| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08621426B2 |
Automated top down process to minimize test configurations for multi-feature products
Systems and methods of conducting interoperability assessments provide for generating a feature interoperability matrix based on feature data and interoperability data, wherein the feature data defines a plurality of features of a product and the interoperability data indicates levels of interoperability of the plurality of features. A validation set can be generated based on the feature interoperability matrix, wherein the validation set includes a plurality of feature combinations. A subfeature interoperability matrix can be used to convert the validation set into a test plan for the product, wherein the test plan minimizes test configurations for the product. |
| US08621424B2 |
Compiler based code modification for use in document ranking
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to alter an expression of executable instructions via a compiler component for use in ranking of electronic documents. |
| US08621420B2 |
Modeling user perceived use case affinity
A system, method and program product for creating a UML model of a user interface environment, such as a website. A UML design system is disclosed that includes: a system for defining use cases within the UML model; a system for associating an affinity representing a user-perceived relationship between use cases within the UML model; and a system for assigning a weight to the affinity within the UML model. |
| US08621415B2 |
Obtaining power domain by clustering logical blocks based on activation timings
A power domain is automatically generated.A computer performs a function simulation process 9 for evaluating whether or not a designed circuit satisfies a specification, and a clustering process 10 which obtains a power domain by clustering logical blocks in which activation timings are within a range, based on the result of the function simulation process. Since the power domain is obtained by a process performed by the computer, the power domain can be optimized compared to a case when it is obtained by hand (manual work of the designer). |
| US08621414B2 |
Method and algorithm analyzer for determining a design framework
A method of determining a design framework is implemented by an algorithm analyzer. The method includes configuring the algorithm analyzer to perform intrinsic complexity analysis of an algorithm for a predetermined application to obtain a set of parameters representing intrinsic characteristics of the algorithm. The method also includes configuring the algorithm analyzer to establish candidate design frameworks based on the parameters. Each candidate design framework includes a set of design constraints corresponding to the algorithm and which are used when designing a hardware and/or software configuration for implementing the predetermined application. The method also includes configuring the algorithm analyzer to analyze the suitability of the set of design constraints of each candidate design framework based on given specification restrictions of the predetermined application to determine which candidate design framework(s) is suited for the predetermined application. |
| US08621411B1 |
Generating and selecting bit-stack candidates from a graph using dynamic programming
Bit stacks of an integrated circuit design are identified in a netlist by analyzing cell clusters. Candidate bit stacks are generated for each cluster using cone tracing, and wirelength costs are calculated for the candidate bit stacks based on the cells' locations from a previous (e.g., global) placement. The bit stack partition having a minimum total wirelength cost is selected for the final bit stacks. The invention can find K bit stacks in a cell cluster having N input cells and M output cells, where K, N and M are all different. The method is advantageously made timing aware by weighting connections between cells using weights based on timing information. Once the final bit stacks have been identified, the information can be included in the netlist and passed to a datapath placer for optimized placement. |
| US08621410B2 |
Multiprocessor computer system and method having at least one processor with a dynamically reconfigurable instruction set
An innovative realization of computer hardware, software and firmware comprising a multiprocessor system wherein at least one processor can be configured to have a fixed instruction set and one or more processors can be statically or dynamically configured to implement a plurality of processor states in a plurality of technologies. The processor states may be instructions sets for the processors. The technologies may include programmable logic arrays. |
| US08621408B2 |
Progressive circuit evaluation for circuit optimization
Systems and techniques for optimizing a circuit design are described. Some embodiments reduce the number of gates in the library (e.g., by dynamically pruning the library) which are considered for optimization. Some embodiments create a linear delay model, and use the linear delay model instead of a non-linear delay model to substantially reduce the amount of computation required to check whether or not a particular replacement gate improves one or more metrics of the circuit design. Some embodiments determine an order for processing the gates in the library or for processing input pins of a gate to facilitate early rejection of a candidate gate in the library of gates. In some embodiments, the evaluation of the impact of a candidate gate transformation is done progressively and level-by-level only up to the point where the gate transformation degrades one or more metrics. |
| US08621406B2 |
System and methods for converting planar design to FinFET design
A method for generating a layout for a device having FinFETs from a first layout for a device having planar transistors is disclosed. The planar layout is analyzed and corresponding FinFET structures are generated. |
| US08621403B2 |
Timing closure methodology including placement with initial delay values
An automated method for designing an integrated circuit layout using a computer based upon an electronic circuit description and based upon cells which are selected from a cell library, each of the cells having an associated area, comprising the steps of: (a) placing each of the cells in the integrated circuit layout so that the cells can be coupled together by wires to form a circuit path having an associated predetermined delay constraint wherein the cells are coupled together based upon the electronic circuit description input to the computer; (b) connecting the cells together with the wires to form the circuit path; and (c) adjusting an area of at least one of the cells to satisfy the associated predetermined delay constraint of the circuit path. |
| US08621399B2 |
Methods of designing semiconductor devices and methods of modifying layouts of semiconductor devices
In a method of designing a semiconductor device, a transistor included in a layout of the semiconductor device may be selected. A biasing data may be set for changing a characteristic of the selected transistor. A design rule check (DRC) process for the layout of the semiconductor device may be performed after ignoring the biasing data. An optical proximity correction (OPC) process for the layout of the semiconductor device may be performed based on the biasing data. |
| US08621393B2 |
Multimedia control center
Techniques and systems for centralized access to multimedia content stored on or available to a computing device are disclosed. The centralized access can be provided by a media control interface that receives user inputs and interacts with media programs resident on the computing device to produce graphical user interfaces that can be presented on a display device. |
| US08621389B2 |
Selective viewing of information
A system and method is disclosed that provides for the displaying, on display screen of an electronic device, a list of contact names, and further provides for the designating, by sequentially scrolling through the list of contact names, individual contact names in the list of contact names and wherein designation of an individual contact name reveals available information about the contact. |
| US08621385B2 |
System and method for controlling a display of data
A system and method for displaying a scroll-bar or toggle-button-set to control a display of data of an individual column and/or row. A table of intersecting columns and rows is displayed, each intersection forming a cell, and a scroll-bar or toggle-button-set is displayed for an individual column and/or row if a cell of the column and/or row contains data, the display settings of the data requiring for a display of the data an area that is larger than an area allotted to the cell. |
| US08621381B1 |
System and method for adaptive use of keyboard or search term based on recent use
Computer-implemented methods for deciding whether to display a keyboard on a touchscreen device are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, on a touchscreen device, a request to load a display comprising an input field and selectable content, and determining, based on prior user behavior, the probability of whether the user will enter content into the input field or select the selectable content. The method also includes controlling whether to display a keyboard when the determined probability indicates that the user will enter content into the input field or hide the keyboard when the determined probability indicates that the user will select the selectable content. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US08621373B2 |
Desktop assistant for multiple information types
A method and system for providing an aggregate view of information that a user may need is provided. A desktop assistant system collects information items that a user may need such as scheduling information and recently received messages. The desktop assistant system may also identify documents that the user may need and contacts with whom the user may need to communicate based on analysis of the collected scheduling information and the collected messages. The desktop assistant system then displays indications of the collected scheduling information, the collected messages, the identified documents, and the identified contacts so that the user has an integrated view of the needed information items. |
| US08621372B2 |
Targeted sidebar advertising
Methods and apparatus for providing an advertisement in a sidebar, and/or in a slidesheet associated with an application module displayed in the sidebar. The advertisement is targeted to the sidebar user based upon user specific information maintained by a content provider. The user specific information can comprise, sidebar application information, user preference information, shared user information and other information associated with the user that can be used to select an advertisement targeted to the user. An advertisement displayed in a slidesheet can be selected based upon user information and/or the functionality provided by the application module associated with the slidesheet. |
| US08621368B2 |
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction
Systems and methods of virtual world interaction, operation, implementation, instantiation, creation, and other functions related to virtual worlds (note that where the term “virtual world” is used herein, it is to be understood as referring to virtual world systems, virtual environments reflecting real, simulated, fantasy, or other structures, and includes information systems that utilize interaction within a 3D environment). Various embodiments facilitate interoperation between and within virtual worlds, and may provide consistent structures for operating virtual worlds. The disclosed embodiments may further enable individuals to build new virtual worlds within a framework, and allow third party users to better interact with those worlds. |
| US08621367B2 |
Multi-user interactive web-based searches
A method for multiple users to jointly interact with web-based search results is provided. Selections of the search results by a user are immediately communicated to other users. Viewing options may be customized on a per-user basis for greater individual control over viewing the results. Results may be further acted upon to complete transactions. Individual results are easily referenced in chat windows. Status of query and transactions are communicated to all users. |
| US08621365B2 |
File sharing method and system
A file sharing method and a file sharing system are provided. The system includes a first file processing apparatus and a second file processing apparatus with wireless transmission function to transfer files therebetween. At first, the first file processing apparatus is coupled to the second file processing apparatus. The first file processing apparatus automatically or manually executes a file sharing software to receive desktop information of the second file processing apparatus, and the file sharing software integrates a desktop of the first file processing apparatus with the desktop information to generate a integrated desktop shown on the first file processing apparatus. The second file processing apparatus processes a file in response to a control operation of an icon on the integrated desktop. |
| US08621363B2 |
Quantifying frustration via a user interface
Method, apparatus and system to modify a user interface implemented in a communication network associated with a plurality of mobile devices. In one embodiment a mobile device associated with a communication network is configured to sense mood data that quantifies a frustration parameter based at least in part on interaction of a user with a user interface mode portion of a user interface and associates the mood data with mode data, wherein the mode data identifies the user interface mode operation of a user interface and transfers the mood data and the mode data to a mobile service provider portion of the communication network. Furthermore, the mobile service provide may transfer at least a portion of an updated user interface to one or more of the plurality of mobile devices based at least in part on the identification of the one or more user interface modes that are frustrating. |
| US08621360B2 |
Topographical display generator for AD HOC network
The present invention comprises a computer apparatus for displaying the topology of a timely organized ad hoc network, the apparatus including a processor, a memory, a computer-readable medium, an input device coupled to the processor, a radio frequency transceiver coupled to the processor; a communications interface coupled to the memory, a display coupled to the processor, and software copied from the computer-readable medium into the memory by the processor that, when executed, causes the processor to obtain a diagram of the network location from the input device or computer readable medium, obtain the identities of the devices comprising the network from the input device or computer readable medium, determine the communication links between the network devices, and graphically represent on the display the devices and the connection links on the diagram. |
| US08621358B2 |
Presentation slide preparation
Presenting a slide. Anticipating a slide to be selected for display. Receiving data of the anticipated slide in an unconstructed format. Constructing the anticipated slide from the received data. Caching the constructed slide. Pre-drawing the constructed slide in construction memory. Receiving instructions to display a slide. In the event that the instructed slide is the cached and pre-drawn slide, rendering the pre-drawn slide to display memory. |
| US08621355B2 |
Automatic synchronization of media clips
For media clips captured by several media recording devices, a novel method for organizing the captured media clips is presented. The method arranges the media clips into sequences according to content data associated with the media clips. The method further analyzes content data of the media clips in each sequence to identify a best candidate media clip from each sequence. The method performs one or more algorithms to determine whether the candidate media clips are related. The algorithms are also used to determine a time offset between the candidate clips. The method then synchronizes the sequences based on the time offset determined by the algorithms. |
| US08621353B2 |
Method and system for identification of pay-per-view programming
A method and system for designating and identifying individual programming that is available in a subscriber television system as a pay-per-view event. The identified programming includes programs that are not normally available for viewing by some subscribers or for which a subscriber has not subscribed. The programming can include an individual program, groups of programs, and non-pay-per-view channels. The subscriber can then elect to view the programming as a pay-per-view event. |
| US08621352B2 |
Virtual meeting video sharing
A method is provided in one particular example that includes identifying an attempt by a first communications device to play video data within a virtual meeting session using a first media player. The first communications device can be sharing at least a portion of a desktop presented on the first communications device with one or more other remote communications devices participating in the virtual meeting session. The method can also include identifying a copy of the video data, and launching one or more media players to present at least a portion of the copy of the video data on the one or more other remote communications devices. The one or more media players are launched to correspond to a location of the first media player on the shared portion of the desktop. |
| US08621351B2 |
Methods and electronic devices for selecting and displaying thumbnails
According to one aspect, a method of previewing multimedia data, including selecting a first graphical representation in association with a multimedia object, displaying the first graphical representation, receiving an input in relation to the first graphical representation, in response to the input, determining whether to change the first graphical representation, and if so then selecting a second graphical representation from the multimedia object in a randomized manner, and displaying the second graphical representation. |
| US08621349B2 |
Publishing techniques for adding value to a rendered document
A system for processing a visual capture operation as described. The system receives an indication of a visual capture operation performed from a rendered document. The indication specifies both a text sequence capture As part of the capture operation and a supplemental marking captured as part of the capture operation. The system determines an action to perform in response to receiving the indication, based both upon the text sequence specified in the indication and the supplemental markings specified by the indication. |
| US08621347B2 |
System for providing a handling interface
This invention pertains to a system for providing a handling interface. More specifically, a display module for displaying the contents as images, and a control module for displaying a handling interface having a shape corresponding to a handling device is shown on the display module when an access signal is received from the handling device. The control module is also configured to perform a function displayed on the handling interface according to a signal from the handling device. In particular, the access signal represents the access of user's hand or a handling tool to the handling device, thereby allowing to user to more conveniently handle contents provided from a multimedia device in an automobile. |
| US08621344B1 |
Method of spell-checking search queries
A computer-implemented method for determining whether a target text-string is correctly spelled is provided. The target text-string is compared to a corpus to determine a set of contexts which each include an occurrence of the target text-string. Using heuristics, each context of the set is characterized based on occurrences in the corpus of the target text-string and a reference text-string. Contexts are characterized as including a correct spelling of the target text-string, an incorrect spelling of the reference text-string, or including an indeterminate usage of the target text-string. A likelihood that the target text-string is a misspelling of the reference text-string is computed as a function of the quantity of contexts including a correct spelling of the target text-string and the quantity of contexts including an incorrect spelling of a reference text-string. In one application, the target text-string is received in a search query, the search executed following a spell-check. |
| US08621332B1 |
Word-serial cyclic code encoder
A cyclic code encoding device or encoder that contains word registers rather than single bit registers, and can process input bits and parity bits as input words and parity words. The cyclic code encoder can add input words to output register words, generating a feedback word, which can be supplied through a feedback loop that selectively transmits feedback words through weight arrays and intra-register adders, to the input of word registers. A controller can operate the cyclic code encoder in either an input mode or an output mode during which feedback words can be sequentially transmitted on the feedback loop and the states of the word registers can be updated and the final states of the word registers can be sequentially shifted out of the output word register as parity words. |
| US08621331B1 |
Continuous parallel cyclic BCH decoding architecture
Circuitry for, in p parallel streams, searching a codeword having n symbols for roots of a cyclic code polynomial having a number of terms includes a plurality of multipliers, a source of constants derived from roots of the polynomial, and at least one counter that supplies an index. For each received symbol of the codeword, the multipliers multiply respective terms of the polynomial for a previous received symbol by constants from the source of constants, the counter advances to select respective products of the constants and the respective terms for the previous received symbol. |
| US08621330B2 |
High rate locally decodable codes
Data storage techniques and solutions simultaneously provide efficient random access to information and high noise resilience. The amount of storage space utilized is only slightly larger than the size of the data. The solution is based on locally decodable error-correcting codes (also referred to as locally decodable codes or LDCs). Locally decodable codes are described herein that are more efficient than conventional locally decodable codes. Such locally decodable codes are referred to as “multiplicity codes”. These codes are based on evaluating multivariate polynomials and their derivatives. Multiplicity codes extend traditional multivariate polynomial based (e.g., Reed-Muller) codes. Multiplicity codes inherit the local decodability of Reed-Muller codes, and at the same time achieve substantially better parameters. |
| US08621325B2 |
Packet switching system
A packet switching system includes a forwarding processing unit determining a destination of an input packet by analyzing the input packet and outputting it as an output packet, the forwarding processing unit comprises an ingress interface card checking if the input packet has a sequential cyclic number and an egress interface card creating a sequential cyclic number and assigning it to the output packet. |
| US08621324B2 |
Embedded DRAM having low power self-correction capability
Apparatuses and methods for low power combined self-refresh and self-correction of a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) array. During a self-refresh cycle, a first portion of a first row of the DRAM array is accessed and analyzed for one or more errors, wherein a bit width of the first portion is less than a bit width of the first row. If one or more errors are detected, the one or more errors are corrected to form a corrected first portion. The corrected first portion is selectively written back to the first row. If no errors are detected in the first portion, a write back of the first portion to the first row is prevented. |
| US08621319B2 |
Method and apparatus for iterative determination of MIMO iterative receiver
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) iterative receiver detects a soft log likelihood ratio value from a signal outputted from a transmitter and decodes the detected soft log likelihood ratio value in order to extract a hard value and a soft value from the detected soft log likelihood ratio value. After whether or not a CRC of the hard value is acknowledged is determined, a CRC of a data burst is determined or iteration of signal demodulation of the MIMO iterative receiver is determined by feeding back the soft value or a CRC of data is performed assembling signals of the burst unit in accordance with the determination result. |
| US08621318B1 |
Nonvolatile memory controller with error detection for concatenated error correction codes
A nonvolatile memory controller to recover encoded data by performing a hard-decision inner error correction code decoding and an outer error correction code decoding of the data decoded using the hard-decision inner error correction code decoding and then determining if the encoded data has been successfully decoded. If the encoded data has not been successfully decoded, the controller performs a soft-decision inner error correction code decoding of the encoded data using a soft-decision algorithm and an outer error correction code decoding of the data decoded using the soft-decision inner error correction code decoding and then determining if the encoded data has been successfully decoded. If the encoded data has not been successfully decoded, the controller recovers the data by performing a RAID operation on the encoded data. |
| US08621317B1 |
Modified orthogonal coding techniques for storing data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for modified orthogonal coding techniques. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a block of data. A column of error-correcting row code chunks is generated using a matrix of row weights that includes weights [a b c d], wherein a and b are in a same first row and c and d are in a same second row, and wherein a and c are in a same first column and b and d are in a same second column. A row of error-correcting column code chunks is generated using a matrix of column weights that includes weights [e f g h] at positions corresponding to respective positions of [a b c d] in the matrix of row weights, wherein a d b c ≠ e h f g . |
| US08621316B2 |
Method and device for encoding of error correcting codes, and method and device for decoding of error correcting codes
An error correction encoding device includes an outer encoding circuit that performs encoding processing for an outer code and an inner encoding circuit that performs encoding processing for an inner code. The inner encoding circuit includes an inner-encoding input circuit that performs interleaving processing in which a parallel input sequence is divided into lanes and in which a barrel shift is performed for each inner frame in the lanes. Thus, allocation ratios between an information sequence area and a parity sequence area are made uniform. |
| US08621312B2 |
Transceiver that serves LDPC codewords for decoding including clock cycle budgeting based on block transmission length
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, including a transceiver operable for communication using LDPC codes for error correction, the transceiver adapted to use an LDPC decoder that acts as a server to serve all LDPC codewords contained in at least one block transmission, and wherein the LDPC decoder consumes a certain number of clock cycles per decoding of a single codeword and a length of the block dictates a clock cycles budget that the server can use. |
| US08621311B2 |
Data transfer device, method, and program
A data transfer device, including a packet receiving unit to receive packets in a block including a data packet and an error-correction packet; a packet-loss detection unit to detect a packet loss from a head of a block received by the packet receiving unit of a received packet; a packet transfer unit to transfer the packet received from the packet receiving unit with a delay of a predetermined time; and a retransmission-request transmission unit to transmit a retransmission request to a packet-transmission source device based on the packet loss detected by the packet-loss detection unit and a determined retransmission time to retransmit the packet. |
| US08621310B2 |
Method and apparatus for assigning hybrid-automatic repeat request processes
A method and apparatus for assigning a hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to support enhanced uplink (EU) data transmission. Configuration parameters for enhanced uplink (EU) operation are received. The configuration parameters include a priority associated with a medium access control for dedicated channel (MAC-d) flow and a maximum number of H-ARQ transmissions associated with the MAC-d flow. Data is selected for transmission over an enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) based on a priority of the MAC-d flow, wherein data with the highest priority is selected. On a condition that the selected data is new data that was not previously transmitted, an available H-ARQ process is assigned for supporting transmission of the selected data, and the selected data is transmitted over the E-DCH using the assigned H-ARQ process. On a condition that the selected data was previously transmitted, the selected data is retransmitted over the E-DCH using the same H-ARQ process that was assigned to previously transmit the selected data. A transmission count is incremented in response to transmitting or retransmitting the selected data. A determination is made of whether the transmission count is at least equal to the maximum number of H-ARQ transmissions. The selected data is discarded in response to a determination that the transmission count is at least equal to the maximum number of H-ARQ transmissions. |
| US08621309B2 |
Processor and method of control of processor
A processor including: a first storage unit that stores data; an error detection unit that detects an occurrence of error in data read out from the first storage unit; a second storage unit that stores data read out from the first storage unit based on a load request; a rerun request generation unit that generates a rerun request of a load request to the first storage unit in the same cycle as the cycle in which error of data is detected when the error detection unit detects the occurrence of error in data read out from the first storage unit by the load request; and an instruction execution unit that retransmits the load request to the first storage unit when data in which error is detected and a rerun request are given. |
| US08621308B2 |
HARQ operating point adaptation in communications
Various embodiments are provided to address some of the current issues in establishing and adapting an HARQ operating point. Some embodiments include determining a metric that indicates the predictability of a signal to noise plus interference ratio (SINR) for signaling from a wireless device and setting a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) operating point for communication with the wireless device using the metric. By setting the HARQ operating point based on a metric that indicates the predictability of SINR for wireless device signaling, throughput can be improved over present-day HARQ operating point adaptation techniques. |
| US08621304B2 |
Built-in self-test system and method for an integrated circuit
An integrated circuit comprises random logic communicatively coupled to a non-scannable memory array. The integrated circuit also comprises a built-in self-test (BIST) controller adapted to apply test data to the random logic and propagate the test data through the random logic to test the memory array. |
| US08621302B2 |
Data summing boundary—cell connected with output and scan chain
Scan testing of plural target electrical circuits, such as circuits 1 through N, becomes accelerated by using the scan test response data output from one circuit, such as circuit 1, as the scan test stimulus data for another circuit, such as circuit 2. After reset, a scan path captures the output response data from the reset stimulus from all circuits. A tester then shifts the captured data only the length of the first circuit's scan path while loading the first circuit's scan path with new test stimulus data. The new response data from all the circuits then is captured in the scan path. This shift and capture cycle is repeated until the first circuit is tested. The first circuit is then disabled and any remaining stimulus data is applied to the second circuit. This process is repeated until all the circuits are tested. A data retaining boundary scan cell used in the scan testing connects the output of an additional multiplexer as the input to a boundary cell. The inputs of the additional multiplexer connect to the data input and data output of the boundary cell. |
| US08621301B2 |
Method and apparatus for virtual in-circuit emulation
A virtual In-Circuit Emulation (ICE) capability is provided herein for supporting testing of Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) hardware. A Virtual ICE Driver is configured for enabling any debug software to interface with target hardware in a flexible and scalable manner. The Virtual ICE Driver is configured such that the test instruction set used with the Virtual ICE Driver is not required to compute vectors, as the JTAG operations are expressed as local native instructions on scan segments, thereby enabling ICE resources to be accessed directly. The Virtual ICE Driver is configured such that ICE may be combined with instrument-based JTAG approaches (e.g., the IEEE P1687 standard and other suitable approaches). The Virtual ICE Driver is configured for receiving a plurality of scan segment operations generated by a plurality of target ICE controllers of at least one ICE host, scheduling the received scan segment operations, based at least in part on a scan chain of the target hardware, to form thereby a scheduled set of scan segment operations, and providing the scheduled set of scan segment operations to a processor configured for executing the scheduled set of scan segment operations for testing the target hardware. |
| US08621295B2 |
Circuit module, semiconductor integrated circuit, and inspection apparatus and method thereof
A circuit module includes a shift register constituting part of a scan chain within a semiconductor integrated circuit, a control unit for controlling an operation of the shift register using a control signal generated within the semiconductor integrated circuit and a selection unit for selecting between a short-circuit path through which a scan signal is loaded and an ordinary path through which the scan signal is loaded after being made to go through the shift register, where the ordinary path is selected when the operation of the shift register is permitted by the control signal and the short-circuit path is selected when the operation of the shift register is not permitted. |
| US08621289B2 |
Local and global interleaving/de-interleaving on values in an information word
In one embodiment, a de-interleaver receives soft-output values corresponding to bits of an LDPC-encoded codeword. The de-interleaver has scratch pad memory that provides sets of the soft-output values to a local de-interleaver. The number of values in each set equals the number of columns in a block column of the LDPC H-matrix. Each set has at least two subsets of soft-output values corresponding to at least two different block columns of the LDPC H-matrix, where the individual soft-output values of the at least two subsets are interleaved with one another. Local de-interleaving is performed on each set such that the soft-output values of each subset are grouped together. Global de-interleaving is then performed on the subsets such that the subsets corresponding to the same block columns of the H-matrix are arranged together. In another embodiment, an interleaver performs global then local interleaving to perform the inverse of the de-interleaver processing. |
| US08621287B1 |
Computing system monitoring
The present disclosure provides apparatus, systems, and methods for computing system monitoring. The apparatus, systems, and methods provide a map that indicates a location of a system problem within the computing system. |
| US08621286B2 |
Fault information managing method and fault information managing program
To save the records of an instant fault generation history and an instant fault recovery history without omission, and to pursue the cause of the fault that causes data error and the like as well as to perform recovery works and the like accurately. Each of fault generation notifications transmitted from main signal packages are stored to an instant fault generation history table provided to a storage module of a monitoring control package along a time series cyclically without exception, and each of fault recovery notifications transmitted in accordance with a detection of recovery of the fault corresponding to each of the stored fault generation notifications is stored to the instant fault generation history storage table by corresponding to each of the fault generation notifications already stored to the instant fault generation history storage table. |
| US08621280B2 |
Failure reproducing apparatus and failure reproducing method
A failure reproducing apparatus according to the present invention includes a log analyzing unit that determines processes that have caused a failure when the failure has occurred in a server system, a target-value calculating unit that calculates a target value on the basis of execution time of each process, and a time-lag calculating unit that calculates a time lag. An execution control unit adjusts timing of outputting an execution command of each process to the server system on the basis of the target value and the time lag and executes a reproduction test. |
| US08621278B2 |
System and method for automated solution of functionality problems in computer systems
An automated support system includes a database of statistics used to calculate and store the solution ratings. The database is connected to a decision-making module that selects appropriate solutions. A known computer operation-related problem is stored in the database. The problem is represented by a set of parameters of a user computer system. Any given set of parameters defines a problem existing on the user(s) computer system. A solution formed by the solution adding module is represented by a special file. The selected solution is automatically executed on the user computer system and operation-related problem is solved. The effective solution is assigned rating stored in the solution database. |
| US08621276B2 |
File system resiliency management
Perceived corruptions encountered on file system volumes, and which cannot be initially remedied online, are processed to verify whether they are true, existing volume data structure corruptions or, alternatively, false positives. Upon the verification of one or more of a volume's corruptions, error scanning is performed to check for, and attempt to remedy online, all the existing corruptions on the volume. Subsequent to error scanning processing, if one or more verified corruptions continue to exist on a file system volume, at file system boot up time spot corruption correction is performed to attempt to remedy the existing, verified corruptions on the volume. Spot corruption correction is performed to attempt to correct verified data structure corruptions on a volume of the file system while the volume is maintained offline for the time necessary to attempt to correct its prior identified corruptions. |
| US08621274B1 |
Virtual machine fault tolerance
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for hosting a virtual machine from a snapshot. In particular, a snapshot of a virtual machine hosted on a primary computing device may be created. The virtual machine may be hosted on a secondary computing device using the snapshot, for example, when a failure of the virtual machine on the primary computing device occurs. If a virtual machine type (format) of the snapshot is not supported by the secondary computing device, then the virtual machine within the snapshot may be converted to a virtual machine type supported by the secondary computing device. In this way, the virtual machine may be operable and/or accessible on the secondary computing device despite the failure. Hosting the virtual machine on the secondary computing device provides, among other things, fault tolerance for the virtual machine and/or applications comprised therein. |
| US08621272B2 |
Integrated circuit with error repair and fault tolerance
An integrated circuit is provided with error detection circuitry and error repair circuitry. Error tolerance circuitry is responsive to a control parameter to selectively disable the error repair circuitry. The control parameter is dependent on the processing performed within the circuit. For example, the control parameter may be generated in dependence upon the program instruction being executed, the output signal value which is in error, the previous behavior of the circuit or in other ways. |
| US08621271B2 |
Reprovisioning a memory device into a dispersed storage network memory
A method begins by a processing module identifying a memory device having an expired useable memory life with respect to a legacy storage protocol. The method continues with the processing module extracting data from the memory device. The method continues with the processing module reprovisioning the memory device from the legacy storage protocol to a dispersed storage error coding storage protocol. |
| US08621270B2 |
System and method for transparent recovery of damaged or unavailable objects in a replicated object storage system
A redundant array of independent nodes are networked together. Each node executes an instance of an application that provides object-based storage. The nodes are grouped into a plurality of systems each having multiple nodes. An object recovery method comprises: receiving, by a first system of the plurality of systems from a client application, a read request for an object, the object having been replicated to/from at least one second system among the plurality of systems; if the object of the read request is available in the first system, returning by the first system the object of the read request to the client application; and if the object of the read request is not available in the first system, performing a read from replica process by the first system to access a replica of the object from a second system among the plurality of systems and using the replica of the object to return the object of the read request to the client application. |
| US08621268B2 |
Write threshold utilization in a dispersed storage system
A method begins with a processing module sending a plurality of dispersed storage write commands to plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units for storing a plurality of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module receiving, within a time period, acknowledgements from at least some of the plurality of DS units to produce received acknowledgements. The method continues with the processing module determining whether a number of received acknowledgements compares favorably to a write threshold. The method continues with the processing module changing at least one of the write threshold and at least one of the plurality of DS units when the number of received acknowledgements does not compare favorably to the write threshold. |
| US08621267B2 |
Extended page patching
The embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for using an extended patching procedure for correction or repair of logical data portions, pages, or sectors of a computer data storage device. The extended patching procedure targets for repair not only the page(s) appearing to be defective or unusable based on a failed read operation for a data transfer request, but also additional pages. Determining the additional pages to include for automatic patching is based on: statistical distribution analyzes to include pages within the physical or logical vicinity of the original page, information about the underlying storage device technology or Input/Output (I/O) subsystem, and/or historical data about error conditions for areas related to the original page. Preemptively patching pages based on extended page lists improves system performance by reducing the total number of costly repair processes and by avoiding situations involving correction actions that fail to resolve. |
| US08621266B2 |
Nonvolatile memory system and related method of performing erase refresh operation
A memory system comprises a flash memory and a memory controller. The flash memory comprises a plurality of memory blocks. The memory controller performs a read retry operation on a memory block containing an uncorrectable read error until an accurate data value is read from the memory block. The memory controller then controls the flash memory to perform an erase refresh operation on the memory block. |
| US08621261B2 |
Support for virtualized unified communications clients when host server connectivity is lost
Techniques are provided for establishing a Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) connection at a virtual desktop thin client (VDTC) device, between a VDI client in the VDTC device and a VDI server in a hosted virtual desktop server (HVDS). A unified communications (UC) control connection is established between a UC protocol stack on the VDTC device and a primary call agent, where the UC control connection is configured to allow the UC protocol stack to register with the primary call agent, and to send or receive commands from the primary call agent that are based on signals from a UC control application running on the HVDS. A UC control backup application is started on the virtual desktop thin client device in a standby mode that is configured to switch to an active mode in response to a failure to establish or maintain the UC control connection, or a failure to establish or maintain the VDI connection. A user interface is launched on the virtual desktop thin client device that is configured to perform UC backup functions. |
| US08621259B2 |
Method and system to monitor a diverse heterogeneous application environment
A method to detect potential problems within a heterogeneous and diverse application environment. Operations data is received from a plurality of application servers within the application environment. The operations data pertains to operations performed at the plurality of application servers over a predetermined time interval. The operations data is aggregated. The aggregated data is compared to reference data, and a potential problem within the application environment is detected if the aggregated data deviates from the reference data in a predetermined manner. |
| US08621258B2 |
Device for operating two memory cards in two sockets with different pin arrangements
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide devices and methods for operating two memory cards. In one embodiment, an electronic device includes a host controller, a first socket in communication with the host controller, for receiving a first memory card and a second socket, and a second socket in communication with the host controller, for receiving a second memory card. The physical pin arrangement of the second socket is in an order reversed from the physical pin arrangement of the first socket. The host controller transmits power to the first memory card and cuts off power to the second memory card during a first time period, and cuts off power to the first memory card and transmits power to the second memory card during a second time period. The first socket and the second socket transmit and receive same set of data signals. |
| US08621256B2 |
Signal processing device, signal processing method, and program
There is provided a signal processing device which is capable of suppressing the influence of a digital data process on an analog signal process without completely stopping a digital data processing circuit. A signal processing device includes an analog signal processing circuit, a digital data processing circuit, a determination section configured to determine an influence of the digital data processing circuit on the analog signal processing circuit, and a control section configured to stop a partial circuit of the digital data processing circuit or lower processing capability thereof in response to a determination result of the determination section. |
| US08621252B2 |
Power management method and apparatus, and power supply system
A power management method and apparatus, and a power supply system are provided. The method includes: obtaining a power demand value of each module and a rated output power of each power supply unit (PSU) in a communication equipment; calculating the obtained power demand value of each module to acquire a total power demand value of the modules; and adjusting, according to the calculated total power demand value of the modules and the obtained rated output power of each PSU, the current number of the PSUs actually turned on in the communication equipment. |
| US08621245B2 |
Powering devices using RF energy harvesting
Disclosed is an apparatus for an application including a core device for the application. The apparatus includes a power (preferably RF energy) harvester connected to the core device to power the core device. Also disclosed is a method for an application. The method includes the steps of converting RF energy into usable energy. There is the step of powering the core device with the usable energy. |
| US08621243B2 |
Saving and retrieving data based on public key encryption
In accordance with certain aspects, data is received from a calling program. Ciphertext that includes the data is generated, using public key encryption, in a manner that allows the data to be obtained from the ciphertext only if one or more conditions are satisfied. In accordance with another aspect, a bit string is received from a calling program. Data in the bit string is decrypted using public key decryption and returned to the calling program only if one or more conditions included in the bit string are satisfied. |
| US08621240B1 |
User-specific hash authentication
Backup data in a single-instance storage device is accessed through a backup server using hashes representative of and pointing to the backup data. To prevent unauthorized access, the server provides each client with encrypted versions of hashes corresponding to data backed up by the client. The hashes can be encrypted using client-specific symmetric encryption keys known to the server. To request data, a client provides the backup server with a corresponding encrypted hash. The backup server decrypts the encrypted hash using the client's encryption key. The original hash is only obtained if the key used for decryption is identical to the key used for encryption. Consequently, if an encrypted hash is stolen or otherwise acquired by a client different from the client that backed up the corresponding data, it cannot be used by the different client to request the corresponding data from the backup server. |
| US08621238B1 |
Using software-based decision procedures to control instruction-level execution
An apparatus, method and program product are provided for securing a computer system. A digital signature of an application is checked, which is loaded into a memory of the computer system configured to contain memory pages. In response to finding a valid digital signature, memory pages containing instructions of the application are set as executable and memory pages other than those containing instructions of the application are set as non-executable. Instructions in executable memory pages are executed. Instructions in non-executable memory pages are prevented from being executed. A page fault is generated in response to an attempt to execute an instruction in a non-executable memory page. In response to the page fault, an exception list of a sequence of instructions is checked for the attempted instruction in the non-executable memory page and if on the list, the page is set to executable and the attempted instruction executed. |
| US08621233B1 |
Malware detection using file names
Descriptions of files detected at endpoints are submitted to a security server. The descriptions describe the names of the files and unique identifiers of the files. The security server uses the unique identifiers to identify files having different names at different endpoints. For a given file having multiple names, the names are processed to account for name differences unlikely to have been caused by malware. The processed names for the file are analyzed to determine the amount of dissimilarity among the names. This analysis is used to generate a score indicating a confidence that the computer file contains malicious software, where a greater amount of dissimilarity among the names generally indicates a greater confidence that the computer file contains malicious software. The score is weighted based on file name frequency, the age of the file, and the prevalence of the file. The weighted score is used to determine whether the computer file contains malicious software. |
| US08621225B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing security of wireless communications
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for enhancing security of communications. The apparatus comprises a security processing unit, a data processing unit, a cross-layer watermarking unit, and optionally a smart antenna processor. The security processing unit generates a token/key to be used in watermarking and sends a node security policy to other components. The data processing unit generates user data. The cross-layer watermarking unit includes at least one of Layer-2/3, Layer-1 and Layer-0. Each layer performs a different scheme or degree of watermarking. The cross-layer watermarking unit embeds the token/key into the user data transmission on at least one of the layers selectively in accordance with a security policy. |
| US08621222B1 |
Archiving electronic content having digital signatures
In various embodiments, a computerized method includes receiving electronic content to be archived. The electronic content comprises a digital signature. The method also includes archiving the digital signature, wherein archiving of the digital signature comprises determining a validity status of the digital signature and storing the validity status in the electronic content. The method includes archiving the electronic content after the validity status has been stored in the electronic content. The method includes storing the archived electronic content and the attestation signature into a machine-readable medium. |
| US08621221B1 |
Method and system for event notification for wireless PDA devices
A method for transmitting verified notification messages from a service provider to a PID (personal information device) user. The method includes the step of registering a plurality of users and providing each of the users with respective public and private encryption keys. A message is then received from a first user of the plurality of users. The received message is signed with the first user's private encryption key. A signature of the message is verified by using the first user's public encryption key. The authority of the first user to transmit notification messages is then verified. The message is then resigned with the second user's private encryption key and transmitted to at least a second user of the plurality of users, wherein the second user verifies the signature by using the second user's public encryption key. Thus, the encryption provides a reliable means for differentiating between regular notifications and emergency notifications and is secure for authenticating and authorizing the messages sent from the service provider. A priority can be assigned to the message in accordance with a priority indicated by the first user. The message can be transmitted with the assigned priority to the second user, thereby allowing the second user to process the message in accordance with the assigned priority. The encryption keys can be stored in a database of the service provider. |
| US08621216B2 |
Method, system and device for synchronizing between server and mobile device
An arrangement and corresponding method for authentication synchronizing cryptographic key information between a server and a client device, via data signals, where the client device at least comprises one client. The server is at least configured to generate and send to the client device a current encryption key and a next encryption key. The client device is at least configured to encrypt information on the client device using the next encryption key and the client device is at least configured to return a correct One Time Password using the current encryption key. As a consequence of the received correct One Time Password the server then knows that the client has received the current encryption key, used it and stored the information with the next encryption key. |
| US08621215B1 |
Methods and systems for creating monetary accounts for members in a social network
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods of creating monetary accounts for members in a social network. One aspect of one embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving transaction data associated with at least one member of a social network, associating a first member of the social network with a trust factor, associating a second member of the social network with another trust factor, and determining whether to create an account between the first member and second member, based at least in part on the trust factor of the first member and the trust factor of the second member. Another aspect of one embodiment of the present invention comprises receiving transaction data from a plurality of members of a social network, wherein each member has an associated trust factor, and resolving the transaction data based at least in part on the trust factors associated with the plurality of members. |
| US08621204B2 |
Systems and methods for evaluating and prioritizing responses from multiple OCSP responders
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for determining a status of a client certificate from a plurality of responses for an Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) request. An intermediary device between a plurality of clients and one or more servers identifies a plurality of OCSP responders for determining a status of a client certificate responsive to receiving the client certificate from a client during a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) handshake. Each of the plurality of OCSP responders may transmit a request for the status of the client certificate to a uniform resource locator corresponding to each OCSP responder. The intermediary device may determine a single status for the client certificate from a plurality of statuses of the client certificate received via responses from each uniform resource locator. |
| US08621200B2 |
Key delivery method and apparatus in a communications system
In order to facilitate access to encrypted broadcast or multicast data an encrypted service key is sent from an access server of the communication network to the user terminal, passing the encrypted service key to a secure module of the user terminal. The secure module has access to a decryption key for decrypting the encrypted service key but this decryption key is inaccessible to other functions of the user terminal. Acknowledgement of receipt of the service key at said secure module, and sending the acknowledgement from the user equipment to the access server; authenticating the receipt at the access server and sending a return acknowledgement from the access server to the user terminal, and passing the return acknowledgement to the secure module; and authenticating the return acknowledgement at the secure module, and subsequently making the decrypted service key available to the user terminal, the service key making possible directly or indirectly the decryption of broadcast and/or multicast data. |
| US08621199B2 |
Secured presentation layer virtualization for wireless handheld communication device having endpoint independence
The connectivity and security of wireless handheld devices (HDs) can he leveraged to provide a presentation appliance (PA) (e.g. a laptop) with an ability to securely communicate with an enterprise's private network. A split-proxy server, with part of it executing on the HD and a part executing on the PA, implements a full HTTP 1.1 compliant Internet/Web Proxy to couple the PA for communication through the HD. Support for the pragmatic keep-alive header, the CONNECT method, socket connection sharing, and thread pooling, enables a fully functional browsing environment to access web-based applications that are built on standard Internet technologies without the need for re-rendering or re-writing the user interfaces to suit the HD. In addition, Intranet web-based applications are made securely accessible without the need for additional VPN and remote access technologies. The PA may be configured to prevent residual storage of sensitive data on the PA. |
| US08621198B2 |
Simplified protocol for carrying authentication for network access
Methods and system for simplified Protocol for Carrying Authentication for Network Access (sPANA) are disclosed. In the broadband architecture such as Broadband forum or WiMAX forum, a Network Access server (NAS) is one IP hop away from a user. Therefore, it is possible to relax the need in PANA to obtain an IP address prior to authentication. A PANA client (PaC) may use an unspecified IP address (e.g. 0.0.0.0 in TPv4) as a source address for authentication. A PANA Authentication Agent (PAA) may use an IP broadcast address as a network layer destination address (e.g. 0xffffffff). The present invention defines PANA Attribute-Value Pairs (AVPs) and procedures that allow a Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) exchange to occur in PANA. The PANA CHAP support may facilitate smooth migration from Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) sessions to IP sessions in a DSL Broadband network environment. The sPANA can be desirably compatible with the PANA. |
| US08621197B2 |
Web content customization via adaptation web services
A user agent in a Web access device transmits an HTTP request for Web content to an origin server. The request contains a set of capabilities of the Web access device. A content authoring mechanism and adaptation determination service on the origin server process the request to determine what transformation is required to make the requested content fit the capabilities of the Web access device. The adaptation determination service invokes a niche transformation service that performs, in response to the content and the capabilities, the necessary transformation. The transformed Web content is transmitted to the user agent. |
| US08621196B2 |
Booting from an encrypted ISO image
A device is provided in a data center that is connected to a cloud computing environment. The device receives unencrypted information, and divides the unencrypted information into multiple data chunks. The device also derives an encryption key for each data chunk, of the multiple data chunks, based on a master key, a chunk number associated with each data chunk, and a salt value. The device further encrypts each data chunk with a corresponding derived encryption key, combines the encrypted data chunks to create encrypted information, and provides the encrypted information to the cloud computing environment. |
| US08621195B2 |
Disabling communication ports
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to enabling or disabling a port by writing to a reset write-once register. A boot process for a device is initiated. The reset write-once register is set, during the boot process, to disable or enable the port. |
| US08621192B2 |
Computer start-up system, computer start-up method, and computer start-up program
To start-up a computer system promptly at the time of power-on. The system includes an expansion card having an initialization command set in advance and a main body unit on which the expansion card is mounted. The main body unit includes a central processing section for executing initialization of the expansion card at the time of power-on based on the initialization command, a history holding section for storing the initialized expansion card, and a dictionary section for storing a common command which is the initialization command common to different expansion cards. The central processing section executes the common command, and also executes the initialization command set in the expansion card other than the expansion card stored in the history holding section and not included in the common command. |
| US08621183B2 |
Processor with support for nested speculative sections with different transactional modes
A system and method are disclosed wherein a processor of a plurality of processors coupled to shared memory, is configured to initiate execution of a section of code according to a first transactional mode of the processor. The processor is configured to execute a plurality of protected memory access operations to the shared memory within the section of code as a single atomic transaction with respect to the plurality of processors. The processor is further configured to initiate, within the section of code, execution of a subsection of the section of code according to a second transactional mode of the processor, wherein the first and second transactional modes are each associated with respective recovery actions that the processor is configured to perform in response to detecting an abort condition. |
| US08621182B1 |
Management of object mapping information corresponding to a distributed storage system
Systems and methods for managing mapping information for objects maintained in a distributed storage system are provided. The distributed storage system can include a keymap subsystem that manages the mapping information according to object keys. Requests for specific object mapping information are directed to specific keymap coordinators within the keymap subsystem. Each keymap coordinator can maintain a cache for caching mapping information maintained at various information sources. Additionally, the keymap coordinators can optimize cache entries by maintaining selected mapping information while identifying object sources that correspond to differences from the selected mapping information. |
| US08621181B1 |
System and method for accessing distinct regions of memory using multiple mapping modes, each of the mapping modes having a predetermined order of dimensions for a respective region of the memory
A system including a register and a controller. The register is configured to store a map relating distinct regions of a memory to respective mapping modes. Each of the mapping modes identifies a predetermined order of dimensions of a respective region of the memory. Each of the dimensions of the regions of the memory is identified as a row, a bank, or a column. The mapping modes include (i) a first mapping mode having a first predetermined order of dimensions, and (ii) a second mapping mode having a second predetermined order of dimensions that is different from the first predetermined order of dimensions associated with the first mapping mode. The controller is configured to control access to the distinct regions of the memory according to the map stored in the register, including controlling access to a first region of the memory according to the first mapping mode while controlling access to a second region of the memory according to the second mapping mode. |
| US08621179B2 |
Method and system for partial evaluation of virtual address translations in a simulator
A method and system for simulating in software a digital computer system by performing virtual to physical translations of simulated instructions is disclosed. The number of virtual to physical translations using hash lookups is reduced by analyzing sequences of the instructions for determining with high probability whether the memory accesses made by the instructions perform the same virtual to physical translation in order to reduce the number of necessary hash lookups to enable faster simulation performance. |
| US08621177B2 |
Non-volatile memory and method with phased program failure handling
In a memory with block management system, program failure in a block during a time-critical memory operation is handled by continuing the programming operation in a breakout block. Later, at a less critical time, the data recorded in the failed block prior to the interruption is transferred to another block, which could also be the breakout block. The failed block can then be discarded. In this way, when a defective block is encountered during programming, it can be handled without loss of data and without exceeding a specified time limit by having to transfer the stored data in the defective block on the spot. This error handling is especially critical for a garbage collection operation so that the entire operation need not be repeated on a fresh block during a critical time. Subsequently, at an opportune time, the data from the defective block can be salvaged by relocation to another block. |
| US08621175B2 |
Wirelessly configurable memory device
A configurable memory includes an interface section, a plurality of memory modules, and an internal configuration section. The interface section includes a millimeter wave (MMW) transceiver and interfaces with one or more external components. Each the plurality of memory modules includes a memory MMW transceiver and a plurality of memory cells. The internal configuration section includes a memory management unit and a memory management MMW transceiver. The memory management unit is operable to determine configuration of at least some of the plurality of memory modules to form a memory block, identify an interface MMW transceiver to provide a wireless link to the memory block, and generate a configuration signal based on the determined configuration and the identified interface MMW transceiver. The memory management MMW transmits the MMW configuration signal to the identified interface MMW transceiver and the MMW transceivers of the memory modules. |
| US08621165B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing a volume image backup of selected objects
A method and apparatus for providing a volume image backup of selected objects is provided. In one embodiment, a method for creating volume image backups using selected objects of a source volume, comprises processing metadata and mapping information regarding at least one object of a source volume, wherein the mapping information is used to identify at least one data block within the source volume for the at least one object, wherein the at least one object is selected from a plurality of objects configuring a file system hierarchy of at least one image file using the metadata and storing the at least one data block in the at least one image file using the mapping information. |
| US08621164B2 |
Tiered storage pool management and control for loosely coupled multiple storage environment
A system comprises a first storage system including a first storage controller, which receives input/output commands from host computers and provides first storage volumes to the host computers; and a second storage system including a second storage controller which receives input/output commands from host computers and provides second storage volumes to the host computers. A first data storing region of one of the first storage volumes is allocated from a first pool by the first storage controller. A second data storing region of another one of the first storage volumes is allocated from a second pool by the first storage controller. A third data storing region of one of the second storage volumes is allocated from the first pool by the second storage controller. A fourth data storing region of another one of the second storage volumes is allocated from the second pool by the second storage controller. |
| US08621163B2 |
Management apparatus for improved database registration and update
According to an embodiment a management apparatus includes: a stream storage configured to store a stream constituted by a plurality of pages; a trace information storage configured to store trace information in each stream, a receiving unit configured to receive a request to write the pages constituting the stream; and a management unit. The management unit refers to the trace information; writes the page into the stream storage when the write rule indicates that the page is to be written in the stream storage; writes the page into the temporary storage when the write rule indicates that the page is to be written in the temporary storage; and writes the page that has been written in the temporary storage into the stream storage in units of extents at a predetermined timing. |
| US08621162B2 |
Automatic association of reference data with primary process data based on time and shared identifier
A method and system for automatically associating primary process data with reference data. The primary process data may include image, video, audio, text, search data, and the like. The reference data may include location, temperature, pressure, and the like. A primary process data processor device, such as a digital camera, is used to acquire the primary process data with time information, but without any reference data. A reference data collector device, such as a cellular telephone, is used to acquire the reference data with time information. The primary process data and the reference data are uploaded to a server and each are associated with a shared identifier, such as a user ID. Of the content and reference data associated with the shared ID, the server determines which primary process data and reference data were acquired near the same time, and automatically associates the reference data with the primary process data. |
| US08621161B1 |
Moving data between data stores
A data object may be moved from a source data store to a destination data store via replication. The replication is initiated when an original data object in a source data store that is capable of being both read from and being written to is read. Following the read, the original data object is then duplicated to a destination data store. The duplicate data object is provided with a state that indicates the duplicate object is duplicated from the source data store and can be read but cannot accept a data write. Subsequently, the state of the original data object is changed to can be read but cannot be written to using optimistic locking. Further, the state of the duplicate data object is also modified to being capable of both read from and written to with the use of optimistic locking. The replication is completed with the deletion of the original data object from the source data store. |
| US08621150B2 |
Data placement optimization using data context collected during garbage collection
Mechanisms are provided for data placement optimization during runtime of a computer program. The mechanisms detect cache misses in a cache of the data processing system and collect cache miss information for objects of the computer program. Data context information is generated for an object in an object access sequence of the computer program. The data context information identifies one or more additional objects accessed as part of the object access sequence in association with the object. The cache miss information is correlated with the data context information of the object. Data placement optimization is performed on the object, in the object access sequence, with which the cache miss information is associated. The data placement optimization places connected objects in the object access sequence in close proximity to each other in a memory structure of the data processing system. |
| US08621145B1 |
Concurrent content management and wear optimization for a non-volatile solid-state cache
Described is a technique for managing the content of a nonvolatile solid-state memory data cache to improve cache performance while at the same time, and in a complementary manner, providing for automatic wear leveling. A modified circular first-in first-out (FIFO) log/algorithm is generally used to determine cache content replacement. The algorithm is used as the default mechanism for determining cache content to be replaced when the cache is full but is subject to modification in some instances. In particular, data are categorized according to different data classes prior to being written to the cache, based on usage. Once cached, data belonging to certain classes are treated differently than the circular FIFO replacement algorithm would dictate. Further, data belonging to each class are localized to designated regions within the cache. |
| US08621144B2 |
Accelerated resume from hibernation in a cached disk system
A non-volatile (NV) memory may store hiberfile data before entering a hibernate state, and retrieve the data upon resume from hibernation. The reserve space in the NV memory (i.e., the erased blocks available to be used while in the run-time mode) may be used to store hiberfile data. Further, a write-through cache policy may be used to assure that all of the hiberfile data saved in cache will also be stored on the disk drive during the hibernation, so that if the cache and the disk drive are separated during hibernation, the full correct hiberfile data will still be available for a resume operation. |
| US08621143B2 |
Elastic data techniques for managing cache storage using RAM and flash-based memory
A set of data caching techniques are described which are used to seamlessly store data across both RAM and flash based memory. The techniques utilize a memory manager that includes a RAM journal and a flash journal to efficiently store the data and to make the management of the data across both mediums transparent to the user. The flash based journal works in conjunction with the RAM journal and takes the overflow of data from the RAM journal when certain capacity limits are reached. The resource manager uses journaling techniques to write data to the cache and manages the garbage collection created by the data journaling. |
| US08621142B1 |
Method and apparatus for achieving consistent read latency from an array of solid-state storage devices
A technique for achieving consistent read latency from an array of non-volatile solid-state memories involves an external entity determining the “busy” or “not busy” status of non-volatile solid-state memory elements in a RAID group. An external data layout engine then uses parity based RAID data reconstruction to avoid having to read from any memory element that is busy in a RAID group, along with careful scheduling of writes and erasures. |
| US08621140B2 |
Flash memory apparatus for controlling operation in response to generation of interrupt signal and method of controlling the same
Described herein is a flash memory apparatus and method controlling the same. The flash memory apparatus includes a processor and one or more flash memory units. The processor controls one or more memory operations performed in the one or more flash memory units. The processor stops controlling a memory operation in a flash memory unit when the memory operation is performed, and continues performing the memory operation in the flash memory unit when the flash memory unit generates an interrupt signal. |
| US08621134B2 |
Storage tiering with minimal use of DRAM memory for header overhead
Disclosed is a method of storage tiering with minimal use of DRAM memory for header overhead that utilizes the beginning of the volume to store frequently accessed or hot data. A solid state storage device is placed at the beginning of a tiered volume and is used to store frequently accessed data. When data becomes less frequently accessed it is moved to a cold data storage area on a hard disk drive in the tiered volume. The data exchange is performed on a one-to-one basis reducing the amount and use of DRAM. |
| US08621133B1 |
Reading multiple metadata files across multiple tracks
A disk drive comprising a rotatable disk, a head configured to read data from the disk, and a controller is disclosed. The controller is configured to read a plurality of track metadata files from the disk during one revolution of the disk using the head, wherein each track metadata file defines logical address to physical address mapping for a track of the disk, each track metadata file is located on a different track of the disk, and the track metadata files are located at track locations such that one of the track metadata files is read shortly after a track-to-track seek from a previous track. |
| US08621132B2 |
System and methods for memory expansion
This document discusses, among other things, an example system and methods for memory expansion. An example embodiment includes receiving first initialization data from a physical dual inline memory module (DIMM) and converting the first initialization data to second initialization data of a logical DIMM mapped to the physical DIMM. The example embodiment may further include programming a memory controller based on the second initialization data. |
| US08621129B2 |
Method and apparatus to reduce serial bus transmission power
In some embodiments, a serial bus interface circuit includes at least two serial ports, a memory to store a relationship between serial bus addresses and the at least two serial ports, and a controller to control access to the at least two serial ports. The controller may be configured to receive an access request for a serial bus address, determine a first port of the at least two serial ports corresponding to the serial bus address using the relationships stored in the memory, and disable a second port of the at least two serial ports. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08621127B2 |
Multi-processor device with groups of processors and respective separate external bus interfaces
The present invention intends to provide a high-performance multi-processor device in which independent buses and external bus interfaces are provided for each group of processors of different architectures, if a single chip includes a plurality of multi-processor groups. A multi-processor device of the present invention comprises a plurality of processors including first and second groups of processors of different architectures such as CPUs, SIMD type super-parallel processors, and DSPs, a first bus which is a CPU bus to which the first processor group is coupled, a second bus which is an internal peripheral bus to which the second processor group is coupled, independent of the first bus, a first external bus interface to which the first bus is coupled, and a second external bus interface to which the second bus is coupled, over a single semiconductor chip. |
| US08621124B2 |
System, method, and operating instruction for improved data storage/retrieval
A method of operating a data library system wherein a host requests media movements from storage slots to and from media drives and also data operations on the media and wherein an operations controller responds to the host with virtual movements of the media according to a protocol associated with a robotic library. |
| US08621123B2 |
Device management using virtual interfaces
Management of data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system is provided. A physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and applications executing on the host is opened and controlled by a software module. First and second virtual interfaces of the software module are exposed to an operating system of the host, and the operating system exposes the first and second virtual interfaces to a first application and a second application executing on the host. The first virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface, and the second virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface. Management of data communication between the peripheral device and the first application and between the peripheral device and the second application is thereby provided. |
| US08621119B2 |
Storage system
A host I/F unit has a management table for managing an MPPK which is in-charge of the control of input/output processing for a storage area of an LDEV, and if a host computer transmits an input/output request for the LDEV, the host I/F unit transfers the input/output request to the MPPK which is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV based on the management table, an MP of the MPPK performs the input/output processing based on the input/output request, and the MP of the MPPK also judges whether the MPPK that is in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV is to be changed, and sets the management table so that an MPPK which is different from the MPPK that is in-charge is to be in-charge of the input/output processing for the LDEV. |
| US08621113B2 |
Apparatus including host bus adapter and serial attachment programming compliant device and related methods
Memory system controllers can include a host bus adapter (HBA) and a serial advanced technology attachment (SA) programming compliant device coupled to the HBA via a function-specific interconnect configured to simultaneously transfer a command, a response, and other information between the HBA and the SA programming compliant device. |
| US08621112B2 |
Discovery by operating system of information relating to adapter functions accessible to the operating system
A tiered discovery capability is employed to obtain attributes regarding adapters of an I/O configuration. The first tier obtains a list of the adapter functions accessible to an operating system; the second tier obtains attributes regarding a selected adapter function of the list of adapter functions; and a third tier obtains common attributes of a group of adapter functions, the group including the selected adapter function. |
| US08621110B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
When a document, printing of which is designated, does not have a printable file format, an image forming apparatus determines whether a document management server which manages the document exists on the same network as that of the image forming apparatus. When it is determined that the document management server does not exist on the same network, the image forming apparatus acquires a file format printable by another image forming apparatus present on the same network, and transmits it to the document management server. The document management server receives the file format printable by the other image forming apparatus, and notifies the image forming apparatus of a list of an image forming apparatus or apparatuses capable of printing the document. Upon receiving the notification, the image forming apparatus instructs an image forming apparatus capable of printing the document about substitute printing. The instructed image forming apparatus substitute-prints the document. |
| US08621108B2 |
System and method for monitoring user interface connectivity state
A user interface and gateway can be synchronized with each other by maintaining a sequential synchronization parameter in the network gateway, which value is retrieved from the network gateway and compared against a stored value in the user interface. If the retrieved synchronization value is other than expected in comparison with the stored synchronization value, the user interface is reloaded from the network gateway. The synchronization parameter may be a counter that is incremented based on the occurrence of a given event, such as a request provided by the user interface. The user interface may intermittently request retrieval of the synchronization parameter to verify synchronization between the user interface and the network gateway. The synchronization mechanism can operate in unidirectionally triggered communication protocol environments, as may be implemented in web 2.0 applications with pull technology. |
| US08621101B1 |
Intelligent network storage interface device
An interface device is connected to a host by an I/O bus and provides hardware and processing mechanisms for accelerating data transfers between a network and a storage unit, while controlling the data transfers by the host. The interface device includes hardware circuitry for processing network packet headers, and can use a dedicated fast-path for data transfer between the network and the storage unit, the fast-path set up by the host. The host CPU and protocol stack avoids protocol processing for data transfer over the fast-path, freeing host bus bandwidth, and the data need not cross the I/O bus, freeing I/O bus bandwidth. The storage unit may include RAID or other multiple drive configurations and may be connected to the INIC by a parallel channel such as SCSI or by a serial channel such as Ethernet or Fiber Channel. The interface device contains a file cache that stores data transferred between the network and storage unit, with organization of data in the interface device file cache controlled by a file system on the host. Additional interface devices may be connected to the host via the I/O bus, with each additional interface device having a file cache controlled by the host file system, and providing additional network connections and/or being connected to additional storage units. |
| US08621100B1 |
Merge systems and methods for transmit system interfaces
A system improves bandwidth used by a data stream. The system receives data from the data stream and partitions the data into bursts. At least one of the bursts includes one or more idles. The system selectively removes the idles from the at least one burst and transmits the bursts, including the at least one burst. |
| US08621099B2 |
Systems and methods for formatting media content for distribution
Systems and methods are described for processing media programs for distribution on a network. Media programs are received from one or more sources and placed on a queue in an appropriate format. Programs are retrieved from the queue and processed by any number of servers to format the program and/or its metadata for distribution on the network. |
| US08621092B2 |
Remote portlet consumer with enhanced resource URL processing
The present invention is directed to a method and system to be performed by a WSRP consumer portal server for accessing a remote network resource addressed by a respective resource URL in a web portal infrastructure comprising at least a WSRP Consumer Portal connectable to a client Browser requesting the remote network resource, and a remote communication partner. A method for accessing remote network resources, a WSRP consumer portal includes: in response to an incoming client request for a web page, determining if remote portlets are comprised of said requested web page; for remote portlets sending a request for a respective portlet markup to a producer of said remote portlets; receiving a response to said request comprising a markup document including encoded representations of network URLs of a respective remote network resource; searching said response for producer encoded resource URLs of remote network resources, resulting in a set of found URLs; generating for each producer encoded resource URL a set of rewritten URLs, wherein each rewritten URL provides an access performable by said client to said remote resource; generating from said received markup document a new markup document comprising an executable code fragment, having the function to be executed by the client to select a specific rewritten URL out of said set of rewritten URLs; and sending a newly assembled web page comprising said new markup document for remote portlets and an unchanged markup document for non-remote portlets. |
| US08621088B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, communication program, and computer-readable storage medium stored with the communication progam
Multiple client apparatus 1 belonging to a predetermined communication group connected to the Internet 30 transmit and receive with each other video data corresponding to an image videotaped by a video camera 11 and audio data corresponding to voice input from a microphone 12. One of the multiple client apparatus 1 determines the number of client apparatus 1 belonging to the communication group, and decides transmission quality of the video data according to the determined number. The multiple client apparatus 1 belonging to the communication group transmits the video data according to the transmission quality. |
| US08621085B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing and utilizing connections between an application server and an enterprise information system based on a daytona architecture
Methods for managing, and utilizing connections between an application server and an enterprise information system (EIS) based on a Daytona architecture are provided. The methods may include operating a resource adapter conforming to the JCA standard, and interfacing with and being managed by the application server. The resource adapter may be configured to provide a connection to the EIS and to submit a query request to and receive query results from the EIS, including receiving the query request from a client; instructing the EIS to open a query, compile the query, execute the query, and return the results of the execution of the query; receiving the results of the execution of the query from the EIS; instructing the EIS to terminate the connection; and returning the results of the execution of the query to the client. Related systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08621084B2 |
Methods to route a bearer via circuit switching to an internet protocol multimedia system node using session initiation protocol contact header
A method of call routing is provided. The method comprises receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) INVITE message that contains a uniform resource identifier (URI) of a called party and that identifies that a bearer for a call to the called party is to be set-up at least in part over the circuit switching domain. The method also comprises determining a digit string associated with the URI. The method also comprises sending a SIP informational response message having a contact header that contains information based on the digit string. |
| US08621080B2 |
Accurately predicting capacity requirements for information technology resources in physical, virtual and hybrid cloud environments
A method, system and computer program product for accurately predicting capacity requirements for Information Technology (IT) resources in physical, virtual, cloud and hybrid cloud environments. The business demand is translated into IT application demand, which is translated into IT architecture layer demand. Resource groups are created for each IT application, IT architecture layer and resource type combination. The utilization for each IT resource group within the IT architecture layers is computed using the created resource groups, IT application demand and IT architecture layer demand. Under or over-utilized IT resource groups may be identified using the computed utilization for each IT resource group. Upon identifying such IT resources, an optimal resource profile (e.g., number of servers) for each resource group is computed. In this manner, the utilization of IT resources can be more accurately predicted thereby allowing the IT resources to be used more effectively without over-utilizing or underutilizing these resources. |
| US08621078B1 |
Certificate selection for virtual host servers
A method, system, and apparatus are directed towards dynamically managing certificates for a virtual host server. A certificate may be uniquely associated with each of the websites hosted on the virtual host. In one embodiment, the certificate is an X.509 certificate. Also, the certificate may be managed by a network device residing between a client and the virtual host server. When the client that is browsing one of the hosted websites, the network device may store a persistence record that maps client information to the hosted website. The client may employ an SSL protocol to establish a secure connection. When a certificate associated with the hosted website is to be provided, the network device uses the persistence record to determine which hosted website the client was browsing, selects, and provides the appropriate certificate to the client. |
| US08621076B2 |
Delivery performance analysis for internet services
One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides systems and methods for analyzing the delivery performance of newsgroup services. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment, among others, includes a newsgroup evaluation system configured to determine a delivery rate for a newsgroup server. In other embodiments, methods and systems are provided for analyzing completion and retention for newsgroup services. |
| US08621075B2 |
Detecting and preserving state for satisfying application requests in a distributed proxy and cache system
Systems and methods for cache state management to preserve user experience with a mobile application on a mobile device while conserving resources in a wireless network are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method can include, for example, storing content from a content server as cached elements in a local cache on the mobile device and in response to receiving polling requests to contact the content server, retrieving the cached elements from the local cache to respond to the polling requests made at the mobile device, and/or using state information associated with the cached elements to provide the cached elements as responses to the polling requests such that user experience is preserved. |
| US08621074B2 |
Intelligent work load manager
A management system for processing message-based communications comprising a plurality of servers configured to implement a plurality of sessions that process a plurality of messages, a plurality of message queues coupled to the servers and configured to exchange the messages with the servers, and a workload manager coupled to the servers and the message queues and configured to reallocate the sessions to the different servers and the corresponding message queues to achieve load balance between the servers and the message queues in a recurring manner during processing of the messages by the servers based on a depth of each of the message queues, a quantity of sessions for each of the servers, and a workload manager configuration. |
| US08621070B1 |
Statistical profiling of cluster tasks
A variety of complex multiphase tasks may execute within a cluster network environment. It may be advantageous to track and analyze the processing of such multiphase tasks. Accordingly, one or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for tracking the processing of a multiphase task within a cluster network environment. In particular, runtime support for recording task processing annotations may be embedded into a multiphase task using an analysis model. The analysis model may specify task processing annotations that are to be recorded during one or more phases of processing the multiphase task. During execution, task processing annotations may be recorded and associated with corresponding phases of the multiphase task. Task processing annotations may be aggregated into aggregated statistical task data. The aggregated statistical task data may be used to generate views of statistical data, which may provide insight into the cluster network environment (e.g., problematic nodes, bottlenecks, etc.). |
| US08621069B1 |
Provisioning a computing application executing on a cloud to a client device
A system is described to provision a computing application deployed on a cloud to a client device. In one embodiment, the system comprises a launch request detector and a provisioning module. The launch request detector may be configured to detect, at a server computer, a request from a client device to launch a computing application. The provisioning module may be configured to provision an application container from a plurality of application containers provided on a virtual instance of a machine for executing the computing application. The client device may be a desktop device or a client device. |
| US08621067B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing communications
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway having a controller to transport media data between a service provider network and one or more end user devices associated with the gateway, and transmit connection signals to a second gateway for establishing a management channel between the gateway and the service provider network when an undesired condition is detected, where the management channel transports management data associated with the gateway to the second gateway for transport to the service provider network using a separate transport queue of the second gateway. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08621063B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting Byebye message when operation of controlled device in UPnP network is abnormally terminated
A method and apparatus for transmitting a Byebye message when an operation of a controlled device is abnormally terminated are provided. A new field is added to discovery and Event messages defined in the UPnP standard. These messages are exchanged to allow a control point to monitor the controlled device. When the operation of the controlled device is abnormally terminated, the control point monitoring the operation of the controlled device determines whether or not the operation of the controlled device is abnormally terminated according to the presence or absence of a response to a Subscription Renewal message. The control point multicasts the Byebye message over the network instead of the controlled device abnormally terminated. It is possible to notify all control points in a network that the operation of the controlled device is abnormally terminated without increasing the load on the network and compatibility problems with existing UPnP devices. |
| US08621060B2 |
System and method for network vulnerability detection and reporting
A system and method provide comprehensive and highly automated testing of vulnerabilities to intrusion on a target network, including identification of operating system, identification of target network topology and target computers, identification of open target ports, assessment of vulnerabilities on target ports, active assessment of vulnerabilities based on information acquired from target computers, quantitative assessment of target network security and vulnerability, and hierarchical graphical representation of the target network, target computers, and vulnerabilities in a test report. The system and method employ minimally obtrusive techniques to avoid interference with or damage to the target network during or after testing. |
| US08621059B1 |
System and method for distributing enclosure services data to coordinate shared storage
A system and method for distributing enclosure services information is provided. A plurality of storage systems that are operatively interconnected with one or more intermediate networking devices and/or disk shelves are modified to include a target device driver module that is adapted to receive and process target commands from other storage systems to enable the sharing and retrieval of SES information from a storage shelf's master storage system. |
| US08621056B2 |
Enabling plural computing devices to communicate using a master account
Functionality is described that allows plural computing devices to share a master account. In one implementation, the functionality allows any candidate device to directly communicate with a communication system using the master account, providing that the candidate device satisfies a prescribed condition with respect to a master device. For example, the functionality can allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system if it is within a threshold distance of the master device. In another implementation, the functionality instructs the master device and the candidate device to set up a tethering relationship. The functionality can then allow the candidate device to communicate with the communication system, via the master device, using the master account. In one implementation, the functionality can set up the tethering relationship without substantial (or any) involvement of the user (or users) who operate the master device and candidate device. |
| US08621054B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing software update command program, software update command method, and information processing device
An information processing device is provided that provides service by executing a service provider program in a cluster system. The device includes a program information transmission unit that transmits to a monitoring node that monitors the cluster system, a node list information reception unit that receives node list information, an update target selection unit that determines which of the other information processing devices which are not yet updated with the service provider program by referring to the program information in the node list information, a command timing determination unit that determines a time after a lapse of the standby time found in the first update timing information as a command timing of the update command, an update timing information generation unit that generates second update timing information and an update command transmission unit that transmits the update command about the service provider program and the second update timing information. |
| US08621051B2 |
End-to end provisioning of storage clouds
Embodiments discussed in this disclosure provide an integrated provisioning framework that automates the process of provisioning storage resources, end-to-end, for an enterprise storage cloud environment. Such embodiments configure and orchestrate the deployment of a user's workload and, at the same time, provide optimization across a multitude of storage cloud resources. Along these lines, input is received in the form of workload requirements and configuration information for available system resources. Based on the input, a set (at least one) of storage cloud configuration plans is developed that satisfy the workload requirements. A set of scripts is then generated that orchestrate the deployment and configuration of different software and hardware components based on the plans. |
| US08621049B2 |
Software architecture system with embedded virtual router
The invention relates to a network system of at least two appliances, each appliance configured to perform a cycle of operation on an article, and each appliance having its own software architecture. An embedded virtual router enables communication among appliance components independent of the architecture of the software. |
| US08621044B2 |
Smooth, stateless client media streaming
An adaptive streaming system is described herein that provides a stateless connection between the client and server for streaming media playback in which the data is formatted in a manner that allows the client to make decisions and react more quickly to changing network conditions. The client requests uniform chunks of media from the server that include a portion of the media. The adaptive streaming system requests portions of a media file or of a live streaming event in small-sized chunks each having a distinguished URL. This allows streaming media data to be cached by existing Internet cache infrastructure. Each chunk contains metadata information that describes the encoding of the chunk and media content for playback by the client. The server may provide chunks in multiple encodings so that the client can switch quickly to chunks of a different bit rate or playback speed. |
| US08621041B2 |
Message oriented construction of web services
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to Web services construction and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for message-oriented Web services construction. A method for the message oriented construction of a Web service can include graphically assembling a selection of message flow primitives defining an operation for a Web service, interconnecting selected ones of the message flow primitives to represent a flow of messages from one interconnected message flow primitive to another interconnected message flow primitive, and generating Web service logic from the selection of message flow primitives. The method further can include interpreting or executing the Web service logic in response to receiving a request to invoke the Web service. |
| US08621035B2 |
Method and system for providing content remotely via one or more IP multimedia residential gateways
An IP multimedia gateway (IMG) receives content sharing service profiles generated by a service manager for communication devices that are coupled to the IMG. Content and/or content information that is received for communication to a first device, is communicated to other devices in response to a request. Content sharing profiles comprise permissions, group members, user preferences, device capabilities and security profiles. Content streams communicated to the first device may be shared with a second device based on the profiles. The second device may share additional streams with the first device. The first device or other devices may communicate the request. The content may be received from a service manager network device. The IMG and a communication device that may display the content may be integrated in a set-top-box or digital TV. Login access is enabled to devices for requesting content. Cooperation with other IMGs may enable discovery and/or content communication. |
| US08621033B2 |
Method for identifying internet users
Method for identifying Internet users, comprising: identifying or authenticating an Internet user at the Internet access point in the course of an access check when using the Internet access service of an Internet Service Provider with whom the Internet user maintains a business relation; and after the Internet user successfully passed the access check adding Internet user identification information to an Internet user's IP message by the Internet access point prior to forwarding said IP message, guaranteeing the integrity of this information with cryptographic means. |
| US08621031B2 |
Method and apparatus using connection pools in communication networks
An apparatus and method are provided of communicating between an application and a server including, on a client side, establishing a connection pool to the server. In an embodiment, a communication request from a client-side entity is served by a connection that was established in the connection pool prior to the issuance of the request. Subsequent communication requests may reuse the connection that serviced the first request. |
| US08621028B2 |
Content-recommendation message
Digital content items are shared using content-recommendation messages by recognizing an indication of a digital content item to be recommended and recognizing an indication of an intended recipient of the digital content item. A content-recommendation message for that digital content item is then built. The content-recommendation message includes first instructions for displaying, with a first visual appearance and a first feature set, information relating to the digital content item if the intended recipient belongs to a first class. The content-recommendation message includes second instructions for displaying, with a second visual appearance and a second feature set, information relating to the digital content item if the intended recipient belongs to a second class. |
| US08621025B2 |
Mobile data transfer and synchronization system
The invention relates to the transference of data between two systems independent of the form in which the data is kept on the respective systems, and in particular to providing an efficient means of communicating data between systems and devices. It further relates to a system for allowing users to provide other individuals with a personalized representation of the user in a network environment, such as a cellular telephone network and the backup and restoration of data stored in a wireless telephone, and in particular a mobile telephone having data storage capabilities. |
| US08621020B2 |
Method and apparatus for selective E-mail processing
Disclosed is a system and method for selective email processing. A traffic separator includes an interface for receiving electronic mail traffic from a source network address. The traffic separator also includes a processor for comparing the source network address to a stored list of network addresses to determine a categorization of the network source address. The traffic separator also includes at least one interface for forwarding the electronic mail traffic to one of many message transfer agents (MTAs) based upon said determination. A database stores the list of network addresses. In one embodiment, one or more network addresses in the stored list are network address ranges. |
| US08621018B2 |
Method and server for instant messaging
An Instant Messaging (IM) method and server are provided. The method includes: receiving instance login information sent by an IM client, wherein the instance login information at least includes login information of a user of the IM client and instance information of a terminal located by the IM client (101); authenticating identity of the user of the IM client, according to the login information in the instance login information (102); when the authenticating is passed, allocating an instance number for the IM client, according to the instance information in the instance login information, wherein the instance number is configured to uniquely identify the IM client (103). The server includes a receiving module (801), an authenticating module (802) and an allocating module (803). By adopting the method and server provided, multipoint login of one login account may be effectively achieved, and multiple aspects requirements of a user may be satisfied. |
| US08621016B2 |
Adaptive differential propagation of soap messages
A method of adaptive differential propagation of Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) messages is provided herein. The method includes the following stages: classifying incoming SOAP messages according to at least one of: structure, content, and context thereof; selecting a corresponding template out of a plurality of templates for each classified SOAP message such that the selected template minimized a specified diff function applied to the classified SOAP message and the selected template; applying the specified diff function to the SOAP message and the selected template to yield a respective delta; and encapsulating a template identifier with the respective delta, wherein the template identifier is uniquely associated with the selected template, to yield an outgoing SOAP message. |
| US08621014B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device for storing e-mail search results and associated methods
A communications system includes an e-mail server configured to communicate via a given e-mail protocol from among different e-mail protocols and configured to store e-mail data and generate e-mail search results. A mobile wireless communications device is configured to send an e-mail search request. An aggregation server is configured to communicate using the different e-mail protocols, and receive and forward the e-mail search request to the e-mail server using the given e-mail protocol. The aggregation server receives and forwards the e-mail search results from the e-mail server to the mobile wireless communications device. The mobile wireless communications device stores the e-mail search results in memory while displaying the e-mail search results on a search results screen on a display. The mobile wireless communications device also displays an other screen, different than the search results screen, on the display and while continuing to store the e-mail search results in the memory. |
| US08621013B2 |
Mail relay server
To solve the problem with mobile phone carriers that increasing mail traffic increases storage capacity of a mail server and network load, a relay server which relays a mail transfer (SMTP communication) and a mail fetch (IMAP communication) is installed in a carrier facility network. The relay server compresses a mail including a header transferred from a mail transfer server, adds a new header to encapsulate the mail, and transmits the encapsulated mail to an IMAP server as a compressed mail. In response to a mail fetch request from a communication terminal, the relay server decapsulates and restores the compressed mail fetched from the IMAP server, and transmits the restored mail to the communication terminal. The relay server changes parameters such as the mail size, so that no inconsistency of IMAP commands occurs in compressing/restoring the mail. |
| US08621011B2 |
Treatment of web feeds as work assignment in a contact center
To provide an enhanced customer service experience, various combinations of web searches, site-specific filtering tools and syndicated feed readers can be used to find relevant posts on the internet. Internal email, IM, phone, and the like can cooperate with an appropriately equipped expert-finding solution to assist with help in locating the experts qualified to respond to the post(s). The leveraging of RSS/Atom feeds or similar technology, content analysis, and contact center work distribution algorithms are leveraged to monitor the feeds from multiple sites and automatically distribute messages to appropriately skilled contact center agents. Each message discovered is analyzed to determine which contact center queue it is to be routed to, and then the contact center assigns it to an appropriate agent. This eliminates or significantly reduces the amount of manual searching and qualification of posts. |
| US08621006B2 |
Method and apparatus for listening for incoming calls on multiple port/socket combinations
In a computer system having a memory, a processor, and a network interface, a method for listening on multiple conferencing interfaces having the steps of loading a set of transport components into the memory; initializing each transport components of the set of transport components to listen on a particular conferencing interface using the network interface, each transport component of the set of transport components listening to a different conferencing interface; receiving an incoming call signal on the network interface having an incoming conferencing interface; processing the incoming call signal to detect the incoming conferencing interface; and launching an application based on the incoming conferencing interface. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08621005B2 |
Computer-based methods and systems for arranging meetings between users and methods and systems for verifying background information of users
Methods and systems for verifying, authenticating, and/or rating the identity or profile characteristics of users of online social networks and other websites and applications. And improved systems and methods that allow one or more individuals to meet or otherwise network or connect or transact or exchange information, tangibles or intangibles with other individuals and methods and systems for verifying and/or rating the identity or profiles of users of online social networks and other websites or applications. |
| US08621001B2 |
System and method for dynamically changing the content of an information display
A host Web page includes an evolving interactive dialog box wherein an Internet user may enter user data to be processed. When the user completes entering user data in a first revolution of the interactive dialog box, the first revolution is replaced with a second revolution of the evolving interactive dialog box without disturbing or affecting any other part of the host Web page being displayed. Beneficially, the first and second revolutions may be communicated to a user computer together with and at a same time as the host Web page. Also, the second revolution may include a variety of data which is selected or customized to match the user data submitted in the first revolution. Each revolution of the evolving interactive dialog box may be comprised of any combination of general textual data entry fields, category (pull-down) menus, contact information data entry fields, and opt-in/opt-out buttons. |
| US08621000B2 |
Region of interest streaming
A device may include an interface and one or more processors. The interface may obtain, from a content source via a network, a playlist file including a plurality of content file identifiers corresponding to a plurality of content files associated with alternate encodings of a content stream. The one or more processors may determine that the alternate encodings correspond to different logical divisions of an image area associated with the content stream, forward, to a client device, the playlist file for selection of one logical division of the different logical divisions, and request, from the content source via the communication interface and responsive to the forwarding, one or more content file, of the plurality of content files, associated with a particular encoding of the alternate encodings. |
| US08620999B1 |
Network resource modification for higher network connection concurrence
Implementations for network resource modification for enabling higher network connection concurrence are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a request from a client for a network resource having references to objects, and retrieving the network resource from one or more servers. The method further includes modifying the network resource to cause the client to open a greater number of concurrent TCP connections to the network appliance than otherwise would have been opened had the network resource not been modified due to a browser program imposed limit on a number of concurrent TCP connections. The method further includes sending the modified network resource to the client, receiving a plurality requests for the objects from the client over the greater number of concurrent TCP connections, and replying to the plurality of requests for the objects by sending the objects to the client over the greater number of concurrent TCP connections. |
| US08620998B2 |
Mobile application deployment for distributed computing environments
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for mobile application deployment in a distributed computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for mobile application deployment in a distributed computing environment is provided. The method includes uploading a mobile application into a secured central mobile application repository and modifying a distribution policy for other mobile applications in the secured central mobile application repository to account for the uploaded mobile application and changes within the distribution policy. Thereafter, both the distribution policy and the uploaded mobile application can be transmitted to a distributed application repository by way of an intermediate server coupled to a secured distributed application repository. The intermediate server is charged with synchronizing messages, calendaring and contacts with wirelessly linked pervasive mobile devices and an associated messaging server. Finally, the intermediate server selectively deploys the uploaded mobile application to different coupled mobile devices from the distributed application repository according to the distribution policy. |
| US08620996B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a group preference in a social network
A method (100) of electronically determining a group preference in a social network from multiple individual preferences of members of the social network is provided. One embodiment of the method (100) uses a combination of an individual's importance to a social network and a social network's importance to the individual as weighting factors when combining the individual preferences to generate a shared set of preferences. This group preference may be used to select content for broadcast to the network, including audio content and video content. A social network group preference determination apparatus (401) can determine the individual's importance to the social network by interrogating or monitoring the communication activity of portable electronic communication devices (402) belonging to the members of the social network. |
| US08620991B2 |
Technologies for detecting erroneous resumptions in a continuation based runtime
Technologies for enabling a continuation based runtime to accept or reject external stimulus and, in addition, to determine if an external stimulus may be valid for processing at a later point in execution. |
| US08620985B2 |
Method, system, and product for performing uniformly fine-grain data parallel computing
A method is disclosed that includes computing, using at least one uniformly fine-grain data parallel computing unit, a mean-square error regression within a regression clustering algorithm. The mean-square error regression is represented in the form of at least one summation of a vector-vector multiplication. A computer program product and a computer system are also disclosed. |
| US08620984B2 |
Minimum mean square error processing
A first systolic array receives an input set of time division multiplexed matrices from a plurality of channel matrices. In a first mode, the first systolic array performs triangularization on the input matrices, producing a first set of matrices, and in a second mode performs back-substitution on the first set, producing a second set of matrices. In a first mode, a second systolic array performs left multiplication on the second set of matrices with the input set of matrices, producing a third set of matrices. In a second mode, the second systolic array performs cross diagonal transposition on the third set of matrices, producing a fourth set of matrices, and performs right multiplication on the second set of matrices with the fourth set of matrices. The first systolic array switches from the first mode to the second mode after the triangularization, and the second systolic array switches from the first mode to the second mode after the left multiplication. |
| US08620976B2 |
Precision measurement of waveforms
A machine-implemented method for computerized digital signal processing including obtaining a digital signal from data storage or from conversion of an analog signal, and determining, from the digital signal, one or more measuring matrices. Each measuring matrix has a plurality of cells, and each cell has an amplitude corresponding to the signal energy in a frequency bin for a time slice. Cells in each measuring matrix having maximum amplitudes along a time slice and/or frequency bin are identified as maximum cells. Maxima that coincide in time and frequency are identified and a correlated maxima matrix, called a “Precision Measuring Matrix” is constructed showing the coinciding maxima and the adjacent marked maxima are linked into partial chains. |
| US08620973B1 |
Creating point-in-time copies of file maps for multiple versions of a production file to preserve file map allocations for the production file
To preserve the contiguity of file map extents of a production file when making a series of snapshot copies, the snapshots share indirect blocks of the production file through virtual pointers. When a write to a data block of the production file is first done since the time of the most recent snapshot so that the most recent snapshot can no longer share one of the contiguous indirect blocks, a new indirect block is allocated to store the file mapping metadata for the most recent snapshot, and a virtual pointer for the snapshots is changed to point to this new indirect block. Therefore the change in the virtual pointer changes the file mapping metadata for any number of snapshots sharing the new indirect block so that the method is scalable. |
| US08620971B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes: a database configured to, out of images extracted with a first frequency from the images making up a moving image content, register first layer summary data of a first size; a distance calculation block configured to calculate the distance between the first layer summary data based on the distance between vectors of which the elements are formed by the first layer summary data registered in the database; and a classification section configured to cluster into the same class the first layer summary data between which the distance calculated by the distance calculation block falls within a predetermined distance, the classification section further clustering moving image contents into a plurality of classes based on the classes into which the first layer summary data have been clustered. |
| US08620962B1 |
Systems and methods for hierarchical reference counting via sibling trees
Systems and methods for hierarchical reference counting via sibling trees are provided. The hierarchical data structure, together with its associated operations, can efficiently maintain reference counts and significantly reduce input/output (IO) operations compared to traditional techniques. The data structure presented here is applicable to any directed acyclic graph (DAG-type) structure where reference counts are used. Various embodiments of the present invention use a data structure to maintain a “sibling pointer” (pointing to the sibling node as a way to avoid reference count updates) and a “sibling count.” When nodes in the tree diverge, the sibling pointer and sibling count are updated as opposed to directly manipulating the reference counts of the children of the diverging nodes. Various other embodiments can use additional entries or fields that allow for improved efficiency and advantages. |
| US08620961B2 |
Mention-synchronous entity tracking: system and method for chaining mentions
A Bell Tree data structure is provided to model the process of chaining the mentions, from one or more documents, into entities, tracking the entire process; where the data structure is used in an entity tracking process that produces multiple results ranked by a product of probability scores. |
| US08620959B1 |
System and method for constructing and editing multi-models
A computer database system for multi-model integration includes remote client-side components and a multi-model database having a plurality of artifacts that define the multi-model database and a multi-model repository that holds the artifacts under version control. The remore client-side components include a multi-model manager, one or more connectors, execution automation engine, a sandbox, and a version control system client. The multi-model repository includes a plurality of models, wherein each model represents a discrete aspect of the system, a model registry containing a list of the models in the multi-model database, a set of input attributes and a set of output attributes corresponding to each of the models, a set of interfaces representing a tuple corresponding to each of the models, wherein said tuple contains a mapping operation and the input and output attributes, a set of attribute constraints associated with the input and output attributes, and a set of notifications associated with each of the models for informing the models of defined events. |
| US08620953B2 |
Automatic document exchange with archiving capability
The exchange of documents for execution can be performed efficiently using an automated system that routes and archives documents. The system may facilitate the exchange of drafts between parties by highlighting changes of the current draft with respect to the previous draft. Documents may be conveniently archived for efficient document storage and access by providing one or more central archive databases accessible through a shared network to a plurality of organizations. The operating system of the database may provide systematic access to individuals associated with an organization with the privilege to access documents according to a specific organizational hierarchy. Routing and archiving documents may be accomplished through a central exchange server. |
| US08620952B2 |
System for database reporting
A method of creating user-generated reports. The method begins with the step of receiving information related to consumer internet behavior. That information is then assembled into a database having facts and dimensions, in which the database resides on a server, the server being connected to a communications network. The method then provides a report generation system, including a report generation module resident on the server. The module generates a report, beginning with accepting user criteria for generating a report from a front end system resident on a client computer. It then generates from the database a dataset corresponding to the first report and forwards the same to the client computer, and it displays the report generated from the first dataset. The module then reiterates the report generation steps to generate a second report, the first report remaining resident on the client computer. |
| US08620951B1 |
Search query results based upon topic
Systems and methods for returning results to a query based upon topic are disclosed herein. Aspects disclosed can be particularly useful when searching for videos or other media content for which associated textual information are generally relatively sparse compared to other types of content. Text associated with the query can be semantically associated with various domain topics by mapping one or more words included in the query to one or more domain topics based upon a conditional probability of the domain topic given the query. A set of results can be identified based upon a conditional probability of the result given the domain topic. |
| US08620948B2 |
System and method for crowdsourced template based search
A system and method for searching information based on crowd-sourced templates comprising a user input subsystem for entering one or more search terms, a database for storing a plurality of crowd-sourced templates, wherein each template is a representation of a data collection process from a plurality of sources. Subsequent search entries with tags results in display of stored templates in descending order of rank. Templates may be ranked using crowd voting or their social relevancy. Templates may be viewed, edited, and stored on the database by other users through social network sites. |
| US08620933B2 |
Illustrating cross channel conversion paths
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer readable media, for generating Venn-like diagram illustrating cross channel conversion paths. In one aspect, a plurality of conversion paths are received. Each conversion path includes one or more user interactions that include a plurality of dimensional data. A sorted list of channel groups that includes one or more group rules is received and each user interaction is grouped into a channel based upon the channel groups. A selection of channels to visualize is received and an image including one circle for each selected channel is generated. The circles are optimally placed to maximize the accuracy of the overlapped regions with channel group data. |
| US08620930B2 |
Method and system for determining similarity score
A method includes generating, electronically, one or more matching patterns for one or more pairs of attribute values. Each pair includes two attribute values. The two attribute values include a first attribute value from a first record and a second attribute value from a second record. The first attribute value and the second attribute value satisfy a first criterion. Further, the method includes identifying, electronically, matching segment between the first attribute value and the second attribute value of a first pair. The method also includes repeating identifying for each pair. Moreover, the method includes computing a similarity score for the first pair using one of the first pair and the matching segment based on the one or more matching patterns and matching segments of the one or more pairs satisfying a second criterion. The method also includes repeating computing for each pair. |
| US08620924B2 |
Refreshing a full-text search index in a partitioned database
A full-text search index for a table stored in a set of partitions of a database is refreshed. At a first point in time, table row distribution information and a table partitioning list are captured. At a second point in time, it is determined that an index refresh operation is to be performed. The captured table row distribution information is compared with current table row distribution information to determine whether there is at least one difference. In response to the determining that there is at least one difference, a text index distribution is re-aligned for any table rows that are affected by the change in table data row distribution by: generating a new table partitioning list, and indexing documents associated with table data rows that moved from one partition in the captured table partitioning list to another partition in the new table partitioning list. |
| US08620922B2 |
Generating a taxonomy for documents from tag data
A method and system for generating a taxonomy for documents from tag data are provided. The method includes obtaining tag data in the form of tags on documents with tag weightings for a document and clustering the tags using the tag weightings for documents, wherein each cluster is an identified subject. The documents are associated with each identified subject and the subjects are compared to identifying relationships between subjects to build a taxonomy of subjects. A tag weighting for a document is the number of times the tag is applied to the document with a user rating of the relevance of the tag to the document. The steps are carried out automatically without user intervention. |
| US08620920B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program therefor
An information processing apparatus includes first and second position acquiring units which respectively acquire a position metadata piece from a target data piece and position metadata pieces from plural data pieces different from the target data piece. A target acquiring unit acquires target metadata pieces other than the position metadata pieces from the other data pieces, and an analysis unit analyzes a distribution of the target metadata pieces based on positions indicated by the position metadata pieces acquired from the other data pieces. An assignment unit assigns to the target data piece a target metadata piece that has a value related to the target data piece, the target metadata piece being selected from among the analyzed target metadata pieces, based on the distribution and the position indicated by the position metadata piece acquired from the target data piece. |
| US08620919B2 |
Media item clustering based on similarity data
Methods and arrangements for facilitating generation of media mixes for a program participant based at least in part on media library inventory information provided by a number of program participants. Those individuals that decide to be program participants are interested in organizing, maintaining and playing their music, based at least in part, on data derived from a population of other participants in the program. A program participant must send, and the system, receive, data representative of that program participant's media inventory. The system or program determines a relative similarity of each item from the collection of program participants as compared to each other item and from the similarity information clusters of similar items are identified. The clusters can be used to identify clusters of similar items in an individual program participant's media library and therefrom mixes of similar media items can be created. |
| US08620916B2 |
System and method for social inference based on distributed social sensor system
A method (and system) for data acquisition includes downloading a user's sent materials from a communication data repository, analyzing the sent materials and extracting data portions that are authored by the user, generating statistical values from the extracted data, transmitting the generated statistical values to one or multiple repositories, receiving the generated statistical values on one or multiple server machines, and aggregating statistical values of multiple users. |
| US08620915B1 |
Systems and methods for promoting personalized search results based on personal information
An information server identifies a list of search results associated with a search query from a user. Each search result has an initial position in the list. The information server then identifies a user profile associated with the user. In some embodiments, the user profile includes a set of user-preferred search results that is determined at least in part from the user's search history and one or more supplemental search results that are deemed similar to at least one of the user-preferred search results. Among the list of search results, the information server identifies one or more search results that are associated with the supplemental search results. Finally, the information server reorders the list of search results by moving each of the identified search results from its initial position by an offset and then provides the reordered list of search results to the user. |
| US08620912B2 |
Ranking advertisement(s) based upon advertisement feature(s)
While browsing, a user may interact with a wide variety of images. The user may upload and share images taken with a digital camera and/or search for image using a search engine. Because images are rich in contextual information, it may be advantageous to provide additional information, such as adjacent market advertising based upon matching advertisements with contextual information of the images. Accordingly, a query image may be used to retrieve a video frame set. The video frame set may be expanded with related video frames corresponding to adjacent markets. The expanded video frame set may be grouped into clusters of similar frames. The clusters may be used to rank advertisements based upon how similar the advertisements are to the clusters and/or video frames within the clusters. In this way, one or more ranked advertisements may be presented with the query image. |
| US08620910B2 |
Search system, search method, and program
A search system includes a scoring engine weight value database that stores weight value information of each scoring engine corresponding to a plurality of users, a search result response unit that causes weight value information that is stored in the scoring engine weight value database to be reflected in search results that are searched by a search engine and that reflect scores computed by scoring engines to create search results that are presented to a user; and a search result behavior acquisition unit that acquires selection behavior information of a user with respect to search results that are presented and that causes the acquired selection behavior information to be reflected in the scoring engine weight value database. |
| US08620907B2 |
Matching funnel for large document index
Search results are identified and returned in response to search queries by evaluating and pruning candidate documents in multiple stages. The process employs a search index that indexes atoms found in documents and pre-computed scores for document/atom pairs. When a search query is received, atoms are identified from the search query and a reformulated query is generated based on the identified atoms. The reformulated query is used to identify matching documents, and a preliminary score is generated for matching documents using a simplified scoring function and pre-computed scores in the search index. Documents are pruned based on preliminary scores, and the remaining documents are evaluated using a final ranking algorithm that provides a final set of ranked documents, which is used to generate search results to return in response to the search query. |
| US08620900B2 |
Method for using dual indices to support query expansion, relevance/non-relevance models, blind/relevance feedback and an intelligent search interface
A method for using dual indices to support query expansion, relevance/non-relevance models, blind/relevance feedback and an intelligent search interface, comprising using a computing device to: access an inverted index to obtain an initial retrieval of results in response to a query, and to generate a rank list of the results, the results referring to information units (IUs) where the query occurs; and determine a number of “N” IUs in the results that are regarded by the computing device to be relevant by accessing a forward index; and use the forward index to perform any one from the group consisting of: computing query expansion weights for top “N” retrieved IUs, building the relevance models by the contexts of query terms in the top “N” retrieved IUs, and finding the longest contiguous sequences of query terms in a query found in an IU; wherein the forward index and inverted index have pointers to locations in the IUs where terms of the query occur, and the forward index retrieves a term frequency vector of the IU or a set of contexts of the IU. |
| US08620896B2 |
Reverse matching relationships in networks of existing identifiers
A mobile device, system, and method are directed towards managing social networking information by employing a reverse matching search to identify those members of the social network that may have another person's identifier in their contact lists. The person may initially visit the social network site and provide an identifier either automatically or through a directed action by the person. A reverse search may be performed on members' contact lists to determine which contact lists include the identifier. If a match is found in a member's contact list, selected information about that member may be provided to the person. The reverse matching search may also be performed at various subsequent times to provide members information about new members to the social network. |
| US08620894B2 |
Searching files
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to searching files. In aspects, a search engine is able to search not only the current files but also is able to search for deleted and previous versions of files that satisfy queries. The search engine may maintain an index that facilitates searches. In addition, the search engine may also determine not only that a file satisfies a query but what version(s) of the file satisfies the query. |
| US08620887B2 |
Optimization of output data associated with a population
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods and computer program products for allowing a user to define output data to be optimized for a population, define one or more input constraints based on which the output data is to be optimized, and optimizing the output data for the population by selecting an object based on a selection routine. Embodiments of the present invention allow fast and accurate optimization of output data associated with large populations. |
| US08620882B2 |
Tokenization of multiple-field records
An improved technique for granting access to a complex datum maps a single user token representing a user onto a set of data group tokens, each data group token providing access to a data group stored on a storage medium. The improved technique combines the centralization of the complex datum while providing the security of tokenization and will lower the risk of a rogue third party gaining unauthorized access to the user's records stored across the data groups. |
| US08620880B2 |
Database system, method of managing database, and computer-readable storage medium
The database system includes: a storage unit that stores a database including an entity data group and a plurality of identifier tables having only a plurality of fixed-length data; and a data processing unit that receives a query and performs data processing on the database on the basis of the received query. Each of the identifier tables includes at least one tuple that is defined in a row direction and at least one attribute field that is defined in a column direction and includes a plurality of data identifiers uniquely indicating the plurality of entity data as the fixed-length data. The database includes a link table that connects the tuples between the identifier tables, in addition to the plurality of identifier tables. The data processing unit performs the data processing using the link table and the identifier tables. |
| US08620876B2 |
Firewalls for securing customer data in a multi-tenant environment
Network security is enhanced in a multi-tenant database network environment using a query plan detection module to continually poll the database system to locate and raise an alert for suspect query plans. Security also can be enhanced using a firewall system sitting between the application servers and the client systems that records user and organization information for each client request received, compares this with information included in a response from an application server, and verifies that the response is being sent to the appropriate user. Security also can be enhanced using a client-side firewall system with logic executing on the client system that verifies whether a response from an application server is being sent to the appropriate user system by comparing user and organization id information stored at the client with similar information in the response. |
| US08620874B1 |
Application recovery from network-induced data corruption
A source application reads a body of data in data block sized units and calculates a checksum value for each data block before sending the data block, the calculated checksum value and the identifier. Upon receipt, a destination application independently calculates a checksum value for each received data block and compares the two checksums. Non-matching checksums indicate a network-induced error in the data block. Identifiers for the erroneous data blocks are transmitted to the source application after all of the data blocks have been initially transmitted. The source application thereafter resends only those data blocks identified. The destination application repeats the process of comparing checksums and transmitting identifiers to the source application until all of the data blocks of the body of data have been correctly received, and then uses the data blocks to recreate the body of data. |
| US08620873B2 |
Method for supporting a safety-oriented system
At least one embodiment of the present invention relates to supporting a safety-oriented system, with the safety-oriented system including safety-critical software components and non-safety-critical software components. In this method, a possibility of a safety-critical software component and a non-safety-critical software component influencing each other is identified and a set of technical measures for preventing the possibility of influencing is defined. In this way, an absence of feedback from non-safety-critical software components to safety-critical software components is both verified and also ensured by at least one embodiment of the present invention. |
| US08620872B1 |
System for comparing content
A method for comparing content can include receiving first content generated by an author over a communications medium and comparing at least a portion of the first content to at least a portion of second content using one or more content-matching techniques to detect matched content. The method may further include providing content-matching feedback over the communications medium. The content-matching feedback can include suggestions for changing at least a portion of the first content based on the matched content. In some implementations, the first content can include a document written by the author, and the second content can include one or more publications. |
| US08620869B2 |
Techniques to manage retention policy tags
Techniques to manage retention policy tags are described. A system may comprise a tagging component operative to tag a message with an expiration tag to form an expiration tagged message, the expiration tag having expiration information used to expire the expiration tagged message in accordance with a retention policy. The system may further comprise a presentation component communicatively coupled to the tagging component, the presentation component operative to present a view of the expiration tagged message with an expiration field having the expiration information for the expiration tagged message. |
| US08620866B2 |
Distributed management framework for personal attributes
A technique for distributed management of attributes includes propagating attributes based upon attribute-granularity permissions. An example of a system according to the technique may include a server, coupled to a first client and a second client, that includes a module that receives attribute data from the first client; a permissions database where first permissions associated with the first client are set at the individual attribute level for the second client; an engine for updating the permissions database and for validating the first permissions for the second client; and an engine for distributing first client updates based on validated permissions to destinations associated with the one or more second destination stores. |
| US08620864B2 |
Physical item data record creation via cloning a data object in an accessible collection
An item data management server having the capability to create a physical item data record for a physical item in the control of a user based upon a data object of an accessible collection. The item data management server presents a clone command query to the user terminal, and receives, in response, a clone command query response that corresponds to and identifies a data object having a plurality of attributes. The item data management server generates a cloned physical item data record based upon the data object. The cloned physical item data record includes at least a portion of the plurality of attributes of the data object, and a second plurality of attributes associated with the user. The item data management server generates a web page including the cloned physical item data record, and presents the web page to the user terminal. |
| US08620861B1 |
Preserving file metadata during atomic save operations
A method of preserving file metadata associated with an edited file, performed on a client device, includes storing in a log information denoting a plurality of create, delete, and rename operations on one or more files in a file system, and determining when two or more operations denoted in the log, including an operation involving a first file and another operation involving a second file, comprise an atomic save of a respective file, the first file comprising a first version of the respective file, and the second file comprising a second version of the respective file, the first file and second file each having associated metadata. The method further includes associating a subset of the metadata of the first file with the second file, such that at least one of a globally unique file identifier and file access permissions associated with the first file become associated with the second file. |
| US08620858B2 |
Database synchronization via a mobile network
An apparatus adapted to operate as an A party in a database synchronization with a B party via a mobile communication network. The database contains data items to be synchronized. The apparatus includes mechanisms for maintaining a copy of the database and a client-server communication module with a client part and a server part. The client part is configured to communicate via the mobile communication network with the server part of the B party. The apparatus also includes change detection mechanisms responsive to a detection of a changed data item, for initiating a synchronization event via the client part of the client-server communication module. |
| US08620855B2 |
Use of topological charge measurements to change between different qubit encodings
A method for changing qubit encoding for implementation of a quantum computational gate is disclosed. Such a method may include providing first and second qubits encoded in a plurality of non-abelian anyons according to a first encoding scheme. The first encoding scheme may not be suitable for implementing a certain topologically protected quantum computational gate, such as an entangling gate, for example. Successive topological charge measurements may be performed on at least a subset of the anyons until the qubits are encoded according to a second encoding scheme. The second encoding scheme may be different from the first encoding scheme, and may be suitable for implementing the gate. |
| US08620849B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating open source intelligence gathering
Systems and methods (e.g., utilities) for use in providing automated, lightweight collection of online, open source data which may be content-based to reduce website source bias. In one aspect, a utility is disclosed for use in extracting content of interest from at least one website or other online data source (e.g., where the extracted content can be used in a subsequent search query). In other aspects, utilities are disclosed that are operable to perform various types of analyses on such extracted content and present graphical representations of such analyses on a display of a client device. |
| US08620845B2 |
Identifying application metadata in a backup stream
A method of identifying application metadata in a backup stream comprises finding a known application metadata signature within a backup stream. A source application of user data in the backup stream is identified based upon the known application metadata signature. Application metadata, which has been generated by the source application, is removed from consideration by a data de-duplicator which is used to perform data de-duplication on the backup stream. |
| US08620844B2 |
Neuron device for simulating a nerve cell and neural network device, integer cluster device, feedback control device, and computer program product thereof
Using variable neuron thresholds and extended Hebb's rule in a neural network, a neuron device for simulating a nerve cell includes a threshold storage unit storing a threshold variable θ and threshold coefficients Δθ1 and Δθ2; an input reception unit receiving one or more input signal values at predetermined time intervals; an output unit outputting an output signal value “1” indicating that the neuron device is firing when the sum total s of received input signal values is equal to or greater than the value of the stored threshold variable θ, or a value “0” indicating that the neuron device is resting; and a threshold updating unit calculating Δθ1X+Δθ2(X−1) using the output signal value X and the stored threshold coefficients Δθ1 and Δθ2 and updating the value of the threshold variable θ stored in the threshold storage unit by increasing it by the calculation result. |
| US08620843B2 |
Pattern recognition using active media
A pattern recognition system includes an active media, an input system, and a sensing system. The active media is such that initial states respectively evolve over time to distinguishable final states. The input system establishes in the active media in an initial state corresponding to an input pattern, and the sensing system measures the media at separated locations to identify of which of the final states the media has after an evolution time. The identification of the final state indicates a feature of the input pattern. |
| US08620842B1 |
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information using advanced active learning techniques
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information or documents into a number of classes and subclasses are provided through an active learning algorithm. In certain embodiments, the active learning algorithm forks a number of classification paths corresponding to predicted user coding decisions for a selected document. The active learning algorithm determines an order in which the documents of the collection may be processed and scored by the forked classification paths. Such document classification systems are easily scalable for large document collections, require less manpower and can be employed on a single computer, thus requiring fewer resources. Furthermore, the classification systems and methods described can be used for any pattern recognition or classification effort in a wide variety of fields. |
| US08620833B2 |
Method and apparatus for billing data services
A method and apparatus for billing data services. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller that manages a communications interface coupled to a communication system. The controller can be programmed to calculate a charge for service according to a degree of asymmetric bandwidth usage of upstream and downstream data traffic consumed by customer premise equipment. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08620831B1 |
Student-centered, cross-institutional curriculum management system apparatus and method
Apparatus and methods are provided for managing a student's educational curriculum. A degree dependency graph is created for a student corresponding to a degree sought after at a selected educational institution. The degree dependency graph may be created in accordance with degree requirements, graduation requirements, prerequisite requirements, and the like, provided by the catalog of a selected institution. In addition, a standardized nomenclature may be created using XML tags or other terminology, to identify like information from different educational institutions. The XML tags may be used by a curriculum management system to identify courses from multiple institutions to satisfy requirements of a selected degree program at a selected institution. |
| US08620829B2 |
Matched-based employment system and method
A method of operating an employment system is provided. The method includes generating a score for each of a plurality of possible results compared to information associated with a user, enabling the user to access a result of the plurality of possible results if the score generated for the result meets a threshold condition, enabling the user to adjust the threshold condition and preventing the user from adjusting the threshold condition beyond a minimum threshold condition. The score can be a bi-directional matching score. The minimum threshold condition can include a minimum score. The minimum score can be determined based on the percentage of the plurality of possible results that would be accessible to the user. |
| US08620828B1 |
Social networking system, method and device
A social networking system, method and device provides a social network environment in which one user subscribes to a newsfeed or ticker related to another user. Per a disclosed embodiment, users share URLs and post user-generated content, and other users view, comment on, or indicate that they like or dislike such posts; user approval or disapproval of such posts is made visible through, inter alia, a disclosed quantity indicator of popularity. Disclosed embodiments further provide a disclosed mechanism for recommending one user to another, for resolving disputes between users, and for displaying a wish list or an inventory on behalf of a user. Disclosed embodiments further provide for verifying a user and for checking a URL. Disclosed embodiments further provide revenue generation through collecting data pertaining to users, serving advertisements to users, and facilitating transactions between users. |
| US08620823B2 |
Media device payments remote control personalization and protection
A server is operable to receive a media device identifying number (ID) and to create an established association between the media device with a payment account and to support at least one of payment authorization and payment clearing based at least in part on the media device ID and the payment account. The server is further operable to produce the payment account information to a smart card personalization service server to facilitate creation of a smart card with the payment account information that is associated with the media device. The server is also operable to produce the media device ID to the smart card personalization service server to facilitate creation of a smart card with the payment account information based in part on the media device ID. |
| US08620814B2 |
Three party account authority digital signature (AADS) system
A system for making a purchase by a customer from a merchant, wherein an electronic message represents an instruction for payment from an account with a financial institution, includes a method of: associating a public key with identity information regarding the account; receiving by the merchant both encoding information for the electronic message and the identity information; forwarding by the merchant the electronic message, encoding information, and identity information; upon receipt of the electronic message, the encoding information, and identity information, retrieving the public key associated with the identity information; and determining a validation result as a function of the electronic message, the encoding information, and the retrieved public key. Upon successful validation, an account authorization is performed or payment from the account is made. |
| US08620812B2 |
Authenticated third-party check cashing
Tools for facilitating the process of providing presentation instrument redemption services, including without limitation tools that implement techniques for authenticating the identity of a check cashing customer through the use of biometric data that is derived from one or more biometric characteristics of the customer. The tools can be used to enroll the customer in a check cashing program, using biometric data as an authentication key. Thereafter, when the customer attempts to redeem a presentation instrument, the customer can provide the same biometric data, and the tools can authenticate the identity of the customer based one the biometric data. The tools can implement additional risk-prevention measures, such as risk-profiling routines, which can be used to estimate the risk of a fraudulent transaction, based on a variety of risk factors associated with the customer and/or the requested transaction. |
| US08620811B2 |
Method and system for conducting transactions with oliogopolistic entities
A method for conducting a business transaction using a payment processing network is disclosed. The method includes sending an authorization request message including an authorization request to an issuer, where the authorization request message originates from a business consumer purchasing goods or services from an oligopolistic business entity. The issuer sends an authorization response message indicating that the authorization request is approved or not approved. Economic incentives associated with the business transaction is provided to the oligopolistic business entity or the business consumer for conducting the business transaction, wherein the incentive would not be available in a transaction between a non-oligopolistic business entity and the business consumer. A method for encouraging use of electronic payment methods is also disclosed, wherein an oligopolistic entity and a group of business consumers in an industry vertical are identified based on sales information, and an economic incentive is provided to the oligopolistic business entity after it agrees to accept electronic payment transactions for conducting business with the group of business consumers. |
| US08620810B2 |
Methods and systems for verifying transactions
An aspect of the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for verifying authorization of a transaction. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a request to process an electronic transaction for a predetermined amount of money (215); dividing the predetermined amount into a plurality of charges (225); providing the plurality of charges to facilitate debiting of a financial instrument with each of the plurality of charges (235); receiving information relating to the plurality of charges from a user of the financial instrument after debiting of the charges (245); and verifying the transaction only if the information is correct (255). |
| US08620808B1 |
System and method for funding a collective account
A system and method for funding a collective account such as a charitable account includes issuing a plurality of financial instruments, linking the financial instruments to the collective account, aggregating individual financial instrument usage, calculating a bonus or other reward based on the aggregate financial instrument usage and funding or distributing the reward to the collective account. According to the invention, members of a civic, charitable, political or other entity may generate collective rewards or other benefits which may be attributed to the designated organization. |
| US08620804B2 |
Allocating research funding
Allocation of research funding is based on changes to sizes of resource clusters. Each resource cluster is composed of a set of researchers devoted to a single aspect of a research field. A size change to a specific resource cluster indicates a change to a level of activities associated with a corresponding specific aspect of the research field. In response to identifying an under-attended aspect of the research field caused by the change in sizes of the resource clusters, a recommendation is issued to allocate additional funding for research to the under-attended aspect of the research field. |
| US08620784B2 |
Formation and rearrangement of ad hoc networks
Systems and methods for the formation and rearrangement of ad hoc networks and more particularly to systems and methods for sharing bandwidth in ad hoc networks. The method comprises broadcasting a table to at least one potential lender requesting pertinent lender information and receiving the table from the at least one potential lender with the pertinent lender information. The method further includes selecting one or more lenders of the at least one potential lender which meet preset criteria and establishing an ad hoc network with the one or more lenders based on the selecting. |
| US08620783B2 |
System and method for providing redundant customer communications delivery using hybrid delivery channels
A system and method for providing redundant customer communications delivery using hybrid delivery channels is provided. In one configuration, the system utilizes an initial delivery channel to send a batch of customer communications and later utilizes a different, delayed backup delivery channel to resend only a subset of those communications as deemed necessary. |
| US08620779B2 |
Economic calculations in a process control system
A process control system includes economic models disposed in communication with process control modules, as well as with sources of economic data, such as cost, throughput and profit data, and uses the economic models to determine useful economic parameters or information associated with the actual operation of the process plant at the time the plant is operating. The economic models can be used to provide financial statistics such as profitability, cost of manufactured product, etc. in real time based on the actual current operating state of the process and the business data associated with the finished product, raw materials, etc. These financial statistics can be used to drive alarms and alerts within the process network and be used as inputs to process plant optimizers, etc. to provide for better or more optimal control of the process and to provide a better understanding of the conditions which lead to maximum profitability of the plant. |
| US08620776B1 |
Self healing andon system and method
Disclosed are various embodiments of a self healing andon system. One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a system comprising at least one server. The system further includes logic executed on the at least one server that retrieves a defect history associated with a vendor and at least one product from an inbound shipment from a memory. The at least one product is stocked in a materials handling facility, and the defect history is associated with a specified time period. The at least one server extracts at least one inventory defect from the defect history in a computer system and calculates an inventory defect rate. The at least one server imposes remedial measures if the inventory defect rate exceeds a specified threshold of the inventory defect rate. |
| US08620775B2 |
Retail behavioral tracking using microsystems
An arrangement includes a plurality of containers and a processing circuit. Each of the plurality of containers has a microsystem disposed thereon. Each microsystem is configured to sense at least one environmental condition and to sense movement of the corresponding container. The microsystem is configured to communicate information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement wirelessly. The processing circuit is operably coupled to receive the information regarding the at least one environmental condition and the movement from each of the microsystems. |
| US08620774B1 |
Automated marketplace management service
Techniques described herein provide a self-service, run-time configuration store for interaction between a business owner and a Web service. For instance, the techniques may receive entity-specific configuration data from a business entity, may validate and store the entity-specific configuration data in a central location, and may receive a service-specific schema definition from a Web service. In response to a command to push the validated configuration data, or in response to a request to pull the validated configuration data, the techniques serve the entity-specific configuration data to configure the Web service for use with customers of the business entity. |
| US08620771B2 |
Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods and services
A method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services using plural electronic options. The purchased electronic options are automatically exercised upon completion of an electronic purchase transaction for a desired good or service associated with the purchased electronic option and a final purchase price automatically adjusted based on exercising the electronic option. The final purchase price is adjusted based on electronic option terms as well as other factors including reward points, loyalty points, etc. |
| US08620769B2 |
Method and systems for checking that purchasable items are compatible with user equipment
The disclosed technology provides systems and methods for delivering a media program and purchase opportunities related to the media program to user equipment. A media program and its related merchandise information can be located at a distribution facility. The distribution facility can tailor the purchase opportunities it provides to the user equipment based on the user equipment's equipment category. When user equipment receives purchase opportunities, the user equipment can select the opportunities based on which types of merchandise are supported by the user equipment. The user equipment and/or a distribution facility may be able to determine the location of the user equipment. When the distribution facility provides merchandise information for physical merchandise to the user equipment, the merchandise information can be selected to include physical merchandise that are available for purchase at stores that are, for example, near the location of the user equipment. |
| US08620761B1 |
Tools enabling preferred domain positioning on a registration website
The present inventions may be implemented by tools enabling preferred domain positioning on a registration website. An example may comprise a computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a server computer, cause the server to receive a bid from a registry seeking such preferred placement for a domain (that may be administered by the registry), generate a quality score for the domain, and determine the preferred placement based upon the bid and the quality score. |
| US08620760B2 |
Methods and systems for initiating application processes by data capture from rendered documents
Systems, apparatus and methods for implementing transaction applications using a handheld document data capture device are described herein. The handheld device captures information from a rendered document. The captured information is processed to identify an electronic document corresponding to the rendered document. Information captured from the rendered document by the handheld capture device is used to perform a transaction. In one embodiment, a portable scanner is used to select items from a catalog. Information scanned from the catalog is used to identify the catalog, the items to be purchased, and complete an order via the Internet. |
| US08620755B1 |
Locating and organizing digital receipt data for use in in-store audits
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for auditing in-store sales transactions when a digital receipt is issued. A receipt application server formulates a digital receipt from digital receipt data received from a POS system. The digital receipt is sent from the receipt application server to an auditor mobile device at the location of the POS system. A human auditor can view the digital receipt during an in-store audit. In some embodiments, one or both of the receipt application server and the auditor mobile device reorder receipt entries so that items having specified characteristics are presented more prominently on a display. For example, receipt entries can be re-ordered such that higher profit margin items, bulkier items, or more likely to be stolen items are presented more prominently. As such, a human auditor is more likely to expressly audit these types of items. |
| US08620751B2 |
Facilitating advertisement selection using advancement bids
Systems, methods, and computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that facilitate advertisement selection using advancement bids. In embodiments, advertisement attributes in association with an advertisement are referenced. Such advertisement attributes might include an impression bid and a click bid. For a particular advertisement, it is determined if a satisfactory click rate is available. If it is determined that the satisfactory click rate is unavailable for the advertisement, an impression bid is utilized to compete with other advertisements in an advertisement-selection auction. On the other hand, if it is determined that the satisfactory click rate is available for the advertisement, the satisfactory click rate and the click bid are utilized (e.g., via an effective impression value) to compete with the other advertisements in the advertisement-selection auction. |
| US08620743B2 |
Method and system for enhancing video games and video game systems
A system making use of video games and data communications external to video games is used to provide advertisements, prizes and other benefits to gamers. The prizes relate to either of real world products and services as well as content for use within the video game environment. During a video game session an advertisement is provided to the gamer. When the gamer interacts with the advertisement the video game software acts to facilitate a transaction between the gamer and the advertiser. |
| US08620742B2 |
Advertisement approval
Large groups of Web ads may, at least in part, be approved automatically. A subset of a group of ads is selected, and a manual review process is used to determine which ads in the subset are not acceptable, and perhaps the reasons for the disapprovals. A distrust score may then be determined using the ads in the subset that were disapproved. The distrust score may also use the reasons for disapproval. The distrust score may then be compared with a predetermined threshold. If the distrust score is less than the threshold, the ads in the group may be accepted. If the distrust score is equal to or greater than the threshold, the ad group is not automatically accepted. |
| US08620741B2 |
System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or other times
A system and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak hours is provided. Customers or potential customers may bid on gift certificates redeemable at restaurants during a predetermined time. Users may register with the system and provide identification and demographic information which may be used by restaurants for targeted marketing strategies, promotions, and special offers. The system may include a registration module, an auction module, a restaurant guide module, a restaurant manager module, rewards and referral center module, restaurant reservation module, and advertisement displays. |
| US08620738B2 |
Loyalty program incentive determination
The eligibility of an transaction between a consumer and a merchant toward an incentive for a loyalty program is determined using a globally unique identifier (GUID) matching algorithm. Information characterizing the transaction may include a GUID for the merchant and a GUID for an account of the consumer on which the transaction is payable. The GUIDs are each matched against GUIDs of merchants and accounts stored in a database, some of which are distinguished as loyalty program participants. When both the GUID for the merchant and the GUID for the account match with respective GUIDs in the database that are distinguished as loyalty program participants, the transaction is eligible toward the incentive. |
| US08620736B2 |
Location-based promotions using data derived from item sampling events
Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc. |
| US08620735B2 |
Location calendar targeted advertisements
A method and system is described for targeting advertisements to a targeted travel habit. A targeted travel habit is comprised of a derived travel habit and associated values for any variables relevant to the derived travel habit. A derived travel habit allows targeting an advertisement towards a specific travel habit of a traveler, and utilizes the raw data entered by a traveler into a location calendar system. This raw data includes the traveler's home locations and travel plans. Raw data may be for the past, present, or future. |
| US08620728B2 |
Manufacturing productivity scoreboard
A system for displaying manufacturing productivity information, including a controller connected to a display device, a momentary actuator and a display. The controller records a plurality of cycle times between sequential actuations of the actuator and stores the cycle times in a library. The controller maintains a count of actuations that have occurred since reset of the timer and records time passed since the reset. The controller determines a median value of the cycle times and multiplies the median value of cycle times by the count of actuations to obtain a resulting value and subtracts the resulting value from the total time since the last reset to determine a value for total downtime. The controller activates the display to show the value for total downtime. |
| US08620727B2 |
Business performance segmentation model
A customer trending analysis and reporting system that enables business users to augment their internally focused accounting measurement systems with an outward, customer-focused measurement so as to simply define and quantify historic performance implications of customer satisfaction and retention, while concurrently clarifying forward opportunity ongoing, around which the organization at large will naturally align to purposefully and more efficiently improve the business's growth performance. |
| US08620726B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing locate and marking operations by comparing locate information and marking information
Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the marking operation (e.g., marking information) is compared to second information relating to the locate operation (e.g., locate information). In some examples, one or both of the marking information and the locate information may be filtered to improve data integrity in some manner. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment. |
| US08620725B2 |
System and method for enhancing credit and debt collection
A system and method for enhancing assignment of debtor accounts to a plurality of collection parties is presented. The preferred embodiment is capable of optimizing the way by which individual performance entities are assigned to collect on actionable individual debtor accounts by a creditor. An analysis solution uses algorithms to analyze gathered data and to provide a score to each collection party based upon the traits of the individual collection parties, debtor accounts, creditor, externally acquired data, and constraints upon all of the parties involved. The system and method are also capable of enhancing an individual borrower's credit score depending on the risk involved with providing credit to that particular borrower based upon the collectability upon default. |
| US08620723B1 |
System and method for generating a community contribution index
A system and method for generating a community contribution index (CCI) for organizations and providing reports pertaining to the CCI for one or more organizations is described. The CCI for an organization is calculated based upon monetary donations provided by the organization and the members associated with the organization and the number of volunteer hours provided by the members. The CCI provides a standardized way to measure an organization's contributions to the community. |
| US08620720B2 |
Embedding calendar knowledge in event-driven inventory forecasting
Systems and methods for automatically forecasting the future availability of one or more resources, such as Internet advertising opportunities, are described herein. In accordance with various embodiments, a forecasting model that accounts for event-driven resource availability is trained based both on historical supply data and calendar information specifying events and event duration. The trained forecasting model is then used to forecast the availability of resources at one or more specified future time periods. In accordance with certain embodiments, the forecasting model comprises a Gaussian process model that has an event-driven kernel as a covariance function. |
| US08620717B1 |
Analytical tool
An exemplary method for determining a singular impact of a base criterion includes selecting the base criterion and a trade criterion from a plurality of criteria and selecting a starting alternative and a target alternative. A series of virtual alternatives are then created, initially based on the starting alternative, by sequentially eliminating an impact of each non-selected criteria from the plurality of criteria. A final virtual alternative is compared to the target alternative and the singular impact of the base criterion is determined based on a difference between the final virtual alternative and the target alternative. |
| US08620716B2 |
Computer system and method for detecting and processing changes in data
The system enables business people to understand the impact of business transactions, changes and events in real-time using advanced rules and analytics to filter, categorize and interpret the significance of streams of real-time information. Most business performance analysis today is done manually and this process is a time consuming and skilled task leading to a time delay in producing the analysis. This time lag between the transaction or event happening and being able to take action on the analysis is measured in weeks or months at many companies. By blending real-time information with historical data and performance goals, this system enables business users to assess business events and collaborate within teams to drive optimal business performance. Using forecasting techniques enables business managers to predict the likelihood of achieving a particular goal without relying on manual analysis by a skilled analyst. The system automatically updates the forecast based on real-time changing data, enabling the business manager to have an up to the minute and statistically valid projection of future business performance. |
| US08620715B2 |
Method including a field management framework for optimization of field development and planning and operation
A method of performing Field Management is disclosed, a Field Management system including a portable Field Management (FM) framework being initially decoupled from any simulators, one or more adaptors operatively connected to the FM framework, and one or more open interfaces associated, respectively, with the one or more adaptors, the open interfaces each having interface characteristics, the method comprising: modifying one or more of the simulators such that the simulators adhere to the interface characteristics of the open interfaces of the one or more adaptors which are operatively connected to the FM framework; subsequently coupling the one or more modified simulators to the one or more open interfaces of the one or more adaptors of the FM framework in response to the modifying step; and performing the Field Management on the condition that the one or more modified simulators are coupled to the one or more open interfaces of the one or more adaptors of the FM framework. The FM framework is also flexible in that it allows control over how the FM Framework logic is executed in order to accommodate real field situations that require such control. |
| US08620714B2 |
Prognostic condition assessment decision aid
Methods and systems for prognostic condition assessment decision aid of a fleet of vehicles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a schedule of missions and maintenance of a fleet of vehicles, comprising receiving data from the fleet of vehicles for missions and maintenance activity, determining mission and maintenance requirements, processing the received data and requirements to provide an operational allocation of the fleet of vehicles, determining an alternative allocation of the operational allocation of the fleet of vehicles, the alternative allocation satisfying at least one operational objective for the fleet of vehicles, and generating a schedule for the alternative allocation of the fleet of vehicles. |
| US08620708B2 |
Progress status management method, program, and progress status management device
A progress status management device and a method for managing a progress status are provided so that a progress status of respective processes in a project is visually and swiftly confirmed. By using the device and method, it is possible to prevent a delay of the project progress because the processing states of processes at an optional stage of the project are shared and easily grasped by managers and workers among departments and outside business partners in charge of the project. |
| US08620707B1 |
Systems and methods for allocating inventory in a fulfillment network
Systems and methods systems and methods for allocating inventory in a fulfillment network are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying orders fulfilled by a fulfillment center, where each of the identified orders specifies one or more of a plurality of items. The method may also include determining, for each identified order, a probability that the identified order will occur in the future and calculating, for each identified order, a cost savings. Items may then be selected based, at least in part, upon the determined probability and cost savings of each identified order. Additionally or alternatively, a method may include, for a selected item, receiving a customer demand forecast, determining a bind factor, and calculating a target inventory for the selected item to be stored in the fulfillment center based, at least in part, upon the customer demand forecast and the bind factor. |
| US08620705B2 |
Method of connecting different layers of optimization
The present invention is a method for synchronizing multiple layers of constrained optimization with both layers having some common variables in a to processing plant. The layers of optimization can include Planning, Scheduling, Real-Time Optimization and Model Predictive Control. |
| US08620698B2 |
System and method for calculating estimated claim costs
A computer system includes a data storage device. The data storage module receives, stores, and provides access to historical claim data. A categorical aggregation component comprising program instructions stored in a program memory provides categorized and aggregated historical claim data by identifying claim categories based on the historical claim data, each of the one or more claim categories associated with a respective set of claim characteristics, identifying claims of the historical claim data associated with one of the claim categories, assigning each identified claim to one of a plurality of total severity ranges based on the total severity of the identified claim, and determining an average cost per claim year for claims of each total severity range when executed by a computer processor. |
| US08620696B2 |
Method of financing unfunded liabilities
A method is disclosed of financing the liabilities of sovereign governmental entities, their political subunits, and like entities (e.g., school boards, etc.), and private business entities through the use of insurance products. In one embodiment, the method may include: receiving a population data set, generating a plurality of mortality data sets, generating a financial target data set, transmitting the financial target data set to a plurality of life insurance vendors, receiving from each of at least two life insurance vendors a rate table, generating a proportional rating for each insurance vendor, generating a final rate table having a per member life insurance premium rate for each mortality data set. |
| US08620694B2 |
System and method for producing a flexible geographical grid
A variable resolution grid provides a mechanism for focusing specific concentrations of risk exposure on a geographical grid to determine projected loss caused by a particular catastrophe. The geographic grid provides a stable base map by using latitudes and longitudes to define the grid points and cells. Each cell is assigned a geographic identifier or geocode that identifies the location of the cell and its associated resolution. The resolution of the grid may be varied depending in part, on the resolution of any available of hazard data. |
| US08620693B1 |
System and method for processing and administrating deductible calculations
An insurance policy management system for administering and managing insurance policies having deductible coverage through a primary and a secondary insurer. The secondary insurer is provided a portion of a premium payment via the primary insurer to provide deductible coverage to a policyholder. The policyholder will not have to pay a lump sum deductible in the event of a loss when selecting the no deductible option and may have the option of bidding out the deductible coverage in a multi-insurer platform. |
| US08620691B2 |
System for communication of health care data
An apparatus for communicating health care data from a sender to a receiver is provided. The apparatus has a first computer system, a second computer system, and a rules engine. The first computer system has health care data stored therein. The second computer system is in operable communication with, and is configured to extract the health care data from, the first computer system. The rules engine normalizes the extracted health care data to a predefined format. The rules engine defines a plurality of health care data fields in the predefined format, as well as a plurality of relationships between fields of normalized data. |
| US08620690B2 |
Assessing practitioner value in multi-practitioner settings
A plurality of actual outcome data points, including actual outcomes for a plurality of episodes of a process, are obtained for the process. A practitioner-independent baseline outcome is also obtained for the process. For each given one of the actual outcome data points, the given one of the actual outcome data points is equated to the practitioner entity-independent baseline outcome multiplied by a plurality of unknown participating practitioner entity outcome indices for each of a plurality of participating practitioner entities. Each of the participating practitioner entity outcome indices is raised to an exponent including a corresponding one of a plurality of unknown participating practitioner entity type indices, to obtain a plurality of equations. The plurality of equations are solved to obtain estimated values of the unknown participating practitioner entity outcome indices and estimated values of the unknown participating practitioner entity type indices. |
| US08620689B2 |
System and method for patient synchronization between independent applications in a distributed environment
A method for synchronizing patient data between at least two independent applications in a distributed environment includes capturing screen information from a display window of a first application client that is displaying a medical image of a patient, analyzing the screen information captured from the first application client display to extract patient identifying information, and synchronizing a display of information of the patient on a second application system display screen with the first application display window using the extracted patient identification information. |
| US08620685B2 |
Modular microprocessor-based appliance system
A method is described that enables a health care provider to monitor and manage a health condition of a patient. The system includes a health care provider apparatus operated by a health care provider and a remotely programmable patient apparatus that is operated by a patient. The health care provider develops a script program using the health care provider apparatus and then sends the script program to a remotely programmable patient apparatus through a communication network such as the World Wide Web. The script program is a computer-executable patient protocol that provides information to the patient about the patient's health condition and that interactively monitors the patient health condition by asking the patient questions and by receiving answers to those questions. The answers to these health related questions are then forwarded as patient data from the remotely programmable patient apparatus to the health care provider apparatus through the communication network. |
| US08620684B2 |
Organizing medical images for display
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a system for interfacing with multiple medical imaging modalities that includes a manifest generator for generating a manifest of medical images. The manifest can be used to determine an ordering or a layout of the medical images generated by the modalities, optionally as a function of the modality type, anatomical area, and other variables. In some embodiments, the various medical images and metadata may be received at an image order management system that parses the metadata and assembles the metadata into the manifest files that may be transmitted independently to remote interpretation sites, which in turn may be equipped with image viewer applications that analyze the manifest files and determine a rearranged ordering and/or grouping of the medical images, wherein the rearrangement is executed as a function of modality, anatomy, orientation and other variables. |
| US08620679B2 |
Radiopharmaceutical dispensing, administration, and imaging
Apparatus is provided for use with at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, the apparatus including a container (22) containing the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent, and a portable computer-communcatable data carrier (120, 24) associated with the container (22), the data (120, 24) containing imaging protocol information for use with the at least one labeled radiopharmaceutical agent. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08620677B2 |
Online, interactive evaluation of research performance
Medical and other research organizations, sites within those organizations, and physicians practicing at those sites register in an online database. The company providing the database posts a description of a clinical trial opportunity or other research opportunity. The company can search and match for physicians with research opportunities, or the physicians can browse the list of opportunities. Once it is determined who will perform the research and awarded a contract, performance data are collected at 30-day intervals over the life of the trial for computation of benchmarks. The benchmarks from one physician are compared anonymously to those from other physicians participating in the same opportunity. |
| US08620667B2 |
Flexible speech-activated command and control
A collection of human language terms is obtained. The terms describe a system resource. At least one term in the collection does not describe the identify of the resource. The collection of human language terms is incorporated into a grammar. The grammar is utilized as a basis for identifying spoken user commands. |
| US08620666B1 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium that facilitate voice biometrics user authentication
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitate user authentication via voice biometrics in a network system featuring interactive voice response system access is provided. The voice biometric authentication mechanisms alleviate identity theft occurring via specific interactive voice response transactions. A voice biometrics authentication system interfaces with an interactive network platform and may be hosted by a third party provider of voice biometric technologies. |
| US08620663B2 |
Speech synthesis system for generating speech information obtained by converting text into speech
A speech synthesis system includes a server device and a client device. The server device stores speech element information and speech element identification information in association with each other so that, in a case that speech element information representing respective speech elements included in speech uttered by a speech registering user are arranged in the order of arrangement of the speech elements in the speech, at least one of speech element identification information identifying the respective speech element information has different information from information arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule. The client device transmits speech element identification information to the server device based on accepted text information. The client device executes a speech synthesis process based on the speech element information received from the server device. |
| US08620662B2 |
Context-aware unit selection
Methods and apparatuses to perform context-aware unit selection for natural language processing are described. Streams of information associated with input units are received. The streams of information are analyzed in a context associated with first candidate units to determine a first set of weights of the streams of information. A first candidate unit is selected from the first candidate units based on the first set of weights of the streams of information. The streams of information are analyzed in the context associated with second candidate units to determine a second set of weights of the streams of information. A second candidate unit is selected from second candidate units to concatenate with the first candidate unit based on the second set of weights of the streams of information. |
| US08620660B2 |
Very low bit rate signal coder and decoder
Improved oscillator-based source modeling methods for estimating model parameters, for evaluating model quality for restoring the input from the model parameters, and for improving performance over known in the art methods are disclosed. An application of these innovations to speech coding is described. The improved oscillator model is derived from the information contained in the current input signal as well as from some form of data history, often the restored versions of the earlier processed data. Operations can be performed in real time, and compression can be achieved at a user-specified level of performance and, in some cases, without information loss. The new model can be combined with methods in the existing art in order to complement the properties of these methods, to improve overall performance. The present invention is effective for very low bit-rate coding/compression and decoding/decompression of digital signals, including digitized speech and audio signals. |
| US08620657B2 |
Speaker verification methods and apparatus
One aspect includes determining validity of an identity asserted by a speaker using a voice print associated with a user whose identity the speaker is asserting, the voice print obtained from characteristic features of at least one first voice signal obtained from the user uttering at least one enrollment utterance including at least one enrollment word by obtaining a second voice signal of the speaker uttering at least one challenge utterance that includes at least one word not in the at least one enrollment utterance, obtaining at least one characteristic feature from the second voice signal, comparing the at least one characteristic feature with at least a portion of the voice print to determine a similarity between the at least one characteristic feature and the at least a portion of the voice print, and determining whether the speaker is the user based, at least in part, on the similarity. |
| US08620655B2 |
Speech processing system and method
A speech processing method, comprising: receiving a speech input which comprises a sequence of feature vectors; determining the likelihood of a sequence of words arising from the sequence of feature vectors using an acoustic model and a language model, comprising: providing an acoustic model for performing speech recognition on an input signal which comprises a sequence of feature vectors, said model having a plurality of model parameters relating to the probability distribution of a word or part thereof being related to a feature vector, wherein said speech input is a mismatched speech input which is received from a speaker in an environment which is not matched to the speaker or environment under which the acoustic model was trained; and adapting the acoustic model to the mismatched speech input, the speech processing method further comprising determining the likelihood of a sequence of features occurring in a given language using a language model; and combining the likelihoods determined by the acoustic model and the language model and outputting a sequence of words identified from said speech input signal, wherein adapting the acoustic model to the mismatched speaker input comprises: relating speech from the mismatched speaker input to the speech used to train the acoustic model using: a mismatch function f for primarily modelling differences between the environment of the speaker and the environment under which the acoustic model was trained; and a speaker transform F for primarily modelling differences between the speaker of the mismatched speaker input, such that: y=f(F(x,v),u) where y represents the speech from the mismatched speaker input, x is the speech used to train the acoustic model, u represents at least one parameter for modelling changes in the environment and v represents at least one parameter used for mapping differences between speakers; and jointly estimating u and v. |
| US08620651B2 |
Bit error concealment methods for speech coding
A method of concealing bit errors in a signal is provided. The method includes decoding an encoded signal parameter based upon constraints placed on a signal parameter, comparing the decoded signal parameter against the constraints, and declaring the decoded signal parameter invalid when the constraints are violated. |
| US08620649B2 |
Speech coding system and method using bi-directional mirror-image predicted pulses
A method of decoding speech data generated from a speech signal includes receiving the speech data having at least one main pulse in a subframe of the speech data, and generating a first predicted pulse, based on the at least one main pulse, on one side of the main pulse in the subframe of the speech data, where the first predicted pulse has a lower gain than the main pulse. The method also includes generating a second predicted pulse, as a mirror image of the first predicted pulse on a reverse time scale, on the other side of the main pulse in the subframe of the speech data, and reconstructing the speech signal using the at least one main pulse, the first predicted pulse and the second predicted pulse. |
| US08620648B2 |
Audio encoding device and audio encoding method
An audio encoding device which can improve encoding performance while performing division search on an algebraic codebook in an audio encoding. In a distortion minimizing unit (112) of a CELP encoding device: a maximum correlation value calculation unit (221) calculates a correlation value by using each pulse and a target signal in each candidate position for four pulses constituting the fixed codebook so as to acquire a maximum value of the correlation value for each pulse and calculates a maximum correlation value by using the maximum value of the correlation value; a sorting unit (222) divides the four pulses into two subsets each having two pulses; and a search unit (224) performs a division search on the fixed codebook and acquires a code indicating the positions and polarities of the four pulses where the encoding distortion is minimum. |
| US08620646B2 |
System and method for tracking sound pitch across an audio signal using harmonic envelope
A system and method may be configured to analyze audio information derived from an audio signal. The system and method may track sound pitch across the audio signal. The tracking of pitch across the audio signal may take into account change in pitch by determining at individual time sample windows in the signal duration an estimated pitch and a representation of harmonic envelope at the estimated pitch. The estimated pitch and the representation of harmonic envelope may then be implemented to determine an estimated pitch for another time sample window in the signal duration with an enhanced accuracy and/or precision. |
| US08620643B1 |
Auditory eigenfunction systems and methods
A computer numerical processing method for representing audio information for use in conjunction with human hearing is described. The method comprises approximating an eigenfunction equation representing a model of human hearing, calculating the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions from at least one aspect of the eigenfunction equation, and storing the approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions for use at a later time. The approximation to each of a plurality of eigenfunctions represents audio information. The model of human hearing includes a bandpass operation with a bandwidth having the frequency range of human hearing and a time-limiting operation approximating the time duration correlation window of human hearing. |
| US08620642B2 |
Apparatus and method for linguistic scoring
In embodiments of the invention, a system receives selections from a user based on a list of pre-defined monitoring categories and/or optionally receives custom category definitions from the user. The option for custom category definitions may be advantageous due to the flexibility provided to a system administrator or other user. In embodiments of the invention, the pre-defined and/or custom monitoring categories may be or include complex hierarchical behavior. Such an approach provides monitoring algorithms that can achieve improved accuracy compared to known methods. In embodiments of the invention, the order of computations used in resolving a monitoring category may be re-ordered, statically and/or dynamically, to improve the efficiency of monitoring operations. |
| US08620635B2 |
Composition of analytics models
The composition of multiple analytical visual composition models into a single whole. A model importation mechanism allows a model author or other user import all or portions of other models. By so doing, the author might cause the following to be supplemented or changed in an existing analytics-driven model: 1) additional model input data as well to generate a supplemented set of model input data; 2) additional bindings between the supplemental set of model input data to the model parameters; 3) additional model parameters to generate a supplemental set of model parameters; and 4) additional analytical relationships between the supplemental set of model parameters. Accordingly, the author may borrow from models by other authors, allowing for effective collaboration in order to construct increasingly complex models. |
| US08620632B2 |
Estimating building thermal properties by integrating heat transfer inversion model with clustering and regression techniques for a portfolio of existing buildings
A static heat transfer model is derived from a system of dynamic equations by integrating the dynamic equations over different time periods. That static heat transfer model links periodic (e.g., monthly) energy usage with cooling and heating degree hours, humidifying and dehumidifying hours. Its coefficients of measuring correlations correspond to the thermal parameters of buildings. Temporal data from a building may be used to estimate the overall heat transfer parameters. A clustering scheme may be developed to decompose all the buildings into different clusters based on one or more similarity criteria. The overall heat transfer parameters are separated into values for the wall, roof and window using multiple buildings' data in the same cluster or group. |
| US08620631B2 |
Method of identifying Hammerstein models with known nonlinearity structures using particle swarm optimization
The method of identifying Hammerstein models with known nonlinearity structures using particle swarm optimization provides a computerized method utilizing a particle swarm optimization (PSO)-based scheme for the identification of nonlinear Hammerstein models with known nonlinearity structures. Particularly, this is accomplished by formulating the identification of the Hammerstein model as an optimization problem, with PSO being used in the optimization process. |
| US08620629B1 |
Identification and simulation of multiple subgraphs in multi-domain graphical modeling environment
A Discrete Event System model created or provided in a time domain modeling and simulation environment and/or an event domain modeling and simulation environment may be divided into multiple independent regions, e.g. “subgraphs”, to achieve interleaved execution of the components from different domains. The subgraphs are automatically identified by the modeling and simulation environment during the compilation. Each subgraph consists of one or more interconnected event-driven components. Each subgraph is associated with an event calendar that controls the execution of the associated subgraph. Such multiple event calendar design enables multi-domain simulation, where event-driven components modeled by an event domain modeling environment and time-driven components modeled by a time domain modeling environment are simulated in an integrated fashion. |
| US08620628B2 |
Run-time tunable sample time in programming or modeling environments
Programming or modeling environments in which programs or models are simulated or executed with tunable sample times are disclosed. The tunable sample times can be changed during the simulation or execution of the programs or models without recompiling the programs or models. The sample times are parameterized and the value of the sample times is changed during the simulation or execution of the programs or models. The sample times may be changed manually by a user. Alternatively, the sample times may be automatically changed by programmatically defining when and how the sample times are determined. |
| US08620626B2 |
Comparison of data signals using characteristic electronic thumbprints extracted therefrom
A characteristic thumbprint is extracted from a data signal, the thumbprint based on statistics relating to the data signal. The data signal can be compared indirectly by matching this thumbprint against one or more reference thumbprints. The data signal may be any type of signal, including streaming digitized audio or obtained from static files. A database may contain a number of these characteristic thumbprints, and the database can be searched for a particular thumbprint. |
| US08620624B2 |
Event identification in sensor analytics
A method of detecting an event anomaly includes receiving one or more data points, in which each data point represents a spatial or temporal event; associating a unique identifier with each of the one or more data points to obtain one or more individualized data points; distributing the one or more individualized data points across a grid, in which the grid includes one or more cells; determining an event likelihood ratio for one or more of the grid cells; identifying one or more event clusters, in which each event cluster includes one or more of the grid cells; and storing in a data repository an event cluster having a significance level above a threshold significance level. |
| US08620621B2 |
Maintenance of intelligent assets
A work performance acquisition module of an intelligent assets maintenance system obtains work performance data of intelligent assets from a device operation production control system. A status monitoring module obtains operation status data of the intelligent assets. A loss calculation module calculates a loss degree of the intelligent assets according to the obtained work performance and operation status data. A maintenance determining module determines whether the intelligent assets need maintenance according to the loss degree of the intelligent assets. |
| US08620616B2 |
Methods and apparatus for assessing marking operations based on acceleration information
Marking devices of the type used for marking a presence or an absence of underground facilities and including motion detectors such as accelerometers are described. Methods of collecting and analyzing motion information indicative of the motion of a marking device are also described. The motion information may be used for various purposes, including documenting performance of a marking operation and/or performance of a particular technician, pattern determination and comparison, as well as quality control assessment. |
| US08620614B2 |
Apparatus for characterizing the temporo-spatial properties of a dynamic fluid front and method thereof
Methods and apparatus are described for characterizing the temporal-spatial properties of a dynamic fluid front within a mold space while the mold space is being filled with fluid. A method includes providing a mold defining a mold space and having one or more openings into the mold space; heating a plurality of temperature sensors that extend into the mold space; injecting a fluid into the mold space through the openings, the fluid experiencing a dynamic fluid front while filling the mold space with the fluid; and characterizing temporal-spatial properties of the dynamic fluid front by monitoring a temperature of each of the plurality of heated temperature sensors while the mold space is being filled with the fluid. An apparatus includes a mold defining a mold space; one or more openings for introducing a fluid into the mold space and filling the mold space with the fluid, the fluid experiencing a dynamic fluid front while filling the mold space; a plurality of heated temperature sensors extending into the mold space; and a computer coupled to the plurality of heated temperature sensors for characterizing the temporal-spatial properties of the dynamic fluid front. |
| US08620612B2 |
Equivalent circuit of inductance element, method of analyzing circuit constant, circuit constant analysis program, device for analyzing circuit constant, circuit simulator
A circuit constant analysis method for an equivalent circuit of an inductance element includes determining values of various elements constituting the equivalent circuit from measured values of select electrical characteristics of the actual inductance element. The equivalent circuit includes: a parallel circuit connecting in parallel an inductance Ls, a capacitance Cp, and a resistance Rp; a capacitance Cr connected in series to said resistance Rp; an inductance Lr connected in parallel to said resistance Rp; a resistance Rs connected in series to said parallel circuit; a plurality of closed circuits including a resistance Rmi and an inductance Lmi magnetically coupled with a coupling coefficient ki by a mutual inductance Mi to said inductance Ls; and a resistance Rc connected in series to said capacitance Cp. |
| US08620611B2 |
Method of measuring multi-phase fluid flow downhole
Multi-phase flow is estimated in a flow meter by measuring fluid pressure within the flow meter and using the measured pressure to calculate a density of the flow. A total flow rate through the flow meter is estimated based on the calculated density and a PVT analysis of the fluid. A corrected total mass flow rate is calculated using a liquid/gas slip correction technique. Fluid flow rates are further corrected with a discharge coefficient that varies with changes in the Reynolds number of the fluid. The gas and oil fractions can be determined from the corrected total mass flow rate and gas fraction. |
| US08620609B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying anomalies of a signal
A method and apparatus are disclosed for identifying anomalies of a signal, by analyzing a signal using a frequency-based technique, analyzing results of the frequency-based analysis using a statistical analysis technique, determining one or more limits based on the statistical analysis, and comparing a frequency domain representation of the signal to the limits to identify anomalies of the signal. |
| US08620602B2 |
System for detecting leaks in single phase and multiphase fluid transport pipelines
This patents refers to a system developed for detecting leaks in single-phase and multiphase fluid transport pipelines characterized by use measurements cells (3), sensors (4), locals processors (5) and neural models, where the measuring sensors (4) and the measurement cells (3) are installed at a number of locations along the pipeline with the purpose of monitoring the characteristic leak and normal operational pipeline transient waveforms. The local processors (5) are responsible for obtaining and sampling the signals supplied by the sensors (4), as well as their pre-processing, to make them compatible with the inputs to the neural model, this are associated to dynamic memory banks for analyzing the signals supplied by the sensors with the aim of emitting an alarm in the event that waveforms with the characteristics of a leak are detected. The local processors (5) are necessaries to implement and execute the neural models and, in the event that a leak is detected, carry out the localization calculations based on the different propagation velocities of the fluid dynamic transient caused by the leak. The system use of a communications network for transmitting data between the local processors with the aim of comparing the alarms originating from the local processors (5). |
| US08620599B2 |
Membrane tension measuring apparatus
A membrane tension measuring apparatus comprises: a rectangular frame (5) adapted to be abuttable on a surface (4) of a membrane (2) to which tension (Tx, Ty) is applied; an acoustic wave generator (17) operable to emit an acoustic wave (16) toward a part (2a) of the membrane (2) surrounded by the frame (5); a vibration detector (24) operable to detect vibration which is induced in the part (2a) of the membrane (2) by the emitted acoustic wave (16); and a processor (29) operable to calculate the tension (Tx, Ty) based on vibration data detected by the vibration detector (24). Each of the acoustic wave generator (17), the vibration detector (24) and the processor (29) is mounted to the frame (5). |
| US08620582B2 |
Device position method and apparatus using celestial objects
A system and method of determining a position of an electronic device is presented herein. An image is displayed having at least one celestial object and a celestial object indicator for selecting a celestial object. The celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object. Data indicating a relative angle of the device with respect to the Earth in at least two dimensions is received at the processor. The time when the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object is determined. The position of the electronic device is determined by comparing the location of the celestial object in the image data and relative angle information at the time of the indication to a database at least partially stored on the electronic device in response to an indication that the celestial object indicator is overlaid on the at least one celestial object. |
| US08620580B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for assisted navigation systems
The invention relates to a navigation systems and elements. A network element (M) includes a receiver (M.2.2) for forming assistance data relating to at least one navigation system. The network element (M) inserts indication of the navigation system and a selected mode into the assistance data and constructs the assistance data according to the selected mode. The network element (M) has a transmitting element (M.3.1) for transmitting the assistance data via a communications network (P) to a device (R). The device (R) includes a positioning receiver (R.3) for performing positioning on the basis of one or more signals of the at least one satellite navigation system; a receiver (R.2.2) for receiving the assistance data from the network element (M); and an examining element (R.1.1) adapted to examine the received assistance data. The assistance data is adapted to be used by the positioning receiver for performing positioning of the device (R). |
| US08620579B1 |
Enhanced identification of interesting points-of-interest
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying points-of-interest. In one aspect, a method includes determining a position and a heading of a mobile device, defining a zone of interest based on the position and heading of the mobile device, identifying one or more points of interest (POIs) that are located within the zone of interest, determining, for each of the identified POIs, a distance between the mobile device and the respective POI, selecting one or more of the identified POIs based on the distances, and displaying information identifying the selected POIs on a user interface of the mobile device. |
| US08620576B1 |
Product location navigation
The exemplary technologies can automatically offer customer directions for navigating to a store, having a desired product in stock, on the customer's mobile station, for example, turn-by-turn directions from a store that does not have the customer-desired product to an affiliated store that has the product in stock. |
| US08620575B2 |
Route guidance method and system for implementing such a method, as well as a corresponding computer program and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium
The invention relates to a route guidance method and a system for implementing such a method, and a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, which in particular may be used for an adaptive route guidance, the travel routes being selected that offer the highest safety when following the required driving maneuvers. For this purpose, it is recommended to output driving recommendations as a function of the risk of calculated routes. To this end, information about the current traffic situation in the surroundings of the vehicle is evaluated, the risk of the driving maneuvers resulting from calculated routes is evaluated using the results of the evaluation by at least one computer program, and driving instructions are output as a function of the evaluation. |
| US08620573B2 |
Method for determining a route in a navigation system, and navigation system
A method for determining a route from a starting point to a destination point in a navigation system for a motor vehicle, a factor which influences the energy consumption or the pollutant emissions while traveling the route being taken into account when determining the route. The factor describes the energy consumption or pollutant emissions during standstills of the motor vehicle while traveling the route and a navigation system for this purpose. A route calculation is improved with the goal of minimizing the energy consumption or pollutant emissions over the entire route and thereby contributes to environmental protection. |
| US08620572B2 |
Marking device with transmitter for triangulating location during locate operations
Methods, apparatus and systems for determining the location of a marking device during performance of a marking operation using triangulation are described. The marking device may be of the type used to mark the presence or absence of underground facilities and may include a marking material dispenser to dispense marking material as an indicator. The marking device may include a transmitter which transmits a signal received by a receiving system including two or more receiving devices at separate locations. Triangulation algorithms may then be used to determine the location of the marking device relative to the receiving system. |
| US08620570B2 |
Location-to-landmark
A mapping application that returns results for a target location as a function of at least one nearby landmark. The one or more nearby landmarks can be selected based on an expected user familiarity with the landmark, a precision of the landmark and/or a spatial relationship of the landmark with respect to the target location. Although landmarks are an integral aspect of navigation, they have rarely been used within electronic navigation devices. Electronic navigation means for a mobile device or other devices can guide the user along a route using photographs of landmarks together with audio and text instructions that reference these landmarks. This can assist older users who often find their mobility hampered by declines in sensory, cognitive and motor abilities. |
| US08620563B2 |
Fuel supply apparatus for internal combustion engine
A fuel supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, which supplies fuel through fuel injection valves provided corresponding to the plurality of cylinders. An amount of fuel supplied to the engine is controlled by changing a fuel injection period of said fuel injection valve, and performing a fuel injection with a plurality of injection modes including a reference injection mode. A fuel injection amount parameter for controlling a valve opening period of the fuel injection valve in the reference injection mode, is calculated according to an operating condition of said engine. When the injection mode is determined to be another injection mode which differs from the reference injection mode, the fuel injection amount parameter is corrected so as to compensate shortage or oversupply of the fuel injection amount according to a correction parameter indicative of a time period which affects a pressure change of the fuel supplied to the fuel injection valve caused by employing the other injection mode. |
| US08620562B2 |
Variable valve system control apparatus
A control apparatus of a variable valve system includes a variable valve timing mechanism that performs variable control of the valve timing of an intake valve of an internal combustion engine, a variable operation angle mechanism that performs variable control of the operation angle of the intake valve, and a control unit that performs drive control of the variable valve timing mechanism and the variable operation angle mechanism. The control unit sets an upper guard for the operation angle according to an actual value of the valve timing, and when a target value of the valve timing is a value on the retard side of a specified determining value, the control unit reinforces the upper guard compared with when the target value of the valve timing is not a value on the retard side of the specified determining value. |
| US08620559B2 |
Method for executing tasks and system comprising a first and a second control device
A system and a method for executing tasks for an internal combustion engine (14) has two control devices (1, 2), with the two control devices (1, 2) being provided in order to process the tasks independently of one another, with the first control device (1) having a first release signal and a first switchover signal, with the second control device having a second release signal and a second switchover signal, with, by exchanging the two release signals and the two switchover signals, it being defined that only one of the two control devices (1, 2) executes a defined task at the same time. |
| US08620551B2 |
Bicycle regenerative brake control device
A bicycle regenerative brake control device basically includes a first displacement amount detecting part, a second displacement amount detecting part and a first control part. The first displacement amount detecting part is arranged to detect a first displacement amount a first brake system. The second displacement amount detecting part is arranged to detect a second displacement amount of a second brake system, which different from the first brake system. The first control part is configured to control a motor using a first control process in response to the first and second displacement amounts of the first and second brake systems such that the first control part generates a first regenerative braking force that corresponds with braking information obtained from the first displacement amount and the second displacement amount. |
| US08620548B2 |
Brake-switch failure diagnosis method and brake-switch failure diagnosis system
Secure failure diagnosis of a brake switch is enabled with a simple configuration. Inconsistency detection is performed for output signals from two brake switches 6a and 6b provided such that an operation condition of a brake pedal 1 may be detected (S102), and when inconsistency is detected, after a certain time has passed from the relevant detection point, inconsistency detection is newly performed for output signals from the two brake switches 6a and 6b (S108), and when inconsistency is detected again, a determination counter performs count of a predetermined incremental value, those operation being periodically repeated (S110), and when a count value reaches a predetermined value α after the determination counter performs the count, the two brake switches 6a and 6b are determined to be failed (S114 and S118). |
| US08620546B2 |
Drive state control apparatus for vehicle
An on-demand-type drive state control apparatus for a vehicle is provided. In the case where acceleration slippage occurs at drive wheels (rear wheels) of a vehicle when a drive system is in a two-wheel drive state, the drive system is switched from the two-wheel drive state to a four-wheel drive state. That is, the maximum transmittable torque of a multi-disc clutch mechanism increases from “0” to a predetermined value. In the four-wheel drive state, the maximum transmittable torque decreases stepwise from the present value by a predetermined value every time the vehicle travels over a predetermined distance in a state in which none of the wheels cause acceleration slippages. That is, the clutch drive current supplied to the multi-disc clutch mechanism decreases gradually (stepwise or in a plurality of steps), and the drive torque distributed to the front wheels (rear wheels) decreases (increases) gradually. |
| US08620544B2 |
Method and apparatus for entering neutral idle from a forward drive mode
A transmission includes a plurality of clutches that are selectively engageable alone or in combination with each other to establish a plurality of forward drive modes, wherein one of the clutches is configured as a neutral idle (NI) clutch that is selectively actuated to shift the transmission into an NI state, and a controller. The controller is adapted to shift the transmission from a forward drive mode into the NI state during a coast-down maneuver prior to the transmission reaching a zero output speed. A method of shifting the transmission into the NI state includes determining the presence of a predetermined one of the forward drive modes using the controller, and using the controller to actuate a designated one of the clutches as an NI clutch to enter the NI state during the forward drive mode, during a coast-down maneuver, and prior to the transmission reaching a zero output speed. |
| US08620540B2 |
Method for control of a gearbox
A method for control of a gearbox intended to be installed in a motor vehicle, which method effects a downshift of the gearbox from a first gear (G1) for which the acceleration a of the vehicle is negative to a second gear (G2) for which the acceleration a is positive or substantially equal to nil. The downshift involves at least one intermediate gear step between the first gear (G1) and the second gear (G2). Each intermediate step lasts a longer time than a threshold value Ti. A system, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product, which perform the method is also disclosed. |
| US08620537B2 |
Shift-by-wire system
A shift-by-wire system improves responsiveness to a shift command and ensures safety. An electric motor generates a rotational output to be used to switch the ranges of an automatic transmission. A by-wire control circuit unit electrically controls the rotation of the electric motor to comply with an inputted shift command. If a re-shift command is inputted during switching control, the by-wire control circuit unit modifies rotation control. The modification can be implemented until the rotational position of the electric motor reaches a new target rotational position to comply with the re-shift command. |
| US08620535B2 |
System for automated excavation planning and control
A control system is disclosed for a mobile excavation machine operating at a worksite. The control system may have a locating device mounted on the mobile excavation machine that is configured to generate a signal indicative of a current position of the mobile excavation machine at the worksite during completion of an excavation plan. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the locating device and the mobile excavation machine. The controller may be configured to autonomously control the mobile excavation machine based on the excavation plan, and to determine a volume of material missed during completion of a first cut of the excavation plan based on the signal. The controller may be further configured to adjust a characteristic of a second cut of the excavation plan based on the volume of material missed during completion of the first cut of the excavation plan. |
| US08620534B2 |
Mobile working machine with a control device, comprising a working arm and methods for controlling the operating point of a working arm of a mobile working machine
The disclosure relates to a mobile working machine with a control device, comprising a working arm, and methods for controlling the operating point of a working arm of a mobile working machine. According to the disclosure, the mobile working machine with the control device, comprising a working arm, has a working arm, a first end of which is hinged to a superstructure of the working machine. A tool is movably arranged on a second end of the working arm at an operating point. At least one first inclination sensor lies on the superstructure and at least one second inclination sensor lies on the working arm. In addition, at least one hydraulic cylinder is provided for changing the position of the operating point, said cylinder being hinged between the superstructure and the working arm. Furthermore, a control unit for processing signals from the at least two inclination sensors is provided to determine an operating point as a reference operating point and to ascertain a position change of the operating point by calculating a cylinder stroke on the basis of a volume flow into or out of the hydraulic cylinder. |
| US08620532B2 |
Passive crowd-sourced map updates and alternate route recommendations
Systems and methods for providing passive crowd-sourced alternate route recommendations. In one embodiment, locations of users of a number of mobile location-aware devices are tracked over time. Upon receiving a request, users of mobile location-aware devices that have traveled from a desired start location to a desired stop location are identified. Location histories for the identified users are analyzed to determine one or more different routes taken from the desired start location to the desired stop location. The one or more different routes, or a select subset thereof, are then returned to the requestor as recommended alternate routes. |
| US08620528B2 |
Roll stability control and roll-over mitigation by steering actuation
The invention relates to a method for reducing a risk of or avoiding a roll-over event of a vehicle, having means of an electronic controllable steering system and an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit identifies the occurrence of the roll-over risk, such that control means generate a signal in order to steer the road wheels more into the direction in which the vehicle is tending to roll-over. |
| US08620525B2 |
Posture control device of motorcycle and motorcycle
A system for performing posture control of a motorcycle is such that in outputting a synthesized output by adjusting a yaw direction output and a roll direction output outputted from a displacement detection sensor by an adjustment part respectively, a synthesized output in which the yaw direction output is larger than the roll direction output is outputted when a vehicle speed is low, and a synthesized output in which the roll direction output is larger than the yaw direction output is outputted when the vehicle speed is high. Accordingly, in either a case where the vehicle is traveling at a low speed or a case where the vehicle is traveling at a high speed, the displacement and the behavior of a motorcycle 10 can be detected with high accuracy thus eventually realizing a control of the posture of the motorcycle 10 with high accuracy. |
| US08620522B2 |
Suppressing electrical failure effects in servo control systems
Systems to manage servo controls are disclosed. In some embodiments servo controls may implemented in systems to deflect control surfaces in aircraft. In one embodiment, a system to manage the output of a servo valve comprises a first plurality of feedback loops to receive a plurality of commands representative of a desired piston position and to generate, from the plurality of commands, a plurality of position difference signals which represent a difference between a desired piston position and a current piston position, a plurality of amplifiers to generate, from the plurality of position difference signals, a corresponding plurality of magnetic flux target signals, a second plurality of feedback loops to receive, from the plurality of amplifiers, the plurality of magnetic flux target signals, wherein the magnetic flux target signals represent a desired magnetic flux measurement in the servo valve, and to generate, from the plurality of magnetic flux target signals, a plurality of magnetic flux difference signals which represent a difference between a desired magnetic flux measurement and a current magnetic flux measurement, and an assembly to regulate the servo valve using the plurality of magnetic flux target signals. Other embodiments may be described. |
| US08620521B2 |
Vehicle HVAC water splash prevention method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for operating a vehicle HVAC system includes detecting an elevated risk of water splash expulsion from an evaporator through a vent outlet and controlling a voltage supplied to at least one blower of the vehicle HVAC system to reduce a risk of water splash expulsion if the elevated risk is detected. Water splash risk is determined in view of a voltage supplied to a subject blower, a vehicle tilt angle, and a condensation risk or value. The condensation risk or value is determined in view of a window open/close value, a temperature value, and a humidity value. Each of these factors are, either independently or in combination, compared with a corresponding threshold value to determine if the water splash risk warrants voltage control. |
| US08620519B2 |
Kernel-based fault detection system and method
An improved fault detection system and method is provided. The fault detection system and method combines the use of discrimination and representation based feature extraction to reliably detect symptoms of faults in turbine engines. Specifically, the fault detection system and method uses a kernel-based Maximum Representation Discrimination Features (MRDF) technique to detect symptoms of fault in turbine engines. The kernel-based MRDF system and method combines the use of discriminatory features and representation features in historical sensor data to facilitate feature extraction and classification of new sensor data as indicative fault in the turbine engine. Furthermore, the kernel-based MRDF technique facilitates the uncovering of nonlinear features in the sensor data, thus improving the reliability of the fault detection. |
| US08620516B2 |
System and method for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics
A diagnostic system for performing engine material temperature sensor diagnostics includes a coolant flow sensor configured to provide an indication of coolant flow within a coolant system; an engine state sensor configured to provide an indication of an operational state of an internal combustion engine; and a diagnostic module in communication with the coolant flow sensor and engine state sensor. The diagnostic module is configured to use the indication of coolant flow and the indication of an operational state of the internal combustion engine to estimate an amount of accumulated energy within the internal combustion engine. |
| US08620515B2 |
Intelligent fleet management system and method
An intelligent fleet management system and a related method of operation provide a higher level of legal compliance and public road safety by requiring a commercial driver an electronic form of a driver's identification in a commercial vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the electronic form of the driver's identification is validated and additionally authenticated by a driver-specific PIN entry to a vehicle fleet management system interface device installed in a commercial vehicle. The vehicle fleet management system interface device can also communicate with a monitoring station via a data network for dynamically-generated alerts and periodic reports associated with vehicle speeds, driving pattern analysis utilizing various sensors, unexpected stops, and continuous driving which exceed a mandatory rest requirement. The monitoring station is able to disable the commercial vehicle remotely or take other actions based on an alert generated from the vehicle fleet management system interface device. |
| US08620513B2 |
Actuator arrangement for a motor vehicle drive train and method for operating an actuator arrangement
An actuator arrangement for a motor vehicle drive train has a control device, an electric actuator and a drive circuit for the actuator. The drive circuit receives at least one nominal signal relating to an actuator from the control device and converts it into a drive signal for the actuator. The control device is checked for faults by means of a monitoring device. The drive circuit and/or a power stage which is arranged between the drive circuit and the motor receives a reset signal when such a fault occurs. Further, the control device is configured to check the function of the drive circuit and to generate a reset signal for the drive circuit and/or for the power stage if a malfunction occurs. |
| US08620511B2 |
System for dynamic diagnosis of apparatus operating conditions
A diagnostic platform adapted for coupling to a scanner to download data from vehicle computers. The system stores information regarding vehicle identifications, drivability symptoms, vehicle system and component tests and service codes which can be registered by the vehicle on-board computer. System software permits user input of vehicle identification and, in one mode, displays a fault library from which the user can select, whereupon the system selects from the library tests pertinent to diagnosing causes of selected faults and displays them in a hierarchically ranked order based on likelihood of success. The user can then initiate any displayed test. In other modes, the system initially displays one of the libraries of system or component tests, from which the user selects, whereupon the system highlights icons which can be selected for initiating pertinent test procedures. Selected test procedures include links to engine analyzer or scanner hardware or other appropriate test modules. |
| US08620509B2 |
Control method for powertrain of hybrid vehicle in compound split mode
A control method for a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle executing a compound split mode where a first carrier and a second ring gear are selectively connected. More specifically, a controller, determines a target torque of the second motor/generator based on a gear ratio of the first sun gear and the first ring gear, a gear ratio of the second sun gear and the second ring gear, a demand torque of the powertrain, and an output torque of the first motor/generator; determines a compensation value based on a target speed of the engine and a current speed of the engine; and determines a final torque of the second motor/generator based on the target torque of the second motor/generator and the compensation value, and controlling the second motor/generator according to the final torque of the second motor/generator. |
| US08620503B2 |
Hybrid vehicle
A switch sets the voltage level of a control line to a first level corresponding to a first voltage by electrically coupling the control line with a first node when manual operation is not executed. The switch sets the voltage level of the control line at a second level corresponding to a second voltage by electrically coupling the control line with a second node during a period of time over which manual operation is executed. An ECU switches the operation mode of a hybrid vehicle having first and second power sources between a first mode in which the first power source is used having higher priority for the running of the hybrid vehicle, and a second mode in which said second power source is used having higher priority for the running of the hybrid vehicle, based on a change of the voltage level of the control line. |
| US08620502B2 |
Coolant circulation heater for an electric vehicle battery
An electric vehicle battery heater includes a housing having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet. A heating element is positioned within the housing in a heat transfer relationship with coolant for transferring heat to an electric vehicle battery. A thermistor is positioned in the housing to output a signal indicative of a temperature of the battery coolant. A controller energizes the heating element when the signal represents that the coolant temperature is less than a predetermined lower limit. |
| US08620500B2 |
Method and device for determining learned values for controlling an internal combustion engine
A method for ascertaining learned values for controlling an internal combustion engine, a second drive unit, e.g., an electric motor, drags the internal combustion engine in a specific operating state, and the learned values are ascertained in this operating state. |
| US08620499B2 |
Hybrid vehicle and control method thereof
After completion of warm-up of an engine, upon satisfaction of an exhaust gas recirculation condition by setting the drive mode of a hybrid vehicle to a normal mode according to the driver's accelerator operation, when a power difference ΔPe representing a decrease rate of a power demand Pe* required for the engine is less than a preset reference value α, the engine and motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled to ensure output of a power equivalent to the power demand Pe* from the engine with prohibition for exhaust gas recirculation via an EGR valve and to ensure output of a torque equivalent to a torque demand Tr* to a ring gear shaft or an axle (steps S300 to S330 and step S390). |
| US08620498B2 |
Hybrid road grade determination system
A method of regulating operation of a hybrid vehicle traveling on a surface having a grade includes determining a drive force of the hybrid vehicle, calculating a brake pressure value and determining whether a grade freeze condition exists based on the brake pressure value. The method further includes calculating a grade value of the surface based on the drive force when the freeze condition does not exist and regulating operation of the hybrid vehicle based on the grade value. |
| US08620494B2 |
Vehicle interface based on the weight distribution of a user
In one embodiment, the invention is an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes a support system to support at least a portion of the weight of a user, a sensor system to sense the weight distribution of the user, and a processor to interpret a vehicle command based on the weight distribution of the user and to communicate the vehicle command to a vehicle. |
| US08620491B2 |
Ad-hoc mobile IP network for intelligent transportation system
A method for intelligently managing a transportation network is provided. The method includes providing a roadside apparatus to communicate with vehicle nodes associated with vehicles in a transportation network, the vehicle nodes being in a range of control of the roadside apparatus. Based on real-time location and direction information received from a particular vehicle node associated with a particular one of the vehicles, a specific neighboring roadside apparatus whose range of control is next to be entered by the particular vehicle is identified. Handover information is communicated to the specific neighboring roadside apparatus, and the particular vehicle node is communicatively connected to the specific roadside apparatus before disconnection from the roadside apparatus. |
| US08620487B2 |
For a kiosk for a vehicle screening system
A vehicle screening method and system. A vehicle occupant can be identified utilizing one or more biometric identifiers input by or obtained from the vehicle occupant via a biometric input device. A barcode can also be provided by the vehicle occupant from a scanned card or other structure upon which the barcode is maintained. Additionally, a unique identification number can be provided by the user in order to match the unique identification number against a database of identification numbers, thereby permitting the vehicle occupant to be remotely screened and verified for entry into a secure facility based on the biometric identifier(s), the barcode and the unique identification number. |
| US08620483B2 |
Control method and control device of steam system
A steam system control method applied to a steam system including: a low-pressure header storing low-pressure steam; a high-pressure header storing high-pressure header; a steam turbine connected between them; and a turbine bypass line introducing controlled amount of steam from the high-pressure header to the low-pressure header by bypassing the steam turbine. The low-pressure header has a blow-off valve for discharging excessive steam to the outside. The steam system control method includes: a normal time blow-off valve control step of PI controlling the opening of the blow-off valve; and a trip time blow-off control step of controlling the opening of the blow-off valve by changing the MV value to a predetermined trip time opening set value when the turbine is tripped. According to this method, the opening of the blow-off valve is controlled based on the predetermined MV value when the turbine trips and excessive steam flows into the bypass, so that excessive steam flows into the low-pressure header is quickly discharged to the outside. Stable operation can be achieved even when a turbine trips. |
| US08620480B2 |
Irrigation water conservation with automated water budgeting and time of use technology
The present invention provides a multitude of embodiments for landscape water conservation with automated water budgeting or seasonal adjustment. Water budget automation may be implemented within an irrigation controller, by means of an add-on or a plug-in to the controller, or broadcast from a central location. The environmental data used for automated water budgeting may be historical including ambient temperature, wind, solar radiation, relative humidity, soil moisture, soil temperature, or evapotranspiration, or combinations thereof, or with a combination of current sensor data. The automated water budgeting may be accomplished with a percentage accumulation method which adjusts watering intervals and schedules, or on a daily percentage basis. In addition, government based restricted watering schedules may be combined within all the above embodiments to provide additional flexibility for water conservation. |
| US08620471B2 |
Method for controlling a machine tool
A system for controlling a numerical control machine tool with movable component parts carrying tools (5) and/or mechanical component parts to be checked includes a control unit (7) and a sensor device (9) having an associated interface unit (15). A digital channel (20), through which there are transmitted measuring signals from the interface unit to the control unit, is used, at different moments and as an alternative to the measuring process, for transmitting confirmation pulse signals (ACK) consequent to request/instruction messages that the control unit sends to the interface unit. A method for controlling the machine tool includes the sending of request/instruction messages (M) from the control unit to the interface unit, for example for checking the efficiency and the operativeness of the measuring chain, and the reception of confirmation pulse signals through the transmission channel which is a component part of the measuring chain. The sensor device is advantageously implemented by means of an optoelectronic apparatus which detects the interruption of the light beam (10), typically a laser beam. |
| US08620468B2 |
Method and apparatus for developing, improving and verifying virtual metrology models in a manufacturing system
A computing device develops a first non-adaptive virtual metrology (VM) model for a manufacturing process based on performing a non-adaptive regression using a first data set. Upon determining that an accuracy of the first non-adaptive VM model satisfies a first quality criterion, the computing device develops an adaptive VM model for the manufacturing process based on performing an adaptive regression using at least one of the first data set or a second data set. The computing device evaluates an accuracy of the adaptive VM model using a third data set that is larger than the first data set and the second data set. The computing device determines that the adaptive VM model is ready for use in production upon determining that an accuracy of the first adaptive VM model satisfies a second quality criterion that is more stringent than the first quality criterion. |
| US08620465B2 |
Method and encoder for combining digital data sets, a decoding method and decoder for such combined digital data sets and a record carrier for storing such combined digital data set
Two digital data sets are combined by equating a first subset of samples to neighboring samples from a second subset which is interleaved with the first subset of samples where the equated samples of the two digital data sets do not correspond in time, and by subsequently adding corresponding samples from both digital data sets. This results in a third digital data set that allows the unraveling of the two digital data sets. The third digital data set, when combining two digital audio streams into a single digital audio stream, is still a good mono representation of the two combined digital audio streams and can thus be reproduced on regular reproduction equipment, yet the use of a decoder according to the invention allows the unraveling of the two digital data sets from the third digital data set. |
| US08620464B1 |
Visual automated scoring system
A visual automated score system (VASS) is provided to enable computerized accuracy assessment of weapons systems through video photography. Images are fed into a computer which tracks the intended target, detects impact points and then provides human operators with an automatically computed miss distance based on the cross-correlation of at least two video images. The VASS may then provide feedback to the weapons system to correct and direct gunfire. |
| US08620461B2 |
Method and system for updating tuning parameters of a controller
A method and system for updating tuning parameters associated with a controller without repetitive compilation of a controller code. The controller code represents an algorithm associated with the controller and can be compiled separately from a data set representing a solution for an optimization problem and also from a data set representing parameters required for prediction. The algorithm can be implemented in a programming language code suitable for implementation on an embedded platform or other types of computer platforms. The data sets can be represented in a specified data structure and the variables associated with the data structure can be declared in the controller template code. The variables can be updated independently without varying the compiled code associated with the controller algorithm that is referring to the variables. The controller can also be updated while the controller actively performs online. Such an approach enables repetitive tuning of the controller without repetitive compilation of the code representing the controller algorithm. |
| US08620459B2 |
Pre-curved cochlear implant electrode array
An implantable electrode array (30) that can adopt a first configuration selected to allow the array (30) to be inserted into a cochlea (12) of an implantee and at least a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation. The array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and an inner surface (35) conformable with the inner wall of the implantee's cochlea (12). A plurality of electrodes (36) are supported within the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end (37) and the distal end (34) with at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface (35) of the carrier (31). The carrier (31) is formed in the second configuration from a first layer (32) and at least a second layer (32) of resiliently flexible material. Manufacturing methods include molding the first and second layers into an array such as that described above. |
| US08620457B2 |
Inter-atrial septum or superior vena cava electrodes for atrial defibrillation
An implantable system for the defibrillation of the atria of a patient's heart comprises (a) a first catheter configured for insertion into the right atrium of the heart, preferably without extending into the right ventricle of the heart; a first atrial defibrillation electrode carried by the first catheter and positioned at the atrial septum of the heart (i.e., an atrial septum electrode); (b) a second atrial defibrillation electrode which together with the first atrial defibrillation electrode provides a pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes that are configured for orientation in or about the patient's heart to effect atrial defibrillation, and (c) a pulse generator operatively associated with the pair of atrial defibrillation electrodes for delivering a first atrial defibrillation pulse to the heart of the patient. The second electrode may be configured for positioning through the coronary sinus ostium and in the coronary sinus or a vein on the surface of the left ventricle, such as the great vein. An additional electrode configured for positioning in the superior vena cava, right atrium (including the right atrial appendage, or the right ventricle may also be included, and the pulse generator may be configured or programmed for concurrently delivering a first defibrillation pulse through the additional electrode and the atrial septum electrode, and a second defibrillation pulse through the atrial septum electrode and the second electrode. Electrode assemblies and methods useful for carrying out the invention are also disclosed. |
| US08620455B2 |
Lead or lead extension having a conductive body and conductive body contact
An implantable medical device that includes a body that includes a proximal end portion configured to be at least partially received by an apparatus, and a distal end portion; a stimulating electrical element at the distal end portion of the body; a stimulating contact at the proximal end portion of the body, wherein the stimulating contact is positioned such that, when received by the apparatus, at least a portion of the apparatus is capable of electrically coupling to the stimulating contact; a stimulating conductor that electrically couples the stimulating electrical element to the stimulating contact; a conductive body, wherein the conductive body is not utilized for application of stimulation; a conductive body contact, wherein the conductive body is electrically connected to the conductive body contact. Systems that include devices are also disclosed. |
| US08620454B2 |
MRI-safe implantable medical device
A medical lead is provided for use in a pulse stimulation system of the type which includes a pulse generator for producing electrical stimulation therapy. The lead comprises an elongate insulating body and at least one electrical conductor within the insulating body. The conductor has a proximal end configured to be electrically coupled to the pulse generator and has a DC resistance in the range of 375-2000 ohms. At least one distal electrode is coupled to the conductor. |
| US08620451B2 |
Therapy device and system and method for reducing harmful exposure to electromagnetic radiation
The invention is directed to a therapy device, including a body, an energy source disposed on the body for emitting a desired wavelength of electromagnetic radiation, and a proximity sensor for sensing proximity of the device to a desired surface. Also disclosed are a material dispensing system disposed on the body for dispensing a desired material for use with the device and accessories and compositions used with the therapy device, including interchangeable energy source-containing heads and interchangeable material containers. Methods for using the therapy device are also disclosed. |
| US08620447B2 |
Transcutaneous energy transfer coil with integrated radio frequency antenna
Improved methods and devices for communicating via radio frequency (RF) in transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) systems is provided. In particular, an improved implantable coil for use in a transcutaneous energy transfer (TET) system is provided having an integrated radio frequency (RF) antenna. Further, a method of communicating between an external device and an implanted device having a plurality of secondary coils with integrated RF antennas is also provided. |
| US08620446B2 |
Systems and methods for remote monitoring of signals sensed by an implantable medical device during an MRI
Systems and methods are provided for allowing an implantable medical device, such as pacemaker, to properly sense electrophysiological signals and hemodynamic signals within a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure. Systems and methods are also provided for allowing the implantable medical device to transmit the sensed data to an external monitoring system during the MRI procedure so that attending medical personnel can closely monitor the health of the patient and the operation of the implantable device during the MRI. These improvements provide the attending personnel with information needed to determine whether the MRI should be suspended in response to induced tachyarrhythmias or other adverse conditions within the patient. |
| US08620443B2 |
Method and system for providing stimulation inputs to a visual prosthesis implant
Stimulation inputs are provided to a visual prosthesis implant. The images captured by a video decoder are received and digitized to provide a plurality of video frames; integrity of the video frames is checked, the checked video frames are filtered, and the filtered video frames are converted to stimulation inputs. A similar system is also disclosed. |
| US08620439B2 |
Apparatus controlling electrical stimulation and/or health training/monitoring
An apparatus, method, and medium for generating electrical stimulation, including an electromyogram detector detecting an electromyographic signal of a body, a fatigue index calculator calculating a fatigue index indicating a degree of muscle fatigue by converting the electromyographic signal detected by the electromyogram detector during a predetermined time unit into a frequency-domain electromyographic signal, and an electrical stimulation signal generator adjusting an electrical stimulation signal according to the calculated fatigue index and generating the electrical stimulation signal. Accordingly, a health training/monitoring apparatus can include an electrical stimulation generator adjusting an electrical stimulation signal according to a degree of fatigue and generating the electrical stimulation signal, a physical activity monitor monitoring a physical activity using at least one of a heart rate measurer and an accelerometer, and a mode selector selectively driving the electrical stimulation generator or the physical activity monitor according to an amount of the physical activity. |
| US08620437B2 |
Method for delivery of electrical stimulation with bendable housing
The disclosure describes an implantable neurostimulator device for delivery of neurostimulation to treat head, neck, or facial pain or tension, including pain or tension caused by occipital neuralgia. The device may be a neurostimulation device having a miniaturized housing with a low profile that permits subcutaneous implantation at a stimulation site directly adjacent a neuralgic region at the back of the neck of a patient. For example, the device may be subcutaneously implanted at the back of the neck of a patient to relieve symptoms of occipital neuralgia. |
| US08620435B2 |
Combination therapy including peripheral nerve field stimulation
Delivery of peripheral nerve field stimulation (PNFS) in combination with one or more other therapies is described. The other therapy delivered in combination with PNFS may be, for example, a different type of neurostimulation, such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS), or a drug. PNFS and the other therapy may be delivered simultaneously, in an alternating fashion, according to a schedule, and/or selectively, e.g., in response to a request received from a patient or clinician. A combination therapy that includes PNFS may be able to more completely address complex or multifocal pain than would be possible through delivery of either PNFS or other therapies alone. Further, the combination of PNFS with one or more other therapies may reduce the likelihood that neural accommodation will impair the perceived effectiveness PNFS or the other therapies. |
| US08620434B2 |
Method and system for dynamic recalibration of tens stimulation points to compensate for changing electrode conditions with fail-safe and auto-recovery functionality
A device and method for applying transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation via an electrode. The device includes the electrode being arranged for detecting a change of a skin impedance and being configured for switching from a stimulation mode of operation for stimulating the nerve, into a recalibration mode of operation upon detection of the changed skin impedance. The device may include a plurality of electrodes being configured for detecting the change of the skin impedance and being configured for adjusting an electrical current flowing through the skin via the plurality of electrodes. |
| US08620433B2 |
Criteria for optimal electrical resynchronization derived from multipolar leads or multiple electrodes during biventricular pacing
Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses. |
| US08620432B2 |
Identification of pacing site
An implantable medical device applies an electric signal over two electrodes and measures the resulting electric signal over a candidate pair of neighboring electrodes on a lead for a first heart ventricle or over a candidate electrode of the lead and a case electrode. An impedance signal is determined for each candidate pair or electrode based on the applied signal and the measured resulting signal. A time difference between start of contraction in a second ventricle and the timing of local myocardial contraction as identified from the impedance signal at the site of the candidate pair or electrode is determined for each candidate pair or electrode. An optimal pacing electrode is selected to correspond to one of the electrodes of the candidate pair having the largest time difference or the candidate electrode having largest time difference. |
| US08620430B2 |
Selection of pacing sites to enhance cardiac performance
Systems and methods for selection of electrodes and related pacing configuration parameters used to pace a heart chamber are described. A change in the hemodynamic state of a patient is detected. Responsive to the detected change, a distribution of an electrical, mechanical, or electromechanical parameter related to contractile function of a heart chamber with respect to locations of multiple electrodes disposed within the heart chamber is determined. A pacing output configuration, including one or more electrodes of the multiple electrodes, is selected and the heart chamber is paced using the selected pacing output configuration. |
| US08620429B2 |
Method and apparatus for concurrent atrio-ventricular anti-tachycardia pacing
An implantable medical device delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). If a detected tachyarrhythmia is classified as a type suitable for treatment using ATP, the implantable medical device selects one of an atrial ATP (A-ATP) mode, a ventricular ATP (V-ATP) mode, and a concurrent atrio-ventricular ATP (concurrent AV-ATP) mode according to the characteristics of the detected tachyarrhythmia. The concurrent ATP mode is an ATP mode during which the atrial pacing pulses and the ventricular pacing pulses are delivered concurrently. In one embodiment, the concurrent AV-ATP mode includes a synchronized atrio-ventricular ATP (synchronized AV-ATP) mode during which atrial and ventricular pacing pulses are delivered synchronously and an independent atrio-ventricular ATP (independent AV-ATP) mode during which atrial and ventricular pacing pulses are delivered concurrently but timed independently. |
| US08620426B2 |
Neural stimulation system for cardiac fat pads
Various aspects relate to a device which, in various embodiments, comprises a header, a neural stimulator, a detector and a controller. The header includes at least one port to connect to at least one lead, and includes first and second channels for use to provide neural stimulation to first and second neural stimulation sites for a heart. The controller is connected to the detector and the neural stimulator to selectively deliver a therapy based on the feedback signal. A first therapy signal is delivered to the first neural stimulation site to selectively control contractility and a second therapy signal is delivered to the second neural stimulation site to selectively control one of a sinus rate and an AV conduction. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein. |
| US08620423B2 |
Methods for thermal modulation of nerves contributing to renal function
Methods and apparatus are provided for treatment of heart arrhythmia via renal neuromodulation. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, ablation, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is achieved through application of an electric field. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is achieved through application of neuromodulatory agents, of thermal energy and/or of high intensity focused ultrasound. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. |
| US08620421B2 |
Massage apparatus having ion injecting function
A massaging apparatus capable of charging ion on a face contacting portion is provided.The massaging apparatus capable of iontophoresis has an effect to make isometrics permeated deeply through skin by charging ion on the face contacting portion.Further, the massaging apparatus capable of iontophoresis has another effect to prevent cosmetics from deterioration in advance by providing the airless pump container for blocking inflow of air.Further, the massaging apparatus capable of iontophoresis has still another effect to increase credibility by including the self-awareness portion for making user aware whether ion is charged on the face contacting portion. |
| US08620420B2 |
Method for filtering out artefacts of deep brain stimulation
The present invention relates to a method for filtering the signal of neuronal activity during a high frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) to remove the stimulus artefact in the observed signal, comprising the step of approximating the observed signal trajectories in phase space the observed signal being considered as a sum of the stimulation artifacts induced by the signal of stimulation, wherein the signal of stimulation is assumed to be a solution of an ordinary differential equation including a self-oscillating system with stable limit cycle; slicing the observed signal and its derivative into segments, each segment corresponding to a period of stimulation; collecting N selected periods of stimulation to a training set; estimating the limit cycle of the self-oscillating system; synchronizing each artefact of the observed signal with the estimated limit cycle; subtracting the estimated limit cycle from each artefact in phase space according to the synchronization; collecting all segments in order to obtain whole filtered signal and finally presenting the results in time domain. |
| US08620410B2 |
Multi-channel medical imaging system
A medical imaging system provides simultaneous rendering of visible light and fluorescent images. The system may employ dyes in a small-molecule form that remain in a subject's blood stream for several minutes, allowing real-time imaging of the subject's circulatory system superimposed upon a conventional, visible light image of the subject. The system may provide an excitation light source to excite the fluorescent substance and a visible light source for general illumination within the same optical guide used to capture images. The system may be configured for use in open surgical procedures by providing an operating area that is closed to ambient light. The systems described herein provide two or more diagnostic imaging channels for capture of multiple, concurrent diagnostic images and may be used where a visible light image may be usefully supplemented by two or more images that are independently marked for functional interest. |
| US08620409B2 |
Dye application for confocal imaging of cellular microstructure
A system and method for confocal imaging of tissue in vivo and in situ, e.g., for minimally invasive diagnosis of patients. A catheter is provided that has a dye carrier coupled to the distal end of a fiber optics bundle, which allows for the introduction of at least one fluorescent dye therein the dye carrier into a portion of the tissue of interest of a subject or patient when the dye carrier is selectively brought into contact with the portion of the tissue of interest. The resulting confocal images permit the acquisition of diagnostic information on the progression of diseases at cellular/tissue level in patients. Furthermore, a system for ECG-triggered image acquisition is provided. |
| US08620398B2 |
Reference electrodes having an extended lifetime for use in long term amperometric sensors
The present application provides Ag/AgCl based reference electrodes having an extended lifetime that are suitable for use in long term amperometric sensors. Electrochemical sensors equipped with reference electrodes described herein demonstrate considerable stability and extended lifetime in a variety of conditions. |
| US08620392B2 |
Electronic device capable of continuing a telephone call when charging
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of continuing a telephone call, even in a case in which power is received from a battery charger while the telephone call is made. The electronic device includes a power receiving unit and a speaker unit. The power receiving unit receives power from the battery charger by electromagnetic waves. The speaker unit outputs sound in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode is a sound output mode when the electronic device is made proximate to a user's ear. The second mode is a sound output mode when the electronic device is separated from the user's ear. In a case in which the power receiving unit is receiving power, the speaker unit outputs sound in the second mode. |
| US08620391B2 |
Musical cell phone accessory
The present invention is a cordless musical cell phone accessory that includes a planar base, a radio station tuner that is disposed on the planar base and one or more preset buttons that are depressed to put the musical cell phone accessory in communication with one or more predetermined radio stations. The accessory also includes a headphone jack that is inserted into a headphone jack inlet of a cell phone to connect the musical cell phone accessory to the cell phone, a display screen that is disposed on the planar base and a battery pack that is built into the planar base to provide electrical power to the accessory. The accessory can also include an additional battery pack that is attached to the cell phone utilizing the musical cell phone accessory. |
| US08620384B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, a multiple & real-time & chronological speech-to-text implementer, and an email sending implementer. |
| US08620381B2 |
Electronic assembly for securing a SIM card
An electronic assembly for securing a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card includes: a printed circuit board (PCB) having opposed first and second sides and defining an aperture extending from the first side to the second side; and a SIM card holder comprising a base received in the aperture, electrical connectors located in the base and having a first end connected to the first side of the PCB and a second end opposite to the first end, contacts located on the second side of the PCB and connected to the second end of the electrical connectors, the contacts configured for interfacing with corresponding contacts of the SIM card, and a card retaining member attached to the second side of the PCB for releasably securing the SIM card attached to the second side of the PCB. |
| US08620374B2 |
Base station, radio communications system, base station control method, radio communications method and base station control program
A radio communications system includes a first base station, a second base station, and at least one mobile station which can communicate with the first base station and the second base station. The second base station starts transmission of a control signal with predetermined power when communication between the first base station and the mobile station is started, and a predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US08620373B2 |
Power allocation in a wireless system with base stations having antenna arrays
Provided is a method and apparatus for allocating transmit power in a wireless network. The method includes determining powers at which a base station transmits downlink signals to each active user equipment associated with the base station such that each of the downlink signals is associated with a different active user and the base station is permitted to transmit downlink signals with different powers to the associated active user equipments. The method further includes transmitting the associated downlink signals, by the base station, to the active user equipments at the determined powers. |
| US08620372B2 |
Method and apparatus for transport format selection in a mobile wireless device
A method and apparatus for transport format selection in a mobile wireless communication device. During a simultaneous voice and data call, the mobile wireless communication device selects a transport format for proper uplink data transmission. Simultaneous voice and data calls require higher uplink transmit power than voice only calls. The mobile wireless communication device selects a transport format based on the uplink transmit power level. At higher transmit power levels, minimum or zero data rates are chosen to maintain sufficient power for simultaneous voice. Transmit format is specified using a transmit format combination indicator. |
| US08620371B2 |
Method and mobile station for automatic creation of talk group
A method of automatic creation of a talk group in a wireless radio communication system comprising a plurality of mobile stations, said method comprising the steps of: transmitting by a first mobile station an emergency message containing at least its ID and localization data; transmitting by other mobile stations their IDs and localization data in response to said emergency message; creating said talk group by selecting those mobile stations which transmitted their IDs and localization data. |
| US08620370B2 |
Procedure latency based admission control node and method
A wireless telecommunication system, a node (e.g., eNodeB, BSC, RNC), a procedure latency monitor unit, and a method are described herein for measuring the latency of a procedure (e.g., radio network procedure, core network procedure) where the results of the measured latency may be used for admission control of user equipment (UE) sessions and to guarantee that admitted UEs are served according to their requested Quality of Service (QoS). |
| US08620366B2 |
Data synchronization method between mobile terminal and server
The present invention relates to a method of data uplink synchronization between a mobile terminal and a server. The server modifies the stored address book data one item by one item. The present invention also relates to a method of data downlink synchronization between a mobile terminal and a server. Before the server sends address book data to the mobile terminal requesting the downlink synchronization, it performs item-by-item adaptation of the address book data according to the item's attribute and parameter supported by the mobile terminal. The present invention relates to another method of data downlink synchronization between a mobile terminal and a server. The mobile terminal, according to the received address book data, modifies the stored address book one item by one item. The present invention implements the operation on each item in the address book, the adaptation to the item's attribute and parameter of the address book according to the specific situation of the mobile terminal, and the mapping to each item according to the meaning of the attribute and parameter so as to effectively avoid information loss caused by inconsistent attributes and parameters and the operations on the record. |
| US08620365B2 |
Method for handling an electronic request with the aid of an intermediary entity
A method for handling an electronic request between two entities with the aid of an intermediary entity as well as uses of the method are disclosed. A first entity sends a request intended for a second entity via an open, first communication network such as the Internet to an intermediary entity, which then forwards the request as a text message such as an SMS message via a secure, second communication network such as a GSM network to the second entity, which indicates acceptance of the request by sending a text message back to the intermediary entity, or rejects the request by e.g. not responding. The intermediary entity then either confirms that the request has been accepted if the second entity has responded within a maximum response time or otherwise indicates rejection of the request by the second entity by sending a corresponding text message to the first entity. |
| US08620363B1 |
Systems and methods for communication of text messages
A base station determines occupancy of a channel used for message communication and transmits channel occupancy data to access terminals operable to transmit messages via the channel. An access terminal receives characters for sending a text message via the channel and determines whether the channel occupancy exceeds an occupancy threshold. If the channel occupancy exceeds the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via multiple messages. Each of those messages including a number of characters that does not exceed a maximum number of characters associated with the threshold. If the channel occupancy does not exceed the threshold, the access terminal transmits characters of the text message to the base station via a single message so long as the number of characters does not exceed a maximum number of characters for sending a complete text message to the base station via a single message. |
| US08620361B2 |
Intelligent routing of SMS and MMS messages to short codes
Systems, methods, and apparatus that facilitate effective routing of short message service (SMS) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages via short codes are presented herein. A group message component can be configured to receive a message transmitted via a wireless communications device, and determine whether the message comprises at least two addressees. A short code component can be configured to identify whether the at least two addressees are associated with at least one short code, and recognize whether the message comprises only text. A routing component can be configured to convert the message to an SMS message when the message comprises the at least two addressees, the at least two addressees are associated with the at least one short code, and the message comprises only text. Further, the routing component can be configured to route the SMS message to the at least one short code. |
| US08620358B2 |
Method and apparatus for dial input using voice in a mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for dial input using a voice in a mobile terminal are provided. The method includes recognizing a voice inputted from a microphone when a call is connected, identifying a numeral corresponding to the recognized voice, and transmitting the identified numeral to a phone number to which the call is connected. |
| US08620347B2 |
Location based forwarding of a communication
The invention provides a method and a system for forwarding a telephone call. The inventive method includes receiving a telephone call from a calling party line to a called party line, determining a location of the called party, determining a proximity of the location of the called party to one or more subscriber locations, and directing the telephone call to the one or more subscriber locations based on the determined proximity. The subscriber locations may be predefined by the called party. The location of the called party may be determined using a global position system and/or a radio frequency signal, for example. |
| US08620342B2 |
Sensing RF environment to determine geographic location of cellular base station
Determining a geographic location of a cellular base station is disclosed. In some embodiments, a set of measurement data that includes for each of a plurality of signals received at the base station a corresponding measurement data is determined. The set of measurement data is used to determine the geographic location of the base station. In some embodiments, a set of measurement data is received. The received measurement data includes for each of a plurality of location measurement units at which a signal transmitted by the base station is received a corresponding measurement data associated with the signal. The set of measurement data is used to determine the geographic location of the base station. |
| US08620341B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting bandwidth allocations in a wireless network
In accordance with particular embodiments, a method includes providing one or more network tuning constants associated with one or more base stations of a wireless network. The network tuning constants are configured to adjust an equilibrium point of a first bandwidth allocation among the one or more base stations. The method also includes receiving one or more signal performance values from each of the one or more base stations in the wireless network. The method further includes determining whether at least one of the one or more network tuning constants needs to be adjusted. The method additionally includes, upon determining that at least one of the one or more network tuning constants needs to be adjusted, adjusting the one or more network tuning constants based at least in part on the one or more signal performance values. |
| US08620337B2 |
Selective establishment of radio access bearers to support simultaneous voice and data communications in a mobile telecommunications network
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are for selectively establishing radio access bearers configured to support simultaneous voice and data communications in a mobile telecommunications network. An exemplary method includes receiving a request to initiate a data session at a mobile device that is currently engaged in a voice session and, in response to receiving the request, determining if the mobile device is capable of supporting a radio access bearer configured to simultaneously support the data session and the voice session. The method further includes allowing or denying establishment of the radio access bearer based upon the determination. |
| US08620328B2 |
Handover procedures in a wireless communications system
Various techniques for handing over a wireless terminal from a serving node to a target node in a radio access network is disclosed. transferring a session in a cluster are disclosed. These techniques include exchanging messages between a wireless terminal and with a serving node to support a handover to a target node. Each of the messages includes an identifier. The wireless terminal is configured to determine whether it has received any stale messages from the target node following handover based on one or more of the identifiers. |
| US08620325B2 |
Link quality measurements based on data rate and received power level
A mobile station associated with a base station determines a measure of the quality of a communication link between the mobile station and the base station. The measure takes into account (a) RF power levels of signals received at the mobile station over the link and (b) an actual data rate of communications over the link. This measure of the quality of the link may be a factor in triggering the mobile station to initiate a handoff. |
| US08620317B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating network features during a routing area update procedure
A method and system facilitates communicating network feature support between a mobile device and cellular network. The system protects network feature support information from tampering or spoofing during a periodic routing area update (RAU). In some cases, the network is prohibited from transmitting network feature support information in response to a periodic RAU. Instead, the mobile device may use previously provided network feature support information. In other cases, the network establishes integrity protection before transmitting network feature support information in response to a periodic RAU. The mobile device rejects responses that do not comply. If the mobile device rejects the response, it may also use previously provided network feature support information instead. |
| US08620315B1 |
Multi-tiered anti-abuse registration for a mobile device user
Various embodiments are directed to providing a multi-tiered anti-abuse approach to registration of a mobile device user. A registration service may determine whether communications with the mobile device is through a trusted carrier gateway, and if so, then a mobile device identifier may be used to automatically register the mobile device. Otherwise, a determination may be made whether the mobile device is configured to support a challenge-response image. In one embodiment, such determination may be based, in part, on information received from the mobile device through a user agent, or the like. If the mobile device is capable of supporting a challenge-response image, one may be sent to the mobile device to enable registration. If, however, the mobile device does not support the challenge-response image and the carrier gateway is not trusted, the mobile device may be directed to employ an SMS mechanism to complete registration. |
| US08620306B2 |
Location specific search for regional satellite vehicles
A position location system, method, and apparatus are disclosed. A wireless device receives a first signal and obtains an identifier indicative of a first location from the first signal. The first signal can be received from a cellular base station and the first identifier can be a mobile country code. The wireless device uses the identifier to determine the availability of signals from a regional satellite system at the first location. If signals from the regional satellite system are available at the first location, the wireless device retrieves information associated with one or more satellite vehicles in the regional satellite system. The information can include pseudo-random number codes and a Doppler search range corresponding to the first location. The wireless device receives a second signal and processes the second signal to obtain first satellite signal information. The wireless device determines its position at least partially based on the first satellite signal information. |
| US08620305B2 |
Methods and systems for a mobile device testing framework
A mobile device test framework is used in combination with client controllers and device controllers so that a single mobile device API test can be used with mobile devices having different operating system platforms. The client controllers can provide information specific to the client and the device controllers can provide information needed to apply the test to each of the mobile device platforms. The test framework can navigate through the controls of the mobile device GUIs and input information. The test framework can then check that the text and images displayed by the mobile devices match the expected information. |
| US08620303B2 |
Radio base station and network device
A radio base station 200 according to the present invention includes a common control signal reception unit 11 to receive a common control signal transmitted from each neighboring cell, a measurement unit 12 to measure a reception level of the received common control signal, a recognition unit 13 to recognize a transmission level of the common control signal at the neighboring cell and a type of the neighboring cell based on the received common control signal, a transmission level determination unit 14 to determine a transmission level of a common control signal based on the reception level of the common control signal, the transmission level of the common control signal at the neighboring cell and the type of the neighboring cell and a common control signal transmission unit 15 to transmit the common control signal at the transmission level determined by the transmission level determination unit. |
| US08620299B2 |
Methods, systems and computer readable media for electronically delivering a prepaid card to a mobile device
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for electronically delivering a prepaid card to a mobile device are disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes receiving, at a merchant server, purchase information related to the purchase of an electronic prepaid card. The method further includes receiving, from the merchant server, electronic prepaid card information derived from the purchase information. The method further includes establishing a communications link with a mobile device associated with address data included in the electronic prepaid card information. The method also includes provisioning the electronic prepaid card information on the mobile device via over the air (OTA) communications. |
| US08620296B2 |
Integration of contact information across multiple communication devices
Automatically created and dynamically updated lists of a user's frequently called contacts and favorite calling numbers may be provided via a frequently called contacts and favorite calling numbers application. If a call usage count associated with a particular phone number meets a prescribed threshold, the phone number may be added to a frequently called contacts list. Given a user's call frequency and type, the frequently called contacts list may be updated dynamically. A favorite calling numbers list may be generated manually or automatically based on various criteria for adding contact numbers to the list. Both the frequently called contacts list and the favorite calling numbers list may be tied in with a service provider's billing system, wherein special rates or discounts may be applied to calls made to or received from phone numbers in the frequently called contacts list or favorite calling numbers list. |
| US08620295B2 |
Method and apparatus for modifying notification settings on a mobile electronic device
A method and apparatus for modifying notification settings on a mobile electronic device is provided, the mobile electronic device comprising a processing unit, a display, a memory, an input device, and at least one notification device. It is determined that the at least one notification device has been activated using a given notification setting. A menu list is responsively changed to include a notification setting change option, the menu list associated with the input device and stored in the memory, such that when the input device is activated, the display is controlled by the processing unit to provide a representation of the menu list such that the notification setting option can be selected and the given notification setting changed. |
| US08620294B2 |
Mobile device dynamic background
A mobile device dynamic background is described. In embodiment(s), a mobile device includes selectable controls via which a selectable input can be received to initiate activation of an operational state of the mobile device. A background image that corresponds to the operational state of the mobile device can be determined, and a current display on the mobile device can be changed to display the background image that is determined to correspond to the operational state when the selectable input is received. |
| US08620293B2 |
Location-based transmitter selection and handoff
An automatic radio station tuning control system senses when a mobile radio receiver is leaving the coverage area of the transmitter that is transmitting program content, and entering the coverage area of another transmitter that is transmitting the same program content. The program content can be from a radio station, a mobile internet application, or the like. The mobile radio performs re-tuning to the other transmitter in order to continue to receive the program content even though the mobile radio is leaving the coverage area of the first transmitter. The tuning control system can provide uninterrupted coverage to a listener of a radio when the radio receiver is, for example, in a vehicle traversing a mountainous area, or when the radio receiver is moving from one WiFi hot spot to another. |
| US08620292B2 |
Controlling mobile station response to a common rate control command
A wireless communication system (20) includes an overload control technique that comprises selectively controlling whether a mobile station (30-40) will respond to a common rate control command. In a disclosed example, a statistical rate control is used such that each mobile station responds to the relative grant based upon a probability that the mobile station should respond. A disclosed example includes selecting two control parameters that influence the probability that a mobile station will respond. The probability in one example is dependent on the data rate currently being used by the mobile station when receiving the relative grant. |
| US08620281B2 |
System and method for determination and display of “in-network caller” notification on a mobile device
System and method for determining whether an incoming call originates from inside or outside of a mobile carriers network and indicates the result to the subscriber. An example system performs a GTT (global title translation) on an incoming number to determine the hosting carrier of any mobile phone number. When the result matches the subscriber's carrier, the mobile device then indicates to the subscriber (i.e. mobile device) that the call is an “in network call.” Results of the comparison are stored and used for later incoming calls. The stored results are refreshed every time or periodically. |
| US08620273B2 |
User interface and method of viewing unified communications events on a mobile device
A user interface and method for viewing communications events on a mobile device includes a user interface, a communications event handler, and a communications event database is disclosed herein. The communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to the provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history associated with the correspondent of an incoming communications event. Additionally the communications event handler interfaces with the database and the user interface to the provide a user of the mobile device with a communications event history for a specified correspondent. |
| US08620264B2 |
Apparatus and method for sharing and assigning multiple numbers to a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a communication device having a controller to associate two or more phone numbers with two or more phone bills, where the controller is adapted to send outgoing phone calls and receive incoming phone calls on multiple telephone numbers assigned to the mobile communication device in accordance with at least one user profile. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08620263B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for diameter routing agent (DRA) based credit status triggered policy control
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for credit status triggered policy control. The method may include monitoring one or more credit control request (CCR) and credit control answer (CCA) messages associated with a request of credit for a subscriber. The method may further include determining whether an amount of granted credit for a service flow associated with the subscriber has reached a predetermined minimum threshold value. The method may further include notifying a policy and charging rules function (PCRF) of the credit status associated with the subscriber when the predetermined minimum threshold value has been reached. |
| US08620259B2 |
Model-driven service creation and management
A method and apparatus for implementing new services is disclosed whereby a model of the system implementing a new service is created by a function referred to herein as a Service Designer and then different views of the service from the perspective of individual OSS subsystems are published at a Service Hub for use in configuring new services. When a request for service arrives at a subsystem in the network, such as an ordering system, that subsystem will illustratively request a view of the service from the Service Hub. This view is representative of the interfaces and attributes common between the requesting subsystem and other network components, with interfaces to the requesting subsystem. The requesting subsystem then uses this view to transmit values of attributes that are defined to be communicated between the requesting subsystem and other network components. |
| US08620257B2 |
Systems and methods for location management and emergency support for a voice over internet protocol device
Example systems and methods to manage location information for emergency services support of an internet protocol (“IP”) communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves storing first and second geographic location information in a first list of geographic location information associated with an internet protocol device. The first list is stored at a service provider server. At least a partial copy of the first list is communicated from the service provider server to the internet protocol device for storing as a second list of geographic location information in the internet protocol device. |
| US08620256B2 |
Automated voice emergency call
A data channel for the transmission of voice from a subscriber and of additional data characterizing the cause of an accident is used for an emergency call from a vehicle. These characterizing data are likewise transmitted in the form of voice. The data transmission is effected sequentially in this case. |
| US08620254B2 |
Wireless communication device and system
The present invention is directed to a wireless communications device that includes an antenna configured to receive an RF signal from an ambient environment. The antenna is characterized by an antenna impedance and the RF signal is characterized by a predetermined frequency. A passive mixer assembly is coupled to the antenna without an RF matching network. The passive mixer assembly is characterized by a passive mixer impedance presented to the antenna. The passive mixer assembly includes a plurality of baseband mixer ports. The passive mixer assembly is configured to downconvert the RF signal and provide a plurality of baseband signals. Each baseband signal of the plurality of baseband signals is directed out of a corresponding port of the plurality of baseband mixer ports and characterized by a predetermined phase of a plurality of predetermined phases. A baseband low noise amplifier (baseband-LNA) assembly is coupled to the passive mixer assembly. The baseband-LNA assembly includes a baseband-LNA input portion configured to receive the plurality of baseband signals from the passive mixer assembly. The baseband-LNA assembly is configured to provide a plurality of amplified baseband signals from a baseband-LNA output portion. A baseband feedback network is coupled between the baseband-LNA output portion and the baseband-LNA input portion. The baseband feedback network includes a plurality of first adjustable resistive components. The plurality of first adjustable resistive components is selectively adjustable such that the passive mixer impedance is substantially matched to the antenna impedance at the predetermined RF frequency. |
| US08620253B2 |
Apparatus and method for compensating for DC-offset in direct conversion receiver of wireless communications system
An apparatus and method of compensating for a direct voltage offset in a direct conversion receiver of a wireless communications system is provided. The apparatus includes a voltage control oscillator for generating a local oscillation signal having the same frequency as an input signal, a frequency converter for combining the input signal with the local oscillation signal, a first compensator for determining a first direct voltage offset generated due to a leaked local oscillation signal flowed into the frequency converter, for feeding back a magnitude of the determined first direct voltage offset to the frequency converter and for compensating for the first direct voltage offset, and a first register for storing a magnitude of direct voltage offset for a first variable gain amplifier, wherein the first variable gain amplifier is positioned in a rear end of the frequency converter, connected to the first register, and performs a modem associated offset compensation using a magnitude of direct voltage offset stored in the first register. |
| US08620240B2 |
Power amplifier and power amplifying method
An aspect of a power amplifier according to the present invention is a power amplifier that amplifies a modulated signal including amplitude modulated components and phase modulated components, the power amplifier including a first voltage source 21 that amplifies low-frequency components of the amplitude modulated components of the modulated signal to output a first voltage VC_L, a second voltage source 22 that amplifies high-frequency components of the amplitude modulated components of the modulated signal to output a second voltage VC_H, a current source 24 that amplifies amplitude components of the modulated signal to output a current, a combiner circuit 23 that combines the first voltage VC_L, the second voltage VC_H, and a current IM to generate a modulated power supply signal VOUT, and an RF amplifier 30 that amplifies a signal obtained by up-converting the modulated signal to a carrier frequency and outputs the amplified signal after modulating amplitude of the amplified signal by the modulated power supply signal VOUT. In this way, power efficiency of a circuit that generates a modulated power supply can be improved. |
| US08620232B2 |
Post filter for spectral domain echo cancellers to handle non-linear echo components
The present document discloses a method and system for improving echo cancellation in the presence of non-linear distortions. A circuit attenuates a transmit signal in one or more spectral bands based on a receive signal. The distorted echo comprised within the transmit signal results from distortions incurred by the receive signal when being rendered by an electronic device. The circuit compares energy values of the receive signal in multiple spectral bands with multiple corresponding spectral band dependent distortion thresholds and determines that for a first spectral band from multiple spectral bands. A first energy value from multiple energy values exceeding a first distortion threshold from multiple distortion thresholds attenuates the transmit signal in one or more spectral bands at higher frequencies than the first spectral band with corresponding spectral band dependent attenuation factors. |
| US08620226B2 |
Enhanced wideband transceiver
A method for operating an integrated transceiver, comprising coupling an operating transmitter and an operating receiver within the integrated wideband receiver, inputting a signal into the operating transmitter, performing a first conversion of the signal, wherein the signal is converted into a second signal, transmitting the second signal into the operating receiver, performing a second conversion of the signal, wherein the signal is converted into a third signal, transmitting the third signal into the operating transmitter, and adjusting the operating transmitter. |
| US08620225B2 |
Power detection circuit, transmitter, and power detection method
From an antenna provided in a transmitter for transmitting a radio signal, the radio signal is transmitted in such a manner of: detecting transmission power of a transmission signal outputted to the antenna; detecting reflection power of a reflection signal reflected from the antenna; integrating the difference between the transmission power and the reflection power at a timing of transmitting a preamble signal of the radio signal; comparing the difference value obtained by the integration with a predetermined threshold value, and outputting an alarm in the case where the result of the comparison is that the difference value obtained by the integration is smaller than the threshold value. |
| US08620222B2 |
Method for testing transmission modes of a wireless communication device
A method for testing transmission modes of a wireless communication device. According to the method, a switching range is determined in a parameter space in a test device. The parameter of the parameter space describes the quality of transmission and influences a recommendation for a transmission mode to be adjusted in a device to be tested. The switching range is a subspace of the parameter space and contains at least one switching limit for the recommendation for the subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. In a further step, random parameter points from the switching range are generated depending on a probability distribution which is defined for the switching range. A signal is generated for every parameter point and has a transmission mode determined by the parameter point and is transmitted to the device to be tested. The device to be tested then transmits one response signal per received signal to the test device, the response signal containing a recommendation for a subsequent transmission mode to be adjusted. All recommendations from all received response signals are evaluated in the test device. |
| US08620217B2 |
Short range wireless communication apparatus
A short range wireless communication apparatus is disclosed. When multiple communication protocols including a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol are simultaneously connected between the short range wireless communication apparatus and another short range wireless communication apparatus, the short range wireless communication apparatus notifies the another short range wireless communication apparatus a second communication protocol connection request if the first communication protocol is disconnected in response to transmission of a first communication protocol disconnection request to the another short range wireless communication apparatus and then the second communication protocol is disconnected in response to transmission of a second communication protocol disconnection request from the another short range wireless communication apparatus. |
| US08620213B2 |
Wireless device pairing methods
Methods of pairing a plurality of objects in a multi-interactive object environment are presented. In one example, the method establishes communication between a first and second controller and the base computing device that identifies each controller as being active. A pairing detection algorithm executed on the base computing device is set into pairing mode to receiving signals from the controllers that indicates pairing between the first and second controllers. The base computing device detects a pairing initiation signal from the controllers, where the pair initiation signal is generated in response to detecting physical contact or a signature between the first and second controllers. The base computing device sets first and second controllers as being paired to the player. |
| US08620212B2 |
Relay station, radio base station and communication method
A relay station comprising a control unit is used in order to control a transmission processing device and a reception processing device to eliminate overlap of the receiving period to receive a radio signal from the radio base station and the transmitting period to transmit a radio signal to a radio terminal under the control. Moreover, a control unit is provided to control the transmission processing device and the reception processing device to eliminate overlap of the transmitting period to transmit a radio signal to the radio base station and the reception period to receive a radio signal from the radio terminal. |
| US08620210B2 |
Radio communication system, mobile relay station, mobile station, and radio communication method
A radio communication system in which a mobile relay station includes a notification unit configured to notify the mobile station of mobility state information of the mobile relay station determined based on a number of base stations selected within a specified time, and the mobile station includes a base station selection processing unit to select the base station based on the mobility state information when the mobile station switches a device to be communicated with from the mobile relay station to the base station. |
| US08620206B2 |
System and method for remote education
The invention describes a system and method for allowing an individual to view an educational program remotely. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is used as a healthcare education system. The system comprises a file server which is connected to a database holding the educational programs. A remote interface connected to the file server allows an administrator to assign educational programs to an individual. The remote interface also includes a memory card writer which records the individual's identification code and the address of the file server on a memory card. The individual is given the memory card to take home. When the individual places the memory card in the memory card reader of a multimedia processor, the processor uses the file server address to automatically connect to the file server. The file server receives the individual's identification code from the processor, retrieves the corresponding educational program from the database, and sends the program to the processor to be displayed. After the individual has watched the educational program, completion data in the form of the date and time the program was watched, or the individual's response, is sent from the multimedia processor to the file server. The completion data can then be viewed by the administrator on a report screen. |
| US08620205B2 |
Image formation apparatus, image formation system, and output control method
An image formation apparatus is connectable to a post processing apparatus for performing a post process to a sheet. The image formation apparatus includes: a power source for outputting a voltage to a first load and a second load, the first load being provided in the image formation apparatus and being involved in image formation, the second load being provided in the post processing apparatus and being involved in the post process; a power source controller for increasing the output voltage of the power source during an operation of the second load; and a load controller for controlling an operation of the first load such that an output of the first load falls within a predetermined range during the operation of the second load. |
| US08620199B2 |
Cleaning blade, cleaning device, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and holder member
A cleaning blade which is provided in a cleaning device that removes non-transferred toner remaining on an image carrier includes: a blade member in which an edge thereof is in contact with the image carrier over a longitudinal direction thereof; and a holder member that holds the blade member and has an L-shape in a cross-section that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The holder member includes a supporting portion that cantilevers the blade member on a surface thereof such that the edge of the blade member protrudes toward the image carrier, and a bent portion that is connected to the supporting portion to form the L-shaped cross-section and is formed to have a lateral length that is shorter at least a lateral length at one end portion in the longitudinal direction thereof than at a middle portion thereof in the longitudinal direction. |
| US08620198B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a mode for rotating a toner supply member in the opposite direction of a predetermined direction to increase a toner amount
An image forming apparatus includes a toner supply member which is in contact with the toner carrier and is provided within the container, has a foam layer on its surface, rotates in a predetermined direction for image formation and supplies the toner to the toner carrier and has a contact area with the toner carrier with an uppermost stream position in the predetermined direction of the contact area being higher than a lowermost stream position and has a period when the toner supply member rotates in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction to increase the toner amount contained in the foam layer. |
| US08620192B2 |
Dual toner replenisher assembly for continuously variable gloss
A color image forming machine is provided having a plurality of xerographic marking engines, each forming associated color separations that are combined to produce a color print image. Each marking engine includes a dual replenisher assembly having first and second reservoirs containing respective toners of different gloss levels. The reservoirs each include one or more augers separately and independently controlled for dispensing the respective toners into a developer to continuously vary the gloss level of the toner in the developer. |
| US08620191B2 |
Developing device and image formation apparatus
A developing device comprising: a first transport member disposed in a first transport passage and configured to rotate and thereby transport developer; a second transport member disposed in a second transport passage and configured to rotate and thereby transport the developer; and a developer carrier configured to carry the developer supplied from the first transport passage, wherein the second transport passage is composed of an upstream section and a downstream section, the second transport passage communicates with the first transport passage via a first communication passage and a second communication passage, the upstream section is configured to receive refill toner, and V1 |
| US08620187B2 |
Surface coatings for the bias charging roller
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for bias charging members including an outer surface coating overlaying an outer base layer, wherein the outer surface coating can include conductive fillers combined with one or more polymers to provide desirable surface, electrical, and/or mechanical properties. |
| US08620186B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a brush roller, rotatable in a predetermined rotational direction, contacted to the image bearing member; and an applying device for applying a bias to the brush roller. The brush roller includes a shaft and a woven fabric brush including fibers planted in a strip-like base material, which is wound helically about the shaft with a helical winding gap. The woven fabric brush is subjected to fiber slanting processing so that the fibers of the helically wound woven fabric brush are slanted, so as to cover the helical winding gap, from a downstream side toward an upstream side with respect to a longitudinal direction in which a helically extending widthwise edge of the base material appears to be moving when the brush roller rotates in the predetermined rotational direction. |
| US08620183B2 |
Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus
In a sheet conveying apparatus according to the present invention, a guide unit is rotatably disposed in an apparatus body. The sheet conveying apparatus includes a conveying portion which is disposed in the guide unit in such a manner as to be movable relatively to a cover and conveys the sheet on a second conveyance path, and a positioning portion which is disposed in the cover and positions the conveying portion at the cover when the cover is closed with respect to the apparatus body. The guide unit is moved to a closure position during the operation for closing the cover, and thereafter, the positioning portion positions the conveying portion by the operation for closing the cover. |
| US08620180B2 |
Process cartridge and developing cartridge
A process cartridge includes a photosensitive cartridge and a developing cartridge. The developing cartridge includes a developing roller, an input gear, a transmission gear, and a supporting cover. The input gear includes a contact portion, an outer circumferential wall, and a gear portion. The contact portion is in contact with a coupling member to receive the driving force. The outer circumferential wall and the gear portion rotate about a rotational axis defining an axial direction when the contact portion receives the driving force. The outer circumferential wall has a curved surface whose center of radius of a curvature is coincident with the rotational axis. The transmission gear is meshingly engaged with the gear portion to transmit the driving force from the input gear to the developing roller. The supporting cover covers the curved surface of the outer circumferential wall to rotatably support the outer circumferential wall. |
| US08620178B2 |
Developing cartridge and image forming apparatus employing the same
A developing cartridge and an image forming apparatus employing the same which include a developer sealing configuration to prevent a developer in a developing chamber of the developing cartridge from leaking during a distribution process are disclosed. The developing cartridge of an image forming apparatus, the developing cartridge including: a developing housing which accommodates therein a developer and includes an opening through which the developer is supplied to the outside; an image carrier which is mounted in the developing housing; a developing roller which is mounted in the opening of the developing housing to face the image carrier and develops an image on the image carrier; and a sealing member which includes a sealing part partially provided between the image carrier and the developing roller in a sealing location and sealing the opening and a grip part extended from the sealing part to an outside of the developing housing. |
| US08620170B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In a RAM are stored a first deflection information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and the deflection amount of a photosensitive element, a second deflection information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and the deflection amount of a developing sleeve, a writing sensitivity information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount of the photosensitive element and latent image writing sensitivity, and an image forming condition information table representing the relationship between the rotation amount and laser power. An information input unit is provided to input the respective tables. During a print job, laser power is changed on the basis of the image forming condition information table, and laser power which causes deviation in an opposing direction is calculated on the basis of information input in a standby state to update the image forming condition information table. |
| US08620169B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a transport member that transports a recording medium, an image carrier that carries a toner image, a transfer member that transfers the toner image onto the recording medium, a fixing device that fixes the toner image, a reversing path that reverses the recording medium, and a controller. When the toner image is a borderless image and there is a burr on an edge portion of the recording medium, the controller controls the transport member, the image carrier, and the transfer member so that the recording medium passes between the image carrier and the transfer member and through the fixing device without the toner image being transferred onto the recording medium, and then the recording medium is transported along the reversing path to between the image carrier and the transfer member and the toner image is transferred onto the recording medium. |
| US08620167B2 |
Image forming device having a plurality of image forming modes
An image forming device includes a light-receiving element that receives a light having passed through a cartridge. An image forming unit has a first mode for forming images while rotating an agitator at a first speed and a second mode for forming images while rotating the agitator at a second speed that is lower than the first speed. If a value regarding image forming amount counted while the image forming unit is in the second mode is determined to be greater than a predetermined value, the image forming unit changes a rotation speed of the agitator from the second speed to the first speed, and it is determined whether the cartridge should be replaced based on a time ratio, which is a ratio of time duration, in which the light-receiving element receives the detection light within a predetermined duration, to the predetermined time duration. |
| US08620165B2 |
Transmitter, receiver for visible light communication and method using the same
A visible light wireless communication receiver includes: a source code recognizing unit that receives a source bit stream and recognizes the source bit stream as source codes of a unit of a first number of bits; and a line coding unit that encodes each of the source codes into an encoding code of a unit of a second number of bits, the second number being larger than the first number. In particular, in the encoding code, the number of bits corresponding to 1 is the same as the number of bits corresponding to 0. Therefore, the change in brightness of lighting may be minimized in the visible light wireless communication. |
| US08620145B2 |
Methods, system and mediums for use in protecting content
The present embodiments provide methods, systems and mediums for use in protecting content. Some embodiments provide methods for use in protecting content that access media content with sectors reserved for error data, search for and identify a reserved sector, access error data, replace at least a portion of the reserved sector in the media content with the error data, and record the media content and the error data onto a medium. |
| US08620143B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method, and program, and program storage medium
An image processing apparatus, method, and program and program storage medium that enable easy search for a desired part. A plurality of video data are created from video data and are displayed, each as a motion picture, at time intervals in a display order on a plurality of display areas on a display screen. |
| US08620141B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, image pickup apparatus, reproducing apparatus and video system
To record a video signal on a recording medium for faithful reproduction A signal processing unit generates a video signal corresponding to a specified color space. An encoding/decoding unit performs data compression on the video signal in accordance with the MPEG4-AVC standard to generate a compressed video signal to be recorded on a recording medium. A CPU generates a color space identifier including information indicating the specified color space and is configured so that an access unit including an SPS NAL unit in the compressed video signal includes an SEI NAL unit in which the color space identifier is stored. The video signal recorded on the recording medium is a signal to which a color space identifier having information for a color space of that video signal is added. |
| US08620138B2 |
Reproducing apparatus and reproducing method
To more flexibly reproduce moving image data obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition. For example, moving image data, which has been obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition, is stored in a recording portion. When the moving image data is reproduced from the recording portion, a single frame is selected and output by a reproduced frame selecting portion for each period of a single frame of display output. If a user operation instructing to make the displayed image darker, in response to this user operation, a frame having an exposure condition of underexposure is selected and output from the moving image data to be reproduced from the recording portion for each period of a single frame of display output. |
| US08620136B1 |
System and method for media intelligent recording in a network environment
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving video data propagating in a network environment; maintaining the video data in a buffer having a predetermined size; generating meta-information associated with the video data; and receiving a recording request from an end user participating in a video session associated with a video data. The recording request triggers the video data to be recorded in the network environment remote from the end user. |
| US08620134B2 |
Video and audio reproducing apparatus and video and audio reproducing method for reproducing video images and sound based on video and audio streams
Upon receipt of an MPEG stream, a time information converter modifies the PTSs of the audio data in the stream so that the timing for outputting the audio sound is delayed by the amount of time that is required for the processing of the video signal to be performed in a video signal processor while keeping the PTSs of the video data in the stream unchanged. |
| US08620132B2 |
Terahertz scanning reflectometer
A terahertz scanning reflectometer is described herein. A high sensitivity terahertz scanning reflectometer is used to measure dynamic surface deformation and delamination characteristics in real-time. A number of crucial parameters can be extracted from the reflectance measurements such as dynamic deformation, propagation velocity, and final relaxation position. A terahertz reflectometer and spectrometer are used to determine the permeation kinetics and concentration profile of active ingredients in stratum corneum. |
| US08620126B2 |
Optical fiber structure and a method of producing thereof
An optical waveguide including a core, a buffer surrounding the core, and a cladding surrounding the buffer. The core, the buffer and the cladding include silica glass. A refractive index of the buffer is substantially equal to a refractive index of pure amorphous silica glass. The buffer may reduce bubble formation during manufacturing and may facilitate splicing of the waveguide. A numerical aperture of the waveguide may be fine-tuned by adjusting a radial dimension of the buffer in order to compensate variations in the refractive index of the core. |
| US08620125B2 |
Light diffusing fibers and methods for making the same
Light diffusing optical fibers and methods for producing light diffusing optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a light diffusing optical fiber includes a core portion formed from silica glass and comprising a plurality of helical void randomly distributed in the core portion of the optical fiber and wrapped around the long axis of the optical fiber. A pitch of the helical voids may vary along the axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber in order to achieve the desired illumination along the length of the optical fiber. A cladding may surround the core portion. Light guided by the core portion is scattered by the helical voids radially outward, through the cladding, such that the light diffusing optical fiber emits light with a predetermined intensity over an axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber, the light diffusing optical fiber having a scattering induced attenuation loss greater than about 0.2 dB/m at a wavelength of 550 nm. |
| US08620123B2 |
Visual tracer system for fiber optic cable
A fiber optic cable includes a first optical fiber, a jacket, and a second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a glass core and cladding. The glass core is configured to provide controlled transmission of light through the fiber optic cable for high-speed data communication. The jacket has an interior surface that defines a conduit through which the first optical fiber extends. The jacket further has an exterior surface that defines the outside of the fiber optic cable. The second optical fiber is integrated with the exterior surface of the jacket. |
| US08620119B2 |
Array of waveguides making it possible to deflect a light beam
The invention relates to an array of waveguides (1) comprising a set of coupled waveguides that are substantially parallel and oriented in a guidance direction (Y), the set of waveguides comprising a first zone (2) formed by waveguides coupled according to a first coupling coefficient, and a second zone (3) formed by waveguides coupled according to a second coupling coefficient that is different from the first coupling coefficient, characterized in that the second coupling coefficient is different from the first coupling coefficient in the guidance direction and in the direction (X) perpendicular to the guidance direction. |
| US08620114B2 |
Digital image archiving and retrieval in a mobile device system
A computer-implemented method of managing information is disclosed. The method can include receiving a message from a mobile device configured to connect to a mobile device network (the message including a digital image taken by the mobile device and including information corresponding to words), determining the words from the digital image information using optical character recognition, indexing the digital image based on the words, and storing the digital image for later retrieval of the digital image based on one or more received search terms. |
| US08620113B2 |
Laser diode modes
Laser diode mode techniques are described. In one or more implementations, one or more laser diodes of a computing device are caused to operate below a lasing threshold to illuminate at least part of a physical surroundings of the computing device. One or more images of the illuminated physical surroundings are captured by a camera of the computing device and one or more inputs are recognized from the captured one or more images for interaction with a user interface displayed by the computing device. |
| US08620112B2 |
Image management apparatus and image management method searching for a development unit to perform a development process parameter set on a raw image data
A RAW image, a parameter set used in a development process for the RAW image data, and attribute information of the parameter set are obtained, and a development processing apparatus (or development processing software) to be used for development of the RAW image is determined. The attribute information of the parameter set includes information which identifies a development processing apparatus (or development processing software) that performed development. Based on this information, an apparatus or software which is to perform a development process is searched for. The RAW image and development process parameters are transmitted to the detected development processing apparatus or software. |
| US08620109B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method and image processing program
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including an up-sampling section configured to carry out up-sampling processing in order to generate an up-sampled image, a motion-compensated image generation section configured to generate a motion-compensated image as a result of correction processing to adjust a referenced image having the second resolution to a photographing-object position on the up-sampled image by making use of information on a difference between the up-sampled image and the referenced image, a blending processing section configured to generate a blended image as a result of blending processing to blend the up-sampled image with the referenced image, and an output-image generation section configured to receive and process the blended image as well as the up-sampled image in order to generate an output blended image obtained by blending a super-resolution processing-result image with a noise-reduction processing-result image. |
| US08620108B2 |
Image data processing device, image data processing method, and image data processing program
An image data processing apparatus includes a processing unit that detects an attribute of image data input. The image data processing apparatus also includes a network interface that receives content data from an external section. When the processing unit detects that the image data is contained in a predetermined location of the content data, the processing unit processes, based on the attribute detected and in accordance with an aspect ratio of a display section where the image data is to be displayed, the image data such that a horizontal to vertical ratio of the image data is kept when the image data is displayed on the display section. |
| US08620107B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting features of video, and system and method for identifying videos using same
An apparatus for extracting features from a video includes a frame rate converter for performing a frame rate conversion on the video to a preset frame rate, a gray scale converter for performing a grey scale conversion on the frame rate-converted video, a frame size normalizer for performing a frame size normalization on the gray scale-converted video to a preset image size, and a feature extractor for partitioning the normalized video into image blocks of a predetermined size, and extracting features from the image blocks on the basis of luminance values of the image blocks. A video identification system employs the feature extracting apparatus to identify an original video and an object video. |
| US08620106B2 |
Chart display device and method for displaying chart
Methods and apparatuses perform image processing for blending image and/or data layers. The method according to one embodiment accesses data representing a first layer and data representing a second layer; and generates a blended layer by adjusting a transparency of said first layer relatively to said second layer based on data associated with said first or second layer. |
| US08620098B2 |
Trees for adaptive coding of images and videos using set partitioning in generalized hierarchical trees having directionality
Adaptive entropy encoding and decoding which utilizes Set Partitioning within Generalized Hierarchical Trees (SPRIGHT) and a method of designing trees utilizing directionality. After decorrelation and quantization a tree structure is selected from multiple candidates, based on geometric relationships within the image block, for coding the coefficients toward improving zero-clustering of coefficients. Trees for the SPRIGHT encoding are created in response to finding frequency position of each coefficient and scaling frequency position followed by use of octave-band partitioning of coefficient patterns into squares and L-shapes, and the L-shapes are iteratively partitioned into squares. The tree comprises leaf nodes containing coefficients associated with each non-leaf node. The number of zero clustered coefficients can be increased, thus decreasing the number of nodes coded into the encoded image output. |
| US08620097B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: dividing a picture into tiles; coding the tiles to generate pieces of coded data each of which corresponds to a different one of the tiles; and generating a bitstream including the pieces of coded data. The coding of the tiles includes: generating a first code string by coding a first tile which is one of the tiles, without referring to coding information used in coding another one of the tiles; and adding a bit string after the first code string to make a bit length of first coded data which is one of the pieces of coded data, a multiple of a predetermined N bits, N being an integer greater than or equal to 2. |
| US08620086B2 |
System and method for image registration based on variable region of interest
An image registration system for aligning first and second images. The novel system includes a first system for extracting a region of interest (ROI) from each image and a second system for coarsely aligning the regions of interest. The first system determines the size and location of the ROI based on the number of features contained within the region. The size of the ROI is enlarged until a number of features contained in the ROI is larger than a predetermined lower bound or until the size is greater than a predetermined upper bound. The second system computes a cross-correlation on the regions of interest using a plurality of transforms to find a coarse alignment transform having a highest correlation. The image registration system may also include a third system for performing sub-pixel alignment on the regions of interest. |
| US08620084B2 |
Shape recognition using partial shapes
Shape recognition is performed based on determining whether one or more ink strokes is not part of a shape or a partial shape. Ink strokes are divided into segments and the segments analyzed employing a relative angular distance histogram. The histogram analysis yields stable, incremental, and discriminating featurization results. Neural networks may also be employed along with the histogram analysis to determine complete shapes from partial shape entries and autocomplete suggestions provided to users for conversion of the shape into a known object. |
| US08620079B1 |
System and method for extracting information from documents
Various embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for extracting information from digital documents, including physical documents that have been converted to digital documents. For example, some embodiments are configured to extract information from a field in a digital document by identifying a block of tokens before (i.e., a prior block) and a block of tokens after (i.e., a post block) the field from which the information is to be extracted, where both the prior block and post block are known to be associated with the field type of the field (e.g., name, address, phone number, etc.). |
| US08620077B1 |
Spatio-temporal segmentation for video
A video is segmented to produce volumetric video regions. Descriptors are created for the video regions. A region graph is created for the video, where the region graph has weighted edges incident to video regions and the weight of an edge is calculated responsive to the descriptors of the video regions incident to the edge. The region graph is segmented responsive to the weights of the edges incident to the video regions to produce a new region graph having new volumetric video regions comprised of merged video regions of the first region graph. The descriptions of the region graphs are stored in a data storage. |
| US08620076B2 |
Region extraction apparatus and region extraction method
A region extraction apparatus includes an image acquisition device that acquires an image, a temporary initial region specifying device that specifies a plurality of temporary initial regions in the acquired image, a separation calculation device that calculates a separation that is an indicator indicating how much pixel values of all pixels of an inside of a specified temporary initial region and pixel values of all pixels of an outside of the specified temporary region are different from each other, on each temporary initial region, an initial region specifying device that specifies a temporary initial region having a highest calculated separation as an initial region, and a region extraction device that performs a region extraction on a basis of the specified initial region. |
| US08620070B2 |
Corresponding image processing method for compensating colour
A corresponding image processing method is provided. The corresponding image processing method includes a first step for searching for a corresponding point of a corresponding image; a second step for performing radiometric calibration such that a camera response function of the corresponding image has a linear function; a third step for compensating for a color of the corresponding image by calculating a color conversion matrix; and a fourth step for measuring similarity of the corresponding image. |
| US08620068B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and medium storing program thereof
An image processing apparatus extracts an area for each color from an illustration area, specifies an area that is in contact with the boundary of the illustration area, extracts a color around the illustration area, determines whether or not the extracted color around the illustration area is the same as the color of the specified area, and processes vector data that represents an area that has been determined as having the same color. |
| US08620063B2 |
Polarization imaging
Methods of monitoring critical dimensions in a semiconductor fabrication process include capturing at least one image of a first structure that has an effect on the polarization state of light reflected therefrom. For at least some of the first structure images, a value is calculated indicative of intensity of light reflected from the first structure. A critical dimension of the first structure is obtained and correlated with the calculated value. At least one image of a subsequent structure is captured. A determination is made, based at least in part on the calculated value, of a critical dimension of the subsequent structure. |
| US08620061B2 |
Visual inspection method and apparatus and image analysis system
A visual inspection method and apparatus detecting a defect with the use of a detected signal obtained by illuminating one of a light and an electron beam onto a substrate to be inspected. The visual inspection method and apparatus includes calculation of an image feature based on an image of the detected defect, calculation of a coordinate feature based on position information of the detected defect, and outputting of real defect information by performing false alarm judgment by processing with respect to one of the image feature and the coordinate feature. |
| US08620057B1 |
Check image processing
Systems for processing digital check image files include an image classification module programmed to review a plurality of attributes associated with a digital check image file including at least one check image, and to categorize the digital check image file into at least one category of a plurality of categories, and a decision module programmed to decide how to process the digital check image file based on the category. |
| US08620053B2 |
Completion of truncated attenuation maps using maximum likelihood estimation of attenuation and activity (MLAA)
The present invention is a method of generating a best estimate of an image attenuation map derived from a truncated image attenuation map and PET emissions data for the object being imaged by a morphological imaging modality. The method involves a plurality of steps beginning with the recordation and processing of PET emissions data. Next, the morphological imaging modality records image data which is processed to determine an attenuation map. The attenuation map, for image modalities such as CT and MR scanning systems integrated with PET, is truncated, resulting in a truncated attenuation map image. Pixels for which attenuation data needs to be determined are identified and attenuation coefficients for these pixels are estimated and combined with the truncated attenuation map to generate a full initial attenuation map for the image, which is iteratively processed together with the PET emission data until the improvement change in the emission image reaches a defined threshold improvement level. |
| US08620051B2 |
Registration of optical images of turbid media
A co-registration system provides a means for spatially warping an optical image of an object with another images of a similar object. The optical image may be a scatter image, and the second image may be the same type of image modality, or may be different. The co-registration may use landmarks selected by a user, or may make use of contour information derived from the images. The system may also include processing of three-dimensional volume data in the form of sets of two-dimensional slices for co-registration. |
| US08620050B2 |
System and method for 2-D/3-D registration between 3-D volume and 2-D angiography
A method for registering a 2-D DSA image to a 3-D image volume includes calculating a coarse similarity measure between a 2-D DRR of an aorta and a cardiac DSA image, and a 2-D DRR of a coronary artery and the cardiac DSA image, for a plurality of poses over a range of 2-D translations. Several DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as refinement candidates. The similarity measure is calculated between the refinement candidate DRRs and the DSA, for a plurality of poses over a range of 3-D translations and in-plane rotations. One or more DRR-pose combinations with largest similarity measures are selected as final candidates. The similarity measure between the final candidate DRRs the DSA are calculated for a plurality of poses over a range of 3D translations and 3D rotations, and a DRR-pose combination with a largest similarity measure is selected as a final registration result. |
| US08620049B2 |
Interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask phase
An interventional roadmap method with optimization of the mask face is proposed. At least two empty images and at least two fill images are recorded in a mask phase A with a matrix-type array of pixels and stored. The empty and fill images are processed such that the gray values of each pixel of the x-ray images from mask phase A are arranged in ascending order. A mask image is computed from the processed empty and fill images such that the smallest gray values are averaged and from which the mask image will be formed. At least one current x-ray image is recorded and subtracted from the mask image to create roadmap images. |
| US08620047B2 |
Viewing three dimensional digital slides
Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user. |
| US08620045B2 |
System , method and article for measuring and reporting craniomandibular biomechanical functions
The present invention provides a motion analysis system for measuring the relative function of one anatomical structure to another based on optical fiducial markers tracked in a series of images and in turn data, where the components of hard and soft tissue are used in analysis and where the image data can be compared in a time series such that probabilities of involvement with various tissues can be correlated to the image data.The system measures displacement at various positions and can relate the data to various muscle and other soft tissue variations within the constraints of the anatomy and physiology including motion in three dimensional space, including rotations and translations and functions including velocity and acceleration. |
| US08620043B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes a gradient strength calculating unit that calculates a gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image; an extracting unit that extracts a closed region satisfying conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the region and a boundary of the region does not bend with a predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the region; and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion inside the region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial shape of the region; an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energy including at least energies determined respectively by an outer shape of the region and the gradient strength; and an energy-weighted sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy. |
| US08620042B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium
An apparatus includes a calculating unit that calculates gradient strength of respective pixel values based on an intraluminal image, an extracting unit that extracts a closed region from the image, and a detecting unit that detects an abnormal portion of the closed region. The closed region satisfies conditions that the pixel of which gradient strength is a predetermined value or more is not included in the closed region and a boundary of the closed region does not bend with predetermined curvature or higher toward an inner side of the closed region. The extracting unit includes a setting unit that sets an initial closed region based on the gradient strength, an energy calculating unit that calculates values of types of energies based on an outer shape of the closed region and the gradient strength, and an energy weighted-sum calculating unit that calculates a weighted sum of the types of energy. |
| US08620041B2 |
Method apparatus and system for analyzing thermal images
A method of analyzing a thermal image of a body section is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a thermospatial representation of the body section, calculating a surface integral of the thermal data over the surface, and determining the likelihood that a thermally distinguishable region is present in the body section, based on a value of the surface integral. |
| US08620038B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for automatic and semi-automatic modification of digital images of faces
The present invention is directed at modifying digital images of faces automatically or semi-automatically. In one aspect, a method of detecting faces in digital images and matching and replacing features within the digital images is provided. Techniques for blending, recoloring, shifting and resizing or portions of digital images are disclosed. In other aspects, methods of virtual “face lifts” are methods of detecting faces within digital image are provided. Advantageously, the detection and localization of faces and facial features, such as the eyes, nose, lips and hair, can be achieved on an automated or semi-automated basis. User feedback and adjustment enables fine tuning of modified images. A variety of systems for matching and replacing features within digital images is also provided, including implementation as a website, through mobile phones, handheld computers, or a kiosk. Related computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US08620036B2 |
System and method for controlling image quality
An image quality control system and method is disclosed. At least one infrared camera takes a screen image of a room. When there are a plurality of cameras, images of the cameras are synchronized with respect to time, and a specific object of the image is tracked to estimate image quality of the object. When there are a plurality of cameras, a 3D screen model is reconfigured, and positions of the cameras and the infrared lighting tools are controlled. Infrared lighting and the cameras are controlled, and particularly, optical axis direction, optical magnification, exposure time, and the iris of the camera can be amended. Next, a high-quality object image list can be generated so as to process the images. |
| US08620034B2 |
System and method for biometric identification using ultraviolet (UV) image data
A system and method for biometric identification of a target individual based on a query containing UV image data of the target individual. In one embodiment, the system includes a first database, a query module, a detection module, a sequence module and a match module. The first database includes a plurality of identities with each identity having at least one binary sequence representative of a skin area of that identity. The query module receives the query and validates the UV image data. The detection module detects at least one skin area in the UV image data. The sequence module forms at least one target binary sequence corresponding to the at least one skin area. The match module searches the first database based on the at least one target binary sequence to identify at least one identity thereby facilitating biometric identification of the target individual. |
| US08620033B2 |
Surface measurement system and method
A surface measurement method includes inspecting a plurality of samples of a first irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspections of the samples, a total number of surface peaks on each of the plurality of samples, and deriving a control limit from a statistical variation of the total number of surface peaks on each of the samples. The control limit specifies an out-of-tolerance condition for the total number of surface peaks on a second irregular workpiece surface. The method further includes inspecting a portion of the second irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspection of the portion of the second irregular workpiece surface, a total number of surface peaks on the portion, and comparing the total number of surface peaks on the portion to the control limit to determine whether the second irregular workpiece surface is in the out-of-tolerance condition. |
| US08620031B2 |
Method of detecting particles by detecting a variation in scattered radiation
A smoke detecting method which uses a beam of radiation such as a laser (16), to monitor a region, such as a room (12). A camera (14) is used to capture images of part of the room (12), including a path of the laser beam. Particles in the laser beam scatter light (30), and this is captured by the camera (14) for analysis. A processor (20) extracts data relating to the scattered light (30) to determine the density of particles in the beam, to determine the level of smoke in the region. The laser may have a modulated output (38) so that images captured without the laser tuned “on” can be used as a reference point and compared to images taken with the laser turned “on”, to assist in determining the level of scattered light (30) compared to ambient light. Filters (24, 26) may be used to decrease signals generated from background light. |
| US08620030B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus stores a luminance signal and a color signal extracted from a tracking area in image data and determines a correlation with the stored luminance signal, thereby extracting an area where a specified object exists in another image data to update the tracking area using the position information of the extracted area. If a sufficient correlation cannot be obtained from the luminance signal, the apparatus makes a comparison with the stored color signal to determine whether the specified object is lost. The apparatus updates the luminance signal every time the tracking area is updated, but does not update the color signal even if the tracking area is updated or updates the color signal at a period longer than a period at which the luminance signal is updated. |
| US08620018B2 |
Electronic watermark embedding method, device, and program, and electronic watermark detecting method, device, and program
A digital watermark embedding apparatus for embedding embedding information into an input signal having dimensions equal to or greater than N(N is an integer equal to or greater than 2). The apparatus generates an embedding sequence based on the embedding information, generates an N−1-dimensional pattern based on the embedding sequence, generates an N-dimensional embedding pattern by modulating a periodic signal according to a value on the N−1-dimensional pattern, and superimposes the embedding pattern in the input signal and outputs it. A digital watermark detection apparatus measures a component of a predetermined periodic signal in a direction of a dimension of the input signal to obtain an N−1-dimensional pattern, obtains a detection sequence from values of the N−1 dimensional pattern, and detects the embedded digital watermark based on a size of correlation value between the detection sequence and an embedding sequence. |
| US08620016B2 |
Magnetic speaker grill
A speaker assembly having a removable grill. The grill includes a perforated portion circumscribed by a flange. The flange has one or magnets disposed around an outer periphery of the flange. The speaker body has corresponding slugs disposed so as to align with the magnets of the grill upon assembly. The magnetic bond formed between the slugs and magnets keeps the grill attached to the speaker body during operation of the speaker assembly. |
| US08620011B2 |
Method, medium, and system synthesizing a stereo signal
A method, medium, and system generating a 3-dimensional (3D) stereo signal in a decoder by using a surround data stream. According to such a method, medium, and system, a head related transfer function (HRTF) is applied in a quadrature mirror filter (QMF) domain, thereby generating a 3D stereo signal by using a surround data stream. |
| US08620006B2 |
Center channel rendering
An audio system including a rendering processor for separately rendering a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The audio system may include circuitry for extracting one or both of the dialogue channel or the center music channel from program material that does not include both a dialogue channel and a center music channel. The dialogue channel and the center music channel may be radiated with different radiation patterns. |
| US08620003B2 |
Embedded audio system in distributed acoustic sources
The invention converts non audio systems into distributed audio sources for active noise control solutions. The system transforms non acoustic structures into soundboards using inertial type acoustic transducers. Acoustic parameters unique for each application due to the variation in properties of the sound board are compensated by equalizers. The invention also uses damping means to limit the reflection of bending waves from the edges. The inertial type acoustic transducer is driven by an amplifier. The acoustic signal to the amplifier is modified by a signal conditioner to compensate for the non optimal response of the acoustic system. An external controller communicates with the amplifier to control its operating parameters. A series of distributed audio sources in a variety of positions may each be addressable as a node on a network wherein noise detected at that source is analyzed and the system generates sound at that source to mask the noise. |
| US08620000B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling audio output, and mobile terminal system using the same
An audio output controlling apparatus and method, and a mobile terminal system using the same control settings of an audio out port according to whether an audio frame includes an audio signal. The audio output controlling method includes receiving an audio frame, determining whether an audio signal is included in the audio frame, and setting, depending on whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame, a power voltage provided to an audio out port. The mobile terminal includes a wireless transceiver; an audio unit, through an audio out port, an audio frame among the wireless data; and an audio output controlling unit to control a power voltage of the audio out port. The apparatus includes a section determining unit; and a power controlling unit to set a power voltage provided to an audio out port according to whether the audio signal is included in the audio frame. |
| US08619997B2 |
Receiving apparatus
A receiving apparatus includes: a local oscillator to output first- and second-local-oscillator signals whose phases are orthogonal to each other; a mixer to output first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a first filter to allow a component from a desired signal to pass therethrough, and eliminate a component from an image signal having a frequency symmetrical with that of the desired signal, in the first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a second filter to allow a component from the image signal to pass therethrough, and eliminate a component from the desired signal, in the first- and second-intermediate-frequency signals; a comparator to compare levels between output signals of the first and second filters; and a control unit to switch a frequency of the first- and second-local-oscillator signals to a difference frequency between a frequency of the desired signal and the intermediate frequency or a sum frequency thereof, according to a comparison result of the comparator. |
| US08619994B2 |
System and method for providing digital contents service
The present invention relates to a method and system for providing a digital content service that provides packaging content consisting of digital rights management (DRM) content and advertisement content, and is able to use the DRM content for free by watching or listening to the advertisement content, including: generating packaging content consisting of pilot content and target content, which has been encrypted using an encryption key of the pilot content, and providing the packaging content to a portable terminal; and obtaining a decryption key for the target content through playing the pilot content of the packaging content, and playing the target content by the decryption key, by the portable terminal. |
| US08619991B2 |
Encoding/decoding circuit
An encoding/decoding operation portion includes an encoding/decoding operation circuit and an avoiding path for detouring the encoding decoding operation circuit and can select between encoding or decoding input data in the encoding/decoding operation circuit and detouring the encoding/decoding operation circuit to output the input data without change. Only one wire has to be provided from a selector to a key storage portion and an initialization-vector storage portion. With this construction, it is possible to realize an encoding/decoding circuit which can suppress an increase in the number of wires used to transmit a content of key data to the key storage portion and the initialization-vector storage portion and does not cause complication of circuit layout. |
| US08619990B2 |
Secure key creation
A system for creating a secure key is provided that includes a computer processor and an application configured to execute on the computer processor, the application implementing a method that includes creating a token and populating a key control information section of the token with a value to indicate a minimum number of key parts used to form a key. Creating the secure key also includes populating a payload section of the token with a first key part, binding the key control information section to the payload section, adding a second key part to the first key part and iterating the value and binding the key control information section to the payload section after the second key part has been added. Creating the secure key further includes indicating the key is complete, wherein the key comprises a combination of the first and second key parts. |
| US08619985B2 |
Table splitting for cryptographic processes
For a defined cryptographic process including an original substitution table, split masked substitution tables are provided to resist cryptographic attacks. The split masked substitution tables are defined with reference to a set of random value data words and a mask value. An entry in the split masked substitution tables is defined by selecting bits from the corresponding entry in the original masked substitution table, as masked by the corresponding one of the set of random value data words and by selecting bits from the corresponding one of the set of random value data words as masked by the mask value. The split masked substitution tables are usable in a modified cryptographic process based on the defined cryptographic process to permit a masked output to be generated. The split masked substitution tables are refreshed by each entry in the tables being refreshed upon access during execution of the modified cryptographic process. |
| US08619984B2 |
Differential privacy preserving recommendation
User rating data may be received at a correlation engine through a network. The user rating data may include ratings generated by a plurality of users for a plurality of items. Correlation data may be generated from the received user rating data by the correlation engine. The correlation data may identify correlations between the items based on the user generated ratings. Noise may be generated by the correlation engine, and the generated noise may be added to the generated correlation data by the correlation engine to provide differential privacy protection to the user rating data. |
| US08619983B2 |
Digital TV conditional access system and method of using the same for transmitting and receiving digital data
A digital TV conditional access system having an authentication module, a conditional access front-end module, and a receiver module. The authentication module communicates bidirectionally with and authenticates the receiver module to generate a unique ID number and authentication information, the ID number and the authentication information being recorded to a data base. The conditional access front-end module communicates bidirectionally with the data base, collects information of the receiver module from the data base, encrypts entitlement management message of the receiver module, and transmits the encrypted entitlement management message to the receiver module by an addressing mode. The conditional access front-end module further includes an entitlement control message generator, and the receiver module receives a scrambled program with the help of the ID number and the authentication information. A method of using the digital TV conditional access system for transmitting and receiving encrypted digital data is also provided. |
| US08619981B2 |
Systems and methods for producing pseudo-random number distributions in devices having limited processing and storage capabilities
Arbitrary numerical distributions are presented for use in devices having limited processing and storage capabilities by having the device accept strings of arbitrarily distributed numbers from a source outside of the device. In one embodiment, a master controller creates a table of values which follow the desired minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation, etc. of the particular desired statistical distribution required. The created table is then communicated to the limited capacity device and can be used whenever a distribution of random values is required. The master controller could have one of several slave devices associated with it in the system. In another embodiment, where the storage capability of the device is large enough to store a table of values with sufficient different entries to create a distribution of satisfactory “randomness” for the particular application, a random number generator within the device is used to select the order of presentation of the table of values. |
| US08619980B2 |
Information generation apparatus, method, program, and recording medium for deriving a decryption key from another decryption key
Hierarchical cryptography expressed in a general semiordered structure other than a tree structure is implemented. In information generation, random numbers σv and (σvj)jεw(v)εZq are generated; main information kv=σvΣiε{1, . . . , N-1}\w(v)vibi*+bN* is calculated; and derivation information kvj=σvjΣiε{1, . . . , N-1}\w(v)vibi*+bj* is calculated for each jεw(v). In information derivation, random numbers σu and (σuj)jεw(u)εZq are generated; main information ku=σuΣiεw(v)\w(u)uikvi+kv is calculated; and derivation information kuj=σujΣiεw(v)\w(u)uikvi+kvj is calculated for each jεw(v). |
| US08619977B2 |
Representation change of a point on an elliptic curve
An elliptic curve cryptographic system where point coordinates are transformed from a first coordinate system to a second coordinate system. The transformed coordinates are processed by field operations, which have been modified for operating on the transformed point coordinates. In some implementations, the point coordinates are transformed from an affine coordinate system to a projective coordinate system using a non-random value for the projective coordinate. In some implementations, the transformed projective representation of the point can be changed from a first representation of the point in projective coordinates to a second representation of the point in projective coordinates, where the projective coordinate used in the representation change is a random value. |
| US08619973B2 |
System and device for data encryption and recovery
The present invention provides a flexible encryption device, comprising N encryption units connected in series for encrypting N-bit input data, each one of the N encryption units further comprising an exclusive-OR gate for receiving an input data; and a flip-flop connected coupled to the exclusive-OR gate. Furthermore, the present invention also provides the data transferring system that can be easily modified without the needs of manual intervention. |
| US08619969B2 |
Adaptive integrated hybrid with complex adaptation for digital subscriber line systems
An adaptive hybrid system is coupled to a loop for adjusting trans-hybrid loss. The system comprises a fixed portion comprising a first receiver transfer function block and a first hybrid transfer function block. The fixed portion is configured to receive a far-end signal and mitigate frequency dependent attenuation experienced by the far-end signal. The system also comprises a variable portion comprising a second receiver transfer function block and a second hybrid transfer function block configured to subtract a transmit echo from the received far-end signal. |
| US08619967B2 |
Networked contact center
This document discusses, among other things, a networked contact center that includes multiple platforms to host multiple tenants. Example embodiments include receiving a message associated with one of the tenants and identifying one or more of the platforms associated with the message. For some example embodiments, the networked contact center may allow the platform to access a data location that is both associated with the tenant and shared by two or more of the multiple tenants. |
| US08619965B1 |
On-hold processing for telephonic systems
Certain embodiments of the present invention employ targeted speech detection as part of end-of-hold detection in an end-of-hold notification system. The targeted speech detector is configured to be particularly sensitive to specific words or phrases so as to increase the likelihood of detecting a correct end-of-hold condition while reducing the likelihood of false end-of-hold detection. Targeted speech detection may be used along with other detection mechanisms such as DTMF detection and/or background noise detection. |
| US08619963B2 |
Conference call system, method, and computer program product
A conference call system comprises an input interface for receiving during a conference call at least two input streams of audio signal, each from another source. A selection unit is connected to the input interface, for selecting a number of dominant speaker streams out of the input streams, the number being less than or equal to a maximum number of dominant speakers value and each of the dominant speaker streams representing speech from a respective dominant speaker. A mixer is connected to the selection unit, for mixing the selected streams into an output stream. The conference call system comprises an output interface for outputting the output stream and a selection control unit connected to the selection unit and the input interface, for dynamically setting, during the conference call, the maximum number of dominant speakers value based on dynamics of the conference call. |
| US08619959B2 |
Method of providing message information, including call subject information, to a recipient of a telephone call
A methodology wherein a voice service client application on one or more phones and a voice service server perform a call set-up process through a mix of an external data channel and a normal voice channel that enables call subject information to be effectively provided by a calling party to a called party so that it can be displayed along with other caller ID information. |
| US08619958B2 |
Communication ranking and organization
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed herein for organizing communication information. Data received associated with a communication is recorded at the communication device. An identifier is associated with the communication. The identifier indicates a unique identity. A call score is calculated for the identifier at the communication device based on the communication. The particular identifier is ranked in a list in accordance with the calculated call score. |
| US08619944B2 |
Method and device for determining images from X-ray projections
A method and a device for determining attenuation coefficients for an object using a movable X-ray source and a detector, which is provided for recording projections, is provided. The method includes specifying a trajectory for the movable X-ray source, specifying positions on the trajectory for determining a derivative of projections recorded by the detector, specifying a plurality of scanning positions for each of the specified positions, following the trajectory with the X-ray source and recording a projection for each scanning position, numerically calculating a projection derivative in relation to the trajectory path for each of the positions using the projections recorded for the associated plurality of scanning positions, and determining attenuation coefficients for the object from the calculated projection derivatives using a theoretically exact or approximate rule for the reconstruction. |
| US08619940B2 |
Method for transmitting sounding reference signal in multiple antenna wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
A method for transmitting a sounding reference signal from a user equipment in a MIMO antenna wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises receiving sounding reference signal setup information from a base station, the sounding reference signal setup information including an initial cyclic shift value nSRScs and an initial transmissionComb parameter value kTC; setting an interval between cyclic shift values corresponding to each antenna port based on the initial cyclic shift value, to reach a maximum interval; setting a transmissionComb parameter value corresponding to a specific one of the antenna ports to a value different from the initial transmissionComb parameter value if the initial cyclic shift value is a previously set value and the number of antenna ports is 4; and transmitting the sounding reference signal to the base station through each antenna port by using the set cyclic shift value and transmissionComb parameter value. |
| US08619936B2 |
Clock switching algorithm based on preferred clock source
A radio system having multi-standard mixed mode radios is described. The mixed mode radios are used to support combining of digital baseband from a first and a second radio equipment controller. A primary clock associated with the first radio equipment controller and a secondary clock associated with the second radio equipment controller is provided. The quality of the primary clock is evaluated and the primary clock is referenced to the first radio equipment controller if the clock is determined to have appropriate quality factors. The quality of the secondary clock is then evaluated and the secondary clock is referenced to the second radio equipment controller if the secondary clock is determined to have appropriate quality factors. The second radio equipment controller is then referenced to the primary clock once the primary and secondary clocks are aligned. |
| US08619934B2 |
Clock data recovery system
A clock data recovery system is described. It includes a high pass filter for transmitting a filtered data signal in response to receiving an input data signal; an adder for summing the filtered data signal with a feedback signal, wherein the adder produces a summed input signal; a plurality of clocked data comparators for receiving the summed input signal, wherein the clocked data comparators determine an input data bit value; a plurality of clocked error comparators for receiving an error signal associated with clock recovery; an equalization and adaptation logic for selecting an error sample such that a phase associated with the error sample is locked at a second post cursor; and a phase mixer for transmitting a delay in response to receiving the phase and the delay is transmitted to the clocked-data comparators and the clocked-error comparators. |
| US08619930B2 |
Synchronization circuit and synchronization method
A synchronization circuit that synchronizes received data, includes: a determiner for determining whether or not data with a phase of a internal clock can be stably captured by the synchronization circuit, when the synchronization circuit accepts the data received from another device connected to the synchronization circuit with the phase of the internal clock of the synchronization circuit; a first flip-flop circuit accepting the data and the internal clock, capturing the data with the phase of the internal clock and synchronizing the data, when the determiner determines that the synchronization circuit can stably capture the data; a second flip-flop accepting the data and an inverted internal clock that has a phase obtained by inverting the phase of the internal clock, capturing the data with the phase of the inverted internal clock, and synchronizing the data, when the determiner determines that the synchronization circuit can not stably capture the data. |
| US08619925B2 |
Automatic gain control circuit and receiver circuit
An automatic gain control circuit configured so that a response time is reduced until a gain converges is disclosed. A variable gain amplifier is configured so that a gain is varied by a first control signal. A detector circuit detects an intensity of an output signal of the variable gain amplifier. A comparator compares an output signal of the detector circuit with a reference signal. An integrator integrates a signal corresponding to an output signal of the comparator, and outputs an integration result to the variable gain amplifier as the first control signal. A loop gain control unit, connected between the comparator and the integrator, is configured so that a loop gain is varied by a second control signal. A level detection unit detects an intensity of an output signal of the integrator and outputs a detection result to the loop gain control unit as the second control signal. |
| US08619922B1 |
Method and apparatus for acquisition and tracking of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbol timing, carrier frequency offset and phase noise
A method for updating channel estimates in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing receiver of a wireless local area network includes generating channel estimates for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing subcarrier as a function of subcarrier index values. The method includes generating a complex number by summing a product of frequency domain signals and the channel estimates for each of the subcarrier index values and dividing the sum by a sum of a squared absolute value of the channel estimate for each of the subcarrier index values. The method includes multiplying the complex number by the channel estimates to generate updated channel estimates. |
| US08619920B2 |
Two-dimensional code spreading for interleaved FDMA system
A transmitter comprises a first spreading unit configured to multiply each of multiple data symbols with a first spreading code sequence of a first spreading factor; a compression and repetition unit configured to compress output signals of the first spreading unit in time domain and repeat the compressed signal L times (where L is a natural number greater than or equal to 2); a phase modulation unit configured to multiply the compressed and repeated signal with a user dependent phase and output a data block consisting of L sub-blocks; a second spreading unit configured to replicate the data block according to a second spreading factor and multiply each set of the replicated sub-blocks with a second spreading code sequence of the second spreading factor to produce a two-dimensionally spread signal; and a wireless transmission unit configured to transmit the two-dimensionally spread signal using a single-carrier transmission scheme. |
| US08619919B2 |
Selective coherent and non-coherent demodulation methods and apparatuses
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses in a receiver of an electronic device to allow for a received signal to be demodulated using both coherent and non-coherent demodulation techniques and for selecting one of the demodulated data signals based, at least in part, on a drift rate measurement of a carrier frequency of the received signal. |
| US08619917B2 |
Decoding apparatus and method of terminal in wireless communication system
A decoding apparatus and method of a terminal in a wireless communication system are provided. A carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR) estimator estimates a CINR value of a received signal, and a controller generates a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level candidate set satisfying the estimated CINR value and a target packet error rate (PER) based on a look-up table. A decoder switch determines if an MCS level of a burst is included in the MCS level candidate set when the burst having no connection identifier (CID) information exists in a corresponding frame, and determines to decode the corresponding burst if the MCS level of the burst is included in the MCS level candidate set and to discard the burst otherwise. |
| US08619916B2 |
Apparatus for receiving signal and method of compensating phase mismatch thereof
An apparatus for receiving a signal includes a training signal generator generating a training signal for each frequency channel; an in-phase and quadrature-phase (IQ) signal generator generating a first in-phase signal and a first quadrature-phase signal using the training signal in a first operation mode and generating a second in-phase signal and a second quadrature-phase signal using a receiving signal in a second operation mode; an IQ mismatch compensator which makes the first in-phase signal and first quadrature-phase signal generated in response to each frequency channel converge for a reference time in the first operation mode to obtain a phase mismatch compensation coefficient for selected frequency channels and after generating a look-up table using the phase mismatch compensation coefficient, compensates the second in-phase signal and the second quadrature-phase signal using the phase mismatch compensation coefficient in the second operation mode; and a memory in which the look-up table is stored. |
| US08619915B2 |
Receiver
A receiver includes: a first amplifier for amplifying an input signal and outputting an output signal; a clock generator for generating a clock signal corresponding to a period of the output signal; a judger for outputting a first logical value or a second logical value in accordance with a phase lead or phase lag which has been occurred at a crossing point of the positive-phase signal and the negative-phase signal of the output signal upon rising or falling the clock signal; a detector for outputting a difference value between a time for which the judgment signal has the first logical value and a time for which the judgment signal has the second logical value; and an adjustor for adjusting reference voltages of a positive-phase signal and a negative-phase signal of the input signal in accordance with the difference value output from the detector. |
| US08619910B1 |
Decision feedback equalization for MIMO systems with hybrid ARQ
Systems and methods are provided for decision feedback equalization (DFE) in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ). Using a pre-equalization approach, the receiver combines received vectors by vector concatenation before equalization using DFE. Using a post-equalization approach, the receiver equalizes received vectors using DFE before combining the vectors. Cholesky factorization and QR decomposition may be used for DFE. |
| US08619907B2 |
Method and apparatus for preamble training in a multiple antenna communication system
Methods and apparatus are provided for communicating data in a multiple antenna communication system having N transmit antennas. According to one aspect of the invention, a header format includes a legacy preamble having at least one legacy long training field and an extended portion having at least N additional long training fields on each of the N transmit antennas. The N additional long training fields may be tone interleaved across the N transmit antennas and are used for MIMO channel estimation. The extended portion may include a short training field for power estimation. The short training field may be tone interleaved across the N transmit antennas and have an extended duration to support beam steering. |
| US08619905B2 |
Predistorter and distortion compensation method
A predistorter includes a distortion compensating unit which gives, in advance, a reverse characteristic of a characteristic of input to output of a power amplifier to a transmission signal which is to be input to the power amplifier; a distortion compensation signal generating unit which generates a distortion compensation signal indicating the reverse characteristic based on transmission data that is sample data of the transmission signal and the delayed transmission data; and a delay amount control unit which controls a delay amount of the transmission data according to an output signal of the power amplifier. |
| US08619903B2 |
Crest factor reduction for a multicarrier-signal with spectrally shaped single-carrier cancelation pulses
A method for crest factor reduction of a multi-carrier signal is disclosed. The multi-carrier signal comprises a plurality of single-carrier signals, each single-carrier signal having signal-specific spectral properties. The method comprises identifying a peak in the multi-carrier signal and a time of occurrence of the peak and generating a plurality of cancellation pulses depending on the time of occurrence of the peak. A particular cancellation pulse of the plurality of cancellation pulses is associated with a particular single-carrier signal and cancellation pulse-specific spectral properties of the particular cancellation pulse substantially match the signal-specific spectral properties of the associated particular single-carrier signal. The method further comprises combining the plurality of cancellation pulses to form a combined cancellation pulse and applying the combined cancellation pulse to the multi-carrier signal to reduce the peak. A corresponding circuit and corresponding computer program products useable during manufacture and operation are also disclosed. |
| US08619900B2 |
Digital broadcast transmitting and receiving system having an improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcast transmitting and receiving system and a signal processing method thereof that improves the receiving performance of the system. A digital broadcast transmitter can include a randomizer to receive and randomize a data stream into a specified position of which stuff bytes are inserted, a stuff-byte exchange unit to generate known data having a predefined pattern and insert the known data into the specified position of the data stream into which the stuff bytes are inserted, an encoder to encode the data stream output from the stuff-byte exchange unit for an error correction, and a modulator and RF converter to modulate the encoded data stream, RF-convert the modulated data stream and transmit the RF-converted data. The digital broadcast receiving performance can be improved even in an inferior multi-path channel by detecting the known data from the received transmission and using the known data for synchronization and equalization in a digital broadcast receiver. |
| US08619892B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus
The present invention provides a method of processing information prior to an emission from a multi-antenna device in a multi-user network having at least one user, said emission comprising transmission of a plurality of subcarriers comprising pilot symbols and data symbols, and said information being a data vector, the method comprising arranging said pilot symbols and said data symbols such that at least one of said plurality of subcarriers comprises at least one of said pilot symbols and at least one of said data symbols, wherein said data vector corresponds to said at least one of said plurality of subcarriers such that said data vector comprises data elements corresponding to said at least one of said pilot symbols and said at least one of said data symbols, precoding said data vector prior to transmission, and the precoding comprising applying a perturbation to said data vector in order to generate a perturbed data vector in which data elements corresponding to the pilot symbol remain unperturbed, and scaling said data vector by means of a precoding matrix. |
| US08619890B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for use in a 0.5K mode interleaver in a digital video broadcasting standard including DVB-Terrestrial2
A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit. |