| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08627026B2 |
Storage apparatus and additional data writing method
Deduplicated backup data of a plurality of generations are aggregated and stored.A storage apparatus is connected via a network to a host system making a content write request and includes a storage unit providing one or more containers composed of a specified storage area, and a back up unit storing the content in the container in accordance with a backup request from the host system; and wherein the backup unit cuts out the content into one or more chunks, detects a duplicate chunk, which is a duplicate of a chunk stored in the container, from the cutout chunks, and additionally writes the chunk, other than the duplicate chunk, to the container where the duplicate chunk is stored. |
| US08627023B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method that selects data to be deleted without a user having to perform a delete operation
An information processing apparatus and an information processing method are capable of correctly selecting data to be deleted, without a user having to perform a troublesome operation. In a backup operation, a determination is made for each image file as to whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. If the condition is satisfied, image files are backed up, and storage priority levels defined for these image files are reduced in accordance with a rule predefined by a user. The storage priority level is a measure indicating the priority of keeping an image file in a storage unit. The higher the storage priority, the lower the probability that image files are deleted. The storage priority levels are changed depending on whether image files have been backed up and depending on the number of times image files were backed up. |
| US08627022B2 |
Contention free parallel access system and a method for contention free parallel access to a group of memory banks
A parallel access system including: a group of processing entities that comprises N processing entities; wherein N is a positive integer that exceeds one; a group of memory banks that stores K information elements; wherein the group of memory banks comprises N pairs of single access memory banks; each pair of memory banks comprises an even memory bank and an odd memory bank; wherein each pair of memory banks stores sub-set of K/N information elements; wherein an even memory bank of each pair of memory banks stores even address information elements of a certain sub-set of K/N information elements and an odd memory bank of each pair of memory banks stores odd address information elements of the certain sub-set of K/N information elements; wherein K/N is an even positive integer; and a non-blocking interconnect, coupled to the group of processing entities and to the group of memory banks; wherein during each fetch cycle each processing entity of the group of processing entities fetches a first information element from an odd memory unit of a pair of memory banks and fetches a second information element from an even memory unit of the pair of memory banks; wherein the first and second information elements are two consecutive interleaved address information elements. |
| US08627018B2 |
Automatic optimization for programming of many-core architectures
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for automatically optimizing memory accesses by kernel functions executing on parallel accelerator processors. A function is accessed. The function is configured to operate over a multi-dimensional matrix of memory cells through invocation as a plurality of threads on a parallel accelerator processor. A layout of the memory cells of the multi-dimensional matrix and a mapping of memory cells to global memory at the parallel accelerator processor are identified. The function is analyzed to identify how each of the threads access the global memory to operate on corresponding memory cells when invoked from the kernel function. Based on the analysis, the function altered to utilize a more efficient memory access scheme when performing accesses to the global memory. The more efficient memory access scheme increases coalesced memory access by the threads when invoked over the multi-dimensional matrix. |
| US08627017B2 |
Read and write monitoring attributes in transactional memory (TM) systems
A method and apparatus for monitoring memory accesses in hardware to support transactional execution is herein described. Attributes are monitor accesses to data items without regard for detection at physical storage structure granularity, but rather ensuring monitoring at least at data items granularity. As an example, attributes are added to state bits of a cache to enable new cache coherency states. Upon a monitored memory access to a data item, which may be selectively determined, coherency states associated with the data item are updated to a monitored state. As a result, invalidating requests to the data item are detected through combination of the request type and the monitored coherency state of the data item. |
| US08627015B2 |
Data processing system using cache-aware multipath distribution of storage commands among caching storage controllers
A data processing system includes a storage system and caching storage controllers coupled to the storage system and to a storage network. The storage controllers operate in an active-active fashion to provide access to volumes of the storage system from any of the storage controllers in response to storage commands from the storage network. The storage controllers employ a distributed cache protocol in which (a) each volume is divided into successive chunks of contiguous blocks, and (b) either chunk ownership may be dynamically transferred among the storage controllers in response to the storage commands, or storage commands sent to a non-owning controller may be forwarded to the owning controller. A multipathing initiator such as a server computer directs the storage commands to the storage controllers by (1) for each volume, maintaining a persistent association of the chunks of the volume with respective storage controllers, and (2) for each storage request directed to a target chunk, identifying the storage controller associated with the target chunk and sending a corresponding storage command to the identified storage controller. Chunk ownership tends to stabilize at individual storage controllers, reducing unnecessary transfer of cache data and metadata among the storage controllers. |
| US08627011B2 |
Managing metadata for data in a copy relationship
Provided is a method for managing metadata for data in a copy relationship copied from a source storage to a target storage. Information is maintained on a copy relationship of source data in the source storage and target data in the target storage. The source data is copied from the source storage to the cache to copy to target data in the target storage indicated in the copy relationship. Target metadata is generated for the target data comprising the source data copied to the cache. An access request to requested target data comprising the target data in the cache is processed and access is provided to the requested target data in the cache. The target metadata for the requested target data in the target storage is discarded in response to determining that the requested target data in the cache has not been destaged to the target storage. |
| US08627009B2 |
Cache filtering method and apparatus
A method and apparatus used within memory and data processing that reduces the number of references allowed in processor cache by using active rows to reject references that are less frequently used from the cache. Comparators within a memory controller are used to generate a signal indicative of a row hit or miss, which signal is then applied to one or more demultiplexers to enable or disable transfer of a memory reference to processor cache locations. The cache may be level one (L1) or level two (L2) caches including data and or instructions or some combination of L1, L2, data, and instructions. |
| US08627005B1 |
System and method for virtualization of networked storage resources
A method, system, and program product for managing a plurality of storage area networks including a plurality of data storage volumes and one or more hosts, wherein the volumes are in a storage network, wherein the network includes one or more processors in the network, the program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-executable program code enabling controlling virtualization of volumes in the storage network and managing a SCSI virtualization service; wherein the volume virtualization controller service supports virtualization enabling virtual Storage Area Networks (SAN)s by parsing between front-end SANs and back-end SANs regardless of physical configuration of the front and back-end SANs, to enable mapping from virtual volumes to back-end storage elements across virtual SANs. |
| US08627002B2 |
Method to increase performance of non-contiguously written sectors
A method of managing data in a cache memory storage subsystem upon a cache write operation includes determining a first number of non-contiguously written sectors on a track in the cache and comparing the first number with a second, threshold number. If the first number exceeds the second number, a full background stage operation is issued to fill the non-contiguously written sectors with unmodified data from a storage medium. A corresponding system includes a cache manager module operating on the storage subsystem. Upon a determination that a cache write operation on a track has taken place, the cache manager module determines a first number of non-contiguously written sectors on the track, compares the first number with a second, predetermined threshold number, and issues a background stage operation to fill the non-contiguously written sectors with unmodified data from a storage medium if the first number exceeds the second number. |
| US08626996B2 |
Solid state memory (SSM), computer system including an SSM, and method of operating an SSM
In one aspect, data is stored in a solid state memory which includes first and second memory layers. A first assessment is executed to determine whether received data is hot data or cold data. Received data which is assessed as hot data during the first assessment is stored in the first memory layer, and received data which is first assessed as cold data during the first assessment is stored in the second memory layer. Further, a second assessment is executed to determine whether the data stored in the first memory layer is hot data or cold data. Data which is then assessed as cold data during the second assessment is migrated from the first memory layer to the second memory layer. |
| US08626992B2 |
Storage device with identification information
According to one embodiment, a storage device includes identification information storage module, location information storage module, determination module, and control module. The identification information storage module stores identification information identifying nonvolatile memories. The location information storage module stores location information identifying bad area in the nonvolatile memories. The determination module determines whether each of pieces of identification information stored in each of the nonvolatile memories matches with any one of the pieces of identification information stored in the identification information storage module. The control module controls one of the nonvolatile memories to prevent one of the pieces of location information from being used, and to prevent access from the host, when the determination module determines that the one of the pieces of identification information of the one of the nonvolatile memories does not match with any one of the pieces of identification information stored in the identification information storage module. |
| US08626991B1 |
Multi-LUN SSD optimization system and method
A method, computer program product, and computing system for dividing a physical memory device into at least a first logical memory device and a second logical memory device. The physical memory device includes a plurality of physical memory elements. A first portion of the plurality of physical memory elements is assigned to the first logical memory device. A second portion of the plurality of physical memory elements is assigned to the second logical memory device. |
| US08626984B2 |
Method and system for device independence in storage device wear algorithms
A device, methods and systems that provide device independence in storage device wear algorithms are disclosed. A storage device that provides such device independence includes a device-specific wear algorithm, and may also include an integrated wear algorithm. The device-specific wear algorithm is configured to be loaded into a wear algorithm space and is at least a portion of a wear algorithm. The device-specific wear algorithm is stored in the storage device. The integrated wear algorithm, if employed, is resident in the storage device. A method that provides such device independence is also disclosed. The method includes loading a device-specific wear algorithm from a storage device into a wear algorithm space. The device-specific wear algorithm is configured to be stored in the storage device and loaded into the wear algorithm space. The device-specific wear algorithm is at least a portion of a wear algorithm. |
| US08626978B2 |
Computer apparatus, computer system and adapter carry-over method
To obtain a computer that can change over from the active system to the standby system without reconnecting the I/O adapters. The computer according to the present invention carries over the identifiers logically identifying connection paths between computer modules and I/O adapters from active computers to standby computers. |
| US08626976B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing a host enumeration process
A method and apparatus for host enumeration process. One embodiment of the method provides a bit to indicate to the host whether enumeration process should start or continue. The bit may be set when the shared resource process has been successfully completed, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed since the shared resource process has started, or the bit may be set if too much time has elapsed before the shared resource process is started, or the bit may be set if the shared resource process has not been performed successfully, or the bit may be set if the port is open and it is unnecessary to perform the shared resource process. |
| US08626973B2 |
Pseudo multi-master I2C operation in a blade server chassis
A system and method are directed towards a pseudo multi-master operation on a serial bus. The pseudo multi-master operation allows multiple devices without standard multi-master functionality to operate on the serial bus as masters. In a disclosed example, the serial bus is an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus, which is isolated when an adapter card requires access to the I2C bus, such as to update vital product data (VPD) to a memory device, and to cache the updated VPD to a chassis management module. |
| US08626967B1 |
Virtualization of a storage processor for port failover
Described are techniques for processing requests. A request is received at a data storage system. The request is a command to perform first processing and the request is sent from a client over a virtualized path. The virtualized path includes a virtual target port of the data storage system. The virtual target port is a first physical target port that provides a virtualized counterpart port for a second physical target port whereby requests directed to the second physical target port are routed to the first physical target port rather than the second physical target port. First processing is performed and a response to the request is generated. The response includes first information consistent with sending the request over a non-virtualized path to the second physical target port. The response is sent to the client. |
| US08626966B2 |
Embedded clock recovery
Systems and methods and computer program products are disclosed to determine the source data rate even in cases where the sink device is not directly coupled to the source device. A method includes, forming a logical channel from a source device to a sink device where the logical channel is configured to carry the source data stream and one or more rate parameters. The rate parameters relate a data rate of the source data stream to a data rate of the logical channel. Another method includes, detecting a logical channel in a received data stream where the logical channel includes the source data stream, recovering one or more rate parameters from the received data stream, determining a data rate of the logical channel, and determining the data rate of the source data stream based on the data rate of the logical channel and the one or more rate parameters. |
| US08626963B2 |
Packet based data transfer system and method for host-slave interface
In a host-slave data transfer system, the slave device receives packet based data from an external device and stores the packet content in a buffer as data segments. The slave merges a plurality of data segments into data streams and transmits the data streams to the host. The host uses direct memory access (DMA) to unpack the data stream from the slave into individual data segments without memory copy. To enable the host to set up DMA, the slave transmits information regarding sizes of the data segments to the host beforehand via an outband channel, e.g. by transmitting the size information in headers and/or tailers inserted into previous data streams. The host utilizes the data segment size information to program descriptor tables, such that each descriptor in the descriptor tables causes one data segment in the data stream to be stored in the system memory of the host. |
| US08626962B2 |
Tilt and trim sensor apparatus
The present invention relates a tilt and trim sensor apparatus having a housing and a shaft rotatably mounted to the housing. The apparatus includes a magnet connected to one of the housing and the shaft. The apparatus includes a transducer connected to another of the housing and shaft. The transducer is disposed adjacent to the magnet for sensing the position of the magnet and is operable to generate an output representative of an angular position of the magnet. The apparatus has a microprocessor for sensing gauge display input requirements. The apparatus has output circuitry for outputting a signal based on the output of the transducer that is in accordance with the gauge display input requirements. |
| US08626959B2 |
Discovery and configuration of new devices added via dynamic reconfiguration
An approach is provided in which a device is detected when it has been added to an operating system partition. The detecting occurs during a dynamic reconfiguration process, and the device is associated with a device type. A parent device is identified that corresponds to the added device. The identifying of the parent device is performed during the dynamic reconfiguration process and the identification of the parent device is based on the device type of the added device with the identified parent device corresponding to a parent device name. A unit address corresponding to the added device is retrieved and this retrieved unit address and the identified parent device name are passed to a configuration manager process. The added device is then configured based on the identified parent device name. |
| US08626957B2 |
Collective network for computer structures
A system and method for enabling high-speed, low-latency global collective communications among interconnected processing nodes. The global collective network optimally enables collective reduction operations to be performed during parallel algorithm operations executing in a computer structure having a plurality of the interconnected processing nodes. Router devices are included that interconnect the nodes of the network via links to facilitate performance of low-latency global processing operations at nodes of the virtual network. The global collective network may be configured to provide global barrier and interrupt functionality in asynchronous or synchronized manner. When implemented in a massively-parallel supercomputing structure, the global collective network is physically and logically partitionable according to needs of a processing algorithm. |
| US08626948B2 |
Systems and methods for network routing
Systems and methods are provided for routing data through a network. In one system, a first node is enabled to overhear packet transmissions from a second node. The cost of transmitting packets from the first node to the second node is updated based on each overheard packet transmission. In another system, when the cost of transmitting packets from a source to an overhearing node to a destination is less than the cost of transmitting packets from the source to the destination, an advertisement is sent to the source causing the packet transmissions to be routed from the source to the destination through the overhearing node. In yet another system, using a safe-sequence tag that is attached to any packet transmitted by any node and updated when it is received by another node, along with stored histories of best metric advertisements, predetermined rules are applied to maintain loop freedom. |
| US08626944B2 |
System and method for efficient replication of files
A method comprises distributing a plurality of descriptors of file encoded with comprising a plurality of recipient nodes, wherein at least one descriptor is distributed from the first node to each recipient node of the at least a portion of the first group. The at least a portion of the first group communicate their respective descriptors received from the first node to other nodes of the first group. A system comprises an origin node operable to distribute all of a plurality of descriptors of a MDC file to a first group of recipient nodes, wherein the origin node does not attempt to communicate all of the plurality of descriptors to all of the recipient nodes of the first group. The recipient nodes of the first group are each operable to communicate a descriptor that it receives from the origin node to other nodes of the first group. |
| US08626941B2 |
Delivering a video stream
Delivering a video stream is disclosed. A request for the video stream is received. A past portion of the video stream is delivered to a client. The past portion has a marker time that precedes a current time by an interval that corresponds to a buffer length in a client buffer. Receiving a video stream is also disclosed. A request for the video stream is transmitted. A past portion of the video stream is received. The received past portion has a marker time that precedes a current time by an interval that corresponds to a buffer length in a client buffer. |
| US08626939B2 |
Method and apparatus for streaming data
Method and apparatus for negotiation of streaming data, suitable for application in an environment wherein a server generates and serves large, continuous amounts of speech data to a client in real time. A method of controlling the play out of a generated data stream from a data stream player includes estimating a time for generating the data stream; estimating a time for playing the data stream; generating a data stream using a data stream generation resource, for output by the data stream player; and alerting the stream player if the remaining generation time is less than the play time. The server may calculate what it can do, given knowledge of the network, and send a message to guarantee a level of service. A “can start play” message may be sent to client when the client can reliably start playing the signal. |
| US08626937B2 |
Server device in thin-client system
A server device for use in a thin-client system includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not an application program executed on the server device based on an input event from the client terminal has requested sensor information in a present environment of a device, an obtaining unit configured to, when the determination unit has determined the application program has requested sensor information, obtain sensor information in a present environment of the client terminal instead of obtaining sensor information in an present environment of the server device, and a transmission unit configured to cause the application program to run based on the sensor information on the client terminal obtained at the obtaining unit and transmits screen data created by the execution to the client terminal. |
| US08626936B2 |
Protocol independent server replacement and replication in a storage area network
A method for adding a server to a storage area network, the method comprising identifying a set comprising one or more communication protocols for connecting a second server to a first storage device configured to communicate with a first server using a first protocol, wherein the set of protocols comprises protocols that are supported by both the second server and the first storage device; selecting a second protocol from the set of protocols; and configuring the first storage device, the second server, and associated connection devices, wherein the second server may communicate with the first storage device using the second protocol. |
| US08626933B2 |
Optimizing buddy finder telecommunication service
A service is provided to users of communication devices present in a geographic service area. Each device is associated with a specific user. The service comprises conditionally alerting a user, via his/her communication device, to a presence of another device of another user. The alerting occurs if the other user is registered as a buddy of the user and if a geographical distance between the user's device and the buddy's device is smaller than a pre-determined threshold. A succession of polling cycles is run. In each polling cycle, the mobile devices are sequentially polled based on location and according to a ranking determined in a preceding polling cycle that minimizes a value of a sum of terms. Each respective term indicates a respective difference between rankings of the mobile device of the respective user and of the mobile device of the buddy of the respective user. |
| US08626928B2 |
Disassociating and freeing managed connections based on usage patterns
A method, system and computer program product for disassociating and freeing managed connection objects. Managed connections are dissociated from their connection handles based on their usage patterns, determined by various connection parameters, which more effectively reduces the idle time of the managed connections. The managed connections whose cost of disassociating and reassociating is less than the cost of keeping the managed connections idle are targeted and released to the free pool of managed connections via the dissociation from its connection handles. |
| US08626923B2 |
Media search engine for a personal media network
A system providing search functionality supporting the exchange and consumption of media is disclosed. The searching of media on storage belonging to any of a pre-defined group of users of a personal media network is provided. In addition, media stored on designated servers may also be included in a search. The media stored may include audio, still images, video, and data. A user may search the stored media using a number of criteria including the time period of the media, the type of device, and the type of media. The system also provides support for the search of one or more media peripherals, which may be searched when the media peripherals are communicatively coupled to the system. |
| US08626921B2 |
Device and service management based on layer 2 through layer 7 device attributes
A smart network may include a smart network host device as well as one or more client devices configured to connect to the smart network. Each of the client devices may implement one or more services that the client device exposes to other devices connected to the smart network. Each of the client devices includes network layer 2 and 3 attributes as well as network layer 7 application attributes. The application attributes are enumerated as named services, which each client device registers with the smart network host device. When a client device needs access to a named service, the smart network host device uses layer 2, 3, and 7 attributes associated with the client device to select a suitable server for providing the named service to the client device. |
| US08626919B1 |
Installer-free applications using native code modules and persistent local storage
Some embodiments provide a system that executes an application. During operation, the system obtains a resource list associated with the application and stores a set of resources including a native code module from the resource list through communications over a network connection, wherein the resources are stored in persistent local storage. The application then loads the application in the web browser and loads the native code module into a secure runtime environment. Next, the application executes the application independently of the network connection using the native code module and the stored resources. |
| US08626918B2 |
Workload allocation based upon heat re-circulation causes
A method of allocating workload among servers in a geographically collocated cluster of compute equipment includes calibrating causes of heat re-circulation in the cluster of compute equipment. In addition, workload is allocated among the servers to address causes of the heat re-circulation to reduce costs associated with cooling the compute equipment. |
| US08626917B2 |
File access using counter locking mechanism
In an embodiment, a method is provided for accessing a file node. In this method, a file access request specifying a file node to be accessed by way of a file system is received at a server from a client device. A counter is referenced to identify that the file node is being accessed in response to a different file access request. The counter is configured to track whether the file node is being accessed. The file node is provided to the client device when the counter indicates a termination of access to the file node resulting from the different file access request. |
| US08626916B2 |
Handheld field maintenance tool with process communication tunnel
A method of interacting with a process control system is provided. The method includes bringing a mobile electronic device into physical proximity of a field device. The mobile electronic device is coupled to a digital process communication channel of the field device. A client software application is initiated on the mobile electronic device. The digital process communication channel is used to communicatively couple the client software application to a host application remote from both the mobile electronic device and the field device. |
| US08626915B2 |
Routing method
A method executed by a router that establishes a connection between a network and an another network that includes an information processing device and an information storage device, the method includes: detecting an access status of the information processing device to the information storage device; and prohibiting transfer of the information from the information processing device to the another network depending on the access status managed in the detecting. |
| US08626909B2 |
Page phase time
A method of measuring load time for a web page includes video recording a duration of the web page load including capturing N frames in a series of frames 1 through N of the web page. The method includes comparing each frame from frame 1 through frame N−1 with a next frame from frame 2 through frame N in the series of frames to determine a pixel change amount between the compared frames. The method includes defining a series of page phases for the duration of the web page load, each page phase defined by a start time and an end time with each phase start time determined based on estimating user perceptible pixel change amount levels. |
| US08626907B2 |
Information processing unit, program execution method, and program for controlling electric appliance
An information processing unit, a program execution method, and a program are capable of identifying the type of an electric appliance and then automatically performing the setting operation, the setting information viewing, and the like of the electric appliance in order to enhance the user convenience. The information processing unit detects the electric appliance connected with a network and then determines the model related information of the detected electric appliance. The information processing unit selects a program corresponding to the model related information based on the determined model related information and then executes the selected program in a device communicatively connected with the electric appliance. |
| US08626906B1 |
Scheduling data pushes to a mobile device based on usage and applications thereof
Embodiments relate to pushing data to mobile devices more efficiently. In a first embodiment, a computer-implemented method receives pushed data on a mobile device. The method includes: (a) recording, at a memory of the mobile device, information describing activity occurring on the mobile device during a first time period; (b) sending, from the mobile device to a server, data indicating the first time period and activity data indicating whether the mobile device was active during the first time period; and (c) during a second time period occurring after the recording (a) and sending (b), receiving application data pushed to the mobile device at a first rate determined based at least in part on the activity data sent to the server in (b), wherein the second time period is determined by the server based at least in part on the data indicating the first time period. |
| US08626903B2 |
Method and device for identifying an SCTP packet
A method for identifying a Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) packet is provided, which includes: acquiring a feature tuple of a received SCTP packet, in which the feature tuple includes at least one piece of the following information: a source Internet Protocol (IP) address, a destination IP address, and a verification tag (V_tag); matching the acquired feature tuple of the SCTP packet with a SCTP tuple identification table, in which the SCTP tuple identification table includes a mapping relation between a feature set tuple and an SCTP association, and the feature set tuple includes at least one piece of the following information: a source IP address set, a destination IP address set, and the V_tag; and acquiring an SCTP association to which the SCTP packet belongs, if the acquired feature tuple of the SCTP packet matches one or more records of the SCTP tuple identification table. Correspondingly, a device for identifying an SCTP packet, a system for identifying an SCTP packet, and a method for establishing an SCTP tuple identification table are further provided, capable of reducing missed identification of an SCTP stream. |
| US08626897B2 |
Server farm management
Techniques and systems are disclosed that can measure capacity of a server farm, and project capacity needs based on traffic and resources. Server farm system information is collected for managing the server farm by identifying a list of servers in the server farm. Performance metrics are collected from identified servers and stored in a collection database. The stored performance metrics are analyzed in accordance with a server farm management request. |
| US08626891B2 |
Configured management-as-a-service connect process based on tenant requirements
An approach is provided that configures a management-as-a-service (MaaS) connect process at a MaaS provider. The MaaS connect process is configured based on a request received from a MaaS tenant. The configured MaaS connect process is transmitted to the MaaS tenant. MaaS services are provided from the MaaS provider to the MaaS tenant. These MaaS services interact with the configured MaaS connect process installed at the MaaS tenant. |
| US08626890B2 |
Connection pool use of runtime load balancing service performance advisories
Runtime connection load balancing of work across connections to a clustered computing system involves the routing of requests for a service, based on the current operational performance of each of the instances that offer the service. A connection is selected from an identified connection pool, to connect to an instance that provides the service for routing a work request. The operational performance of the instances may be represented by performance information that characterizes the response time and/or the throughput of the service that is provided by a particular instance on a respective node of the system, and is relative to other instances that offer the same service. |
| US08626889B2 |
Detecting anomalies in a sensor-networked environment
In a method for detecting anomalies in a sensor-networked environment, packages of data are received from a plurality of sensors located in the environment. At least one candidate problem location in the environment is identified based upon data contained in the packages. A principal components analysis is performed on the data collected from sensors associated with the identified at least one candidate problem location to identify a number of hidden variables and the number of hidden variables are analyzed to detect anomalies in the environment. In addition, detected anomalies are outputted. An analyzer for performing the method is provided. |
| US08626888B2 |
Dynamic control of autonomic management of a data center
A method, system, and article for autonomizing autonomic management of a data center, with the data center having at least one computer system and an associated component. Data is collected from the data center and used as input to identify a data center policy. A set of capabilities of elements of the data center are detected and cataloged based upon the collected data. At least one policy is dynamically selected from at least one set of master policies in a policy directory with the selected policy to support the cataloged capabilities of the data center, and to dynamically control selective application and to adapt parameters for quality of service. The selected policy is applied to manage the data center. |
| US08626887B2 |
Porting of information technology structures
A method and system for porting an abstract Information Technology (IT) structure into an IT delivery environment. An abstract IT structure A that is currently within an IT delivery environment X is translated by generating a virtual IT structure V from the abstract IT structure A through specification of an IT delivery environment Y. Delivery binding the virtual IT structure V to the IT delivery environment Y generates a delivery-bound virtual IT structure D. The delivery-bound virtual IT structure D is deployed in the IT delivery environment Y, resulting in a real IT structure instance R capable of operating in the IT delivery environment Y. |
| US08626885B2 |
Process for monitoring the consumptions of franking machines
According to the process for monitoring the consumptions of a plurality of franking machines through a public communication network, at least one franking machine not being connected to this network, a link is firstly established with a management server, through the public network, by means of at least one supervision terminal independent of the off-line franking machine, in accordance with a determined protocol of communication, and data is then exchanged between the terminal and the server during which the user inputs at the supervision terminal a current invoicing index relative to the off-line franking machine and receives in return a code of authorization to frank in order to validate the subsequent frankings of the off-line franking machine. |
| US08626880B2 |
Embedded configuration variance detector
An information handling system includes a connection via a network interface to a network, an embedded service processor, and a storage device. The connection via a network interface is adapted to receive data representing configuration settings of a baseline information handling system. The embedded service processor is adapted to compare the data representing the configuration settings of the information handling system to the data representing the configuration settings of the baseline information handling system. The storage device is adapted to store the data representing the differences between the configuration settings of the information handling system and the configuration settings of the baseline information handling system. |
| US08626877B2 |
Method and system for implementing a global information bus in a global ecosystem of interrelated services
A Global Information Bus (GIB) architecture is an infrastructure for deploying and managing individual services on a global scale. The GIB is a series of services that may change from one execution to another, finding and collaborating with other services dynamically. This series of collaborating services may start to resemble an ecosystem, and GIB architecture may maintain the interconnectedness and stability of this ecosystem as it continually changes. To that end, the GIB includes an enterprise repository service for storing related information related to services running in the enterprise where the enterprise consists of a group of network domains. |
| US08626873B2 |
Systems and methods for managing a provider's online status in a distributed network
A system manages communications between a provider and a requestor in a distributed network. A requestor is implemented on a computing device and provides a stay online binding. The stay online binding identifies a binding that is desired by the requestor. A provider is implemented on a computing device and provides a binding. The provider receives the stay online binding from the requestor and continues providing the binding because the provider became aware of the stay online binding. |
| US08626870B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating and reproducing adaptive stream based on file format, and recording medium thereof
A method and an apparatus for generating and reproducing an adaptive stream based on a file format is disclosed. The method includes receiving one or more segments, each of which includes a manifest box, a moov box, and a media data box, from a server and analyzing the manifest box, the moov box, and the media data box; and decoding and reproducing the one or more segments based on a result of analyzing of the manifest box, moov box, and media data box, wherein the manifest box, moov box, and media data box are included in a single file. |
| US08626863B2 |
Persistent synthetic environment message notification
Persistent synthetic environment message notification is described, including retrieving synthetic environmental data associated with an event occurring within a synthetic environment, identifying one or more formats to configure the synthetic environmental data and to transmit the synthetic environmental data, generating a message comprising the synthetic environmental data, the message being generated based on at least one of the one or more formats, and sending the message comprising the synthetic environmental data to an endpoint. |
| US08626862B2 |
Identifying people and available communication modes
A system that includes a computer device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail. The interactions can include the following. Creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user. Viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons. Selecting the person from the set of persons. Selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person, and retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, where the identifying characteristic is selected by the user from a display. Communicating with the person. |
| US08626857B2 |
System and method for provisioning an email account using mail exchange records
A system provisions an electronic mail (email) account of a user for allowing access to an electronic mailbox from a remote device to retrieve email. A communications module receives email address parameters of the user and transmits a domain name system (DNS) query to the Internet for returning mail exchange (MX) records corresponding to the email address parameters of the user. A configuration module processes any returned MX records as a starting point for determining configuration parameters for accessing the email account of the user to retrieve user email. |
| US08626848B2 |
Obfuscating identity of a source entity affiliated with a communiqué in accordance with conditional directive provided by a receiving entity
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: receiving a first communiqué that is affiliated with a source entity and that is directed to a receiving entity; and transmitting to the receiving entity, in lieu of the first communiqué, a second communiqué that is provided in accordance with one or more conditional directives to conditionally obfuscate identity of the source entity, the one or more conditional directives provided by the receiving entity. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08626846B2 |
Method for remote configuration of an apparatus via a network
An embodiment of the method includes remote configuration of at least one apparatus using a configuration server to configure the apparatus in situ via a network, to which the apparatus and the configuration server are connected. The method includes exchanging information requests and inform messages between the configuration server and the apparatus. The method further includes prioritizing, at the configuration server, the requested information indicated by the at least one of information requests and inform messages. The method also includes sending, from the configuration server, the requested information indicated by the at least one of information requests and inform messages over the network to the apparatus. |
| US08626844B2 |
Methods and media for exchanging data between nodes of disconnected networks
Methods and media for exchanging data between nodes of disconnected networks are provided, including: determining a query type based on whether a query received at a first node includes at least one keyword or at least a portion of a uniform resource identifier; performing a search of a cache based on the query and the query type; converting the query into a formatted query document; storing the formatted query document in a database, if the search of the cache does not yield at least a predetermined number of data items; retrieving the formatted query document from the database at a predetermined interval; multicasting the retrieved formatted query document from the first node to at least a second node; and receiving, at the first node, a formatted response document from the second node, the formatted response document resulting from a search of a cache of the second node. |
| US08626843B2 |
Mass-communication templates for communication-scenarios
A selection of a communication scenario of multiple communication scenarios is received. Availability of content placeholders associated with the selected communication scenario is presented. A selection of a content placeholder from the content placeholders associated with the selected communication scenario is received. Based on the received selection of the content placeholder associated with the communication scenario, a mass-communication template including the content placeholder is generated. The mass-communication template is accessed to generate a first electronic communication. The first electronic communication is sent with first content based on a first state of a communication variable specified by the content placeholder of the mass-communication template. The mass-communication template is accessed to generate a second electronic communication. The second electronic communication is sent with second content based on a second state of the communication variable specified by the content placeholder of the mass-communication template. |
| US08626841B2 |
Direct access electronic mail (email) distribution and synchronization system with IMAP-idle implementation
The communications system includes a network engine that communicates with the plurality of a user subscribed mobile wireless communications devices via a communications network for sending and receiving emails. A direct access server is operative with the network engine for polling electronic mailboxes of users from an email source and retrieving electronic messages from the electronic mailboxes and pushing any electronic mailboxes to the network engine to selected users subscribed mobile wireless communications devices. The direct access server communicates with an email source using the internet message access protocol (IMAP) and IMAP-Idle supportable connections to accept real-time notifications such that when a connection limit is reached or exceeded to an email source, the direct access server disables IMAP-Idle connections to the email source. |
| US08626837B2 |
Identity management for open overlay for social networks and online services
Methods and systems to manage users of a social network. The method includes receiving, at a server, a request to contact a user from another user of a social network based on a selected one of a plurality of associated identity resources of the user known by other users. The method also includes restricting views of other users for the identity of the user to the selected one of the plurality of associated identity resources. |
| US08626833B2 |
Vehicle-mounted communication system
A communication network in which a plurality of terminals are connected to a common bus is a vehicle-mounted communication system which connects a plurality of ECUs though the bus, transmits messages at predetermined communication intervals between the ECUs, and receives the transmitted messages. The messages transmitted/received between the ECUs through a CAN communication line are divided into a plurality of groups such as a first group, a second group to an Nth group according to the type of message information. Each of the ECUs is provided with a transmission timing operation part for computing the transmission timing for each message group to be transmitted. The transmission timing operation part adjusts so as to bring the transmission timing of message belonging to the first group transmitted from its own ECU closer to the transmission timing of message belonging to the first group received from another electronic control unit. |
| US08626832B2 |
System and method for displaying a conversation summary
A system, method and computer program product for displaying a conversation summary is provided. The method may include providing a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to allow communication between a number of users. The method may also include displaying an invitation to join a conversation at the graphical user interface from at least one of the users and displaying a summary of the conversation in a tag cloud on a computing device. Numerous other variations and embodiments are also included within the scope of the present disclosure. |
| US08626830B2 |
Media content at the end of a communication
A method includes playing a video clip upon the end of a communication between two users. Another method includes playing an audio clip upon the end of a communication between two users. The audio clip may have been downloaded to a device of at least one of the users or it may be selected by a first user for playing on the device of a second user. |
| US08626829B2 |
System and method for delivering remotely stored applications and information
The computerized method and apparatus for mobile device interactivity includes hosting a network application on a server. The method and apparatus further includes receiving, at the network application on the server, an event message from a mobile application executing on a mobile device, the mobile application having executable code embedded therein for communicating with the network information for presenting a user interface for the network application on the mobile device, the event message reporting an action taken via the user interface. The method and apparatus further including executing application logic within the network application to generate data values based on the action reported in the event message and mobile device information and sending to the mobile device an update message with at least some of the generated data values and instructions for use by the executable code to present the data values within the user interface at the mobile device. |
| US08626826B2 |
Terminal apparatus, electronic apparatus, and access key assignment method and program
A terminal apparatus includes a communication unit and a controller. The communication unit receives information of a web page from a web server. The controller extracts commands included in the information of the web page by analyzing the received information of the web page, and assigns access key functions to the extracted commands. |
| US08626823B2 |
Page ranking system employing user sharing data
Standard web content search result relevance and ranking is improved by considering certain social reference data, such as the number of times an item of content is shared, normalized for the number of times it is viewed. A system and method for improving the relevance and ranking includes a system and method for tracking the social references and a system and method for operating on search engine results to either re-order the results based on social reference data, re-order the search results based on a combination of the social reference data and the web search engine's ordering, and/or display the social reference data either with the search results reordered or in the order provided by the web search engine. Many different forms of data constitute social reference, including sharing content or a link thereto by email, SMS, posting to a link-sharing site, blog, and bookmarking in a web browser. |
| US08626822B2 |
Method for implementing network resource access functions into software applications
An Open Network Adapter (ONA) provides an interface that provides network resource access functions to application writers and network users while hiding the implementation details from those writers and users. The ONA accepts high-level network resource access function requests and coordinates the lower-level actions necessary to accomplish the high-level requests. These network resource access requests may, for example, be provided via a user interface which may be implemented by a personal computer, telephone, or other device capable of providing a display and receiving user input. |
| US08626820B1 |
Peer to peer code generator and decoder for digital systems
Digital content from a source (e.g., a file or a stream), is striped and encoded in parallel over a cluster of Storage Systems. The encoding ensures that subsequent retrieval of the data succeeds even when some members of the cluster of Storage Systems are lost or when errors in communication result in the loss of some IP packets. Host Map File (HMF) data is produced that describes fully how to retrieve the content, including the encoding parameters, the cluster of Storage Systems and the striping of the encoded data. This HMF data is then inserted as the header of every encoded file on the cluster of Storage Systems. The HMF data is the only way the encoded files can be reassembled into a meaningful whole. The original content is retrieved by requesting its data from the cluster of Storage Systems. In each Storage System, a decoder parses the HMF data and transmits the striped data to the requestor. The decoders cooperate to dynamically detect erasures and to reconstruct the missing data. The system is self-healing as new Storage Systems are able to reconstruct data missing due to the loss of any Storage Systems from the cluster without impeding concurrent encode and decode transactions. |
| US08626819B2 |
Transfer of items between social networking websites
A first website earns rewards, e.g. points and items, for carrying out activities. Those rewards can be transferred to a second website. For example, a parent's website allows the parent to carry more adult tasks and also earn points. The points can be transferred to the child's website. A center of the universe website allows obtaining rewards for any of these websites. A social networking component operates across multiple websites. |
| US08626815B1 |
Configuring a programmable integrated circuit device to perform matrix multiplication
In a matrix multiplication in which each element of the resultant matrix is the dot product of a row of a first matrix and a column of a second matrix, each row and column can be broken into manageable blocks, with each block loaded in turn to compute a smaller dot product, and then the results can be added together to obtain the desired row-column dot product. The earliest results for each dot product are saved for a number of clock cycles equal to the number of portions into which each row or column is divided. The results are then added to provide an element of the resultant matrix. To avoid repeated loading and unloading of the same data, all multiplications involving a particular row-block can be performed upon loading that row-block, with the results cached until other multiplications for the resultant elements that use the cached results are complete. |
| US08626813B1 |
Dual-path fused floating-point two-term dot product unit
A fused floating-point dot product unit. The fused dot product unit includes an improved alignment scheme that generates smaller significand pairs compared to the traditional alignment due to the reduced shift amount and sticky logic. Furthermore, the fused dot product unit implements early normalization and a fast rounding scheme. By normalizing the significands prior to the significand addition, the length of the adder can be reduced and the round logic can be performed in parallel. Additionally, the fused dot product unit implements a four-input leading zero anticipation unit thereby reducing the overhead of the reduction tree by encoding the four inputs at once. The fused floating-point dot product unit may also employ a dual-path (a far path and a close path) algorithm to improve performance. Pipelining may also be applied to the dual-path fused dot product unit to increase the throughput. |
| US08626812B2 |
Hybrid greatest common divisor calculator for polynomials
A hybrid greatest common divisor (GCD) calculator analyzes characteristics of polynomials and selects a particular GCD algorithm from multiple available GCD algorithms based on a combination of characteristics of the polynomials. The selected GCD algorithm is then applied to calculate the GCD of the polynomials. |
| US08626810B2 |
Method and system for finite impulse response (FIR) digital filtering
A method for finite impulse response (FIR) digital filtering is provided that includes generating a frequency domain sample block from an input sample block of length L, adding the computed frequency domain sample block to a reverse time-ordered set of previously generated frequency domain sample blocks as a newest frequency domain sample block, computing a spectral multiplication of each of K newest frequency domain sample blocks in the reverse time-ordered set with a corresponding frequency domain filter block in a time-ordered set of K frequency domain filter blocks of a FIR filter, adding the K results of the K spectral multiplications to generate an output spectral block, inverse transforming the output spectral block to generate a time domain output block, and outputting L filtered output samples from the time domain output block. |
| US08626806B2 |
Method and system for managing execution of virtual applications
A system and method for directing download and execution of an application. A runtime engine receives an identifier of a block of shared memory from a directing process. The shared memory stores a map indicating which portions of an application file have been stored in a local copy of the application file. The runtime engine also receives an instruction from the directing process to execute the local copy when the local copy stores less than the entire application file. As the application executes, the runtime engine identifies requests from the application to access portions of the local copy and uses the map to determine whether the requested portions have been stored in the local copy. If the requested portions are not stored in the local copy, the runtime engine prevents the executing application from accessing the local copy until the map indicates the requested portions have been stored therein. |
| US08626803B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically providing network services
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for automatically providing network services in a way that improves upon the prior art. Systems implementing aspects of the invention can, for instance, provide developers with a mechanism for creating Web Services without having to write low-level SOAP, XML, or WSDL code. The system utilizes a rule-based approach to provide a mechanism for dynamically reconfiguring the system with requiring redeployment of the entire system. |
| US08626800B2 |
Synchronization of artifacts across different domains
A method of synchronizing artifacts of a first domain with artifacts of a second domain is provided. The method includes: loading a first set of transformed artifacts and a first artifact map from a first domain into a second domain; generating an association model based on an evaluation of the first artifact map and a second artifact map; comparing a first transformed artifact of the first set of transformed artifacts with a second artifact of a second set of artifacts corresponding to the second artifact map based on the association model; determining differences based on the comparing; and selectively updating the second artifact map based on the differences. |
| US08626795B2 |
Dynamic data association
Methods, program products, and systems implementing dynamic data association are described. Relations between a first data item and a second data item can be created in an ad hoc manner. The first data item can include a row of data in a table in a relational database. The second data item can include a row of data in the same table, in another table in the relational database, or a document outside the relational database. Configurable metadata can be created to link the first data item and the second data item. The link can be directional. The configurable metadata can include data specified by a user. The configurable metadata can be stored in one or more system tables in the relational database. The configurable metadata can be specific to the user, or to a work group of the user. The configurable metadata can change when the first data item or the second data item is modified. |
| US08626792B2 |
Hierarchical structured abstract data organization system
A method in a data processing system and apparatus for organizing files, web pages, or web site members organized in a traditional first hierarchical file structure that is on a recordable medium of a data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files, web pages, or web site members. The electronic files, web pages, or web site members are organized as a function of the metalabels into a second hierarchical file structure existing simultaneously with the first hierarchical file structure on the recordable medium of the data processing system. The files, web pages, or web site members can be organized or grouped by the metalabels for efficient searching or following conversations of group members on social networking sites. |
| US08626791B1 |
Predictive model caching
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for caching predictive models are described. Records are obtained, each record including a time of a previously submitted predictive request and an identifier of a trained predictive model. A trained scheduling model is generated using the records as training data. A set of identifiers of trained predictive models are determined from a plurality of trained predictive models that are stored in a secondary memory of a computing system. The target time is inputted to the trained scheduling model. In response, a second predictive output is received that comprises the set of identifiers. A set of trained predictive models are obtained that correspond to the set of identifiers from the secondary memory. The set of trained predictive models are stored in a primary memory of the computing system. |
| US08626790B2 |
System and method for processing and analyzing dimension data
A processor is operated to combine a first row of a dimension table in a data warehouse with a second row in the dimension table. The result is a combined row that includes a row identification key for the first row and a row identification key for the second row. The row identification key for the first row joins the combined row to fact data from a prior time period. The second row corresponds to a current time period that is later than the prior time period. The processor is also operated to join at least a portion of the combined row to at least a portion of the corresponding row in a fact table associated with the dimension table. The fact data from the prior time period is included in the corresponding row in the fact table. |
| US08626789B2 |
Geocoding using information retrieval
Geocoding architecture based on information retrieval. The geocoding information retrieval system operates on locations and geographic entities. The architecture uses parameters in addition to the query string, if available. The parameters provide contextual information that enables filtering and sorting the results. The additional parameters include market, culture, map view, and user location. A geocoding triage process uses the query and context information provided and output of a machine-learning parser to select the data-lookup geocoders for processing the query. A results processing component collects the results from the underlying data-lookup geocoders, merges the results into a single list after normalizing the scores, and then re-sorts the results list. |
| US08626785B2 |
Contextual query revision
Apparatus, systems and methods for contextual query revision are disclosed. A current search query is received during a search session. The current search query includes one or more current search tokens. Potentially inaccurate search tokens are identified from the one or more current search tokens. A possible replacement token is identified based upon the potentially inaccurate search token. A group of related tokens is identified from query logs, and a modified search query is generated if the replacement token is not included in the related tokens. |
| US08626783B2 |
Method for monitoring and controlling the processing of database searches
Systems, methods, and apparatus for preventing misuse of searches of a database system are provided. This prevention of misuse of database searches can enable reliable operation of the database system, as an improper query using a regular expression will not shut down or severely affect an application process that provides access to the database system. A thread of the application process determines whether an input character characters string matches the regular expression. To prevent misuse, a computational effort of the search is tracked, and compared to a threshold value. When the threshold is exceeded, an operation of the thread is exited or stopped. |
| US08626781B2 |
Priority hash index
A priority hash index provides efficient lookup of posting lists for search query terms. The priority hash index is a data structure in which hash values for terms are distributed across multiple storage devices based on importance of the terms and access speeds of the storage devices. Terms are grouped into search lists with each search list including a storage location on each storage device. When a search query is received, a term is identified and hashed to a location on the first storage device and to generate a unique hash value for the term. The locations on the storage device for the term's search list are sequentially read until the hash value for the term is located to access the posting list for the term. |
| US08626771B2 |
Container reputation
A method of creating a reputation for a container that contains data is disclosed. A user reviews a container that is stored on a network and the user posts an opinion rating of the container. The opinion rating is stored along with an user identification. The opinion rating and the user identification are added to a database and the data in the database is used to calculate a reputation for the container. |
| US08626768B2 |
Automated discovery aggregation and organization of subject area discussions
An aggregation service aggregates discussions of events and topics within a given subject area using seed search queries, seed URLs, and/or search engine data. A subject area is selected and a set of seed search queries and/or seed URLs relevant to that subject area are manually generated. The set of seed search queries and/or seed URLs are used to identify URLs containing content relevant to the subject area. The URLs are crawled at given intervals to identify content items, which are analyzed using a classifier to identify content items relevant to the subject area. The content items are grouped into clusters surrounding events and/or topics within the subject area. The various clusters are ranked against one another to facilitate ordering clusters for presentation to end-users. |
| US08626762B2 |
Display apparatus and method of providing a user interface
A method of providing a user interface (UI) and a display apparatus having the same. In a method for providing a UI, a display apparatus receives an manipulation for two or more axis directions, and searches for one of a plurality of images by applying two or more different classification standards according to the directions of the received input manipulation. Therefore, the user may easily search for a desired image using one or more classification standards. |
| US08626756B1 |
Tagging data assets
Systems and apparatus, including computer program products, for tagging data assets. In one aspect, a computer program product includes instructions operable to cause a computer to establish a database of concept data elements, asset references, and associations. The concept data elements each represent a concept and have a hierarchy specified by concept hierarchy information. The asset references each include a storage location identifier for a corresponding one of a plurality of data assets. Each association defines a type of relationship, from a plurality of types of relationships, between a data asset and a concept represented by a concept data element. |
| US08626755B2 |
Electronic album editing system, electronic album editing method, and electronic album editing program
An electronic album editing system for editing an electronic album in consideration of categories into which images are classifies is provided. The electronic album editing system includes: a first storage section for classifying a plurality of images included in a first electronic album into a plurality of categories; a second storage section for classifying a plurality of images included in a second electronic album into a plurality of categories; a category selection section for selecting one category of the images stored in the second storage section; a range acquiring section for acquiring the range of the image information corresponding to the one category; a category detection section for detecting a category corresponding to the range similar to the acquired range using range information previously stored in the first storage section; and an editing section for storing the image classified into the detected category in the second storage section. |
| US08626752B2 |
Broadcast network platform system
A system that associates audio and/or video data with one or more calls for action, and manages, queries and displays the audio and video associated with a call for action based on defined or predefined criteria related to the audio and video data. The system selectively updates media files and Metadata from Meta tags, or Metadata feeds. The system spiders the Metadata or Metadata feeds for new Metadata to automate the submission and programming the audio and video data over a network. The system provides users with other call to action options including click to call, literature, order forms, and/or applications. The system optionally schedules audio and video media to target users by time of day, location, device, and other parameters to offer a call to action to different user audiences. |
| US08626748B2 |
Combined word tree text visualization system
An example method includes identifying instances of a search term in a source text, and identifying prefix strings and suffix strings comprising tokens preceding and subsequent to the search term in the source text. The method further includes displaying a visualization interface that includes the search term within a combined tree diagram that includes a prefix tree and a suffix tree extending to either side of the search term. The prefix tree displays the prefix strings and the suffix tree displays the suffix strings, and both have user-selectable branches. The method further includes providing, in response to a user input selecting a branch in the prefix tree or in the suffix tree, a visual indication of a prefix string and a suffix string in the visualization interface that form a matching sequence that originate together in the source text, for matching sequences that are connected through the selected branch. |
| US08626746B2 |
Tracking modifications to values of various fields in a database serve
Storing historical/previous values of a field of a relational database in the same table. The previous values can be conveniently used to revert back to any of such previously stored values. Thus, for each update/modify operation, the present value is stored as a previous value. In one embodiment, the previous values are stored in a VARRAY associated with each field. The indexed entries of the VARRAY store the present as well as previous values of the field. |
| US08626745B2 |
Multi-query optimization
A database query optimization method is provided for database queries that include predicates, the queries being directed to at least one database table having data in rows and columns. The method includes associating a lineage bit set with each row of the database table, the lineage bit set providing a binary predicate state indication whether each predicate is met or are not met by data in the row. A dependency bit set is established to provide a binary indication of the predicates that are included in each query. Queries are applied against the database table by a logical operation between the lineage bit set and the dependency bit set. A database query optimization data structure includes a lineage bit set associated with each row in the database table. The lineage bit set provides a binary predicate state indication whether each predicate is met or are not met by data in the row. The data structure further includes a dependency bit set that provides a binary indication of the predicates included in each query. |
| US08626743B2 |
Techniques for personalized and adaptive search services
Techniques are presented that include defining one or more personalized categories, wherein each personalized category comprises one or more terms, identifying one or more of said personalized categories that are associated with a user query, identifying one or more terms that are associated with said user query and with said personalized category, and adding said identified one or more terms to said user query. |
| US08626741B2 |
Process for cataloging data objects backed up from a content addressed storage system
A process for organizing data objects backed up from a content-addressed storage systems is disclosed. Content-addressed storage systems back up data objects in a flat directory, labeling them with non-intuitive user-unfriendly content addresses. Such directories can be large and difficult to browse, making selective recovery of desired data objects inefficient and laborious. When the content-addressed storage system is further archived to a secondary storage device, such as tape, navigation of archived data objects is especially tedious and difficult. An embodiment of the present invention enables easy navigation of a data object directory created by building a pseudo-file structure as content addressed data objects are archived to a secondary backup device. The file structure of the data object director is based upon timestamp metadata extracted from each data object, resulting in a navigable directory tree that is more intuitive and user-friendly. |
| US08626740B1 |
Hierarchical topic relevance
Determining the relevance of a page to a topic in a hierarchy is disclosed. A plurality of paths that include arrivals at the page is determined. A proportion of the paths that include relevant arrivals at the page is determined. And, the relevance of the page is determined based at least in part on the proportion. |
| US08626739B2 |
Methods and systems for processing media files
Systems and methods for processing media files are described. In one embodiment, one or more events are captured having associated event data and associated with a client device, wherein each event is associated with an article and at least one of the articles is a media file, wherein at least one of the events is captured in real time upon the occurrence of the event, at least some of the event data and articles associated with the events are indexed and stored, a search query is received, and the at least one media file is determined as relevant to the search query. |
| US08626738B2 |
Interest contour computation and management based upon user authored content
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for interest contour computation and management based upon user generated content and associated meta-data. In an embodiment of the invention, an interest contour computation and management method is provided. The method includes crawling content sources disposed about a computer communications network for authored content created by an end user. The method further includes identifying meta data provided for the authored content and adding the meta data to a user interests profile of the end user. The meta-data further can include extracted text from the content. Of note, the method can further include receiving from the end user a specified time period and limiting the addition of the meta data to meta data applied to the authored content during the specified time period. |
| US08626734B2 |
Application launching via indexed data
Application launching on a computer via indexed data. Based on a search term entered by a user, the computer searches an index containing metadata representative of one or more applications installed on the computer. A user interface on the computer's display has a window for displaying the results of searching the index. In addition, the user interface receives user input to select an application from the search results to be initiated. The computer is responsive to the user input via the user interface for initiating the selected application installed on the computer. A computer-readable medium including a persistent component, an index component, a query component, and an execution component embodies further aspects of the invention. |
| US08626733B2 |
System and associated methods for remotely enabling features
A method and apparatus enables a feature among a plurality of features in an application loaded on a client, with the client located remotely from a server. The server receives a data profile request from the client. In response to the data profile request, a data profile is sent from the server to the client, the data profile including a profile key to identify the client, an application identification to identify the application, and a feature selector. The application uses the feature selector to enable the feature among the plurality of features. |
| US08626731B2 |
Component information and auxiliary information related to information management
In one aspect, a method related to receiving, retrieving and presenting information. In addition, other method, system, and program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and/or text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08626728B2 |
System and method for sharing anonymous user profiles with a third party
The invention provides a system and method for sharing anonymous user profiles with a third party. In one aspect of the invention, the system shares user profiles with content servers on a mobile data network so that they may select content responsive to the user's profile. The system provides a store of user profiles for associating profile information with either a source IP address or mobile phone number, where the profile includes information on the user and the user's network usage. The system detects a user's transaction request and inspects it for either an IP address or phone number, which it uses to retrieve the appropriate profile. The system subsequently applies predetermined opt-out policies to determine how much of the user profile may be provided in response to the profile request. The system then returns the profile information such that the user's identity is masked. |
| US08626727B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a map of an enterprise system
An exemplary system and method for providing a map of an enterprise system is provided. The method comprises accessing data describing an element from one or more sources. One or more objects are associated with the element. At least one relationship is identified between the one or more objects. A map is then generated of an enterprise system comprised of the one or more objects based on the at least one identified relationship. |
| US08626719B2 |
Methods of managing and accessing e-mail
Methods and systems for managing e-mails involve an e-mail server that maintains a data set identifying e-mails, and that implements a shortcut feature whereby at least a portion of an e-mail identified in the data set is identified by a shortcut identifier, so that the at least a portion of the e-mail is not stored in the data set. One method involves replicating a copy of at least some of the e-mails onto the client computer when the client computer is coupled to the e-mail server. Another method involves accessing a full copy of an e-mail while a client computer is not in communication with the e-mail server. Another method involves maintaining the shortcut identifier for an e-mail in the data set so that the data set is not updated with a full copy of the e-mail when a user requests the e-mail. |
| US08626717B2 |
Database backup and restore with integrated index reorganization
A mechanism is provided for reorganizing a source index tree of a database table resulting in a target index tree of the database table is provided. A backup process reads source leaf pages of the source index tree in a logical order defined by a sequence of index keys. The logical order can be different from a physical order of the source leaf pages defined by a sequence of respective storage locations. The backup process constructs target leaf pages of the target index tree maintaining the logical order. A restore process constructs target non-leaf pages of the target index tree based on the distribution of the index keys among the constructed leaf pages and stores the target leaf and non-leaf pages. |
| US08626716B1 |
Service broker enhancements
A data access layer operable to manage data requests from one or more software applications is provided. The data access layer includes a query processor, a metadata repository, a transaction data store, and an exception handler. The query processor manages transaction processing of data requests between applications, such as commercial-off-the-shelf software applications, and data stores. The metadata repository maintains a logical data model related to the data to provide instructions regarding handling the data requests from the application. The transaction data store maintains transaction information. A data warehouse may be updated along with the data stores by publication and subscription of data updates. When an error related to processing the one of the data requests is detected, the exception handler uses the transaction information to return any of the data to its previous state using compensating transactions. |
| US08626712B2 |
Logging and analyzing computer user's context data
A facility for logging context attributes is described. For each of a set of selected context attributes, the facility, determines a target frequency with which values of the selected context attribute are to be logged. For each of the set of selected context attributes, the facility obtains values of the selected context attribute at a frequency approximating the target frequency determined for the selected context attribute. Then, for each obtained context attribute value, the facility writes the obtained value to a storage device in a manner that identifies its context attribute. |
| US08626709B2 |
Scalable relational database replication
A relational database replication system includes a client, at least one primary database, a plurality of secondary databases and replication agents which coordinate database transactions. The system provides a high level of performance, reliability, and scalability with an end result of efficient and accurate duplication of transactions between the primary and secondary databases. In one implementation, the client transmits sets of database update statements to the primary database and primary agent in parallel; the primary agent replicates the statements to at least one secondary agent. A transaction prepare and commit process is coordinated between the primary database and the primary agent, which in turn coordinates with the at least one secondary agent. Databases can be partitioned into individual smaller databases, called shards, and the system can operate in a linearly scalable manner, adding clients, databases and replication agents without requiring central coordination or components that cause bottlenecks. |
| US08626708B2 |
Management of user data
A method and arrangements for managing user data stored in a database of a communications system where the database is managed by a main controller is disclosed. In the method a user is first authenticated, where after an application entity can manage user data in the database that associates with the user and an application by communicating data between the application entity and a second entity connected to the communications system. |
| US08626699B2 |
Construction of photo trip patterns based on geographical information
Techniques for reconstructing photo trip patterns from geo-tagged photos are described. Photo trip patterns are reconstructed by mining geo-tagged photos from the Web or a data storage and segmenting the photos based on at least the geographical identification information associated with the photos. Mining semantics of each photo trip pattern may also be performed using tags associated with the photos. |
| US08626698B1 |
Method and system for determining probability of project success
A computer-implemented method is provided for developing a model to estimate a probability of project success. The method includes maintaining a database of historical project management performance data including i) task information associated with at least one completed task and ii) member information associated with at least one team member. The method includes forming a predictive model based on the historical project management performance data. Forming a predictive model further includes formulating probability distributions to characterize one or more dependency relationships in the predictive model. Each probability distribution includes at least one probability determined based on the historical project management performance data. |
| US08626681B1 |
Training a probabilistic spelling checker from structured data
A spelling system derives a language model for a particular domain of structured data, the language model enabling determinations of alternative spellings of queries or other strings of text from that domain. More specifically, the spelling system calculates (a) probabilities that the various query entity types—such as STREET, CITY, or STATE for queries in the geographical domain—are arranged in each of the various possible orders, and (b) probabilities that an arbitrary query references given particular ones of the entities, such as the street “El Camino Real.” Based on the calculated probabilities, the spelling system generates a language model that has associated scores (e.g., probabilities) for each of a set of probable entity name orderings, where the total number of entity name orderings is substantially less than the number of all possible orderings. The language model can be applied to determine probabilities of arbitrary queries, and thus to suggest alternative queries more likely to represent what a user intended. |
| US08626678B2 |
Anomaly detection for link-state routing protocols
Disclosed herein is an anomaly detection method for link-state routing protocols, a link-state routing protocol providing for link-state update (LSU) messages to be exchanged between nodes in a packet-based network, wherein each link-state update message includes link-state advertisement (LSA) message(s) each having a respective header. The method comprises monitoring the link-state advertisement messages exchanged in the network, extracting and forming respective feature vectors with the values in the fields of the headers of the monitored link-state advertisement messages, and detecting an anomaly related to routing based on the feature vectors. In particular, detecting an anomaly related to routing includes feeding the feature vectors to a machine learning system, conveniently a one-class classifier, preferably a one-class support vector machine (OC-SVM). |
| US08626677B2 |
Training SVMs with parallelized stochastic gradient descent
Techniques for training a non-linear support vector machine utilizing a stochastic gradient descent algorithm are provided. The computations of the stochastic gradient descent algorithm are parallelized via a number of processors. Calculations of the stochastic gradient descent algorithm on a particular processor may be combined according to a packing strategy before communicating the results of the calculations with the other processors. |
| US08626674B2 |
Integrated shipping label and customs form
The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs and other information for international shipping. In one embodiment, a method for generating an international shipping a package comprises the steps of providing shipping information associated with the package, the information comprising address information of the origin, address information of the destination, postage information including a postage amount due to a post service and a customs form number unique within the post service; processing a shipping label having the shipping information displayed thereon; and affixing the shipping label to the package. |
| US08626673B1 |
Postal shipping label
The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods for the computerized generation and printing of a U.S. Postal Service Shipping Label over the Internet that provides postage, shipping address, delivery address, and shipment and delivery tracking indicia. According to the invention, human-readable postage payment indicia is formatted in such a way that the actual price of shipping postage is obscured; postage payment can only be translated from the postage payment indicia by someone who knows the format template. The present invention further provides a United States Postal Service shipping label comprising a representation of paid postage, said representation of paid postage comprising a human-readable character string, said character string comprising imbedded postage price information. The present invention further provides a United States Postal Service shipping label, comprising a machine-readable representation of paid postage and a ship to address. |
| US08626672B2 |
Secure tracking of tablets
A method of tracking and tracing tablets, in particular pharmaceutical tablets, includes reading, i.e. detecting, code structure from the tablet, reading additional information from the package on an information sheet, and then comparing the readings to verify authenticity. The code structure may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional. The detected code may further be compared with information stored in a database. |
| US08626671B2 |
System and method for automated data breach compliance
Computer-implemented methods and systems for data breach compliance are disclosed. Organization related information may be received. Breach information relating to a data breach event of the organization may be received. The breach information may include, for example, breach event description information, compromised personally identifiable information, and remediation action information. A breach report may be generated based on the breach information, the organization related information, and one or more rules related to data breach. At least one reporting entity may be determined based on the organization related information, the breach information, and the one or more rules. The breach report may be output. |
| US08626669B2 |
Secure physical billing system
A system for physical distribution of secure content to customers and physical collection of secure billing information. A plurality of content storage devices may be provided to a customer, each content storage device including secure content. A billing storage device may also be provided to the customer, the billing storage device including decryption information, which may be used by a media player for decrypting the secure content of the content storage devices to exhibit the secure content to the customer. The content and billing storage devices may be provided to the customer via physical delivery and without electronic data transmission occurring to or from the physical location of the customer. After each billing period, the billing storage device may be received from the customer via physical delivery. The billing storage device includes secure billing information stored in a writeable area, which is associated with the exhibition of secure content to the customer. |
| US08626667B2 |
Method and apparatus for a cryptographically-assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate and support expert-based commerce
The present invention is an expert matching method and apparatus for managing communications between an expert having particular qualifications and an end user seeking a solution to an expert request. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller having a database for storing expert qualifications. In one embodiment, the controller receives an expert request. A search program identifies experts qualified to respond to the expert request. The expert request is then transmitted to the expert, which results in an expert answer transmitted to and received by the central controller. After authentication of the expert answer, using a wide range of security levels from passwords to cryptography, the answer is forwarded to the end user. The method and apparatus of the present invention have applications on the Internet as well as conventional voice telephony systems. |
| US08626665B2 |
Payment service capable of being integrated with merchant sites
A computer-implemented service integrates with merchant sites to enable registered users of the service to perform purchase transactions on the merchant sites. In one embodiment, a merchant can incorporate a reference to a display object served by the service into coding of a page of the merchant's site. When the page is loaded by a user's browser, the reference causes the browser to request the display object from the service for display on the page. If the user is recognized by the service, the service may return a personalized display object that includes functionality for the user to perform a purchase transaction using the service. Also disclosed are embodiments that enable users to initiate transfers of personal account information to the merchant sites. |
| US08626662B2 |
Method for securely clearing checks
A method for check clearing by a first entity where the check was previously issued from a first party to a second party. The first party has a first account with the first entity and the second party has a second account with a second entity. The first entity receives first information included with the check from the second party, including first party identifying information, a unique pseudorandom check number, and a check amount. The first entity authenticates at least a portion of the first information and receives second information from the second party, including at least the second account number and the second entity's routing transit number. The first entity transfers funds from the first account of the first party to the second account of the second party using at least a portion of the authenticated first information and the second information. |
| US08626661B2 |
Electronic lockbox using digitally originated checks
The present disclosure provides a digitally originated check (DOC) through an electronic payment system (EPS) which captures payor metadata instructions regarding the intended payment to a payee. The metadata is stored in a database or the like for further processing instead of printing a paper check. The DOC can be cleared either electronically or through a paper substitute check through Check 21 clearing methods. The present invention enables both payors and payees to participate with the EPS as well as the EPS may provide electronic lock box services to payees. The DOC may be used in an electronic lockbox application where in addition to the payment information; the DOC further includes remittance data that may be used to update accounting systems or the like. |
| US08626658B1 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for providing a dynamic account list in an online financial services system
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for displaying a list of a plurality of accounts of a user in an online financial services website are provided. A relevance index is determined for each account accessible by the user at the website which is based upon a number of account factors related to the expected level of interest for each account. The website displays a list of the accounts in an order from of relevance based upon the relevance index for each account so that the accounts of most interest to the user are displayed at the top of the list. |
| US08626655B2 |
Electronic system for selecting the best card from a collection of consumer credit, debit and discount cards
A method, system and computer program product for enabling completion of purchase transactions by retrieving purchase card information from an electronic database of consumer cards and applying the appropriate card to the transaction. The database, managed by a central card authority, stores client account information for cards such as debit, credit, phone, and discount cards, which are accessible via a unique, secure login/access credential, such as a username and password combination. During registration with the central card authority, a client classifies key/important factors to consider when performing purchases. The central card authority is accessed by the client during purchases from a retail facility and/or other purchasing environment. The central card authority automatically selects the best card to utilize during a purchase, after weighing the important purchasing factors related to the credit, debit, phone, and discount cards registered with the central card authority. |
| US08626653B1 |
Methods and systems for processing electronic cross-border payments
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for processing electronic cross-border payments. The computer system is coupled to a payment network. The computer system is programmed to receive an identification of a payee, receive a destination currency and a payment amount, determine an exchange rate based on the destination currency and an origination currency, wherein the origination currency is based on a payor bank account, and determine a total transaction cost for converting the payment amount from the origination currency to the destination currency and for transmitting payment data over the payment network, wherein the total transaction cost includes the payment amount. The computer system is also programmed to transmit payment data over the payment network, wherein the transmission of payment data represents the payment amount being transferred from the payor bank account to a payee bank account. Remittance information may also be transmitted from payor to payee. |
| US08626652B2 |
Method for electronic transaction settlement
A method implemented in an electronic communication system associated with a settlement house for settling an electronic transaction between a customer and a merchant. The communication system receives through a first electronic communication path a first account identifier of a first account associated with the customer and a transaction amount from the merchant, contacts the customer through a second electronic communication path to allow the customer to select a payment method, and sends through a third electronic communication path the transaction amount and a second account identifier of a second account associated with the customer to a financial services provider associated with the payment method. |
| US08626649B1 |
Systems and methods for providing loan management from cash or deferred income arrangements
A method, system and program product implemented at least in part by computer for facilitating provision of loans to a plurality of participants of one or more benefit plan accounts associated with one or more record keepers, each participant having participant assets in one or more of the benefit plan accounts, each of the benefit plan accounts comprising a plurality of investment vehicles, each of the one or more record keepers providing record keeping services for at least one of the benefit plan accounts, the method comprising: administering a first plurality of loan fund accounts; maintaining an association of each different one of the first plurality of loan fund accounts with a different investment vehicle that is part of the respective one or more benefit plan accounts; receiving a selection from a selecting entity of one or more of the loan fund accounts from among the first plurality of loan fund accounts; investing or having invested or maintaining loan fund assets comprising participant assets associated with the selecting entity in the one or more respective different investment vehicles associated with the one or more selected loan fund accounts; associating a respective loan accounting process with each of the selected one or more loan fund accounts; receiving a loan-request; initiating transfer of an amount of funds requested; and updating by computer said account information for said loan fund account to reflect said loan-request amount of funds transferred from said loan fund account using the associated respective accounting process. |
| US08626647B1 |
Electronic mortgage document certification
Electronic documents corresponding to executed paper documents are certified. A certifying agent receives an electronic document and a corresponding paper document that had been executed pursuant to some transaction. The certifying agent compares the information contained in the paper to that in the electronic mortgage document. If the paper adequately corresponds to the electronic document and is otherwise sufficient, then the certifying agent certifies the electronic document so that other parties can reliably engage in transactions involving the electronic document without having to possess or otherwise inspect the executed paper document. Certification involves application of some form of indicia of certification to the electronic document, such as updating the value of a field corresponding to certification in the electronic document and/or applying a digital or electronic signature corresponding to the certifying agent to the electronic document. |
| US08626645B1 |
System and method for assessing mortgage broker and lender compliance
Some embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for assessing mortgage lender and broker compliance. The systems and methods may receive loan pricing data, underwriting data, and/or borrower data from mortgage brokers and/or lenders, reconstruct the underwriting processes performed by lenders and brokers, and monitor many aspects of these processes. The reconstructed results may then be compared to the actual results to detect potential non-compliance of laws and/or regulations, including the practice of upstreaming and/or downstreaming. Because some embodiments of the invention greatly enhance the monitoring capability of mortgage regulators, they would motivate mortgage lenders and brokers to better conform their underwriting practice to existing laws and regulations. |
| US08626641B1 |
Deliverable commodity investment vehicle
A supply of a commodity is owned by an investment vehicle. A sponsor of the investment vehicle receives a delivery application. A custodian stores the supply of the commodity as a collection of first physical units. A commodity dealer specializing in trading the commodity agrees to conduct trades with the sponsor to convert a first quantity of the supply for a second quantity of the commodity. A broker dealer trades shares of the investment vehicle. The delivery application is provided by a shareholder, and specifies a physical format for the second quantity of the commodity. |
| US08626639B2 |
Trade matching platform with variable pricing based on clearing relationships
The disclosure describes a regulated trading platform capable of communicating with a plurality of clearing houses. In particular, aspects of the disclosure relate to providing and/or calculating differentiated prices for the same or underlying financial product/instrument capable of being cleared at different clearing houses. The trading platform may allow anonymous counterparties in a multi-clearinghouse environment, and with full transparency and improved liquidity. The trading platform may also allow for non-anonymous counterparties in some situations. |
| US08626632B1 |
System and method for margin loan securitization
A system and method for securitizing margin loans, wherein a processor system operates to analyze account data for a plurality of accounts, and to identify and flag accounts that are marginable. The process provides for flagging a group of accounts which collectively are representative of a portfolio of marginable accounts held by a brokerage company. The system and method also provides for generating a general ledger for the brokerage company, a SPV, and a trust, wherein these general ledgers track the sale of margin loans belonging to the flagged accounts, from the brokerage company to the trust via the SPV. The system and method further provide for processing transactions in the flagged accounts to identify and classify transactions in the flagged accounts which affect the margin balances for the flagged accounts. |
| US08626630B2 |
Device, method and system of pricing financial instruments
Some demonstrative embodiments include methods, devices and systems of pricing financial instruments. In one embodiment, a pricing module may be configured to receive first input data corresponding to at least one parameter defining a first option on an underlying asset and second input data corresponding to at least one current market condition relating to said underlying asset, and, based on said first and second input data, to determine a price of the first option according to a volatility smile satisfying a first criterion relating to a sum of a first correction corresponding to the first option and a second correction corresponding to a second option representing a position opposite to a position of a the first option and having substantially a same absolute delta value as the first option, wherein the first correction relates to a difference between a theoretical price of the first option and the price of the first option according to the volatility smile, and wherein the second correction relates to a difference between a theoretical price of the second option and the price of the second option according to the volatility smile. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08626627B2 |
Providing online promotions through social network platforms
Systems and methods for providing online promotions integrated with social network-based platforms are disclosed. Promotion details such as rules, offered prizes, incentives and descriptions, survey questions, display banners, terms and conditions, privacy policy, and social networks to integrate the promotion with, are provided by the sponsoring organization to a server. The server generates a custom promotion application or widget for integrating with the organization's social network webpage external to social networks. A participant enters the promotion through these webpages or other links and lists friends in the social network to receive an invitation to enter the promotion. Viral features such as friend invite features, newsfeeds, minifeeds, other features that display online activities of users and people in the users' social network, notifications, requests, and other social media-based platform features to deliver messages to members of the one or more social networks further spread the word about the organization's promotion. |
| US08626625B2 |
Trade engine processing of mass quote messages and resulting production of market data
Systems and methods are provided for processing mass quote messages and generating market data. A mass quote message is received and individual orders are parsed and processed. Individual market data messages are stored in a market data message buffer. After all orders are processed, the contents of the market data message buffer is distributed as a single market data message. |
| US08626621B2 |
Content stream management
Content stream management techniques are described. In an implementation, a communication is examined at a client device from at least one other client device that describes per stream usage of network bandwidth by the at least one other client device to receive content. Usage of the network bandwidth at the client device is managed based on the communication and a determination of per stream usage of the network bandwidth to receive content by the client device that also consumes at least a portion of the network bandwidth. |
| US08626618B2 |
Using non-public shipper records to facilitate rating an entity based on public records of supply transactions
A platform facilitates buyers, sellers, and third parties in obtaining information related to each other's transaction histories, such as a supplier's shipment history, the types of materials typically shipped, a supplier's customers, a supplier's expertise, what materials and how much a buyer purchases, buyer and shipper reliability, similarity between buyers, similarity between suppliers, and the like. The platform aggregates data from a variety of sources, including, without limitation, customs data associated with actual import/export transactions, non-public shipper records, and facilitates the generation of reports as to the quality of buyers and suppliers, the reports relating to a variety of parameters that are associated with buyer and supplier quality. |
| US08626617B1 |
Method and system for identifying fixed asset transactions from multiple financial transactions
A method for identifying fixed asset transactions in multiple financial transactions. The method includes obtaining financial transaction records describing the multiple financial transactions and generating an unverified fixed asset transaction list. Generating the unverified fixed asset transaction list includes, for each financial transaction record, determining whether the financial transaction record conforms to at least one asset identification rule. Each asset identification rule corresponds to a confidence level of the asset identification rule. When the financial transaction record conforms to the at least one asset identification rule, generating the unverified fixed asset list further includes generating a confidence level of the financial transaction record based on the confidence level of the at least one asset identification rule, and inserting the financial transaction record and the confidence level of the financial transaction record in the unverified fixed asset transaction list. |
| US08626616B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing installation information
A method and apparatus for managing installation information. In one embodiment the method comprises obtaining, via an installation application on a mobile device comprising at least one processor, identification information for at least one component of an installation; obtaining, via the installation application, position information for the at least one component; and generating, via the installation application, a template for indicating a physical layout of at least a portion of the installation based on the identification information and the position information. |
| US08626615B2 |
System and method for product trials in a simulated environment
A system and method to enable product trials and, in particular, to dynamically collect information relating to the product trials. The system includes a tagging engine configured to tag one or more products, which are part of a product trial in a virtual universe. The system also includes a tracking engine configured to track information on the one or more products via a tag and a storage unit configured to collect the tracked information for marketing and/or advertising purposes. |
| US08626614B2 |
System and kiosk for commerce of optical media through multiple locations
A kiosk dispenses and receives recorded optical media using an interconnected central server, through an Internet Service Provider. The central server has databases and processing capabilities and is connected to a credit verification system. The databases collect inventory administration information and customer data (e.g., credit card information and email addresses) from the kiosks. The central server initiates credit verification, sends receipts to customers via email and maintains databases for remote inventory control and administration of the kiosk network. A kiosk may identify a recorded disk for automated restocking and perform quality assessment of a recorded disk. The kiosk may provide publishing-on-demand or act as a portal for remotely served advertisements. The kiosk preferably includes a rotatable carousel with a selection of DVDs. A digital camera captures a digital image of a disk barcode and internal software rotates the image to “read” the barcode, to control inventory and access issues. |
| US08626613B2 |
Pegboard stocking and resetting system
Methods and apparatuses for making a stocking strip for pegboard stocking. The stocking strip includes an elongated strip containing information for locating a plurality of different products on a peg board display, a first identification number for identifying the strip, a first text area for identifying a source planogram or print job, a second text area for listing stocking location in a sales establishment which contains the pegboard display, a third text area for listing a height for the product, a demarcation for indicating a span of the position of the product on the pegboard, a product image, a product identifier, a color marker and a peg indicator for locating the peg on the pegboard display. |
| US08626610B2 |
Equipment management system, equipment management method and program
A shopping register creating part (111) creates shopping information including a purchase planned quantity of materials by each term based on an inventory standard master (110) in which inventory standard information at least including a lower limit amount of the material in the inventory is set and a maintenance calendar including a planned date of a maintenance work. A material order management part (112) accepts an order of a desired material from the shopping information in accordance with an operation of a user, then inputs a purchase result of the desired material. An inventory management purchase actual performance management part (113) updates an inventory management table managing a material quantity in the inventory based on the purchase result. An equipment master updating part (101) updates the inventory standard master (110) based on an updated result of the inventory management table. |
| US08626609B1 |
Order consolidation prediction
Described herein are predictions of consolidation between previously placed orders and potential orders in, for example, an e-commerce system. A consolidation prediction may include a determination of a cost differential between consolidating the potential order(s) with previously placed order(s) and refraining from consolidating the potential order(s). The cost differential may comprise a savings in shipping costs, taxes, handling fees, and so forth. In addition, this cost differential may be presented to the user. When the user desires to complete the potential orders, the previously placed order(s) and potential order(s) may be consolidated to a single order, merchant, payment type, destination, and so forth. |
| US08626605B2 |
Multiple criteria buying and selling model
A system and method for aggregating demand is provided. At least one seller may sponsor a deal room to aggregate selling goods/services from a plurality of buyers. The demand aggregation system can include a dashboard for allowing the at least one seller to set up DealRooms, price curves, offers, products, customers, and/or customer groups, for example. The dashboard can include a plurality of wizards for configuring such information. The demand aggregation system can also include seller displays for notifying buyers of changes in prices relative to ship dates and times of order. The demand aggregation system can also include a predictive modeling and reporting function. An algorithm is employed to utilize product information to post a probability chart on a product price point. |
| US08626602B2 |
Consumer shopping and purchase support system and marketplace
A system including an Internet based server running a central data repository database, and deploying spiders to scour the Internet analyzing the millions of product-oriented web pages and newsgroup postings, plus a server application for classifying and indexing all of the information derived from the spiders. The web server pushes downloadable—“Rich Internet Application” (RIA) client application to subscribers running client devices. The RIA client application is accessible directly from any other enabled native application to draw information from the central data repository. The RIA client application presents a navigational user-interface on the client device that presents an array of robust information tools necessary for consumers to obtain a comprehensive shopping and purchase support and participate in alternative marketplaces without leaving the other native application pages they are viewing. |
| US08626601B2 |
Methods and systems for providing an interactive communication session with a remote consultant
Methods and systems for communicating via an interactive communication session. Some embodiments include transmitting lives video images of a jewelry consultant, a jewelry designer, a jewelry item and results of various tests that are applied to a jewelry item. |
| US08626596B2 |
Online transaction method and system using a payment platform and a logistics company
The disclosed online transaction method and system uses payment platform acting as an intermediary agent between the merchant and the shipping company to handle the payment. While the payment platform receives payment from the shipping company, the merchant receives payment from the payment platform. The method and system do not require buyers to use the payment method provided by an intermediary transaction platform to make a payment. Instead, the buyer may pay directly to the shipping company. Unlike conventional transaction method based on COD, however, the disclosed online transaction method and system centrally manage a logistics platform or multiple logistics operations run by logistics companies. The merchant does not receive the payment from the logistics company, but rather receive the payment from a centralized payment platform to ensure secure and fast payment. |
| US08626595B2 |
Online shopping system and method for use offline, and apparatuses applied to the same
This invention relates to an online shopping system and method for use offline, and apparatuses applied to the same. More particularly, this invention relates to the integration of an online shopping system into offline stores through the conversion of online shopping to offline shopping, using communication networks such as the Internet, to create a new shopping concept based on using the combined advantages of online and offline environments such as that of online price competitiveness and offline customer relationships, while effectively providing users with freedom of detailed product knowledge and product purchases at online prices. |
| US08626588B2 |
Advertising with audio content
The serving of advertisements with (e.g., on) audio documents may be improved in a number of ways. For example, a system may (a) accept information defining at least one ad spot associated with at least one instance of an audio document, (b) accept offers to have advertisements served in the ad spot(s), and (c) arbitrate among competing advertisements, using at least the offers, to determine at least one advertisement to be served in that ad spot(s). As another example, a system may (a) accept relevance information for an advertisement, (b) determine at least one audio document using the accepted relevance information, (c) present information about the audio document(s) to an advertiser associated with the advertisement, and (d) accept, from the advertiser, an offer to have its advertisement served with at least one of the audio document(s) accepted. As yet another example, a system may (a) accept relevance information for an audio document, (b) determine a plurality of advertisements relevant to the audio document using the relevance information and serving constraints of the advertisements, and (c) select at least one of the determined relevant advertisements to be served with the audio document. Examples of documents include radio programs, live or recorded musical works with lyrics, live or recorded dramatic works with dialog or a monolog, live or recorded talk shows, voice mail, segments of an audio conversation, etc. |
| US08626587B2 |
Artificial intelligence-based recommender and self-provisioner
A method including providing at least one of a phone service, an Internet access service, or a television service to customers; identifying a customer when the customer uses the at least one of the phone service, the Internet access service, or the television service; selecting products or services for which the customer qualifies based on the identifying; gathering customer-specific data for the customer; generating recommendations that pertain to the at least one of the phone service, the Internet access service, or the television service for the customer based on the products or the services for which the customer qualifies, the customer-specific data, and other factors, wherein the other factors include at least one of a location of the customer or a time in which the recommendations is to be provided to the customer; and providing the recommendations to the customer via the at least service. |
| US08626585B1 |
Selection of images to display next to textual content
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting thumbnail images to display with text advertisements. In one aspect, a method includes identifying landing page non-textual content items from a landing page to which the textual content item links and which a user device requests when the textual content item is selected at the user device; for each landing page non-textual content item, determining a relevance measure that measures the relevance of the landing page non-textual content item to the content of the landing page; selecting one or more of the landing page non-textual content items for display with the textual content item based on the relevance measures of the landing page non-textual content items; and storing, in a data storage system, data associating the selected landing page non-textual contents with the textual content items. |
| US08626583B1 |
System and method for directing and instructing customers to deal with specific merchants using incentives
A buyer-seller matching system that uses incentives to verify commissions from matching a buyer with a seller. The system can include a repository of information about items for purchase. Items may be located by a user over a network. Each item may be paired with incentive that is awarded if that item is purchased from a designated third party. If the user purchases the item, the seller pays the system an agreed upon fee and also issues the buyer a certification of purchase. The user may then receive the incentive from the system. The system can check to verify that it has received a fee or commission from the seller for bringing the seller a buyer of the item. |
| US08626582B2 |
System and method for networked loyalty program
The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analysis and/or analysis relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns, for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers (such primary and supplementary members of an aggregate consumer account), retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with one aspect, the system enables participation by supplementary members who are associated with a primary member and, in this manner, facilitates the tracking of supplementary member purchasing behavior, reward points earning behavior, and reward points redemption behavior. In accordance with another aspect, the system permits instant enrollment of consumers at a retailer point-of-sale using information that the retailer has previously gathered from the consumer. In accordance with another aspect, the system facilitates the compilation of a purchaser profile, which may be used for a variety of purposes, including various types of marketing analysis. |
| US08626578B2 |
Advertisement space auction method, apparatus and storage medium
An advertisement space auction apparatus enabling a more strategic and open auction transaction to be realized using a network, including a memory storing advertisement space information and being accessible by a plurality of entities connected to the network, a bid data communication unit receiving bid data submitted via the network from at least one of the plurality of entities, the bid data corresponding to the advertisement space information stored in the memory; and a winning bidder determination unit for determining a winning bidder of an advertisement space designated by the advertisement space information, on the basis of the bid data received by the bid data communication unit. |
| US08626577B2 |
Network centric loyalty system
A network centric system that enables participation by any number of entities including sponsors, issuers, merchants, portable devices, and acceptance point devices in one or more loyalty programs is provided. Any combination of entities may be specified for different loyalty programs. |
| US08626565B2 |
Vehicle dispatching method and system
A system and method for dispatching a plurality of vehicles operating in a work area among a plurality of destination locations and a plurality of source locations includes implementing linear programming that takes in an optimization function and constraints to generate an optimum schedule for optimum production, utilizing a reinforcement learning algorithm that takes in the schedule as input and cycles through possible environmental states that could occur within the schedule by choosing one possible action for each possible environmental state and by observing the reward obtained by taking the action at each possible environmental state, developing a policy for each possible environmental state, and providing instructions to follow an action associated with the policy. |
| US08626561B2 |
Method and apparatus for conducting an information brokering service
A system and method is provided that provides an early indication of consensus of opinion among a number of users regarding an event or observation indicated by a user. Such an opinion may be interesting to an information consumer, who may be interested in determining the outcome of the consensus relating to the event or observation, or may otherwise desire to perform surveillance or survey of a particular issue or subject. Such recognition of early events or observations may be useful in different areas, such as healthcare, finance, etc., where initial observations, if provided early, allow resulting decisions to be made much earlier. The opinion may, for instance, be used as an early indicator of problem with a product, company, etc. that would permit an information consumer to perform an action at a much earlier point than if he/she relied on traditional sources of information. Thus, such opinion information may be invaluable as a tool for monitoring events. |
| US08626557B2 |
System and method of providing snapshot to support approval of workflow changes
A workflow management system and method that includes approval of workflow changes. A workflow management system is disclosed that includes: a mapping system for mapping tier types to workflows; a modification system for changing tier types, wherein a tier type change causes a new workflow to replace an original workflow; a workflow snapshot system for taking a snapshot of the original workflow when the tier type change occurs; and an approval system for approving tier type changes. |
| US08626556B2 |
Visualizing multiple time zones in a calendaring and scheduling application
A method, system and apparatus for visualizing multiple time zones can include a C&S application, an event schedule managed by the C&S application, and multiple time zone processing logic coupled to the C&S application. The multiple time zone processing logic can determine a time zone for each participant to a defined event. The multiple time zone processing logic further can render a user interface showing a local time in the determined time zone corresponding to a preferred time for the defined event for each the participant. For instance, the user interface can include an arrangement of juxtaposed time ranges for each participant, where the time ranges have a staggered appearance so that a local time for each of the time ranges corresponds to the preferred time. |
| US08626553B2 |
Method for updating an electronic calendar in a vehicle
A method for updating an electronic calendar in a vehicle involves uploading an appointment to the electronic calendar, where the appointment includes a description of an event, a time block for the event, and a travel time preceding the time block. An alert is set in a telematics unit of the vehicle, where the alert notifies a vehicle occupant of the appointment. The alert is configured to be activated in response to a trigger. At a time subsequent to the time block of the event, one of i) a memo is uploaded to the electronic calendar indicating that the alert was activated, or ii) another memo is uploaded to the electronic calendar indicating that the alert was not activated. |
| US08626548B2 |
Access point triangulation for task assignment of warehouse employees
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to assign one or more tasks to a plurality of warehouse employees. In one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises receiving an order for an item stored in a warehouse. A location of the item in the warehouse can be determined. A current location of each of the warehouse employees can be determined based on a strength of a signal from a wireless device assigned to each of the warehouse employees. The signal can be detected by at least two wireless access points at different location in the warehouse. At least one of the warehouse employees can be selected to fill the order based on the current location of each of the warehouse employees and the locations of the item. |
| US08626543B2 |
Tracing software execution of a business process
Various embodiments of systems and methods to trace an execution of a business process are disclosed. Business rules and corresponding business objects required to execute the business process are identified and rendered to receive an input. Based upon detecting a trigger to execute the business process, the business rules and the corresponding business objects are processed to compute a process-resultant for the business process. A process-path of the computed process-resultant is traced by tracing key-strings corresponding to the business objects involved in computing the process-resultant, to generate a trace-resultant. The trace-resultant is parsed by determining versioned business objects and business information of the key-strings, to derive a business definition for the traced business objects involved in computing the process-resultant. Based upon the business definition, a comprehensive trace-map comprising a compilation of the process-resultant to execute the business process is generated. |
| US08626541B2 |
System for managing loading operations of haul vehicles
A loading system for use with a haul vehicle and a loading machine configured to load material onto the haul vehicle is disclosed. The loading system has an identification tag located on the haul vehicle, an identification tag reader configured to recognize the identification tag, and a transmitter configured to deliver a first signal including information related to the identification tag. The loading system also has a transceiver configured to receive the first signal and deliver a second signal including loading information to the loading machine to initiate loading of the haul vehicle. |
| US08626528B2 |
Intelligent alarms
A patient in intensive care is monitored by connecting the outputs of a plurality of sensors to a computer, where the sensors all relate to one mode of functioning such as heart beating, respiration, infusion of a liquid into the patient, etc. The sensor outputs are delivered to a computer that sounds an alarm, only if all sensors that indicate one function (e.g. heart beating) indicate dangerously low operation of that function. This avoids many false alarms caused by one sensor having a low output such as due to accidental disconnection of a wire. |
| US08626527B1 |
Systems and methods for retrieval of medical data
A system and method for transmitting medical data. In one embodiment, a computer system receives filter criteria from a user of a first computer. Furthermore, the computer system may receive schedule information defining a schedule for checking for medical data. Depending on the embodiment, either the computer system or a remote server periodically selects, based upon the received schedule, medical data satisfying the received user-specific rules. The selected medical data is then transmitted to the computer system. |
| US08626526B2 |
System and method for a healthcare communication framework
A computer-implemented method is described for asynchronous service-based communication. The method includes steps of generating events in an application layer of a computer software system, storing the generated events in a database table and scanning the database table by a process of a healthcare communication framework (HCF) at a time after the generated events are stored. The computer software system can run on a computer implementing the HCF and the generated events targeting service operations exported by another software system. During each scan the process is configured to group the events in the database table into packages based on a respective context of each event. For each package: consistency is checked for each event contained in the package, a consolidation logic is applied to consolidate events contained in the package, services operations associated with each event not being consolidated are found, and the service operations are invoked asynchronously. |
| US08626524B1 |
System and method for transferring data with electronic messages
The invention relates to sharing patient care information through electronic messaging. Systems for managing electronic health records may comprise extensive patient information, e.g., names, addresses, insurance coverage and/or other financial arrangements, health conditions, allergies, procedures undergone, and/or tests performed. The invention involves transfer of such information between users. Embodiments of the invention may pass such information by adding to electronic messages pointers that uniquely refer to one or more patient records. Some embodiments may thereby send health information electronically while preserving metadata and/or other meaning associated with the data. |
| US08626518B2 |
Multi-channel signal encoding and decoding method, apparatus, and system
A multi-channel signal encoding method includes: determining a sum of channel level differences (CLDs) of a current frame of a multi-channel signal in a certain frequency band area; determining an average value of sums of channel level differences of at least two frames before the current frame in the certain frequency band area; according to the sum of channel level differences of the current frame of the multi-channel signal in the certain frequency band area, the average value of the sums of channel level differences of at least two frames before the current frame in the certain frequency band area, and a preset threshold, judging whether the channel level differences of the current frame are in a transient state or a non-transient state, and obtaining a judgment result; and according to the judgment result, performing quantization processing on the channel level differences of the current frame of the multi-channel signal. |
| US08626514B2 |
Interface for management of multiple auditory communications
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for presenting a plurality of auditory communications having associated data representing at least one term identified in the communication is disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises providing a visual representation of the term, providing links associated with occurrences of the term in the plurality of communications, and when a link is selected, playing a portion of the communication corresponding to the occurrence of the term. A portion of the communication following the portion corresponding to the occurrence of the term may be played. |
| US08626512B2 |
Cooperative processing for portable reading machine
A handheld device includes an image input device capable of acquiring images, circuitry to send a representation of the image to a remote computing system that performs at least one processing function related to processing the image and circuitry to receive from the remote computing system data based on processing the image by the remote system. |
| US08626510B2 |
Speech synthesizing device, computer program product, and method
An acquiring unit acquires pattern sentences, which are similar to one another and include fixed segments and non-fixed segments, and substitution words that are substituted for the non-fixed segments. A sentence generating unit generates target sentences by replacing the non-fixed segments with the substitution words for each of the pattern sentences. A first synthetic-sound generating unit generates a first synthetic sound, a synthetic sound of the fixed segment, and a second synthetic-sound generating unit generates a second synthetic sound, a synthetic sound of the substitution word, for each of the target sentences. A calculating unit calculates a discontinuity value of a boundary between the first synthetic sound and the second synthetic sound for each of the target sentences and a selecting unit selects the target sentence having the smallest discontinuity value. A connecting unit connects the first synthetic sound and the second synthetic sound of the target sentence selected. |
| US08626503B2 |
Audio encoding and decoding
An audio encoder (109) has a hierarchical encoding structure and generates a data stream comprising one or more audio channels as well as parametric audio encoding data. The encoder (109) comprises an encoding structure processor (305) which inserts decoder tree structure data into the data stream. The decoder tree structure data comprises at least one data value indicative of a channel split characteristic for an audio channel at a hierarchical layer of the hierarchical decoder structure and may specifically specify the decoder tree structures to be applied by a decoder. A decoder (115) comprises a receiver (401) which receives the data stream and a decoder structure processor (405) for generating the hierarchical decoder structure in response to the decoder tree structure data. A decode processor (403) then generates output audio channels from the data stream using the hierarchical decoder structure. |
| US08626496B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling playback of ad HOC conversations
In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring activity in an environment, and storing a snippet of the monitored activity. Monitoring the activity in the environment includes operating a device arranged to capture the activity between approximately a first time and approximately a second time. The snippet has a particular duration that is arranged to end at approximately the second time. The method also includes storing the snippet in a storage module and determining when a request to provide the snippet is obtained from a party. If it is determined that the request to play the snippet is obtained, the method includes accessing the storage module to obtain the snippet and providing the snippet to the party if it is determined that the request to provide the snippet is obtained. |
| US08626495B2 |
Method of correcting errors in binary masks
The invention relates to a method of identifying and correcting errors in a noisy binary mask. An object of the present invention is to provide a scheme for improving a binary mask representing speech. The problem is solved in that the method comprises a) providing a noisy binary mask comprising a binary representation of the power density of an acoustic signal comprising a target signal and a noise signal at a predefined number of discrete frequencies and a number of discrete time instances; b) providing a statistical model of a clean binary mask representing the power density of the target signal; and c) using the statistical model to detect and correct errors in the noisy binary mask. This has the advantage of providing an alternative and relatively simple way of improving an estimate of a binary mask representing a speech signal. The invention may e.g. be used for speech processing, e.g. in a hearing instrument. |
| US08626494B2 |
Data compression format
An encoder for compressing a plurality of independent mono audio channels into a recording and generating a restricted set of additional parameters used to master an audio track of a storage device is described. The plurality of independent mono audio channels are constructed such that the storage device can be played using solid state disk player so that in a first mode all of the plurality of independent mono audio channels are played as the recording and in a second mode the original channels are reconstructed using a higher sample rate. A corresponding decoder and an audio system comprising such encoder and decoder are also described. |
| US08626493B2 |
Insertion of sounds into audio content according to pattern
Sounds are inserted into audio content according to a pattern. A library stores humanly perceptible voice sounds. Pattern control information is received that is associated with a device recording the audio content. A pattern is retrieved and washing machine sounds are inserted into the audio content according to the pattern. The humanly perceptible voice sounds are inserted into the audio content according to the pattern to generate a signed audio recording. |
| US08626492B1 |
Semantic unit recognition
A semantic locator determines whether input sequences form semantically meaningful units. The semantic locator includes a coherence component that calculates a coherence of the terms in the sequence and a variation component that calculates the variation in terms that surround the sequence. A heuristics component may additionally refine results of the coherence component and the variation component. A decision component may make the determination of whether the sequence is a semantic unit based on the results of the coherence component, variation component, and heuristics component. |
| US08626481B1 |
Signal tagging during simulation
Approaches for simulating a circuit design. A block diagram of the circuit design is displayed. Each block has at least one input and at least one output, and at least one of the input or output of each block is connected to another block. Simulation data are input to a simulation model of the circuit design. During simulation of each of a plurality of the sub-circuits with the simulation model, an output data value is determined from one or more input data values to the simulated sub-circuit. Concurrent with determining the output data value, an output tag value corresponding to the output data value is determined. Concurrent with output of the output data value from the simulated sub-circuit, each output tag value is displayed proximate an output signal line from the block corresponding to the sub-circuit. |
| US08626480B2 |
Compact model for device/circuit/chip leakage current (IDDQ) calculation including process induced uplift factors
A system, method and computer program product for implementing a quiescent current leakage specific model into semiconductor device design and circuit design flows. The leakage model covers all device geometries with wide temperature and voltage ranges and, without the need for stacking factor calculations nor spread sheet based IDDQ calculations. The leakage model for IDDQ calculation incorporates further parasitic and proximity effects. The leakage model implements leakage calculations at different levels of testing, e.g., from a single device to a full chip design, and are integrated within one single model. The leakage model implements leakage calculations at different levels of testing with the leverage of a single switch setting. The implementation is via a hardware definition language code or object oriented code that can be compiled and operated using a netlist of interest, e.g., for conducting a performance analysis. |
| US08626478B1 |
Cross flow parameter calculation for aerodynamic analysis
A system and method for determining a cross flow angle for a feature on a structure. A processor unit receives location information identifying a location of the feature on the structure, determines an angle of the feature, identifies flow information for the location, determines a flow angle using the flow information, and determines the cross flow angle for the feature using the flow angle and the angle of the feature. The flow information describes a flow of fluid across the structure. The flow angle comprises an angle of the flow of fluid across the structure for the location of the feature. |
| US08626477B2 |
Spreadsheet-based graphical user interface for modeling of products using the systems engineering process
A spreadsheet environment is used as a graphical user interface for depicting and interacting with the various aspects of a system. In particular, the spreadsheet environment supports using OMG SysML to model a system and to execute tasks associated with the systems engineering process. |
| US08626475B1 |
System and method for accessing a multiphysics modeling system via a design system user interface
Systems and methods for controlling settings of a design system include receiving, via a communications interface, identifying data associated with a multiphysics modeling system. Instructions are transmitted via the communication interface or another interface. The instructions include model settings related to a multiphysics model at least partially residing in the multiphysics modeling system. Model results are received that are at least partially derived from the transmitted model settings. At least a portion of the received model results are displayed in a graphical user interface associated with the design system. |
| US08626474B2 |
Simulation tool for high-speed communications links
A link simulation tool for simulating high-speed communications link systems is provided. Communications links may include link subsystems such as transmit (TX) circuitry, receive (TX) circuitry, oscillator circuits that provide reference clock signals to the TX and RX circuitry, and channels that link the TX and RX circuitry. The link simulation tool may model each of the subsystems using behavioral models. The behavioral models may include characteristic functions such as transfer functions, probability density functions, and eye characteristics. The link simulation tool may have a link analysis engine that is capable of performing two-dimensional (two-variable) convolution operations and in applying dual-domain (frequency-time) transformations on the characteristic functions provided by the behavioral models to simulate the performance of the link system. The link simulation tool may have an input screen that allows a user to specify desired link parameters and a data display screen that display simulated results. |
| US08626473B2 |
Real-time transmission of survey data
In a survey operation, survey measurement data obtained at each location is transmitted in real time as the measurement is made to avoid the limitations of the disk or other storage medium used in saving the data, to avoid loss or corruption of the data prior to the disk being delivered to its final destination, and to allow users to immediately view the results of the measurements while the rovers are still out in the field and readily capable of redoing measurements or supplementing the results with additional measurement points. |
| US08626466B2 |
Flow meter validation
Flow meter validation techniques are herein disclosed. An illustrative system includes a flow meter and display logic coupled to the flow meter. The flow meter is configured to provide information indicative of a parameter of fluid flow through the meter. The display logic is configured to provide a display of the information. The display includes an indication of a possible range of values of the parameter. An indication of a baseline portion of the range is also provided. The baseline portion of the range designates preferred values of the parameter. The display further includes an indicator designating the value of the parameter. |
| US08626465B2 |
Calibrating sensor measurements on mobile devices
Sensor measurements are used to detect when a device incorporating the sensor is stationary. While the device is stationary, sensor measurements at a current device temperature are used to estimate model parameters. The model parameters can be used in a state estimator to provide an estimated attitude that can be provided to other applications. In some implementations, the estimated attitude can be used to mitigate interference in other sensor measurements. |
| US08626464B2 |
Dimensional inspection method for a composite part
A method for performing a dimensional inspection of a fabricated composite part (9), comprising steps of: a) Providing a number of points (Iij, Oij) to be inspected in its inner and outer surface; b) Obtaining the positional data of said points (Iij, Oij) from the fabricated composite part (9) hold in a position that allows the access to its outer and inner surfaces as a first set of positional data (WIij, WOij); c) Using said first set of positional data (WIij, WOij) and a second set of positional data (TIij, TOij) of the same points (Iij, Oij) obtained from an analytical model defining its theoretical geometry for calculating the deviations between them taking into account the deformations suffered by the fabricated composite part (9) in said position. The invention also refers to a workstation (11) for performing the method. |
| US08626463B2 |
Data storage device tester
A data storage device (DSD) tester is disclosed for testing a DSD. The DSD tester comprises control circuitry operable to receive production line data through an interface, wherein the production line data is related to the DSD. The control circuitry executes a DSD test on the DSD, and transmits failure data generated by the DSD test and the production line data to a failure information database. |
| US08626462B2 |
Phase identification system and method
A phase identification system is proposed. The system includes a sensor coupled to a terminal of a distribution transformer. A processor is coupled to the sensor for processing phase information of the terminal, wherein the sensor and the processor are embedded within a bushing unit on the distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to identify and display phase information at the distribution transformer. |
| US08626461B2 |
Efficiency monitor for inductive power transmission
An efficiency monitor for monitoring the efficiency of power transmission by an inductive power outlet. The efficiency monitor includes an input power monitor, for measuring the input power delivered to the primary coil, and an output power monitor, for measuring the output power received by the secondary coil. The input and output powers are used by a processor to determine an index of power-loss. A circuit breaker may be used to disconnect the inductive power outlet in case of excessive power loss. |
| US08626455B2 |
Pump tester
Methods and devices for testing medical pumps via tracking induced single or multiple bubble trajectories within a fluid flow conduit by detecting a periodic synchronization event, via inserted bubble tracking of a signal processor unit, and methods of synchronized corrections of fluid flow data estimates based on the periodic synchronization event, where the periodic synchronization event detecting comprises detecting one or more pushes of a pump and one or more pauses of a pump. |
| US08626454B2 |
Method and system for determining the potential friction between a tyre for vehicles and a rolling surface
A method and system for determining the potential friction between a tire and a rolling surface wherein: the tire is rotated on the rolling surface so as to subject a crown portion of the tire to an acceleration radial component; data are obtained which are representative of the acceleration radial component to which the crown portion is subjected during at least one tire revolution; starting from the data, data are selected which are representative of at least one transition region of the acceleration radial component; the selected data are processed so as to obtain information correlated with the steepness of transition of the at least one transition region; and the potential friction is estimated on the basis of the information correlated with the steepness of transition. |
| US08626449B2 |
Biological cell sorting and characterization using aerosol mass spectrometry
Among other things, methods, systems, apparatus for performing on-the-fly apportionment are described. In particular, spectrum data associated with a particle is acquired in real-time. The acquired real-time spectrum data is analyzing in real-time to classify the particle. Analyzing the data in real-time includes comparing the acquired spectrum data with a library of known mass spectral fingerprints to obtain a match. |
| US08626446B2 |
Method of directional resistivity logging
A method for estimating at least one formation parameter from a directional resistivity measurement includes computing a plurality of hypothetical directional resistivity values at a corresponding plurality of formation parameter values. The computation makes use of a forward model having at least one analytical expression that relates a directional resistivity measurement to the formation parameter. The analytical expression includes at least one image source term. Comparison of computed directional resistivity values with measured direct resistivity values enables a value of at least one formation parameter to be selected. The method may be implemented on a downhole processor. |
| US08626441B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using position/attitude information to enhance a vehicle guidance system
An enhanced vehicle guidance system comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and a data processor with a memory component and a computing device. The method of enhancing a vehicle's guidance system may comprise calculating the altitude, latitude, and longitude of a GNSS receiver for each of a plurality of positions; calculating the incline angle between adjacent points; and using the calculated incline angles to infer the attitude of the vehicle at any of the plurality of positions. The attitude may be used to calculated an inertial correction factor to compensate for GNSS position inaccuracies induced as a result of the vehicle rolling and pitching on uneven terrain. The altitude, latitude, longitude, and attitude of the plurality of positions may be stored in the memory such that the system may look-up the attitude for a given position without recalculating the attitude and without using an inertial sensor. |
| US08626438B2 |
Efficient location referencing method
A efficient method of encoding a continuous path within a road network in which the path to be encoded is expressible as a path list of lines and/or segments existing in a digital map and consecutively ordered. The method comprises the steps of: (i) storing a start position in a route search list; (ii) determining a path from a start node of the start position and including said start position to an end node of the last line or segment in the path list within said digital map, said path being determined according to a shortest path algorithm; (iii) comparing the shortest path so determined to the path list, and identifying at least one deviation line or segment being part of the path list and having a start node representative of an intersection in said digital map but not being the line or segment first appearing in said path list, and if such deviation line or segment does not terminate at the end node of the last line or segment appearing in the path list, repeating step (i) using said deviation line or segment; and (iv) storing the last line or segment in the path list in said route search list if not already stored. |
| US08626434B1 |
Automatic adjustment of a camera view for a three-dimensional navigation system
Methods and systems for automatically adjusting a three-dimensional navigation system are provided. A method for automatically adjusting a display viewpoint for a three-dimensional navigation system may include receiving a velocity of a vehicle and a look-ahead distance between the vehicle and a look-ahead point, determining a range distance between the vehicle and the display viewpoint, determining the first position of the display viewpoint, displaying a three-dimensional view of a navigation route for the vehicle from the first position, receiving a change in the look-ahead distance, determining a new range distance, determining a second position of the display viewpoint, and automatically moving the position of the display viewpoint to the second position on a curvilinear swoop path located above and behind the vehicle. A corresponding system may include a navigation information collector, a range determiner and a display viewpoint adjuster. |
| US08626429B2 |
Allocation of flight legs to dispatcher positions
A method includes receiving flight leg data and dispatcher position data for a planning horizon and identifying cycle flight legs and extraordinary flight legs based on the flight leg data. The method includes allocating each cycle flight leg to at least one dispatcher position while minimizing workload deviations between the dispatcher positions. The method includes allocating, after allocating each cycle flight leg, each extraordinary flight leg to at least one dispatcher position while minimizing workload deviations between the dispatcher positions. |
| US08626428B2 |
Selectable display of aircraft traffic on tracks
A method of displaying aircraft traffic information on a display element of a host aircraft begins by displaying a lateral display and an in-trail procedure (ITP) display. The lateral display includes representations of tracks corresponding to flight path constraints, the host aircraft, and neighboring aircraft, wherein the host aircraft and the neighboring aircraft are displayed in alignment with the tracks. The ITP display includes representations of flight levels including a current flight level of the host aircraft. The method continues by receiving a command that indicates selection of one of the displayed tracks. In response to the command, the ITP display is rendered to display representations of neighboring aircraft traveling on the selected track, in the absence of neighboring aircraft traveling on tracks other than the selected track. |
| US08626424B2 |
Active coast and cruise control system and methods
An engine control system of the present disclosure comprises a target speed module and a coupling module. The target speed module determines a target speed of a vehicle based on a speed of the vehicle and at least one of an accelerator input and a speed control input. The coupling module controls coupling of an engine system and a drive system of the vehicle based on the speed and the target speed. The engine system transfers torque to the drive system when coupled and does not transfer torque to the drive system when decoupled. In other features, the engine control system further comprises a torque control module that controls torque output by the engine system based on the coupling of the engine system and the drive system, the speed, and the target speed. |
| US08626423B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine
To provide a control device for an internal combustion engine that can optimally control a plasma ignition operation independent of fuel type. In a control device 30 of an internal combustion engine 20, which controls plasma ignition operation for causing volume ignition of air fuel mixture by plasma in a combustion chamber 10, a fuel type detection part 40 detects a type of fuel to be supplied to the combustion chamber 10. According to the detected fuel type, a state of plasma or a state of air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber 10 is controlled. |
| US08626421B2 |
Glowplug temperature control method and device for the reduction of emissions from a diesel engine
A method is provided for reducing emissions behind a catalytic converter in an exhaust gas stream of the engine. The method includes, but is not limited to controlling a power supply to a glowplug of a compression-ignition engine. The glowplug is activated if a set of at least two input values remains in a first characteristic region of an input parameter space for at least a predetermined activation time. The first characteristic region consists of one ore more contiguous regions of the input parameter space. |
| US08626417B2 |
Traction control system using torque sensor for adaptive engine throttle control
A system and method using a vehicle drive shaft torque coupled to a driven wheel and a non-driven wheel speed for a vehicle throttle control system includes reading first and second torque values generated by the torque sensor. The method identifies when a sustained drop occurs between the first and second torque values. Another step determines if a change occurred between the first and second torque value readings in any of: a throttle position; a gear setting; and a brake pressure. A detected traction loss is signaled when the sustained drop occurred with no change between the first and second torque value readings in the throttle position, gear setting, and brake pressure. A desired throttle value is calculated using an engine torque and a target engine speed to prevent driven wheel slip. A throttle command signal changes an existing throttle value to the desired throttle value. |
| US08626414B2 |
Method and device for evaluating a condition of a chassis of a vehicle
In a method for evaluating the condition of a chassis of a vehicle equipped with a brake control system and a device for detecting trip data, at least one control signal of the brake control system is combined with at least one output signal of the device for detecting trip data to obtain a combined signal, and the condition of the chassis is evaluated on the basis of the combined signal. |
| US08626413B2 |
Tire module and method for sensing wheel state variables and/or tire state variables
A tire module for sensing wheel and/or tire state variables is provided. The module includes at least one acceleration switch which determines a wheel state variable and/or a tire state variable. A method for sensing wheel state variables and/or tire state variables is also provided. In the method, a characteristic variable which is a measure of the length of the contact area of the tire or the contact area run-through time is determined by an acceleration switch. |
| US08626412B2 |
Shift-by-wire system
When a vehicle electric power source is turned on, and when a target mode position is other than a parking (P)-mode position and a driving (D)-mode position or the target mode position is unfixed, a shift-by-wire electronic control unit (SBW-ECU) does not drive the actuator so that the current actual mode position is maintained. The SBW-ECU accepts only the driver's requirement for changing the mode position to the P-mode position or the D-mode position. When it is required to change the mode position to the P-mode position, a first position learning portion learns a first reference position. When it is required to change the mode position to the D-mode position, a second position learning portion learns a second reference position. |
| US08626411B2 |
Driveline stiffness control systems and methods
A control system for a vehicle, comprises a torque determination module, a control module, and a transmission control module. The torque determination module determines torque produced by an internal combustion engine. The control module sets a signal to an active state when the torque is greater than a predetermined torque and a slip amount between an engine output speed and a transmission input speed is zero. The predetermined torque corresponds to a potential vibration amount when the slip amount is zero. The transmission control module selectively increases the slip amount above zero in response to the setting of the signal to the active state. |
| US08626409B2 |
Automatic transmissions and methods therefor
Systems and methods for controlling transmissions and associated vehicles, machines, equipment, etc., are disclosed. In one case, a transmission control system includes a control unit configured to use a sensed vehicle speed and a commanded, target constant input speed to maintain an input speed substantially constant. The system includes one or more maps that associate a speed ratio of a transmission with a vehicle speed. In one embodiment, one such map associates an encoder position with a vehicle speed. Regarding a specific application, an automatic bicycle transmission shifting system is contemplated. An exemplary automatic bicycle includes a control unit, a shift actuator, various sensors, and a user interface. The control unit is configured to cooperate with a logic module and an actuator controller to control the cadence of a rider. In one embodiment, a memory of, or in communication with, the control unit includes one or more constant cadence maps that associate transmission speed ratios with bicycle speeds. |
| US08626407B2 |
Work vehicle
A work vehicle is disclosed with an information displaying device preventing set information corresponding to a setting screen displayed on a display from being erroneously changed even while permitting an operation for switching to and displaying one among a plurality of set screens on the display. A setting information processing unit of the information displaying device includes setting screen displaying means for switching the setting screen by the input of a first operation information item and displaying same in a transition display mode, and setting information changing means for performing a process in an information change mode for permitting a change to the set information corresponding to the setting screen, by inputting of a second operation information item. When it is determined that the second operation information item is inputted in the information change mode, a process for restoring the transition display mode from the information change mode is performed. |
| US08626404B2 |
Motor grader wheel slip control for cut to grade
The described system and method are implemented within a motor grader or other machine for grading of surfaces, wherein the machine includes a ground engaging element, as well as one or more blades for removing surface material. In this context, the described system and method prevent slippage of the ground engaging element against the underlying surface. In an embodiment, a torque limit is applied, wherein the torque limit corresponds to a torque that is less than that required for slippage under the current operating conditions, thus avoiding the problems caused by both overly aggressive and overly conservative cut depth strategies. |
| US08626403B2 |
Energy management and storage system
Heavy equipment is designed for operation in a substantially-repetitive work cycle that includes lifting, rotating, and lowering steps. The heavy equipment includes a generator, an electrical bus, an energy storage component, and working components. The generator provides a substantially constant electrical output to the electrical bus, which is communicated to the working components. As such, the working components of the heavy equipment are driven directly or indirectly by the electrical output of the generator. The controller selectively couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus, and the energy storage component is configured to store electricity provided by the generator, and to provide electricity to the working components by way of the electrical bus. The electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the heavy equipment during a portion of the work cycle, and the controller couples the energy storage component to the electrical bus to supplement the electrical output of the generator during the portion of the work cycle in which the electrical output of the generator is less than the power used by the working components of the heavy equipment. |
| US08626398B2 |
Collision avoidance system and method for a road vehicle and respective computer program product
Collision avoidance actions in a road vehicle are controlled based on a computed probability density of future positions of the vehicle. A preliminary probability density (32) is computed by means of a mechanical model by extrapolation from the detected state of the vehicle, including at least its detected position (31). Map data is used to define different regions in an area that contains the road, such as a first region that comprises a road part for traffic that moves in the direction of travel of the vehicle, a second region that comprises a road part for traffic in the opposite direction and a third region bordering on the road. The regions are used to obtain a correction factor of the computed probability density function in the first region (33). The correction factor is computed dependent on the aggregates of the probability density function in respective ones of the regions. In this way it is possible to compensate for errors that result from extrapolations that misinterpret swerving motion that suggest that the vehicle will move of the road, but are automatically corrected by the driver. |
| US08626396B2 |
Vehicular collision detection apparatus, occupant restraint system, and vehicle
A vehicular collision detection apparatus mounted to a vehicle comprises: a door beam that is arranged in a partitioned region partitioned between a door outer panel of a vehicle door, and a door inner panel of the vehicle door, and is displaced in accordance with a deformation of the door outer panel at the time of a vehicular collision; a cylindrical member that is arranged in the partitioned region and is compressed by the door beam at the time of the displacement of the door beam; a sealed cavity provided to the cylindrical member; a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure fluctuation of the cavity; a deriving portion configured to derive a displacement amount and displacement velocity of the door beam, based on the pressure fluctuation detected by the pressure sensor; and a determining portion configured to determine collision particulars of the vehicle based on the displacement amount and displacement velocity of the door beam derived by the deriving portion. |
| US08626393B2 |
Determination of a center feeling for EPS steering systems
In order to transmit reliable and precise information, to as great an extent as possible, on current driving conditions and driving situations, and also achieve disturbance-free behavior of the steering system in the center point range, in a steering device in a vehicle, a target steering torque (torSSW) is determined by determining an actual toothed rack force (forRT), determining at least one first component for the target steering torque (torSSW) as a function of the actual toothed rack force (forRT), and determining at least one additional component for the target steering torque (torSSW) from a calculated toothed rack force (forRS), wherein the calculated toothed rack force (forRS) is determined from a wheel steering angle and a vehicle speed (velV). |
| US08626389B2 |
Method and system for determining a reference yaw rate for a vehicle
The method and system described herein may be used to determine a reference yaw rate (γref) for a vehicle chassis control system, and may do so across a wide spectrum of vehicle operating conditions. These conditions may include, for example, when the vehicle is being driven: at low and high vehicle speeds, in forward and reverse directions, with front-, rear- and all-wheel steering systems, according to subtle and aggressive driving maneuvers, and on roads with flat or banked surfaces, to cite a few of the potential scenarios. According to an exemplary embodiment, the method and system take into account certain tire dynamics, such as the relaxation length (λ) of the tires, when estimating the reference yaw rate (γref). Once an accurate reference yaw rate (γref) is determined, the vehicle chassis control system may use this estimate to control one or more actuators that can influence the yaw rate of the vehicle. Some non-limiting examples of systems that may include such actuators are chassis systems, brake systems, steering systems, suspension systems, safety systems, stability control systems, traction control systems, torque control systems, or any other system that can affect the vehicle yaw rate. It is also possible for the method and system described herein to determine a reference lateral velocity (Vyref) for the vehicle as well. |
| US08626386B2 |
Damping apparatus for reducing vibration of automobile body
A damping apparatus for an automobile is provided, capable of ensuring a high level of reliability while obtaining excellent damping effect with simple configuration. The damping apparatus for an automobile that reduces vibrations of an automobile body may include an actuator that is attached to the automobile body and drives an auxiliary mass; a current detector that detects a current flowing through an armature of the actuator; a section that detects a terminal voltage applied to the actuator; a calculation circuit that calculates an induced voltage of the actuator, and further calculates at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator, based on a current detected by the current detector and the terminal voltage; and a control circuit that drive-controls the actuator based on at least one of the relative velocity, relative displacement, and relative acceleration of the actuator calculated by the calculation circuit. |
| US08626384B2 |
User interface with proximity detection for object tracking
A system or method for tracking items proximate a user interface device include a user interface device having at least one solid-state touch-sensitive region and a receiver for wirelessly receiving a signal from at least one item to determine proximity of the item relative to the user interface device. The device may also include a display screen for displaying controls and information. The user interface device may be permanently or removably mounted in a vehicle and used to interface with vehicle systems and personal electronic devices for control and information display. Tracked items or objects may include passive or active data tags and communicate identification information and optionally position information to the user interface device. The device may alert the user to movement of tracked objects, and/or confirm presence of a group of objects intended for a particular task or project. |
| US08626382B2 |
Technique for operating a vehicle effectively and safely
A control system is employed in a vehicle to assist a user to operate the vehicle effectively and safely. In accordance with the invention, the system provides driving assistance to the user by taking into account the user's physical condition, the vehicle condition and the surrounding conditions. The surrounding conditions include, e.g., road, weather and traffic conditions, external to the vehicle. The vehicle condition concerns the conditions of the brakes, steering, tires, radiator, etc. of the vehicle. Signs of fatigue, stress and illness of the user are monitored by the control system to assess the user's physical condition. |
| US08626381B2 |
Increasing vehicle range by minimizing trapped HVAC energy
A method of increasing a range of a vehicle by decreasing trapped HVAC energy at an end of a trip. The method may include the steps of: determining a destination list based on locations where the vehicle may be parked in the future, the destination list accessible by a control module in the vehicle; determining HVAC reduction regions around each of the locations on the destination list, the HVAC reduction regions accessible by the control module; operating a HVAC system while the vehicle is moving; tracking the location of the vehicle relative to the locations on the destination list; and the control module automatically reducing the energy usage of the HVAC system when the vehicle enters one of the HVAC reduction regions. |
| US08626380B2 |
Control systems
A control system for a vehicle subsystem (10) comprises a controller (12) arranged to control operation of the subsystem (10), a user input (16) connected to the system controller (12) and arranged to be operated by a user, and a sensor comprising a transmitter (22) associated with user input (16) and a receiver (26) associated with a first user, whereby the controller uses detection of a signal from the transmitter (22) by the receiver (26) to distinguish between operation of the user input (16) by said first user and operation of the user input by a second user. |
| US08626378B2 |
Method and description for determining and providing information for the transport of an object
A method is provided for determining and providing information for the transport of an object with a passenger car. A determining of the first parameter of the object to be transported takes place, where the at least one first parameter is selected from the group consisting of dimensions of the object and the mass of the object. In addition, a determining of a current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. Furthermore, a determining of a probable loading state of the passenger car based on the determined first parameter and the determined current transport capacity of the passenger car takes place. In addition, an outputting of information regarding the determined probable loading state takes place. |
| US08626376B2 |
Method, system and media for wireless process control of mobile equipment
A system for wireless process control comprises at least a first wireless network, which is used to communicate real-time instructions and data between one or more pieces of mobile equipment to at least one other piece of mobile equipment. In one variant, a second wireless network is provided, using a different radio frequency band, to concurrently communicate the same or substantially the same real-time instructions and data as are communicated over the first wireless network. |
| US08626374B2 |
In-vehicle device for storing gadget
An in-vehicle device includes: a memory for storing a gadget corresponding to an icon, a display content of which is changed with time, wherein the gadget provides a process; a display having a screen, on which the icon is displayed; an operation receiver for receiving an operation to the icon; a controller for executing the process when the controller determines that the operation receiver receives the operation to the icon under a condition that the display displays the icon; and a driving condition information obtaining element for obtaining driving condition information of a vehicle. The controller controls the display to change a display mode of the icon based on the driving condition information when the display displays the icon. |
| US08626368B2 |
Electric drive power response management system and method
An electric drive system includes a fuel-driven prime mover for driving an electrical power alternator controlled at least in part by an excitation voltage is disclosed. The electrical power alternator makes electrical power available on a DC link having a voltage characteristic and a current characteristic. A method for managing the response of the alternator includes determining a voltage of the DC link and a torque command by an operator. The torque command is used to derive a mechanical power that is being commanded. A desired voltage of the DC link is determined based on the derived mechanical power, and an excitation voltage command signal is provided based on the desired voltage of the DC link by use of a closed loop controller. An actual excitation voltage is applied to the electrical power alternator based on the excitation voltage command signal. |
| US08626360B2 |
Avionics control and display unit having cursor control mode of operation
An avionics control and display unit (CDU) in an integrated avionics system includes a display unit having a touch screen configured to detect touch input. The CDU is configured to have a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. When the first mode of operation is selected, the display unit is configured to display control indicia to facilitate the control of one or more functions associated with the avionics system. When the second mode of operation is selected, the display unit is configured to enable a cursor control area to facilitate manipulation of indicia displayed by a display device such as a primary flight display (PFD) or a multifunction display (MFD), and so forth, via touch input to the touch screen over the cursor control area. |
| US08626358B2 |
Automatic presentation of a shortcut prompt to view a downlink request message responsive to a confirm-response message
A system to reduce head-down time for a flight crew is provided. The system includes a functional module including a set of screens used to receive and send controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) messages between an aircraft and a ground system; a message composition screen communicatively coupled to the functional module; and a shortcut interface communicatively coupled to the functional module, wherein a shortcut prompt is automatically displayed when a confirm-response message received responsive to a previously-sent downlink request message is viewed, and wherein the previously-sent downlink request message is displayed when the shortcut interface is implemented. |
| US08626353B2 |
Integration of demand response and renewable resources for power generation management
System and method of solving, in a single-period, an optimal dispatching problem for a network of energy generators connected via multiple transmission lines, where it is sought to find the lowest operational cost of dispatching of various energy sources to satisfy demand. The model includes traditional thermal resources and renewable energy resources available generation capabilities within the grid. The method considers demand reduction as a virtual generation source that can be dispatched quickly to hedge against the risk of unforeseen shortfall in supply. Demand reduction is dispatched in response to incentive signals sent to consumers. The control options of the optimization model consist of the dispatching order and dispatching amount energy units at generators together with the rebate signals sent to end-users at each node of the network under a demand response policy. Numerical experiments based on an analysis of representative data illustrate the effectiveness of demand response as a hedging option. |
| US08626352B2 |
Hydroelectric power optimization service
A non-linear power equation may be solved in linear form by locking a variable or variables and iteratively solving to provide a Web service for accurately and quickly estimating optimized power solutions for hydroelectric power stations. Additionally, these iterative calculations may provide for long term water resource planning and more accurate estimation models. Further, such optimized power solutions may be usable to create accurate and timely water management models for the operation and planning of hydroelectric power stations. |
| US08626346B2 |
Dynamically adjustable floor tile for a data center
A dynamically adjustable floor tile for a data center including a plurality of perforations; and a dynamically adjustable aperture, wherein opening the aperture exposes one or more of the perforations to airflow through the floor tile and closing the aperture blocks one or more of the apertures to airflow through the floor tile. |
| US08626345B2 |
Method and system for optimal coordination control and soft repair of multiple rooftop heating and cooling units
Techniques are described that may be implemented in an adaptive control device to regulate multiple zone environmental units based upon multiple temperature values and multiple airflow values, where each temperature value and each airflow value is related to the temperature and the airflow in a specific zone. In an implementation, the input interface of the adaptive control device is configured to receive multiple temperature values and multiple air flow values from multiple zone sensors. The adaptive control device may calculate multiple operational values based on the multiple temperature values and the multiple air flow values. An operational value indicates a power state (e.g. power on/power off) for a zone environmental unit's fan, compressor, heater, exhaust fan, and damper. The adaptive control device's output interface is operable to transmit multiple sequencing commands to the plurality of zone environmental units. |
| US08626341B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting parameter of impedance control
An apparatus has a parameter initial value calculator, a force reference impression part, an evaluation data measurement part, an allowable value setting part, a viscosity parameter calculator, an end determining part, and an inertia parameter adjusting part. The force reference impression part intermittently supplies a force reference to an impedance controller. The evaluation data measurement part measures setting time of time response, an overshoot amount, and the number of vibration times. The allowable value setting part sets allowable values of the overshoot amount and the setting time. The viscosity parameter calculator calculates a viscosity parameter with which the setting time becomes shortest. The end determining part determines the end or continuation of the process by comparing the adjustment values with the allowable values. The inertia parameter calculator adjusts the inertia parameter according to the adjustment values of the overshoot amount and the setting time. |
| US08626335B2 |
Method and system for fulfilling requests in an inventory system
A method for fulfilling requests in an inventory system includes receiving a request indicating an activity to be completed. The method also includes selecting a holder to fulfill the request and an inventory station at which to fulfill the request. The inventory station is associated with a queue that includes a plurality of queue spaces. The method further includes moving the selected holder from a first location to a second location remote from the selected inventory station. Additionally, the method also includes determining that a trigger event has occurred and, in response to determining that the trigger event has occurred, moving the selected holder from the second location to a queue space of a queue associated with the selected inventory station. |
| US08626333B2 |
Method and system for order fulfillment in a distribution center
Order allocation techniques pertaining to stops that a container makes in the process of fulfilling a customer order is disclosed. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by first identifying a pod that stocks the largest number of different items in a customer order. Then, a second pod is identified that stocks the largest number of remaining items in the customer order. The collection of pods defines a container path through the distribution center. |
| US08626330B2 |
Atomic layer deposition apparatus
A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber body having a contiguous internal volume comprised of a first deposition region spaced-apart from a second deposition region, the chamber body having a feature operable to minimize intermixing of gases between the first and the second deposition regions, a first gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the first deposition region to enable a first deposition process to be performed in the first deposition region, and a second gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the second deposition region to enable a second deposition process to be performed in the second deposition region is provided. |
| US08626323B2 |
Method and apparatus for playing audio files
A method for playing audio files includes: parsing data frames of an audio file until basic information about file playing that meets the conditions for playing the audio file is obtained; and playing the audio file according to the basic information about file playing. A location and search method for an audio file includes: determining a frame position corresponding to a playing position in search according to a stored mapping between playing positions and frame positions when receiving input information about the playing position in search; and starting playing an audio file from the determined frame position. An apparatus for playing audio files is also disclosed. With the invention, the playing response speed of an audio file is improved to a great extent. |
| US08626321B2 |
Processing audio input signals
A method of processing an audio input signal represented as digital samples to produce a stereo output signal (having a left field and a right field) such that said stereo signal emulates the production of said audio signal from a specified audio source location relative to a listening source location. An audio input signal is received. An indication of an audio source location relative to a listening source location (an indicated location) is received. A broadband response file for each of the left field and the right field is selected from a plurality of stored files derived from empirical testing, dependant upon said indicated location. The audio input signal is convolved with each of the selected left field response file and the selected right field response file. Apparatus for processing an audio input signal. |
| US08626319B2 |
Modular energy load management
Systems and methods are provided that integrate a modular load management solution within a general control architecture. One or more load modules deployed within a controller act as interlocks to energy consuming field devices or machines fed by an energy distribution system within a facility. One or more feeder modules deployed within the controller collect energy supply data from an energy source or feeder on the energy distribution system. The load and feeder modules publish their energy demand and supply data to a virtual energy bus, which facilitates exchange of energy data between the load and feeder modules. The load modules, feeder modules, and virtual energy bus generate multiple views of the facility's overall energy supply and demand status based on the energy data shared between the components, and perform automated load management for the energy distribution system based on the collected data. |
| US08626315B2 |
Electronic pacemaker and pacemaker electrode
A pacemaker includes a pulse generator, a conduction line, and a pacemaker electrode. The pacemaker electrode includes a body and an insulation layer. The body includes at least one carbon nanotube yarn. The carbon nanotube yarn includes a number of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are interconnected along one axis of the body by van der Waals force. The insulation layer covers an outer surface of the body. |
| US08626312B2 |
Neural stimulation system providing auto adjustment of stimulus output as a function of sensed impedance
A neural stimulation system automatically corrects or adjusts the stimulus magnitude (stimulation energy) in order to maintain a comfortable and effective stimulation therapy. Because the changes in impedance associated with the electrode-tissue interface can indicate obstruction of current flow and positional lead displacement, lead impedance can indicate the quantity of electrical stimulation energy that should be delivered to the target neural tissue to provide corrective adjustment. Hence, a change in impedance or morphology of an impedance curve may be used in a feedback loop to indicate that the stimulation energy needs to be adjusted and the system can effectively auto correct the magnitude of stimulation energy to maintain a desired therapeutic effect. |
| US08626311B2 |
Phased deactivation of functionality in implantable medical device systems
Embodiments of the invention are related to systems for interfacing with implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment, the invention includes an external medical system including a processor and a telemetry circuit in communication with the processor, the processor configured to communicate with an implanted medical device. The system can be configured to query a system user after a first period of time in which indicators of system use are not detected. The system can be further configured to deactivate one or more data transmission features of the implanted medical device after a second period of time in which one or more indicators of system use are not detected. Other embodiments are also included herein. |
| US08626310B2 |
External RF telemetry module for implantable medical devices
An implantable medical device (“IMD”) is provided having an antenna and an RF telemetry module for far field telemetry communications arranged on an exterior of the IMD housing, such that telemetry signal processing may be performed on the exterior of the housing. One or more feedthrough conductive paths extend through the housing to communicatively couple the RF module to circuitry within the housing. In this manner RF module is arranged entirely external to the housing, such that only power and/or low frequency data bit signals are required to be passed through the feedthrough conductive path. This allows the feedthrough conductive path to be filtered to prevent undesired interference signals (e.g., electromagnetic interference (EMI) signals) from entering the housing through the feedthrough conductive path coupled to the RF module. In some embodiments, the antenna and RF module are formed in an integrated assembly attachable to an exterior portion of the housing. |
| US08626306B2 |
Visual prosthesis for control of spatiotemporal interactions
In a visual prosthesis or other neural stimulator it is advantageous to provide non-overlapping pulses in order to provide independent control of brightness from different electrodes. Non-overlapping pulses on geographically close electrodes avoid electric-field interaction which leads to brightness summation or changes in the shape and area of percepts. It is advantageous to apply pulses to nearby electrodes in a way that the currents do not overlap in time at all. The new finding is that even a small amount of separation in time results in a significant improvement with a time separation as small as 0.225 msec. ‘Nearby’ is defined as within a few millimeters of each other. |
| US08626299B2 |
Thoracic aorta and vagus nerve stimulation
Apparatus and methods are provided, including an electrode that is placed in contact with an artery of a subject. A control unit drives the electrode to perform a function with respect to the artery, the function selected from the group consisting of: driving a current into the artery, and sensing an electrical parameter of the artery. A transmitter is placed in a vein of the subject that is in a vicinity of the artery, the transmitter being wiredly connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to drive the electrode by wirelessly transmitting a signal via the transmitter. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08626298B2 |
Methods and apparatus for deep brain stimulation
The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for treating nerve disorders in the brain. An electrode is introduced into a patient's sinus cavity and an electrical impulse is applied to the electrode to modulate one or more target nerves in the brain to treat the disorder. In preferred embodiments, the electrode is positioned within a sinus cavity adjacent to or near the frontal cortex of the brain and the electrical signal is sufficient to modulate, stimulate and/or inhibit nerves within the frontal cortex. The electrode may be movable between a collapsed or compact configuration for introduction into the sinus cavity and an expanded configuration for contacting tissue within the sinus cavity to deliver the electrical impulse through the tissue to the target nerves in the brain. |
| US08626295B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer for bi-directional wireless communication
A piezoelectric element within an external ultrasonic transducer assembly can be used for wireless communication of data between an implantable device and the external ultrasonic transducer assembly such as using ultrasonic energy coupled to a flexible portion of a housing of the transducer assembly. The flexible portion can be configured to contact skin of a body containing the implantable device. The transducer assembly can be configured to respectively transmit or receive ultrasonic energy using at least partially overlapping respective ranges of resonant frequencies. |
| US08626287B2 |
Short circuit fault-tolerance in an implantable medical device
A device includes an energy storage device, a plurality of electrodes, a memory, a switching circuit, and a processing module. The energy storage device stores electrical energy for delivery of defibrillation therapy to a heart. The memory stores N therapy configurations that define which of the plurality of electrodes are used to deliver defibrillation therapy and a waveform to be applied during delivery of defibrillation therapy. The switching circuit connects the plurality of electrodes to the energy storage device. The processing module controls the switching circuit to deliver defibrillation therapy according to a first therapy configuration of the N therapy configurations, detects a short circuit fault during delivery of the defibrillation therapy according to the first therapy configuration, and selects a second therapy configuration of the N therapy configurations based on when the short circuit fault was detected during delivery of the defibrillation therapy according to the first therapy configuration. |
| US08626281B2 |
Remote sensing in an implantable medical device
An embodiment uses an accelerometer to sense heart sounds, and determines heart rate information using the sensed heart sounds. An embodiment uses an accelerometer to sense respiratory activity. An embodiment delivers a programmed neural stimulation therapy with a programmed duty cycle, where the programmed duty cycle includes a stimulation ON portion followed by a stimulation OFF portion. An electrode electrically connected to the implanted neural stimulation device is used to remotely detect cardiac activity. The remotely detected cardiac activity is used to detect heart rate information during the stimulation ON portion and to detect heart rate information during the stimulation OFF portion. The detected heart rate information and/or the detected respiration information are used to control a neural stimulation therapy performed by the neural stimulator device and/or are used to provide diagnostic information for the patient's condition. |
| US08626275B1 |
Apparatus and method for detecting myocardial ischemia using analysis of high frequency components of an electrocardiogram
ECG apparatus comprises an ECG input for obtaining ECG signals; a high frequency analyzer configured for obtaining high frequency QRS components from a QRS complex within said ECG signals and identifying therein at least one reduced amplitude zone—RAZ—present within a given QRS complex; and a RAZ quantifier configured for obtaining a quantification of said at least one RAZ region within said QRS complex. |
| US08626274B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for detecting and diagnosing heart diseases and disorders
Disclosed herein methods, devices, and systems for detecting and diagnosing a heart disease or disorder in a subject from a prime electrocardiogram which comprises calculating at least one distribution function of the prime electrocardiogram and determining whether the distribution function is indicative of the presence of absence of the heart disease or disorder. |
| US08626272B2 |
Apparatus and method for light control in an in-vivo imaging device
A device and method for example operating an in vivo imaging device wherein the illumination is operated at a certain rate or range of rates, and images are transmitted from the device. |
| US08626271B2 |
System and method using fluorescence to examine within a patient's anatomy
A system for examining an area of a patient's anatomy that comprises a probe capable of fluorescing, and a scanning beam assembly that scans the probe with a beam of excitation radiation and detects the probe's fluorescence. The scanning beam assembly including a radiation source capable of emitting one or more wavelengths of radiation that are capable of exciting the probe and causing the probe to fluoresce, a scanning device that directs the radiation onto a field-of-view to create a scan of the field-of-view, a detector to detect radiation returned from the field-of-view, and a controller to convert the detected radiation into a displayable fluorescence image. |
| US08626269B2 |
Fibrous marker and intracorporeal delivery thereof
An intracorporeal marker includes a fibrous unitary marker body having bioabsorbable fibers compressed into a compressed configuration, and bound in the compressed configuration by a polymer binding agent. The intracorporeal marker may be incorporated into an intracorporeal marker delivery device having a delivery cannula which has a distal tip, an inner lumen and a discharge opening in communication with the inner lumen. The compression and binding occur prior to insertion of the fibrous unitary marker body into the inner lumen of the delivery cannula. The fibrous unitary marker body is slidably disposed within and pushable through the inner lumen of the elongated delivery cannula proximal to the discharge opening. |
| US08626264B1 |
Obtaining information about brain activity
A brain imaging system can be operated to obtain brain image signals indicating activity at brain locations, and information can be extracted from the brain image signals. For example, for each of a set of living human brain regions that can have two or more possible activity features such as qualia features, feature values can be obtained indicating activity features of the region. The feature values can be more explicit than brain image data indicating activity at brain locations. A data structure can be produced that includes data indicating extracted information, such as qualia value data for a quale activity feature that can occur in a region. Such a data structure can be stored on a storage medium and used in diagnosis and/or treatment of detrimental conditions of consciousness. |
| US08626256B2 |
Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding sensor data
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to a sensor with memory. Specifically, one embodiment includes a method of sensor operation, comprising emitting light from a light emitting element of the sensor, detecting the light with a light detecting element of the sensor, and providing a manufacturer identification of the sensor stored within a memory of the sensor to an oximeter monitor. |
| US08626254B2 |
Metal assembly constituting a precursor for a superconductor, a superconductor and a method suitable for the production of a superconductor
The invention relates to an assembly (1, 35, 71) of metal elements constituting a precursor for a superconductor. The assembly comprises at least one conductor element (5, 41, 73) adapted to provide a superconducting filament in the finished superconductor, and at least one doping element (7, 43, 75) providing a doping source for doping the conductor element. The invention also relates to a method suitable for producing a superconductor. |
| US08626252B2 |
Mobile terminal
An input unit for an electronic device comprising a body, a first switch adjacent a first location of the body, a second switch adjacent a second location of the body, and a third switch adjacent a third location of the body. When the body moves in a first direction to a first position, the third switch generates a signal to activate a first operational mode and the first and second switches generate signals to perform first and second functions when the body moves in a second direction different from the first direction. When the body moves in the first direction to a second position, the third switch generates a signal to activate a second operational mode and the first and second switches generate signals to perform third and fourth functions when the body moves in the second direction. |
| US08626248B2 |
Mobile device display management
The display of a mobile device is managed during a voice communication session using a proximity sensor and an accelerometer. In one example, the display of a mobile device is turned off during a phone call on the mobile device when a proximity sensor detects an object is proximate the device and an accelerometer determines the device is in a first orientation. |
| US08626246B2 |
Voice-controlled communications system and method using a badge application
A communication system has a control computer, one or more concentrators and one or more access device each having a badge application that communicates wirelessly with the one or more concentrators. The access device with the badge application provides the user with a communications device that permits the user to initiate telephone calls and conferences, receive telephone calls, receive pages and be located within a particular environment. |
| US08626241B2 |
Allocation of sub channels of MIMO channels of a wireless network
A base station for wireless network uses one or more MIMO channels having subchannels, to communicate with multiple user equipments, and allocates the sub channels to the user equipments. Different subchannels of a given one of the channels can be allocated to different user equipments. The ability to allocate sub channels individually rather than only allocating entire channels can enable higher data rates can be achieved. This is particularly useful for improving data rates at cell boundaries or sector boundaries, where the coverage is traditionally weakest. A user equipment can use subchannels from different MIMO channels from different sectors or from different base stations. |
| US08626239B2 |
Randomly varying a distribution order or transmission power of control information from a base station
A base station apparatus includes a transmitting unit which transmits control information with an area as a unit, which area is in multiple numbers and each of which area is divided from a coverage area; a storing unit which stores control information corresponding to the divided area; and a determining unit which determines an order of distribution for each of the divided areas. The determining unit includes either or both of a unit which randomly determines the order of distribution for each of the divided areas and a unit which determines an order of distribution for distributing the same information with another base station apparatus. |
| US08626236B2 |
System and method for displaying text in augmented reality
A system and a method are provided for displaying text in low-light environments. An original image of text is captured in a low-light environment using a camera on a mobile device, whereby the imaged text comprising images of characters. A brightness setting and a contrast setting of the original image are adjusted to increase the contrast of the imaged text relative to a background of the original image. Optical character recognition is applied to the adjusted image to generate computer readable text or characters corresponding to each of the imaged text. The original image of text is displayed on the mobile device. The computer readable text is also displayed, overlaid the original image, wherein the computer readable text is aligned with the corresponding imaged text. |
| US08626234B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing layered wireless networks
A capability is provided for supporting a layered wireless network. A method for supporting a service session for a wireless user device includes receiving a service request associated with the wireless user device, determining at least one characteristic of the service request, and selecting, using the at least one characteristic of the service request, one of a plurality of network layers available for supporting a service session for the service request. A network layer has a wireless access technology associated therewith and, optionally, also may have a core network technology associated therewith. The selection of the network layer for a service request may be performed within the network or performed at the wireless user device under the control of the network. |
| US08626233B2 |
Method and apparatus for flexible multiple number assignment modules
A method and apparatus for configuring a mobile device capable of supporting multiple number assignment modules, the method writing a first configuration parameter to indicate whether the mobile device should support multiple number assignment modules; specifying a second configuration parameter to indicate whether the mobile device should support data connectivity on a second or subsequent number assignment module; and setting a third configuration parameter to indicate whether separate billing should occur for data usage on the multiple number assignment modules. Also, a method and apparatus for data connectivity on a mobile device supporting multiple name assignment modules, the method checking, subsequent to transitioning to a second name assignment module, whether the second name assignment module supports data connectivity; responsive to the checking, determining whether separate billing is required for the second name assignment module; and responsive to the determining, establishing a data connection. |
| US08626232B1 |
Method for controlling the launch of high-power broadband radio frequency waves
An apparatus for digitally controlling the launch of high-power broad-band RF waves with high linearity for use with a software defined air-interface system. A wave launcher contains an Eplane array containing a plurality of Epixel partition elements is configured with a master digital controller. The master digital controller processes all signals to be launched as RF waves and develops the digital images necessary for digital synthesizers to format the signals to be converted to analog. A plurality of digital-analog converters coupled with power amplifiers convert the digital signal to analog, and the analog signal is then sent to the partition elements to be transmitted as RF waves. |
| US08626230B2 |
Method and system for using routine driving information in mobile interactive satellite services
A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes a controller to process a criterion for selecting a point-of-interest (POI). The criterion can be based on historical trip data. Data related to a POI, including a community-of-interest rating, for example, can be accessed through a satellite and terrestrial mobile communication network. Multiple POIs can be graphically represented for user selection based on the criterion and/or other data. Once a POI is selected, data related to the selected POI, including navigation data, can be displayed. In another embodiment, the controller can access navigation data to a specified destination. The navigation data can be based on historical trip data such as route segments and destination areas. The navigation data can be accessed from an in-vehicle system or from a navigation service provider and can be displayed to assist a user in reaching the specified destination. |
| US08626229B2 |
Quality of service-constraint centralised power allocation method
The present invention relates to a centralized power allocation method in a wireless telecommunication system comprising at least a first couple of terminals, consisting of a first transmitting terminal and a first receiving terminal, and a second couple of terminals, consisting of a second transmitting terminal and a second receiving terminal. A control node partitions the interference diagram between the communication of the first couple and the communication of the second couple, into different areas, each area being associated to a type of processing of the interference. The control node calculates the minimum power curve for each communication in each said area. The power values to be allocated are given by the coordinates of the point of intersection of both curves in said diagram. |
| US08626226B2 |
Method and system for determining synchronization status in a wide band CDMA network
A method and system for determining synchronization status in a wide band CDMA (WCDMA) network may comprise calculating a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of a downlink dedicated physical channel (DPCH) based on a plurality of transmit power control (TPC) bits received via the downlink dedicated physical channel (DPCH), wherein the value of at least one of the plurality of TPC bits is not known when at least one of the plurality of TPC bits is received. The transmit circuitry may be controlled based on the calculated signal to noise ratio. The transmit circuitry may be disabled if the calculated SNR of the plurality of TPC bits is below a first channel threshold. The transmit circuitry may be enabled if the calculated SNR of the plurality of TPC bits is above a second channel threshold. |
| US08626216B2 |
Transmission and reception bandwidth setting method, mobile terminal and base station in radio communication system that defines a plurality of signal bandwidths
In a radio communication system defining a plurality of bandwidths, mobile terminals of kinds respectively corresponding to the plurality of bandwidths are accommodated in the system, and a minimum transmission bandwidth of the plurality of bandwidths is set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. Or, every mobile terminal accommodated in the radio communication system is provided with a capability for processing a bandwidth equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and equal to or more than two transmission bandwidths that are equal to or less than a predetermined value are set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. In the latter case, the mobile terminal identifies a bandwidth of a received downlink common channel. |
| US08626212B2 |
Group messaging at mobile terminal in autonomous network
A method for group messaging at a mobile terminal in autonomous network includes acquiring a message and a list of target identifiers, containing the identifiers of multiple mobile terminals to which the message is to be sent; transmitting the message via the autonomous network to any mobile terminal of the multiple mobile terminals that locates in the autonomous network, and removing the identifier of the mobile terminal from the list of target identifiers to obtain an updated list of target identifiers; generating an aggregate message, wherein the aggregate message contains the message and the identifiers in the updated list; sending the aggregate message to a base station if the length of the aggregate message does not exceed a threshold; dividing the aggregate message into multiple fragment messages and sending the multiple fragment messages to the base station if the length of the aggregate message exceeds the threshold. |
| US08626211B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes an A/V input unit receiving an input of a surrounding image via an image sensor, a display unit, a wireless communication unit, a memory recording an image inputted by real time via the camera as a real-time taken data, and a controller controlling the real-time taken data to be outputted to the display unit, the controller controlling the wireless communication unit to relay the real-time taken data to at least one external terminal by real time, the controller controlling the display unit to display a 1st type message related to the real-time taken data and a 2nd type message not related to the real-time taken data in a manner that the 1st type message and the 2nd type message are visually discriminated from each other. |
| US08626208B2 |
Traffic data transmission from a vehicle telematics unit
A method of sending traffic related data to a call center using a telematics unit of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a request at the telematics unit to transmit non-traffic data such as vehicle diagnostic information to the call center. Both the non-traffic data as well as traffic related data is obtained by the telematics unit and embedded into a short message service (SMS) message that is then sent to the call center. The traffic related data can be inserted only if it indicates a traffic problem and can be inserted into an otherwise unused portion of the SMS message. The received traffic related data can then be used by the call center or other remote facility to improve traffic reporting. |
| US08626207B2 |
Method of checking modification of transmitted message in mobile communication terminal and mobile communication terminal performing the same
A method of checking for modification of a message transmitted by a transmitting mobile terminal comprises transmitting an original message to a receiving mobile terminal, receiving a report message comprising information about any modification of the original message, and displaying information about the modification of the original message. |
| US08626204B1 |
Delivery of paging information to sets of wireless communication devices
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless access system. The method includes exchanging wireless communications with a plurality of user devices using a first communication mode that uses a first frequency spectrum and a second communication mode that uses a second frequency spectrum. The method also includes transferring a first bit sequence using the first communication mode to a first set of the user devices to indicate the presence of first pages pending on a paging channel portion of the first communication mode. The method also includes transferring a second bit sequence using the second communication mode to a second set of the user devices to indicate the presence of second pages pending on a paging channel portion of the second communication mode, where the second set of the of user devices tune away from the first communication mode to the second communication mode to receive the second bit sequence. The method also includes configuring a third set of the of user devices to tune away from the first communication mode to the second communication mode to check for the presence of third pages pending on the paging channel portion of the second communication mode. |
| US08626203B1 |
Method and system for differentiated paging channel selection
Disclosed is a method and system to manage paging channels in a wireless communication network. When the network encounters a situation where the network is to transmit an access response message in a coverage area to a mobile station, the network will determine whether the mobile station is in an access handoff state. If not, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on a paging channel selected based on the mobile station's identifier. Otherwise, the network will transmit the message to the mobile station on both that paging channel and a default paging channel (e.g., primary channel) selected without consideration of the mobile station's identifier. This process can help avoid an access handoff failure. Further, a radio access network may opt to use the default paging channel in response to the wireless coverage area having a different number of paging channels than an adjacent coverage area. |
| US08626202B2 |
Information processing apparatus, correction method, and recording medium
An information processing apparatus that conducts positioning on the basis of received signal strength indications obtained from access points, includes, a contact information detector that detects contact information between the information processing apparatus and a dielectric body, a recording module that stores a gain table including gain data corresponding to obtained contact information, a gain data correcting unit that extracts the gain data corresponding to the contact information obtained by the contact information detector from the gain table of the recording module and corrects gain by using the extracted gain data, and a positioning module that conducts the positioning by using the gain obtained by the correcting unit and the received signal strength indications. |
| US08626200B2 |
Network systems and methods utilizing mobile devices to enhance consumer experience
A mobile device requests map information to locate an item in a store. If the item is available, map information is sent to the mobile device. The map information includes directions to the item. If the item is not available, alternative item information is sent to the mobile device. |
| US08626199B2 |
Method for PC to realize A-GPS
A method for a PC to realize an A-GPS in a PC technology field is provided. The method includes: a. the PC controlling a wireless network module of the PC to connect with a network to initiate a GPS positioning session; b. a location server transmitting GPS auxiliary information to the PC; c. the PC acquiring information of a current satellite according to the GPS auxiliary information. The method enables the A-GPS function to be applicable for the PC to provide positioning and navigation services to the PC. A corresponding A-GPS server can be connected to acquire the information of the current satellite based on the GPS auxiliary information with the network function provided by the wireless network module of the PC to accelerate the speed for acquiring data of the current satellite, and then current position information of the PC can be accurately calculated. |
| US08626198B2 |
Characterizing an indoor structure based on detected movements and/or position locations of a mobile device
An embodiment relates to characterizing a signaling environment by gathering a plurality of measurements, generated during a period of time, in response to a determination that a mobile device is within an area of location uncertainty. Such an example mobile device may generate a position fix, e.g., at or subsequent to an end of the period of time, based, at least in part, on one or more signals received at the mobile device within an area of location certainty; and in response to a determination that it is to report a travel history for at least a portion of the area of location uncertainty, generate a travel log based, at least in part, on the plurality of measurements and the position fix, and transmit at least a portion of the travel log to one or more external devices. |
| US08626197B1 |
Method and system for linking information from a mobile telephony device with an electronic file
A method and system for linking information from a mobile telephony device with an electronic file are disclosed. At least some of the illustrative embodiments may be a method comprising a computer system performing an operation on an electronic file and determining that the computer system is proximate to a first mobile telephony device. The method also comprises determining information about the first mobile telephony device, linking at least some of the information from the first mobile telephony device with the electronic file on the computer system, and storing the electronic file and the information linked with the electronic file in a memory device. |
| US08626196B2 |
Wireless-based positioning without association
A wireless location assist device (WLAD) comprises control logic and a wireless radio coupled to the control logic. The control logic causes the radio to perform at least one of wireless local area network (WLAN) beacon transmission and WLAN probe request receipt and response. The control logic never permits the WLAD to associate with a wireless station. |
| US08626194B2 |
Systems and methods to determine the name of a business location visited by a user of a wireless device and provide suggested destinations
In general, the invention relates to methods and systems that record the location of a user and determine the corresponding physical named location (e.g. business location) visited by the user. The system further provides suggested destinations, routes, and advertisements to the user. A network includes a server programmed with a database of location information, a database of user information, payment account information, and a wireless communication system capable of communicating with the user's mobile device. The location of the mobile device is ascertained and recorded. The system determines the physical named location (e.g. business location) visited by the user at a particular time and stores the information in a location history. The system further provides suggested destinations based on the users current location and location history. Routes and advertisements along routes may further be provided based upon information associated with the user. |
| US08626191B2 |
Node and method in a node
Node and method in a node, for estimating a position of a user equipment. The method comprises determining the need for at least one virtual reference measurement. Further, the method comprises obtaining the at least one virtual reference measurement, when it is determined to be needed. Additionally, the method comprises estimating the position of the user equipment, using the obtained at least one virtual reference measurement. |
| US08626189B2 |
Position optimization
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for position determination. In some examples, the method includes receiving, by a device, position information from at least one other device. The method further includes modifying, by the device, an initial position based on the position information from the at least one other device to form a refined position. The method further includes transmitting, by the device, the refined position to the at least one other device. The method further includes revising, by the device, the refined position based on refined position information received from the at least one other device to form a final position. |
| US08626182B2 |
Communication system and method for controlling interference caused by different kinds of base stations
A communication system is provided which includes different kinds of base stations such as a macro base station and a femto base station. This system may execute a method for controlling unfavorably occurring interference due to such different kinds of base stations. In the method, the femto base station sends a femtocell interference indication (FII) report to the resource allocation control unit when user equipment is connected to the femto base station. The FII report contains a request for the allocation of resources to avoid interference. Then the resource allocation control unit establishes a femto interference coordination (FIC) zone according to the received FII report. The FIC zone indicates a particular region used to define resources allocated to the femto base station. The resource allocation control unit may be the macro base station or a self-organizing network (SON) server. |
| US08626177B2 |
Method of implementing superposition coding for a forward link in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting at least one data stream using superposition coding (SPC) in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, a method includes receiving feedback information from at least two access terminals (ATs), assigning the at least two ATs as a first AT or a second AT based on the feedback information, wherein the first AT has a smaller path loss than that of the second AT, and the second AT has a larger path loss than that of the first AT, channel coding the at least one inputted data stream by a channel coding scheme, modulating the at least one data stream using layered modulation scheme, allocating wireless resources to symbols of the first AT and the second AT, and transmitting the symbols to at least one of the first AT and the second AT according to the allocated wireless resources. |
| US08626174B2 |
Call switching in packet-based communication networks
Call setup methods in a packet-based communication network are provided comprising receiving a call setup request from a call request entity; in response to receiving the call setup request, obtaining a first network address of a first network entity and forwarding the first network address to the call request entity; obtaining a second network address of the call request entity and forwarding the second network address to the first network entity; handling a result code indicating whether a call communication between the call request entity and the first network entity can be established; and in case no communication can be established, obtaining a further network address of a further network entity, forwarding the further network address to the call request entity, and forwarding the second network address to the further network entity. |
| US08626171B2 |
Wireless communication terminal and method of controlling the same
It is judged whether a mobile node 11 exists at a boundary A overlapped with a different sector of the base station for use in communication or at a boundary B overlapped with an area of another base station or at an area fringe C. In accordance with the application in use and the results thus judged, a handover is performed between base stations in a wireless communication system, or switching to the another wireless communication system is made, or simultaneous communication with the another wireless communication system is performed, or either the uplink or the downlink is switched to the another wireless communication system. |
| US08626167B2 |
Inter base station handover method, radio communication method, DRX control method, base station, and communication terminal
Disclosed is a DRX control method and system in which a source base station forwards Dormancy Context, which is information for controlling the activity level of a mobile station that performs inter base station handover, to a target base station and, immediately after the mobile station completes handover, the target base station performs DRX control of the mobile station using the Dormancy Context. |
| US08626166B2 |
Coordinated node b radio resource management measurements
The present invention relates to a subscription-based measurement concept where the detailed parameters for a certain measurement report are set by a measurement provider, i.e. a radio base station, instead of the measurement requester. For this purpose the measurement provider “publishes” a certain set of measurements that controller units for radio resource management (RRM) can subscribe to. According to the present invention parameters of measurements are defined in detail in the measuring entity, i.e. the target radio base station, as opposed to being defined by the requesting entity, i. e. the RRM controller. |
| US08626163B2 |
Mobile communication system
A mobile communication system including a mobile terminal, a base station carrying out radio communications with the mobile terminal, and an access management device managing access from the mobile terminal to the base station, which, when an access group including one or more mobile terminals and one or more base stations is registered with the access management device, grants a mobile terminal included in the access group permission to access a base station included in the access group. When a predetermined condition is satisfied after a mobile terminal subscribes to the access group and is granted permission to temporarily access the access group during an access permit period, and the access permit period expires, the mobile communication system excludes the mobile terminal for which the access permit period has expired from destinations to which a calling message is transmitted through a base station included in the access group. |
| US08626159B2 |
Mobile device and location registration method
Provided are a mobile device and location registration method that, even when packet communications are being restricted and the location cannot be registered, the location can be registered rapidly when the access restriction is released. The mobile device comprises a packet timing unit that times a predetermined time; a location registration unit that registers the location to the control server for packet communications; a timing control unit that, if control server for packet communications is under access restriction, controls the timing operations to be temporarily stopped; and a location registration control unit that controls the location registration unit to register the location to the control server for packet communications, and also controls the location registration unit to register the location to the control server for packet communications if the control server for packet communications has released the access restriction and if the timing control unit has stopped the timing operations of the packet timing unit. |
| US08626158B2 |
Method and system for providing users with intelligent services
A method and system for providing a subscriber with an intelligent service provides the subscriber of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) domain with special intelligent services of multiple intelligent platforms or convergent services. In the present invention an IP Multimedia Service Switching Function (IM-SSF) that supports an intelligent control protocol other than a Customized Application for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) Application Part (CAP) protocol is added into the IMS. The IM-SSF triggers the intelligent services through the protocol other than CAP to a Service Control Function (SCF) of corresponding intelligent platform according to obtained subscription information upon receipt of a session establish request related to a served subscriber; the subscription information can be pre-configured in the IM-SSF, or downloaded by the IM-SSF from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) of the subscriber. |
| US08626156B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for selective policy enhancement (PE) for high-usage roamers
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for modifying policy information associated with a roaming subscriber. The method includes receiving a first signaling message. The first signaling message includes a policy or quality of service (QoS) attribute associated with a roaming subscriber and originating from a home network of the roaming subscriber. The method also includes determining, using information associated with the roaming subscriber or a provider network, that the policy or QoS attribute should be modified and modifying the policy or QoS attribute for application in the provider network. |
| US08626152B2 |
Flexible telematics system and method for providing telematics to a vehicle
A method for providing telematics to a vehicle includes the steps of communicatively connecting a user-removable telematics component to an integrated communication device of the vehicle, the integrated communication device having a memory holding a list uniquely identifying at least one mobile communication device selected from a currently paired mobile communication device, a previously paired mobile communication device, and a pre-defined mobile communication device, transmitting a request for information out from the telematics component utilizing a communications path between the data pump and the integrated communication device, receiving the request for information at an off-site telematics information provider, and channeling a response to the request for information from the off-site telematics information provider automatically through the mobile communication device. |
| US08626151B2 |
Proactive latency-based end-to-end technology survey and fallback for mobile telephony
A system and methodology that facilitates dynamically determining an end-to-end response of a network prior to the selection of a technology for an application, is provided. Moreover, a user equipment (UE) can perform a proactive latency-based end-to-end technology survey to select appropriate technologies for different applications based in part on application requirements, UE and network infrastructure capabilities, network load, concurrent uses, or other factors as determined by the service provider. The results of the survey can be compared with pre-established criteria, as broadcast by the network operator, to determine a network that can be utilized to support an application at a particular location, or to determine whether fallback to another technology provides better quality and/or efficiency can be performed. |
| US08626143B2 |
Mobile device management through an offloading network
System(s) and method(s) are provided for management of content in a mobile device. Content can be firmware associated with mobile functionalities, or data a mobile can process. To effect a content update, a first network platform that serves a multimode mobile device through a first radio access network (RAN) can facilitate establishment of an end-to-end tunnel to the multimode through a second RAN associated with a second network platform; the first network platform can then push the content update to the multimode mobile through the second RAN. Typically the second RAN employs a distinct radiofrequency band than the first RAN; thus the content update is offloaded from traffic in the first wireless network. Content updates can be signaled through the first RAN and implemented upon end-to-end tunnel establishment to the first network platform through the second RAN. Moreover, said updates can be scheduled according to a network-configured subscriber update profile. |
| US08626142B2 |
System and method for performing a light weight, wireless activation of a mobile communication device
A method, mobile device and activation server for wirelessly activating a mobile communication device at an activation server sends an activation summary to the mobile communication device in response to receiving a request for activation. The activation summary provides notification of a number of services that can be activated on the mobile communication device. Responsive to receiving a selection of at least one of the services, the method downloads at least one of configuration information and routing information for the selected service to the mobile communication device. |
| US08626141B2 |
Method and apparatus for customizing a user interface menu
Methods and apparatus enable a mobile device to suggest available applications or features in which a user may be interested to the user based upon the user's past and current mobile device usage patterns. The mobile device may monitor the specific application/features used and their frequency of use. The mobile device may determine other available applications/features that the user may be interested in using based upon the frequency of use of applications or features and information which indicates a likelihood of user interest in one application or feature based upon usage of another application or feature. Applications or features determined to be potentially of interest to the user may be presented to the user in the form of suggestions to be added to the user interface menu so that the user can elect to accept or rejection the suggestion to modify the menu. |
| US08626140B2 |
Method for adapting radiofrequency signal spectrum
Method for adapting radiofrequency signal spectrum, particularly in TETRA communications systems. The invention proposes using over-the-air signaling for communications systems according to the TETRA standard, to configure the characteristics of the radiofrequency signal, with the advantage that there is no loss of performance in data transmission speed and no need to change the type of modulation. |
| US08626136B2 |
Architecture for user- and context-specific prefetching and caching of information on portable devices
Content management architecture for a portable wireless device. Caching and fetching techniques are provided to improve content handling for portable devices such as cellular telephones and portable computers. A search component automatically performs searches as a background process, and potentially desired content is received and cached by a content storing component to be available in the future when and if needed, mitigating latency associated with slow download speeds, refresh rates, and other system and/or network impediments. Content from background search results can be trickled into the device as part of the background process so as not to burden system resources for other processes. As part of memory management, aged and/or low priority or low interest content can be selectively removed or archived to increase available cache or memory space, as well as to maintain relevant content within the device. A presentation component facilitates presentation of the pre-stored content. |
| US08626135B1 |
Communication redirect via short-range communication for digital item retrieval
In general, techniques for using short range communication, such as near-field communication (NFC), to redirect the communication of a computing device to receive digital items selected at a kiosk may include receiving, by a computing device and from a kiosk computing device via a first communication pathway comprising short-range wireless communication, a device identifier associated with the kiosk computing device, wherein the kiosk computing device is operable to receive a selection of a digital item. The techniques may further include sending, by the computing device, a request for access to the digital item based at least in part on the device identifier associated with the kiosk computing device. The techniques may further include receiving, by the computing device via a second communication pathway, access to the digital item based at least in part on the device identifier. |
| US08626134B2 |
Method and system for passing information through a network during overload
A method is provided for passing information through a network during overload and subsequent actions to reduce congestion. An exemplary method includes receiving an origination request from a mobile device of a calling party, detecting an overload condition, transmitting a message request to a terminating network element associated with a called party in response to the origination request during the overload condition, receiving an acknowledgement of receipt of the message request, and denying the origination request. In this manner, high resource requests (e.g. a voice call) may be converted into lower resource requests (e.g. text or voicemail messages), or the resource request may be deferred to a more appropriate time. |
| US08626132B2 |
Digital device and method for providing additional service by using the same
A digital processing device capable of receiving an additional service is disclosed. In one aspect, a digital processing device includes i) an input unit, inputting a signal, ii) a subscriber identity unit, storing an identity code of a communication operator and generating a communication network access request message, iii) an additional service identity unit, storing an identity code of an additional service operator and generating an additional service request message and v) a control unit, generating a control signal allowing one of the subscriber identity unit and the additional service identity unit to be selectively driven. In accordance with at least one inventive embodiment, a user of the digital processing device can receive an additional service without his or her subscription to a specific communication operator and use various additional services in addition to the additional services provided by the subscribed communication operator. |
| US08626126B2 |
Selective generation of conversations from individually recorded communications
In one embodiment, a method includes recording a communication at a mobile device, wherein the recorded communication is a user's portion of a conversation between the user and at least one other participant, transmitting the recorded communication to a network device, transmitting a request for the conversation to the network device, and receiving the conversation generated from the recorded communication and at least one other recorded communication from the other participant. An apparatus is also disclosed. |
| US08626125B2 |
Apparatus and method for securing mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and a method for securing information are provided. The mobile terminal includes an application part to receive information related to an application; a determining unit to receive a command issued by the application and to determine whether the command or the application is authorized to access a system resource of the mobile terminal; and a blocking unit to block an execution of the command in response to a determination that the execution of the command is unauthorized or issued by the unauthorized application. The method includes receiving information related to an application; receiving a request for executing a command issued by the application; determining whether the requested command or the application is authorized to access a system resource of a mobile terminal; and blocking execution of the command in response to a determination that the execution of the command is unauthorized or issued by an unauthorized application. |
| US08626124B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing attributes among electronics devices
A method and system for notifying a security context to an electronic device for inter radio access technology mobility is provided. The method includes establishing the inter radio access technology mobility for the electronic device by a core network node. The method also includes determining a security context for the electronic device based on the establishing by the core network node. Further, the method includes transmitting an indication of the security context to the electronic device based on the determination. The system includes a core network node to determine the security context for the electronic device. The system also includes a source radio access network node to transmit an indication of the security context to the electronic device and the electronic device using the security context for the inter radio access technology mobility. |
| US08626123B2 |
System and method for securing a base station using SIM cards
Methods and systems are provided for securing integrated base stations, such as base station routers (BSRs), in which a SIM card is operatively coupled with a secured portion of a base station and a secure association is established therebetween to facilitate encryption key exchange between the secured portion of the base station and a core network. |
| US08626112B2 |
Multi-button emergency message generation
A wireless communications device and method for generating and communicating an emergency text message includes, in response to receiving a request initiated from one of a plurality of emergency message buttons configured to initiate communication of respective emergency messages related to different emergency categories, generating an emergency message related to the respective emergency category. The generated emergency message may be then be communicated over a communications network. |
| US08626107B2 |
System and method for managing communication of a moveable entity for energy conservation
A system and method for managing communication of a movable entity is provided. The system comprises a chargeable power source, at least one sensor unit which is connected with the movable entity, and a global positioning device which is powered by the chargeable power source and is connected with the movable entity, wherein the global positioning device is used to track moveable entity status in response to sensor data received from said at least one sensor unit, the global positioning device is configured to execute a power saving mode based on moveable entity status information. The system and method save electric energy consumption of a battery for the GPS device by the mode switching between a sleep mode and a work mode, and judgment on the predetermined event provided may help to prevent the machine from being stolen. |
| US08626101B2 |
Wireless electronic device with antenna cycling
A wireless electronic device may contain multiple antennas. Control circuitry in the wireless electronic device may adjust antenna switching circuitry so that the device repeatedly cycles through use of each of the antennas. In a device with first and second antennas, the device may repeatedly toggle between the first and second antennas. During each toggling cycle time period, the first antenna may transmit for a fraction of the time period and the second antenna may transmit for a fraction of the time period. The wireless device may control the average power emitted by each antenna by adjusting the fractions of time assigned to each antenna. By performing antenna toggling, the average transmit power produced by each antenna may be reduced while maintaining the average transmit power produced by the device at a desired level. |
| US08626099B2 |
Direct conversion receiver architecture
A direct downconversion receiver architecture having a DC loop to remove DC offset from the signal components, a digital variable gain amplifier (DVGA) to provide a range of gains, an automatic gain control (AGC) loop to provide gain control for the DVGA and RF/analog circuitry, and a serial bus interface (SBI) unit to provide controls for the RF/analog circuitry via a serial bus. The DVGA may be advantageously designed and located as described herein. The operating mode of the VGA loop may be selected based on the operating mode of the DC loop, since these two loops interact with one another. The duration of time the DC loop is operated in an acquisition mode may be selected to be inversely proportional to the DC loop bandwidth in the acquisition mode. The controls for some or all of the RF/analog circuitry may be provided via the serial bus. |
| US08626094B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensating code channel power in a transmitter
It has now been found that in some transmitter implementations which transmit multiple code channels, for example CDMA transmitters, the observed power for each code channel at the output relative to the other code channels is dependent upon the total transmit power due to non-linearities in the transmitter. Methods and apparatus are provided which use pre-set digital gains or digital gain adjustments to compensate for the non-linearities as a function of total transmit power such that at the output, the desired relative powers are observed. |
| US08626092B2 |
Low variation current multiplier
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a current multiplier that can generate an output current with high linearity and/or high temperature compensation. Such current multipliers can be implemented by complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit elements. In one embodiment, the current multiplier can include a current divider and a core current multiplier. The current divider can generate a divided current by dividing an input current by an adjustable division ratio. The division ratio can be adjusted, for example, based on a comparison of the input current with a reference current. The core current multiplier can generate the output current based on multiplying the divided current and a different current. According to certain embodiments, the output current can be maintained within a predetermined range as the input current to the current divider varies within a relatively wide range. |
| US08626091B2 |
Envelope tracking with variable compression
Radio frequency (RF) transmitter circuitry, which includes an envelope tracking power supply and an RF power amplifier (PA), is disclosed. The RF PA operates in either a first operating mode or a second operating mode, such that selection of the operating mode is based on compression tolerance criteria. During the first operating mode, the RF PA receives and amplifies an RF input signal using a first compression level. During the second operating mode, the RF PA receives and amplifies the RF input signal using a second compression level, which is greater than the first compression level. The envelope tracking power supply provides an envelope power supply signal to the RF PA. The envelope power supply signal provides power for amplification. |
| US08626089B2 |
Adaptive predistorter coupled to a nonlinear element
In one embodiment, a circuit comprises an adaptive predistorter and a nonlinear element coupled to an output of the predistorter. The predistorter is operative to predistort an input signal according to predistortion control parameters at a given sampling rate. The circuit further comprises an identification unit and a translation unit. The identification unit identifies nonlinearity parameters representing the nonlinearity of the nonlinear element by sampling the output of the nonlinear element at an identification sampling rate lower than twice a bandwidth at the output of the nonlinear element. The translation unit translates the identified nonlinearity parameters into the predistortion control parameters. Other systems and methods are disclosed. |
| US08626087B2 |
Wire harness for field devices used in a hazardous locations
A wireless process communication adapter includes a housing having a first end and a second end. A field device coupling is attached to one of the first and second ends. Adapter circuitry is disposed within the housing and the adapter circuitry is coupled to a plurality of wires that pass through the field device coupling. A wire retainer is engaged upon the plurality of wires to maintain the wires in a fixed position. An encapsulation material encapsulates the adapter circuitry, the wire retainer, and the plurality of wires. |
| US08626083B2 |
Method and apparatus for tuning a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a tuning system for a communication device having an antenna where the tuning system includes at least one first tunable element connected with at least one radiating element of the antenna for tuning the antenna where the adjusting of the at least one first tunable element is based on a closed loop process, and a matching network having at least one second tunable element coupled at a feed point of the antenna for tuning the matching network based on an operational parameter of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08626081B2 |
Method and arrangements for signaling control information in a communication system
The invention relates to devices and methods for signalling control information associated with transmission of data over a wireless channel. A second communication device receives (S2) data from a first communication device, wherein the data comprises an indication of recommended precoders and a recommendation of a first transmission rank to possibly use during transmission. The second communication device determines (S4) a second transmission rank to use for transmitting data, and transmits (S6) a confirmation message to the first communication device. The confirmation message comprises a confirmation that transmission of data from the second communication device is using at least parts of each recommended precoder associated with a frequency resource that falls within the transmission of data and an indicator of the second transmission rank to use. |
| US08626080B2 |
Bidirectional iterative beam forming
Bidirectional iterative beam forming techniques are described. An apparatus may include a wireless device having an antenna control module operative to initiate beam formation operations using an iterative training scheme to form a pair of communications channels for a wireless network, the antenna control module to communicate training signals and feedback information with a peer device via the transceiver and phased antenna array using partially or fully formed high rate channels, and iteratively determine antenna-array weight vectors for a directional transmit beam pattern for the phased antenna array using feedback information from the peer device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08626075B2 |
Changing parameters in a telecommunications system
A network includes a network core and a node that operates in accordance with a parameter value and is operable to record performance data during a repeating measurement period. The network includes OSS for instructing the node to change the parameter value. The node includes a processor which implements the change in parameter value always at the same predetermined point in the repeating measurement period, preferably at the beginning of the period. In this way, changes to the parameter value are synchronized with the repeating measurement period. It is therefore straightforward to determine how a change in the parameter value affects the performance data as the performance data gathered during a particular measurement period will have been collected while the parameter had a particular value. The processor may automatically change the parameter repeatedly between a first value and a second value during successive measurement periods. |
| US08626072B2 |
Intercell interference mitigation
Methods and apparatus are described for mitigating intercell interference in wireless communication systems utilizing substantially the same operating frequency band across multiple neighboring coverage areas. The operating frequency band may be shared across multiple neighboring or otherwise adjacent cells, such as in a frequency reuse one configuration. The wireless communication system can synchronize one or more resource allocation regions or zones across the multiple base stations, and can coordinate a permutation type within each resource allocation zone. The base stations can coordinate a pilot configuration in each of a plurality of coordinated resource allocation regions. Subscriber stations can be assigned resources in a coordinated resource allocation region based on interference levels. A subscriber station can determine a channel estimate for each of multiple base stations in the coordinated resource allocation region to mitigate interference. |
| US08626071B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference mitigation in heterogeneous network using beamforming
A method and apparatus provide interference mitigation in a heterogeneous network using beamforming. In the method, a macro Mobile Station (MS) receives a broadcast message including a Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) set restricted in a macro cell, measures a Signal-to-Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) and a channel power from an adjacent femto Base Station (BS) and calculates a PMI, determines whether to request a dedicated frequency resource for a macro MS on the basis of the measured SINR, the channel power from the adjacent femto BS, and the calculated PMI, and requests the dedicated frequency resource for the macro MS from a macro BS. |
| US08626067B2 |
System and methods for enhancing coexistence efficiency for multi-radio terminals
A method of scheduling transmitting and receiving communication slots for co-located radio devices is provided. A Bluetooth (BT) device first synchronizes its communication time slots with a co-located radio module, and then obtains the traffic pattern of the co-located radio module. Based on the traffic pattern, the BT device selectively skips one or more TX or RX time slots to avoid data transmission or reception in certain time slots and thereby reducing interference with the co-located radio module. In addition, the BT device generates a co-located coexistence (CLC) bitmap and transmits the CLC bitmap to its peer BT device such that the peer BT device can also skip data transmission or reception in certain time slots affected by the co-located radio module. The skipped time slots are disabled for TX or RX operation to prevent interference and to achieve more energy saving. |
| US08626066B2 |
Near field communication device
A near field communication device being operable in a first operating state and a second operating state, the near field communication device comprising a communication unit adapted for communicating with an external device; and a control unit coupled to the communication unit; wherein the control unit is adapted for controlling the communication unit to be presented to the external device to be in the first operating state and supporting the second operating state, and wherein the control unit is adapted for switching the communication unit from the first operating state to the second operating state upon receipt of a configuration signal received from the external device. |
| US08626065B2 |
Near-field communication (NFC) system providing plug-in device connection assistance features and related methods
A near-field communication (NFC) system may include a plug-in device(s) including a first NFC sensor, and a mobile wireless communications device. The mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing defining a plug-in device port(s), a light source(s) carried by the portable housing and positioned to illuminate the plug-in device port(s), an optical sensor carried by the portable housing configured to determine an ambient light level, and a second NFC sensor carried by the portable housing and configured to establish NFC communications with the first NFC sensor when in close proximity therewith. A controller may be carried by the portable housing and coupled to the light source(s), the optical sensor, and the second NFC sensor and configured to cause the light source(s) to illuminate the plug-in device port(s) based upon NFC communications between the first and second NFC sensors and the ambient light level. |
| US08626061B2 |
Isolation distance calculation method and apparatus for avoidance of interference signal in wireless communication repeater system
Provided is a method and apparatus for calculating an isolation distance that is a distance where an interference phenomenon does not occur between wireless repeater apparatuses. The isolation distance calculating apparatus may include: an interference signal calculator to calculate a magnitude of an interference signal included in a particular band by detecting a signal of the particular band extracted from a received radio signal of a wireless repeater apparatus; and an isolation distance calculator to calculate a necessary isolation distance for cancelling interference between the wireless repeater apparatus and another wireless repeater apparatus, based on a predetermined allowable interference signal level and the magnitude of the interference signal. |
| US08626052B2 |
Image forming apparatus including a reversing feeding unit
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a reverse-feeding unit. The reverse-feeding unit includes a frame which forms a first feeding path along which a printing medium is fed and a second feeding path which is branched off from the first feeding path, a guide plate which rotates between a first position in which the printing medium fed along the first feeding path is supported and a second position in which the supported printing medium is directed towards the second feeding path, and a plate driving unit which comprises an actuator which actuates the guide plate, a driving source which drives the actuator, and an electronic clutch which selectively transmits a driving force of the driving source to the actuator. |
| US08626051B2 |
Image forming apparatus with conveying portions having a loop detector with contact portion for contacting the sheet
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus including an upstream conveying portion, a downstream conveying portion, and a loop detector, wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a driving portion which moves the contact portion to a projecting position where the sheet conveying path is in contact with a conveyed sheet and to a retracted position where the sheet conveying path is not in contact with the conveyed sheet, and a controlling portion which controls the driving portion such that the contact portion is moved from the projecting position to the retracted position before a tip end of a sheet which enters the sheet conveying path from the upstream conveying portion reaches the contact portion. |
| US08626049B2 |
Lubricant application device and image forming apparatus
In the lubricant application device, including a brush roller which rotates while contacting an image carrying member and a solid lubricant, shaves the solid lubricant and applies the shaved solid lubricant onto the image carrying member, and a flicker which abuts against the brush roller and knocks off a developer adhering to the brush roller through a rotation of the brush roller, the brush roller has looped bristles implanted in a state of endless loop, and the flicker has a contact surface which forms an acute angle. |
| US08626048B2 |
Endless fixing belt having base, heat generation, electrode, elastic, and parting layers, and fixing apparatus having such endless fixing belt
An image heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material, comprising a base layer; a heat generation layer, provided on the base layer, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power; an electrode layer, provided outside of the heat generation layer with respect to a widthwise direction and having an electric resistance which is smaller than that of the heat generation layer, for supplying the electric power to heat generation layer; an elastic layer provided on the electrode layer and having a length longer than that of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction; and a parting layer provided on the elastic layer and having a length which is substantially equal to the length of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction. |
| US08626045B2 |
Fixing device for fixing toner image on recording medium and image forming apparatus including the same
A fixing device fixes a toner image on a recording medium. In the fixing device, a heating unit heats a recording medium. A pressing unit presses a recording medium in pressure contact with the heating unit. The heating unit and the pressing unit are accommodated in a casing. A heat reflecting unit is provided between the heating unit and the casing. An intermediate member is provided between the heating unit and the heat reflecting unit. |
| US08626042B2 |
Detecting apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
Provided is a detecting apparatus including an illumination optical system for emitting an image bearing member with a light beam emitted from a light source unit, an imaging optical system including an imaging optical element for imaging an image on the surface of the image bearing member, a light receiving unit for detecting the image on the image bearing member which has been imaged by the imaging optical system, and a calculation unit for detecting image information on the image on the image bearing member from a detection signal received from the light receiving unit. In the detecting apparatus, at least one optical plane of the imaging optical element is configured to refract an imaging system principal ray after passing therethrough in a direction of farther becoming apart from the light source unit than the imaging system principal ray before passing through the optical plane. |
| US08626031B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a developing device; and a movable member for rotationally moving the developing device. The movable member includes a rotation shaft member, a first member which is engaged with the rotation shaft member at one end portion, a second member which is engaged with the rotation shaft member at the other end portion, a first guide portion, and a second guide portion. The apparatus further includes a first swingable supporting member for rotatably supporting the movable member at the one end portion; a second swingable supporting member for rotatably supporting the movable member at the other end portion; an urging portion for urging the movable member toward the image bearing member; a first preventing member for preventing movement of the first member; and a second preventing member for preventing movement of the second member. |
| US08626023B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus includes a separating member, which is provided between a light emitting device and a drum bearing portion, for supporting the light emitting device to a separated position when the cartridge is shipped while being packed together, the separating member being provided to a regulating member for regulating a supply of a developer at a shipping mode. With this structure, when the image forming apparatus is shipped while the cartridge is packed together, the light emitting device as an exposure apparatus and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is separated from each other, whereby the reliability during the transportation while packing the cartridge together may be enhanced. |
| US08626022B2 |
Image forming apparatus having overturning prevention parts
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming apparatus main body; an image forming part provided in the image forming apparatus main body, to form an image on a recording medium; an operation part used for operation of the image forming apparatus; a support part provided on a bottom surface of the image forming apparatus main body and in contact with a mounting surface for the image forming apparatus main body to support the image forming apparatus main body; and a convex part provided on the bottom surface, the convex part being provided on the operation part side from the support part, and forming a clearance between the convex part and the mounting surface. |
| US08626021B2 |
Developer supply device having side seal members to prevent toner leakage, and image forming apparatus having the same
A developer supply device is provided, which includes side seal members each of which is disposed to extend across a casing-side facing portion of a casing and a supporting-member-side facing portion of a board supporting member, the casing-side facing portion and the supporting-member-side facing portion facing one of both ends of a developer carrying surface in a first direction, the developer carrying surface being a cylindrical circumferential surface of a roller main body which surface is formed parallel to the first direction to carry development agent thereon. Each of the side seal member is configured to slide in contact with one of both ends of the developer carrying surface in the first direction while filling in a gap between the casing and one of both ends of the roller main body in the first direction. |
| US08626019B2 |
Power switch structure and image forming apparatus including same
A power switch structure for an apparatus, including a recess provided in a side surface of the apparatus and having a distal sloped face facing a front side of the apparatus and a proximal sloped face surface, and a power switch, inclined with respect to the side surface of the apparatus, positioned on the distal sloped face surface to face the front side of the apparatus. |
| US08626018B2 |
Fixing unit and image forming apparatus
A fixing unit includes a fixing member to fuse a toner image on a recording medium on the recording medium; a pressure member to press against the fixing member to define a first nip between the fixing member and the pressure member through which the recording medium is transported; a shifting unit to move the pressure member relative to the fixing member to increase or decrease a pressure of the first nip; a curling correction unit disposed downstream from the first nip in a transport direction of the recording medium that imparts a second curling direction to the recording medium; and a variable setting unit operatively connected to the curling correction unit to variably set an amount of the second curling direction to the recording medium by the curling correction unit depending on the first nip pressure increased or decreased by the shifting unit. |
| US08626016B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A charge bias causing the surface potential of a photosensitive drum to be lower than that in image formation is applied to a charge roller during a period in which the stop position of a rotary is moved from an unknown state to a home position to cause a developing bias to be applied to a developing roller to be smaller than that in the image formation. |
| US08626012B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes a toner image forming device that forms a toner image by using at least one of a plurality of toners that include a color toner and a first transparent toner; an intermediate transfer body to which the toner image is transferred; a second transfer unit that transfers the toner image to a recording medium; and a controller that acquires characteristic information that represents a characteristic of in-plane resistance variation of a currently-used recording medium before the toner image forming device forms the toner image, and if the characteristic information indicates that the in-plane resistance variation of the currently-used recording medium is larger than a predetermined value, controls the toner image forming device so that the toner image forming device forms a transparent toner image in such a way that a color toner image is superimposed on the transparent toner image on the intermediate transfer body. |
| US08626011B2 |
Image forming apparatus that changes AC voltage duty ratio
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image bearing member for bearing a toner image; a transfer member constituting a transfer portion for transferring the toner image formed on the image bearing member onto a recording material; a voltage source for applying, to the transfer member, a voltage in the form of superimposed DC voltage and AC voltage; a controller for controlling the voltage source such that a duty ratio of the AC voltage is changed in accordance with a kind of the recording material; and an executing portion for executing an operation in an image forming mode in which the toner image is transferred from the image bearing member onto the recording material with the duty ratio controlled by the controller. |
| US08626008B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus with removed developer accommodating container for receiving developer cleaned from an image bearing member
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes an image bearing member for bearing a developer image and a cartridge that contains a developer that has a developing roller. A cleaning member is provided for removing developer remaining on the surface of the image bearing member, and a removed-developer accommodating container is provided for accommodating the developer removed by the cleaning member. |
| US08626002B2 |
Method and system for optoelectronic receivers for uncoded data
A method and system for optoelectronic receivers for uncoded data are disclosed and may include amplifying received electrical signals in a signal amplifier comprising differential gain stages with signal detectors coupled to the outputs. First and second output voltages may be tracked and held utilizing the signal detectors. A difference between the tracked and held value may be amplified in a feedback path of the gain stage, which enables the dynamic configuration of a decision level. The received electrical signals may be generated from an optical signal by a PIN detector, an avalanche photodiode, or a phototransistor. The electrical signal may be received from a read channel. The feedback path may comprise digital circuitry, including an A/D converter, a state machine, and a D/A converter. The detectors may comprise envelope detectors utilized to detect maximum or minimum voltages. The signal amplifier may be integrated in a photonically-enabled CMOS chip. |
| US08625999B2 |
Modulator for frequency-shift keying of optical signals
Described are an FSK modulator and a method for large-alphabet FSK modulation. The FSK modulator and the method are based on filtering of a multi-tone optical source such as a mode-locked laser which provides a comb distribution of tones. A frequency-selective component selects for transmission a subset of the tones. In various embodiments the frequency-selective component is a Mach-Zehnder interferometer filter or a microring resonator filter. A second frequency-selective component selects a subset of the tones from the comb distribution provided by the first frequency-selective component. Still more frequency-selective components can be used according to the number of tones supplied by the multi-tone optical source to the FSK modulator. The optical signal exiting the last frequency-selective component includes only a single tone which corresponds to the symbol to be transmitted. |
| US08625998B2 |
Traffic driven variable bandwidth optical transmission
Link bandwidth is varied based on the subscriber traffic load. Varying the link bandwidth has the effect of varying the actual noise margin of the link (in an inverse elation), so that the noise margin will vary inversely with the traffic load. A beneficial result is that, because the noise margin is increased during “off-peak” traffic periods, rapidly varying and burst impairments can be absorbed without causing data loss. In effect, the respective probability distributions of error bursts and traffic load are separated. Data loss only becomes a significant risk when peaks in both distributions coincide. However, the probability of that event occurring is comparatively low. This enables a lower noise margin allocation during design of the link, which dramatically reduces the link cost. |
| US08625995B2 |
Signal power based routing in WDM all-optical networks
In a Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) all-optical network having optical nodes linked together by optical fibers carrying communication channels of separate wave-lengths, a method is applied in order to extend the size of the all-optical network. According to the method, a model is set up for the all-optical network in which a wavelength graph containing vertices and edges represents the physical effects of the nodes and links. After identifying a set of demand, an objective function is calculated expressing the total routing cost and total signal power demand of the channels. The minimum of the objective function returns the signal powers for each channel to be tuned. |
| US08625994B2 |
Directionless reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer systems and methods
The present invention provides a directionless reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) system. The present invention provides a scalable all-optical switching element that includes a combination of 1×N wavelength selective switches (WSS), 1×N splitters/combiners, optical amplifiers, and tunable filters to provide a fully non-blocking solution which can be deployed in a scalable manner. The 1×N splitters are configured to split multiples copies of a plurality of drop wavelengths which can be amplified and sent to a tunable filter which selects out a particular wavelength for drop. The 1×N combiners are configured to combine multiple add wavelengths for egress transmission. |
| US08625992B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling multiple optical line termination devices to share a feeder fiber
A method and apparatus for enabling multiple optical line termination (OLT) devices to share a feeder fiber are disclosed. For example, the optical network comprises a plurality of optical line termination (OLT) devices, where each OLT device having a transceiver for sending and receiving optical signals. The optical network further comprises a wave division multiplexer (WDM) combiner, coupled to the plurality of OLT devices, for combining optical signals received from the plurality of OLT devices. The optical network further comprises an optical extender box comprising at least one hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier, wherein the optical extender box is coupled to the WDM combiner via a first standard single mode fiber section. Finally, the optical network further comprises at least one optical splitter coupled to the optical extender box via a second standard single mode fiber section. |
| US08625989B2 |
Multi-laser transmitter optical subassemblies for optoelectronic modules
Multi-laser transmitter optical subassemblies (TOSAs) for optoelectronic modules. In one example embodiment, a multi-laser TOSA includes first and second lasers configured to generate first and second optical signals, respectively, a polarization beam combiner (PBC), first and second collimating lenses positioned between the first and second lasers, respectively, and the PBC, a half waveplate positioned between the first laser and the PBC, and a focusing lens. The half waveplate is configured to rotate the polarization of the first optical signal. The PBC is configured to combine the first and second optical signals and transmit the combined first and second optical signals toward the focusing lens. |
| US08625988B2 |
Hybrid switch for optical networks
An optical switch and switching system includes a large scale switching device with a first input, a second input, a first output, and a second output. A small scale switching device includes a third input, a fourth input, and a third output, wherein the third input of the small scale switching device is coupled to the first output of the large scale switching device and the fourth input of the small scale switching device is coupled to the second output of the large scale switching device. A controller establishes a cross connect in the large scale switching device between the second input and the second output. The small scale switching device switches from the third input to the forth input upon establishment of the cross connect in the large scale switching device. |
| US08625984B2 |
Transmission device, control device, and method of detecting erroneous connection of signal line
A transmission device includes a transponder including an oscillator configured to oscillate a local optical laser, a wavelength controller configured to control an oscillation wavelength of the local optical laser to receive desired input signal light, and a coherent receiver configured to combine and detect the local optical laser and input signal light. A controller is configured to control the oscillation wavelength using a wavelength of the input signal light detected by the coherent receiver, to determine an erroneous connection of a signal line related to the input signal light, when the wavelength of the input signal light is not an expected wavelength. |
| US08625977B2 |
Fragrance emitting apparatus for use with USB port
A fragrance emitting apparatus includes a casing having an interior region, a USB connector attached to the casing and configured for connection to a USB port, and a heating element positioned in the interior region of the casing and electrically connected to the USB connector. The heating element generates heat when the USB connector is connected to a USB port. The fragrance emitting apparatus includes a fragrance cartridge slidably and removably attached to the casing. The fragrance cartridge has a fragrance member that provides a fragrance, scent or aroma when the fragrance member is heated. The fragrance member is positioned near the heating element when the fragrance cartridge is slidably attached to the casing. |
| US08625974B1 |
Obscuring advertisements during trick mode operation
Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to obscure advertisements during trick mode operations. In some implementations, the trick mode stream can be selected so as to not include advertisement frames within the trick mode stream. Upon resuming normal operation, the advertisements can be included within the normal playback stream. |
| US08625973B2 |
Method and apparatus for operating a video system
A method for operating a video system to generate and store encoded video comprising a plurality of key frames and a plurality of delta frames is provided. The method includes capturing video data comprising a plurality of frames of a scene, and selecting a fundamental view of at least a portion of the scene contained in the plurality of frames. The method also includes generating the plurality of key frames from a first subset of the plurality of frames and the fundamental view of at least the portion of the scene, generating the plurality of delta frames from a second subset of the plurality of frames and the plurality of key frames, and transferring the encoded video for delivery to storage. |
| US08625972B2 |
Recording system, transmission apparatus, recording apparatus, recording control method, and recording medium
A recording system includes a transmission apparatus and a recording apparatus. The transmission apparatus includes a storage unit that stores content data, a generating unit that generates recording destination information, and a transmission control unit that transmits the recording destination information and the content data. The recording apparatus includes a first recording unit that records content data, a second recording unit that records content data at a lower recording speed, and a recording control unit that controls the first and second recording units. The transmission control unit continuously transmits a plurality of pieces of recording destination information and content data. The recording control unit records, when the recording destination is a recording medium, the content data and the recording destination information in the first recording unit, and records the content data on the recording medium based on the recording destination information. |
| US08625965B2 |
Digital cinema management device and digital cinema management method
A digital cinema management device includes a control unit that manages schedules of contents exhibited by playback devices and controls a representation of a management window for performing the schedule management, in which the control unit determines an urgent level in accordance with the number of days left until an exhibition day when the requirements for exhibiting contents with the playback devices in accordance with an exhibition schedule are not satisfied and switches the properties of the representation on the management window in accordance with the determined urgent level. |
| US08625963B2 |
Video reproduction limiting method and video reproducing apparatus
A video player for limiting the view by a viewer not satisfying the view allowance condition allowing a young person to view a specific video. When a limited video viewing of which by a viewer not satisfying a view allowance condition is limited by limiting the broadcast time zone, e.g., by limiting the broadcast time zone to the midnight of when the young people are asleep is recorded, the video player inhibits reproduction of the limited video in a time zone other than the time zone from the recording start time of the limited video to a predetermined time. Since the limited video can be reproduced only in the time zone from the originally broadcast time to a predetermined time, any viewer not satisfying the view allowance condition is prevented from viewing a limited video. |
| US08625962B2 |
Method and apparatus for reproducing content data, non-transitory computer-readable medium for causing the apparatus to carry out the method, and non-transitory content recording medium for causing the apparatus to carry out the method
Content reproducing apparatus includes a synchronization control section that transmits synchronization control signals including information specifying a program to a program executing section which generates bitmap data of an image to be overlaid with content data and stores the bitmap data in a plurality of buffer memories. The synchronization control section also synchronizes reproduction of content data with (i) generation of bitmap data in the program executing section, and (ii) output of stored bitmap data by an output control section on the basis of respective first and second timing information indicative of first and second time points in a time period during which content data is reproduced. A method for reproducing content utilizing the content reproducing apparatus, a non-transitory content recording medium for causing the apparatus to carry out the method, and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing a control program for causing the content reproducing apparatus to practice the method also are provided. |
| US08625957B2 |
Reproduction apparatus, display method thereof, display program thereof, display apparatus, and display method
A reproduction apparatus is disclosed. A display section displays a screen. A reproduction section reproduces a video signal recorded on a record medium. A display control section selects one of three display screens. A first display screen displays a picture corresponding to an externally input video signal or a video signal that is reproduced by the reproduction section and information about the video signal in different areas. A second display screen displays setup states of a plurality of keys as a key set that are capable of selecting a plurality of functions, and a picture corresponding to an externally input video signal or corresponding to a video signal that is reproduced by the reproduction section in different areas. A third display screen displays only a picture corresponding to an externally input video signal or corresponding to a video signal that is reproduced by the reproduction section. |
| US08625954B2 |
Transmission system, recording apparatus, transmission method, recording method and program
A transmission system including a first recording apparatus and a second recording apparatus connected to each other through a network is disclosed. The first recording apparatus includes a recording means for recording an AV stream, a generating means for analyzing picture types of respective pictures and generating trick play information, and a transmission means for transmitting the AV stream to the second recording apparatus with the time information. The second recording apparatus includes a receiving means for receiving the AV stream and the time information, and a recording control means for recording the AV stream on a predetermined recording medium as well as recording trick play information including recording positions of I-pictures included in the AV stream on the predetermined recording medium and time information indicating the time of respective I-pictures on the AV stream, which is generated based on the time information, on the predetermined recording medium. |
| US08625953B2 |
Optical fiber ribbon holding member, optical fiber ribbon holding method, optical fiber ribbon bundle and holding member fixture
An optical fiber ribbon holding member capable of readjusting a position of an optical fiber ribbon without requiring a heating operation is provided. A holding member main body that has a U-shaped cross section and a space to which a plurality of optical fiber ribbons can be accommodate in a laminated state, and a lid body an opening surface of which has a reverse U-shaped cross section are employed. A latch structure is formed on wall portions of a lid body and a holding member main body, and engages to each other when the lid body covers the holding member main body. Heating operation is not required, and the optical fiber ribbons are held by only a simple operation of covering the lid body, so that the operation of holding the optical fiber ribbons is easily performed and readjustment of the position of the optical fiber ribbons can be performed. |
| US08625950B2 |
Rotary locking apparatus for fiber optic equipment trays and related methods
A rotary locking apparatus for locking and unlocking a fiber optic equipment tray and related methods are disclosed. The rotary locking apparatus may be a torsional rotary locking apparatus. The torsional rotary locking apparatus includes a rod having at least one protrusion and a torsion spring attached to the rod. The torsion spring may also be attached to a tray mount on the fiber optic equipment tray. The rod can be rotatably actuated such that the at least one protrusion selectively engages or disengages one or more of a plurality of slots in a tray guide to allow the fiber optic equipment tray to move from a closed to an open position. The torsion spring may be configured to lock the fiber optic equipment tray in either the open or the closed position when the at least one protrusion engages one of the plurality of slots in the tray guide. |
| US08625948B2 |
Ti: sapphire crystal fiber, manufacturing method thereof, and wide band light source using the same
The present invention relates to a crystal fiber, and more particularly to a Ti: sapphire crystal fiber, a manufacturing method thereof, and a wide band light source with the same. The Ti: sapphire single crystal is grown by means of laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) method into a crystal fiber of a predetermined diameter. The crystal fiber is enclosed by a glass capillary and is grown into a single cladding crystal fiber. The wide band light source comprises: a pumping source for providing a pumping light; a single cladding Ti: sapphire crystal fiber for absorbing the pumping light and emitting the wide band light. |
| US08625945B1 |
Low-shrink reduced-diameter dry buffer tubes
Disclosed is a low-shrink buffer tube having a reduced diameter. The buffer tube provides adequate crush resistance and is suitable for deployments requiring mid-span access. |
| US08625941B1 |
Broadband reflective waveguide metal gratings and their formation
Devices having reflective grating structures and methods of fabricating the same are disclosed. A bottom clad layer is disposed above a substrate. A waveguide core layer is disposed above the bottom clad layer. A top clad layer is disposed above the waveguide core layer. At least one metal grating structure is disposed adjacent to an interface between the waveguide core layer and one of the bottom clad layer and the top clad layer, where the at least one metal grating structure is configured to reflect at least a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation coupled into the waveguide core layer. |
| US08625939B1 |
Ultralow loss cavities and waveguides scattering loss cancellation
A waveguide system includes a first waveguide having surface roughness along at least one surface and a second waveguide substantially identical to the first waveguide and having substantially identical surface roughness along a corresponding side. The first and second waveguides are separated from each other by a predetermined distance and are configured to receive respective first and second light signals having antisymmetric modes. The predetermined distance between the first and second waveguide tends to cause cancellation of at least far-field polarization radiation emanating from the first and second waveguides and resulting from the surface roughness. |
| US08625936B1 |
Advanced modulation formats using optical modulators
A system, e.g. an optical modulator, includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of optical resonators. The optical waveguide is located along a surface of a planar substrate. The plurality of optical resonators is also located along the surface and coupled to the optical waveguide. Each of said optical resonators is configured to resonantly couple to the optical waveguide at a different optical frequency. |
| US08625935B2 |
Method and system for integrated power combiners
A system for integrated power combiners is disclosed and may include receiving optical signals in input optical waveguides and phase-modulating the signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, where the first optical coupler may generate output signals having substantially equal optical powers. Output signals of the first optical coupler may be phase-modulated to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, which may generate an output signal having an optical power of essentially zero and a second output signal having a maximized optical power. Optical signals received by the input optical waveguides may be generated utilizing a polarization-splitting grating coupler to enable polarization-insensitive combining of optical signals. Optical power may be monitored using optical detectors. The monitoring of optical power may be used to determine a desired phase offset between the signals received at the first optical coupler. |
| US08625934B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting displacement with sub-pixel accuracy
A method of detecting displacement with sub-pixel accuracy includes the steps of: capturing a first array image and a second array image; interpolating the first array image to form a reference image; interpolating the second array image to form a comparison image; comparing the reference image with the comparison image so as to obtain a displacement. The present invention also provides an apparatus for detecting displacement with sub-pixel accuracy. |
| US08625933B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for the same
An image processing apparatus can detect a predetermined target object from image data. The image processing apparatus includes an image zooming unit configured to generate a plurality of pieces of zoomed image data that are mutually different in magnification from the image data input by an image inputting unit, a detection unit configured to extract a partial area from the plurality of pieces of zoomed image data generated by the image zooming unit, and detect the predetermined target object by performing collation to determine whether the extracted partial area coincides with a detection pattern stored in a detected pattern storage unit, and a detected information storage unit configured to store detection information including magnification information of the zoomed image data from which the predetermined target object is detected by the detection unit. In a case where the detection information is stored in the detected information storage unit, the image zooming unit determines a magnification of the zoomed image data based on the detection information and generates at least one piece of zoomed image data whose total number is smaller compared to a case where the detection information is not stored. |
| US08625929B2 |
Image processing apparatus and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a first synthesizing unit that determines a first synthesis ratio of a plurality of images based on correlation amounts between a reference image and the plurality of images excluding the reference image and synthesizes a first image from a plurality of images based on the first synthesis ratio, a noise reducing unit that reduces noise of a plurality of images including the first image using a plurality of parameters and generates a plurality of noise-reduced first images including at least an image obtained by reducing noise of the first image, and a second synthesizing unit that determines a second synthesis ratio according to the first synthesis ratio and synthesizes a second image from the plurality of noise-reduced images based on the second synthesis ratio. |
| US08625927B2 |
Image processing using image web
A computer-implemented method for determining correspondence between images includes: receiving images in a computer system; performing iterations using the computer system to find respective mappings for each patch of pixels in the images to a patch in another one of the images such that the mappings have minimal patch distance, the iterations including at least: (i) evaluation of a nearby-pixel mapping in a current image, (ii) evaluation of a randomly selected mapping in the current image, and (iii) evaluation of a randomly selected mapping in another one of the images; and generating a mapping record that results from the iterations. |
| US08625923B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and image processing program
An image processing apparatus includes an edge emphasizing unit configured to form an edge emphasized image by emphasizing an edge of an input image, a range setting unit configured to set a pixel value range of a target pixel value of a target pixel of the input image based on a pixel value difference between the target pixel value and a neighboring pixel value of a neighboring pixel of the input image, and based on an edge emphasized neighboring pixel value of an edge emphasized neighboring pixel of the edge emphasized image, and a ringing control unit configured to restrict an edge emphasized target pixel value of an edge emphasized target pixel of the edge emphasized image in the pixel value range. The edge emphasized neighboring pixel corresponds to the neighboring pixel position of the input image. |
| US08625920B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a virtual microscope slide
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a virtual microscope slide. The method encompasses the construction of a data structure by digitally scanning a specimen and acquiring digital image data of a series of digitized adjacent image segments of the specimen. The image segments are useable to provide an overall magnified image of the specimen as well as higher magnification images of selected points on the specimen. The scanned digital image data can be stored and transferred over an Internet or intranet communication channel. A control program is provided for the data structure for viewing the overall magnified image and higher magnification images of selected points on the specimen. The control program allows for the selection of a point on the overall magnified image, and display from the stored digital image data a corresponding higher magnification image of the selected point. |
| US08625915B2 |
Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
Computer-readable medium having an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image of a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method for synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing the prediction image via motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image, using a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information included in the encoded current P frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded I frame bitstream; and wherein the rounding method information is included in a header section of the coded information of the currently decoded image. |
| US08625914B2 |
Image processing system, image processing method and program
There is provided an image processing system and an image processing method able to suppress block distortion in the case of decoding image data encoded in unit of blocks. A controlling unit selects a filtering content to be applied to the block image data based on the encoding types of the block image data to be filtered, and a filtering unit applies filtering to the block image data to be processed according to the filtering content selected by the controlling unit. |
| US08625912B2 |
JPEG 2000-like access using the JPM compound document file format
Compound document images are usually high resolution and high quality images that include color, graphics, and images in addition to text. The need for good compression is important for storage and transmission. Due to the large size, even compressed, it is often difficult to access document images quickly and efficiently for display on monitors. The nascent JPM file format enables the best compound document image compression in terms of rate-distortion. However, the access into a JPM file is limited by the access features of the coders used. JPEG 2000 is an image coding system that allows access to lower resolutions, progressive bit-rates, and regions of interest. |
| US08625911B2 |
Compression of 3D meshes with repeated patterns
3D models of the engineering class usually have a large number of connected components, with small numbers of large triangles, often with arbitrary connectivity. To enable compact storage and fast transmission of large 3D mesh models, an efficient compression strategy specially designed for 3D mesh models is provide. A method for encoding a 3D mesh model comprises determining and clustering repeating components, normalizing the components, wherein scaling factors are clustered and orientation axes are clustered, encoding the connected components using references to the clusters, and entropy encoding the connected components. |
| US08625910B2 |
Compression of image data
Image content may be compressed using a plurality of block truncation coding schemes resulting in a plurality of compressed versions of the image content. The plurality of compressed versions may be combined together into a single data structure. Prior to combining the plurality of compressed versions, each compressed version may be further compressed. In one embodiment, a data structure containing a plurality of block truncation encoded format versions of image content may be received. Rendering hardware-compatible block truncation encoded content from the plurality of compressed versions may be determined and provided to rendering hardware. The hardware may then decode the selected one block truncation encoded format for display. In one embodiment, each of the received plurality of block truncation encoded content versions may be further compressed. Before providing the selected version to the hardware for decoding, the further compression may be decompressed. |
| US08625909B2 |
Image encoding apparatus and method, image decoding apparatus and method, and program
An image encoding apparatus includes a band division unit configured to perform frequency band division for generating coefficient data of each of a plurality of frequency bands from image data of a block unit and, with regard to the frequency band division, to perform frequency band division of the coefficient data of the low-band component after rearranging a spatial position with respect to coefficient data of a low-band component obtained by frequency band division, and an encoding unit configured to perform encoding of the coefficient data of each of the plurality of frequency bands. |
| US08625907B2 |
Image clustering
A database of images may be accessed. A feature set may be computed for each image, respectively. Each feature set includes feature integers quantized from interest points of a corresponding image. An initial set of clusters of the feature sets is found based on min hashes of the feature sets. Given the clusters of feature sets, descriptors for each of the clusters are computed, respectively, by selecting feature integers from among the feature sets in a cluster. The clusters are then refined by comparing at least some of the feature sets with at least some of the cluster descriptors, and based on such comparing adding some of the feature sets to clusters whose feature descriptors have similarity to the feature sets. |
| US08625905B2 |
Classification of target objects in motion
A method for classifying objects in motion that includes providing, to a processor, feature data for one or more classes of objects to be classified, wherein the feature data is indexed by object class, orientation, and sensor. The method also includes providing, to the processor, one or more representative models for characterizing one or more orientation motion profiles for the one or more classes of objects in motion. The method also include acquiring, via a processor, feature data for a target object in motion from multiple sensors and/or for multiple times and trajectory of the target object in motion to classify the target object based on the feature data, the one or more orientation motion profiles and the trajectory of the target object in motion. |
| US08625903B2 |
Pose estimation
In a pose estimation for estimating the pose of an object of pose estimation with respect to a reference surface that serves as a reference for estimating a pose, a data processing device: extracts pose parameters from a binarized image; identifies a combination of pose parameters for which the number of cross surfaces of parameter surfaces that accord with surface parameter formulas, which are numerical formulas for expressing a reference surface, is a maximum; finds a slope weighting for each of cross pixels, which are pixels on each candidate surface and which are pixels within a prescribed range, that is identified based on the angles of the tangent plane at the cross pixel and based on planes formed by each of the axes of parameter space; and identifies the significant candidate surface for which a number, which is the sum of slope weightings, is a maximum, as the actual surface that is the reference surface that actually exists in the image. |
| US08625900B2 |
Video-based biometric signature data collection
Video-based handwriting input for biometric signature data collection is provided. The invention is implemented by finding all of the relative positions among all light points of light sources when all light sources mounted on a stylus are turned ON. An image is captured including effective strokes and digital data of pen pressure with a digital camera when a user writes on a writing surface with a stylus having a light source indicating x-y coordinates of strokes. The images are time-stamped. The stylus includes a micro-switch. When the stylus touches the writing surface, the micro-switch is turned on to let the light source indicating x-y coordinates of strokes turn ON and generate a light point. Effective stroke images and digital data of pen pressure are extracted by comparing the captured images with the light point on the stylus. |
| US08625892B2 |
Image processing apparatus and pixel interpolation method
A color separating unit separates a color image into plural color components to generate images of respective colors. A periodicity determining unit determines, for each of the color images, whether an image region including a target pixel whose pixel value is to be interpolated is a periodic region in which pixel values vary periodically. A first generating unit generates pixel values of the respective colors of a pixel using a first interpolation method. A second generating unit generates pixel values of the respective colors of a pixel using a second interpolation method. A control unit determines which one of the first and second generating units is to be used for generating pixel values of the respective colors of the target pixel. A pixel value combining unit combines candidate pixel values which are the pixel values of the respective colors of the target pixel to calculate a combined pixel value. |
| US08625889B2 |
System for food recognition method using portable devices having digital cameras
A method for automatic food recognition by using portable devices equipped with digital cameras. With this system, it is possible to identify a previously established food menu. To this purpose, a semi-automated method of segmentation is applied to delineate the regions in which each type of food in an image of a plate of food, captured by a user. Pattern recognition techniques are used in images, integrated into a system whose goal is to label each type of food contained in the photo of a plate of food. No type of preprocessing is performed to correct deficiencies in capturing the image, just using the auto-focus component present in the portable device to capture a clear image. |
| US08625886B2 |
Finding repeated structure for data extraction from document images
Methods and system employing the same for finding repeated structure for data extraction from document images are provided. A reference record and one or more reference fields thereof are identified from a document image. One or more candidate fields are generated for each of the reference fields. One or more best candidate records from the candidate fields are selected using a probabilistic model and an optimal record set is determined from the best candidate records. |
| US08625885B2 |
Methods and systems for data analysis and feature recognition
Systems and methods for automated pattern recognition and object detection. The method can be rapidly developed and improved using a minimal number of algorithms for the data content to fully discriminate details in the data, while reducing the need for human analysis. The system includes a data analysis system that recognizes patterns and detects objects in data without requiring adaptation of the system to a particular application, environment, or data content. The system evaluates the data in its native form independent of the form of presentation or the form of the post-processed data. |
| US08625884B2 |
Visualizing and updating learned event maps in surveillance systems
Techniques are disclosed for visually conveying an event map. The event map may represent information learned by a surveillance system. A request may be received to view the event map for a specified scene. The event map may be generated, including a background model of the specified scene and at least one cluster providing a statistical distribution of an event in the specified scene. Each statistical distribution may be derived from data streams generated from a sequence of video frames depicting the specified scene captured by a video camera. Each event may be observed to occur at a location in the specified scene corresponding to a location of the respective cluster in the event map. The event map may be configured to allow a user to view and/or modify properties associated with each cluster. For example, the user may label a cluster and set events matching the cluster to always (or never) generate an alert. |
| US08625879B2 |
Apparatus and method for mounting an inclined component with respect to a substrate
A mounting apparatus which mounts on a substrate, a component having an inclined surface which intersects with a contact surface of the substrate and the component, at an acute angle, includes a first light source having an optical path orthogonal to the contact surface, and a camera which picks up an image of the component and an image of the substrate, a second light source which irradiates light on the inclined surface, and a moving means which moves at least one of the component and the substrate relatively, in a plane parallel to the surface of contact, and reflected light which is irradiated from the second light source, and reflected by the inclined surface is incident on the image pickup section. |
| US08625875B2 |
Document imaging and processing system for performing blind balancing and display conditions
A document processing system comprising one or more document scanning devices that extract information from document images that uniquely identify a document. The system further comprises a central processor remotely connected to the document scanning devices. The central processor is configured to receive the document images and the extracted information from the document scanning devices and is further configured to execute a correction routine configured to adjust errors in the extracted information from the document image. |
| US08625872B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing method
In a medical image processing apparatus according to an embodiment, an image inverting unit generates a first inverted image obtained by inverting a first medical image in a left-and-right direction of an examined subject and generates a second inverted image obtained by inverting a second medical image that is different from the first medical image in the left-and-right direction of the examined subject. A displacement detecting unit detects a displacement between the first medical image and the first inverted image. A registration unit generates, based on the displacement detected by the displacement detecting unit, a corrected image obtained by correcting the second medical image or a corrected inverted image obtained by correcting the second inverted image. A difference image generating unit generates a difference image between the second inverted image and the corrected image or a difference image between the second medical image and the corrected inverted image. |
| US08625871B2 |
Method for processing magnetic resonance images and apparatus for processing magnetic resonance images
In an embodiment, a method is disclosed which includes: carrying out interpolation by using a slice away from a slab boundary, and substituting a slice having slab boundary artifacts existing in the slab boundary, to obtain an interpolated image; carrying out Fourier transform on the interpolated image to generate first K-space data; carrying out Fourier transform on the original image to generate second K-space data; merging the first K-space data with the second K-space data, wherein the weight of the first K-space data is greater than that of the second K-space data in the middle of the K-space, and the weight of the second K-space data is greater than that of the first K-space data at the edge of the K-space; and carrying out inverse Fourier transform on the merged K-space data. |
| US08625866B2 |
Image data management systems
A system for admitting medical imaging data comprising image data and associated metadata comprises input means arranged to received image data from at least one source, a memory having stored therein consistency data defining at least one consistency criterion, and processing means arranged to analyze the imaging data to determined whether it meets the consistency criterion, and if it does not to amend the imaging data so that it does. |
| US08625861B2 |
Fingerprint representation using gradient histograms
Techniques for generating a gradient characterization for a first fingerprint image are provided. One or more fingerprint feature points are selected from the first fingerprint image. A region is obtained for each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points. The region is a representation of an area proximate a given fingerprint feature point. Each of the obtained regions is divided into a plurality of sub-regions. A histogram is generated for each of the plurality of sub-regions. For each of the one or more selected fingerprint feature points, the one or more generated histograms are combined into a concatenated histogram. The concatenated histogram is used for identification purposes. |
| US08625858B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for pattern recognition
A pattern recognition method, applicable to input information including a plurality of regions, includes obtaining a certainty at which each region of the input information includes a pattern, selecting one or more regions having a relatively high-level certainty among the plurality of regions, and performing pattern detection processing on the selected region or regions. |
| US08625855B2 |
Three dimensional gesture recognition in vehicles
A method and system for performing gesture recognition of a vehicle occupant employing a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a computing system in a vehicle. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from the TOF sensor, performing clustering to locate one or more body part clusters of the vehicle occupant, calculating the location of the tip of the hand of the vehicle occupant, determining whether the hand has performed a dynamic or a static gesture, retrieving a command corresponding to one of the determined static or dynamic gestures, and executing the command. |
| US08625853B2 |
Parking lot information system using image technology for identifying available parking spaces
A parking lot information system comprising a digital camera for obtaining an image of parking spaces in the parking lot where each parking space is marked with a visual identifier, a computer coupled to the digital camera for identifying available parking spaces by recognizing the identifiers marking the available parking spaces, and a display coupled to the computer for displaying information on the available parking spaces. |
| US08625851B2 |
Measurement apparatus, measurement method, and feature identification apparatus
It is an object to measure a position of a feature around a road. An image memory unit stores images in which neighborhood of the road is captured. Further, a three-dimensional point cloud model memory unit 709 stores a point cloud showing three-dimensional coordinates obtained by laser measurement which is carried out simultaneously to the image-capturing of the images as a road surface shape model. Using an image point inputting unit 342, a pixel on a feature of a measurement target is specified by a user as a measurement image point. A neighborhood extracting unit 171 extracts a point which is located adjacent to the measurement image point and superimposed on the feature for the measurement target from the point cloud. A feature position calculating unit 174 outputs three-dimensional coordinates shown by the extracted point as three-dimensional coordinates of the feature for the measurement target. |
| US08625848B2 |
Adjusting display format in electronic device
A display format adjustment system includes a receiving module, a visual condition determination module, a display format determination module, and a display control module. The receiving module receives content for display in a first display format. The visual condition determination module determines a visual condition of a viewer in front of a display. The display format determination module determines a second display format based on the first display format and the visual condition of the viewer. The display control module displays the content in the second display format on the display. |
| US08625846B2 |
Object and movement detection
Motions, positions or configurations off, for example a human hand can be recognized by transmitting a plurality of transmit signals in respective time frames; receiving a plurality of receive signals; determining a plurality of channel impulse responses using the transmit and receive signals; defining a matrix of impulse responses, with impulse responses for adjacent time frames adjacent each other; and analyzing the matrix for patterns (22) corresponding to the motion position or configuration. |
| US08625845B2 |
Overlaying virtual content onto video stream of people within venue based on analysis of the people within the video stream
A video stream of people within a venue like a movie theater is received. The people within the video stream are analyzed. Based on analysis of the people within the video stream, virtual content is overlaid onto the video stream. The video stream, with the virtual content overlaid thereon, is then displayed onto a screen within the venue. As such, the virtual content and one or more of the people within the venue can appear to be interacting with one another as if the virtual content were real and present within the venue. |
| US08625840B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating a forecast weather image
Described are a method and an apparatus for generating a forecast weather image such as a forecast weather radar image. The method uses filters to approximate viscous alignment and to thereby determine displacement fields having meaningful structure. In various embodiments a power-law energy spectrum is utilized for deformations in the displacement field through the application of a set of Gabor filters. The Gabor filters are applied in a sequential manner to gradient error images and values of modes of motions corresponding to the Gabor filters are determined. The values are used to generate the displacement field which can then be applied to an existing weather image to generate a forecast weather image. |
| US08625838B2 |
Cardless financial transactions system
Users are enabled to conduct financial transactions in a secured manner without the need to use traditional financial instruments, such as credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, ATM cards, checks, cash, etc. In addition, user's identity is kept confidential in the financial transactions. |
| US08625833B1 |
Portable pressurization headphones
A portable headset for equalizing air pressure across the tympanic membrane of a user's ears. The device comprises two earpieces secured at opposing ends of a headband. The earpieces are cup-shaped housings containing a fan and a speaker. A mesh screen covers the open portion of the housing to protect the user's ear from contact with the fan blades. Additionally, a cushion is disposed along the perimeter of the housing to buffer the user's ear from the device. When the device is turned on, the fans rotate and air is pushed into or pulled out of the ear canals. Rate of rotation and direction of rotation are controlled via at least one pressurization selection dial. Thus the air pressure can be changed as a plane ascends or descends through the atmosphere. |
| US08625824B2 |
Flat speaker unit and speaker device therewith
A flat speaker unit is provided herein. The flat speaker unit includes a first porous electrode, a second porous electrode, and a vibrating membrane with an electret layer disposed there between. In one embodiment, a plurality of supporting members may be configured between the vibrating membrane and the first porous electrode, or between the vibrating membrane and the second porous electrode. In one embodiment, a flat speaker device is provided with at least two flat speaker unit stacked together. By electrically connecting two ends of a signal source respectively to the first and second porous electrodes, or, in another embodiment, electrically connecting one end of the signal source to both of the first and second porous electrodes and connecting another end of the signal source to the vibrating membrane, a sound with low THD is generated accordingly from the flat speaker unit. |
| US08625822B2 |
Thermoacoustic device
A thermoacoustic device includes a substrate, a sound wave generator and a signal device. The substrate has a net structure and includes a number of first wires and a number of second wires. The first wires and the second wires are crossed with each other. Each of the first wires includes a composite wire. The composite wire includes a carbon nanotube wire structure and a coating layer wrapping the carbon nanotube wire structure. The sound wave generator is located on a surface of the substrate and includes a graphene layer including at least one graphene. The signal input device is configured to input signals to the sound wave generator. |
| US08625821B2 |
Method and apparatus for outputting audio signal
A method of outputting an audio signal includes receiving an audio signal; generating a carrier waves having phases differing from each other; generating modulation signals by comparing the respective carrier waves with the audio signal; amplifying the modulation signals; and outputting the amplified modulation signals. |
| US08625820B2 |
Amplifier circuit audio circuit and electronic device
An amplifier circuit which, includes a first input for receiving a first input signal and a second input for receiving a second input signal. A first amplifier section is connected to the first input and the second input is present. The first amplifier section can combine the first signal and the second signal into a first combined signal, the first amplifier being connected to a first output, for outputting the first combined signal. A second amplifier section is connected to the first input and the second input, for combining the first signal and the second signal into a second combined signal, the second amplifier being connected to a second output, for outputting the second combined signal. A common mode section is connected to the first input and the second input, for generating a common mode signal based on a combination of the first signal and the second signal and outputting the common mode signal at a common output connected to the common mode amplifier. The first combined signal, the second combined signal and the common mode signal satisfy the condition that combining the first combined signal and the common mode signal results in a signal with an amplitude proportional to the amplitude of the first input signal and combining the second combined signal and the common mode signal results in a signal with an amplitude proportional to the amplitude of the second input signal. |
| US08625818B2 |
No pop switch
A switch can be configured to receive a first signal at a first input and provide an output signal at an output, depending on a state of the switch. A switch state change can be delayed until an indication of a requested switch state different than a current switch state is received and the first signal reaches a threshold. |
| US08625816B2 |
Advanced speech encoding dual microphone configuration (DMC)
A microphone array is described for use in ultra-high acoustical noise environments. The microphone array includes two directional close-talk microphones. The two microphones are separated by a short distance so that one microphone picks up more speech than the other. The microphone array can be used along with an adaptive noise removal program to remove a significant portion of noise from a speech signal of interest. |
| US08625813B2 |
Asymmetric polynomial psychoacoustic bass enhancement
Psychoacoustic bass audio signal enhancement can be accomplished using a monotonic, asymmetric polynomial distortion. A non-linear process applies a monotonic, asymmetric polynomial distortion function that has continuous first and second derivatives to generate even and odd harmonics of missing fundamental frequencies. This polynomial distortion produces the desired psychoacoustic effect with a fairly rapid roll-off so as to avoid unpleasant aliasing. Moreover, the lack of first-order discontinuities prevents clicks or glitches. |
| US08625812B2 |
Acoustic dampening compensation system
An acoustic management system configured to compensate for acoustical dampening is provided. The system includes a microphone configured to detect a first acoustic signal from an acoustic environment and a logic circuit. The logic circuit detects an onset of the acoustical dampening between the acoustic environment and the microphone. The logic circuit generates an acoustic damping compensation filter, which is applied to the first acoustic signal to generate a drive signal. |
| US08625810B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding signal
An encoding method and apparatus and a decoding method and apparatus are provided. The decoding method includes extracting a down-mix signal and spatial information regarding a plurality of channels from an input bitstream, and generating a three-dimensional (3D) down-mix signal by performing a 3D rendering operation on the down-mix signal using the spatial information and a filter, wherein the sum of the number of valid signals of the down-mix signal, the number of valid signals of the spatial information, and the number of valid signals of co-efficients of the filter is less than the number of valid signals of the 3D down-mix signal. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently encode multi-channel signals with 3D effects and to adaptively restore and reproduce audio signals with optimum sound quality according to the characteristics of an audio reproduction environment. |
| US08625809B2 |
Switchable attenuation circuit for MEMS microphone systems
A switch control circuit monitors a signal produced by a MEMS or other capacitor microphone. When a criterion is met, for example when the amplitude of the monitored signal exceeds a threshold or the monitored signal has been clipped or analysis of the monitored signal indicates clipping is imminent or likely, the switch control circuit operates one or more switches so as to selectively connect one or more capacitors to a signal line from the microphone, i.e., so as to connect a selected capacitance to the signal line to attenuate the signal from the microphone and, therefore, avoid clipping. The switches may be MOSFET, MEMS or other types of switches co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. Similarly, the capacitors, a circuit that processes the signals from the microphone and/or the switch control circuit may be co-located with the microphone in a common semiconductor package. |
| US08625803B1 |
Updating shared keys
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for updating shared keys. In one aspect, a method includes generating, at a first server and using a first key associated with a current period of time on the first server, a first piece of information based on a first request received from a first client device; receiving, at a second server, a second request from the first client device, the second request including the generated first piece of information; and validating, at the second server and using the first key, the first piece of information, wherein the validating is performed during the current period of time on the second server and wherein to generate information the second server uses a second key different from the first key. |
| US08625801B2 |
Authentication associated suite discovery and negotiation method
An authentication associated suite discovery and negotiation method for ultra wide band network. The method includes the following steps of: 1) adding a pairwise temporal key PTK establishment IE and a group temporal key GTK distribution IE in an information element IE list of an initiator and a responder, and setting a corresponding information element identifier ID, and 2) an authentication associated process based on the authentication associated suite discovery and negotiation method. The authentication associated suite discovery and negotiation method for ultra wide band network provided by the present invention can provide the discovery and negotiation functions of a security solution to the network so as to satisfy all kinds of application requirements better when multiple pairwise temporal key PTK establishing plans or multiple group temporal key GTK distributing plans co-exist. |
| US08625794B2 |
White-box cryptographic system with configurable key using intermediate data modification
A white-box cryptographic system (600) is presented for performing a key-dependent cryptographic operation, such as AES. The system comprises a network of a plurality of look-up tables (640) arranged for collectively performing the cryptographic operation, the network being adapted for a particular cryptographic key. By sending a key substitute (664) which represents to the network a further cryptographic key a key translation unit can arrange the effect of the network on the cryptographic operation such that is adapted for a further cryptographic key. In this way the system can be updated to use the further key instead of the particular key. |
| US08625792B2 |
Methods and apparatus to reduce channel switching time
Methods and apparatus to reduce channel switching time. A method for channel switching includes bundling entitlement control messages (ECMs) to generate bundled ECMs that comprise decryption keys associated with a first content channel and one or more additional content channels, respectively, and transmitting the bundled ECMs with the first content channel. An apparatus for channel switching includes key acquisition logic configured to receive bundled ECMs that comprise decryption keys associated with a first content channel and one or more additional content channels, respectively, processing logic configured to receive a request to render a second content channel that is part of the one or more additional content channels, and decryption logic configured to utilize a selected decryption key obtained from the bundled ECMs to decrypt the second content channel. |
| US08625788B2 |
Method and apparatus for building a hardware root of trust and providing protected content processing within an open computing platform
A system architecture provides a hardware-based root of trust solution for supporting distribution and playback of premium digital content. In an embodiment, hardware root of trust for digital content and services is a solution where the basis of trust for security purposes is rooted in hardware and firmware mechanisms in a client computing system, rather than in software. From this root of trust, the client computing system constructs an entire media processing pipeline that is protected for content authorization and playback. In embodiments of the present invention, the security of the client computing system for content processing is not dependent on the operating system (OS), basic input/output system (BIOS), media player application, or other host software. |
| US08625787B2 |
Hierarchical key management for secure communications in multimedia communication system
A method performed in a third computing device comprises: receiving a request from one of a first computing device and a second computing device; and in response to the request, facilitating establishment of a security association between the first computing device and the second computing device such that the first computing device and the second computing device can then facilitate establishment of a security association between first user equipment and second user equipment. The first computing device, the second computing device and the third computing device comprise at least a part of a key management hierarchy wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are on a lower level of the hierarchy and the third computing device is on a higher level of the hierarchy. The first and second computing devices are configured to perform a key management function for respective first and second user equipment. |
| US08625783B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing privacy of user identity and characteristics in a communication system
A methods and apparatus for providing privacy of user identity and characteristics in a communication system. A public key and a private key is generated, corresponding to a transceiver. The public key is transmitted to a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device encrypts one or more an initial messages using the public key and transmits the one or more encrypted initial messages to the transceiver. The transceiver receives the one or more encrypted initial messages and decrypts it using the private key. The transceiver may then allocate resources to initiate a desired communication between said wireless communication device and a second communication device. |
| US08625782B2 |
Method for privacy-preserving computation of edit distance of symbol sequences
Embodiments of the invention discloses a system and a method for determining an encrypted edit distance as an encryption of a minimum cost of transformation of a first sequence into a second sequence based on an insertion cost, a deletion cost, and a substitution cost. The method determines recursively a current element of the matrix as an encryption of a minimum of a first element, a second element, and a third element to produce the dynamic programming solution, wherein the first element represents the insertion cost, the second element represents the deletion cost, and the third element represents the substitution costs, and wherein the current element, the first element, the second element, and the third element are homomorphically encrypted with a public key; and selects the dynamic programming solution as the encrypted edit distance, wherein steps of the method are performed by a first processor and a second processor. |
| US08625778B2 |
Method of authentication, and image display apparatus incorporating the method
A method of authentication and an image display apparatus incorporating the method are provided. The method of authentication includes determining whether or not an error is generated in an authentication with an externally-connected multimedia source, and upon determination that the authentication error is generated, changing a reset signal to re-attempt the authentication and output to the multimedia source. As a result, successful High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) authentication can be provided at all times. |
| US08625775B2 |
Method and system for reducing echo and noise in a vehicle passenger compartment environment
An echo cancelling algorithm in a communication device initializes a step size value used in an adaptive echo filter based on a background noise signal power level relative to a power level of a received signal and a power level of an echo estimate relative to an output of an echo canceller. The algorithm then adjusts the step size value. One aspect adjusts the step size based on the detection of large fast fourier transform values at one, or more, disturbing-signal frequencies. Another aspect estimates residual echo energy to adjust an estimated echo energy, which then is used to set a double talk flag if a transmit signal has much more power than the estimated echo signal. Another aspect compares transmit signal power to a decimated version of the transmit signal power and sets the double talk flag if the former exceeds the latter by a predetermined amount. |
| US08625770B1 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a network element
A method and apparatus for monitoring a network element in a communications network are described. In one example, an alarm message from the network element when a change in rate associated with at least one of a central processing unit (CPU) utilization or a memory usage by the network element exceeds a predefined threshold. An instruction is subsequently sent to the network element to reduce the change in rate associated with the at least one of the CPU utilization or the memory usage. |
| US08625769B1 |
System for managing, scheduling, monitoring and controlling audio and video communication and data collaboration
This invention relates to a conferencing and data collaboration operation and management system and method and, more particularly, to a managing, system and method for scheduling, monitoring and controlling of audio and video communication and data collaboration. |
| US08625762B1 |
Providing additional information to called parties
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing additional information to called parties comprises receiving a call from a calling party, performing a lookup of information associated with the calling party in a database via an Internet Protocol connection, receiving the information from the database, and forwarding the information to a called party. The system comprises at least one device for receiving a call from a calling party, and at least one database for storing information associated with the calling party, wherein the at least one device is operable to perform a lookup of information associated with the calling party in a database via an Internet Protocol connection, receive the information from the database, and forward the information to a called party. |
| US08625760B1 |
Providing alternate caller names in accordance with caller-name preferences
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing alternate caller names in accordance with caller-name preferences are provided. In one embodiment, a device identifier associated with a phone call initiated by a calling device is received. A caller-name preference(s) associated with the calling device is referenced. The caller-name preference(s) can indicate usage of a first caller name and/or a second caller name. The caller-name preference(s) can be used to select one of the first caller name or the second caller name to provide to in association with the phone call initiated by the calling device. |
| US08625758B2 |
Method, a telecommunication system and a network node for sponsoring a communication service
The invention concerns a method for sponsoring a communication service, wherein said communication service is made available directly, in particular to a user of said communication service, and wherein a rule, in particular applicable for charging a sponsor of said communication service, is determined dynamically. |
| US08625756B1 |
Systems and methods for visual presentation and selection of IVR menu
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for providing advertisements to a caller. The system comprises a database having advertisements associated with a list of telephone numbers. The telephone numbers are associated with destinations implementing Interactive Voice Response (IVR). Further, the system comprises a device configured to display a visual menu for the IVR and the associated advertisements. |
| US08625755B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing contact books
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to receive from a first communication device (CD) a telephone number of a second CD, submit a verification code to the second CD, submit a request to the first CD for the verification code, receive the verification code from the first CD, provide the first CD access to update in whole or in part a second contact book of the second CD stored in a contact book account, receive from the first CD one or more entries of a first contact book of the first CD, merge the one or more entries of the first contact book with one or more entries of the second contact book, thereby generating an updated second contact book, and store the updated second contact book in the contact book account. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08625753B1 |
Delivering recallable messages via internet or telephony communicaiton paths
A method, system, and medium are provided for delivering recallable messages via Internet or telephony paths. A sender may configure a message as a recallable message on a communication device that is communicatively connected to a messaging alert platform. The request is delivered to a messaging alert platform, which then delivers the recallable message on the Internet or telephony paths. The messages are formatted by the messaging alert platform based to comply with the requirements of the selected communication path. The messaging alert platform attempts delivery until all paths are exhausted or a response, not an auto-reply, is received from the recipient of the message. The responses are filtered by the messaging alert platform before delivering the response from the recipient to the user. |
| US08625747B2 |
Methods and systems for testing a gateway device
An exemplary method includes generating a digit map in response to user input received by way of a graphical user interface, the digit map defining a digit sequence and a plurality of dual-tone multi-frequency (“DTMF”) properties associated with each digit included in the digit sequence, generating DTMF tones representing the digit sequence in accordance with the DTMF properties, transmitting the DTMF tones to a gateway device communicatively coupled to the testing subsystem, the gateway device configured to translate the DTMF tones into a packet-based representation of the digit sequence and the DTMF properties, receiving the packet-based representation of the digit sequence and the DTMF properties from the gateway device, and determining whether the digit sequence and the DTMF properties included in the packet-based representation substantially match the digit sequence and the DTMF properties defined by the digit map. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08625746B2 |
System and method to push messages indicating status of trouble reports in a telecommunications network
A system, method, and media for managing messages, comprising a status push application in communication with a trouble ticket database and a work force administration and control system, the status push application being enabled to detect a status change for a trouble ticket associated with the trouble ticket database and further enabled to selectively push a message to one or more external and potentially non-compatible systems in response to detecting the status change. |
| US08625743B1 |
Inverse pulse control for eddy current abatement
The present embodiments are directed towards the abatement of eddy currents that develop in a conductive material as a result of rapidly switching the magnitude of a magnetic flux proximate the material. For example, in one embodiment, a system having a controller is provided. The controller is configured to apply voltage pulses to a magnetic coil, the magnetic coil being operable to steer an electron beam within a housing comprising conductive material. The voltage pulses include a first pulse configured to cause the magnetic coil to switch from generating a first magnetic flux to generating a second magnetic flux, and a second pulse configured to induce a first eddy current having substantially the same directional orientation as the first magnetic flux. |
| US08625736B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus has: a plurality of X-ray detection elements arranged in a matrix form; a QV amplifier unit having a plurality of QV amplifiers; a first connection unit connecting the plurality of X-ray detection elements and the QV amplifier unit; an AD converter unit having a plurality of AD converters; and a second connection unit connecting the QV amplifier unit and the AD converter unit. The plurality of X-ray detection elements and the QV amplifier unit are connected and the QV amplifier unit and the AD converter unit are connected so as to make different at least one of a signal processing characteristic of the QV amplifier unit and signal a processing characteristic of the AD converter unit for each X-ray detection element of the plurality of X-ray detection elements or for each of an adjacent plurality of X-ray detection elements. |
| US08625735B2 |
X-ray scanners and X-ray sources therefor
The present invention is directed toward an X-ray scanner that has an electron source and an anode. The anode has a target surface with a series of material areas spaced along it in a scanning direction. The material areas are formed from different materials. The electron source is arranged to direct electrons at a series of target areas of the target surface, in a predetermined order, so as to generate X-ray beams having different energy spectra. |
| US08625730B2 |
Phase locked loop, CDR circuit, and receiving circuit
In a phase locked loop, frequency-divided clocks each of which is given a phase difference of at least one cycle of a feedback clock are inputted to a first phase comparator and a second phase comparator, respectively, which are made to perform phase comparison with a reference clock. Then, outputs of the first and second phase comparators are weighted by a result of the phase comparison of a receive signal and the feedback clock, and phase adjustment of the feedback clock is phase adjusted using the weighted outputs. Thereby, it is possible to lower a frequency of the reference clock and consequently to suppress power consumption. |
| US08625728B1 |
System and method for reducing electromagnetic interference and ground bounce in an information communication system by controlling phase of clock signals among a plurality of information communication devices
A communication system including a phase-locked loop, a signal division controller, a divider, and a transmitter. The phase-locked loop is configured to generate an output signal in response to a common reference clock signal. The output signal is in phase lock with the common reference clock signal. The signal division controller is configured to receive a select signal, select an edge of a rising edge of the output signal and a falling edge of the output signal in response to the select signal, and generate a divider reset signal in response to the selected edge. The divider is configured to generate a communication clock signal by performing frequency division of the output signal. The divider reset signal controls a start time of the frequency division. The transmitter is configured to operate in response to the communication clock signal. |
| US08625727B2 |
Demodulator and method for demodulating a carrier signal
A demodulator includes a sampler and a trigger unit. The sampler is configured to sample a carrier signal based on a trigger signal to obtain a demodulated signal. The trigger unit is configured to detect a zero crossing of the carrier signal or an extreme value of an amplitude of the carrier signal. Further, the trigger unit is configured to provide the trigger signal based on the detected zero crossing or the detected extreme value, so that the carrier signal is sampled by the sampler with a predefined phase shift to the detected zero crossing or the detected extreme value. The predefined phase shift is larger than 30° plus an integer multiple of 90° and lower than 60° plus the same integer multiple of 90° in reference to the carrier signal. |
| US08625723B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing demapping in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for performing demapping in a wireless communication system utilizing a modulo operation are disclosed. The demapping method of a receiver in a wireless communication system includes receiving an input signal and first information indicating whether a first modulo operation is performed on the input signal from a transmitter; if the first information indicates execution of the first modulo operation, performing a second modulo operation of the input signal, and acquiring a reception signal; generating a maximum function value having a highest probability that the reception signal corresponds to a candidate constellation point of an extended constellation; and generating a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) using the generated maximum function value. |
| US08625722B2 |
GFSK receiver architecture and methodology
A Gaussian Frequency Shift Key (GFSK) receiver includes a receiver front end to receive a GFSK-modulated signal and convert the received GFSK-modulated signal to a baseband frequency modulated signal, a channel filter to reduce channel interference which is adjacent to a desired channel of the baseband frequency modulated signal, a demodulator to demodulate the channel filtered baseband modulated signal and to recover a sequence of symbols, a digital filter to reduce inter-symbol interference (ISI) from the sequence of symbols, a slicer to produce symbol decisions based on the filtered sequence of symbols, and a symbol-to-bit mapper to map the symbol decisions to data bits. |
| US08625720B2 |
Demodulation of a digitally frequency-modulated analog received signal by evaluation of the time intervals between the zero crossings
A detector for zero crossings and a counter which is connected to it are used to determine the time intervals between the zero crossings of the received signal or of an intermediate-frequency signal which is produced from the received signal, and for detection of the digital signal data. In this case, a sequence of determined zero crossing intervals can be stored in digital form in a shift register chain, and can be compared in a classification device with previously stored interval sequences. Furthermore, a frequency offset can be determined by averaging the zero crossing intervals and can be compensated for by suitable selection or modification of the previously stored interval sequences, in which case the latter can also be used during the synchronization phase. The synchronization process may, furthermore, be assisted by payload data identification. |
| US08625719B2 |
DSP workload distribution in a power line carrier system
Disclosed are various embodiments for dividing workload in a digital signal processing system. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to receive a three phase analog waveform and a digital waveform. The system can also include a first DSP configured to interface with an external computer and a second DSP configured to receive the digital waveform and isolate a specified frequency range. The system can also include a plurality of DSP's configured to extract specified channels from the specified frequency range and output the extracted channel data. |
| US08625718B2 |
Transmission apparatus, transmission method, reception apparatus, and reception method
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) transmission and reception apparatus is provided which allows high accuracy estimation of frequency offset, high accuracy estimation of a transmission path fluctuation and high accuracy synchronization/signal detection. A mapping section generates a plurality of OFDM signals. In these OFDM signals, some pilot carriers are assigned to the same carrier position, and orthogonal sequences are assigned to the same time slot in the same carrier position. |
| US08625715B2 |
Method to reduce peak to average power ratio in multi-carrier modulation receivers
A method for performing channel estimation in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal includes choosing reserved tones to be part of a pilot pattern, and using the reserved tones in the pilot pattern to perform the channel estimation. An apparatus for use in performing channel estimation in an OFDM system includes a receiver configured to receive a transmitted OFDM signal; a pilot symbol extractor configured to extract pilot symbols from the OFDM signal; and a channel estimator configured to perform the channel estimation, including using reserved tones as pilot tones. |
| US08625712B2 |
Communication method and apparatus using codebook in MIMO system
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals using a codebook which maps each codeword to at least two different antennas is provided for a MIMO system. A transmission method includes mapping multiple codewords to multiple layers; mapping the multiple layers to multiple antennas using a precoding matrix selected from a rank-3 codebook which is designed to map the codewords to different antennas; and transmitting the codewords through paths formed by mapping the layers and the antennas. The precoding matrix of the rank-3 codebook is designed to equalize transmit power ratios between the antennas. The communication method and apparatus is advantageous to solve the problem of transmit power imbalance among the layers and the problem of performance degradation at the high SNR region in the conventional system using the rank-3 precoding matrices. |
| US08625707B2 |
Apparatus and method for space frequency block coding in a multiple input multiple output single carrier wireless communication system
A Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) single carrier wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a coder for performing block coding on symbols, an extender for collecting the block-coded symbols during one transmit (Tx) signal duration and for performing repetitive extension on the collected symbol vectors by an interval required in a frequency domain, an inserter for inserting ‘0’ to the repetitively extended symbol vectors so that the vectors are mutually orthogonal in a time domain, and a combiner for multiplying the ‘0’-inserted symbol vectors by a phase component so that the vectors are mutually orthogonal in the frequency domain and thereafter for combining the symbol vectors to generate a Tx signal for each antenna. |
| US08625706B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, multilevel coding method, and data transmission method
Provided is a signal processing apparatus including an encoder for encoding, according to respective specific coding schemes, a first bit string formed from bit values at odd-numbered positions and a second bit string formed from bit values at even-numbered positions that are obtained by alternately extracting bit values from a bit string that is expressed by mutually different first and second bit values, and generating first and second encoded signals that do not include a DC component, and a signal generation unit for generating a multilevel signal by respectively adding, to a clock signal having larger amplitude than the first and second encoded signals that are generated by the encoder, the first encoded signal in synchronization with a timing of the clock signal being at a positive amplitude value and the second encoded signal in synchronization with a timing of the clock signal being at a negative amplitude value. |
| US08625700B2 |
Evaluation device for providing a transceiver system with transceiving performance information thereof
An evaluation device provides a transceiver system with performance information. The transceiver system models channels between a transmitter and a receiver thereof using Nakagami distribution with a fading parameter. The evaluation device includes a setting module, a computing module and an output module. The computing module is operable, based upon the fading parameter, an average SNR of the channels, a number of transmit antennas and a number of receive antennas, to estimate an average output SNR, a bit error rate and an outage probability related to signals received by the receiver. The output module is operable to provide the transceiver system with the average SNR and the estimated information as the performance information. |
| US08625697B2 |
OFDM beamformer, and a signal receiving system incorporating the same
An OFDM beamformer of a signal receiving system receives multiple frequency-domain sample signal vectors each transformed from arrival signals received by a corresponding antenna element of an antenna array, and includes: multiple signal splitters each splitting a corresponding frequency-domain sample signal vector into a data signal subvector and a pilot signal subvector based on predetermined position information; a weight generator generating an estimated auto-correlation matrix and an estimated cross-correlation vector based on the data signal subvectors, the pilot signal subvectors, and a reference pilot signal vector associated with a desired user, and generating an optimal weight vector based on the estimated auto-correlation matrix and the estimated cross-correlation vector; and a combining unit combining, based on the optimal weight vector, serial data signals converted from each data signal vector by a corresponding parallel-to-serial converter to generate an estimated data symbol output corresponding to the desired user. |
| US08625694B1 |
Signal processing for independently produced signals
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes receiving a signal that represents concurrent wireless data communications, where the signal is based on superimposed signals modulated using different respective constellations; detecting a first signal from the received signal over a first combined constellation, the combined constellation being based on the respective constellations; modifying the received signal based on the first detected signal to remove a signal contribution associated with the first detected signal; and detecting a second signal from the modified received signal over a second constellation. The second constellation can be based on the respective constellations absent a constellation of the respective constellations that is associated with the first detected signal. |
| US08625688B2 |
Precoding method and device
A method for a transmitting terminal in a multi-user multi-antenna environment to perform precoding includes: receiving feedback information from a plurality of receiving terminals; estimating a channel between the transmitting terminal and the plurality of receiving terminals by using the feedback information; and generating a plurality of transmission symbols by applying a first nonlinear precoding method and a second nonlinear precoding method to a plurality of symbols and the estimated channel to be transmitted to the plurality of receiving terminals. The first nonlinear precoding method is used to eliminate interference between subchannels of the same receiving terminal, and the second nonlinear precoding method is used to eliminate interference between the receiving terminals. |
| US08625686B2 |
Window position optimization for pilot-aided OFDM system
A window position optimization for a pilot-aided OFDM system is disclosed. A method of reducing aliasing in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system, using window optimization and pilots comprises receiving an RF signal including a pilot, generating a channel frequency response estimate, interpolating the channel estimate to calculate a pilot carrier frequency response, and dynamically selecting a window to capture a channel impulse response to prevent aliasing. |
| US08625685B2 |
Signal quality estimation for OFDMA systems
Certain embodiments utilize raw signals to estimate channel quality, as contrasted to utilizing equalized signals or after channel estimation. For example, signal quality may be estimated by calculating powers of pilot sub-carriers and null sub-carriers of the raw signals. To mitigate channel effect, certain embodiments utilize first and/or second order differentiation schemes. |
| US08625684B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating symbol timing offset in a wireless communication system
A method for estimating a symbol timing offset in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system is disclosed. The method includes detecting a channel impulse response within one Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) duration; and estimating a symbol timing offset taking the detected channel impulse response into account. The symbol timing offset estimation includes calculating a channel delay duration depending on the detected channel impulse response; and estimating the symbol timing offset such that the channel impulse response is detected within a guard interval, taking into account the calculated channel delay duration and the guard interval existing in the one FFT duration. |
| US08625682B2 |
Nonlinear, prediction filter for hybrid video compression
A method and apparatus for non-linear prediction filtering are described. The method may include performing motion compensation to generate a motion compensated prediction using a block from a previously coded frame. The method may also include performing non-linear filtering on the motion compensated prediction in the transform domain with a non-linear filter as part of a fractional interpolation process to generate a motion compensated non-linear prediction. The method may also include subtracting the motion compensated non-linear prediction from a block in a current frame to produce a residual frame, and coding the residual frame. |
| US08625679B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmission and reception system, and a signal processing method using turbo processing and turbo decoding
A digital broadcast receiver and a method for receiving a digital broadcast signal are provided. The digital broadcast receiver includes a receiving unit for receiving a transmission stream comprising known data, control information having information regarding the known data, and a supplementary data stream; and a turbo decoder for detecting the supplementary data stream from the received transmission stream, and performing turbo decoding on the detected supplementary data stream. |
| US08625676B2 |
Video bitstream decoding using least square estimates
System and methodologies are provided herein for reconstructing a video signal from multiple video streams. Various aspects described herein can utilize a least square estimate (LSE) algorithm to jointly decode multiple video bitstreams that are generated from a common original video sequence at different bit rates. As described herein, the LSE algorithm can reconstruct an original video sequence by determining and computing a weighted sum of collocated video information reconstructed from different video bitstreams. The weights applied can be adaptively determined to minimize the mean square error (MSE) of the reconstructed video sequence as compared to the original. |
| US08625675B2 |
Block error compensating apparatus of image frame and method thereof
An apparatus and method are provided for compensating a block error in an image frame. This may include a video codec decoder for decoding an inputted image frame, and outputting a decoded image frame. An error concealment block may detect an error-generated block in the decoded image frame and compensate the detected error block through a median filter, and output the compensated image frame. |
| US08625674B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating motion vector using plurality of motion vector predictors, encoder, decoder, and decoding method
Provided are a method and apparatus for estimating a motion vector using a plurality of motion vector predictors, an encoder, a decoder, and a decoding method. The method includes calculating spatial similarities between the current block and the plurality of neighboring partitions around the current block, selecting at least one of the neighboring partitions based on the calculated spatial similarities, and estimating a motion vector of the selected partition as the motion vector of the current block. |
| US08625670B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding an image, which can variably encode a residual of a current block that is predicted with a skip mode according to prediction modes of neighboring blocks, and a method and apparatus for decoding the encoded image. When both the prediction mode of the current block and the prediction modes of the neighboring blocks are skip modes, since the method of encoding the image also encodes the residual of the current block that is predicted with the skip mode, more bits can be assigned to the current block with a high probability of acting as a reference block for other blocks. |
| US08625669B2 |
Predicting motion vectors for fields of forward-predicted interlaced video frames
Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding predicted images in interlaced video are described. For example, a video encoder or decoder computes a motion vector predictor for a motion vector for a portion (e.g., a block or macroblock) of an interlaced P-field, including selecting between using a same polarity or opposite polarity motion vector predictor for the portion. The encoder/decoder processes the motion vector based at least in part on the motion vector predictor computed for the motion vector. The processing can comprise computing a motion vector differential between the motion vector and the motion vector predictor during encoding and reconstructing the motion vector from a motion vector differential and the motion vector predictor during decoding. The selecting can be based at least in part on a count of opposite polarity motion vectors for a neighborhood around the portion and/or a count of same polarity motion vectors. |
| US08625668B2 |
Information processing apparatus and video decoding method of information processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, information processing apparatus which decodes compressed and encoded video stream by software, selectively generates one of intra and inter prediction image on the basis of encoding mode of decoding object from video stream and decoded images thereof, generates a residual error decoded image on the basis of a quantization parameter of decoding object from video stream, generates decoded image by adding intra and inter prediction image selectively generated, and residual error decoded image, applies deblocking filter process for reducing block distortion onto decoded image, extracts at least one of information on a quantization parameter and information on encoding mode of decoding object from video stream, determines whether or not filter process is skipped on the basis of extracted information thereof, and selectively skips filter process on the basis of a result of determination, and selectively switches determination and processing of skip to be valid or invalid. |
| US08625666B2 |
4:4:4 color space video with 4:2:0 color space video encoders and decoders systems and methods
A system for communicating video, the video including 4:4:4 color space frames, includes a 4:2:0 video encoder having a 4:4:4 to 4:2:0 color space frame converter and a 4:2:0 video decoder having a 4:2:0 to 4:4:4 color space frame converter, communicatively connected to the 4:2:0 video encoder. The 4:2:0 video encoder, without conversion by the 4:4:4 to 4:2:0 color space converter, communicates the video as a plurality of encoded 4:2:0 color space frames to the decoder. The 4:2:0 video decoder, without conversion by the 4:2:0 to 4:4:4 color space frame converter, saves the video as a plurality of 4:4:4 color space frames in memory. Each of the 4:4:4 color space frames in memory of the decoder device is identical to its corresponding 4:4:4 color space frame of the video at the encoder device. |
| US08625665B2 |
Video coder providing implicit coefficient prediction and scan adaptation for image coding and intra coding of video
A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream. |
| US08625660B2 |
Systems and methods for a multicarrier modulation system with a variable margin
A multicarrier modem has a plurality of carriers over which data is transmitted. By assigning, for example, one or more different margins to the individual carriers the data rate and impairment immunity can be increased. |
| US08625659B2 |
Receiver-based frequency response estimation
Methods, systems, and devices are described for estimating a frequency response using a received signal. A first spectral estimation is performed on a digitized representation of an initial version of a wireless signal. A second spectral estimation is performed on the digitized representation of the wireless signal as received from the transmitter. The first spectral estimation is compared with the second spectral estimation to estimate a frequency response. A later signal transmitted from the transmitter may be pre-distorted to compensate for the estimated frequency response. The disclosed frequency response estimation techniques may be used in a satellite communications system. |
| US08625657B2 |
Methods, apparatuses and computer program products for code correlation of multi-path spread spectrum signals
A method including correlating a code having a first offset with a signal to produce a first correlation result; correlating the code having a second offset with the signal to produce a second correlation result; determining a cost function using the first correlation result and the second correlation result; and adjusting the first offset and the second offset in dependence upon the cost function, wherein the cost function uses a first weighting for the first correlation result and a second, different weighting for the second correlation result. |
| US08625650B2 |
Light source, and optical coherence tomography module
A swept wavelength light source is provided, the light source includes a semiconductor gain device operable to provide amplification, an optical retarding device, the retarding device having a block of material, a beam path with a well-defined beam path length being defined for light within the block of material produced by the gain device, a wavelength selector, and the gain device, the retarding device and wavelength selector being mutually arranged on the base so that a resonator is established for light portions emitted by the gain device and selected by wavelength selector; this does not exclude the presence of further elements contributing to the resonator, such as additional mirrors (including resonator end mirrors), lenses, polarization selective elements, other passive optical components, etc.; wherein the beam path in the retarding device is a part of a beam path of the resonator. |
| US08625649B2 |
Surface emitting laser and image forming apparatus
A surface emitting laser includes a stepped structure having a step between a first region and a second region, the stepped structure provided in an emission area located in an upper portion of the upper mirror. The surface emitting laser includes a light shielding member provided in a third region between the first region and the second region. The light shielding member is not provided in a portion of the first region and a portion of the second region. |
| US08625648B2 |
Edge-emitting semiconductor laser
An edge emitting semiconductor laser (1) is specified, comprising an n-side waveguide region (21) and a p-side waveguide region (22); an active zone (20) for generating electromagnetic radiation; at least one reflection layer (24) in the n-side waveguide region (21), wherein the active zone (20) is arranged between the two waveguide regions (21, 22), the thickness of the n-side waveguide region (21) is greater than that of the p-side waveguide region (22), the refractive index of the reflection layer (24) is less than the refractive index of the n-side waveguide region (21) adjoining the reflection layer (24). |
| US08625647B2 |
Semiconductor laser
A semiconductor laser of an embodiment includes: an optical resonator having a first cladding layer, a ring-shaped active layer on the first cladding layer, a ring-shaped second cladding layer on the active layer, a first electrode inside the ring shape on the first cladding layer, a ring-shaped second electrode on the second cladding layer, a first insulating layer between the first cladding layer and the active layer, formed from an inside wall toward an outside wall of the ring shape, where an outside wall side edge thereof is on an inner side than the outside wall, and a second insulating layer between the active layer and the second cladding layer, formed from the inside wall toward the outside wall, where an outside wall side edge thereof is on an inner side than the outside wall; and an optical waveguide optically coupled to the optical resonator. |
| US08625646B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a submount; a semiconductor laser mounted on the submount via solder in a junction-down manner. The semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor laminated structure containing a p-n junction, on the semiconductor substrate, and an electrode on the semiconductor laminated structure and joined to the submount via the solder. A high-melting-point metal or dielectric film is located between the submount and the semiconductor laminated structure and surrounds the electrode. |
| US08625644B2 |
Stabilisation of the repetition rate of a passively Q-switched laser by means of coupled resonators
The invention relates to a Q-switched laser comprised of a pump light source (1), an optical resonator accommodating a laser medium (6), and a passive Q-switch (5). It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved Q-switched laser which is of a simple and compact setup while having the least possible jitter of the repetition time. To achieve this target, the invention proposes that by means of a beam splitter (8) part of the light coupled out of the optical resonator is passed on to an optical delay line (9) and coupled back into the optical resonator upon having passed through the optical delay line (9). |
| US08625641B2 |
Apparatus, method, and system for synchronizing time
The present invention relates to an apparatus, method and system for synchronizing time. The method includes: extracting line clock frequency information from an input line code stream, and extracting a time synchronization packet from a packet stream corresponding to the input line code stream; sending the input line code stream after extracting the line clock frequency information and the time synchronization packet to a packet switching device; receiving an output line code stream sent by the packet switching device; and calibrating local time according to the line clock frequency information and the time synchronization packet, recovering line clock frequency information of the output line code stream according to the calibrated local time, and inserting a time synchronization response packet into a packet stream corresponding to the output line code stream. In this way, the time synchronization network may be deployed without requiring the packet switching device to support time synchronization. |
| US08625640B2 |
Transparent clocks in access networks
An apparatus comprising a device at an access node (AN) comprising an interface, a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) engine, and a timestamp module, and a second device at a customer premise node coupled to the AN and comprising a second interface, a second PTP engine, and a second timestamp module, wherein the device at the AN is configured to send a PTP event message to the device at the customer premise node to implement a transparent clock (TC) scheme, wherein the PTP engine is configured to trigger the timestamp module to send a timestamp to the customer premise node when the PTP event message transverses the interface, and wherein the second PTP engine is configured to trigger the second timestamp module to create a second timestamp when the PTP event message transverses the second interface. |
| US08625638B2 |
Apparatus and method for coding an information signal into a data stream, converting the data stream and decoding the data stream
More customization and adaptation of coded data streams may be achieved by processing the information signal such that the various syntax structures obtained by pre-coding the information signal are placed into logical data packets, each of which being associated with a specific data packet type of a predetermined set of data packet types, and by defining a predetermined order of data packet types within one access unit of data packets. The consecutive access units in the data stream may, for example, correspond to different time portions of the information signal. By defining the predetermined order among the data packet types it is possible, at decoder's side, to detect the borders between successive access units even when removable data packets are removed from the data stream on the way from the data stream source to the decoder without incorporation of any hints into the reminder of the data stream. |
| US08625637B2 |
Conclusive write operation dispersed storage network frame
A method begins by a processing module generating a payload of a dispersed storage network frame regarding a conclusive write request operation by generating one or more slice name fields of a payload to include one or more slice names corresponding to one or more write commit responses of a write request operation, wherein the conclusive write request operation is a conclusive phase of the write request operation. The method continues with the processing module generating one or more slice revision numbering fields of the payload, wherein each slice revision numbering field includes a slice revision number corresponding to an associated slice name of the one or more slice names. The method continues with the processing module generating a protocol header of the DSN frame by generating a payload length field of the protocol header to include a payload length and generating remaining fields of the protocol header. |
| US08625632B2 |
Multiple user MIMO interference suppression communications system and methods
Messages containing interference vectors are transmitted efficiently to user equipments over a downlink channel. A pre-coding indicator channel is used for transmission in an over-the-air packet-based communication system. A table of pre-coding matrix indices or pre-coding vector information is transmitted to user equipments configured in a spatially multiplexed multiple user MIMO configuration. The UEs receive the pre-coding vector information that allows them to determine the pre-coding vectors used to communicate in the downlink direction from a MIMO base station to other MIMO UEs in the cell or system. The UEs use this information to actively suppress inter-user interference. |
| US08625616B2 |
Converged network extension
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a first port configured to receive Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) traffic; a second port configured to receive Fiber Channel (FC) traffic; and a third port configured to transmit received TRILL or FC traffic based on a Fiber Channel over IP (FCIP) protocol. |
| US08625615B2 |
PCI express switch, PCI express system, and network control method
Provided are a first PCI-PCI bridge that handles Multi Root to connect to a plurality of root complexes; a second PCI-PCI bridge that connects to an endpoint; a virtual PCI Express switch that performs a switching process between the first and second PCI-PCI bridges; and a network control device that transfers data that is to be processed in the virtual PCI Express switch to an external switch through a network without passing through a PCI-PCI bridge. |
| US08625607B2 |
Generation, distribution and use of content metadata in a network
Methods and apparatus for utilizing information (e.g., metadata) relating to content in a multimedia distribution network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) cable network, and the information comprises metadata relating to the bitrate profile of deterministic content such as stored video. Content sources, or the network operator themselves, generate the metadata which may then be used by the operator to adjust or optimize the operation of the network; e.g., more efficiently allocate the program to a multiplex. Network apparatus adapted to implement the metadata functionality and related business methods are also disclosed. |
| US08625605B2 |
Non-uniform per-packet priority marker for use with adaptive protocols
A method, apparatus and computer program product for non-uniform per-packet priority marking for use with adaptive protocols is presented. A packet is received at a first network device, the packet assigned to a priority band. A priority is determined for the packet between a lowest priority of the priority band and a highest priority of the priority band, the priority for the packet selected based on a target distribution of priorities within the priority band, the target distribution comprising a distribution selected to achieve a desired capacity relationship among groups of packets assigned to different priority bands. The selected priority is assigned to the packet. |
| US08625601B2 |
Method and apparatus for low-overhead packet data transmission and control of reception mode
A method for wireless communications where a control packet is not transmitted for all transmissions of a new data packet. A control packet is only sent with a retransmission of a data packet where the previously transmitted data packet is not completely received. The control packet contains information related to a previously transmitted data packet. The previously transmitted data packet and the retransmission data packet are derived from common data. The common data is derived based on the information related to the previously transmitted data packet, wherein the previously transmitted data packet and the retransmission data packet are associated with a series of data packets. |
| US08625599B2 |
Method and system for dynamic secured group communication
A system and method directed to carrying out dynamic secured group communication is provided. The method includes: obtaining a first packet that includes a first header; forming a frame that includes the first header in encrypted form; combining the first header and the frame to form a second packet and forming a second header; encapsulating the second packet with the second header to form a third packet, and communicating the third packet into the second network from the second source node for termination to the second-destination node. The first header includes a first source address of a first source node of a first network, and a first destination address of a first destination node of the first network. The second header includes a second source address of a second source node of a second network, and a second destination address of a second destination node of the second network. |
| US08625598B2 |
Packet header compression for lossy channels
The disclosed systems and methods provide for the compression and decompression of packet headers. An uncompressed header can be compressed in size to form a smaller, compressed header, such that the compressed header can include values that can be used to re-produce the uncompressed header. A compressed header can include at least two such values. A first value of the at least two values can be computed based on a second, earlier uncompressed header and can be used to derive the uncompressed header. Similarly, a second value of the at least two values can be computed based on a third uncompressed header and can be used to derive the same uncompressed header. Accordingly, the uncompressed header can be derived based on the first value and the second uncompressed header, or based on the second value and the third uncompressed header. The uncompressed header, second uncompressed header, and third uncompressed header can be associated with different packets. |
| US08625597B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus for the interconnection of fibre channel over ethernet devices
Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for forwarding Fibre Channel Initialization Protocol (FIP) frames and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) frames by a FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA) and with a Fibre Channel over Ethernet device interconnection apparatus controller (FIAC). An FCoE frame received by the FIA from the FCoE device includes at least destination and source Ethernet MAC address fields which are replaced, such as where the destination Ethernet MAC address is replaced by the MAC address assigned to a remote FCoE device, such as the desired end port. The frame is forwarded to the destination FCoE device. Preferably, first and second ports are coupled to the connectivity apparatus, which are then coupled to first and second FCoE devices. |
| US08625595B2 |
Fiber channel identifier mobility for fiber channel and fiber channel over ethernet networks
Techniques are provided for a switch to assign proxy FCIDs to endpoint device so that the endpoint devices may achieve FCID mobility by retaining their originally assigned FCIDs. At a switch in a network, e.g., a Virtual Storage Area Network (VSAN), a fabric login request is received from a first endpoint device that is associated with a first FC identifier (FCID) that was previously assigned to the first endpoint device by another switch in the VSAN. The fabric login request is responded to with the first FCID. The first endpoint device is assigned a second FCID associated with a domain of the switch where the endpoint device is directly attached to, and the second FCID is used as a proxy FCID within the VSAN for the first endpoint device. A frame is received from the first endpoint device with a source FCID comprising the first FCID and a destination FCID comprising an FCID for a second endpoint device. The source FCID in the frame is overwritten with the second FCID. The frame is forwarded to the second endpoint device. |
| US08625591B2 |
System, server and method for optimizing a group management protocol
The present invention discloses a method and router for optimizing a group management protocol so as to reduce the complexity in setting and switching filter modes in the prior protocols. The method includes: a group member sends a membership report to a multicast router; upon reception of the membership report, the multicast router judges whether the report carries an EXCLUDE mode non-empty source list; if so, the router updates a corresponding state inside the router according to a non-source-specific join; or else, the router updates the corresponding state inside the router directly with the information of the report. The method provided by the present invention can avoid the complex switching and processing of filter modes in the prior protocols. |
| US08625590B2 |
Method and system for reducing latency in a multi-channel multicast streaming environment in content-delivery networks
Methods, systems and apparatus for reducing apparent latency in content-delivery networks are provided. Sources multicast certain ‘preview multicast streams’ to multiple subscribers. These preview multicast streams provide pre-recorded content of multicast streams. When a subscriber switches to a desired multicast stream, pre-recorded content of the desired multicast stream is reconstructed from a preview multicast stream. Thereafter, the pre-recorded content is played during the setup of the new multicast distribution tree to minimize latency. Once the distribution tree is setup, live content of the desired multicast stream is made available to the subscriber. |
| US08625588B2 |
Packet transmission method and packet transmission device
A packet transfer method in a network apparatus that transfers packets is disclosed. In the packet transfer method, a sending side apparatus generates two copies of a send packet, provides a sequence number identifying the same sending sequence to each of the copied packets, provides an identifier corresponding to a send/receive pair to each of the copied packets to send the packets, and a receiving side apparatus receives each of the packets with two receiving units; recognizes the identifiers each corresponding to a send/receive pair; identifies packets having the same information and the sequence based on the sequence number when the identifiers are the same; selects one of the packets of the same sequence so as to send the packet downstream, and discards another packet, wherein, when only one of the packets of the same sequence arrives, the arriving packet is sent downstream. |
| US08625581B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhancing the scalability of IMS in VoIP service deployment
Methods for Enhancing the Scalability of IMS in VoIP Service Deployment lower the number of messages transmitted between functions of an IMS network. The number of messages transmitted between functions of an IMS network are lowered by storing and utilizing predetermined configuration information pertaining to the calling and called parties including the media and codecs the parties support. The predetermined configuration information, which may be based on a prior peering business agreement, supports the implementation of a one round procedure for establishing an IMS communication session. |
| US08625580B2 |
Voice over internet protocol session identifiers for voice over internet protocol calls
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods, apparatuses, and systems for voice session identifiers to facilitate voice over Internet protocol calls. Some embodiments include use of session identifiers that indicate an enabled status of individual call types for a mobile station. These session identifiers may be generated based on an authentication of a voice-services session. |
| US08625577B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing audio recording
A method and apparatus for enabling a packet network based service feature to record verbal notes or other spoken (or even artificially generated audio) information on behalf of a subscriber while in a conversation are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method allows a subscriber to effectively self-record or verbally transcribe desired portions of a conversation without the fear of privacy invasion. |