mobile terminal capable of achieving the optimal volume according to a style without causing discomfort to the user. A mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention includes a main body including a microphone 219, a screen display unit including speaker-and-receiver units 226 and 227 at both ends thereof, the screen display unit being disposed in the main body in such a manner that the screen display unit can slide and rotate with respect to the main body, and switches 224 and 225 that select the speaker or the receiver to be used in respective speaker-and-receiver units according to a style formed by the screen display unit and the main body. |
| US08577419B2 |
Method for displaying background screen in mobile terminal
Disclosed is a method for displaying a background screen in a mobile terminal, the method including the steps of resizing other background screens, except for a current background screen currently being displayed, among a plurality of background screens to a predefined display size when a predefined key is input, and displaying the resized background screens in predefined regions, respectively, within a display area in which the current background screen is displayed. |
| US08577417B2 |
Methods, devices, and computer program products for limiting search scope based on navigation of a menu screen
A method of operating an electronic device includes displaying a search field in a menu screen including a plurality of icons representing respective application programs. Selection of at least one of the plurality of icons is visually indicated responsive to navigation of the menu screen. A search scope is limited to at least one database associated with at least one application program represented by the selected at least one of the plurality of icons. The at least one database is searched using the limited search scope responsive to entry of a search string including one or more alphanumeric characters in the search field. If found in the at least one database, at least one search result including the search string is displayed. Related devices and computer program products are also discussed. |
| US08577415B2 |
Wireless communication system and wireless network accessing device
A wireless communication system and a wireless network accessing device are disclosed. The wireless communication system comprises an intelligent terminal and a wireless network accessing device. The intelligent terminal comprises a first card holder and a first interface. The first card holder is configured to receive a first SIM card, and the first interface is electrically connected to the first card holder. The wireless network accessing device comprises a second card holder, a second interface, a baseband chip and a switch module. The second card holder is configured to receive a second SIM card, the second interface is removably electrically connected to the first interface, and the switch module is electrically connected to the second card holder, the second interface and the baseband chip so that the baseband chip is selectively electrically connected to the first card holder or the second card holder. |
| US08577412B1 |
Retractable grip attachment for a mobile phone
A grip attachment for an electronic device for grasping and controlling a camera of the electronic device with one hand. The grip attachment includes a main body and a retractable enlarged grip extension attached to a first end of the main body. The main body is attached to the electronic device. The enlarged grip extension is sized and shaped to enable a user's hand to hold the grip extension and attached electronic device with one hand. The retractable enlarged grip extension includes a flexible grip segment which lies flat in a retracted position and forms an enlarged grip in a deployed position. The main body includes a connector for interfacing with a connector of the electronic device. The grip extension also includes an external control located on an outer surface of the grip attachment for activating a camera control of the electronic device. |
| US08577411B2 |
Broadcast program scene report system and method, mobile terminal device, and computer program
A mobile terminal 20 receives a scene notification message via a communication network 10. The scene notification message at least includes scene identification information for identifying a scene corresponding to a part of a broadcast program, broadcast identification information on the time-difference broadcast of the scene, and URL information for accessing a server in which scene data is stored. Based on the scene notification message, the mobile terminal 20 receives a time-difference broadcast if it is a time at which the scene can be viewed by the time-difference broadcast and, if not, accesses a server 48, in which the data of the scene is stored, to acquire the data of the scene. |
| US08577406B2 |
Communication device, transmission power control method, and program
There is provided a communication device including: a communication unit that receives a beacon for a second communication service making secondary usage of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service; and a control unit that controls a transmission power to be used for transmission of a radio signal of the second communication service from the communication unit based on location data included in the beacon and indicating a location of a transmission source node of the beacon and a location of an interfered node interfered by the second communication service. |
| US08577404B2 |
Prioritization of group communications at a wireless communication device
An embodiment is directed to switching between server-arbitrated group communication sessions at an access terminal (AT) within a wireless communications system. The AT participates in a first group communication session when it receives an announce message announcing a second group communication session, acquires priority levels for the first and/or second group communication sessions and determines whether to switch between sessions based on the priority level(s). In another embodiment, the AT participates in a given processing task (e.g., a gaming session, a voice call, a group session, etc.) when it receives an alert that relates to a group communication session. If the alert is specially configured to force the given access terminal to drop the given processing task, the AT drops the given processing task irrespective of whether the AT later joins the announced group communication session. |
| US08577401B1 |
Text message sessions
The subject matter of this document can be embodied in, among other things, a computer-method that includes receiving a text message associated with a first telephone number, and establishing a communication session associated with the received text message. The communication session is established by modifying the received text message so that the received text message is associated with a second telephone number that is different from the first telephone number, and subsequent text messages associated with the second telephone number are included as part of the communication session. The method also includes transmitting the text message to a text messaging system, such that the text message appears to have originated from the second telephone number. Upon receiving a text message reply from a user in response to the transmitted text message, the text message reply is associated with the established communication session. |
| US08577400B2 |
Provision of value added short message services
A network node of a communications system that routes short messages in a home network of a mobile station provides a service where one or more functions are invoked in response to receiving a request to forward a short message addressed to the mobile station. When the network node receives a request to forward a short message it determines a type of transmission of the received short message, where the type of transmission indicates whether or not a request for forwarding the same short message has been previously received in the network node. The network node then invokes functions of the service according to the determined type of transmission. |
| US08577395B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for paging a mobile station utilizing an enhanced mobile-terminated connection setup
Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating paging of an access terminal operable in a radio communication system. The access terminal detects a first page message that does not include an access sequence identifier. The access terminal responds to the first page message without waiting for detection of a second page message that includes an access sequence ID. The response to the first page message includes an access sequence ID retrieved from a shared pool of access sequence IDs stored at the access terminal. |
| US08577392B1 |
System and method of determining location of wireless communication devices/persons for controlling/adjusting operation of devices based on the location
One or more relay servers can access first data received from one or more first devices (e.g., a phone, tablet computer, vehicle tracking device, or badge reader). The one or more relay servers can aggregate the data and infer a location of a person. The one or more relay servers can transmit second signals including second data to one or more second devices (e.g., lighting systems, security systems, garage-door openers, music controllers, climate controllers, or kitchen appliances), the second data being based at least in part on the estimated location. The second-signal transmission can be pushed to the second devices or pulled by the second devices. Operations of the second devices can be controlled at least in part on the second data. |
| US08577388B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining position
Provided is a wireless position determining method and apparatus. The wireless position determining includes: a measuring unit that measures a propagation delay tap of a signal received from a transmitting end through a channel; and extractor that extracts delay spread information having various forms based on the propagation delay tap; and an obtaining and calculating unit that obtains a distance between transmission and reception ends based on the delay spread information and calculates a position of a receiving end based on the obtained distance between the transmission and reception ends. |
| US08577383B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving system information via a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL—SCH)
A method for exchanging system information via a broadcast control channel (BCCH), which is a logical channel between a radio link control (RLC) layer and a medium access control (MAC) layer, and a broadcast channel (BCH) and a downlink shared channel (DL_SCH), which are transport channels between the MAC layer and a physical layer. The method includes: receiving a block of first system information from the base station via the BCH; after the block is received, receiving a first block of second system information from the base station via the DL_SCH configured to carry system information and other data, the first block including schedule information; and after the first block is received, receiving a second block of second system information from the base station via the DL_SCH in accordance with the schedule information included in the first block. |
| US08577377B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing a wireless expansion network
Methods and apparatus for providing a wireless expansion network. In an aspect, an apparatus includes an expansion circuit configured to identify at least one of a selected uplink (UL) channel and a selected downlink (DL) channel that are provided by one of a primary network and an expansion network, and a processing circuit configured to switch to the at least one of the selected UL and DL channels. An apparatus includes means for obtaining link parameters associated with a primary network and an expansion network, means for identifying clients that are assigned transmission channels on both the primary network and the expansion network based on the link parameters, and means for transmitting messages to the clients to indicate the assigned transmission channels. |
| US08577373B2 |
Handover destination specification system, mobile terminal, and base station
A technology is disclosed that provides a handover destination specification system and the like capable of reducing signaling load and shortening handover processing time. According to the technology, the handover destination specification system is configured by: a mobile terminal that measures a reception quality of each cell indicating an accessible range formed by a plurality of base stations capable of being connection targets of the mobile terminal, and when the measured reception quality satisfies a predetermined condition, transmits to a connection base station, a first message including identification information of the cell that satisfies the predetermined condition and information on the reception quality of the cell; and the connection base station that transmits to the mobile terminal, a second message including information for detecting unique global identification information of the cell of which the reception quality has been measured, based on the first message. The mobile terminal detects the global identification information of the cell of which the reception quality has been measured based on the second message, checks access permission for the detected cell, and when access permission is confirmed, transmits to the connection base station, a third message including the global identification information of the cell for which access permission is granted. |
| US08577372B2 |
Mobility control systems and mobility control methods
Base stations notify the mobile terminal of area information that represents communication areas; a mobile terminal decides a handover destination base station based on position information of the mobile terminal and the area information concerning which the base stations notify the mobile terminal and transmits a handover request to the base station; the base stations request a base station with which the mobile terminal is communicating for communication information of the mobile terminal if the base stations receive the handover request that the mobile terminal transmits; the base stations notify a base station of the communication information of the mobile terminal if the base stations are requested for the communication information of the mobile terminal; and the base stations perform a handover process for the mobile terminal based on the communication information if the base stations acquire the communication information concerning which the base station notifies the base stations of the communication information of the mobile terminal. |
| US08577368B2 |
Method for the transfer of information during handovers in a communication system
The invention relates to a method for the transfer of policy control information during handover in a communication system. A session between a terminal and a remote node via a first network node has been established previously. The session comprising media components transmitted via the first gateway using first media component bearers. A handover condition is detected and a signaling connection is established between the terminal and the second gateway. Information on a second network node is obtained by the terminal, which determines if a proxy for the session has changed. If it has, information on media components is sent to a policy decision entity associated with the second network node. The policy decision entity authorizes second media component bearers with the information provided. Finally, the second media component bearers are established between the terminal and the second gateway. |
| US08577366B2 |
Base station and control method of base station
Provided is a scheme of a base station to avoid interference with a macrocell, wherein the base station prompts a terminal to perform handoff from the macrocell by using a pilot beacon. The base station of a mobile communication system includes a transmission unit for transmitting the pilot beacon such that a mobile terminal detects the base station, a registration unit for registering information on mobile terminals to use the base station or users corresponding to these mobile terminals, and a control unit for controlling the transmission unit to stop transmission of the pilot beacon if all mobile terminals registered with the registration unit perform location registration to the base station, based on information on mobile terminals which perform location registration to the base station or corresponding users and based on the information on the mobile terminals registered with the registration unit or the corresponding users. |
| US08577363B2 |
Setup of device-to-device connection
Disclosed are apparatus, methods and computer programs to establish device-to-device communications in a wireless network. A method includes sending an initiation message from a first device to initiate device-to-device communication with a second device; receiving a message indicating a request for setting up radio resources for device-to-device communication; sending a message to the second device, the message including a request to set up resources for device-to-device communication and, in response to establishing device-to-device communication with the second device using the resources, sending an acknowledgment that device-to-device communication is established. |
| US08577361B2 |
Wireless communication base station device and total transmission power regulating method
Disclosed are a wireless communication base station and a total transmission power regulating method that reduce interference to macrocell users near a femtocell and interference to neighboring femtocell users near the femtocell in a balanced manner, while ensuring throughput of the femtocell users. A reception power measuring unit (214) measures the reception power of a CPICH. A cell type discriminating unit (216) judges whether the received signal is a signal from a macro base station or a signal from a femto base station. When a signal from a macro base station is received, a total downlink transmission power setting unit (217) executes a first-stage interference regulation based on the strongest CPICH reception power value and calculates a tentative value for the total downlink transmission power of a femto base station (110). When a signal from a peripheral femto base station is received, the total downlink transmission power setting unit (217) executes a second-stage interference regulation within a fixed power regulation range for the second-stage interference regulation based on the strongest CPICH reception power value, and calculates a final total downlink transmission power value. |
| US08577354B2 |
Automating actions within a phone network based upon scanned wireless signals
A method for automating actions within a network includes receiving at least one wireless signal from at least one wireless network device; determining identifying information associated with the at least one wireless signal; determining a scanned wireless fingerprint associated based upon the identifying information; matching the scanned wireless fingerprint to a stored wireless fingerprint; and initiating an action in response to matching of the scanned wireless fingerprint to the stored wireless fingerprint. |
| US08577350B2 |
Managing communications utilizing communication categories
Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for managing communications on telecommunication devices utilizing communication categories are provided. A subset of contacts accessible by a telecommunication device are associated with one or more communication categories. Each communication category can be associated with a set of communication activities. Based on a selection of a specific contact, a telecommunication device can generate a display having display objects representative of communication categories associated with the selected contact. Additionally, based on a selection of a communication category, the telecommunication device can further generate a display including display objects representative of a set of communication activities corresponding to the selected communication category. |
| US08577348B2 |
System architecture, and method for scheduled downloading services
There is provided a system for providing content through a Content Delivery/distribution Network (CDN) that includes a plurality of storage entities. A Content Requesting device (CR) generates and transmits requests for content. A Content Server (CS) receives the requests from the CR, provides notifications regarding a current location of the content, and at least one of stores the content and interfaces with the CDN to distribute the content to one of the plurality of storage entities. A Content Consuming device (CC) receives the notifications from the CS and retrieves the requested content from one of the CS and the one of the plurality of storage entities based on the current location of the content specified in the notifications. |
| US08577343B2 |
Inhibiting unintended outgoing communication in mobile devices
An embodiment is a technique for inhibiting unintended outgoing communication. A cost calculator calculates a cost value of an outgoing communication as a function of a plurality of parameters related to at least one of a voice parameter, an ambient parameter, a proximity parameter, a speech pattern parameter, a call parameter, and a noise parameter. A call suppressor suppresses the outgoing communication when the cost value exceeds a predetermined threshold. |
| US08577337B2 |
Radio management method and system using embedded universal integrated circuit card
A multi-use embedded universal integrated circuit card contains more than one active MNO (mobile network operator) profile. The example card may include a time manager and a radio resource schedule for managing access to a radio within a wireless device. The time manager enables one of the active MNO profiles at a time in accordance with the radio resource schedule, effectively allocating respective time slices to applications associated with each of the active MNO profiles. |
| US08577336B2 |
System and method for transaction authentication using a mobile communication device
A transaction authentication system uses a computer network and mobile telephone network to authenticate a user. The user initiates a transaction and provides an identity token, such as the mobile telephone number. The identity token is used by an authentication server to initiate the issuance of a new temporary identity for the corresponding mobile device. The new temporary identity is forwarded from the mobile device to the authentication server which issues a security code if there is a match between the new temporary identities. The security code is forwarded to a transaction server which relays it to the authentication server. If the forwarded security code matches the generated security code, the transaction is permitted to continue. |
| US08577333B2 |
Communication method and infrastructure supporting device security and tracking of mobile and portable multimedia devices
From a laptop and a client server interface, a subscriber securely initiates tracking and/or disabling of a communication device by a server. The subscriber receives location and/or usage reports for the communication device. The subscriber is provided with the capability to modify a profile, device status and/or transfer ownership of the device via a client server interface. Based on the profile, detection of a particular event triggers tracking and/or disabling of the device by the server. The communication device registers with the server utilizing its unique device ID and/or the subscriber identity information when accessing the internet. The server is enabled to communicate a status and/or a request for tracking information, to the communication device. The server is also enabled to receive tracking and/or location information and communicates it to the subscriber's laptop. |
| US08577332B1 |
Method and system for offering a femtocell to a subscriber
A method and system for offering a femtocell to a subscriber. The method includes a computer system making a first determination that a level of wireless performance experienced by a mobile station of a subscriber at a given location is less than a threshold level. The method further includes the computer system making a second determination that the given location is location associated with a billing address of the subscriber. The method then includes, in response to the first and second determinations, the computer system initiating a process of offering a femtocell to the subscriber. |
| US08577331B2 |
Account holder notification for an infracting mobile station or mobile directory number (MDN)
A mobile communication network offers notification to an account holder upon occurrence of an infraction of a subscriber selected restriction by operation of one of the mobile stations under the subscriber's account. In the examples, the subscriber can select a directory number/station under the account, a desired one of a number of available restriction options and one or more parameters of the selected restriction. When the mobile communication network detects an infraction, caused by operation of the mobile station through the network, a system or processor obtains a destination address designated for an account holder, for the subscriber's account, such as the directory number for one of the subscriber's stations selected as that of the account holder. The system sends a notification of the infraction intended for the account holder, using the destination address, for example, as a text message sent through the network to the account holder's mobile station. |
| US08577327B2 |
System, methods and apparatus for waking an autonomous active implantable medical device communicating by pulses transmitted through the interstitial tissues of the body
An autonomous active medical implantable device, with a power supply and a wake-up circuit that responds to receipt of specific pulses transmitted through the interstitial tissues of the body. A transmitter device (40) generates trains of modulated pulses applied to electrodes (22, 24), and a receiver (50) processes (e.g., filter, amplify and demodulate) pulses collected on electrodes (22′, 24′). The receiver circuits (50) are selectively activated from a dormant (sleep) state in which they are not powered by a power source (34), to an operational (active) state in which they are powered and able to process (e.g., filter, amplify and demodulate) the collected pulses. A specific wake-up pulse train, configured in a predetermined characteristic pulse pattern, triggers passive wake-up circuits (66) in the receiver (50) to switch the receiver circuits from the sleep state to the operational state. |
| US08577323B2 |
High dynamic range time-varying integrated receiver for elimination of off-chip filters
A receiver circuit includes a quadrature passive mixer, a first charge load, and a second charge load. The quadrature passive mixer has a differential input for receiving a differential input signal, and arranged for mixing the differential input signal with a quadrature local oscillator (LO) signal. The quadrature passive mixer has an in-phase mixer with a differential in-phase output, and a quadrature-phase mixer with a differential quadrature-phase output. The first and second charge loads are coupled to differential in-phase output and differential quadrature-phase output, respectively. In every quarter cycle of the quadrature LO signal, the differential in-phase output and the differential quadrature-phase output are arranged to be not shorted so as to avoid charging sharing between the first charge load and the second charge load, or are arranged to be shorted to cause charging sharing between the first charge load and the second charge load that generates a leakage path. |
| US08577322B1 |
Signal mixer having a single-ended input and a differential output
A single-ended-to-differential mixer includes a differential pair amplifier, a passive current source, a cancellation sub-circuit, and a mixer. The differential pair amplifier is configured to receive a single-ended input signal. The differential pair amplifier includes a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output. The passive current source is connected between (i) the differential pair amplifier and (ii) a reference potential. The cancellation sub-circuit is connected to each of the first input, the second input, the first output, and the second output of the differential pair amplifier. The cancellation sub-circuit is configured to at least partially cancel a non-linearity of the differential pair amplifier. The mixer is connected to each of the first output and the second output of the differential pair amplifier. |
| US08577317B2 |
Broadcast receiver and method for setting broadcast receivers
A broadcast receiver and a method for setting the broadcast receiver, comprising receiving a primary broadcast sent by a broadcast station and retrieving program associated data made available by said broadcast station. The method comprises a first channel, a primary broadcast channel BC, and a second channel, an interaction channel, for retrieving the program associated data (PAD) from the broadcast station, whereby a browser sends an HTTP or a WAP request using an Internet connection. The method comprises retrieving a uniform resource locator of the program associated data (PAD) as station associated data (SAD) from a station associated data site (SADS) the station associated data comprising program associated data relating to the primary broadcast, coverage information and frequency information of included broadcast stations and the broadcast receiver being capable of setting the browser and the broadcast receiver unit by suing this SAD information. |
| US08577315B2 |
Radio receiver
Operating a radio receiver can include identifying a set of stations that broadcast a radio program using different frequencies or different transmission protocols at substantially the same time. Broadcast signal strength, or some other signal quality metric, of broadcast signals from the stations can be evaluated, and the radio receiver can be tuned to one of the stations in the set of stations based on the evaluation. |
| US08577314B2 |
Method and system for dynamic range detection and positioning utilizing leaky wave antennas
Methods and systems for dynamic range detection and positioning utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring one or more LWAs to enable communication of signals in a particular direction. RF signals that are reflected from an object may be received via the LWAs, and a location of the object may be determined based on the received reflected RF signals. The velocity of the object may be determined based on a Doppler shift associated with the received reflected RF signals. A frequency chirped signal may be transmitted by the LWAs to determine a location of the object. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. LWAs may be situated along a plurality of axes in the wireless device. The LWAs may include microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. |
| US08577312B2 |
Power amplifier amplitude modulator system and method
A system for controlling amplifier power is provided. The system includes a voltage envelope detector receiving a voltage signal and generating an attenuated voltage envelope signal. A current envelope detector receives a current signal and generates an attenuated current envelope signal. A controller receives power level data and generates attenuation control data for the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal. A detector receives the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal and generates a control signal based on the greater of the voltage envelope signal and the current envelope signal. A power amplifier level controller receives the control signal and generates a power amplifier level control signal. |
| US08577309B2 |
Downstream adaptive modulation in broadband communications system
A downstream adaptive modulation system and method. The downstream adaptive modulation system comprises a wireless access termination system and one or more wireless modems. The wireless access termination system includes a plurality of queues and a parser. The parser parses data traffic onto the plurality of queues. Each queue is associated with a different coding and modulation scheme. Each of the one or more wireless modems receives data traffic from the plurality of queues based on the wireless modem's ability to demodulate and decode the signal from each of the plurality of queues. When a wireless modem experiences a change in signal strength, the present invention enables the wireless modem to adapt to data from other queues to compensate for the change in signal strength. Thus, if the signal strength improves over a period of time, the wireless modem may receive data at a higher order modulation and FEC code rate. If the signal strength weakens over a period of time, the wireless modem may receive data at a lower order modulation and FEC code rate. |
| US08577308B2 |
Beamformer and beamforming method
Disclosed are a beamformer and a beamforming method. The beamformer includes a plurality of dividers, each of which divides an input signal along a plurality of paths, an input switch which selects one of the dividers such that the input signal is input to the selected divider, a phase shifter which shifts phases of respective output signals from the divider, and an output switch which transmits the output signals from the phase shifter to an antenna. |
| US08577302B2 |
Method and system for feedback of antenna beamforming
The disclosed systems and methods achieve improved communication by periodically sending sounding packets from a transmitter; feeding back, from a receiver, the change in beamforming estimation according to reception of the sounding packets; and utilizing the change in beamforming estimation to produce transmitter beamforming. |
| US08577299B2 |
Wireless communication system with configurable cyclic prefix length
To transmit data in a manner to mitigate the deleterious effects of delay spread, the expected coverage areas for multiple transmissions to be sent in multiple time slots are initially determined. Cyclic prefix lengths for these transmissions are selected based on the expected coverage areas. The cyclic prefix length for each transmission may be selected from among a set of allowed cyclic prefix lengths based on the expected coverage area for that transmission, the pilot staggering used for the transmission, and so on. For example, a shorter cyclic prefix length may be selected for each local transmission, and a longer cyclic prefix length may be selected for each wide-area transmission. The selected cyclic prefix lengths may be signaled to the terminals. The transmissions are processed (e.g., OFDM modulated) based on the selected cyclic prefix lengths. The cyclic prefix lengths may be selected periodically, e.g., in each super-frame. |
| US08577293B2 |
Communication system and communication device
A communication apparatus includes a short-range communication unit that receives an inquiry signal from a short-range external communication apparatus and transmits a response signal in response to the inquiry signal. The communication apparatus also includes a long-range communication unit that communicates in a range wider than a communication area of the short-range communication unit. Further, the communication apparatus includes a session key generation unit that generates a session key, and an encrypting unit that encrypts the session key. The communication apparatus uses an encryption key transmitted from an external communication apparatus to encrypt the session key into an encrypted session key, transmits the encrypted session key to the external communication apparatus, and receives from the external communication apparatus a request signal to request a long-range communication, with the session key, by the long-range communication unit by using the short-range communication unit. |
| US08577292B2 |
Bump validation
A “bump” occurs when two devices at the same place at the same time indicate their intention to establish a connection for transferring information. A process for validating bumps is described. |
| US08577291B1 |
Method and system for optimizing data throughput in a bluetooth communication system
A method and system for optimizing data throughput in a Bluetooth communication system is provided. The method may include determining the bit error rate (BER) of a first Bluetooth packet type of a plurality of Bluetooth packet types transmitted at a first power output level by a Bluetooth transmitter and selecting a second packet type from the plurality of Bluetooth packet types in response to determining the bit error rate. The different packet types may comprise DM1, DM3, DM5, DH1, DH3, DH5, HV1, HV2, HV3, 2DH1, 2DH3, 2DH5, 3DH1, 3DH3, and 3DH5 Bluetooth packets. The method may also include estimating the BER from the packet error rate (PER) of the first Bluetooth packet type, where the PER may be computed by comparing a number of packets of said first Bluetooth packet type with good CRCs to a number of packets of said first Bluetooth packet type with bad CRCs. |
| US08577283B2 |
TDD repeater
A repeater that facilitates communication in a wireless environment comprises a scheduling component that analyzes a schedule relating to when communications are active in the forward link direction and when communications are active in the reverse link direction, the communications are subject to time division duplexing. An amplifier that amplifies received communications as a function of the schedule. The repeater can further comprise a configuration component that configures the amplifier to amplify the received communications in one or more of a forward link direction and a reverse link direction. |
| US08577281B2 |
Distribution system, distribution apparatus, terminal apparatus, and method which distribute a common control signal
A distribution apparatus distributes a common control signal to one or more regions with one or more communications system which can be used. The common control signal includes system information required for accessing the communications system of each of the regions. The distribution apparatus has a unit which generates the common control signal of each of the regions, a unit which receives a distribution request signal from a terminal apparatus which requests for distribution of the common control signal, and a unit which transmits the common control signal according to a distribution rule. The distribution rule is updated according to a statistical trend of the distribution request signals received. |
| US08577280B2 |
Programmed classroom instruction
A computer-implemented method of overseeing and adjusting the instruction and evaluation of a student with respect to one or more topics of study within a classroom. The subject matter of an academic course is studied and broken down into a plurality of discretely defined behavioral performances designed to be readily and objectively recognized as being mastered or not by a student. One or more of the discretely defined behavioral performances are then selected, with the aid of a first computerized database system, as learning objectives for the week. At the end of the week, a student is subsequently evaluated on these objectives. Results of the evaluation are then transferred to a second computerized database system, which organizes the collected data into an interactive learning management report that can be configured by a reviewer in real time to display a variety of levels of detail. |
| US08577279B2 |
Visual scene displays, uses thereof, and corresponding apparatuses
A method and a device are provided. In at least one embodiment, the method includes receiving an indication of selection of a key from a keyboard, including at least one of a polysemous symbol and a compilation symbol; and displaying a scene related to the selected at least one of a polysemous symbol and a compilation symbol. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a keyboard including a plurality of keys including polysemous symbols; and a display to display, on at least a portion thereof and in response to receiving an indication of selection of a key including at least one of a polysemous symbol and a compilation symbol, a scene related to the selected at least one of a polysemous symbol and a compilation symbol. |
| US08577273B2 |
Image forming apparatus having sheet cooling device
A guide path branched downward from a conveyance path for guiding a sheet having a toner image fixed thereon to a sheet discharge tray, a switchback path, and an inversed discharge path guide the sheet once, and then guide the sheet to the sheet discharge tray with its front and back surfaces and its leading and trailing edges in a sheet conveyance direction reversed. A fan supplies air between a sheet discharged by a sheet discharge roller and a sheet already discharged onto the sheet discharge tray from a supply opening provided below the sheet discharge roller. A control portion for controlling a blowing operation of the fan selectively operates the fan when discharging the sheet after passing the sheet through the guide path, the switchback path, and the inversed discharge path. |
| US08577271B2 |
Apparatus and systems including belt-roll fuser stripping shoe with robust compliant tip
A belt-roll fuser stripping system has a stripping shoe and a stripping shim. The shim is support by a support member. The support member supports the shim to maintain a desired nip pressure profile, and reduce deformation and wear of the shim and belt-roll fuser components. |
| US08577270B2 |
Fusing device and image forming apparatus including the same
A fusing device includes a rotary fusing part; a heating unit heating the rotary fusing part; a rotary pressure part pressed against the rotary fusing part; nozzles jetting compressed air to paper being conveyed through a nip between the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part; and separating parts guiding the paper separated from the rotary fusing part. The nozzles and the separating parts are disposed downstream of the nip in a paper conveying direction so as not to contact the rotary fusing part and the rotary pressure part and are arranged alternately along the length direction of the nip that is orthogonal to the paper conveying direction. The separating parts protrude beyond the tips of the nozzles toward the nip. |
| US08577267B2 |
Transparent intermediate transfer members containing zinc oxide, polyarylsulfone, and polyetheramine
An intermediate transfer member including an optional supporting substrate, and in contact with the supporting substrate in the configuration of a layer a polyarylsulfone, a polyetheramine, and nano-size zinc oxide particles. |
| US08577265B2 |
Developing device usable with image forming apparatus and developer delivery device thereof including a plurality of rotatable delivery members
A developing device usable with an image forming apparatus having a developer delivery device of an improved drive configuration. The developing device includes a developer storage unit, a rotating member arranged in the developer storage unit, and a plurality of developer delivery members arranged in an axial direction of the rotating member to be rotated around the rotating member upon receiving rotation power from the rotating member. A first power-transmission structure may be provided between at least one of the plurality of developer delivery members and the rotating member to allow slip therebetween. |
| US08577258B2 |
Image forming device having regulating member configured to prohibit movement of photosensitive body in lock state
A positioning guide is configured to guide a rotational axis of a photosensitive body when a process cartridge is mounted on a main body, and to determine a position of the rotation axis of the photosensitive body with respect to the main body in a mounting state in which the process cartridge has been mounted on the main body. A photosensitive body drive gear is configured to be capable of rotating in a forward and reverse direction and to transmit a rotational drive force to the photosensitive body in the mounting state. A regulating member is configured to be in a lock state and an unlock state. In the lock state, the regulating member prohibits the rotational axis of the photosensitive body from moving in the mounting/removing direction. The rotational axis of the photosensitive body is released from the regulating member in the unlock state. |
| US08577254B2 |
Slide rail and image forming apparatus with the same
A slide rail includes an outer rail and an inner rail. The inner rail includes a top face portion, main-portion side walls, outer deck portions, and end-portion side walls. The outer rail includes a bottom wall and a storage portion. The main-portion side walls and the end-portion side walls are both provided adjacently on both sides of the top face portion in a width direction thereof, and bent toward outer rail. The main-portion side walls are provided in a portion other than one end portion in the longitudinal direction. The end-portion side walls are provided in the one end portion. Each outer deck portion extends outward in the width direction to be continuous to an edge of each main-portion side wall opposite the top face portion. The storage portions are provided adjacently on both sides of the bottom wall in the width direction and bent toward the inner rail to cover the outer edge portions. |
| US08577252B2 |
Process cartridge and disassembling method of the process cartridge
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an image forming apparatus includes an image-bearing member on which an electrostatic image is to be formed; a first frame; a bearing member, detachably mountable to the first frame, for rotatably supporting the image-bearing member; a first hole provided in the bearing member; a first wall, provided on the first frame, in which a second hole is provided; a second frame for rotatably supporting a developer carrying member on which a developer for developing the electrostatic image is to be carried; a second wall, provided on the second frame, in which a third hole is provided; and a connecting member including a shaft portion penetrating through the first hole, the second hole and the third hole and tightly engaging in the second hole, and including a flange portion, provided at an end portion of the shaft portion, for preventing the bearing member from being detached from the first frame. |
| US08577251B2 |
Image forming apparatus comprising a frame, an intermediate transfer section, and a plurality of built-in-bodies
An image forming apparatus includes: a frame that includes a pair of standing walls spaced apart from each other, and a linking section linking the pair of standing walls; and an intermediate transfer section that includes support rolls extending between the pair of standing walls and supported by the pair of standing walls, and an intermediate transfer belt held by the support rolls and circulating. The apparatus further includes built-in bodies, at least, into each of which a photoreceptor roll having a shaft with protruding both ends and rotatable around the shaft is incorporated, and which are arranged along the intermediate transfer belt while being supported in a state that the both ends of the shaft penetrate the pair of standing walls, and each of which is fixed to a first standing wall of the pair of standing walls by a screw. |
| US08577249B2 |
Image forming apparatus with self-cleaning
The image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a transfer belt used to transfer a toner image from the image bearing member to a transfer material; a transfer unit adapted to form a transfer nip in conjunction with the image bearing member through the transfer belt; and a control part adapted to control a rotation direction of the transfer belt, wherein in a cleaning mode, the control part rotates the transfer belt in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the transfer belt during image formation at least by an amount equal to or larger than width of the transfer nip in the rotation direction of the transfer belt. This prevents foreign material from being trapped between the transfer belt such as an intermediate transfer belt or transfer material conveyance belt and a sheet member and thereby reduces density irregularities in a longitudinal direction of the belt. |
| US08577248B2 |
Image forming apparatus
When toner on an intermediate transfer member is picked up by a cleaning unit by transferring the toner to an image bearing member in a recovery operation, pickup conditions are controlled to be changed on the basis of the ambience detected in performing the recovery operation and such that the toner on the intermediate transfer member is picked up by the cleaning unit while being temporarily retained by a secondary transfer roller. |
| US08577247B2 |
Discharger and image forming apparatus having an electrode cleaning detection member
A discharger includes a discharger main body that is adapted to be attached to and detached from a holding member of an image forming apparatus, a first electrode member that is formed of a wire rod, a second electrode member, a voltage for discharge being applied between the first and second electrode members, an electrode cleaning member that cleans the first electrode member, a detected portion that is integrally disposed to the electrode cleaning member, a detecting member that detects the detected portion while the electrode cleaning member is in a predetermined reference position, a cleaning member conveyer that conveys the electrode cleaning member in both directions which toward and away from the reference position, and a movement control unit that controls a movement of the cleaning member conveyer by the conveyer. |
| US08577246B2 |
Developer containing device and image forming apparatus
A developer containing device for containing a developer includes a partition arranged between an outer space and an inner space for containing the developer, a bearing arranged on the partition, a rotation shaft carried by the bearing and extending from the outer space to the inner space, a sealing member arranged on the inner space side, having one end side fixed to the partition and the other end side being in contact with a surface of the rotation shaft, and thereby isolating the bearing from the inner space, a communication groove arranged at the surface of the rotation shaft, and connecting the outer space to a closed space isolated from the inner space by the sealing member, and a communication passage arranged on the partition for connecting the outer space to the closed space. |
| US08577243B2 |
Serial communication apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, an exposure unit configured to expose the photosensitive member corresponding to an image, a developing unit configured to develop, using a toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on the exposed photosensitive member, a generation unit configured to generate a waveform signal for the developing unit, a parallel-to-serial conversion unit configured to apply, at a predetermined sampling period, parallel-to-serial conversion to a plurality of signals including the generated waveform signal, a serial-to-parallel conversion unit configured to apply, at the predetermined sampling period, serial-to-parallel conversion to the signals output from the parallel-to-serial conversion unit, and a voltage applying unit configured to apply to the developing unit a voltage composed of a direct-current voltage and an alternating-current voltage superimposed thereon based on the waveform signal among signals output from the serial-to-parallel conversion unit. |
| US08577241B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof that separate roller bodies after a predetermined time elapses after being in a power save mode
An image forming apparatus which is capable of reducing the number of times a second member is separated from a first member upon entry into power-save mode, thereby minimizing failures of a separation unit. A pressure-roller separating mechanism is provided so as to abut and separate a pressure roller and a fixing roller against/from each other. The image forming apparatus is controlled to change to a power-save mode in which power consumption of the image forming apparatus is reduced. The pressure-roller separating mechanism is controlled to separate the pressure roller and the fixing roller from each other in the power-save mode based on a measurement result measured by a timer, and the power-save mode is maintained after the pressure roller and the fixing roller are separated from each other. |
| US08577239B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a transfer section for transferring a toner image formed on an image bearing member onto a sheet by pressure contact of the sheet against the image bearing member with a transfer member; a cleaning section having a cleaning blade to remove residual toner on the image bearing member; and a control section for controlling a rotation of the image bearing member so as to carry out a return action of a blade configuration which stops or reverses the rotation of the image bearing member, when the rotation amount reaches a predetermined value, wherein the control section additionally carries out the return action when the rotation amount reaches a value smaller than the predetermined value, in a case where a size of a sheet in a current job is larger than a size a sheet having been passed through in a previous job. |
| US08577237B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, a transfer current output unit outputs a transfer current having a same value as a target value to a nip forming member to transfer a toner image on a latent image carrier to the nip forming member to determine the target value based on an algorithm representing a relationship between an image area ratio of the toner image and the target value and the image area ratio, and in an algorithm for a second transfer step in which the toner image is transferred to be superimposed on the toner image of the nip forming member to which the toner image has been transferred, a smaller target value is related to a same image area ratio compared to the algorithm for a first transfer step in which the toner image is transferred to the nip forming member to which no toner image is transferred. |
| US08577236B2 |
Reducing reload image quality defects
An image forming apparatus includes a sensor that is configured to detect a property of a developer material, a transport unit that is operatively in contact with the developer material and that is configured to move the developer material toward a recording medium, and a controller that receives the property of the developer material from the sensor unit and sets a voltage of the transport unit, wherein the voltage is determined based on the property of the developer material received from the sensor. |
| US08577234B2 |
Image forming apparatus with medium transport control
An image forming apparatus includes: a medium transport path which a medium is transported through; an image forming unit configured to form a developer image on the medium transported through the medium transport path; a fusing unit configured to fix the developer image formed on the medium to the medium; a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature in the image forming apparatus; and a controller operable to temporarily stop the transport of the medium in the medium transport path when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting unit is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. |
| US08577232B2 |
Thermal fixing device and image forming apparatus including same which detects the speed of a belt on the outer surface of a fixing member
A thermal fixing device includes a fixing member, a flexible endless belt, a flexible endless belt, a rotary pressure member, a heating unit, and a rotation detector. The flexible endless belt is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the fixing member. The rotary pressure member is disposed parallel to and pressing against the fixing member via the endless belt. The heating unit heats the endless belt. The rotation detector detects a rotation speed of the endless belt. The heating unit is powered off when the rotation speed of the endless belt detected by the rotation detector is at or below a predetermined threshold value. |
| US08577230B2 |
Fixing device, fixing device control method, and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing unit, a shearing unit, a detection unit, and a controller. The fixing unit fixes a toner image in place on a printed surface of a recording medium. The shearing unit is disposed downstream from the fixing unit along the media conveyance path to at least partially shear toner from the fixed toner image, so as to create a shorn image area that exhibits a different image density than that of an intact, unshorn image area on the printed surface of the recording medium. The detection unit is disposed at least partially downstream from the shearing unit along the media conveyance path to measure the image densities of the shorn and unshorn image areas. The controller is operatively connected to the fixing unit and the detection unit to adjust one or more operational parameters according to a difference between the measured image densities. |
| US08577228B2 |
Apparatus and method for preventing an information storage device from falling from a removable device
An information storage device installed in a removable device configured to be removably installed in an image forming apparatus body, includes: an information storage unit that stores information communicated between the image forming apparatus body and the removable device; a terminal that comes in contact with a body side terminal; and a substrate that holds the information storage unit and the terminal and includes a hole configured to be engaged with a protruding section installed in the image forming apparatus body. The terminal includes a plurality of terminals each including one of a plurality of metallic plates arranged in a transverse direction thereof. An earth terminal, which comes in contact with a body side earth terminal formed in the protruding section, is formed in the hole. The hole is disposed at a position sandwiched between two metallic plates among the plurality of metallic plates. |
| US08577227B2 |
Image forming device having a first memory and a second memory
An image forming device includes a main body, a replaceable unit, a determination unit, a first memory, a second memory, a temporary memory, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The determination unit determines whether the replaceable unit is a genuine product or a non-genuine product with respect to the main body. The first memory is configured to store a physical value increasing with a use of the main body mounted with the genuine product. The second memory is configured to store the physical value increasing with the use of the main body mounted with the non-genuine product. The temporary memory is configured to temporarily store the physical value increasing with the use of the main body mounted with the non-genuine product. |
| US08577225B2 |
Optical receiver
Provided is an optical receiver which accurately demodulates an optical signal obtained by the differential phase shift modulation method. The optical receiver includes: an interferometer which branches the inputted optical signal into two parts and gives a one-bit phase difference to the resultant two optical signals so that the two optical signals after addition of the phase difference are made to interfere each other to output two output lights; reflection means which reflects one of the output lights from the interferometer so as to return to the interferometer; detection means which detects the return light which has been reflected by the reflection means and propagates through the interferometer in the different direction from the inputted optical signal, for output; and phase difference control means which adjusts the phase difference given by the interferometer according to the intensity of the return light detected by the detection means. |
| US08577222B2 |
Optical repeater system
The present invention relates to an optical relay system for transmitting multi-band frequency signals with limited bands by using optical lines. According to the present invention, a plurality of band-limited signals are band-combined into one signal by using a combiner, and the signals are transmitted through multiple outputs by using a distributor, and thus a multi-stage filter is not necessary. In addition, the present invention is capable of effectively solving various problems such as damage to the original signals caused by the band combination of the multi-stage filter, and there is no need to precisely connect each of the band-limited signals to the determined ports of the combiner and the signals can be connected to random ports, thereby improving convenience of use. |
| US08577221B2 |
Switch system and method for the monitoring of virtual optical paths in an optical burst switched (OBS) communication network
The invention provides an optical burst switch in an Optical Burst Switched (OBS) communication network, said optical burst switch comprising means for monitoring and maintaining mesh of virtual optical paths from a communication node to a plurality of other communication nodes, arranged in a ring network, enabling traffic data to be transmitted and/or received between nodes via a physical optical path. The switch also provides means for sending a data packet probe on a virtual path from a node to each other node in the OBS communication network, wherein data packet probe information received at said switch provides information of availability of the physical optical path for sending traffic data between nodes. The switch can be configured such that the rate at which this path monitoring is scheduled guaranteeing less than 50 ms protection switch in the event of monitoring a failed or degraded path. |
| US08577219B2 |
Imaging apparatus and method of calculating usable time of imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a usable time calculation unit which calculates a usable time of a battery device having a secondary battery, wherein the usable time calculation unit measures an average power level while a component is performed at a predetermined operation mode, wherein the power consumption of the component is unknown in advance before the component is initially connected, and when power is supplied for the second and subsequent times while the component is continuously connected, the usable time calculation unit calculates the usable time of the battery device using the average power level and a current integration value which is an integration value of current flowing during charging and discharging of the battery device. |
| US08577206B2 |
Information record medium, information record device and method, information reproduction device and method, information recording/reproduction device and method, recording or reproduction control computer program, and data structure containing control signal
On an information record medium, there are recorded: a plurality of content informations; and a plurality of play list sets each including a plurality of play list informations defining reproduction sequence thereof. The plurality of content informations, whose reproduction sequences are defined by the plurality of play list informations in a same play list set, are different from each other in reproduction functions required for an information reproduction system to reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to at least partially construct titles, each of which is a logically united information unit and which are same to each other. Required function information indicating the reproduction function required for the information reproduction system is further recorded for each of the plurality of play list informations. |
| US08577202B2 |
Method for processing a video data set
The invention relates to a method for processing a video data set, which comprises a sequence of original images, into a modified video data set which, in addition to the sequence of original images, comprises virtual images derived therefrom in one or more data processing units, wherein an SfM analysis is carried out for each of the original images and a respectively assigned original position of a recording device which was used to record the original image, virtual positions are formed for a recording device for recording virtual images, for each virtual position of the recording device with the associated virtual initial image, a respective assignment is created to at least one of the original positions of the recording device with the associated original image, for each assignment, a homography is determined between the virtual initial image and the associated original image, and for each virtual initial image, a virtual final image is formed from the associated original image in that the original image is formed in the associated final image using the respectively determined homography. |
| US08577198B2 |
Fiber distribution hub with swing frame and wrap-around doors
A fiber distribution hub (FDH) provides an interface between an incoming fiber and a plurality of outgoing fibers. The FDH includes a cabinet, at least one door pivotably mounted to the cabinet, and a frame pivotably mounted within the cabinet. The doors wrap around the sides and the front of the cabinet to provide access to both the front and sides of the frame when the doors are open. The frame can pivot out of the cabinet through the open doors to enable access to the rear of the cabinet and the rear side of the frame. The frame includes a termination region and a splitter region. The frame can include a storage region and/or a pass-through region. |
| US08577194B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient installation of cables in watercraft
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for efficient installation of optical and electrical cable in watercraft. A manufacturer may terminate one end of a cable in a location removed from the watercraft, allowing use of automated cable termination machines for efficiency and consistency of terminations. The single-terminated cable may then be brought to the watercraft and installed by pulling or routing the unterminated end through ductwork and pipes, watertight bulkhead throughways, and cable trays and ladders as necessary, prior to termination. Accordingly, more difficult and expensive on-site labor is reduced, and reliability is greatly increased. Furthermore, many cable tests that require termination but cannot be executed post-installation can be performed prior to installation, to ensure that at least the first termination, performed off-site, is error-free, reducing later troubleshooting and further increasing installation efficiency. |
| US08577193B2 |
Grating assisted surface emitter laser coupling for heat assisted magnetic recording
An apparatus includes a waveguide, a laser diode positioned adjacent to the waveguide and having an active region producing light in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the waveguide, a first grating positioned to couple light out of the laser diode and to direct the light toward the waveguide, a reflective layer positioned adjacent to a side of the first grating opposite to the waveguide, and a second grating having the same period as the first grating and positioned to couple light into the waveguide. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided. |
| US08577188B2 |
Optical transmitter module
An optical transmitter module includes a light source, a first optical circulation unit, a first optical reflector, and an output unit. The light source emits a first light signal with a first wavelength, and a second light signal with a second wavelength. The first optical circulation unit includes three optical couplers and three optical isolators, which are alternately connected to one another to form a loop. The first optical circulation unit includes a first port at a first optical coupler, a second port at a second optical coupler, and a third port at a third optical coupler. The first port is optically coupled to the light source. The first optical reflector is optically coupled to the second port. The first optical reflector reflects the first light signal back to the second port. The output unit is optically coupled to the third port to output the first light signal. |
| US08577184B2 |
System and method for super-resolution imaging from a sequence of color filter array (CFA) low-resolution images
A method and system for improving picture quality of color images by combing the content of a plurality of frames of the same subject; comprising: at least one processor; the at least one processor comprising a memory for storing a plurality of frames of a subject; the at least one processor operating to combine the content of plurality of frames of the subject into a combined color image by performing: a process in which at least two multicolored frames are converted to monochromatic predetermined color frames; a gross shift process in which the gross shift translation of one monochromatic predetermined color frame is determined relative to a reference monochromatic predetermined color frame; a subpixel shift process utilizing a correlation method to determine the translational and/or rotational differences of one monochromatic predetermined color frame to the reference monochromatic predetermined color frame to estimate sub-pixel shifts and/or rotations between the frames; and an error reduction process to determine whether the resolution of the resulting combined color image is of sufficient resolution; the error reduction process comprising applying at least one spatial frequency domain constraint and at least one spatial domain constraint to the combined color image to produce at least one high-resolution full color image. |
| US08577177B2 |
Symmetric and inverse-consistent deformable registration
A method for symmetric and inverse-consistent registration of a pair of digital images includes calculating a first update of a forward transformation of a first digital image to a second digital image from a previous update of the forward transformation and a gradient of a cost function of the first and second digital images, calculating a first update of a backward transformation of the second digital image to the first digital image from an inverse of the first update of the forward transformation, calculating a second update of the backward transformation from first update of the backward transformation and the gradient of a cost function of the second and first digital images, and calculating a second update of the forward transformation from an inverse of the second update of the backward transformation. |
| US08577175B2 |
Subject position determination method, program product for determining subject position, and camera
A subject position determination method includes: generating a plurality of binarized images of a target image based upon color information or brightness information of the target image; calculating an evaluation value used to determine a subject position in the target image for each of the plurality of binarized images; and determining a subject position in the target image based upon the evaluation value. |
| US08577173B2 |
Multi-element image templates
A system for making an image product includes a computer including a processor and a memory, a template stored in the memory, the template including a template graphic and a plurality of openings in the template graphic, an image stored in the memory, and the processor compositing the image into two or more of the plurality of openings, so that two different portions of the image are located in two different openings and the two different portions have the same relative locations in the composition as in the user image. |
| US08577172B2 |
Reconfigurable module and method of implementing this reconfigurable module for performing morphological operations
The invention provides a reconfigurable module allowing morphological operations to be carried out for image processing. The module includes an operational block having five inputs, three outputs, three adders/subtracters and four logic blocks. The logic blocks provide various routings between the three adders/subtracters to enable the outputs to deliver the result of basic operations carried out on the five inputs. The reconfigurable module has a reduced number of components while at the same time allowing various morphological operations to be performed whose parameters can be modified. Furthermore, the reconfigurable module is serially combined to carry out more complex morphological operations. The invention also provides a method for implementing the reconfigurable module allowing an integral image, an eroded image, an expanded image, a distance image or projections along the rows and columns of the original image to be determined starting from an original image. |
| US08577165B2 |
Method and apparatus for bandwidth-reduced image encoding and decoding
An image encoding apparatus is provided, including a lossless compression unit that performs lossless compression on deblocked data on a window basis during encoding of image data; a lossless compression controller that determines a relation between the deblocked data and the losslessly compressed deblocked data and determines a size of the window; a cache controller that selects losslessly compressed deblocked data corresponding to reference data used for motion compensation or motion estimation from the losslessly compressed deblocked data, based on the relation between the deblocked data and losslessly compressed deblocked data; a lossless compression reconstruction unit that decodes the selected losslessly compressed deblocked data to reconstruct the reference data; and a cache storage unit that stores the reconstructed reference data. |
| US08577163B2 |
Systems and methods for image handling and presentation
Certain embodiments provide systems and methods for adaptive compression, transmission, and display of clinical images. Certain embodiments provide a method for adaptive compression of image data for transmission and display at a client workstation. The method includes identifying one or more images for display, the one or more images including a plurality of image slices. The method also includes determining a compression scheme for the one or more images based on at least one of bandwidth, processing power, and diagnostic modality. The method further includes transferring the one or more images for display at the client workstation. The method additionally includes adapting the compression scheme based on resource availability. |
| US08577162B2 |
Output apparatus and output method
An output apparatus determines pixels that form an area equal to or greater than a predetermined size and whose pixel values are not different from pixel values of neighboring pixels, and pixels that form an area not equal to or greater than the predetermined size. The apparatus reduces the pixel values of the determined pixels and outputs a binary image formed by the determined pixels with the reduced pixel values. |
| US08577161B2 |
Reproduction apparatus
A reproduction apparatus includes a reproduction unit that reproduces plural moving image data having different frame rates from a recording medium, an output unit that outputs the reproduced moving image data to a display device, a setting unit that sets one of a first and a second reproduction modes, and a control unit that controls the output unit to select some of frames of the reproduced moving image data and output moving image data of the selected frames according to an instruction for high-speed reproduction. In the first reproduction mode, the control unit selects frames at a predetermined frame interval according to reproduction speed for the high-speed reproduction. In the second reproduction mode, the control unit selects frames at a frame interval determined based on the reproduction speed for the high-speed reproduction and a frame rate of the reproduced moving image data. |
| US08577158B2 |
Methods and apparatus for texture compression using patch-based sampling texture synthesis
Methods and apparatus are provided for texture compression using patch-based sampling texture synthesis. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding texture for a picture by synthesizing the texture. The encoder performs texture synthesis using a patch-based sampling method, thus determining “displacement vectors” indicating positions of patches in an input sample texture which are to be synthesized. At the encoder, both the input sample texture and information representing the “displacement vectors” are coded. At the decoder, the new patches are generated by directly using the “displacement vectors”. |
| US08577157B2 |
Conditional replenishment for motion JPEG2000
The invention relates to a method and a device for transmitting a current image of a sequence of digital images between a server device and a client device which are connected by a communication network. Each image of the sequence is encoded in a multi-resolution format, each resolution comprising a set of non independent elementary entities. The method of the invention comprises detecting motion, carried out on spatial entities defined with respect to said elementary entities, between the current image and a reference image, then determining a first set of elementary entities comprising the elementary entities relating to said at least one moving spatial entity and determining a second set of elementary entities which are necessary for reconstructing said moving spatial entities. Finally, at least part of each of the elementary entities of said first and second sets is sent to the client device. |
| US08577156B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-perspective scene analysis
Systems and methods for using visual attention modeling techniques to evaluate a scene from multiple perspectives. |
| US08577153B2 |
Method and system for sample image index creation and image filtering and search
The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for creating a sample image index table, filtering image, and searching image, to improve accuracy of monitoring images. A method for image filtering comprises: establishing a sample image index table; extracting regional characteristics from an image to be searched; clustering the regional characteristics of the image to be searched into corresponding nodes; obtaining a corresponding sample image identification by indexing the sample image index table using node identifications of the nodes of the image to be searched; determining a number of duplicate nodes between the image to be searched and the sample image; obtaining a degree of similarity of the image to be searched based on a number of the nodes of the image to be searched and a number of the nodes of the sample image; and filtering out the image to be searched when a degree of similarity between the image to be searched and the sample image exceeds a similarity threshold. |
| US08577151B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for detecting object
A region where a detecting target object exists is extracted by a comparison between an evaluated value indicating a probability that the detecting target object exists and a threshold, through the process of producing a differential image between different frames in plural frames constituting a continuous image, of setting an average value in an averaging region extended around each pixel of the differential image as a new value of each pixel, of obtaining the evaluated value by applying a filter that acts on a search region on an image to a search region extended around a search pixel that is extracted by comparing the new value and the threshold, on the differential image. |
| US08577146B2 |
Methods and devices that use an image-captured pointer for selecting a portion of a captured image
An electronic device includes a camera that is configured to generate a visual data signal that corresponds to dynamically captured graphic content that includes an image and a pointer that is operable to communicate a selection characteristic of the image. A signal processor receives the visual data signal and is operable to identify a portion of the image in the dynamically captured graphic content responsive to the selection characteristic communicated by the pointer. |
| US08577143B2 |
Label reuse method and connected component labeling
Embodiments disclosed include methods and systems for reusing labels for connected component labeling including assigning one or more labels to one or more groups of raw data representing one or more regions by designating one or more data structures as containing information about the one or more regions; connecting the one or more labels determined to be related; choosing a root label for the connected one or more labels, the root label determined by locating an earliest data element from the one or more groups of raw data; altering a label list of the one or more labels, the label list altered by flagging the root label to include a region label index; and overwriting one or more region label indexes according to the root label. |
| US08577138B2 |
Color rolling detection method and detection device
The present invention discloses a color rolling detection method and detection device for an input image, which can detect a phenomenon of color rolling in the image rapidly, efficiently and at a low cost. The detection method includes the steps of: an extracting step for extracting parameter values indicative of the color or brightness of the image in a detection time period T3; a preprocessing step for performing a preprocess to the extracted parameter values so as to obtain characteristic values of the image; an initial value setting step for obtaining a first initial value from the characteristic values in an initialization time period of the detection time period T3; an average value calculating step for calculating, with respect to each detection cycle T2 in the detection time period T3, an average value on the time axis of the characteristic values in the detection cycle T2 based on the obtained first initial value; and a detecting step for detecting whether there exists in the detection time period T3 such a detection cycle T2 that the characteristic values in the detection cycle T2 always maintain a deviation in a specific direction relative to the average value thereof, wherein if so, then occurrence of the color rolling is judged; otherwise, no occurrence of the color rolling is judged. |
| US08577136B1 |
Grid pixelation enhancement for in-stock analytics
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for presenting product stock information. In some implementations, an image of a portion of a retail store is received from a camera and analyzed to divide the image into macroblocks. Each of the macroblocks can be associated with one or more product facings associated with products placed on a shelf in the retail store. A color from the macroblock is optionally identified and compared to a product color or a shelf color to determine a stock level of the product. In some implementations, a reporting module presents the stock level in a graphical user interface to a user. |
| US08577134B2 |
Method and system of facilitating search by color
A system and method of facilitating search by color processes an image of an item to obtain its color space parameter values and/or color names based on the color space parameter values, and adds the color space parameter values and/or color names as color attribute of the item. When a user inputs a color as a search criterion, the method searches the color attributes of items, and returns a list of items matching the color selected by the user. |
| US08577132B2 |
Electronic document generation system, electronic document generation method, and program
An electronic document generation system includes a first layer generation unit that generates a character image layer that represents a character image in the scanned image by a predetermined number of bits, an edge image generation unit that generates an edge image of the character image, a second layer generation unit that generates an antialiasing layer that includes a binarized image generated based on the edge image and that is to be superimposed in a semi-transparent state on the character image layer, a file generation unit that generates the electronic document that includes the character image layer and the antialiasing layer, and a base color determination unit that determines a base color of the character image. The second layer generation unit sets the same color as the base color for the antialiasing layer. |
| US08577127B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing three-dimensional images
A three-dimensional sense adjusting unit displays three-dimensional images to a user. If a displayed reaches a limit of parallax, the user responds to the three-dimensional sense adjusting unit. According to acquired appropriate parallax information, a parallax control unit generates parallax images to realize the appropriate parallax in the subsequent stereo display. The control of parallaxes is realized by optimally setting camera parameters by going back to three-dimensional data. Functions to realize the appropriate parallax are made into and presented by a library. |
| US08577124B2 |
Method and apparatus of pattern inspection and semiconductor inspection system using the same
A pattern inspection apparatus can be provided, for example, in a scanning electron microscope system. When patterns of a plurality of layers are included in a SEM image, the apparatus separates the patterns according to each layer by using design data of the plurality of layers corresponding to the patterns. Consequently, the apparatus can realize inspection with use of only the pattern of a target layer to be inspected, pattern inspection differently for different layers, or detection of a positional offset between the layers. |
| US08577118B2 |
Systems for mobile image capture and remittance processing
The present invention relates to automated document processing and more particularly, to methods and systems for document image capture and processing using mobile devices. In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems for document image capture on a mobile communication device are provided such that the image is optimized and enhanced for data extraction from the document as depicted. These methods and systems may comprise capturing an image of a document using a mobile communication device; transmitting the image to a server; and processing the image to create a bi-tonal image of the document for data extraction. Additionally, these methods and systems may comprise capturing a first image of a document using the mobile communication device; automatically detecting the document within the image; geometrically correcting the image; binarizing the image; correcting the orientation of the image; correcting the size of the image; and outputting the resulting image of the document. |
| US08577116B2 |
Assay image acquisition system and method
A computer-implemented method of imaging an assay sample having a set of individual samples using a camera is provided. A set of image frames is received. The set of image frames corresponds to an image stream of the assay obtained by the camera. A set of measurement results is identified. Individual measurement results in the set of measurement results are respectively associated with individual image frames in the set of image frames. A subset of measurement results is selected based, at least in part, on an exposure time. Individual measurement results in the subset of measurement results are combined to obtain an integrated measurement result. |
| US08577114B2 |
Extension of truncated CT images for use with emission tomography in multimodality medical images
An apparatus and method for expanding the FOV of a truncated computed tomography (CT) scan. An iterative calculation is performed on the original CT image to produce an estimate of the image. The calculated estimate of the reconstructed image includes the original image center and a estimate of the truncated portion outside the image center. The calculation uses an image mask with the image center as one boundary. |
| US08577110B2 |
Device, method and computer readable recording medium containing program for separating image components
A problem inherent to radiographic images, which may occur when an independent component analysis technique is applied to energy subtraction carried out on radiographic images, is solved to achieve separation of image components to be separated with higher accuracy. As preprocessing before the independent component analysis, a spatial frequency band which contains the components to be separated is extracted, pixels of the radiographic images are classified into more than one subsets for each radiographic image based on a value of a predetermined parameter, and/or nonlinear pixel value conversion is applied to the radiographic images based on a value of the predetermined parameter. Alternatively, nonlinear independent component analysis is carried out according to a model using the predetermined parameter. |
| US08577108B2 |
Method for detecting anatomical structures
A method for estimating the location of an anatomical structure in an x-ray image of a patient obtains the x-ray data in digital format. The method estimates the location of at least a first benchmark feature within the x-ray image according to the obtained digital x-ray data and defines a region of interest within the image according to the estimated location of at least the first benchmark feature. A region of interest for the anatomical structure is searched using a template. The location of the anatomical structure on a display according to the template searching results is highlighted. |
| US08577107B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient three-dimensional contouring of medical images
A technique is disclosed for generating a new contour and/or a 3D surface such as a variational implicit surface from contour data. In one embodiment, a point reduction operation is performed on data sets corresponding to any combination of transverse, sagittal, or coronal contour data prior to processing those data sets to generate a 3D surface such as a variational implicit surface. A new contour can also be generated by the intersection of this surface with an appropriately placed and oriented plane. In this manner, the computation of the variational implicit surface becomes sufficiently efficient to make its use for new contour generation practical. |
| US08577104B2 |
Liver lesion segmentation
A method for segmenting a first object from a bounding object within a digital image identifies pixels between first and second endpoint pixels. A volume of interest is defined spanning at least a portion of the object. Pixels within the volume of interest are partitioned into a first subset of pixels that are neither the first object nor bounding object pixels and second subset of pixels that are not contained in the first subset. A spatially varying two-phase segmentation process segments the first object from the bounding object within the second subset of pixels according to the location of each subject pixel within the second subset relative to pixels in the first subset of pixels. The first object segmentation is refined according to the subject pixel location relative to the segmented bounding object and to the first subset of pixels. A segmented image is formed according to the refined segmentation. |
| US08577102B2 |
Method for improving the accuracy of a bronchial biopsy, and device for carrying out a method for improving the accuracy of a bronchial biopsy
A method is disclosed for improving the accuracy of a bronchial biopsy. In at least one embodiment, the method includes detecting the position and extent of a lesion to be biopsied by way of imaging methods, calculating the maximum biopsy depth with a known biopsy inaccuracy as a function of the extent of the lesion, and producing a biopsy plan on the basis of the calculated maximum biopsy depth and the position of the lesion. A device is also disclosed for carrying out the method. |
| US08577099B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for detecting facial characteristic points
First, a face within an image, which is a target of detection, is detected. Detection data of the face is employed to detect eyes which are included in the face. Detection data of the eyes are employed to detect the inner and outer corners of the eyes. Detection data of the inner and outer corners of the eyes is employed to detect characteristic points of the upper and lower eyelids that represent the outline of the eyes. |
| US08577098B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for designating an object image to be registered
An image processing apparatus comprising: a first detection unit adapted to detect a first subject from an object image; a first extraction unit adapted to extract a first feature amount for identifying an attribute of the first subject; a second extraction unit adapted to extract a second feature amount for detecting the second subject; a first storage unit adapted to store the first feature amount; and a second storage unit adapted to store the second feature amount, wherein when the first detection unit detects the first subject, the first extraction unit extracts the first feature amount and the first storage unit stores the amount, and when the first detection unit cannot detect the first subject, the second extraction unit extracts the second feature amount and the second storage unit stores the amount. |
| US08577096B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and control method thereof
An encoding apparatus encodes an image by tile in a smallest possible size while suppresses segmentation of a specific region in the image into tiles. Vertical lines at left and right ends of n-th face region are defined as boundary candidate vertical lines Lh(n) and Lm(n), and horizontal lines at upper and lower ends of the n-th region, as boundary candidate horizontal lines Lu(n) and Ls(n). A divider determines a horizontal line of another region existing within the range of the horizontal lines Lu(n) and Ls(n) of the n-th region as a line to be deleted. Further, the divider determines a vertical line of another region existing within the range of the vertical lines Lh(n) and Lm(n) as a line to be deleted. This processing is performed to the final region, then image data is divided using horizontal and vertical lines except the lines determined as lines to be deleted. |
| US08577090B2 |
Biometric authentication method, authentication system, corresponding program and terminal
A biometric authentication method if provided for an individual to be authenticated amongst a very large quantity of individuals with an authentication system storing a set of reference information each associated to one of the individuals. The reference information is distributed across a plurality of sub-databases. The method includes a phase of adding reference information representative of a new individual, including selecting the sub-database that is best adapted to store the reference information to be added. A phase of authentication includes: provision by the individual of authentication biometric information and of an identifier forming addressing information, designating at least one of said sub-databases likely to contain the reference information representative of said individual; and searching amongst the reference information stored by the authentication system, of reference information corresponding to the individual, the searching being carried out on a subset of said set of reference information, identified by the addressing information. |
| US08577089B2 |
Apparatus and method for depth unfolding based on multiple depth images
Provided is a depth image unfolding apparatus and method that may remove a depth fold from a depth image to restore a three-dimensional (3D) image. The depth image unfolding apparatus may include an input unit to receive inputted multiple depth images with respect to the same scene, the multiple depth images being photographed based on different modulation frequencies of a fixed photographing device, a depth fold estimator to estimate a number of depth folds based on a distance between multiple three-dimensional (3D) points of multiple pixels indicating the same location of the scene in the multiple depth images, and an output unit to output the multiple depth images from which depth folds are removed based on the estimated number of depth folds. |
| US08577088B2 |
Method and system for collecting information relating to identity parameters of a vehicle
The present invention discloses methods and systems for collecting information relating to identity parameters of a vehicle. According to the invention an image of the vehicle is obtained. A sub-image within the image is identified, interest points within the sub-image are detected and the sub-image is processed so as to obtain descriptors representing the interest points. The descriptors are matched to predetermined descriptors representing interest points in previously obtained images respective of known identity parameters and the information is stored in a record representing an identity of the vehicle. |
| US08577080B2 |
Object contour detection device and method
An object contour detection method includes: allowing an image sensor to sense respectively a plurality of images of an object by moving a lens with a shallow depth of field at a plurality of positions repeatedly, meanwhile, record the plurality of positions of the lens and the plurality of images one-to-one corresponding to the plurality of positions; removing respectively unclear areas in the plurality of images to obtain a plurality of clear images, and obtaining a plurality of displacement quantities of depth of field depending on a displacement quantity between each two adjacent positions in the plurality of positions; and extending a depth of the front image to reach the corresponding displacement quantity of depth of field and then combine the front image with the rear image in sequence, allowing the plurality of clear images to combine into a stereoscopic image corresponding to the object contour. |
| US08577078B2 |
Method of adjusting brightness of illumination device and bio disk drive using the method
Provided are a method and apparatus for adjusting brightness of an illumination device that is used in photographing an analysis object in a bio disk. The method includes taking images of an analysis object in a bio disk; calculating brightness of the images of the analyzing object; and adjusting brightness of an illumination device which is used in the photographing operation of the analysis object in the bio disk based on a difference between the calculated brightness and a target brightness. |
| US08577077B2 |
System for identifying motion video/audio content
A system for identifying motion video/audio content by means of comparing a video A to a registered video B so as to determine if they are originally the same as each other, wherein said system at least comprises a fingerprint extractor A for fingerprint A from the video A; a fingerprint database for the registered video B; and a matcher which is adapted to search from the fingerprint database for the registered fingerprint B of the video B by means of comparison of fingerprint A with a shifting window of a possible fingerprint B, so as to determine that the video A is visually identical to the video B if a match is found. According to the present invention, the method for extracting a fingerprint data from video/audio signals facilitates the automatic identification, archiving and search of video content, and can be of archiving without the need for human visual inspections. |
| US08577072B2 |
Electronic device
In an electronic device, a speaker attaching section 17 which is vertically open with respect to a circuit board 10 and into which a speaker 16 is press-fitted is integrally formed on a contact sheet 13 arranged on the circuit board 10 provided inside an upper case 8. Therefore, the speaker 16 can be easily attached in a manner that sound therefrom does not leak, simply by the speaker 16 being press-fitted into the speaker attaching section 17 of the contact sheet 13. Accordingly, in the present invention, the structure of the speaker section 6 is simple and the number of its components is small, whereby the thickness of the speaker section 6 can be reduced. In addition, sound generated by the speaker can be favorably and reliably emitted from the speaker attaching section 17 to the outside of the upper case 8, without chattering noise being generated. |
| US08577070B2 |
Speaker with vibration absorbing function and related electronic device
A speaker with vibration absorbing function is disclosed in the present invention. The speaker is disposed on a boss of a casing. The speaker includes a sound box, and a supporting arm disposed on a lateral surface of the sound box. The supporting arm includes a bending portion. An end of the bending portion is connected to the sound box. The supporting arm further includes a hooking portion disposed on the other end of the bending portion for hooking the boss of the casing. Vibration generated from the sound box can decay by the bending portion, and is not transmitted to the boss via the hooking portion. |
| US08577068B2 |
Pop-up tweeter
The present invention relates to a pop-up tweeter. In particular, the pop-up tweeter includes a casing, a driving unit inserted into the inside of the casing. The driving unit is configured to be movable upward and downward within the casing along with a speaker. The pop-up tweeter is installed within a vehicle and is configured to have an opening and closing structure which advantageously improves user convenience and provides an external design of a speaker with increased merchantability. |
| US08577066B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations
Methods and apparatus for transmitting vibrations via an electronic and/or transducer assembly through a dental patch are disclosed herein. The patch assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded intra-orally on a tooth or oral tissue. The electronic and transducer assembly may receive incoming sounds either directly or through a receiver to process and amplify the signals and transmit the processed sounds via a vibrating transducer element coupled to a tooth or other bone structure, such as the maxillary, mandibular, or palatine bone structure. |
| US08577065B2 |
Systems and methods for creating immersion surround sound and virtual speakers effects
Modern electronic devices are getting more portable and smaller leading to smaller distances between speakers. In particular, computers are now so compact that the notebook computer is one of the most popular computer types. However, with the proliferation of media available in digital form, both music recordings and video features, the demand for high quality reproductions on computers has increased. Systems and methods for producing wider speaker effects and immersion effects disclosed can enhance a listener's experience even in a notebook computer. |
| US08577064B2 |
Sound capturing and guiding system from stereo speakers packed together in a closed box and heard as stereo sound coming from various directions
A stereo speaker sound capturing and guiding system. The system includes devices that connected on each one of the stereo speakers as a cap. The device covers the speaker cones in hermetic way that captures the sound of the specific speaker and don't let the sound mixed with the sound of the other speaker that located in the same closed box or very near to the first speaker. The sound in the cap device guided directly from the speaker through connector facility between the speakers and the user's ears—such as air tubes—and transmitted exclusively to the user's matched ear—the sound from the right speaker gets only to right ear and sound from the left speaker gets only to the left ear—as at least two independent audio channels. |
| US08577059B2 |
Audio system including multiband audio dynamics processor
An audio system includes a level controller receiving an input audio signal from an audio medium. The level controller includes a gain adjust module producing an output audio signal based on the input audio signal. A filter arrangement is communicatively coupled to the level controller. The filter arrangement receives the output audio signal and divides the output signal into a plurality of filtered signals. Each of the filtered signals corresponds to a respective frequency band. A multiband dynamics controller is communicatively coupled to the filter arrangement. The multiband dynamics controller receives the filtered signals and applies a respective gain characteristic to each of the filtered signals to thereby produce a plurality of gain adjust signals. The gain adjust signals are combined into a multiband dynamics controller output signal. |
| US08577055B2 |
Sound source signal filtering apparatus based on calculated distance between microphone and sound source
Provided is a sound source signal filtering method and apparatus. The sound source signal filtering method includes: generating two or more microphone output signals by combining sound source signals input through a plurality of microphones; calculating distances between the microphones and a sound source from which the sound source signals are emitted by using distance relationships according to frequencies of the sound source signals extracted from the generated microphone output signals; and filtering the sound source signals to obtain one or more sound source signals corresponding to a predetermined distance by using the calculated distances. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain only sound source signals emitted from a sound source at a particular distance from the microphone array among a plurality of sound source signals input through the microphone array. |
| US08577053B1 |
Ticketing and/or authorizing the receiving, reproducing and controlling of program transmissions by a wireless device that time aligns program data with natural sound at locations distant from the program source
A method for providing a ticket and/or an authorization relating to an event may comprise: providing a ticket and/or an authorization configured to be stored on an electronic device; wherein the electronic device is of a type that can receive and reproduce wirelessly received data, and/or can delay and reproduce wirelessly received data substantially in time alignment with natural sound received via the atmosphere. The ticket and/or authorization may enable the electronic device to be used at the event and/or to gain entry to the event; and may further enable the electronic device to also obtain at least one other use related to the event. |
| US08577052B2 |
Headphone accessory
A headphone accessory for use with a portable audio device and headphones. The headphone accessory includes an audio source input for receiving audio signals from an audio device. An audio sound transducer receives external sounds and converts the external sound to external sound signals. A signal mixer for continuously varies the balance of a source audio volume to an external sound volume. The signal mixer mixes the volume-adjusted source audio signals with volume-adjusted external sound signals. An audio output outputs the mixed source audio and external sound signals. |
| US08577051B2 |
Sound signal compensation apparatus and method thereof
According to one embodiment, a sound signal compensation apparatus includes an input module, a compensation module, and an output module. The input module receives identification information identifying a first frequency with regard to a resonance of an ear closed by an earphone or headphone. The compensation module performs first compensation emphasizing a second frequency on a sound signal, the second frequency being determined based on the identification information or the first frequency. The output module outputs the compensated sound signal. The compensation module is configured to perform the first compensation emphasizing the second frequency, at which emphasis is greater than or equal to 2 dB and less than or equal to 12 dB. |
| US08577049B2 |
Apparatus and method for enhancing sound produced by a gaming application
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device having a controller to modify sound produced by a gaming application according to an otological profile of a user. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08577048B2 |
Self-calibrating loudspeaker system
Systems and methods for calibrating a loudspeaker with a connection to a microphone located at a listening area in a room. The loudspeaker includes self-calibration functions to adjust speaker characteristics according to effects generated by operating the loudspeaker in the room. In one example, the microphone picks up a test signal generated by the loudspeaker and the loudspeaker uses the test signal to determine the loudspeaker frequency response. The frequency response is analyzed below a selected low frequency value for a room mode. The loudspeaker generates parameters for a digital filter to compensate for the room modes. In another example, the loudspeaker may be networked with other speakers to perform calibration functions on all of the loudspeakers in the network. |
| US08577046B2 |
Apparatus for estimating sound source direction from correlation between spatial transfer functions of sound signals on separate channels
An apparatus estimates the direction of a sound source from signals plural microphones capture sound to produce. Data are stored on reverse characteristics of spatial transfer functions defined on sound transmitted from sound source positions to the respective microphones. To the signal produced by each microphone, applied are the reverse characteristics of the spatial transfer functions thus stored in connection with that microphone with respect to the sound source positions to thereby estimate a sound source signal on a sound source position associated with the sound captured. Between the sound source signals estimated on the sound source positions associated with the sounds captured by the microphones, coincidence or higher correlation is found on a sound source position to thereby produce information on at least the direction of the sound source thus found. |
| US08577044B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic and secure distribution of an asymmetric key security credential in a utility computing environment
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus for automatic, secure, and confidential distribution of an asymmetric key security credential in a utility computing environment. In one method embodiment, the present invention provides an asymmetric key at a management server, the asymmetric key automatically associated with a logical device identifier of a provisionable resource. Additionally, an isolated virtual network is established between the management server and the provisionable resource for providing the asymmetric key to the provisionable resource. Then, after the asymmetric key is provided to the provisionable resource the isolated virtual network between the management server and the provisionable resource is dissolved. |
| US08577043B2 |
System and service to facilitate encryption in data storage devices
An encryption communications appliance provides data encryption management for a data storage library. The appliance is coupled to an encryption-capable storage device, a data storage library controller within the data storage library and with an encryption key manager (EKM). The encryption command communications appliance intercepts encryption key requests from the data storage device and transparently forwards the requests to the EKM. The appliance also forwards transparently communications between the library controller and the data storage device. |
| US08577041B2 |
Method for securely distributing configuration information to a device
An MTA certificate containing a public key is provided to a provisioning server, typically via an MIB. The provisioning server retrieves configuration information associated with the MTA. A symmetric session key is randomly generated and used to encrypt the configuration information. The public key is used to encrypt the symmetric key. The encrypted session key is combined with the encrypted configuration information into a composite file, and the composite file is distributed to the device that contains the MTA.The MTA device decrypts the session key using its private key that corresponds to the public key and the decrypted session key is used to decrypt the configuration information. The decrypted configuration information is used to complete initialization of the MTA device. |
| US08577037B1 |
Pipelined packet encapsulation and decapsulation for temporal key integrity protocol employing arcfour algorithm
A network device includes an input circuit and a key mixing circuit. The input circuit is configured to receive i) a message and ii) a plurality of packets from a transmitting device. The message includes i) an address of the transmitting device and ii) a predetermined value for a count. Each of the plurality of packets i) is encapsulated and ii) includes the address of the transmitting device and one of a plurality of values for the count. The message is received prior to receiving the plurality of packets. The key mixing circuit is configured to generate a plurality of seeds based on the message. Each of the plurality of seeds is based on i) a predetermined key, ii) the address of the transmitting device, and iii) the predetermined value for the count. The plurality of seeds is used to decapsulate the plurality of packets. |
| US08577034B2 |
Method and device for protecting a reading device for card-shaped data carriers from unauthorized evaluation or copying of magnetically encoded data of an inserted card-shaped data carrier
The invention relates to a method and devices for protecting a reading device (1) for card-shaped data carriers (2) against unauthorized evaluation or copying of magnetically encoded data detected in the reading device (1) for card-shaped data carriers (2). To this end, an electromagnetic noise field (18) is generated by means of a noise field coil (17). The use or disposition of the at least one noise field coil (17) is such that the authorized magnetic field reading head (10) is also affected by the noise field (18) of the noise field coil (17) when the magnetically encoded data of a card-shaped data carrier (2) is being read. An output or sum signal of the authorized magnetic field reading head (10) generated from the wanted signal of a card-shaped data carrier (2) and from the effects of the noise field (18) is detected. The effect of the noise field (18) of the noise field coil (17) in the output or sum signal of the authorized magnetic field reading head (10) is then compensated or filtered out or the wanted signal is selectively filtered out of the output or sum signal of the authorized magnetic field reading head (10). |
| US08577029B2 |
Oblivious transfer with hidden access control lists
A method, apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium having computer readable instructions to carry out the steps of the method for anonymous access to a database. Each record of the database has different access control permissions (e.g. attributes, roles, or rights). The method allows users to access the database record while the database does not learn who queries a record. The database does not know which record is being queried: (i) the access control list of that record or (ii) whether a user's attempt to access a record had been successful. The user can only obtain a single record per query and only those records for which he has the correct permissions. The user does not learn any other information about the database structure and the access control lists other than whether he was granted access to the queried record, and if so, the content of the record. |
| US08577027B1 |
Advanced cryptographic method of multilayer diffusion in multidimension
The invention is related to working with variable diffusion functions on a multidimensional diffusion-area (plaintext/ciphertext); every diffusion function run in a cycle times, wherein repeating one certain times on the plaintext to get a ciphertext, and afterward, repeating the other times on the ciphertext to recover the plaintext, is performed in sequence to complete the encryption and the decryption. According to FIG. 1, the system comprises of: inputting a plaintext in encryption or a ciphertext in decryption 100; reading every password segment in order, forward in encryption or backward in decryption 200; and further, converting the plaintext dimensions by the password segment 300; implementing the diffusion function of Point 410, Block 420 or Frame 430, repeated TE times in encryption, TD times in decryption 400; going back to 200 until completing all password segments 500, and outputting the ciphertext in encryption or the plaintext in decryption 600. |
| US08577026B2 |
Methods and apparatus in alternate finite field based coders and decoders
Methods and apparatus for coding and decoding n-state symbols with n≧2 and n>2 and n>3 and n>4 are provided wherein at least one implementation of an addition over an alternate finite field GF(n) and an inverter defined by a multiplication over the alternate finite field GF(n) are provided. Encoders and decoders implementing a single n-state truth table that is a truth table of an addition over an alternate finite field GF(n) modified in accordance with at least one inverter defined by a multiplication over the alternate finite field GF(n) are also provided. Encoders include scramblers, Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) based encoders, sequence generator based encoders, block coders, streaming cipher encoders, transposition encoders, hopping rule encoders, Feistel network based encoders, check symbol based encoders, Hamming coder, error correcting encoders, encipherment encoders, Elliptic Curve Coding encoders and all corresponding decoders. Systems applying encoders and decoders also are provided. |
| US08577024B2 |
Concealing plain text in scrambled blocks
An apparatus generally having a first circuit and a second circuit is disclosed. The first circuit may be configured to (i) divide a plain text into at least three input blocks and (ii) generate at least three scrambled blocks by scrambling the input blocks using a first cipher process. The first cipher process may be configured such that a first of the input blocks does not affect the generation of a last scrambled block. The second circuit may be configured to (i) generate at least three output blocks by de-scrambling the scrambled blocks using a second cipher process and (ii) reconstruct the plain text from the output blocks. The second cipher process may be configured such that a first of the scrambled blocks affects the generation of all of the output blocks. |
| US08577019B2 |
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to detect echo during teleconferences
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to detect echo during teleconferences are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes collecting first signal data for a first teleconference leg of a teleconference, collecting second signal data for a second teleconference leg of the teleconference, computing an echo detection metric from the first and second signal data, and comparing the echo detection metric to a threshold to determine whether an echo is likely present on the first teleconference leg of the teleconference. |
| US08577018B1 |
Systems and methods for providing agent queues
This disclosure relates to using agent queues for a contact center. An agent queue profile includes parameters to configure an agent queue for each agent that is assigned to the agent queue profile. An agent queue profile manager is programmed to assign a given agent to the agent queue profile to define a corresponding agent queue for the given agent. The agent queue profile manager can also define parameters for the agent queue profile. A distribution module can control distribution of a transaction in the corresponding agent queue based on rules and can control handling of the transaction in the corresponding agent queue based on the agent queue profile. |
| US08577017B2 |
Interrupting auxiliary agents
A contact center is described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. The contact center proposed herein provides the ability to, among other things, selectively interrupt a contact center agent in an AUXILIARY state. This enables the contact center to accommodate sudden influxes of work items without substantially increasing customer wait time. |
| US08577015B2 |
Method and apparatus for the automated delivery of notifications to contacts based on predicted work prioritization
In one embodiment, a contact center is provided that includes: (a) a work item queue 208, 250 comprising an intra-enterprise contact associated with at least first and second internal endpoints of an enterprise; and (b) a selector operable to select and assign a work item to an agent. In selecting the work item, the selector considers both a customer contact and the intra-enterprise contact. The intra-enterprise contact, for example, can be a training notification. |
| US08577014B2 |
System and method of managing calls at a call center
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method to manage calls in a call center. The method includes receiving a call from a caller. The method also includes transmitting an estimated wait time to the caller. The method also includes prompting the caller with a wait option and a receive return call option. The method also includes prompting the caller with a schedule return call option when the caller selects the receive return call option. |
| US08577008B2 |
Asynchronous calls using intermittent callback for delay sensitive applications
A call handling system receives an asynchronous call request, from a call requester, requesting performance of an operation, where the call request includes a delay parameter specified by the call requester. The call handling system performs the requested operation, and sends a callback to the call requester, which includes partial results from performance of the requested operation, at selected intervals determined by the delay parameter. |
| US08577003B2 |
Centralized call processing
Disclosed are systems and methods which provide a centralized architecture for call processing. Embodiments utilize voice over Internet protocols (VoIP) to carry calls from a location at which calling services are provided to a centralized call processing platform providing call processing functionality, such as calling party identification, call validation, call routing, and connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Call processing gateways may be utilized to provide plain old telephone service (POTS) analog line interfaces for use with a plurality of telephone sets disposed for use at a location and at least one wide area network (WAN) interface for providing high speed data communication to a centralized call processing platform. PSTN interfacing by a call processing platform may be provided as a VoIP connection to the PSTN and/or as POTS trunking Call processing platforms may provide for data sharing, aggregation, and/or analysis across multiple facilities served. |
| US08577000B1 |
Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. |
| US08576998B2 |
Efficiency report incorporating communication switch statistics
Systems, apparatuses, methods, and media for generating an efficiency report in a communication service center are provided. According to the systems, apparatuses, methods, and media, communication statistics of an operator are obtained from a communication database. Work statistics of the operator are also obtained. An entry code that corresponds to an input statistic of the operator is received. The communication statistics, the work statistics, and the input statistic of the operator are integrated, and the efficiency report is generated based on the integrating of the communication statistics, the work statistics, and the input statistic of the operator. |
| US08576996B2 |
This call
An in-progress call can be manipulated such that user devices in proximity to the in-progress call, but not initially part of the call, are enabled to join the in-progress call. Determining that a user device is in proximity to an in-progress call may include detection, by the user device, of an in-progress call. Alternatively, or in addition, a communication device involved in the in-progress call may detect a user device and query the user device as to whether it has permissions to join the in-progress call and, if so, whether it wants to join the in-progress call. |
| US08576991B2 |
End-to-end logic tracing of complex call flows in a distributed call system
A logic history can be provided for every request or call instance through a distributed computing system that uniquely traces its entire path, end-to-end, in-band within the messaging for the system. The end result is a single true representation of what occurred with no post computational inference. Accordingly, unique logic history codes are not forced across the system. Rather sub-components that are logic history enabled can use codes that have meaning and applicability to itself. Unique logic history codes are not forced across the system, which in practice would be brittle. Rather each sub-component that is logic history enabled can use codes that have meaning and applicability only to itself. This allows the system to be flexible and lets sub-components change and redefine their logic and logic history traces without impacting the rest of the system. |
| US08576990B2 |
Emergency call localization for IP-based telephony
A method and system for localizing an initial point of an Internet Protocol (IP)-based telephone call that is an emergency call. A Telephony Application Server (TAS)-Proxy receives the emergency call originating from a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) subscriber. An emergency call application transmits to a replication database a request for emergency call data for identifying an initial point of the emergency call. The replication database determines the emergency call data from the IP address of the VoIP and transmits the emergency call data to the emergency call application. The emergency call applications sends the emergency call data to the TAS-Proxy. The TAS-Proxy routes the emergency call, and sends an Emergency ID of the emergency call data, to a local responsible Public Safety Answering Point. The local responsible Public Safety Answering Point can use a reference in the Emergency ID to technical data to locate the initial point of the emergency call. |
| US08576988B2 |
Distributed X-ray source and X-ray imaging system comprising the same
A distributed X-ray source (3) and an imaging system (1) comprising such an X-ray source (3) are proposed. The X-ray source (3) comprises an electron beam source arrangement (19) and an anode arrangement (17). The electron beam source arrangement (19) is adapted to emit electron beams (24) towards at least two locally distinct focal spots (27) on the anode arrangement (17). Therein, the X-ray source is adapted for displacing the anode arrangement (17) with respect to the electron beam source arrangement (19). While the provision of a plurality of focal spots allows acquisition of projection images under different projection angles thereby allowing reconstruction of three-dimensional X-ray images e.g. in tomosynthesis application, a displacement motion of the anode arrangement (17) with respect to the electron beam source arrangement (19) may allow for distributed heat flux to the anode arrangement thereby possibly reducing cooling requirements. |
| US08576981B2 |
Image reconstruction method and X-ray CT apparatus
An image reconstruction method includes a reconstruction algorithm of pixel data, weighting coefficients by which first projection data and second projection data at which a corresponding X-ray beam passes through a pixel lying on a reconstruction plane and which are opposite in view angle direction to each other, are to be multiplied, are calculated by equations each using a term of a distance between an X-ray generator and detector system and the reconstruction plane plus an offset distance at the acquisition of the projection data. |
| US08576979B2 |
Arithmetic counter circuit, configuration and application for high performance CMOS image sensors
An arithmetic counter circuit for high performance CMOS image sensors includes a plurality of flip-flops of a plurality of counter stages and a plurality of multiplexers of the plurality of counter stages being coupled to the plurality of flip-flops. Each of the plurality of multiplexers coupled to receive control signals including at least one of a toggle signal, a keep signal, a shift enable signal, or a mode signal. The control signals select the output of each of the plurality of multiplexers. Each of the plurality of flip-flops is coupled to be in one of a toggle state, a keep state, a reset state or a set state based on inputs received from the plurality of multiplexers. Other embodiments are described. |
| US08576978B2 |
Pulse signal output circuit and shift register
An object of the present invention is to provide a pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit. In an embodiment of the pulse signal output circuit, a transistor has a source terminal or a drain terminal connected to a gate electrode of another transistor having a source terminal or a drain terminal forming an output terminal of the pulse signal output circuit, the channel length of the transistor being longer than the channel length of the other transistor. Thereby, the amount of a leakage current modifying the gate potential of the other transistor can be reduced, and a malfunction of the pulse signal output circuit can be prevented. |
| US08576976B2 |
Apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies and methods of manufacturing the same
Apparatus for supporting radioactive fuel assemblies, such as spent nuclear fuel. In one aspect, the invention is an apparatus, which can be in the form of a fuel basket, fuel rack, or the like, in which hexagonal storage tubes are used not only for their internal cells but are also strategically patterned to create resultant cells with their outside surfaces. In another aspect, the invention is an apparatus having flux traps surrounding each cell wherein the size of the flux traps decrease with distance from the center of the storage grid. |
| US08576975B2 |
Protection of reactor cores from unstable density wave oscillators
The present invention provides a method of operating a Boiling Water Reactor, having the steps of analyzing LPRM signals for oscilliatory behavior indicative of neutron-flux-coupled density wave oscillations, determining if oscilliatory behavior is present in the signals; initiating a reactor protective corrective action if the oscilliatory behavior is determined, and in addition, initiating corrective actions if neutron uncoupled oscillations are possible. Detecting the later is performed through analytically determined exclusion zone on the power flow map or by on-line stability calculations for several high power channels. |
| US08576971B2 |
Laser fusion neutron source employing compression with short pulse lasers
A method and system for achieving fusion is provided. The method includes providing laser source that generates a laser beam and a target that includes a capsule embedded in the target and filled with DT gas. The laser beam is directed at the target. The laser beam helps create an electron beam within the target. The electron beam heats the capsule, the DT gas, and the area surrounding the capsule. At a certain point equilibrium is reached. At the equilibrium point, the capsule implodes and generates enough pressure on the DT gas to ignite the DT gas and fuse the DT gas nuclei. |
| US08576968B2 |
TCP flow clock extraction
A packet trace is received. The packet trace is transformed into a sequence of pulse signals in a temporal domain. The sequence of pulse signals in the temporal domain is transformed into a sequence of pulse signals in a frequency domain. Peaks are detected within relevant frequency bands in the sequence of pulse signals in the frequency domain. A fundamental frequency is identified within the peaks. The fundamental frequency, which represents the TCP flow clock, is returned. |
| US08576959B2 |
Receiver with prefiltering for discrete fourier transform-spread-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) based systems
A receiver for discrete Fourier transform-spread-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM) based systems, including a prefilter for received signal codeword(s); and a log-likelihood ratio LLR module responsive to the prefilter; wherein the prefilter includes a pairing and whitening module that based on channel estimates and data rate enables the LLR module to perform either a Serial-In-Serial-Out (SISO) based log likelihood ratio processing of an output from the paring and whitening module or a two-symbol max-log soft output demodulator (MLSD) based log likelihood ratio processing of an output from the pairing and whitening module. |
| US08576955B2 |
Architecture to handle concurrent multiple channels
An apparatus and method for enhanced downlink processing of received channels in a mobile communications system is described, containing a buffer for control data and traffic data, a demapper engine with at least two independently operating demappers for demapping the control and traffic data, a log-likelihood-ratio (LLR) buffer for supporting memory segments accessible by the demapper engine, a decoder engine containing decoders, each of the decoders operating on data from selected memory segment(s) of the LLR buffer, and an arbitrator providing control of at least one of the demapper engine, LLR buffer, and decoder engine. At least one of the decoders is suited for decoding control data and another one of the decoders is suited for decoding traffic data. By partitioning the decoding as such, an increase in downlink throughput can be obtained. |
| US08576954B1 |
Method and apparatus of cross-correlation
Briefly, a method and apparatus to calculate cross-correlation values of complex binary sequences are provided. The apparatus may include a transformation unit and a cross-correlator. The cross-correlator may include a cross-correlation controller to provide, based on a type bit and a sign bit, a real component and/or an imaginary component of signals of complex binary sequences to a real accumulator and/or to an imaginary accumulator. |
| US08576951B2 |
Mixed-signal radio frequency receiver implementing multi-mode spur avoidance
A mixed-signal radio frequency receiver implements multiple spur avoidance modes to reduce or remove spurs or digital noise injection into the received channel to enhance the receiver performance. The multiple spur avoidance modes are reconfigurable to allow a single mode or multiple modes to be selected for use depending on the application. One or more spur avoidance modes can be selected to enhance the performance of the receiver or the modes can be selected to reduce power consumption. The same spur avoidance circuit is used to support all of the spur avoidance modes by reconfiguring the circuit for each mode or each combination of modes. In another embodiment, a clock masking scheme is applied to align analog and digital clock edges to separate digital activities from sensitive analog activities. |
| US08576950B2 |
Reception apparatus, reception method, demodulation apparatus, demodulation method, and program
Disclosed herein is a reception apparatus including: a reception section configured to receive a signal modulated by a predetermined system defined by a predetermined standard; a decoding section configured to decode transmission parameters included in the received signal; an acquisition section configured to acquire from among sequentially decoded transmission parameters the parameters used in a demodulation process performed on the received signal; and a control section configured such that if the acquired transmission parameters used in the demodulation process on the received signal are different from the sequentially decoded transmission parameters, then the control section controls the demodulation process on the received signal based on newly decoded transmission parameters. |
| US08576948B2 |
Angle modulator, transmission device, and wireless communication device
Disclosed are an angle modulator, a transmission apparatus, and a radio communication apparatus that can compensate phase discontinuity when an operational mode of a voltage controlled oscillator is switched. Angle modulator (100) includes phase difference detection section (150) that detects a difference of phases between an input signal of subtractor (141) and an angle modulated signal, using the result of subtraction by subtractor (141) of frequency locked loop circuit (140); correction control section (160) that generates a control signal for compensating that difference of phases based on that difference of phases; correction section (120) that corrects the phase of the angle modulated signal by adding the control signal to an input signal of angle modulator (100), an input signal of loop filter (142), or an input signal of VCO (143) during a predetermined period after VCO (143) switches the operational mode (from time t3 to time t4). |
| US08576943B2 |
Linearization for a single power amplifier in a multi-band transmitter
A multi-band signal is generated by combining two or more input signals separated in frequency. The input signals are combined either before or after predistortion depending on the bandwidth of the multi-band signal. If the bandwidth of the multi-band signal is less than a predetermined bandwidth threshold, the input signals are combined and predistortion is applied to the combined signal to generate the multi-band signal. If the bandwidth of the multi-band signal is greater than the bandwidth threshold, the individual input signals are predistorted and subsequently combined to generate the multi-band signal. |
| US08576938B2 |
Channel estimation for low-overhead communication in a network
A receiving station receives a waveform that includes at least a first symbol of a predetermined symbol length and comprising a first set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with preamble information and a second set of frequency components at predetermined carrier frequencies modulated with information. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a first subset of the second set of frequency components. The receiving station processes sampled values from the first symbol based on channel characteristics estimated from the first set of frequency components and the first subset of the second set of frequency components to decode information encoded on a second subset of the second set of frequency components. |
| US08576936B2 |
Method and apparatus for high speed data transmission modulation and demodulation
A method and apparatus for communicating wirelessly comprising creating a plurality of sub-carrier signals by quadrature amplitude modulating data onto a plurality of sub-carrier frequencies spaced apart by a sub-carrier frequency spacing interval, frequency shifting the sub-carrier signals by one half of the sub-carrier frequency spacing interval, and modulating the sub-carrier signals onto a radio frequency carrier wave for wireless transmission. |
| US08576935B2 |
Adaptive pilot structure to assist channel estimation in spread spectrum systems
The present invention relates generally to methods for generating a dynamic pilot symbol structure in spread spectrum communication systems, and in particular to the use of pilot symbols by user equipment in channel estimation. In one form, the method includes, allocating basic pilot symbols at the beginning of each data chunk and spread over the plurality of sub-carrier frequencies; and selectively replacing data symbols in each data chunk with adaptive pilot symbols according to the speed of the user equipment. |
| US08576934B2 |
Receiving device, receiving method, and program
A receiving device includes a channel estimating section that performs a correlating process for a received reference signal in which a single carrier signal was transformed into a frequency domain signal and a pre-stored reference signal so as to obtain estimated channel values; a compensation coefficient computing section that computes compensation coefficients corresponding to residual multipath interferences based on a bit likelihood; a weight computing section that computes equalized weights based on the estimated channel values and the compensation coefficients; an equalizing filter that generates an equalized signal by equalizing process for the received signal that is the frequency domain signal based on the equalized weights; a residual interference replica generating section that generates residual multipath interference replicas based on frequency domain symbol replicas, the estimated channel values, and the equalized weights; and a subtracting section that subtracts the residual multipath interference replicas from the equalized signal. |
| US08576933B2 |
Apparatus and method for selective single-carrier equalization
Embodiments of an apparatus and method for selective SC equalization are provided. Multipath propagation in a communication channel often changes, and the severity of multipath propagation is often below worst case conditions supported by a SC communication device. When multipath propagation is less severe and below worst conditions, the use of FDE in a SC receiver to mitigate ISI can be overkill and can result in excess power being consumed. The excess power consumption can be attributed to the general inability of the structure used to perform FDE to scale in terms of performance with channel conditions. Embodiments of the apparatus and method for performing selective equalization in a SC receiver allow either FDE or TDE to be performed based on the current multipath propagation conditions of a communication channel. In general, TDE is used in place of FDE to conserve power when channel conditions permit. |
| US08576931B2 |
Methods and systems for overhead reduction in a wireless communication network
Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing throughput in a wireless communication system by reducing the amount of overhead transmitted to certain user terminals. Overhead due to control information may be reduced for these certain user terminals by selecting a low repetition factor. Overhead may be further reduced for these certain user terminals by selecting a modulation/coding scheme with a higher data rate for transmitting the control information. The selection may be based on channel conditions associated with the user terminals, such as signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios (SINRs). |
| US08576929B2 |
Powerline communication device
A Powerline Communications (PLC) device includes a processing module, memory coupled to the processing module, and a PLC interface coupled to the processing module. The PLC device transmits a plurality of PLC queries, two of the plurality of PLC queries complying with differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. It then receives a plurality of responses from a plurality of other PLC devices, two responses received from respective PLC devices complying with two differing and incompatible PLC communication standards. The PLC device then directs each of the two PLC devices to transmit communications of the differing and incompatible PLC communication standards in an attempt to avoid PLC communication conflicts. The PLC device may establish non-PLC communications with a remote communications device. The PLC device may bridge communications between remote PLC devices and between a remote PLC device and a remote non-PLC device. |
| US08576921B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for evaluating quality of video streams
A method for evaluating quality of video streams includes: obtaining video streams; obtain coding information of video frames in the video stream; evaluating the single frame quality according to the coding information of the video frames; and evaluating the sequence quality according to the single frame quality evaluation result. An apparatus and a system for evaluating quality are also provided. Thus, the quality of video data packets transmitted in a channel can be predicted accurately, and the single frame quality evaluation result of the video frames can be obtained immediately. |
| US08576914B2 |
Integer transform video compression system, method and computer program product
A video coding/decoding system, method and computer program product employ an integer transform matrix for transforming to/from transform coefficients and residual pixel data in moving pictures by a set of semi-orthonormal basis vectors. The basis vectors are derived from conventional DCT or KTL matrixes, but relaxes to some extent the requirements for orthogonality, norm equality and element size limitation. In this way improved coding efficiency and lower complexity compared to previously used integer transforms are possible. |
| US08576913B2 |
Frame prediction system and prediction method thereof
A frame prediction system and a prediction method thereof. An initializing module initializes a first image block having a plurality of pixels. A providing module provides a first centroid and a first motion vector of a second image block. The location lookup module finds a location according to the first centroid, and generates a first weight and a second weight respectively according to a relationship between each of the pixels, the first centroid and the location. A vector lookup module finds a second motion vector, which gives a minimum pixel intensity error for the plurality of pixels in the first image block according to the first centroid, the first motion vector, the location, the first weight and the second weight. A processing module sequentially calculates a plurality of predictive intensity values according to the motion vectors and the weights. |
| US08576911B2 |
Method and apparatus for motion estimation
An efficient method of motion estimation is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of macroblocks in a reference frame, wherein the plurality of macroblocks are used for motion estimation related to a current frame, and performing the motion estimation for a plurality of macroblocks in the current frame by using the received plurality of macroblocks in the reference frame. |
| US08576910B2 |
Parameter selection method, parameter selection apparatus, program, and recording medium
Provided that a first segment is an earliest time segment included in a discrete time segment, and a second segment is a time segment subsequent to the first segment, a positive second-segment parameter that corresponds to a weakly monotonically increasing function value of an average amplitude of prediction residuals in a time segment including the second segment is used as a parameter for variable length coding of prediction residuals in the second segment. In addition, a value that corresponds to a weakly monotonically increasing function value of the sum of the second-segment parameter and a positive additional value that corresponds to an index representing the prediction effectiveness of time-series signals in the time segment including the second segment is used as a parameter for variable length coding of the prediction residual at a certain discrete time in the first segment. |
| US08576909B2 |
System and method for monitoring video packets for quantifying video quality
A system and method for monitoring a sequence of video packets for quantifying video quality includes a video picture monitor that accesses data in a header of a video packet included in the sequence of video packets. The header is separate from video content stored in the video packet. The video picture monitor also determines from the accessed data, a relationship between a portion of a picture included in the video packet and at least a portion of a picture included in another video packet. Both video packets are included in the sequence of video packets. This relationship indicates whether to use the video content stored in the first video packet to quantify video quality. |
| US08576907B2 |
High precision encoding and decoding of video images
Methods, systems, and computer programs for improved quality video compression. Image quality from MPEG-style video coding may be improved by preserving a higher number of bits during intermediate encoding and decoding processing steps. Problems of inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) mismatch can be eliminated by exactly matching the IDCT function numerical algorithm of the decoder to the IDCT function numerical algorithm used for the decoding portion of the encoder. Also included is an application of high precision compression to wide dynamic range images by extending the range of the “quantization parameter” or “QP”. The extension of QP may be accomplished either by increasing the range of QP directly, or indirectly through a non-linear transformation. Also included is an application of extended intermediate processing precision and an extended QP range to reduced contrast regions of an image to extend the precision with which the low-contrast portions are compression coded. |
| US08576904B2 |
Method and device for processing a pulse train of a modulated signal, in particular an ultra wideband signal modulated by a digital pulse interval modulation
The pulse train of a signal is modulated by a DPIM modulation involving a discrete random time parameter. A first processing is performed on the signal to deliver a sampled signal. A second processing is performed on the sampled signal, comprising a correlation processing including at least one elementary correlation processing with a correlation mask corresponding to the shape of at least part of a sampled pulse, and delivering second information items. A third processing is performed for detecting the pulses following a first pulse by taking account of the position of the first pulse, on packets of second information items, which are separated by a duration related to the discrete random parameter. |
| US08576903B2 |
Techniques for adaptively adjusting decision levels of a PAM-N decision feedback equalizer
A PAM-N decision feedback equalizer (DFE) comprises a coefficient computation unit; a feedback unit that mitigates, using computed feedback coefficients, effects of interference from data symbols; an error-and-decision unit for at least computing a least error value respective to one of a plurality of decision levels, wherein the least error value indicates a difference of a pseudo equalized input PAM-N data symbol from an optimal position of the one of the plurality of decision levels, wherein the one of the plurality of decision levels corresponds to a modulation level used to modulate data in the input PAM-N data symbol; and a calibration unit for adaptively setting the plurality of decision levels based, in part, on the least error value, thereby enabling for compensating for gain changes resulted by a cable on which the input PAM-N data symbol is received and further compensating for embedded offsets of the error-and-decision unit. |
| US08576902B2 |
Receiving device and method, demodulating device and method, and program
The present disclosure provides a receiving device including, a receiver configured to receive a signal that is transmitted via a propagation path and is modulated by a predetermined system prescribed by a predetermined standard, a demodulator configured to demodulate a received signal, an estimator configured to estimate a signal-to-noise ratio relating to the propagation path, obtained from a data signal included in the demodulated received signal, and a corrector configured to correct an estimated signal-to-noise ratio in accordance with a transmission parameter obtained from the received signal. |
| US08576890B2 |
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser
A VCSEL includes a grating layer configured with a non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating, in which the non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating includes at least one first section configured to have a relatively low reflection coefficient and at least one second section configured to have a relatively high reflection coefficient to cause light to be reflected in a predetermined, non-Gaussian, spatial mode across the sub-wavelength grating. The VCSEL also includes a reflective layer and a light emitting layer disposed between the grating layer and the reflector, in which the sub-wavelength grating and the reflector form a resonant cavity. |
| US08576889B2 |
Method of producing a radiation-emitting component and radiation-emitting component
A method of producing a radiation-emitting component is provided. A far field radiation pattern is predetermined. From the predetermined radiation pattern a refractive index profile for the radiation-emitting component is determined in a direction extending perpendicularly to a main emission direction of the component. A structure is determined for the component, such that the component includes the previously determined refractive index profile. The component is configured according to the previously determined structure. |
| US08576888B2 |
Dual laser-power-level control and calibration system for burst-mode and continuous-mode transmitter
Dual laser-power-level control and calibration system for burst-mode and continuous-mode transmitter. A first signal path receives a transmit signal that also drives the transmit laser, and a second signal path receives the output of a monitor diode. The first and second signal paths include filtering so that the two signal paths have a similar frequency response. The upper and lower excursions in both signal paths are compared, and the power levels of the optical transmitter are adjusted based on those comparisons. Embodiments with one control loop and two control loops are disclosed. |
| US08576885B2 |
Optical pump for high power laser
Optical pump modules using VCSEL arrays are provided to pump optical gain media for achieving high power laser output in CW, QCW and pulse operation modes for operation. Low divergence and symmetric far-field emission from VCSELs are particularly suitable for compact arrays. VCSEL arrays configured as laser pump modules are operable at high temperatures with practically no degradation over a long period of time. VCSEL pump modules are adaptable for side- or end-pumping configurations to pump high power lasers in CW, QCW and pulse mode. Power output from VCSEL pump modules is scalable. Incorporating microlens arrays with the VCSEL arrays improve brightness of the pump modules. High power and high temperature operation of VCSEL modules make it suitable for making compact high power solid state lasers that are operable in small spaces such as, ignition of internal combustion engines, stationary power generation engines and pulsed detonation engines. |
| US08576884B2 |
Jitter buffer adaptation based on audio content
A system and method for discarding or inserting audio frames in a jitter buffer is described. The system and method provides improved audio quality as compared to conventional jitter buffer management systems. In one embodiment, buffer control logic determines whether to discard audio frames to be stored in a jitter buffer or to insert audio frames among audio frames to be output from a jitter buffer based not only on the number of audio frames currently stored in the jitter buffer but also based on the power of the current audio frame to be stored in or output from the jitter buffer. The system and method is generally applicable to any wireless or wired communication system in which audio signals are transmitted between entities operating in different clock domains. |
| US08576881B2 |
Transparent provisioning of services over a network
An apparatus and method for enhancing the infrastructure of a network such as the Internet is disclosed. A packet interceptor/processor apparatus is coupled with the network so as to be able to intercept and process packets flowing over the network. Further, the apparatus provides external connectivity to other devices that wish to intercept packets as well. The apparatus applies one or more rules to the intercepted packets which execute one or more functions on a dynamically specified portion of the packet and take one or more actions with the packets. The apparatus is capable of analyzing any portion of the packet including the header and payload. Actions include releasing the packet unmodified, deleting the packet, modifying the packet, logging/storing information about the packet or forwarding the packet to an external device for subsequent processing. Further, the rules may be dynamically modified by the external devices. |
| US08576879B2 |
Communication system and method
A communication system for transmitting data, for example, within a System-in-Package. The system includes a first circuit configured for: a) dividing the data into a plurality of packets having a determined size; and b) creating for each of the packets a transmission segment including a segment header and the respective packet as payload. The system also includes a second circuit configured for: a) separating the transmission segments into a plurality of physical units, where the physical units have a determined size; and b) transmitting the physical units over a physical communication channel. In particular, the segment header includes at least one field that identifies the number of physical units that are to be transmitted. |
| US08576878B2 |
Method for controlling parties in real-time data communication
The invention relates to communications systems, and especially to real-time data (two-party or multi-party) communication in communications systems. A real-time data item is sent from a sending terminal to a number of receiving terminals over a communication system. In accordance with the present invention, each receiving user terminal acknowledges the reception of the item by sending an item acknowledgement report after the end of the item. The acknowledgement report may be sent after a successful reception of the item, unsuccessful reception of the item or in both cases. |
| US08576876B2 |
Method and system for determining and optimizing throughput of short range wireless network
Methods and systems for determining and optimizing a throughput of a short range wireless network are provided. The method mainly includes acquiring respective time parameters in a contention access period based on information transmission characteristics of the short range wireless network; and computing and optimizing the throughput of the short range wireless network based on the respective time parameters. These time parameters are determined based on a non-persistent Carrier Sense Multiple Access CSMA mechanism. Therefore, the present invention employs a non-persistent CSMA mechanism to analyze the CAP of a short range wireless network and thus simplifies complexity in determining the network throughput and the analysis process of network optimization. As such, accurate throughput parameters of the standard network of the short range wireless network may be obtained, the network performance may be optimized and the performance of the short range wireless network is improved. |
| US08576874B2 |
Methods and apparatus to provide a virtual network interface
Methods and apparatus to provide a virtual network interface. In an aspect, a method includes receiving a request to access content on a Non-IP network, wherein the request comprises an IP address and a quality of service (QoS) profile associated with the content, mapping the IP address and the QoS profile into a Non-IP network content identifier, and obtaining the content from the Non-IP network based on the Non-IP network content identifier. In an aspect, an apparatus includes an application interface configured to receive a request to access content on a Non-IP network, wherein the request comprises an IP address and a QoS profile associated with the content, mapping logic configured to map the IP address and the QoS profile into a Non-IP network content identifier, and processing logic configured to obtain the content from the Non-IP network based on the Non-IP network content identifier. |
| US08576871B2 |
Collision avoidance methods and apparatus for intercommunication systems
A collision avoidance method for subscribers to fight for a right to speak of a multi-party conversation in a digital intercommunication system includes: sending a frame of instructions from the transmitting subscriber to the receiving subscribers for declaring a beginning of a fight for phase; in a subset of frame moments during the fight-for phase, sending maintenance information by the transmitting subscriber to the receiving subscribers; in another subset of the frame moments during the fight-for phase, broadcasting a request for the right to speak by the receiving subscribers intending to obtain the right to speak in turn, the fight-for phase not closing until at least one of the receiving subscribers sends out a request message; hearing the request message, ceasing fighting for the right to speak by the other receiving subscribers; and the receiving subscriber obtaining the right to speak as a new transmitting subscriber and beginning to speak. |
| US08576870B2 |
Access point systems
Wireless local area networks may be established between devices. Each device may include wireless interfaces. A first device may include an infrastructure interface that supports an interface link with access point equipment on a given channel. The first device may listen for probe requests from a second device on the given channel. The second device may send probe requests on a series of channels in single-channel increments. When the second device sends the probe request on the given channel, the first device may receive the probe request. Each probe request may include an information element. The first device may extract the information element from a received probe request and may compare the extracted information element to a predetermined stored information element. If there is match, an association process may be used to establish a wireless link between the first and second devices. |
| US08576868B2 |
Media transport protocol selection
A client terminal and method for receiving Internet Protocol (IP) media packets over an IP distribution network. The client terminal includes a plurality of interfaces to the IP distribution network, the interfaces configured to receive media packets according to multicast, unicast, and peer-to-peer media distribution protocols. A media cache controller determines whether the media packets received over the interfaces are tagged as non-cacheable. If so, the media cache controller passes the media packets to a decoder for decoding and transmission to a video renderer. When the received media packets are not tagged as non-cacheable, the media cache controller caches the media packets in a local cache, and subsequently distributes the cached media packets to another client terminal or to a caching node using the unicast or the peer-to-peer media distribution protocol. Media packets received using one media distribution protocol may be distributed using a different media distribution protocol. |
| US08576867B2 |
Pipeline scheduler with fairness and minimum bandwidth guarantee
A pipeline scheduler provides a minimum bandwidth guarantee by transporting cells from an input port to an output port in a two-phased approach. Cells that conform to a minimum cell rate (MCR) are selected from queues at the input port and arranged into supercells for transport to the output port, followed by nonconforming cells, to guarantee fairness by using scheduling modules to build the supercells first for conforming cells, and then for nonconforming cells. Reservation vectors are used to permit the same time slot of the next frame to be reserved by a first queue, and the same time slot of the following time frame to be held for reservation by a second queue, to ensure equal time slot access by the first and second queues over successive time frames. |
| US08576865B1 |
Physical layer devices for network switches
A switch includes a first IC and a second IC. The first IC includes a first set of (N+1) serializer/deserializer (SERDES) modules communicating with a first set of (N+1) SERDES modules of a switch IC; a first set of N SERDES modules communicating with a first set of N ports; and a first set of N multiplexer modules communicating with (i) the first set of N SERDES modules and (ii) the first set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the first IC. The second IC includes a second set of (N+1) SERDES modules communicating with a second set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the switch IC; a second set of N SERDES modules communicating with a second set of N ports; and a second set of N multiplexer modules communicating with (i) the second set of N SERDES modules and (ii) the second set of (N+1) SERDES modules of the second IC. |
| US08576864B2 |
Host ethernet adapter for handling both endpoint and network node communications
A host Ethernet adapter (HEA) and method of managing network communications is provided. The HEA includes a host interface configured for communication with a multi-core processor over a processor bus. The host interface comprises a receive processing element including a receive processor, a receive buffer and a scheduler for dispatching packets from the receive buffer to the receive processor; a send processing element including a send processor and a send buffer; and a completion queue scheduler (CQS) for dispatching completion queue elements (CQE) from the head of the completion queue (CQ) to threads of the multi-core processor in a network node mode. The method comprises operatively coupling an Ethernet adapter to a multi-core processor system via a processor bus, selectively assigning a first plurality of packets to a first queue pair for servicing in an endpoint mode, running a device driver on the multi-core processing system, the device driver controlling the servicing of the first queue pair by dispatching the first plurality of packets to only one processor core of the multi-core processor system, selectively assigning a second plurality of packets to a second queue pair for servicing in a network node mode; and the Ethernet adapter controlling the servicing of the second queue pair by dispatching the second plurality of packets to multiple processor threads. |
| US08576863B2 |
Coordinated queuing between upstream and downstream queues in a network device
A system determines a scheduling value based on a current length of a downstream queue in a network device. The system sends the scheduling value from the downstream queue to an upstream queue and schedules dequeuing of one or more data units, destined for the downstream queue, from the upstream queue based on the scheduling value. |
| US08576862B2 |
Root scheduling algorithm in a network processor
Described embodiments provide for arbitrating between nodes of scheduling hierarchy of a network processor. A traffic manager generates a tree scheduling hierarchy having a root scheduler and N scheduler levels. The network processor generates tasks corresponding to received packets. The traffic manager queues the received task in an associated queue of the scheduling hierarchy. The root scheduler performs smooth deficit weighted round robin (SDWRR) arbitration between each child node of the root scheduler. The SDWRR arbitration includes checking one or more status indicators of each child node of the given scheduler and selecting, based on the status indicators, a first active child node of the scheduler and updating the one or more status indicators corresponding to the selected child node. Thus, a task is scheduled for transmission by the traffic manager every cycle of the network processor. |
| US08576857B2 |
Automatically identifying an edge-facing router
Techniques for automatically identifying an edge-facing router in a network are provided. In one technique, data is obtained at a first router of a subscriber network. The data may be included in a DHCP message or a NDP RA message. The first router determines, based on the data, whether the first router is a service provider (SP)-facing router, which is a router that is coupled to a SP router and no other router in the subscriber network is logically between the SP-facing router and the SP router. If it is determined that the first router is an SP-facing router, then the first router stores identification data that identifies the first router as an SP-facing router. Otherwise, the first router stores identification data that identifies the first router as a non-SP-facing router. |
| US08576856B2 |
IP telephony service interoperability
The invention concerns a residential gateway device designed for a decentralized client equipment and comprising converting means for providing interoperability between to separate IP telephony services. |
| US08576854B2 |
System for communication between private and public IP networks
A system for communication between a first computer terminal (1) in a private IP network (7) and a second computer terminal (5) in a public IP network includes a network boundary equipment (3). The communications system further includes a mediation system (2) in the private IP network that is associated with the first terminal (1) and is adapted to make an IP interface available to the second terminal (5), and a control server (4) in the public IP network able to control the mediation system 2 via a communications tunnel (6) through the network boundary equipment (3). |
| US08576842B2 |
Transmission of multi-channel MPEG
A system, and related methodology, are provided that are configured to receive, at a first network element such as a Universal Edge Quadrature Amplitude Modulator (UEQAM), multiple channels of data delivered as respective streams of packets, form a packet switched communication frame including a sub-layer header, encapsulate packets from the respective multiple channels into a payload field of the packet switched communication frame, identify the packets encapsulated in the payload field with respective tags in the sub-layer header, and transmit the packet switched communication frame to a second network element such as a Downstream Physical (DS-PHY) entity where the individual packets are recovered and mapped to selected respective stream processing resources based on respective tags. |
| US08576841B2 |
Hybrid port range encoding
In general, techniques are described for encoding port ranges. In one example, a method includes generating an encoded value that represents a specified port range including a first element storing an identifier that identifies a frequently occurring port range stored in an associative data structure of most frequently occurring port ranges, a second element storing an index that represents a dynamically-learned port range specifying at least a part of the specified port range, the dynamically-learned port range represented in a tree-structure of dynamically-learned port ranges and identified by the index, and applying, by a forwarding plane of the computing device, one or more filters associated with the encoded value to a packet that specifies a port included in the specified port range. |
| US08576839B2 |
Cascaded contention-free switch modules with interleaved consolidation units
A scalable router-switch comprises a plurality of switch units each having consolidation means for data disassembling and reassembling. The switch units are arranged into switch modules and the switch units of each switch module are interconnected through a dual rotator to form a contention-free temporal mesh. |
| US08576835B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing contextual information with telephone calls
The present invention is directed to a method for propagating contextual data in an audio communication by storing the contextual data obtained from a calling party in an extensible mark-up language formatted text document. A telephone call between a first party and a second party is converted to a session initiation protocol based voice over internet protocol communication, and the stored text document is attached to session initiation protocol messages that control the voice over internet protocol communication. The document is attached to the signaling messages by embedding the text document in a session description payload associated with the session initiation protocol message. The attached document is propagated with the audio communication, including when the signaling messages are used to transfer the audio communication from the second party to a third party or to add one or more addition parties to the audio communication. |
| US08576828B1 |
Mobile device silent/vibrate override for selected calling telephone number and email/text originations
Various embodiments of the present invention overcomes deficiencies in the art by providing an apparatus (e.g., a mobile device) and executable code for use on an apparatus that provide the ability to designate selected incoming message sources, such as calling telephone numbers or email/text sender addresses, with an override flag, which can also be used, if desired, with a time-of-day parameter setting. With this feature, the user can place the apparatus in a particular alert mode and designate which calling telephone numbers or email/text sender addresses will override the alert mode with a second alert mode that is more appropriate for alerting the user when an incoming message is received from one of the designated calling telephone numbers or email/text sender addresses. |
| US08576826B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device having a single bluetooth / wireless local area network antenna and associated methods
A mobile wireless communications device includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) radio configured to generate a WLAN transmit signal, and a Bluetooth radio configured to generate a Bluetooth transmit signal. A circulator is coupled downstream of an antenna. A transmit path couples the WLAN radio and the Bluetooth radio to the circulator such that the WLAN radio and the Bluetooth radio are capable of transmitting simultaneously. In addition, a receive path also couples the WLAN radio and the Bluetooth radio to the circulator such that the WLAN radio and the Bluetooth radio are capable of receiving simultaneously. |
| US08576824B2 |
Communicating a broadcast message to change data rates of mobile stations
A wireless communications network includes a base station to communicate with plural mobile stations over a wireless link. A broadcast message is sent to the plural mobile stations, with the broadcast message containing an indication for indicating to the plural mobile stations that the mobile stations are to change data rates for transmissions over a reverse wireless link. |
| US08576822B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating channel state information-reference signal in wireless communication system
Disclosed are an apparatus for Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) allocation and a method for CSI-RS transmission using the same in a wireless communication system. A CSI-RS for each antenna port is allocated to REs or subcarriers on a basis of a symbol or symbol axis in a subframe or Resource Block (RB), and is allocated in such a manner that a distance between neighboring CSI-RS allocation REs or subcarriers may be 3 REs or subcarriers. Accordingly, in the range of following CSI-RS transmission overhead, CSI-RSs are allocated to a time-frequency resource domain in such a manner so as to have perfect orthogonality or quasi-orthogonality according to cells or cell groups. Then, the CSI-RSs, which have been allocated to the time-frequency resource domain, are transmitted. |
| US08576821B2 |
Method and apparatus for improved data demodulation in a wireless communication network
A wireless network uses an improved frame structure to increase timing acquisition capabilities as well as reduction of spectral lines. In one aspect, the frame packet can be used to communicate the different modes of operation under which the packet was created. |
| US08576820B2 |
Standby mode for use in a device having a multiple channel physical layer
The present invention provides a way of placing a physical layer device into a standby mode. After a link is established between multiple devices, a determination is made whether the device has data to transmit or whether a standby request was received from a link partner. If a standby request was received or the device has no data to transmit, standby mode is entered. In standby mode, unneeded circuitry is powered down. A transmitter in a channel and a receive path in a separate channel remain powered. While operating in standby mode, the PHY layer continuously transmits a standby code on the one or more channels that are not powered down. Standby mode is discontinued when a transceiver has data to transmit or when energy is detected on the powered down channels. Standby mode is also discontinued when no standby code is received, indicating a disconnect between devices. |
| US08576818B2 |
Location of mobile network nodes
The physical position of an unknown node in a network is determined by sending a first sent WiFi signal from one of an unknown node and a first reference node having a known location, and repeating the sent WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and first reference node with a first reply WiFi signal. A distance is derived between the unknown node and the first reference node from the time of flight of the first sent and first reply WiFi signals. A second WiFi signal is sent from one of the unknown node and a second fixed node having a known location, and repeating the sent second WiFi signal in the other of the unknown node and second reference node with a second reply WiFi signal, and A distance is derived between the unknown node and the second reference node from the time of flight of the second sent and second reply WiFi signals. A physical location of the unknown node is determined based on the derived distances between the unknown node and the first and second reference nodes. |
| US08576811B2 |
System, method and apparatus for reliable exchange of information between nodes of a multi-hop wireless communication network
Techniques are provided for reliably distributing network management information in and ad hoc multi-hop wireless network which includes a number of existing nodes. A first node selects a particular timeslot in a dedicated channel based on the network management information received from the neighbor nodes and determines, via a contention channel, if the particular timeslot is being used by any neighbor nodes of the first node. If the particular timeslot is determined to be unused, then it is assigned to the first node for periodically transmitting network management information. |
| US08576809B2 |
Facilitating distributed channel access for a plurality of access terminals transmitting in a wireless communication environment
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating distributed transmissions among a plurality of access terminals. An access point may send an initial indicator count for each access terminal to follow a respective number of indicators when transmitting during a transmission opportunity. An access terminal may receive its respective initial indicator count, and may send a transmission after detecting a number of indicators equal to the assigned initial indicator count. A continuation indicator count may also be sent to each access terminals, where the continuation indicator count specifies a number of indicators each access terminal is to wait after sending a preceding transmission and before sending a subsequent transmission. |
| US08576808B2 |
Method and device for maintaining the performance quality of a communication system in the presence of narrow band interference
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for analyzing a wide frequency band with respect to signal power levels in specified narrow frequency bands, detecting narrow band signal power levels received in the specified narrow frequency bands, determining an average composite wideband power level from the narrow band signal power levels, and determining an adaptive threshold from the narrow band signal power levels for detecting narrow band interferers in the wide frequency band. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08576806B2 |
Method of multiplexing unicast and multicast transmissions
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate multiplexing of unicast and multicast transmissions in a wireless communication system, such as OFDMA. According to various aspects, the system and methods are employed for selecting an appropriate multiplexing scheme in light of limitations such as system bandwidth and mobile terminal reception bandwidth capability, and uplink load of the wireless communication system. |
| US08576798B2 |
Data communication apparatus and data communication method thereof
A data communication apparatus and method that permits communication between two devices without having to perform a complicated initial connection procedure. A communication unit conducts data transmission/reception with an external data communication apparatus, and a controller controls the communication unit to operate in one of a network mode or a broadcast mode. The network mode conducts network communication via connection through an initial connection procedure with the external data communication apparatus and the broadcast mode receives or transmits data to/from the external data communication apparatus according to a predetermined broadcast method. |
| US08576797B2 |
Apparatus and method for handover optimization in broadband wireless communication system
A method and apparatus optimize handover optimization in a broadband wireless communication system. Operations of a base station includes determining whether at least one of a plurality of time intervals included in a total time taken by handover, exceeds a threshold time. Whether to advance or delay a handover point is determined based on which at least one of the time interval exceeds the threshold time. And at least one handover parameter is changed to advance or delay the handover point. |
| US08576796B2 |
Support for multi-homing protocols
The present invention solves these problems with a new proxy binding update request and proxy binding acknowledgment messages having new indicators and identification information. Namely, the home agent/local mobility anchor will exchange proxy binding update messages and proxy binding acknowledge messages that include information such as mobile node identification (MN-ID), home network prefix (HNP), but can also include selective information fields such as, access type, handover indicator (HO), and interface identification (interface ID) By including new access type, indicator, and identification information, the local mobility anchor can respond to a binding update request message with a better understanding of the new connectivity request from the mobile node. |
| US08576794B1 |
Channel configuration in a wireless network
A base station transmits a message configuring first radio resources of a control channel. The first radio resources comprise one or more sets of resource blocks in a subset of subframes in a plurality of subframes. The base station transmits scheduling information on the control channel for a packet transmitted on an uplink data channel. The base station transmits a positive or negative acknowledgement on second radio resources of a feedback channel for receiving the packet. The second radio resources start from the first OFDM symbol of the second subframe. |
| US08576793B2 |
Coexistence management for cooperative transceiving in a shared spectrum
A wireless interface circuit transceives packetized data between a host module and a first external device using a frequency spectrum, wherein the packetized data is formatted in accordance with a first wireless communication protocol and wherein the packetized data includes an indication that the first external device is configured to use at least a portion of the frequency spectrum for communication via a second wireless communication protocol. A coexistence management module generates a wireless interface schedule that includes a least one contention free period reserved for communication via the second wireless communication protocol, and generates schedule data, based on the wireless interface schedule, for transmission to a plurality of external devices including the first external device. |
| US08576792B2 |
Method for processing and transmitting data packet
A method for processing and transmitting data packet is disclosed. The method includes receiving a data packet with a first Redundancy Version (RV) from a serving cell, receiving a data packet with a second RV different from the first RV from a collaborative cell, and combining and decoding the data packets received from the serving cell and the collaborative cell. |
| US08576791B2 |
Sharing control channel resources
A method for reusing control channel resources in a wireless system includes selecting a subset of control channel resources from a specified set of control channel resources in a search space of the wireless system. The subset is smaller than the set. In addition, the method includes transmitting a first control channel using only the subset of control channel resources. Further, the method includes selecting at least one of the control channel resources not transmitted in the first control channel. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting a different control channel using at least one of the control channel resources specified for but not scheduled in the first control channel. |
| US08576790B2 |
Method and apparatus for maximum tunnel reset
A method and apparatus for resetting a maximum tunnel watermark, the method starting a reset timer for a maximum tunnel count at a mobile device; on expiration of the reset timer, checking whether a current value for the maximum tunnel count is less than a maximum value for the maximum tunnel count, and if yes, setting the current value of the maximum tunnel count to the maximum value of the maximum tunnel count. |
| US08576784B2 |
Uplink resource allocation in a mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method and mobile terminal for requesting resources for transmitting data on uplink within a mobile communication system. Further the invention relates to a network entity for allocating uplink resources to mobile terminal. To provide a flexible scheduling scheme for uplink transmission, the invention proposes different scheduling procedures based on a request grant scheme. The resource request of the mobile terminal is provided via a contention-based channel, while all further communication uses scheduled resources. Consequently subsequent transmissions of user data and/or scheduling information utilize scheduled resources. |
| US08576782B2 |
Baseband recovery in wireless networks, base transceiver stations, and wireless networking devices
Baseband recovery in wireless networks, base transceiver stations, and wireless networking devices may be implemented to minimize the number of timing symbols while at the same time enabling wireless devices to use a relatively low per-symbol sampling rate, so that minimal processing is required to implement the timing recovery. In one embodiment, a relatively low number of samples is taken per expected symbol interval during the training sequence. A subset of the samples is selected and processed to determine error signals for each of the samples. The error signals are multiplied by the expected symbol and summed to form an error signal. The error signal is used to adjust the set of samples that will be used and processed in connection with subsequent symbols. The error signal is also used to interpolate between available samples to infinitesimally approach the point of maximum eye opening. |
| US08576780B2 |
Random access response processing
The invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for processing a random access response, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a random access preamble; receiving a random access response within a random access response time window; checking an extension field flag of the random access response; checking if the random access response matches the random access preamble; wherein if the random access response does not match the random access preamble and if the extension field flag is set to zero, the random access response reception is considered as unsuccessful and a further random access preamble is transmitted. |
| US08576779B2 |
Radio communication apparatus and packet forwarding method
A radio communication apparatus including: a radio communication interface; and a processor; the processor being configured to detect a first radio communication apparatus and a second radio communication apparatus based on a piece of address information received by the radio communication interface; and to select one of a first layer and a second layer as a forwarding layer, in which a packet is forwarded to a next forwarding address according to the radio communication apparatus of the next forwarding address corresponding to a destination address of the packet. |
| US08576778B2 |
Transfer of synchronization in a hybrid global satellite packet network system
Networks, network devices and methods of synchronization using transfer of synchronization packets are provided. Some network devices are configured to use either a timing reference extracted based on GPS signals or an imported timing reference, as an operative time reference. A network device from which to import the time reference is selected and may be updated to meet a selection rule related to the quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets. |
| US08576777B2 |
Method for transmitting subframe grouping information and decoding subframe grouped frames
A method for transmitting subframe grouping information is provided. The method includes updating a grouping information field of a media access control (MAC) message, which a serving base station periodically broadcasts to a mobile station (MS), using subframe grouping information determined by a target base station, and periodically transmitting the MAC message to the MS. The method provides downlink signaling for supporting variable Transmission Time Intervals (TTIs) of a base station when handover is performed, thereby minimizing service delay of each mobile station and enabling efficient utilization of resources. |
| US08576776B2 |
Apparatus and method for overhead reduction of feedback in closed loop MIMO system
A method and apparatus reduce overhead of feedback in a closed loop Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system. A controller feeds back the long-term Precoder Matrix Index (PMI) to a serving base station under direction of the serving base station when the long term PMI feedback transmission is required, generates a new codebook using the long term PMI, and determines a short term PMI from the new codebook. A feedback transmitter feeds back the short-term PMI to the serving base station. |
| US08576775B2 |
Hybrid-QRD-SIC and imbalanced MCS system and method for MIMO
A method and system for multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) detection and channel decoding comprising: decomposing a channel complex gain matrix into a unitary matrix and an upper right hand triangular matrix; providing a received signal to a complex conjugate transpose of the unitary matrix, thereby creating a plurality of signals; normalizing a last of the plurality of signals; channel decoding the normalized last of the plurality of signals, thereby recovering a last codeword signal; encoding the last codeword signal; utilizing the encoded last codeword signal to recover a second last codeword signal; and repeating the utilizing until all codeword signals are recovered. Also, a method and system for providing an imbalanced modulation and coding scheme for successive interference cancellation. |
| US08576773B2 |
Wireless access point with digital television capabilities
In some embodiments a wireless access point receives digital television content. The digital television content is transmitted in a wireless manner over a wireless network of the wireless access point. The wireless access point may be integrated into a television that redistributes the digital television content. Other embodiments are claimed. |
| US08576772B2 |
Cooperative multiple access in wireless networks
A cooperative cluster of wireless nodes exchange data before cooperatively communicating with a destination node over a MIMO channel. In a cooperative cluster of M nodes, each node shares 1/M of its own data with each of the other nodes, and keeps 1/M of its own data for transmission. Each node receives 1/M of data from each cooperative node. The data is merged at each cooperative node, and transmitted to the destination node. |
| US08576771B2 |
Adaptive modulation and coding
A method of reporting received signal quality to a transmitter includes measuring a received signal quality in a receiver, and selectively performing the steps of reporting the received signal quality to the transmitter, and reporting a selected modulation and coding scheme to the transmitter. |
| US08576769B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive interference cancellation beamforming
Methods of operating a transceiver including an antenna having a plurality of antenna feed elements are disclosed. The methods include receiving a plurality of samples of a receive signal from the plurality of antenna feed elements, estimating locations of a plurality of signal sources from the plurality of receive signal samples, identifying a plurality of interference sources from among the plurality of signal sources, generating a plurality of antenna feed element weights wM in response to the locations of the interference sources, forming an antenna beam from the antenna to the geographic region using the antenna feed element weights wM, and communicating information over the antenna beam. Related transceivers, satellite gateways and satellites are also disclosed. |
| US08576768B2 |
Hybrid multi-band receiver
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for processing wireless signals received from one or more communications systems. In a particular implementation, one or more signals received from one or more communication systems such as a GNSS may be processed in two or more separate wireless signal receiver paths and combined in baseband to share one analog-to-digital converter. |
| US08576766B2 |
Dynamic scheduling of in-band relay node resources
A relay node is operated in a communication system wherein the relay node communicates with a communication system node via a first link and communicates with user equipment (UE) via a second link. The relay node detects whether a collision between its own uplink transmission on the first link and receipt of the user's transmission on the second link at a future time instant is expected to occur, wherein the collision will interfere with the relay node's ability to receive the UE's transmission. If so, then, the relay node selects and executes one of a plurality of interference averting measures, selection being based at least in part on what type of information is expected to be transmitted and received on the respective first and second links. First and second interference averting measures comprise refraining from or proceeding with transmission of some information to the communication system node. |
| US08576765B2 |
Multi-hop wireless communication system
The present invention provides multi-hop wireless communication systems that easily realize a highly-efficient and highly reliable bi-directional wireless relay transmission by using MIMO network coding.A multi-hop wireless communication system with multiple node devices having a relay function in which each node device is equipped with multiple MIMO antennas and a wireless communication system is constructed by setting up wireless links between the node devices, the multi-hop wireless communication system characterized in that a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) scheme is applied to a transmission/reception scheme of network coding and a space time block coding (STBC) scheme is further applied, concretely, by combining STBC broadcast and MIMO multiple access into network coding, a bi-directional wireless relay transmission that multiplexes a forward link and a backward link in all wireless links is easily realized, each node device performs transmission/reception processing and the relay transmission of data. |
| US08576762B2 |
Power management of a radio data transceiver
Methods and apparatuses for operating a wireless mobile station configured to communicate with a wireless access point are described. A sleep state may be maintained in which a radio frequency (RF) radio in the wireless mobile station is in a low power state. The wireless station may use a plurality of sleep states, each with a different sleep timer period based upon recent network activity. In one embodiment, a device may have two sleep states with two sleep timers, and in another embodiment a device may have three sleep timers for three sleep states. The first sleep time may be started for a first sleep state and to determine when to awake the device to determine whether there is any network activity. The device then determines whether a first period of network inactivity has occurred and, if so, it starts a second sleep timer for a second sleep state in response to determining that the first period of network inactivity has occurred. The method can further include determining whether a second period of network inactivity has occurred and, in response to determining that a second period of network inactivity has occurred, the device starts a third sleep timer for a third sleep state. |
| US08576760B2 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling an idle mode in a wireless device
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for control of an idle mode in a wireless device. In particular, the idle mode duty cycle of a preamble transmission by an access point (AP), as an example, is variably or adaptively set in response to determined conditions of the wireless neighborhood. The conditions determined include the whether or not other wireless devices are present in the vicinity of sensing wireless device, as well as the state of those devices present, such as whether they are in an idle mode or an active mode. |
| US08576759B2 |
Partial power save mode for access points during device discovery
An access point includes a beacon module and a control module. The access point transmits a beacon during a beacon interval. The beacon module determines a first portion of the beacon interval and a second portion of the beacon interval. The access point operates in a normal mode during the first portion of the beacon interval. The control module operates the access point in a power save mode during the second portion of the beacon interval. The control module operates the access point in the power save mode in response to a client station not communicating with the access point during the first portion of the beacon interval. |
| US08576751B2 |
Method, mobile station, system and network processor for use in mobile communications
A method (200) of operation in a mobile communication system (100) includes: a mobile station (101) sending (207) to a visited network (103) a certified service record, provided by a home network (102), of communication services allowed to be provided to the mobile station, the service record being accompanied by or including a certificate code applied by the home network by a calculation procedure applied to contents of the service record using an authentication key; the visited network calculating (211) an authentication code for the service record using an authentication key obtained by the visited network; the visited network authenticating (212) the service record by matching (212) the certificate and authentication codes; and the visited network providing (215) communication services to the mobile station based upon the authenticated service record. |
| US08576747B2 |
Distributed scheduling of quiet-period for in-service channel monitoring
In a distributed-control cognitive radio network, each secondary user (200) in a network broadcasts parameters (125) that indicate the minimum quiet-period sensing demand for regular quiet-periods that the device requires for reliable detection of a primary user (290). Each device (200) in the network adjusts its quiet-period sensing rate to accommodate the highest minimum sensing demand (155, 160), thereby providing optimal efficiency relative to quiet-period support while assuring that all devices (200) in the network are provided at least their minimum quiet-period sensing demand (150). Both the interval between regular quiet-periods and the duration of these quiet-periods are negotiated among the devices on the network (155). A quiet-period index (140) is used to synchronize all of the devices to a common time base. Techniques are also provided for efficient coordination of on-demand quiet-period requests, and for supporting different quiet-period schedules for multiple classes of primary users. |
| US08576746B2 |
Sensor node identification method for hierarchical sensor network, and component therefor
A sensor node identification method by a first component of a first layer in a hierarchical sensor network includes: receiving a sensing request including sensor node identification information from a second component of a second layer prior to the first layer; modifying the sensor node identification information by removing an identifier of the first layer from the sensor node identification information when an identifier of the first layer matches an identifier of the first component among the sensor node identification information; and transmitting a sensing request including the modified sensor node identification information to a third component of a third layer subsequent to the first layer. |
| US08576745B2 |
System and method for enhanced physical layer device autonegotiation
A system and method for enhanced physical layer device autonegotiation. The autonegotiation process typically identifies the highest common denominator amongst various standardized modes of operation. Enhanced autonegotiation can be used to select a mode of operation that is not the highest common denominator. Enhanced autonegotiation can also identify a non-standardized mode of operation using next page messaging, additional physical signaling, or Layer 2 messaging. |
| US08576744B2 |
Content caching in the Radio Access Network (RAN)
A system and method to intercept traffic at standard interface points as defined by Cellular/Wireless networks (GSM/GPRS, 3G/UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA, CDMA, WIMAX, LTE), emulate the respective protocols on either side of the interception point, extract user/application payloads within the intercepted packets, perform optimizations, and re-encapsulate with the same protocol, and deliver the content transparently is disclosed. The optimizations include but are not limited to Content Caching, prediction & pre-fetching of frequently used content, performance of content-aware transport optimizations (TCP, UDP, RTP etc.) for reducing back-haul bandwidth, and improvement of user experience. An additional embodiment of the current invention includes injecting opportunistic content (location based, profile based or advertisement content) based on the information derived while monitoring control plane protocols. |
| US08576742B2 |
Dynamic switching between common reference signal interference cancellation and resource element puncturing in a co-channel heterogeneous network
Communication in a dominant interference scenario may be supported by performing inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC). Resource coordination/partitioning may be performed to allocate resources to a serving Node B located near the vicinity of a strong interfering Node B. The interfering Node B may avoid transmitting on the allocated/protected resources, possibly except for a common reference signal (CRS). A UE can then communicate with the serving Node B on the protected resources in the presence of the interfering Node B and may observe no interference (possibly except for the CRS) from the interfering Node B. When CRS tones of an interferer may collide with control/data tones of a serving cell, CRS interference cancellation (CRS IC) or puncturing of interfered resource elements (REs) may be appropriate. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, where the UE may dynamically switch between CRS IC and RE puncturing based on certain parameters. |
| US08576740B2 |
Adaptive, scalable packet loss recovery
A system for transmitting data packets representing a source signal across a packet data network is provided. Additionally provided are methods and an apparatus for encoding parameters representing the source signal and also decoding these parameters. The system allows adaptation to the loss scenario of data packets transmitted across the packet data network. A redundancy encoding is generated with a bit rate continuously scalable, the bit rate being provided by a bit rate controller that uses input from the network and packet-loss rate information. The specification can be changed for each coding block. At the decoder, recovery is performed by a parameter estimator based on a dynamically generated statistical model of the effect of the quantizers. The method may be added to existing lossy source coding systems or may be used to enhance the quality of the reconstructed source signal even in scenarios without packet loss. |
| US08576739B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating channel capacity of end-to-end terminal
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a channel capacity of an end-to-end terminal. The channel capacity estimating method of the end-to-end terminal includes calculating an average value of channel capacities for each size of data packets, the data packets varying in size, measuring an actual channel capacity with respect to the data packets, and deriving a linear model of a channel capacity based on the size of the data packets using the average value of the channel capacities and the actual channel capacity. |
| US08576735B2 |
Broadcast system, broadcast management device, broadcast method, and terminal
Provided is a broadcast system that assigns a communication channel to a program and broadcasts data for the program to terminals, the broadcast system including a broadcast management device and a communication access network device. The management device calculates as a score a measure of viewing requests from users of the terminals for a plurality of programs, and determines a program to actually broadcast on the communication channel based on the score. The communication access network device transmits program data on a communication channel according to the determination of the broadcast management device. |
| US08576730B2 |
Method and system for determining locality using network signatures
Content is distributed from a source to a sink only if the sink is within a predetermined geographic locality. In one embodiment, a signature request is sent to the sink. The sink obtains an actual signature compares it to the requested signature, and if the requested signature and the actual signature resemble each other sufficiently closely, then the content is sent to the sink The signature is compiled from parameters obtained from appropriate parameter detectors. The parameter detectors generate, detect and monitor various signals required for determining the locality of the sink. |
| US08576725B2 |
Failover based on sending communications between different domains
A first communication device detects a failure on a communication channel of a primary network. Based on the failure, the first communication device sends communications directed to a second communication device to a secondary network. A secondary network domain controller sends the communications to the primary network via a different communication channel. This can be done by looking at an identifier such as an IP address. This can also happen based on being able to communicate between the secondary network and the primary network via the different communication channel. The primary network then sends the communication to the second communication device. In addition, communications from the second communication device are routed in a similar manner to the first communication device. Sending the communications back into the primary network allows users to have access to features not provided by the secondary network. |
| US08576724B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product, for correlating special service impacting events
Special service impacting events in an IP network are collected and correlated. Real-time data representing occurrence of trunk group events impacting special services in trunk groups that are in service is collected, along with call detail records recorded by network elements representing occurrence of call events impacting special services and performance measurements of network elements representing occurrence of events affecting performance of the network elements impacting the special services. The collected real-time data representing occurrence of trunk group events, collected call detail record and collected performance measurements are correlated, and alarms are generated based on the correlated data. |
| US08576719B2 |
System and method for dynamically balancing a maximum number of active remote device users between base stations
Both a system and method are provided for dynamically balancing a maximum number of active remote device users that can be serviced between first and second base stations transmitting data frames in a radio communication system when the carriers of the first and second base stations operate at different radio frequency bandwidths X and Y respectively, and Y is substantially larger than X. The system includes a system control circuit that controls the number of subchannels in the uplink control channel region of the data frames transmitted by the first base station, and a traffic monitoring circuit that monitors both an uplink load and a number of active wireless device users within broadcast coverage of said first base station. The system control circuit dynamically increases the radio resources in the uplink control channel region of the frames transmitted by the first base station. |
| US08576714B2 |
System and method for relay node flow control in a wireless communications system
A system and method for relay node flow control and/or congestion control in a wireless communications system are provided. A method for relay operation includes determining a buffer status of a buffer for data to be transmitted on a communications channel allocated from network resources controlled by a communications controller, computing buffer status information based on the buffer status, and transmitting the buffer status information to the communications controller. |
| US08576713B2 |
Traffic generator with priority flow control
Port units, methods, and computer readable storage media for testing a network are disclosed. A traffic generator may generate and transmit test traffic over a network under test, the test traffic including a plurality of interleaved packet streams, each traffic stream associated with one of a plurality of flow control groups. A traffic receiver may receive flow control packets from the network under test. The traffic generator may be configured to stop transmission of all packet streams associated with one or more paused flow control groups when the traffic receiver receives a flow control packet identifying the one or more paused flow control groups. |
| US08576712B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a reliable voice extensible markup language service
A method and apparatus for providing a reliable Voice Extensible Markup Language (VXML) over packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network are disclosed. For example, a service provider may utilize a plurality of content servers that can be accessed by at least one telephony browser. The telephony browser can reach the content browsers directly as well as through a shared server that may load balance among the content servers. When a request for a VXML content, e.g., a VXML application, is received, the telephony browser sends the request to the shared server. If the request fails or a response is not received prior to expiration of a predetermined time interval, then the telephony browser sends a second request directly to one of the content servers that is capable of providing the requested content. |
| US08576710B2 |
Load balancing utilizing adaptive thresholding
Methods and systems for processing data requests in a client-server computing environment, such as the Web, are disclosed. A client device initially transmits a data request to a randomly selected first server device. The first server device may reject the data request if its request queue threshold is exceeded. The client device retransmits the data request, including the request queue threshold, to a randomly selected second server device. The second server device may reject the data request if the request queue threshold of the first server device is smaller than a request queue threshold of the second server device. The client device transmits the data request back to the first server device, including the request queue threshold of the second server device. The first server device processes the data request and adjusts its request queue threshold based on the request queue thresholds of the first and second server devices. |
| US08576707B2 |
Method and apparatus for bus coupling of safety-relevant processes
A method and an apparatus are provided, which provide for single-channel bus coupling of safety-relevant processes. The method is distinguished in that a data record which is relevant for the safety-critical process is processed via at least two redundant processing channels, in particular on a protocol-specific basis, in accordance with identical laws for in each case one safe protocol and the redundant safety messages for single-channel bus coupling are joined together to form a common safe protocol, to be precise in that each of the processing channels accesses a common buffer register, with write authorization for each register location being allocated only once, in such a way that the common safe protocol is joined together in components by in each case writing in different components of the respective safety messages. |
| US08576706B2 |
Systems and methods for protecting a trunk with multiple trunks
A system and method for protecting a trunk with multiple trunks may select a primary path on a first trunk for which to place a corresponding bypass tunnel on a second trunk. The system and method may further select one or more alternate trunks using a constraint-based trunk-selection algorithm. The system and method may further determine if at least one of the selected alternate trunks has sufficient priority bandwidth. In the event that one or more alternate trunks have priority bandwidths larger than the physical bandwidth of the primary path, the system and method may select an alternate trunk from the one or more alternate trunks having priority bandwidths larger than the physical bandwidth of the primary path based on a pre-determined order of priority bandwidth. |
| US08576702B2 |
Receiving multicast traffic at non-designated routers
A multicast stream is received. At a non-designated router, a multicast stream is received with respect to which the non-designated router is not a designated router responsible for sending the multicast stream to a host. The received multicast stream is discarded. |
| US08576700B2 |
Geographic redundancy for call servers in a cellular system based on a bearer-independent core network
In a bearer-independent core network, the switching and transport of the bearer streams is separated from the processing of call sessions that control the bearer streams. The switching and transport of the bearer streams is executed by media gateways and packet switches in the switching and transport layer of the network. The processing of calls sessions that control the bearer streams is executed by call servers in the call control layer of the network. The switching and transport layer of the network may be implemented using ATM or IP technology. In order to redirect the signaling links to a backup call server, a signaling gateway is used. Each media gateway includes a signaling gateway function. The signaling gateways redirect the signaling links by encapsulating each signaling message in a new packet in one embodiment. |
| US08576698B2 |
Connectivity fault management timeout period control
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related system and machine-readable medium including one or more of the following: receiving, at the MEP, a connectivity fault management (CFM) message; determining whether the CFM message includes an indication specifying a new value for a timeout factor; and when the CFM message includes an indication specifying a new value for the timeout factor, using the new value as the timeout factor. One or more of the following may also be included: when the CFM message does not include an indication specifying a new timeout factor, using a default value as the timeout factor; determining a timeout period using at least the timeout factor; determining whether the timeout period has elapsed since a most recent CFM message was received; and when the timeout period has elapsed since the last CFM message was received, determining that a timeout has occurred. |
| US08576696B2 |
Mobile multimedia broadcast transmission system
A mobile multimedia broadcast transmission system is provided, which comprises: a Reed-Solomon (RS) coding and byte interleaving unit, a Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) coder, a bit interleaver, a constellation mapping unit, a frequency domain symbol generator, a scrambler, an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) unit, a time domain framing unit, and a transmitter. According to the technical solutions provided in the present invention, the system can provide high-quality mobile multimedia services for users in a 6 MHz operation bandwidth. Furthermore, an optimized selection is performed on RS coding according to the operation bandwidth of the system, thereby selecting an appropriate coding mode according to different channel conditions. Accordingly, the byte interleaver is optimized, such that suitable interleaving parameters can be used to perform byte interleaving. With the technical solutions provided in the present invention, the continuous pilots, the discrete pilots and the digital sub-carriers of the system can be suitably configured and allocated according to the actual bandwidth of the system, thereby suitably configuring the system overhead of the mobile multimedia broadcast transmission system to efficiently utilize spectral resources for data transmission. |
| US08576693B2 |
Systems and method for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprises: a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; the processor modulating a first carrier of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on a first modulation scheme while modulating a second carrier of the plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals based on a second modulation scheme. |
| US08576687B1 |
Compact tangential tracking tonearm mechanism
The invention relates to tonearm tracking mechanisms in phonograph players and mechanical devices constructed for the purpose of reproducing or playing back recorded audio material previously impressed, in the form or grooves, onto a surface of a disk, which are commonly called phonograph players or turntables. Such disk is commonly called, among other similar words, a phonograph record or a vinyl disk. The present invention is a tangential tracking tonearm mechanism, wherein the tonearm bearing subassembly has two rotary bearings in the lateral plane and a coupling linkage built into a compact subassembly. The collective contribution of these elements, when properly configured and appropriately adjusted, make, during playback of audio material on a disk, reduced playback distortion over radial tracking mechanisms and closely mimics the conditions under which nearly all masters are made. |
| US08576686B2 |
Apparatus for multilevel optical recording
An improvement to an optical recording apparatus is provided for adapting the apparatus for an optical recording format using multiple modulation levels. The improvement includes an electro-optic modulator (EOM) added between a light source and a first modulator, to regulate a power of the light beam supplied to the first modulator. A modulation interface is adapted to output a power control signal to the EOM, and the EOM regulates the power of the light beam supplied to the first modulator to a power level corresponding to the power control signal. The apparatus is further adapted to supply a formatted data signal directly from a formatter to the first modulator, without going through the modulation interface. |
| US08576679B2 |
Apparatus and method for using content on an optical disc having plural partial areas for recording control information indicating that the use of the content is not permitted
The present invention provides an apparatus for correctly controlling content recorded on an optical disc. An apparatus 600 for using content recorded on an optical disc 601, wherein the optical disc 601 includes a control information area 602 composed of partial areas 603a-603n, each being for recording control information indicating that use of the content is not permitted, the apparatus 600 comprises: a position information holding unit 612 holding therein position information indicating one of the partial areas 603a-603n that is allocated for the apparatus 600 to record the control information; a reading unit 613 reading information within the control information area 602; a judgment unit 614 judging whether use of the content is permitted, with use of the information read by the reading unit 613 and the position information; and a usage control unit 615 using the content when use of the content is judged to be permitted. |
| US08576678B1 |
System and method for tracking position of a laser beam on a storage device
A system including a control module, error modules, and a tracking module. The control module: transitions a laser beam between positions on an storage medium; based on a tracking signal, adjusts a speed that the laser beam is transitioned, and while the laser beam is transitioned, increases the speed that the laser beam is transitioned from a first speed to a second speed. The error modules determine a track error of a current position of the laser beam and estimate a depth of a groove. The tracking module: while the speed of the laser beam is equal to the first speed, tracks the current position based on the track error and the depth of the groove; while the speed of the laser beam is equal to the second speed, tracks the current position based on the track error; and generates the tracking signal based on the current position. |
| US08576677B2 |
Optical signal detecting circuit and information reproducing device using the same
An object of the present invention is to achieve both low noise and fast response in an optical signal detecting circuit capable of providing all of three signals—a focus error signal, a tracking error signal, and an RF signal—with only a single detection system. A single current-to-voltage converter converts a current signal obtained by adding currents flowing through two photodiodes, into a voltage signal. Not only currents flowing into the photodiodes, but also currents flowing out from the photodiodes are taken out as the voltage signals. Moreover, by applying two different reference voltages to the current-to-voltage converters, a reverse bias voltage is applied between the terminals of each photodiode. |
| US08576673B2 |
Recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording with a side lobe blocker
An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer, a near field transducer having an end positioned adjacent to a first surface, a first magnetic pole having an end positioned adjacent to the first surface, and a side lobe blocker adjacent to the first surface and having portions on opposite sides of the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, wherein the side lobe blocker forms an aperture at an end of the core layer adjacent to the first surface. |
| US08576665B2 |
Underwater wireless sensor
An underwater wireless sensor is provided. The underwater wireless sensor comprises a floating-diving device enabling the underwater wireless sensor to dive to a first predetermined water depth in response to a predetermined condition; a sensing device converting a plurality of environmental parameters into a plurality of environmental messages; a micro controller receiving the environmental messages and sending a command signal including the environmental messages; and a communication device receiving the command signal, sending the command signal via a wireless sensor network, receiving an external message including a second predetermined water depth, and sending the external message to the micro controller so that the micro controller performs a corresponding operation and sends out a control signal to enable the underwater wireless sensor to move to the second predetermined water depth. |
| US08576661B2 |
Device and method for imaging of non-linear and linear properties of formations surrounding a borehole
In some aspects of the disclosure, a method and an apparatus is disclosed for investigating material surrounding the borehole. The method includes generating a first low frequency acoustic wave within the borehole, wherein the first low frequency acoustic wave induces a linear and a nonlinear response in one or more features in the material that are substantially perpendicular to a radius of the borehole; directing a first sequence of high frequency pulses in a direction perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the borehole into the material contemporaneously with the first acoustic wave; and receiving one or more second high frequency pulses at one or more receivers positionable in the borehole produced by an interaction between the first sequence of high frequency pulses and the one or more features undergoing linear and nonlinear elastic distortion due to the first low frequency acoustic wave to investigate the material surrounding the borehole |
| US08576659B2 |
Method and apparatus for acoustic impedance and P-wave anisotropy measurements
Measurements of impedance are made using a piezoelectric transducer oriented at different angles to a formation bedding plane. The impedance measurements are then used to estimate the anisotropic velocity of the formation. |
| US08576658B2 |
Method for seismic acquisition on the seabed, guiding equipment, seismic acquisition equipment and seismic acquisition system for the implementation of this method
The invention relates to a method for acquiring seismic data at a plurality of positions spread out over a zone on the seabed which includes transmitting acoustic waves in the water layer above the zone by a plurality of sources, for each of the acquisition positions, dropping from the surface a seismic acquisition equipment, the equipment comprising a seismic acquisition unit and autonomous guiding equipment adapted to receive while descending acoustic signals from the sources and to control its trajectory according to the received acoustic signals so as to direct said equipment towards said position, performing the seismic acquisition, causing the acquisition equipments to move up to the surface, and retrieving the acquisition equipments on the surface. |
| US08576656B2 |
Latency counter, semiconductor memory device including the same, and data processing system
A latency counter includes an input selecting circuit that selects one of a plurality of signal paths and supplies an internal command to the selected signal path, a shift circuit that switches a correspondence relation between the signal paths and a latch circuit, and an output selecting circuit that causes the internal command taken in the latch circuit to be output. The input selection circuit includes a timing control circuit allocated to each of the signal paths. The timing control circuit includes an SR latch circuit that is set by the internal command and is reset in response to deactivation of a corresponding count value. Therefore, it becomes possible to suppress shortening of an active period of the internal command that is output from the input selecting circuit. |
| US08576655B2 |
Semiconductor memories
A semiconductor memory includes a bit cell having first and inverters forming a latch. First and second transistors are respectively coupled to first and second storage nodes of the latch and to first and second write bit lines. Each of the first and second transistors has a respective gate coupled to a first node. Third and fourth transistors are coupled together in series at the first node and are disposed between a write word line and a first voltage source. Each of the first and second transistors has a respective gate coupled to a first control line. A fifth transistor has a source coupled to a second voltage source, a drain coupled to at least one of the inverters of the latch, and a gate coupled to the first node. A read port is coupled to a first read bit line and to the second storage node of the latch. |
| US08576654B2 |
Non-volatile memory device having phase-change material and method for fabricating the same
A non-volatile memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks. Each of memory blocks includes a main area including a plurality of first memory cells having a phase-change material and a spare area including at least one second memory cell for storing initial information about the plurality of first memory cells. In the non-volatile memory device, a circuit of the at least one second memory cell is cut off according to the initial information, and the initial information is defective block information that is information about a defect of the plurality of memory blocks. |
| US08576652B2 |
Semiconductor memory device, memory system including memory controller, and refresh control method for a semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device has an operation mode in which a read/write operation is performed in response to a command supplied externally in synchronization with a clock, and a power-down mode in which no external read/write command is accepted. The semiconductor memory device performs a refresh operation in response to an externally supplied signal during the power-down mode. A memory system has a plurality of the semiconductor devices and a memory controller. The memory controller outputs a control signal during the power-down mode, and the plurality of semiconductor devices perform a refresh operation in response to the control signal during the power-down mode. |
| US08576649B1 |
Sense amplifiers and operations thereof
Sense amplifiers and operations thereof are described. More particularly, embodiments of integrated circuit having a sense amplifier coupled to a first bitline and a second bitline of a memory array are described. The sense amplifier generally includes: a latch circuit and a group select input/output circuit, as well as read, reference voltage, and precharge circuitry. Further described is an embodiment of a method for a refresh operation. First data states of a group of memory cells of an array are read and written back as second data states without changing voltages at sense nodes of the latch circuits from the reading, where the second data states are an inverse of the first data states. |
| US08576644B2 |
Memory devices having controllers that divide command signals into two signals and systems including such memory devices
A memory device using error correcting code and a system including the same are provided. The memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of bit lines and a plurality of memory cells; an access block for accessing the memory cell array; and a controller block for receiving a first operation command signal, dividing the first operation command signal into at least two paths pulse signals corresponding to at least two paths, based on a pre-determined criterion, and then supplying the at least two path pulse signals to the access block. The access block operates based on an output signal of the controller block. |
| US08576643B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit and a rewritable nonvolatile memory area disposed in an address space of the central processing unit. The nonvolatile memory area has a first nonvolatile memory area and a second nonvolatile memory area, which memorize information depending on the difference of threshold voltages. The first nonvolatile memory area has a maximum variation width of a threshold voltage for memorizing an information set larger than that of the second nonvolatile memory area. The first nonvolatile memory area can be prioritized to expedite a read speed of the memory information, and the second nonvolatile memory area can be prioritized to guarantee the number of times of rewrite operation of memory information. |
| US08576640B2 |
Data output apparatus and method for outputting data thereof
A data output apparatus includes a driver driving unit configured to generate driving signals by using input data when a data output enable signal is enabled, a data driver unit configured to drive an output terminal to a level corresponding to the input data in response to the driving signals to generate output data, and an output data level control unit configured to open a current path to control a level of the output data, wherein the current path is different from a current path for driving the output terminal to a level corresponding to the input data. |
| US08576638B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and non-volatile memory system having the same
A non-volatile memory device may include a memory cell array, a page buffer, a column decoder, a column selection circuit and a repair circuit. The memory cell array includes normal memory cells and redundancy memory cells. In one example, the page buffer may load normal data and redundancy data from the memory cell array. The column decoder may generate a normal column selection signal and a redundancy column selection signal in response to a column address. The column selection circuit may select the normal data and redundancy data in response to the normal column selection signal and redundancy column selection signal. The repair circuit may then output one of the normal data and redundancy data. |
| US08576637B2 |
Memory module including memory buffer and memory system having the same
A memory buffer selecting between a parallel test mode and a mode register control mode, and a memory module and memory system having the memory buffer are disclosed. The memory buffer includes a control circuit and a mode selecting circuit. The control circuit generates a mode control signal based on a first chip selecting signal, a second chip selecting signal, a row address signal, a column address signal, and a write enable signal. The mode selecting circuit selects one of a parallel test mode and a mode register control mode in response to the mode control signal. |
| US08576634B2 |
Semiconductor device comprising a memory cell group having a gate width larger than a second memory cell group
The degree of integration and the number of rewriting of a semiconductor device having a nonvolatile memory element are improved. A first MONOS nonvolatile-memory-element and a second MONOS nonvolatile-memory-element having a large gate width compared with the first MONOS nonvolatile-memory-element are mounted together on the same substrate, and the first MONOS nonvolatile-memory-element is used for storing program data which is scarcely rewritten, and the second MONOS nonvolatile-memory-element is used for storing processed data which is frequently rewritten. |
| US08576632B2 |
Methods, devices, and systems for dealing with threshold voltage change in memory devices
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for dealing with threshold voltage change in memory devices. A number of embodiments include an array of memory cells and control circuitry having sense circuitry coupled to the array. The control circuitry is configured to determine changes in threshold voltages (Vts) associated with the memory cells without using a reference cell, and adjust the sense circuitry based on the determined changes and without using a reference cell. |
| US08576625B1 |
Decoder parameter estimation using multiple memory reads
An apparatus including a memory array and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to, based at least on a plurality of read comparison results, determine a number of memory cells of the memory array that have threshold voltages that fall into each of a plurality of voltage ranges. The control circuitry is further configured to, based at least on the number of memory cells that have threshold voltages in each of the plurality of voltage ranges, estimate an offset amount that a center voltage between two threshold voltage distributions differs from a center reference voltage. The control circuitry is further configured to read one or more of the plurality of memory cells based at least in part on the estimated offset amount. |
| US08576622B2 |
Non-volatile memory device and read method thereof
In one embodiment, the method for reading memory cells in an array of non-volatile memory cells includes reading data from a memory cell using a set of hard decision voltages and at least a first set of soft decision voltages based on a single read command. |
| US08576620B2 |
Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
A semiconductor device includes: a source line; a bit line; a word line; a memory cell connected to the bit line and the word line; a driver circuit which drives a plurality of second signal lines and a plurality of word lines so as to select the memory cell specified by an address signal; a potential generating circuit which generates a writing potential and a plurality of reading potentials to supply to a writing circuit and a reading circuit; and a control circuit which selects one of a plurality of voltages for correction on a basis of results of the reading circuit comparing a potential of the bit line with the plurality of reading potentials. |
| US08576618B2 |
Shared bit line SMT MRAM array with shunting transistors between bit lines
An array of rows and columns of SMT MRAM cells has each of the columns associated with one of its adjacent columns. Each of the SMT MRAM cells of the column is connected to a true data bit line and each of the SMT MRAM cells of the associated pair of columns is connected to a shared complement data bit line. A shunting switch device is connected between each of the true data bit lines and the shared complement data bit line for selectively connecting one of the true data bit lines to the shared complement data bit line to effectively reduce the resistance of the complement data bit line and to eliminate program disturb effects in adjacent non-selected columns of the SMT MRAM cells. |
| US08576617B2 |
Circuit and method for generating a reference level for a magnetic random access memory element
A method of establishing a reference level includes providing first and second non-overlapping paths from a first node to a second node, providing first and second reference magnetic random access memory (MRAM) elements in the first path, providing third and fourth reference MRAM elements in the second path, measuring a first value indicative of a resistance between the first node and the second node, and setting the reference level based at least in part on the measured value. Also an associated reference circuit. |
| US08576615B2 |
Magnetic random access memory devices including multi-bit cells
A magnetic random access memory (“MRAM”) cell includes: (1) a first magnetic layer having a first magnetization direction and a magnetic anisotropy axis; (2) a second magnetic layer having a second magnetization direction; and (3) a spacer layer disposed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The MRAM cell also includes a field line magnetically coupled to the MRAM cell and configured to induce a write magnetic field along a magnetic field axis, and the magnetic anisotropy axis is tilted relative to the magnetic field axis. During a write operation, the first magnetization direction is switchable between m directions to store data corresponding to one of m logic states, with m>2, at least one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic anisotropy axis, and at least another one of the m directions is aligned relative to the magnetic field axis. |
| US08576614B2 |
Tunnel transistor, logical gate including the transistor, static random-access memory using the logical gate and method for making such a tunnel transistor
A tunnel transistor is provided including a drain, a source and at least a first gate for controlling current between the drain and the source, wherein the first sides of respectively the first and the second gate dielectric material are positioned substantially along and substantially contact respectively the first and the second semiconductor part. |
| US08576611B2 |
Memory with regulated ground nodes
Some embodiments regard a memory array comprising: a plurality of memory cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; wherein a column of the plurality of columns includes a column ground node; at least two voltage sources configured to be selectively coupled to the column ground node; and a plurality of memory cells having a plurality of internal ground nodes electrically coupled together and to the column ground node. |
| US08576609B2 |
Structure and method for biasing phase change memory array for reliable writing
A memory array having memory cells comprising a diode and a phase change material is reliably programmed by maintaining all unselected memory cells in a reverse biased state. Thus leakage is low and assurance is high that no unselected memory cells are disturbed. In order to avoid disturbing unselected memory cells during sequential writing, previously selected word and bit lines are brought to their unselected voltages before new bit lines and word lines are selected. A modified current mirror structure controls state switching of the phase change material. |
| US08576603B2 |
Flash- and ROM-memory
Method for conversion of a Flash memory cell on a first semiconductor device to a ROM memory cell in a second semiconductor device, the first and second semiconductor device each being arranged on a semiconductor substrate and each comprising an identical device portion and an identical wiring scheme for wiring the device portion to the Flash memory cell and to the ROM memory cell, respectively; the Flash memory cell being made in non-volatile memory technology and comprising an access transistor and a floating transistor, the floating transistor comprising a floating gate and a control gate; the ROM memory cell being made in a baseline technology and comprising a single gate transistor, which method includes manipulating a layout of at least one baseline mask as used in the baseline technology; the manipulation including: incorporating into the layout of the at least one baseline mask a layout of the Flash memory cell, and converting the layout of the Flash memory cell to a layout of one ROM memory cell by eliminating, from the at least one baseline mask, a layout for the floating transistor from the layout of the Flash memory cell and designating the layout of the access transistor of the Flash memory cell as a layout of the single gate transistor of the ROM memory cell. |
| US08576601B2 |
Content addressable memory
One embodiment provides a content addressable memory, including: a pair of spin MOSFETs including: a first spin MOSFET whose magnetization state is set in accordance with stored data; and a second spin MOSFET whose magnetization state is set in accordance with the stored data, the second spin MOSFET being connected in parallel with the first spin MOSFET; a first wiring configured to apply a gate voltage so that any one of the first spin MOSFET and the second spin MOSFET becomes electrically conductive in accordance with search data; and a second wiring configured to apply a current to both of the first spin MOSFET and the second spin MOSFET. |
| US08576591B2 |
Converters and inverters for photovoltaic power systems
A power system includes a plurality of DC/DC converters and a DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters having outputs electrically connected in parallel for supplying a DC voltage bus to an input of the DC/AC inverter. The plurality of DC/DC converters each include a maximum power point tracker (MPPT). Various DC/DC converters and DC/AC inverters suitable for use in this system and others are also disclosed. |