| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08579310B2 |
Vehicle suspension apparatus
It is an object to obtain excellent suspension performance and effectively enhance steering stability during vehicle turning, with a simple configuration. A vehicle suspension apparatus comprises an upper lateral link (5) and a lower lateral link (6) each having one end (5a, 6a) swingably mounted to a wheel carrying member (1) and the other end (5b, 6b) swingably supported by a vehicle body, while being installed to extend in a vehicle widthwise direction, and a lower link (7) having one end mounted to a lower portion of the wheel carrying member (1) at a position rearward of a rotary shaft of a wheel, and the other end swingably supported by the vehicle body. The one ends (5a, 6a) of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) are mounted, respectively, to an upper portion and a lower portion of the wheel carrying member (1) at positions frontward of the rotary shaft of the wheel. The upper and lower mounting portions each mounting a respective one of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) to the wheel carrying member (1) are disposed at approximately same positions in a vehicle longitudinal direction in side view. Further, the other ends (5b, 5b) of the upper and lower lateral links (5, 6) are supported, respectively, by an upper portion and a lower portion of a frame member 3 installed to extend in an upward-downward direction in side view. |
| US08579309B1 |
Vehicle frame mounting
A vehicle frame assembly includes a structural member configured to support a vehicle body and a subframe member configured to support at least one of a vehicle suspension and an engine. The structural member includes a cavity and the subframe member includes a support section and an extension that extends transversely from the support section. The extension is received in the cavity to connect the subframe member with the structural member. |
| US08579307B2 |
Axle support, especially front axle support for motor vehicles
The invention relates to a monolithically cast axle support (12) for motor vehicles. A steering box (10) is provided which is monolithically produced as a whole or in part along with the axle support or which is integrally bonded to the axle support as a whole or in part. |
| US08579306B2 |
In-line off-road skateboard
An in-line off-road skateboard includes a front wheel and a rear wheel in tandem, one foot platform mounted between the front and rear wheels and one foot platform mounted aft of the rear wheel, an articulating front wheel which is steered by tilting the board in the desired direction of travel, a steering assembly which is adjusted to control the radius of a turn and the level by which the steering assembly is able to respond when the board is leaned from side to side at various degrees, independent suspension for both wheels that can be adjusted for various lengths of wheel travel and for various types of terrains, and a rear disc brake that does not interfere with the ability of the rear suspension to respond to uneven surfaces. |
| US08579303B2 |
Portable chair carrier on rollers
A Portable Chair Carrier on Rollers device for use with sporting goods and outdoor accessories. Particularly this device mounts a wheel assembly to a soft carrying case. The mounting may be as an original equipment feature with the case or as an add-on feature to existing cases. It is comprised essentially of a case that has several features, a wheel support structure to support wheels, a means for securing the wheels to the case and a support stand permits the device to maintain an upright position a support. |
| US08579301B2 |
Articulated two-piece snowboard with rigid, flexible connector
A two-piece snowboard includes an improved bottom shape and connector. The bottom surface of each snowboard section facilitates three primary functions: riding in a straight line, turning, and stopping. The bottom surfaces are concave or substantially flat, and grooves or ribs are provided along bottom edges of the sections to provide for turning and/or braking. Thus placed, the grooves and/or ribs do not interfere with straight line riding. The connector is somewhat stiff, and resists twisting. An example of a suitable connector is a length of reinforced hydraulic hose. The connector allows both vertical and horizontal flexing to facilitate riding over irregular terrain, while resisting twisting between sections to facilitate control. In one embodiment, the two-piece snowboard is constructed from sandwiching upper platforms provided by a donor snowboard between a connector assembly and bottom platforms according to the present invention. |
| US08579300B2 |
Spring-based skateboard truck with swingable kingpin
A truck assembly comprises a baseplate including a pivot arm hole, a first kingpin hole and a spring holder. A wheel axle is couplable to a wheel on each end of the wheel axle. A pivot arm is inserted into the pivot arm hole of the baseplate. An axle housing has a first end, a second end and a second kingpin hole. The first end includes the wheel axle and the second kingpin hole, and the second end includes the pivot arm. A swingable kingpin includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion swings relative to the second portion. A spring member is provided substantially parallel to the kingpin and is coupled to the spring holder of the baseplate and the first end of the axle housing. |
| US08579299B2 |
Gasket having adhesive element
A gasket has an upper face and a lower face. The gasket comprises an adhesive element that can have a combination of adhesion strength and compression set resistance. The adhesive element can be carried by a carrier sheet or may be directly applied to sealing surfaces in contact with the gasket. |
| US08579298B2 |
Sealing device
In a section passing through a central axis of the annular sealing device 100, if a radius of curvature of a curved face between a first inclined face 110X and a second inclined face 110Y is R0, a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on a sealed fluid side (O) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1a, R2a, R3a, and R4a for respective annular grooves, and a radius of curvature of a curved face between a side face on an atmosphere side (A) and the first inclined face 110X in an annular groove is R1b, R2b, R3b, and R4b for the respective annular grooves, R1b, R2b, R3b, R4b |
| US08579297B2 |
Shaft seal device
A shaft seal device is provided in which movement of the seal lip is prevented and the sealing function can be reliably maintained by shaping the adapter so that the adapter is more readily pressed into and less liable to be dislodged from the cartridge, and by increasing the width in the radial direction. An external peripheral-side flange of the adapter fitted into the cartridge on the sealing fluid side of the first lip seal member is formed in a small-diameter tapered shape toward the web side, and the web is composed of an external-periphery-side portion having an orthogonal planar shape that is orthogonal to the center of the shaft, and a tapered internal-periphery-side portion that slopes to the sealing fluid side. |
| US08579290B2 |
Interchangeable three dimensional (3D) glasses and three dimensional connect-the-dots drawings
Interchangeable glasses in accordance with one embodiment include a glasses frame; a first pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a first set of lenses that are a first color; a second pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a second set of lenses that are a second color; and a third pair of lenses that are interchangeable with the glasses frame and have a third set of lenses, where the third set of lenses includes a first lens that is the first color and a second lens that is the second color. |
| US08579280B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus can include an image forming member that forms an image on a sheet, an ejecting transport member that can transport the sheet in first and second directions, and a switching unit. The guide member can move to a first predetermined position and a second predetermined position. At the first predetermined position, the guide member can apply a pushing force to the sheet. At the second predetermined position, the guide member can either apply a smaller pushing force to the sheet than at the first predetermined position, or provide a clearance between the guide member and the sheet. The switching unit can switch the guide member into the first and second predetermined positions based on the sheet transporting direction of the ejecting transport member. |
| US08579279B2 |
Conveying direction-switching device for paper leaves with direction-changing drum
A conveying direction-switching device is formed by direction-changing drums each having the same hollow cylindrical shape having a length corresponding to a lateral width of paper money bills to be conveyed. The direction-changing drum has first to fourth openings arranged in the outer periphery thereof, in a manner spaced from each other by a rotational angle of 90 degrees, and the rotational angle position thereof is controlled to be a predetermined phase angle. Inside the direction-changing drum, the first opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a first curved passage, the second opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a straight passage, and the third opening and the fourth opening are connected by a paper money guide forming a second curved passage. |
| US08579278B2 |
Paper sheet handling apparatus with first and second transport surfaces
A paper sheet handling apparatus includes: a transport path including a pair of a first transport surface and a second transport surface; at least one storage module configured to store the paper sheets transported through the transport path; and a body including the transport path and the storage module. The storage module is attachable and detachable to and from the body by moving the storage module in a predetermined direction, a part of an outer surface of the storage module attached to the body forms the first transport surface, and the second transport surface is exposed when the storage module is detached from the body so that the second transport surface is visible from the predetermined direction. |
| US08579272B2 |
Clamping apparatus
A clamping apparatus for securing a workpiece is provided. The clamping apparatus includes a fixing base and a first and a second clamping device mounted on opposing sides of the fixing base. The first clamping device includes stacked clamping sheets, each of which is moveable and comprises an inclined clamping edge for contacting the workpiece. A support assembly supports the plurality of stacked clamping sheets; and an operating member is slidable relative to the support assembly and contacting the plurality of staked clamping sheets. The operation member is capable of moving at least one of the plurality of stacked clamping sheets relative to another one when the operation member slides relative to the support assembly, and moving at least one of the inclined clamping edge toward or away from the second clamping device to accommodate workpieces of varying sizes. |
| US08579271B2 |
Machine tool with a workpiece mounting block
A machine tool with a workpiece mounting block is provided that permit a plurality of workpieces to be mounted and machined without giving rise to interference between the workpiece or a table and a main spindle. Work mounting section (27) in a shape of square pyramid with four sides serving as workpiece mounting surfaces is fixed to table (17). Main spindle (19) with tool (23) mounted thereon can be moved relative to table (17) in three mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-directions, and table (17) can be moved in rotation feed in A and C-directions. Positions of rotation angle of A-axis and C-axis when the workpiece mounting surface is perpendicular to the axis of main spindle (19) are stored in advance in storage mechanisms. When workpieces (33) mounted on the workpiece mounting surfaces are to be machined, a workpiece coordinate system is set based on the stored positions of the rotation angle and NC machining is carried out. |
| US08579270B1 |
Body jewelry tool
A body jewelry tool to aid in the application and removal of body piercing retaining fasteners comprises a tubular body of non-corroding stainless steel for a long life and ease of cleaning for sanitary use. The outer surface comprises a rubberized grip. An operational end of the device comprises an internal grasping mechanism that readily adapts to all sizes of threaded ball fasteners used as retainers on body piercings. In such a manner, the user or wearer can hold the jewelry in one hand while the tool is used to grasp and hold the retaining ball with the other hand. The device is then easily turned to remove or install the ball as necessary. |
| US08579267B2 |
Vehicle oscillation device
The invention concerns a vehicle oscillation device with a lower part (1) and an upper part (2, 2a, 2b) positioned higher and spring-mounted in relation to the lower part (1) in the vehicle longitudinal direction (21) and/or vehicle width direction (22) by a spring device (7, 7a, 7b, 8; 18), wherein the vehicle longitudinal direction (21) and/or the vehicle width direction (22) constitute spring travel directions (9, 11), wherein at least one damper (3, 3a; 4, 4a) is arranged which extends with its longitudinal extension in a plane defined by the vehicle longitudinal direction (21) and the vehicle width direction (22), is mounted on the lower part (1) pivotably about an axis (17, 24) oriented perpendicular to the plane, and is connected with a first end (5, 5a; 6, 6a; 16) to the upper part (2). |
| US08579266B2 |
Microbubble therapy method and generating apparatus
A micro bubble generating system includes a shell having a well for retaining a first liquid to immerse an object. A micro bubble apparatus is provide to the shell for providing a pressurized mixture of a second liquid and a dissolved gas into the well so as to create a plurality of micro bubbles within the first liquid for engaging the object. A micro bubble generating apparatus may include a housing body having a first fluid passage for a pressurized mixture of a liquid and a dissolved gas in a direction towards a fluid flow. An orifice member can be releasably engaged with the housing body and the orifice member may have a second fluid passage being disposed therein; and the second fluid passage being disposed at an angle with respect to the first fluid passage for generating a plurality of micro bubbles from the mixture; and an opening in the housing body for releasing the plurality of micro bubbles. |
| US08579265B1 |
Simple start ratchet-type carburetor
A simple start ratchet-type carburetor includes a carburetor body, an inlet tube communicated with the carburetor body for forming a fuel passage, a fuel passage of a measuring room, a main fuel supply cavity molded integrally with the carburetor body comprising a choke subassembly, a venturi, and a throttle subassembly. The end of the throttle shaft protruding from the carburetor body provides a first pawl, a second pawl and a hand cranking block, the two pawls are mounted on one end of the throttle shaft by a fastener, the hand cranking block is mounted on the other end, the end of the choke shaft protruding from the carburetor body provides a first ratchet and a second ratchet. An air removing device drives the ratchets to rotate the choke shaft which controls the opening or closing of a shut-off valve device. The carburetor can control precisely the fuel amount. |
| US08579261B1 |
Pully seat
A pulley seat includes a housing including a cover including a slot on an intermediate portion, and a casing including first and second stepped diameter holes on both sides respectively wherein the housing is integrally formed by hot forging; a pulley including an axial channel; a bearing having an axial hole and being rotatably disposed in the axial channel; a stepped-diameter first sleeve disposed in the first stepped diameter hole; a stepped-diameter second sleeve disposed in the second stepped diameter hole; and a pivot pin rotatably disposed in the first sleeve, the axial hole, and the second sleeve. |
| US08579256B2 |
Valve
A valve includes a housing, a rotational body, two seat rings, a shaft integrally linked to the rotational body, and a sealing element. The rotational body is arranged rotatably in the housing and has a through-opening. The seat rings are spaced apart in the housing, each positioned against an outer surface of the rotational body to seal against leakage. The shaft extends outwardly through a housing opening. Part of the shaft has a spherical outer surface. The sealing element is positioned against the spherical outer surface, and includes a sealing lip and a support ring. The support ring has a spherical inner surface with a curvature corresponding to the spherical outer surface. The shaft is supported on the support ring at the shaft part's spherical outer surface. A flow path is defined by a housing through-opening and a rotational body through-opening, and is closed or at least partially open as determined by a rotational angle position of the rotational body about a rotational axis. The rotational body and shaft move together pivoting about a pivot axis that is orthogonal to the rotational axis. The pivot axis is determined by the shaft part's spherical outer surface. |
| US08579249B2 |
Biasing device for use with actuators of fluid valves
A biasing device for use with a piston actuator of a fluid valve includes a tubular seat member, a tubular retention member, a tubular seat bracket, and a biasing element disposed between an external annular flange of the tubular seat member and an external annular flange of the tubular seat bracket. The tubular retention member is partially disposed within the tubular seat member, the tubular retention member passing through an opening in the inner flange of the tubular seat member. The tubular retention member is partially disposed within the tubular seat bracket, the tubular retention member passing through an opening in the inner flange of the tubular seat bracket. The basing member is seated against the exterior annular flange of the tubular seat member and against the exterior annular flange of the tubular seat bracket. |
| US08579248B2 |
Concrete form system and method
A concrete structure kit comprising a dry powdered concrete mixture contained within a shaped container or packaging is provided. In use, the packaged dry concrete mixture is placed in a desired location, water is added to the dry mixture in an appropriate amount, and the concrete is allowed to set in the shape of the container. After the concrete has hardened, the container may be removed from the outside of the concrete structure and discarded. In a second embodiment, a modular concrete mold system is provided, which includes a series of interlocking pieces having various shapes, such as straight sides, curved sides, corners, acute and obtuse angles, and the like. This arrangement allows a user to form a concrete mold into a variety of different shapes, as desired. |
| US08579246B2 |
Angle adjusting stand
An angle adjusting stand contains two bases, each including a hole, at least one limiting aperture, an engaging portion, and plural first locking faces; two adjusting devices, each including a holder, a spring, a bolt, and a nut; two supporting posts, each including a first contacting portion, a second contacting portion, and a connecting portion coupled; at lease one middle post including a top and a bottom horizontal sections, wherein the top horizontal section includes two sides, one of which includes a first extension to retain with the first slot and another of which includes a first recess to retain with the first pillar, the bottom horizontal section includes two sides, one of which includes a second extension to retain with the second slot and another of which includes a second recess to retain with the second pillar so that the middle post is connected between the two supporting posts. |
| US08579245B2 |
Retail product assembly with hanger
A hanger, for supporting a retail item from a separate support structure, includes a support interface portion, a transverse section, an intermediate section, and a base section. The support interface portion is configured to selectively receive the separate support structure. The transverse section extends from the support interface portion and defines a bottom edge of the transverse section. The intermediate section extends from the transverse section. The base section extends downwardly from the intermediate section. The base section defines two side edges tapered toward one another such that a width of the base section gradually decreases as the base section extends away from the intermediate section. The base section is configured to partially deflect to slide through an elongated opening of the retail item such that during use the intermediate section and the base section are positioned on opposite sides of the elongated opening and the intermediate section extends through the elongated opening. |
| US08579241B2 |
Footwear customization kit
A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment. |
| US08579237B2 |
System for setting the span load distribution of a wing
A system for setting a span load distribution of a wing of an aircraft with a base flap system comprises at least one inboard flap element and one outboard flap element, which elements in the direction of the span are arranged on the trailing edge of the wing, and can be positioned relative to the span direction of the wing. The flap elements are not mechanically coupled with each other and are controlled independently of each other for the purpose of setting the span load distribution. |
| US08579236B2 |
Aircraft slat assembly with anti-icing system
An aircraft slat assembly comprising a pair of slats separated by a gap. A weather seal seals the gap between the slats and forms part of an outer aerodynamic surface of the slat assembly. An anti-icing system is provided with a pair of piccolo tubes, each tube being housed within a respective one of the slats and having spray holes for delivering hot gas to a leading edge of the slat in which it is housed. A flexible duct delivers hot gas between the piccolo tubes, the flexible duct passing across the gap between the slats. A vent in the weather seal can open to permit hot gas from the anti-icing system to exit the gap between the slats. |
| US08579235B2 |
Technique for de-orbiting small debris from the near-earth space environment
System and method for inducing rapid reentry of orbital debris including determining a spatial extent of the orbital debris, and deploying dust to the orbital debris to enhance the drag on the orbital debris. Small objects with perigee above about 900 km where the debris lifetime can be centuries can be targeted for de-orbiting. |
| US08579230B2 |
Attachment pylon for aircraft turboshaft engine, comprising rear flaps with mobile incidence
An aircraft engine assembly including a turboshaft engine with a propeller and an attachment pylon intended to be laterally attached on a rear portion of the structure of the aircraft is disclosed. The pylon has an outer surface forming an aerodynamic profile incorporating a trailing edge which is arranged upstream of the propeller of the turboshaft engine. The pylon includes a mobile rear flap at least partially defining the trailing edge and a controller which steers the incidence of the flap according to a law depending on the incidence of the aircraft. |
| US08579229B2 |
Device for braking/driving an aircraft wheel
The invention relates to a device for braking/driving an aircraft wheel mounted to rotate on an undercarriage axle, the device comprising: a stack of disks comprising disks that are constrained in rotation with the wheel and that alternate with disks that are constrained in rotation with a torsion tube; a support member mounted to rotate on the axle and constrained in rotation with the torsion tube; braking actuators carried by the support member for selectively pressing the disks together; and a drive member for selectively driving the support member in rotation; the support member carrying a secondary of a transformer having a primary arranged facing the support member while being stationary in rotation, the secondary being electrically connected to the actuators and the primary being adapted to being connected to a non-DC voltage source. |
| US08579225B2 |
Device for acoustic treatment of the noise emitted by a turbojet
The invention provides a device for acoustical treatment of the noise emitted by a bypass turbojet comprising a primary cowl having in an outer surface an inner annular acoustic treatment panel and a secondary cowl including in an inner surface an outer annular acoustic treatment panel arranged facing the inner panel. The inner and outer panels include respective central panel portions facing each other and extending axially over a common predetermined length, the length of the central panel portions lying in the range one-fifth to four-fifths of the total length of the panels, and the ratio between the acoustic resistances of the central panel portions being not less than 2. |
| US08579222B1 |
Motorized fishing reel device
A motorized fishing reel device with a selectively actuated rotably mounted and motorized spool with a fishing line wound thereon. A mechanism for guiding the winding and unwinding of the line wound in a spool. The mechanism ensures that the line is properly wound when the spool is substantially coaxially aligned with the line in order to provide an ergonomically compatible handling of the device. A motor assembly with step-down and step-up gear assemblies that provide the rotational energy to the spool assembly and the reciprocating movement to a traveling pin with a line guiding roller at its distal end. A leg assembly that doubles as a storage compartment for back-up batteries is rotably mounted at one end to the housing assembly. |
| US08579216B2 |
Injection nozzle for repairing a wall element
A connection arm (31) of an injection nozzle (22) has an adhesive passage (36). A nozzle outer cylinder (32) is supported by the connection arm (31) and has an intermediate passage (48) in communication with the adhesive passage (36) and a sealing member (44). A nozzle inner cylinder (33) is elongated through the sealing member (44), is slidably supported inside the nozzle outer cylinder (32), and has a communication opening (64) communicating with the intermediate passage (48) as well as an adhesive discharge port (63). An operation member (34) moves the nozzle inner cylinder (33) between an advanced position where the adhesive discharge port (63) lies deep inside a charging hole (8) and a receded position where the adhesive discharge port (63) lies shallow inside the charging hole (8) bored into a framework (2) to a predetermined depth through a finishing material (3). |
| US08579215B2 |
Drip irrigation emitters with manually adjustable water directing structure
An emitter to be used for drip irrigation is described. It includes a base equipped with a plunger that can be inserted into a drip irrigation pipe. The base is shaped to hold a spherical rotating member. This rotating member is traversed by a conduit that direct the water flow from the plunger to a spout located on top of the rotating member. An annular cap screwed or snapped on top of the base holds the rotating member in place. The emitter can be mounted on an irrigation pipe by punching a hole in the pipe and inserting the plunger. The rotating member can be directed to the desired direction by slightly unscrewing the cap, adjusting the position of the rotating member and retightening the cap. |
| US08579211B2 |
System and method for enhancing flow in a nozzle
A nozzle includes a center body that defines an axial centerline and a shroud circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of the center body to define an annular passage between the center body and the shroud. A plurality of vanes between the center body and the shroud comprise a radially outward portion separated from the shroud. A method for enhancing flow through a nozzle includes flowing a fuel through a center body and flowing a fluid stream across a vane located between the center body and a shroud surrounding at least a portion of the center body. The method further includes flowing the fluid stream between a radially outward portion of the vane and the shroud, wherein the radially outward portion of the vane is separated from the shroud. |
| US08579205B2 |
Intelligent grid-based HVAC system
An HVAC system includes a grid of intersecting ducts having one or more inlets, outlets, and intersections. Air may be received into the inlets and directed through the outlets into one or more zones of a building. One or more HVAC units may be connected to the inlets and mechanical valves may be located at the intersections to control the air flow through the grid. A control system may be provided to control the temperature of each zone by adjusting the mechanical valves (and/or turning selected HVAC units “on” or “off”). In certain embodiments, the HVAC system includes at least one reading device to read temperature preference information associated with an occupant of a zone. The control system may then align the temperature of the zone with the temperature preference information when the occupant is inside the zone. A corresponding method and apparatus are also disclosed herein. |
| US08579204B2 |
Method and device for traceability marking and packaging line provided with traceability marking device
The present invention relates to a method for visualization of non-visible information on a packaging material to provide traceability. The method comprises the steps of: reading the non-visible information from the packaging material by means of a magnetic head reader, processing the non-visible information in a central processing unit together with additional new non-visible information, and printing an optional portion of the amount of combined non-visible information onto the packaging material as a traceability marking. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method and a packaging line with a filling machine making use of the device. |
| US08579202B2 |
Smart card-based browsing system and smart card-based browsing method and smart card for the same
Disclosed are a smart card-based browsing system, a smart card-based browsing method, and smart card for the same. A browser is installed in the smart card to form a direct connection path with an SCWS installed in the smart card. The number of sockets for HTTP request/response required to be as many as the number of contents for services between the smart card and the user terminal is reduced, so that the services can be smoothly provided through a rapid and effective interface. A web service can be provided to various multimedia appliances compatible with the smart card regardless of the existence of the browser on the user terminal and the type and version of the browser. |
| US08579194B2 |
Method for optimising the firing trigger of a weapon or artillery
The invention relates to a method for determining a favourable moment for triggering the firing of a weapon on a moving target. According to said method, firing commands and expected impact points (P1-P3) of a projectile and the target (2) are calculated with the aid of an algorithm, without actually triggering a firing burst. The target (2) is selected, the algorithm is activated and hypothetical data is determined. The process is aided by a graphical display (4) of the data. In the preferred embodiments, additional information is taken into account and/or is visualised for a user (5). |
| US08579193B2 |
Barcoded indicators for quality management
A barcoded indicator operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, the barcoded indicator including a first barcode including a first plurality of barcode bars and at least a first colorable area, at least a second barcode including a second plurality of barcode bars and at least a second colorable area, and at least one interposed line extending between the first barcode and the second barcode, the interposed line being capable of preventing a barcode reader from reading parts of the first barcode and of the second barcode as part of a single barcode. |
| US08579191B2 |
Automated banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automatic banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records corresponding to authorized user or financial account data. The machine includes a card reader for reading data from user cards. The automated banking machine causes financial transfers related to financial accounts that correspond to data read from user cards. The automated banking machine also includes devices that control the supply of power to included devices to avoid exceeding power supply capacity. |
| US08579190B2 |
Device for reading magnetic stripe and/or chip cards with a touch screen for pin entry
The invention relates to a device (10) for reading magnetic stripe and/or chip cards, in particular bank cards, EC cards and/or credit cards. The device (10) comprises a display unit (14) and a touch module (16) arranged in front of this display unit for determining a position of a touch of a display area. Further, the device (10) has a security module (18) for controlling the display unit (14) and the touch module (16). The security module (18) transmits first data for displaying a keypad for entry of a PIN to the display unit (14). In response to a touch of the display area, the touch module (16) generates second data with information about the position of the touch, encrypts these data and transmits the encrypted data to the security module (18). |
| US08579183B2 |
Lid assembly for shipping container
A container for storage and shipping of objects includes a lid assembly having two configurations and an open-top box. In the first configuration the container can be loaded with objects for storage or collection while limiting physical and visual access to the contents of the box and in the second configuration, the container is sealed for shipping. The lid assembly contains side flaps which may be used to stabilize the lid assembly in the first configuration, and in the second configuration, secure the lid assembly to the open-top box. Preferably, the container is formed from one contiguous blank. The blank is preferably made of corrugated cardboard but may be formed from any substantially rigid material. |
| US08579179B2 |
Septal stapler apparatus
A septal stapling apparatus includes an instrument body having proximal and distal end portions. A handle at the distal end portion enables a user to hold and manipulate the instrument body. A pair of spaced apart arms are extending from the handle and include a staple arm and a tensioning arm. The body provides a trigger that moves between resting and firing positions. An actuator link moves between first and second positions, the actuator link being moved by the trigger, wherein the actuator link includes a staple moving member that is attached to the staple arm. The staple arm has a staple bank that includes multiple staples. The trigger, actuator link, staple bank, and staple moving member are configured to move a staple to a stapling position when the trigger is pulled. The staple arm and tensioning arm move together when the trigger is pulled. |
| US08579177B2 |
Surgical instruments employing sensors
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument for operating on tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector including a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member in juxtaposed relation to the first tissue engaging member; a gap determination element operatively associated with each of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member for measuring a gap distance between the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member; and a tissue contact determining element operatively associated with a respective tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the surgical instrument. |
| US08579176B2 |
Surgical stapling and cutting device and method for using the device
A medical device includes a control handle having an articulation joint actuator, a surgical end effector, and a passive articulating joint connecting the end effector to the control handle. The articulation joint actuator, when unactuated, holds the passive articulation joint and, thereby, the end effector, in a substantially fixed articulation position, and, when actuated, releases the passive articulation joint into a freely articulating state to permit free articulation of the end effector with respect to the control handle dependent upon external forces acting upon the end effector. A method for operating the end effector includes retaining the passive articulation joint in a stable position with an articulation lock and actuating a release of the articulation lock to unlock the passive articulation joint and, thereby, permit articulating motion of the end effector through the passive articulation joint dependent upon the external forces acting upon the end effector. |
| US08579175B2 |
Valve cap for pneumatic nailer
A pneumatic nailer includes a tool housing enclosing a cylinder with a reciprocating drive piston, and having a trigger and a workpiece contact element both connected to a trigger valve. A valve cap is mounted to the housing and includes a cycle valve and a dump valve, each valve reciprocating in a respective valve chamber. The dump valve controls drive pressure for the drive piston, the cycle valve controls the return of the dump valve to allow piston return. The valve cap and the valves are constructed and arranged such that the piston is returned to a start position independent of positions of the trigger or the workpiece contact element. |
| US08579172B2 |
Cases and covers for electronic handheld devices
Holders for supporting portable handheld electronic devices, such as but not limited to iPhones®, IPODS®, IPADS™, cellular phones, and the like. Another embodiment has a portable handheld electronic device holder with a built on bottle opener, where the bottle opener in the outer face of a slightly raised box shape on the upper back of the case. The bottle opener can also be attached to a tab that slides in and out of the casing when needed. The bottle opener can include one or a pair of upwardly extending triangular tabs (with blunt tips) that can be used to pry open can tabs on soda and beer cans. A belt clip adapter can snapably fit into the bottle cap opener to allow the holder to attach to belts and pockets. A spring biased version also allows the belt clip adapter to be attachable detachable from the bottle cap opener holders. The belt clip adapter can include a bendable disc(s) to fit into the bottle cap opener, or into a keyhole slot on the back of a case holder. |
| US08579169B2 |
Mounting assembly for a vehicle accessory
A mounting system for removably mounting an accessory on a fender of a motorcycle includes a mounting bracket, mounting tab, and latch. The mounting bracket is configured to be mounted on the fender. The mounting bracket includes a base plate, cover plate, standoff, mounting slot, upper recess and lower recess. The base plate is disposed upon the fender. The cover plate is configured to cover a portion of the base plate. The standoff is sandwiched between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting slot is disposed between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting slot is generated by the standoff being disposed between the base plate and cover plate. The upper recess is disposed at an upper edge of the mounting bracket between the base plate and the cover plate. The lower recess is disposed at a lower edge of the mounting bracket between the base plate and the cover plate. The mounting tab is configured to mate with the mounting slot. The mounting tab is affixed to a first accessory. The latch is affixed to a second accessory. The latch includes an upper jaw configured to mate with the upper recess and a lower jaw configured to mate with the lower recess. |
| US08579167B2 |
Vehicle body rear part structure
A vehicle body rear part structure in which a spare tire is stored underneath a rear floor via a spare tire carrier. The vehicle body rear part structure includes a frame part and a tire cover. An embedding groove is formed in an external surface of the tire cover. The frame part is embedded in the embedding groove. Left and right front connecting parts of the frame part are rotatably connected to left and right front support parts. A rear connecting part of the frame part is vertically movably connected to rear support part. Vertical movements of the rear connecting part via the rear support part causes a spare tire to be disposed in a tire storage position and a tire accessing position. |
| US08579164B1 |
Dispensing bowl attachment for use with a bottle
In one embodiment there is provided a bowl attachment for use in connection with a bottle having a threaded opening and configured to contain a fluid. The bowl attachment includes a main bowl portion and a cover portion. The main bowl portion has a thread connection to secure to the bottle neck. A wall extends from the connection section and is shaped as a bowl. An interior spout is connected to the thread connection section and permits fluid from the bottle to squeeze into the main bowl portion. A cover portion is secured to the main bowl portion and includes an aperture with a flip top lid. |
| US08579163B2 |
Dental rack and dispenser
A dental rack and dispenser. The dental rack and dispenser can include a toothpaste compartment, the toothpaste compartment further having an openable cover and receiving a toothpaste canister through the openable cover, a toothpaste dispensing mechanism disposed inside the toothpaste compartment and operably coupling to the toothpaste canister, a plurality of openable toothbrush containers, each toothbrush container further having an interior for receiving a toothbrush therein, the interior of each toothbrush container being isolated from the interiors of the other toothbrush containers, and a wall-mountable structure coupled to the toothpaste compartment and the toothbrush containers. |
| US08579161B2 |
Low profile batter dispenser
A low profile batter dispenser, for the housing of batter on a counter top for an extended period of time while cooling the batter to resist bacterial growth therein. The batter dispenser includes a housing, a batter container, and an ice pack assembly for holding an ice pack on the bottom of and in contact with the batter container. |
| US08579160B2 |
Valve actuator
A dispensing gun has a gun body, a first component inlet, a second component inlet, a dispense head, a first valve, a second valve, a clamp, and a trigger. The component inlets are attached to the gun body for receiving components. The dispense head is for dispensing the components. The valves are attached to the gun body and there are valve stems for controlling the dispensing of the components. The clamp has an upper portion and a lower portion, with the first and second valve stems positioned in between the upper and lower portions. The two portions are attached such that the first and second valve stems move with movement of the valve actuator in a direction parallel to the axes of the valve stems. The trigger is attached to the gun body and controls movement of the clamp. |
| US08579155B2 |
Method and system for making and vending ice
A vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine has a selector for a plurality of beverage types and a selector for a plurality of ice types. The vending machine has a first store for storing a supply of the plurality of beverage types and a second store for storing a supply of the plurality of ice types. The vending machine also has a dispenser for dispensing into a container a selected beverage type and a selected ice type. |
| US08579148B2 |
Cover and straw for use with a container
A reusable straw includes a first part having a hollow elongated body that has a first end and an opposing second end and a second part having a hollow elongated body that has a first end and an opposing second end. The second part has a width that allows the first part to be received within a hollow interior of the first part. A first coupling member is formed along an inner surface of the first part proximate the first end; and a second coupling member is formed along an outer surface of the second part at the first end thereof. The first and second coupling members mate together to securely and sealingly couple the second part to the first part. The first coupling member is either a male member or a female member and the second coupling member is complementary and is the opposite member. |
| US08579145B2 |
Infant feeding bowl
There is provided an infant feeding bowl comprising a bowl container defining an inner bowl surface, an outer bowl surface and a bowl rim; and projecting away from said bowl rim, a bowl handle defining an arc form handle rim. The bowl handle includes a lamellar portion that extends from said handle rim to the bowl rim and provided to the lamellar portion, a thumbhole arranged for receipt of the user's thumb in use. The thumbhole is arranged symmetrically about a chord axis extending from the arc form handle rim to the bowl rim. |
| US08579142B2 |
Assembly of a container and a closure
An assembly of a container and a closure: the container comprising an outer shell having a neck portion defining a first access opening and a flexible inner bag having a neck finish defining second access opening; the closure being fixed to the container, said closure comprising at least two access ports positioned in front of said access openings and; the assembly comprising sealing means positioned between the closure and the container, characterized in that said sealing means comprise at least two distinct sealing members, one positioned between the closure and the neck portion, the other positioned between the closure and the neck finish. |
| US08579137B2 |
Packaging unit with a plastic bottle and a foil bag arranged therein
In the case of a packaging unit comprising a plastic bottle (2) with a flexible foil bag (3) arranged therein, wherein a hollow interspace (5) is formed at least in certain regions between the surface of the inner wall of the plastic bottle (2) and the outer surface of the foil bag (3), the foil bag (3) is designed such that it at least partially automatically elastically contracts and/or can be compressed at least in certain regions by a force effected by a means arranged in the interspace (5) and/or can be collapsed. |
| US08579136B2 |
Limited flow cup
Limited flow cups are provided which deliver a metered amount of fluid to a user during a drinking motion. |
| US08579132B2 |
Anti-colic baby feeding bottle
An anti-colic baby feeding bottle (10) includes a bottle body (16) having a bottle neck (18), a cap (14) removably fastened to the bottle neck (18), and an elastic teat (12). The teat (12) includes a nipple portion (24) having a fluid-dispensing through-hole (26) and an annular base (28), an annular flange (30) extending radially outward from the annular base (28), a plurality of apertures (32) formed 360° around the annular flange (30), and an annular skirt (40) depending from the annular base (28). The annular skirt (40) is spaced radially inward apart from an inner surface (42) of the bottle neck (18) to define an annular passage (44) having an outer end (46) in air communication with the apertures (32) and an inner end (48) which is normally closed by biasing force of a free end (50) of the annular skirt (40) that presses against the inner surface (42) of the bottle neck (18). |
| US08579128B2 |
Gripper device for transport vehicle, transport vehicle and overhead hoist transport vehicle
A gripper device for a transport vehicle includes a base plate, a guide rail provided on an upper surface of the base plate, a pair of guide blocks arranged to be movable in a substantially horizontal direction toward and away from each other along the guide rail, and a pair of gripping parts. Each of the gripping parts includes a horizontal portion fixed to an upper surface of one of the guide blocks and arranged to extend substantially parallel to the upper surface of the base plate, a vertical portion arranged to extend downward from the horizontal portion to a position lower than that of the base plate, and a claw section provided on a lower end of the vertical portion and arranged to grip an object. |
| US08579124B2 |
Product display device
A device for presenting products presenting at least two pots united by a connection region situated in their upper portions. The device includes a tray having a bottom and at least one separator wall against which the bottom face of at least one connection region comes to bear, the two above-mentioned pots being situated on either side of the separator wall. |
| US08579123B2 |
Merchandising system
A merchandising system includes an elongated mounting member that is selectively securable to a front portion of an associated shelf. A cooperating member is received on the mounting member. The cooperating member extends rearwardly over the associated shelf. The cooperating member includes an elongated body having a front end and a rear end and a nose extending from the front end. A hinge connects the nose to the front end. The nose contacts a wall of the elongated mounting member to retard relative movement between the cooperating member and the elongated mounting member. |
| US08579121B2 |
Accessory for dishwasher
An accessory for supporting crockery in a dishwasher comprises a generally U-shaped main body having a pair of legs and a connecting portion that connects the pair of legs, at least one of the legs having a free end that is adapted to be releasably attached to a crockery basket in the dishwasher when in an installation position, and a smoothly radiused portion connecting each leg to the connecting portion, wherein the legs are spaced apart in the installation position a sufficient distance to promote stability of the crockery. |
| US08579120B2 |
Crockery basket for a dishwasher
A crockery basket for a dishwasher includes a base frame having a base surface provided with an edge that is raised on at least one side. The crockery basket reduces the risk of injury caused by pointed elements and/or cutlery which project in an upward manner, in particular if the pointed end thereof if arranged towards the top, e.g. forks, steak knives, etc. As a result, the raised edge exceeds at least the height of the pointed elements of the cutlery basket which project in an upward manner and, optionally, the height of the cutlery which are pointed towards the top at least in a cutlery basket. |
| US08579117B2 |
Bump array device having asymmetric gaps for segregation of particles
The disclosure relates to obstacle array devices (also known as bump array devices) for separating populations of particles by size. Improvements over previous obstacle array devices are realized by causing the fluid velocity profile across gaps between obstacles to be asymmetrical with respect to the plane that bisects the gap and is parallel to the direction of bulk fluid flow. Such asymmetry can be achieved by selecting the shape(s) of the obstacles bounding the gap such that the portions of the obstacles upstream from, downstream from, or bridging the narrowest portion of the gap are asymmetrical with respect to that plane. Improvements are also realized by using obstacles that have sharp edges bounding the gaps. Other improvements are realized by selecting obstacle shapes such that the critical particle dimensions defined by the gaps in two different fluid flow directions differ. |
| US08579116B2 |
Tamper evident device
Tamper evident devices and methods including devices that can be used with pill bottles and other packages to provide evidence of tampering by an unauthorized user are provided. |
| US08579113B2 |
Tool case, in particular handheld power tool case
The invention is based on a tool case, in particular a handheld power tool case, having a basic case body that has at least one storage chamber which is provided at least for receiving at least one tool and/or at least one battery unit. It is proposed that the tool case has at least one air conditioner at least partially integrated with the basic case body. |
| US08579112B2 |
Holding device for phone or other electronic device
The present invention generally relates to a holding device for a phone or other electronic device. The device has an exterior housing and a generally hollow interior. The back of the exterior housing has a plurality of finger receiving finger loops which pivot from a generally parallel position with respect to the back of the device to a generally perpendicular position with respect to the back of the device. The finger loops may move independently and be independently added or removed from the device. |
| US08579111B2 |
Basketball storage system
A container for equipment, particularly basketballs, being an open box comprising a rigid frame covered by a fitted cloth cover. In one embodiment, the container is open. In another embodiment, the container has a lid that covers the top opening to the container and may be locked in that position. The frame has means for bolting the frame to a vertical wall. |
| US08579109B2 |
Combination transparent shirt box, shirt and tie
A substantially transparent box is constructed and arranged to include a collared shirt and a necktie in arrangement relative to one another and disposed such that these clothing articles are in registry with a hole in the box. The box comprises a single sheet of substantially transparent plastic having a series of first and second panels each being defined by respective folds. Selected first panels are bonded to another to define a hollow central cavity for the box, whereas selected second panels are folded to define peripheral ends for the box. The hollow cavity is sized to receive the shirt and necktie. The shirt and necktie are optionally arranged with bands that maintain a prescribed relative position to each other and to the box. |
| US08579106B2 |
Packaged-product system with multi-operational access control
The present invention relates to a child safe packaged-product system with multi-operational access control. The invention further relates to packaged-product system that facilitates interaction with the user so as to render child safe state of the package after use. The synergistic operational combination of the said package holding provision, package fixing provision, an assembly of the package and package fixing provision operably connected by the said restrictive means results in a multi-operational access control to access the package after the completion of the child resistant activity obviating the problem of package access as a part of the child resistant activity. Further provision of the said means to remind/alert user of reengaging/repositioning the package in the child-safe state after use renders child resistant state to the package after use enhancing the effectiveness of the child resistant function of the package. |
| US08579103B2 |
System and method for transporting solid feed in a solid feed pump
A system includes a solid feed pump configured to transport a solid feedstock. The solid feed pump includes at least one passage for the transport of the solid feedstock. The solid feed pump also includes at least one movable wall configured to move along the passage. The solid feed pump further includes a retractable gripping element configured to extend from the at least one movable wall into the at least one passage to grip a portion of the solid feedstock. In addition, the retractable gripping element is configured to retract away from the at least one passage. |
| US08579102B2 |
Belt cleaning system and method for laser cutting device
A belt cleaning system to clean a conveyor belt carrier surface includes a first cleaning assembly having a cleaning web sub-assembly. The cleaning web sub-assembly includes a supply roller, a take-up roller, a cleaning web and an applicator. The cleaning web extends from a supply of clean cleaning web wound on the supply roller to the take-up roller. The applicator is disposed intermediate the supply roller and the take-up roller to bias the cleaning web into contact with the conveyor belt carrier surface. The belt cleaning system may also include a second cleaning assembly positioned after the first cleaning assembly in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt. The cleaning webs of the first and second cleaning web sub-assemblies may be dry or wetted with a cleaning liquid. |
| US08579096B2 |
Switchable free-wheel device for a transmission, particularly for a crank-CVT of a motor vehicle
A switchable free-wheel device for a transmission for a crank-driven CVT of a motor vehicle. The device includes at least one free-wheel unit with a drivable outer ring, an inner ring in the form of an output shaft, and clamping bodies disposed between the rings and rotatable about their longitudinal axes. In the axial direction, each of the clamping bodies includes first and second grooves that are axially spaced from each other and offset relative to each other in the peripheral direction of the clamping body. Annular worm springs surrounding the clamping bodies are displaceable in the axial direction of the body by a switching mechanism, such that the springs engage either in the first groove or in the second groove. The clamping body rotates about its longitudinal axis such that the force applied by the worm spring runs on a side of the longitudinal axis. |
| US08579089B2 |
Method for controlling an elevator, and an elevator using starting position data of the elevator and sway data of the building
A method for controlling an elevator installed in a building that includes an elevator car arranged to travel in a hoistway between floor landings that are at different heights, one or more ropings connected to the elevator car, a hoisting machine for moving the elevator car, and a control for control the hoisting machine is provided. In the method, the sway data of the building is determined, which data describes the strength of the sway of the building, and the starting position data of the elevator car is determined, which starting position data contains data about the starting position of the elevator car and/or data about how long the elevator car has been in the starting position, and the settings for the run speed of the next run are determined on the basis of the starting position data and the sway data. An elevator is configured to perform the method. |
| US08579088B2 |
Drain plug for carrier assembly
A drain plug for a carrier assembly is used to control fluid flow from a reservoir to a sump. The carrier assembly includes a carrier housing with an internal cavity that houses a gear assembly. The sump is located within the internal cavity to lubricate the gear assembly. The reservoir is separated from the sump by a channel. The drain plug is attached to the carrier housing, and extends into the channel, to provide a fluid flow restriction between the reservoir and the sump. |
| US08579087B2 |
Lubricant grease charging-up device for automobile brake hub bearing
A lubricating grease charging device for automobile brake hub bearings include an operation spindle (10), an outer diameter of an upper body section thereof being slightly smaller than an inner diameter of an outer bearing (60) of the automobile brake hub (50), and an outer diameter of lower body section thereof being slightly smaller than an inner diameter of an inner bearing (70) of the automobile brake hub (50); the operation spindle (10) being provided in an outer bearing chamber and an inner bearing chamber of the automobile brake hub as well as in a cavity between the outer bearing chamber and the inner bearing chamber; a first closing member and a second closing member, which close a space in which the operation spindle (10) is disposed at two ends respectively; a lubricating grease charging passage, through which lubricating grease can be charged into the space in which the operation spindle (10) is disposed. |
| US08579085B2 |
Suspended access chair with rescue system
A suspended access chair with a rescue system that may be utilized to access a wind turbine blade while mounted on a tower for purposes such as inspection, maintenance, cleaning, and repair of the blade is provided. The suspended access chair generally includes a chair frame assembly. Upper frame and lower frame assembly rollers are secured to the chair frame assembly and are configured for rolling contact along an edge of the blade. The suspended access chair further includes primary dextral and primary sinistral gripping arms. The gripping arms may be adjusted to conform to the shape of the blade and include rollers configured for rolling contact along a portion of the blade. A hoist is provided to raise and lower the chair along a suspension rope. The rescue system is used to lower the suspended access chair from an elevated position to the ground during emergency situations. |
| US08579084B2 |
Founding system
A founding chair for a founding ladder system is of a lightweight fabricated design and includes a pivotally secured top leveling plate. A ladder system for the founding chair includes a slide in engagement rack for securing of the founding chair and allowing incremental adjustment. |
| US08579082B1 |
Portable hunting stand apparatus and methods
A ladder stand support apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the ladder stand support apparatus may include a base adapted to transport ladder stand sections of a ladder stand, and the base is adapted for attachment to a tree. In various aspects, the ladder stand apparatus may include a channel member rotatably connected to the base, the channel member adapted to receive a rail of a ladder stand within a channel defined therein. |
| US08579080B2 |
Anti-noise panel
It is disclosed an anti-noise panel comprising a front shell and a rear shell that are coupled together within which rubber elements of specifically designed shape and size are incorporated. Said panel can be advantageously obtained by using also recycled, injected thermoplastic material, that allows the resulting panel to be conveniently used when the wind causes strong impact, for example, along railway lines where the compression waves generated by trains traveling at high speed over time tend to disassemble the riveted aluminum/steel sound barriers currently in use. |
| US08579079B2 |
Soundproofing panel
The aim of the invention is to improve acoustic insulation panels of the prior art by proposing a rigid, light panel, the acoustical absorption performance of which is improved thanks to the use of a grid the structure of which enables the same to contribute to the noise absorption function. To this end, the present invention relates to an acoustic insulation panel including two facing panels (2, 4), separated by a solid structure (6) that is substantially planar and has two surfaces (7b, 7c) that are substantially planar and parallel, each of which are rigidly connected to a facing panel, said structure (6) including through-holes (6a) that form a mesh, such that the meshed structure contributes to the noise absorption function. |
| US08579070B2 |
Work vehicle
A speed changer lever and a lift lever are supported to a lever supporting structure that extends from the front end of an armrest disposed laterally of a driver's eat to the forward side of the vehicle body. A speed changer lever guide face portion is provided at a transversely inner portion of an upwardly oriented face of the lever supporting structure. A lift lever guide face portion is provided at a transversely outer portion of the upwardly oriented face of the ever supporting structure. The lift lever guide face portion is set at a disposing height lower than the speed changer lever guide face portion. An upper end of the lift lever is set at a disposing height lower than the upper end of the speed changer lever. A speed changer lever guide groove and a lift lever guide groove are disposed parallel to each other. |
| US08579067B2 |
Gas spring and engine hood unit with the gas spring
A gas spring with a center longitudinal axis including a cylinder includes a piston in the cylinder that divides the cylinder into a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber. A piston rod is arranged at the piston guided out of the cylinder at a second end opposite the first end. A connection element with a socket housing is arranged at each of the first end and the free end of the piston rod for receiving a ball head. At least one of the two socket housings comprises a ball socket with a longitudinal extension and a transverse dimension, the longitudinal extension is greater than the transverse dimension. A catch element having a spring tongue is arranged at the first end for insertion together with the catch element into a cover tube that locks into a recess associated with it in the cover tube. |
| US08579066B2 |
Vehicle seat belt device
This seat belt device of a vehicle includes a webbing, a belt reel, a motor, a clutch, detection unit, brake control unit and motor control unit. The motor control unit includes a waiting current control unit configured to conduct a current that can maintain the clutch to be in the connection state in the motor when the brake control unit outputs the operation signal and variable current control unit configured to proceed from current control performed by the waiting current control unit when a change in the movement state of the vehicle is detected by the detection unit during the current control performed by the waiting current control unit and adjusts the amount of conduction in the motor based on the movement state of the vehicle that is detected by the detection unit. |
| US08579065B2 |
Mower with four wheel steering and hydraulic four wheel drive
A mower having a cutting deck for cutting grass has four drive wheels arranged in a square or rectangular configuration on the mower's frame. Four wheel drive and four wheel steering are employed with the drive wheels. The four wheel drive is provided by a hydraulic drive system that employs a pair of identical serial circuits which have their own pumps with each pump serially sending its output through a rear drive motor and a front drive motor that are catty-corner to one another on the frame, i.e. are on opposite sides of the motor. Various flow crossover paths and flow recirculation paths are provided in the serial circuits to ensure the drive motors receive adequate flow in maximum turns of the mower. The flow recirculation paths around a pair of drive motors at one end of the frame are shut off during reverse and during braking so that all drive motors retain hydraulic braking in these conditions. |
| US08579064B2 |
Vehicle with electric equipment
A vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can include an engine and a head pipe provided ahead of the engine. Electrical equipment provided behind the head pipe and ahead of the engine can be partly exposed by a gap between a down frame and a radiator of the vehicle, enabling the electrical equipment to be cooled by airflow. |
| US08579059B2 |
Hybrid motor vehicle and method of controlling hybrid motor vehicle
A hybrid motor vehicle includes: an internal combustion engine that outputs motive power for vehicle traction; an engine-motoring electric motor that motors the internal combustion engine; a vehicle traction electric motor that outputs motive power for vehicle traction; a secondary battery that supplies electric power to the engine-motoring electric motor and to the vehicle traction electric motor; and a pre-engine-start control device that controls the internal combustion engine and the engine-motoring electric motor so as to motor the internal combustion engine in a reverse rotation direction without performing fuel injection or ignition when the hybrid motor vehicle is traveling on motive power from the vehicle traction electric motor without operating the internal combustion engine, after a system of the hybrid motor vehicle is started. |
| US08579056B1 |
Spiral drive and transport device using the same
A transport device includes a support base, at least two spiral drives, at least one drive device, a control device and a power source. Each one of the at least two spiral drives are preferably driven by a single drive device. However, a single drive device could drive the at least two spiral drives through some type of drive system. The at least two spiral drives are rotatably retained on the support base. The at least two spiral drives are rotated through any suitable drive system. The power source supplies power to the at least one drive device through the control device. The control device controls the rotation and the amount of power sent to the at least one drive device. An object to be transported is placed on the support base. However, multiple transport devices may be attached to multiple sides of the object. |
| US08579055B2 |
Electric zero-turn working vehicle
An electric zero-turn working vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame, right and left drive wheels, right and left first electric motors for driving the respective right and left drive wheels, a transaxle including at least one of the right and left first electric motors, a working implement, and a second electric motor for driving the working implement. The right and left first electric motors have a space therebetween. The transaxle is supported by the vehicle body frame and is disposed below the vehicle body frame. At least a part of the second electric motor is disposed in the space between the right and left first electric motors. |
| US08579051B2 |
Anti-tracking spear points for earth-boring drill bits
Described herein are roller cone drill bits and modified roller cones for use in drilling subterranean earth formations, and more specifically roller cone drill bits and roller cones having optimized spear point designs and blade orientations on at least one of the roller cones for reduced tracking and/or increased drilling performance during bit use. The roller cone drill bits include a bit body with a longitudinal axis, one or more bit legs depending from the body, and at least one roller cone attached to each of the bit legs and able to rotate with respect to the bit body, wherein at least one of the roller cones includes a spear point at the cone apex having two or more cutting blades, the cutting blades being oriented at a variety of non-equal, asymmetric angles about a central cone axis with respect to each other, such that tracking during drilling using the drill bit is minimized or eliminated. |
| US08579049B2 |
Drilling system for enhanced coring and method
A drill string assembly is required that has the capability of operating in well bores that range in hole size from seven to eight inches in diameter. The assembly is used to obtain a large core sample size that is equal to three and one-half inches in diameter and up to ninety feet in length in a single core run. This assembly will be operated with a drill string (i.e. drill pipe) that is capable of being used on standard drilling rigs, which may be used to handle API style drill pipe to conduct coring/drilling operations. The coring tool is comprised of an inner barrel for receiving the core sample. |
| US08579045B2 |
Rock drilling device and drill rig incorporating a device for measuring the location of the drilling machine
A rock drilling device comprising a feed beam (4), which has a drill end (41) from which the drill point protrudes at drilling and a rear end(42) opposite the drill end; a rock drilling machine (5) movable along the feed beam (4); a pressure cylinder (6), which is arranged in connection with the feed beam (4) with one end (622) movable relative to the feed beam (4) and one end (611) fixedly arranged relative to the feed beam (4). The pressure cylinder (6) drives a feed line (51) for feeding the drilling machine (5) to and fro along the feed beam (4). The feed line (51) is routed over two outer sheaves (52, 53) that are arranged at each end (41, 42) of the feed beam (4) and a measuring device (7) for measuring the location of the drilling machine (5) relative to the feed beam (4) is arranged to the shaft (9) of one of the sheaves (52, 53) and the sheave and the shaft (9) are arranged such that they rotate together. |
| US08579043B2 |
Battery-powered power tools
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique for bringing a center of gravity of a battery-powered power tool closer to a working axis of a tool bit in the battery-powered power tool.The battery-powered power tool performs an operation by movement of a tool bit 119 in an axial direction of the tool bit. The power tool includes a battery 110, a motor 111 that is driven by power supply from the battery 110, a mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117 that drives the tool bit 119 by rotative power transmitted from the motor 111, and a tool body 103 that houses the motor 111 and the mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117 and has a front end region in which the tool bit 119 is disposed. A sum of weights of the motor 111 and the battery 110 is smaller than a weight of the mechanical arrangement 113, 115, 117. |
| US08579042B2 |
Battery pack and cordless tool using the same
A battery device is constituted by connecting such cell assemblies in parallel as each includes: a first cell group having a plurality of cells connected in series; a housing container for housing the first cell group; current detector housed in the container for detecting a current to flow through the first cell group; a switching element connected with the first cell group for turning ON/OFF the current to flow through the first cell group; and a controller for controlling the ON/OFF of the switching element in response to the output signal of the current detector. |
| US08579039B2 |
Beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle
A beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle for cleaning the beach with a vehicle frame and vehicle wheels, with a receiving container for receiving contaminants, and with a conveying and separating device for raising up the underlying surface and for separating contaminants out of this underlying surface and for conveying the contaminants into the receiving container. The conveying and separating device having a pick-up which is arranged and formed in such a way that it comes into contact with the underlying surface while the beach maintenance and cleaning vehicle is driving and raises up parts of said underlying surface, and a screen belt which is moved relative to the vehicle frame. There is provision for the conveying and separating device to have a comminutor which is arranged between the pick-up and the screen belt and is configured for breaking up sand lumps of the received underlying surface. |
| US08579035B2 |
Method for recovering oil from an oil well
In a method for optimizing gas lift operations in the production of crude oil, a surfactant is injected into the an oil well such that the surface tension between a lift gas and the formation fluid being produced is reduced and/or a lift gas-formation fluid foam is formed. The reduction in surface tension and/or foam formation increases the efficiency of the lift gas for lifting the formation fluid to the surface. The surfactant is a silicone resin which may be combined with other surfactants, in some embodiments. |
| US08579034B2 |
Riser tensioner system
A riser tensioner system maintains a tensile force in a riser having an axis and extending from a subsea wellhead assembly through an opening in a floating platform deck. The tensioner includes a plurality of tensioner legs having lower ends mounted to the deck, and upper ends having slots formed therein to receive leg attachment plates having an opening therein through which a tubular support ring passes. A plurality of cylinders extend between the tubular support ring and a tensioner ring and couple to the support ring with cylinder attachment plates through which the tubular support ring passes. An upper end of each cylinder pivots about the mounting point, and a lower end of each cylinder adjustably mounts to the tensioner ring. |
| US08579030B2 |
Triggered polymer viscous pill and methods of using the same
The invention provides a method comprising providing a composition comprising a pH trigger and a polymer able to be hydrated in a defined pH zone; injecting the composition with a pH outside the defined pH zone; triggering the pH trigger to adjust the pH of the composition within the defined pH zone; and allowing viscosity of the composition to increase and form a plug. |
| US08579029B2 |
System, method and treatment fluid for controlling fines migration
A method includes providing a treatment fluid that is a viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be greater than 0.01 Pa-s, greater than 0.1 Pa-s, and/or a cross-linked polymer based fluid. The method further includes determining a fines migration composition soluble in an aqueous phase of the treatment fluid that is compatible with the treatment fluid, and that interacts to secure fines in an earth formation intersecting a wellbore within a fines reaction time. The method further includes adding an amount of the fines migration composition to the treatment fluid, and treating the earth formation with the treatment fluid. The method includes leaking off a portion of the treatment fluid into the earth formation, and providing a residence time of the leaked off portion of the treatment fluid in the earth formation, where the residence time meets or exceeds the fines reaction time. |
| US08579028B2 |
Tackifying agent pre-coated particulates
The present invention involves methods of using particulates coated with a tackifying agent that need not be used immediately once they are prepared and that provide increased viscosity when placed into an aqueous fluid. The described methods include the steps of contacting particulates with a tackifying agent to create tackified particulates; contacting the tackified particulates with a partitioning agent to form coated particulates that are capable of being stored for a time period, wherein the partitioning agent comprises a hydratable polymeric material; and, placing the coated particulates in an aqueous treatment fluid whereby the partitioning agent hydrates and increases the viscosity of the treatment fluid. |
| US08579027B2 |
Multi-functional completion tool
A multi-functional completion tool which may be lowered into a wellbore coupled to a length of tubing, and then utilized to test various lengths of the tubing at pressure. The tool may also function as a positive plug, may be used to set a packer, and is also useable as a tubing self-filling tool. Various retention elements are disposed within the tool and configured to release at predetermined pressures, or within predetermined ranges of pressure, thereby transforming the tool from a first configuration to a second configuration depending on the desired function. The tool may use a flapper mechanism to regulate passage of fluids through the housing, and a piston and/or flow tube may also be utilized to lock the flapper in an open or closed orientation within the housing. |
| US08579025B2 |
Control screen assembly
Screen assemblies capable of being disposed in a bore for hydrocarbon fluid production are described. The screen assemblies can support filter mediums and reduce or eliminate plugging by swellable material. One screen assembly includes filter mediums supported by a rigid member located exterior to a portion of a base pipe. The rigid member can include openings through which the filter mediums can be in fluid communication with an inner diameter of the base pipe. Swellable material can be disposed exterior to a second portion of the base pipe adjacent to the rigid member. The filter mediums can be displaced to contact a wellbore and the rigid members can help reduce or prevent plugging of screen assembly openings. |
| US08579021B2 |
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger, in particular for fluid cooling devices, has a package of plane-parallel plates (1) with flow regions (3, 5) for a hot medium and for a cooling medium alternatively between pairs of plates (1) lying on top of one another. Each region is laterally bordered by profile strips (7, 11) keeping the plates (1) at a distance and forming solder surfaces (25) adjoining the plates (1). The profile strips (7, 11) on the flow regions (3, 5) extend along edges of the plates (1) and abut one another at an angle. The profile strips (11) of the flow regions (5) of the cooling medium having a base body (13), two legs (17) extending from the base body along the solder surfaces (25), and a recess (15) between the legs open toward the adjacent flow region (5). The recess (15) at least in the region adjacent to its inner end segment (23) is bordered by planar wall parts (29). |
| US08579020B2 |
Heat exchanger with concentric tubes
The invention relates to an improved concentric tube heat exchanger. The exchanger comprises a cylindrical tube (1) for circulation of a product provided with a flanged inlet (11) and a flanged outlet (12) of the product; a hollow body (2) concentric internally of the tube (1), in which the exchange fluid circulates, defining internally thereof preferential pathways for an outward and a return run of the exchange fluid and having the inlet and the outlet of the exchange fluid arranged at a same end of and in proximity of an end of the tube; a flanged inlet connector (3) for introducing the product into the tube (1), a flange (3a) of which connects with an inlet flange (11a) of the inlet (11) of the tube; a flanged outlet connector (4) for extracting the product from the tube (1), a flange (4a) of which connects with a flange (12a) of the outlet (12) of the tube; an intermediate flange (5), connected to the end of the hollow body exhibiting the inlet and outlet of the fluid and projecting from the tube (1), which is provided with a passage hole (5c) for the product to be treated and with an inlet mouth (5a) and an outlet mouth (5b) for the exchange fluid connected respectively to the outward and return pathway of the exchange fluid; the passage hole (5c), inlet mouth (5a) and outlet mouth (5b) not being in reciprocal connection. |
| US08579015B2 |
Insertable dual-pass cooling coils
An insertable, removable cooling coil in a heat exchange unit includes a heat exchange housing and one or more cooling coils in a heat exchange assembly in the housing. The housing is a pre-assembled housing having one or more respective recesses for insertion or removal of each respective cooling coil of the one or more cooling coils therein. Each cooling coil is slidably insertable upon side angle profile supports within the respective recesses of the heat exchange housing. |
| US08579014B2 |
Cooling arrangement for conveyors and other applications
A conveyor for moving hot material at temperatures on this order of 1000° F. or higher along a conveyor trough receiving the material has one or more coolant liquid flow vessels extending over but spaced from the outer surface of a trough inner wall to indirectly cause cooling of the inner wall. A heat transfer path is established between a separate coolant flow vessel and the hot trough defined by a packed together mass of heat conductive beads interposed to controllably transfer heat into the coolant liquid flowing through the flow vessel to prevent boiling of the coolant while allowing heat to be transferred from the through into the coolant in the separate flow vessel. The arrangement of a mass of heat conductive beads is also used to provide a non rigid mechanical support of fluid carrying tubing, the support having a predetermined thermal conductivity. |
| US08579006B2 |
Space divider system
A space divider system having a track beam with opposed ends and parallel tracks along its length. The ends are removably mounted to opposed walls, below the ceiling without intermediate support. Light weight substantially frameless, translucent/transparent panels are provided to allow uninterrupted passage of light. The top edge of each panel is slidably mounted to a track of the track beam, sliding between the opposed walls on its own track, independently of the other panels. The planar surfaces of the panels are parallel to the track beam and the bottom edges are spaced a distance from the floor. The widths of the panels when added together are at least equal to the length of the track beam and can be positioned along the beam to permit complete closure of the space between the walls or to overlap each other to provide an opening through the space between the walls. |
| US08579002B2 |
Device for manufacture of an oriented strand board beam
The invention relates to a device for manufacturing an OSB beam with a web and at least one flange. The starting material for the beam is wood strands of OSB type. The device comprises a feeder device for advancing the strands, a metering device for metering out the strands, a nozzle, through which the metered strands pass, and a receiving surface for receiving the strands. The feeder device, the metering device and the nozzle are adapted for applying strands to the receiving surface in the form of an elongated bead. The height of the bead is at every point of the cross-section substantially adapted to the web and flange of the beam being made. The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing an OSB beam and to a computer readable medium comprising a program. |
| US08578997B2 |
Tightening strap device for a heat-weldable plastic strip
The invention relates to a tightening strap device for a heat-weldable plastic strip that is used to strap a packaged item and that is joined at a welding point to form a loop. Whereas in prior art the plastic strip is held during welding by several clamping elements, in the present invention the welding plate functions simultaneously as a clamping element. |
| US08578992B2 |
Friction welding apparatus
Disclosed is a friction welding apparatus in which electricity is supplied to a servo motor to rotate a spindle to thereby impart a fixed relative rotational motion to one workpiece and another workpiece, and, while doing so, the one workpiece and the other workpiece are brought into contact with each other and imparted a frictional thrust thereto to soften a bonding interface between the two workpieces. After this, the friction welding apparatus undergoes speed reduction until the RPM of the spindle becomes a phase adjustment RPM; when the RPM of the spindle attains the phase adjustment RPM, a clutch device is engaged with the spindle, and the electricity supply to the servo motor is cut off to stop the rotation of the spindle. |
| US08578989B2 |
Motor vehicle tire
A motorcycle tire having a transverse curvature ratio f/C≧0.2 and a sidewall height ratio (H−f)/H≦0.7, has a belt structure provided with a belt layer including at least one filiform reinforcing element arranged to form a plurality of windings parallel to one another at a substantially zero angle relative to the equatorial plane of the tire. The available elongation of the belt in an intermediate zone between the equatorial plane, and the shoulder is greater than the available elongation corresponding to the equatorial plane. The aforementioned intermediate zone extends at least in a range centered on a camber angle of ±35°. |
| US08578987B2 |
Run-flat tire having an additional sidewall reinforcement
A run-flat tire (12) comprising: a crown; two sidewalls (40); two beads (50) each one comprising at least one annular reinforcing structure (60); a carcass reinforcement (71, 72) anchored in each of the beads by wrapping it around the annular reinforcing structure so as to form an incoming portion (711) extending from the crown through the sidewalls towards the bead and a wrapped-around portion (712); and at least one sidewall insert (80); at least one sidewall of the tire further comprising at least one additional sidewall reinforcement (90) positioned axially on the inside of the carcass reinforcement and extending radially at least between a radial height H1 of 30 mm, H1 being measured from the radially innermost point of the annular reinforcing structure; and a radial height H2 equal to 30% of the height H of the tire; and a layer (110) of polymeric composition positioned between the additional sidewall reinforcement and the carcass reinforcement. |
| US08578984B2 |
Non-motorized vehicle wheel replacement treads and methods
A wheel for a non-motorized vehicle (e.g., a shopping cart) can include a housing assembly and a tread assembly. The housing assembly can be configured to sealingly house electronics or other components. The tread assembly can removably mate with the housing assembly such that the electronics or other components remain closed and/or sealed within the housing assembly when the tread assembly is mated or unmated with the housing assembly. |
| US08578983B2 |
Tire with rubber component comprised of a composite of rubber and film of syndiotactic polybutadiene integral with its surface
This invention relates to a tire having at least one rubber component which contains a cast, extruded, or calendered film of syndiotactic polybutadiene polymer. The syndiotactic polybutadiene polymer film is integral with the surface of the rubber component in a sense of being co-cured therewith. Such film may be added directly to the tire during the building process or involve a separate process of producing a tire component as a composite of the film and a rubber composition (rubber component) prior to the tire building stage. Such composite can be as is or partially pre-cured before being applied in the tire building process. The syndiotactic polybutadiene polymer film is provided to promote both stability and age durability for the tire component. |
| US08578977B2 |
Gas filling and dispensing device, and filling method
The invention relates to a gas filling and dispensing device that includes a body to be provided in the opening of a pressurized gas storage tank, a gas tapping circuit extending between a first upstream end to be connected to the inside of the tank and a second downstream end to be connected to a gas user, a filling duct having a first upstream end to be connected to the inside of the tank and a second downstream end to be connected to a filling member, said filling duct including at least one portion distinct from the tapping circuit, and the filling duct including a first valve, characterized in that the filling duct includes a second isolation valve arranged in series with the first valve. |
| US08578974B2 |
Portable fluid exchange system for concurrently pumping liquid from a source container to a destination container and pumping vapor from the destination container to the source container
A portable fluid exchange system comprises a source container, a liquid and vapor pump for pumping liquid from the source container to the destination container and for pumping vapor from the destination container to the source container. The liquid inlet and vapor outlets of the liquid and vapor pump are connected in fluid communication with the source container. A liquid delivery hose delivers liquid from the pump to the destination container. A vapor delivery hose delivers vapor from the destination container to the pump. A selectively controllable actuation mechanism actuates the liquid and vapor pump to thereby concurrently pump liquid from the liquid and vapor pump through the liquid outlet and vapor into the liquid and vapor pump through the vapor inlet, and concurrently pump vapor from the liquid and vapor pump through the vapor outlet and liquid into the liquid and vapor pump through the liquid inlet. |
| US08578973B2 |
Apparatus and method of filling down-filled articles
The apparatus and method of the subject invention facilitates the filling of an air-permeable casement or shell with feather down material. The apparatus of the subject invention includes two chambers which are selectively connected to one another by means of a passageway. The subject invention further includes a mechanism for selectively inducing a partial vacuum in either chamber to facilitate the filling of article casements with feather down. By inducing a partial vacuum in the first chamber and connecting a supply hose to its access port, feather down may be conveyed from a supply container into the first chamber. By selectively opening the passageway and inducing a partial vacuum in the second chamber, the feather down is conveyed from the first chamber to the second chamber in a clean, efficient and controlled manner where it is contained within an air permeable casement formed over the passageway. |
| US08578969B1 |
Non-return structure of water valve
A non-return structure of water valve includes a valve body, two limiting elements, and two non-return elements. The valve body forms two inlets and two annular protrusions around the two inlets respectively. Each annular protrusion encloses a receiving room receiving one of the limiting elements. The limiting element defines a widened hole and a reduced hole, and a stepped portion is formed therebetween. The non-return element includes a blocking portion disposed in the widened hole and having an external diameter larger than the one of the reduced hole, and the blocking portion is resilient. Thereby, returning water is unable to separate the circumference of the blocking portion from the stepped portion to form gaps. Thus, the non-return structure of water valve is able to prevent water from flowing back. |
| US08578967B2 |
Pressure regulating valve for aircraft engine
The fluid pressure regulating valve is for use in an aircraft engine. The valve has at least a first fluid inlet, a first fluid outlet and a second fluid outlet. The valve comprises: a valve housing having a first valve spool interior cavity; a first fluid path within the valve housing from the fluid inlet to the first fluid outlet; a second fluid path within the valve housing from the fluid inlet to the second fluid outlet; a first valve spool mounted for reciprocal motion within the first valve spool cavity between a first position and a second position, the first valve spool having a second valve spool interior cavity and being spring-biased to its first position; and a second valve spool mounted for reciprocal motion within the second valve spool cavity between a first position and a second position, the second valve spool being spring-biased to its first position, the second valve spool closing the first fluid path at its second position when the first valve spool is substantially at its first position. |
| US08578966B2 |
Mixing valve
The present invention relates generally to fluid control valves and, more particularly, to a mixing valve for use within a faucet. |
| US08578964B2 |
Bleeding screw having a kick-back valve
The invention relates to a device for bleeding a hydraulic system. The bleeding device comprises a venting passage which can be closed by means of a valve arrangement. In order to simplify such a bleeding device regarding the operation thereof while preventing air from being delivered in an uncontrolled manner during the bleeding process, the valve arrangement is provided with a valve member (S) which can be lifted from a valve seat (8) of the valve arrangement counter to the force of a spring element (7) in an open position of the bleeding device while being fixed to the valve seat (8) in a closed position of the bleeding device. The invention further relates to a venting screw which encompasses such a valve arrangement according to the principle of a check valve and is to be mounted in a caliper (18). |
| US08578960B2 |
Gas supply system
A gas supply system in the form of a winding device that includes a housing with an aperture, a spool, a one way bearing, an interval locking device, a universal shaft, a spring housing, a spring torque spool and a pair of spring grounding tabs, a main base that stabilizes the housing, a rotating shaft where the main base is disposed on the distal end of the rotating shaft, a rotational bearing that is disposed on the proximal end of the rotating shaft and connects the rotating shaft to the base clamp. The base clamp has a pair of corresponding apertures and secures the gas supply system to a tubular shaped object, and includes an adjustable clamp screw that has a handle and a threaded bolt wherein the proximal end of the threaded bolt is attached to and perpendicularly extends from the handle and the adjustable clamp screw. |
| US08578958B2 |
Leak mitigation for pressurized bi-directional systems
A bi-directional pressurized system with devices for and configured to mitigate issues associated with leak and creep phenomena at various stages throughout the system, including valves and controls to distribute a leaked amount of fluid prior to delivery to a pressure-sensitive destination and a pressure relief valve to bring an initial pressure within an acceptable range for distribution to reach a target pressure is disclosed. A startup method for mitigating leakage of the system during a rest phase, including selectively reducing the initial pressure upstream of a pressure-sensitive destination, is disclosed. |
| US08578956B2 |
Roof support assembly for collapsible shelter
A supplemental support assembly is provided for supporting a collapsible shelter structure, such as a ground blind for hunting. The support assembly includes a pole having a coupler at one end for coupling with a framework of the shelter structure, and a ground engaging point at the other end. The coupler has a generally cylindrical structure with a plurality of slots formed in a sidewall thereof. Each of the slots have an axial portion open at the top and a circumferential portion extending circumferentially from the axial portion. The axial portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be pushed over a central hub with spokes of the framework passing through the slots, and the circumferential portions of the slots are arranged to allow the coupler to be rotated into locking engagement with the spokes. The support assembly prevents the shelter structure from collapsing under heavy loads. |
| US08578955B1 |
Canopy system
The present application is directed towards a canopy system. The canopy system includes a canopy that is operably connected to a post and a base that is also operably connected to the same post. |
| US08578953B2 |
Substrate cleaning apparatus, substrate cleaning method, and computer-readable storage medium
A disclosed substrate cleaning apparatus for cleaning a back surface of a substrate includes a first substrate supporting portion configured to support the substrate at a first area of a back surface of the substrate, the back surface facing down; a second substrate supporting portion configured to support the substrate at a second area of the back surface of the substrate, the second area being separated from the first area; a cleaning liquid supplying portion configured to supply cleaning liquid to the back surface of the substrate; a drying portion configured to dry the second area of the back surface of the substrate; and a cleaning portion configured to clean a third area of the back surface of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the first substrate supporting portion, the third area including the second area, and a fourth area of the back surface of the substrate when the substrate is supported by the second substrate supporting portion, the fourth area excluding the second area of the back surface. |
| US08578952B2 |
Substrate processing system, substrate surface processing apparatus, substrate surface inspecting apparatus, substrate surface inspecting method, and storage medium storing program for implementing the method
A substrate processing system which enables a minute piece of foreign matter attached to a substrate surface to be detected and are suitable for mass production of substrates. The substrate processing system has a substrate processing apparatus that carries out predetermined processing on a substrate. The substrate processing system comprises a substrate surface processing apparatus having a fluid supply unit that supplies onto a surface of the substrate a fluid containing an altering substance that alters a substance exposed at the surface of the substrate, and a substrate surface inspecting apparatus that inspects the surface of the substrate onto which the fluid has been supplied. |
| US08578949B2 |
Multi-texture floss and methods of manufacturing multi-texture floss
A multi-texture dental floss includes distinct and alternating segments having varying textures, including smooth segments and textured segments. The smooth segments are more easily inserted into the spaces between teeth, while the textured segments more effectively remove plaque and other debris therefrom. Methods of making the multi-texture floss are also disclosed, including methods that allow the floss to be made as a continuous thread having a plurality of alternating segments, such that the floss can be wound onto a spool for storage and dispensing. |
| US08578947B2 |
Cosmetic case with sterilizer and puff
The present invention relates to a cosmetic case with a sterilizer and a puff, and more particularly, a cosmetic case including a puff and a sterilizer for sterilizing the puff. The cosmetic case with the sterilizer and the puff according to the present invention is capable of sterilizing the puff combined to the case body with the ultraviolet ray from the sterilizer to prevent bacterial contamination and proliferation of the puff, thereby improving sanitation and storage quality, and is capable of frequent sterilization before and after use of cosmetics, thereby improving user's convenience for sterilization of the puff. |
| US08578942B2 |
Aerosol generator
An aerosol generator device has an elongate body with an interior passageway extending longitudinally to its mouth end. The device receives an interchangeable, pressurized canister charged with a nicotine containing liquid that is discharged in a metered dose on manual actuation of a button member that causes a valve in the canister to open and discharge through a discharge tube. A sleeve releasably couples the canister to the body. The button member is slidably mounted on the body for reciprocal movement along a trigger axis Y-Y′ extending transversely of the longitudinal axis X-X′ of the device, and has a manually depressible surface portion and a camming surface portion that drives a slidable nozzle member to press the discharge tube inwardly of the canister to open its valve and release liquid into the nozzle member. Nozzle forms an aerosol from the liquid, which is delivered to the consumer through outlets in the mouth end of the device. |
| US08578941B2 |
Slipper-like device to prevent or help heal pressure ulcers of the foot
A foot garment device to prevent or help prevent or heal pressure ulcers of the foot includes a bumper for positioning around and below an ankle of an individual, and one or more upper adjustable flaps and one or more lower adjustable flaps for removably securing the foot garment to a foot of the individual, wherein the bumper includes a hollow sleeve for receiving padding therein. Also described is a method for securing such a foot garment device to the foot of an the individual. |
| US08578940B1 |
Athletic mouth guard
An athletic mouth guard comprising an upper component a lower component and first and second joining components. The upper component has a central region and first and second opposing wing regions. These cooperate to define a channel-like configuration which is structurally configured to receive a plurality of teeth of an upper jaw. The lower component has similar structures which are configured to receive a plurality of teeth of a lower jaw. The first joining component is attached to the upper component and to the lower component along corresponding first opposing wing regions and the second joining component is attached to the upper component and to the lower component along corresponding second opposing wing regions. The joining components fix the portions of the wing regions to the respective first and second joining component, and to each other, in a spaced apart orientation, such that placement of the same in a mouth of a user directs a lower jaw of a mouth of a user to move forward relative to a position thereof in a habitual closure. |
| US08578937B2 |
Smart mandibular repositioning system
Systems and methods for detecting an obstructive sleep apnea event are disclosed herein. The systems and methods may use an electrical output generating ionic polymer metal composite sensor attached to a region in an airway passage in an oral cavity. The electrical output may be wirelessly transmitted as a signal for indication of an obstructive sleep apnea event. The signal may be further processed by a smart mandibular repositioning system for treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea event. |
| US08578934B2 |
Indicating device with warning dosage indicator
An indicating device suitable for indicating the number of dosages of a substance that have been dispensed from or remain in a container includes at least one first indicator member incrementally moveable to a plurality of positions and a second indicator member moveable in response to a predetermined number of movements of the at least one first indicator member. The at least one first indicator member includes primary dosage indicia adapted to indicate the number of dosages of substance that have been dispensed from or remain in the container. The second indicator member includes secondary dosage indicia adapted to indicate that less than a minimum predetermined number of dosages of substance remain in the container. In one preferred embodiment, the primary dosage indicia are configured as numerical indicia and the secondary dosage indicia are configured as color indicia. In another aspect, a device for dispensing dosages of a substance includes a dispenser housing and a container disposed in the dispenser housing. The indicating device is located adjacent to and is actuated by one or the other of the top or bottom of the container. A method for indicating the number of metered dosages of medicaments dispensed from or remaining in the container is also provided. |
| US08578932B2 |
Inhaler and a method of operating it
A Breath Actuated Inhaler having a canister with a medication dispensed when compressing the canister. Compression of the canister is prevented by a mechanism only allowing compression when an air flow is sufficient to ensure dispensing of the medication in the lungs/throat of the person. No latch or blocking mechanism is provided so that any force exerted by the person is, at all times, directed to the canister or preventing mechanism so that when no force is exerted by the user, no force is exerted in the inhaler. Prolonged exertion of such force could otherwise cause dimension changes and subsequent uncertainty of the dose size. |
| US08578929B2 |
Modular pivotable solar collector arrangement
Modular solar collector, comprising a first supporting stand, the first supporting stand having at its upper end a first pivot bearing point defining a pivotal axis, a second supporting stand, having at its upper end a second pivot bearing point of the pivotal axis, an intermediate supporting stand having at its upper end an intermediate pivot bearing point of the pivotal axis, a first solar collector unit comprising at least one solar collector panel and a first unit frame being pivotally mounted to the first pivot bearing point and an intermediate pivot bearing point, and a second solar collector unit comprising at least one solar collector panel and a second unit frame being pivotally mounted to the second pivot bearing point and an intermediate pivot bearing point, a pivotal drive assembly comprising an x-drive unit and an x-coupling wherein each unit frame is, mechanically coupled to its adjacent unit frame. |
| US08578925B2 |
Oven door assembly incorporating overlay member
A cooking appliance includes a door assembly having a main frame provided with an inner, central opening. A glass panel is secured to the main frame portion across the inner, central opening and an overlay member is adhesively secured to the glass panel through a plurality of adhesive elements. The overlay member includes top, bottom and opposing side sections that collectively define an outer, central opening. The adhesive elements establish airflow passages that extends longitudinally across the door assembly between the glass panel and the overlay member. The overlay member also includes first and second flanges that are arranged along the top and bottom edge sections respectively. Third and fourth flanges are provided on respective upper and lower edges of the outer central opening. The flanges, together with the adhesive elements, ensure the presence of the airflow passages. |
| US08578923B2 |
Base for supporting tiles to be cut, a kit and a method for adapting a manual tile-cutting machine
The invention relates to a base (2) for restingly receiving tiles to be cut, comprising: a surface (13) for restingly receiving a tile; and a blade (4) for encountering a lower surface of the tile during a stage of scoring the tile. The rest surface (13) is provided with a depression or slit (12) of such dimensions as to contain a portion of a rotary cutting disc (14) of the tile when the tile is resting on the rest surface (13). The invention also relates to a tile-cutting machine (1), comprising the base (2). The invention further relates to a kit and a method for adapting a manual tile-cutting machine to use with a group comprising a rotary cutting disc (14). |
| US08578922B1 |
Automatic airgun method and apparatus
Example embodiments of an automatic airgun method and apparatus which enable automatic and/or semi-automatic projectile propulsion. Embodiments may be implemented with selective-fire, variable rate-of-fire, and/or variable velocity projectiles. Embodiments may employ any suitable propellant that can achieve or be caused to achieve a fluid state above ambient pressure. Some variations and alternatives are described. |
| US08578915B2 |
Toy
A toy having a housing and a projectile launcher capable of moving between a first stowed position within the housing and a second deployed position extending from the housing. The toy further including a trigger mechanism for launching at least one projectile from the projectile launcher; and a selector mechanism for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the trigger mechanism will launch only a single projectile from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the first position and the trigger mechanism is actuated and wherein the trigger mechanism will launch at least two projectiles from the projectile launcher when the selector mechanism is in the second position and the trigger mechanism is actuated. |
| US08578914B2 |
Fuel tank valve structure controlling emission gas in hybrid vehicle
A fuel tank valve structure controlling emission gas in a hybrid vehicle may include a housing having one side connected with a fuel tank and the other side connected to a canister, a check valve mounted to the housing and opening or closing a first fluid passage connected between the canister and the fuel tank, a solenoid valve apparatus selectively connected with the check valve to open or close the first fluid passage to adjust an internal pressure of the fuel tank, a fuel limit vent valve apparatus mounted to the housing and selectively fluid-connecting to a space formed between the check valve and the fuel limit vent valve apparatus in the housing, and a relief valve mounted to the housing and selectively fluid-connecting the fuel tank with the canister through a second fluid passage. |
| US08578912B2 |
Method and device for controlling an afterglow temperature in a diesel combustion engine
A method and a device for setting an afterglow temperature in a self-igniting internal combustion engine, the afterglow temperature being reduced in a defined operating state of the internal combustion engine until a modification of an operating parameter as a result of the reduction of the afterglow temperature is required in order to maintain the defined operating state, in particular in order to maintain the injected fuel quantity. |
| US08578909B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
A control device for an internal combustion engine. An object of the present invention is to provide a control device for an international combustion engine for highly accurate absolute pressure correction irrespective of the length of an adiabatic compression stroke period. When the number of cylinders in an engine is n (n is an integer of 2 or more), an adiabatic compression stroke period of one cylinder preceding another cylinder to be corrected into its absolute pressure by a 1/n cycle (ignition timing —IVC) is compared with a threshold CATH (step 100). In the step 100, the absolute pressure correction is carried out based on PVκ=constant when the adiabatic compression stroke period is longer than the threshold CATH (step 110). On the other hand, the absolute pressure correction is carried out based on a value PIP detected by an intake pipe pressure sensor when the adiabatic compression stroke period is shorter than the threshold CATH. |
| US08578908B2 |
Dual-rotor engine
A dual-rotor engine comprises a cylinder assembly, a transmission output mechanism, a rotor control mechanism and a lubrication system. The cylinder assembly comprises a tubular cylinder (6) and two rotors (1a, 1b). Each of the rotors (1a, 1b) comprises an inner cylindrical cylinder (99a, 99b), a rotor journal (20a, 20b) integrated with the inner cylindrical cylinder (99a, 99b) and two sector pistons (17a, 17b) symmetrically secured to the inner cylindrical cylinder (99a, 99b); four sector pistons (17a, 17b) of two rotors (1a, 1b) are arranged crosswise to each other, and two adjacent sector pistons (17a, 17b) form a combustion chamber. The transmission output mechanism comprises two rotor gears (2a, 2b) and two driving gears (3a, 3b) which engaged with each other respectively. Each rotor gear (2a, 2b) has two symmetrical toothless portions (24) on its periphery; the length and the shape of the toothless portions (24) are the same with those of the portions where the rotor gears (2a, 2b) engage with the driving gears (3a, 3b); the teeth numbers of two toothed segments of the rotor gears (2a, 2b) are equal and the teeth profiles at the start positions of two toothed segments are the same. The rotor control mechanism controls the interval rotation, the stop rotation, the rotating time and the stopping time of two rotors (1a, 1b) to ensure a uniform and smooth power output. |
| US08578907B2 |
Internal combustion engine with variable flow rate oil pump apparatus, and motorcycle incorporating same
An internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft, a variable flow rate oil pump apparatus including oil pumps having a drive shaft thereof operatively connected with the crankshaft, and a rod-shaped oil passage switching valve operatively connected with the oil pumps. The oil passage switching valve and the drive shaft of the oil pumps are arranged such that axial directions thereof are parallel to an axial direction of the crankshaft. Also, the oil pumps and the oil passage switching valve are disposed so as to overlap each other in the axial direction of the crankshaft. With such configuration of the engine, the effect on various components around the pump can be reduced, while downsizing the oil pump and the engine. |
| US08578905B2 |
Engine having variation volume crank case
An engine having a crank case of a variable volume may include a crankshaft that may be disposed in a crank case and may be connected to a piston through a connecting rod, which reciprocate in a cylinder, a balance shaft that may be disposed in the crank case and may be operated by the crankshaft, a chamber that may be extended from the crank case, and a balance weight that may be formed on the balance shaft and selectively opens or closes a fluid communication between the chamber and the crank case according to a position of the piston. |
| US08578897B2 |
Valve system
A valve system for providing closing force to one or more valves of an engine is provided. In one example, the system comprises a first tappet bore in fluid communication with a second tappet bore via a bidirectional oil passage. The system may provide valve closing forces to assist in the closing of valves coupled to the tappet bores, lowering required valve spring forces. |
| US08578896B2 |
Method for bounce suppression of a valve switched by a piezo actuator
A method for bounce suppression of a valve member operated by a piezo actuator during the closing phase of a valve in an internal combustion engine, having the following steps: partial discharging of the piezo actuator, whereby the valve member is braked even before reaching the valve seat, interruption of the discharge of the piezo actuator, whereby the piezo actuator is upset by the valve member and builds up an electric charge, renewed discharging of the piezo actuator, the residual charge after partial discharge and the charge built up during the charge interruption being at least partially dissipated. It is provided, according to the present invention, briefly to interrupt the discharge process, whereby the piezo actuator absorbs the energy of the valve member and, even before an elastic rebound takes place, the piezo actuator is discharged again, in order to dissipate the energy absorbed by the piezo actuator. |
| US08578894B2 |
Reciprocating combustion engine
Methods and apparatus are described for a reciprocating combustion engine. A method includes operating a dual-piston engine including introducing a gas into a pair of combustion chambers; introducing a fuel into the pair of combustion chambers; compressing the gas; combusting the gas and the fuel; and exhausting combusted gases. Each of the pistons drives a reciprocating crankshaft that protrudes through a cylinder wall and cooperatively rotate a pair of rotors by engaging substantially sinusoidal cam tracks on the rotors. An apparatus includes a cam driven, concentric drive rotary-valve dual-piston engine. |
| US08578890B1 |
Cat scratching device
A cat scratching device having a body portion composed of molded pulp and catnip. When molded, its exterior surface is convex and ideally includes a rope handle enabling the device to hang from a doorknob or similar support. |
| US08578888B2 |
Animal excrement disposal sheet and manufacturing method thereof
An animal excrement disposal sheet that can reduce an area of excrement diffusing on a surface of the sheet. The animal excretion disposal sheet includes a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent layer disposed between the top sheet and the back surface sheet that includes a water absorbent resin and a hydrophilic fiber, in which the absorbent layer further includes a hydrophobizing agent having a higher affinity to the hydrophilic fiber than to the water absorbent resin. |
| US08578886B1 |
Pivot lid litter box assembly
A pivoting lid litter box assembly provides a litter box having a pan and a pivoted lid to facilitate access to contents of a pan. The assembly includes a pan having a bottom and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the bottom. A lid is pivotally coupled to the pan. The lid has a top and a sidewall extending down from the top. The sidewall of the lid rests on the perimeter wall of the pan defining an interior space. The sidewall has an opening providing access to the interior space through the opening in the sidewall. A pedal is coupled to the pan and operationally coupled to the lid for selectively pivoting the lid between an open position and a closed position. A scoop having an extended handle and storage compartment may be provided to facilitate removing waste from the pan. |
| US08578882B2 |
System and method for cognitive enrichment of an animal
A system and method for cognitive enrichment of an animal. At least one display device is configured to display stimuli to an animal. At least one input device is configured to accept input from the animal. At least one reward dispenser is configured to dispense a reward to the animal. At least one processor is communicatively coupled with the at least one display device, the at least one input device, and the at least one reward dispenser. Execution of computer-readable instructions causes the at least one processor to carry out steps including displaying one or more stimuli to the animal using the at least one display device, accepting an input from the animal corresponding to at least one of the one or more stimuli, making a dispensing decision based on the input, and dispensing a reward using the at least one reward dispenser based on the dispensing decision. |
| US08578881B2 |
Arrangement for gripping at least one teat cup
A gripping arrangement is provided including a storing device (10) adapted to hold a teat cup (1) in a parked position and a gripping device (2) adapted to grip the parked teat cup (1) in the storing device (10). The gripping device (2) includes a contact surface (6a) which is adapted to be moved to a position in which it comes in contact with a contact surface (1d) of the teat cup (1) during a gripping operation of the teat cup (1). The arrangement includes an adjusting part which is able to adjust the position of at least one of the contact surfaces (1d, 6a) in relation to the other contact surface (1d, 6a) from an initial contact position to a grip position in which the gripping device is able to grip the teat cup in the storing device. |
| US08578880B2 |
Method of dynamic milking
In a method of dynamic milking, is performed a given modulating of values of airflow-forming pressures in a first working zone in a negative drive cycle and in a second working zone in a positive drive cycle of a cyclic drive unit, for providing and energy-physiological optimization of given periodic dynamic in-phase vacuum and mechanical actions on a surface of a milking teat in a two-chamber teat cap with a hermetic chamber connected with a source of a chamber pressure, whose movable part of a wall realizes the mechanical actions only on a lateral surface of the teat without interrupting of a spatial channel for movement of milking milk between an open output of the milking channel of the teat and a constantly open milk output of the teat cup during a dynamic milking process. |
| US08578879B2 |
Apparatus for VHF impedance match tuning
Embodiments of impedance matching networks are provided herein. In some embodiments, an impedance matching network may include a coaxial resonator having an inner and an outer conductor. A tuning capacitor may be provided for variably controlling a resonance frequency of the coaxial resonator. The tuning capacitor may be formed by a first tuning electrode and a second tuning electrode and an intervening dielectric, wherein the first tuning electrode is formed by a portion of the inner conductor. A load capacitor may be provided for variably coupling energy from the inner conductor to a load. The load capacitor may be formed by the inner conductor, an adjustable load electrode, and an intervening dielectric. |
| US08578877B2 |
Spin coater, temperature controlling method of the same, optical disc production apparatus, and optical disc production method
The present invention provides a spin coater including a rotation table that rotatably holds the disc substrate, a spin-cup that surrounds the outer circumference of a disc substrate held on the rotation table, a dripping unit configured to drip an ultraviolet-curable resin composition onto the surface of the disc substrate, a rotating unit configured to rotate the disc substrate via the rotation table to spread the ultraviolet-curable resin composition over the surface of the disc substrate, a heating unit configured to heat the ultraviolet-curable resin composition on the disc substrate, and a temperature controlling unit configured to control a reaching temperature of the spin cup which is increased by the heating unit each time the ultraviolet-curable resin composition is spread, so as to be constant over multiple spin coating processes. |
| US08578875B1 |
Portable score indicator
A scorekeeping device is disclosed for use with a sports court that has a net in order to keep score in a match between players. The scorekeeping device comprises three elongated members, each mutually connected at top ends thereof with a pivot to define a center member and two outer members. A score indicia is fixed to both sides of the center member. The score indicia may indicate the numbers 1 through 7, representing games in a set of tennis, for example. A pair of contrasting score indicators, such as differently-colored spring-biased clips, are selectively fixable with the center member. Preferably, in an extended position the height of the device is three feet, such that the device may be used to adjust or otherwise measure the height of a tennis net, for example. |
| US08578873B2 |
Surf wake system for a watercraft
An adjustable surf wake system enhances a wake formed by a watercraft travelling through water. The system may include a flap for deflecting water traveling past the stern of the watercraft, and/or a positioner operably connected to the flap for positioning the flap relative to a longitudinal axis of the watercraft between a neutral position and an outward position. Positioning a port flap in its extended position enhances a starboard surf wake, and positioning the starboard flap in its extended position enhances a port surf wake. |
| US08578869B2 |
Bottle furnace
A method and apparatus to batch de-coat the organics in metal scrap, and/or gasify the organics from certain types of waste material (including biomass, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sludge). The apparatus is suited for use on a batch tilting single entry rotary furnace of the type used to melt the metal scrap in the aluminum industry. The apparatus uses a burner in the tilting rotary furnace but does not necessarily melt the metal scrap. It preferably operates below the melting temperature of the metal scrap (<1400 F) and below the stoichiometric level (more specifically <12% oxygen) to partially combust the organic in the tilting rotary furnace. The gasified organics depart the furnace in a complete closed circuit where no air is allowed to entrain into the flue gases. These organic filled gases (synthetic gases) are fully incinerated in a separate thermal oxidizer where a stoichiometric burner uses either natural gas or liquid fuel to ignite the synthetic gas. The system can identify when the organics are fully gasified, and the metal scrap is fully clean. |
| US08578861B2 |
Carriage traction vehicle
The invention is a carriage traction vehicle for use with a monorail. The vehicle is self-propelled along the monorail by one or more motors engaging a fixed rack attached to the monorail. The carriage traction vehicle may include one or more of the following features: a cabin, a counterwheel assembly, a platform assembly, a leveling control system, a motor system, a tilt mechanism, and a safety assembly. |
| US08578860B2 |
Inductrack III configuration—a maglev system for high loads
Inductrack III configurations are suited for use in transporting heavy freight loads. Inductrack III addresses a problem associated with the cantilevered track of the Inductrack II configuration. The use of a cantilevered track could present mechanical design problems in attempting to achieve a strong enough track system such that it would be capable of supporting very heavy loads. In Inductrack III, the levitating portion of the track can be supported uniformly from below, as the levitating Halbach array used on the moving vehicle is a single-sided one, thus does not require the cantilevered track as employed in Inductrack II. |
| US08578857B2 |
Amusement park ride with passenger loading separated from vehicle insertion into simulators
A ride system for efficiently utilizing a simulator(s) or immersive environment assembly. The ride system includes a closed-loop track and a plurality of passenger vehicles each configured for traveling along a ride path defined by the closed-loop track. The ride system includes a simulator positioned adjacent to the closed-loop track. The ride system also includes a vehicle transfer mechanism. This mechanism is typically positioned along the track (or to provide part of the track) near the simulator. In operation, the transfer mechanism receives or captures a first one of the vehicles and transfers the first vehicle a distance away from the ride path and into the simulator and its immersive entertainment environment. The transfer mechanism is configured such that a second one of the vehicles trailing the first vehicle travels along the ride path past the simulator while the first vehicle is positioned within the simulator. |
| US08578855B2 |
Rocket motor tube with safety features
A vessel, such as a rocket motor tube, comprised of an insert, and a joint that allows the insert to decouple from the vessel to relieve pressure when subjected to excessive temperatures and/or a predetermined temperature or temperature range. |
| US08578854B2 |
Curing of photo-curable printing plates using a light tunnel of mirrored walls and having a polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope
An apparatus, a method, and a plate made by the method, e.g., using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a light tunnel of light reflective walls with polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, and a light source, located at one end to produce light radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end. Light entering the light tunnel towards an inner reflective surface of a wall is reflected off the inner reflective surface so that it can emerge from the other end to cure a plate having photo-curable material thereon. |
| US08578851B2 |
Method of preparing printing forms for flexographic printing and a system used in the method
A method and a system of preparing a flexographic printing form, and a preparation table used in the method and system, involves placing printing plates in a plate magazine and delivering the printing plates in a predetermined order from the plate magazine to the preparation table. The printing plates are transported by a transporter, such as a conveyor belt, on the preparation table and further to a printing sleeve or a printing cylinder. During transportation, the printing plates are exposed on the backsides to a light source. The printing sleeve is rotated with a speed adapted to the speed of the transporter in such a way that the printing plates are placed staggered in two or more lanes on the printing sleeve. The printing plates placed on the printing sleeve are then imaged, e.g. by laser ablation. |
| US08578850B2 |
Device and method for setting at least two cylinders of a printing machine against each other
A printing machine with at least one inking unit which has at least two cylinders which are set against each other during the printing operation and can be rotated by at least one drive. The printing machine is provided with sensors for recording parameters of the rotary motion of the cylinders such as the torque and speed. A setting mechanism is provided for setting the at least two cylinders against each other in radial direction. The control unit is configured to trigger the setting mechanism to set the at least two cylinders against each other. The at least two cylinders are brought to different circumferential velocities and set against each other. The relative position of the two cylinders is recorded or maintained when at least one parameter of the rotary motion of the at least two cylinders exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08578849B2 |
Liquid supply apparatus and method of manufacturing plate therefor
A screen printing unit equipped with a rotary screen apparatus comprises a cylindrical screen rotatably supported so as to be brought into contact with a rotatable impression cylinder. Multiple small holes are formed in the circumferential surface of the screen, and are filled up with a coating material. Some of the holes corresponding to a pattern not being filled with the coating material, and a special ink stored inside the screen can be supplied to a sheet held on the outer circumferential surface of the impression cylinder so as to form a shape corresponding to the pattern. The small holes are formed only in an area of the screen in the circumferential direction thereof extending from a position corresponding to the downstream-side end of the sheet in the sheet-conveying direction to a position corresponding to the upstream-side end of the sheet in the sheet-conveying direction. |
| US08578845B2 |
Cherry pitter having safety and convenience
A safe and convenient cherry pitting device that includes a freestanding detachable base, a fruit support and pitter passthrough unit and a pitter containment cone. The unit is adapted for vertical mounting on the base. Further, the unit defines axially aligned top and bottom openings and one or more side openings. The pitter containment cone generally has a cone shaped outer surface including one or more walls defining a central cavity with a top closed end and a bottom open end for placement over the unit. The cone also includes a pitter bit that projects vertically downward within the top closed end of the cone in axial alignment with the top and bottom openings of the unit. |
| US08578843B2 |
Domestic appliance including a treatment chamber that can be closed by a door and a filling device
A household appliance includes a treatment chamber having an opening. The opening of the treatment chamber is configured to be closed by a door. The opening of the treatment chamber is bounded by at least one frame member. An external container is configured to hold at least one of an operating fluid or an operating powder. A filling device is disposed on the at least one frame member and in fluid connection with the external container. The filling device is configured to introduce, in an operating mode of the household appliance, at least one of an operating fluid and an operating powder to the treatment chamber, either treated or untreated. The filling device includes a filling device opening. |
| US08578842B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for the production of sandwich food items
The present invention relates to apparatuses and processes for the production of sandwich food items that include filler. |
| US08578841B2 |
Encrusting machine
An encrusting machine is revealed. The encrusting machine mainly includes a power source disposed on a power unit of a machine body. A force output end of the power source is disposed with a first drive belt for driving a cut unit and a second drive belt for driving a food receiving unit. A plurality of cutting blades is mounted in a cutting opening on a middle part of a cut-off base of the cut unit. The blades are controlled by the power unit and vertical movement of the cut-off base is also controlled by the power unit. In the food receiving unit, a toggle set on a cam is used to control vertical movement of a catch basin on top of a push set. The structure is simplified so that the machine is with reduced cost, easy assembly, reduced failure rate reduced, convenient maintenance and high practicality. |
| US08578835B2 |
Storage system for artillery ammunition and associated computer program
A storage system (10) for artillery ammunition, capable of containing artillery ammunition (100) of various types and comprising a plurality of drums (11) rotating about a central axis (Y) of their own and having a plurality of cells (11a), each adapted to contain one of the ammunition (100). The storage system (10) includes a rotatable support (12), which can turn about an axis of rotation (Z) of its own, parallel to the central axis (Y), on which the plurality of rotary drums (11) are rotatably pivoted. The system further includes at least one data processing unit for the automated selection of a drum (11′) from among the plurality of rotary drums (11). |
| US08578833B2 |
Object protection from hollow charges and method for the production thereof
Lightly armored vehicles and stationary objects are often the target of attacks by means of hollow-charge projectiles. Numerous variants of armor plating have been developed to counter such attacks, which results in additional loads, and these require expensive production. A light protective layer (1) which is simple to produce contains rods (3) arranged in a matrix, which project out from the object to be protected. If a corresponding hollow-charge projectile hits such a protective layer (1), the front nose (101) thereof is damaged, so that in most cases the initiation of the hollow charge does not occur. Preferably the rods (3) are covered externally by polymer layers (9, 10) and additionally a crumple layer (8) is attached in front of the object to be protected. |
| US08578829B2 |
Punching unit
There is provided a punching unit capable of punching holes in high-performance by increasing a punching force and by rotating a punch. A guide hole that guides the punch in the vertical direction is formed to have a narrow upper part, a wider lower part and inclined surfaces between them. An actuation pin engages with a cam and the punch moves up and down to punch a hole when a cam member reciprocates. The actuation pin abuts with the inclined surface of the guide hole at the punching position, so that the punch is rotated and a cam inclined angle is reduced by an inclined angle of the guide hole, allowing a large punching force. |
| US08578826B2 |
Sheet material dispenser
Apparatus for dispensing sheet material from a sheet material dispenser are described. Dispenser embodiments include drive and tension rollers supported within a housing forming a nip therebetween. Pulling of sheet material through the nip and against the drive roller rotates the drive roller. Dispenser embodiments may include a cutting mechanism powered by drive roller rotation with an improved carrier-supported blade permitting highly-efficient dispenser operation. Dispenser embodiments may include a sheet material tail length adjuster which permits the attendant to shorten or lengthen the tail length extending away from the dispenser. Dispenser embodiments may further include a sheet material conservation feature which imposes a delay between dispense cycles encouraging use of a single sheet of material and discouraging sheet material waste. |
| US08578823B2 |
Ring lock mandrel and release mechanism
A mandrel is disclosed for securely holding a screw bit during use, but allowing easy removal of the screw bit for replacement. The mandrel includes a socket having a chamber housing a locking mechanism such as a split-ring. The mandrel further includes a release mechanism such as one or more ears for moving the locking mechanism from a first position where the screw bit is held within the socket and a second position where the screw bit may be removed from the socket. |
| US08578820B2 |
Electrical wire tool
The present invention can include an apparatus having both a wire nut receiver and a wire insulation stripper thus allowing a user to strip insulation from wires and then connect them using a wire nut with the same apparatus. The apparatus can include a wire nut receiver defining a cavity having a proximal end and a distal end and one or more stripper blades disposed adjacent to the distal end of the cavity of the wire nut receiver. The apparatus can also include a driver, such as for example a hex driver, connected to the wire nut receiver and the one or more stripper blades. Alternatively, the apparatus can be configured such that the diameter of the one or more stripper blades relative to a rotational axis is variable, which in turn allows a user to easily account for different thicknesses or gauges of wire to be stripped. |
| US08578819B2 |
Electric corkscrew
A corkscrew for removing a cork or a stopper from a bottle containing wine, or other beverage or food product is disclosed. The corkscrew has socket (19) which is provided with vertical axis that is dimensioned to receive the neck of a bottle, while corkscrew spiral (2) is arranged axially within the socket. A CPU is electrically communicated with battery pack, and is charged to determine whether the battery pack can perform sufficient work to open a cork and to provide a signal to the LED display (13) that indicates the number of corks which can be removed using the corkscrew. The corkscrew can be operated with one hand since physical force or dexterity are not required to operate the corkscrew, and prevents accidental injury or damaging of work surface since CPU is electrically communicated with battery pack. |
| US08578818B2 |
Device for saving energy during vertical and horizontal motions wherein the resisting torque can be split into two torques opposing each other
A mechanical device for reducing the energy absorbed by an electrical motor of a hoisting plant. The device includes at least one first rotating member moved by the motor of the hoisting plant. The device also includes a second rotating member connected to the first member through a gear transmission. At least one third rotating member is connected to the second rotating member through a bevel-gear transmission. The device further includes a fourth rotating member operatively connected to the rotor of the electric motor. The fourth rotating member and the third rotating member are connected through a transmission with flexible elements or through a gear transmission which develop a transmission ratio equal to unity. The transmission elements of the device are designed to enable rotation of the fourth rotating member in a direction of rotation concordant with that of the first rotating member. |
| US08578815B2 |
Switch for vehicle
A switch for a vehicle includes: a first operating member provided on a mounting surface of the vehicle, the first operating member being operable by tilting; and a plurality of projections provided on the first operating member, the projections being operable by pushing, wherein the first operating member is shaped line symmetrically so that a central part of the first operating member is dented most; and the projection projects forward with respect to the central part of the first operating member, and the projection is uplifted along an outer wall part of the first operating member. |
| US08578813B2 |
Parking brake system
In a parking brake system, a locking tooth of a ratchet plate includes a first area for contacting and retaining a locking claw of a ratchet pawl in an equilibrium state when a parking brake lever is pulled up; and a second area in which the locking claw remains in a state of halfway engagement of tooth tips when a pressing force of a release rod is released. When the locking claw comes into contact with a portion closer to a tip of the locking tooth beyond the first area, a line of force is maintained due to the pressing force of the release rod. The system is configured such that even if an occupant erroneously pulls up the parking brake lever while the release rod is pressed, it is possible to reliably prevent halfway engagement of tooth tips in a ratchet mechanism. |
| US08578806B2 |
Parallel gear unit for a gearbox for a wind turbine
A parallel gear unit (20) for a gearbox (30) for a wind turbine includes at least a low speed shaft (21) and a high speed shaft (22), each shaft (21, 22) having a gear (23, 25) with helical teeth, the gears (23, 25) of each shaft (21, 22) being adapted for meshing with each other. The low speed shaft (21) is rotatably supported by roller bearings (24a) and the high speed shaft (22) is rotatably supported by sliding bearings (24b). A gearbox (30) including the parallel gear unit (20) and a wind turbine including such a gearbox (30) are described. |
| US08578804B2 |
Synchronized gear shift system
A mechanism with an inner race, which has cams, an outer race and rollers between the cams and the outer race. The inner race has a first notch while the outer race has a second notch with a narrow portion and a wider portion. A member is disposed in the first and second notches. Positioning of the member in the first notch and the narrow portion of the second notch inhibits relative rotation between the inner and outer races and power is not transmitted between the outer race and a power transmitting member, such as a gear. Positioning of the member in the first notch and the wider portion of the second notch permits some relative rotation between the inner and outer races to cause the cams to urge the rollers outwardly so that the outer race frictionally engages the power transmitting member to facilitate transmission of rotary power therebetween. |
| US08578799B2 |
Method and system for shaft coupling
A method and system for a shaft coupling assembly is provided. The assembly includes a first coupling half coupled to a distal end of a first shaft wherein the first coupling half includes one or more projections extending away from the first coupling half. The shaft coupling assembly also includes a second coupling half coupled to a distal end of a second shaft wherein the second coupling half includes a media configured to matingly engage the one or more projections in an axial direction, the projections include a relatively large length to width ratio, the media displaces orthogonally to the insertion direction an amount sufficient to facilitate the insertion for each individual projection while substantially preventing gross movement of all of the projections in total such that a linear force or torque applied to one coupling half is transmitted through the mated projections and media. |
| US08578797B2 |
Multi-section sediment pore water sampler
The present invention discloses a multi-section sediment pore water sampler, which comprises a plurality of sampling units arranged coaxially and separated with each other; this arrangement ensures no water exchange occurred between two adjacent sampling units, collection of the sediment pore water samples from different depths of a same position is realized, whereby to facilitate organic pollutant sampling in sediment pore water at different depths according to different time resolutions. Furthermore, as the heights of the sampling units as well as the clearances between two neighboring sampling units may be various, in use users can configure the sampler according to the actual condition of the time resolution required, thus this sampler can also help improve the time resolution of water sampling. |
| US08578792B2 |
Displacement sensor formed on planar flexible base
A displacement sensor (4) for detecting relative displacement of a shaft (1) relative to a housing (3). The sensor (4) comprises four elastomeric pads (6-9) mounted on the flexible strip (5), each elastomeric pad (6-9) having an electrical resistance which varies with force applied to the pad (6-9), and an electrical connector located within the flexible strip (5) for providing electrical connections to the elastomeric pads (6-9). In use, the sensor (4) is positioned so that the region of the strip (5) which carries the pads (6-9) is wrapped around the shaft (1). |
| US08578790B2 |
Apparatus for measurement of ducted air
Apparatus for measurement of airflow in a duct is described. The apparatus combines a Pitot tube, sensing apparatus, control apparatus, a display, control switches and a handle into a unitary structure that is holdable with a single hand while performing obtaining measurement data. |
| US08578788B2 |
Device and method for continuously measuring horizontal flux of dustfall in atmosphere
A continuous atmospheric horizontal dustfall flux measurement apparatus includes: a dust sampling port that includes a ceiling plate, a side wall, and four or more partition plates; a suction pipe; a continuous dust amount measurement device that continuously measures a dust amount per unit time; a blower or a compressor; an exhaust port, wherein the side wall is a plate that has a vertical center axis and has a side surface with a substantially circular or polygonal truncated cone shape widened upward, and wherein the side wall includes a suction port which is formed at the lower end thereof so as to be connected to the suction pipe and an external air inlet which has four or more openings disposed at the same interval in the circumferential direction of the side wall at a constant height near the upper end thereof. |
| US08578787B1 |
Vortex flow meter with sampling rate control
Vortex-shedding flow meters are operated at a sampling frequency high enough to detect each vortex multiple times. Using a fixed sampling frequency high enough for a maximum rate of vortex generation oversamples the vortices generated at low flow rates. Adjusting the sampling rate to accord with the flow rate being measured significantly reduces electric power consumption. |
| US08578785B2 |
Drip monitor
A low power, low cost system and method for the detection of flow disturbances in a fluid dripping system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a light source and a light detector configured to monitor the amount of light passing through a droplet while the droplet is suspended and later falls from the tip of a tube. In another embodiment, dripping fluid is monitored from a system maintained part of the time in a sleep mode to conserve power, the system waking up at predetermined times to determine from detected light whether the monitored system is functioning properly. |
| US08578782B2 |
High temperature, high bandwidth pressure acquisition system
A system for measuring a multiplicity of pressures as those experienced by a model in a wind tunnel is depicted. The system includes individual sensor devices which are connected to an electronics module. The sensors may be connected to the electronics module via a cable in a first embodiment. In an alternate embodiment, the sensors may be connected to the electronics module via a mating connector located therebetween. A memory component which stores compensation coefficients associated with each of the sensors may also be included in the system to correct errors associated with each sensor. The advantage of the various embodiments is that each sensor does not have any compensation stored thereon and thus, the sensors can be made very small to operate at very high temperatures without any loss of accuracy. |
| US08578781B2 |
Device to indicate critical corrosion of a metallic structure
The present invention relates to a device to indicate a predetermined critical corrosion of a metallic structure located in soil, water or concrete environment. The device comprises a probe that has a closed tubular container intended to contain a pressurized medium, and that has a wall thickness t that corresponds to the predetermined critical corrosion. A protective coating is arranged essentially over the entire outside of the container with the exception of a surface that is intended to be subjected to corrosion attack. The container is allowed to corrode so that the container becomes perforated, whereupon the pressure of the pressurized medium falls. The pressure change is measured by means of a pressure gauge, and in this way, information is obtained about the fact that the corrosion has reached the predetermined critical level. |
| US08578780B2 |
Apparatus for internal inspection of a workpiece having a hollow cylindrical hole
An apparatus internally inspects a workpiece having a hollow cylindrical hole. The apparatus contains an ultrasound transducer configuration having a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, which are arranged in at least one row, one next to the other, in an elastically deformable carrier which has the form of a segment of a hollow cylinder and has a plurality of sliding pimples which extend in the longitudinal direction of the carrier and project with a protrusion in the radial direction beyond the transmitting and/or receiving surfaces of the ultrasound transducer elements. |
| US08578775B2 |
Generation, injection and use of pilot tones for gyro system characterization
A microcontroller-based method and apparatus are described for generating one or more amplitude and frequency selectable low frequency pilot tone signals (PT) that are injected into an embedded MEMS sensor (110) and mixed signal ASIC (120) and then recovered at the microcontroller (140) to compute or measure various gyro parameters during operational use of the device with no down time or interference with normal operations. |
| US08578766B2 |
Brake wear measurement apparatus and method
A brake wear measurement apparatus for use on a brake assembly equipped with a wear pin having a plunger slidably mounted in the plunger sleeve having a first end and second end and wherein when the brake wear measurement apparatus is placed over the wear pin, the wear pin contacts the plunger first end, and moves the plunger within the plunger sleeve to a retracted position corresponding to a retraction distance delta, and wherein the retraction distance delta corresponds to a wear pin exposed height indicating an amount of brake wear. A locking mechanism for locking the plunger in the retracted position may be provided. A brake wear correlation program whereby the input of a brake part number, a plunger retraction distance delta, and a number of performed landings will result in an output of an estimated number of remaining landings may also be provided. |
| US08578764B2 |
Self-retaining target assembly
A sensor target assembly is provided for a body having an axial bore. The sensor target assembly includes a polymeric alignment positioning cylinder for insertion into the bore. Target material is provided which is mounted to the alignment positioning cylinder. The alignment cylinder can optionally have annular barbs. |
| US08578761B2 |
Concentration sensor device and concentration detecting method
A concentration sensor device includes a sensor unit, a substrate, and a sedimentation limit unit. The sensor unit detects a concentration of a specific component contained in liquid. The substrate has a face to which the sensor unit is arranged. The sedimentation limit unit is integrally arranged with the sensor unit or arranged at an upstream side of the sensor unit in a flowing direction of the liquid. The sedimentation limit unit is configured to prevent sedimentation of a foreign object on the sensor unit. The sedimentation limit unit includes a piezoelectric element to vibrate when electricity is supplied so as to promote the foreign object to be separated from the sensor unit. The substrate has a recess recessed in a thickness direction of the substrate. |
| US08578759B2 |
Undersea pipeline intrusion detection system using low-frequency guided acoustic waves and distributed optical fiber
A method and an apparatus for intrusion detection. The apparatus includes an acoustic source, a laser light source, a pressure-sensitive optical fiber including a first end and a second end. The second end is connected to the laser light source and oriented toward the acoustic source. The laser light source generates a laser pulse traveling through the pressure-sensitive optical fiber toward the acoustic source. The laser pulse includes a time-of-flight. The acoustic source generates an acoustic wave. The acoustic wave includes a plurality of evanescent wave fronts. The plurality of evanescent wave fronts, upon scattering from a non-uniform material region, radially contracts the pressure-sensitive optical fiber to alter the time-of-flight of the laser pulse along the pressure-sensitive optical fiber by increasing the fiber length. |
| US08578752B2 |
Framework with stanchions for a prover
A prover mounted upon a supporting lower framework includes a piston supporting rod extending longitudinally through a cylinder, which cylinder receives and discharges a fluid to measure the flow rate of the fluid by translation of the piston from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end. Motive means supported on a frame mounted on the prover draws the rod toward the fluid receiving end of the cylinder. An upper framework is attached to the lower framework through a plurality of stanchions. Various I-beams formed as part of the upper framework enhance rigidity to the combination of lower framework and upper framework. The combination of lower framework and upper framework provides support for the prover in a horizontal or a vertical orientation without affecting the operation, repair or maintenance of the prover. |
| US08578750B2 |
Method and tool for hot forming a metal workpiece
The invention relates to a hot forming tool (1, 101, 201, 301) for hot forming a metal workpiece (4, 204), having at least two dies (2, 3; 202, 203; 202, 303) which may be moved relative to one another for forming the workpiece (4, 204), and having a cooling device (5) by means of which the workpiece (4, 204) may be cooled in the hot forming tool (1, 101, 201, 301) from a first, higher temperature to a second, lower temperature. To improve the hot forming tool (1, 101, 201, 301), it is provided that the hot forming tool (1, 101, 201, 301) is equipped with a separating device (10, 210, 310) by means of which a separating operation may be carried out on a workpiece (4, 204) present in the hot forming tool (1, 101, 201, 301). The invention further relates to a method for hot forming. |
| US08578749B2 |
Method for the flying changing of working rolls in continuous casting and rolling installations and hot strip rolling mills using a hold-down roller
The invention relates to a method of flying changing of working rolls in continuous casting and rolling installations and hot strip rolling mills, in particular in continuous hot strip rolling mills, wherein for exchange of working rolls by opening a rolling stand, those are disengaged from a to be rolled hot strip. According to the invention a regulated strip tension that can substitute the tension of the open rolling stand, is applied to the to-be-rolled hot strip with at least one hold-down roller that is introduced in a rolling line. |
| US08578745B2 |
Peening device
The invention relates to a peening device for peening a component with a part to be peened and a part not to be peened. The peening device comprises a chamber with at least one opening located therein, wherein the opening is dimensioned in such a manner that the part not to be peened of the component can be guided there through, and a fixture for retaining the component which features a section which entirely covers the opening of the chamber when the part not to be peened is at least partially guided into said opening, and said section completely encloses the part not to be peened of the component between the adjacent region of the part to be peened of the component and the opening. |
| US08578743B2 |
Cable lock
A cable lock includes a belt, a lock body, a first clamp unit, a second clamp unit, and a switch unit. The belt has a buckle unit at one end thereof. The lock body has a hole for the belt to pass therethrough and a slot for receiving the buckle unit, wherein the belt and the lock body are together capable of forming a closed loop. The first clamp unit for fixing the belt in the hole is movably disposed in the lock body while the second clamp unit for retaining the buckle unit in the slot is movably disposed in the lock body. The switch unit is rotatably disposed on the lock body and capable of enabling the cable lock to operate in a locked mode, a clinched mode, or an unlocked mode. When the cable lock operates in the locked mode, the first clamp unit fixes the belt in the hole and the second clamp unit retains the buckle unit in the slot so that the closed loop has a fixed length. When the cable lock operates in the clinched mode, the first clamp unit releases the fixing of the belt to allow the closed loop to have an adjustable length. When the cable lock operates in the unlocked mode, the second clamp unit releases the buckle unit so that the belt can be detachable from the lock unit. |
| US08578739B2 |
Shorter wavelength photo-annealing apparatus for rare-earth-doped fiber and its optical assemblies under irradiation
An optical fiber apparatus is suitable to operate under irradiation, more particularly to mitigating the damage of a rare-earth-doped optical fiber element as part of an optical fiber assembly causes by irradiation. The irradiation mitigation attributes to a photo-annealing apparatus including at least a shorter wavelength photo-annealing spectral content, which is relative to that of a pump light source, for effectively photo-annealing the rare-earth-doped fiber element. Photo-annealing by such shorter wavelength light results in a fast and nearly complete recovery of radiation induced attenuation of the rare-earth-doped optical fiber element in the wavelength range from 900 nm to 1700 nm. |
| US08578738B2 |
Method for melting a batch of raw materials by a crown burner
The invention concerns a method for melting a composition of raw materials including introducing the composition in an oven to form a layer (2) at the surface of the molten pool (4). An oxycombustion burner (10) is arranged above the pool and directed towards the composition layer (2) to produce a melting front (3). Parameters of the burner are adjusted to produce a large covering flame (12) causing an essentially radiation-based thermal transfer. Additionally, a plane containing a longitudinal section of the flame (Z-Z) and a horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the oven (X-X) intersects the melting front (3) at a height (h) included ranging between one third and half of the thickness of the composition (e). Such a method provides for a stable operation of the oven and is particularly adapted to a large-capacity oven. |
| US08578737B2 |
Glass flow management by thermal conditioning
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for controlling glass flow in, for example, a downdraw glass manufacturing process (e.g., the fusion downdraw process). The methods and apparatus are particularly well-suited for use in the manufacture of glass sheets such as the glass sheets used as substrates in display devices, e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCDs). |
| US08578734B2 |
Method and apparatus for liquefying a hydrocarbon stream
A method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas from a feed stream, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a feed stream (10); (b) dividing the feed stream (10) of step (a) to provide at least a first feed stream (20) comprising at least 90 mass % of the initial feed stream (10), and a second feed stream (30); (c) liquefying the first feed stream (20) of step (b) at a pressure between 20-100 bar to provide a first liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream (40); (d) cooling the second feed stream (30) of step (b) to provide a cooled feed stream (50); (e) combining the first LNG stream (40) of step (c) with the cooled feed stream (50) of step (d) to provide a combined LNG stream (60); (f) reducing the pressure of the combined LNG stream (60) of step (e); and (g) passing the combined LNG stream (60) of step (f) through a flash vessel (12) to provide a product LNG stream (70) and a gaseous stream (80). |
| US08578733B2 |
Turbo-compressor-condenser-expander
A turbo-compressor-condenser-expander arrangement, including heat-transferring blades mounted on or surrounding individual conduits. The open framework rotates in free air to promote heat exchange. A first hub, a first set of radial conduits, axial conduits, a second set of radial conduits, and a second hub are included; a motor rotates a central axis of the turbo-compressor-condenser-expander. |
| US08578724B2 |
Heat pump and method of operation
A heat pump is provided having a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. A compressor is fluidly coupled to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A reversing valve is fluidly coupled between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The reversing valve is adapted to flow of a refrigerant from the compressor to the first heat exchanger during heating mode and to the second heat exchanger during a cooling mode. A thermal expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. An electronic expansion valve is positioned between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. A controller is electrically coupled to operate the electronic expansion valve between a fully open, a fully closed and a modulated position depending on the operation of the compressor. |
| US08578720B2 |
Particle separator in a gas turbine engine
A gas turbine engine includes a supply of cooling fluid, a rotatable shaft, blade disc structure coupled to the shaft and having at least one bore for receiving cooling fluid, and a particle separator. The particle separator includes particle deflecting structure upstream from the blade disc structure, and a particle collection chamber. The particle deflecting structure deflects solid particles from the cooling fluid prior to the cooling fluid entering the at least one bore in the blade disc structure. The particle collection chamber is upstream from the particle deflecting structure and receives the solid particles deflected from the cooling fluid by the particle deflecting structure. The solid particles deflected by the particle deflecting structure flow upstream from the particle deflecting structure to the particle collection chamber. |
| US08578719B2 |
Bleed assembly
A noise reduction device 40, for example for use in a bleed assembly 30 of a gas turbine engine, comprises partitions 50, 52 forming cells 54 having apertures 56, 58, 60 which provide contractions and sudden expansions of flow passing through the device. The apertures 56, 58, 60 are disposed relative to each other so as to force the flow to change direction within the cells 54 to break up jets of gas issuing from the apertures 56, 58, 60. Webs 62, 64, 66 may be provided adjacent the apertures 56, 58, 60 to direct flow and to assist in generating turbulence. |
| US08578718B2 |
Cartridge for the generation of hydrogen for providing mechanical power
The present invention provides a motor powered by an expandable, combustible gas. The motor includes a cartridge for the generation of hydrogen. The cartridge is configured to generate high pressure and high temperature hydrogen. The motor is configured such that hydrogen generated by the cartridge is directed into a series of expandable chambers defined by at least one flywheel. The flywheel is connected to a shaft such that power generated by the hydrogen can be transmitted out of the motor. The motor is configured such that power can be generated by expansion of the hydrogen and subsequent combustion of the hydrogen. |
| US08578717B2 |
Method for controlling the load variations in a gas turbine
A method is described for controlling load variations in a gas turbine. The method comprises reducing the flow of gaseous fuel entering the combustor to a predefined minimum value, if an increase is observed in the rotation regime of said turbine above a predefined maximum value and a total reduction in the load, activating a selective feeding sequence of the burners if the turbine is operating in normal functioning or premixed flame mode, modifying the angulation of the adjustable stator vanes, in order to reduce the speed rate of the compressor, and opening one or more anti-surge valves and one or more overboard bleeds, in order to reduce the air flow at the inlet of the combustor. |
| US08578716B2 |
Valve system for a gas turbine engine
A valve system intermediate a secondary flow path and a primary flow path to selectively communicate secondary airflow into the primary gas flow path and control airflow injected from a higher pressure plenum into a lower pressure flowpath. |
| US08578713B2 |
Hydraulic soft start system
A hydraulic soft-start system includes a first flow valve in fluid communication with a pressure source and an inlet of a motor. A first restricting orifice is disposed between the first valve and the inlet. A second flow valve is in fluid communication with the first valve and the inlet. A pilot for actuating the second valve is in fluid communication with the inlet. A second restricting orifice is disposed between the pilot and the inlet. Upon actuation of the first valve, a first flow is passed from the pressure source via the first orifice to the inlet, placing the motor in a partially-actuated state. The second valve being actuated after a threshold pressure of the pilot is reached allowing a second flow to pass from the pressure source to the inlet. The second flow being higher than the first flow, thereby placing the motor in a fully-actuated state. |
| US08578709B2 |
Over-loading prevention device of construction machinery
In an over-loading prevention device including a hydraulic pump, a control valve, and a control lever, a discharge-quantity control unit performs constant-torque control which decreases a discharge quantity in proportion to an increase in a discharge pressure in the pump to control an input torque of the pump uniformly. An operation-state detection unit detects an actuation state of the control lever. A control unit outputs a control signal that sets the pump input torque to a minimum torque according to the constant-torque control, to the discharge-quantity control unit when the control lever is operated over a predetermined speed, and subsequently changes a level of the control signal to a maximum torque according to the constant-torque control in accordance with a predetermined control pattern to raise the pump input torque. |
| US08578707B2 |
Protection valve for hydraulic drive system
A protection valve for a hydraulic drive system and a method for protecting the hydraulic drive system and pumping equipment driven by the hydraulic drive system includes a valve body, an actuator shaft movably disposed within the valve body, a thermal actuator for displacing the actuator shaft between an un-actuated position and an actuated position, and a poppet attached to the actuator shaft for movement therewith. The thermal actuator is configured to displace the actuator shaft between the un-actuated position and the actuated position in response to a hydraulic oil temperature that exceeds a predetermined maximum. A thermal actuator body is rigidly attached to the valve body at one end and a valve seat body is rigidly attached to the valve body at the other end. The thermal actuator body has openings formed therein for placing hydraulic oil in fluid communication with the thermal actuator. |
| US08578706B2 |
Exhaust line with reagent injector
An exhaust line includes a duct having an injection segment with an inner channel defined by a side wall. The exhaust gas flow includes exhaust gas central streams in a central area of the inner channel and exhaust gas peripheral streams in the vicinity of the side wall. A reagent injector injects a reagent in an injection direction. The duct (3) is conformed so that the exhaust gas central streams flow substantially parallel to the central line of the inner channel. The exhaust line includes an element that imparts, to at least some peripheral streams, a rotary movement through the inner channel; and about a rotation axis that is slightly inclined relative to the injection direction. |
| US08578698B2 |
Cascade-type thrust reverser for jet engine
A fan duct (5) is defined between an inner skin (2) and an outer skin into which the inner skin of the sliding cover (7) is incorporated in the direct-thrust configuration. The inner skin of the sliding cover (7) comprises an annular part extending radially inwards and capable, in the reverse-thrust configuration, of coming to face a larger-diameter annular part of the inner skin (2) of the fan duct (5). The annular part of the sliding cover (7) comprises at least one flap (8) mounted such that it can pivot between the retracted position and a deployed position in which a front part (8a) of the flap (8), upstream of its middle axis (9) about which it is articulated, projects into the fan duct (5). Translational stop means (11) are provided in order, in the reverse thrust position, to act on a rear part (8b) of the flap (8) in such a way as to cause the flap (8) to pivot into the deployed position to close off the fan duct (5). |
| US08578696B2 |
Turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements for utilizing waste heat generated from turbine engine
Disclosed is a turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements for utilizing waste heat generated from a turbine engine. The turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements is located within the turbine casing at a heat exhaust end of the turbine engine. The turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements convert heat exhaust generated from the turbine engine into electrical energy. In one embodiment, the electrical energy generated from the turbulated arrangement of thermoelectric elements can be used to power electrical components located about the turbine engine. |
| US08578695B1 |
Methods and designs for increasing efficiency in engines
An efficient thermal engine is disclosed. In some embodiments, a remainder of energy remaining after an expansion cycle is used to power a subsequent compression cycle. In other embodiments, novel configurations for a larger expansion volume than compression volume are provided. In addition, work of compression may be reduced in a compression cycle, and recovered in an expansion cycle. |
| US08578691B2 |
Door prop in a lawn mower
A mower for cutting grass includes a platform with a motor located thereon. A door on the platform has a first position blocking a discharge and a second door position away from the discharge. A bag has an inlet that mates to a discharge. A support is connected to the platform and a door prop is movably mounted on the support. The door prop has a first position not in engagement with the door to permit the door to be in the first position and having a second position in which a segment of the door prop engages with the door to retain the door in the second position. A handle extends up from the platform. An operable member is mounted on the handle. A connector extends between the door prop and the operable member to transmit force to move the door prop. |
| US08578690B2 |
Haymaking machine provided with a hitching device with an inclined pivoting axis
An agricultural haymaking machine intended to be hitched to the lower arms of a tractor comprises a frame supported on the ground by wheels and at least one work device connected to the frame, the frame being in its front part in pivoting connection with a hitching device configured to be connected to the two lower arms, the center of gravity of the machine being situated between the wheels and the hitching device. According to the invention, the projection of the axis of the pivoting connection, on a plane which is substantially vertical and substantially parallel to the direction of advance, has an inclination towards the direction of advance following a direction of the ground upward. |
| US08578688B2 |
Basecutter for a harvester
A harvester for harvesting stalks of stalk-like plants. The harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground contacting propulsion device connected to the chassis, and a basecutter assembly. The basecutter assembly is coupled to the chassis. The basecutter assembly includes a plurality of cutting knives and a pair of counter rotating plates. The pair of counter rotating plates include a first plate and a second plate, each of which have at least one of the plurality of cutting knives attached thereto. The first plate rotates about a first axis. The first plate has at least one portion thereof that extends in a radial direction such that the portion would interfere with the knife of the second plate except that the first plate is offset in a direction parallel to said first axis relative to said knife of said second plate. |
| US08578685B2 |
Apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package
An apparatus for forming and filling a flexible package, comprises: a film unwind station for unwinding a web of flexible film from a roll of film includes: a folding station for folding the web into a pair of opposing walls; a strip unwind station for unwinding a strip of semi-rigid material from a roll of material and positioning the strip between the pair of opposing walls of the web; a metal buffer plate insertable between the strip and one of the opposing walls of the web; sealing stations, separating stations and filling stations. |
| US08578684B2 |
Unitized package and method of making same
The invention generally relates to unitized packages and a method of manufacturing the unitized packages for containing and dispensing a product material. In particular, the unitized packages comprise a printed base card and a fluid vessel permanently bonded to the printed base card. The fluid vessel comprises a first laminate barrier layer comprising at least one layer of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic polymer, a portion of which is formed into a modified dome shape, and a planar second laminate barrier layer. The first and second laminate barrier layers are sealed together to form a fluid-tight enclosure, wherein the product material substantially fills the enclosure and the modified dome shape is resiliently sustainable. In particular, the method includes forming a portion of the first laminate barrier layer comprising the biaxially oriented polymer into the modified dome shape using a force such as pressurized gas. |
| US08578683B2 |
Method of distributing packaging material from a roll of material having a tubular core via a packaging tool
Packaging tools, which, in various embodiments, are adapted to assist a user in applying material from a roll of packaging material (e.g., packing tape, stretch wrap or shrink wrap) to an item or group of items. The packaging tool is typically adapted to move between: (1) a first orientation in which the packaging tool does not substantially restrict the rotation of the roll of packaging material adjacent the packaging tool; and (2) a second orientation in which the packaging tool does substantially restrict (e.g., prevent) the rotation of the roll of stretch wrap tool adjacent the packaging tool. A user typically maintains the packaging tool in the first orientation as the user wraps the packaging material about an item. The user may then move the packaging tool into the second orientation, which allows the user to pull the packaging material tight and separate the applied length of packaging material from the roll. |
| US08578682B2 |
Rotating multi-clipper packaging systems
Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products configured to provide one or more of the following: improved rotary table or platform packaging systems, improved adhesive (glue) based film seal systems, and/or easier loading or releasing mounting systems of horns, forming collars and/or sprockets. |
| US08578681B2 |
Tower connector
The disclosure relates to a connector assembly (20) for joining a main tower (102) to a base structure (114) where the axial alignment of the tower to the base structure needs to be adjustable, and to a method of using such a connector assembly to assemble a tower structure. |
| US08578680B2 |
Tower construction method and apparatus
A method for constructing a structure to be lifted and moved from a first location to a second location includes (a) constructing, at the first location, a framework of the structure that includes braces to withstand lifting and moving the structure; (b) constructing, at the first location, at least some internal components of the structure; (c) providing a lift platform capable of supporting, balancing and lifting the structure below the lift platform by flexible lift members attachable to the lift platform and the framework; (d) attaching the flexible lift members to the lift platform and to a plurality of spaced portions of the framework; (e) lifting the lift platform to thereby lift the structure; and (f) while lifted, moving the lift platform and the structure to the second location, where the structure is lowered. A lift platform preferably made of subassemblies of beams and braces is used in the method. |
| US08578676B2 |
Tower barrel, wind tower and wind power plant for wind electric power generation
A tower barrel for wind electric power generation includes a barrel wall for supporting a wind turbine generator system, a torsion cable direction-changing device which is placed in the tower barrel and fixed on the barrel wall for holding the cable from the wind turbine generator system and restraining the torsion of the cable, and cable clamps which are placed under the torsion cable direction-changing device and connected to the barrel wall for securing the cable. The torsion cable direction-changing device includes a beam and two supports for the beam, the supports are fixed on the barrel wall. The torsion cable direction-changing device in the tower barrel improves the safety of the cable, and so improves the safety of the wind turbine generator system. |
| US08578674B2 |
Bracer spacer
A device for spacing, bracing and leveling tiles during installation on a ceiling substrate, comprises a, spacer and a bracer having a threaded substrate penetrating screw to releasably engage with the substrate for bracing and leveling tiles. The spacer and bracer are made of rigid material to support the weight of tile. The spacer carries at least one spacer ridge that when placed between tiles will create an equal distance between adjacent tiles. When the screw is inserted through a hole defined in the spacer and screwed until a first surface of the spacer frictionally contacts an exposed surface of the tile, the spacer will secure the tile and prevent a ceiling tile from falling until an adhesive dries. |
| US08578669B2 |
Methods and devices for making a building block for mortar-free construction
The invention discloses devices and methods for making building blocks for construction that requires neither mortar nor additional internal or external finishing. A building block includes joining elements for attaching blocks from top to bottom as well as from side to side. Additionally, blocks have internal and external finishes that are complete. Thus, after construction of a structure, there is no additional need to paint, hang wallpaper or otherwise treat the outer and inner walls of the final structure. |
| US08578667B2 |
Water resistant apparatus
A water resistant apparatus includes a chassis, a door, a sealing member, and a water guiding member. The door is mounted to the chassis, and a gap is defined between the chassis and the door. The sealing member includes a mounting portion and a blocking portion. The water guiding member is secured to the chassis and defines a guiding slot communicating with the gap. The mounting portion is secured to the water guiding member. The blocking portion is located between the door and the water guiding member and abuts the door. A water path is defined by the gap and the guiding slot. |
| US08578665B2 |
Modular guy anchor
A modular guy anchor includes an anchor head and an anchor shaft. The anchor head includes a tubular region for receiving the anchor shaft. The anchor shaft has one end that extends into or through the tubular region and is retained therein. The anchor shaft is preferably galvanized steel coated over at least a portion of its length with a corrosion-resistant material. The corrosion-resistant material is preferably applied over any portion of the anchor shaft that is exposed to soil during normal use. The modularity of the guy anchor facilitates stocking, shipping, and installation, while the corrosion resistance of the anchor shaft promotes longevity. |
| US08578664B2 |
Roof to post adjustable hold down device
A connector to connect a pair of components of a building and transfer a load from one to the other. The connector comprising a pair of members, each to be connected to a respective one of the components, and an adjustable abutment acting between the members to inhibit relative movement between the members in one direction. The ratchet mechanism acting between the members to permit movement in the one direction and to inhibit relative movement in an opposite direction, whereby adjustment of the abutment to cause relative movements in the one direction is accommodated by the ratchet mechanism. |
| US08578662B1 |
Window well enclosure with attachable steps
A window well enclosure including a front wall, a first side wall and a second side wall that engage each other. At least one step is attachable to the window well enclosure using a channel formed in at least one of the front wall, the first side wall and the second side wall. |
| US08578661B1 |
Collapsible housing structure system
A collapsible housing system having a floor panel, a first and a second side wall panel removably attached to the floor panel and extend upwardly, a front and a back wall panel removably attached to the floor panel and extend upwardly from the floor panel, a door in the front wall panel, a triangular first upper corner panel removably attached to a top edge of the front wall panel, and a second triangular upper corner panel removably attached to a top edge of the back wall panel, roof panels removably attached to the upper corner panels and extend over the side wall panels, and a window in the side wall panels, a door window in the door, and a window in the back wall panel, wherein the panels form an enclosure and the panels are attached via a hinge mechanism. |
| US08578660B2 |
Universal skirt board
A universal skirt board has a base, a top flange section, an overhang section, and a sealing flange attached to the top flange section. The base has at least one ridge extending away from the base in a first direction, and a projection extending in the first direction. The top flange section is attached to the base. The overhang section is also attached to the base and defines a drip edge. The sealing flange is attached to the top flange section. The at least one ridge is formed to rest on a top of a base board. The projection is formed to fit into a slot defined in the top of the base board to provide an interference connection. |
| US08578658B2 |
Gutter cover apparatus
A gutter cover apparatus configured to fit the top of a conventional roof gutter is characterized by an elongated sheet member having a longitudinal front edge portion, a longitudinal rear edge portion, and a substantially planar intermediate portion therebetween. The intermediate portion, in turn, is characterized by at least one upstanding longitudinal ridge defining multiple drainage zones each containing a pattern of staggered rows of openings. The forward longitudinal edge portion of the sheet member is raised upwardly with respect to the drainage zones and together with the ridge retards the flow of water transversely with respect to the front edge of the gutter. |
| US08578652B2 |
Modular gardening system
A system for modular gardening including a water module having a reservoir coupled to an aperture such that water in the reservoir flows out the water module via the aperture. The system also including a plant module having a housing having an aperture arranged to transfer water with another module and further having an open region on a top surface of the housing, a first conduit within the housing coupling the aperture and a regulator, a second conduit coupled to the regulator, the second conduit providing water to one or more water absorbent layers arranged atop the second conduit, and plant life at least partially embedded in at least one of the one or more water absorbent layers and receiving light through the open region. |
| US08578651B1 |
Aquaponic vertical garden using a stretchable grow media
Embodiments of a frame structure and grow media for use in vertical aquaponic gardens are described. The frame comprises a substantially rectangular tube structure with attachment points and connection means to hold a grow media in a vertical orientation. The grow media comprises a permeable or non-permeable backing layer having a defined elasticity to facilitate stretching, an activated carbon filter layer attached to the backing layer, one or more capillary biomats attached to the filter layer that physically support the growth of one or more varieties of plants and distribute water to the roots of the plants through capillary action through the area of the grow media, and an optional front panel layer attached to one of the capillary biomat layers, the front panel layer comprising a porous structure made of polypropylene or natural fibers and configured to support the plants growing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane the front panel surface. |
| US08578649B1 |
Weighted base with front wall attachment rodent bait station
A bait station is mounted to a base. The bait station has the general shape of a box with a locking hinged lid. The box has side walls with openings so that rodents can enter into the box and gain access to poison bait or a mechanical trap. The base has a lower tray for receiving a weight. The bait station is releasably mounted to the base by a locking mechanism employing resilient finger which pass between a shroud on a side wall of the box to engage with portions of the wall forming an opening which is partly covered by the shroud so the fingers can be unlocked only by gaining access to the interior of the bait station box. |
| US08578644B1 |
Light and accessory mount for a weapon system
A light and accessory mount having a mounting bracket for attaching to a weapon mount, the mounting bracket having a proximal side and a distal side, the proximal side of the mounting bracket having one or more mounting holes for connecting the mounting bracket to the weapon mount with mounting fasteners and one or more lugs to engage bosses on the weapon mount; the distal side of the mounting bracket having one or more attachment holes and one of more bosses for attaching a channel assembly to the mounting bracket; the channel assembly including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end having one or more attachment points for attaching the channel assembly to the mounting bracket with one or more attachment fasteners and one or more lugs to engage bosses on the distal end of the mounting bracket; and the distal end of the channel assembly having one or more rails for attaching devices. |
| US08578642B2 |
Drop-in handguard system
A handguard system for use with a firearm including a tubular body assembly having a rearward end and a forward end, a top handguard portion and a bottom handguard portion. The bottom handguard portion includes a forward tubular portion, a gap extending from the rearward end to the forward tubular portion, a first groove formed in an inner surface thereof and spaced forwardly from the rearward end for receiving tines of a barrel nut therein, and a second groove parallel to the first groove. A clamp assembly is carried by the bottom handguard portion for engaging the barrel nut and securing the bottom handguard portion to the receiver. The top handguard portion is receivable in the gap and including a forward end, a rearward end, and engagement elements for securing the forward end of the top handguard to the bottom handguard portion. |
| US08578638B2 |
Work machine, in particular excavator
The present invention relates to a work machine, in particular to an excavator, having a boom, an extension element and a piece of working equipment, wherein the extension element is attached to a pivotal connection axle of the boom via a first gimbal mounting and bears the piece of working equipment, wherein the piece of working equipment is attached to a pivotal connection axle of the extension element via a second gimbal mounting. |
| US08578633B2 |
Article of footwear with improved stability and balance
The stability and balance offered by an article of footwear is improved by including a rigid layer in an outsole assembly of the article of footwear. The rigid layer may include a material of at least a predefined rigidity. For example, an outsole may be fitted with a carbon fiber plate that maintains the shape and a flatness of the outsole assembly. The rigid layer may be attached to one or more other layers that may be configured for impact force attenuation and comfort. In one or more arrangements, the rigid layer may be sandwiched between two other layers. Alternatively, the rigid layer may be insertable into a layer of the outsole. A channel may cut into a layer of the outsole to distribute weight to an outside portion of the outsole. This distribution of weight to the outside portion of the outsole may improve stability and balance. |
| US08578632B2 |
Decoupled foot stabilizer system
An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot. |
| US08578627B2 |
Method and apparatus for moisture sensor noise immunity
A method of controlling the operation of a clothes dryer with a moisture sensor having a conductivity circuit with spaced contacts. |
| US08578625B2 |
Wood drying
A process for removing water and solutes from the lumens of green wood, while leaving the cell walls throughout the wood uniformly fully swollen, comprises subjecting the green wood to supercritical carbon dioxide. |
| US08578624B2 |
Indirect-heat thermal processing of particulate material
A method and apparatus for indirect-heat thermal processing of material, such as a dryer or evaporator for treatment of particulate material, is provided. In one embodiment, a dryer for drying particulate material comprises a plurality of heat transfer plates arranged in spaced relationship for the flow of the material to be dried therebetween. Each heat transfer plate is provided with an inlet and an outlet for the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A purge fluid delivery system provides a flow of purge fluid, such as air, gas or steam between the plates in a direction across the direction of flow of the material to be dried. The purge fluid delivery system provides a flow path for the purge fluid which is isolated from the flow of the heating fluid through the plates. A method for the indirect-heat processing of particulate material is also provided. |
| US08578622B2 |
Alignment device
The invention relates to an alignment device for the aligned and detachable fixing of at least one functional component (10), in particular in the form of a tool holder, to a further functional component (12), in particular in the form of a tool disk, around at least one alignment axis (14), wherein the two functional components (10, 12) have in each case at least one contact face (16, 18) for mutual contact with each other. Said alignment device is characterized in that both the one and the further functional component (10, 12) have at least one alignment part (22, 24), in that the respective alignment part (22) of the one functional component (10) is a constituent part of an alignment element (30) and forms an alignment face (26), which can be brought into at least partial contact with a positioning face (28) of the associated alignment part (24) of the further functional component (12) with a predefinable alignment force, and in that the predefinable alignment force is formed by the preload which is produced by a resilient deflection of the part (36) forming the respective alignment face (26) relative to the remaining part (34) of the alignment element (30), taking place as the functional components (10, 12) are fixed to each other. |
| US08578621B2 |
Drill presses having laser alignment systems and methods therefor
A laser alignment system for a drill press includes first and second adjustable laser assemblies mountable on the drill press. Each adjustable laser assembly includes a base firmly affixed to the drill press, a rotatable element mounted on the base and being adapted to selectively rotate relative to the base, a pivotable element mounted on the rotatable element and being adapted to selectively pivot relative to the rotatable element, and a laser mounted on the pivotable element and being adapted to move simultaneously with the pivotable element. The laser alignment system includes a pivot adjusting mechanism coupled with the pivotable element for selectively pivoting the pivotable element relative to the rotatable element, and a rotation adjusting mechanism coupled with the rotatable element for selectively rotating the rotatable element relative to the base. |
| US08578620B1 |
Measurement device for measuring alignment of screen printed images
A measurement apparatus for measuring alignment of screen printed images has a body with a top surface and a bottom surface and an opening extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a measuring device for measuring an offset between the screen printed images. The measuring device is positioned adjacent the opening at the bottom of the body. An adjusting mechanism is cooperative with the measuring device for selectively adjusting the measuring device. A gauge is positioned on the body and cooperative with the adjusting mechanism so as to provide a positive numerical indication of the offset between the screen printed images. |
| US08578619B2 |
Shape measuring apparatus and shape measuring method
A contact type prove achieves a high-precision measurement of a shape of even a steeply-inclined surface in the vicinity of vertical by controlling a contact force stably. In a shape measuring method for measuring the shape of the surface of a measured object by moving a contact type probe along the surface of the measured object, a slope of the measured object surface is estimated depending on the magnitude of a component force of the contact force applied to the probe and when it is determined that the slope is in the vicinity of vertical, a probe supporting unit is moved in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the probe supporting unit. |
| US08578615B2 |
Jigsaw with deployable keel and tiltable shoe
A jigsaw may include a housing, a control member, a shoe member and a keel. The housing contains a motor and include a handle. The control member is moveable relative to the housing between at least a first position that implements a curve-cutting mode and a second position that implements a straight-cutting mode. The shoe member is connected to the housing and includes a bottom surface facing away from the housing. The keel is operable in a deployed configuration in which the keel protrudes through the bottom surface of the shoe member and a stowed configuration in which the keel does not protrude through the bottom surface of the shoe member. Relative motion between the shoe and the keel allows the keel to be in the deployed configuration when the control member is in the second position and the stowed configuration when the control member is in the first position. |
| US08578612B2 |
Reverse actuated nail clipper
A device for clipping fingernails and toenails of human beings that differs from other nail clippers by reversing the end of the clipper on which a user presses to perform nail clipping. Instead of the user pressing down on the end opposite the nail clipper's cutting edges, the current invention allows the user to press down directly above the clipper's cutting edges. This lever reversal makes the nail clipper easier to use while also giving the user greater control and accuracy, which is the object of the invention.The invention is an extension of traditional nail clippers in that it adds a second lever assembly that pivots on a hinge located at the end of a common art nail clipper, opposite the end having the cutting edges. The user presses on the free end of the second lever assembly to operate the nail clipper. |
| US08578611B2 |
Apparatus for manufacturing hydro dynamic bearing device
An apparatus for manufacturing a hydro dynamic bearing device is provided for the finishing treatment of lubricating oil after lubricating the hydro dynamic bearing device, specifically for properly and effectively wiping off the lubricating oil adhering to the outside of the housing and adjusting the oil-level height of the lubricating oil filled in the housing. |
| US08578608B2 |
Manufacturing of sand screens
A rod-based well screen is formed in place on a perforated pipe base by wrapping wire around the pipe base and a plurality of rods located around the outside of the pipe. The wire is welded sequentially to each individual rod as it is wrapped around the pipe. The welding and ground electrodes engage the wire and the rods respectively. The rod engaging ground electrode is positioned a short distance ahead of the wire being wrapped around the rods and the pipe base. The ground electrode includes a plurality of contacts. Each contact is mounted to pivot toward and away from a rod. Springs urge each contact toward a rod to hold the rod against the outside surface of the pipe base and to maintain good electrical contact between the contact and the rod. Each contact has a groove to guide the rod into position for welding to the wire. |
| US08578607B2 |
Method of designing spokes of non-pneumatic tire
Disclosed herein is a method of designing spokes of a non-pneumatic tire which randomly arranges spokes around a circumference to optimize noise dispersion. The method of designing spokes of a non-pneumatic tire includes placing a plurality of spokes (2) holding and supporting a tread (1) to be radially installed around a circumference of the tire on a circular spoke support (3) under the tread (1) to be in contact with the ground, wherein the spokes (2) are arranged at three angles on the circular spoke support (3) around the circumference of the tire, the three angles being divided into a small angle (a), a medium angle (b) and a large angle (c), and the spokes (2) are arranged at irregular angles under a condition that a ratio (q) of the large angle (c) to the small angle (a) is greater than a ratio (p) of the medium angle (b) to the small angle (a). |
| US08578605B2 |
Manufacturing method of a heat dissipation device with guiding lines and soldered heat pipes
An exemplary method of manufacturing a heat dissipation device includes, firstly, providing a heat pipe including a condenser section having a planar outer surface, and providing a heat sink including a supporting surface defining a guiding line. The guiding line has a width smaller than a width of the outer surface of the condenser section. Next, an amount solder is spread on the supporting surface along the guiding line to form a solder layer on the supporting surface. The solder layer has a size not larger than a size of the outer surface of the condenser section. Then the outer surface of condenser section of the heat pipe is attached to the solder layer on the supporting surface of the heat sink. |
| US08578603B2 |
Compressor and manufacturing method thereof
A compressing device, a drive shaft and a bearing device are assembled into a tubular member. All-around welding of a cover member to the tubular member is performed to form a casing in such a manner that welding is overlapped over a welding start point, at which the all-around welding is started, to form an overlapped portion in a welding bead generated by the all-around welding. In the all-around welding, heat input is externally applied to a diametrically opposite portion of the casing, which is diametrically opposite to the overlapped portion, so that the diametrically opposite portion is deformed symmetrically with respect to a welding distortion at the overlapped portion. |
| US08578600B2 |
Process for manufacturing a circuit board
A circuit board including a circuit substrate, a dielectric layer, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer is provided. The circuit substrate has a first surface and a first circuit layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the circuit substrate and covers the first surface and the first circuit layer. The dielectric layer has a second surface, at least a blind via extended from the second surface to the first circuit layer and an intaglio pattern. The first conductive layer is disposed inside the blind via. The second conductive layer is disposed in the intaglio pattern and the blind via and covers the first conductive layer. The second conductive layer is electrically connected with the first circuit layer through the first conductive layer. |
| US08578599B2 |
Method of making a supported foam circuit laminate
A method of making a supported foam circuit laminate comprises fitting a dielectric foam substrate having a shape defined by edges to a support frame having a thickness, an inner rim and an outer rim, wherein the edges of the dielectric foam substrate are flush with the inner rim of the support frame, and the dielectric foam substrate has a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the support frame; disposing an electrically conductive layer onto a side of the dielectric foam substrate and the support frame, wherein the edges of the electrically conductive layer overlap the inner rim of the support frame; and co-laminating the electrically conductive layer to the dielectric foam substrate and the overlapped support frame under heat and pressure to provide a supported foam circuit laminate. |
| US08578597B2 |
Feed mechanism for a terminal crimping machine
A feed mechanism is provided for a terminal crimping machine that crimps a terminal to a wire. The feed mechanism includes a feed finger configured to move along a feed stroke in a feed direction to feed the terminal into a crimping zone. The feed mechanism also includes a cam having a lift profile, and a push rod that includes a cam follower engaged with the cam. The cam follower travels along the lift profile of the cam, moving the push rod in a lift direction. The push rod is mechanically connected to the feed finger and is configured to move the feed finger along the feed stroke in the feed direction when the push rod moves in the lift direction. A biasing mechanism is operatively connected to the push rod to exert a biasing force on the push rod that biases the cam follower into engagement with the cam. |
| US08578596B2 |
Tools for seating connectors on substrates
The present invention relates to connector tools for seating connectors on a substrate such as a printed circuit board. In various embodiments, the connector tools can be made by wire electrode discharge machining (WEDM) process. In the embodiments, the connector tool includes reinforced ribbed end walls, ribbed internal walls, interconnected walls and contours that reduce tool and connector damage. In other embodiments, the connector tools include guiding structures that align the connector tool to the connector before seating the connector so that the connector tool aligns to the connector pins and body to avoid damage to the connector and/or the substrate. In another embodiment, the connector tool has guiding skirts and surfaces to capture the connector in position then seat the connector. Thus, the invention reduces connector and substrate damage during manufacturing, reduces tool damage, and lowers product costs by boosting manufacturing yields. |
| US08578593B2 |
Method of manufacturing thermal assisted magnetic write head
A method of manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic write head is provided. The method includes steps of: forming a laminate structure including the waveguide; the plasmon generator, and the magnetic pole in order; performing a first polishing process to planarize an end surface of the laminate structure; performing a first etching process to remove impurity attached on the end surface of the laminate structure, and to allow the plasmon generator to be recessed from the waveguide and the magnetic pole, thereby forming a recessed region on the end surface of the laminate structure; forming a protection layer on the end surface of the laminate structure such that at least the recessed region is filled; and performing a second polishing process on the end surface of the laminate structure formed with the protection layer until the plasmon generator is exposed, thereby completing the air bearing surface. |
| US08578591B2 |
Method for manufacturing a stacked device conductive path connectivity
Various embodiments include apparatus and methods having circuitry to test continuity of conductive paths coupled to dice arranged in a stack. In at least one of these embodiments, a method includes electrically coupling each of the conductive paths to at least one of a first supply node and a second supply node. One of the conductive paths includes conductive material inside a via that can extend at least partly through a die among the dice in the stack. The method also includes receiving signals from the conductive paths, and determining continuity of the conductive paths based on the signals without using a boundary scan. |
| US08578590B2 |
Wire insertion tool
The wire insertion tool includes a first division block having a first wire insertion guide ditch forming plane where a first wire insertion guide ditch has been formed, a second division block having a second wire insertion guide ditch forming plane where a second wire insertion guide ditch has been formed, and a division block positioning guide. When the first division block and the second division block form a coupling unit by fitting the first wire insertion guide ditch forming plane and the second wire insertion guide ditch forming plane, the first wire insertion guide ditch and the second wire insertion guide ditch form a wire insertion guide hole. The division block positioning guide guides one of these blocks linearly to the other such that these planes approach to each other or separate from each other. |
| US08578585B2 |
Method of manufacturing a modular range system
A modular range system and method utilizes a plurality of substantially pre-assembled range modules configured to be interconnected together, using combination kits, such that a variety of range configurations can be achieved using a relatively small number of stocked substantially pre-assembled range modules. |
| US08578581B2 |
Method of making a part and related system
A system and method of making a part, including capturing an actual tridimensional surface of each part to obtain a corresponding digitized actual surface, performing a tridimensional comparison between the digitized actual surface of each part and a nominal tridimensional surface, generating an actual location and orientation of an operation to be performed based on the tridimensional comparison, and performing the operation on the part based on the generated actual location and orientation of the element. |
| US08578579B2 |
System and method for adaptive machining
A method of repair includes removing a deformed portion of a component to define a native component portion and adding a replacement portion to the native component portion. The replacement portion is adaptively machined based on one or more parameters of the native component portion and based on one or more original design parameters of the component. |
| US08578575B2 |
Device and method for producing a UD layer
Device and method for producing a unidirectional (UD) layer from a predetermined number of filament strands. Device includes a dispenser arrangement structured and arranged for delivering the predetermined number of filament strands, and a storage arrangement, structured and arranged for temporary storage of the predetermined number of filament strands. The storage arrangement includes separate storage parts for each of the predetermined number of filament strands. Device also includes a spreading arrangement and an outlet. |
| US08578569B1 |
Couplers
A mechanical coupler that separates at a pre-determined ambient pressure. |
| US08578568B2 |
Clip for fastening a strip or rib
In a clip for fastening to a strip or rib, in particular on a motor vehicle, having a single-piece body made of plastic that has a retaining region, the retaining region has a receiving slot with an insertion opening and a locking finger. The locking finger is attached to a first guide section and extends from its fastening end in the insertion direction and in the direction of a second guide section. The locking finger has an insert that forms a tongue projecting from the free end of the locking finger. |
| US08578566B2 |
Cable gripping device
A device for gripping a cable is presented that has a retention member rotatably disposed within a cable guide such that upon entrance of the cable within an entrance port, the cable moves between the retention member and a wall, causing the retention member to simultaneously rotate and move toward the exit port and away from the wall until it abuts the exit wall and rotates in place as the cable is pushed out the exit port. When the cable is pulled toward the entrance port, the retention member simultaneously rotates and moves toward the entrance port and the wall, wedging the cable between the wall and the retention member. |
| US08578563B2 |
Tool system with replaceable heads and offset handle
A tool system is disclosed having a body including a handle extending therefrom, a detachable head including a working tool, and a multi-part connector for detachable connecting the head to the body, the connector including opposed, flexible members positioned on the body towards an end of the body and means on the head for connecting with the opposed flexible members, the opposed flexible members and the means for connecting with the flexible members working in concert to detachably secure the head to the body. The handle of the tool system can be offset with respect to the axis of the body and the detachable head. |
| US08578562B2 |
Weight assembly for a hose of a faucet
A weight assembly for a faucet being fixed on a hose and contains a body including an open groove with a first opening, a vertical height of the groove being slightly more that a diameter of the hose, a horizontal depth of the groove along a Y-axis direction being larger than the diameter of the hose; the body including a hole, an upper receiving seat, and a lower receiving seat; a first retaining member received in the hole, the upper and the lower receiving seats, and including an open locking recess with a second opening; the locking recess including a concavely arcuate defining fence; a vertical height of the second opening on the Z-axis direction being equal to or more than the vertical height of the groove; a second retaining member used to screw with a top end of the first retaining member. |
| US08578561B2 |
Dual-axis hinge and portable device with the same
A dual-axis hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of a portable device and has a connecting bracket, an upper rotating bracket, a lower rotating bracket, an upper active gear, a lower active gear and a transmission gear assembly. The connecting bracket is mounted between the upper and lower rotating brackets. The upper and lower active gears are connected respectively to the upper and lower rotating brackets. The transmission gear assembly is connected between the upper and lower active gears to adjust a velocity ratio of the upper and lower active gears. Therefore, the cover and the base align with each other without a drop whether or not the upper and lower active gears are the same in teeth number or whether or not the included angles between the upper and lower rotating brackets with the connecting bracket are the same. |
| US08578560B1 |
Locking hinge with button release
A seat positioning device includes a swingable support pad secured to a hinge, which is secured to a wheelchair seat back via a hardware assembly. The hinge includes a frame bracket with primary and secondary flanges having a rotatable barrel secured therebetween. A lock plate locking flange, sized to be receivable within a barrel locking groove formed in one end of the barrel, is spring-biased into a locking aperture in the secondary flange and toward the barrel locking groove. The barrel can rotate until the locking flange, locking aperture, and locking groove are aligned and the locking flange is allowed to lock the hinge in position by entering the locking groove through the locking aperture. The hardware assembly is configured to position the hinge so as to minimize the extent to which the pad extends beyond the side of a wheelchair when the pad is in a stowed position. |
| US08578555B2 |
Surface cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow passage extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A suction motor is positioned in the air flow path. At least one cyclone is positioned in the air flow passage. An associated dirt collection chamber is exterior to the cyclone. The cyclone and the suction motor are positioned side by side and have generally parallel longitudinal axes. The dirt collection chamber may surround part of the suction motor. Alternately, or in addition, a pre-motor filter having an enhanced surface area may be provided by configuring the pre-motor filter to extend outwardly of the pre-motor filter, such as by overlie part of the cyclone or the dirt collection chamber. |
| US08578554B2 |
System and method for capturing dust from power tool operation
A system and method for capturing dust from power tool operation are disclosed. The system comprises a debris-collecting accessory that includes a body and a nose. The nose has an opening for a toolbit and at least one suction port that opens into an interior volume of the housing. The body has a second end configured to couple to a power tool. An exhaust tube attaches to the exterior surface of the body such that an interior volume of the exhaust tube connects to an interior volume of the housing. An exit passage is coupled to the exhaust tube and is configured to couple to a vacuum. |
| US08578553B2 |
Sound shield for a surface cleaning apparatus
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises an air flow path extending from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet and includes an air treatment member. A suction motor may be provided in the air flow path. A suction motor housing sidewall may comprise a plurality of openings provided in a first side thereof. An outer housing may comprise a longitudinally extending outer housing sidewall having an outer housing air outlet. At least a portion of the suction motor housing that has the plurality of openings is located in the outer housing and spaced from the longitudinally extending outer housing sidewall to define a passage between the outer housing and the suction motor housing. The outer housing air outlet may be angularly spaced around the outer housing with respect to the first side of the suction motor housing. |
| US08578549B2 |
Cleaning sheets
Cleaning sheets are provided, which attach to known wet and/or dry cleaning devices such as a mopping device. The cleaning sheets are reusable and have material and/or a geometric configuration that provides efficient cleaning performance, while maintaining a predetermined cleaning force during use. |
| US08578548B1 |
Abrasive cleaning glove
An abrasive cleaning glove comprises a cleaning glove. The cleaning glove comprising a hand portion mechanically coupled to a cuff. The hand portion is made of a material. The material comprises a plurality of warp threads around a series of waft threads. The plurality of warp threads and the series of waft threads are in a pattern that reveals several surface heights caused by various needle pitches to enhance cleaning. |
| US08578542B2 |
Portable vehicle roof snow and ice removal apparatus
An improved apparatus for removing snow and ice from the roof top of a truck, trailer, bus or similar vehicle is mounted atop a converted flatbed trailer for ease of relocation from one site to another for use. The addition of a height adjustable scraper or plow blade that is operator controlled to remain in contact with the roof of the vehicle being cleaned is provided with a self-contained front-to-back and side-to-side stabilization mechanism to prevent damage to the tops of vehicles by gouging or tearing the roof top. |
| US08578541B2 |
Shoe cleaning device
A shoe cleaning device 10 comprises a rotatable cleaning disc 12, a housing 14 on which the cleaning disc 12 is rotatably mountable, a horizontally mounted motor 16, mounted sideways within the housing 14 to maintain an extreme low profile, and a non-centrally configured gearbox 68, non-central to a central axis of the cleaning disc 12, non-centrally configured to allow the sideways mounted motor 16 to be housed within, or substantially within a circumference of the cleaning disc 12, the device 10 thus maintaining both an extreme low profile and an extreme compact diametric profile. Preferably the housing 14 encapsulates the motor 16, forming a mounded pinchgrip 38 for gripping by a user. Preferably there is provided a pressure activated unit 62 so that pressurizing of the pinchgrip 38 activates the device 10, which is intended to provide an intuitive interface. |
| US08578540B2 |
Vibrating mop head
A mop head assembly having: a base plate member with a generally flat bottom portion adapted to receive a flexible cleaning member; and an electric motor mounted on the base plate member at a laterally centered position thereon and having a rotatable shaft with an asymmetric weight mounted thereon, the shaft projecting downwardly from the electric motor and oriented substantially perpendicular to the base plate bottom portion, wherein rotation of the asymmetric weight on the shaft causes the base plate to vibrate primarily in a plane parallel to the flat bottom portion. A cover member that covers the electric motor and which is positioned over other components mounted on the base plate is also described. |
| US08578535B2 |
Composite shoe upper and method of making same
A bonded mesh composite panel of an upper includes a substrate layer formed from a substrate material, a mesh material layer and one or more skin material layers. The mesh composite can be fabricated by first arranging panels of substrate, mesh and skin layer material into an assembly corresponding to the locations of those panels in a completed upper. The assembly may include separate layers of hot melt bonding material interposed between the substrate, mesh and skin layers. The assembly is pressed at an elevated temperature so as to melt the bonding material and the skin layers and bond the elements together. Before the pressed assembly completely cools, it is then pressed a second time in an unheated press. A heat-conductive compressible pad can be used in the pressing process to create a surface effect in the skin layers that reveals a patterns of an underlying mesh layer. |
| US08578520B2 |
Helmet
The present application provides a helmet. The helmet includes an energy absorbing layer (2) and a sliding facilitator (5). The sliding facilitator is provided on an inside surface of the energy absorbing layer (2). A method of manufacturing the helmet is further provided. The method includes the steps of: providing an energy absorbing layer in the mold, and providing a sliding facilitator contacting an inside surface of the energy absorbing layer. |
| US08578519B2 |
Surgical glove appliance device
A protective barrier, such as a medical examination glove is provided that includes a bracelet defining a plane with a cylinder attached to the bracelet at a first end. The cylinder is compressed into a compressed conformation in the plane without rolling about the bracelet. When the barrier is a glove, three fenestrated caps are provided, each such cap attached to the cylinder at different locations along the length of the cylinder when said first cylinder is in an extended conformation. Multiple finger cylinders are each attached to the cylinder at a location of a fenestrated cap, the finger cylinders each having an end cap. The first cylinder and the finger cylinders each compressed into a compressed conformation in the plane such that each of the caps forms a portion of the surface of the plane. |
| US08578517B2 |
Athletic garment
In several embodiments, an athletic garment is designed to store energy when a weight or load is lowered in order to assist the wearer to subsequently raise the load. In some embodiments, the garment provides seams which are curved in order to twist the garment fabric and thereby store energy therein. In one shirt embodiment, the sleeves extend perpendicularly forward of the torso and then converge toward a centerline of the shirt. In a second shirt embodiment, the sleeves extend perpendicularly forward of the torso for their entire length. In a weight lifter's suit embodiment, the curved seams extends from an armhole of a torso section to a location under the buttocks of the lifter. In another shirt embodiment, the arms extend forwardly of a vertical plane when the wearer is lying on the back in preparation for an arching bench press movement. |
| US08578514B2 |
Garment
A garment for a part of the body, and in particular a sport pant, includes an elasticity element, or a number of such elements, disposed on a portion of the garment, while another portion of the garment is free of elasticity elements. As a result, the garment can store energy by elastic elongation under a movement of, for example, a leg. This energy can then be released under a second movement of the leg in the opposite direction, resulting in the garment supporting the second movement of the leg. |
| US08578513B2 |
Deltoid arm protection system for ballistic body armor
A deltoid arm protection system for a ballistic vest including an asymmetrical anatomically shaped deltoid cover having fasteners for attachment to a ballistic vest. The deltoid cover is connected to the vest and prevents any gaps forming between the deltoid cover and the vest during arm movement of the wearer. The deltoid cover includes a weapon gripping pad and attachment loops on an outer surface of the deltoid cover. |
| US08584256B2 |
Digital delivery system and user interface for enabling the digital delivery of media content
A system, method, and computer readable storage medium provides the ability to deliver media content. A repository stores media content and marketing assets for the media content. A server computer provides a website accessible on the Internet worldwide to client computers. The website provides the ability to search a public site catalog/library of media content that is publicly available. The website further provides marketing assets for licensed media content from the library to authorized client users (that have a license to media content) in a secure manner. The website further provides preview screening access and download access to licensed media content (e.g., titles of audio-visual media content) to the authorized client users. |
| US08584254B2 |
Data access reporting platform for secure active monitoring
Technologies pertaining to detecting accesses to monitored regions of memory and transmitting data to a protection system responsive to the detecting are described herein. A region of memory that includes objects in an object graph utilized by an operating system to determine which processes to execute and an order to execute such processes is monitored. If a process executing on a processor attempts to write to an object in the object graph, a field that is being written to is identified, and a determination is made regarding whether the field includes a pointer. Based upon whether the field includes a pointer, a type of write desirably undertaken by the object is ascertained, and an object event is transmitted to the protection system that informs the protection system of the type of write. |
| US08584250B2 |
Methods and apparatus for information assurance in a multiple level security (MLS) combat system
Methods and apparatus are provided for information assurance in a multiple level security (MLS) combat system. A plurality of tasks are executed, where at least one of the tasks requiring a transition from a first security level to a second security level. At least one of the tasks are executed on a cloud computing system; and a kernel is employed to prevent a leakage of data between at least two of the tasks. The cloud computing system comprises a virtualization layer and provides one or more operating systems, as well as interface access control to data. The kernel provides a mechanism for the transition from the first security level to the second security level. The kernel optionally tags one or more data records with a security classification to allow one or more classification levels to be segregated for role-based data access. |
| US08584249B2 |
System for preventing unauthorized use of digital content
A system for preventing unauthorized use of digital content that can prevent unauthorized use of digital content and can reliably collect a charge for secondary use is provided. The system for preventing unauthorized use may include: a distributing recording medium α on which a content file having header information “A” and a data body “B” is recorded in a state of lacking play information “A1” indispensable for playing the data body “B” included in the header information a; a management center managing use of the content file on the distributing recording medium α and which can deliver the prepared play information “A1” of the header information “A” as piece data via a communication line β; and a digital content playing device which is a device used for playing the content file on the distributing recording medium α and has a function of communicating via the communication line β with the management center. |
| US08584242B2 |
Remote-assisted malware detection
Remote assistance is provided to a mobile device across a network to enable malware detection. The mobile device transmits potentially infected memory pages to a remote server across a network. The remote server performs analysis, and provides feedback to the mobile device. Based on the received feedback, the mobile device halts a process, or retrieves and transmits additional memory pages to the remote server for more analysis. This process is repeated until a compromised region of memory is identified and/or isolated for further repair to be performed. The feedback from the remote server reduces the processing and storage burden on the mobile device, resulting in a more reliable detection that uses fewer resources. Embodiments including hypervisors and virtual machines are disclosed. |
| US08584236B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal traffic in a network
A method of identifying traffic within a network representative of an abnormal network condition, including: monitoring a communications link for a high traffic volume level; identifying a domain being the source of the high traffic volume level; identifying within the domain, a sending entity transmitting traffic from the domain; using a detector located at or proximate to the domain to invoke a response from the sending entity; wherein a failure by the sending entity to provide an expected response to the message in accordance with a network protocol indicates that the traffic transmitted by the sending entity is traffic representative of an abnormal network condition. |
| US08584234B1 |
Secure network cache content
A security module on a computing device applies security rules to examine content in a network cache and identify suspicious cache content. Cache content is identified as suspicious according to security rules, such as a rule determining whether the cache content is associated with modified-time set into the future, and a rule determining whether the cache content was created in a low-security environment. The security module may establish an out-of-band connection with the websites from which the cache content originated through a high security access network to receive responses from the websites, and use the responses to determine whether the cache content is suspicious cache content. Suspicious cache content is removed from the network cache to prevent the suspicious cache content from carrying out malicious activities. |
| US08584233B1 |
Providing malware-free web content to end users using dynamic templates
Providing malware-free web content to a user is disclosed. The web content is any type of web content that may potentially be infected by any type of malware. Upon receiving a request for a piece of web content from the user, the requested piece of web content is obtained from the appropriate source, and a dynamic template for the piece of web content is retrieved. The dynamic template indicates whether the requested piece of web content includes any malware and what actions are to be performed if any malware is included in the piece of web content. The requested piece of web content is cleaned up by performing the actions indicated in the dynamic template. Thereafter, the piece of web content is provided to the user. The dynamic template is updated from time to time based on the currently available information regarding the piece of web content. |
| US08584229B2 |
Methods and apparatus supporting access to physical and virtual trusted platform modules
A data processing system features a hardware trusted platform module (TPM), and a virtual TPM (vTPM) manager. When executed, the vTPM manager detects a first request from a service virtual machine (VM) in the processing system, the first request to involve access to the hardware TPM (hTPM). In response, the vTPM manager automatically determines whether the first request should be allowed, based on filter rules identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the hTPM. The vTPM manager may also detect a second request to involve access to a software TPM (sTPM) in the processing system. In response, the vTPM manager may automatically determine whether the second request should be allowed, based on a second filter list identifying allowed or disallowed operations for the sTPM. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08584228B1 |
Packet authentication and encryption in virtual networks
Systems and methods provide logic for distributing cryptographic keys in a physical network comprising a plurality of physical nodes. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for distributing cryptographic keys in a physical network. The method includes receiving information mapping a virtual network address of a virtual node to a physical network address of a physical node. The virtual node may be associated with a virtual network hosted by the physical node, and the received mapping information identifies a virtual network address of the node and the physical network address of the node. The mapping service transmits a current version of a cryptographic key and an identifier of the current version to the physical node. |
| US08584227B2 |
Firewall with policy hints
A firewall helps a user make a decision regarding network access for an application executing on a computing device by providing “hints” to the user about an appropriate network access policy. If at least one previously set firewall policy for the application exists in a context different from a current context, the user may be presented with information based on a previously set firewall policy. The information may be prioritized based on a source of the previously set firewall policy and other factors, to provide the user with a hint that facilitates making the decision appropriate in the current context. A programming interface to the firewall allows third party applications to specify a format in which hints are provided to the user. |
| US08584225B1 |
Push channel authentication for mobile computing devices
Methods and systems for push channel authentication for mobile computing devices are provided. A mobile application may be supplied, and an indication that the application has been loaded on the mobile computing device may be processed. A device identifier received from the mobile computing device through a network may be processed, and corresponding information may be stored in an authentication information repository. An authentication key and an authentication token may be generated and sent separately to the mobile computing device through a push channel and through a second channel. That the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be verified. A notification that the mobile application has received the authentication key and the authentication token may be processed. The notification may be validated at least in part with the information corresponding to the device identifier in the authentication information repository. |
| US08584215B2 |
System and method for securing distributed exporting models in a network environment
A method is provided in one example implementation and includes identifying a plurality of exporters that are authorized to communicate data to a collector on behalf of a secure domain; generating secure credentials for the secure domain; communicating the secure credentials to the collector; and authenticating the exporters using the secure credentials. In more particular implementations, the method can include receiving the secure credentials; receiving certain data that includes identifying information, which further includes an Internet protocol (IP) address of a source associated with the certain data; accepting the certain data if the secure credentials validate the identifying information; and rejecting the certain data if the secure credentials do not validate the identifying information. |
| US08584209B1 |
Authentication using a proxy network node
A method includes detecting a presence of a device on a network associated with a node, where the node is not connected to an authentication server and is configured to communicate with the device using a data link layer authentication protocol; communicating, with another node, using a data link layer tunneling protocol, to authenticate the device as a result of detecting the presence of the device, where the other node communicates with the authentication server, using a network layer authentication protocol, that enables the other node to receive an authentication notification associated with the device; receiving, from the other node, the authentication notification that indicates that the device has been authenticated, where the authentication notification is received using the data link layer tunneling protocol; and sending, to the device, an indication that the device is authorized to communicate with the network, where the sending includes establishing an authentication session that enables the device to communicate with the network. |
| US08584208B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a context resource description language and framework for supporting the same
An apparatus for providing a framework for supporting a context resource description language may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least receiving an indication of content loaded at a browser, parsing the content for context resource description language providing an identification of properties requested in association with a service from which the content was loaded, and providing property management with respect to the identified properties for provision to the service. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided. |
| US08584206B2 |
Method for managing domain using multi domain manager and domain system
The present invention relates to a method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager and a domain system. The method of managing a domain employing a multi-domain manager includes designating a primary domain manager, configuring the domain by registering a domain device with the primary domain manager, designating at least one secondary domain manager of the domain devices, and managing the domain through conjunction of the primary domain manager and the secondary domain manager. Thus, domain management can be performed efficiently by employing a multi-domain manager. |
| US08584201B2 |
Method and apparatus for session validation to access from uncontrolled devices
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may store a plurality of token-based rules. A token-based rule may facilitate access to a resource. The apparatus may further store a plurality of tokens. The apparatus may receive a first token indicating that an unsecured device has requested access to the resource and determine at least one token-based rule based at least in part upon the first token. The at least one token-based rule indicates a timeout associated with the unsecured device. The apparatus may determine, based on the at least one token-based rule, that the timeout associated with the unsecured device has not been exceeded and generate a session token based at least in part upon the first token in response to the determination that the timeout has not been exceeded. |
| US08584197B2 |
Media rights management using melody identification
A content recognition system operates in conjunction with a media hosting service to identify hosted media content and ownership rights associated with the hosted content. By applying melody recognition, the content recognition system can identify compositions embodied in hosted media content even when these compositions do not precisely match any known sound recording. Thus, the content recognition system is beneficially able to detect, for example, recorded cover performances and recorded live performances embodied in hosted media content. Once identified, ownership information is determined and the media hosting service can carry out appropriate rights management policies associated with the content such as monetizing or blocking the protected content. |
| US08584196B2 |
Technique for efficiently evaluating a security policy
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for efficiently evaluating a security policy. During operation, the system retrieves one or more roles associated with the user. Next, the system checks if a session-level cache exists for a set of Access Control Entries (ACEs) which is associated with the one or more roles. If this session-level cache exists, the system returns the set of ACEs from the session-level cache. Otherwise, the system generates the set of ACEs associated with the one or more roles from an Access Control List (ACL). During operation, the system can also update the one or more roles associated with the user and update the set of ACEs based on the updated one or more roles and the ACL. The system subsequently updates the session level cache with the updated set of ACEs and updated one or more roles. |
| US08584191B2 |
Method and system for updating recording schedules
Provided are a method and a system for recording a video broadcast using a video recording device. A system can extract in-band scheduling data and generate scheduling information based on the extracted in-band scheduling data, received scheduling data, and transactional scheduling update. The system can update a recording schedule for a broadcast in response to a determined scheduling update. |
| US08584190B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in communication system
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving broadcasting data and supplementary data. The method includes: generating broadcasting data and supplementary data for a plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services to be provided to users; multiplexing the generated broadcasting data for broadcasting channels respectively allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services, and multiplexing the generated supplementary data for one commonly broadcasting channel commonly allocated to the plurality of predetermined 3D broadcasting services; encoding the multiplexed supplementary data corresponding to a conditional access system; and transmitting the encoded supplementary data to the one common broadcasting channel, and transmitting the multiplexed broadcasting data to the allocated broadcasting channels. |
| US08584186B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content
Method and apparatus to provide supplemental media content are presented. In a particular embodiment, a method of providing supplemental content in a Video-On-Demand (VOD) system is provided. The method includes receiving a selection of a first supplemental content title selected from a plurality of supplemental content titles provided by a selectable menu, where each of the plurality of supplemental content titles is associated with a particular VOD offering. The selectable menu provided is to be displayed upon detection of discontinued transmission of the particular VOD offering. The method also includes providing first supplemental content associated with the first supplemental content title. The first supplemental content is accessible by a subscriber when the particular VOD offering is not being presented and wherein the first supplemental content is not accessible by the subscriber when the particular VOD offering is being presented. |
| US08584185B2 |
System and method for content transmission network selection
A content transmission selection system is disclosed. The content transmission selection system receives requests from viewers for specific video content items. Using characteristics of the designated content item, the content transmission selection system determines whether to transmit the content item over a broadcast network or a broadband network. |
| US08584184B2 |
Systems and methods for relocating media
A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files. |
| US08584183B2 |
Virtual video on demand using multiple encrypted video segments
A method and apparatus for providing a virtual video on demand services is disclosed. The method and apparatus disclose the storing of a segment of the video program in advance for VOD viewing at a later time. When the subscriber selects VOD service, a pre-stored video segment is retrieved for presentation to the subscriber. Remaining video program segments simultaneously broadcast on a plurality of channels are recorded in parallel while the pre-stored video program segment is retrieved and presented to the user. |
| US08584179B2 |
Information output apparatus, information processing system and information processing method
An information output apparatus has a first interface to receive an equipment operational signal from a short-range wireless communication apparatus, a second interface to receive broadcast wave data based on the equipment operational signal, a third interface to transmit the equipment operational signal to an information generating apparatus, a fourth interface to receive video data transmitted from the information generating apparatus, a fifth interface to receive a control command transmitted from the information generating apparatus in response to the equipment operational signal transmitted from the third interface part, an information superimposing part to transmit the equipment operational signal from the third interface part to the information generating apparatus and then to superimpose video data updated by the information generating apparatus and received from the fourth interface part with the broadcast wave data to display the superimposed data on a display part. |
| US08584178B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for remote storage of media content events
Techniques for facilitating recording of media content events by media devices on remote storage devices are described. Some embodiments provide a remote storage manager as part of a media device, such as a set-top box. In one embodiment, the remote storage manager causes a media content event to be recorded on a remote persistent storage device by receiving the media content event from a program distributor, and then transmitting the media content event to the remote persistent storage device. In another embodiment, the remote storage manager instructs the remote persistent storage device to obtain the media content event from the program distributor, so that the remote persistent storage device can record the media content event without the media content event first being received by the remote storage manager. |
| US08584176B2 |
Communicating video content
A method includes receiving a selection of a channel at a set-top box device. In response to the selection of the channel, a still image associated with a program is displayed at a display device. The method further includes receiving a multicast stream of video content associated with the selected channel at the set-top box device. At least a portion of the multicast stream is received while the still image is displayed at the display device. The method also includes transmitting the video content to the display device. |
| US08584174B1 |
Systems and methods for fantasy league service via television
Systems and methods according to preferred embodiments enable a subscriber to participate in fantasy league competitions with other subscribers of the service, and to view other broadcasts simultaneously with fantasy league data on one or more televisions. A service provider enables the creation of a fantasy league related to real activities. One or more teams are associated with the fantasy league and players are then assigned to each of the created teams. In one embodiment, the teams are configured via a television interface and a remote control. Fantasy league data is tracked for each team based on participation of the team's assigned players in the real activities. Television broadcasts are then displayed simultaneously with fantasy league data on the television, a service that is not possible or practical in conventional television systems. |
| US08584173B2 |
Automatic selection of video programming channel based on scheduling information
A method of automatically selecting between a first video programming channel and a second video programming channel in a video content receiver is presented. In the method, the receiver receives video programming carried over at least one of the first channel and the second channel, as well as scheduling information regarding the two channels. The receiver also receives a channel selection for one of the two channels, such as from a user. In response to the channel selection, the receiver compares the scheduling information for the first channel to a current time value. If the scheduling information indicates the first channel is not currently carrying video programming that is available for presentation to the user, the receiver selects the second channel for presentation to the user; otherwise, the receiver selects the first channel. |
| US08584170B2 |
System and method of internet group management for multicast push in passive access networks
Disclosed is an Internet group management system of a push-type multicast in a passive access network, and a method thereof. The Internet group management system of a push-type multicast supporting Internet group management with respect to a packet stream simultaneously being transmitted to a subscriber accessing the same node via a passive access network where at least one subscriber accesses a single node, the system including an input packet classifying unit to sort a multimedia contents packet corresponding to a contents transmission packet from the packet stream, and a program managing unit to construct a broadcasting program table having information of the sorted multimedia contents packet, to determine, based on the constructed broadcasting program table, a reception condition of a requested program that is requested by a user, and to output a multimedia contents packet corresponding to the requested program. |
| US08584169B1 |
System and method for creating and managing custom media channels
A system and method for creating and managing custom media channels within an Interactive Digital Program Guide (IDPG) of a device having a set-top box function associated with a cable or satellite television network. In general, a user interacts with the set-top box function to define a custom media channel. The custom media channel may be defined by a channel name and user preferences. Once the custom media channel is defined, an Internet search is performed based on the user preferences in order to identify media presentations for the custom media channel. Thereafter, when a user selects the custom media channel via the IDPG, the media presentations are played in a substantially continuous stream in either a predetermined or random sequence. |
| US08584166B2 |
Probabilistic-based content recommender
A method including providing a television service to customers; identifying a customer when the customer uses the television service; tracking content viewed by the customer; calculating probabilities based on the customer's viewing of contents, wherein the probabilities pertain to features applicable to the viewed contents and the features include genres of the viewed contents; selecting one or more upcoming contents, available at a future date to the customer, to recommend to the customer based on one or more features applicable to the upcoming content that correspond to one or more features applicable to the viewed contents; and providing a user interface to permit the customer to select from the one or more upcoming contents recommended to the customer. |
| US08584165B1 |
Facilitating access to content provided from multiple providers
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating access to content using availability information. Content programs are determined based at least in part on a prior selection of one or more of the content programs from a content catalog by a user. Content availability data is obtained from multiple content providers. Availabilities of each content program are determined based at least in part on the content availability data. A user interface is generated that presents the respective availabilities of each of the content programs through the corresponding interfaces of some or all of the content providers. |
| US08584160B1 |
System for applying metadata for object recognition and event representation
An object recognition and event representation system includes: a server and a broadcaster, coupled to the server. In response to a request from the broadcaster, the server sends an event metadata and a recognition data. Based on the event metadata and the recognition data, the broadcaster simultaneously performs a live video broadcasting and a real-time object recognition. If the broadcaster recognizes an object, the broadcaster sends a recognition result to the server. |
| US08584158B2 |
System and method for selective recording of information
A system and method for selective recording of information uses sequential pattern matching of statistical vectors which characterize incoming time-based information to identify previously marked information within an incoming information stream. The system and method generate a signal to control a recording device to either elide the previously marked information from the recording, or to begin recording once the previously marked information is identified, depending upon the current mode of operation. The system and method may be utilized to omit recording of unwanted information, such as commercials in a television broadcast, or to automatically locate desired information on any of a number of available information channels without a priori knowledge of the occurrence time or channel of the information. |
| US08584156B2 |
Method and apparatus for manipulating content channels
An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list. |
| US08584153B2 |
Optical disc device
An optical disc device comprises a disc clamper. The disc clamper is provided with: a first member provided with a first circular disc, and with a plurality of upstanding pieces formed with predetermined spaces therebetween along a circle concentric to the first circular disc, the upstanding pieces having an engaging claw at the distal end thereof; and a second member provided with a second circular disc in which are formed a plurality of through-holes into which the plurality of upstanding pieces are inserted, and with a plurality of peripheral walls formed with predetermined spaces therebetween along a circle concentric to the second circular disc. Rotation in a state where the upstanding pieces have been inserted into the through-holes through the spaces between the peripheral walls causes the engaging claws to engage the peripheral walls. |
| US08584151B2 |
Optical disc driving device
An optical disc driving device has a metallic exterior casing composed of a first casing and a second casing and an internal unit to be housed in the exterior casing. The internal unit includes an optical pickup unit having an optical pickup part that moves in radial directions of an optical disc to perform recording or reproduction of information signals on the optical disc. At a portion where the optical pickup part moved radially outward of the optical disc makes a closest approach to, in either one of the first casing or the second casing opposed to the first casting, a protrusion for electrically connecting the first casing and the second casing to each other is provided. |
| US08584150B2 |
Networked spreadsheet template designer
A networked spreadsheet template designer allows administrators to easily create and deploy robust reporting and input applications that leverage existing spreadsheet templates and knowledge in an easy to use user interface. Templates are created to operate directly in the particular spreadsheet program environment and can be created using existing templates and modeling workbooks of that spreadsheet program without the need for any code to be written. The template designer uses dynamic link library (DLL) worksheet functions directly on template worksheets to perform specified actions. The DLL functions enable a user to create an interactive, custom application by automating/encapsulating complex tasks. The DLL functions are managed across a computer network through an administrator interface to create the functions and a viewer interface that combines an Explorer® window to select the functions and a spreadsheet window for the actual spreadsheet program that implements the DLL functions. |
| US08584149B2 |
Methods of populating a third-party document with digital information content
Systems and methods of transferring information from at least one source context to at least one target context, and associated physical computer-readable medium. A service software application is used on a processor-based platform to transfer digital data content from at least one data source to at least one data target in at least a semi-automatic manner. The data source is associated with a source software application and the data target is associated with a target software application. The digital data content includes, for example, text data, image data, graphics data, or a clipboard object. |
| US08584146B1 |
Communications driver management
The creation of a virtual network adapter is disclosed. At least one existing network device having an existing driver is discovered. At least one of an existing device-to-driver mapping and an existing driver associated with the existing network device is removed. A new driver capable of communicating with the existing network device using a common set of primitive commands is installed. The new driver is mapped to the existing device. The use of the virtual network adapter is also disclosed. |
| US08584142B1 |
Methods and system for proxy component to perform plurality of operations for applying to an object
A server side scripting language hosts batch requests from a client for invoking object specific libraries on the client requestor. The requestor executes a user application driven by a web scripting language which may not have facilities or resources for efficiently invoking operations that are provided by the server. A batch script enables the requestor to invoke a set of server operations in batch, without exchanging requests and result for each invocation of a service side operation, thus mitigating the bandwidth that would otherwise occur for individual client/server exchanges for each operation. The server provides a proxy class for expected object types and operations, and a dispatch layer identifies the appropriate proxy class for each operation requested from the batch script. |
| US08584134B2 |
Job assigning apparatus and job assignment method
A job assigning apparatus connected to a plurality of arithmetic units for assigning a job to each of the arithmetic units, the job assigning apparatus includes a power consumption acquiring processor for acquiring power consumptions with respect to each of the arithmetic units, a selector for selecting one of the arithmetic units as a submission destination in increasing order of the power consumptions acquired by the power consumption acquiring processor, and a job submitting processor for submitting a job to the submission destination. |
| US08584131B2 |
Method and system for modeling and analyzing computing resource requirements of software applications in a shared and distributed computing environment
An application manager for enabling multiple applications to share resources in a shared and distributed computing environment. The disclosed system provides for the specification, representation and automatic analysis of resource requirements of applications in a shared and distributed computing environment. The application manager is provided with service specifications for each application, which defines the resource requirements necessary or preferred to run said application (or more precisely, its constituent application components). In addition, the resources may be required to have certain characteristics and constraints may be placed on the required resources. The application manager works in conjunction with a resource supply manager and requests the required resources be supplied for the application. If there are appropriate and sufficient available resources to meet the particular resource requirements, then the resources are allocated, and the application components mapped thereon. The disclosed system can enable the sharing of resources among multiple heterogeneous applications. The systems can allow resource sharing without application source code access or any knowledge of the internal design of the application. Integration of an application can be re-used for other similar applications. Furthermore, the disclosed system enables the dynamic and efficient management of shared resources, providing an agile resource infrastructure adaptive to dynamic changes and failures. |
| US08584126B2 |
Systems and methods for enabling threads to lock a stage prior to processing data
A system and method for maintaining processing order while permitting parallelism. Processing of a piece of work is divided into a plurality of stages. At each stage, a task advancing the work towards completion is performed. By performing processing as a sequence of tasks, processing can be done in parallel, with progress being made simultaneously on different pieces of work in different stages by a plurality of threads of execution. |
| US08584124B2 |
Methods and systems for batch processing in an on-demand service environment
In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided mechanisms and methods for batch processing in an on-demand service environment. For example, in one embodiment, mechanisms include receiving a processing request for a multi-tenant database, in which the processing request specifies processing logic and a processing target group within the multi-tenant database. Such an embodiment further includes dividing or chunking the processing target group into a plurality of processing target sub-groups, queuing the processing request with a batch processing queue for the multi-tenant database among a plurality of previously queued processing requests, and releasing each of the plurality of processing target sub-groups for processing in the multi-tenant database via the processing logic at one or more times specified by the batch processing queue. |
| US08584117B2 |
Method to make SMP/E based products self describing
Systems and methods of providing information from run-time installations of mainframe SMP/E based products. Information is embedded into a fingerprint library. The fingerprint library may then be associated with a product installed via SMP/E. The fingerprint library may then remain with the product when it is copied to its distributed location. A system administrator may later query the run-time installation and retrieve information previously only known to the SMP/E tool in an SMP/E controlled installation. In one embodiment, information may be embedded into a fingerprint library at product build time. |
| US08584114B2 |
Method of generating and distributing a computer application
A processor is operative to store specifications of computer applications in a platform-independent language. A remote client device requests delivery of a specified application for execution thereon. The processor interrogates the remote client device to construct a device configuration, comprising characteristics and capabilities of the remote client device. The processor also obtains a user configuration, and establishes a compilation configuration according to the device configuration and the user configuration. A compiled application in binary format is produced using the compilation configuration and the platform-independent language of the specified application. The compiled application includes customized content and is adapted to run on the remote client device. The processor causes the compiled application to be downloaded to the remote client device. |
| US08584112B2 |
Open application lifecycle management framework
Techniques for open application lifecycle management frameworks are described, including using a framework hosted on one or more computers and having one or more services to integrate the one or more services with one or more applications using one or more providers, each of the one or more providers is adapted to at least one of the one or more applications, registering one or more repositories associated with the one or more applications using a location service module, receiving an input creating a project context associated with a project, data associated with the input being stored in a data structure associated with the project, the data structure being stored in a repository associated with the framework, generating a link, after registering the one or more repositories, between one or more element containers associated with the project, the link and the one or more element containers being stored in the repository, and configuring the framework to detect another input indicating interaction with an artifact, other data associated with the interaction being mapped between the one or more repositories and the repository using a domain model. |
| US08584111B2 |
Runtime code modification in a multi-threaded environment
A code region forming part of a computer program is modified during execution of the computer program by a plurality of threads. In one aspect, identical modification instructions are provided to each thread for modifying a site in the code region having a desirable idempotent atomic modification, and the modification instructions direct each thread to make the desirable idempotent atomic modification. In another aspect, a thread is selected to modify the code region, each thread other than the selected thread is directed to execute an alternative execution path that generates output identical to the output of the code region after the code region has been modified, and, responsive to directing each thread other than the selected thread, the selected thread is directed to modify the code region. |
| US08584106B2 |
Systems and methods for compiling an application for a parallel-processing computer system
A runtime system implemented in accordance with the present invention provides an application platform for parallel-processing computer systems. Such a runtime system enables users to leverage the computational power of parallel-processing computer systems to accelerate/optimize numeric and array-intensive computations in their application programs. This enables greatly increased performance of high-performance computing (HPC) applications. |
| US08584103B2 |
Reducing parallelism of computer source code
An example embodiment disclosed is a method for reducing parallelism of computer source code. The method includes receiving multi-threaded program source code and representing the multi-threaded program source code as a polyhedral framework stored in computer readable memory. The polyhedral framework is used to convert the polyhedral framework from the multi-threaded program source code representation to a single-threaded program source code representation. |
| US08584102B2 |
Creating and using deltas to modify existing computer code
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to creating and using deltas to modify existing computer code. In aspects, computer code may be translated into a higher level language to make it easier for a software developer to modify the computer code. The translated computer code may be presented by an editing tool that presents a user interface that allows changes to be made to the translated computer code. A delta engine may then determine a delta that indicates the changes to perform on the existing computer code to create computer code that would result from compiling the translated computer code as changed via the editing tool. Later, this delta may be used to change the existing computer code after it has been loaded to add or change debugging hooks or other features of the computer code. |
| US08584101B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically analyzing program for detecting malicious codes triggered under specific event/context
Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically analyzing a program in order to detect window malicious codes that are programmed to perform malicious behaviors when a specific event occurs, when the specific event does not occur, when a specific program execution condition is satisfied, and when the specific program execution condition is not satisfied. |
| US08584100B2 |
Bridging code changes and testing
Method and system for testing software code comprising determining code elements in software code, determining changed code elements in the software code, determining dependencies between code elements, determine dependency changes between code elements based on the determined changed code elements, determining an impact factor for the respective changed code elements based on the determined dependency changes, determine a test relevancy ranking for code tests based on the determined impact factor, selecting tests for the software code based on said test relevancy ranking, and performing the selected tests on the software code. |
| US08584097B2 |
Post-execution software debugger with event display
A method finds an error in a computer program. A sequence of machine instructions performed by a processor is recorded as trace data. Further, at least one event is selected from a plurality of events. In addition, an operating system instruction address is determined for the at least one event. Further, at least a portion of the trace data is searched for the operating system instruction address. The execution time for an operating system instruction stored in the operating system instruction address is determined. The execution time is searched through in the database to find task related data. The task related data is displayed. |
| US08584093B2 |
Pre-condition generation device, post-condition generation device, and method for generating these conditions
A device includes: a storage storing second logical expressions; an storage storing an essential condition which indicates a set of one or more second logical expressions selected such that a proposition is not satisfied that the post-condition is satisfied immediately after a program is executed when a logical product of other second logical expressions obtained by excluding the set indicated by the essential condition from the storage is satisfied; a generator generating a candidate condition represented by a logical product of one or more second logical expressions to include a common second logical expression with the set indicated by the essential condition; a judging unit judging whether satisfied is a proposition that the post-condition is satisfied immediately after the program is executed when the candidate condition is satisfied, and an output unit configured to output the candidate condition determined to satisfy the proposition as representing a pre-condition of the program. |
| US08584079B2 |
Quality on submit process
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing a quality on submit process. One process includes operations for monitoring a source control system for submissions of new source code and determining that new source code has been submitted by a user to the source control system. A request to perform a quality control task for the new source code is sent to at least one quality control application. A report from the quality control application regarding results of the quality control task is received. A general report of results of each quality control task performed by each of the at least one quality control application is generated. The general report is sent to the user. |
| US08584075B2 |
Method and apparatus for characterizing and reducing proximity effect on cell electrical characteristics
Circuit elements are characterized for effects of proximity context on electrical characteristic. Based on the characterization, proximity context cell models, and corresponding modeled electrical characteristic values are obtained. Logic cells are characterized and modeled according to the proximity context cell models. Optionally the electrical characteristic can be time delay, leakage, dynamic power, or coupling noise among other parameters. |
| US08584072B1 |
Technique for modeling parasitics from layout during circuit design and for parasitic aware circuit design using modes of varying accuracy
A user is presented with a simulation environment within which the user is provided a choice to select between parasitic simulation modes of varying accuracy, the modes including a mode without parasitics and a plurality of modes including parasitics with a varying degree of accuracy. A selection from among the modes is received from the user and simulation test are performed at the selected degree of accuracy. |
| US08584068B2 |
Timing violation debugging inside place and route tool
A storage medium for use in a computer to develop a circuit design. The storage medium recording a software tool that may be readable and executable by the computer. The software tool generally includes the steps of (A) receiving a first user input that identifies a specific cell of a plurality of existing cells in the circuit design, the specific cell having a timing characteristic, (B) generating a replacement display corresponding to the specific cell, the replacement display comprising a plurality of alternate cells suitable to replace the specific cell, each of the alternate cells having a different value associated with the timing characteristic of the specific cell, (C) receiving a second user input that identifies a replacement cell of the alternate cells and (D) automatically generating a first engineering change order to replace the specific cell with the replacement cell. |
| US08584067B2 |
Clock domain crossing buffer
Techniques are disclosed relating to detecting and minimizing timing problems created by clock domain crossing (CDC) in integrated circuits. In various embodiments, one or more timing parameters are associated with a path that crosses between clock domains in an integrated circuit, where the one or more timing parameters specify a propagation delay for the path. In one embodiment, the timing parameters may be distributed to different design stages using a configuration file. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with an RTL model to simulate propagation of a data signal along the path. In some embodiments, the one or more parameters may be used in conjunction with a netlist to create a physical design for the integrated circuit, where the physical design includes a representation of the path that has the specified propagation delay. |
| US08584066B1 |
System and method for generating a wire model
An exemplary embodiment of a system and a method for generating a wire model is provided. The system comprises a processor coupled to a display device, a user input device, and a storage device. The processor is configured to (1) generate a wire configuration file, (2) determine parasitic component values from the wire configuration file, and (3) construct a table model from the parasitic component values. |
| US08584065B2 |
Method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit
A method and apparatus for designing an integrated circuit to operate at a desired clock frequency range reduces process variation by estimating the value of removable pessimism from a static timing analysis. The pessimism includes, for example, at least one of the removable on-chip-variation (OCV) margin from clock paths, removable OCV margin from data paths, removable IR drop margin from clock paths, and removable interconnects margin. At the timing analysis stage of a design flow, the method and apparatus determines the value of pessimism in the timing critical paths based on timing correlation between adjacent timing critical paths. In response to the determination, the value of pessimism may be reduced in the static timing analysis of the adjacent timing critical paths to optimize the timing performance of the integrated circuit at its desired clock frequency range. |
| US08584064B2 |
Verification support apparatus and verification support method to verify target circuit based on hardware description information
A non-transitory, recording medium stores therein a program that causes a computer to execute extracting from hardware description of a circuit, a conditional branch statement representing a conditional branch process; determining whether the extracted conditional branch statement includes at least three condition expressions, where a given combination thereof has exclusive satisfying conditions; extracting from the conditional branch statement determined at the determining, a combination of condition expressions for which satisfying conditions are exclusive; extracting each condition expression from the extracted combination and creating, for each extracted condition expression and according to an order of appearance in the hardware description, a conditional branch statement in which the extracted condition expression has a hierarchical relationship with a condition expression not included in the combination; generating an assertion for checking whether a specified condition is satisfied in each created conditional branch statement; and outputting, as assertion data of the circuit, the generated assertion. |
| US08584060B1 |
Block mask decomposition for mitigating corner rounding
A method for decomposing design shapes in a design level into a plurality of target design levels is provided. Design shapes including first-type edges and second-type edges having different directions is provided for a design level. Inner vertices are identified and paired up. Vertices are classified into first-type vertices and second-type vertices. First mask level shapes are generated so as to touch the first-type vertices, and second mask level shapes are generated so as to tough the second-type vertices. Cut mask level shapes are generated to touch each first-type edges that are not over a second-type edge and to touch each second-type edges that are not over a first-type edge. Suitable edges are sized outward to ensure overlap among the various shapes. The design shapes are thus decomposed into first mask level shapes, the second mask level shapes, and the cut mask level shapes. |
| US08584059B2 |
Polishing estimation/evaluation device, overpolishing condition calculation device, and computer-readable non-transitory medium thereof
A polishing estimation/evaluation device includes a dividing unit, an overpolished area extracting unit, and a dummy modifying unit. The dividing unit divides a layout of an integrated circuit into a plurality of partial areas. The overpolished area extracting unit refers to an overpolishing condition indicating whether overpolishing occurs in a vicinity of a partial area based on a wiring density in the partial area and a wiring density in surrounding areas of the partial area, and extracts a partial area where the overpolishing occurs from the plurality of partial areas obtained by the division by the dividing unit. The dummy modifying unit modifies dummy wiring in the partial area where the overpolishing occurs extracted by the overpolished area extracting unit and/or dummy wiring in surrounding areas of the partial area to reduce the number of partial areas where the overpolishing occurs. |
| US08584051B1 |
Location and time user interface dial
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed which include displaying a circular slider on a mobile device, the circular slider displaying a current date, displaying a geographic map relative to the circular slider on the mobile device, receiving from a user of the mobile device, at a location on the circular slider, a touch gesture indicating a circular motion; in response to the touch gesture indication of the circular motion being received, changing the current date on the circular slider to a future date for each predetermined amount of circular motion received, and displaying on the geographic map on the mobile device, a representation corresponding to each of one or more future locations indicating that one or more friends of the user are going to be physically present at on the respective future location on the future date. |
| US08584049B1 |
Visual feedback deletion
In one example, a method includes outputting, by a computing device and for display, a text display region comprising one or more characters. The method may further include outputting, in response to receiving an indication of an input unit detected at a first location of a presence-sensitive input device, a graphical indicator comprising a representation of a threshold distance. The method may further include receiving an indication of a gesture comprising movement of the input unit from the first location to a second location, and outputting a visual change of the graphical indicator corresponding to the movement of the input unit. The method may further include determining that a distance between the first location and the second location satisfies the threshold distance, and deleting, in response to determining that the threshold distance is satisfied, the one or more characters from the text display region. |
| US08584044B2 |
Localized thumbnail preview of related content during spatial browsing
Technologies, systems, and methods for exploring a virtual space without cluttering or obscuring a field of view of the virtual space with overlaid names, labels, symbols, markers, and the like. Instead, a user may select objects of interest presented in a context bar to locate them in the field of view. Further, the user can make use of various forms of selection to zoom in on objects or points in the field of view and access information regarding the virtual space and objects without adding persistent clutter to the field of view. |
| US08584042B2 |
Methods for scanning, printing, and copying multimedia thumbnails
A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for creating visualizations of documents are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving an electronic visual, audio, or audiovisual content; generating a display for authoring a multimedia representation of the received electronic content; receiving user input, if any, through the generated display; and generating a multimedia representation of the received electronic content utilizing received user input. |
| US08584040B2 |
Mobile terminal
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mobile terminal including: an application processor configured to execute application having first mode and second mode, wherein the first mode includes first number of menus and the second mode includes second number of menus smaller than that of the first mode; a mode selection unit configured to input mode switching instruction; and a transition control unit configured to switch one of the first and second modes to another mode within the same application if the mode selection unit is operated. |
| US08584039B2 |
Method of selecting an element from a list by moving a graphics distinction and apparatus implementing the method
The invention makes it possible to select an element from a list of elements represented by icons. A first element is selected by affixing a graphics distinction on its icon. When the user activates and holds a command, said graphics distinction moves from the first icon to a second icon. A second element is selected when the graphics distinction occupies at least one determined area of the second icon representing this second element. According to an improvement, the graphics distinction moves from icon to icon, totally overlapping only a single icon at a time.The invention also relates to a device able to execute the method of selecting an element by moving a graphics distinction. |
| US08584036B2 |
Shape elasticity in visual layout
Resizing and/or repositioning a target object related by containment to one or more related object laid out on a computer user interface. Original sizes and/or positions of the related objects to the target object resized and/or repositioned are stored. During the resize and/or reposition operation of the target object, an impact on a related object is calculated based upon a change from the stored original sizes and/or positions of the related object. |
| US08584034B2 |
User interfaces for navigating structured content
User interfaces for navigating structured content. In one example embodiment, a user interface for navigating structured content includes a grid and a plurality of multi-dimensional cells each having a unique position in the grid. Each cell is configured to display only a first dimension of structured content before selection and display one or more additional dimensions of structured content upon selection. |
| US08584032B2 |
System and method for controlling virtual keyboard of an electronic device
In a system and method for controlling a virtual keyboard of an electronic device, the virtual keyboard is generated and displayed on a touch screen of the electronic device. The method sets an angle threshold value, a movement amplitude and a movement direction of the virtual keyboard for each tilting angle of the electronic device. When the electronic device is in an edit mode and displays a middle keyboard area of the virtual keyboard, the method records an initial tilting angle and read the tilting angle of the electronic device. The method calibrates the read tilting angle to acquire actual tilting angle according to the initial tilting angle, and confirms the movement amplitude and movement direction of the virtual keyboard according to the actual tilting angle. The virtual keyboard is controlled to move according to the confirmed movement amplitude and towards the confirmed movement direction. |
| US08584024B2 |
Avatar cloning in a virtual world
Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user's avatar. |
| US08584022B1 |
System and method for organizing, managing, and manipulating desktop objects with an activity-oriented user interface
An email client and file manager provides combined file management and communications management in a single interface. An interface allows documents, email messages, contact information, web links or pages, and user-attached notes to be stored in the same folders. This facilitates communication by email and fax. The interface permits the user to combine this data in folders which the user categorizes according to a folder tree created by the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the client, in its email function, communicates with a dedicated host which in turn communicates with external servers according to standard internet protocol. |
| US08584020B2 |
User-defined application models
A system (and corresponding method) that employs wiki-type models to consider authoring rather than composition in an application environment is provided. The innovation enables collaborative information and templates to be used to enhance quality, productivity, etc. within a software application environment. These wiki-type models can provide features, functions and benefits related to, but not limited to, general information, auto-fills, formats, schema, conversions, preferences, etc. |
| US08584019B1 |
Location-based and other criteria-based establishment management systems and methods
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, controlling, accessing, modifying, converting, and/or tracking software applications across one or more locations, and/or computing devices, and/or users, and/or other criteria. |
| US08584018B2 |
User definable co-user lists
Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user's buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system. |
| US08584017B2 |
User definable on-line co-user lists
Systems and methods are disclosed for tracking and displaying the logon status of selected co-users of an on-line or network system in real time to a tracking user in a unique graphical interface. The invention provides user definable on-line co-user lists, or “buddy lists,” which track specific co-users in real-time automatically. When a user logs on to a system, one or more of the user's buddy lists are presented to the buddy list system. The buddy list system attempts to match co-users currently logged into the system with the entries on the user's buddy list. Any matches are displayed to the user. As co-users logon and logoff, a user's buddy list is updated to reflect these changes. An indication can also be added to show that a co-user just logged on or just left the system. |
| US08584004B2 |
Asynchronous user defined functions
A framework for enabling users to create User Defined Functions (UDFs), which can run simultaneously without using multiple calculation threads, is provided. A calculation engine continues a remainder of calculation operations independent of a pending asynchronous function upon starting to run the asynchronous function without waiting to receive a result. The result value is introduced to the computation at a later time during the calculation cycle, when it is received or completed by the calculation engine. When the results are received, downstream operations such as dependent functions are calculated without changing a flow of dependencies within the operations. |
| US08584000B2 |
Abnormality detection system, abnormality detection method, and abnormality detection program storage medium
Even if data includes a defect or an outlier in features thereof, the influence of the defect or the outlier of the features is suppressed to perform a highly precise abnormality detection, and data including high-dimensional features is processable to accomplish the highly stable detection of an abnormality. The abnormality detection system which detects abnormal data in a data sequence including data of multi-dimensional features, and the system includes storing or generating a generation distribution of features of the data and reference data indicative of normal data; obtaining, every piece of the data sequence, a probability that when features are virtually generated from the generation distribution, the features are nearer to the reference data than the features of each piece of the data; and taking the probability as a one-dimensional dissimilarity degree between each piece of the data and the reference data, thereby determining abnormal data. |
| US08583997B2 |
Method and device for padding optimization of segmented turbo codes
A method for forming a bit sequence having a number of M bits from a bit sequence having a number of N bits, wherein M/2 |
| US08583996B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining bits in a convolutionally decoded output bit stream to be marked for erasure
A system is used to predict when a decoding process will fail to correct an error burst within a transmission. A decoder receives an input bit stream and processes it to produce an output bit stream, which is convolutionally encoded. K-bits of the convolutionally encoded output bit stream are compared with a corresponding k-bits of a delayed version of the input bit stream, with the k-bits starting at a first bit and ending at first bit+k. For each bit of the k-bits in the convolutionally encoded output bit stream and in the corresponding k-bits of the delayed version of the input bit stream, a number of conflicting bits and whether the number of conflicting bits exceeds a threshold number of conflicting bits is determined. The output bit stream is sent to a block decoding component for decoding with the bits marked for erasure. |
| US08583989B2 |
Fibre channel input/output data routing system and method
An input/output processing method includes generating and storing at least one address control word (ACW) including a data check word generation field and/or a data check word save field in local channel memory of a channel subsystem, and generating and forwarding to a network interface an address control structure specifying a location in the local channel memory of a corresponding ACW. The method also includes, responsive to a data transfer request, storing the at least one data check word in the data check word save field and routing the data to a host memory location specified by the corresponding ACW responsive to performing a check of the data and determining that the data has not been corrupted, or retrieving the data based on the corresponding ACW, generating and appending at least one data check word and routing the data and the at least one data check word to the interface. |
| US08583988B2 |
Fibre channel input/output data routing system and method
A computer program product for performing input/output (I/O) processing is provided. The computer program product is configured to perform: obtaining information relating to an I/O operation at a channel subsystem; generating and storing in local channel memory at least one address control word (ACW) specifying one or more host memory locations for data transfer and including a data check word generation field and/or a data check word save field; responsive to receiving an input data transfer request including at least one data check word, storing the at least one data check word in the data check word save field and performing a check of the data to determine whether the data has been corrupted; and responsive to receiving an output data transfer, generating at least one data check word based on the data check word generation field and appending the at least one data check word to the data. |
| US08583987B2 |
Method and apparatus to perform concurrent read and write memory operations
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to read and write processes of a memory device. During a write process to a particular partition in a memory array, a response to a read request of contents of the particular partition may be delayed. In some embodiments, the contents of the particular partition may be indirectly read during the write process without delaying the response to the read request. The contents of the particular partition can be indirectly read by determining the contents of the particular partition based, at least in part, on an error correction code based, at least in part, on contents of memory partitions of the memory array. |
| US08583985B2 |
Transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, reception method, program and transmission system
A transmission apparatus, including an error correction code calculation section adapted to calculate an error correction code from data of a transmission object as an information word is disclosed. The transmission apparatus further includes a division section adapted to allocate coded data which configures a codeword obtained by adding the error correction code determined by the calculation by the error correction code calculation section to the data of the transmission object for each predetermined number of units to a plurality of transmission lines. The transmission apparatus further includes a plurality of transmission sections provided corresponding to the plural transmission lines and adapted to transmit the coded data allocated by the division section to a reception apparatus through the transmission lines. |
| US08583983B2 |
Turbo interleaver for high data rates
Techniques for supporting high decoding throughput are described. A transmitter may encode a code block of data bits with a Turbo encoder. A receiver may perform decoding for the code block with a Turbo decoder having multiple soft-input soft-output (SISO) decoders. A contention-free Turbo interleaver may be used if the code block size is larger than a threshold size. A regular Turbo interleaver may be used if the code block size is equal to or smaller than the threshold size. The contention-free Turbo interleaver reorders the data bits in the code block such that information from the multiple SISO decoders, after interleaving or deinterleaving, can be written in parallel to multiple storage units in each write cycle without encountering memory access contention. The regular Turbo interleaver can reorder the data bits in the code block in any manner without regard to contention-free memory access. |
| US08583982B2 |
Concatenated decoder and concatenated decoding method
A concatenated decoder and concatenated decoding method are provided. The concatenated decoder, including: an inner decoder to receive an input bit stream, inner-decode the received input bit stream, and generate a first bit stream; and an outer decoder to generate error information about the received first bit stream, according to the generated error information, transmit an iterative decoding continuation request to the inner decoder or outer-decode the first bit stream to generate a second bit stream. |
| US08583980B2 |
Low density parity check (LDPC) code
Example methods are disclosed for decoding low-density parity-check (LDPC) encoded data, involving applying an expanded parity check matrix to generate decoded data, wherein −1 represents an 81×81 all-zero square matrix, and any other integer, Sij, represents an 81×81 identity matrix circularly right shifted by a shift amount equal to Sij. |
| US08583978B2 |
Multicast message retransmission
In one implementation, a method of distributing a multicast message in a wireless mesh network includes receiving a multicast message from a parent node of an intermediate node. The method includes transmitting the multicast message to child nodes of the intermediate node. The method includes storing the multicast message in a cache at the intermediate node. The method includes intercepting an acknowledgement message from each acknowledging child node within an acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes accessing information indicating a population of the child nodes to which the multicast message transmission was directed. The method includes comparing the acknowledging subset of the child nodes with the population of the child nodes. The method includes identifying a non-acknowledging subset of less than all of the child nodes. The method includes retransmitting the multicast message to the non-acknowledging subset of the child nodes. |
| US08583977B2 |
Method and system for reliable data transfer
This disclosure relates to network data communication. Some embodiments include initiating a network connection between an original source and an ultimate destination, transmitting a block of data from the original source to the ultimate destination on the network, requesting retransmission of lost blocks from the ultimate destination to the source and retransmitting the lost blocks from source to the ultimate destination. These embodiments further include measuring round-trip time of a retransmit request, the round-trip time measured from a time of transmission of a retransmit request from the ultimate destination to a time of reception at the ultimate destination after retransmission from the original source and setting the round-trip time as a minimum retransmission request time for the network connection, wherein the round-trip time includes latencies of the network connection and in data processes at the original source and at the ultimate destination. |
| US08583976B2 |
Hierarchy management method and system for HARQ memory
The invention provides a method for hierarchy management for a HARQ memory, wherein, the HARQ memory includes an on-chip memory including one or more storage blocks, each of which corresponds to a using status bit for indicating whether the storage block is overlayable. The method includes the following steps of: when receiving new data of a coded block, searching the on-chip memory for any overlayable storage block, and if there exists an overlayable storage block, storing the new data into the storage block and setting the using status bit corresponding to the storage block to be un-overlayable; if there is no overlayable storage block, storing the new data into an off-chip memory; and when the new data are checked and pass the check, setting the using status bit corresponding to the storage block in which the new data are stored to be overlayable. The invention also provides a corresponding system. |
| US08583975B2 |
Packet combining device and method for communication system using hybrid automatic repeat request
A packet combining device for a communication system using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) includes: a HARQ buffer; a combiner configured to combine data which is previously received and stored in the HARQ buffer with newly-received data; and a channel decoder configured to attempt channel decoding by using the combined received data provided from the combiner and provide one or more of log likelihood ratios (LLRs) computed for a systematic bit and a parity bit of the combined received data to the combiner such that the one or more LLRs are combined with the data used for channel decoding. |
| US08583974B2 |
Methods and arrangements for holding target ratio for power loop in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system, and in particular to uplink outer loop power control. A Node B identifies if a UE from which the Node B receives data is in a predetermined set of power challenged situations. The Node B transmits to the RNC an indication to hold the SIR target of the UE if the UE has been identified to be in a power challenged situation. As a consequence, the uplink outer loop power control (OLPC) procedure in the RNC will not change the SIR target of the UE. This implies that the output power level of the UE remains unchanged as long as the UE remains in the power challenged situation. Thus, user and network performance are improved in the wireless communication system. |
| US08583973B1 |
Stored-pattern logic self-testing with serial communication
An integrated circuit chip that supports stored-pattern (SP) logic built-in self-testing (LBIST) includes a device under test (DUT) and a test controller. System-level SP LBIST testing is performed using an external, system ATE (automated test equipment) that transmits test input data to the test controller for application to the DUT, which generates test output data that is transmitted from the test controller to the system ATE, which performs golden signature comparisons on the test output data. During system-level DUT testing, all communications between the system ATE and the chip are via a single interface, such as a conventional, serial JTAG port. |
| US08583968B2 |
Data storage apparatus and method for writing data
According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus includes a read module, an error detector and a controller. The read module is configured to read data from a flash memory, more precisely from a rewrite area and a write-back area, both provided in the flash memory. The error detector is configured to detect errors, if any, in the data read. The controller is configured to keep rewriting data, without correcting the errors the error detector has detected in the rewrite area of the flash memory. |
| US08583965B2 |
System and method for dynamic code analysis in presence of the table processing idiom
Systems and methods execute a computer program to produce a trace of the computer program and divide the trace into independent threads of execution. Each of the independent threads of execution comprises an execution sequence of the lines of programming code that ends with an identified write line of programming code that outputs an incorrect result. These systems and methods also identify key field within each of the independent threads of execution. In programming, which is processing records in a table one by one, key-fields are a subset of the fields of the table. The key fields impact the computations sequence leading up to the identified write line of the programming code. These systems and methods identify key-based dynamic slices from the independent threads of execution. Each of the key-based dynamic slices includes lines of programming code that are used in computations, processing the table records corresponding to the key fields. |
| US08583962B2 |
Method, device, computer program product and data processing program for handling communication link problems between a first communication means and a second communication means
A method for handling communication link problems between a first communication means and a second communication means. Data signals, control signals and/or error information are transferred between the first communication means and the second communication means using the communication link. The method includes activating a static identification pattern in the first communication means representing an error information, and stopping a clock signal (Clk) inside the first communication means to freeze a present error condition, in response to a communication link problem being detected, and transferring the activated static identification pattern permanently and/or repeatedly to the second communication means using the communication link. |
| US08583958B2 |
Systems and methods of providing fast leader elections in distributed systems of simple topologies
Systems and computer-implemented methods of electing a new leader node in distributed systems of simple topologies connecting a plurality of nodes on at least one computer system. The computer-implemented method comprises several steps including at least one node, which detected the absence of a leader, starting a first round for its approval as an Approved Election Initiator. If a quorum accepts the StartElection request during the first round, then the Election Initiator starts a second round to set the leader. If a quorum of all nodes has not been reached during the first round, then the first round fails. The method repeats until a leader is set and is repeated each time a node discovers that the network does not have an active leader. Also provided herein is a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for performing the computer-implemented method. |
| US08583957B2 |
Clock distribution in a distributed system with multiple clock domains over a switched fabric
System and method for synchronizing devices. A device reads a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, where the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, where each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter. Each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices. The device determines a difference between the device's associated second counter and the first counter, and determines and stores a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, where the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events. |
| US08583956B2 |
Interactive device with local area time synchronization capbility
An interactive device with local area time synchronization is contemplated. The device includes a communications module linkable to a corresponding communications module of one or more other interactive devices. There is also memory for storing a set of clock values including a time component, a date component, a daylight savings component, and an event component. A computer processor connected to the communications module and the memory is also included, and is programmed to actively maintain an actively maintained real-time clock based upon the set of clock values stored in the memory. The set of clock values stored in the memory is transferrable by the communications module to a corresponding clock of one or more other interactive devices. |
| US08583955B2 |
Battery management system and method
A battery management system/method implementing optimal dynamic battery charge/discharge cycling is disclosed. The system utilizes a power source control unit (PSCU) to selectively switch a power supply source to a battery charger that charges a battery servicing a portable computing device. The PSCU is controlled by a power monitor control unit (PMCU) that monitors the battery state and determines the optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery. Depending on the type and current condition the of battery as well as battery charge/discharge history, the PMCU monitors the historical, current, and/or anticipated demand activity of the battery to determine an optimal charge/discharge profile for the battery to enable maximum battery life under a wide variety of environmental and use profiles. Present invention methods control battery charge/discharge activity based on computing device historical/anticipated use characteristics, battery chemistry, and/or optimal battery lifecycle operation. |
| US08583949B2 |
Network event notification and delivery
Described are a main host system of the client computer, and a network event notification system, including a networking subsystem that communicates with a network server to act as a proxy for the client computer when the main host system of the client computer is in a sleep state. The networking subsystem may await a synchronization packet initiated by the network server, or may occasionally poll the network server to determine whether data is available. To this end, the computing device operates an associated network subsystem while the main host system of the computing device is in a sleep state, and receives data via the network subsystem indicating that content is available. Policy is then invoked to determine whether to wake at least part of the main host system to handle the content. A target duty cycle mechanism also controls the average power consumption during wake and sleep cycling. |
| US08583942B2 |
Authenticating ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and method
An F-RAM authenticating memory device and method providing secure mutual authentication between a Host system and a memory in order to gain read/write access to the F-RAM user memory contents. The device and technique of the present invention uses an Advanced Encryption Standard AES128 encryption module in conjunction with a true hardware random number generator and basic exclusive OR (XOR) functions in order to achieve a secure algorithm with a relatively small amount of processing. Due to inherently faster write times than that of conventional floating gate non-volatile memory technologies, the use of F-RAM significantly reduces the time available to interfere with a critical security parameter (CSP) update. Moreover, unlike floating gate technologies, F-RAM's read vs. write current signature is balanced making it less prone to side channel attacks while also providing relatively faster erase times. |
| US08583939B2 |
Method and apparatus for securing indirect function calls by using program counter encoding
A method for securing indirect function calls by using program counter encoding is provided. The method includes inserting a decoding code for an address of a library function stored in a GOT (Global Offset Table) entry into a PLT (Procedure Linkage Table) entry when an object file is built; generating an encoding key corresponding to the decoding code; and encoding the GOT entry corresponding to the library function by using the encoding key when program execution begins. |
| US08583938B2 |
From polymorphic executable to polymorphic operating system
A method, capable of being implemented in executable instructions or programmes in device(s), including computer system(s) or computer-controlled device(s) or operating-system-controlled device(s) or system(s) that is/are capable of running executable code, providing for the creation in Device(s) of executable code, such as boot code, programmes, applications, device drivers, or a collection of such executables constituting an operating system, in the form of executable code embedded or stored into hardware, such as embedded or stored in all types of storage medium, including read-only or rewriteable or volatile or non-volatile storage medium, such as in the form of virtual disk in physical memory or internal Dynamic Random Access Memory or hard disk or solid state flash disk or Read Only Memory, or read only or rewriteable CD/DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-Ray DVD or hardware chip or chipset etc.; the executable code being in the form of Polymorphic Executable (PE) or Executable with Unexecutable Code (EUC) or Polymorphic Executable with Unexecutable Code (PEUC) or Polymorphic Operating System (POS) containing PE, EUC and PEUC runnable in an authenticated or authorized state for the protection of intellectual property. |
| US08583936B2 |
Key generation using biometric data and secret extraction codes
A method of generating a key for encrypting communications between first and second terminals includes obtaining a measurement of characteristics of a physical identifier of a user; and extracting a key from the physical identifier using a code selected from a collection of codes. Each code in the collection defines an ordered mapping from a set of values of the characteristics to a set of keys. The collection of codes includes at least one code in which the ordered mapping is a permutation of the ordered mapping of one of the other codes in the collection. |
| US08583933B2 |
Authenticated checkin via passive NFC
The present disclosure involves a method of verifying user check-ins to a venue. The method includes initializing a digital check-in chain for a venue. The method includes expanding, electronically by a processor, the check-in chain with a plurality of check-in entries that each correspond to a visit to the venue by a respective user. Each check-in entry on the check-in chain is generated in response to one or more preceding check-in entries on the check-in chain. The method includes detecting fraudulent check-in entries in response to a split in the check-in chain. The method includes removing the fraudulent check-in entries from the check-in chain. |
| US08583932B2 |
Signature device, signature verification device, anonymous authetication system, signing method, signature authentication method, and programs therefor
[Problem]Provided is an anonymous authentication system which can issue an anonymous authentication certificate that can hold any number of attributes.[Means for Solving the Problem]A signature device of the invention has a means for receiving the input from an authentication authority public key, an anonymous authentication certificate, a signature key, a text, an attribute proof set, and an attribute public key; a means for generating an attribute set representation value which generates an attribute set representation value from the attribute proof set and attribute public key which were input; a means for generating an attribute set representation key which generates an attribute set representation key from the attribute proof set; a means for generating non-interactive zero-knowledge proof which generates non-interactive zero-knowledge proof from the authentication authority public key, anonymous authentication certificate, signature key, and text which were input, and the attribute set representation value generated by the means for generating an attribute set representation value and the attribute set representation key generated by the means for generating an attribute set representation key; and a signature output means which outputs the non-interactive zero-knowledge proof as signature data. |
| US08583931B2 |
Electronic signing apparatus and methods
Methods, apparatus, including computer program products, and systems implement and use techniques relating to electronic signatures. In one implementation, a one-way hash is calculated for an electronic document and a digital watermark representing the one-way hash is embedded in a signature document. Based on a user input, the signature document having the embedded digital watermark is altered, and the electronic document is associated with the signature document. The electronic document and the signature document together comprise a signed electronic document. The user input can include biometric information, such as a handwritten signature or a voice recording. For additional security, the one-way hash can be encrypted before a representation of the hash is embedded in the signature document. |
| US08583930B2 |
Downloadable conditional access system, secure micro, and transport processor, and security authentication method using the same
A downloadable conditional access system (DCAS), a secure micro (SM), and a transport processor (TP), and a security authentication method using the same are provided. The DCAS provides a safe security environment through a security protocol which enables mutual authentication and secure channel establishment between the SM and the TP. |
| US08583929B2 |
Encryption method for secure packet transmission
Methods are provided for securely transmitting a packet between endpoints of a network. In one aspect, there is provided a method for establishing an end-to-end key using extant hop-by-hop security associations. In a second aspect, there is provided a method in which a packet-specific encryption key PEK is used to encrypt a packet p. A signature of the key PEK is independently computed at each of two nodes, using an integrity key shared by the two nodes. The signature is sent from one of the two nodes to the other in association with the packet p. The receiving node uses the signature to verify that the packet p was originated by an entity having possession of the PEK. |
| US08583924B2 |
Location-based feature enablement for mobile terminals
A computing device to enable a feature thereof according to a current location and a control method thereof, the computing device including: a location unit to determine the current location of the computing device; and a licensing unit to determine whether the current location corresponds to a predetermined authorized location, and to enable the feature if the current location corresponds to the authorized location. Accordingly, a permission to use a software feature or a hardware feature of the computing device can be controlled according to the current location of the computing device. |
| US08583920B1 |
Secure administration of virtual machines
Methods and systems for performing secure administration of virtual domain resource allocation are provided herein. A cloud service provider (CSP) may provide instances of virtual machines to one or more contracting user entities. The cloud service provider may store an authorization database identifying one or more resources (e.g., storage, CPU, etc.) that each of the different contracting user entities is authorized to use on a virtual machine server device. The CSP may subsequently receive a request from an unverified entity to instantiate a virtual machine with access to one or more resources. The request may include security information. The CSP validates the request by verifying the unverified entity using the first security information (e.g., checking a PKI certificate, requiring a login/password, etc.) and, when the request is validated, provides access to the verified entity to a subset of the requested one or more resources based on the authorization database. |
| US08583918B2 |
Wireless communication system, terminal, method for reporting status of terminal, and program
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of terminals connected to at least one wireless network on the basis of authority of security configuration parameters shared by the plurality of terminals. Each of the plurality of terminals revokes security configuration parameters of the terminal itself or security configuration parameters of another terminal in accordance with an agreement with said another terminal. |
| US08583912B2 |
Communication system of client terminals and relay server and communication method
In a client terminal of a communication system, a cipher session establishing section establishes a cipher session use connection between the client terminal as a source client terminal and a relay server by transmitting/receiving a cipher session establishment message between the source client terminal and the relay server, and notifies header information contained in a cipher session header to the relay server. A shared key managing section holds a client shared key with a destination client terminal, A data enciphering section performs encipherment of a data and/or MAC (Message Authentication Code) calculation of the data by using the client shared key and to output the performing result as a client cipher data. A message producing section produces a data communication message including a cipher data field in which the client cipher data is inserted and a non-cipher data field in which the cipher session header containing the header information is inserted. A transmitting section transmits the data communication messages destined to the destination client terminal to the relay server by using the cipher session use connection. |
| US08583903B2 |
Helical band geometry for dynamical topology changing
Disclosed herein are efficient geometries for dynamical topology changing (DTC), together with protocols to incorporate DTC into quantum computation. Given an Ising system, twisted depletion to implement a logical gate T, anyonic state teleportation into and out of the topology altering structure, and certain geometries of the (1,−2)-bands, a classical computer can be enabled to implement a quantum algorithm. |
| US08583902B2 |
Instruction support for performing montgomery multiplication
Techniques are disclosed relating to a processor including instruction support for performing a Montgomery multiplication. The processor may issue, for execution, programmer-selectable instruction from a defined instruction set architecture (ISA). The processor may include an instruction execution unit configured to receive instructions including a first instance of a Montgomery-multiply instruction defined within the ISA. The Montgomery-multiply instruction is executable by the processor to operate on at least operands A, B, and N residing in respective portions of a general-purpose register file of the processor, where at least one of operands A, B, N spans at least two registers of general-purpose register file. The instruction execution unit is configured to calculate P mod N in response to receiving the first instance of the Montgomery-multiply instruction, where P is the product of at least operand A, operand B, and R^−1. |
| US08583900B2 |
Register renaming table recovery method and system for use in a processor
A register renaming table recovery method for use in a processor includes the following steps. Firstly, a flushing operation is performed on a renaming-history table according to a flushed ID. Then, a first renamed ID corresponding to a first register is acquired from an unflushed row of the renaming-history table that is immediately adjacent to the flushed ID. If the first renamed ID is occupied, a register renaming table is updated to rename the first register according to the first renamed ID. Whereas, if the first renamed ID is not occupied, the register renaming table is updated to keep the first register unrenamed. |
| US08583899B2 |
Parsing-enhacement facility
An instruction for parsing a buffer to be utilized within a data processing system including: an operation code field, the operation code field identifies the instruction; a control field, the control field controls operation of the instruction; and one or more general register, wherein a first general register stores an argument address, a second general register stores a function code, a third general register stores length of an argument-character buffer, and the fourth of which contains the address of the function-code data structure. |
| US08583894B2 |
Hybrid prefetch method and apparatus
A hybrid prefetch method and apparatus is disclosed. A processor includes a hybrid prefetch unit configured to generate addresses for accessing data from a system memory. The hybrid prefetch unit includes a first prediction unit configured to generate a first memory address according to a first prefetch algorithm and a second prediction unit configured to generate a second memory address according to a second prefetch algorithm. The hybrid prefetcher further includes an arbitration unit configured to select one of the first and second memory addresses and further configured to provide the selected one of the first and second memory addresses during a prefetch operation. |
| US08583893B2 |
Metadata management for virtual volumes
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, manage metadata for virtual volumes. In some implementations, a method and system include defining multiple metadata blocks in a persistent storage, including information that links a virtual address space to the storage system, where the defining includes, for at least one of the multiple metadata blocks, determining multiple output addresses corresponding to the storage system, and writing the multiple output addresses and an identifier corresponding to the multiple metadata blocks in a metadata block in the persistent storage. In some implementations, a method and system include reading the multiple metadata blocks into the memory from the persistent storage, including identifying the metadata block based on the identifier; receiving an input address of the virtual address space; and obtaining a corresponding output address to the storage system using the multiple metadata blocks in the memory. |
| US08583888B2 |
Method to qualify access to a block storage device via augmentation of the device'S controller and firmware flow
A method to qualify access to a block storage device via augmentation of the device's controller and firmware flow. The method employs one or more block exclusion vectors (BEVs) that include attributes specifying allowed access operations for corresponding block address ranges. Logic in accordance with the BEVs is programmed into the controller for the block storage device, such as a disk drive controller for a disk drive. In response to an access request, a block address range corresponding to the storage block(s) requested to be accessed is determined. Based on the BEV entries, a determination is made to whether the determined logical block address range is covered by a corresponding BEV entry. If so, the attributes of the BEV are used to determine whether the access operation is allowed. |
| US08583887B1 |
Non-disruptive restoration of a storage volume
A system implements a method to non-disruptive restoration of storage services provided by a storage volume of the system. Upon detecting a disruption of storage services at the storage volume, the method freezes the input/output (I/O) operations of applications that are accessing the storage volume. The disrupted storage services are restored. And the configurations of the storage volume are maintained during restoration of the disrupted storage services. Afterward, the frozen I/O operations are activated, allowing the applications to continue their accessing of the storage volume. |
| US08583882B2 |
Storage subsystem and its control method
A new storage tier is added to a plurality of storage tiers configured in storage areas of a plurality of types of storage devices, whose processing performance is different from each other, without changing its operation form.If a new Tier3 constituting a file system FS4 is added between Tier2 and Tier3, a file server 16 adds a registered generation 1 to a tier number change management table 78, sets Tier3 as the added file system FS4 in the registered generation 1, manages Tier4 as a file system FS5, which has been changed from the former Tier3, adds a policy corresponding to a policy number 1005 to a migration policy management table76, updates only the registered generation from 0 to 1 for policy numbers 1002, 1005, and manages the migration policy management table. |
| US08583881B1 |
Method, system, and program for implementing retention policies to archive records
A method and system for use in electronic data retention are provided. The method includes receiving, via electronic communication, a request indication indicating a request to delete, shred, purge, or remove a record from a data retention system; generating a determination, by a processor in response to instructions stored on a non-transitory storage medium, indicating that the record is associated with a hold indicator that is not based on a retention period; and sending, via electronic communication, a denial of the request in response to the determination indicating that the record is associated with a hold indicator that is not based on a retention period. |
| US08583880B2 |
Method for secure data reading and data handling system
A method for secure data reading and a data handling system is provided. The method protects the data reading from fault attacks by repeating read request in an interleaved manner, in particular the method comprises the steps of (M200) dispatching a first read request; (M400) dispatching a second read request; (M600) dispatching a further first read request; and (M1000-a) producing an anomaly signal if a first result produced by the memory in response to the first read request does not agree with a further first result produced by the memory in response to the further first read request. |
| US08583876B2 |
Logical unit security for clustered storage area networks
A system is described in which a plurality of host computers are coupled to a storage system for storing and retrieving data in the storage system. The storage system includes individually addressable units of storage such as volumes or logical unit numbers. A security management system controls access to each of the individually addressable units of storage based upon the identification of the host permitted to access that unit of storage. |
| US08583875B1 |
Efficient readable ballooning of guest memory by backing balloon pages with a shared page
Methods, systems, and computer programs for managing physical memory in a host of a virtual infrastructure are presented. One method includes an operation for detecting that a guest physical page (GPP) of a virtual machine (VM) is a balloon page. The GPP, previously mapped to a machine page (MP), is re-mapped to a shared page of memory in order to free the MP, such that a read to the GPP causes a read to the shared page of memory. Further, the method includes an operation for detecting a write to the shared page of memory after the re-mapping of the GPP to the shared page, where the write to the shared page is caused by a write to the GPP. After detecting the write, all balloon pages created by the VM are reset in order to reset the balloon application in the VM. |
| US08583873B2 |
Multiport data cache apparatus and method of controlling the same
A multiport data cache apparatus and a method of controlling the same are provided. The multiport data cache apparatus includes a plurality of cache banks configured to share a cache line, and a data cache controller configured to receive cache requests for the cache banks, each of which including a cache bank identifier, transfer the received cache requests to the respective cache banks according to the cache bank identifiers, and process the cache requests independently from one another. |
| US08583870B2 |
Stacked memory devices, systems, and methods
Memory requests for information from a processor are received in an interface device, and the interface device is coupled to a stack including two or more memory devices. The interface device is operated to select a memory device from a number of memory devices including the stack, and to retrieve some or all of the information from the selected memory device for the processor. Additional apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US08583869B2 |
Memory bus architecture for concurrently supporting volatile and non-volatile memory modules
A memory/storage module is provided that implements a solid state drive compatible with Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) signaling on a double-data-rate compatible socket. A detachable daughter card may be coupled to the memory module for converting a memory bus voltage to a second voltage for memory devices on the memory module. Additionally, a hybrid memory bus on a host system is provided that supports either DDR-compatible memory modules and/or SATA/SAS-compatible memory modules. In one example, the memory/storage module couples to a first bus (DDR3 compatible socket) to obtain voltage and/or other signals, but uses a second bus for data transfers. In another example, the memory module may repurpose/reuse electrical paths that typically carry non-data signals for data traffic to/from the memory/storage module. Such data traffic for the memory/storage module permits concurrent data traffic for other memory modules on the same memory bus. |
| US08583864B2 |
Virtual volume control method involving device stop
Provided is a storage system capable of starting/stopping a disk drive. At the time of allocating a logical device, it is judged, based on attributes including a purpose of the logical device, whether or not control can be performed in terms of start/stop of an allocation target disk drive to determine an allocation destination disk drive. Further, in the case where access to a specific logical device is stopped due to release of a path definition or other such cause, it is judged whether or not a disk drive corresponding to the logical device can be stopped. When it is judged that the disk drive can be stopped, the disk drive is stopped. When it is judged that the disk drive cannot be stopped, the logical device is migrated to another disk drive that can be stopped, a migration destination disk drive is stopped. |
| US08583863B2 |
Storage system
A storage expander apparatus for accessing storage units includes first interfaces for accessing the storage units, a second interface for accessing subordinate expander apparatus, and a processor for executing receiving from an external apparatus a first request for obtaining first information indicative of a state of a connection of the storage expander apparatus, transmitting a second request for obtaining second information indicative of a state of a connection of the subordinate expander apparatus, measuring an elapsing time that has elapsed since transmitting the second request, storing a first response corresponding to the second request upon receiving the first response, starting a process for obtaining third information indicative of a state of a connection to be connected with the first interfaces upon the elapsing time exceeding a predetermined time, and transmitting a second response including the third information to the external apparatus upon receiving the third response. |
| US08583862B2 |
Recording medium, drive device, and mounting method
A recording medium coupled to a drive device includes a management information storage area and a master boot record. Management information used for a mounting process of the recording medium by the drive device is stored in the management information storage area and a starting location and an area size of a drive area is stored in the master boot record. |
| US08583857B2 |
Method and system for object-oriented data storage
In accordance with the present invention, data may be written and read differently in accordance with their attributes, which may include, inter alia, critical vs. non-critical data, streaming vs. non-streaming media, confidential vs. non-confidential, or read or write speed requirements. A data block to be written may be considered an object, and is examined, and from its attributes one or more memory device operating modes may be determined, such as different numbers of bits per cell, different numbers of error-correction code (ECC) parities per user data block, and encryption vs. lack of encryption. The storage controller then performs the writing process according to the mode(s) of operation determined by the attributes. Respective designated portions of the storage device may be selectively operated in respective ones of a plurality of operating modes to process each of the plurality of data objects based on a corresponding one or more of the attributes. |
| US08583854B2 |
Nonvolatile storage device with NCQ supported and writing method for a nonvolatile storage device
A nonvolatile storage device buffers multiple write commands and selects one or more therefrom according to a choosing policy to execute in priority, so as to increase the probability of continuously executing write commands corresponding to an identical smallest erasable unit, thereby reducing the frequency of backup, erasing and copyback operations and improving the efficiency of the nonvolatile storage device. |
| US08583852B1 |
Adaptive tap for full virtual machine protection
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for providing an adaptive tap for a virtual machine protection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an Input/Output (I/O) write is received from one of virtual machines. The virtual machines are executed on a server, and each virtual machine is configured to generate I/O writes to a VMFS file system on a primary storage. The I/O write includes data and an offset at which the data is to be stored in the VMFS file system. The server, and primary and secondary storage are coupled to a network. A virtual machine indicator is determined using the offset. A secondary write to a secondary storage is generated based on the I/O write. The secondary write includes the data and the VM indicator associated with the I/O write. The secondary storage is then accessed to write/store the secondary write. |
| US08583850B2 |
Micro crossbar switch and on-die data network using the same
An integrated circuit (IC) having an on-die data network is disclosed. The IC includes a first bus and second buses configured to convey signals in first and second directions, respectively, along a first axis. The second direction is opposite the first. The IC further includes third and fourth buses configured to convey signals in third and fourth directions, respectively, along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The fourth direction is opposite the third. Each bus is N-bits wide and unidirectional. Signal lines of two different buses having equal bit significance and opposite direction are arranged adjacent to one another. A crossbar unit having N crossbar switching circuits is configured to couple signal lines of a selected one of the buses to a corresponding signal line of another selected one of the buses. The signal lines of the buses are implemented on different metal layers than the crossbar switching circuits. |
| US08583847B2 |
System and method for dynamically detecting storage drive type
An information handling system includes a cable, a backplane, and a processor. The cable is connected to a storage controller of the information handling system. The backplane is configured to connect a drive to the information handling system. The processor is in communication with the cable and with the backplane. The processor is configured to detect a presence of the drive, to output a pulse in response to the detection of the presence of the drive, to determine a first storage technology of the drive in response to the output pulse, to determine a second storage technology of the storage controller, to determine whether there is a misconfiguration between the first storage technology and the second storage technology, and to generate a notification when the misconfiguration is determined. |
| US08583845B2 |
Multi-processor system and controlling method thereof
In order to control sub-processors in parallel without losing extensibility, an execution control circuit (30), which forms a multi-processor system (1), issues a process command (CMD) to each of sub-processors (20—1 to 20—3) based on a process sequence (SEQ) designated by a main processor (10), and acquires a process status (STS) which indicates an execution result of processing executed by each of the sub-processors (20—1 to 20—3) in accordance with the process command (CMD). An arbiter circuit (40) arbitrates transfer of the process command (CMD) and the process status (STS) between the execution control circuit (30) and each of the sub-processors (20—1 to 20—3). |
| US08583844B2 |
System and method for optimizing slave transaction ID width based on sparse connection in multilayer multilevel interconnect system-on-chip architecture
A system and method for optimizing slave transaction ID width based on sparse connection between multiple masters and multiple slaves in a multilayer multilevel interconnect system-on-chip (SOC) architecture are disclosed. In one embodiment, slave transaction ID widths are computed for a first processing subsystem and a second processing subsystem including multiple masters and multiple slaves. Further, a slave transaction ID for each master to any slave in the first processing subsystem and in the second processing subsystem is generated based on the computed slave transaction ID width. Furthermore, sparse connection information between the multiple masters and multiple slaves is determined via a first bus matrix in the first processing subsystem. A first optimized slave transaction ID for each master to any slave in the first processing subsystem is then generated by removing don't care bits in each generated slave transaction ID based on the sparse connection information. |
| US08583842B2 |
Data transfer device and data transfer system
Disclosed herein is a data transfer device to which a master device that issues transfer requests and slave devices each having a function of responding to the transfer request may be connected. The device may include a transfer request counter that counts up or down each time a response signal is inputted thereto from any slave device, and counts down or up each time a data transfer completion signal is inputted thereto; a transfer destination selector that, based on a count value of the counter and information concerning a transfer-target slave device, determines and selects one of the slave devices as a destination of the transfer request, and connects the master device with the selected slave device; and a data transfer monitoring section that monitors completion of data transfer corresponding to the transfer request and, upon recognizing the completion, outputs the data transfer completion signal to the counter. |
| US08583841B2 |
Digital video data relay
A video relay circuit is provided including an input channel to receive input video data packets; a first circuit to convert the input video data packets into data for a display device; a second circuit coupled to the first circuit to retime, recondition and re-drive the data channels; an output channel to couple the video data packets into an output stream. Also provided is a video data transmission link including a video relay circuit as above and a daisy chain of video display devices including a video source; a plurality of video display devices wherein a first video display device is coupled to the source of video data, and each further video display device receives the source signal from the previous display and provides the video signal to the next display; wherein at least one of the video display devices comprises a video relay circuit as above. |
| US08583840B1 |
Methods and structure for determining mapping information inconsistencies in I/O requests generated for fast path circuits of a storage controller
Methods and structure are disclosed for improved processing of fast path I/O requests in a storage controller utilizing version information embedded in the fast path I/O requests. The version information allows the storage controller to determine if the mapping information utilized by the host system in generating a fast path I/O request specifies the mapping information utilized by the storage controller. The controller comprises a fast path I/O request processing circuit tightly coupled with host system drivers for fast processing of requests directed to storage devices of a logical volume. The controller also comprises a logical volume I/O processing software stack for processing I/O requests from a host system directed to a logical volume. If the mapping information utilized by the host does not match the mapping information utilized by the storage controller, fast path I/O requests are transferred to the I/O request processing stack for subsequent processing. |
| US08583833B2 |
Ring topology discovery
A method is provided for determining the integrity of a domain defined in a network. The method includes processes and systems to facilitate the discovery a conceptual ring topology of the domain in the network, and the determination of the integrity of the domain based on the conceptual ring topology that was discovered. |
| US08583832B2 |
Network interface device management using management transport channel
A master network interface device (M-NID) receives, from a network management system (NMS) via a first peer-to-peer (P2P) transport channel, first data destined for a first client network interface device (C-NID), where the first data is associated with network management functions. The M-NID further receives, from the NMS via the first P2P transport channel, second data destined for a second C-NID, where the second data is associated with network management functions. The M-NID forwards the first data from the M-NID to the destination first C-NID via a second P2P transport channel that is different than the first P2P transport channel. The M-NID also forwards the second data from the M-NID to the destination second C-NID via a third P2P transport channel that is different than the first P2P transport channel. |
| US08583831B2 |
Thin client discovery
A method of assigning a resource to provide services to a thin client is disclosed. The thin client is discovered by receiving a response to a discovery request wherein the response is directed to a broker. The resource to allocate for the thin client is determined. The thin client to the resource is mapped. A connection to the thin client is requested to be established between the resource and the thin client. |
| US08583830B2 |
Inter-working with a walled garden floor-controlled system
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for inter-working between a walled garden service such as a push-to-talk service and a communication session outside of the walled garden service. According to one embodiment, a system can comprise a first communication network adapted to provide a walled garden service and support a first communication session of the walled garden service and a second communication network adapted to support a second communication session. The second communication session can occur outside of the walled garden service. The system can also include an inter-working service communicatively coupled with the first communication network and the second communication network. The inter-working service can be adapted to provide an interface between the first communication session and the second communication session. |
| US08583828B2 |
Method and device for transcoding
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for transcoding, which belongs to the computer media processing field. The method includes: receiving multiple multimedia source files selected by a user and a transcoding target parameter inputted by the user; separating each of the multiple multimedia source files into an audio stream and a video stream; according to the transcoding target parameter, transcoding each audio stream and each video stream obtained from the separation; merging transcoded audio streams and transcoded video streams of the multiple multimedia source files into at least one multimedia target file. The device includes: a receiving unit, a separating unit, a transcoding unit and a merging unit. The present invention extends transcoding modes, improves user experience, and has high practicability. |
| US08583827B2 |
Dynamic data optimization in data network
A system including a client device communicatively coupled to a first wireless network, wherein the client device has the ability to request a web page from a content server, and an optimization server is configured to receive network data associated with the characteristics of the first wireless network, to provide tuning settings based on the network data, to receive response data from the content server, and to transmit optimized response data to the client device, wherein the response data corresponds to a request for a web page from a client device and the optimized response data corresponds to the response data being altered based on the provided tuning settings. |
| US08583826B2 |
Method and arrangement for delivering electronic state message information
A method, executed in a messaging server handles electronic messages for a user, handles electronic state messages for at least one terminal, and delivers electronic state messages to at least one terminal. A state change is identified in or at the messaging server, the state change relating to at least one electronic message associated with the user, the at least one electronic message containing a destination identity associated with the user. A terminal address associated with the at least one terminal used by the user is retrieved based on the destination identity associated with the user. An electronic state message is delivered to the at least one terminal using the terminal address as destination address. |
| US08583824B2 |
Identifying an efficient destination server
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying a list of destination servers ordered by round-trip time (RTT) for a requesting machine. When a client interacts with an address, such as an IP address, when accessing a remote service, an RTT is collected for the address, or the RTT may be derived for a range of addresses, and saved in a database. When the client subsequently requests access to a remote service, a list of destination servers are returned, respectively identified by corresponding addresses. The destination servers can be sorted in order of efficiency by determining an expected RTT associated with a matching address, or range, in the database, and sorting the destination servers by their respective expected RTTs. |
| US08583823B2 |
Pseudo proxy server
A pseudo proxy server is provided for a host network when the host network experiences periods of congestion. The host network determines whether an arrival rate of data requests exceeds a predetermined threshold. If so, the host network adds an address of a pseudo proxy server to a list of servers aliased to the host network. Thereafter, data requests are routed to the pseudo proxy server on a round robin basis. The pseudo proxy server may be engaged without first loading information content from the host network on the pseudo proxy server. |
| US08583819B2 |
System and method for controlling server usage in peer-to-peer (P2P) based streaming service
Provided is a system and method for controlling server usage in a peer-to-peer (P2P) based streaming service. The system to control server usage in a peer-to-peer based streaming service includes a concurrent connections number providing unit to calculate a number of peer clients concurrently connected to the peer-to-peer based streaming service; a non-transitory memory to store the number of peer clients concurrently connected to the peer-to-peer based streaming service; and a server usage controlling unit to control server usage for the peer-to-peer based streaming service based on a ratio of a variable associated with an influx rate of peer clients to the number of peer clients concurrently connected to the peer-to-peer based streaming service. |
| US08583817B2 |
Minimizing bandwidth usage in multimedia streaming
A system and associated method for minimizing network traffic in playing a media stream with a media module running in a client computer system. The media stream is stored in a media content server. A video file of the media stream is processed to generate an audio file corresponding to the video file, such that the media module downloads and plays the audio file when the media module is invisible on a computer screen of the client computer system. When the media module becomes visible, the media module switches back to downloading and playing the video file. A current location is tracked by a location sync file stored in the media content server to synchronize the video file and the audio file. |
| US08583815B2 |
Method of generating a file describing a bitstream, corresponding device and computer program product
A method, corresponding device and computer program product are provided for generating a file describing a bit stream, from a description scheme describing a structure and a content that are compliant with a predetermined format and comprising a set of attributes and elements. The bit stream includes a plurality of fields. The method includes: assigning at least one value of at least one identified filed of the stream to at least one variable defined by an attribute of the description scheme, called assignment attribute; storing the variable; determining at least one characteristic of at least one element of the description file, from and evaluation of a conditional expression relating to the value; generating a portion of the description file according to the characteristics determined in the determination step. |
| US08583814B2 |
System and methods of streamlining media files from a dispersed peer network to maintain quality of service
Media content, including content suitable for streaming, is distributed to and accessible over a communications network by computer nodes within a peer storage network of computer nodes hosting respective content stores. Discrete portions of a content file are multiply distributed to and persisted in a distributed set of the content stores existing within the storage network such that various content stores persist subsets of the content file portions. A computer node retrieves the discrete portions of the content file from the various distributed content stores, depending on node availability, the particular discrete portions there available, and node and network performance factors sufficient to maintain a minimum quality of service, thereby enabling streaming presentation of the content file on the requesting computer node. |
| US08583813B2 |
Enabling peer-to-peer content retrieval in HTTP
Described are embodiments directed to enabling the retrieval of content from a peer-to-peer network. In embodiments, a client requesting content from a server can indicate in an HTTP request that it is capable of retrieving content from a peer-to-peer network. When the server receives the HTTP request it will recognize the indication that the client is capable of retrieving content from a peer-to-peer network and may send content information instead of sending the requested content. The content information allows the client to retrieve the content from the peer-to-peer network. |
| US08583812B2 |
Reducing the size of volatile memory in an end device designed to operate with multiple versions of internet protocol
An end device in a network is designed to operate consistent with multiple versions of the internet protocol. The end device determines which version of the internet protocol, according to which the network is operative, by monitoring a set of packets on the network. Based on the determination of the version of internet protocol, the end device loads in an internal volatile memory only those instructions and data required for operation according to the determined version. Instructions and data required for operation according to other version(s) are not loaded into the volatile memory. Size requirements of the volatile memory are thereby reduced. |
| US08583811B2 |
Gateway device for multimedia content
This disclosure relates to techniques, devices, and systems for using a mobile electronic device to provide multimedia content. One example method of providing multimedia content includes receiving, at an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) enabled first electronic device, multimedia content from a content-providing electronic device via an IMS network, where the multimedia content has a first format. The method also includes converting, at the IMS-enabled first electronic device, the multimedia content from the first format to a second format that is different from the first format. The method further includes transmitting, from the IMS-enabled first electronic device to a second electronic device, the converted multimedia content in the second format, where the converted multimedia content is transmitted from the first electronic device to the second electronic device via a local network that is different from the IMS network. |
| US08583804B2 |
Identifying user role in IP multimedia subsystem
A Session Initiation Protocol Application Server for use within an IP Multimedia Subsystem. The Application Server comprises a receiving unit for receiving a Session Initiation Protocol message from a Serving Call Session Control Function, the Serving Call Session Control Function serving an IP Multimedia Subsystem user and the message containing within a message header an explicit identification of said user. A processing unit determines an action to be applied to said message and includes within a header of the message a role value defining a role of said user in respect of the action. A transmitter unit returns the message including the role value to said Serving Call Session Control Function. |
| US08583803B2 |
Mechanism for transparent load balancing of media servers via media gateway control protocol (MGCP) and JGroups technology
A mechanism for transparent load balancing of media servers via Media Gateway Control Protocol (MGCP) and JGroups technology is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving a request from a caller to connect with a media server controlled by a media gateway controller (MGC), sending a command to establish a connection between the caller and the media server to a media gateway control protocol (MGCP) stack of the MGC, wherein the command includes a unique identifying name of a cluster that is communicably coupled to the MGC and hosts one or more media servers including the media server, and leveraging JGroups to identify the one or more media servers in the cluster and select one of the identified media servers in the cluster to connect to the caller based on a load-balancing policy implemented by the MGC. |
| US08583801B2 |
DNS outage avoidance method for recursive DNS servers
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus to protect users of the Internet from DNS outages. In particular, an outage avoidance system is provided that includes query processing, outage avoidance processing, and a local cache, all configured to extend the TTL of expired answers to DNS queries or to ignore the expiration of an answer's TTL value, and thereby provide the expired answer in response to a client request when a DNS server is unable to obtain an answer from a remote DNS server. |
| US08583799B2 |
Dynamic cost model based resource scheduling in distributed compute farms
Systems, methods and apparatuses (i.e., utilities) for use in performing dynamic cost model (DCM)-based scheduling of resources of a distributed computing system (e.g., server farms, computing clouds, and the like). In one arrangement, cost for consumption of a resource or type of resource of the system may be dynamically determined as a function of both a demand for and an availability of the resource. In this regard, changing demand for and/or availability of the resource over time can also adjust a cost for consumption of the resource. For instance, assigning a lower consumption cost to utilizing of a resource in low demand can benefit system operators by realizing increased use on little-used resources as well as users by allowing the users to take advantage of lower usage costs. |
| US08583796B2 |
Data source interface enhanced error recovery
The invention provides for the connection of a plurality of remote applications with a data source, to maximize the speed and reliability of data transfer. An interface module interfaces with a remote application such as a web browser. A port module interfaces between interface module and a data source. A connection manager facilitates the interface between the interface module and the port module. The port module detects the unavailability of the data source in response to an initial request for the data source by the remote application. The port module may then dynamically detect the availability of the data source in response to a subsequent request for the data source and re-connect to the data source to the remote application in response to the subsequent request without having to reinitialize the connection manager. |
| US08583794B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program product for registering user address information
The storage unit stores therein authentication IDs that are used for authentication of users and address information in association with one another. The authentication processing unit receives from a PC an authentication message that includes an authentication ID and is used for the authentication of the user of a communication terminal, and performs authentication on the user based on the received authentication message. The SIP address acquiring unit acquires from the storage unit address information that corresponds to the authentication ID included in the authentication message when the user is authenticated. The SIP address registering unit sends the SIP location server a registration request for registering the acquired address information as the address information of the user of the IP telephone terminal associated with the PC that transmits the authentication message. |
| US08583793B2 |
System and method for providing a hypertext transfer protocol service multiplexer
A system and method for registering one or more services at a location where clients can access the services both locally and remotely is provided. A HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) service multiplexer (HSM) may be accessed at a recognizable location, which may be any suitable location or resource that a client can locate on a local system. The HSM may make a plurality of services available at the recognizable location by binding the location (e.g., a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)) to URLs or other resources associated with the services. In this manner, the HSM functions similarly to a domain name service, as HTTP redirections can be issued to enable a single well-known resource to be used for accessing the plurality of registered services. |
| US08583791B2 |
Maintaining a minimum level of real time media recommendations in the absence of online friends
The present invention provides a peer-to-peer (P2P) network for providing real time media recommendations. The P2P network includes a central server interconnecting a number of peer devices. In operation, a proxy function of the central server receives media recommendations from one or more peer devices that are active and online as media presentations identified by the media recommendations are played by the peer devices. The one or more peer devices are included in a group of peer devices associated with a first peer device. The proxy function provides the media recommendations to the first peer device. An augmentation function of the central server monitors a recommendation level of the first peer device. If the recommendation level falls below a minimum recommendation level, the augmentation function augments the media recommendations provided to the first peer device to increase the recommendation level to or above the minimum recommendation level. |
| US08583788B2 |
Techniques for auditing and controlling network services
Techniques for auditing and controlling network services are provided. A proxy is interposed between a principal and a network service. Interactions between the principal and the service pass through the proxy. The proxy selectively raises events and evaluates policy based on the interactions for purposes of auditing and controlling the network service. |
| US08583786B2 |
Systems and methods for rating a content based on trends
A system for and method of rating a content is presented. The method may include receiving first user data associated with one or more contents for a first predetermined time period and second user data associated with the one or more contents for a second predetermined time period. The method may also include determining a first average of the first user data associated with the one or more contents for the first predetermined time period and a second average of the second user data associated with the one or more contents for the second predetermined time period. The method may further include determining a variance between the first average of the first user data associated with the one or more contents for the first predetermined time period and the second average of the second user data associated with the one or more contents for the second predetermined time period. The method may additionally include determining trend value of the one or more contents based at least in part on the variance between the first average of the first user data associated with the one or more contents for the first predetermined time period and the second average of the second user data associated with the one or more contents for the second predetermined time period. |
| US08583785B2 |
System, method and a component for monitoring broadcast/multicast usage
A method, system and a component is provided which enables monitoring of usage statistics associated with broadcast or multicast services, distributed via a communications network. Information, such as e.g. the identity of a user client and the identity of a requested service, associated with a request for a long term key (LTK) is stored in a key management system for later retrieval. A statistics client requesting aggregated statistics associated with the information, may request such statistics from a statistics aggregation system, which is configured to compile the requested statistics on the basis of the stored information. |
| US08583784B2 |
Dynamic communication integration with calendar
A system and a method are disclosed for dynamically generating a contextually desirable message ready for a user to send out to other participants of a scheduled event. A user context is determined for a scheduled calendar event and then logic rules applicable to the user context are identified and used to identify contextually desirable messages. Options for dynamically generating the contextually desirable messages are provided to the user along with information about the scheduled event. Upon a user selection of one of the options, the corresponding contextually desirable message is generated and its content is pre-populated according to the applicable logic rule. |
| US08583783B1 |
Method and system for adaptive recovery of heap memory
A method is provided for garbage collection in a heap of an application server that uses automated garbage collection. The method comprises gathering information about a plurality of garbage collection events. The method further comprises identifying a correlation between garbage collection activity and a volume of applications transactions in the application server. The method further comprises, based on the correlation, forecasting at least one of a future utilization of heap memory and a future garbage collection activity based on a projected future transaction volume. The method further comprises tuning the heap based on the forecast. |
| US08583782B2 |
Method, system and recording medium for collecting contents usage information
Disclosed is a method, a system, and a recording medium for collecting content usage information. The method includes the steps of transmitting a usage tracking report message from a DCD client of the terminal to the DCD server; and receiving the usage tracking report message in the DCD server. The usage tracking report message includes first information for identifying a corresponding session, second information including a transaction identifier, third information for identifying a corresponding application, and fourth information including content usage information. Advantageously, the DCD server collects content usage information so that users are provided with highly-preferred contents. The fact that the DCD server collects content usage information and transmits no contents unnecessary to users avoids wasting the network bandwidth and improves content delivery efficiency of the terminals, CP, and DCD server. |
| US08583781B2 |
Simplified service network architecture
Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a network device collects a plurality of service usage measurements for a communications device use of a service on a network; and compares the plurality of service usage measurements to a device assisted implementation of a service policy to verify the device assisted implementation of the service policy. |
| US08583776B2 |
Managing content delivery network service providers
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing CDN service providers are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains client computing device requests for content. The network storage provider processes the client computing device requests and determines whether a subsequent request for the resource should be directed to a CDN service provider as a function of the updated or processed by the network storage provider storage component. |
| US08583772B2 |
Dynamically configurable session agent
A monitoring system captures the behavior of distributed applications and also provides a framework for augmenting functionality of the application in response to user interactions and different states of the application and network. Network events exchanged between an application and an application server are captured and the local client events on the client device are also selectively captured. The different disparate network events and client events are then combined together during a replay operation to simulate the user experience during the previous application session. |
| US08583771B2 |
Mapping human-meaningful parameters to network-meaningful parameters to permit user to establish traffic importance in home network
A method of describing highly valued traffic in a home network in terms that are meaningful for a human and that are translated to useful network parameters. |
| US08583769B1 |
Configuration management repository for a distributed platform
Some embodiments provide a repository that manages configurations for a distributed platform and that automatedly configures servers of the distributed platform with different hierarchical sets of configurations while ensuring integrity and consistency across the servers and in the repository. In some embodiment, the repository includes a data store that stores configurations for a first set of servers that are operated by a first service provider and a second set of servers that are operated by a second service provider. The data store also identifies different sets of configurations to deploy to different sets of servers from the first and second sets of servers. The repository also includes a function processor to automatedly deploy the different sets of configurations to the different sets of servers and to perform functions for updating the configurations in a manner that ensures integrity and consistency. |
| US08583768B2 |
Wireless sensor network and management method for the same
A wireless sensor network and management method for same are disclosed. The wireless sensor network includes a plurality of nodes transitioning between a sleeping state, probing state, and working state. The management method enables the nodes to make a state transition according to sent and received messages. |
| US08583767B2 |
Virtual service delivery platform
A system, computer-implemented method and a computer-readable medium for accessing content on a plurality of computing devices from a plurality of independent frameworks. The system includes a virtual backend service (VBS) platform. A plurality of independent frameworks hosted on the VBS platform, where each independent framework is configured to provide access to an independent set of applications that provide a service over a network. The system also includes a configuration module for configuring each computing device in the plurality of computing devices to access the set of applications particular to the independent framework, wherein the configuring dynamically switches access of each computing device between the independent frameworks, and access the service from each framework by the configured computing device. |
| US08583765B1 |
Obtaining information for a wireless connection
Electronic devices may locate and test wireless networks that are available, and may establish connections with no or minimal user intervention. The electronic device may periodically transmit a datagram to a connection server, providing updated information as to the network address of the electronic device as well as maintaining a pathway through intervening network devices. The connection server may then initiate a connection via this pathway with the information provided in the datagram. |
| US08583758B2 |
Network based format conversion
Various embodiments of the invention provide solutions for converting content, such as audio files and/or streams, video files and/or streams, other data files and/or the like. In an aspect, embodiments of the invention thus provide novel solutions to facilitate the provision of media services to one or more subscribers. In a set of embodiments, for example, media conversion services might be performed according to a subscriber's profile, such that the conversion services can be provided, in some cases, on the fly while providing the media to the subscriber, allowing the subscriber to obtain content in the necessary format without having to specify in each instance the formats in which various content should be provided. |
| US08583755B2 |
Method and system for communicating between memory regions
A method and system are provided for transferring data in a networked system between a local memory in a local system and a remote memory in a remote system. A RDMA request is received and a first buffer region is associated with a first transfer operation. The system determines whether a size of the first buffer region exceeds a maximum transfer size of the networked system. Portions of the second buffer region may be associated with the first transfer operation based on the determination of the size of the first buffer region. The system subsequently performs the first transfer operation. |
| US08583752B2 |
Wireless data device with confirmation and retry capabilities for pushed data
A system for transmitting pushed data to a wireless data device generates a tracking identifier for a request for the pushed data and sends the request to a wireless data device server. The request includes the tracking ID and the wireless data device server includes a log file. The system parses the log file to extract confirmation data and determines whether the pushed data was successfully delivered based on the confirmation data. If the pushed data was not successfully delivered, the system will send a additional request for the pushed data to the wireless data device server. |
| US08583750B1 |
Inferring identity of intended communication recipient
Systems, methods performed by data processing apparatus and computer storage media encoded with computer programs for receiving user input specifying an alias of an intended communication recipient, comparing the specified alias with identities of one or more potential recipients identified based on implicit connections inferred from explicit information relating to the user, identifying a best matching recipient based on a result of the comparing, and initiating a communication instance with the identified best matching recipient. |
| US08583747B2 |
Labeling messages of conversations and snoozing labeled conversations in a conversation-based email system
A method system for labeling messages of conversations, where each conversation has a respective conversation identifier and comprises one or more messages sharing a common set of characteristics. A selected conversation has a plurality of messages associated with a first label. In response to an action specifying a second label to be associated with the selected conversation, the second label is associated with the messages of the selected conversation, such that the plurality of messages are each associated with both the first and second labels. An index entry for the second label is modified to account for the association of the second label with the messages. In some embodiments, a set of predetermined conditions is associated with the conversation; the first label is removed from the plurality of messages and is prevented from being automatically associated with newly received messages of the conversation until the predetermined conditions are satisfied. |
| US08583745B2 |
Application platform
A method and system for mapping logical identifiers to physical identifiers is provided. In one embodiment, a logical routing system allows each application, or more generally entity (e.g., user of an application), to register its logical identifier to physical identifier mapping when the application starts executing on a computer. To send a message to an application identified by a logical identifier, a client program uses the registered mapping to identify the physical identifier of the computer. If an application later starts executing on a different computer, then the application can register a different mapping. |
| US08583744B2 |
System and method for pushing information from a host system to a mobile data communication device
A scheme for redirecting data items from a messaging host system to a user's mobile device using a redirector component disposed in a wide-area data network. In one embodiment, a method comprises one or more of the following: automatically detecting receipt of a new data item from the messaging host system for a user over the wide-area data network; based on filtering rules configured for the user, determining if the new data item is to be redirected to the user's mobile device over a wireless network; and upon determining that the new data item is to be redirected, processing at least a portion of the new data item for transmission thereof to the user's mobile device. |
| US08583741B2 |
Integrated email and chat archiving with fine grained user control for chat archiving
Participants in a chat session can control the archiving of chat messages in the chat session. Participants in a chat session send and receive a first set of chat messages, which are archived. A command to deactivate archiving is made by one of the participants. Messages in the chat session that are sent and received subsequent to the command to deactivate archiving are not archived. Archiving may be reactivated and messages subsequent to the command to reactivate archiving are archived. |
| US08583739B2 |
Facilitating the sending of mail from a restricted communications network
The sending of mail from a restricted communications network is facilitated. A communications unit external to the restricted communications network periodically pulls the mail from the restricted communications network and forwards the mail to a receiver. The receiver may be the intended recipient of the mail or an intermediary used to further send the mail to the intended recipient. |
| US08583737B2 |
Contact sidebar tile
Methods, systems, and computer program products for tracking real-time communication data within a single contact tracking application for diverse communication providers and applications. A global data store is synchronized with real-time communication data, such as presence, status, unread messages, and unread notifications, from each application/provider. Real-time communication data for contacts dynamically determined to be recent contacts is retrieved from the data store, based on properties such as a most recent communication time, a communication count, and the like. Real-time communication data corresponding to contacts identified as pinned contacts for which display of real-time communication data is preferred, also may be retrieved. A user interface is generated for displaying the one or more recent and/or pinned contacts, which may vary in size based on the number of contacts identified as pinned contacts, from which a contact may be selected for real-time conversation or e-mail. |
| US08583736B2 |
Communication device, computer program product, and communication control method for establishing a communication path with another communication device also seeking to establish the communication path
A communication device is described in which a communication path is to be established with another communication device. The communication device transmits a first request packet to the other communication device and awaits a response. When a second request packet is received from the other communication device instead of a response to the first request packet, the communication device determines whether to transmit a positive response to the second request packet based on additional information included in the second request packet. |
| US08583729B2 |
Handling an audio conference related to a text-based message
A client for a text-based messaging application for a dual-mode mobile communication device may initiate an audio conference based on a text-based message. Contents of fields of the text-based message may be extracted and utilized to construct an audio conference request message that is subsequently transmitted to an audio conference gateway. Where the text-based messaging application is an instant messaging (IM) client application, it may be configured to recognize a voice connection as being related to an ongoing Data Mode IM conversation. As a consequence of the recognition, the IM client application may maintain the user interface for facilitating participation in the Voice Mode IM conversation. Updates related to the status of the Voice Mode IM conversation may be received at the dual-mode mobile communication device over the voice connection and reflected in changes to the user interface. |