| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08650636B2 |
Picture gesture authentication
In one embodiment, a picture signature password system may use a picture signature password to determine access to a computing device or service. A display screen 172 may display a personalized digital image 310. A user input device 160 may receive a user drawing set executed by a user over the personalized digital image 310. A processor 120 may authenticate access to the user session if the user drawing set matches a library drawing set associated with the user. |
| US08650634B2 |
Enabling access to a subset of data
A method includes receiving, at a computing device, one or more replicated authorization databases. At least one of the one or more replicated authorization databases corresponds to a subscription to access selected data. The selected data is aggregated from a plurality of sources. The method also includes storing the one or more replicated authorization databases at the computing device. The method also includes determining, via the replicated authorization databases, user permission to access the selected data via the computing device. The method also includes enabling access to the selected data at the computing device after determining the user permission to access the selected data. |
| US08650632B2 |
Scalable transparent proxy
A facility for proxying network traffic between a pair of nodes is described. The facility receives packets traveling between the pair of nodes that together constitute a network connection. For each packet of the connection that is part of a transport protocol setup process, the facility updates a representation of the status of the setup process to reflect the packet, and forwards the packet to its destination without proxying the packet. For each packet of the connection that is subsequent to the setup process, the facility proxies the contents of the packet to the packet's destination. |
| US08650628B2 |
Automated user authentication identification for customized converged services
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing automated user authentication utilizing available authentication data associated with a computing device. By utilizing a mobile identification number verified during an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) process performed when a mobile computing device is powered on, access to a privileged content or service may be granted, allowing a user to bypass manual entry of user authentication information (user ID and password). Utilizing a verified mobile identification number, service features and functionalities may be communicated between billing systems of a service provider, which may provide for further converged, customized services. |
| US08650627B2 |
Computer implemented system and method for providing challenge-response solutions to authenticate a user
A system and method for providing challenge-response solutions to authenticate a user have been provided. The system includes web server comprising interlinking means adapted to interlink a plurality of images with unique index values such that each of the images has a unique index value. The web server includes registration means adapted to enable users to select at least two interlinked images for the purpose of registration. The web server includes challenge generation means adapted to generate, transmit an authentication challenge of the form of one-time equation. The web server, prior to transmitting the one-time equation, computes the value of the equation based on at least the sequence specified by the user. The web server compares the value calculated by the user with the value calculated prior to transmission and authenticates the user only in the event that said value calculated by the user is equivalent to the stored value. |
| US08650626B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information providing server, program, communication system, and login information providing server
In one example embodiment, the communication system disclosed herein includes an information processing apparatus that acquires address information from a memory device having a free area including the address information and a secure area including account information. The information processing apparatus connects to a resource of a server using the acquired address information. The information processing apparatus causes a security server to acquire the account information from the memory device and transmit the acquired account information to the server such that the server enables a user to access the resource of the server using the account information. |
| US08650622B2 |
Methods and arrangements for authorizing and authentication interworking
This disclosure relates to a portable communication device and a network-side authorization server, and to methods therein. By splitting the functionality of an OAuth authorization server and moving the authorization endpoint into, for instance a mobile phone, an authorization server within the mobile phone is provided. This mobile phone authorization server does not need to communicate with the network-side for getting an authorization code or an access token. |
| US08650612B2 |
Security context lockdown
A method and system for locking down a local machine zone associated with a network browser is provided. Placing the local machine zone in a lockdown mode provides stricter security settings that are applied to active content attempting to publish within a local page open in the network browser. The stricter setting are provided in a new set of registry keys that correspond to the lockdown mode of the local machine zone. The original security settings remain unchanged so that other systems and applications functionality that depends on the original security settings remains unaffected for the local machine zone. A user may also selectively allow active content to render despite the local machine zone being locked down. |
| US08650610B2 |
Systems and methods of controlling network access
A new approach to network security includes manipulating an access point such that an initial communication from an external device is passed to a restricted subset of a computing network including a gatekeeper. The gatekeeper is configured to enforce a security policy against the external device before granting access to a less-restricted subset of the computing network. If requirements of the security policy are satisfied, then the gatekeeper reconfigures the access point such that further communication from the external device may be received by elements of the less-restricted subset. Enforcement of the security policy optionally includes performing a security audit of the external device. |
| US08650608B2 |
Method for model based verification of security policies for web service composition
A method for model based verification of security policies for web service composition. The method includes corresponding to a verification generated by an information flow analysis. The method further includes obtaining an abstracted security qualifier. The method proceeds by presenting the abstracted security qualifier to an application model. The abstracted security qualifier being presented to the application model as a security requirement. Subsequently, the method proceeds by farther including removing the data security requirement on data utilized in the service from the compliance rule. The method proceeds by processing flow in the application model, such processing being based upon the data security requirement. The method further includes verifying the consistency in response to the processing flow. |
| US08650606B2 |
Cable communication systems and methods employing 256-QAM upstream channels and having increased upstream capacity for supporting voice and/or data services
Cable communication systems and methods to provide voice and/or data services to subscriber premises via a cable plant that conveys upstream information over an upstream path bandwidth, and a cable modem system including one or more demodulation tuners to receive and demodulate one or more upstream radio frequency (RF) signals. An RF signal includes an encoded carrier wave having a carrier frequency of between approximately 5 MHz and at least approximately 42 MHz that is modulated using quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) with voice and/or data information constituting at least some of the upstream information. A modulation order of the QAM for the first upstream RF signal is at least 256, and at least one demodulation tuner of the cable modem system is configured to receive and demodulate the first upstream RF signal. |
| US08650601B2 |
Video on demand management system
A video on demand (VOD) asset management system (100). Content is moved within the VOD system in accordance with predetermined variables such that certain content, such as that which is in high demand, is located on a server (120, 125) which is nearer to a subscriber (130), and content which is in lesser demand is located on a server (110, 115) which is more remote from the subscriber. Content may also be duplicated or moved within the system based upon other variables such as demographics of the subscriber, whether there is an advertising campaign for the content, and the age of the content. |
| US08650598B2 |
Wireless transport framework with variable equalizer training
A system and method for wirelessly transmitting audiovisual information. Training information may be stored in a memory. A plurality of packets may be generated, including the training information. The plurality of packets may also include audiovisual information. The plurality of packets may include first information identifying a first training pattern of a plurality of possible training patterns. The first training pattern may specify one or more locations of the training information in the plurality of packets. The first information may be usable by a receiver to determine the first training pattern of the plurality of possible training patterns. The plurality of packets may be transmitted in a wireless manner. |
| US08650597B2 |
Home network system and method of recording broadcasting content thereof
A home network system and a method of recording broadcasting content thereof are provided, and includes requesting, by the mobile terminal, the server to send the broadcasting content; receiving, by the server, the broadcasting content from a broadcasting station and sending the received broadcasting content to the mobile terminal; displaying, by the mobile terminal, the received broadcasting content; requesting, if the displaying of the broadcasting content is interrupted, by the mobile terminal, the server to record the interrupted broadcasting content; and recording, by the server, the broadcasting content from an interrupted time point of the broadcasting content. |
| US08650594B2 |
Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories. |
| US08650592B2 |
Streaming server and mobile terminal for reducing channel-changing delay, and a method therefor
Provided is a method and apparatus for reducing zapping delay, which may transmit base layer data for each burst in a time-slicing scheme, and output the base layer data of a channel to be changed at the time of changing the channel, thereby reducing the zapping delay. |
| US08650588B2 |
End-to end proof of display
Aspects of the invention are directed to a method and system for end-to-end proof of display. A method for according to an embodiment includes: generating a unique identifier (UID) for a triplet including an item of digital content, an identity of a playlist that includes the item of digital content, and an identity of a player on which the item of digital content is to be rendered; generating a visual identifier based on the UID and a timecode; rendering the item of digital content on a display screen; overlaying the visual identifier on the rendered item of digital content on the display screen; capturing the visual identifier on the display screen; and extracting the UID and timecode from the captured visual identifier. A match test is performed using the extracted UID to populate a match list, which is reported to a content manager to provide end-to-end proof of display. |
| US08650586B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using audience member behavior information to determine compliance with audience measurement system usage requirements
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture determine compliance with usage guidelines of an audience measurement system. Initially, location information associated with an audience member is obtained. It is then determined whether the audience member is in compliance with the usage guidelines based on the location information. Media monitoring information corresponding to the location information is then tagged as non-compliant if the audience member is not in compliance with the usage guidelines. |
| US08650584B2 |
Disc mounting in optical disc drives
The embodiments herein describe an apparatus and method for a reduced Z stack slot loading optical disc drive (ODD). In one embodiment a reduced Z stack height slot loading optical disc drive (ODD) is described. The reduced Z stack height ODD includes at least a hub/turntable arrangement having a hub portion and a turntable portion, the turntable portion arranged to support an optical disc secured thereto by way of the hub such that when a rotational motive force is applied to the hub/combination, the optical disc rotates about a hub/turntable axis of rotation, and a rotational motor adjacent to the hub/turntable arrangement, the rotational motor being arranged to provide the rotational motive force to the hub/turntable arrangement, the rotational motor being located in such a way that a rotational motor axis of rotation is translated in a direction perpendicular to the hub/turntable axis of rotation and wherein a Z height of the hub/turntable arrangement and a Z height of the rotational motor are not cumulative. |
| US08650583B2 |
Selectively transmitting transaction data
A last transaction for a business object may be identified. Transactions related to that occur prior to the last transaction and subsequent to a last upload event are associated with the last transaction. Data describing the last transaction and the associated transactions may be transmitted over a communications network. Related apparatuses, techniques, systems, computer program products are also described. |
| US08650577B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a scheduling function of giving a processing order to each of a plurality of tasks is supported. The present invention includes a memory including an operating system having a scheduler configured to perform a second scheduling function on a plurality of tasks, each having a processing order first-scheduled in accordance with a first reference and a processor performing an operation related to the operating system, the processor processing a plurality of the tasks. Moreover, if a first task among a plurality of the first-scheduled tasks meets a second reference, the scheduler performs the second scheduling function by changing the processing orders to enable the first task to be preferentially processed. |
| US08650574B2 |
Method and system for dynamically creating and modifying resource topologies and executing systems management flows
The present invention replaces the prior art Systems Management Flow execution environments with a new Order Processing Environment. The Order Processing Environment consists of an Order Processing Container (“Container” in short), a Relationship Registry, and a Factory Registry. The Factory Registry supports creation of new resource instances. The Relationship Registry stores relationships between resources. The Container gets as input an Order and a start point address for the first resource. The Order is a document (e.g., XML) which includes a number of Tasks for each involved resource without arranging those tasks in a sequence. This differentiates Orders from workflow descriptions used by standard workflow engines. Each Task includes at least all input parameters for executing the Task. The sequence of the Task execution is derived by the Container by using the Relationship Registry which reflects all current Resource Topologies. |
| US08650569B2 |
User-level re-initialization instruction interception
A data processing system comprising an operating system for supporting processes, such that the process are associated with one or more resources and the operating system being arranged to police the accessing by processes of resources so as to inhibit a process from accessing resources with which it is not associated. Part of this system is an interface for interfacing between each process and the operating system and a memory for storing state information for at least one process. The interface may be arranged to analyze instructions from the processes to the operating system, and upon detecting an instruction to re-initialize a process cause state information corresponding to that pre-existing state information to be stored in the memory as state information for the re-initialized process and to be associated with the resource. |
| US08650567B2 |
Virtual machine monitoring method, system and computer readable storage medium
A virtual machine monitoring method used in a virtual machine monitoring system is provided. The virtual machine monitoring method includes retrieving a hypercall transmitted from one of a plurality of virtual machines to a hypervisor of a virtual machine monitoring system, wherein the hypercall is used for establishing a channel between a source virtual machine and a target virtual machine. A central control virtual machine ID information in the hypervisor is retrieved. A type of the channel established by the hypercall is determined according to the central control virtual machine ID information and channel-establishing information corresponding to the hypercall. When the channel is a private channel that is not related to a central control virtual machine of the virtual machines, a security module is used to monitor the private channel. |
| US08650564B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing fault-tolerant virtual machines and adjusting CPU resource limit based on execution latency
Primary and secondary virtual machines each executing on a separate physical host and forming a fault-tolerant pair synchronize their execution with each other as closely as possible such that the secondary can take over execution of the primary with little or no disruption of service and no loss of data. To provide fast takeover, the execution latency between the two virtual machines is kept to a minimum by incrementally adjusting the CPU allocation to the primary virtual machine. The CPU allocation to the primary virtual machine decreases when the execution latency is large and increases when the execution latency is small. In order to maximize the performance of the primary virtual machine, the system seeks to maximize the CPU resource limit for the primary virtual machine for as long as possible while minimizing the execution latency. |
| US08650562B2 |
Method and apparatus for scalable monitoring of virtual machine environments combining base virtual machine and single monitoring agent for measuring common characteristics and individual virtual machines measuring individualized characteristics
A method monitors machine activity of multiple virtual computing devices operating through at least one physical computing device by running a monitoring agent. The monitoring agent monitors performance of the multiple virtual computing devices. The method measures simple operating characteristics of only a base level virtual computing device. The method monitors complex operating characteristics using the monitoring agent by: measuring the complex operating characteristics for each of the multiple virtual computing devices (using each of the multiple virtual computing devices); recording the complex operating characteristics of each of the multiple virtual computing devices on a corresponding memory page of each of the multiple virtual computing devices; and sharing each the corresponding memory page with the base level virtual computing device through an interdomain communications channels to transfer the complex operating characteristics to the monitoring agent. The method identifies simple events and complex events for each of the multiple virtual computing devices by evaluating the simple operating characteristics and the complex operating characteristics and outputs the simple events and the complex events for each of the multiple virtual computing devices. |
| US08650558B2 |
Online marketplace for pre-installed software and online services
The subject disclosure relates to pre-installed software and services, such as online services, and markets for pre-installed software and online services. In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter facilitates contracting between software vendors and device manufacturers or redistributors for placement and/or conversion of software applications or services in devices. As further advantages, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide transparency into markets for device placement and can facilitate detailed contract performance tracking. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed subject matter. |
| US08650557B2 |
Information processing apparatus and method for transferring license
An information processing apparatus includes an install unit to receive install data for software to install the software for providing a function, an acquisition unit to acquire a license file for activating the function, a management unit to manage information indicative of presence or absence of a license to use the function, independently of presence or absence of the license file, and an update unit to update the information indicative of presence or absence of the license upon transferring the license between apparatuses. |
| US08650556B2 |
Virtual machine asynchronous patch management
Drone virtual machines are leveraged to support asynchronous patch management by initiating a drone virtual machine in a maintenance environment to perform a patch management update, saving the updated virtual machine and then initiating the updated virtual machine in an operational environment accessible to clients. A drone is initiated in a maintenance environment for checking patch compliance in response to a request to initiate a virtual machine so that patch updates are performed before the virtual machine initiates in an operational environment accessible to operational clients. |
| US08650548B2 |
Method to derive software use and software data object use characteristics by analyzing attributes of related files
A system and method of deriving software use and software data object characteristics determine one or more locations on one or more computer storage devices where one or more configuration and data files associated with computer software components are stored, and obtain one or more attributes associated with said one or more computer software components. One or more commands associated with said one or more computer software components may be issued and one or more related information associated with said one or more software computer components resulting from issuing one or more commands may be collected. The related information and the one or more attributes may be mapped to the computer software components to derive information about the computer software component use and data object use characteristics. |
| US08650547B2 |
Method for debugging operational software of a system onboard an aircraft and device for implementing the same
A method for debugging the program of operational software of an onboard system, including flagging the program by positioning flags along an execution path for dividing the aforementioned execution path into adjacent functional intervals; normal execution of the program; acquiring an execution condition of the program by flag condition vectors; when an error is detected, searching a faulty functional interval based on the flag condition vectors, reverse execution of the program in the aforementioned faulty functional interval, and determination and correction of the error. |
| US08650545B2 |
File creation utility for deduplication testing
A method, system, and computer program product for facilitating deduplication product testing in a computing environment is provided. At least one deduplication test file is generated. The at least one deduplication test file is adapted for, when processed through the deduplication product testing, exhibiting a predefined deduplication factor. A definition file is initialized. The definition file defines at least one file characteristic addressed during the generating the at least one deduplication test file to obtain the predefined deduplication factor. The file characteristic may include a file pattern, a file/pattern ratio, and a pattern across multiple files. |
| US08650541B2 |
Graphical motion composition files and methods for formatting and organization thereof
A method and data structure for improving the utility of graphics compositions is disclosed. In one embodiment, composition files are created through the connection of patches in a composition editor. Automatically included with the created composition file is protocol information. Preferably such protocol information is included as metadata in the header of the composition file, and can be constructed in any suitable fashion. So constructed, composition files can be grouped together in a physical or virtual repository accessible to other application programs. Another user can then pick an appropriate composition for a new project based on review and filtering of the protocols as contained in the header information of the repositoried composition files. Such review and filtering can be accomplished using a composition picker user interface in the user's application program. The repository can then be queried for composition files matching or otherwise compatible with the specified protocol. |
| US08650540B2 |
Melding of mediation flow service component architecture (SCA) components
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for melding mediation and adaptation modules of a service component architecture (SCA) system. A method for melding mediation and adaptation modules of an SCA system can include selecting each of a mediation module and an adaptation module in an integrated development tool executing in memory by a processor of a computer and loading respectively different descriptor files for each of the mediation module and the adaptation module. The method further can include combining descriptors from the different descriptor files into a single descriptor file for a melded module. Finally, the method can include modifying names and wiring descriptors in the single descriptor file for the melded module to account for a combination of the mediation component and the adaptation component in the melded component. |
| US08650539B2 |
Method for mapping the structure of a complex software product
To allow simplified illustration of the complex technical relationships for a complex software product, provision is made for the structure of the complex software product to be mapped, in at least one embodiment, using an at least three-dimensional system matrix. In this context, the latter is generated by the variables functionality, program components and version level. The complex software product of at least one embodiment is formed by a plurality of functionalities, each functionality being formed by the interaction of a plurality of executable program components associated with it and the program components having one of a plurality of possible version levels. In at least one embodiment, the system matrix is used to check, verify and possibly extend a customer configuration for the software product. At the same time, the matrix is also used to extend the complex software product on the software provider side. |
| US08650537B2 |
Optimizing an object-oriented program by transforming invocations of synthetic accessor methods
A method, system and computer program product for optimizing an object-oriented program, which comprises identifying synthetic accessor methods added to the program during a compilation to allow access to the members of the inner classes and replacing the synthetic accessor methods with direct accesses to the members of the inner classes. |
| US08650534B2 |
Metaobject enhancement objects
A system may include acquisition of metadata defining a first object model, the first object model comprising an instance of a metaobject, acquisition of enhancement object metadata defining one or more enhancements to the first object model and associating each of the one or more enhancements with one of one or more stable anchors of the first object model, and creation, based on the metadata defining the object model and the metadata defining the one or more enhancements, of metadata defining an extended object model, the extended object model comprising an instance of the metaobject. |
| US08650533B2 |
Management of variants of an enterprise process
A method can include receiving an indicator that an enterprise process has been selected from a plurality of enterprise processes, and receiving an enterprise process value defining at least a portion of a mandatory process step associated with a mandatory portion of the enterprise process, and an enterprise process parameter value defining at least a portion of an optional process step related to the mandatory process step. The method can include receiving an indicator that a filter from a set of filters has been selected, and defining a representation of the mandatory process step and a representation of the optional process step in response to the filter being selected. The method can also include receiving an indicator that the optional process step has been selected for binding to the mandatory portion of the enterprise process in a variant of the enterprise process. |
| US08650529B2 |
System and method for integrated circuit layout editing with asymmetric zoom views
An automated system, and method of operating the same, for assisting the layout of components and the routing of conductors in a layout of an integrated circuit. An asymmetric zoom command is provided, by way of which the user can magnify the current view of a portion of the layout in one dimension while maintaining the original magnification in the orthogonal dimension. The commands can be conveyed by keystrokes, or by a command in combination with a drawn rectangle indicating the extent of the asymmetric zoom magnification. Both asymmetric zoom-in and asymmetric zoom-out are supported. |
| US08650524B1 |
Method and apparatus for low-pin count testing of integrated circuits
A method and apparatus to apply compressed test patterns using a very pin-limited test apparatus to a chip design for use in semiconductor manufacturing test is disclosed. Compression circuitry is inserted into the circuit design and the compressed signals manipulated for communication over a serial interface. On a test apparatus, ATPG may be run, assuming a parallel test interface, resulting in test patterns that may be compressed into a parallel format and then converted into a serial signal. On chip, the serial signal is parallelized, decompressed, and then shifted into the scan chains. An inserted controller generates clocks and various control signals. Conventional test patterns from ATPG may be generated and applied during testing without the need to modify the ATPG program saving time and resources. Hierarchical testing of integrated circuits built with a multiplicity of cores, each having its own embedded compression logic, is also supported. |
| US08650522B2 |
Determining mutual inductance between intentional inductors
Various methods for analyzing mutual inductance in an integrated circuit layout are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, circuit design information indicative of a first inductor and a second inductor is received. A dipole moment associated with the first inductor is determined, where the magnetic field associated with the dipole moment is representative of magnetic fields created by respective turns in the first inductor. A mutual inductance between the first inductor and the second inductor is determined by determining a magnetic flux of the magnetic field of the dipole moment through surfaces bounded by respective wire segments of the second inductor. |
| US08650521B1 |
Dendritic cooling layer generator and method of fabrication
Dendritic cooling layers for printed circuit boards and method of fabrication thereof. The dendritic cooling layers may have non-intuitive dendritic structures that minimize peak temperature. The dendritic cooling layers may also be compatible with current PCB fabrication techniques. The dendritic cooling layers may have an adjustable tolerance to meet fabrication limits. The current invention also contemplates a method of generating a dendritic high conductivity path suitable for printed circuit boards. The methodology comprises the replacement of low conductivity materials with high conductivity materials such that the optimal ratio can be obtained to minimize heat flow resistance, while also maintaining lower costs of production. |
| US08650520B2 |
Integrated circuit module and manufacturing methods and application thereof
An exemplary integrated circuit module includes a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor has a first channel length and a first threshold voltage. The second transistor is electrically coupled to the first transistor and has a second channel length and a second threshold voltage. The second channel length is greater than the first channel length, the absolute value of the second threshold voltage is smaller than the absolute value of the first threshold voltage, and the first transistor and the second transistor have a same threshold voltage implant concentration. Moreover, a manufacturing method of such integrated circuit module, and an application of such integrated circuit module to computer aided design of logic circuit also are provided. |
| US08650519B2 |
Automated functional coverage for an integrated circuit design
A method for automated functional coverage includes creating event monitors that monitor signals and events within an IC design based upon timing information in a timing report generated by a timing analysis tool. In particular, speed paths that have a higher timing criticality may be selected for monitoring during simulations of the IC design. In addition, using feedback from the event monitors the test generator patterns may be manipulated to preferentially generate patterns that may exercise signal paths that are being monitored in subsequent simulations. |
| US08650518B2 |
Method and apparatus for rule-based automatic layout parasitic extraction in a multi-technology environment
A system for extracting a layout from an object in a fabric includes means for providing fabric data to a rule-based layout extraction engine; means for maintaining a layout extraction rule to select a layout object from the fabric data; means for maintaining a binding rule to bind the layout object to a solver; means for maintaining a boundary rule to specify a boundary condition for a solver; and means for executing the solver on the layout object to generate a model of the object. |
| US08650508B2 |
Mobile terminal and operating method thereof
A mobile terminal is provided that includes a touch input unit and a display. A method of operating the mobile terminal includes operating the touch input unit of the mobile terminal in a normal mode, detecting a first multi-touch signal from the touch input unit, switching the touch input unit from the normal mode to a direction input mode in response to the first multi-touch signal, detecting a second multi-touch signal from the touch input unit while the touch input unit is in the direction input mode, determining a direction represented by the second multi-touch signal based on the tap signal, and scrolling at least one object displayed on a screen of a display of the mobile terminal in the determined direction. The second multi-touch signal may include a tap signal. |
| US08650501B2 |
User interface with preview transitions
A user interface is described that temporarily displays portions of a page that reside outside of the viewable area of the screen. An animated transition creates a brief preview of at least one user interface feature. Additionally, the user interface feature is then animated out of the viewable area in a way to suggest a location of the feature. In one embodiment, a target page that is being opened controls the transition and animates features into and out of the viewable area to create the temporary preview. In another embodiment, the target page includes user interface elements that can asynchronously control the preview animation independent from the main content of the target page. In yet another embodiment, a transition coordinator can coordinate the timing between animating out a foreground application while animating in a target application. |
| US08650500B2 |
Copy-and-paste functionality for network reconfiguration
A network system includes a reconfigurable network and a network management system. The network management system can represent the network in the form of a network image. Network image objects, corresponding to network objects, can be selected as copy sources and paste targets. A copy-and-paste operation modifies the network image to indicate a potential modification of the actual network in which the configuration of the network object corresponding to the selected copy source object is applied to the network object corresponding to the selected image object. In addition, the copy-and-paste operation can automatically represent a common connection of a source object input and a target object input to a common data source. Furthermore, the copy-and-paste operation can automatically connect outputs of source and target objects to a comparison function so that the implementation of the copy-and-paste operation on the actual network can be validated. |
| US08650499B2 |
Selecting and identifying view overlay information for electronic display
A method of managing the display of overlay information in one or more views. For each overlay item available for display in a current view, it is determined whether the available item has an item type currently selected for display. For each available item having a currently selected item type, the item is included for display in the current view and the type of the item is included for display in a legend. Omitted from the legend are any item type(s) for which no item is included for display in the current view. Overall ease of use of electronic displays can be improved and electronic flight box display screens can be de-cluttered. |
| US08650498B1 |
User interface for managing and viewing synchronization settings in a synchronization system
In a synchronization system, the present invention provides an improved user interface through which a user can view and manage settings associated with the user's account in the synchronization system. In the preferred embodiment, a column is displayed for each electronic device associated with the user's account in the synchronization system. In each column is a visual representation of items (e.g., folders) that are (1) backed up, remotely accessible and/or synchronized in the synchronization system and (2) located on the electronic device associated with such column. For each item that is synchronized across multiple devices, all the visual representations of such item in the columns are aligned across a single row in the interface. In the preferred embodiment, there is an arrow, or other visual indicator, between the visual representations of such items to indicate that the items are synchronized. |
| US08650495B2 |
Captive portal that modifies content retrieved from designated web page to specify base domain for relative link and sends to client in response to request from client for unauthorized web page
The described captive portal techniques cause client devices to render and display designated web pages. One designated web page may be different than a requested web page such as when a client is not authorized to access the requested page and is instead caused to display a login portal. The captive portal may modify the designated web page to ensure that relative links lacking base domains now have specified base domains pointing to an authorized web server. The modified content is sent from the captive portal to the client device for display. Client web browser security measures related to redirection messages are thereby bypassed and load on the captive portal is minimal. Another designated web page may be the same as the requested web page such as when the requested page is an authorized page even for non-logged in clients. Authorized pages may be modified to add a login link. |
| US08650493B2 |
Method and system for testing websites
A method and system is provided for testing and analyzing websites via a test-enabled web browser. When requested, a representative embodiment can provide for deep recording of user interactions as they relate to a specific web page currently on display in the browser view area, for extracting key information from the current web page sufficient to validate that a future playback does or does not produce the same effects on the chosen website page, for playing back a prior recording to confirm that a website page continues to pass the user-defined tests, and/or for providing detailed analyzes based on the specific contents of the current website page. The general result of systematic use of the test-enabled browser on websites is improved content quality, demonstrated website server behavior for deep tests, quicker delivery by the website server, and better serviceability for e-business. |
| US08650492B1 |
System and method for page navigation visualization and analysis
Systems and methods for generating a navigation flow visualization of network traffic. The system and method configured to receive user input that identifies a node that is a grouping of network resources. Generating a visualization data of network traffic flowing into the identified node from the incoming nodes and displaying the network traffic flowing out of the identified node to the outgoing nodes. The method includes connecting the incoming nodes with the identified node using the connectors, the connectors having a width dimension that indicates a number of visits from the incoming nodes to the identified node. The method includes connecting the identified node with the outgoing nodes using the connectors that has a width dimension that indicates a number of visits from the identified node to the outgoing nodes. |
| US08650484B1 |
Systems and methods for creating computer content using multiple editing contexts
The disclosed methods and systems provide a computer content creation application that allows movement and use of components between editing contexts. Different editing contexts may result where the content utilizes instances of one or more components that are defined outside the outer context in which the instances are used. In another example, different editing contexts result where components are, for one reason or another, stored in separate locations. Embodiments disclosed herein further facilitate developing and using of multi-editing context computer content by providing techniques for organizing parts of content according to content editing context. Other embodiments organize such parts based on the particular editing and use functionality available in a current editing context. Certain embodiments simplify and facilitate a user's ability to move components from an outer or general context into another context, such as into a particular component's instance definition. |
| US08650479B2 |
Guided attachment of policies in a service registry environment
A computer program product and an apparatus for policy attachment are described. A reference to a selected description document for policy attachment is received, wherein the selected description document includes at least one definition to describe a Web Service. A logical object of the selected description document that permit policy attachment is located. A reference to the logical object that is located for policy attachment is received. At least one policy that is operable to be associated with the logical object that is referenced is located, wherein the at least one policy defines a rule for the Web Service. A reference for a selected policy from among the at least one policy is received. The selected policy is attached to the selected description document. |
| US08650476B1 |
Localized feedback for content creation
Techniques for use with an electronic book reader include receiving localized evaluative feedback from users, pertaining to different locations within electronic content. The localized feedback is collected at a server and reported to content creators in reports that are formatted to indicate characteristics of the feedback at different locations within the electronic content. |
| US08650470B2 |
Error recovery within integrated circuit
An integrated circuit includes one or more portions having error detection and error correction circuits and which is operated with operating parameters giving finite non-zero error rate as well as one or more portions formed and operated to provide a zero error rate. |
| US08650466B2 |
Incremental generation of polynomials for decoding reed-solomon codes
An error locator polynomial is incrementally generated by flipping a bit pattern Yi at a symbol Xi an initial dataword to obtain a first test error pattern. A bit pattern Yj at a symbol Xj within the first test error pattern is flipped to obtain a second test error pattern, wherein i≠j. |
| US08650464B1 |
Symmetric diagonal interleaving and encoding/decoding circuit and method
A circuit and method form a codeword including parity and message bits, as follows. Each codeword has a first part in a current sequence (e.g. a current OTN-row) that is to be now transmitted and second part spread across multiple past sequences (e.g. previously prepared and transmitted OTN-rows). The codewords are grouped into multiple groups such that each codeword within a group has no bit in common with another codeword in that group. Moreover, each codeword has a bit in common with a different codeword in a different group. |
| US08650457B1 |
Methods and systems for reconfigurable LDPC decoders
Systems and methods for acquiring a first set of information for a plurality of low density parity check (LDPC)-encoded data symbols, acquiring a second set of information for the plurality of LDPC-encoded data symbols, and selecting a window including a subset of the plurality of LDPC-encoded data symbols. The systems and methods include acquiring a decoder schedule having information for controlling the decoder, wherein the information in the decoder schedule includes decoding instructions based on a configuration of at least one of the first set of information and the second set of information. The systems and methods further include determining a likelihood of an error in the window using the decoding instructions in the decoder schedule, and updating the second set of information for selected data symbols of the subset based on the likelihood of an error in the window. |
| US08650456B2 |
Decoder based data recovery
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with decoder based data recovery are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a decoder configured to perform a decoding process on codewords to verify that the codewords meet coding constraints. The decoder includes a recovery unit configured to store recovery instructions for performing a modified decoding process. The recovery unit is further configured to execute the stored recovery instructions when a decoded codeword fails to meet the coding constraints. |
| US08650453B2 |
LDPC selective decoding scheduling using a cost function
A cost function is obtained. For each of a plurality of groups of nodes, the cost function is evaluated by obtaining, for a given group of nodes, one or more reliability values associated with the given group of nodes; the one or more reliability values include sign and magnitude. For a given group of nodes, a reliability value with a smallest magnitude is selected where the evaluated cost function for the given group of nodes is set to the smallest magnitude. One of the plurality of groups of nodes is selected based at least in part on the evaluated cost functions. Error correction decoding related processing is performed on the selected group of nodes. |
| US08650450B2 |
Method and apparatus for interleaving low density parity check (LDPC) codes over mobile satellite channels
Systems, methods and apparatus are described to interleave LDPC coded data for reception over a mobile communications channel, such as, for example, a satellite channel. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a method for channel interleaving includes segmenting a large LDPC code block into smaller codewords, randomly shuffling the code segments of each codeword and then convolutionally interleaving the randomly shuffled code words. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, such random shuffling can guarantee that no two consecutive input code segments will be closer than a defined minimum number of code segments at the output of the shuffler. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, by keeping data in, for example, manageable sub-sections, accurate SNR estimations, which are needed for the best possible LDPC decoding performance, can be facilitated based on, for example, iterative bit decisions. |
| US08650448B2 |
Retransmission techniques in wireless networks
Retransmission techniques are disclosed. These techniques may be used in networks employing contention-based access schemes, such as CSMA. For instance, a device may receive a corrupted packet from a transmitting device, and determine a cause of the corruption. When the determined cause of the corruption is an in-network packet collision, the device allows the transmitting device to send a retransmission of the packet in accordance with a contention-based access scheme. However, when the determined cause of the corruption is other than an in-network packet collision, the device provides retransmission assistance to the transmitting device. This retransmission assistance may include a channel reservation for a retransmission, and/or one or more link adaptation suggestions for the transmitting device. |
| US08650447B1 |
Apparatus and methods for controlled error injection
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, precision control of error injection may be accomplished by way of synchronous error signals accompanying data transfers along various pipeline stages of a data path. The synchronous error signals may be used to trigger error events in a given protocol logic block (i.e. in a given sub-component of the data path). The protocol logic block is configurable to determine whether any action is to be taken upon the assertion of the error signal. Multiple error events may be triggered as the data signal (and its accompanying synchronous error signal) passes through pipelined functions of the data path so as to create complex error conditions. In addition, deterministic handling of created errors may be accomplished using a loopback path with bypassable blocks on both forward and reverse transformations. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US08650434B2 |
Systems and methods for securing data in motion
Systems and methods for reading and writing a set of data using a journaling service are provided. The journaling service may be used to identify and record data storage operations associated with one or more shares of data stored in one or more share locations. The journaling service may use logs to record each of the read and write requests to the share locations. In some embodiments, the log may be a queue data structure that stores information associated with failed data storage operations. In some embodiments, the journaling service may leverage both memory and disk storage in order to maintain the journaling queue. In some embodiments, the journaling queue may maintain information associated with the state of each share location. In some embodiments, this information may be used by the journaling service to determine when to monitor and record information regarding data storage operations associated with the share locations. |
| US08650432B2 |
Distributed resource managing system, distributed resource managing method, and distributed resource managing program
A distributed resource managing system has one or more resource managing processes corresponding to each of predefined events that change the states of resources, on a communication network where each of a plurality of tasks can use a plurality of resources. Each of the one or more resource managing processes includes an assignor which, when it receives a request to protect any specific task against the event that changes states of resources to which its own process corresponds, assigns backup resources including a resource already selected by another resource managing process to the task in such a way that all tasks requested to be protected which use the resource can be protected from the event that changes the states of the resources, and an indicator which indicates information of the assigned backup resources to one or more recovery execution processes. |
| US08650429B1 |
Clock phase alignment
A method and apparatus for clock phase alignment are described. An external clock is aligned to an internal clock by adjusting phase of the external clock. The external clock is of a physical medium attachment clock domain, and the internal clock is of a physical coding clock domain. After the aligning of the external clock to the internal clock, the external clock is maintained. The internal clock is aligned to the external clock by adjusting phase of the internal clock. |
| US08650427B2 |
Activity alignment algorithm by masking traffic flows
Embodiments of methods and apparatus for entering an activity alignment on state from an activity alignment off state; masking one or more traffic flows that are received during at least a part of the activity alignment on state; and entering the activity alignment off state from the activity alignment on state, after being in the activity alignment on state for at least a first time period, based at least in part on said masking the one or more traffic flows. Additional variants and embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08650425B2 |
Computer system for processing data in non-operational state and processing method thereof
A computer system for processing data in a non-operational state and processing method thereof are provided. The computer system includes a data output unit, a data source, a data processing module and a state monitor unit. The data processing module accesses and processes data from the data source, and transmits the processed data to the data output unit. The state monitor unit monitors a power supply state of the computer system to generate a state switch signal, which indicates whether the computer system is in an operational state or a non-operational state. When the state switch signal indicates that the computer system is in a non-operational state, the data source and the data processing module receives operating voltages to access and process data. |
| US08650421B2 |
Network interface apparatus and related power saving method thereof
The present invention discloses a network interface apparatus comprising two power regulators, one of which is a system power regulator for supplying a first supply voltage to a physical layer and a medium access control layer in the network interface apparatus, and the other one is an uninterrupted power regulator for supplying a second supply voltage to a power management module. When the network interface apparatus operates in a disconnection status, the system power regulator is disabled so as not to supply the first supply voltage, and the uninterrupted power regulator still provides the second supply voltage to the power management module. |
| US08650420B2 |
Operational management method for information processing system and information processing system
In an information processing system comprising an information processing equipment group and a facility equipment group, both an increase in performance and a reduction in power consumption are obtained, thereby achieving an efficient and flexible operational management. The plurality of information processing equipments are divided into a plurality of groups, each of which includes power feed equipments and cooling equipments. The operation management method for the information processing system includes: a procedure for acquiring, from each of the groups, operating information indicating the performances and the power consumptions of the information processing equipments, the power feed equipments, and the cooling equipments included in each of the groups; and another procedure for controlling, based on the operating information, the information processing equipments, the power feed equipments, and the cooling equipments included in each of the groups so that the performances with respect to the power consumptions become large. |
| US08650418B2 |
Power-saving management method for computer peripheral device and system thereof
A power-saving management method for a computer peripheral device and a system thereof are described, which are applicable to stop the operation of at least one functional electronic element of the computer peripheral device, when the computer peripheral device enters a power-saving mode. The method includes the following steps. A sensor is activated to detect an environmental parameter value of the computer peripheral device. If the environmental parameter value is changed, the functional electronic element is activated to enter an operating mode, and an operation state of the functional electronic element is detected within a counting time. If the functional electronic element does not perform any operation, the sensor is reset and records the finally changed environmental parameter value, and the functional electronic element is made to enter the power-saving mode once again. |
| US08650414B2 |
Logic device having status and control registers for recording the status and controlling the operation of memory slots such that each memory slot is identified using a bus address and port number
Memory reconfiguration during system run-time is described. In one example, a system includes a memory slot to carry a memory board and to connect the memory board to a memory controller for read and write operations, a logic device having a plurality of status registers to record the status of the memory slot and a plurality of control registers to control the operation of the memory slot, and a bus interface coupled through direct signal lines to the memory slot to communicate status and control signals with the memory slot and coupled through a serial bus to the logic device to communicate status and control signals with the logic device. |
| US08650404B2 |
Communication protocol for secure communications systems
A method and apparatus for authenticating a key management message within a secure communication system is provided herein. During operation, a digital signature for message authentication of a Project 25 Key Management Message (KMM) is utilized. In particular, the digital signature will be used to authenticate the KMM in scenarios where there is no Message Authentication Code (MAC). The MAC will be utilized to authenticate the KMM when available. Because authentication of KMMs take place, even when no MAC is available, it becomes increasingly more difficult to tamper or spoof the delivery of encryption keys. |
| US08650403B2 |
Crytographic method for anonymous authentication and separate identification of a user
The invention relates to cryptographic method for the anonymous authentication and the identification of a user entity (Ui) respectively by a checking entity (D) and an identifying entity (O). According to this method, the checking entity (D) receives (130) from the user entity (U1) at least one first signature (σ) and a first message (m), and checks (140) the first signature (σ) using the first message (m) in order to authenticate the user (U), and the identifying entity (O) receives (150) from the checking entity (D) a second signature (σ′) connected to the first signature (σ) and identifies (160) the user using the second signature and a secret key particular thereto. The invention also relates to a cryptographic system for implementing said method. |
| US08650399B2 |
Memory device and chip set processor pairing
Systems, devices and/or methods that facilitate mutual authentication for processor and memory pairing are presented. A processor and a suitably equipped memory can be provided with a shared secret to facilitate mutual authentication. In addition, the memory can be configured to verify that the system operating instructions have not been subjected to unauthorized alterations. System integrity can be ensured according to the disclosed subject matter by mutual authentication of the processor and memory and verification of the authenticity of system operating instructions at or near each system power up. As a result, the disclosed subject matter can facilitate relatively low complexity assurance of system integrity as a replacement or supplement to conventional techniques. |
| US08650395B2 |
Selective shredding in a deduplication system
Making a target file impractical to be retrieved comprises decrypting a directory manager file using a first directory manager file key. The directory manager file includes an encryption key for a segment that is used when reconstructing a target file. The directory manager file is modified by deleting a reference to the target file. The reference includes a file encryption key. Retrieving the target file is made impractical by the deletion of the reference to the target file in the directory manager file. The modified directory manager file is encrypted using a second directory manager file key. |
| US08650394B2 |
Certifying the identity of a network device
According to one aspect, a method for certifying the identity of a network device. The method includes an initial step of coupling the network device to a provisioning device via a physically secure communications link. The provisioning device then certifies the identity of the network device including generating a cryptographic private key for the network device and sending the generated private key to the network device over the physically secure communications link. |
| US08650392B2 |
Ticket authorization
A method for issuing tickets in a communication system comprising a plurality of nodes that are capable of establishing a communication connection between two or more clients, the method comprising a first client transmitting to a ticket-issuing service a request for a ticket authorizing the first client to establish a communication connection with a second client, the ticket-issuing service determining if the first client is authorized to establish the requested communication connection and if the first client is determined to be authorized to establish the requested communication connection, the ticket-issuing service transmitting to the first client one or more tickets designating the second client which authorizes the first client to establish the requested connection with the second client by means of one or more of the plurality of nodes. |
| US08650389B1 |
Secure sockets layer protocol handshake mirroring
A traffic manager system comprises communications servers, including one or more active and backup servers. At least one of the communications servers mirrors the communications of the other server involving one or more other network devices, including the encrypted communications. At least one backup server obtains a security value associated with the encrypted communications of at least one active server to independently derive the same key. The backup servers use the keys to engage in the encrypted communications when the active servers become unavailable, for example, without requiring the backup server to reinitiate the encrypted communications. |
| US08650383B2 |
Vector processing with predicate vector for setting element values based on key element position by executing remaining instruction
The described embodiments include a processor that executes a vector instruction. The processor starts by receiving an input vector and optionally receiving a predicate vector as inputs. The processor then executes the vector instruction, which causes the processor to determine a key element position in the input vector and generate a result vector. When generating the result vector, if the predicate vector is received, for each element in the result vector for which a corresponding element of the predicate vector is active, otherwise, for each element of the result vector, the processor sets each element of the result vector to the right of the key element to a first predetermined value and sets each element of the result vector at or to the left of the key element to a second predetermined value. The processor then sets one or more processor status flags based on the values in the result vector. |
| US08650377B2 |
Storage managing system, computer system, and storage managing method
The present invention provides a technique for arranging a virtual logical volume group for satisfying target response performance and realizing a cost reduction. For this purpose, in the present invention, in a storage managing system which manages a storage subsystem comprising in a pool using plural storage devices (hierarchies) having different performances and provides plural virtual logical volumes from the pool, the plural virtual logical volumes are classified into plural groups on the basis of information concerning target response performance concerning each of the plural virtual logical volumes such that each of the plural virtual logical volumes satisfies the target response performance. A new pool is allocated to each of the plural groups of the virtual logical volumes. Further, information indicating a correspondence relation between the pool and the virtual logical volumes included in the groups is generated and the information is output. |
| US08650375B2 |
Virtual machine control program and virtual machine system
The program attains compatibility of suppression of an overhead accompanying page exception handling in the case of operating a program whose amount of memory use is large on a virtual machine and suppression of the overhead accompanying page exception handling in the case of operating a first OS that has a function of making another OS run on a virtual machine. A VMM creates a shadow PT (Page Table) for prohibiting reading-writing of privileged memory that requires emulation of reading/writing by using a RSV-bit, and registers the shadow PT and the second PT that a second OS operating on the first OS has in an x86 compatible CPU equipped with page exception detecting function using two PT's. When a page exception occurs, the VMM refers to cause code of the page exception and, when a P field of the cause code is 0, determines immediately that emulation is unnecessary. |
| US08650372B2 |
Methods and systems for calculating required scratch media
Methods and systems are disclosed for calculating required scratch media. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining backup job information from one or more backup applications for a plurality of backup jobs, calculating a required number of scratch media needed for one or more future executions of at least one of the backup jobs using the backup job information, and presenting the required number of scratch media to a user. |
| US08650367B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting memory usage throttling
An apparatus for providing system memory usage throttling within a data processing system having multiple chiplets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a system memory, a memory access collection module, a memory credit accounting module and a memory throttle counter. The memory access collection module receives a first set of signals from a first cache memory within a chiplet and a second set of signals from a second cache memory within the chiplet. The memory credit accounting module tracks the usage of the system memory on a per user virtual partition basis according to the results of cache accesses extracted from the first and second set of signals from the first and second cache memories within the chiplet. The memory throttle counter for provides a throttle control signal to prevent any access to the system memory when the system memory usage has exceeded a predetermined value. |
| US08650364B2 |
Processing system with linked-list based prefetch buffer and methods for use therewith
A processing device includes a memory and a processor that generates a plurality of read commands for reading read data from the memory and a plurality of write commands for writing write data to the memory. A prefetch memory interface prefetches prefetch data to a prefetch buffer, retrieves the read data from the prefetch buffer when the read data is included in the prefetch buffer, and retrieves the read data from the memory when the read data is not included in the prefetch buffer, wherein the prefetch buffer is managed via a linked list. |
| US08650363B2 |
Capacitor save energy verification
A memory subsystem includes a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, and a controller including logic to interface the volatile memory to an external system. The volatile memory is addressable for reading and writing by the external system. The memory subsystem includes a power controller with logic to detect when power from the external system to at least one of the volatile and nonvolatile memories and to the controller fails. When external system power fails, backup power is provided to at least one of the volatile and nonvolatile memories and to the controller for long enough to enable the controller to back up data from the volatile memory to the nonvolatile memory. |
| US08650362B2 |
System for increasing utilization of storage media
A storage system creates an abstraction of flash Solid State Device (SSD) media allowing random write operations of arbitrary size by a user while performing large sequential write operations of a uniform size to an SSD array. This reduces the number of random write operations performed in the SSD array and as a result increases performance of the SSD array. A control element determines when blocks from different buffers should be combined together or discarded based on fragmentation and read activity. This optimization scheme increases memory capacity and improves memory utilization and performance. |
| US08650361B2 |
Methods for managing ownership of redundant data and systems thereof
A storage system according to one embodiment includes logic integrated with and/or executable by a hardware processor, the logic being configured to: determine an ownership status for each of a plurality of instances of a file in a first storage tier and in a second storage tier of the storage system; determine locations of the instances of the file in the storage system; determine whether the instances of the file in the first storage tier are being accessed or not being accessed; and assign each of the instances of the file to one of a plurality of indices using the determined ownership status, location, and whether the instances are being accessed. |
| US08650360B2 |
Storage system
With a RAID group not configured from a plurality of storage devices, a storage area of a storage device is provided directly to a virtual volume instead of providing a logical volume inside the RAID group to the virtual volume. That is, the storage system, upon receiving a write request with respect to a virtual storage area, first, specifies a data redundancy configuration (the number of data partitions and the number of created parities) and a RAID level set to a virtual volume including this virtual storage area. The storage system selects storage devices in the numbers in accordance with the specified RAID level and redundancy configuration for this virtual storage area. The storage system selects, from among the selected storage devices, a storage area that is not allocated to any virtual storage area, and allocates this storage area to this virtual storage area. The storage system partitions the data and writes this data together with the parity to this allocated storage area. |
| US08650357B2 |
Preventing read while writing occurrences
Example apparatus and methods concern controlling a computer to prevent read while writing occurrences in direct output. One example method includes identifying a non-conformance between a block of data intended to be output using direct output and a desired direct output block. Conventionally, the non-conformance would cause the computer to perform a read operation to provide additional data suitable for conforming the block of data to the desired direct output block. Once the method has identified the non-conformance, the method may prevent the computer from performing the read operation. The method may also control the computer to perform an additional output operation to make the block of data appear to conform to the desired direct output block. The additional output operation will be performed without performing a read operation. In one embodiment, the method is performed in the kernel of an operating system running on the computer. |
| US08650354B2 |
Prefetching tracks using multiple caches
Provided are a computer program product, sequential access storage device, and method for managing data in a sequential access storage device receiving read requests and write requests from a system with respect to tracks stored in a sequential access storage medium. A prefetch request indicates prefetch tracks in the sequential access storage medium to read from the sequential access storage medium. The accessed prefetch tracks are cached in a non-volatile storage device integrated with the sequential access storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage device is a faster access device than the sequential access storage medium. A read request is received for the prefetch tracks following the caching of the prefetch tracks, wherein the prefetch request is designated to be processed at a lower priority than the read request with respect to the sequential access storage medium. The prefetch tracks are returned from the non-volatile storage device to the read request. |
| US08650353B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for refreshing non-volatile memory
Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for refreshing a non-volatile memory. The method comprises loading a time stamp, corresponding to data in a data location of a non-volatile memory, to a register; determining an elapsed time, corresponding to the data in the data location, according to the loaded time stamp; and refreshing data of the data location for which it is determined that the elapsed time exceeds a refresh time associated with the non-volatile memory. |
| US08650351B2 |
Electrical power distribution system for a vehicle
An electrical and electronic system having a control unit connected to a remotely located electrical center by way of a data bus. The electrical center includes a bus interface unit and a main printed circuit board having a plurality of control devices such as relays, which selectively activate vehicle electrical circuits based on instructions from the control unit. The bus interface unit is that of a daughter board configured to be plugged into the main board of the electrical center, such as a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) interface board, and the data bus may be a LIN bus. |
| US08650348B2 |
Daughter circuit board of an electronically commutated motor for communicating a motor controller with a control system of a user terminal
A daughter circuit board of an electronically commutated motor for interface signal conversion, having circuit units integrated on the daughter circuit and eight ports for communicating with a control system of a user terminal, the daughter circuit board being plugged into a motor controller for signal conversion so that the motor controller communicates with the control system of the user terminal. The eight ports include an input port of power supply, a port of mode selection, a signal port of PWM, a R/T port for data transmission between the daughter circuit board and the control system of the user terminal, a port of COM, a port for fault signal output, a port of power indication, and a port of speed feedback. The daughter circuit board is simple, easy to correspond with various control systems of user terminals, and accords to the latest electric standard thereby facilitating management and popularization. |
| US08650344B2 |
Method for operating KVM switch with independent on-screen display and control channels
A method for operating a KVM switch with independent OSD and control channels comprises the steps of: receiving a functional instruction from the operation and control device; outputting a switch signal to turn off the picture of the selected computer, and starting the channel for the OSD signals; retrieving a pre-stored OSD background picture, and outputting the OSD background video signal and the control command to the OSD processing chip and OSD video switching circuit, and displaying via the monitor; inputting a functional instruction to select an OSD operation picture; outputting the selected OSD operating picture to the OSD processing chip and then to the monitor; inputting a functional instruction to stop the OSD operation; the OSD control system unit enabling the OSD video switching circuit to turn off the channel of the OSD signals, and controlling to switch back to the picture of the computer. |
| US08650338B2 |
Fencing direct memory access data transfers in a parallel active messaging interface of a parallel computer
Fencing direct memory access (‘DMA’) data transfers in a parallel active messaging interface (‘PAMI’) of a parallel computer, the PAMI including data communications endpoints, each endpoint including specifications of a client, a context, and a task, the endpoints coupled for data communications through the PAMI and through DMA controllers operatively coupled to segments of shared random access memory through which the DMA controllers deliver data communications deterministically, including initiating execution through the PAMI of an ordered sequence of active DMA instructions for DMA data transfers between two endpoints, effecting deterministic DMA data transfers through a DMA controller and a segment of shared memory; and executing through the PAMI, with no FENCE accounting for DMA data transfers, an active FENCE instruction, the FENCE instruction completing execution only after completion of all DMA instructions initiated prior to execution of the FENCE instruction for DMA data transfers between the two endpoints. |
| US08650337B2 |
Runtime determination of translation formats for adapter functions
Various address translation formats are available for use in obtaining system memory addresses for use by requestors in accessing system memory. The particular address translation format to be used by a given requestor, an example of which is an adapter function, is pre-registered in a device table entry associated with that requestor. |
| US08650336B2 |
Direct memory access (DMA) device with event mover that moves event from event calendar to expired event queue without management of central processing unit
The direct memory access device and method of the present invention uses an event calendar, an expired event queue of a fixed size, a calendar scanner, and an event mover. The event calendar stores an event in a linked list. The expired event queue stores an event that has already expired from the event calendar. The calendar scanner automatically scans the event calendar without management by a central processing unit (CPU). The event mover moves an event from the event calendar to the expired event queue without management by the CPU. The method provides for storing the event in the linked list, automatically scanning the event calendar without management by the CPU, moving the event from the event calendar to an expired event queue of a fixed size without management by the CPU, and storing the event that has already expired from the event calendar. |
| US08650335B2 |
Measurement facility for adapter functions
A measurement facility is provided for capturing and presenting fine-grained usage information for adapter functions in an input/output subsystem. Adapter specific input/output traffic is tracked on a per function basis and the results are dynamically presented to the user. This information is useful for performance tuning, load balancing and usage based charging, as examples. |
| US08650323B2 |
Managing multi-step retry reinitialization protocol flows
In an embodiment, a server computer comprises service processing logic that implements a Multi Step Retry Reinitialization Protocol Flow, and a protocol-aware rate limiting unit configured to cause one or more processors to perform receiving a message from a client; determining whether the received client message is a start type of message that requests starting the Flow; in response to determining that the received client message is a start type of message, determining whether to provide the received client message to the service processing logic using a discriminating rate limiting process. As a result, service unavailability may be prevented by rate limiting start types of messages, thereby allowing services to finish processing in-process protocol flows, when large numbers of clients concurrently attempt to obtain the services. |
| US08650319B2 |
System and method for workflow driven channel search results
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08650318B2 |
System and method for channel to channel integration in an IP marketplace
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08650317B2 |
System and method for searching channels based on channel rating
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08650316B2 |
System and method for enabling channel content drill down
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08650315B2 |
System and method for enabling healthcare industry channels in an IP marketplace
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08650310B2 |
Detecting an inactive client during a communication session
A communication session is established between a first device and a browser on a second device. The communication session is a persistent hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) session in which a transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) connection persists throughout the persistent HTTP session. A question is transmitted from the first device to the browser on the second device. In response to the first device receiving an illogical response to the question from the second device, the communication session between the first device and the second device is terminated. |
| US08650309B2 |
Cascading architecture for audio and video streams
An approach to supplying a data stream, for e.g., an internet-based video conference, to multiple client devices in a network, including attempting, at a first client device, to join an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast session in a network in which the first client device is operating and, if unsuccessful to attempt to join a unicast transmission of the data stream from a network node other than the meeting server and that is in a same subnet as the first client device, and if the unicast join within the same subnet is unsuccessful, registering the first client device with the meeting server to obtain at least one candidate node from which to receive the data stream. |
| US08650307B2 |
System for automated device-to-device transfer
A session transfer module of a session server provides the capability to a user to direct a transfer of an on-going session from one device to another device while maintaining the session. The session transfer module is invoked by a user in a way consistent with the user interface of the client application, including by a graphical user command, a command line prompt, or a voice command. The client provides a selection of possible devices that may receive the redirected session. The session transfer module receives the selected device with the session redirect command over a communication network. The communication network may be wired (e.g., public switched telephone network (“PSTN”), Internet, etc.,) a wireless network (e.g., digital telephone network, pager network, etc.,) or a combination of the wired and wireless networks. The session transfer module may be configured to discontinue the session with the current device and to block any subsequent messages of the transferring session from reaching the device. The session transfer module may be further configured to access a device profile from a device profile database to convert the blocked messages into a format compatible to the format and/or modality of the redirected device. The session transfer module may be further configured to push the session to the redirected device in response to an activation (e.g., log-on) of the redirected device by the user. Alternatively, the session transfer module may be further configured to push the session back to the device in response to a time-out in the activation of the redirected device. |
| US08650303B1 |
Data management for an application with multiple operation modes
A method and system for managing an application with multiple modes are described. A device manager that manages a mobile device may monitor the mobile device. The device manager may detect that a first type of application that runs in a managed mode (or in multiple managed modes) and an unmanaged mode is installed on the mobile device. When the application is executed on the device, the application executes in accordance with the selected application mode, e.g., based on location, user, role, industry presence, or other predefined context. |
| US08650302B2 |
Communication in multiprocessor using proxy sockets
Systems and methods for implementing communication in a multiprocessor are disclosed. In one exemplary implementation a first processor receives a request to provide a communication resource for an application executing on the first processor to communicate with a remote application. In response to the communication request, the first processor opens a communication resource on a second processor, and manages communication operations between the application executing on the first processor and the remote application using the communication resource on the second processor. |
| US08650301B2 |
Adaptive data rate streaming in a peer-to-peer network delivering video content
A method for increasing bit-rate consumed by a consumer node in a real-time peer-to-peer (P2P) network delivering real-time multimedia content. The method comprises determining desirability to switch to a higher bit-rate consumption respective of a current bit-rate consumption; sending requests to resource nodes of the P2P network for supply of additional bandwidth to support a difference between the higher bit-rate consumption and the current bit-rate consumption; connecting to at least one resource node of the P2P network that can supply the additional bandwidth, thereby increasing bit-rate consumption; determining whether there are connection problems due to the increase in bit-rate consumption; and consuming from the at least one resource node the current bit-rate in addition to the additional bandwidth when no connection problems occur and it is established that the consumer node is capable of handling the higher bit-rate consumption of the real-time multimedia content. |
| US08650299B1 |
Scalable cloud computing
A scalable cloud infrastructure serves two or more customers, where each customer is associated with at least one unit of virtual resources. The virtual resources are established by apportioning physical resources in the cloud infrastructure that are partitioned into pods within one or more zones in a scalable manner. Each pod comprises a strongly connected discrete set of physical resources in a zone. Additionally, the cloud infrastructure establishes one or more management server clusters each comprising one or more management servers. Each management server is configured for allocating the units of virtual resources to an account associated with each customer. The traffic from two or more customer accounts within the scalable cloud infrastructure is isolated and segmented. |
| US08650298B2 |
Resource allocation system
The present application provides a scalable system for managing requests for compute resources using a cloud computing architecture. The system estimates the total processing time of each computation in advance and monitors the progress of each computation to provide a more accurate estimate of remaining processing time. In this way, a determination may be made as each new computation request is received as to whether an additional resource is required or whether an existing resource would be suitable. |
| US08650295B2 |
Managing network security
Technology for network security is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of managing network security includes receiving sampled packets. The sampled packets represent packets being sampled from network packet traffic in at least one location in a network. The sampled packets are converted into an appropriate format for analysis to form converted packets. Moreover, the converted packets are sent to a first group including at least one security device for analysis. If an event message is generated by the at least one security device as a result of analysis of the converted packets, the event message is received from the at least one security device. Network security is evaluated based on the event message and security policies and is adjusted based on that evaluation. The method may be implemented with a network manager. |
| US08650290B2 |
Portable computing device and method of operation of same
A managed services platform and method of operation of same are described herein. The platform can include a device management service (DMS) server in which the DMS server can act as a gateway for communications with one or more computing devices, and the computing devices are associated with a first entity. The platform can also include an application service (AS) server in which the AS server is communicatively coupled with the DMS server. When a first computing device contacts the DMS server, the DMS server is operable to provide a bundle to the first computing device. As an example, the bundle contains content that at least includes one or more configuration messages and an application set that contains one or more predefined applications. The content of the bundle can be determined at least in part by the first entity. |
| US08650287B2 |
Local reputation to adjust sensitivity of behavioral detection system
Source assets are monitored for activities, each activity associated with a corresponding activity weight indicating probability of the activity resulting from a security compromise. A source asset is determined to perform a particular activity indicative of a potential security compromise, such as a download of an executable of malicious reputation. A source asset tracking instance is instantiated to include data identifying the particular activity. The tracking instance is to be updated based on identification of subsequently monitored activities. A reputation value is determined for the activity weight of the particular activity based at least in part on the malicious reputation of the executable. An asset reputation is determined for the source asset from the corresponding activity weights of monitored activities involving the source asset and a security risk is determined when the asset reputation exceeds a threshold. |
| US08650286B1 |
Prevention of looping and duplicate frame delivery in a network environment
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a storage media, for preventing looping and duplicate frame delivery in a network environment. A first control plane message is received from a first edge node in a plurality of edge nodes in a plurality of network elements of a network, the first control plane message identifying a first hint to be included in first multicast packets that include data originating from a first computing device interfaced with the first edge node and are forwarded to the network through the first edge node. A data record is stored identifying the association between the first hint and the first computing device. The data record is used to determine that multicast packets including the first hint originate from the first computing device and are not to be forwarded to the first computing device by edge nodes interfacing with the first computing device. |
| US08650283B1 |
Content delivery technology
Content delivery technology, in which a request to download a content file to a downloader device is received from a remote device and the downloader device associated with the received request is identified. Address information for the content file associated with the received request is determined and a communication session is established with the downloader device based on the identification of the downloader device associated with the received request. The determined address information for the content file is sent to the downloader device over the established communication session, thereby enabling the downloader device to download the content file associated with the request. |
| US08650280B2 |
Monitoring distributed task execution using a chained text messaging system
Embodiments of a system, method, and computer program product for monitoring task processing in a distributed system are provided. A task controller is provided with a task. The task controller generates a plurality of subtasks from the provided task, where each subtask includes a callback function. The subtasks are distributed for execution to multiple computing devices in the distributed system. As each subtask is executed by a computing device, the callback function is invoked, the invocation generating a message. The message includes the process and status information of the executing subtasks. The process and status information included in the message for each subtask is monitored, analyzed and aggregated, and is transmitted for a display on a client device. |
| US08650278B2 |
Generating displays of networking addresses
Technologies for generating displays of user-defined blocks of networking addresses on a map of an associated address space are provided. Each block of networking addresses is described in a user-defined table with a start address and a map size. The display for each block of network addresses may be rendered on the map at a location based on the relative position of the start address within the associated address space and of a size based on the mask size in relation to the associated address space. |
| US08650276B2 |
Communication control apparatus for controlling QoS according to applications and network state
In a communication control apparatus controlling communications between terminals and network devices, the terminal communication optimizer includes a first acquiring section for acquiring first information indicating applications running on the terminal and their destinations, and a setting section for setting QoS for each application according to second information indicating an instruction. The communication optimizer includes a second acquiring section for acquiring third information indicating the QoS requisite for each application indicated by the first information and fourth information about the state of the network, a deciding section for deciding whether or not there are network resources requisite for the applications indicated by the first information, and a communication instructing section for performing communications, when the network resources are insufficient, with higher communication priority applications communicating at a first QoS and lower communication priority applications communicating within the limit not deteriorating the first QoS. |
| US08650272B2 |
Distributed transaction processing system having resource managers that collaborate to decide whether to commit or abort a transaction in response to failure of a transaction manager
A distributed transaction processing system includes a plurality of resources, resource managers to manage corresponding ones of the resources, and a transaction manager to coordinate performance of a transaction with the resource managers. In response to failure of the transaction manager, the resource managers are configured to collaborate to decide whether to commit or abort the transaction. |
| US08650270B2 |
Distributed computing with multiple coordinated component collections
A system having components that collectively perform functions and services of the system. The components are managed as belonging to at least a first component collection and a second component collection. The components of the first component collection operate at a time scale that is substantially temporally independent of the components of the second component collection. The components of the first component collection have a first set of temporal requirements and the components of the second component collection have a second substantially different set of temporal requirements. |
| US08650266B2 |
Cache validation using smart source selection in a data network
In accordance with aspects of the invention, “low-level” caches can utilize source selection while non-authoritative sources can take advantage of rejuvenation to alleviate what the inventor refers to as “age penalty” and thereby reduce validation traffic. |
| US08650264B2 |
Offline webpage activated by reading a tag
A system for enabling a user to wirelessly download desired information in the form of a offline website without having to maintain a live Internet connection. Information is delivered from an active or passive source to a device via short-range wireless communication. This information is automatically interpreted by the device to form an offline version of a full-scale Internet website. The user may view the offline version of the website, and if additional information is desired, download or upload additional information at a time more convenient to maintain a live Internet connection. |
| US08650261B2 |
System and method for updating software using updated data from external sources
A system and method for automatically updating reference values includes a processing device configured to execute a software application. The software application employs one or more dynamic data items which change as a function of time. A memory device is configured to store at least one table including the one or more dynamic data items which change as a function of time. An update mechanism is configured to check one or more external information sources for current values of the one or more dynamic data items and update the one or more dynamic data items in the at least one table such that upon execution of the software application a most recently updated value is employed for the one or more dynamic data items. |
| US08650257B2 |
Method, system and mobile terminal for processing short message
A method for processing a short message is provided in the present invention, which includes that a sending party editing short message text and sending a short message including the short message text and a template identifier (ID) to a short message service center; and a receiving party receiving the short message sent from the short message service center, analyzing to obtain the template ID included in the short message, then finding a template with a same template ID, and combining the template that is found with the short message text to be displayed. With the scheme of the present invention, directly sending the short message between the sending party and the receiving party can just achieve the effect of enhancing the interestingness of the short messages without increasing the processing burden of the short message service center and the occupation of the network resources. |
| US08650256B2 |
Communications security by enforcing offline consumption and auto-termination of electronic messages
A restrictive presentation system can receive an electronic message configured for offline consumption expressed as user-specified delivery conditions. The electronic message can be securely conveyed to a computing device in an online state using a communications network. A client application of the restrictive presentation system can be installed upon the computing device and can receive the electronic message. The client application can detect a change of the computing device from the online state to the offline state. In response to user-acceptance, the electronic message can be presented upon the computing device while in the offline state. Upon user-termination of the presentation, the electronic message can be automatically deleted from a storage location of the computing device. When the computing device returns to the online state, the client application can notify the restrictive presentation system of the offline consumption. |
| US08650252B2 |
Instantaneous recommendation of social interactions in a social networking system
As a user of a social networking system views a page that includes information provided by the system, certain types of social interactions are monitored. If an interaction monitored for is detected, at least one recommendation unit is identified to present to user on the page. The recommendation unit is identified based on a description of the interaction. The recommendation unit suggests that the user perform a social interaction in the social networking system. The recommendation unit is transmitted to a device of the user and is presented to the user on the page without having to reload the entire page. |
| US08650246B2 |
Method and system for licensing a software product
A distributed method for licensing a software product is disclosed. Access to a software product by a user is requested at a client-side. An identity of the user and a local setting of the client-side are determined. At a server-side, licensing information specific to the determined local setting is selected from a licensing database. The selected licensing information is transmitted from the server-side to the client-side and then output at the client-side to the user. At the client-side, confirmation of a license agreement for the software product based on the output licensing information is requested. |
| US08650243B2 |
System and method for geographic SIP scaling
Described herein are aspects relating to a system and method for scaling a session initiation protocol communication system that allows components of the system to be distributed and/or scaled across multiple and different hardware, networks, systems, and locations. |
| US08650237B2 |
Method and device for low delay processing
Adaptive processing of an input signal is achieved by offline analysis, with inline processing comprising an adaptive filter. The method comprises passing the input signal through an adaptive time domain filter to produce an output signal. The input signal and/or output signal is used as an offline analysis signal. The analysis signal is transformed into a transform domain (eg frequency domain) to produce a transformed analysis signal. The transformed analysis signal is analyzed, for example by ADRO, to produce a plurality of desired gains each corresponding to a respective transform domain sub-band. A time domain filter characteristic is synthesized to at least approach the desired gains. The adaptive filter is updated with the synthesized filter characteristic. Minimum phase adaptive filter techniques are found to possess particular benefits in this scheme. |
| US08650234B2 |
Method and system for generating a random number in disk drive
For generating a random number in a disk drive, a seed is generated from a respective sector number for each of at least one sector of the disk drive. The random number is calculated using the seed. The seed that is generated with enhanced unpredictability and complexity is used to generate the random number for secure data cryptography within the disk drive. |
| US08650228B2 |
Methods and systems for space management in data de-duplication
The present invention is directed toward methods and systems for data de-duplication. More particularly, in various embodiments, the present invention provides systems and methods for data de-duplication that may utilize storage reclamation. In various embodiments, data de-duplication may be performed using data storage reclamation by reconciling a list of all active tags against a list of all tags present within the object store itself. Any tags found to be in the object store that have no corresponding active usage may then be deleted. In some embodiments additional steps may be taken to avoid race conditions in deleting tags that are needed by incoming data. In some embodiments the object store may request the lists. In other embodiments, a runtime list, in which each new tag is entered as they are returned from the object store. In another embodiment the object store may maintain this list directly. |
| US08650220B2 |
System and method for storing and retrieving geospatial data
Systems and methods for storing and retrieving geospatial data in a geographic information system are provided. Geospatial data can be spatially partitioned along axes of a spherical coordinate system associated with a virtual globe or other spheroid into a plurality of discrete geospatial volumes pursuant to a hierarchical spatial partitioning scheme. For instance, geospatial data can be spatially partitioned into geospatial volumes along surfaces of constant latitude, longitude, and altitude defined by the spherical coordinate system. The discrete geospatial volumes can be stored as nodes in a hierarchical tree data structure. Additional methods are provided for portioning geospatial objects, such as tiles or discrete geospatial volumes, in tritree to reduce polar distortions. |
| US08650217B2 |
Compression method for a data transfer that is independent of computer architecture and/or decompression method for a data record
A compression method for a data transfer that is independent of computer architecture and/or a decompression method for a data record that contains structural indicators and variable values are provided. The method includes the following steps: provision of a string automaton, which represents the structuring rules of the data record in a unit that compresses the original data record; input of the data record into the string automaton; generation of a second, shorter data record by the string automaton, the record containing the variable values of the first data record and control symbols that are specific to the string automaton equipment, the symbols representing a switch from an automaton condition to a sequence condition; and transmission of the second data record to a similar string automaton, which interprets the control symbols, whereby a copy of the original data record with an identical data structure is generated. |
| US08650214B1 |
Dynamic frame buster injection
A parsing module receives a web page from a network. The parsing module identifies a frame embedded within the intercepted web page. The parsing module identifies information regarding the embedded frame. A collection module collects the identified information regarding the embedded frame and maintains such information in an exclusion list stored in a memory module. A lookup module intercepts a web page from the network before the web page reaches the client. The lookup module identifies information regarding this web page and accesses the memory module to determine if the identified information is included in the exclusion list. If the identified information regarding the web page is not included in the exclusion list, a modification module modifies the web page such that the web page will not be loaded on the client within a frame. |
| US08650213B2 |
System and method for distributed privacy preserving data mining
Distributed privacy preserving data mining techniques are provided. A first entity of a plurality of entities in a distributed computing environment exchanges summary information with a second entity of the plurality of entities via a privacy-preserving data sharing protocol such that the privacy of the summary information is preserved, the summary information associated with an entity relating to data stored at the entity. The first entity may then mine data based on at least the summary information obtained from the second entity via the privacy-preserving data sharing protocol. The first entity may obtain, from the second entity via the privacy-preserving data sharing protocol, information relating to the number of transactions in which a particular itemset occurs and/or information relating to the number of transactions in which a particular rule is satisfied. |
| US08650210B1 |
Identifying non-search actions based on a search query
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for invoking a non-search action based on a search query. A server system receives a search query from a remote computing device. The server system determines whether the search query includes reserved text that indicates an intent by a user that provided the search query to the remote computing device to perform a non-search messaging action instead of or in addition to obtaining search results. The server system provides to the computing device, in response to determining that the search query includes the reserved text, code for causing the remote computing device to display a draft communication that includes at least the search query without the reserved text, and for allowing the user to edit the draft communication before transmitting the draft communication for receipt by recipient users. |
| US08650209B1 |
System, method, and computer program for determining most of the non duplicate records in high performance environments in an economical and fault-tolerant manner
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining at least potentially duplicate records. In use, when a new record is received, a first entry of a first predetermined field of the newly received record is identified, and a data structure is selected, based on the first entry. Further, a second entry of a second predetermined field of the newly received record is identified, and the second entry is compared to entries already stored in the data structure, where the entries stored in the data structure are associated with a plurality of other received records. Still yet, it is determined whether the newly received record is at least potentially a duplicate of at least one of the other received records, based on the comparison. |
| US08650207B2 |
Inductive synthesis of table-based string transformations
Inductive synthesis and combination framework technique embodiments are presented that generally perform string transformations involving lookup operations in one or more relational tables, either alone or in combination with other non-lookup operations. More particularly, a semantic string lookup transformation language is presented, which can be used to generate an inductive synthesis procedure that synthesizes a set of transformations involving lookup operations that are consistent with the given set of input-output examples. In addition, a combination framework for combining the lookup transformation language and its synthesis procedure, with other transformation languages and their associated synthesis procedures, is presented. The resulting combined synthesis procedures enable the combination framework to synthesize transformations on a rich variety of data-types. |
| US08650203B1 |
Iterated related item discovery
The present invention provides methods and computer program products for identifying a set of related videos for a first video. An embodiment of the method comprises a video hosting website creating an ordered list containing a plurality of words from the metadata associated with the first video. The video hosting website uses a select number of words from the ordered list to form a search query. The search query is processed by the videos hosting website to obtain search results that contain a number of related videos. If the number of related videos in the search results is not within a set range, the search query is modified and the modified search query is processed. If the number of related videos in the search results is within a set range, the search results are provided as the set of related videos for the first video. |
| US08650200B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for identifying objects as at least potentially unwanted based on strings of symbols
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for identifying objects as being at least potentially unwanted based on strings of symbols identified therein. In use, strings of symbols are identified in a plurality of sequential lines of an object. Further, the object is conditionally identified as being at least potentially unwanted, based on the strings of symbols. |
| US08650199B1 |
Document similarity detection
A similarity detector detects similar or near duplicate occurrences of a document. The similarity detector determines similarity of documents by characterizing the documents as clusters each made up of a set of term entries, such as pairs of terms. A pair of terms, for example, indicates that the first term of the pair occurs before the second term of the pair in the underlying document. Another document that has a threshold level of term entries in common with a cluster is considered similar to the document characterized by the cluster. |
| US08650195B2 |
Region based information retrieval system
A region based information retrieval system improves on conventional information retrieval systems by breaking down documents into one or more region(s) and processing the additional information available at a region level of analysis. When looking at regions, it becomes possible to quickly distinguish between groups of related documents, quickly ignore or focus on certain information, track recent evolutions of documents, as well as understand the historical relationships, heritage, and versions of these documents. This is all possible whether or not the document publishers specify where the content originally came from. |
| US08650191B2 |
Search engine optimization assistant
Website optimization methods and tools for optimizing visibility of a website to Internet search engines include evaluation of a against one or more optimization tests based on one or more search terms. A report is generated along with tools that guide and prompt the user for user input that is used by the tools to directly edit content of the website to improve the visibility of the website to Internet search engines. |
| US08650189B2 |
Systems and methods for determining visibility and reputation of a user on the internet
An apparatus comprises a visibility module configured to derive a hit visibility score for one or more hits from an information source, wherein the one or more hits are directed to a target entity, and wherein the hit visibility score indicates a likelihood that a corresponding hit is found by a searcher after the searcher searches for the target entity in the information source; a sentiment module configured to derive a hit sentiment score for at least one of the one or more hits, wherein the hit sentiment score indicates a sentiment about the target entity conveyed by the at least one of the one or more hits; and a reputation module configured to derive a reputation for the target entity based on the hit visibility score and the hit sentiment score. |
| US08650188B1 |
Retargeting in a search environment
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retargeting content in a search environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item to be provided with a search results page and determining that one or more retargeted content items are eligible for presentation with the search results page. Each of the retargeted content items is a content item that is eligible for presentation with the search results page based on: (1) the search query matching a targeting keyword for the retargeted content item, and (2) the user identifier matching a retargeted identifier that is included in a retargeting set for the retargeted content item. A responsive content item to be presented with the search results page is selected, based at least in part on bids that are associated with the retargeted content items, and data specifying the responsive content item are provided. |
| US08650185B1 |
Systems and methods for database interaction using a multi-dimensional graphical user input interface
Systems and methods are provided for facilitating interaction with a database using a multi-dimensional graphical user input interface. According to certain aspects, the graphical user input interface may include a graphical control element manipulable to positions in a construct defined by the dimensions of the graphical user input interface. Quantifiable factors may correspond to each of the dimensions. The position of the graphical control element may be received and simultaneously define values for each of the factors. A database action may be executed based on the values. A database result may be generated and transmitted, based on the database action. The systems and methods may be utilized to simultaneously define multiple measureable factors to generate database results. Applications for the graphical user input interface include creating job descriptions, sorting and filtering datasets, searching product inventory, human resources, and survey answer collection. |
| US08650182B2 |
Mechanism for efficiently searching XML document collections
The techniques presented herein are directed towards providing a user-directed keyword-based search on a large collection of XML documents, and displaying a summary of results to the user. Prior to receiving search requests from a user, an offline analysis of a large collection of XML documents is performed to construct an inverted index of keywords. For each keyword, the index stores a set of location indicators that identify all the instances of the keyword found in the collection of documents. Once the index is constructed, keyword searching can be done efficiently by a keyword lookup in the index. Various display strategies enable the user to see the specific portion of a large XML document containing the keyword and/or path frequency information allowing the user to easily refine the search to specific paths within the collection of documents. |
| US08650181B2 |
OLAP execution model using relational operations
In one embodiment the present invention includes an OLAP execution model using relational operations. In one embodiment, the present invention includes, a method comprising receiving a first query in an online analytic processor (OLAP) executing on one or more computers, the OLAP generating and comprising a model specifying a graph defining a plurality of nodes and a plurality of tiers, each node corresponding to a different operation on data. A second query is generated by the OLAP. The second query includes a plurality of layered subqueries each corresponding to one of the nodes in the graph for specifying the different operations on data. The second query is received in a relational engine coupled to the datastore. The relational engine executes the second query, and in accordance therewith, retrieves data. |
| US08650180B2 |
Efficient optimization over uncertain data
The subject disclosure is directed towards using fingerprints, comprising lists of simulation results corresponding to partial (random sampled) simulation results, to determine whether a full simulation may be avoided by reusing simulation results from a previous full simulation. Before running a full simulation, a current fingerprint is obtained via a partial simulation. If a previous fingerprint matches (is identical or similar to) the current fingerprint, the associated previous results are reused. Also described is indexing fingerprint data to facilitate efficient lookup-based fingerprint matching. |
| US08650176B2 |
Apparatus and methods for providing route-based advertising and vendor-reported business information over a network
A method of providing advertising to a user over a network includes receiving from the user a query identifying a contemplated route, accessing a computer database of self-reported business information from vendors, each vendor having an identified geographic location, wherein the self-reported business information has been previously supplied by the vendors through a vendor interface and stored in the database, providing to the user, over the network, information from the database concerning the business information of a set of vendors extracted from the database on the basis of geographic proximity to the route identified by the user, providing to the user, over the network in response to the query, advertising from the set of vendors based, at least in part, on data retrieved from the database, and pricing the advertising based, at least in part, on distance of each vendor's geographic location from the contemplated route. |
| US08650175B2 |
User interface for facts query engine with snippets from information sources that include query terms and answer terms
A method and a system for providing snippets of source documents of an answer to a fact query are disclosed. Snippets of source documents may be provided in response to a user request for the source documents from which the fact answer to a fact query was extracted. The snippets include the terms of the fact query and terms of the answer. The snippets may be displayed along with Uniform Resource Locators (URL's) of the source documents. |
| US08650167B2 |
Method and system for data reduction
A “forward” delta data management technique uses a “sparse” index associated with a delta file to achieve both delta management efficiency and to eliminate read latency while accessing history data. The invention may be implemented advantageously in a data management system that provides real-time data services to data sources associated with a set of application host servers. A host driver embedded in an application server connects an application and its data to a cluster. The host driver captures real-time data transactions, preferably in the form of an event journal that is provided to the data management system. In particular, the driver functions to translate traditional file/database/block I/O into a continuous, application-aware, output data stream. A given application-aware data stream is processed through a multi-stage data reduction process to produce a compact data representation from which an “any point-in-time” reconstruction of the original data can be made. |
| US08650166B1 |
Systems and methods for classifying files
A computer-implemented method for classifying files may include identifying data to be written to a file on a storage system. The method may also include, before the data is written to the storage system, 1) identifying a characteristic of the data, 2) determining, based on the characteristic of the data, a classification for the file, and 3) using the classification of the file to select a location within the storage system where the file should be stored. The method may further include writing the data to the file at the selected location within the storage system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed herein. |
| US08650162B1 |
Method and apparatus for integrating data duplication with block level incremental data backup
A method for integrating data deduplication with block level incremental data backup is described. In one embodiment, the method includes accessing from memory at least one modified data block of a file, wherein the file is partitioned into a plurality of deduplication segments, identifying at least one deduplication segment that corresponds with the at least one modified data block, computing using at least one processor a signature for each deduplication segment of the at least one corresponding deduplication segment and comparing using at least one processor each signature that is associated with the at least one corresponding deduplication segment with signature information that is associated with backup data to identify at least one duplicate data block within the backup data and the at least one modified data block. |
| US08650160B1 |
Systems and methods for restoring multi-tier applications
A computer-implemented method for restoring multi-tier applications may include (1) identifying a request to restore a multi-tier application from a backup of the multi-tier application, the multi-tier application including a plurality of individually relocatable components, (2) in response to the request, retrieving a configuration data store from the backup, the configuration data store including a topology of the plurality of individually relocatable components, (3) parsing the configuration data store to extract at least a portion of the topology from the configuration data store, and (4) restoring at least a portion of the multi-tier application based on the portion of the topology. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08650158B2 |
File cloning across different filesets
Embodiments include a computer program product and an apparatus for cloning files across different filesets and maintaining the clone files. After a clone file is created from a file, a write request targeting the clone file can be handled. It is determined that the write request indicates the clone file that was cloned from a file in a first fileset. The clone file is of a second fileset and a clustered file system comprises the first fileset and the second fileset. A data block of the clone file affected by the write request is determined. It is then determined that the data block at a current location cannot be modified. The write request is implemented with respect to the data block at a different location. It is indicated that the data block at the different location can be modified for subsequent write requests that indicate the clone file. |
| US08650150B2 |
System and method of relating data and generating reports
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer implemented method of relating data and generating reports. The method includes storing, by an OLAP system, a network data structure that relates a plurality of data objects. The method further includes storing transactional data in an in-memory database in the OLAP system. The method further includes generating, by the OLAP system, a report using the stored transactional data according to the network data structure. In this manner, deficiencies of the traditional star schema paradigm of data warehousing may be avoided. |
| US08650148B1 |
Techniques for text classification
For various purposes, medical reports and other natural-language texts are assigned discrete codes. Different methods of assigning codes, intended to produce the same results, often fail to assign the same code to the same input.To improve the consistency and accuracy of this coding process and produce a useful, concrete and tangible result, the embodiment of the present invention electronically assigns to each text a code that is selected from candidate codes produced by multiple pre-existing coding processes, automatic and/or manual. Methods are provided for choosing the code that is, by various criteria, considered most likely to be correct because it represents the best compromise between possible alternative codes.While the disclosure focuses on medical coding procedures, the invention disclosed herein may be applicable and adaptable to classification of texts or other data for various clinical, scientific, or non-scientific applications. |
| US08650147B2 |
System and method for interactively delivering expert information to remote outlets
A networked interactive expert system is disclosed for selectively providing relevant expertise when a user requires such assistance. System provides a set of networked facilities for determining an expertise needed by a customer based on a location. Such location can be either physical or logical. A physical “location” corresponds, for example, to a department within a retail outlet. Examples of logical “locations” are ones corresponding to a web-page, a product identification code of interest, a customer identification code, and/or explicit knowledge category selected by the customer. An expert studio, from a list of expert studios providing expertise corresponding to the identified location associated with the customer's request, is matched up with the request. Thereafter, a primary connection, supporting an interactive videoconference session, is established between a first networked node associated with the customer and a second networked node associated with the designated expert studio. |
| US08650145B2 |
Creating snapshots of data using a selected one of different snapshot algorithms
In a storage system, snapshots of data are created according to a snapshot algorithm in response to writes. The snapshot algorithm is selected from among a plurality of different snapshot algorithms according to one or more criteria. |
| US08650141B2 |
System and method of segmenting and tagging entities based on profile matching using a multi-media survey
A system and method of profile matching using a multi-media survey is described. The method is capable to capturing the emotional reflex of a user. The method is generalized to categorizing an entity (a user or an object) to specific segment with similar emotional profiles. Each entity can be assigned to an emotional code. Such code can be used as a universal vocabulary in the emotional space for both commerce and consumers to adopt in facilitating communication among different parties. |
| US08650127B1 |
Digital rights management for computer program code
A digital rights management (“DRM”) system is described that seeks to restrict the use and execution of certain computer program code to those hardware systems or platforms authorized by the provider of the protected software. To this end, certain computer programs (or portions thereof) are provided to authorized users in an encrypted format. When a “protected” program is to be executed, it is retrieved and stored in its encrypted format in operating system memory where it is accessible to operating system level routines (e.g., a file read operation). It is also decrypted and placed in another memory such that only the process executing the protected program has ready access to it. |
| US08650114B2 |
Method and system for reserving future purchases of goods or services
A method and system for reserving future purchases of airline services using electronic options. The electronic options are used to reserve plural different types of airline services including selection of: a desired seat row location, a desired seat location in a desired row location, a plural adjacent seats in a desired row, a plural adjacent seats in a plural desired rows, a desired location in an overhead bin to store carry-on luggage, a priority boarding sequence, a priority exiting sequence, priority pre-flight baggage handling, priority post-flight baggage handling, cancellation and change privileges for a purchased airline ticket, a priority list position in a stand-by list and/or a priority list position for an automatic upgrade to a first class seat, business class seat or other non-economy seat and/or other airline services. |
| US08650113B2 |
Identification of accounts that are too profitable or too lossy
An electronic surveillance system or method identifies potentially suspect trading activities by determining when day trading accounts are too consistently profitable or too consistently unprofitable (lossy). The electronic surveillance system examines specific futures commodities or other securities over a specified time period (e.g., daily). Accounts that are too consistently profitable or too consistently unprofitable are flagged by the system. In addition, the system may report when a trading account experiences statistically unusually large gains or losses per contract traded and gains or losses or a high percentage of time periods. The day to day profits or losses are displayed to a user in a graphical format that expresses the profit or loss trends intuitively before additional analysis of charts or numbers. The system may also perform the analysis for pairs of accounts where trades opposite to one another of the pair are unusually consistently profitable or unusually consistently lossy. |
| US08650111B2 |
Method and system for tracking derivatives positions and monitoring credit limits
A derivatives position tracking system that consists of a centralized trading engine with a trade history database capable of communication with a plurality of counterpart computers via a network to enable the execution of a derivatives transaction. The trading engine and counterpart computers enable the counterpart computers to initiate, unwind and assign requests. Upon execution of a tear-up or assignment, a record of such transaction is stored in the trade history database. Whether or not the tear-up or assignment is executed with the original counterpart, the original counterpart receives a notification of the tear-up/assignment and a new position with the counterpart is reflected in the position-tracking database. Additionally, a credit monitoring module can be used in connection with the derivatives position tracking system to enable the trading engine to alert counterparts when a derivatives transaction exceeds a pre-defined credit limit. |
| US08650109B2 |
System and method for defined contribution default benchmark
A system and method for generating an integrated family of benchmarks representing portfolio allocations for a participant is described. At least two assets for a portfolio are identified. A current market rate for at least one of the assets and an expected inflation for a predetermined time period are determined via a computing device. The computing device determines a portfolio allocation to each asset based on the current market rate and the expected inflation so as to define a process for obtaining inflation-protected income for a predetermined number of years and then non-inflation protected income for subsequent years. The identified assets and the portfolio allocations are published via a network. |
| US08650101B1 |
Internal material system for facilitating material and asset movement within organizational infrastructures
Utilities that allow organizations to implement “best practices” life-cycle management, asset disposition and asset tracking with enhanced visibility and accountability. In one aspect, a utility for use with managing inventory within the infrastructure of a technology service provider includes receiving a first bill of materials (BOM) from a first physical location, accessing an asset inventory listing for the technology service provider, first allocating assets in the asset inventory listing associated with the first physical location to the quantity of the first requested part of the first line item, and second allocating assets in the asset inventory listing associated with one or more additional physical locations within the first market to the quantity of the first requested part responsive to the first using failing to result in fulfillment of the quantity of the first requested part of the first line item. |
| US08650098B2 |
Methods and systems of maintaining and monitoring vehicle tracking device inventories
Systems and methods of tracking an installer's inventory of vehicle tracking devices performed by the supplier of the devices are provided. Inventory levels of the devices are checked based on activation and/or registration of a tracking device and a subsequent stock-out notification is sent to the installer based on the checked inventory level. |
| US08650096B2 |
Virtual worlds seamless object drop integration
Virtual worlds seamless object drop integration enables users to obtain products in a virtual world by dragging a product image icon off of an e-commerce web page and on to a virtual world client. The drag-and-drop movement is initiated by the user from a browser window on a display screen. The browser calls an underlying system service to pass an image tag corresponding to the product image icon on to the virtual world client. The image tag includes a unique identifier. The virtual world client checks the image tag to see if the corresponding product has a price, and asks the user if they want to buy it. A product purchase transaction is completed by a virtual world network server and a payments network server that is called in for the financial authorizations. The seller's web page and payments network server are addressed by their respective Uniform Resource Locator (URL). |
| US08650094B2 |
Music recommendation using emotional allocation modeling
An exemplary method includes defining a vocabulary for emotions; extracting descriptions for songs; generating distributions for the songs in an emotion space based at least in part on the vocabulary and the extracted descriptions; extracting salient words from a document; generating a distribution for the document in an emotion space based at least in part on the vocabulary and the extracted salient words; and matching the distribution for the document to one or more of the distributions for the songs. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08650093B2 |
Used automobile transaction facilitation for a specific used automobile
A system, methods, and apparatus for performing used automobile transactions are disclosed. In an example embodiment, automobile market data representative of current automobile market characteristics is stored. The automobile market data may include pricing and consumer interest information received from consumers, dealers, and manufacturers. A consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may provide a request for a response regarding a specific used automobile with a specific a vehicle identification number. Automobile market data may be provided to a used automobile buyer based on the request. Bids to purchase the specific used automobile may be requested from used automobile buyers based on the request. Buyer bids may be provided to the consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller with prices and a delivery options. The consumer seller or manufacturer off-lease seller may select a bid to sell the specific used automobile based on the bid. |
| US08650089B2 |
Systems and methods for providing dynamic content into a static electronic document
Included are systems and methods for providing dynamic content into a static electronic document. At least one embodiment includes receiving an indication to include the dynamic content into the static electronic document, creating a computer program that defines functionality of the dynamic content, and deploying the computer program into the static electronic document. Similarly, some embodiments include sending the static electronic document to a user computing device, where at least a first portion of the static electronic document is configured to be viewed as a locally stored document and at least a second portion of the static electronic document receives the dynamic content from a remote computing device and receiving a request to provide the dynamic content, the request being provided in response to a user selection of a predetermined area of interest in the static electronic document. Still some embodiments include providing the dynamic content to the user computing device, wherein upon receipt of the dynamic content, the computer program causes the dynamic content to be provided within the predetermined area of interest in the static electronic document. |
| US08650083B2 |
Identifying a same user of multiple communication devices based on user routes
A system for identifying a same user of multiple communication devices is configured to perform the steps of: (a) receiving first data relating to a first device operated by a user; (b) receiving second data relating to a second device operated by a user; (c) determining that the user of the first device is the user of the second device based on identifying that the first data is substantially the same as the second data; and (d) selecting and transmitting a sponsored content to the second device for display thereon, wherein the sponsored content has a relevance to the first and second data and/or a user characteristic datum associated with the user. |
| US08650079B2 |
Promotion planning system
A method and system for using individualized customer models when operating a retail establishment is provided. The individualized customer models may be generated using statistical analysis of transaction data for the customer, thereby generating sub-models and attributes tailored to customer. The individualized customer models may be used in any aspect of a retail establishment's operations, ranging from supply chain management issues, inventory control, promotion planning (such as selecting parameters for a promotion or simulating results of a promotion), to customer interaction (such as providing a shopping list or providing individualized promotions). |
| US08650078B2 |
Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency during in-store shopping
Methods and systems for paying with loyalty currency at a store merchant by a user using a mobile app are provided. The user is presented with the loyalty currency balance information and one or more store merchants located in proximity of the user. The user may select a store merchant from the one or more store merchants. Thereafter, user is presented with one or more transaction rules associated with the selected store and an activation button for activating pay with points. The user may opt for activating pay with points for upcoming purchase transaction at the selected store based on the one or more transaction rules, thereby redeeming the loyalty currency. |
| US08650076B2 |
Third party authored web assets within webpage implementation server system
A method, within a computer hardware system, includes the following. A first functional marketing element associated with a second entity is inserted within a first website associated with a first entity. A second functional marketing element associated with the first entity is reciprocally inserted within a second website associated with the second entity based upon the first functional marketing element being inserted within the first website. A list of web assets is provided to the first entity in response to a search request, and a selected one of the web assets is inserted within the first website. The second functional marketing element, within the second website, includes a link to the first website, and the first functional marketing element, within the first website, includes a link to the second website. |
| US08650073B2 |
Glasses-free 3D advertising system and method
A glasses-free 3D advertising system and method wherein a number of wireless electronic digital 3D/2D video advertising players 10 are each located at a respective point-of-product display of consumer goods, detects the presence of an anonymous shopper proximate to the displayed consumer goods, and upon the shopper remaining at that location for a period of time, retrieves from memory and plays digital 3D or 2D video advertisements that contain information related specifically to the displayed consumer goods proximate to the advertising player, and records and reports statistical data relative to the advertisements played. |
| US08650071B2 |
Mobile coupon analysis systems and methods
Methods and systems are described for issuing and settling electronic coupons. A financial service host may receive authorization and settlement information, wherein the authorization and settlement information comprises an account number of the consumer. The account number may be linked to an account of the consumer enrolled in an electronic coupon program. The methods and system may also include transmitting a notification to the consumer that indicates the electronic coupon has been redeemed. A monetary value associated with the electronic coupon may be debited from an account linked to the merchant, and the account of the consumer may be credited with the monetary value associated with the electronic coupon. |
| US08650070B2 |
System and method for sharing content on third-party mobile applications
Methods and systems are provided for allowing users to recommend advertisements displayed in a third-party application running on a user device while not granting the third-party application privileges to send such recommendations on behalf of the user. A social network application installed on the user device, and separate from the third-party application, acts as a proxy for advertisement recommendation requests (e.g., indications that a user wishes to recommend an advertisement displayed), and a user is required to confirm all such recommendation actions. In this manner, a third-party application (e.g., a “malicious third-party application) cannot send advertisement recommendation requests, and/or requests to undo such recommendations, on its own as if it were the user. |
| US08650068B2 |
Method and system for determining services pricing
A method of determining services pricing, the method comprising: a server receiving vehicle identification information from a user via a network connection, wherein the vehicle identification information indicates a vehicle type; the server receiving service type information from the user via the network connection, wherein the service type information indicates a service type; the server determining an estimate range based on the vehicle identification information and the service type information, wherein the estimate range comprises a minimum value and maximum value for the indicated vehicle type and service type, and wherein determining the estimate range comprises determining a labor estimate and a parts estimate; and the server providing the estimate range to the user via the network connection. |
| US08650062B2 |
Automated replenishment using an economic profit quantity
Prior art methods base inventory management on maximizing cost. The present invention shifts the focus to maximizing economic profit, taking income tax into account. Systems and methods are provided for digitally calculating an economic profit quantity that maximizes economic profit, defined as the excess of net operating income over capital charge, as well as the corresponding values of economic profit and recommended safety stock. Methods are provided for utilizing the economic profit quantity and associated recommended safety stock quantity for automatically placing orders, for choosing among suppliers, and for calculating space requirements. |
| US08650058B1 |
System and method for manpower planning for operating vehicles such as airplanes
A system and method for manpower planning for operating vehicles such as, for example, airplanes, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, the availability of adequate manpower to operate the vehicles over a period of time is ensured; in several exemplary embodiments, the operation of the vehicles over the period of time includes the flying of airplanes in accordance with an airline flight schedule. |
| US08650055B2 |
IT asset management system
The system provides a method to automate the complex processes that occur at the end-of-life of IT hardware assets, and at the same time, increase the resale value of these assets. Using the system, an IT manager is able to identify a scalable number of systems for Secure Disk Wiping, Diagnostic Testing, Hardware Audit, License Recovery and Backup. These tasks are schedule driven in one embodiment, performed on multiple systems simultaneously, and minimizing the usage of network bandwidth. (In one embodiment, the system is agentless). At the same time, an IT manager can increase resale value by; restoring operating systems to hard drives once wiped, diagnostically testing systems, and capturing detailed hardware information all of which can be supplied to potential buyers or new users of repurposed/refurbished components. |
| US08650051B2 |
Systems and methods for insurance verification
Systems and methods for verifying insurance coverage are provided. A method may include registering data for one or more users, the data including information designating one or more insurance providers for the users. The method may further include transmitting, via a communications network, an insurance verification request to the designated insurance providers, the insurance verification indicating one or more insurance requirements for the user. The communications network may be the internet. A response to the insurance verification request from the designated insurance providers may be received via the communications network. The response may indicate whether insurance associated with the user complies with the one or more insurance requirements. One or more notifications regarding whether the insurance associated with the user complies with the one or more insurance requirements may be transmitted. The insurance verification request may be retransmitted so as to re-verify the user complies with the insurance requirements. |
| US08650049B1 |
Online system and method for processing life insurance applications
A method and system for online processing of life insurance applications includes receiving information that identifies an individual to be insured and describes the insurability of the individual. A certification may be received via an electronic data communications link confirming whether an illustration of a life insurance policy was delivered to the policy applicant. Furthermore, information may be received via an electronic data communications link from a third party confirming the identity of the individual to be insured. When a commitment to purchase the policy is received, a personalized temporary insurance certificate may be issued to the applicant, preferably accompanied by a temporary insurance agreement specifying the terms of temporary life insurance coverage extended to the individual. An authorization may also be received via an electronic data communications link authorizing immediate collection of medical history information from one or more third parties concerning the individual to be insured. |
| US08650046B2 |
Treatment regimen compliance and efficacy with feedback
A method and system for interaction with a community of individuals, relating to compliance with and effectiveness of treatment regimens, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider and which is capable of collecting or imparting information to patients in place thereof. Individuals interact with the protocol or intelligent message to provide assistance in all aspects of treatment regimen compliance, data collection, supply or delivery, review and modification. |
| US08650045B2 |
Electronic health record sharing using hybrid architecture
Electronic health record sharing is provided using a hybrid architecture. A centralized architecture provides centralized service including a search service and a token ownership service. A decentralized architecture comprises electronic health record locations. Electronic health records are created at locations and patient identifying information is stored at the centralized architecture. The centralized service manages ownership of electronic health records using ownership tokens comprising unique electronic health record identifiers and unique location identifiers. A current electronic health record owner location is authorized to view and/or edit the electronic health record. Ownership is transferred via the sending location, receiving location, and centralized service. |
| US08650044B2 |
System for communication of health care data
A computer system to communicate healthcare data between healthcare participants includes a computer configured to display a personal healthcare record associated with a patient; wherein the personal healthcare record includes normalized data related to the patient and received from a payor computer and provider healthcare data related to the patient received from a provider computer; wherein the normalized data and the provider healthcare data are of a type that are displayed in separate fields; and wherein the normalized data is in a normalized format of a type that displays healthcare data from one or more sources such that any healthcare data associated with a patient which has the same meaning will be expressed in the same format despite any prior formatting. |
| US08650043B1 |
Semantic model for insurance software components
A computer implemented method and system for insurance enterprise management and data acquisition and communication has an enterprise service bus and semantic model for communicating across different insurance businesses to retrieve data common to one service. The system and method utilizes a semantic model under a service oriented architecture which facilitates an insurance administration suite that supports user configuration of modules for use across a plurality of insurance business functions and lines. The integrated insurance administration suite supports insurance workflow management by allowing a user to configure modules to meet the needs of an insurance carrier. Insurance administration suite modules have functionality for policy, claims, billing, collections, financials, distribution, business intelligence, and reinsurance. Modules may be implemented as an integrated, enterprise solution for all lines of business that a carrier handles. The configuration features and functionality allows the entire suite to be adapted to meet the needs of the enterprise. |
| US08650040B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting relationships with referring providers within a system that identifies patients overdue for an appointment
A method and apparatus for protecting relationships with referring providers, so that when a patient reactivation system is used, patients referred by protected providers will be contacted and invited to make an appointment only when appropriate. |
| US08650038B2 |
Systems and processes for obtaining and managing electronic signatures for real estate transaction documents
Systems and processes may obtain and manage electronic signatures for documents for real estate transactions. Documents for real estate transactions may be received and/or generated by the system. The documents may include metadata or software keys that are associated with signature blocks on the documents. The system may identify the signature blocks using the metadata or software keys and present the positions for signature by the user. |
| US08650032B2 |
Partial word lists into a phoneme tree
The present invention discloses converting a text form into a speech. In the present invention, partial word lists of a data source are obtained by parsing the data source in parallel or in series. The partial word lists are then compiled to obtain phoneme graphs corresponding, respectively, to the partial word lists, and then the obtained phoneme graphs are combined. Speech recognition is then conducted according to the combination results. According to the present invention, computational complexity may be reduced and recognition efficiency may be improved during speech recognition. |
| US08650029B2 |
Leveraging speech recognizer feedback for voice activity detection
A voice activity detection (VAD) module analyzes a media file, such as an audio file or a video file, to determine whether one or more frames of the media file include speech. A speech recognizer generates feedback relating to an accuracy of the VAD determination. The VAD module leverages the feedback to improve subsequent VAD determinations. The VAD module also utilizes a look-ahead window associated with the media file to adjust estimated probabilities or VAD decisions for previously processed frames. |
| US08650026B2 |
Methods for creating a phrase thesaurus
The invention enables creation of grammar networks that can regulate, control, and define the content and scope of human-machine interaction in natural language voice user interfaces (NLVUI). More specifically, the invention concerns a phrase-based modeling of generic structures of verbal interaction and use of these models for the purpose of automating part of the design of such grammar networks. |
| US08650024B1 |
Generating address term synonyms
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for generating address component synonyms. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a plurality of addresses cannot be geocoded by a geocoding system. Variants of the addresses that can be geocoded by the geocoding system are generated, wherein each variant of a respective address lacks a removed term. Name terms for each variant are provided by the geocoding system. Each removed term is associated with name terms received for all variants that lack the removed term, including determining, for each associated name term of each removed term, a count of the number of variants for which the geocoding system provided the name term. Whether a name term is an address term synonym for a removed term is determined based at least in part on the count of the number of variants. |
| US08650021B2 |
Parallel flip-flop setup and hold timing analysis
A computer aided design system determines the acceptable timing for a flip-flop cell. The system generates a search window having a pass edge and a fail edge and divides the search window into four sections using three quadsection values. For each of the quadsection values, the system simulates a timing analysis of the flip-flop and determines if each of the quadsection values pass or fail the analysis. The analysis may be done in parallel. If at least one of the quadsection values passes the analysis, the system causes one of the passed quadsection values to be a new pass edge for the search window. If at least one of the quadsection values fails the analysis, the system causes one of the failed quadsection values to be a new fail edge for the search window. If the search window is less than a predetermined window width, the system assigns the new pass edge as the determined timing. If the search window is not less than the predetermined window width, the system repeats the above, starting with dividing the new search window into four sections using three quadsection values. |
| US08650016B2 |
Multiscale finite volume method for reservoir simulation
A Multiscale Finite Volume (MSFV) method is provided to efficiently solve large heterogeneous problems; it is usually employed for pressure equations and delivers conservative flux fields to be used in transport problems. It relies on the hypothesis that the fine-scale problem can be described by a set of local solutions coupled by a conservative coarse-scale problem. In numerically challenging cases, a more accurate localization approximation is used to obtain a good approximation of the fine-scale solution. According to an embodiment, a method is provided to iteratively improve the boundary conditions of the local problems, and is responsive to the data structure of the underlying MSFV method and employs a Krylov-subspace projection method to obtain an unconditionally stable scheme and accelerate convergence. In one embodiment the MSFV operator is used. Alternately, the MSFV operator is combined with an operator derived from the problem solved to construct the conservative flux field. |
| US08650013B2 |
Apparatus and method of designing or optimizing a column for a separation process
A method of designing or optimizing a column for a separation process includes the computer implemented steps of, in a digital processor, providing vapor-side and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient expressions and a mass transfer area expression relevant for a subject column, the vapor-side and liquid-side mass transfer coefficient expressions and the mass transfer area expression having been derived from defining a column average height equivalent to a theoretical plate HETP) as a mathematical relationship in which HETP is proportional to a vapor flow rate, is inversely proportional to effective packing area participating in mass transfer, has a first correction factor with respect to liquid-side mass transfer, and has a second correction factor with respect to vapor-side mass transfer. The expressions are further derived from reducing error of curve fitting HETP empirical data of various columns by using the defined HETP to obtain expressions for the vapor-side and liquid-side mass transfer coefficients and mass transfer area. The method also includes using the provided expressions to determine column height and column width configurations of the subject column, and outputting the determined column height and column width configurations of the subject column. |
| US08650012B1 |
Caching information to map simulation addresses to host addresses in computer system simulations
In computer system simulations, previous translations of simulation virtual addresses to physical host addresses can be remembered in a cache. During execution of a simulation program, the simulated computer system generates a simulation virtual address. The simulation virtual address may be translated to a host address. Information associated with the translation can be cached, and subsequent accesses to the simulation virtual address can use the cached information to compute the host address. |
| US08650007B2 |
Apparatus and method for evaluating deterioration performance
When a manager uses an input device to input the inspected states of the degrees of soundness of a plurality of objects, a data receiving unit receives them as inspection data. A deterioration characteristic calculating unit calculates the average value of the deterioration characteristics of the objects based on data related to the degrees of soundness of the plurality of objects that is received by the data receiving unit. A heterogeneous parameter calculating unit calculates a heterogeneous parameter for each heterogeneous factor that cannot be observed or is difficult to observe, and causes a variation in the deterioration characteristics. A benchmarking unit evaluates the influence of the heterogeneous factors on the deterioration characteristics based on the heterogeneous parameters, and an output unit outputs the evaluation result. |
| US08650001B2 |
Method for identifying a piece of wood amongst a plurality of starting pieces of wood and/or for determining its rotation with reference to a known layout
A method for identifying a piece of wood amongst a plurality or for determining its rotation includes the operating steps of: acquiring at least one piece of real X-ray information about the piece of wood; calculating, based on a tomographic reconstruction, a piece of virtual X-ray information in the same way as in the acquisition of the real X-ray information; comparing the real and virtual X-ray information to verify whether they match; and repeating the calculation and comparison steps up to obtaining the matching, and/or, for identification method only, selecting a different tomographic reconstruction and reiterating the calculation and comparison steps and, if necessary, the repetition and/or selection steps. |
| US08649998B2 |
Surface temperature profile
Thermometric apparatus includes one or more temperature sensors, which are configured to provide respective temperature-dependent readings at two or more locations on a surface in a vicinity of a sub-surface heat source. A processing unit is configured to process the readings from the two or more locations so as to determine a temperature of the sub-surface heat source. |
| US08649991B2 |
Method, device and system for calibrating positioning device
Embodiments of the present invention provide not only a technical solution for calibrating a positioning device but also a technical solution for characterizing an area of interest in a space. Specifically, there is provided a system, which may include: a tag capable of emitting ranging signals, placed at location points which are selected as space feature points in the space; a positioning device in the space, configured to obtain relative coordinates of the space feature points in relation to the positioning device based on the ranging signals from the tag; and a server, configured to determine location parameters of the positioning device in the space based on the relative coordinates, so as to calibrate the positioning device. The positioning device can be calibrated automatically, fast and accurately using the system. |
| US08649989B2 |
Time-domain triggering in a test and measurement instrument
Embodiments of this invention provide enhanced triggering capabilities such as frequency and phase triggering in a test and measurement instrument, such as a Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) or oscilloscope. A test and measurement instrument can include input terminals to receive RF signals, an ADC to digitize the RF signals, a digital downconverter to produce I and Q baseband component information, and a power detector to determine a power level using the I and Q information. A comparator compares the power level received from the power detector with a user-definable power threshold, and produces a logic signal for enabling one or more phase or frequency demodulators. The one or more demodulators produce IQ-based time-domain traces derived from the I and Q component information when the power level determined by the power detector exceeds the power threshold. Trigger circuitry is configured to trigger on an event responsive to a delayed trigger enable signal. |
| US08649986B2 |
Process for predicting the emergence of longitudinal cracks during continuous casting
A process for predicting longitudinal cracks during continuous casting of steel slabs. The local strand temperature is measured by thermocouples distributed in the mold wall. In this process, the risk of the strand rupturing as a result of longitudinal cracking is assessed statistically taking into account the current temperature values measured by the thermocouples arranged in the mold and the temperature values determined when no cracks are present. |
| US08649985B2 |
Path-dependent cycle counting and multi-axial fatigue evaluation of engineering structures
A method is provided for performing fatigue evaluation of a fatigue prone location of a tangible structure by converting multi-axial loading data of the fatigue prone location of the tangible structure to a set of equivalent constant amplitude loading data for the tangible structure. According to the method, a multi-axial load locus representing the tangible structure is generated. Time-dependent interior turning points R and any corresponding projected turning point R* art identified along the loading path from the point of origin P to the point of termination Q. Half cycles in the loading path are counted by referring to the interior and projected turning points R, R* along the loading path and to the point of origin P and the point of termination Q on the load locus. A stress range Δσe, loading path length L, and virtual path length for each of the counted half cycles are determined. Additional stress ranges Δσe, loading path lengths L, and virtual path lengths are determined recursively for half cycles counted in additional loading paths on the load locus. A system is also provided for performing fatigue evaluation. Methods are also provided for counting and displaying the number of load cycles represented in multi-axial loading data of a fatigue prone location of the tangible structure. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US08649984B2 |
Process and apparatus for processing signals
The process of determining similarities of signals resulting from a sample analysis step using the same type of measuring device, characterized by the fact that it comprises a step of determining a value for each parameter of an uncertainty model related to said signals by processing homologous characteristic elements in at least two signals derived from the analysis of similar samples, and a step of determining a measurement of similarity between signals based on each parameter value of the said uncertainty model and of homologous characteristic elements in the different signals whose similarity is being measured. In some embodiments, during the value determination step, a mathematical uncertainty model is optimized so that it corresponds to the theoretically expected differences between the homologous characteristic elements in the various signals from similar samples. |
| US08649976B2 |
Information mapping approaches
Methods, systems and applications for updating, enhancing, organizing, and utilizing geographic maps, for locating points of interest and places of businesses, or POI's. Embodiments provide a method for collecting geo-coordinate data on POIs by eliciting participation of the business owners or designated employees to identify the specific locations of POI's on a map; a map program which synchronizes to a centralized database where POI and other more frequently changing and time-dependent map information is downloaded to individual users; a map program, where in addition to the standard contact information, “qualitative” information and website links are included in an POI information box to aid in pre-qualifying a POI before selection and in booking a reservation; a method for locating markers on an Internet-based search engine map; and an improved contact management system that allows locations of contacts to be viewed on a map while minimizing address geocoding. |
| US08649975B2 |
Automated route determination
A preferred route may be determined from an origin location to a destination location. The determination is made by processing directed links (e.g., one-way edges) in a graph that includes one or more links and two or more nodes. The determination of a preferred route may include an estimate of the time required at one or more intersections along alternative. Individual routing preferences, such as a preference of a rural over an urban route, also may be considered. Techniques are described that may help reduce the time required to identify a preferred route, including the identification and removal of no outlet routes before processing the directed links and techniques using particular data formats. |
| US08649974B2 |
Camera-based navigation system and method for its operation
A navigation system for motor vehicles includes at least one display device for a pictorial representation of the vehicle surroundings, at least one data memory containing data that allow for a three-dimensional reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings, at least one camera capable of recording digital images of the vehicle surroundings, and at least one data processing unit, which is capable of generating a reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings representable on the display device from the data contained in the data memory, and which is capable of performing an at least partial integration of the digital images recorded by the camera into the reconstruction of the vehicle surroundings, which reconstruction is based on the data contained in the data memory. |
| US08649973B2 |
Guide display device and guide display method, and display device and method for switching display contents
The present invention provides the simple operation for displaying the information that is expected to be necessary for the user and the simplified procedure of the hands-free operation when displaying the map information on the screen. The display device 20 in which an arrangement state of the screen can be selected between a first state and a second state displays on the screen the detailed information of a destination or its surrounding area such as parking lot information, an access route guide to the transportation facilities, and information of the facility of the destination is displayed on the screen if a change of the arrangement of the screen is detected, if the destination has been set in advance, and if a distance between a current position and the destination is within a predetermined distance. Further, it comprises a display control means 27 for displaying at least a portion of the information acquired by the information acquisition means 23 if the change in the arrangement state of the screen is detected after the external equipment detection means 25 detected the connection of the external equipment 4. |
| US08649970B2 |
Providing popular global positioning satellite (GPS) routes
A method, system, and computer program product for providing popular routes via a global positioning satellite (GPS) system. A GPS device receives a route request from a user. The GPS device then determines a current location of the GPS device and connects to a network server. In response to connecting to the network server, the GPS device transmits a route selection request to the network server. In response, the GPS device receives a route selection list from the network server where the route selection list contains a plurality of routes previously taken by other drivers. Each route is assigned a popularity rating. The GPS device displays one or more of the routes of the route selection list, and requests that a user select a route. After the user selects a route the GPS device displays the selected route as an overlay on a map display. |
| US08649968B2 |
System and method of wireless downloads of map and geographic based data to portable computing devices
Systems and method of managing map data on electronic devices such as portable electronic devices include systems and methods of preloading map data, managing map data storage, sharing point of interest or pushpin data with other electronic devices, and displaying map data. |
| US08649964B2 |
Other vehicle information providing device
An other vehicle information providing device, can be configured to assign priority to a plurality of other vehicle information inputted to the own vehicle and provides other vehicle information having high priority. The other vehicle information providing device includes a priority memory means for storing priority information. An information switching index value calculation means which predicts future priority after a lapse of a predetermined period based on the stored priority information, which can include latest priority and priority previous to the latest priority, and calculates an information switching index value based on the latest priority, the priority previous to the latest priority, the priority before the priority previous to the latest priority and the future priority. An information providing means provides other vehicle information based on the information switching index value. |
| US08649963B2 |
System, method, and computer software code for optimizing performance of a powered system
A system to optimize performance of a powered system, the system including a data device configured to provide current information about current operating conditions of the powered system and/or prior information about the powered system, a controller configured to control operation of the powered system, and a processor configured to provide at least one control command to the controller for use in operating the powered system and/or user information with at least one recommended command to a user to control the powered system, wherein the at least one control command and/or user information are based at least in part on the current information and/or the prior information. A system and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed. |
| US08649961B2 |
Method of diagnosing several systems and components by cycling the EGR valve
A method to operate an electronic controlled internal combustion engine to perform on board NOx emissions level diagnostics. In one embodiment, the method may include operating the engine to maintain a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time, determining whether the engine operating status is stable for one of cruise control, idle engine speed, engine torque, or high idle regeneration for a predetermined period of time, cycling the EGR valve between a first position for a predetermined period of time and then in a second position for a predetermined period of time, a determining a change in engine out NOx levels to determine whether an engine component or system is malfunctioning. |
| US08649958B2 |
Air/fuel ratio control apparatus for general-purpose engine
In an apparatus for controlling an air/fuel ratio of a general-purpose internal combustion engine using mixed fuel containing alcohol and gasoline and operated at a desired engine speed inputted by the operator while a throttle opening is regulated such that a detected engine speed converges to the inputted desired engine speed, a fuel injection amount prepared for mixed fuel is increased/decreased when a load is kept constant and the output air/fuel ratio (at which an output of the engine becomes maximum) is estimated. A rate of alcohol contained in the fuel is estimated from the estimated air/fuel ratio and the fuel injection amount is corrected based on the estimated alcohol rate, thereby determining the fuel injection amount appropriately in accordance with the estimated alcohol rate. |
| US08649956B2 |
Apparatus for acquiring responsibility of oxygen concentration sensor
The fact that “with respect to a process in which the output value of a downstream air-fuel ratio sensor (sensor output value) is inverted from the minimum output value to the maximum output value during execution of an active control, the local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value is widely affected by the size of the response delay of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor and the size of the degree of the degradation of the three-way catalyst” is utilized. By preliminarily acquiring and memorizing, as maps, these relations obtained through an experiment, and applying the “local maximum and minimum values of the secondary differential value of the sensor output value” calculated from the transition of the sensor output value acquired during execution of the active control to the maps, the response delay (time constant) of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor is acquired. |
| US08649953B2 |
Slip control for a materials handling vehicle
A vehicle is provided comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels coupled to the main body; a traction motor associated with the main body and coupled to at least one of the wheels for driving the one wheel; control apparatus coupled to the traction motor and generating a motor drive signal to the traction motor; a first sensor for generating a velocity signal indicative of a velocity of the driven wheel; and a further sensor for sensing an acceleration of the main body and generating a vehicle acceleration signal. The control apparatus determining a measured velocity of the driven wheel from the first sensor speed signal, calculating a velocity of the vehicle using the vehicle acceleration signal and comparing the measured velocity of the driven wheel to the calculated velocity of the vehicle to determine wheel slip status. |
| US08649949B2 |
Vehicle shift control apparatus
In a vehicle shift control apparatus, a T/M_ECU has data of cancellation conditions stored therein in advance, which vary depending on modes of driving force characteristics and, in a temporary manual shift mode, selects a cancellation condition for the temporary manual shift mode which corresponds to a current mode and makes a determination as to whether the cancellation condition is satisfied. If it is determined that the cancellation condition for the temporary manual shift mode is satisfied, the T/M_ECU returns the temporary manual shift mode to the automatic shift mode. |
| US08649947B2 |
Torque transfer mechanism and method for controlling in a vehicle launch operation
A powertrain for a vehicle is provided having an engine, a transmission, a torque transfer mechanism, a hydraulic fluid circuit, and a transmission control module. The torque transfer mechanism includes a hydraulic fluid pump and is drivingly connected to an output member of the engine and an output member of the torque transfer mechanism is drivingly connected to the input member of the transmission. The hydraulic fluid circuit has a hydraulic valve in communication with the first fluid port of the hydraulic fluid pump. The transmission control module include a control logic for operating the powertrain during a vehicle launch event. |
| US08649943B2 |
Control system for construction machines and method for operating the control system
A control system for a construction machine includes at least one sensor and at least one controller, wherein a serial connection exists between the sensor and the controller, and wherein at least one sensor and/or controller are of the two-channel or multi-channel type. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for operating such control system for a construction machine. |
| US08649940B2 |
Method and stereo vision system for managing the unloading of an agricultural material from a vehicle
A stereo imaging device on a propelled portion of the receiving vehicle collects image data. A container identification module identifies a container perimeter of a storage portion in the collected image data. A spout identification module is adapted to identify a spout of the harvesting vehicle in the collected image data. An alignment module is adapted to determine the relative position of the spout and the container perimeter and to generate command data to the propelled portion to steer the storage portion in cooperative alignment such that the spout is aligned within a central zone or target zone of the container perimeter. A steering controller is associated with a steering system of the propelled portion for steering the receiving vehicle in accordance with the cooperative alignment. |
| US08649933B2 |
Power management systems for automotive video event recorders
Video event recorders are coupled to a vehicle power source via an on-board diagnostic system including its power bus, data bus, and scanner port connector. Video event recorders are provided with a power input arranged in conjunction with a standard ODBII type “D” connector. Systems further include an extension cable between the connector and the vehicle event record to accommodate mounting needs associated with each. In advanced versions, both OBD power and data networks are coupled to the vehicle event recorded such that data relating to vehicle diagnostic systems can be captured in a triggered event along with video data. In addition, some versions are provided with special detection mechanism to determine the use state of a vehicle and adjust application of power accordingly. Thus an “in-use” detector is coupled to the vehicle and/or OBD systems to provide feedback which helps to conserve power and regulate the power connections. |
| US08649930B2 |
GNSS integrated multi-sensor control system and method
A GNSS integrated multi-sensor guidance system for a vehicle assembly includes a suite of sensor units, including a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensor unit comprising a receiver and an antenna. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) outputs vehicle dynamic information for combining with the output of the GNSS unit. A controller with a processor receives the outputs of the sensor suite and computes steering solutions, which are utilized by vehicle actuators, including an automatic steering control unit connected to the vehicle steering for guiding the vehicle. The processor is programmed to define multiple behavior-based automatons comprising self-operating entities in the guidance system, which perform respective behaviors using data output from one or more sensor units for achieving the behaviors. A GNSS integrated multi-sensor vehicle guidance method is also disclosed. |
| US08649929B2 |
Motor vehicle with all-wheel drive
In a vehicle having an all-wheel drive system in which the front axle and the rear axle of the vehicle can be driven with differently sized front-axle and rear-axle torques, a rotational-speed difference between a front-axle-side rotational speed and a rear-axle-side rotational speed is established from a torque difference between the front-axle and rear-axle torques. The vehicle includes a unit for determining a road friction coefficient, which unit measures the rotational-speed difference and determines the road friction coefficient based on a value pair derived from the rotational-speed difference and the torque difference or determined from a parameter correlating therewith. |
| US08649927B2 |
Energy system for a hybrid vehicle
A method of controlling operation of an energy system for a hybrid vehicle, the energy system including a combustion engine controlled to work at a desired engine rotational speed; an electric generator/motor driven by the combustion engine to output a generated electric power; a power consuming device driven by the combustion engine and drivable by the electric generator/motor; and an energy storage device connected to the electric generator/motor and arranged to receive the generated electric power output by the electric generator/motor. The method includes the steps of: monitoring an actual engine rotational speed; and if the actual engine rotational speed decreases from the desired engine rotational speed, controlling the electric generator/motor to output a gradually reducing generated electric power. Hereby, the combustion engine can be allowed to remain in an operating range where it works efficiently, while at the same time fulfilling the need for power of the power consuming device. |
| US08649926B2 |
Construction machine and control method thereof
A construction machine comprises an electric motor/generator; an engine; an epicyclic gearing for rotating the electric motor/generator reversely when speed of a rotation output to a drive wheel is zero during running of the engine; a transmission configured to switch between a forward driving gear position and a backward driving gear position; and a controller for controlling the engine, the electric motor/generator and the transmission, based on at least an accelerator opening, and a state of charge in an electric storage device; the controller being configured to switch the forward driving gear position or the backward driving gear position to a direction opposite to a direction in which the construction machine is moving, and cause the electric motor/generator to generate reverse torque in a power running mode, when the electric storage device is in a fully charged state and the accelerator has been pressed down by a driver. |
| US08649925B2 |
Method and system for controlling operation of an electric oil pump in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)
A system and method is provided for controlling operation of an electric oil pump in a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). The HEV includes an engine and a transaxle including an electric motor coupled to a traction battery. A commanded speed for the electric oil pump is determined and whether the engine in the HEV is in an off state is determined. When the engine is in the off state, the electric oil pump is controlled to operate at the commanded speed. |
| US08649924B2 |
Torque control map to initiate engine startup processing in a hybrid vehicle
To enable a smooth transition from motor travel to hybrid travel despite the situation-of-charge of a battery and reduce shock at the time of engagement of a clutch element.A hybrid system uses a state map 70 for deciding target torques of an engine and a motor on the basis of an accelerator stroke position, a vehicle velocity and a battery state-of-charge SOC. In the map 70, there are defined a motor maximum torque line that demarcates a motor upper limit torque that changes depending on the SOC and a motor margin torque line that is a predetermined margin lower than the motor maximum torque line. When the position on the map determined by the accelerator stroke position, the vehicle velocity and the battery state-of-charge is below the margin torque line, the hybrid system performs electric travel, and when the position on the map is on or above the margin torque line, the hybrid system initiates engine startup processing, and when the position on the map becomes a torque position exceeding the maximum torque line, the hybrid system sets target torques of the engine and the motor in order to achieve a torque corresponding to the accelerator stroke position. |
| US08649923B2 |
E-drive PWM frequency strategy
A pulse width modulation (PWM) Frequency Adaptation Mechanism (PFAM) is configured to receive vehicle state input, and in response to the vehicle state input, provide a PWM parameter for PWM switching of electronics in a power conversion circuit of an electric drive system (EDS) for a hybrid electric vehicle. In one example, a PWM parameter that reduces the audible noise generated by PWM switching can be designated by the PFAM. A PFAM can be configured to receive user input regarding user preference for a default mode or a noise reduction mode. Vehicle state input can include input related to vehicle motion, climate control system state, engine state, EDS state, vehicle body state and audio system state. By way of example, a PWM noise reduction parameter can comprise a high PWM switching frequency, or a random frequency hopping about a low PWM switching frequency. |
| US08649922B2 |
Electronic pet and pet interaction system thereof
A electronic pet contains a diving device which includes a sealed main body with at least one flexible portion disposed on at least one part of the main body wherein the sealed main body is sealed from water external to the sealed main body by the at least one flexible portion together with the main body, and an actuator, directly connected to the flexible portion through a transmission shaft, wherein the actuator is adapted for controlling the air density of the diving device by pulling or pushing the flexible portion inwards or outwards through the transmission shaft respectively. The electronic pet also includes a driving device, a sensing device used to sense light, sound and contact/non-contact stimulations from an external environment, a signal transceiver device used to transceive signals to and from devices other than the electronic pet, and a processor. |
| US08649920B2 |
Method and device for automatically monitoring lateral guidance orders of an aircraft
A monitoring device automatically monitors lateral guidance orders of an aircraft. The device includes a failure monitoring device for implementing comparisons between roll control orders generated by a number of equipments in order to be able to detect a failure of one of the equipments concerning the generation of lateral guidance orders of the aircraft. Additionally, the device includes a failure anticipation comparator device for analyzing inlet parameters of the equipments to determine when a failure of one of the equipments should be anticipated. |
| US08649918B2 |
Radio controlled vehicle, remote controller and methods for use therewith
A radio controlled (RC) vehicle includes a receiver that is coupled to receive an RF signal from a remote control device, the RF signal containing command data in accordance with a first coordinate system, wherein the first coordinate system is from a perspective of the remote control device. A motion sensing module generates motion data based on the motion of the RC vehicle. A processing module transforms the command data into control data in accordance with a second coordinate system, wherein the second coordinate system is from a perspective of the RC vehicle. A plurality of control devices control the motion of the RC vehicle based on the control data. |
| US08649916B2 |
Control system
A control system for rail vehicles includes an operator control unit in communication with an on-board transceiver housed in a rail vehicle. The operator control unit includes a selector manually movable to a plurality of pre-determined positions each position corresponding to one of at least the following modes of operation: FORWARD, REVERSE, and COAST, such that for each pre-determined position of the selector, the operator control unit sets the off-board control unit to the corresponding mode of operation. |
| US08649914B2 |
Method for routing power across multiple microgrids having DC and AC buses
Systems and methods are described herein for managing the operations of a plurality of microgrid modules. A microgrid module includes transformers and/or power converters necessary for modifying the input AC or DC power sources to meet the required characteristics of the output power. The micro grid module further comprises a control software module and a power router software module. The control software module receives data from sensors in the microgrid module and controls the flow of power with controllable elements. The power router software module controls the operation of the power router. The power router can detect changes in demand for power within the microgrid module or from other microgrid modules. The power router can adjust the flow of power between the micro grid modules in response to changes in the supply of power to the microgrid module and changes in the demand for power from the microgrid module. |
| US08649910B2 |
Automatically adjusting irrigation controller
Methods and devices are provided to automatically determine plant water requirements and adjust irrigation in order to make efficient use of water. In one implementation an irrigation control unit comprises at least one input configured to be coupled to and receive signals from a temperature sensor, the signals corresponding to current values of temperature. The unit also includes a memory storing historical values of a plurality of variables and a processor coupled to the at least one input and the memory. The processor is configured to determine plant water requirements at least in part using the historical values of the plurality of variables and the current values of the temperature. |
| US08649908B2 |
Pool or spa equipment control system and method with automatic adjustment
Automatic adjustment of the control and operation of pool or spa equipment is made based upon a time of year, a geographic location, or both. A controller receives input of the time of year or the geographic location of the pool or spa equipment, or both. The controller then automatically adjusts one or more functions of the pool or spa equipment based upon operational information associated with the time of year and/or geographic location. A user interface connected with the controller may be also used to select a mode of operation, input time or geographic location information, and/or adjust various parameters affecting the automatic seasonal or geographic adjustment of the pool or spa equipment. |
| US08649905B2 |
Medical workstation and operating device for the manual movement of a robot arm
The invention relates to a medical workstation and an operating device (1) for the manual movement of a robot arm (M1-M3). The operating device (1) comprises a controller (5) and at least one manual mechanical input device (E1-E3) coupled to the controller (5). The controller (5) is designed to generate signals for controlling a movement of at least one robot arm (M1-M3) provided for treating a living being (P) based on a manual movement of the input device (E1-E3) such that the robot arm (M1-M3) carries out a movement corresponding to the manual movement. The input device (E1, E2) comprises at least one mechanical damping unit (27, 40), which generates a force and/or torque during a manual movement of the input device (E1, E2) for at least partially suppressing a partial movement resulting from a tremor of the person operating the input device (E1, E2). |
| US08649904B2 |
Robotic device and method of controlling robotic device
A robotic device having an arm including an actuator and inertial sensor, a first calculator adapted to calculate an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the actuator based on a rotational angle data from an angle sensor, a second calculator adapted to calculate one of an angular velocity and an angular acceleration of the arm based on an output detected by the inertial sensor, and a comparator adapted to compare one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration calculated by the first calculator and one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration calculated by the second calculator with each other, and it is determined that the inertial sensor is at fault if an absolute value of the difference between the actuator and the arm in one of the angular velocity and the angular acceleration in the comparison section is larger than a threshold value. |
| US08649898B2 |
Processing shiny mail pieces
Methods, apparatus, software and systems are disclosed for improved processing of mailpieces in order to reduce expensive manual steps. Shiny mail, i.e., mailpieces having glossy surfaces that sometimes interfere with printing of barcodes and or ID Tags may lead to rejects. In some embodiments, shiny mailpieces are identified, and at least one new (non-shiny) label is over-labeled in the POSTNET clear zone (108), the ID Tag zone (202), or both. In one embodiment, a specially-configured Reject Encoding Machine (REM) (1142) is employed to label or over-label a POSTNET clear zone (1110), resolve the destination address (1112) if possible, and print the barcode (1114) in a single operation. Thereafter, the mailpiece may be transferred from the REM into a downstream DBCS (1144), thereby re-introducing the mailpiece into the automated mail stream rather than being relegated to a manual stream. |
| US08649897B2 |
Laying-up method for non-planar composite components
A method for laying-up the tapes of a prepeg composite material in the 0° direction of a non-planar composite component on a suitable mold using an ATL machine includes the steps of: a) determining the trajectories of the tapes as modified trajectories of geodesic trajectories complying with the following conditions in their projections in an horizontal plane: that the curvature radius R2 of their curved segments is bigger than a predetermined value Rmin; that the gap G2p between two contiguous tapes is comprised between 0 and a predetermined value Gmax; and b) providing modified trajectories to the ATL machine. The invention also refers to a non-planar composite component such as an skin of an aircraft wing having the tapes in the 0° direction following trajectories complying with conditions described. |
| US08649896B2 |
Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A management method is able to quickly investigate the cause of a defect generated in a semiconductor product manufacturing process. Manufacturing conditions in various QFP manufacturing steps are stored in a main server while correlating them with an identification number of the QFP, and a two-dimensional bar code corresponding to the identification number is stamped to the surface of the QFP. In the event of occurrence of a defect of the QFP, the manufacturing conditions for the QFP stored in the main server can be traced in an instant by reading the two-dimensional bar code of the QFP and thereby specifying the identification number. |
| US08649894B2 |
Method and device for controlling circuit board positions during the assembly of electronic components
A method for controlling a board stopping position includes a calculation step for calculating an extended length of the electronic component mounted on the board and extended from the board end portion in the transfer direction by one of the electronic component mounting machines; and a correcting and stopping step for correcting a stopping timing of the conveyer belt to be stopped in response to the detection signal which is outputted from the board sensor and stopping the board at the mounting position, based on the calculated extended length of the electronic component in a subsequent stage electronic component mounting machine arranged subsequent to the one of the electronic component mounting machines. |
| US08649893B2 |
Semiconductor manufacturing device, semiconductor device manufacturing method, simulation device, and simulation program
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor manufacturing device including, a chamber, a sensor, a sticking probability calculating section, an acting section, and a control section. |
| US08649892B2 |
Production management system
There is provided a production management system that requires no backup step for performing a backup operation when trouble occurs in a robot, and can increase workability of a repair operation of the robot. The production management system for a production line mixedly including robot operation steps and manual operation steps, including: a monitor that displays the cause of abnormality that occurs in the robot operation step; a warning device that warns of occurrence of abnormality in the robot operation step; and a robot reversing device that reverses the orientation of a robot when abnormality occurs in the robot, wherein production is continued by changing the robot operation step where the abnormality occurs to the manual operation step. Also, a repair operation is performed for the robot reversed by the robot reversing device. |
| US08649889B2 |
Method of hosting and managing a talent competition through online, onstage, studio, and live performances
A method of hosting and managing a talent competition through online, onstage, studio, and live performances allows contestants to compete through a series of levels. The series of levels include a level-one, a level-two, a level-three, a level-four, and a grand finale. For level-one, the contestant submits a home video of their performance, which is voted on by the fans. For level-two, the contestant submits a onstage video of their performance, which is also voted on by the fans. For level-three and level-four, a professional will record the contestant's performance, which is again voted on by the fans. The grand finale will reveal which of the contestants won the grand prize. The method also allows judges to compete through an initial selection process, an intermediate selection process, and at the grand finale with the contestants. The grand finale will reveal which of the judges obtained the title of celebrity judge. |
| US08649888B2 |
System and method for improved coordination between control and safety systems
A system and method are provided for monitoring and control of a plurality of field devices separately provided in a safety subsystem and a process control subsystem. The field devices include conventional safety subsystem field devices associated with one or more processes or subprocesses and conventional process control subsystem field devices associated with one or more of the processes or subprocesses. The integrated and coordinated system uses complementary field device data including mappings of safety subsystem field devices and process control subsystem field devices corresponding to the same process or subprocess Signals are received from a compromised field device and its functions are delegated to its complementary field device as indicated by the complementary field device data. |
| US08649883B2 |
Power distribution system and method
A power distribution system/method implementing Internet based access to hybrid home automation networks is disclosed. The system utilizes a smart gateway power controller (SGPC) configured for single/multi-gang wallplate installation to selectively switch an AC power source to a load device under switched control and/or local/remote network commands that may be routed through a variety of network interfaces and protocols present within a home or other structure-local communications network. SGPC configurations may be nested within a home automation network to permit separation of control for load devices within a common home automation environment. Present invention methods may include routing protocols between disparate home automation networks as well as remote access protocols that permit control of disparate home automation networks via the Internet using a wide variety of remote access interfaces including mobile devices, tablet computers, laptops, desktop computers, and the like. |
| US08649879B2 |
Leads with retention features for segmented electrodes and methods of making and using the leads
One embodiment is a stimulation lead including a lead body comprising a longitudinal surface, a distal end, and a proximal end; and multiple electrodes disposed along the longitudinal surface of the lead body near the distal end of the lead body. The multiple electrodes include multiple segmented electrodes with each of the segmented electrodes having an exterior surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior surface, a proximal end, and a distal end. At least one of the segmented electrodes includes one or more of a) at least one channel formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode, b) an arcuate groove formed in at least one of the distal end surface or the proximal end surface, or c) a notch formed in the segmented electrode and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the segmented electrode. |
| US08649877B2 |
Extended noise mode
A device and a method for working in the presence of electromagnetic fields, in particular fields occurring in cautery applications. Also relates to a partially implanted medical device (IMD), having a unit for detecting electromagnetic interference fields, at least one control unit, a timer, and a detection unit for electrical measured variables and/or a stimulation unit, at least one electrode line having an electrode at one end which is brought into contact with bodily tissue, and which either extends inside the body and/or is situated on the surface of an implant, wherein when nonphysiological signals and/or electromagnetic interference fields are detected and the unit for electromagnetic interference fields evaluates the detected signals as nonphysiological signals for a first specifiable time period, and/or for a second specified time period the stimulation unit is placed in an asynchronous operating state in which the wearer of the IMD is asynchronously stimulated. |
| US08649874B2 |
Extended pain relief via high frequency spinal cord modulation, and associated systems and methods
Extended pain relief via high frequency spinal cord modulation, and associated systems and methods. A method for treating a patient in accordance with a particular embodiment includes selecting a neural modulation site to include at least one of a dorsal root entry zone and dorsal horn of the patient's spinal cord, and selecting parameters of a neural modulation signal to reduce patient pain for a period of time after ceasing delivery of the signals, the period of time being at least one tenth of one second. |
| US08649871B2 |
Validity test adaptive constraint modification for cardiac data used for detection of state changes
Methods, systems, and apparatus for quantifying the quality of a fiducial time marker for a candidate heart beat, quantifying the quality of a candidate heart beat, or determining a time of beat sequence of the patient's heart. A fiducial time marker is obtained for a candidate heart beat. A quality index of said candidate heart beat is set to a first value. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least one beat validity test. At least a second value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least one beat validity test. The candidate heart beat is tested with at least a second heart beat validity test. At least a third value is added to said quality index of said candidate heart beat if said candidate heart beat passes said at least second heart beat validity test. In one class of beat validity test, a constraint defining a pass is modified at one or more times after the most recent prior valid heart beat that is greater than a constraint modification time threshold. |
| US08649869B2 |
Implantable medical device having feedthru assembly with header side bunched conductor array and can side linear conductor array
An implantable pulse generator includes a header, a can, a grouped array feedthru, and an inline array feedthru board. The feedthru includes a header side, a can side and a grouped array of feedthru wires extending through the feedthru. A first end of each feedthru wire is electrically coupled to a lead connector block. The inline array feedthru board includes a grouped array of first electrical contact holes and an inline array of conductor wires. The grouped array of first electrical contact holes receives therein second ends of the feedthru wires. The inline array of conductor wires projects from a side of the board opposite the feedthru. Each first electrical contact hole is in electrical communication with a respective conductor wire. Each conductor wire is in electrical contact with at least a portion of an electrical connection region of an electronic substrate housed within the can. |
| US08649861B2 |
Wearable medical treatment device
A wearable treatment device includes a cardiac sensing electrode, a treatment electrode, a user interface, and a sensor. The cardiac sensing electrode detects cardiac information, and the treatment electrode applies treatment to a subject. The user interface receives quality of life information from the subject, and the sensor detects subject activity and wellness information. A controller coupled with the cardiac sensing electrode, the treatment electrode, the user interface, and the sensor receives the detected cardiac information, the quality of life information, and the detected subject activity and wellness information, and determines that treatment is to be applied to the body of the subject based upon the detected cardiac information. The controller can adjust the treatment based on at least one of the detected subject activity and wellness information and the quality of life information. |
| US08649853B2 |
Cardiac function monitor using information indicative of lead motion
Systems and methods to monitor cardiac function using information indicative of lead motion are described. In an example, a system including an implantable medical device can include a receiver circuit configured to be electrically coupled to conductor comprising a portion of an implantable lead and be configured to obtain information indicative of a movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to a motion of a heart. The system can include a sensing circuit configured to obtain information indicative of cardiac electrical activity. The system can include a processor circuit configured to construct a template representative of a contraction of the heart, where the template can be constructed using the information indicative of the movement of the implantable lead due at least in part to the motion of the heart during the contraction, and using the information indicative of the cardiac electrical activity sensed during the contraction. |
| US08649849B2 |
Optical methods to intraoperatively detect positive prostate and kidney cancer margins
The present invention includes using optical spectroscopy as an innovative technique for ex-vivo demonstration of renal and prostate tumors. The apparatus and methods disclosed herein demonstrate the ability of optical spectroscopy to reliably differentiate tumor from normal tissue in renal specimens. |
| US08649845B2 |
Methods for identifying target stimulation regions associated with therapeutic and non-therapeutic clinical outcomes for neural stimulation
A method for identifying and activating specific axonal pathways for achieving therapeutic benefits during a neural stimulation, such as deep brain stimulation. Clinical data, diffusion tensor tractography, and computer models of patient-specific neurostimulation may be used to identify particular axonal pathways activated by deep brain stimulation and to determine their correlations with specific clinical outcomes. |
| US08649842B2 |
Electrical lead for an electronic device such as an implantable device
A lead for an electronic device which resists the induction of a current from an electromagnetic field external to said lead includes one or more pairs of adjacent segments of electrical wire, each of the pairs including a first segment of electrical wire and a second segment of electrical wire. The lead also includes one or more shielded RF chokes, wherein each of the shielded RF chokes is provided between the first segment of electrical wire and the second segment of electrical wire of a respective one of the one or more pairs of adjacent segments. Also, an implantable device that includes a generator for generating one or more electrical pulse and a lead as described for delivering the pulses to tissue within a patient's body. A method for making the described implantable device is also provided. |
| US08649840B2 |
Electrochemical biosensors and arrays
Electrochemical sensor devices are provided, in various amperometric, potentiometric, and conductometric sensor device configurations. An amperometric sensor device may include a structural body which has at least one reservoir that has at least one opening; a working electrode located within the reservoir; analyte sensor chemistry located within the reservoir and deposited on at least the working electrode; an auxiliary electrode located outside of the reservoir; a reference electrode; at least one reservoir cap closing the opening to isolate the working electrode and analyte sensor chemistry within the reservoir and to prevent an analyte outside of the reservoir from contacting the analyte sensor chemistry; and means for rupturing or displacing the reservoir cap to permit the analyte from outside of the reservoir to contact the analyte sensor chemistry. |
| US08649839B2 |
Motion compatible sensor for non-invasive optical blood analysis
A non-invasive optical sensor which uses the motion signal to calculate the physiological characteristic being measured. For pulse oximetry, a least squares or a ratio-of-ratios technique can be applied to the motion signal itself. This is made possible by selecting a site on the patient where variations in motion produce signals of two wavelengths which are sufficiently correlated. In particular, it has been determined that a sensor placed on a nail, in particular a thumbnail, exhibits the characteristics of having the red and infrared signals correlated when used for pulse oximetry, and the resulting signals correlate to arterial oxygen saturation. |
| US08649832B2 |
Cellular wireless unit
Antenna characteristics of a folding cellphone are adjusted to appropriate values. The cellphone includes a first casing 10a containing a first circuit member 15a, and a second casing 10b containing a second circuit member 15b. The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are connected by a connection structure consisting of a first connecting conductor 23a extending from each lateral end of the first circuit member 15a downward (toward the second casing), and a second connecting conductor 25a extending from each lateral end of the second circuit member 15b upward (toward the first casing). The first circuit member 15a and the second circuit member 15b are each comprised of shields, substrates, and so on. Antenna 111 is disposed at an upper edge of the first casing 10a. The effective casing length is affected by the length of the first casing 10a and the second casing 10b, which are both electrically conductive. The end of the first connecting conductor 23a is formed by a first circular portion 31a having a circular opening 31c. The second connecting conductor 25a has a second circular portion 31b and an opening 31d at the tip thereof, which are shaped similarly to those of the first connecting conductor 23a. A spacer 27a made of an insulator is inserted between the first and second connecting conductors. |
| US08649826B2 |
Mobile device and control method thereof
The mobile device for providing a haptic function includes a vibration unit which generates vibration for a tactile effect as the haptic function; and a control unit which includes a platform providing an application programming interface (API) corresponding to the haptic function and having a plurality of parameters, executes an application prepared by the API, determines a characteristic of the vibration based on the plurality of parameters set up in the application, and controls the vibration unit to generate the vibration having the determined characteristic. |
| US08649823B2 |
Femtocell base station for controlling communication according to specified criteria
A method and apparatus is disclosed to restrict access services to a communication device. The services may be restricted based upon hardware characteristics, geographic characteristics, user specifications of the communication device and/or specified rules. The method and apparatus may restrict its service to only specific applications suitable for the environment and the time. Upon a request for a service that is now restricted, the method and apparatus may notify an end user that the service was requested. Further, the method and apparatus may notify an originator of the request that the service is not available and may ask for a short message to be delivered to the end user. |
| US08649819B2 |
Mobile phone integration with a private branch exchange in a distributed telephony system
A system and method for providing PBX functionality to a mobile phone includes a private branch exchange having a mobile phone proxy. A call control path is established between the mobile phone and a private branch exchange. The call control path is a direct trunk line, a mobile voice network, an IP data network, a mobile data network or a 4G network. The private branch exchange receives a request to perform the PBX function. The private branch exchange uses the call control path to perform the PBX function. |
| US08649814B2 |
Group call management
A method of managing a call group by a number of mobile devices in a mobile telecommunications network. The mobile telecommunications network includes a serving node in communication with the mobile devices. The method includes a network node identifying a radio access node adjacent a first radio access node. The method also includes a serving node creating the group call area on basis of the first and adjacent radio access nodes. The method also includes establishing a signalling channel within a cell corresponding to the adjacent radio access node. The signalling channel includes an identifier corresponding to the group call area. The radio access nodes, or base stations, that have established a data communications channel with the mobile communications device have traffic and signalling channels established therein and are marked as an active cell of the group call area. |
| US08649813B2 |
Latency improvement methods in native PTT gateway for a group call with dispatch console clients
A system and method for pre-allocating PTT resources including user/resource credentials at the native PTT gateway are presented. The user status and floor control information can be buffered at the native PTT gateway until the native PTT gateway receives actual resource/end point information from the media handler. Afterwards, the pre-allocation of PTT resources can be correctly mapped to the actual user resources/end point information when the native PTT gateway receives such information from the media handlers and a call is handled. |
| US08649809B2 |
Method for exchanging messages in a mobile radio network
The invention relates to a method for exchanging messages in a mobile radio system by means of a convergent messaging system, which allows an exchange of messages between the terminals of two or more users. According to the invention, a message thread is detected by one of the terminals as soon as a terminal receives a response to a previously sent message, wherein the detection of a message thread by this terminal triggers a recording of the message exchange in the convergent messaging system. |
| US08649804B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing location based services by determining current location information and virtual location information of portable terminal in a wireless communication network
A method for accessing a location-based social network service in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes determining whether virtual location information is used when the location-based social network service is requested, obtaining virtual access location information of the portable terminal when it is determined that the virtual location information used, and accessing the location-based social network service using the obtained virtual access location information. |
| US08649802B2 |
Method and apparatus for location based call signal conversion service in a wireless communication network
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for location based call signal conversion in a wireless communication network. The location based call signal conversion apparatus comprises an LBS (Location Based Service) server that provides location information on user terminals, and a call signal conversion server that converts the called signal to anyone called terminal on the called target terminal list that has been set up according to the current location of said called user terminal if a call connection request to a receiving user terminal from a sending user terminal is sensed among said user terminals, and if conditions for call signal conversion are satisfied according to the location and state of said called user terminal. |
| US08649801B2 |
Method for a subscriber unit's communication with a service and a component in a network
Using a method for a subscriber unit's communication with a service that requires information about the subscriber unit's location, the subscriber unit sends the service a message containing information about the subscriber unit's location and at least one piece of information about the subscriber unit's location is stored in at least one network component and is made available by a network component. |
| US08649798B2 |
Methods and devices for attracting groups based upon mobile communications device location
Individuals carrying a mobile communications device may send and/or receive attractor signals that specify where pre-defined groups are meeting at large gathering such as sporting events or concerts. The groups may be open to the public or may be private. The attractor signals are sent to those mobile communications devices of the group that are currently present at the event location rather than to all potential members of the group. The attractors may present information regarding where the meeting point is, who initiated the attractor signal, which individuals have responded to the attractor or are already at the meeting point, and so forth. The attractors maybe updated to with more current information including new guidance data as the user receiving the attractor changes location in an attempt to find the meeting point. |
| US08649796B2 |
Method and device for determining a cooperation area
A method and a device for determining a cooperation area for a mobile terminal in a cellular network, wherein the mobile terminal determines its n strongest interferers; wherein the cooperation area is selected for the mobile terminal regarding the n strongest interferers; and wherein the cooperation area includes m base stations and wherein the number m of base stations is larger than the number n of strongest interferers. Furthermore, a communication system is suggested including said device. |
| US08649791B1 |
Automatic neighbor list generation for long-term evolution (LTE)
A list of neighbor cells for a base station of a Long-Term Evolution mobile communication network is developed based on distance information of neighboring cells. Location data identifying location of the base station for which the list of neighbor cells is to be developed and locations of other base stations are processed to determine distance between the base station and each respective one of the other base stations. Based on at least in part determined distances, identification data of the other base stations are ordered. The list of neighbor cells for the base station is compiled to include the ordered identification data for a selected number of nearest ones of the other base stations, based on at least in part the determined distances. |
| US08649789B2 |
Method and apparatus for switching virtual SIM service contracts when roaming
A system and method store provisioning data supporting a plurality of service providers in a VSIM internal memory unit of a mobile device. The mobile device may automatically enable provisioning data supporting one of the plurality of service providers stored in the VSIM internal memory unit to conduct a wireless communication so as to avoid roaming fees. |
| US08649787B2 |
Method for switching communication links to a mobile terminal device which is associated with a local radio area of a network
A mobile terminal device (ME) determines whether it is located in the local radio area (HFB) of the network (MN) or in another radio area (FB2) and the determined radio area (HFB, FB2) is indicated to an application (APPL) of the network (MN). The application (APPL) is used to control a communication request (KV) addressed to the mobile terminal device (ME) by another network (FN) either to its local radio area (HFB) or to forward it to the other radio area (FB2) or the communication request (KV) is informed that the terminal device (ME) is not located in the local radio area (HFB). The invention allows communication requests coming in on the network (MN) to be directly switched to the local radio area (HFB) using the application (APPL) or to be directly forwarded to the mobile radio address in the mobile radio network of which the mobile terminal device (ME) is located, thereby avoiding or substantially reducing roaming or forwarding of communication requests from the local radio area (HFB) to another radio area and thereby achieving an economical operation of mobile telephone terminal devices (ME) with local radio area (HFB). |
| US08649786B2 |
Registering a mobile terminal in an area of overlapping cell coverage by first and second networks
A method is provided of registering a mobile terminal in an area of overlapping cell coverage by first and second networks for wireless mobile telecommunications. The networks are of different types. The method comprises: storing an identifier of the mobile terminal; storing in a controller a first record of in which cell or group of cells the mobile terminal is located in the first network and a second record of in which cell or group of cells the mobile terminal is located in the second network; and providing the mobile terminal with information of both records and said identifier. |
| US08649784B2 |
System and method for remote household appliance control based on mobile communication network
A system and a method for remote household appliance control based on a mobile communication network are provided. The system includes: a remote control access device and a remote control executor. The method includes: saving a first corresponding relationship between an infrared code type and identification information of a corresponding controlled household appliance and an operation act; and after receiving an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) session request from a mobile terminal, sending a locally stored USSD menu to the mobile terminal and starting a USSD session with the mobile terminal; after receiving a USSD session content related to performing an operation act on a household appliance from the mobile terminal, transmitting an infrared control signal according to the corresponding infrared code type searched out according to the first corresponding relationship. The remote control of household appliance is realized conveniently by combining USSD and infrared remote control technologies. |
| US08649783B2 |
No-cost mobile device messaging, such as for provisioning an application on a mobile device
An application stored in a mobile device is provisioned using provisioning data received from remote data storage via a network. Provisioning data is obtained at no cost to a user of the mobile device. In some implementations, the provisioning data is received after the mobile device requests to establish a data channel with a data network. The data network is identified using a predetermined identifier that the network recognizes. If the network does not recognize the special identifier, no data channel is established. After a data channel is established, the mobile device requests provisioning data from the remote data storage. In some implementations, the mobile device receives a provisioning message through a predetermined port. The provisioning message either includes provisioning data or prompts the mobile device to obtain provisioning data. |
| US08649780B1 |
Wireless communication device with audio/text interface
A wireless communication device is configured to visually prompt a user to initiate a text session, and to receive a text session request from the user including a called number. In response to the text session request, the device initiates the text session by placing a first call to a service node using a service node number, and transfers the called number to the service node over the first call. The service node then extends the text session by placing a second call to the called number. Once the text session is established, the device sends a first text message to the service node over the first call, and receives a second text message from the service node over the first call. The device then visually displays the second text message to the user. |
| US08649776B2 |
Systems and methods to provide personal information assistance
Systems and methods are provided to present information to assist an individual during social activities. For example, in response to a certain user gesture, or keywords in a voice conversation, a mobile device based system may capture audio and/or visual information to formulate an automated search to retrieve information for assisting the user privately. For example, the face or the voice of another user can be captured to search for the name of that user to provide name assistance. |
| US08649775B2 |
Acquisition of a voice signature for status tracking and proof of delivery of shipped goods
A method used in the acquisition of a voice signature associated with the status or tracking of shipped goods is provided. The method includes initiating a call and/or data communication between a remote user and/or device and a shipment tracking system and vice versa. The call and/or data communication is then associated with a shipment. A status of the shipment is determined and a time stamp is assigned to the call. A digital voice recording is generated and if a delivery event a voice signature is acquired during the call. The voice signature is stored to the remote tracking system wherein the voice signature is associated with the shipment, shipment status and time stamp. The voice signature is transformed to text, wherein the text is associated with the voice signature. Finally an electronic shipment status based on the voice signature, text associated with the voice signature, the shipment, shipment status and time stamp is provided. The location of the event is acquired via GPS and/or cellular tower servicing the device, location, and or transforming the voice recording of an event into a latitude and longitude location and or town, city, state and/or country of event. |
| US08649770B1 |
Extended trusted security zone radio modem
A cellular wireless modem. The cellular wireless modem comprises a cellular radio transceiver, a short range communication interface, a processor, wherein the processor comprises a trusted security zone, a memory, wherein the memory stores an input forwarding application, and a trusted security zone extension application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the extension application provisions the input forwarding application to an intelligent appliance via the short range communication interface, receives input from the input forwarding application executing on the intelligent appliance via the short range communication interface, and transmits a message based on the input via the cellular radio transceiver. |
| US08649768B1 |
Method of device authentication and application registration in a push communication framework
A server system and a mobile device establish a push data framework for communication. The mobile device includes a push client, and runs one or more applications requiring push data communications. The push client transmits a device authentication and application validation request to a push server. Upon the push server successfully authenticating and validating the device and application, the push client receives a session identifier for establishing a persistent communication connection with the push server. Once established, an application server can push data to the mobile device via the persistent communication session. The session identifier remains valid for an extended period of time, and allows the push client to maintain and re-establish push connections with the push server for the duration of the extended period of time. |
| US08649765B1 |
Communication apparatus using biometrics
A communication apparatus for connecting to a network that requires authentication is provided. The apparatus includes a network controller for connecting to the network; a controller for controlling a connection to the network via the network controller; a sensor for obtaining biometric information of a user of the communication apparatus; and a memory for storing a subscription module applied to authentication towards the network. The subscription module includes identification information created based on biometric information of the user. In order to establish a connection to the network by use of the subscription module stored in the memory, the controller obtains biometric information of the user by use of the sensor and compares the obtained biometric information to the identification information in the subscription module. |
| US08649764B2 |
Method, mobile terminal, service platform and system for implementing debit card service
A method and system for implementing debit card service based on callback. The method is applied to a mobile terminal set with an automatic dialing function unit, automatic dialing function of the automatic dialing function unit is activated, and a number corresponding to the mobile terminal is bound with one debit card. The method includes the following steps: a preset callback access number is dialed before the called number by the automatic dialing function unit in the mobile terminal to connect the call to a debit card service platform when the mobile terminal calls the called number; the debit card service platform releases the call and calls back the mobile terminal; the called number is continued by the debit card service platform after the mobile terminal answers the callback; the debit card service based on callback is implemented. |
| US08649760B2 |
Over-the air pre-paid wireless system and method
An over the air (OTA) Prepaid system, and a corresponding method, allows wireless connectivity when a wireless network would typically reject a user, such as when the user's profile cannot be validated. In wireless networks, unrecognized users are denied service due to the inability of the network to collect funds from the user for the services to be provided. When such a rejection scenario occurs, the OTA Prepaid system automatically (no user interaction required) initiates the process of local account allocation. |
| US08649759B2 |
Method of providing location information in an emergency
A password-protected wireless communications device can send a map or other location information about the current location of the device to the one or more emergency contacts by utilizing an emergency interface element that bypasses a password prompt. The location information may include an address and route directions to the current location of the device. The location information may also include a map of, and directions to, the closest hospital. The device can also render its own map to show a first responder where the closest emergency contact is located or where the nearest hospital or medical service provider is situated. |
| US08649758B2 |
Emergency alert system instructional media
Emergency instructional messages are utilized to provide instructions to a user in the event of an emergency. The instructional message may be various media, including, but not limited to, text, images, video, audio, and/or multimedia. The instructional message can be prerecorded and stored in a mobile device and/or on a communications network. Instructional message may be provided manually by an alert initiator and/or automatically based upon a type of alert. The instructional message may be initiated based upon the initiation of an emergency alert system (EAS) transmission, the occurrence of an event, a designated person, or a security violation, for example. Further, the instructional message may be tailored depending upon a location, such as the expected or determined location of the intended recipient or communication device of the instructional message. |
| US08649745B2 |
Adaptive predistortion for a non-linear subsystem based on a model as a concatenation of a non-linear model followed by a linear model
Systems and methods for compensating for non-linearity of a non-linear subsystem using predistortion are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a non-linear subsystem and a predistorter configured to effect predistortion of an input signal of the non-linear subsystem such that the predistortion compensates for a non-linear characteristic of the non-linear subsystem. The system also includes an adaptor that adaptively configures the predistorter based on a feedback signal that is representative of an output signal of the non-linear subsystem and an input signal that is representative of the input signal of the non-linear subsystem. The adaptor generally models the non-linear subsystem as a concatenation of a non-linear model that corresponds to the non-linear characteristic of the non-linear subsystem and a linear model that corresponds to a known linear characteristic of the non-linear subsystem. |
| US08649742B2 |
Radio communication system
A radio communication system according to the present invention includes a scatterer configured to reflect, refract, or transmit a radio wave radiated primarily from a transmission side apparatus to radiate the radio wave secondarily to a desired area and a metamaterial is used for the scatterer. |
| US08649741B2 |
Radio frequency module having an isolation mode between transmission mode and power saving mode
A radio frequency module is configured to enter a power saving mode with high reliability. The radio frequency module includes, e.g., a first switch transistor for coupling a transmission node to an antenna, a second switch transistor for shunting the transmission node to a ground voltage, and a level shift circuit for performing on-off control of the first and second switch transistors by positive and negative power supply voltages. The level shift circuit, upon receiving a sleep instruction while the module is in a transmission operation mode in which the first switch transistor for coupling a transmission node to an antenna is turned on and the second switch transistor for shunting the transmission node to a ground voltage is turned off, first transitions to an isolation operation mode in which the first switch transistor for coupling a transmission node to an antenna is turned off and the second switch transistor for shunting the transmission node to a ground voltage is turned on for a first period of time, and then transitions to a sleep mode in which the positive and negative power supply voltages are deactivated. |
| US08649740B2 |
Wireless transceiver apparatus having circuit unit forming frequency resonance mode when operated under reception mode
A wireless transceiver apparatus is provided. The wireless transceiver apparatus includes a signal transmitting circuit, a circuit unit, and a signal receiving circuit. The signal transmitting circuit includes a first output port and is utilized for outputting a first transmission signal via the first output port in a transmission mode. The circuit unit is coupled to the first output port of the signal transmitting circuit. The signal receiving circuit includes a first receiving port and is utilized for receiving a first wireless communication signal via the first receiving port in a reception mode. The first output port is coupled to the first receiving port at a first node. The circuit unit forms a frequency resonance mode to increase an impedance value of the signal transmitting circuit seen by a signal at the first node. |
| US08649737B2 |
Mobile communication terminal test system, analysis method, and analysis program
To enable addition or changes of functions with changes of communication standards in a mobile communication terminal test system. A mobile communication terminal test system includes a transceiver which has a control unit configured to append input information to acquired waveform data, a signal analysis unit which executes an analysis program, and a signal analyzer which is provided separately from the transceiver. The analysis program has a processing program which is provided for each type of arithmetic processing on the waveform data, a control program which is provided for each communication system, selects one or more processing programs for each test item, and executes the processing programs, and a switching program which specifies a communication system and a test item on the basis of the input information, and selects and executes a control program. |
| US08649736B2 |
Operation test method for a circuit for transmitting and receiving signals
The invention concerns a test method for a transmitter-receiver circuit. This transmitter-receiver circuit includes an antenna, connected to a processing unit, arranged for receiving signals and converting their frequency. The transmitter-receiver circuit also includes a power amplifier connected to said antenna and arranged for sending transmission signals. The transmitter-receiver circuit also includes a test module, characterized in that it includes the steps consisting in: a) electrically connecting the test module to the processing unit of the transmitter-receiver circuit; b) testing the operation of the transmitter-receiver circuit in a first operating mode, which can be either a data transmission mode or a data reception mode, using the test module; c) testing the operation of the transmitter-receiver circuit in a second operating mode, which can be either a data reception mode or a data transmission mode, using the test module; and d) electrically disconnecting the test module from the processing unit. |
| US08649735B2 |
Method and receiver for estimating and reporting a channel quality measure
A method of estimating and reporting, for a receiver (4) associated with a plurality of antennas (41, 42, 43, 44), a channel quality measure of a wireless communication channel from a transmitter (2) to the receiver, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one antenna configuration from a set of mutually different antenna configurations inherent to the receiver; determining a channel quality measure for the selected antenna configuration; and reporting the channel quality measure. The set of mutually different antenna configurations comprises antenna configurations that are allocated to different frequency bands (FB1, FB3). A receiver (4), user equipment, computer program and computer readable medium are also disclosed. |
| US08649734B1 |
Bluetooth scan modes
Different scan modes are provided for Bluetooth devices. In at least some embodiments, a narrowband scanning mode looks for signal energy on individual transmission frequencies at a time. By looking for signal energy rather than decoding transmitted packets, at least some of the components in a Bluetooth device can remain in an idle or rest state. A midband scanning mode looks for signal energy across multiple different frequencies at a time. Again, by looking for signal energy across multiple different frequencies rather than decoding transmitted packets, at least some of the components in a Bluetooth device can remain in an idle or rest state. A wideband scanning mode looks for signal energies across all relevant frequencies at a time. At least some embodiments enable a Bluetooth device to switch between scanning modes. |
| US08649733B2 |
System and method for quick authentication between Bluetooth devices
A system and method for quick authentication between Bluetooth devices are disclosed. The method includes: adding a central node (11) in a trusted environment (10, 13) of a Bluetooth device, wherein, said control node makes authentication with each trusted device (12) in the trusted environment and stores an information list containing information of each trusted device; after the information of a trusted device in the trusted environment is updated, the central node sends synchronization information to the trusted device that needs to update the synchronization information, and the trusted device receiving the synchronization information implements the update of the synchronization information. |
| US08649731B2 |
Base station apparatus, relay station apparatus, and communication system
Provided is a communication system that can allocate resources on an uplink for a CQI report, and can reduce the overhead of the CQI relay transmission from a relay station apparatus to a base station apparatus. To each mobile station apparatus (501, 502) that transmits CQI directly to a base station apparatus (500), resource blocks on a base station apparatus uplink to be used for the transmission of each CQI to the base station apparatus are allocated. Resource blocks on the base station apparatus uplink to be used for each relay station to relay-transmit to the base station apparatus CQI received from the mobile station apparatuses are allocated on the basis of the allocation result of resource blocks on a relay station apparatus uplink for each relay station apparatus (510, 520). To mobile station apparatuses that transmit CQI to the base station apparatus via each relay station apparatus, resource blocks on the relay station apparatus uplink to be used for the transmission of CQI to the relay station apparatus are allocated. |
| US08649727B2 |
Portable karaoke system, karaoke method and application program for the same
A portable karaoke system, a karaoke method and an application program for the same are disclosed. The karaoke system comprises a receiving end karaoke apparatus and at least a transmitting end karaoke apparatus. The receiving end karaoke apparatus generates a song list to provide to the transmitting end karaoke apparatus according to songs internally saved and songs uploaded from transmitting end karaoke apparatus. The transmitting end karaoke apparatus transmits a selection command to receiving end karaoke apparatus for generating a play queue according to the song list. The receiving end karaoke apparatus plays the song files saved internally for generating music signals according to a play queue sequence. Lastly, the transmitting end karaoke apparatus receives external vocal signals and transmits the external vocal signals to the receiving end karaoke apparatus to perform audio mixing with the music signals. |
| US08649723B2 |
Protective agent feeding member, protective layer forming apparatus, and image forming apparatus
There is provided a protective agent feeding member, which contains a core and a foam layer provided on an outer periphery of the core, in which the protective agent feeding member is in the shape of a roller, and the foam layer has a roughened surface and has a maximum height Ry of 400 μm to 1,630 μm. |
| US08649720B2 |
Image heating apparatus with rotatable heat generation member capable of induction heat generation by a magnetic flux
An image heating apparatus includes an endless rotatable heat generator for heating an image on the recording material by induction heat generation by a magnetic flux, a coil outside the generator for generating the magnetic flux for the induction heat generation, first and second magnetic cores, respectively provided on the same and opposite sides of the coil as the heat generator for directing the magnetic flux to the heat generator, a mover for moving the second core between first and second positions, the second position being farther away from the coil than the first position, and an electroconductive member extending from the first core to the second position in a direction away from the heat generator. |
| US08649716B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes toner image forming units that are arranged in a line at two end portions and at an intermediate portion of the line, each of the toner image forming units forming a toner image; an image transfer body to which the toner images formed by the toner image forming units are transferred; pressing members that are linearly arranged so that each of the pressing members faces a corresponding one of the toner image forming units with the image transfer body therebetween, each of the pressing members applying a pressing force to the image transfer body; and a fixing unit that fixes the toner images on a recording member. The pressing forces applied by the pressing members that are disposed at the two end portions are smaller than the pressing force applied by the pressing member that is disposed in the intermediate portion. |
| US08649713B2 |
Toner container, image forming apparatus including same, and connecting structure for connecting toner container and image forming apparatus
A toner container includes a cylindrical container body, a cap having a toner outlet, and a shutter. The cap includes a primary positioning hole, formed in an upper front surface perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the toner container, extending in the longitudinal direction, to determine an installation position of the cap relative to the image forming apparatus, a secondary positioning hole, formed in a lower front surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner container, extending in the longitudinal direction forward the toner outlet, to subsidiary determine the installation position of the cap, and a first restriction member to position the cap in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, projecting vertically upward from an outer circumferential surface of the cap and symmetrical about a virtual perpendicular line passing through a cross-sectional center position of the primary positioning hole perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. |
| US08649712B2 |
Toner cartridge having linearly movable shutter member
A developer cartridge includes a casing, a shutter member and a screw auger. The casing is configured to accommodate developer therein, the casing extending in a first direction and being formed with an opening. The shutter member is configured to be linearly movable between an open position and a closed position in the first direction, the shutter member opening the opening at the open position to permit the developer to flow out from the casing and closing the opening at the closed position to prevent the developer from flowing out from the casing. The screw auger extends in the first direction and is configured to convey the developer toward the opening, the screw auger being linearly movable in the first direction in conjunction with the movement of the shutter member. |
| US08649702B2 |
Electrostatic charger device and image forming apparatus
An electrostatic charger device according to this invention includes a cleaner member, an operating rod, a guide portion, and a bending member. The cleaner member is configured to clean an electrode housed in a housing by pressing against the electrode. The operating rod has one end in a longitudinal direction to which the cleaner member is fixed. The guide portion is disposed at one end of the housing in a primary scanning direction and has a through-hole through which the operating rod extends in the longitudinal direction, the guide portion supporting the operating rod to enable the cleaner member to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. The bending member is configured to bend the operating rod in such a manner that an intermediate portion of the operating rod projects away from an image bearing member when the cleaner member is in the first position. |
| US08649698B2 |
Image forming apparatus controlling power to a heating unit forming a fixing nip portion with a pressure roller through which a recording sheet is conveyed to fix a toner image thereon
The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a fixing part and a controller controlling power to be supplied to the heating unit so as to keep the temperature of the heating unit at a control target temperature. When the fixing process is ended, in a standby-mode, the supply of power to the heating unit is started to keep the temperature of the heating unit at the control target temperature, and the start time of the supply of power to the heating unit is set to a time when the temperature of the heating unit is lowered to a predetermined temperature lower than the control target temperature, thereby reducing the power consumption of the image forming apparatus in the standby-mode. |
| US08649692B2 |
Toner replenishing device capable of effectively softening toner and image forming apparatus with toner replenishing device
A toner replenishing device includes a toner container that stores toner, a toner replenishing device that supplies toner from the toner container to a developing device, and a toner condition detector that detects an aggregated condition of the toner stored in the toner container. A toner softening device is provided to soften toner stored in the toner container. A controller is also provided to drive the toner softening device for a prescribed time period in accordance with a detection result obtained by the toner condition detector. |
| US08649684B2 |
Optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems, components, and related methods for monitoring and configuring thereof
Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The communications can be distributed between a head end unit (HEU) that receives carrier signals from one or more service or carrier providers and converts the signals to RoF signals for distribution over optical fibers to end points, which may be remote antenna units (RAUs). A microprocessor-based control system or systems may also be employed. The control systems may include one or more microprocessors or microcontrollers in one or more of the components of the system that execute software instructions to control the various components and provide various features for the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems. |
| US08649682B2 |
Passive optical network
A distribution node of a passive optical network (PON) comprises a first port for receiving a first optical continuous envelope modulated downstream data signal at a first wavelength (λC) from a first optical line termination unit (OLT1) and a second port for receiving a second optical continuous envelope modulated downstream data signal at a second wavelength (λL) from a second optical line termination unit (OLT2). A first converter (FBG-1) performs continuous envelope modulation-to-intensity modulation conversion of the first optical downstream data signal and forwards the converted first optical downstream data signal (λC) to the first group of optical network units (ONU1 . . . N). A second converter (FBG-2) performs continuous envelope modulation-to-intensity modulation conversion of the second optical downstream data signal and forwards the converted second optical downstream data signal (λL) to the second group of optical network units (ONUN+1 . . . 2N). The distribution node forwards a seed signal at the first wavelength (λC) to the second group of optical network units (ONUN+1 . . . 2N) and forwards a seed signal at the second wavelength (λL) to the first group of optical network units (ONU1 . . . N). |
| US08649678B2 |
Frame processing apparatus, optical receiving apparatus, optical transceiving apparatus, optical transmission system, and frame processing controlling method
The technique for improving the efficiency in use of power resources while maintaining the received signal quality that satisfies the requirement during a system operation is disclosed. The frame processing apparatus disclosed in the present case includes: a frame processing unit which performs frame processing on an input signal in the designated error processing mode; and a controlling unit which receives the monitoring result relating to the signal quality of the input signal and performs switching control of the designation of the above error processing mode in the frame processing unit based on the received monitoring result. |
| US08649677B2 |
Exchangeable lens
An exchangeable lens includes: a camera lens mount unit; a holding portion where twelve lens connector terminals, each connected to one of the twelve body connector terminals and each including a contact area to come into contact with one of the body connector terminals, are disposed; an optical system that includes a drive target member which can be driven; and a drive unit that drives the drive target member. A shape of at least one lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals is different from a shape of another lens connector terminal among the twelve lens connector terminals. |
| US08649675B2 |
Interchangeable lens and camera body
An interchangeable lens mountable to a camera body includes a zoom lens configured to adjust an angle of view of a subject image, a driver configured to move the zoom lens in an optical axis direction, a plurality of operating members configured to generate an operation signal for driving the driver according to operation performed by a user, a communication unit configured to receive, from the camera body, setting information for setting valid/invalid of at least one of the plurality of operating members, and a controller configured to control the driver. The controller drives and does not drive the driver based on the operation signal from the operating member having been set to valid and invalid, respectively, by the setting information received through the communication unit. |
| US08649673B2 |
Image pickup apparatus improved in space efficiency for optical system element
An image pickup apparatus which is improved in space efficiency for an optical system element, thereby reducing the apparatus size when a lens barrel is retracted. An image pickup apparatus includes a zoom lens barrel that moves between a retracted position and a shooting position in an optical axis direction to thereby change a photographing magnification. A prism bends an optical beam incident from a lens group of the lens barrel. A diaphragm-shutter element is capable of moving along the direction of the second optical axis together with a stepping motor for actuating the diaphragm-shutter element. The stepping motor is disposed, at least when the lens group is in the retracted position, at a position where the stepping motor overlaps the prism in parallel with the second optical axis. |
| US08649665B2 |
Recording medium having data structure for managing reproduction of still pictures recorded thereon and recording and reproducing methods and apparatuses
The recording medium includes a data structure with at least one playlist file stored in a playlist area of the recording medium. The playlist file includes at least one playitem, at least one sub-playitem and mark information. The playitem provides navigation information for reproducing at least one still picture from a first file. The sub-playitem is associated with the playitem and provides navigation information for reproducing audio data from a second file. The mark information includes at least one mark pointing to the still picture. |
| US08649664B2 |
Audio and/or video generation apparatus and method of generating audio and /or video signals
An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus. The recording medium may be a linear recording medium, and the recording means may be arranged in operation to record at least one of the user generated meta data and the secondary meta data on the recording medium after the audio and/or video signals at a position at which at least one of the user generated and secondary meta data can be read by a reproducing means before the audio and/or video signals. |
| US08649661B2 |
Storage medium storing text-based subtitle data including style information, and apparatus and method of playing back the storage medium
A storage medium includes text-based subtitle data including style information for use with an apparatus and a method of playing back the storage medium. The storage medium includes moving image data, and subtitle data for providing a subtitle for the moving image data. The subtitle data is recorded based on a text to be separated from the moving image data and includes information used to select or change an output style of the subtitle. Accordingly, the subtitle can be output using style information selected by a user, and a style in which a subtitle is output can be changed. |
| US08649658B2 |
Method and apparatus for storage and playback of programs
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for playback of programs and other works recorded on random access storage media. One embodiment of the invention relates to random access storage media such as a DVD (“digital versatile disk” or “digital video disk”) used to distribute motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing secondary storage space of the storage media not used by the primary program being distributed to store secondary programs such as movie trailers and product advertisements, and to present the secondary programs to the user in a topical and interesting manner. In one embodiment, storage space of a random access storage medium such as a DVD is allocated to a number of variously sized programs or program portions called “chapters.” In one embodiment, each primary and secondary program constitutes a separate chapter. In this embodiment, each time the primary chapter is played, the DVD playback device plays a limited selection of secondary chapters before and/or after the primary chapter. In one embodiment, the sequence of secondary chapters played back varies each time the DVD is played. In this manner, as a viewer repeatedly views the DVD over time, a large variety of promotional material can be presented to the viewer without overburdening the viewer with overly-long sequences of promotions and trailers. In addition, because the sequence of trailers changes each time the DVD is viewed viewer interest is maintained. |
| US08649652B2 |
Slide show display system with BGM, slide show display method with BGM, information processing device, playback device, and programs
A slide show display system with BGM includes at least one content provision device that stores at least one of image content and music content, a playback device that plays back the image content and the music content, and an information processing device that controls the playback device to display a slide show with BGM. The information processing device includes a content information notification portion that transmits information on the image content and the music content that will be played back to the playback device, as well as a playback request portion that makes a playback request to the playback device to play back the content. The playback device includes a content acquisition portion that acquires the content from the at least one content provision device and a content playback portion that plays back the content in response to the playback request from the information processing device. |
| US08649650B2 |
Method for fabricating rare earth (RE) doped optical fiber using a new codopant
The present invention provides a method of making rare earth (RE) doped optical fiber using BaO as co-dopant instead of Al or P commonly used for incorporation of the RE in silica glass by MCVD and solution doping technique. The method comprises deposition of particulate layer of GeO2 doped SiO2 with or without small P2O5 for formation of the core and solution doping by soaking the porous soot layer into an aqueous solution of RE and Ba containing salt. This is followed by dehydration and sintering of the soaked deposit, collapsing at a high temperature to produce the preform and drawing of fibers of appropriate dimension. The use of Ba-oxide enables to eliminate unwanted core-clad interface defect which is common in case of Al doped fibers. The fibers also show good RE uniformity, relatively low optical loss in the 0.6-1.6 μm wavelength region and good optical properties suitable for their application in amplifiers, fiber lasers and sensor devices. |
| US08649648B2 |
Fiber optic adapter cassette and panel
An adapter cassette including a housing and a plurality of fiber optic adapters. The fiber optic adapters being angled relative to a front plane defined by the housing. The fiber optic adapters being interconnected to a multi-fiber cable connecter by fiber optic cables located within an interior of the housing. The adapter cassette further including a quick-release cover that provides access to the interior of the housing. |
| US08649645B2 |
Optical waveguide and a method of fabricating an optical waveguide
There is provided an optical waveguide comprising an optical core having transverse sides, the optical core extending along a curved path; an optical cladding on the transverse sides of the optical core, wherein the distribution of the optical cladding on the transverse sides of the optical core is asymmetric about the centre of the core. |
| US08649640B2 |
Optical 90-degree hybrid circuit
The present invention provides an optical 90-degree hybrid circuit for reducing wavelength dependency of an IQ phase difference. An optical 90-degree hybrid circuit according to the present invention comprises a first demultiplexing optical coupler including a first and second input port, a second demultiplexing optical coupler including a third and fourth input port, first and second arm waveguides connected to the first and second input port, each having the same length, a third and fourth arm waveguides connected to the third and fourth input port, each having the same length, a 90-degree phase shift section installed in one of the first to fourth arm waveguides, a first optical coupler connected to the first and third arm waveguide, and a second optical coupler connected to the second and fourth arm waveguide, the light is inputted into the first and fourth input port or into the second and third input port. |
| US08649639B2 |
Method and system for waveguide mode filters
A method and system for waveguide mode filters are disclosed and may include processing optical signals of a fundamental mode and higher-order modes by filtering the higher-order modes in rib waveguides in a photonic chip. The higher-order modes may be filtered utilizing doped regions and/or patterns in one or more slab sections in the rib waveguides. The patterns may be periodic or aperiodic along the rib waveguides. The higher-order modes may be filtered utilizing varying widths of slab sections, or doped, patterned, and/or salicided ridges on the slab sections in the rib waveguides. The higher-order modes may be attenuated by scattering and/or absorbing the modes. The chip may comprise a CMOS photonic chip. |
| US08649637B2 |
Polarization interference optical interleaver
The present patent application relates to a polarization interference optical interleaver, which includes a first port to transmit the first optical signal through the first optical path, a second port to transmit the second optical signal and a third port to transmit the third optical signal. The first optical signal passes through the first optical path and splits into the second optical signal and the third optical signal by the first and the second light splitting/combining crystals and the interference crystal group. The interference crystal group is located between the first and the second light splitting/combining crystals. The second optical signal and the third optical signal are received and reflected by a reflecting mirror. Then the second optical signal and the third optical signal output through the second port and the third port respectively. The second optical signal reflected by the reflecting mirror transmits along the first optical path of the first optical signal and passes through the interference crystal group, then walks off the first optical path by light walk-off device and outputs through the second port. The third optical signal reflected by the reflecting mirror transmits along the second optical path and passes through the interference crystal group, then outputs through the third port. There are only four beams in the interference crystal group of the present patent application. So the volume of the interference crystal group is minimized and the cost is reduced. |
| US08649633B2 |
Image registration system with movable region indicating similarity of alignment
An image registration system includes a memory storing digital data representing a first image and a second image, an image processing unit configured to register the second image onto a coordinate system of the first image to obtain a registered second image, and a user interface device adapted to display one of the first image or the registered second image, and a movable region having a periphery. The user interface is adapted to display the first image or the registered second image within the periphery and the other image outside the periphery. The image processing unit is adapted to determine a similarity in alignment of a feature of the registered image with a corresponding feature of the first image, and the user interface is adapted to provide a visual indication to indicate the similarity of the alignment. |
| US08649632B2 |
System and method for correlating oblique images to 3D building models
Embodiments of the invention relate to the visualization of geographical information and the combination of image information to generate geographical information. Specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a process and system for correlating oblique images data and terrain data without extrinsic information about the oblique imagery. Embodiments include a visualization tool to allow simultaneous and coordinated viewing of the correlated imagery. The visualization tool may also provide distance and measuring, three-dimensional lens, structure identification, path finding, visibility and similar tools to allow a user to determine distance between imaged objects. |
| US08649630B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing distorted image
The method and apparatus for processing distorted image is provided by the present invention, and the distortion parameter of the distorted image is obtained after a terminal implements the image conversion processing for an obtained distorted image; the terminal implements recovery processing for the distorted image based on the distortion parameter. The method and apparatus of the present invention could ensure that the terminal recovers a distorted image to a clear image quickly and accurately, improving the user's experience. |
| US08649621B2 |
Apparatus for determining motion vectors and a reference picture index for a current block in a picture to be decoded
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder. The decoder is configured to obtain first and second motion vectors of a block other than the current block. The other block neighbors the current block at one of a left, top and top right position. The decoder is configured to determine first and second motion vectors of the current block using the first and second motion vectors of the other block such that the first motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the first motion vector of the other block and the second motion vector of the current block has a same direction as the second motion vector of the other block. |
| US08649616B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes an image separating unit that separates and creates a plurality of derivative images from an input image based on feature of the input image; a coding unit that codes each of the derivative images separately, couples coded data of the derivative images, and generates multilayer structure data; and a controller that controls a code amount of coded data of at least one derivative image with a low code assignment priority out of the derivative images so that a data amount of the multilayer structure data is equal to or less than a limit amount. |
| US08649614B2 |
Method of compiling image database, image database compilation program, image retrieval method
A method for creating an image database comprising an extraction step of extracting reference feature vectors from a reference image which should be compared with a retrieval query image for object recognition, the reference feature vectors corresponding to local features at different positions of the reference image and representing the position and characteristics of each of the local features as a vector position, vector length, and a vector direction, a clustering step of creating a plurality of clusters consisting of different reference feature vectors in such a manner that each reference vector belongs to any of the plurality of clusters, a selection step of selecting the representative vector of the clusters from among the reference feature vectors of each of the clusters, and a step of associating the representative vector with the reference image and registering the representative vector associated therewith in the image database for the object recognition, wherein, in the clustering step, each of the clusters is created in such a manner that reference feature vectors at a near vector position belong to the same cluster, and in the selection step, reference feature vectors with long vector length are given priority to select the representative vector, and wherein the retrieval query image and the reference image are compared with each other by generating at least one query feature vector from the retrieval query image, and applying local search between the query feature vector and the representative vector, each of the steps being executed by computers. |
| US08649612B1 |
Parallelizing cascaded face detection
One or more portions of a cascaded face detection process, such as a process using a number of stages in which each stage includes classifiers having one or more associated features, can be parallelized. For instance, multiple pixels associated with an image can be evaluated in parallel, including simultaneously evaluating one or more features for each of the selected pixels. As a result, the number of operations required to perform the face detection processing can be reduced. Further, pre-processing can be performed to identify one or more image regions for which face detection process need not be performed. For instance, either or both of a skin-tone measure and a variance measure can be used to identify image regions in which a face is unlikely to be depicted. |
| US08649611B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring motion of a subject using a series of partial images from an imaging system
A line scan imager is used to determine the motion of a subject. Each line of image data from the line scan imager is compared with a reference image. The location of a matching line in the reference image reveals the displacement of the subject. The current subject displacement can be determined based on each line of image data. The resulting displacement information can be used to correctly place other optical beams on the subject. The method can be applied to tracking the human eye to facilitate measurement, imaging, or treatment with a beam of optical radiation. |
| US08649607B1 |
Spectral ratio contrast for edge detection in spectral images
Apparatus, systems, and methods integrating spectral information with spatial feature extraction of image data, providing simultaneous spatial and spectral feature selection of the image data, can be used in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, an edge signature for the edge between two materials can be defined using ratios of identified spectral bands, where the edge signature can be combined with a spatial mask to obtain a joint spatio-spectral mask. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
| US08649606B2 |
Methods and systems for generating saliency models through linear and/or nonlinear integration
Methods and systems for generating saliency models are discussed. Saliency models can be applied to visual scenes to generate predictions on which locations in the visual scenes are fixation locations and which locations are nonfixation locations. Saliency models are learned from fixation data on the visual scenes obtained from one or more subjects. |
| US08649604B2 |
Face searching and detection in a digital image acquisition device
A method of detecting a face in an image includes performing face detection within a first window of the image at a first location. A confidence level is obtained from the face detection indicating a probability of the image including a face at or in the vicinity of the first location. Face detection is then performed within a second window at a second location, wherein the second location is determined based on the confidence level. |
| US08649603B2 |
Computer-readable storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing method, information processing apparatus, and information processing system
A computer-readable storage medium has stored therein an information processing program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus to operate as: means for sequentially obtaining an image; means for detecting a specific object from the obtained image; means for detecting, on the basis of a first threshold and a pixel value obtained from a first region of the detected specific object, first region information on the first region; calculation means for calculating a second threshold on the basis of the pixel value obtained from the first region when the first region information is detected; means for detecting, on the basis of the second threshold calculated by the calculation means and a pixel value obtained from a second region of the detected specific object that is different from the first region, second region information on the second region; and means for outputting at least the second region information detected. |
| US08649600B2 |
System and method for segmenting text lines in documents
Methods and systems of the present embodiment provide segmenting of connected components of markings found in document images. Segmenting includes detecting aligned text. From this detected material an aligned text mask is generated and used in processing of the images. The processing includes breaking connected components in the document images into smaller pieces or fragments by detecting and segregating the connected components and fragments thereof likely to belong to aligned text. |
| US08649586B2 |
Color flow gain adjustment method and device
A color flow gain adjustment method and device, and a color ultrasound imaging system using the device are disclosed. |
| US08649585B2 |
Method and system for retrospective image combination under minimal total deformation constrain for free-breathing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with motion correction
A method and system for retrospective image combination for free-breathing magnetic resonance (MR) images is disclose. A free-breathing cardiac MR image acquisition including a plurality of frames is received. A key frame is selected of the plurality of frames. A deformation field for each frame to register each frame with the key frame. A weight is determined for each pixel in each frame based on the deformation field for each frame under a minimum total deformation constraint. A combination image is then generated as a weighted average of the frames using the weight determined for each pixel in each frame. |
| US08649582B2 |
Plaque region extracting method and apparatus therefor
According to one embodiment, a plaque region extracting apparatus includes a blood vessel wall data extracting unit, an intermediate image data generating unit, an enhancement processing unit, a plaque extracting unit. The blood vessel wall data extracting unit extracts first image data including a blood vessel wall from image data acquired by imaging a subject including blood vessels. The intermediate image data generating unit filters an intermediate region in the first image data to generate intermediate second image data. The enhancement processing unit processes the difference between the first image data and the second image data to generate third image data. The plaque extracting unit extracts a plaque in the blood vessel on the basis of the third image data. |
| US08649578B2 |
Method and system for defining a breast window
A computer implemented method for defining a breast window within an image for a breast, said image containing a breast image having a breast boundary, the method comprising: identifying a center region of the breast image, where the center region is coincident with an edge of the image; defining the edge of the image as the first border of the breast window; searching from the center region along the edge of the image for the breast boundary, the breast boundary informing a second border of the breast window; searching from the center region along the edge of the image in an opposite direction for the breast boundary, the breast boundary informing a third border of the breast window; and repeatedly searching from the center region in a direction orthogonal to the edge of the image for a point on the breast boundary most distant from the edge of the image, the point on the breast boundary informing a fourth border of the breast window. In some embodiments, the image may be rotated/flipped and/or subsampled and/or thresholded to form a binary image before a breast window is searched. A method of thresholding the image is also disclosed. |
| US08649575B2 |
Method and apparatus of a gesture based biometric system
An apparatus and method for detecting a finger are provided. The method includes capturing an image of a finger, generating a likelihood image of the finger from the captured image, localizing the finger within the likelihood image, determining a boundary of the finger, determining a location of one or more creases of the finger, and comparing the determined location of the one or more creases with crease locations of a finger image stored in a database. |
| US08649570B2 |
Biometric information processing apparatus, biometric information processing method, and biometric information processing computer program
A biometric information processing apparatus includes: a biometric information acquiring unit which acquires biometric input data representing a user's biometric input information; and a processing unit. The processing unit executes: extracting a feature quantity characterizing a feature of the biometric information from the biometric input information; classifying, based on the extracted feature quantity, the biometric input information into at least one of a plurality of classes categorized according to common features of biometric information, computing a confidence level for each class into which the biometric input information has been classified; judging whether or not a maximum value of the confidence level is larger than a threshold value predefined for the class corresponding to the maximum value among the plurality of classes; and, if the maximum value is not larger than the threshold value, prompting the user to have the user's biometric information reacquired. |
| US08649569B2 |
Authentication apparatus, image capture apparatus, authentication method, and authentication program
In an authentication apparatus, an input section acquires a living body image which an image capture apparatus generates by capturing an image of a living body that is an object of authentication, and outputs the living body image to an operation section. When the operation section acquires the living body image from the input section, the operation section calculates, on the basis of the living body image acquired and a registered image stored in a registered image storage section, the difference between the relative position of the living body with respect to the image capture apparatus at the time of acquiring the living body image and the relative position of the living body with respect to the image capture apparatus at the time of acquiring the registered image. The output section outputs guidance information for prompting a reduction in the difference in the relative position calculated by the operation section. |
| US08649567B1 |
Displaying a flood change map with change designators
In various embodiments, old flood maps may be compared to new flood maps to determine which areas of the flood map have changed. These changed areas may be correlated against geographic area descriptions that are within changed areas of the flood map. The changed areas may also be analyzed to determine whether each area has had a change in status (e.g., from a high risk flood zone to a non-high risk flood zone or vice versa) or a change in zone within a status (e.g., from one flood zone to another flood zone). The information on type of change (or no change) may be used to populate a database that includes geographic area description identifiers. In some embodiments, detection of certain types of changes may initiate a manual comparison of the old and new flood maps to verify the change. |
| US08649565B1 |
System for automatic object localization based on visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and cognitive swarm recognition
Described is a system for automatic object localization based on visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and cognitive swarm recognition. The system is configured to detect a set of location data corresponding to a current location of a sensor positioned on a platform. A map model of an environment surrounding the sensor is generated based on an input image from the sensor and the location data. In a desired aspect, a cognitive swarm object detection module is used to search for and detect an object of interest. The three-dimensional location of the object of interest relative to the platform is then estimated based on the map model and the location data regarding the sensor. The system described allows for real-time, continuous three-dimensional location updating for moving objects of interest from a mobile platform. A computer-implemented method and computer program product are also described. |
| US08649564B2 |
Pedestrian detector
A pedestrian detector includes an image-taking mechanism and an image analyzer. The image-taking mechanism is provided on a vehicle and used to take an image in front of the vehicle. The image analyzer is connected to the image-taking mechanism and used to receive the image from the image-taking mechanism and analyze the image to determine whether the image conforms to a pedestrian to determine whether there is a pedestrian in front of the vehicle. |
| US08649563B2 |
Object tracking
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. A computing system accesses an indication of a first template that includes a region of a first image. The region of the first image includes a graphical representation of a face. The computing system receives a second image. The computing system identifies indications of multiple candidate templates. Each respective candidate template from the multiple candidate templates includes a respective candidate region of the second image. The computing system compares at least the first template to each of the multiple candidate templates, to identify a matching template from among the multiple candidate templates that includes a candidate region that matches the region of the first image that includes the graphical representation of the face. |
| US08649557B2 |
Method of mobile platform detecting and tracking dynamic objects and computer-readable medium thereof
Disclosed herein is a computer-readable medium and method of a mobile platform detecting and tracking dynamic objects in an environment having the dynamic objects. The mobile platform acquires a three-dimensional (3D) image using a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor, removes a floor plane from the acquired 3D image using a random sample consensus (RANSAC) algorithm, and individually separates objects from the 3D image. Movement of the respective separated objects is estimated using a joint probability data association filter (JPDAF). |
| US08649554B2 |
Method to control perspective for a camera-controlled computer
Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for controlling perspective of a camera-controlled computer. A capture device captures user gestures and sends corresponding data to a recognizer engine. The recognizer engine analyzes the data with a plurality of filters, each filter corresponding to a gesture. Based on the output of those filters, a perspective control is determined, and a display device displays a new perspective corresponding to the perspective control. |
| US08649553B2 |
Method for predicting a trend of a meteorological phenomenon on the basis of data originating from a meteorological radar
The present invention relates to a method for predicting a trend of a meteorological phenomenon on the basis of data originating from a meteorological radar. The method includes at least the following steps: a first step of extracting gray level skeletons from images representing the data of the radar; a second step of associating characteristic data indicative of the state of the meteorological system with the gray level local extrema points; a third step of pairing each gray level skeleton of the two successive images; a fourth step of predicting future positions of the forms of the images; a fifth step of predicting trend data of the meteorological system; and a sixth step of representing the information originating from the sixth tracking step. The invention can notably be applied to the establishment of a prediction of trend of a cloud mass. The prediction of the trend of a meteorological situation may be presented to a pilot of an aircraft. |
| US08649552B2 |
Data obfuscation of text data using entity detection and replacement
A data obfuscation method, apparatus and computer program product are disclosed in which at least selected text entities such as words or abbreviations in a document are obfuscated to prevent the disclosure of private information if the document is disclosed. A user establishes various configuration parameters for selected text entities desired to obfuscated. The document is processed and text entities matching the configuration parameters are tagged for obfuscation. The tagged entities are then substituted in the document with obfuscating text. The obfuscating text can be derived from a hash table. The hash table may be used to provide a reverse obfuscation method by which original data can be restored to an obfuscated document. |
| US08649546B2 |
Insert earphone using a moving coil driver
Certain embodiments provide an insert earphone assembly. The insert earphone assembly may include a transducer adapted to convert electrical signals into sound energy. The insert earphone assembly may also include a main sound channel adapted for communicating the sound energy to a user. The insert earphone assembly may also include a plurality of one or more damping elements, one or more auxiliary volumes, and one or more auxiliary ducts. The plurality of the one or more damping elements, the one or more auxiliary volumes, and the one or more auxiliary ducts may be adapted to absorb sound from the main sound channel to modify at least one insertion response. |
| US08649540B2 |
Electronic earplug
Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and/or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs provided can deliver sound to a user's ear canal at levels below, equal to, and/or above ambient sound levels for specified ambient sound level ranges. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be switched between first and second settings with different sound level delivery settings. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be coupled with or integrated into two-way communication devices. Certain of such two-way communication devices can use induction to receive and transmit audio signals. Certain electronic earplugs provided can include a receive coil configured to allow remote radio signals to be received. Certain electronic earplugs provided can block at least about 35 dB of ambient sound when fully inserted into a user's ear canal. Kits that include electronic earplugs and accessories for use with electronic earplugs are also provided. |
| US08649537B2 |
Drive device
There is provided a drive device capable of driving a capacitive load with efficiency and with low power consumption while keeping quality input reproducibility for output signal. A switching drive circuit 10f repeatedly performs operations in the order of VCP charging phase PH_VCP_CH, VCP discharging phase PH_VCP_dCH, VCN charging phase PH_VCN_CH, and VCN discharging phase PH_VCN_dCH. A switching amplifier 10 allows a charging phase per cycle for an input signal VIN that is a reference for operation to be either a phase in which the slope of the input signal VIN is positive from a reference voltage REFL or greater until a maximum voltage, or a phase in which the slope of the input signal VIN is negative from a reference voltage REFH or less until a minimum voltage. |
| US08649536B2 |
Systems and methods for intra-oral based communications
Systems and methods are disclosed for capturing sound for communication by mounting one or more intra-oral microphones to capture sound; and mounting a mouth wearable communicator in the oral cavity to communicate sound with a remote unit. |
| US08649533B2 |
Emotive advisory system acoustic environment
An emotive advisory system for use by one or more occupants of an automotive vehicle includes a directional speaker array, and a computer. The computer is configured to determine an audio direction, and output data representing an avatar for visual display. The computer is further configured to output data representing a spoken statement for the avatar for audio play from the speaker array such that the audio from the speaker array is directed in the determined audio direction. A visual appearance of the avatar and the spoken statement for the avatar convey a simulated emotional state. |
| US08649528B2 |
Microphone unit with internal A/D converter
The present invention relates to a microphone assembly comprising a microphone assembly casing having a sound inlet port and a transducer for receiving acoustic waves through the sound inlet port. The transducer converts the received acoustic waves to analog audio signals. The assembly according to the present invention further comprises an electronic circuit positioned within the microphone assembly casing, said electronic circuit comprising a pre-amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter preferably in form of a sigma-delta modulator so as to convert amplified analog audio signals to digital audio signals. |
| US08649525B2 |
System for hearing protectors
A system for hearing protection comprising an outer hearing protection unit, an inner hearing protection unit, and an outer microphone is disclosed, the inner hearing protection unit comprising a speaker and the microphone being arranged to be electrically connectable for transmission of signals to the speaker. |
| US08649521B2 |
Obfuscation of sequenced encoded data slices
A method begins by a processing module receiving data to produce received data segments. The method continues with the processing module, in order of receiving the data segments, encrypting a data segment to produce an encrypted data segment, dispersed storage error encoding the encrypted data segment to produce a set of encoded data slices, buffering at least a number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices to produce first buffered encoded data slices, and buffering remaining encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices to produce second buffered encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module outputting the first buffered encoded data slices and, at most, some of the second buffered encoded data slices in accordance with a pseudo random output sequencing order when a number of first buffered encoded data slices compares favorably to an outputting threshold. |
| US08649511B2 |
Method and processing circuit for dealing with galois field computation
A method for dealing with Galois Field computation includes: providing an operating circuit which has at least a multiplicative inverse unit; and using the multiplicative inverse unit to execute at least a plurality of isomorphism maps for deriving a multiplicative inverse at a specific Galois Field corresponding to an input data, wherein the plurality of isomorphism maps include at least a change of basis. |
| US08649508B2 |
System and method for implementing elliptic curve scalar multiplication in cryptography
A system and method for implementing the Elliptic Curve scalar multiplication method in cryptography, where the Double Base Number System is expressed in decreasing order of exponents and further on using it to determine Elliptic curve scalar multiplication over a finite elliptic curve. |
| US08649506B2 |
Integrated speaker assembly for personal media device
Systems and methods are provided for media devices including a housing, a frame disposed adjacent to the housing, and an acoustic source that is integrated with the frame for emitting sound from the media device. |
| US08649503B2 |
Method, communication system and terminal for assigning a key and a display field of a terminal
A method, a system and a terminal for occupying a key and a display field that is associated with the key of a first end device of a first subscriber. An address identifies the second end device of a second subscriber. Following user input of the first subscriber. The detected second address is assigned to the key as a target address for setting up a future connection. Associated subscriber information is determined for the detected address, and the determined subscriber information is assigned to the display field. |
| US08649502B2 |
Protection cover mechanism with enhanced space utilization
A protection cover mechanism is disclosed. A hollow hinge tube is connected to a protective cover. A first hinge cover body is connected to the hollow hinge tube and includes a positioning rib. A spring is disposed in the first hinge cover body and abuts the hollow hinge tube. A hollow driven member is movably disposed in the first hinge cover body and abuts the spring. The spring is abutted between the hollow hinge tube and the hollow driven member. The hollow driven member includes a protrusion. The positioning rib is positioned on the hollow driven member, forcing the hollow driven member to move linearly with respect to the first hinge cover body. A fixing base includes a hollow tube fit on the hollow driven member and having an annular inner guide track with an undulated profile. The protrusion abuts the annular inner guide track. |
| US08649500B1 |
Dynamic allocation of agents for outbound calling in an automated communication link establishment and management system
Devices, methods and systems are disclosed herein for dynamically allocating agents during automated operation of a system performing attempts to establish communication connections between a user and a target. When human intervention is needed in order to further process an attempt to establish a communication connection between a user and a target, the system automatically selects the best available agent based upon the skills and experience of available agents in comparison to the conditions, characteristics, or requirements of the attempted communication connection. |
| US08649499B1 |
Communication analytics training management system for call center agents
Technologies are generally presented herein pertaining to identifying a training topic for agents at a contact center. In various embodiments, these technologies comprise performing an analysis on communications conducted between agents at the contact center and contact parties over a time period. In particular embodiments, the analysis performed on the communications involves identifying a number of occurrences of a keyword or a keyphrase found in the communications between the agents and the contact parties. Further, in various embodiments, in response to the number of occurrences of the keyword or the keyphrase over the time period being more than a predetermined threshold, the technologies presented herein comprise automatically identifying a training topic associated with the keyword or the keyphrase, and then providing a training course to the agent. |
| US08649498B1 |
Network architecture for hosting voice services
Architectures, arrangements, systems and/or methods for an Internet protocol (IP) telephony system for enterprise applications that is efficiently provisioned and maintained are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single platform uses a label allocation and routing scheme to provide overlapping dial plans for multiple customers, E.164 mapping and enhanced regulatory enhancements for both wireline and wireless telephony devices. |
| US08649496B2 |
Call classification and forwarding
A method may include receiving a telephone number mapping query from a querying device, the telephone number mapping query being associated with a call from a calling party to a called party. The method may also include retrieving address information based on the telephone number mapping query, the address information including addresses associated a number of network devices. The method may further include retrieving call type information associated with each of the addresses, and forwarding the address information and the call type information to the querying device. |
| US08649492B2 |
Floor control based mixing and switching of media
In one embodiment, techniques for optimizing voice quality for a media stream provided to participants in a conference are provided. A first path is provided that provides an unmixed path of media from a first user to participants in the conference. A second path includes a mixed path of media from multiple users. The mixed path may include media from a first user and a second user that is mixed. The mixed path may include a transcoding from a first compression to a second compression, and back to the first compression (or another compression). A floor control module may switch between the first path and the second path to optimize voice quality. |
| US08649491B1 |
System and method for real-time geographical call display of automatic call distributor calls
In a call center, a caller's geographical position may be mapped together with a geographical position of a call agent allocated to handle the call. A map may display tags depicting the respective positions of the caller and the call agent with a visual link indicating the call connection. The call agent may be selected dependent on the relative proximity to the caller. |
| US08649485B2 |
System and method for automated connection triggered by availability status
A system and method for automated connection triggered by availability status. The present invention includes a method of determining whether a connection request is pending to connect to a previously unavailable party and automatically making the connection now that the party is available. An alternate method includes generating a request to automatically connect to a party when the party becomes available. Application of embodiments of the present invention includes a telephony and/or an internet system. |
| US08649483B2 |
Method for producing a grating and phase contrast X-ray system
A method is described for producing a grating, in particular an absorption grating, having a grating constant of less than 100 μm, by using a solution of superparamagnetic colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs), a solvent liquid and a photocurable resin, with the following steps: —alignment of the CNCs in the solution by an external magnetic field, —exposure of the solution, so that the resin is cured and grating structures of an intended grating constant are formed, and —removal of the magnetic field. |
| US08649482B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
An X-ray imaging apparatus that performs X-ray imaging while switching a plurality of wireless sensors according to an imaging condition of an object includes: an acquisition unit that acquires examination information indicating the imaging condition of the object; a management unit that manages, as sensor information, remaining battery levels of the plurality of wireless sensors that have been registered; a control unit that assigns a priority order of wireless sensor candidates usable for performing the X-ray imaging according to the imaging condition indicated in the acquired examination information to the plurality of wireless sensors, in descending order of the remaining battery levels; and an imaging unit that performs the X-ray imaging of the object using wireless sensors sequentially consisting of those in descending order of the priority order assigned by the control unit up to a wireless sensor having a preset order number, as determined according to the imaging condition. |
| US08649481B2 |
Methods and devices for quantitative analysis of X-ray images
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases. |
| US08649478B2 |
X-ray CT scanner and control program thereof
An X-ray CT scanner performs CT imaging twice on a single imaging site such that respiratory phases relative to rotation of a measuring unit (X-ray generator and X-ray detector) are inverted with respect to each other. For determining a start time of the second CT imaging, a respiration cycle and the like are calculated according to projection data acquired by the first CT imaging. Further, sinograms 70a and 70b are generated, on each of which sets of projection data acquired from each CT imaging are arranged in the order of rotational angles. Subsequently, a corrected sinogram is generated in which sets of data fluctuated portions b and f attributable to respiration in the first sinogram 70a are replaced with data of the corresponding portions in the second sinogram 70b. Finally, a tomographic image is generated on the basis of the corrected sinogram. |
| US08649476B2 |
Adjusting sampling phase in a baud-rate CDR using timing skew
In described embodiments, a transceiver includes a baud-rate clock and data recovery (CDR) module with an eye sampler, and an adaptation module for adaptively setting parameters of various circuit elements, such as timing, equalizer and gain elements. Data sampling clock phase of the CDR module is set for sampling at, for example, near the center of a data eye detected by the eye sampler, and the phase of data error sampling latch(es) is skewed by the CDR module with respect to the phase of the data sampling latch. Since the error signal driving the timing adaptation contains the information of the pulse response that the CDR module encounters, the phase of timing error sampling latch(es) of the CDR module is skewed based on maintaining a relative equivalence of input pulse response residual pre-cursor and residual post-cursor with respect to the timing error sampling clock phase. |
| US08649474B2 |
Synchronous detection method and device
In a synchronous detection of an OFDM signal as an input signal composed of carrier waves, a clock generation part generates clock signals CK1 to CKk having a frequency quadruple of a frequency of each of carrier waves. A TAD sequentially calculates a moving average of the input signal by using the clock signals CK1 to CKk every quarter period of each carrier wave. A detection processing part sequentially executes addition-subtraction operation of the moving average values obtained by the TAD in order to calculate an amplitude value of each carrier wave. An unwanted component eliminating part subtracts amplitude values containing components of carrier waves having an odd multiple frequency of the carrier wave thereof from the amplitude values of the carrier waves in the input signal by a value which is an odd-submultiple of the amplitude value of the carrier wave having the odd-multiplied frequency. |
| US08649473B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving burst data without using external detection signal
Apparatus and method for receiving burst data signal without using external detection signal are disclosed. The apparatus can include a clock data recovery (CDR) circuit to generate a clock signal, and a detection circuit to detect an initial portion in the data recovered from the input signal. The CDR circuit can have a first mode that attempts to synchronize the clock signal with a reference data signal, and a second mode that attempts to synchronize the clock signal with the burst data signal and to recover data based on the clock signal. The apparatus can include a controller to conduct a process including, in sequence, setting the CDR circuit in the first mode, setting the CDR circuit in the second mode, and keeping the CDR circuit in the second mode when the detection circuit detects the initial portion in the recovered data. |
| US08649471B1 |
Application of crest factor reduction to a signal
A technique for applying crest factor reduction to a signal involves identifying peaks of an oversampled digital signal that exceed a threshold and generating a correction waveform corresponding to a sequence of correction pulses for respective peaks. The correction waveform is applied to the oversampled digital signal via a delta-sigma modulator to generate an oversampled digital output signal with reduced peaks. The delta-sigma modulator causes most of the energy of the correction waveform in the oversampled digital output signal to fall outside a frequency band of the oversampled digital signal. The oversampled digital output signal is low pass filtered to remove energy outside the frequency band of the oversampled digital signal such that noise introduced into the oversampled digital output signal by the correction waveform is reduced. The oversampled digital output signal is down sampled to produce a digital output signal with a lower sampling rate. |
| US08649465B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for adaptive clock reconstruction and decoding in audio frequency communication
The invention relates to methods for adaptive clock reconstruction and decoding in audio frequency. The method includes the steps of: receiving a modulated signal, wherein the modulated signal is modulated by RC-FSK (Return to Carrier Frequency Shifting Keying); performing a spectrum analysis to the modulated signal to obtain a plurality of frequency envelopes; storing the frequency envelopes; searching the peak values of the frequency envelopes and the time points corresponding to the peak values to modify an estimated period; and generating a clock period for the RC-FSK demodulation and a clock phase for the RC-FSK demodulation according to the estimated period. |
| US08649460B2 |
Techniques for multi-wire encoding with an embedded clock
Techniques for multi-wire encoding with an embedded clock are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a transmitter component. The transmitter component may comprise at least one encoder module to generate a set of symbols, each symbol being represented by a combination of signal levels on a set of wires. The transmitter component may also comprise at least one signaling module to transmit one or more of the symbols over the set of wires according to a transmit clock. The transmitter component may additionally comprise control logic to restrict transmission of first and second subsets of the set of symbols to respective first and second portions of a clock cycle of the transmit clock, such that a signal differential among at least two of the set of wires exhibits a switching behavior that has a same frequency as the transmit clock. |
| US08649459B2 |
Bit reduction in a transmitter
A digital baseband signal for radio frequency transmission is processed prior to performing digital-to-analog conversion. The digital baseband signal is filtered. The number of bits of the digital baseband signal is reduced to minimise the size of the digital-to-analog converter. By performing some of the bit reduction before filtering, the size of the filter circuit is reduced whilst still meeting relevant performance parameters. |
| US08649458B2 |
Using antenna pooling to enhance a MIMO receiver augmented by RF beamforming
A system having a multi-layer (multi-stream) multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system, having a MIMO baseband module and a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system. The RDN has two or more beamformers that are fed by two or more antennas, so that a total number of antennas in the system are greater than the number of branches of the MIMO baseband module. Each of the beamformers combines RF signals coming from the antennas. The system further implements an antenna routing module that swaps antennas between different beamformers according to one or more qualitative indicators derived from the baseband module, thus increasing the probability of grouping antennas that have lower conflicts between best phases of different layers' transmitted signals. The system increases the range of antenna selection beyond the set of antennas available for each beamformer. |
| US08649457B2 |
Precoding process for a transmitter of a MU-MIMO communication system
A Precoding process for a transmitter of a MU-MIMO communication system comprising M antennas in the transmitter and K User Equipments (UE), said precoding being based on a Regularized Zero Forcing (R-ZF) linear precoding. |
| US08649456B2 |
System and method for channel information feedback in a wireless communications system
A system and method for channel information feedback in a wireless communications system is provided. A method for communications device operation includes receiving a pilot transmitted by a controller, computing a channel estimate for a channel between the controller and a communications device, the computing based on the pilot, computing a channel correlation matrix for the channel based on the channel estimate, and transmitting a reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix to the controller as a first feedback information. The method also includes adapting a first codebook based on the reduced rank representation of the channel correlation matrix, computing a representation of the channel using the adapted codebook, transmitting the representation of the channel as a second feedback information, and receiving a transmission beamformed based on the first feedback information and the second feedback information. |
| US08649455B2 |
Multiple input multiple output communication system and communication method of adaptably transforming codebook
A multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system including a base station and at least one terminal may adaptively transform a codebook. The terminal may calculate one or more correlation matrices based on one or more subchannel matrices included in a channel matrix. The terminal may feed back information for the base station to reconstruct the one or more correlation matrices. The terminal may transform a codebook stored in the memory of the terminal, based on the one or more correlation matrices. The base station may verify the one or more correlation matrices using the information for the base station to reconstruct the one or more correlation matrices. The base station may transform a codebook stored in the memory of the base station such that the transformed base station codebook is the same as the transformed terminal codebook. |
| US08649454B2 |
Receiving apparatus that receives packet signal in which a known signal is placed in the beginning of packet signal
A detector receives detects a first known signal in a packet signal. An LTF correlation unit performs correlation processing on the packet signal received by a receiving unit. Upon detecting the arrival timing, an update correlation unit terminates a first window and performs correlation processing on the packet signal received by the receiving unit, in a second window. When correction timing is detected and when correction timing is more likely to be accurate than the arrival timing, an estimation unit changes the correction timing to the arrival timing; when the arrival timing is more likely to be accurate than the correction timing, the estimation unit maintains the arrival timing. |
| US08649449B2 |
Sending apparatus, reception apparatus, wireless apparatus and transmission mode control method for sending apparatus
A sending apparatus is configured to be able to support a plurality of transmission modes that use different occupied frequency bands in a channel. When user setting information indicates that electrical power consumption is reduced, a coordinator decides upon a transmission mode on a narrowly occupied frequency band side so long as a condition that a transmission rate necessary for transmission of digital information is satisfied. To make it possible to use a channel adjacent to a certain channel in sending of digital information from another sending apparatus, the coordinator changes a transmission mode whose occupied frequency band is wide to a transmission mode whose occupied frequency band is narrow for the transmission using the certain channel so long as a condition that the transmission rate necessary for the transmission of the digital information is satisfied. |
| US08649448B2 |
Demapping device and method for modified dual carrier modulation system
Disclosed herein is a demapping device and method for a Modified Dual Carrier Modulation (MDCM) system. The demapping device comprises: the received signal processing unit receives an MDCM signal preprocessed by an operation preparation unit, and calculates differences between squares of distances between the received signal and a plurality of constellation points; the index search unit searches for a constellation point closest to the received signal based on the differences between squares of distances between the received signal and each of a plurality of constellation points; and the demapping operation unit searches for constellation points close to the closest constellation point, and sends demapping result data to a decoding device. The demapping result is obtained by demapping based on differences between squares of distances between the closest constellation point and the close constellation points. |
| US08649447B2 |
OFDM modem using pilot sub-carrier structure
An OFDM modem is presented that uses a pilot sub-carrier signal structure for channel estimation to reduce link latency of the modem, or alternatively, a pseudo-random number sequence inserted into the OFDM signal for later detection for channel estimation. The OFDM signal includes multiple symbols, each symbol having a plurality of closely-spaced, orthogonal data sub-carrier signals carrying data. In some implementations, one or more pilot sub-carrier signals are inserted with the data sub-carrier signals. Each pilot sub-carrier signal is modulated with a predetermined pilot modulation scheme. Each pilot sub-carrier signal is placed at a different sub-carrier signal location for each successive symbol duration of the OFDM signal to form a sliding pilot sub-carrier signal. |
| US08649443B2 |
OFDM-lite architecture for HomePlug
A device for communicating digital data over power lines includes a power line interface for transmitting data over at least one band of frequencies. An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation unit generates OFDM symbols using a set of tones for the frequency band. A preamble generation unit generates preamble sequences for the frequency band by using the set of tones used by the OFDM modulation unit. The tones used by the preamble generation unit have a constant magnitude, and a set of phases obtained by quantizing to a small alphabet the phase of a set of tones obtained by taking an IFFT of a portion of a preamble used by a non-interoperable powerline access device. The device may transmit on two or more bands using a sampling frequency clock, wherein a lower band clock frequency is equal to or an integer divisor of a higher band clock frequency. |
| US08649432B2 |
Process for controlling the HSDPA downlink data rate received by a user equipment
A process for allowing a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network to control the HSDPA downlink data rate received from a NodeB, said UE successively receiving blocks of data having a predetermined size (N), involving the steps of: —receiving (10) one block of data; —determining (20) the size N associated to said block of data; The process further includes the steps of: —comparing (30) the size N of said block with at least a first predetermined threshold (N1); —if the size N shows to be superior than said first threshold (N1), execute the following steps: —storing (40) said block; —issuing (50) a NACK message to said NodeB; —accessing (60) a predetermined Look-Up-Table (LUT) with the value of N1 as an input and extracting a corresponding CQI value (CQI_LUT); —reporting (70) the CQI being the minimum between the CQI measured by the UE and said CQI_LUT value to said NodeB. |
| US08649425B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjusting bit rate in security device connected to external storage
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for adjusting a bit rate in a security device connected to an external storage, which can determine an output bit rate optimum to the external storage in the security device for receiving a video signal shot by a plurality of cameras and writing the same on the external storage, such as a USB memory, and can vary and adjust the data input bit rate of the video signal shot properly by the plurality of cameras based on the output bit rate. The data input bit rate of a video signal inputted into the security device is higher than the data input bit rate of a video signal outputted to the external storage, thus preventing a failure of not being able to write a video signal shot by a plurality of cameras on the external storage. |
| US08649422B2 |
Method for transmitting a signal over a power line channel and power line communication modem
A power line communication modem includes a receiver that receives a noise signal over a power line channel. The signal is OFDM-modulated on a set of sub-carriers, the sub-carriers being separated by a frequency separation. The power line communication modem also includes a processor that identifies a presence of a radio service within one or more fine frequency bands with a first resolution bandwidth by analyzing a plurality of fine frequency bands. The first resolution bandwidth is smaller than the frequency separation. The power line communication modem additionally includes a transmitter that excludes a signal in at least one of the plurality of fine frequency bands, in which the presence of the radio service has been identified, before transmitting the excluded signal. |
| US08649417B2 |
Method and arrangement in a communication system
Method and arrangement in a relay node, for cancelling self-interference. The relay node is connected to one or more reception antennas, which reception antennas are configured to receive wireless signals. The method comprises receiving an analogue input signal, converting each received analogue input signal into a digital signal, processing the digital signal, extracting a cancellation signal from each respective digitally processed digital signal, combining and filtering the extracted cancellation signals into a number of combined cancellation signals, converting each combined cancellation signal into an analogue cancellation signal, and subtracting each analogue cancellation signal from the analogue input signal. |
| US08649407B2 |
Surface-emitting laser device, surface-emitting laser array, optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
A surface-emitting laser device configured to emit laser light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate includes a p-side electrode surrounding an emitting area on an emitting surface to emit the laser light; and a transparent dielectric film formed on an outside area outside a center part of the emitting area and within the emitting area to lower a reflectance to be less than that of the center part. The outside area within the emitting area has shape anisotropy in two mutually perpendicular directions. |
| US08649402B2 |
Virtual broadband receiver and method of receiving data
A virtual broadband receiver includes a receiving unit to receive a multiplicity of media data streams and an assembly engine to assemble them. The receiving unit receives the data streams from a multiplicity of data connections, wherein each media data stream was transmitted along one of at least one wireless communication network accessible from a remote reporting location to one of the data connections. The assembly engine assembles the data streams into a single media stream forming a live media transmission from the remote reporting location. |
| US08649401B2 |
Generation and detection of synchronization signal in a wireless communication system
Techniques for generating a synchronization signal (e.g., a secondary synchronization signal) based on an M-sequence are described. In one design, first and second sequences for a secondary synchronization signal may be generated based on different cyclic shifts of the M-sequence. The cyclic shifts may be determined based on cell ID and/or other information to send in the secondary synchronization signal. An output sequence may be generated based on the first and second sequences, e.g., by combining the first and second sequences and scrambling the combined first and second sequences with at least one scrambling sequence. The secondary synchronization signal may then be generated based on the output sequence, e.g., by mapping samples in the output sequence to subcarriers and generating an OFDM symbol with the mapped samples. Detection for the secondary synchronization signal may be efficiently performed using fast M-sequence transform (FMT). |
| US08649400B2 |
Communication clock transport method and device
A method and apparatus for timing an output signal based on timing of an input signal is provided. A method includes determining a first clock rate derived from the input signal during a first time interval measured by a reference clock. The method also includes signal processing logic to determine a second clock rate during a second time interval based on an error signal that is calculated as a difference between the first clock rate multiplied by the second time interval and a previous value of the second clock rate multiplied by the first time interval. |
| US08649397B2 |
DSL terminal-exchange device connecting system and method
A network device includes a media gateway to receive and process a voice over digital subscriber line (VoDSL) communication to generate voice data in a predetermined format; a terminating unit to receive another type of voice communication and output voice data in the predetermined format; and a control unit to receive the generated voice data from the media gateway and the outputted voice data from the terminating unit, where the network device exchanges at least one of the VoDSL communication to the other type of voice communication or the other type of voice communication to the VoDSL communication. |
| US08649395B2 |
Protocol stack using shared memory
There are disclosed processes and systems relating to optimized network traffic generation and reception. Application programs and a protocol stack may share a memory space. The protocol stack may designate available bandwidth for use by an application program. The application programs may store descriptors from which the protocol stack may form payload data for data units. |
| US08649394B1 |
Asynchronous extension to serializer/deserializer frame interface (SFI) 4.2
A system and method are provided for transmitting and receiving asynchronous channels of information via a SerDes Frame Interface (SFI) 4.2 interface. The SerDes device accepts a plurality of channels operating at asynchronous channel clock rates. Bytes of data from each channel are loaded into a source at the channel clock rates. Once loaded, the bytes of data for each channel are drained from the source at a line clock rate and interleaved into four 64-bit segments. A 2-bit control word is added to each segment, creating 66/64-bit data blocks. The control word indicates the validity of bytes of data within the 66/64-bit data blocks. Then, the 66/64 bit data blocks are transmitted via a SFI4.2 interface in four lanes, at a rate proportional to the line clock rate. |
| US08649385B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using tuners efficiently for delivering one or more programs
In response to user requests for content, content may be dynamically mapped to communications channels, e.g., QAM channels, used to communicate multiple programs during the same transmission time slot, e.g., through the use of multiplexed MPEG streams. A customer premise device, e.g., STB, uses a tuner tuned to the QAM channel to receive the communicated stream, recovers multiple programs communicated using the single communications channel, and records and/or displays the recovered programs. In this manner, more programs can be received and recorded than there are tuners in the customer premise device, e.g., STB. In some embodiments a content service provider control node processes user requests for content, maps requested programs to transport streams, communicates mapping decision information to a content distribution node, and communicates QAM tuning information to the user devices which can then receive and record multiple programs communicated via a single communications channel. In some embodiments a customer premise device utilizes program information to direct demultiplexed program channels to local or remote recorders (for storing) or decoders (for playback). |
| US08649379B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring a link aggregation group on a stacked switch
Two network switches are configured in a stacked relationship to each other and include link aggregation sub-layer functionality. Switching tables are programmed on each switch with information used to forward packets ingressing to them over a redundant LAG that is identified in the switching table by a port that is a member of the redundant LAG. |
| US08649375B2 |
Method and devices for multicast distribution optimization
Multicast information flows are distributed from a source to user terminals over a network including aggregation routers arranged in hierarchical levels. Once a request for a given information flow is received from a user terminal, a distribution path can be defined through a plurality of aggregation routers. At one or more of the aggregation routers traversed by the information flow an information subflow can be derived to be propagated also towards lower-level aggregation routers that are not traversed by the information flow being distributed. Further requests for the same information flow received through an aggregation router towards which the information subflow was propagated are forwarded towards an aggregation router where the subflow was derived. |
| US08649372B2 |
Call set-up systems
A call set-up system sets up a call, which may be a voice call, between terminals through a plurality of packet switched networks using call agents. The networks are interconnected by network address translation (NAT) devices, and the messages to successive call agents include media addresses in the associated networks tor the actual data packets ot the call when it has been set up. The call set-up message includes the media address sent to at least some preceding call agents enabling NAT resources to be saved. The call agents can be incorporated into NAT devices, and the media addresses can be encrypted or in the form of a reference. |
| US08649371B2 |
Gateway device, communication system, and communication method
A gateway apparatus 110 includes: a communication unit 111 communicating a frame signal conforming to an IuUP (Iu User Plane) protocol with a wireless base station controller connected to a circuit switching network 101; a determination unit 112 for determining whether the frame signal received by the communication unit indicates a time alignment request for a sound signal to a circuit switching network or not; a conversion unit 113, converting information included in the frame signal to information to be set in a call control signal of an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) when the frame signal indicates a time alignment request; and a call control signal transmission unit 114 transmitting the call control signal including the converted information to a communication apparatus in the IMS 102. |
| US08649368B2 |
Notification of image capture
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and devices of user notification. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following: capturing an image in response to an event; relaying capturing of the image to a telephone device; and sending a message to a user at a remote location via the telephone device, the message notifying the user of the capturing of the image. |
| US08649362B2 |
Methods for determining the location of control channels in the uplink of communication systems
Embodiments of the invention provide methods for user equipments to implicitly determine the location of the transmission of uplink control signaling information, that is in response to downlink data packet transmissions, using information that is already available through the downlink control signaling for the respective downlink scheduling assignments. No additional explicit downlink control signaling is required for the transmission of the above uplink control signaling from each user equipment. |
| US08649360B2 |
Wireless base station and signal processing method
A total of n signal processing circuits respectively constituted by independent circuit blocks process signals at the Data Link and Physical Layers. The signal processing circuits are associated with respective n groups of M/n subcarriers each, to process signals at the Data Link and Physical Layers. For example, the signal processing circuit independently processes signals of the subcarrier group at the Data Link and Physical Layers, the signal processing circuit independently processes signals of the subcarrier group at the Data Link and Physical Layers, and so on. The signal processing circuit independently processes signals of the subcarrier group at the Data Link and Physical Layers. |
| US08649358B2 |
Techniques for UL MU MIMO signaling and error handling
An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA), comprising a transceiver operable for communicating in a wireless network, wherein the transceiver is adapted to use signaling that enables the wireless station to communicate necessary information including a desired modulation coding scheme (MCS). |
| US08649352B2 |
Packet forwarding methods for use in handoffs
Extending Mobile IP (MIP) to support both local and remote access by using two MIP client stacks in the end node, a roaming Node in the local access network, a standard Home Agent in the remote network is described. Messages between the access node and the mobile node, and between the internal modules of the mobile node are used to control hand-off for each of multiple MIP clients operating in parallel in the mobile node and to enable backwards compatibility with legacy remote access clients. |
| US08649351B2 |
Scheduling in a cellular system
A method for scheduling a first and a second channel in a subframe includes dividing transmission resources needed for the first channel into a first set of resource groups and assigning the resource groups of the first set to subelements in the subframe in a predetermined fashion. The method also includes assigning a symbol value to all subelements in the subframe which have not been assigned a resource group of the first set and dividing transmission resources needed for the second channel into a second set of resource groups. Additionally, the method includes assigning, in a predetermined fashion, the resource groups of the second set to subelements in the subframe by means of said symbol values. |
| US08649349B2 |
Method and system for reporting power headroom report (PHR) in carrier aggregation scene
A method and system for reporting PHR in carrier aggregation scenarios are disclosed. The method includes: UE encapsulating UE specific PH and/or UL CC specific PH that need to be reported into a same PHR according to a preset order, and meanwhile encapsulating indication information that indicates whether the UE specific PH and each UL CC specific PH are reported or not into the PHR, then sending the PHR to eNB; after receiving the PHR, the eNB analyzing the PHR to obtain the PH and indication information in the PHR, determining the type and quantity of the UE specific PH and/or each UL CC specific PH reported in the PHR according to the indication information and scene configured by eNB for the UE, and then extracting the UE specific PH and/or each UL CC specific PH from the PHR in combination with the preset order. |
| US08649346B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signals in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for allocating resources for transmitting an HARQ ACK/NACK signal for a downlink subframe using a PUCCH format 3 in a time division duplex (TDD) system using a single carrier are provided. Since the resources are allocated through a resource indicator transmitted using a power control field transmitted on a PDCCH of the downlink subframe, the resources for transmitting the HARQ ACK/NACK signal may be allocated by effectively using resources allocated to a duplicately transferred control signal. |
| US08649343B2 |
Uplink transmission in carrier aggregation environment
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method of uplink transmission, in which a user equipment transmits a signal in uplink in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes switching an uplink transmission mode used in transmitting the signal to a base station to either a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode, generating a plurality of signals to transmit to the base station via a plurality of component carriers (CCs), and transmitting a plurality of the signals to the base station according to the switched uplink transmission mode, wherein the first transmission mode allows multi-carrier characteristics for the signal transmitted via a plurality of the component carriers and wherein the second transmission mode requests single carrier characteristics for the signals transmitted via a plurality of the component carriers. |
| US08649341B2 |
Joint management of radio and transport resources
A system for managing radio access resources includes a joint radio resource management/transport resource management unit configured to communicate with a plurality of radio units over a transport network, to jointly allocate radio resources at the radio unit and transport resources on the transport network in response to requests from wireless terminals requesting access to radio resources from the radio units, to send a radio resource allocation schedule to the plurality of radio units that defines radio resource allocations for the wireless terminals, and to generate a transport resource allocation schedule that defines transport resource allocations for the wireless terminals. The system further includes a transport resource controller configured to receive the transport resource allocation schedule and to map user data to physical transport resources on the transport network in response to the transport resource allocation schedule. |
| US08649338B2 |
Apparatus and method for mobile assisted adaptive FFR
In a method of fractional frequency reuse in a communication network, a frequency band is divided into a plurality of sub-bands according to a Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) scheme to define a FFR allocation of the band for a plurality of bases stations, each of the base stations being associated with a respective region. At a first base station of the plurality of base stations, the first base station associated with a first region, communication with a mobile terminal in the first region is established on one of the plurality of sub-bands according to the FFR allocation. A second base station of the plurality of base stations, the second base station associated with a second region, transmits on the one of the plurality of sub-bands according to the FFR allocation; receives an indication of a coverage problem detected at the mobile terminal due to interference from the second base station on the one of the plurality of sub-bands; and in response to the receiving the indication, decreases a transmit power level for the one of the plurality of sub-bands in the second region. |
| US08649336B2 |
Method for assigning addresses to a plurality of electronic devices connected to a communication channel
A method is described for assigning addresses to a plurality of electronic devices connected to a shared communication channel, in which, upon being turned on, each device generates and assigns itself an address included in a set containing a number of addresses that is equal to or greater than the number of devices connected to said channel. |
| US08649334B2 |
Radio resource reallocating method for circuit mode
The present invention relates to a radio resource reallocation method based on the circuit mode. In order to efficiently use the radio resource in the packet-based data transmission system, a circuit mode radio resource is reallocated based on a rearrangement information element and a rearrangement counter information element by using the circuit mode. Accordingly, an unused region of the discontinuous radio resource that can be generated by resource de-allocation and resource change can be eliminated, and a resource allocation mismatch that can be generated by a MAP receiving error can be solved. |
| US08649331B2 |
Data burst communication techniques for mobile communication devices operating in packet data sessions
A mobile device experiences a condition where a time overlap exists between a packet data burst being communicated over a packet data channel of a serving cell and broadcast data burst being communicated over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. The mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is not a candidate for an upcoming handoff. On the other hand, the mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the broadcast data burst instead of the packet data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is a candidate for an upcoming handoff. The mobile device may set the RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on further identifying that a call drop is imminent. |
| US08649327B2 |
Semi-persistent resource allocation method for uplink transmission in wireless packet data systems
A wireless telecommunications network supplies a semi-persistent resource that a wireless station can use for special purposes (such as a retransmission of packets for ARQ purposes or a control signal. The semi-persistent resource can be allocated by the system to other terminals if, e.g., a retransmission is not required. Since a retransmission is generally performed in response to a NACK received from a base station, the NACK may itself serve as a token that permits the wireless station to use the semi-persistent allocation. Thus, the technology includes, e.g., a method for resource allocation on a semi-persistent basis and efficient signaling for the usage of such allocation. |
| US08649326B2 |
Method of handling capability information of a mobile device and related communication device
A method of handling capability information of a mobile device in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises setting a first device capability recognized by a legacy base station of a network of the wireless communication system, and transmitting the first device capability with a second device capability to the network, to convey the capability information to the network, wherein the second device capability is recognized by an advanced base station of the network. |
| US08649324B2 |
Data transmission apparatus and method in wireless communication system
A data communication method in a basic service set (BSS) of a wireless communication system using a carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) protocol includes: performing, by first and second nodes within the BSS, communication within a predetermined first time period; and transmitting, by a third node within the BSS, data to a fourth node within the first time period through a channel which is not used by the other nodes. |
| US08649322B2 |
Method and system for controlling access to a wireless communication medium
A method and system for controlling access to a wireless communication medium are disclosed. The system includes at least one access point (AP) and at least one station (STA). The AP defines a superframe for transmission of data in a time domain having a high throughput (HT) period which includes at least one scheduled resource allocation (SRA) and at least one management SRA (MSRA). The AP broadcasts an extended beacon (EB) including information about the SRA and MSRA. The SRA is defined for transmitting traffic data between the AP and the STA, and the MSRA is defined for transmitting management and control data between the AP and the STA. The system reduces station battery consumption, supports higher throughput for non-real time (NRT) traffic and is more efficient for real time (RT) traffic while maintaining full compatibility. |
| US08649320B2 |
Method and related device of scheduling request behavior in a wireless communication system
A method of scheduling request (SR) behavior for a UE configured with semi-persistent scheduling in a wireless communication system includes triggering an SR when the UE does not have an uplink resource allocated for a current transmission time interval, and controlling the triggered SR to remain pending and to be repeated until uplink resources are granted for a new transmission. |
| US08649317B2 |
Wireless communication relay station apparatus, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication relay method, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication relay station apparatus, a wireless communication apparatus, a wireless communication relay method and a wireless communication method are presented that effectively utilize resources and prevent loop interference. A wireless communication relay station relays communication between a first wireless communication apparatus and a second wireless communication apparatus in at least two or more frequency bands and includes a transmitter for using a first subframe to transmit a first uplink signal to the first wireless communication apparatus in a first frequency band, and transmitting a first downlink signal to the second wireless communication apparatus in a second frequency band. A relay station receiver receives a second downlink signal from the first wireless communication apparatus in the first frequency band, and receives a second uplink signal from the second wireless communication apparatus in the second frequency band. |
| US08649315B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing preamble change of relay station in broadband wireless access communication system using multihop relay
An apparatus and a method for processing a change of a preamble of a Relay Station (RS) are provided. An operating method of a Base Station (BS) includes providing a relay service via an RS, determining whether a preamble of the RS needs to change, when it is necessary to change the preamble of the RS, sending a preamble change command message to the RS and, when the preamble of the RS is changed, sending a preamble change notification message informing of the preamble change to at least one lower node of the RS. |
| US08649314B2 |
Peer-to-peer mobile data transfer method and device
A technique is provided for a direct data transfer session, including for multimedia content, between mobile devices without the need for using a separate multimedia server to store multimedia content. Direct data transfer sessions between mobile devices are established by transmitting necessary address information through page-based messaging services that utilize the underlying digital mobile network databases and services to resolve the identification and location of the mobile devices. |
| US08649313B2 |
Mobile station, base station, transmission method and computer storage medium thereof
A mobile station (MS), a base station (BS), a transmission method and a computer storage medium thereof are provided. When the MS requests a bandwidth from the BS, it may generate a selected transmission sequence and a quick access message. The selected transmission sequence comprises pre-defined bit information (e.g., a flow identification, a size of the bandwidth or the like), and the quick access message comprises a station identification of the MS. The MS may transmit the transmission sequence and the quick access message to the BS in a frame so that the BS may allocate the bandwidth to the MS according to the size of the bandwidth, the station identification and the flow identification. Thereby, the amount of the control signals needed when the MS requests a bandwidth from the BS may be decreased. |
| US08649312B2 |
Method and apparatus for counting multimedia broadcast and multicast services
A method and apparatus for multimedia broadcast and multicast service (MBMS) counting is provided. A user equipment (UE) may transmit selected service information to a multi-cell and multicast coordination entity (MCE) through a target evolved node base station (eNB), every time that a service requiring counting is received or cancelled and thus, the MCE may accurately manage a number of UEs that receive a service for each eNB. Also, the use may transmit selected service information to the MCE through the target eNB every time that the UE enters a new cell and thus, the MCE may accurately manage a number of UEs that receive a service for each eNB. |
| US08649310B2 |
Base station, mobile apparatus, and communication method thereof for multicast and broadcast service
A base station, a mobile apparatus, and a communication method thereof for multicast and broadcast service (MBS) are provided. The base station and the mobile apparatus belong to an MBS zone. The base station sets an indicator in a control channel allocation of a frame. The indicator is related to a cell-specific MBS configuration of the base station. The control channel allocation is an allocation that the mobile apparatus has to read when it is in power-saving mode and when it has to receive MBS data. The MBS data is related to the MBS zone. The mobile apparatus reads the indicator in power-saving mode and can derive the cell-specific MBS configuration according to the indicator. The mobile apparatus does not have to search the whole frame to derive the cell-specific MBS configuration. |
| US08649298B2 |
Method and system for creating a virtual wireless sensor network
A method for creating a virtual Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is disclosed. The method includes extracting one or more niceties of a physical WSN and embedding at least one of the extracted niceties in a soft object to represent one or more sensor nodes of the physical WSN. The method includes, sending equivalent command to the one or more sensor nodes of the physical WSN, when one or more changes are performed on corresponding niceties of the soft object. Further, the method adding or deleting one or more niceties corresponding to the one or more sensor nodes from the soft object upon ingress or egress of the one or more sensor nodes in the physical WSN. The method also includes steps of building application using the soft object of the virtual WSN. |
| US08649297B2 |
System and method for simplifying secure network setup
A method in one example implementation includes discovering a networking device within a wireless connectivity range from a first computing device. The networking device may be configured for wireless connectivity by sending new network configuration settings to the networking device to be stored in a memory element. The method also includes configuring the first computing device to initiate a wireless connection to the networking device, such that the wireless connection is created without requiring the user to provide any configuration settings associated with the wireless connection. In more specific embodiments, if it is determined that the networking device is unconfigured, then the new network configuration settings are automatically generated. In other more specific embodiments, the new network configuration settings include a new network identifier and a new network password. |
| US08649296B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for reliable, fast, and scalable multicast message delivery in service overlay networks
A method to organize nodes into an overlay network and to disseminate multicast messages within this overlay both through an efficient tree embedded in the overlay and through gossips exchanged between overlay neighbors. Regardless of the size of the system, this invention incurs a constant low overhead on each node. |
| US08649294B2 |
System and method for seeking a wireless network for a wireless device
The disclosure relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. The communication device comprises: a network connection to initiate a command relating to the network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to the communication device; and a communication system to process communications between the device and the network and between the device and another network. |
| US08649293B2 |
Control information transmission method and control information receiving terminal
A control information transmission method and a control information receiving terminal are provided. The transmission method comprises: notifying a terminal of setting information of control information in a downlink subframe (S202); and transmitting the control information to the terminal in a preset subframe and other subframes determined according to the setting information (S204). By transmitting the control information on part of the 16m subframes and notifying the 16m terminal of the information of setting the control information, the present invention enables the 16m terminal to shut down the RF transmission at the location of a subframe where the control information is not included and no resource related to the terminal is assigned, and to enter the micro sleep mode, which reduces power consumption of the terminal. |
| US08649285B2 |
Tracking packet sequence numbers
Methods, traffic receivers, and computer readable storage media for testing network connections are disclosed. A traffic receiver coupled to a network under test may receive a packet. A packet group identification number (PGID and a sequence number (SN) may be extracted from the received packet. Data associated with the PGID may be retrieved from a memory, the data including a next expected sequence number (NESN), a start of run (SOR), a number of in-order packets (NIO) and a number of duplicate packets (NDP). When SN is equal to NESN, NESN and NIO may be incremented. When SN is less than NESN and SN is greater than or equal to SOR, NDP may be incremented. When SN is greater than NESN, SOR may be set to SN, NESN may be set to SN plus one, and NIO maybe incremented. Updated data may be stored in the memory. |
| US08649284B2 |
Cellular congestion and admission control based on ringing tones in unanswered calls
A base station in a wireless network measures a total transmission power associated with calls in a cell of the wireless network, where the calls include answered calls and unanswered calls that originated in the cell. The base station further compares the measured total transmission power with a power threshold and performs at least one of the following: muting at least one of the unanswered calls downlink voice path based on the comparison, or disconnecting at least one of the unanswered calls based on the comparison. |
| US08649283B2 |
Packet analysis apparatus and method thereof
A method executed by a packet analysis apparatus for analyzing packets including voice packets and non-voice packets includes: capturing packets in a specific session; storing the captured packets in a storage; screening the stored packets to count up a receipt count of voice packets; determining whether packet loss has occurred in the specific session; and determining whether loss packets are voice packets in accordance with received packets adjacent to the loss packets to count up a loss count of voice packets when the packet loss has occurred. |
| US08649280B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station, user equipment, and communication method
A method for adaptively deciding number of feedback resource blocks in a downlink which comprises that a base station (500) determines a mode corresponding to the number of the feedback resource blocks which a user equipment feeds back by monitoring performance of a wireless cell and number of the user equipments (100) and transmits the mode to the user equipments (100) through signaling; the user equipments (100) listens to the mode and adaptively decides the number of feedback resource blocks by conditions of itself and feeds back downlink channel quality indicator information to the base station (500) according to Best channel quality indicator number or Threshold based feedback algorithm; and the base station (500) performs resource scheduling according to the feedback information. The present invention provides a method for adaptively deciding the number of feedback resource blocks based on base station signaling and user equipment decision, with respect to Best channel quality indicator number or Threshold based feedback algorithm in downlinks, thus insuring the performance of the wireless cell. |
| US08649279B2 |
Apparatus and method for adaptive TSP setting to minimize duplicate packet transmissions
An apparatus and method for adaptively setting a Timer_Status_Prohibit (TSP) parameter, the method comprising receiving a category information from a first terminal; determining a threshold value based on the category information and transmitting the threshold value to the first terminal; starting a TSP timer and transmitting at least one data packet to the first terminal once the TSP timer has started; determining when the TSP timer exceeds the threshold value to discontinue transmitting the at least one data packet to the first terminal; receiving a status report from the first terminal; and using the status report, determining whether there is any missing or erroneously received data packet and retransmitting any missing or erroneously received data packet from the at least one data packet to the first terminal. |
| US08649277B2 |
Communication apparatus and method
A packetizer sectionalizes data to be transmitted into predetermined units and packetizes them into packets. A permuter permutes the order of the packets created by the packetizer based on a designated interleave length and sends out the packets to a network. A continuous loss information collector collects information on continuous packet loss occurring on the network. An interleave length determiner determines an interleave length based on the information on continuous packet loss, collected by the continuous loss information collector and designates the interleave length for the permuter. |
| US08649273B2 |
Method for reporting a transmission channel quality
A method for reporting a user channel quality in a wireless telecommunication system. The user channel includes a plurality of transmission resources such as, for example, frequency intervals of an OFDM multiplex. The user terminal determines the transmission resources which would be in an outage position for a transmission with a set point bit rate. The user terminal transmits on the uplink the list of resources which would be in an outage position as well as a channel quality indicator for resources which would not be. |
| US08649267B2 |
Method, system and use thereof for controlling real time contiguous data in a packet switched data stream, real time contiguous data service provided using said method
A method and apparatus in a packet-switched communication network for controlling Quality of Service (QoS) for a packet-switched data stream that includes a plurality of contiguous data packages. The network normally provides the data stream to users at a first QoS level. When it is determined that a receiving user is not authorized to receive the data stream at the first QoS level, the apparatus intercepts the data stream prior to receipt by the receiving user and extracts selected data packages from the data stream to reduce the QoS level for the data stream to a lower, second QoS level to match an authorization status of the receiving user. The apparatus then forwards to the receiving user, a modified data stream with the lower, second QoS level. |
| US08649261B2 |
Method and system for blocking protocol messages at a sub-ring control channel without virtual channel
The present invention provides a method for blocking a protocol message at a Sub-ring control channel without a virtual channel, for avoiding the problem that the Sub-ring is in a continuous refresh state all the time caused by the existing solution of the Sub-ring control channel without the virtual channel, and the method includes: blocking forwarding of relevant messages when a forced switch is initiated or a failure is detected. |
| US08649259B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing control of multiple physically dual homed devices
A ring control protocol is used to establish a separate control plane for a plurality of physically dual homed devices to enable collections of dual homed devices to be represented by a single pair of addresses into the attached routed Ethernet network. The gateway devices analyze the passing ring control packets to create direct mappings for data packets to the routed Ethernet network. Thus, although the dual homed devices are treated as a ring from a control perspective, the data path is implemented to be direct so that data packets continue to flow directly from the dual homed devices to each of the attached gateway devices. In one embodiment, each of the gateway devices implements a virtual switch and advertises the MAC address of the virtual switch into the routed Ethernet network rather than the MAC addresses of each of the attached Ethernet Switch Units. |
| US08649256B2 |
High capacity router having redundant components
A router includes multiple routing engines. If the active routing engine fails, a backup one of the routing engines detects the failure and assumes the role of active routing engine. A redundancy controller circuit, connected to the multiple routing engines, facilitates the selection and switching of the routing engines. Portions of the packet forwarding engine, in addition to the routing engine, may be redundantly implemented. The active routing engine controls the selection of the redundant portion of the packet forwarding engine. |
| US08649253B2 |
Receiver and reception method for estimating channel in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system
A receiver and reception method for estimating a channel in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system is provided. The receiver includes a delay estimator for estimating, from a signal received from a transmitter through multipaths, at least one of an average time delay of the multipaths and a time delay of one of the multipaths having a maximum power among the multipaths, a rotator for circular-rotating the received signal using the estimated delay, and a channel estimator for estimating a channel impulse response of the circular-rotated signal. |
| US08649242B2 |
Insonification device that includes a three-dimensional network of emitters arranged in at least two concentric spirals, which are designed to generate a beam of high-intensity focussed waves
The invention concerns a device (1) for the insonification of an environment or medium, which is designed to generate a beam of focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone (20), used for imaging the medium or changing the properties of the medium, with the insonification device (1) having an intrinsic or extrinsic support structure on which is installed a network of a predetermined number of ultrasound transducers (12) that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed wave beam.According to the invention, the transducers (12) used for the generation of the focussed wave beam are located in a homogeneous spatial distribution along at least two concentric spirals (11) that are wound onto a three-dimensional concave area (10) whose shape and size are chosen to allow optimal focusing of the beam at a predetermined focal length, and whose concave side is oriented toward the focus zone (20). |
| US08649241B2 |
Memory system, memory controller, and synchronizing apparatus
According to one embodiment, there is provided a memory system including a bus master, a bus slave, and a memory device. The bus slave includes a synchronizing unit, and a speed-enhancing unit. The synchronizing unit is connected to a bus. The synchronizing unit receives the data in synchronism with a third clock. The third clock is in synchronous relation with a second clock and is slower than a first clock. The speed-enhancing unit enhances a transfer speed from a speed corresponding to the third clock to a speed corresponding to the second clock, by transferring the data received in the synchronizing unit to the memory device in synchronism with the second clock. |
| US08649240B2 |
Mechanism for peak power management in a memory
A mechanism for managing peak power in a memory storage array that includes sub-array blocks may reduce the peak currents associated with read and write operations by staggering the wordline signal activation to each of the sub-array blocks. In particular, the wordline units within each sub-array block may generate the wordline signals to each sub-array block such that a read wordline signal of one sub-array block does not transition from one logic level to another logic level at the same time as the write wordline of another sub-array block. Further, the wordline units may generate the wordline signals to each sub-array block such that a read wordline of a given sub-array block does not transition from one logic level to another logic level at the same time as a read wordline signal of another sub-array block. |
| US08649239B2 |
Multi-bank random access memory structure with global and local signal buffering for improved performance
Disclosed are embodiments of a multi-bank random access memory (RAM) structure that provides signal buffering at both the global and local connector level for improved performance. Specifically, inverters are incorporated into the global connector(s), which traverse groups of memory banks and which transmit signals (e.g., address signals, control signals, and/or data signals) from a memory controller, and also into alternating groups of local connectors, which connect nodes on the global connector(s) to corresponding groups of memory banks, such that any of the signals that are received by the memory banks from the memory controller via the global and local connectors are buffered by an even number of inverters and are thereby true signals. Signal buffering at both the global and local connector level results in relatively fast slews, short propagation delays, and low peak power consumption with minimal, if any, increase in area consumption. |
| US08649236B2 |
Circuit and method for controlling leakage current in random access memory devices
A circuit for controlling leakage current in random access memory devices comprises a pre-charge equalization circuit. The pre-charge equalization circuit provides a pre-charge voltage to a pair of complementary bit lines of a memory cell of a random access memory device in accordance with a pre-charge signal. When the memory cell is in a self-refresh mode, the pre-charge signal is activated by a periodically triggered pre-charge request and also activated before and after the memory cell is self-refreshed. |
| US08649235B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes an enable fuse unit configured to generate a repair enable signal corresponding to a cutting state of an enable fuse after a power-up operation starts, and an address fuse unit enabled in response to the repair enable signal, and configured to generate an output signal in response to an external address and whether or not an address fuse is programmed. |
| US08649234B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, an interface includes first to third input circuits, delay and selection circuits. The first input circuit outputs an active first internal signal in response to an active first control signal received by a memory device. The second input circuit outputs an active second internal signal in response to an active second control signal received by the device while the device is receiving the active first control signal. The delay circuit outputs a selection signal in first or second states after the elapse of a first period from inactivation or activation of the first control signal. The selection circuit outputs the first and second internal signals as an enable signal while receiving the selection signal of the first and second states. The third input circuit outputs an input signal received from the outside from the interface to inside the device while receiving the active enable signal. |
| US08649233B2 |
Semiconductor device
A first data amplifier connects to a first memory cell identified by an X-address signal and a selection signal obtained by predecoding a Y-address signal. A second data amplifier connects to a second memory cell identified by the X-address signal and a delayed selection signal obtained by delaying the selection signal. A generator generates a delayed operation clock signal by delaying an operation clock signal of the first data amplifier. A timing controller receives a first control signal for controlling an operation of the first data amplifier and a second control signal for controlling an operation of the second data amplifier, outputs the first control signal to the first data amplifier at a timing according to the operation clock signal, and outputs the second control signal to the second data amplifier at a timing according to the delayed operation clock signal. |
| US08649231B2 |
Semiconductor memory device with delay circuit and sense amplifier circuit
A memory cell is provided at an intersection of a word line and a bit line, and a dummy cell is provided at an intersection of a dummy word line and a dummy bit line. A delay circuit delays a signal read into the dummy bit line to generate a sense amplifier activating signal. A sense amplifier circuit starts an operation based on a change in the sense amplifier activating signal, and detects/amplifies a signal read out from the memory cell into the bit line. The delay circuit is configured having a first logical gate circuit and a second logical gate circuit alternately cascade-connected. A second delay time is longer than a first delay time, the second delay time being a time required for an output signal of the second logical gate circuit to switch from a first logical state to a second logical state, and a first delay time being a time required for an output signal of the first logical gate circuit to switch from a first logical state to a second logical state. |
| US08649229B2 |
Memory module bus termination voltage (VTT) regulation and management
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe memory module bus termination voltage (VTT) regulation and management techniques and configurations. A method includes receiving, by a register, a signal that is driven over a bus to a memory device comprising a plurality of memory cells and setting, within the register, a termination voltage (VTT) for the bus based on the signal. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US08649228B2 |
Output driver and electronic system comprising same
An output driver comprises a pull-up circuit that pulls up an output node to a supply voltage in N successive intervals in response to N pull-up control signals having different phases and a pull-down circuit that pulls down the output node to a ground voltage in M successive intervals in response to M pull-down control signals having different phases. |
| US08649226B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and erasing method of nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device including a first bit line commonly coupling drain sides memory cells; a word line commonly coupling control gates of memory cell transistors; a column decoder coupled to a second bit line; a row decoder coupled to a word line; a first transistor having a source coupled to the first bit line and having a drain electrically coupled to the column decoder via the second bit line; and a first control unit for controlling potential of a gate of the first transistor, the memory cell transistor being formed over a first well, the first transistor being formed over a second well electrically isolated from the first well, a film thickness of a gate insulation film of the first transistor being smaller than that of a gate insulation film of a second transistor formed in the row decoder and coupled to the word line. |
| US08649223B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
According to one embodiment, a device includes transistors each with a path connected to a bit line, and circuits each includes a switch, the circuit being connected to the bit line. The device includes a amplifier connected to the transistor and to the circuit, and a latch connected to the amplifier to hold first data before read is carried out on a cell and to hold second data if a current equal to or a larger than a predetermined value flows via the bit line. In the device, the switch is turned on or off depending on data held in another latch located adjacently in a direction of the word lines, to control a connection between the bit line and connected to another bit line the amplifier via the circuit. |
| US08649219B2 |
Erase inhibit for 3D non-volatile memory
An erase process for a 3D stacked memory device performs a two-sided erase of NAND strings until one of more of the NAND strings passes an erase-verify test, then a one-sided erase of the remaining NAND strings is performed. The two-sided erase charges up the body of a NAND string from the source-side and drain-side ends, while the one-sided erase charges up the body of the NAND string from the drain-side end. The NAND strings associated with one bit line form a set. The switch to the one-sided erase can occur when the set meets a set erase-verify condition, such as one, all, or some specified portion of the NAND strings of the set passing the erase-verify test. The erase operation can end when no more than a specified number of NAND strings have not met the erase-verify test. As a result, erase degradation of the memory cells is reduced. |
| US08649216B2 |
Data writing method and data storage device for adjusting programming voltage values
The invention provides a data writing method. In one embodiment, a data storage device comprises a flash memory. First, the flash memory is directed to read a plurality of programming voltage values for data programming. The programming voltage values are then adjusted to obtain a plurality of adjusted programming voltage values according to difference bits between a plurality of stored data patterns corresponding to the programming voltage values. The adjusted programming voltage values are then sent to the flash memory. The flash memory is then directed to perform data programming according to the adjusted programming voltage values, wherein the data programmed according to the adjusted programming voltage values has a lower error bit rate than that of the data programmed according to the programming voltage values. |
| US08649211B2 |
Memory bit redundant vias
An integrated circuit containing a memory array with memory bits and a differential sense amplifier for reading the logic state of the memory bits. The integrated circuit also contains redundant vias which are in the via path that couples a bitline to Vss. Moreover, an integrated circuit containing a FLASH memory bit with redundant vias in the via path from the bitline to Vss. |
| US08649207B2 |
Sensing resistance variable memory
The present disclosure includes devices and methods for operating resistance variable memory. One device embodiment includes an array of memory cells wherein a number of the cells are commonly coupled to a select line, the number cells including a number of data cells programmable within a number of target threshold resistance (Rt) ranges which correspond to a number of data states, and a number of reference cells interleaved with the data cells and programmable within the number of target Rt ranges. The aforementioned device embodiment also includes control circuitry coupled to the array and configured to sense a level associated with at least one data cell and at least one reference cell, and compare the sensed level associated with the at least one data cell with the sensed level associated with the at least one reference cell to determine a data state of the at least one data cell. |
| US08649204B2 |
Resistive memory devices and memory systems having the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes an array of resistive memory cells and a write driver, which is configured to drive a selected bit line in the array with a reset current pulse, which is responsive to a first external voltage input through a first terminal/pad of the memory device during a memory cell reset operation. The write driver is further configured to drive the selected bit line in sequence with a first set current pulse, which is responsive to the first external voltage, and a second set current pulse, which is responsive to a second external voltage input through a second terminal/pad of the memory device during a memory cell set operation. |
| US08649203B2 |
Reversible resistive memory using polysilicon diodes as program selectors
Embodiments of reversible resistive memory cells using polysilicon diodes are disclosed. The programmable resistive devices can be fabricated using standard CMOS logic processes to reduce cell size and cost. In one embodiment, polysilicon diodes can be used as program selectors for reversible resistive memory cells that can be programmed based on magnitude, duration, voltage-limit, or current-limit of a supply voltage or current. These cells are PCRAM, RRAM, CBRAM, or other memory cells that have a reversible resistive element coupled to a polysilicon diode. The polysilicon diode can be constructed by P+/N+ implants on a polysilicon substrate as a program selector. The memory cells can be used to construct a two-dimensional memory array with the N-terminals of the diodes in a row connected as a wordline and the reversible resistive elements in a column connected as a bitline. By applying a voltage or a current to a selected bitline and to a selected wordline to turn on the diode, a selected cell can be programmed into different states reversibly based on magnitude, duration, voltage-limit, or current-limit. The data in the reversible resistive memory can also be read by turning on a selected wordline to couple a selected bitline to a sense amplifier. The wordlines may have high-resistivity local wordlines coupled to low-resistivity global wordlines through conductive contact(s) or via(s). |
| US08649202B2 |
Resistance change memory including a resistive element
According to one embodiment, a resistance change memory includes a memory cell array area and a resistive element area on a substrate. A first memory cell array in the memory cell array area includes a first control line, a second control line above first control line, and a first cell unit between the first and second control lines. A second memory cell array on the first memory cell array includes the second control line, a third control line above the second control line, and a second cell unit between the second and the third control lines. And a resistive element in the resistive element area includes resistance lines, and a resistor connected to the resistance lines. The resistor includes the same member as one of a member of the cell unit and a member of a contact plug. |
| US08649201B2 |
Memory device, semiconductor device, and driving method therof
To provide a memory device which operates with low power consumption, has high reliability of the stored data, and is small-size, light-weight and inexpensive, and a driving method thereof. In addition, to provide a semiconductor device which operates with low power consumption, has high reliability of the stored data and a long distance of radio frequency communication, and is small-size, light-weight and inexpensive, and a driving method thereof. The memory device includes a memory cell array in which at least memory elements are arranged in matrix, and a writing circuit. The memory element has a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and an organic compound layer formed therebetween, and the writing circuit includes a voltage generating circuit for generating a voltage in order to apply at plural times, and a timing controlling circuit for controlling output time of the voltage. |
| US08649199B2 |
Low forward voltage rectifier
A Low Forward Voltage Rectifier (LFVR) includes a bipolar transistor, a parallel diode, and a base current injection circuit disposed in an easy-to-employ two-terminal package. In one example, the transistor is a Reverse Bipolar Junction Transistor (RBJT), the diode is a distributed diode, and the base current injection circuit is a current transformer. Under forward bias conditions (when the voltage from the first package terminal to the second package terminal is positive), the LFVR conducts current at a rated current level with a low forward voltage drop (for example, approximately 0.1 volts). In reverse bias conditions, the LFVR blocks current flow. Using the LFVR in place of a conventional silicon diode rectifier in the secondary of a flyback converter reduces average power dissipation and increases power supply efficiency. |
| US08649197B2 |
Multilevel inverter
A multilevel inverter includes an inverter arm. The inverter arm is provided between a highest electric potential point and a lowest electric potential point, and includes (i) a second switching element group to which switching elements that are connected in series belong, the switching elements being connected to respective diodes which are connected in an opposite polarity and in parallel and (ii) a diode for each power supply connection point. One of connection points at which the switching elements belonging to the second switching element group are connected to each other and a U phase output terminal are connected, the one connection point being located such that at least one of the switching elements provided between the one connection point and the highest electric potential point is equal in number to the other switching elements which belong to the second switching element group and are provided between the one connection point and the lowest electric potential point. |
| US08649188B2 |
Solid state pulsed power generator
A power generator includes one or more full bridge inverter modules coupled to a semiconductor opening switch (SOS) through an inductive resonant branch. Each module includes a plurality of switches that are switched in a fashion causing the one or more full bridge inverter modules to drive the semiconductor opening switch SOS through the resonant circuit to generate pulses to a load connected in parallel with the SOS. |
| US08649185B2 |
Elastic conformal transducer apparatus
In one embodiment, a transducer apparatus comprises an elastomeric substrate and another elastomeric substrate. A plurality of transducer modules are mounted on the elastomeric substrate. A plurality of additional transducer modules are mounted on the other elastomeric substrate. Each transducer module of the plurality of transducer modules and the plurality of additional transducer modules comprises a transducer array having multiple transducer elements and an electronic circuitry coupled to the transducer array. The plurality of transducer modules and the plurality of additional transducer modules are mounted relative to each other whereby the plurality of additional transducer modules substantially cover any dead zones of the plurality of transducer modules. |
| US08649180B2 |
System and method for tool-less mounting of a bezel with an electronic device
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a blade server and blade server components. Specifically, one embodiment is directed to a server comprising a server chassis, a system board coupled to the server chassis, the system board comprising a first electrical connector, and a bezel assembly coupled to the server chassis and the system board, the bezel assembly comprising a printed circuit assembly comprising a second electrical connector communicatively mated to the first electrical connector. |
| US08649178B2 |
Heat dissipation module for electronic apparatus
A heat dissipation module for an electronic apparatus including a heat-generating structure is provided. The heat dissipation module includes a heat dissipation structure and a heat-conducting structure. The heat-conducting structure includes a heat-conducting portion and an extending portion. The heat-conducting portion is adhered between the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure. The heat generated by the heat-generating structure is transmitted to the heat dissipation structure through the heat-conducting portion. The extending portion is connected to the heat-conducting portion and exposed to the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure. When the extending portion is forced to move along a direction away from the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure, the heat-conducting portion is deformed to release the adhesion between the heat-conducting portion and the heat-generating structure and the adhesion between the heat-conducting portion and the heat dissipation structure. |
| US08649177B2 |
Method of fabricating a cooled electronic system
A method of fabricating a liquid-cooled electronic system is provided which includes an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket. The method includes providing a liquid-cooled cold rail at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader to couple the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader. |
| US08649171B2 |
Mixed-flow ducted fan
In accordance with at least some embodiments, a computer system includes an enclosure (202) configured to hold at least one resource unit (204). The computer system also comprises a plurality of mixed-flow ducted fans units (400) selectively attached to the enclosure (202). Each mixed-flow ducted fan unit (400) comprises a duct (102) having an intake diameter, a bellmouth diameter, and an exhaust diameter. The bellmouth diameter is less than the intake diameter and the exhaust diameter. |
| US08649170B2 |
System and method for selectively engaging cooling fans within an electronic display
A system and method for cooling an electronic image assembly having a plurality of cooling gas pathways place behind the electronic image assembly. A first fan may be used to force cooling gas through a first grouping of cooling gas pathways while a second fan may be used to force cooling gas through a second grouping of cooling gas pathways. Temperature sensing devices may be positioned so as to measure the temperature of the first and second groupings of cooling gas pathways. The speeds of the first and second fans may be adjusted based on the temperature measurements of the cooling gas pathway groupings. Additional fans with additional temperature sensing devices may be used for further accuracy and control over the temperature gradients of the electronic image assembly. Manifolds may be used to distribute/collect cooling gas to/from the cooling gas pathways. |
| US08649166B2 |
Multi-positionable portable computer
A multi positionable portable computer is able to be set in a variety of form factors. A user display portion comprising a screen is movably coupled to a processing portion having processing circuitry by a hinge having two pivot points. The two pivot points allow for the portable computer to be placed upright for presentations and the like or flat on a surface with the user display angled toward a user for interfacing with the portable computer. A movable optics module is provided that is positionable on a top surface of the display portion whether the display portion is in a landscape position or a portrait position. |
| US08649163B2 |
Information processing apparatus
Provided is an information processing apparatus includes an exterior plate and a sheet-like member. The exterior plate is formed of a plate-like member. The exterior plate has one of a transparent first area and a semi-transparent first area. The sheet-like member is arranged on a rear surface of the exterior plate. |
| US08649160B2 |
Plug-in circuit breaker assembly including insulative retainers
A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, an electrical bus structure within the housing, a number of first plug-in members coupled to the bus structure, and a number of insulative retainers coupled to the bus structure. A corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is operatively associated with a corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members. Each of a number of circuit breakers includes a manual operator and a number of second plug-in members disposed opposite the manual operator. The number of second plug-in members electrically engage a number of the number of first plug-in members. The corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is disposed about the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, in order to insulate the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, and to retain the number of second plug-in members. |
| US08649157B2 |
Integrated capacitive device and integrated analog digital converter comprising such a device
An integrated capacitive device includes an electrically conducting comb, at least some of whose teeth form first electrodes of capacitors, and electrically conducting fingers extending between the teeth of the comb so as to form second electrodes of the capacitors. The device includes a first finger-teeth set having a single reference finger forming a reference capacitor having a reference capacitive value, at least one second finger-teeth set including several fingers, the reference finger and the number of fingers of the second finger-teeth set or sets forming a geometric series with ratio two. At least one additional set includes a single additional finger forming, with at least one tooth of the comb, an additional capacitor having an additional capacitive value substantially equal to half the reference capacitive value. |
| US08649156B2 |
Multilayer capacitor having low equivalent series inductance and controlled equivalent series resistance
In a capacitor body of a multilayer capacitor, one second capacitor portion is sandwiched between two first capacitor portions. An ESR is controlled by setting a width of lead portions of third and fourth internal electrodes disposed in the second capacitor portion to be less than that of lead portions of first and second internal electrodes disposed in the first capacitor portions and by changing ratios between the first and second capacitor portions in the width of the lead portions and in the number of stacked internal electrodes. In the first capacitor portions, current paths from the internal electrodes to an external terminal electrode are widely distributed so that the first capacitor portions have a relatively low ESL, and accordingly, the ESL of the entire multilayer capacitor is reduced. |
| US08649154B2 |
Method for producing a metal-insulator-metal capacitor for use in semiconductor devices
Methods of manufacturing metal-insulator-metal capacitor structures, and the metal-insulator-metal capacitor structures obtained, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a substrate, forming on the substrate a first metal layer comprising a first metal, and using atomic layer deposition with an H2O oxidant to deposit on the first metal layer a protective layer comprising TiO2. The method further includes using atomic layer deposition with an O3 oxidant to deposit on the protective layer a dielectric layer of a dielectric material, and forming on the dielectric layer a second metal layer comprising a second metal. In another embodiment, a metal-insulator-metal capacitor includes a bottom electrode comprising a first metal, a protective layer deposited on the bottom electrode and comprising TiO2, a dielectric layer deposited on the protective layer and comprising a dielectric material, and a top electrode formed on the dielectric layer and comprising a second metal. |
| US08649153B2 |
Tapered via and MIM capacitor
A chip capacitor and interconnecting wiring is described incorporating a metal insulator metal (MIM) capacitor, tapered vias and vias coupled to one or both of the top and bottom electrodes of the capacitor in an integrated circuit. A design structure tangibly embodied in a machine readable medium is described incorporating computer readable code defining a MIM capacitor, tapered vias, vias and wiring levels in an integrated circuit. |
| US08649152B2 |
Circuit configuration for regulating current in a valve coil
A circuit configuration for recording the resistance of a coil of a magnetic valve, having at least one magnetic valve, having at least one valve coil that is to be actuated, a current source for applying a current to the at least one valve coil and generating a voltage drop at the at least one valve coil, and an evaluation circuit for outputting the voltage drop generated at the at least one valve coil as the output signal of the circuit configuration. |
| US08649151B2 |
Injector drive circuit
An injector drive circuit including: a step-up circuit generating a high voltage from a power supply; a first switching device connected to a path between the step-up circuit and an injector; a second switching device connected to the power supply; a third switching device connected between the injector and the ground; and a control unit operating the first, second and third switching device according to a value of current flowing through the injector; wherein the control unit has a unit turning on and off the second switching device in a period during which it turns on and off the first switching device a plurality of times; wherein the control unit has, as set values to control the current flowing through the injector, a first threshold defining a lower current limit, a second threshold defining an upper current limit and a third threshold, larger than the second threshold. |
| US08649149B1 |
Dual level surge protector circuit for telecommunication line
In accordance with a non-limiting example, a dual level surge protector adaptively selects the protection level required in response to any expected voltages that will be applied to the tip and ring lines. In one example, the surge protector has a first set value for responding to an applied battery voltage and a second set value for responding to a combination voltage that includes a battery voltage plus a ringing voltage. |
| US08649147B2 |
Trip unit communication adapter module employing communication protocol to communicate with different trip unit styles, and electrical switching apparatus and communication method employing the same
A trip unit is for a circuit breaker and includes a plurality of capabilities defining one trip unit style selected from a plurality of different trip unit styles. The trip unit includes a processor including a communication interface having a communication protocol; and a communication adapter module including a first communication interface having the communication protocol, and a second communication interface. The communication adapter module is structured to learn the plurality of capabilities of the trip unit from the processor employing the communication protocol, and to communicate with any of the plurality of different trip unit styles including the one trip unit style. |
| US08649146B2 |
Capacitance check and current monitoring circuit for use with a circuit protection device
A circuit protection device includes a trip mechanism and at least one capacitor configured to store electrical energy and to provide the electrical energy to the trip mechanism. The circuit protection device also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one capacitor and configured to measure a charge property of the at least one capacitor, compare the measured charge property to a threshold, and output a signal indicative of the comparison. |
| US08649144B2 |
Method of forming an over-voltage protection circuit and structure therefor
In one embodiment, an over-voltage protection circuit is configured to have two control circuits that respond at different values of the input voltage. |
| US08649143B2 |
Improper voltage detection for electronic circuit breaker
A method of tripping a circuit breaker including sampling an AC line voltage at regular intervals during a first time period to generate a plurality of AC line voltage samples. Each sample of the set of AC line voltage samples is summed to generate a voltage area value. A controller determines whether the voltage area value exceeds a threshold. In response to the voltage area value exceeding the threshold, an amount determined as a function of the voltage area value is added to a count value. The circuit breaker is caused to trip in response to the count value equaling or exceeding a maximum count value.An improper line-to-neutral voltage can be detected by monitoring the line-to-neutral voltage and comparing it to a function such as a trip curve. Thus, components downstream from a circuit breaker, as well as the circuit breaker itself, can be protected from prolonged exposure to improper voltages, which can lead to component failure. |