| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08656304B2 |
Information processing apparatus
Provided is an information processing apparatus that stores a plurality of programs, sequentially activates the programs in response to a user's instruction, and restricts the number of programs exceeding a predetermined number from being activated, in which the information processing apparatus displays the predetermined number of symbol images and displays the same number of symbol images as the number of programs that are already activated in a manner that is different from the other symbol images. |
| US08656300B2 |
Method and system of taskbar button interfaces
The present invention provides a system or method for displaying rich presentation taskbar buttons for a corresponding application. In one example, the rich presentation taskbar button may receive content from an application through a programming interface. The present invention further relates to a system and method for displaying a rich presentation taskbar button and for displaying and/or dismissing a thumbnail of an application window associated with the rich presentation taskbar button. The present invention may further include a system and method of pinning the thumbnail on a display or dismissing a thumbnail. The present invention also relates to a system and method for displaying multiple taskbar buttons in a taskbar including controlling the size of individual taskbar buttons, consolidating taskbar buttons and placing taskbar buttons into an overflow based on the type of taskbar button in the taskbar. |
| US08656296B1 |
Selection of characters in a string of characters
A graphical user interface (GUI) displayed at a user interface device includes a character string that includes a substring. The computing device detects a movement of an input object from a first location on the user interface device to a second location on the user interface device. The first location corresponds to a second handle element and the second location corresponds to a particular position in the character string that is not at a beginning or end of the substring. In response, the computing device modifies the GUI such that the second handle element is located at the second location. The computing device also determines whether to select all characters of the substring. All characters of each substring completely displayed between a first handle element and the second handle element are also selected. The selected characters are visually differentiated from the non-selected characters. |
| US08656295B2 |
Selecting and manipulating web content
Systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products are described for automatically resizing or repositioning an area of interest, identifying a portion of a document for display, so that the area of interest aligns with one or more edges of a structural element in the document. A method is provided that includes receiving input to resize (or reposition) an area of interest associated with a clipping of content. The clipping displays a portion of a document corresponding to the area of interest. The document has a plurality of structural elements. A boundary associated with a structural element in the document is determined. The area of interest is automatically resized (or repositioned) based on the boundary. |
| US08656292B2 |
Accentuated graphical user interface
A graphical user interface in which entities of the interface are manipulated using manipulation operations. The graphical user interface comprises a selectable interface entity upon which manipulation operations are commence-able, a first interface entity distinct from the selectable interface entity, and a second interface entity distinct from the first interface entity and the selectable interface entity. Upon commencement of a manipulation operation on the selectable interface entity, at least one of the first interface entity and the second interface entity is visually accentuated. |
| US08656291B2 |
System, method and computer program product for displaying data utilizing a selected source and visualization
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for displaying data utilizing a selected source and visualization. These mechanisms and methods for displaying data utilizing a selected source and visualization can enable enhanced data display, improved data display development, increased time savings, etc. |
| US08656287B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method
An information processing apparatus connected to an image processing apparatus via a predetermined data transmission line includes a data analyzing part accessing a predetermined memory area which hold definition data in the information processing apparatus and analyzing the definition data for a display content of screens to be integrated when the information processing apparatus receives an instruction to integrate a plurality of the screens from a user, a data specifying part specifying data to be used for generating customizing screen definition data in which an integration display content of an integration screen is defined among the definition data based on an analysis result obtained by the data analyzing part, a generation part generating the customizing screen definition data based on data specified by the data specifying part, and a communicating part transmitting the customizing screen definition data generated by the generation part to the image processing apparatus. |
| US08656284B2 |
Method for determining a quality of user experience while performing activities in IP networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for establishing Quality of Experience (QoE) measurements and metrics for different types of actual user activities over IP networks. These activities include, but are not limited to web browsing, sending and receiving email, file downloading and uploading, peer to peer (P2P) networking, VoIP, online gaming, and media streaming. The measurement of the QoE metrics is based on both objective and subjective metrics, including network characteristics, such as packet loss and latency, along with empirical observations of the user activities. |
| US08656283B2 |
Interactive storybook system and method
An interactive storybook system and method are provided that allow users with or without the assistance of an operator to make a storybook their own by replacing markers with provisional words and provisional images of their own choosing. The computer-based interactive storybook application may be used by teachers, parents, therapists, and other adults to help them achieve educational and therapeutic advancement. |
| US08656282B2 |
Authoring tool for providing tags associated with items in a video playback
An authoring tool for post-production insertion of tags and pointers into a video sequence is disclosed. Such an authoring tool can facilitate tag and pointer coordinate capture and tracking by using position detection (e.g., via a touchscreen) coupled to a display system. In one embodiment, a method can include: (i) selecting a video frame loop for viewing on a display device; (ii) receiving a list of tags for positioning within the selected video frame loop; and (iii) positioning a selected tag from the list of tags in one or more frames of the video frame loop. Also, the method can include positioning a pointer corresponding to the selected tag in the one or more frames. |
| US08656281B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, information processing system, and program
An information processing apparatus including a meta information acquisition section for acquiring meta information of content displayed on a first display device, a specifying section for specifying network location information of information relating to the meta information, a generation section for generating display information of a screen to be displayed on a second display device, based on the network location information, and a communication section for transmitting the display information to the second display device. |
| US08656278B2 |
Data converting apparatus and data converting program
A data converting apparatus includes: a display image producing section that receives a file including one or more records in each of which records print data for one or more pages is described so as to produce image data for displaying; a preview displaying section that displays an image based on the image data produced in the display image producing section, and receives a designation by a user operation as to whether or not printing on a record basis or on a page basis is required; and a print image producing section that produces image data for printing with respect to the record or page which is designated to be printed by the preview displaying section. |
| US08656277B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and method for controlling the same
An information processing apparatus fully utilizing contents available on a network by processing content that cannot be displayed on a built-in browser. A web browser displays in a pop-up fashion a dialog window that queries a user about the process to be performed on undisplayable data if the received data is undisplayable. The user can select between “print” and “send” as an alternative process for the undisplayable data. |
| US08656271B2 |
Adapting a spreadsheet for use with a complex object
A method for use with a spreadsheet includes storing a cell object, where the cell object includes a location in the spreadsheet of a cell to which the cell object relates and a process associated with the cell, and performing the process on a complex object to produce a result, where the complex object includes a construct comprised of data and code. A display is generated for the cell that is based on the result. |
| US08656269B1 |
Providing a functionality by loading logic into a document
To implement at least one functionality, a template having one or more logic components corresponding to the at least one functionality is provided. The template and a data collection are accessed to load the one or more logic components and data into a closure document. The closure document is provided to enable updating of data in the closure document using the one or more logic components. |
| US08656267B2 |
Method of approximate document generation
A method and system of approximate document generation, in one aspect, analyzes a document generation template, identifies one or more elements in the document generation template that have processing time that is longer than a threshold value and modifies said one or more elements identified as having processing time that is longer than a threshold value. One or more elements are modified so that the elements can terminate before completion of processing and produce at least a partial result and/or brief summary from processing of said one or more elements. |
| US08656261B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
The present invention discloses a receiving system and a method of processing data to receiving and processing mobile service data. The receiving system may include a signal receiving unit, a demodulating unit, a data processor, and a middleware engine. The signal receiving unit receives a broadcasting signal, which includes IP packets, payload of the IP packets including a DSM-CC module data part and a DSM-CC header, the DSM-CC module data part including a plurality of DSM-CC objects, and the DSM-CC header including identification information for identifying the DSM-CC module. The demodulating unit demodulates the received broadcasting signal including IP packets. The data processor extracts a plurality of DSM-CC objects of a corresponding payload with reference to DSM-CC header information of the IP packets demodulated by the demodulating unit and configuring a DSM-CC module, which includes identification information and the extracted DSM-CC objects. The middleware engine provides a data broadcasting service by driving application corresponding to the DSM-CC module. |
| US08656254B2 |
Unidirectional error code transfer for both read and write data transmitted via bidirectional data link
A controller includes a link interface that is to couple to a first link to communicate bi-directional data and a second link to transmit unidirectional error-detection information. An encoder is to dynamically add first error-detection information to at least a portion of write data. A transmitter, coupled to the link interface, is to transmit the write data. A delay element is coupled to an output from the encoder. A receiver, coupled to the link interface, is to receive second error-detection information corresponding to at least the portion of the write data. Error-detection logic is coupled to an output from the delay element and an output from the receiver. The error-detection logic is to determine errors in at least the portion of the write data by comparing the first error-detection information and the second error-detection information, and, if an error is detected, is to assert an error condition. |
| US08656253B2 |
Storing portions of data in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module generating preliminary dispersed storage network (DSN) storage information for data to be stored in a DSN. The method continues with the DS processing module accessing DSN storage information regarding other data stored in the DSN and comparing the preliminary DSN storage information for the data with the DSN storage information regarding the other data. When at least a portion of the data has compatible preliminary DSN storage information with DSN storage information of at least a portion of the other data, the method continues with the DS processing module generating DSN storage information for remaining portions of the data to produce remaining portions DSN storage information and generating DSN storage information for the data based on the DSN storage information of the at least the portion of the other data and the remaining portions DSN storage information. |
| US08656252B2 |
Memory controller and non-volatile storage device
A non-volatile storage device includes one or more non-volatile memories for storing data, and a memory controller for carrying out the control of the non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes the plurality of blocks, which are erase units, and the block includes the plurality of pages, which are write units of data, in each of the blocks at least one set of pages existing which include at least two pages sharing one word line. The memory controller configures a plurality of error correcting groups, each including at least one data page, which is a page for storing data, and at least one error correcting code page for storing a code for error correcting calculation of the data page, and assigns a page of a separate word line with respect to each of the data page and the error correcting page in the same error correcting group. |
| US08656250B2 |
Low density parity check decoder for regular LDPC codes
A method and system for decoding low density parity check (“LDPC”) codes. An LDPC decoder includes an R select unit, a Q message first-in first-out (“FIFO”) memory, and a cyclic shifter. The R select unit provides an R message by selecting from a plurality of possible R message values. The Q message memory stores a Q message until an R message is generated by a CNU, the Q message and the R message are combined to provide a P message. The cyclic shifter shifts the P message. |
| US08656233B2 |
Scan cell designs with serial and parallel loading of test data
A scan cell is configured to receive first, second and third data bits at respective first, second and third data inputs. A control input is configured to receive a control signal. Latching logic is configured to latch data received at the first and second latch inputs to a scan cell output. The first latch input is configured to receive the first data bit. Selection logic is configured to select between the second and third data bits depending on a state of the control signal, and to provide the selected bit to the second latch input. |
| US08656230B2 |
Driving method of electronic device
A method for driving an electronic device stably is provided. The electronic device includes a power supply circuit to which power is fed by power sequentially supplied from a contactless power feeding device, and a plurality of loads to which power is sequentially supplied from the power supply circuit. Further, a method for driving an electronic device stably is provided. The electronic device includes a power supply circuit to which power is fed by power supplied from a contactless power feeding device, and one or more loads to which the power supply circuit repeatedly supplies power. The power supply potential Vdd is restored to more than or equal to 90% of the initial potential Vdd0 within an interval in which the power supply circuit is not connected to a load; then, the next load may be connected to the power supply circuit, and may be driven. |
| US08656227B2 |
On-line client service method for storage apparatus
An on-line client service method for a storage apparatus includes establishing a link between a client host and the storage apparatus for detecting the current status of the storage apparatus, the client host generating a diagnostic result of the storage apparatus, the client host transmitting the diagnostic result to a far-end server, the far-end server determining whether the storage apparatus functions abnormally according to the diagnostic result. If the storage apparatus functions abnormally, the client host reloads a firmware provided by the far-end server to the storage apparatus, and determines whether the storage apparatus functions abnormally after the storage apparatus is reloaded with the firmware. |
| US08656224B2 |
Network fault management in busy periods
A set of connected network devices and at least one network device generate an event record containing an identity of the generating network device and a timestamp indicating when the event was generated. The event record is retrieved that identifies the network device that generated the event. A key period of use associated with the generating network device is also retrieved. If the time of the event is within the retrieved key period, the event record is modified to show that the event is within the retrieved key period. Using information in the modified event record, the event and an indication that the event is within the retrieved key period is displayed. |
| US08656217B2 |
Method for error detection during execution of a real-time operating system
A method for error detection during execution of a real-time operating system, wherein logically-identical instances of the real-time operating system are executed in parallel on a plurality of processor cores of a first processor in a shared virtualization environment. The hypervisor supervises the parallel execution of the instances, and during execution of a hardware access initiated by the instances, the data transmitted during the hardware access for each instance of the logically-identical instances is compared with each other by the hypervisor. In the event of a discrepancy between the transmitted data or in the event of a unilateral hardware access initiated by one of the instances, an error is deemed to be detected by the hypervisor. |
| US08656216B2 |
Failure diagnostic system, electronic control unit for vehicle, failure diagnostic method
A failure diagnostic system (100) for a multicore CPU having installed therein a plurality of CPU cores (11) that is configured to be switched from a SMP mode to an AMP mode includes: load prediction means for predicting a processing load of the multicore CPU; mode switching means for switching at least one of the CPU cores (11) to the AMP mode when the processing load is less than a threshold; and failure diagnostic means for performing a failure diagnosis of the CPU core that has been switched to the AMP mode. |
| US08656212B2 |
Detection and reduction of excessive SNMP traffic
Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software to detect and reduce messages from network entity management clients that are not utilized by a network management system. Once identified, the network management system may send a command to the network entity management clients to no longer send particular message types to the network management system. The network management system may also, or alternatively, be configured to take no action when such messages are subsequently received. |
| US08656207B2 |
Method for modeling variation in a feedback loop of a phase-locked loop
A method performs statistical static timing analysis of a network that includes a phase-locked loop and a feedback path. The feedback path comprises a set of delays operatively connected from the output of the phase-locked loop back to the input of the phase-locked loop. One embodiment herein computes a statistical feedback path delay for the feedback path. The method can use a separate statistical parameter to represent random uncorrelated delay variation for each delay in the feedback path. The method also computes an output arrival time for the phase-locked loop based on the negative of the statistical feedback path delay. |
| US08656206B2 |
Timer manager architecture based on binary heap
An apparatus having a first memory and a circuit is disclosed. The first memory may be configured to store a plurality of timers. Each of the timers may have a respective value that indicates an expiration time. A first one of the timers nearest to expiring is generally stored at a first address of the first memory. The circuit may be configured to (i) assert a signal in response to the respective value of the first timer matching a counter of time, (ii) read a second of the timers and a third of the timers both from a second address of the first memory, (iii) sort the second timer and the third timer to determine which expires next and (iv) replace the first timer by writing one of the second timer or the third timer that expires next into the first memory at the first address. |
| US08656203B2 |
Fractional frequency division or multiplication by using an oversampled phase rotator for reducing jitter
Circuits and systems for generating multiple frequencies are disclosed. In some embodiments, a circuit can include a first node, a second node, and a programmable phase rotator. The first node can receive a first signal having frequency f1, and the second node can output a second signal having frequency f2 that is different from f1. In some embodiments, a frequency divider can generate a third signal having frequency f3 based on the second signal. In some embodiments, a frequency divider can generate the first signal based on a reference signal having frequency f4. The programmable phase rotator can be capable of updating, at an update frequency that is substantially equal to f1 and/or f4, a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. In some embodiments, the circuit can be part of a USB (Universal Serial Bus) 3.0 physical layer (PHY) circuit. |
| US08656199B2 |
Power-down method for system having volatile memory devices
A power-down method for a system including a plurality of volatile memory devices is disclosed. The method includes providing some of the plurality of volatile memory devices or some memory regions of the volatile memory devices to operate in a self-refresh mode, thereby increasing a rebooting operation speed and reducing power consumption. |
| US08656198B2 |
Method and apparatus for memory power management
A method for power management is disclosed. The method may include monitoring requests for access to a memory of a memory subsystem by one or more processor cores; and monitoring requests for access to the memory conveyed by an input/output (I/O) unit. The method may further include determining if at least a first amount of time has elapsed since any one of the processor cores has asserted a memory access request and determining if at least a second amount of time has elapsed since the I/O unit has conveyed a memory access request. A first signal may be asserted if the first and second amounts of time have elapsed. A memory subsystem may be transitioned from operating in a full power state to a first low power state responsive to assertion of the first signal. |
| US08656196B2 |
Hardware automatic performance state transitions in system on processor sleep and wake events
In an embodiment, a power management unit (PMU) may automatically transition (in hardware) the performance states of one or more performance domains in a system. The target performance states to which the performance domains are to transition may be programmable in the PMU by software, and software may signal the PMU that a processor in the system is to enter the sleep state. The PMU may control the transition of the performance domains to the target performance states, and may cause the processor to enter the sleep state. In an embodiment, the PMU may be programmable with a second set of target performance states to which the performance domains are to transition when the processor exits the sleep state. The PMU may control the transition of the performance domains to the second targeted performance states and cause the processor to exit the sleep state. |
| US08656189B2 |
Systems and methods for secure multi-tenant data storage
Systems and methods are provided for transmitting data for secure storage. For each of two or more data sets, a plurality of shares are generated containing a distribution of data from an encrypted version of the data set. The shares are then stored in a shared memory device, wherein a data set may be reconstructed from a threshold number of the associated plurality of shares using an associated key. Also provided are systems and methods for providing access to secured data. A plurality of shares containing a distribution of data from an encrypted version of a data set are stored in a memory device. A client is provided with a virtual machine that indicates the plurality of shares, and the capability to reconstruct the data set from the plurality of shares using an associated key. |
| US08656184B2 |
Installation of application package packaging plural applications
An application packaging device is provided, which comprises a decryption component configured to decrypt each of a plurality of applications, a replication component configured to replicate an end user license agreement included in each of the plurality of decrypted applications, and a component configured to package respective replicas of the end user license agreements and the plurality of applications before the decryption so as to obtain an application package. |
| US08656182B2 |
Security mechanism for developmental operating systems
A security technique to reduce the risk of unauthorized release of a software object. The technique allows identification of an individual responsible for the unauthorized release by marking each object with information, which acts as a fingerprint from which a person manipulating the object in a development environment can be identified. The development environment may be configured to quickly and automatically mark the object whenever a manipulation that may precede an unauthorized release occurs. To prevent circumventing the security technique, the object may be configured to enforce a requirement for a valid fingerprint such that the object is disabled if the fingerprint is removed or altered. Despite the marking, personally identifiable information is not revealed because the fingerprint is generated through a one-way cryptographic function performed on identifying information. |
| US08656179B2 |
Using hidden secrets and token devices to create secure volumes
A system for encrypting Secure Volumes using an encryption key which is saved in the open after being encoded inside a hardware token device utilizing a secure secret which is stored inside the device, and which never leaves the device. The encrypted volume can be accessed again only after a hardware token has decoded this encryption key. The system also provides means whereby the holder of a Master token and the holder of a Grand Master token may also have access to the volume as long as the user token was previously registered to the Master token, and the Master Token was previously registered to the Grand master token before the secured volume was encrypted. Also, the system allows members of user groups so designated at the time the volume is encrypted, to be able to have access to the volume as long as their token was previously registered with the same Master Token as the user that encrypted the volume and as long as the token encrypting the volume was also a member of the authorized user group. |
| US08656172B2 |
Multimedia processing apparatus
According to one embodiment, a multimedia processing apparatus includes one or more first module, a second module, and a third module. The first module is configured to realize a function involved with a multimedia processing. The second module is configured to manage the first module. The third module is configured to control the first module or to perform a state transition of the first module through the second module. One of two modules out of the first to third modules holds a certificate that provides its personal identification. When a first processing is executed between the two modules, the other one of the two modules authenticates the one module by using the certificate held by the one module, and then, the two modules start the first processing. |
| US08656167B2 |
Systems and methods for secure workgroup management and communication
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser may split or share a data set into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting an original data set into portions of data that may be communicated using one or more communications paths. Secure workgroup communication is supported through the secure distribution and management of a workgroup key for use with the secure data parser. |
| US08656166B2 |
Storage and authentication of data transactions
Data is transmitted between a first user and a second user via an information technology communications network, in a method comprising the steps of: generating a first hash value for a selected one of the data items; digitally signing and encrypting the first hash value with a secret identifier associated with the first user; transmitting to a second user the encrypted first hash value; receiving and storing the transmitted encrypted first hash value for audit purposes and generating a second hash value for the received encrypted first hash value; encrypting the second hash value with a private identifier associated with a second user and a public identifier associated with the first user; and returning the encrypted second hash value to the first user. |
| US08656164B2 |
Authentication system
The authentication system includes a user node, a plurality of service nodes, an authentication database storage unit, an authentication unit, a user information database storage unit, and a key distribution unit. Each service node is configured to provide a service corresponding to its domain. The authentication database storage unit is configured to store a secret key of the user node for each domain. The user information database storage unit is configured to store an account used for associating a domain with the user node. The key distribution unit is configured to, upon receiving a domain change request from the user node and then confirming that the user information database stores the account associating the user node with a desired domain to which the user node intends to belong, obtain the secret key of the user node associated with the desired domain from the authentication database storage unit, and send the obtained secret key to the user node. The authentication unit is configured to create a session key, and encrypt the created session key with the secret key corresponding to the desired domain, and send the encrypted session key to the user node. |
| US08656163B2 |
Method for establishing a secured communication without preliminary information share
The invention relates to a method for generating a session key between two communicating electronic devices not requiring any prerecorded information in one of the two devices and enabling the authentication of one of said devices. The method uses a close collaboration between a symmetrical algorithm and an asymmetrical algorithm. |
| US08656162B2 |
Aeronautical security management over broadband air/ground network
A method to facilitate securing of air-to-ground communications for an aircraft is provided. The method includes receiving security management information at the aircraft via at least one broadband data link prior to takeoff of the aircraft. The security management information is received for ground entities that can be communicatively coupled with the aircraft traveling on a flight path. The method of securing avionics also includes validating the security management information for the ground entities, and storing the validated security management information for the ground entities in the aircraft. The validating and storing of security management information occur prior to takeoff of the aircraft. |
| US08656154B1 |
Cloud based service logout using cryptographic challenge response
A cloud based service use may be logged into the service through multiple client devices simultaneously. Methods, systems, and computer program products base upon cryptographic challenge response are provide to efficiently and securely simultaneously effect a logout from the cloud based service at one or many logged-in client devices associated with the user. When a valid logout request is received by the cloud based service, a current key associated with the user is invalidated, and in some instances, replaced with a new key. Upon subsequent attempt to use the cloud based service by the user, one or more tokens residing on any previously logged-in client device associated the user will not allow cloud based service usage until the user validly logs into the cloud-based service and receives one or more new tokens based upon the new key at each client device. |
| US08656152B2 |
Image forming apparatus, host apparatus and encryption method of job object document thereof
An image forming apparatus, a host apparatus, and an encryption method for print data, the method of encrypting the print data of the host apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus including: displaying an encryption setting screen for the print data; selecting an encryption logic to encrypt the print data through the encryption setting screen; converting the print data according to the selected encryption logic; and transmitting the converted print data to the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the print data is encrypted and decrypted on the basis of the selected encryption logic and corresponding decryption logic set up according to users, thereby increasing security. |
| US08656149B2 |
Rapid activation of service management processor subsystem for server device
A bootloader process executing on a service management processor (SMP) subsystem for a server device determines whether flag stored within non-volatile memory of the subsystem is set. The flag corresponds to whether a full cold initialization process of the subsystem is to occur. In response to determining that the flag has not been set, the bootloader process loads an image stored in the non-volatile memory into volatile memory of the subsystem. The image corresponds to processes properly running on the SMP subsystem after the SMP subsystem has booted, including a management process. The processes begin executing on the subsystem. The management process, determines whether a hardware configuration change within the subsystem has been made since when the image was saved to the non-volatile memory. In response to determining that the hardware configuration change has been made, the management process sets the flag and rebooting the subsystem. |
| US08656147B2 |
Methods and apparatus for integrity measurement of virtual machine monitor and operating system via secure launch
Methods and apparatus to measure the integrity of a virtual machine monitor and an operating system via secure launch are disclosed. In one example, a method measures a first characteristic of a virtual machine monitor, stores the first measured characteristic in a first hardware protected location, measures a second characteristic of an operating system with the virtual machine monitor, wherein the measuring of the second characteristic is initiated by the operating system, and stores the second measured characteristic in a second hardware protected location. |
| US08656145B2 |
Methods and systems for allocating interrupts in a multithreaded processor
A multithreaded processor capable of allocating interrupts is described. In one embodiment, the multithreaded processor includes an interrupt module and threads for executing tasks. The interrupt module can identify a priority for each thread based on a task priority for tasks being executed by the threads and assign an interrupt to a thread based at least on its priority. |
| US08656144B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program
The invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method, and an image processing program which enable accurately observing a moving image of an object within a time interval within which the object is in a desired state. A control unit performs an analysis process after the elapse of every defined time period. As the analysis process, the control unit acquires evaluation values corresponding to image data of a plurality of frames stored within a latest defined time period and, based on the acquired evaluation values, selects a group of reproduction data formed from image data of a certain number of frames, out of the image data of the plurality of frames stored within the latest defined time period. After the completion of the analysis process, the control unit starts reproduction of a moving image based on the group of reproduction data selected through the analysis process. |
| US08656136B2 |
Computer system, computer and method for performing thin provisioning capacity management in coordination with virtual machines
In the computer system, a storage system provides a storage level virtual volume based on thin provisioning technology, to a physical server on which a virtual machine is defined. The storage system releases the area of the logical volume corresponding to the storage level virtual volume accessed by a virtual machine which is specified to be deleted, on the basis of storage level virtual volume conversion information which is managed by the storage system. |
| US08656132B2 |
Storage system providing effective use of target device resources
When a computer 10 receives a request from the client computer 30 to access snapshot files, the target device to be used is identified. The computer 10 makes a request to the identified target device TD for attachment of the logical device LDEV that stores the snapshot files for which access is requested. When the computer 10 receives notification that the attachment has ended from the storage device system 20, the identified target device is mounted on the directory in which the snapshot files are stored. |
| US08656131B2 |
Method and apparatus for expanding a virtual storage device
The present invention provides for the expansion of a virtual storage device. Expansion of the virtual storage device includes adding one or more additional storage device units to an existing virtual storage device. Blocks or strips included in an added storage device unit are assigned addresses, to allow the added storage capacity to be accessed immediately. In order to reestablish a pattern of data storage addresses from the original storage device units of the pre-expanded virtual storage device across all of the storage device units of the post-expanded virtual storage device, temporary storage is provided. In particular, as a strip of data is relocated to its proper post-expand location, the data occupying that location is placed in a temporary storage buffer. Data in the temporary storage buffer is then written to the proper post-expand location for that data, with displaced data being written to a second temporary storage buffer. |
| US08656128B2 |
Aggregate data processing system having multiple overlapping synthetic computers
A first SMP computer has first and second processing units and a first system memory pool, a second SMP computer has third and fourth processing units and a second system memory pool, and a third SMP computer has at least fifth and sixth processing units and third, fourth and fifth system memory pools. The fourth system memory pool is inaccessible to the third, fourth and sixth processing units and accessible to at least the second and fifth processing units, and the fifth system memory pool is inaccessible to the first, second and sixth processing units and accessible to at least the fourth and fifth processing units. A first interconnect couples the second processing unit for load-store coherent, ordered access to the fourth system memory pool, and a second interconnect couples the fourth processing unit for load-store coherent, ordered access to the fifth system memory pool. |
| US08656125B2 |
Data access and management system as well as a method for data access and data management for a computer system
The present invention permits improved data access and improved data management in a computer system. To this end, data are divided into individual partial data (F) and stored in cells (Z) of storage devices (C) in such a way that the partial data (F) being accessed and managed are present in the computer system in a redundant manner. Computer units (CL) are able to access the redundantly stored data. The fact that they are stored in the storage devices (C) ensures that the computer units (CL) accessing said data are supplied more rapidly. This is achieved in particular owing to the fact that the redundantly stored data are accessed in accordance with parameters of data transmissions between the computer units (CL) and the data storage devices (C) and that, in accordance with said data transmission parameters, the redundantly stored data are moved to and from the data storage devices (C) by corresponding copy and delete operations. |
| US08656119B2 |
Storage system, control program and storage system control method
There is provided a storage system including one or more LDEVs, one or more processors, a local memory or memories corresponding to the processor or processors, and a shared memory, which is shared by the processors, wherein control information on I/O processing or application processing is stored in the shared memory, and the processor caches a part of the control information in different storage areas on a type-by-type basis in the local memory or memories corresponding to the processor or processors in referring to the control information stored in the shared memory. |
| US08656114B2 |
Multi-core active memory processor system
In general, the present invention relates to data cache processing. Specifically, the present invention relates to a system that provides reconfigurable dynamic cache which varies the operation strategy of cache memory based on the demand from the applications originating from different external general processor cores, along with functions of a virtualized hybrid core system. The system includes receiving a data request, selecting an operational mode based on the data request and a predefined selection algorithm, and processing the data request based on the selected operational mode. The system is further configured to delegate computational or memory resource needs to a plurality of sub-processing cores for processing to satisfy application demands. |
| US08656111B2 |
Bounding box prefetcher
A data prefetcher in a microprocessor having a cache memory receives memory accesses each to an address within a memory block. The access addresses are non-monotonically increasing or decreasing as a function of time. As the accesses are received, the prefetcher maintains a largest address and a smallest address of the accesses and counts of changes to the largest and smallest addresses and maintains a history of recently accessed cache lines implicated by the access addresses within the memory block. The prefetcher also determines a predominant access direction based on the counts and determines a predominant access pattern based on the history. The prefetcher also prefetches into the cache memory, in the predominant access direction according to the predominant access pattern, cache lines of the memory block which the history indicates have not been recently accessed. |
| US08656107B2 |
On-demand allocation of cache memory for use as a preset buffer
A data processing system comprises data processing circuitry, a cache memory, and memory access circuitry. The memory access circuitry is operative to assign a memory address region to be allocated in the cache memory with a predefined initialization value. Subsequently, a portion of the cache memory is allocated to the assigned memory address region only after the data processing circuitry first attempts to perform a memory access on a memory address within the assigned memory address region. The allocated portion of the cache memory is then initialized with the predefined initialization value. |
| US08656104B2 |
Prefetching source tracks for destaging updated tracks in a copy relationship
A point-in-time copy relationship associates tracks in a source storage with tracks in a target storage. The target storage stores the tracks in the source storage as of a point-in-time. A write request is received including an updated source track for a point-in-time source track in the source storage in the point-in-time copy relationship. The point-in-time source track was in the source storage at the point-in-time the copy relationship was established. The updated source track is stored in a first cache device. A prefetch request is sent to the source storage to prefetch the point-in-time source track in the source storage subject to the write request to a second cache device. A read request is generated to read the source track in the source storage following the sending of the prefetch request. The read source track is copied to a corresponding target track in the target storage. |
| US08656099B2 |
Storage apparatus and storage control method for the same
A storage apparatus and its control method capable of implementing thin provisioning and reducing power consumption of storage devices are provided. The storage apparatus classifies a plurality of storage devices, which provide a pool with a storage resource, into a plurality of groups; performs thin provisioning operation by setting some of the plurality of groups to an active mode, in which the storage devices belonging to the groups are made to enter an activated state; sets other groups to a power-saving mode in which the storage devices are made to enter a power-saving state; and sequentially switches between the group(s) in the active mode and the group(s) in the power-saving mode among the plurality of groups. |
| US08656098B1 |
System and method for activating a raid disk
A method is provided that includes performing first and second exclusive activation checks separately on first and second storage units, respectively, with a node using a software RAID function and activating a RAID disk with the first storage unit and the second storage unit using the software RAID function in response to the first and the second exclusive activation checks indicating that the first and the second storage units, respectively, can be activated as the RAID disk by the node. |
| US08656097B2 |
Selection of data storage locations based on one or more conditions
A method of controlling a hybrid hard disk drive. The method includes receiving a read command from a host; searching metadata of a file to be read; determining whether the metadata satisfies a predetermined setup condition; and if the metadata satisfies the setup conditions, copying the file to be read, from a first storage device and storing the file in a second storage device. |
| US08656092B2 |
Method for reading a multilevel cell in a non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile memory device has a memory array comprising a plurality of memory cells. The array can operate in either a multilevel cell or single level cell mode and each cell has a lower page and an upper page of data. The memory device has a data latch for storing flag data and a cache latch coupled to the data latch. A read method comprises initiating a lower page read of a memory cell and reading, from the data latch, flag data that indicates whether a lower page read operation is necessary. |
| US08656091B2 |
Data storage in nonvolatile memory
A method for data storage in a nonvolatile memory device includes compressing current data. The compressed current data is written to a space of the nonvolatile memory device that does not include a most recently written data. If the compressed current data is successfully written, identification data is stored on the nonvolatile memory device. The identification data identifies the written compressed current data as a currently valid version. |
| US08656086B2 |
System and method for autonomous NAND refresh
A background scheduler is provided that utilizes low-level communications (e.g., communications with a generic or controller-specific solid state, non-volatile memory driver) to control locking, reading, rewriting and unlocking of pages of data in the non-volatile memory. Such low-level communications cause data to be rewritten to the non-volatile memory independent of the file system in an effort to avoid data loss prior to an estimated data retention period. |
| US08656085B2 |
Flash memory device and method for programming flash memory device
A flash memory device resilient to bit errors and a programming method suitable for the flash memory are provided. The flash memory device stores data in a parallel manner in a superpage which is generated by grouping a plurality of physical pages into a logical page. The flash memory device spreads input data using a predetermined spreading code to generate spread data. The spread data is stored on a superpage-by-superpage basis. |
| US08656071B1 |
System and method for routing a data message through a message network
A communication system includes a destination node containing a message buffer pointer input queue and a message queue memory. Moreover, the message queue memory includes message buffers. A source node of the communication system generates data packets and a message buffer pointer packet. A message network of the communication system routes the data packets and the message buffer pointer packet to the destination node. The destination node writes a data message in a message buffer of the message queue memory based on the data packets and enqueues the message buffer pointer into the message buffer pointer input queue. Further, the destination node dequeues the message buffer pointer from the message buffer pointer input queue and accesses the data message in the message buffer based on a message buffer pointer. |
| US08656069B2 |
Peripheral interface alert message for downstream device
According to some embodiments, a message generated by a downstream device is received at upstream device. The message may, for example, be received via a peripheral interface and may not require a response. It may then be determined that an error is associated with the message, and an alert message may be sent from the upstream device to the downstream device via the peripheral interface. |
| US08656068B2 |
Systems and methods of media management, such as management of media to and from a media storage library, including removable media
A system and method for determining media to be exported out of a media library is described. In some examples, the system determines a media component to be exported, determines the media component is in the media library for a specific process, and exports the media component after the process is completed. |
| US08656061B2 |
Data input/output device, information processing device, and data input/output method
A data input/output device includes a buffer that accumulates data, and a data receiver that receives data input in synchronization with a first clock in accordance with a second clock whose generation source is different from a generation source of the first clock. The data input/output device further includes a data input part that accumulates data received by the data receiver in the buffer, and a data output part that sequentially outputs data accumulated in the buffer at an output interval depending on the amount of data accumulated in the buffer in such a manner that a predetermined data amount is the unit of the output. |
| US08656058B2 |
Back-off retry with priority routing
A method for back-off retry with priority routing in a single, cohesive SAS expander includes routing a data transfer between an input of a single, cohesive SAS expander and an output of the single, cohesive SAS expander, wherein the single, cohesive expander includes a first SAS expander, and at least one additional SAS expander via at least one inter-expander link (IEL). The routing of data may further include routing a first OPEN request on a direct path through the first SAS expander to a port of a device and routing a second OPEN request on an alternate path from the first SAS expander and through a second SAS expander to the port of the device. The method further includes determining link availability between the second SAS expander and the port of the device, and, upon determination of a failed link or a busy link, re-routing the data transfer from the second SAS expander to the first SAS expander or a third SAS expander, or retrying the data transfer through the second SAS expander. |
| US08656057B1 |
Opportunistic restore
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for efficiently restoring information are disclosed. In an embodiment, this may comprise transferring space reduced data from a server to an intermediate shared storage at a time determined by the server, transmitting the transferred data from the intermediate shared storage to a first client at a time convenient for the first client, transmitting the transferred data from the intermediate shared storage to a second client at a time convenient for the second client, and reconstituting the space reduced data. |
| US08656056B2 |
Web-enabled mainframe
According to one embodiment, a data sources interface of a mainframe receives a transaction request from a user terminal communicating through a network. The transaction request is formatted in a web-based format. A data sources function is called to instruct a mainframe application to perform the requested transaction, and the instruction to the mainframe is formatted in the native format of the mainframe. A transaction result formatted in the native format of the mainframe is received from the mainframe application. The transaction result is modified according to the web-based format to yield a data source, and the data source is sent to the user terminal. |
| US08656054B2 |
Message send version management in network
An apparatus, method, and computer program product for message send version management in a distributed computing environment including a plurality of nodes is provided. A message is sent from a first node of the plurality of nodes to at least one additional node of the plurality of nodes. At least one translation vector is constructed to translate between multiple message versions is constructed. The at least one translation vector is send from the first node to the at least one additional node. In one embodiment, the at least one translation vector is attached to the message to generate a packet. |
| US08656052B2 |
Systems and methods of mapped network address translation
A private customer IP address is mapped to a public NAT address using a repeatable, reversible algorithm. A given private IP address must always map to the same public IP address and a fixed range of source ports. In the mapped address translation (MAT) implementation, private IP addresses are mapped to public IP/port ranges by borrowing bits from the 16 bit port number. |
| US08656050B2 |
Methods and systems for efficiently configuring IP-based, virtual private networks
Internet-protocol based, virtual private networks are configured by first identifying the basic components of such networks and then efficiently assigning MPLS-based RD and RTs to each component or efficiently generating VR-based access lists for each component. |
| US08656046B2 |
Automated media delivery system
An automatic graphics delivery system that operates in parallel with an existing Web site infrastructure is provided. The system streamlines the post-production process by automating the production of media through content generation procedures controlled by proprietary tags placed by an author within URLs embedded within Web documents. |
| US08656044B2 |
Invitation for transferring objects in a communications network
A method, apparatus and a system for retrieving data relating to at least one of a student's homework, exam or solution to a problem from at least one calculator via a network, wherein the handheld calculator is utilized by the student. The method includes presenting an invitation from at least one of a computer or a calculator of an instructor on the calculator of the student for requesting the data from the calculator of the student, wherein the invitation identifies a location on a computer or a calculator for transmitting the data, attaching the data to at least a portion of the invitation, wherein the data includes identification identifying at least one of the calculator of the student or the student, and transmitting the data from the calculator to the location identified in the invitation. |
| US08656041B2 |
System and method for distributing multimedia streaming service request based on wide area network
Provided are a system and a method for distributing multimedia streaming service request based on wide area network which can efficiently support multimedia streaming service in wide area network. The system for distributing multimedia streaming service request based on wide area network includes a user terminal, a wide area server, and a local server. The user terminal requests multimedia streaming service. The wide area server for selecting a local server which is disposed nearest to the user terminal and has node availability and service availability, and providing contents requested by the user terminal to the selected local server. The local server provides the multimedia streaming service to the user terminal using the contents provided from the wide area server. |
| US08656039B2 |
Rule parser
In one embodiment of the present invention, a rule compiler can compress a plurality of rules to be parsed over a block of data into one state table tree structure. In one embodiment of the present invention, rue parsing over the block of data includes selecting a unit of the block of data, indexing into a state table of the state table tree using the selected unit. The state table indexed into can be used for determining whether a decision regarding the block of data can be reached based on the indexed entry, and for selecting a next state table indicated by the indexed entry if the decision regarding the block of data cannot be reached. |
| US08656034B2 |
Network connection switching unit
The invention relates to the field of data transmission in a network of distributed stations. In this case, the network contains a network connection switching unit which sets up desired connections between network subscriber stations arranged in a star formation. The network system under consideration has provision for network stations to log on in the network using a logon message and to log off using a logoff message. Regular turn-on and turn-off operations allow these logon and logoff messages to be sent. One problem is that when the network cable for a network station is manually decoupled from the network connection switching unit (11) the decoupled network station is no longer able to transmit the proper logoff message. The invention solves the problem through additional means in the network connection switching unit. These detect the decoupling of a network station. The detection means then initiate the automatic sending of the proper logoff message by the network connection switching unit. To this end, the network connection switching unit records all information about the individual network stations which is required for generating a proper logoff message. |
| US08656032B2 |
Method and system for subscription service in IP multimedia subsystem network
A method for subscription service in an IP multimedia subsystem is disclosed. A Session Border Controller (SBC) establishes IP channels between the SBC and an IMS terminal as well as between the SBC and a Resource List Server (RLS) after receiving a status subscribe request message from the IMS terminal; and the RLS sends the status information and an acknowledgment message to the IMS terminal through the IP channels after finding subscribed status information for the IMS terminal. A system for a subscription service in an IP multimedia subsystem network is further disclosed. The IP channels established in the present disclosure to transmit the subscription information on the RLS not only can transmit a great amount of information, but also has higher efficiency of information transmission, as long as the IMS terminal has a capability of processing IP data packets. |
| US08656030B2 |
Communication system, communication device and method, and program
A communication device for performing communication with another communication device via a communication medium includes an obtaining unit for obtaining first attribute information which is information relating to a function and a usage of the other communication device, a setting unit for performing setting of the communication based on the first attribute information obtained by the obtaining unit, and a control unit for controlling the communication based on the setting results of the communication performed by the setting unit. |
| US08656029B2 |
Multicast session setup in networks by determining a multicast session parameter based on a pre-existing unicast session parameter
Methods, systems, and apparatuses dynamically setting up bearers to support Internet protocol (IP) multicast traffic in various networks are provided. The method may be performed by joining an IP multicast group in response to receiving a request to initiate an IP multicast transmission session within a network, the request including at least one transmission session parameter; determining at least one synchronization area within the network for the IP multicast transmission session of the request based at least in part on the at least one transmission session parameter; and initiating an IP multicast transmission session between an application server and at least one user equipment end-point within the at least one synchronization area. |
| US08656020B1 |
Delta compression of files in web applications
A system and method provides secondary resource files in response to a request for a web page from a client device. In response to the request, a server provides an HTML file which identifies a secondary resource file, such as a javascript file, and the current version value of the secondary resource. The HTML file may be associated with a header which prevents the file from being cached. If there is no locally-cached version of the secondary resource file, the file is requested from the server. The server will transmit the secondary resource file with a header indicating that the file is to be stored indefinitely. If there is a locally-cached version of the secondary resource file, the client device compares the version value of the locally-cached version to the received current version value. If the values are different, the client requests the differences between the files. The server provides a difference file which the client device uses in conjunction with the locally-cached version of the secondary resource to generate the current version of the secondary resource. |
| US08656011B2 |
Method and management apparatus for detecting communication apparatus coupled to communication network
A management apparatus stores attribute/protocol management information denoting each attribute/protocol relationship. The management apparatus, for each of multiple addresses prior to inputting the credential used to detect the communication apparatus, (A) issues a query that specifies an address, (B) upon receiving a response to this query from the communication apparatus at the address specified in this query, writes, to a storage resource, query result information denoting the corresponding relationship between the address specified in this query and the communication apparatus attribute acquired based on the response, (C) identifies the management protocol corresponding to the communication apparatus attribute denoted by the query result information from the attribute/protocol management information, and (D) decides the optimum management protocol for the address based on the identified management protocol. |
| US08656010B2 |
Data use status tracking system, manager device, agent device, data use status tracking method, and storage medium
A data use status tracking system 100 includes: a terminal device 1 that generates and transmits data; and a manager device 2 that receives the data transmitted from the terminal device. The manager device 2 includes: a process history storing unit 25; a processing unit 22 that processes the data received from the terminal device 1 and registers a process history including the process details of the data in the process history storing unit 25; and a referring unit 23 that receives a process history reference request designating a part or all of the process histories registered in the process history storing unit 25 from the terminal device 1 and transmits, as a response, out of counting results obtained by counting the process histories designated by the process history reference request with respect to a plurality of counting items, the counting result related to the counting item according to the type of the terminal device 1 to the terminal device 1. |
| US08656009B2 |
Indicating an impact of a change in state of a node
A primary application comprising one or more executables is defined, and a network ontology for the primary application is determined and stored in a database, where the network ontology comprises one or more nodes of an enterprise network that communicate during execution of the one or more executables. Next, a change of state for at least one of the nodes is detected and used to determine one or more elements of the network ontology for the primary application that have a changed state. Further, an impact summary view is generated to indicate the elements of the primary application that have a changed state, and the impact summary view is displayed to a user. |
| US08656008B2 |
Network monitoring control device and monitoring control method
A monitoring control device monitors a communication device connected through a network through a virtual LAN provided on the network. The monitoring control device includes: a bandwidth learning unit which learns a bandwidth between the communication device and the monitoring control device by a first file transfer; and a file transfer management unit which manages whether or not a second file transfer, which passes through at least one section, is able to be performed based on a section bandwidth of the at least one section of the network, the section bandwidth obtained from the bandwidth learned by the bandwidth learning unit. |
| US08656006B2 |
Integrating traffic monitoring data and application runtime data
Information is obtained from an application monitoring system which monitors the execution of an application and a traffic monitoring system which monitors traffic between clients and the application. The clients interact with the application to perform transactions or other tasks. Traffic monitoring data, such as information regarding defects and incidents, and application runtime data, such as traces of invoked application components, can be integrated in an output such as an interface to provide an enhanced understanding of system performance. Related traffic monitoring data and application runtime data can be linked by a request-response pair identifier associated with a request provided to the application and a response provided by the application. |
| US08656005B2 |
Method for providing performance characteristics on demand
Disclosed is a method for transmitting on-demand software and/or data from a server (20) to a terminal (10) in a packet network (50). According to said method, a bandwidth test is performed as a prerequisite for transmission, said test verifying whether the currently available bandwidth is sufficient for transmitting the requested software or data. The server (20) does not transmit the requested software or the requested data if the result of the bandwidth test is negative. |
| US08656001B2 |
Communication system, application server and communication method for server cooperation
A communication entrepreneur has an application server 2 having message conversion function. The application server 2 performs service function distribution processing with reference to trigger rule 220 and message rule 230. The communication entrepreneur can provide various service functions without notifying individual server addresses to a service entrepreneur. |
| US08656000B2 |
Service level management system
A service level management (SLM) system where the system learns the structure of a web application, monitors the operation of the application, and controls the processing of incoming requests to achieve optimal performance as defined in a service level agreement (SLA). The system is operative for example in enterprise web applications and in enterprise data centers that deploy web applications and optimally is capable of controlling and maintaining a level of service of web applications. |
| US08655997B2 |
Hierarchical resource management for a computing utility
This invention provides for the hierarchical provisioning and management of a computing infrastructure which is used to provide computing services to the customers of the service provider that operates the infrastructure. Infrastructure resources can include those acquired from other service providers. The invention provides architecture for hierarchical management of computing infrastructures. It allows the dynamic provisioning and assignment of resources to computing environments. Customers can have multiple computing environments within their domain. The service provider shares its resources across multiple customer domains and arbitrates on the use of resources between and within domains. The invention enables resources to be dedicated to a specific customer domain or to a specific computing environment. Customers can specify acquisition and distribution policy which controls their use of resources within their domains. |
| US08655995B2 |
Home network commissioning
Devices, systems and methods for commissioning a home network and inhibiting unaffiliated wireless communication devices that are physically proximate to each other from forming a wireless network. A wireless communication device may include a transceiver capable of communicating with at least a second device, a non-volatile memory capable of storing a network name, a controller, and a user input acceptance element capable of placing the controller in a network set-up mode. The controller may have a plurality of modes including the network set-up mode, as well as a status indicator for providing an indication of whether the device is operating with one of a parent status and a child status. A method for joining a wireless network may include entering a network set up mode, and scanning for a second device operating with a parent status. If the second device is operating with the parent status, the network name of the second device may be adopted as the network name. However, if there is no second device operating with the parent status, the network name may be established as either a new name or an existing name. |
| US08655994B2 |
System for presenting media programs
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may use, for example, a method for sending a set-top box an identification of the media player, receiving operational instructions from the set-top box according to the emulator executed by the set-top box that emulates a user interface of the media player by presenting a representation of the media player in a graphical user interface, and transmitting media content to the set-top box according to the operational instructions. The emulator can be supplied to the set-top box by way of a multimedia system communicatively coupled to the set-top box. The user interface presented by the set-top box by way of the emulator substantially mimics functions of the media player. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08655992B2 |
End-to-end quality of service and flow control for adaptive channels
Providing quality of service (QoS) for applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and enforcing service level agreements (SLA) are major requirement in any current and future communication networks. On the other hand, more communication networks are employing adaptive transmission mechanisms, such as DVB-S2 ACM in satellite communication networks. In non-adaptive networks, QoS enforcers use static bit rate configurations. However, using a static bit rate configuration in an adaptive network may result in underflow situations, during which it may not be possible to utilize the full capacity of the transmission channel and expensive resources may therefore be wasted, In addition, using a static bit rate configuration in an adaptive network may result in overflow situations, during which it may be necessary to drop user traffic packets and therefore quality of service may not be maintained. It is therefore imperative that QoS enforcers have knowledge of the network's available bit rate at all times. This invention describes a method for achieving exactly that. |
| US08655990B2 |
Access device routing device and method thereof supporting stateless address configuration communication network
The present invention relates to an IPv6-based access device, edge router and method for stainless address configuration for IPv6 user equipment in an Ethernet access network, wherein, the access device adds the relay agent ID indicating the access device itself and the relevant port identifier indicating the user equipment to a router solicitation message sent by the user equipment in the form of a newly defined option, and forwards the message to the relevant edge router; and the edge router configures a dedicated address prefix for the user equipment according to the relay agent ID and port identifier, combines the address prefix, the relay ID and the port identifier into a router response message, and sends the response message to the relevant access equipment indicated by the relay ID; the access device sends a router advertisement message only including the address prefix via the line port indicated by the port identifier to user equipment. By allocating the dedicated address prefix to every data subscriber line for IPv6 service, IPv6 stainless address configuration is achieved to solve the security and scalability problems in the prior art. |
| US08655987B2 |
Sponsored-stories-unit creation from organic activity stream
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a bid to display in a predetermined area of a web page an organic-activity-stream entry matching particular story characteristics. The bid includes a bid amount and one or more targeting criteria. The method includes, n response to identifying an organic-activity-stream entry as matching the story characteristics, providing for display the organic-activity-stream entry in a predetermined area of a web page based at least in part on the bid amount and targeting criteria. |
| US08655981B2 |
Information communication system, information communication method, and recording medium having information communication program stored thereon
An information communication system for exchanging a plurality of contents between a plurality of node devices, includes a plurality of internal networks connected to an external network. The internal networks include: the plurality of node devices connecting the same internal network; and a support device, which connects the internal networks, and which supports acquisition of contents by the node devices. An overlay network allows for exchanging of contents between the node devices and the support devices. The node devices include a first acquisition unit that acquires contents by selecting a first device group in preference to a second device group. The first device group includes: a support device and a node device connecting the internal network of an access destination that is a contents acquisition destination. The second device group includes a support device and a node device that do not connect the internal network of the access destination. |
| US08655978B2 |
Diskless PC network communication agent system
A diskless PC network communication agent system includes a host, a network communication agent, a physical network connecting the network communication agent to the host, and diskless PCs connected to the network communication agent. The network communication agent has network packet filtering and transferring functions so that a virtual private network is established between the network communication agent and the diskless PCs for enabling each diskless PC to use a preboot execution environment communication protocol to catch dynamic host configuration protocol information, to start up network bootstrap, and to request the host for the services of remote installation, boot and access to virtual disk. |
| US08655976B2 |
Digital file distribution in a social network system
Systems and methods for obtaining a digital file similar to one used by a device associated with a member of a social network are provided. Digital file information about the digital file is stored on a web-based social network database. The digital file may be located on the same server as the web-based social network database or a third party server such as a mobile phone carrier. A user of the web-based social network database requesting the digital file may require a different format of the digital file than that used by the device of the member. If a different format is requested by the user, a server finds or converts the digital file to be compatible for use by a device specified by the user. |
| US08655973B2 |
Device management system
A first unit and a second unit manage a plurality of devices (a first device), respectively. In addition, the first and second units, repeat to transmit a keep-alive packet and to confirm a response each other, and thus detect each other's malfunction. When the second unit malfunctions, the first unit detects the malfunction of the second unit and transmits a connection command to the connection unit. The connection unit connects a lower net Nia and a lower net Nib when receiving the connection command. Then, the first unit communicates with the first device as heretofore, and further communicates with a second device via the connection unit. Thus, even if a master unit malfunctions, the device management system can maintain to manage without stopping a management of a slave unit which had been managed by the master unit until then. |
| US08655972B2 |
Method for controlling a computer using an embedded unique code in the content of recorded media
A method for controlling a computer with recorded information of a recorded media includes embedding a unique code, which unique code does not contain routing information, in recorded information of the recorded media. The unique code is in close association with vendor information, such that the unique code will be output during normal playback of the information on the recorded media. The unique code is embedded within the video/audio bandwidth of the recorded information such that, when playing back the recorded information, the unique code will be output within the video/audio bandwidth of the recorded media. The unique code is extracted with an extractor during output of the recorded information to a user at a user location disposed on a network during normal playback of the recorded media. In response to extracting the unique code, it is transmitted to a remote location on the network in accordance with routing information accessible at the user location, which routing information defines the location of the remote location on the network, wherein the vendor product information is returned to the user location for processing. |
| US08655969B2 |
Statistics reporting in a network test system
A report manager for a network test system. At least one present statistic load count may be maintained, the present statistics load count representing a cumulative number of statistics required to generate one or more reports in near-real time. A report request may be received from a user. An incremental statistics load associated with the report request may be determined. A decision whether or not the report request can be fulfilled may be made based on the at least one present statistics load count and the incremental statistic load. When the report cannot be fulfilled, a message denying the report request may be provided to the user. When the report request can be fulfilled, the incremental statistics load may be added to the present statistics load count and the report request may be fulfilled. |
| US08655968B2 |
Method and apparatus for using game mechanics to encourage smarter repository use by email users
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for processing an email are disclosed. For example, the method receives a statistic associated with the email, calculates a score for the email based upon the statistic, updates an overall score of a sender of the email based upon the score that is calculated, and presents the overall score that is updated to a display device of the sender. |
| US08655967B1 |
Individual XML message processing platform
A communications platform having an XML based message-processing platform that enables users to receive electronic messages. The processing platform may include at least one server that receives an electronic message addressed to the platform, wherein the electronic message includes a routing indicator including at least one user identity and one or more message attributes. The one or more message attributes may include “folios” which include information folios that at least one of intelligently store, display and synthesize “incoming” electronic messages. The platform further includes at least one database that stores a user-defined endpoint table, the endpoint table correlating endpoints with sender defined message attributes. In this embodiment, the platform may include a sender stylesheet and an electronic message stylesheet. |
| US08655966B1 |
Mobile device data protection
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for protecting mobile device data is disclosed. In some embodiments, this includes determining mobile device data to be stored on a server, accessing the server with a unique identifier, transmitting the determined mobile device to the server, and storing the transmitted mobile device on the server. Accessing the server with a unique identifier may include providing verification to the server, such as a password. Transmitting the determined mobile device data may include transmitting the determined mobile device data through a wireless connection. |
| US08655965B2 |
Automated messaging response in wireless communication systems
Options for safely handling incoming data messages in a moving mobile device are provided within the mobile device. When an incoming data message is detected, the device determines its velocity. If the velocity exceeds a certain value, external data, such as visual or biometric data, measured by a device component is analyzed to determine whether the mobile device is in a driver position of a moving vehicle. If so, an announcement of the incoming call is prevented and a predetermined message is autonomously transmitted to the sender. If analysis of the external data is inconclusive, a prompt is presented to a recipient with selectable options of how to handle the incoming message. In response to the various inputs received from the recipient, the mobile device may either autonomously send a response message to the sender or may directly establish a voice call between the recipient and the sender. |
| US08655954B2 |
System and method for collaborative messaging and data distribution
A collaborative messaging and data distribution system includes a text-messaging engine executing on a processor for sending and receiving messages among a plurality of users. The text-messaging engine includes an information proxy for distributing information among at least one information source and the plurality of users. The information proxy appears as one of the plurality of users. |
| US08655952B1 |
Automating help tasks across multiple devices
A method and/or system for automating help task across multiple devices may include receiving from a requesting device a request for help instructions corresponding to a receiving electronic device, where the receiving device is not the requesting device. Help instructions may be sent to the requesting device in response to the request for help instructions. A request to automate the help instructions on the receiving device may be received from the requesting device. Automation data may be sent to the receiving device in response to the request to automate the help instructions. A determination may be made of whether the requesting device corresponds to a particular user. A determination of the receiving device may be made from a plurality of devices corresponding to the particular user. Automation status may be sent to the requesting device indicative of whether the help instructions were automated on the receiving device. |
| US08655950B2 |
Contextual awareness in real time collaborative activity alerts
A computer-implemented method of alerting users to collaborative activity can include receiving a user input selecting at least one of a plurality of data types to be included within a notification, wherein the plurality of data types correspond to collaborative session data exchanged during a collaborative session among a plurality of users. The method can include buffering collaborative session data during the collaborative session and responsive to detecting an occurrence of an awareness triggering event, outputting the notification comprising at least a portion of the buffered collaborative session data corresponding to the selected at least one of a plurality of data types. |
| US08655949B2 |
Correlated information recommendation
Method and apparatus for information recommendation are provided. In one aspect, a method for information recommendation uses correlated information combinations to improve recommendation accuracy. Upon receiving data from a client indicating a visited information type, the method obtains correlated information types related to the visited information type from stored records. The correlated information types providing one or more correlated information combinations each including at least two correlated information types. For each of the one or more correlated information combinations, the method computes a degree of correlation between the correlated information combination and the visited information type. The method selects a target correlated information combination with a satisfying degree of correlation, and recommends the target correlated information combination to the client. |
| US08655946B2 |
Authenticating method, conversion device, and relay device
A conversion device receives service data including first connection destination data and the authentication information about an authenticated user, generates second connection destination data for designation of the first connection destination data, then associates the authentication information, the first and second connection destination data with one another, transmits them to a relay device, and transmits to a client the service data in which the first connection destination data is replaced with the second connection destination data; the client transmits the second connection destination data selected by the user to the relay device; the relay device transmits the authentication information to a server indicated by the first connection destination data using the authentication information and the first connection destination data corresponding to the second connection destination data, and transmits the address of the server to the client; and the client communicates with the server using the address and the authentication information. |
| US08655944B2 |
Website compatibility shims
Various embodiments provide compatibility shims that can be utilized by a web browser to dynamically change web browser platform features per domain or website. The compatibility shims can be deployed to the web browser and updated in a manner similar to that of a webpage. In one or more embodiments, the compatibility shims can be utilized to change a browser's behavior and/or the manner in which the browser represents itself per domain or website. Further, the compatibility shims can enable the web browser to dynamically remove or change support for web platform features. In addition, in at least some embodiments, users can apply their own compatibility shims to their own list of websites or webpages. |
| US08655943B2 |
Web server providing access to documents having multiple versions
A web server provided according to an aspect of the present invention provides access to different versions of a document. In an embodiment, the web server sends the last version in response to a first request, and a specific requested version in response to a second request (identifying the specific requested version). According to another aspect, the specific requested version is sent when the request includes a corresponding version identifier along with a document identifier, and the last version is sent when the request includes only the document identifier. According to one more aspect, the web server sends a web page indicating all the versions of a document in response to a request for all the versions. |
| US08655942B2 |
Method and system for synchronizing data between qualcomm platform terminal and PC side
The present disclosure discloses a method for synchronizing data between a Qualcomm platform terminal and a Personal Computer (PC) side, which comprises the following steps: the DIAG module of the Qualcomm platform terminal receives a request packet from the PC side, converts the request packet into a pseudo request packet, and transmits the pseudo request packet to an application layer module of the Qualcomm platform terminal via an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) layer module of the Qualcomm platform terminal; the application layer module fills a pseudo response packet according to the pseudo request packet transmitted from the OEM layer module and then transmits the pseudo response packet to the DIAG module via the OEM layer module; and the DIAG module converts the pseudo response packet transmitted from the OEM layer module into a real response packet and then transmits the real response packet to the PC side. The present disclosure also discloses a system for synchronizing data between a Qualcomm platform terminal and a PC side. In the present disclosure, the implementations of a bottom layer and an application layer are not mixed together any more, which reduces code coupling degree, avoids the occurrence of a fault in a data synchronization process and facilitate the extension of new functions. |
| US08655941B2 |
Service oriented architecture enterprise service bus with universal ports
A universal ESB port for connecting applications to an enterprise service bus (ESB). The universal ESB port receives a message from an application requesting a service. The universal ESB port is capable of receiving and processing messages in any messaging format and any communication protocol. The universal ESB port determines, from the message, a communication protocol of the source application. The message is processed to extract a body of the message, and the message body is examined to determine a messaging format of the source application. The message is converted from the messaging format of the source application to a common messaging format understandable by the enterprise service bus to form a common formatted message. The common formatted message is then sent to the main body of the enterprise service bus. |
| US08655934B2 |
Broadband low noise complex regenerative frequency dividers
A regenerative frequency divider device including a plurality of multipliers, each of which has a first input port, a second input port and an output port; a first combiner coupled to the plurality of multipliers so as to receive an output signal from at least two of the multipliers; and a second combiner coupled to the plurality of multipliers so as to receive an output signal from at least two of multipliers. Further, a first output signal generated by the first combiner is coupled to the second input port of at least two of the multipliers; and a second output signal generated by the second combiner is coupled to the second input port of at least two of the multipliers such that a complex signal is fed back to the multipliers performing the down conversion process. The present invention divider CRD can achieve superior output noise floor of −180 dBc/Hz at multi-GHz frequencies. |
| US08655933B2 |
Random number generation and management method, and device
The present invention relates to a method and device for generating and managing shorter random number series, such as ID and password, in which, for the given N bits binary series R and K dimensions multi-dimensional coordinate information i (i1, . . . , ik, . . . , iK), R is used for the following part of the decimal point of initial value x0 for nonlinear function, i is transformed into coordinates of each dimension, i1, . . . , ik, . . . , iK, and the initial value x0 and ik are stored in the register, through operations to generate and manage multi-dimensional random number Ri. |
| US08655924B2 |
System and method for providing structured data to a structured or unstructured grid
A system and method for converting structured data to unstructured or structured data, the system and method receiving processing options in a flexible format and a reader selection, executing the reader selection to read data, computing a date time group to iterate through observed and/or modeled data, bilinearly interpolating the structured data to create an unstructured or structured finite element mesh, linearly interpolating data in time if necessary, and storing the populated grid on a computer-readable medium in a format compatible with a target numerical model. |
| US08655920B2 |
Report updating based on a restructured report slice
A method, system and computer program product for creating a report on the basis of a plurality of remote datasets includes an intelligence server, one or more tree servers and one or more databases. Each tree server creates one or more segments, or slices, of a report, using information that resides on the tree server. Slices are aggregated into a tree structure, and the tree structure is converted into a report. The intelligence server receives updates from the tree servers. The tree servers and the intelligence server remain in communication for the purposes of passing update messages. The update messages are received and processed at the intelligence-server in a manner that facilitates synchronization with the contributing tree servers and provides live updates to the user. |
| US08655915B2 |
Pangenetic web item recommendation system
Computer based systems, methods, software and databases are presented in which correlations between web item preferences and pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) attributes of individuals are used for pangenetic based web item recommendation in which a user can request and receive personalized online recommendations of web items that are based on the user's pangenetic makeup. Data masking can be used to maintain privacy of sensitive portions of the pangenetic data. |
| US08655909B2 |
Communication apparatus and address learning method
A communication apparatus operates as a node of a network. The communication apparatus includes a port-state managing unit that updates, every time failure occurrence in the network is detected, state information indicating a state of the network, a database updating unit that updates, based on a transmission source address and a reception port of a received frame and the state information managed by the port-state managing unit, a database that determines an output port when a frame in which the transmission source address is a destination address is received, and an output-destination determining unit that determines an output port of the received frame by searching through the database using, as search keys, the destination address of the received frame and the state information managed by the port-state managing unit. |
| US08655908B2 |
Predisposition modification
A method and system for predisposition modification are presented in which a set of attributes for selective modification of the attribute profile of an individual are determined to enable the individual to modify their predisposition for acquiring an attribute of interest. The attribute of interest can be input in the form of a query attribute along with a minimum strength of association value which serves as a threshold to ensure that the results will provide at least a minimum degree of statistical certainty that the individual will acquire the attribute of interest upon modifying their attribute profile. |
| US08655907B2 |
Multi-channel conversion path position reporting
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving information regarding a plurality of conversion paths. Each conversion path includes one or more user interactions, corresponds to a user, and ends with a conversion interaction. A list of channel groups is received. Each channel group includes a name and one or more group rules that refer to the characteristics of one or more user interactions of the plurality of conversion paths. Each user interaction in the plurality of conversion paths is grouped based upon the list of channel groups. A selection of channels to visualize is received and for each of the selected channels to visualize the user interactions are aggregated based upon the channel group of the user interaction and a position of the user interaction within the conversion path. Information regarding the aggregated user interactions for each of the selected channels is provided. |
| US08655906B1 |
Method and system for displaying real time trends
Displaying an information product that includes exceptional search queries to a user can include receiving search queries, measuring the frequencies of search queries received, determining the search queries whose frequencies are rising in the most relevant manner, and then displaying these exceptional queries on a user interface. The user then can select one of the displayed exceptional queries, and then the system can provide search results corresponding with the exceptional queries. The activity of a particular query can be based on the frequency of the search query's reception over a given period of time, whether in relation to an expected frequency level or the rate of change of the frequency level. Additionally, the relevant periods of time over which activity is measured can be relatively short to maximize their relevance at a given instant. |
| US08655900B2 |
Universal data management interface
A universal data management interface (UDMI) system includes a processing system generates a visual interface through which a user can access, manage, and manipulate data on plural different types of remote databases. The UDMI connects to multiple standard database management systems and to allow multiple users to access, manage, and manipulate data within each of the multiple standard database management systems. The UDMI also allows multiple virtual databases that reside in a single database to be available as a network service. |
| US08655897B2 |
Data converting apparatus, method, and computer product
A data converting apparatus includes a storage unit that stores encoded meta-definition information, a data converting function, a conversion rule table, and a conversion rule; an input unit that receives input of data to be converted; a detecting unit that uses the encoded meta-definition information to detect metadata codes for a conversion source and a conversion destination for which the conversion rule code matches; a determining unit that determines whether the detected metadata codes match; a specifying unit that, by referring to a conversion rule and based on the determination result at the determining unit, specifies the data converting function, according to the combination of the metadata codes for the conversion source and for the conversion destination; and a converting unit that uses the specified data converting function to convert the data of the conversion source to have a property prescribed by metadata for the conversion destination. |
| US08655894B2 |
Method and apparatus for index generation and use
An approach is provided for generating a searchable index including an associated object graph. Data objects of a database are converted into corresponding rows in a set of searchable columns. An object graph corresponding to each row of the searchable columns are determined. An index including the set of searchable columns and the corresponding object graphs are generated. |
| US08655891B2 |
System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively. |
| US08655890B2 |
Determination of recommendation data
Determining recommendation data is disclosed, including: extracting a first set of keywords from a set of user action logs that occurred prior to a predetermined time point; extracting a second set of keywords from a set of user action logs that occurred subsequent to the predetermined time point; merging at least a portion of the first set of keywords and at least a portion of the second set of keywords to obtain a third set of keywords; matching the third set of keywords to a database of data that can potentially be recommended to a user; and in the event that a piece of data is determined to match at least one keyword from the third set of keywords, determine that the piece of data is to be recommended to the user. |
| US08655889B2 |
Autonomous mobile blogging
An autonomous blog engine is implemented to enable the autonomous generation of a blog. The autonomous blog engine receives media objects that are captured by an electronic device during a trip session. The autonomous blog engine determines a place of interest based on photographs selected from the media objects. The autonomous blog engine then generates textual content using one or more pre-stored knowledge items that include information on the place of interest. The autonomous blog engine further autonomously publishes a blog entry on the place of interest that includes one or more photographs from the photograph cluster and the textual content. |
| US08655887B2 |
Querying compressed time-series signals
Technologies pertaining to compressing time-series signals are described herein. Groups of time-series signals are generated based upon similarities between time-series signals. Each group of time-series signals includes a respective base time-series signal. Ratio signals that are representative of time-series signals are computed, wherein the ratio signals are based upon the base time-series signal and other respective time-series signals in a group of time-series signals. |
| US08655885B1 |
Media catalog system, method and computer program product useful for cataloging video clips
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a new way to catalog digital assets derived or otherwise created from an original source such as a video, clip, movie, film, or the like. In one embodiment, time-based metadata, along with technical metadata and business metadata can be captured within a video and collected locally at a client device running media catalog client software. The collected information can be communicated to a media catalog server at the back end. The media catalog server can create a new asset based on the collected information and store the asset in a database. Multiple assets may be created to describe and reference the same video. However, the video itself is not modified and no variation of the video is created in anyway. |
| US08655884B2 |
Cross-domain clusterability evaluation for cross-guided data clustering based on alignment between data domains
A computer system for evaluating cross-domain clusterability upon a target domain and a source domain. The cross-domain clusterability is calculated as a linear combination of a target clusterability and a source-target pair matchability, by use of a trade-off parameter that determines relative contribution of the target clusterability and the source-target pair matchability. The target clusterability quantifies how clusterable the target domain is. The source-target pair matchability is calculated as an average of a target-side matchability and a source-side matchability, which quantifies how well target centroids of the target domain are aligned with the source centroids and how well source centroids of the source domain are aligned with the target centroids, respectively. |
| US08655881B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically tagging content
A content tagging and management capability is provided for enabling automatic tagging of content and management of tagged content. A method includes receiving content including an object, and automatically associating an information structure with the object included within the content to form thereby tagged content. The content may be received locally at a content capture device, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the content capture device. The automatic tagging may be performed at the content capture device when the content is captured by the content capture device. The content may be received at a computer, and the information structure may be automatically associated with the object by the computer. The information structure may be available locally or retrieved from one or more remote devices. |
| US08655878B1 |
Scalable, adaptable, and manageable system for multimedia identification
An architecture for a multimedia search system is described. To perform similarity matching of multimedia query frames against reference content, reference database comprising of a cluster index using cluster keys to perform similarity matching and a multimedia index to perform sequence matching is built. Methods to update and maintain the reference database that enables addition and removal of the multimedia contents, including portions of multimedia content, from the reference database in a running system are described. Hierarchical multi-level partitioning methods to organize the reference database are presented. Smart partitioning of the reference multimedia content according to the nature of the multimedia content, and according to the popularity among the social media, that supports scalable fast multimedia identification is also presented. A caching mechanism for multimedia search queries in a centralized or in a decentralized distributed system and a client based local multimedia search system enabling multimedia tracking are described. |
| US08655877B2 |
System and program for joining source table rows with target table rows
Disclosed is a data processing system, and an article of manufacturing for use with the data processing system. The data processing system joins rows associated with a column of a source table with rows associated with a column of a target table. The data processing system includes a source node containing the source table and including a target node containing the target table. The data processing system further includes a generating module for generating a reduced representation of selected rows associated with the column of the source table, and generating a representation of the column of the target table, a filtering module for filtering the generated reduced representation of selected rows associated with the column of the source table through the generated representation of the column of the target table, the filtered generated reduced representation of selected rows identifying source table rows that do not have to be joined with the target table, and a joining module for joining, to the rows associated with the column of the target table, the rows associated with the column of the source table minus the filtered generated reduced representation of selected rows. |
| US08655872B2 |
Search systems and methods using in-line contextual queries
Systems and methods are provided for implementing searches using contextual information associated with a Web page (or other document) that a user is viewing when a query is entered. The page includes a contextual search interface that has an associated context vector representing content of the page. When the user submits a search query via the contextual search interface, the query and the context vector are both provided to the query processor and used in responding to the query. |
| US08655866B1 |
Returning factual answers in response to queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for information retrieval. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a fact query; determining an expected type of answer to the fact query; identifying search results responsive to the fact query; identifying phrases from the resources corresponding to the search results that correspond to a form of the expected type; determining a score for each of the identified phrases; and presenting an answer to the fact query using the scores. |
| US08655864B1 |
Mobile SiteMaps
A method of analyzing documents or relationships between documents includes receiving a notification of an available metadata document containing information about one or more network-accessible documents, obtaining a document format indicator associated with the metadata document, selecting a document crawler using the document format indicator, and crawling at least some of the network-accessible documents using the selected document crawler. |
| US08655860B2 |
Identifying universal resource locator rewriting rules
A computer-implemented process for identifying universal resource locator rewriting rules may receive input of universal resource locators of an application, to form received universal resource locators, may represent the received universal resource locators in a specialized graph and may apply analysis algorithms and heuristics to properties of the specialized graph. The computer-implemented process may further identify universal resource locator rewriting patterns using the specialized graph to form detected patterns and may generate rewrite rules corresponding to the detected patterns. |
| US08655858B1 |
Digital content reconstruction and distribution
An item providing system may receive digital content that is to be provided to user devices. The digital content may include electronic periodicals (e.g., electronic newspapers, electronic magazines, etc.). The digital content may not be complete. To address this issue, the item providing system may include a content reconstruction tool that is able to identify and download needed portions of digital content. Also, the digital content may not be in a desired format. The item providing system may include a collator tool that is able to organize, arrange and/or format the digital content. |
| US08655849B2 |
Method and system for reconciling transportation records
Aspects of the present invention are directed to a system for next day reconciliation of transportation records. The system having a transportation record storage provider (TRSP) that receives and stores storage medium transportation requests; an outside service provider (OSP) inventory manager that receives and maintains records of transported storage mediums scanned at the OSP; and a reconciliation provider that receives a first list from the TRSP and a second list from the OSP inventory manger, for reconciliation. The reconciliation provider includes receivers for receiving the first and second list; a processing engine that reconciles the first list and the second list; and a reporting unit that reports the results of the reconciliation. The processing engine matches inbound and outbound records of the first list and second list, and processes invalid records; and analyzes and accounts for un-matched records. |
| US08655847B2 |
Mirroring data changes in a database system
A method for mirroring one or more data changes from a first database server to one or more second database servers. The method includes intercepting one or more operations that make one or more changes to one or more data on the first database server. After intercepting these operations, the method merges the operations into one or more chunks, adds one or more log records having the chunks into a database log. The database log includes one or more database log blocks. The method then writes the database log blocks. |
| US08655843B2 |
Layered body template based medical records
A device receives medical data associated with a user of the device, and creates a body template based on the received medical data, where the body template includes layers that are representations of a human body associated with the user. The device also displays the body template to the user, where the user is capable of manipulating one or more layers of the body template in order to review the medical data. |
| US08655839B2 |
Methods, systems, and media for forming linear combinations of data
Methods, systems, and media for forming linear combinations of data are provided. In some embodiments, methods for forming a linear combination of data include: receiving at a device a first codeword, wherein the first codeword comprises a linear combination of at least a first data unit including data, and a second data unit including data; encoding at the device the first codeword and a third data unit including data to form a second codeword, wherein the second codeword includes a linear combination of at least the first data unit, the second data unit, and the third data unit; and transmitting from the device the second codeword. |
| US08655835B2 |
Information generating device where information is distributed among node devices, information generating method where information is distributed among node devices, and computer readable recording medium for generating information which is distributed among node devices
An information generating device in an information communication system in which contents and catalog information including its attribute information are distributed in node devices, includes: a first storage unit storing first catalog information, the catalog information including link information associating the plurality of attribute information with each other; a acquisition unit acquiring, in response to updating the content of the attribute information, the updated attribute information; a generation unit generating the link information for updating the first catalog information on the basis of the attribute information acquired by the first acquisition unit, and the first catalog information stored in the first storage unit, and generate second catalog information including the generated link information and the updated attribute information; a second storing unit storing the second catalog information; and an updating unit updating the first catalog information on the basis of the second catalog information for each given period. |
| US08655834B2 |
Dynamically redirecting a target location during a file I/O operation
A file I/O operation is initiated to store a result of a file I/O operation in a destination file. In response to the file I/O operation being in progress, an amount of the file I/O operation currently completed is monitored. In response to determining that the amount of the file I/O operation currently completed is less than a threshold amount, another destination file is specified through a user interface, in which to store a result of file I/O operation not yet completed. The file I/O operation stores the remaining result of the file I/O operation at the another destination file. A single file handle is updated for the result of the file I/O operation to reference the destination file comprising the portion of the result and the another destination file comprising the remaining result. |
| US08655830B2 |
Systems and methods for reporting a cause of an event or equipment state using causal relationship models in a building management system
A computerized method for evaluating and reporting a cause of a performance change in a building management system is shown and described. The method includes receiving an indication of a fault for building equipment of the building management system and determining a root cause for the fault by traversing a causal relationship model including the building equipment and other devices of the building management system. |
| US08655828B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for solving problems
A method of improving the accuracy and computation time of automatic image recognition by the implementation of association graphs and a quantum processor.A method of solving problems using a quantum processor by casting a problem as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (“QUBO”) problem, mapping the QUBO problem to the quantum processor, and evolving the quantum processor to produce a solution to the QUBO problem. |
| US08655825B2 |
Efficient management of data quality for streaming event data
Implementations of the present disclosure include methods for managing data quality for event data. In some implementations, methods include receiving, at one or more computing devices, a plurality of events, each event comprising event data and being generated by an event source in response to a real-world activity, processing, using the one or more computing devices, the plurality of events using one or more complex event processing (CEP) rules to generate a complex event, in response to generating the complex event, annotating the complex event with quality information corresponding to each of the plurality of events to provide a quality-enriched event, and publishing the quality-enriched event. |
| US08655822B2 |
Probabilistic decision making system and methods of use
Embodiments of this invention comprise modeling a subject's state and the influence of training scenarios, or actions, on that state to create a training policy. Both state and effects of actions are modeled as probabilistic using Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP) techniques. The POMDP is well suited to decision-theoretic planning under uncertainty. Utilizing this model and the resulting training policy with real world subjects creates a surprisingly effective decision aid for instructors to improve learning relative to a traditional scenario selection strategy. POMDP provides a more valid representation of trainee state and training effects, thus it is capable of producing more valid recommendations concerning how to structure training to subjects. |
| US08655821B2 |
Local causal and Markov blanket induction method for causal discovery and feature selection from data
Methods for discovery of local causes/effects and of Markov blankets enable discovery of causal relationships from large data sets and provide principled solutions to the variable/feature selection problem, an integral part of predictive modeling. The present invention provides a generative method for learning local causal structure around target variables of interest in the form of direct causes/effects and Markov blankets applicable to very large real world datasets even with small samples. The selected feature sets can be used for causal discovery, classification, and regression. The generative method GLL can be instantiated in many ways giving rise to novel method variants. The method transforms a dataset with many variables into either a minimal reduced dataset where all variables are needed for optimal prediction of the response variable, or a dataset where all variables are direct causes and direct effects or the Markov blanket of the response variable. |
| US08655812B2 |
Non-intrusive event-driven prediction
A method for non-intrusive event-driven prediction of a metric in a data processing environment is provided in the illustrative embodiments. At least one set of events is observed in the data processing environment, the set of events being generated by several processes executing in the data processing environment. A subset of the set of events are tracked for an observation period, the tracking resulting in bookkeeping information about the subset of events. A pattern of events is detected in the bookkeeping information. The pattern is formed as a tuple representing a process in the several processes, the metric corresponding to the process. A prediction model is selected for the tuple. The prediction model is supplied with the tuple and executed to generate a predicted value of the metric. |
| US08655808B2 |
Method and apparatus for mimicking human gait with prosthetic knee devices using a state controller to assist in stumble recovery
The present invention relates to a prosthetic device including a prosthetic joint which accurately transitions between a loose mode and a stiff mode to more accurately mimic a human gait. The prosthetic joint includes a state controller which utilizes a sensor to detect prosthetic joint movement data, and compares it with prosthetic joint movement decision values to determine when a solenoid should be energized to place the prosthetic joint in the loose mode. An optimization unit connects to the prosthetic joint in a prosthetic joint system. The optimization unit generates a plurality of data files containing prosthetic joint movement data corresponding to an amputee walking without stumbling. By iteratively analyzing the prosthetic joint movement data, the optimization unit adjusts the prosthetic joint movement decision values to ensure that the prosthetic joint does not prematurely enter a stumble recovery state. |
| US08655807B2 |
Methods for forming recognition algorithms for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
In one embodiment, a method for forming a recognition algorithm for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy may include: determining a most mathematically different dataset of a plurality of spectral datasets corresponding to materials; dividing the spectral datasets into model development datasets and performance evaluation datasets; transforming, automatically with a processor, one of the model development datasets into a first discrimination model that discriminates the first spectra; removing the first spectra from the model development datasets to yield a subset of development datasets; determining a next most mathematically different spectral dataset of the spectral datasets; transforming the subset of development datasets into a second discrimination model that discriminates the second spectra; and combining the first discrimination model and the second discrimination model to form the recognition algorithm for laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. |
| US08655803B2 |
Method of feature extraction from noisy documents
Aspect of the exemplary embodiment relate to a method and apparatus for automatically identifying features that are suitable for use by a classifier in assigning class labels to text sequences extracted from noisy documents. The exemplary method includes receiving a dataset of text sequences, automatically identifying a set of patterns in the text sequences, and filtering the patterns to generate a set of features. The filtering includes at least one of filtering out redundant patterns and filtering out irrelevant patterns. The method further includes outputting at least some of the features in the set of features, optionally after fusing features which are determined not to affect the classifiers accuracy if they are merged. |
| US08655802B2 |
Method of downloading usage parameters into an apparatus, and apparatus for implementing the invention
After a first start-up, a first appliance performs a self-learning step for generating usage parameters. These parameters are elaborated on subsequent start-ups. When these parameters are optimized, the first appliance transmits them to another appliance which requests them. This second appliance uses the parameters of the first as optimized parameters. In this way, the second appliance limits the duration of the self-learning step and the use of non-optimal parameters. According to a refinement, the optimal parameters are centralized on a server which transmits them to a plurality of second appliances using a transmission network.The present invention also relates to an appliance and a server implementing the method. |
| US08655799B1 |
Anticipatory logistics through sensor fusion and evolutionary minimization of response time in automated vehicles
Anticipatory logistics is used to predict observable events and respond to the predictions of the observable events in the control of automated equipment that perform highly repetitive functions such as elevator cars. A set of table entries is obtained, and the table entries are metricized and stored as cell entries. All cell entries are normalized. Ten weighted values to the cell entries are initialized. An algorithmically defined subset of weighted values is normalized and an instruction is selected based on the computed dependency using an algorithm incorporating uniform chance selection for exploratory optimization, such as the Mersenne Twister algorithm. Here, the search space is delimited by careful selection of the salient variables as well as by the algorithm itself, which only relies on chance to find truly novel solutions as time (and space) permit. The anticipatory logistics can be used to predict future events such as elevator car usage and thereby enhance efficiency in provision or utilization of resources. |
| US08655795B1 |
System and method for establishing geographical communication and predicting mail delivery using mailbox-mounted devices
A system and related method are disclosed for establishing geographical communication and predicting mail delivery using mailbox-mounted devices adapted to detect delivery automatically and transmit that detection to associated electronic devices. Detection may be performed by various means including accelerometers, cameras, and magnetometers. The method includes maintaining a registry of mailbox-mounted devices, and passing communication between electronic devices used by owners of mailbox-mounted devices. The communication can include detection by the mailbox-mounted devices of mail delivery, and calculation of the postal carrier's probable route using that delivery detection. |
| US08655793B2 |
Web-based recruitment system
A method and system for facilitating the hiring and recruitment of candidates for a particular position. The system would include information relating to the skill level and expertise of various candidates irrespective of a particular job. The candidates will have their various skills assessed through the use of an anonymous assessor. The assessor would provide the system with a rating of each candidate's various assessed skills. The candidate has the option to have this assessment evaluated by a disinterested third party. A client or employer would access the system for the purpose of receiving a listing of potential candidates, their skill levels as well as assessments. The client will provide the system with a list of potential candidates to the position. The clients would utilize this information to hire a particular candidate. |
| US08655791B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating standardized environmental benefit credits
A method and apparatus for determining standardized environmental attributes is disclosed, including a method and apparatus for generating and quantifying standardized carbon emission reduction credits. General data and site-specific data, if available, are input into a suitable model to determine the approximate change in the environmental attribute as a result of a human-caused change. An uncertainty analysis is conducted on the results to quantify and normalize the environmental attribute. Standardized environmental attributes may be compiled for trade and other standardized environmental attributes are placed in reserve. |
| US08655787B1 |
Automated detection of defined input values and transformation to tokens
A computer-implemented technique processes a potentially sensitive item of data (e.g., data which may be either a credit card number or a token having a similar format). The technique involves, after the potentially sensitive item of data is properly received within a physical memory location, generating a token result which indicates whether the potentially sensitive item of data satisfies a valid-token requirement. The technique further involves preserving the potentially sensitive item of data in an unaltered form within the physical memory location when the token result indicates that the potentially sensitive item of data satisfies the valid-token requirement. The technique further involves replacing the potentially sensitive item of data within the physical memory location with a token when the token result indicates that the potentially sensitive item of data does not satisfy the valid-token requirement. |
| US08655786B2 |
Aggregate constraints for payment transactions
This document describes tools capable of authorizing or enabling authorization of multiple payment transactions without requiring that a buyer or seller authorize each transaction separately. The tools may do so by enabling a buyer or seller to select aggregate constraints, such as a total price or number of transactions. Based on these selected constraints, the tools may authorize every payment transaction that meets the aggregate constraints without requiring the buyer to authorize every transaction separately. |
| US08655785B2 |
Computer data product license installation / update confirmation
An authenticated digital confirmation of an installation or an update of a licensed computer data product, for providing the licensor with a validation that the installation/update was carried out as intended, and conveying relevant details of the installation/update. The installation/updating facility (internal software, external hardware device, or combination thereof) examines and documents the pre-installation/update state of the target computer system, performs the installation/update, examines and documents the post-installation/update state, and generates the confirmation, which is a summary or digest of the process and the status thereof. The confirmation is securely authenticated and sent to the licensor for validation, to be used for order fulfillment, billing and accounting, and other purposes. |
| US08655774B2 |
Retailer debit card system
A method of processing a purchase transaction for one or more items includes receiving, at a central computing network, MICR information associated with a financial account of a customer. The central computing network includes a solicitation processor and a comprehensive negative check file. The method further includes using the solicitation processor to determine whether to solicit the customer to apply for a financial transaction card including determining if any of a plurality of predefined reasons exist not to solicit the customer, wherein one of the plurality of predefined reasons includes if the MICR information associated with the financial account of the customer matches MICR information of a check listed in the comprehensive negative check file, if any of the plurality of predefined reasons exist, deciding not to solicit the customer, and if none of the plurality of predefined reasons exist, deciding to solicit the customer. |
| US08655763B2 |
Microfinance funds aggregation for a retail investor
A computer-implemented system and method supporting microfinance funds aggregation for a retail investor are disclosed. A particular example embodiment includes receiving a purchase request at a host site from an investor at an investor site, the purchase request including information identifying a security offered for sale by a security issuer on the host site; facilitating payment for the security by the investor via a financial site; receiving confirmation of payment for the security; and sending confirmation of payment for the security to the investor. |
| US08655756B2 |
Consistent set of interfaces derived from a business object model
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a data processing system having a business object model reflecting the data used during a business transaction. Consistent interfaces are generated from the business object model. These interfaces are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. |
| US08655741B2 |
Apparatus and method for communicating with a mirror camera
The subject matter discloses a system for communicating between a customer at a retail store and a mirror point used to generate media files at the retail store using a capture device, the system comprises a storage for storing contact information of the customer; a processor for enabling access of a customer's device to the mirror point; a communication module for transmitting the media files generated by the mirror point at the retail store to the customer's desired destination using the contact information stored at the storage structure. |
| US08655740B2 |
Information providing apparatus and system
An information providing system is disclosed. The system includes a management apparatus having a database storing facility-event information of facilities or events, and a portable apparatus communicatable with the management apparatus. The portable apparatus sets each place, at which a movement stop time exceeds a prescribed staying time, as a stay place. The management apparatus estimates that a living area of a user of the portable apparatus is a collective area covering all of the stay places of the user. The management apparatus sets the collective area as the search scope, extracts the facility-event information matching the search scope from the database, and transmits the extracted facility-event information to the portable apparatus. |
| US08655739B2 |
Method and system for upselling to a user of a digital book lending library
A method is disclosed where an e-book lending library is provided. The lending library includes data relating a plurality of e-books. A first e-book from the plurality of e-books is loaned to a user for a predetermined finite period of time, which comprises transmitting to an electronic device associated with the user, via a communications network, the first e-book including a lending license therefore. Upon expiration of the predetermined finite period of time, data is received from the electronic device relating to the user's reading history of the first e-book. The user's reading progress through the first e-book is determined automatically based on the data. When it is determined that the user has other than finished reading the first e-book, a signal is transmitted to the electronic device via the communication network, the signal comprising an offer to sell to the user the first e-book via the e-book lending library. |
| US08655738B2 |
Contextual computing system
A contextual computing system allows a variety of actors to interact with system components to carry out computational and communication tasks. The system is provided as a self-contained and portable solution for communications needs, employable by a number of entities such as telecommunications companies, enterprises, and system operators. The computing system is implemented using layers, with components within the layers carrying out computational and communication tasks in response to input from actors. The system allows business logic and communication to be integrated into a single solution, providing for efficient communication and remarkable ease of use in a variety of possible deployments. |
| US08655734B2 |
User context based distributed self service system for service enhanced resource delivery
Disclosed is a method and system of providing user context-based services over computer networks, using mechanisms for collecting and specifying one or more user context elements, each element representing a context associated with the current buyer state and having context attributes and attribute values associated therewith, mechanisms for collecting affective (emotive) data to inform the user context, and also an interactive graphical view to gain insight into available services for assisting in understanding available service information and making decisions on purchasing. |
| US08655733B2 |
Payment workflow extensibility for point-of-sale applications
Architecture that employs a software development kit and an add-in model to collect payment data and communicate with payment processors in a point-of-sale (POS) application to meet new requirements in new markets. Data gathered from an add-in and from the POS application can be combined and then communicated to the payment processor. The payment method can be determined and payment processing routed to different payment processors based on data and schema of data collected is also described. An add-in can also programmatically obtain information from the POS application information about a transaction and authorize a payment. A payment collecting/processing API is the interface between the POS application tender logic and payment collecting/processing logic and defines how a payment collecting/processing add-in interacts with the POS application. |
| US08655726B1 |
Method and system for deriving a consumer's shopping habits
A method and system for deriving a consumer's shopping habits includes a process for deriving a consumer's shopping habits whereby data representing financial transactions conducted by a given consumer using one of more payment methods is obtained. Payee identification data for the payees associated with the financial transactions is then obtained/derived from the financial transactions data. The payees' identification data is then analyzed to determine each payee's geographic location. The data representing the geographic location of the various payees is then aggregated, mapped, and analyzed to derive a geographical shopping area for the consumer, i.e., to determine where the consumer does a significant amount of his or her shopping. |
| US08655725B2 |
User-controlled file interaction
User-controlled file interaction is described, including detecting an interaction with a file presented on a client, the interaction indicating a preference associated with the file, selecting other files for presentation based on the preference, the other files being similar to the element, and presenting the other files on the client. |
| US08655721B2 |
Method and apparatus for privacy negotiation
A method of negotiating an electronic commerce (e-commerce) transaction for the sale of a selected good can include identifying an asking price for the selected good and retrieving from memory merchant business objectives (MBOs) and consumer privacy rules (CPRs). The MBOs can specify incentive information corresponding to a proposed exchange of consumer information and the CPRs can specify asking prices corresponding to the proposed exchange of consumer information. The MBOs can be compared to the CPRs to determine if an agreement can be reached for the sale of the selected good with an incentive based upon the proposed exchange of consumer information. The e-commerce transaction for the sale of the selected good with the incentive can be consummated if in the comparing step it is determined that an agreement can be reached. |
| US08655719B1 |
Mediating customer-driven exchange of access to personal data for personalized merchant offers
A purchase objective is received from a customer. A merchant is notified of the purchase objective. One or more queries for personal information associated with the customer are received from the merchant. Ones of the received queries that are associated with the purchase objective are validated. For each of the validated queries, information matching the query is retrieved from personal data relating to the customer subject to data access restrictions specified by a privacy policy established by the customer, and the retrieved information is transmitted to the merchant. An offer that satisfies the purchase objective is received from the merchant. The offer is presented to the customer. |
| US08655717B2 |
System and method for rewarding users for changes in health behaviors
A system and method for generating and sending reward messages to users accomplishing goals related to a personalized health behavior plan. Rewards may be issued for reasons such as achieving an ultimate goal, reaching an intermediate goal, or completing a suggested activity such as eating a suggested meal or performing a suggested physical activity. A reward may be a coupon for use at an establishment such as a restaurant, a clothing store, or a fitness center. Rewards may also be checks sent through postal mail or coupons for printing on a personal printer. Reward messages are generated by an expert system based on a user's personalized diet, exercise, or other health plan, goals associated with the plan, and specified preferences. Reward messages are sent to user's portable devices. Current location information may be used to send a user a reward for use at a nearby establishment. |
| US08655716B1 |
Integrated advertisement delivery
Disclosed herein is a system and method for creating and delivering integrated advertisements. An integrated advertisement may include a markup language portion for defining various formatting and properties of an advertisement and an image portion containing a plurality of images. Each of the images in the image portion may be designed to correspond with a particular screen size. The integrated advertisement provides scalability for delivering the advertisement to a number of different devices in accordance with multiple targeting criteria. The integrated advertisement also enables efficient management and reporting of advertising campaigns. An advertisement server selects and delivers an integrated advertisement and dynamically binds the markup language portion with one of the plurality of images based on the screen size of the device requesting the advertisement. |
| US08655712B2 |
Identity management system and method
According to one embodiment, a method for implementing an identity management system for an organization includes developing a process flow diagram, the process flow diagram including one or more icons representing at least one process step for each of the events included in an event group and one or more icons representing at least one process step for each of the functional entities in an entity group, and implementing at least one of the process steps represented in the process flow diagram. The event group includes a status change for a system user, a request for an audit report, and an implementation of a new software application. The entity group includes a human resources department, an information technologies department, and a facilities department. |
| US08655711B2 |
Linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for linking enterprise resource planning data to business capabilities. Embodiments provide a linkage between schematized ERP data (e.g., financial data) and schematized business capabilities. The linkage provides the ability to report in a visual way that permits the linkage of such things as business value, performance, maturity, interconnectedness, process standardization, compliance, etc. As such, businesses capabilities can be linked to specific spend amounts in ERP data. |
| US08655710B2 |
Technology benefits realization for public sector
The present invention provides a public sector technology expenditure benefits realization framework that offers an unparalleled approach for addressing the very specific needs of public sector organizations combining the development of the business case with technology implementation program and integrating a sustainable long-term benefits realizations program. Specifically, in one embodiment, the methodology of the present invention integrates three steps: (1) the visioning phase for creating the vision for the planned benefits; (2) the integration phase comprising the integrating the planned benefits from the technology expenditure; and (3) the realization phase during which the public entity incorporates a sustainable benefits realization and monitoring program. |
| US08655709B2 |
Method and system for process brokering and content integration for collaborative business process management
Process Brokering Services (PBS) are implemented though the concept of Adaptive Documents to facilitate electronic commerce (e-commerce). PBS provides a single point of process control over the various fragmented execution flows and brings together the elements for process integration (views, content, flows) in a unified, scalable architecture on an industry standard platform. The two principal functions of the PBS are brokering of multiple business processes encapsulated in various back-end systems including workflow engines and business applications, and aggregating content from multiple enterprise information systems in the business context and managing the shared access to this based on the roles of the participants. The dynamic services provided by PBS are accessible to clients through the PBS Interface. |
| US08655706B2 |
Implementing an end-of-life purchase
A system and method of implementing an end-of-life purchase of an item used in manufacturing. A method includes comparing a supply of an article to a demand for the article. The method also includes securing an amount of the article when the supply does not exceed the demand by a predetermined threshold, and waiting a predetermined period of time before repeating the comparing when the supply exceeds the demand by the predetermined threshold. |
| US08655705B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for implementing hybrid meta-heuristic inventory optimization based on production schedule and asset routing
The disclosure relates generally to methods and apparatus to optimize a supply plan through a hybrid meta-heuristic approach based on genetic algorithms to optimize inventory and generate a supply plan. The apparatuses include a supply chain planner that interacts with the processes of a supply chain network. To provide a complete optimization for the type of platform being deployed in theater a heuristic algorithm is devised to decompose the supply plan problem into a production center schedule and an asset routing problem, which will be tackled one after the other. The decomposed supply plan problem is solved with different heuristic algorithms. Namely, genetic algorithms are used to optimize the supply plans based on ever changing set of operational demands from in theater and the priority of those demands to the assigned depots, while efficient constructive heuristics are used to deal with footprint and timing constraints. |
| US08655704B2 |
Commercial investment analysis
A technique for performing commercial venture analysis involves establishing an empirically-derived structure and evaluating companies using analytical techniques within that structure. The technique may involve defining jobs, or goals a customer is attempting to reach, with dozens or even hundreds of outcomes. Ideally, the structure and tools facilitate analysis that would not be possible otherwise. Moreover, the nature of the system enables real-time input for changing conditions and the ability to calculate returns for new markets in which products or services do not exist. |
| US08655703B2 |
Systems and methods for task-based decreasing price markets
Embodiments of task-based, decreasing-price markets enable dynamic discounting of items for sale. In one example, users shop for products (e.g., clothing, electronics, or cars) or services (e.g., hotel rooms, plane tickets, or car rentals) using a computing device or mobile device. As the users shop, they view advertisements or perform other tasks, like answering questions, and the system discounts an item's price based on the number or complexity of the performed tasks. Each user who performs a task gets a chance to buy the item at its discounted price. The other users also get a chance to buy the item at the discounted price. If someone buys the item, the item's price returns to its starting value. If nobody buys the item, the system discounts the item's price further as the users perform more tasks until someone buys the item or the item's price reaches a minimum value. |
| US08655701B2 |
Buddy list-based calendaring
Instant messaging (IM) entities may be invited to an electronic calendar event using an instant message. Selecting the IM entities as invitees to the event may include dragging and dropping names of the IM entities from a buddy list of an IM application to an event from an electronic calendar application, or vice versa. A method of inviting an entity to a calendar event includes providing a calendar event from a calendar application and recognizing, by the calendar application, an IM entity as an invitee to the event. |
| US08655697B2 |
Allocation table generation from assortment planning
A method, apparatus and program product are provided for generating an allocation table in a computerized procurement system. The method comprises receiving first data from a purchase order regarding a plurality of articles to be allocated, and receiving second data from an assortment regarding the plurality of articles and a plurality of stores identified for receiving the articles at specified times. The method further comprises determining a fixed quantity of each article to be allocated to each store based on at least one of the first and second data, wherein the fixed quantity of each article is the same for all stores. The method also comprises determining a variable quantity of each article to be allocated to each store, wherein the variable quantity of each article is individually set for each store, and wherein the variable quantity of each article is determined based on analysis of historical data. |
| US08655695B1 |
Systems and methods for generating expanded user segments
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating an expanded user segment based on a target segment of users associated with a specified target feature. In one implementation, a method is provided that includes receiving information about online activity by a set of users, the information including a unique user ID associated with each of the set of users; extracting from the received information, data about the set of users who are associated with the specified target feature; specifying one or more independent features relevant to a user association with the specified target feature; building a model that represents the probability of any user being associated with the specified target feature, based on the extracted data and the independent features; and using the model to score a network population of users relative to the specified feature, based on information received about online activity by the network population of users. |
| US08655685B2 |
Systems and methods for processing medical claims
The system is an advanced, web-enabled, clearinghouse that facilitates efficient and effective claim routing, monitoring and report retrieval. A claim status summary is displayed that links directly to a rejected claim listing, wherein each rejected claim listed is a link to associated detailed claim information. The detailed claim information display has fields to edit the associated detailed claim information. During the editing process, a rules verification is performed against the edited claim information to ensure the edit comply with the known rules for the associated payer. Upon successfully completing the rules verification, the edited claim is submitted to a payer. |
| US08655681B2 |
Cohort driven selection of medical diagnostic tests
A computer implemented method, system, and/or computer program product creates a suggested diagnostic test selection. A description of a current patient includes a current medical complaint, medical history, and physical examination result for the current patient. A cohort for the current patient is made up of persons who have a substantially similar medical complaint, medical history, and physical examination result as the current patient. Past diagnostic test sets used to make correct medical diagnoses for persons in the cohort are identified and stored in a cohort diagnostic test database. The past diagnostic test sets are sorted based on increasing levels of detrimental effects posed by each of the past diagnostic test sets. The sorted diagnostic test sets are then presented to a health care provider for the current patient. |
| US08655677B2 |
Productivity workflow index
Provided are methods of providing productivity measure for a complex workflow process, be determining at least one Productivity Workflow Index (PWI) based on data regarding human computer actions and workflow-related variables. Also provided are systems, apparatuses, machine-readable medium, and computer readable program products relating to such methods. |
| US08655674B2 |
Personal service assistance in a virtual universe
A method of providing personal service assistance in a virtual universe is disclosed. The method provides a customer avatar (CA) access to a personal assistance avatar or personal customer service representative (PCSR) avatar, hereinafter PCSR avatar. Through the PCSR avatar, the CA communicates a need or requests for personal service assistance from a business or organization. The communication of the received request is processed to identify an appropriate business, organization or vendor that meets the need or request. The identified business, organization or vendor is contacted for a representative from the business to accede to the request from the CA. The representative from the business is allowed to assume control of the PCSR avatar to conduct the session necessary for rendering the assistance or transaction. Upon completion of the session, control of the PCSR avatar is reverted to that prior to the session. |
| US08655671B2 |
Internet based release tracking system
An Internet based real estate transaction and release tracking system that insures deeds of trust, liens and other encumbrances are released in a timely manner after the lien holder has received payment for the underlying obligation. Based on information provided by an agent, such as an escrow agent or a settlement agent, the system creates a unique electronic record for each real estate transaction entered by the agent. The system receives update information, either automatically from other computers or via manual input from searchers, and uses this update information to track each real estate transaction. The system monitors the records and indicates when a lien holder has failed to release their lien after a statutory time period that begins after the passing of the settlement date. When the statutory time period has passed, the system generates a number of forms, including a demand letter. The demand letter is sent to the lien holder demanding them to release the lien. If the lien is not thereafter released, further legal documents can be generated and sent to a law firm for legal action to be taken against the delinquent lien holder. |
| US08655668B2 |
Automated interpretation and/or translation of clinical encounters with cultural cues
A method, system and a computer program product for an automated interpretation and/or translation are disclosed. An automated interpretation and/or translation occurs by receiving language-based content from a user. The received language-based content is processed to interpret and/or translate the received language-based content into a target language. Also, a presence of a cultural sensitivity in the received language-based content is detected. Further, an appropriate guidance for dealing with the detected cultural sensitivity is provided. |
| US08655667B2 |
Context based online advertising
A software and/or hardware facility for inferring user context and delivering advertisements, such as coupons, using natural language and/or sentiment analysis is disclosed. The facility may infer context information based on a user's emotional state, attitude, needs, or intent from the user's interaction with or through a mobile device. The facility may then determine whether it is appropriate to deliver an advertisement to the user and select an advertisement for delivery. The facility may also determine an appropriate expiration time and/or discount amount for the advertisement. |
| US08655664B2 |
Text presentation apparatus, text presentation method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a text presentation apparatus presenting text for a speaker to read aloud for voice recording includes: a text storing unit for storing first text; a presenting unit for presenting the first text; a determination unit for determining whether or not the first text needs to be replaced, on the basis of a speaker's input for the first text presented; a preliminary text storing unit for storing preliminary text; a select unit configured to select, if it is determined that the first text needs to be replaced, second text to replace the first text from among the preliminary text, the selecting being performed on the basis of attribute information describing an attribute of the first text and on the basis of at least one of attribute information describing pronunciation of the first text and attribute information describing a stress type of the first text; and a control unit configured to control the presenting unit so that the presenting unit presents the second text. |
| US08655663B2 |
Audio signal interpolation device and audio signal interpolation method
An audio signal interpolation device is presented, including an input unit for receiving an input audio signal, a phase splitting unit for splitting the input audio signal, a high range interpolation unit for interpolating a high range component into the signal, a phase combining unit for combining an in-phase component signal with a differential phase component, a high-pass filter for high-pass filtering the audio signal from by the phase combining unit, a delay unit for producing a delayed audio signal, and an addition processing unit for adding the delayed audio signal to the audio signal output from the high-pass filter. |
| US08655661B2 |
Methods and apparatus to audibly provide messages in a mobile device
Methods and apparatus to audibly provide messages in a mobile device at described. An example method includes receiving a message at a mobile device, wherein the message includes an identification of a sender, an identification of a recipient, and a message contents, determining that the message contents includes a predetermined phrase, in response to determining that the message contents includes the predetermined phrase, audibly presenting the message contents. |
| US08655657B1 |
Identifying media content
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving (i) audio data that encodes a spoken natural language query, and (ii) environmental audio data, obtaining a transcription of the spoken natural language query, determining a particular content type associated with one or more keywords in the transcription, providing at least a portion of the environmental audio data to a content recognition engine, and identifying a content item that has been output by the content recognition engine, and that matches the particular content type. |
| US08655645B1 |
Systems and methods for translation of application metadata
A computer system includes a database module, a query module, a translation module, a search module, and a transmission module. The database module is configured to receive and store information associated with a plurality of items of digital media, such as applications, in a database. The information associated with the plurality of items of digital media is stored in a first language. The query module is configured to receive a search request in a second language different than the first language. The translation module is configured to translate the search request from the second language into the first language. The search module is configured to search the database using the translated search request to produce a set of search results responsive to the search request. The transmission module is configured to transmit the set of search results. |
| US08655642B2 |
Method of e-mail address search and e-mail address transliteration and associated device
An improved method of transliterating non-Latin input within an e-mail address field to the Latin equivalent. A routine in a handheld device is structured to detect a triggering event that indicates an e-mail address is being input into an e-mail address field. Following the triggering event, both prior and subsequent input is transliterated to Latin characters as these characters are required by Internet protocols. The transliteration routine may also be utilized to search an email address book wherein names are recorded using both Latin and non-Latin characters. |
| US08655636B2 |
Semantic translation of time-driven simulink diagrams using input/output extended finite automata
A method of semantic translation of a class of diagrams to input/output-extended finite automata is provided. The method includes receiving a data representation of a diagram, said diagram comprising a plurality of blocks and said diagram being associated with a graphical modeling environment which defines semantics for executing the diagram, and processing, using a computing device, the data representation of the diagram to translate the diagram to an input/output-extended finite automata model. |
| US08655634B2 |
Modeling loading effects of a transistor network
A system, method and program product for modeling load effects of a load CCC (channel connected component) in a transistor network. A system is disclosed that includes an analysis system that determines allowable logical state and transition functions for nets in a load CCC for a transition or state of a driving CCC for which a load condition is being determined; a trace system that traverses paths in the load CCC from a set of input terminals; and an element replacement system that replaces circuit elements in the load CCC to create a modeled CCC, wherein a circuit element replacement is based on a type of circuit element encountered along a trace, and state and transition functions of nets connected to an encountered circuit element. |
| US08655632B2 |
Gridless geological modeling
Systems and methods perform gridless geological modeling. A system provides an interactive visual model that performs fast modeling of subsurface geological properties without spending processor resources calculating a three-dimensional grid. The system receives structural data, selects points for modeling a property of a subsurface earth volume, and propagates values for the property directly to the points in gridless three-dimensional space. The system then displays the propagated values in an interactive visualization of a structural framework model. The system creates fast interpolation functions and can apply a callback function for acceleration. One technique offloads calculations to a graphics processor or other auxiliary processor for speed. The system provides a myriad of fully interactive volume and dimensional slice probes, with mappable color-coding and a user-selection of rendering styles. Points are quality checked and optimized propagation parameters are stored for accelerated rendering when unavoidable grid production is needed for simulation. |
| US08655631B2 |
Golf ball and mechanical analysis of the same
The accuracy or computation speed of mechanical analysis of a golf ball using the finite element method is increased. In the mechanical analysis, a model representing the golf ball is prepared on a computer, and computation is made by the finite element method using elements and nodes. At this time, the elements are made solid elements of hexahedron, the aspect ratio of the shape of each element is set so as to be not lower than 1.0 and not substantially higher than 6.5, and nodes are provided on the sides and at the vertexes of the hexahedron of element. |
| US08655628B2 |
Method and system for optimizing the vibrational characteristics of a structure
A structural optimization engine generates a response profile based on a vibrational analysis of a three-dimensional (3D) structure. The structural optimization engine determines whether the 3D structure complies with one or more design goals set for the 3D structure based on the response profile. When the 3D structure does not comply with the design goals, the structural optimization engine retrieves dependency data from a structure database. The dependency data indicates various dependencies between response characteristics included in the response profile and specific regions of the 3D model. Based on the dependency data, the structural optimization engine determines structural modifications that can be made to the 3D structure to bring the 3D structure into compliance with the design goals. A multi-axis computer-aided manufacturing unit then makes the structural modifications to the 3D structure. |
| US08655625B2 |
Method for separating mixed signals into a plurality of component signals
The invention relates to a method for breaking down a set of signals consisting of an instantaneous linear mixture of independent components. The method comprises a step (200) consisting in estimating a mixture matrix A by using the product of one or more trigonometric rotation matrices by one or more hyperbolic rotation matrices. |
| US08655622B2 |
Method and apparatus for interpreting orientation invariant motion
Techniques for interpreting orientation invariant motion are disclosed. Unlike a prior art controller that has a specific physical design to induce or force a user to grip the controller in a consistent way, a disclosed controller does not have such a physical design and allows a user to grip the controller in any way that is comfortable to the user. One or more transformations or rotations are designed to transform or rotate readings from inertial sensors housed in the controller to readings independent from how the controller is being gripped by a user. |
| US08655620B2 |
Method and module for measuring rotation and portable apparatus comprising the module
The invention discloses a method and a module for measuring rotation and a portable apparatus comprising said module. The module of the present invention is adapted for measuring rotation of a target, and the module includes a first sensor, a second sensor and a processor. The first sensor is disposed at a first location of the target, for sensing a first centripetal acceleration and a first tangential acceleration when the target is rotated. The second sensor is disposed at a second location of the target, for sensing a second centripetal acceleration and a second tangential acceleration when the target is rotated. The processor is coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor, for receiving the first centripetal acceleration and the first tangential acceleration from the first sensor, receiving the second centripetal acceleration and the second tangential acceleration from the second sensor, and calculating the rotation angle of the target accordingly. |
| US08655618B2 |
Accelerometer and method for controlling an accelerometer
A method for obtaining physiological muscle values of a user by a programmable accelerometer. In a first step, a user selects the type of test to be carried out. In a second step, a sequence of acceleration data is measured by the portable accelerometer during the test. In a third step, the end of the test is determined by the accelerometer by verifying a condition dependent on the type of test selected, and a sound signal is emitted. Finally, a value calculated on the basis of said successive measurements of the acceleration and dependent on the type of test selected is displayed. |
| US08655617B1 |
Method and system for validating video waveforms and other electrical signals
Method for validating a single waveform or series of waveforms that are intended for evaluating signals within an automated testing environment. Test signal data is supplied by an external source. The method creates a golden template from a known, good instance of the waveform under test and algorithmically applies it to other waveforms under test to determine compliance. In the application to video waveforms, timing parameters, deflection parameters and image content parameters are simultaneously tested resulting in efficient concrete and tangible results. Instead of providing the known, good instance of the waveform under test to a processor that implements the method, descriptive parameters of the known, good instance of the waveform may be provided to the processor that calculates data points of the expected video waveforms and then determines rules for the waveform based on the calculated data points. |
| US08655616B2 |
System for testing illuminating elements and method for testing illuminating elements
The present invention discloses a system for testing illuminating elements and a method for testing illuminating elements, wherein the method includes the following steps. Firstly, an illuminating element and an unilluminated area on a circuit board are covered respectively. A reference voltage is obtained according to a brightness of the unilluminated area and a testing voltage is obtained according to a brightness of the illuminating element being driven. Afterwards, whether the illuminating element passes a testing process or not is judged from the reference voltage and the testing voltage. |
| US08655606B2 |
Method and system for determining static and/or dynamic, loads using inverse dynamic calibration
Methods and systems are described for the identification and determination of loads by inverse analysis. A new combination of instrumentation and measurements is provided which allows accurate identification/measurement of static and/or dynamic forces, or loads, working on arbitrary test-objects or systems (i.e. test objects), through measurements of the results of the loads on the test object, signals like pressures, electrical potential, magnet flux displacement, strain, etc. This procedure allows the measurement/identification of arbitrary single or multiple loads, in arbitrary combinations, and multiple directions. The procedure also allows the measurement/identification of loads with arbitrary evolution in time, including static and dynamic loads. |
| US08655605B2 |
Mobility detection in fill-level measuring devices
Detecting the mobility of a fill level echo according to the following steps. The echo characteristic of a first echo of the echo curve and an echo characteristic of a second echo of the echo curve are determined. This is followed by calculation of a mobility value of the second echo with the use of the first echo characteristic. In this way a situation can be achieved in which the differences in the mobility values of echoes relating to the fill level and those echoes that are due to container internals become greater. |
| US08655597B2 |
Scoring system for the prediction of cancer recurrence
The present invention relates to a scoring system for the prediction of cancer recurrence by selecting genes and/or proteins whose expression patterns associated with recurrence of cancer, and generating formulae with the selected genes and/or proteins for the prediction of cancer recurrence. The present invention relates to a kit for determining the likelihood of recurrence of cancer, comprising DNA chip, oligonucleotide chip, protein chip, peptides, antibodies, probes and primers that are necessary for effecting DNA microarrays, oligonucleotide microarrays, protein arrays, northern blotting, in situ hybridization, RNase protection assays, western blotting, ELISA assays, reverse transcription polymerase-chain reaction to examine the expression of at least 2, 4, 6, 10, 12 or more genes and/or proteins, that are indicative of cancer recurrence. |
| US08655592B2 |
Navigation apparatus
In a navigation apparatus, when a new road is learned based on a travel trace of a vehicle and a new road link representing the learned new road is connected to an existing link, the navigation apparatus designates the existing link as a base link and generates a new link extending along the existing link as a supplement link. In order to set a target point to one link, the navigation apparatus determines whether or not the supplement link is present at the one link. When the supplement link is present at the target point, the navigation apparatus sets the target point to the supplement link. |
| US08655590B2 |
Map database having vectors for determining destinations, and vector determination method
A method, database, memory computer readable medium and navigation device are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes projecting a plurality of known address points onto an address segment vector of a source map database, to create projection points; interpolating locations for addresses of the address points, to create corresponding interpolation points; and segmenting the address segment vector into a plurality of address sub-segment vectors, upon a distance between a projection point and a corresponding interpolation point exceeding a threshold distance. Embodiments include a memory including a digital map application database storing the address sub-segment vectors of the method, at least one of in place of and in addition to corresponding address segment vectors, upon an address segment vector being segmented; a navigation device including the memory; a digital map application database including a plurality of address segment vectors and a plurality of address sub-segment vectors and a computer readable medium including the digital map application database. |
| US08655588B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing accurate localization for an industrial vehicle
A method and apparatus for providing accurate localization for an industrial vehicle is described; including processing at least one sensor input message from a plurality of sensor devices, wherein the at least one sensor input message includes information regarding observed environmental features; determining position measurements associated with the industrial vehicle in response to at least one sensor input message, wherein the plurality of sensor devices comprises a two-dimensional laser scanner, and at least one other sensor device selected from an odometer, an ultrasonic sensor, a compass, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an inertial measurement unit, or an imaging sensor; and updating a vehicle state using the position measurements. |
| US08655587B2 |
Procedure for determining the probability of finding a parking place
A procedure for determining the probability of finding a parking place within a certain period of time on a pre-set stretch of road of an area with a multiplicity of stretches of road. With this procedure, motion profiles are detected and statistically evaluated of users of radiolocation-aided, especially satellite-aided, navigation aids in the area. For each user a “parking place found” event is determined; the stretch of road in which the “parking place found” event occurred is detected; and the travel time is detected which the user expended in each of the stretches of the road until the “parking place found” event occurred. From the data thus acquired for a multiplicity of users, a probability is determined of finding a parking place within the set time span on the stretch of the road. |
| US08655581B2 |
Data server, user terminal, route information providing system and control method thereof
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a data server (110) providing modified route information to a first user terminal (130) used by a first user, comprising a receiving unit (114) configured to receive a request from the first user terminal for requesting a second user terminal (120) used by a second user to modify route information, a geographical database (113) configured to store geographical data, a route information generation unit (112) configured to generate the route information indicating a route from a first location to a second location, using the geographical data, and a transmitting unit (115), configured to transmit a route modification request with the generated route information to the second user terminal. The receiving unit is further configured to receive modified route information from the second user terminal (120). The transmitting unit is further configured to transmit the modified route information to the first user terminal (130). |
| US08655572B2 |
Control device of spark-ignition gasoline engine
The disclosure provides a control device of a spark-ignition gasoline engine. When an operating state of an engine body is within a low engine speed range, a controller operates a fuel pressure variable mechanism so that a fuel pressure is higher within a high engine load range compared to a low engine load range, the controller operates, within the high engine load range, a fuel injection mechanism to perform at least a fuel injection into the cylinder by a cylinder internal injection valve at a timing during a retard period from a late stage of a compression stroke to an early stage of an expansion stroke, and the controller operates, within the high engine load range, an ignition plug to ignite at a timing during the retard period and after the fuel injection. |
| US08655557B2 |
Motor control device for working vehicle
A working vehicle motor control device includes: a rotational speed control device that controls a motor rotational speed in accordance with an operation amount of an accelerator pedal; a travel drive device that transmits rotation of the motor to wheels through a torque converter and a transmission; a speed ratio detection device that detects a speed ratio of an input shaft and an output shaft of the torque converter; and a speed restriction device that restricts a maximum rotational speed of the motor in accordance with a speed ratio detected by the speed ratio detection device. In the working vehicle motor control device, the speed restriction device restricts the maximum rotational speed when a detected speed ratio is in an acceleration region of the motor rotational speed to less than the maximum rotational speed when a detected speed ratio is in a non-acceleration region. |
| US08655554B2 |
Autonomous seat system of automotive vehicle and performing method thereof
An autonomous seat system of an automotive vehicle and a performing method thereof are disclosed. The system and method are aimed to reduce discomfort of a passenger due to centrifugal forces resulted from vehicle's turning motion. The system includes a lane prediction unit, a control unit, and a seat adjusting unit. The lane prediction unit is utilized for obtaining lane information in front of the automotive vehicle. According to the lane information the control unit calculates the centrifugal force which the passenger experiences while sitting in a seat of the automotive vehicle, and a seat tilt angle which is required for the seat to compensate the centrifugal force after a predetermined time interval. The seat adjusting unit adjusts the seat to the seat tilt angle after the predetermined time interval so as to reduce or eliminate the ill-effect on the passenger resulted from the centrifugal force. |
| US08655553B2 |
Monitoring system and method for electric vehicle and electric vehicle supply equipment
A monitoring system is for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle supply equipment. The electric vehicle supply equipment is structured to communicate with the electric vehicle to charge the electric vehicle. The monitoring system includes a monitoring component structured to monitor communication and monitor energy or power flow between the electric vehicle supply equipment and the electric vehicle, a storage component cooperating with the monitoring component to store information corresponding to the monitored communication and the monitored energy or power flow between the electric vehicle supply equipment and the electric vehicle, and a power supply structured to power at least one of the monitoring component and the storage component. |
| US08655550B2 |
Electric power steering system and method for controlling the same
An electric power steering system includes an electric assist motor, a controller, a first corrector, and a second corrector. The electric assist motor is configured to assist steering according to a steering assist amount. The controller is configured to control the steering assist amount in accordance with an input steering force. The first corrector is configured to correct the steering assist amount with a correction amount in accordance with a steering torque during running on a cant road. The second corrector is configured to correct the correction amount in accordance with a steering angular velocity. |
| US08655548B2 |
Bicycle component control apparatus
A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a controller and a detecting member. The controller is configured to control an operation of an electrical bicycle component by selectively outputting a control parameter. The detecting member detects an electrical connecting state between the controller and a manually operated input member for changing a setting of the electrical bicycle component. The controller outputs a predetermined control parameter based on the electrical connecting state. |
| US08655547B1 |
Motion-activated response system
One embodiment is a safety device for children and pets who is about to be left alone in a vehicle with engine off and doors close. With a control box (80) that transmit a signal from the temperature sensor (81) and motion sensors (82), (82a). This control box (80) is made with a mother board not seen and a reserve power backup unit (96) which is always charged by the automobile's (70) electrical system. In addition it has a voice box (85) that will say EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY through the speakers (86). It's all power by the car's 12-volt batter (89a). Other embodiment are described and shown. |
| US08655545B2 |
Vehicle grille shutter system and method of its use
A vehicle system includes a first sensor that provides first data indicating at least one of vehicle speed and ambient temperature. The system also includes a shutter control module. The shutter control module includes a first sub-module that provides a first amount of modification to an opening amount for a shutter based on the first data. |
| US08655544B2 |
System and method for tracking vehicle mileage with mobile devices
Disclosed is a system for tracking vehicle locations and accumulating mileage for said vehicles by detecting intervals when said vehicles are in proximity to mobile devices and utilizing the location aware sensors of said mobile devices to determine vehicle locations. Proximity between mobile devices and vehicles is determined by short range data communication identification. Multiple vehicles and drivers may thus be tracked for trip, interval, or overall mileage traveled. |
| US08655542B2 |
Fuel filter diagnostic system and filter cartridge
An electronic tag is attached to a filter cartridge, which includes a filter. The electronic tag stores individual product information of the filter and wirelessly transmits the individual product information. A wireless receiver device is installed to a predetermined location of a vehicle, which is other than the filter cartridge and receives the individual product information transmitted from the electronic tag. A diagnostic device diagnoses whether the individual product information is received by the wireless receiver device or whether the filter cartridge installed in the vehicle has a desired filtering performance based on contents of the individual product information received by the wireless receiver device. |
| US08655540B2 |
Rail vehicle identification and processing
A solution for further automating the identification and processing of rail vehicles is provided. Each individual rail vehicle in a series of rail vehicles is identified and data is acquired for the rail vehicle. Identification of each rail vehicle can be implemented using a set of electromagnetic beams that are emitted and detected across a set of rails in such a manner as to enable the reliable identification of individual rail vehicles. Data acquisition for the rail vehicles can include evaluation of one or more parts of the rail vehicle, particularly the rail wheels, for the presence of one or more defects. Data on the part(s), such as rail wheels, can be reliably assigned to a corresponding rail vehicle by also accounting for changes in the direction of movement of the rail vehicle in locations such as a classification yard. |
| US08655539B2 |
Control method of performing rotational traveling of robot cleaner
Disclosed herein is a control method of a robot cleaner in which a robot cleaner is moved at an arbitrary starting angle along a rotation trajectory having an arbitrary rotational center and rotation radius during obstacle-following traveling, whereby an obstacle-following traveling time is reduced and consequently, a movement time of the robot cleaner is reduced. |
| US08655536B2 |
Method and system for augmenting a guidance system with a path sensor
In an automatic vehicle position control system, such as a satellite-based agricultural implement steering system, the satellite-based steering information is adjusted with information obtained from one or more path sensors to facilitate the automatic nudging of the vehicle to take account of inaccurate tracking of the agricultural implement relative to its tractor, terrain variations, and inaccuracies in the satellite-based steering system. |
| US08655527B2 |
Fuel-saving driving diagnostic device, fuel-saving driving diagnostic system, control device of electric drive device, fuel-saving driving rating device, and fuel-saving driving diagnostic method
A vehicle power indication status quantity display unit displays on an indicator a vehicle power indication status quantity obtained by dividing the torque required for driving a hybrid vehicle by the upper limit value of the torque that does not excessively increase the fuel consumption. A HV eco zone of the vehicle power indication status quantity display unit is the zone that is determined by the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the HV eco zone that indicates the motor is being effectively used to drive the vehicle. A check is made to determine whether the vehicle power indication status quantity is within the HV eco zone, and, if it is determined to be within the HV eco zone, the driving being performed is diagnosed as fuel-saving driving. |
| US08655526B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling operation of a hybrid powertrain during a key-on crank start event
A method for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid powertrain having an electric torque machine mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine includes monitoring a temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, determining a maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery corresponding to the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, estimating an engine drag torque associated with the temperature state of the hybrid powertrain, selecting a preferred engine cranking speed associated with the estimated engine drag torque and achievable at less than the maximum discharging power limit of the high-voltage battery, and controlling the electric torque machine to generate a magnitude of motor torque output sufficient to crank the internal combustion engine at the preferred engine cranking speed. |
| US08655525B2 |
Selectable one-way clutch operation in a hybrid powertrain
A hybrid powertrain includes a plurality of torque generative devices, a transmission input shaft, and a planetary gear set connecting the torque generative devices to the transmission input shaft. A method to control the powertrain includes monitoring a desired configuration of the powertrain and selectively grounding a gear of the planetary gear set with a selectable one way clutch based upon the desired configuration of the powertrain. |
| US08655515B2 |
Communication system for a rail vehicle consist and method for communicating with a rail vehicle consist
A communication system for a rail vehicle consist includes antenna modules, routing modules, and an arbitration module. The antenna modules are disposed at spaced apart locations along the consist and receive network data from an off-board device. The routing modules are communicatively coupled with the antenna modules and receive the network data from the antenna modules. The routing modules are communicatively coupled with a network connection extending along the rail vehicle consist. The arbitration module is communicatively coupled with the network connection. The arbitration module forms a message represented by the network data. One or more of the routing modules transmits the network data received from the off-board device to the arbitration module over the network connection. The arbitration module receives the network data to form the message and transmits the message to one or more powered units of the rail vehicle consist through the network connection. |
| US08655514B2 |
Systems and methods for communications based rail vehicle control
Systems and methods for controlling a rail vehicle are provided. In one embodiment, a rail vehicle system includes a first version of a travel database including travel information, a communication link to receive a second version of the travel database, and a controller configured to, in response to the second version of the travel database including changes to the travel information that meet predefined override criteria, control operation of the rail vehicle system based on the first version of the travel database; and in response to the changes to the travel information not meeting the predefined override criteria, adjust operation of the rail vehicle system to operate based on the second version of the travel database. |
| US08655513B2 |
Methods of real time image enhancement of flash LIDAR data and navigating a vehicle using flash LIDAR data
A method for creating a digital elevation map (“DEM”) from frames of flash LIDAR data includes generating a first distance Ri from a first detector i to a first point on a surface Si. After defining a map with a mesh Θ having cells k, a first array S(k), a second array M(k), and a third array D(k) are initialized. The first array corresponds to the surface, the second array corresponds to the elevation map, and the third array D(k) receives an output for the DEM. The surface is projected onto the mesh Θ, so that a second distance Rk from a second point on the mesh Θ to the detector can be found. From this, a height may be calculated, which permits the generation of a digital elevation map. Also, using sequential frames of flash LIDAR data, vehicle control is possible using an offset between successive frames. |
| US08655512B2 |
Method for operating a number of control units
In a method for operating a number of control units including a central control unit which has a central wakeup functionality units, at least one control unit requests a wakeup signal for at least one future instant from the central control unit, and the at least one control unit is informed and awakened by the central control unit when the at least one instant is at hand. |
| US08655509B2 |
Flight control system of aircraft
A flight control system of an aircraft and a flight control method of the aircraft are provided in which the overrunning an operation limitation on a flight condition can be prevented even when a pilot operates a flight control device fast. The flight control system of the aircraft includes a flight control device; a sensor configured to detect a first parameter changed based on a flight condition of the aircraft; a limitation flight control position calculating section configured to calculate a limitation flight control position of the flight control device when the first parameter reaches a limitation value, based on the first parameter; a reaction force generating actuator configured to change a reaction force which the pilot receives when carrying out a flight control input to the flight control device, in response to a reaction force generating command generated based on the flight control position of the flight control device and the limitation flight control position; an inner loop command calculating section configured to generate an inner loop command based on the flight control position; and a control surface actuator configured to drive a control surface of the aircraft based on the flight control position and the inner loop command. |
| US08655507B2 |
Method and system for dynamically managing a flight procedure of an aircraft flight plan
A method of managing a flight procedure of an aircraft flight plan, which has at least one segment, includes a step in which an additional attribute of the segment representative of a compulsory or optional nature of the flight of said segment is dynamically selected. |
| US08655502B2 |
Rotatable fan array rotated based on computer process execution for personal computer
Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a computer with at least one fan which may change orientation based on anticipated or actual heat of a device within the computer. The fan, in an embodiment of the disclosed technology, may point towards a central processing unit, a graphics card, or any other device generating heat, and, based on various thresholds, the fan may change direction to remove hot air from a more urgently needed device or section of the interior of a computer. |
| US08655500B2 |
Method and system for reducing feeder circuit loss using demand response
A system and method that analyzes at least one aspect of the power grid for demand response in order to reduce feeder circuit losses is provided. The system and method may use a demand response model to select one or more factors for the demand response, such as selecting a subset of customers for demand response from a larger pool of available demand response customers. The demand response model may include a grid structure component, such as an indication of the particular customer's position in the grid, and a dynamic operation component, such as a real-time measurement of current in the feeder circuit. By using the demand response model, feeder circuit losses may thereby reduced. |
| US08655497B2 |
System and method for regulating electrical and thermal energy generated by co/trigeneration energy system in multi-source energy plant
A method for regulating electrical and thermal power generated by an energy system in a multi-source energy plant that comprises one or more loads. The energy system comprises an electronic unit implementing a multi-objective function (Fmo) that comprises: first computation parameters (PTi, Oi) comprising values of the electrical and thermal powers exchanged within the multi-source plant between a cogeneration module, loads, auxiliary sources and an electric network; and a set of second (Ci, Ai) and third computation parameters (Ni) correlated to the costs of management and exchange of the electrical and thermal powers within the energy plant. The method comprises the step of determining optimal values (PUi) of the electrical and thermal powers that the energy system must supply to minimize the multi-objective function (Fmo), and the step of varying the electrical and thermal powers generated by the cogeneration module as a function of the optimal values calculated (PUi). |
| US08655496B1 |
Networked energy management
A network-based energy management system may identify an area that exhibits a need for electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may also identify an area that exhibits an ability to provide electrical energy. The network-based energy management system may cause electrical energy to be routed from the second area to the first area. In some embodiments, the first area and the second area may include base stations that are electrically connected to one another by one or more energy conduits, which may include superconducting wires so as to minimize transmission losses between base stations and their respective areas. |
| US08655495B2 |
Current control of a wind park
A method for controlling a current in a wind park is provided. The wind park includes at least one wind turbine and at least one current generator. The method includes detecting a grid irregularity, determining an optimal current to be provided at a predetermined location in the wind park during the grid irregularity and determining a corresponding current to be generated from the at least one current generator so as to provide the optimal current at the predetermined location. The corresponding current is determined based on at least an impedance value between the at least one current generator and the predetermined location. |
| US08655494B2 |
Fluid process control
A fluid regulator characterization system can characterize the flow of a fluid regulator that results in response to a received control signal. The fluid regulator characterization system can use the characterization to achieve a linear fluid regulator flow gain over a full operating range (e.g., zero percent travel to one hundred percent travel) for the fluid regulator relative to the received control signal. A linear fluid regulator flow gain can improve process control and reduce process variability. |
| US08655491B2 |
Alarm and diagnostics system and method for a distributed architecture heating, ventilation and air conditioning network
The disclosure includes an HVAC data processing and communication network and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment the network includes a duct, a blower and a controller. The blower is configured to receive a control message from a data bus. The duct is configured to direct air flow from the blower. The controller is configured to publish the control message to the data bus. The controller thereby commands the blower to provide air to the duct at an initial volume rate and to increase the volume rate until the controller detects onset of a cutback mode of the blower. |
| US08655489B2 |
Air-conditioning controller
An air-conditioning controller is configured to receive an operation input for an air-conditioning apparatus capable of being set to a plurality of airflow direction settings. The air-conditioning controller includes a switching button, a determination unit and a display unit. The switching button is for switching between the airflow direction settings. The determination unit is configured to determine a currently selected airflow direction setting based on an operation input inputted via the switching button. The display unit is configured to simultaneously display an image and a character corresponding to the airflow direction setting determined to be currently selected by the determination unit. |
| US08655488B2 |
Position control method and robot
A position control method for controlling a position of a movable portion, includes: performing control of allowing the movable portion to approach a predetermined position by moving the movable portion; and performing control of moving the movable portion to the predetermined position by moving the movable portion and detecting a relative position of the movable portion with respect to the predetermined position by using an imaging unit. |
| US08655487B2 |
Enhanced location information for points of interest
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for identifying a serviceable address that is associated with a street network connection point and a parcel drop-off point. For example, in one embodiment, the serviceable address may be associated with a street network connection point that is part of a digital map. The serviceable address may also be associated with a parcel drop-off point that includes parcel drop-off point information, such as a parcel drop-off point geo coordinate associated with the parcel drop-off point and street network connection point geo coordinate associated with the street network connection point. |
| US08655479B2 |
Method of determining the conditions of a phase for machining a workpiece with modulated cutting rate
A method of determining conditions for machining a part so as to avoid vibration appearing during the machining. A machining stage is simulated by provisionally setting parameters of a function for modulating cutting speed, by deducing a corresponding surface state, by modifying parameters iteratively with the machining stage being simulated each time until the surface state reaches an acceptable value, and by performing the machining stage by causing the cutting speed to vary in application of the corresponding modulation function. |
| US08655478B2 |
Dressing method, method of determining dressing conditions, program for determining dressing conditions, and polishing apparatus
A method dresses a polishing member with a diamond dresser having diamond particles arranged on a surface thereof. The method includes determining dressing conditions by performing a simulation of a distribution of a sliding distance of the diamond dresser on a surface of the polishing member, and dressing the polishing member with the diamond dresser under the determined dressing conditions. The simulation includes calculating the sliding distance corrected in accordance with a depth of the diamond particles thrusting into the polishing member. |
| US08655477B2 |
Method and device for cutting of raw glass slabs
Methods for cutting of raw glass slabs into a number of glass cuttings include determining the supply of uncut or partially cut raw glass slabs, continuously detecting incoming cutting orders and processing of the cutting orders, continuously determining an optimized processing order and optimized cutting patterns of raw glass slabs based on determined values, processing cutting orders according to the determined optimized processing order and optimized cutting patterns, and storing the glass cuttings in assigned compartments of an intermediate storage. An increased productivity with minimized waste of material can be achieved by the continuous optimizing method in regards to the temporal sequence and cutting patterns of the glass cuttings. |
| US08655474B2 |
Embroidery data generating apparatus, embroidery data generating method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing embroidery data generating program
An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data. |
| US08655472B2 |
Scheduler, substrate processing apparatus, and method of transferring substrates in substrate processing apparatus
A scheduler generates not only normal substrate transferring schedules for substrates newly supplied to a substrate processing apparatus, but also substrate transferring schedules for keeping a high production quantity in the event of a failure. The scheduler is used in a substrate processing apparatus including a plurality of substrate processing sections for processing substrates, a transfer device for transferring the substrates, and a controller for controlling the substrate processing units to process the substrates and controlling the transfer device to transfer the substrates. The scheduler is incorporated in the controller for calculating a substrate transferring schedule and has a function to successively calculate substrate transferring schedules for substrates which are newly supplied to the substrate processing apparatus, and, in the event of a fault occurring in the substrate processing apparatus, to recalculate the substrate transferring schedules with an initial state represented by a state including the fault. |
| US08655471B2 |
Impurity amount control system for manufacturing single crystal and impurity amount control method for manufacturing single crystal
This impurity amount control system for manufacturing a single crystal has a resistivity profile memory which stores a resistivity profile for a portion of a single crystal that is rendered into wafers; a simulator which determines a resistivity profile formula for indicating a resistivity profile within a reusable ingot that is the reusable material in the single crystal from an impurity concentration estimating formula including one or more variables selected from among resistivities at both ends of the reusable ingot in the crystal growth axis direction, the impurity concentration when crystal pulling begins, a segregation coefficient, a solidification ratio and a correction coefficient, and from the resistivity profile; and an impurity amount calculator which calculates, based on the resistivity profile formula, the amount of impurity within the reusable ingot. |
| US08655469B2 |
Advanced process control optimization
A method for automatic process control (APC) performance monitoring may include, but is not limited to: computing one or more APC performance indicators for one or more production lots of semiconductor devices; and displaying a mapping of the one or more APC performance indicators to the one or more production lots of semiconductor devices. |
| US08655466B2 |
Correlating changes in audio
Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to correlate changes in one audio signal to another audio signal are described. A first audio signal is outputted. A second audio signal is received. The second audio signal may be stored in a memory buffer. The first audio signal is correlated to conform to the second audio signal. The first audio signal may be dynamically correlated to match with the second audio signal while the second audio signal is received. At least in some embodiments, a size of a musical time unit of the second audio signal is determined to correlate the first audio signal. At least in some embodiments, the adjusted first audio signal is stored in another memory buffer. |
| US08655463B2 |
Method for avoiding refreshing a database of metadata associated with digital media content
A method for avoiding refreshing a database of metadata associated with digital media content is disclosed. In one embodiment, a digital media player storing a database of metadata associated with digital media content determines whether a removable memory device was connected with the digital media player while the digital media player was powered down. The digital media player refreshes the database only if it is determined that the removable memory device was connected with the digital media player while the digital media player was powered down. In another embodiment, the digital media player determines whether the digital media content stored on the removable memory device changed since the database was last updated. The digital media player refreshes the database if it is determined that the digital media content stored on the removable memory device changed since the database was last updated. |
| US08655461B2 |
Method, system, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for generating code for a closed-loop controller
A system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes receiving input for a simulation model, the simulation model including a sensor. The method includes concurrently executing the simulation model and control code for a simulated physical controller, where the control code interacts with the simulation model according to a state of the sensor. The method includes generating revised control code based on the executed simulation model and control code, and generating controller-specific control code based on the revised control code. The method includes executing the simulation model and the controller-specific control code, the controller-specific control code interacting with the simulation model. |
| US08655456B2 |
Systems and methods for anchoring leads of electrical stimulation systems
A lead anchor assembly includes a burr hole cover that defines a first lead aperture in a side exterior surface, a second lead aperture in a bottom exterior surface, and a fastener aperture. An anchoring unit is disposed in the burr hole cover and includes a fastener for anchoring a lead to the burr hole cover. A lead pathway is defined through the burr hole cover and the anchoring unit. The lead pathway extends from the first lead aperture to the second lead aperture and is configured to receive a lead. A fastener pathway is defined through both the burr hole cover and the anchoring unit and intersects the lead pathway at an anchoring location. The fastener pathway is configured for movement of the fastener along the fastener pathway to engage and disengage the lead when the lead extends along the lead pathway across the anchoring location. |
| US08655455B2 |
Neural stimulator with percutaneous connectivity
An implantable neurostimulation system includes both implantable and external components. Electrical connectivity between the external and implanted components is achieved through a plurality of feedthrough pins located within an insulative wall of a percutaneous port embedded in the skin. The percutaneous port has the general shape and appearance of a small thimble, embedded in the skin with its open end facing outwardly from the skin surface, and with its closed end located below the skin surface, thereby forming a cavity or dimple in the skin. Various plugs or cartridges can be removably inserted into the cavity of the percutaneous port, in various orientations, to facilitate appropriate connectivity between the external and implanted components of the system through selected ones of the feedthrough pins. A mesh edging secured around the periphery wall of the port promotes tissue ingrowth and vascularization, thereby forming a percutaneous seal around the port that prevents infection. |
| US08655454B2 |
Targeted cooling of deployable microwave antenna with cooling chamber
The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for the treatment of tissue with microwave energy. The devices and methods disclosed herein utilize an antenna assembly which includes an elongate member, an outer conductor, an inner conductor, at least a portion of which is deployable, and a cooling system. The cooling system disclosed herein may significantly curtail any theoretical, or potential negative effects upon the target tissue experienced during the transmission of microwave energy to the antenna assembly due to ohmic heating. |
| US08655453B2 |
Connecting electrical sources to electrode nodes in a medical device
This disclosure describes electrical stimulators that include some electrical sources (e.g., current sources, voltage sources) that are directly connected to a plurality of electrode nodes, and other electrical sources that may be selectively connected to selected ones of the plurality of electrode nodes via a switching unit, such as a multiplexer. One example stimulator comprises a processor, a plurality of electrode nodes, and a stimulation generator that is coupled to the processor and to the plurality of electrode nodes. The stimulation generator comprises a plurality of negative electrical sources, a switching unit, and at least one positive electrical source. The negative electrical sources are each directly connected to a different one of the plurality of electrode nodes. The switching unit is connected to each of the plurality of electrode nodes. The at least one positive electrical source is connected to the switching unit. The switching unit is configured to connect the at least one positive electrical source to a selected one or more of the plurality of electrode nodes. |
| US08655449B2 |
Modular cochlear implant systems including implantable sound processors
Exemplary cochlear implant systems include an implantable head module configured to be implanted within a head of a patient. The implantable head module includes a cochlear stimulator configured to be coupled to an electrode lead, the electrode lead including one or more electrodes configured to be in communication with one or more stimulation sites within the patient. The implantable head module also includes a signal receiver configured to receive a telemetry signal representative of an audio signal from a signal transmitter located external to the patient, a sound processor configured to process the telemetry signal and direct the cochlear stimulator to generate and apply electrical stimulation representative of the audio signal to the one or more stimulation sites via the electrode lead, and a power receiver configured to receive power for operating the implantable head module from a power transmitter located external to the patient. |
| US08655446B2 |
Cardiac pacing controlled via respiration therapy device
Methods and systems involve adjusting cardiac pacing based on information acquired via a respiratory therapy device. A medical system includes a respiratory therapy device having one or more sensors and a therapy delivery unit. The one or more sensors are configured to sense respiration cycles. The therapy delivery unit is configured to deliver an external respiratory therapy to the patient. The medical system also includes a pulse generator configured to deliver cardiac pacing pulses to the patient. A controller is coupled to the one or more sensors and the pulse generator. The control unit configured to adjust a cardiac pacing rate based on the patient's respiration cycles. |
| US08655443B2 |
Electrophysiological analysis system
The invention provides an electrophysiological analysis system, in particular for detecting pathological states. This system comprises: electrodes intended to be placed in different regions of the body that are well away from each other; an adjustable DC voltage source for generating successive DC voltage pulses varying in magnitude from one pulse to another, the duration of the pulses being equal to or greater than about 0.2 seconds; a switching circuit for selectively connecting a pair of active electrodes to the voltage source and for connecting at least one other high-impedance electrode; and a measurement circuit for recording data representative of the current in the active electrodes and potentials on at least certain high-impedance connected electrodes in response to the application of said pulses. The range of voltages covered causes, from one pulse to another, the appearance or disappearance of electrochemical phenomena in the vicinity of the active electrodes. |
| US08655442B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring and treating shivering during therapeutic temperature control
Methods and apparatus for the prevention and treatment of shivering encountered during therapeutic temperature regulation are disclosed that utilize an active system of counterwarming such that the timing and intensity of warmth provided to selected body areas is regulated dynamically in response to such factors as the extent of cooling applied to the core, the degree of shivering encountered, and patient temperature. Additionally, methods and apparatus are disclosed for the measurement and quantification of shivering for use in this and other applications. |
| US08655441B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring patients and delivering therapeutic stimuli
In an exemplary implementation of this invention, a user wears comfortable biosensors. These sensors gather physiological data from the user and transmit this data to another radio-enabled device. This other device may be a mobile phone. The data is further transmitted, via this other radio-enabled device, to one or more networks (such as wireless networks or the Internet). A processor analyzes this transmitted data, in real time, to recognize patterns in the data that indicate the need for therapeutic intervention. Upon recognition of such a pattern, the processor outputs instructions for a transducer to deliver therapeutic stimuli. These instructions are transmitted, over one or more wired or wireless networks, to a transducer which delivers the therapeutic stimuli to the user. |
| US08655438B2 |
Electroencephalography monitoring device having a self-adaptive analog-to-digital converter
An EEG monitoring device, contains at least one electrode, a non-linear analog signal processor, a variable resolution analog-to-digital converter, a storage, and a power source. The non-linear analog signal processor receives a signal from the at least one electrode and determines whether the signal is within a significant category. The variable resolution analog-to-digital converter converts signals received from the non-linear analog signal processor into high-resolution digital signals if the signals are within the significant category, and converts signals received from the non-linear analog signal processor at a low resolution if the signals are not within the significant category. The storage stores high-resolution digital signals received from the variable resolution analog-to-digital converter and the power source is connected to, and provides power to, the non-linear analog signal processor, the variable resolution analog-to-digital converter, and the storage. |
| US08655429B2 |
Robotic arm for a radiation treatment system
A robotic treatment delivery system including a linear accelerator (LINAC), and a robotic arm coupled to the LINAC. The robotic arm is configured to move the LINAC along at least four rotational degrees of freedom and one substantially linear degree of freedom. |
| US08655417B2 |
Video/audio playing apparatus with wireless signal transmission function and wireless video/audio transmission module thereof
A video/audio playing apparatus with wireless audio signal transmission function comprising: a headset place slot, an audio processing module, a wireless audio signal transmission module, and a system audio interface. The headset place slot can accept and electrically connect a wireless headset, and transmits an electric potential signal. The audio processing module is used for outputting an audio signal. The wireless audio signal transmission module further comprises: an audio signal switching unit and a control unit. The audio signal switching unit is used for receiving the audio signal, and switches the output path of audio signal according to the electric potential signal. The control unit connects to the audio signal switching unit and connects to the wireless headset using wireless. Thus, the audio signal switching unit can switch the wireless headset or the system audio interface to output the audio signal according to the electric potential signal. |
| US08655408B2 |
Self-configuring cellular basestation
A basestation for cellular wireless communications network is able to configure itself for the operation in the network, by selecting appropriate operating frequencies (in the case of a GSM network) or scrambling codes (in the case of a UMTS network), and appropriate transmit powers. This makes it practical for a large number of such basestations to be deployed in a network, within customers' premises, without requiring network intervention in each case. |
| US08655401B2 |
Geographical position extension in messaging for a terminal node
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for supporting geographical-based services in a communications system. In an embodiment of the invention, a terminal node (e.g., a wireless terminal) inserts geographical information into a header portion of an IPv6 datagram. The serving network utilizes the geographical information to support a geographical-based service. In another embodiment, a terminal node, which is located in a geographical area, receives service configuration information regarding service regions from a serving network and determines what services are supported in the geographical area. In an embodiment, header formats for the inserted geographical information in a propagated signal between a terminal node and a serving network are provided. |
| US08655400B2 |
Reduced transmit power for wireless radio coexistence
In user equipments (UEs) with multiple radios, interference between those radios may be reduced by monitoring radio performance and adjusting aggressor transmit power levels to ensure victim and aggressor performance stay within desired operational levels. Various factors may determine when a reduced power approach is desired. Such factors may include aggressor transmit power, received signal strength indicator, victim error rate, throughput loss, coverage impact, etc. Various methods of reducing transmit power may be used. For example, for Long Term Evolution communications, a power headroom report may be altered to adjust a modulation coding scheme and bandwidth allocated for a particular UE. For Bluetooth communications a power control mechanism may be overridden to ensure a device stays within a desired transmit power. A power reduction loop may be employed to monitor a device's transmit power. |
| US08655398B2 |
Communications systems and methods including emission detection
A system for communications on an extraterrestrial body may include a space-based component and an ancillary extraterrestrial component on the extraterrestrial body. The space-based component may be configured to provide wireless communications with a plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body over a satellite frequency band wherein the space-based component includes at least one satellite orbiting the extraterrestrial body. The ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to provide wireless communications with the plurality of radioterminals located on the extraterrestrial body. Moreover, the ancillary extraterrestrial component may reuse at least one satellite frequency of the satellite frequency band, and the space-based component and the ancillary extraterrestrial component may be configured to relay communications therebetween. Related methods are also discussed. |
| US08655395B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating discontinuous reception
Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating discontinuous reception are provided. An example of a first method can include providing one or more discontinuous reception cycles respectively corresponding to one or more inactivity periods. During respective awake periods of the one or more discontinuous reception cycles, data can be received on respective ones of one or more frequency carriers. The number and type of the one or more frequency carriers on which data is received can be determined based on the one or more inactivity periods. Further, in some embodiments, in addition to providing discontinuous reception on selected frequency carriers, data can be received according to continuous reception on other frequency carriers, such as the anchor carrier. |
| US08655393B2 |
System and method for communicating using two-way SMS
The present invention is directed to a system and method for communicating using SMS messages between devices in different home networks, and, in one embodiment, to a method and system for assigning a local SMS number to a recipient device in a different home network such that a user is charged reduced communications costs. |
| US08655392B2 |
Generic paging service for third-party applications over wireless networks
System(s), method(s), and device(s) that provide generic paging service for applications, including third-party applications, over a wireless network are presented. A mobile device generates a token that is used to prove an existing relationship with, and is provided to, an application server, which can relate to a third-party application. The server includes a paging initiator component that presents the token to a paging coordinator component in the network to facilitate proving the server's relationship with, and triggering paging of, the mobile device, without the server having to establish a prior relationship with the network. The paging coordinator component can verify the token to ensure that the initiated paging event is a legitimate paging, and, when verified, transmits the paging to the mobile device. In response, the mobile device can switch out of power-saving dormant mode and establish an IP connection to the server to retrieve a notification(s). |
| US08655390B2 |
Dynamic context-data representation
Disclosed are a system, method, and article of manufacture of a dynamic context-data representation. A first context data can be received. The first context data can be obtained from a user-worn sensor. The user-worn sensor can measure a user attribute. A second context data can be received. The second context data can be obtained from another sensor. The second context data can measure a user location. A graphical representation of the first context data and the second context data can be created. The graphical representation can be modified according to a change of a value of the first context data as a function of time or a change of a value of the second context data as a function of time. |
| US08655389B1 |
Method and system for enabling a user to obfuscate location coordinates by generating a blur level, and applying it to the location coordinates in a wireless communication networks
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media for blurring location information for an entity. The system may be configured to receive a location display setting comprising a condition and a blur level to apply to location coordinates, receive location coordinates for an entity, determine whether the condition is satisfied based on the location coordinates, and, if the condition is satisfied, report location information for the entity in a mapping interface based on the location coordinates for the entity and the blur level. |
| US08655386B1 |
Providing information to a mobile device based on an event at a geographical location
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a mobile device based on an event comprising detecting an occurrence of the event, determining if the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location and sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device if the event is the specific event, if the event occurs at or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or near the geographical location. |
| US08655383B2 |
Content delivery system and method
An apparatus and method provides event notifications to a user according to the user's current location and the content in the user's electronic device. Since the content, such as play counts, a number of songs, etc., may indicate the user's preference about some specific artists, it is possible to establish an intelligent content delivery system according to the user's preference. The content delivery system includes an event searching unit, a playback information retrieving unit and an information processing unit which is configured to determine whether to provide and display the content information by considering factors as distance, future occurrence, ticket availability, etc. of the event. |
| US08655381B2 |
Method and apparatus for merchant search and offer presentation
Systems, methods, apparatus, computer program code, and means for receiving a search request from a user operating a wireless device, determining at least one of a location and a desired search location of the user, determining a search response based on a user profile and the at least one of a location and a desired search location, and transmitting a response to the wireless device. In some embodiments, the response includes at least one of an offer and a display sequence selected based at least in part on the user profile. |
| US08655378B1 |
Method and apparatus for tracking a transported item while accommodating communication gaps
A method and apparatus is provided for minimizing potential security problems and battery power usage in a tracking device used in tracking an associated product while being transported along a route wherein wireless communication may be nonexistent or intermittent. This is accomplished in part by having an accessible database of signal quality and strength at a large plurality of locations along given transportation routes whereby adjustments can be made as to the times for the tracking device to obtain GPS location information as well as for times to report any location and or product status data to a remotely located central station. The ability to predict when, along a transportation route communication problems may occur provides the opportunity to notify appropriate authorities in advance of arriving at the communication gap zones whereby arrangements can be made to alleviate potential problems during transportation through wireless communication “gap or dead” zones. |
| US08655377B2 |
Time and power based wireless location and method of selecting location estimate solution
Disclosed is a method for processing readily available radio network, timing and power information about cellular networks and typical measurements made by the mobile device and network. A probabilistic method is disclosed that uses both time (i.e., range) and power differences with known downlink transmitter antenna characteristics to locate mobiles with accuracy better than cell-ID with ranging, with high capacity, and without the need for field calibration. |
| US08655373B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless location measurement
A method for wireless location measurement of a receiver is provided. The method includes: estimating radio channels of a plurality of frequency domains respectively corresponding to a plurality of transmitters by using received signals from the plurality of transmitters; extracting a plurality of propagation delay tab profiles based on the radio channels of the plurality of frequency domains; calculating the distance between each of the transmitters corresponding to the respective propagation delay tab profiles and the receiver by using the propagation delay tab profiles; and estimating the location of the receiver by using the distance between each transmitter and the receiver. |
| US08655367B2 |
Communication method, management device, and mobile device
In a communication system 10, a management device 100, which is under the control of the MVNO, collects radio quality information from a UE 500 by using a communication channel established between the management device 100 and the UE 500, selects an optimum cell by using the collected radio quality information, and notifies the UE 500 of the selected optimum cell. The UE 500 then connects or hands over to the optimum cell notified by the management device 100. |
| US08655366B2 |
Radio base station and interference equalization method in mobile communication system
In a mobile communication system, an interference equalization method is installed in a radio base station for managing a cell configured of sectors, thus equalizing interference between sectors in uplink communication and improving sector-user throughputs. In the situation that congestion occurs in a second sector adjacent to a first sector, a handover from the second sector to the first sector is accelerated when uplink interference of the first sector is equal to or above a first threshold while the usage rate of resource blocks in the first sector is equal to or below a second threshold. This accelerates a handover from the second sector undergoing congestion to the first sector having available resource blocks, thus equalizing uplink interference between these sectors. |
| US08655364B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and recording medium
When a terminal-status detecting unit detects a predetermined terminal status with communication over a first mobile communication system being enabled by a first mobile communication unit, a control unit causes a second mobile communication system to start a process of acquiring a second mobile communication system to set communication via the second mobile communication system in an enabled status. |
| US08655360B2 |
Method and system of allocating network temporary identities
The present invention discloses a method and system for allocating Network Temporary Identities. The method comprises: obtaining capability information of a Home NodeB; allocating information for performing identity allocation to the Home NodeB, according to the capability information; sending the allocated information for performing identity allocation to the Home NodeB, so that the Home NodeB implements network temporary identity allocation according to the information for performing identity allocation; wherein the different information for performing identity allocation corresponds to different Home NodeBs to implement the network temporary identity allocation. The technical solution disclosed by the present invention can reduce the implementation complexity of Home NodeB Gateway and the time delay. |
| US08655359B2 |
Radio access system and portable terminal device
As a result of ISR being enabled between a portable terminal device and a network which are capable of communicating by using the communication protocols of a plurality of wireless access technologies, the portable terminal device performs position registration processing between the plurality of wireless access technologies and the portable terminal device each time a fixed period of time elapses, and the portable terminal device is able to move between the plurality of wireless access technologies that have already been registered, without conducting new position registration processing. At this time, if there is a possibility of there being a difference in ISR states (activated or not activated) between the portable terminal device and the network, the portable terminal device ignores any instructions issued by the network for ISR to be enabled in the portable terminal device. |
| US08655357B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying applications on a communications device
The present invention provides systems, methods, and devices adapted to notify a communications network that an application is present on a communication device by sending a feature tag that identifies the application to the communications network. The communications network can register, re-register, or de-register an application with an application server in response to receiving the feature tag. The invention provides a method by which an application can be registered in accordance with a feature tag and satisfaction of predetermined registration conditions. A further method of the invention can include updating a presence server in response to receiving a feature tag. The systems, methods and devices of the invention facilitate registration of applications in way that conservers network resources and decreases signaling traffic over the air interface. |
| US08655352B2 |
Satellite telephony
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to packetization techniques for satellite transmission of data, such as telephony data. Some embodiments use the MPEG2 standard in connection with the ETSI DVB data piping profile for arranging the data. Embodiments also relate to method for receiving, demultiplexing and managing incoming telephony data to support a variety of telephony applications including voice, facsimile, Internet and other data. |
| US08655350B2 |
Semiconductor storage device and storage system
A pn junction type solar cell is formed in a predetermined region on a substrate made of glass. Light emitted from a light emitting unit reaches an n-type semiconductor layer after it passed through substrate. The solar cell generates electromotive force corresponding to a quantity of the emitted light. A control circuit, a mask ROM, a transmitting circuit and an antenna are formed on an upper side of the solar cell. A surface of a semiconductor storage device is entirely covered with an insulating film to block entry of outside air. The insulating film is typically formed of physicochemically stable glass or silicon dioxide. |
| US08655349B2 |
Radio access technology configuration in femto-cell base stations
A method and apparatus for operating a femto-cell base station are disclosed. The femto-cell base station is configured to provide coverage to a User Equipment by connecting it to a core telecommunications network using a first frequency belonging to a first radio access technology. The method includes detecting that a fixed network connection of a femto-cell base station is not operative, and, in response to such failure, scanning frequencies in a second radio access technology available to a wireless network interface of the femto-cell base station, said second radio access technology being different than the first radio access technology. If there is any frequency available in said second radio access technology, said frequency in said second radio access technology is established as the operational frequency of a cellular wireless network connection established by the wireless network interface. |
| US08655348B2 |
System and method for acquiring network data
Systems and methods for acquiring wireless network performance data comprising a user equipment accessible via a wireless network, the user equipment comprising; a receiver, a transmitter, a first processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the user equipment to perform operations comprising; receiving a data acquisition signal via the receiver, sampling a wireless network signal received at the user equipment in response to receiving the data acquisition signal, generating acquired network data, and transmitting the acquired network data via the transmitter, a server accessible via the wireless network, the server comprising, a second processor configured with software executable instructions to cause the server to perform operations comprising; transmitting the data acquisition signal, receiving the acquired network data; and generating network performance data using the acquired network data. |
| US08655346B2 |
Mobile device and method for controlling reproduction of contents in mobile device
A method of controlling a mobile device and which includes wirelessly communicating, via a wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, with other devices existing in a network including the mobile terminal; displaying, on a display unit of the mobile terminal, a multimedia file display region displaying contents existing in one of the devices in the network including the mobile device; and displaying, on the display unit, a reproduction control region including a first region displaying a first reproduction device for reproducing a first content selected from the multimedia file display region, and a second region for displaying the reproduced first content. |
| US08655342B2 |
Controlling the use of a wireless mobile communication device
A controlling party can set limitations on a controlled party's access to applications operating on the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device. The controlling party can effectuate these limitations via various different mechanisms. In one instance, the controlling party uses another wireless communication device to effectuate the limitations. In another instance, the limitations are effectuated by the controlling party's operation of a data apparatus connected by a wired data communication bus to the controlled party's wireless mobile communication device. In a still further instance, the controlling party effectuates the limitations by accessing a website supported by a web server. |
| US08655339B2 |
Open development system for access service providers
A method comprising configuring and installing a service processor in a wireless communications device that is capable of accessing one or more data services over a first wireless network and over a second wireless network. The service processor, which comprises one or more device agents, at least one of the one or more device agents comprising software or firmware, at least assists in implementing at least a first service policy and a second service policy by: detecting that the wireless communications device is connected to the first wireless network, and, in response, applying the first service policy, where the first service policy assists in controlling usage of the first wireless network associated with a first service activity of the wireless communications device, and detecting that the wireless communications device is connected to the second wireless network, and, in response, applying the second service policy. |
| US08655338B2 |
Method for operating portable terminal to reduce power during support of communication service and portable terminal supporting the same
A method for operating a portable terminal so as to reduce power consumption during the support of a communication service and a portable terminal supporting the same is provided. The method includes activating a Radio Frequency (RF) communication unit, downloading a part of data of predetermined contents through the RF communication unit, buffering the downloaded part of the data in a buffer so as to output the buffered downloaded part of the data, and executing an idle time for terminating or reducing a power supply of the RF communication unit when the downloading of the part of the data of the predetermined contents is completed. |
| US08655336B1 |
Remote issue logging and reporting of mobile station issues and diagnostic information to manufacturer
A user of a mobile station can report a mobile station issue by transmitting a report including a description of the mobile station issue and other information for rapid troubleshooting and resolution by a manufacturer, through a wireless mobile communication network, to the manufacturer of the mobile station or mobile software, via a life cycle management tool program at a network. The report sent by the user of the mobile station may include information relating to the description of the mobile station issue, mobile station device information, device operation information, diagnostic logs, or captured screenshots. The life cycle management tool program stores the report including the information and sends an electronic notification to a technical center of a carrier and/or the manufacturer of the mobile station or mobile software for review and resolution of the reported mobile station issue in real time. |
| US08655334B2 |
System and method for configuring a communication device
The disclosed embodiments provide a system and method for configuring a communication device. In one embodiment, a method is presented that includes monitoring for a presence of at least one mobile device that stores a user profile. In response to the communication device detecting the presence of at least one mobile device that stores a user profile, the method retrieves the user profile from the mobile device. The method configures the communication device in accordance with the user profile. |
| US08655330B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and method of storing image thereof
A method of operating a mobile communication terminal, the method including photographing an image and interconnecting the photographed image with an input number such that when the number is input into the mobile communication terminal, the photographed image is automatically displayed on the mobile communication terminal. |
| US08655328B2 |
Cellular telephone coupled to a data center by a dedicated communication link
A cellular telephone system that includes a wireless handset that connects to a stationary (or mobile) data center, data station or home station remote from the wireless handset. The wireless handset and stationary data center communicate bidirectionally over an exclusive communication link such that commands entered by a user to the wireless handset are relayed to the stationary data center via the exclusive data communication link, and results from executing the commands are relayed from the home station to the wireless handset also via the exclusive data communication link and displayed on said screen. The processor at the data center or home station accesses the Internet and sends screens back to the handset for display. The handset appears smart to the user, but according to the present invention, most of the actual processing and Internet access is performed at the home station. |
| US08655326B2 |
Wireless handset connectivity time optimization
A system includes a user device configured to communicate with an application server over a network. A plurality of network elements are in communication with one another over the network, and each of the plurality of network elements have at least one parameter representative of network behavior. An adaptive server is in communication with the user device, the application server, and at least one of the network elements. The adaptive server is configured to estimate a connectivity time with the application server based on the parameter. |
| US08655322B2 |
Disabling access point notifications
Disabling wireless access point notifications is described. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be disabled when movement of the mobile device is detected. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications on a mobile device can be re-enabled when the mobile device detects that the mobile device has been stationary for a specified period of time following movement of the mobile device. In some implementations, wireless access point notifications can be disabled on a per access point basis. |
| US08655318B2 |
Method and system for anonymous operation of a mobile node
A mobile node and its home system generate synchronized time-based codes at periodic time intervals. Each time-based code is valid for a predetermined time period. To facilitate anonymous operation when roaming, the mobile node identifies itself with a coded identifier instead of a public identifier. The coded identifier used at a given time includes the time-based code that is valid for that given time. To authenticate the mobile node, a serving system receives authentication information from the mobile node and forwards the authentication information to a home system. The authentication information includes the current time-based code and a timestamp. The home system identifies the mobile node from the current time-based code and the timestamp. The home system then uses the authentication information to authenticate the mobile node. |
| US08655313B2 |
Method and apparatus for verification of a telephone number
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for verification of a mobile telephone number. The method comprises: storing a mobile telephone number and a corresponding mobile subscriber identity number; receiving a request for verification of the mobile telephone number; sending, in response to the request, an IMSI query requesting a mobile subscriber identity number registered in association with the mobile telephone number in an HLR; receiving, in response to the IMSI query, the mobile subscriber identity number associated with the mobile telephone number in the HLR; comparing the stored mobile subscriber identity number and the received mobile subscriber identity number, and, if the comparison shows that the received mobile subscriber identity number corresponds to the stored mobile subscriber identity number; initiating the performance of the messaging-or-positioning service in relation to the mobile telephone number. |
| US08655312B2 |
Wireless access point detection
According to aspects of the present invention there are provided methods and apparatus for detecting a suspect wireless access point in a communication network including a plurality of wireless access points providing access services to client devices. Identity information associated with the wireless access points is collected from a multiplicity of client devices. A reputation request is received from a client device, the request including identity information of an available wireless access point. The received identity information is compared with the collected identity information for determining an indication of trust of the available wireless access point. The indication of trust of the available wireless access point is transmitted to the client device. The wireless access points may include a cellular wireless access point or base station, wireless access point, a Wi-Fi access point, or a femto-cell access point. |
| US08655310B1 |
Control of secure elements through point-of-sale device
A method of preventing identity theft is provided. The method comprises reading confidential information from a mobile terminal that is not in communication with the public wireless communication network and determining if the mobile terminal has been reported lost. When the mobile terminal is determined to have been reported lost, the release of the confidential information by the mobile terminal is disabled. |
| US08655307B1 |
System and method for developing, updating, and using user device behavioral context models to modify user, device, and application state, settings and behavior for enhanced user security
Security is enhanced for a user of a mobile device by monitoring and controlling resource usage. Usage information associated with a mobile device is collected. The collected information is used to build a usage model for a user of the mobile device that describes a set of contexts in which the mobile device is used. User activity on the device is monitored and the model is consulted to determine a first time after which it will be acceptable for a battery of the mobile device to fall below a threshold charge level. Based on the monitored activity, a prediction of a second time is made for when the battery will fall below the threshold charge level. If the second time is before or a predetermined amount of time before the first time, usage of the battery is reduced, else, usage of the battery is not reduced. |
| US08655306B2 |
Method for obtaining location information for emergency services in wireless multimedia networks
A method and apparatus for obtaining end-user location information for emergency services within a multimedia network is presented. The multimedia network may include a network implementing the Session Initiation Protocol, H.323, etc. In one embodiment, a Location Application Server (LAS) in the multimedia network and an interface between the LAS and a gateway mobile location center (GMLC) is defined. |
| US08655302B2 |
Demodulator of a frequency-modulated electrical signal
A demodulator of an FM signal modulated about a carrier frequency with a modulation frequency has an RF oscillator configured to be synchronized, under identical conditions of operation, with oscillations at first and second frequencies used in the FM signal to encode respective pieces of information. The oscillator has a magnetoresistive device; and a low-pass filter connected to an output electrode of the magnetoresistive device to filter an oscillating signal, generated by the oscillator and to a rendering terminal to provide, as a demodulated electrical signal, the filtered signal, the cut-off frequency fc at −3 dB of this filter being strictly lower than the frequency and higher than the modulation frequency. |
| US08655299B2 |
Saw-less receiver with RF frequency translated BPF
A SAW-less receiver includes an FEM interface module, an RF to IF receiver section, and a receiver IF to baseband section. The RF to IF receiver section includes a frequency translated bandpass filter (FTBPF), an LNA, and a mixing section. The FTBPF includes a switching network and a plurality of baseband impedances. The switching network is operable to couple the plurality of baseband impedances to the FEM interface in accordance with a plurality of phase-offset RF clock signals to RF bandpass filter the inbound RF signal. The LNA amplifies the filtered inbound RF signal and the mixing section mixes the amplified inbound RF signal with a local oscillation to produce an inbound IF signal. The receiver IF to baseband section converts the inbound IF signal into one or more inbound symbol streams. |
| US08655298B2 |
Method and system for locating interferences by frequency sub-band
A technique for locating sources interfering on a signal received by a receiver comprising an array of antennas calculates a spatio-temporal intercorrelation matrix Rxx, subdivides the useful band of the signals into sub-bands (b), and for each sub-band (b), calculates the spatial intercorrelation matrix R(b) associated with the sub-band (b) and calculates at least one of its eigenvalues {λ1, λ2, . . . λM}. Interference in the sub-band is detected with the aid of the following detection criterion: log ( ( ∑ m = k M λ m ) / ( M - k + 1 ) ) - log ( ∏ m = k M λ m ) / ( M - k + 1 ) > threshold , and determining the eigenvectors {U1, U2, . . . UN} of the spatial intercorrelation matrix R(b), and determining the directions of arrival of the interfering sources by searching for the vectors of relative gains belonging to the said interference sub-space or which are orthogonal to the orthogonal noise sub-space and complementary to the interference sub-space. |
| US08655297B2 |
Nonlinear distortion compensating receiver and nonlinear distortion compensation method
Disclosed are a nonlinear distortion compensating receiver and nonlinear distortion compensation method, wherein nonlinear distortion is reduced with a simple circuit configuration. A correction (opposite characteristics) filter (104) has characteristics opposite that of the frequency characteristics of a direct sampling mixer (102) and corrects signals sampled by the direct sampling mixer (102). In the main path, a LPF (106) extracts a frequency band component of a desired signal from the corrected signal. In the replica path, a BPF (107) extracts the frequency band component of a blocker signal from the corrected signal. A cubing circuit (108) uses the frequency band component of the blocker signal to generate a replica signal for the nonlinear distortion. An adaptive filter (110) performs filter processing on the replica signal while updating the filter coefficients. A subtractor (111) subtracts the output signal of the adaptive filter (110) from the frequency band component of the extracted desired signal and outputs the subtraction result as the desired signal. |
| US08655296B2 |
Frequency synthesizer and related method for generating wideband signals
A frequency synthesizer includes a phase-locked loop circuit having an output. A frequency divider is connected to the output of the phase-locked loop circuit for receiving the signal therefrom and dividing the frequency of the signal. A tunable bandpass filter is connected to the frequency divider and is tuned for selecting a harmonic frequency to obtain a fractional frequency division for a signal output from the phase-locked loop circuit. |
| US08655293B2 |
PA bias optimization for modulation schemes with variable bandwidth
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for improving the power consumption of a transmission chain by varying the operating point of a power amplifier to optimize (e.g., reduce) the current that is consumed by the amplifier. The operating point is varied by changing the bias voltage(s) (e.g., supply voltage, quiescent voltage) of the amplifier to a predetermined value that is chosen based upon the effect that a given transmitted signal modulation scheme characteristic (e.g., channel bandwidth and/or number of subcarriers) has on the operating point of a power amplifier. For example, if the characteristics indicate a good power amplifier performance the linear output power capability of a power amplifier can be lowered, by changing the bias voltage(s) supplied to the power amplifier, to reduce the output power capability and current consumption of the power amplifier. |
| US08655292B2 |
Amplifier circuit, transmitter, and method of controlling amplifier circuit
A signal separating unit separates an input signal into a first branch signal and a second branch signal in such a manner that, as the amplitude of the input signal decreases, the amplitude of the first branch signal and the second branch signal decreases and the difference between a phase of the first branch signal and a phase of the second branch signal increases and, as the amplitude of the input signal increases, the amplitude of the first branch signal and the second branch signal increases and the difference between the phase of the first branch signal and the phase of the second branch signal decreases. An amplifier amplifies the first branch signal. Another amplifier amplifies the second branch signal. A combining unit combines signals that are output from the amplifiers together, thereby generating an output signal. |
| US08655288B2 |
Electronic device with multiple antenna diversity and related methods
An electronic device may include a mobile wireless communications device having a first housing, a spatial diversity wireless transceiver carried by the first housing, and a first antenna carried by the first housing and coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The electronic device may include an external antenna device having a second housing, and a second antenna carried thereby and configured to be coupled to the spatial diversity wireless transceiver. The spatial diversity wireless transceiver may be configured to selectively operate one of the first antenna and the second antenna to provide spatial diversity. |
| US08655287B2 |
Switch control circuit, semiconductor device, and radio communication device
A switch control circuit has level shifters connected to a switch circuit to convert voltage levels of control signals, a negative potential generating circuit connected to the level shifter, to generate a negative potential, a negative potential output line supplying the negative potential to the level shifter, and a negative potential output line control circuit configured to control the potential of the negative potential output line. The negative potential output line control circuit has a power-supply setting circuit, an inverter inverting the output signal from the power-supply setting circuit, a first capacitor connected between an output terminal of the inverter and the negative potential output line, and a negative potential initialization circuit. |
| US08655285B2 |
Multi-port distributed antenna
Methods and systems for a multi-port distributed antenna are disclosed and may include configuring one or more amplifiers to communicate signals via one or more ports on a distributed antenna. A characteristic impedance of the distributed antenna at each of the one or more ports may be configured by a location of the one or more ports on the distributed antenna. The amplifiers may be impedance matched to the distributed antenna by coupling each of the amplifiers to the ports based on the characteristic impedance. The amplifiers may include power amplifiers and/or low noise amplifiers. The signals may be time division duplexed. The signals communicated via the ports on the distributed antenna may include RF signals. The distributed antenna may be integrated on a chip with the amplifiers or may be located external to a chip with the amplifiers. The distributed antenna may include a microstrip antenna. |
| US08655282B2 |
Multiple signal transformation in wireless receivers
A frontend receiver of a user equipment (UE) is configured with multiple transform operations assigned to separate sets of cells. One set of cells includes the serving cell of the UE and at least one additional cell within a first offset range of the serving cell. Another set or sets of cells include additional interferer cells within another offset range of the serving cell. After tracking the common frequency/timing offsets of each set of cells the assigned transform operation for that set transforms the time domain samples into frequency domain symbols. The individual frequency/timing offsets for each cell within the set are then tracked. |
| US08655279B2 |
Short-range wireless communication
The present specification describes techniques and apparatus that enable wireless devices to communicate effectively at short ranges. In one implementation, the transmit power of a transmitting device is reduced to permit a receiving device to demodulate a signal. |
| US08655274B2 |
Communications device including radio frequency (RF) signal blocking layer for near-field communication (NFC) device and related methods
A communications device may include a near-field communication (NFC) circuit device, and a radio frequency (RF) signal blocking member adhesively coupled with the NFC device. The RF signal blocking member may be configured to block RF signal communication by the NFC device while coupled therewith. The RF signal blocking member may comprise an electrical conductor. In accordance with an example, the RF signal blocking member may comprise a frangible layer. In another example, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer may be included for adhesively securing the RF signal blocking member with the NFC device. |
| US08655273B2 |
NFC communicator and method of data communication
An NFC communicator has a coupler operable to couple with a coupler of a near field RF communicator in near field range to enable communication of data between the communicators by modulation of a magnetic field, a demodulator to extract modulation from a modulated signal coupled to the coupler, and a modulator to modulate an RF signal in accordance with data to be communicated by the NFC communicator. The NFC communicator communicates with a data source and is arranged to at least one of provide timing data to the data source and receive timing data from the data source. |
| US08655262B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing an audio signal for an event
A method and apparatus for providing an audio signal for an event at a venue are disclosed. For example, the method authorizes a customer endpoint device, wherein the authorizing enables the customer endpoint device to decode the audio signal for the event. The method transmits the audio signal for the event at the venue. |
| US08655253B2 |
Glossing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A glossing device includes a heat roller, a stripper roller, an endless, rotary glossing belt, a first belt cooler, a pressure member, an endless, rotary cooling belt, and a second belt cooler. The heat roller is subjected to heating. The stripper roller is disposed parallel to the heat roller. The glossing belt is looped for rotation around the heat roller and the stripper roller. The first belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the glossing belt to cool the glossing belt. The pressure member is disposed opposite the heat roller. The cooling belt is looped for rotation around the pressure member. The second belt cooler is disposed adjacent to the cooling belt to cool the cooling belt. The heat roller and the pressure member press against each other via the glossing belt and the cooling belt to form a glossing nip therebetween through which the recording medium is conveyed. |
| US08655248B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and endless fixing belt
A fixing device includes a magnetic-field-producing member producing an alternating-current magnetic field, a fixing belt that is heated by electromagnetic induction caused by the alternating-current magnetic field and fixes toner on a recording material, and a pressure applying member pressed against the fixing belt and forming a press-fixing part therebetween through which the recording material having an unfixed image is transported. The fixing belt includes a metal body that is a stack of at least three layers including a base layer and a protective layer both made of metal, and a conductive layer provided between the base layer and the protective layer and to be heated by electromagnetic induction. In a section of the fixing belt taken in a thickness direction, the metal body has its neutral axis on a side of the protective layer with respect to a thickness center line thereof and in the protective layer. |
| US08655245B2 |
Fusing device with curved nip forming member and image forming apparatus having the same
An image forming apparatus including a fusing belt, a pressure roller disposed to face the fusing belt so as to press a recording medium onto the fusing belt, a nip forming member to support an inner surface of the fusing belt so as to form a fusing nip along with the pressure roller, and a heat source disposed inside the fusing belt to simultaneously apply radiant heat to the fusing belt and the nip forming member. The nip forming member includes a hill portion, which is located to one side thereof farther downstream in a movement direction of the recording medium and protrudes toward the hill portion. The hill portion causes the recording medium, which has curled in a given direction, to be bent in an opposite direction immediately prior to exiting from between the nip forming member and the pressure roller, thereby reducing curling of the recording medium. |
| US08655243B2 |
Image heating apparatus having four helical gears
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heater heating an image on a recording material; a rotatable pressor contacting the heater to form a nip therebetween; a driving source; first and second helical gears rotatable by a driving force supplied from the driving source and having different twisting directions; first and second switching members for switching between rotation transmission and non-transmission from a driving gear to the first and second helical gears, respectively; third and fourth helical gears provided on the heater in meshing engagement with the first and second helical gears, respectively; and a switch for switching at least between drive transmission by first switching member and drive transmission by the second switching member to change a position of the heating rotatable member along a rotational axis direction of the heater. |
| US08655242B2 |
Image heating device
An image heating device includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material and for forming a nip; a blowing member for blowing air; and an ejecting member for ejecting air to separate the recording material passing through the nip from the image heating member, the ejecting member ejecting the air from the blowing member toward the image heating member so that the speed of the air toward an end portion of the image heating member is higher than that of the air toward a central portion of the image heating member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image heating member. |
| US08655241B2 |
Electrophotographic printer with compressible-backup transfer station
An electrophotographic (EP) printer for transferring a toner image to a receiver sheet has a tensioned rotatable transport web with a Young's modulus of at least 1 GPa. The transport web is wrapped around a compliant image-bearing member. A compressible, rotatable nip-forming member that is relatively less stiff than the image-bearing member is adjacent to the transport web on the opposite side thereof from the image-bearing member. A mount holds the nip-forming member against the image-bearing member, and permits the axis of rotation of the nip-forming member to move closer to or farther from the transport web. When the leading edge of the receiver on the web engages with the image-bearing member, the nip-forming member compresses. The axis of rotation of the nip-forming member translates by an amount less than the thickness of the receiver sheet minus the compression of the compliant coating of the image-bearing member. |
| US08655235B2 |
Toner cartridge
A toner cartridge includes: a main body; a shutter; a toner seal; and a shift member. The main body defines an internal space for accommodating toner and formed with a communication hole, through which an interior and an exterior of the main body communicate. The shutter is movable between an open position in which the communication hole is open and a closed position in which the communication hole is closed. The shutter is also shiftable between a first position in which the shutter is positioned away from the main body and a second position in which the shutter is positioned close to the main body. The toner seal is disposed between the main body and the shutter when the shutter is in the closed position. The shift member is configured to shift the shutter from the first position to the second position when the shutter is in the closed position. |
| US08655232B2 |
Processing cartridge of an electrophotographic image forming system
The invention discloses a processing cartridge, which includes a powder tube, a sliding member and a mechanism for holding the sliding member, wherein the powder tube is used for receiving toner and the sliding member is capable of freely sliding in the powder tube. The mechanism for holding the sliding member is driven to close a powder outlet under the non-use state and a powder outlet portion is arranged on the powder tube. The powder outlet is arranged on the powder outlet portion and the sliding member closes the powder outlet under the action of the mechanism for holding the sliding member under the non-use state, and moves under the action of an external force to open the powder outlet under the use state. An internal member provided with an internal powder feeding opening is also arranged inside the powder outlet portion. The internal member and the powder outlet portion form certain space so that the sliding member is capable of sliding in the space formed by the powder outlet portion and the internal member and the internal powder feeding opening of the internal member is butted with the powder outlet. |
| US08655228B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes detecting means for detecting a temperature of a recording material on which a non-transparent toner image is heat-fixed; transparent image forming means for effecting image formation by transparent toner on the basis of transparent image data; a heating device for heating the transparent toner image formed by the transparent image forming means; and correcting means for correcting an amount, per unit area, of the transparent toner which is deposited on the non-transparent toner image fixed on the recording material, by the transparent image forming means in accordance with a temperature detected by the detecting means. |
| US08655227B2 |
Opening and closing apparatus
The opening and closing apparatus includes a lower unit case, an upper unit case, a hinge, a lower guide member, an upper guide member and an opening/closing linking unit. The upper unit case is configured to open and close with respect to the lower unit case. The lower guide member is disposed in the lower unit case, and the upper guide member is disposed in the upper unit case. The opening/closing linking unit includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member and a linking portion. As the upper unit case is closed, the opening/closing linking unit moves from the base end side toward the distal end side along the upper guide member and the lower guide member. |
| US08655220B2 |
Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge and image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on a surface of the conductive substrate, an outermost layer of the photosensitive layer containing a crosslinked product formed from at least one charge transporting material having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OCH3, —NH2, —SH, and —COOH and at least one selected from a guanamine compound or a melamine compound, the content of the at least one charge transporting material being at least about 90% by weight, and the content of the at least one selected from the guanamine compound or the melamine compound being from about 0.1% by weight to about 5% by weight. |
| US08655219B2 |
Cleaning device, charging unit, image bearing unit, and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a device body, a cleaning member, and a support member. The device body is moved in a longitudinal direction of a plate-like grid member of a charging device. The cleaning member is disposed in the device body and cleans a first face of the grid member while pressing against the first face when the device body is moved. The support member is provided in the device body and has a support surface that is in contact with and supports a second face opposite to the first face of the grid member pressed by the cleaning member. The support surface is in contact with a mesh portion and a non-mesh portion of the grid member. |
| US08655218B2 |
Image forming apparatus with at least one channel for ensuring air flow
An image forming apparatus includes: a first process unit and a second process unit arranged in parallel and each having a photosensitive drum configured to form an electrostatic latent image by an exposure and a charging device configured to charge the photosensitive drum; an exposing unit disposed between the first process unit and the second process unit and configured to expose the photosensitive drum of the second process unit; a first flow channel formed between the first process unit and the exposing unit for supplying air to the charging device of the second process unit; and a second flow channel formed in the first process unit and having an outlet for supplying the air to the charging device of the second process unit. |
| US08655211B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a fixing belt; a pressing rotary body disposed outside a loop formed by the fixing belt; a nip formation pad disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt and pressed against the pressing rotary body via the fixing belt to form a fixing nip between the pressing rotary body and the fixing belt through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. The nip formation pad includes a protrusion disposed downstream from the fixing nip in a conveyance direction of the recording medium and protruding toward the pressing rotary body without contacting the pressing rotary body. The fixing device further includes a pressing rotary body mover to contact and move the pressing rotary body bidirectionally in the conveyance direction of the recording medium to move the fixing nip toward and away from the protrusion. |
| US08655209B2 |
Correction of line width variation due to toner age
The present disclosure provides a method of forming a toner image, comprising: electrically charging a photoreceptor by a charging roller being brought into contact with the photoreceptor, the photoreceptor comprises a photosensitive coating layer on a cylindrical conductive substrate; correcting line width variation using an exposure adjustment calculation (y); and, wherein the exposure adjustment calculation uses a factor based on a ratio (m) of a coefficient of line width variation due to toner age divided by the coefficient of line width variation due to laser power. |
| US08655208B2 |
Image forming apparatus for image transfer onto a transfer member
An image forming apparatus performs control so that a wrinkle is formed at a predetermined position of an intermediate transfer belt and, when forming a toner image having such a large size that the toner image overlaps the wrinkle formed in the intermediate transfer belt, the leading edge and the trailing edge of the toner image overlap the wrinkle. |
| US08655206B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus which transfers clear toner and at least one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color toner onto a recording medium to form an image based on image information and image classification information, the apparatus including a clear priority determiner configured to determine a clear priority based on the image classification information; a toner adherence amount determiner determining amounts of the color toners and the clear toner to be adhered to the recording medium based on the image information and the clear priority; and a toner transferer transferring the color toners and the clear toner onto the recording medium in amounts determined by the toner adherence amount determiner. |
| US08655204B2 |
Induction heating device, induction heating fixing device, and image forming apparatus
An induction heating device includes a resonance circuit including an exciting coil and a resonance capacitor; a switching unit that turns on and off a high-frequency current flowing through the switching unit; a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the heated body; a power amount detector that detects a power amount sent to the exciting coil; a turned-on time setting unit that sets a turned-on time of the switching unit; a timing generation unit that generates a signal indicating a timing when a voltage between both ends of the switching unit is zero; and a timing setting unit that sets a turned-on timing of the switching unit based on the signal generated by the timing generation unit. |
| US08655201B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a toner cartridge which includes a storage section; a toner motor; a toner-motor driving section; a count measuring section configured to measure a driving time of the toner motor and calculate a consumption count value of the toner; an event detecting section configured to detect operation events; a main body counter configured to sequentially update a main body counter value with the consumption count value and stores the main body counter value; a toner counter configured to store a toner counter value in the storage section; a counter comparing section configured to perform counter comparison of the main body counter value and the toner counter value; and an event processing section configured to perform processing for keeping consistency of the main body counter value and the toner counter value on the basis of the counter comparison. |
| US08655199B2 |
Image forming apparatus with dust detection
An image forming apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read an original, an image forming unit configured to form an image of the original read by the reading unit on a sheet, a detecting unit configured to detect whether or not the image of the original read by the reading unit includes an irregular part formed by a stray dust particle adhered to the original, and a control unit configured to control, in response to detection of the irregular part by the detecting unit, the image forming unit to make an additional copy of the image of the original including the irregular part. |
| US08655197B2 |
Electronic paper structure and method for fabricating electronic paper
An electronic paper structure is disclosed, which includes a hard substrate, a flexible substrate, at least one magnetic device for fastening the flexible substrate on the hard substrate temporally, a drive substrate formed on the flexible substrate, an electronic paper display layer formed on the drive substrate, and a protect layer formed on the electronic paper display layer. An electronic paper fabricating method using the same is also disclosed. |
| US08655196B2 |
Phase control circuit and method for optical receivers
This invention relates to a phase control circuit for an optical receiver (1). The phase control circuit (9, 19) comprises a non-linear element (22) and a power detector (24). The non-linear element (22) has a rectifying characteristic, inputs the received electrical signal (7, 17) and provides a rectified signal at its output. The power detector (24) provides an error signal which is used to obtain a phase control signal (5) which is output by the phase control circuit. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for phase control of an optical receiver (1). |
| US08655195B2 |
Average length magnitude detecting apparatus, and method
The present invention relates to an average length magnitude detecting apparatus and method, and an optical coherent receiver. The average length magnitude detecting method is adopted for detecting whether an average length of an averager used by a polarization crosstalk canceling apparatus in a receiver is long or short, comprising: determining a magnitude of a residual polarization crosstalk coefficient of the receiver; and determining an index that indicates whether the average length of the averager is long or short according to the determined magnitude of the residual polarization crosstalk coefficient. |
| US08655193B2 |
Optical multi-level transmission system
Provided is an optical multilevel transmission system, comprising at least one optical multilevel transmitter for transmitting an optical multilevel signal obtained and an optical multilevel receiver for receiving the optical multilevel signal. The received optical multilevel signal has a larger noise in an angular direction than in a radial direction. The optical multilevel receiver sets, in a symbol decision of the received optical multilevel signal demodulated on the complex plane, for positions of all or some of ideal signal points, a width in the angular direction of a decision area, to which each of the ideal signal points belongs and which is measured along a circumference of a circle centered at an origin and passing through a center of the each of the ideal signal points, larger than a width in the angular direction of a decision area defined based on a Euclidean distance. |
| US08655187B2 |
Data center with free-space optical communications
A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links. |
| US08655186B2 |
Technique for selectively changing dispersion in optical communication channels
A reconfigurable wavelength selective dispersion compensation device RWSDCD for selective compensation of dispersion in optical channels having different wavelengths. The RWSDCD comprises a controllable wavelength selective unit WSU having a plurality of local, wavelength related input/output (I/O) ports. The RWDSD also comprises a dispersion compensation cascade comprising at least one chain of successively connected dispersion compensation units DCUs, wherein one or more of the DCUs in the chain are respectively connectable to one or more of the local I/O ports. The RWSDCD outputs one or more of the incoming optical channels upon selectively compensating chromatic dispersion in them, by controllably passing these channels via one or more DCUs of the dispersion compensation cascade. |
| US08655182B2 |
Optical transceiver implemented with I2C busses arbitrated by selector
An optical transceiver with a bus selector for selecting one of I2C inner busses is disclosed. One of inner I2C buses connects the controller with a nonvolatile memory, while another I2C bus connects the controller with a volatile memory with a priority to the non-volatile memory. When the volatile memory is selected during the controller communicates with the non-volatile memory, the controller sets a command to the bus selector to select the second I2C bus and hold the first I2C bus. |
| US08655178B2 |
Method and apparatus for clearing an optical channel
A method and apparatus for clearing an optical channel for transmitting data through free space between a first and second location includes a light beam, wherein the light beam has a spatially and/or time-dependent modulated intensity profile, and is substantially collimated so that the intensity profile is conserved over a specified distance of operation. The light beam includes a cross-sectional profile having regions of low and high intensity, portions of which are provided for the transmission of an optical data signal. A light source wavelength and intensity are selected for types of obscurant particles having optical properties whereby the radiation pressure acts on the particles, and the particles may then be either attracted into or repelled from portions of the spatially modulated optical beam, leaving certain portions of the optical channel beam absent of obscurant particles, thereby enabling transmission of optical data through the cleared optical channel with low attenuation. |
| US08655177B2 |
Optical transmitter
A method of generating an information-bearing optical signal (614) from input digital information (602) includes generating (604, 606) an information-bearing electrical signal comprising an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. Each of the components has a predetermined baseband bandwidth requirement (B). The I and Q signal components are combined (610) with corresponding I and Q components of a radio frequency (RF) carrier (608). The carrier has a central frequency greater than the signal bandwidth requirement (B). An optical source is modulated (612) with the combined I and Q signal and carrier components, in order to produce a modulated optical signal (614) which comprises an optical carrier corresponding with the RF carrier, and substantially only a single information-bearing optical sideband in an optical frequency domain, corresponding with the information-bearing electrical signals. Transmitters implementing the method are also disclosed. |
| US08655176B2 |
System and methods for converting a temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse into a train of spectrally narrow optical pulses
A system and methods are provided for converting a first temporally short and spectrally broad optical pulse into a train of spectrally narrow and distinct optical pulses. This involves receiving, on a first I/O channel, the first optical pulse associated with a plurality of wavelengths and performing wavelength division demultiplexing on the first optical pulse at an optical unit housed on an optical chip to output a plurality of second optical pulses on different ones of a plurality of second I/O channels, each of the second optical pulses associated with a unique wavelength range from the first optical pulse. This also involves receiving the second optical pulses at loop mirrors in the second I/O channels, wherein the second I/O channels are patterned as waveguides in the optical chip and reflecting, at the loop mirrors, the second optical pulses back to the optical unit. |
| US08655174B2 |
Wavelength division multiplexer compatible with two types of passive optical networks
A wavelength division multiplexer is provided by the present invention, which implements the wavelength division multiplexing and de-multiplexing of the optical signals in the basic and upgrade bands by reasonably arranging the filters and selecting the spectral properties of the filters, so that the existing time division multiplexing passive optical network (TDM-PON) can transmit the next generation passive optical network (NG-PON) simultaneously and the existing TDM-PON can be smoothly upgraded to the NG-PON, meanwhile, it provides the deployed TDM-PON with the subsequent network compatibility. The wavelength division multiplexer provided in the present invention can meet the high isolation requirement of the optical signals in working band with low cost, and takes both the isolation requirement and the optical network insertion loss requirement into account, thus it has high reliability, is easy to use and for system upgrade. |
| US08655172B2 |
System and method for obtaining optical signal information
A system is provided for identifying signal propagation information. The system includes at least one component configured to receive an optical input signal and to emit an optical output signal. The emitted optical output signal is representative of the optical input signal, and is associated with characteristic information indicative of the component. A processor is also included, the processor being configured to sense the optical output signal and correlate the characteristic information with said component. |
| US08655168B2 |
Passive optical network maintenance method, an optical network unit, and an optical line terminal
The present disclosure relates to a passive optical network (PON) and provides a method for maintaining the PON, the optical network unit (ONU), and the optical line terminal (OLT) to solve the problem of the ONU being in a constant light emitting state. The method of the present disclosure allows the OLT to determine whether the continuous seizure time of an upstream channel exceeds the preset threshold, and if so, detect the failed ONU that continuously seizes the upstream channel and use a control message or control signal to instruct the failed ONU to turn off power supply to its transmitting circuit. |
| US08655165B2 |
Light transmission device, optical relay device, optical wavelength multiplexing transmission apparatus, and light transmission method
A relay station has an optical switch that switches a reception path of an optical signal. The relay station generates a subsignal that has a wavelength different from the wavelength of a data signal corresponding to a signal to be transmitted and transmits an optical signal obtained by multiplexing the generated subsignal and the data signal. In this state, when the data signal is not included in the received optical signal, the relay station determines whether the subsignal is included in the optical signal. When it is determined that the subsignal is included, the relay station maintains a connection path of the optical switch without switching the connection path. |
| US08655163B2 |
Consolidated 2D/3D camera
A consolidated 2D/3D camera system and method of operation. A consolidated 2D/3D camera system may include a first camera having a first lens and a second camera having a second lens. A 3D frame extractor may extract a first 3D image frame from an image captured by the first camera and extract a second 3D image frame from an image captured by the second camera to provide a stereo image pair. A 2D frame extractor may extract a 2D image frame, different from the first 3D image frame, from the image captured by the first camera. |
| US08655159B2 |
Heating and cooling apparatus
As exemplified, a portable air blowing appliance includes a housing retaining an airflow-producing electric motor-driven blower. The blower is adapted when energized for operation in either a first or a different mode. An electric heating element is adapted when energized to expel heat. An electric switch enables energizing of the blower and the heating element to either cause operation of the blower in the first mode or to cause, simultaneously, operation of the blower in the different mode and heat expulsion by the heating element. The blower is adapted for higher airflow-producing efficacy during the first mode. The heating element is disposed to warm airflow from the blower during the different mode. |
| US08655155B2 |
Recording apparatus, recording method, and recording program, and image capturing apparatus, image capturing method, and image capturing program
Management information for video data and audio data that are created after their recording is started until it is stopped and that are recorded as a stream file on a record medium is more securely stored. When their recording is started, EP entry information contained in management information of the stream file is created. Whenever EP entry information is created, it is written to a nonvolatile memory. After their recording is stopped, fixed value information and so forth that are contained in the management information are created and written to the nonvolatile memory. According to a disc eject operation, the management information written to the nonvolatile memory is written to the disc and the contents stored in the nonvolatile memory are cleared. Likewise, when power is turned off without the eject operation, information stored in the nonvolatile memory is written to the disc. Since the management information is stored in the nonvolatile memory, even if power is unexpectedly turned off, the management information will not be lost. |
| US08655154B2 |
Television signal recording
A television signal recording apparatus comprises a recording unit that makes recordings of television signals and stores metadata representing information in respect of the recordings including the channel and the recording time. A graphical display of made recordings and scheduled recordings is produced in which graphical objects representing respective recordings are arranged in two dimensions, ordered in a first dimension on the basis of the channels and ordered in a second dimension on the basis of the recording times. In the second dimension, the graphical objects are arranged along a time axis which includes discontinuities at times when no recording is present, the discontinuities being graphically represented by graphical symbols that are different according to the period of the discontinuity. An electronic program guide is produced with a similar format, the programs being filtered to select programs and discontinuities being present at times where there is no selected program. |
| US08655150B2 |
Moving image editing apparatus and control method therefor
An apparatus for editing a series of moving images recorded across a plurality of recording media including at least a first and second recording media, comprising: an editing unit which performs editing processing on a part of the series of moving images recorded on the first recording medium; a storage control unit which performs control such that the editing processing is stored; a determination unit which determines whether or not a detachable recording medium has been attached; and a control unit which, in a case where it has been determined that the second recording medium has been attached, performs control for applying the editing processing that has been performed on the part of the series of moving images recorded on the first recording medium and has been stored by the storage control unit, to a part of the series of moving images that is recorded on the second recording medium. |
| US08655149B2 |
Reproducing apparatus, reproducing method, reproducing program, and recording medium
For a large capacity recording medium, a user interface having high flexibility and enriched representation is accomplished. A flag that represents whether a play item has a multiple angle structure of which the play item is reproduced with a plurality of angles is described. In addition, a flag that represents whether the beginning of each decode unit is an angle switchable point is described. In a seamless multiple angle structure, the current angle can be switched without need to increase the number of interleave units. In a nonseamless multiple angle structure, with the flag, in a predetermined region on the rear end side of each angle, the current angle is prohibited from being switched. Thus, when a play item exits from the multiple angle, discontinuity in the reproduction can be prevented. In addition, with a flag that represents whether a sub play item should be reproduced not in synchronization with a main path, the sub play item of only audio data can be used as a BGM. |
| US08655147B2 |
Content reproduction order determination system, and method and program thereof
A system comprising: a extraction unit that extracts from each content a signal feature series, being a series of signal features caused to correspond to positions on a time axis of the content; a generator for detects mutual similarity sections, being sections in which the signal features for different contents are similar to each other, from said signal feature series for each content, and generates the content to which each mutual similarity section belongs, information for specifying the position of the above mutual similarity section on the time axis of the content, and a link indicative of a correspondence relation of the mutual similarity section as mutual similarity section link information; and a determination unit that determines a reproduction order of the content based upon a relationship of the position of the mutual similarity section on the time axis of the content that said mutual similarity section link information indicates. |
| US08655145B2 |
Recording medium, program, and reproduction method
ABD-ROM 100 and a local storage 200 contain dynamic scenarios (programs) such as a Java application and a Movie Object. A dynamic scenario reads profile information from PSR 31 of the playback apparatus and judges whether or not the playback apparatus is an audio-only type. If it is judged that the playback apparatus is not the audio-only type, an interactive screen is displayed to perform a control to play back a digital stream according to an operation made onto the interactive screen. If it is judged that the playback apparatus is the audio-only type, a control is performed to play back a digital stream according to an operation that is made without use of the interactive screen. |
| US08655134B2 |
Photonic devices having degenerate or split spectral band edges and methods for using the same
Provided herein are photonic devices configured to display photonic band gap structure with a degenerate or a split band edge. Electromagnetic radiation incident upon these photonic devices can be converted into a frozen mode characterized by a significantly increased amplitude, as compared to that of the incident wave. The device can also be configured as a resonance cavity with a giant transmission band edge resonance. In an exemplary embodiment, the photonic device is a periodic layered structure with each unit cell comprising at least two anisotropic layers with misaligned anisotropy. The degenerate or split band edge at a given frequency can be achieved by proper choice of the layers' thicknesses and the misalignment angle. In another embodiment, the photonic device is configured as a waveguide periodically modulated along its axis. |
| US08655133B2 |
Optical fiber and optical communication system including same
The invention relates to an optical fiber employable in an optical communication system using Raman amplification and adapted to improve OSNR and suppress bending loss at the same time, and the like. The optical fiber is a silica-based optical fiber having a depressed refractive index profile constituted by at least a core, an inner cladding having a low refractive index, and an outer cladding, an effective area Aeff of 110 μm2 or more at the wavelength of 1550 nm, and a fiber cutoff wavelength λc of 1.3 μm or more but 1.53 μm or less. The depressed refractive index profile is designed such that the ratio Ra(=2b/2a) of the diameter of the inner cladding to the diameter of the core is 2.5 or more but 3.5 or less and that the relative refractive index difference Δ− of the inner cladding with respect to the outer cladding is at least the relative refractive index difference Δ−min where the bending loss at the wavelength for use is minimized but not exceeding (Δ−min+0.06) %. |
| US08655132B2 |
Multi-core optical fiber
A multi-core optical fiber 1A in which a plurality of cores can easily be identified even in the case where they are symmetrically arranged in its section has seven cores 10 to 16, a visual recognition marker 20, and a shared cladding 30 enclosing the seven cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20. The cores 10 to 16, the visual recognition marker 20, and the cladding 30 are respectively made of silica glass as their main element. The cores 10 to 16 and the visual recognition marker 20 extend along the fiber-axis direction. The respective refractive index of the cores 10 to 16 is higher than the refractive index of the cladding 30. The refractive index of the visual recognition marker 20 differs from that of the cladding 30. In the cross-section perpendicular to the fiber-axis, the cores 10 to 16 are arranged such that they have 6-fold rotational symmetry and line symmetry. The visual recognition marker 20 is arranged at a position which breaks such symmetry. |
| US08655127B2 |
Rugged fiber optic cable
There is provided an optical fiber cable having a plurality of optical fiber members. Each optical fiber member includes an optical fiber and a protective coating surrounding the optical fiber. A polymer coating surrounds the plurality of optical fiber members and a portion of the polymer coating is located between at least some of the optical fiber members. The optical fiber members and the polymer coating form an optical fiber unit. A tight buffer surrounds the optical fiber unit. |
| US08655126B2 |
Method of manufacturing optical waveguide having mirror face, and optoelectronic composite wiring board
In order to provide a method of manufacturing an optical waveguide, which enables the formation of a smooth mirror face, the following method of manufacturing an optical waveguide having a mirror face is used. The method includes: a photocurable resin sheet laminating step of laminating an uncured photocurable resin sheet for forming a core on a surface of a first cladding layer that has been formed on a substrate; a mirror face forming step of forming a mirror face for guiding light to the core by pressing a die provided with a blade having, in a cross-section, a 45° inclined plane into the photocurable resin sheet; a core forming step of forming a core having the mirror face positioned at an end thereof by selectively exposing to light, and developing, the photocurable resin sheet; and a cladding layer forming step of forming a second cladding layer so as to bury the core. |
| US08655125B2 |
High voltage photo switch package module
A photo-conductive switch package module having a photo-conductive substrate or wafer with opposing electrode-interface surfaces, and at least one light-input surface. First metallic layers are formed on the electrode-interface surfaces, and one or more optical waveguides having input and output ends are bonded to the substrate so that the output end of each waveguide is bonded to a corresponding one of the light-input surfaces of the photo-conductive substrate. This forms a waveguide-substrate interface for coupling light into the photo-conductive wafer. A dielectric material such as epoxy is then used to encapsulate the photo-conductive substrate and optical waveguide so that only the metallic layers and the input end of the optical waveguide are exposed. Second metallic layers are then formed on the first metallic layers so that the waveguide-substrate interface is positioned under the second metallic layers. |
| US08655123B2 |
In-line optical fiber devices, optical systems, and methods
An in-line optical device adapted to be bonded in between ends of an optical fiber line is disclosed. The in-line optical device has an inner optical field interaction region, an outer support structure, and at least one radial opening. In some embodiments, a void region substantially surrounds the inner optical field interaction region. Systems including the in-line optical device and methods of making and using the in-line optical device are provided. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US08655121B2 |
Single mode high power fiber laser system
A high power single mode fiber laser system has a monolithic active fiber configured with a double bottleneck-shaped multimode (MM) core which is capable of supporting substantially only a fundamental mode at a given wavelength. The core has opposite uniformly configured end regions, frustoconical transformer regions running inwards from the respective end regions, and a central uniformly-dimensioned region which bridges the transformer regions. The MM core is configured with a refractive step-index profile which includes a continuous dip configured to shape an intensity field of the fundamental mode from a Gaussian or dome-shaped field profile to a two-peak-shaped profile and back to the Gaussian filed profile. |
| US08655119B2 |
Connection device and optical device
A connection device includes a ground electrode layer that is provided in a substrate, a first transmission path that is provided on the ground electrode layer via a dielectric layer, and a plurality of leads that are connected to the first transmission path and the ground electrode layer or the first transmission path and a plane that is electrically connected to the ground electrode layer. The plurality of leads are fitted into through-holes that are provided in a second transmission path and a ground electrode on a flexible substrate to be electrically connected. |
| US08655116B2 |
Optical modulator
An optical modulator includes: a semiconductor chip; a waveguide in the semiconductor chip; a traveling wave electrode including an input portion and an output portion, to which a signal is applied for modulating light passing through the waveguide; a power supply line connected to the input portion via a first wire; and a termination resistor connected to the output portion via a second wire. Capacitance between the output portion and a grounding point is larger than capacitance between the input portion and the grounding point. |
| US08655109B2 |
Regression-based learning model for image upscaling
Methods and systems for a regression-based learning model in image upscaling are disclosed. In one embodiment, a set of image patch pairs for each of a set of images is generated. Each of the image patch pairs contains a natural image and a corresponding downscaled lower-resolution image. A regression model based at least in part on the set of image patch pairs is defined. The regression model represents a gradient of a function of the downscaled lower-resolution image. An image is upscaled based at least in part on the regression model. |
| US08655107B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method, computer-readable medium and computer data signal
An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit, a specifying unit, a search unit and a difference extracting unit. The acquiring unit acquires a first image and a second image. The specifying unit specifies one or more image areas included in the first image. The search unit searches the second image for an image area corresponding to each of the one or more image areas specified by the specifying unit. The difference extracting unit extracts a difference between the corresponding image area obtained by the search unit and each of the one or more image areas specified by the specifying unit. |
| US08655105B2 |
Proactive creation of image-based products
A method for proactively creating an image-based product includes identifying a group of images and automatically creating a design for a image-based product without receiving a user's request if the number of images in the group is determined to be within a predetermined range. The image-based product incorporates a plurality of images in the group. The method further includes presenting the design of the image-based product to a user for preview and making a physical manifestation of the image-based product based on the design. |
| US08655098B2 |
Image signal processing apparatus and computer-readable recording medium recording image signal processing program
An image signal processing apparatus including a first tone correcting section for generating a first image signal by performing a space-variant tone conversion process for a digitalized image signal from a CCD and an A/D converting section, a second tone correcting section for generating a second image signal by performing a space-invariant tone correction process for the digitalized image signal from the CCD and the A/D converting section, and a synthesizing section for setting a synthesis rate R1 of the first image signal and a synthesis rate R2 of the second image signal, and synthesizing the first image signal and the second image signal based on the set synthesis rates R1 and R2. |
| US08655094B2 |
Photogrammetry system and method for determining relative motion between two bodies
A photogrammetry system and method provide for determining the relative position between two objects. The system utilizes one or more imaging devices, such as high speed cameras, that are mounted on a first body, and three or more photogrammetry targets of a known location on a second body. The system and method can be utilized with cameras having fish-eye, hyperbolic, omnidirectional, or other lenses. The system and method do not require overlapping fields-of-view if two or more cameras are utilized. The system and method derive relative orientation by equally weighting information from an arbitrary number of heterogeneous cameras, all with non-overlapping fields-of-view. Furthermore, the system can make the measurements with arbitrary wide-angle lenses on the cameras. |
| US08655093B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing segmentation of an image
A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time. |
| US08655090B2 |
Image quality control techniques
A technique for controlling the quality of one or more compressed images. The technique allows, for example, the selection of a target quality metric(s) and the compression of the image(s) such the compressed image(s) meets the metric(s). Alternatively, a target quality metric can be specified, and the image(s) compressed using parameters estimated to achieve the target quality. Optionally, the quality metric can also be made available to, for example, a user on an image processing system. The quality metrics can be, for example, for one or more layers, one or more images and/or one or more image sequences. |
| US08655089B2 |
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. |
| US08655088B2 |
Image encoder, image decoder and method for encoding original image data
According to one embodiment an image encoder encodes original image data using reference image data stored in a frame memory. The image encoder includes a controller, a memory, a motion controller, and a motion compensation module. The controller generates control information including a starting point coordinate and an ending point coordinate of a necessary area in the reference image data stored in the frame memory. The memory includes a storage area in which at least part of the reference image data is stored. The motion controller determines whether the necessary area is a transfer-necessary area or a transfer-unnecessary area based on the control information, and transfers the reference image data of the transfer-necessary area from the frame memory to the storage area. The motion compensation module generates prediction image data using the reference image data stored in the storage area. |
| US08655086B1 |
Image compression with alpha channel data
Techniques for a compressed image with alpha channel data are described. Encoded alpha channel data from a compressed image representation may be extracted. A common type pixel run characteristic may be determined for at least one common type pixel run represented in the encoded alpha channel data. A common alpha channel value is applied, based on the common type pixel run characteristic, to pixels in a decompressed image representation correlated to the at least one common type pixel run. Pixels in the decompressed image representation correlating to at least one lookup type pixel run represented in the encoded alpha channel data may be processed. The processing may include a determination of an alpha channel value based on pixel data, specific to a pixel correlated to the lookup type pixel run, in the encoded alpha channel data and an application of the alpha channel value to the pixel. |
| US08655085B2 |
Burst mode image compression and decompression
Modified compression/decompression and metadata in burst mode images reduce the storage space consumed by burst mode images. Metadata is added to image files (e.g., EXIF files) to establish links between images in a burst mode image series. A series of linked burst mode images can include delta images representing a temporal difference between the image data (e.g., pixel data) for two burst images captured at different time instances. Difference information can be compressed. A root image for a linked burst mode series can be identified and used as a reference for other burst images. Metadata can be added to image files to link burst images prior to compression, after compression, or at an intermediate stage of compression of image data. Difference information for delta image files can be derived prior to compression, after compression, or at an intermediate stage of compression of image data. |
| US08655084B2 |
Hand-based gender classification
For each of at least one digitally-imaged hand part, where each of the at least one digitally-imaged hand part corresponds to one of a plurality of hand parts, a set of feature parameters representing a geometry of the digitally-imaged hand part is computed. The set(s) of feature parameters for a set of one or more of the digitally-imaged hand parts is/are used to compute distances of the set of digitally-imaged hand parts from each of i) a first eigenspace corresponding to a male class, and ii) a second eigenspace corresponding to a female class. The computed distances are used to classify the gender of a hand as belonging to the male class or the female class. |
| US08655079B2 |
Reducing false alarms in identifying whether a candidate image is from an object class
In one aspect, a method to reduce false alarms in identifying whether a candidate image is from an object class includes projecting the candidate image onto an object class subspace and projecting the candidate image onto a non-object class subspace. The method also includes determining whether the candidate image is from the object class using a Bayesian decision function based on the projections on the object class subspace and the non-object class subspace.In another aspect, a method to reduce false alarms in identifying whether a candidate mine image is from a mine class includes projecting the candidate mine image onto a mine subspace and projecting the candidate mine image onto a non-mine subspace. The method also includes determining whether the candidate mine image represents a mine using a Bayesian decision function based on the projections on the mine class subspace and the non-mine class subspace. |
| US08655076B2 |
Marker generating and marker detecting system, method and program
A marker generating system is characterized in having a special feature extracting element that extracts a portion, as a special feature, including a distinctive pattern in a video image not including a marker; a unique special feature selecting element that, based on the extracted special feature, selects a special feature of an image, as a unique special feature, that does not appear on the video image; and a marker generating element that generates a marker based on the unique special feature. |
| US08655075B2 |
Optical character recognition verification and correction system
A system for verifying and correcting errors after translation of printed text into machine-readable text. The system includes a memory for storing formulas defining relationships between data fields. A processor evaluates the formulas according to data values associated with the data fields to determine whether the formulas evaluate as truthful statements. The processor marks the data fields of the formulas as unverified or as verified based upon this evaluation. The system also uses the processor to calculate a determined value for data fields in an attempt to correct errors in the translation of the printed text into machine-readable text. If different determined values are calculated for the same data field, based upon different formulas, the data field is marked as uncertain. The system iterates based upon the marking of the data fields of the formulas as verified or unverified and as uncertain or not uncertain. |
| US08655073B2 |
System and method for converting source image data to tile data
System and method for converting source image data to tile data by (a) selecting a source image set, (b) computing a scaling value for the source image set, (c) selecting a base scale for a tile set to be created based on the scaling value, (d) establishing the tile set geographic bounds of the tile set, (e) converting the tile set geographic bounds, (f) for each source image from each source image set (i) determining source image geographic bounds of the source image, (ii) if there is an intersection between the source image geographic bounds and the tile set geographic bounds, (1) loading the source image from a LRU cache, if possible, (2) if the source image is not in the LRU cache, loading the source image into the LRU cache, (3) extracting image data from the source image at the intersection, (4) scaling the image data based on the base scale, (5) storing the scaled image data to a tile storage mechanism, (g) clearing the LRU cache, and (h) repeating steps (a) through (g) for each source image set. |
| US08655072B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus and medical image processing program
A medical image processing apparatus includes a first extraction part, an adding part, a first specifying part, and a second specifying part. The first extraction part extracts an air region from volume data after receiving volume data representing a region including an organ under observation. The adding part adds pixel values of the pixels in the air region along a predetermined projection direction to generate projection image data representing the distribution of the added value of pixel values. The first specifying part specifies a first characteristic point from the projection image data. The second specifying part specifies, as a second characteristic point, a point on a line passing a first characteristic point in an air region. |
| US08655063B2 |
Decoding system and method operable on encoded texture element blocks
A decoding system comprises N different decoders each having a unique circuitry that is different from the circuitries of the other N−1 decoders. The decoders each generate at least one texel value based on an input encoded texel block. A value selector is configured to selectively output at least N texel values from at least one of the decoders based on the position of the at least N texels relative a boundary of a texel block comprising at least one of the at least N texels. A pixel calculator calculates a pixel value of a decoded pixel based on the at least N selected texel values from the value selector. |
| US08655050B2 |
Pattern generating apparatus and pattern shape evaluating apparatus
Although there has been a method for evaluating pattern shapes of electronic devices by using, as a reference pattern, design data or a non-defective pattern, the conventional method has a problem that the pattern shape cannot be evaluated with high accuracy because of the difficulty in defining an exact shape suitable for the manufacturing conditions of the electronic devices. The present invention provides a shape evaluation method for circuit patterns of electronic devices, the method including a means for generating contour distribution data of at least two circuit patterns from contour data sets on the circuit patterns; a means for generating a reference pattern used for the pattern shape evaluation, from the contour distribution data; and a means for evaluating the pattern shape by comparing each evaluation target pattern with the reference pattern. |
| US08655048B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring size distribution of granular matter
A method and apparatus for measuring size distribution of bulk matter consisted of randomly orientated granules, such as wood chips, make use of scanning the exposed surface of the granular matter to generate three-dimensional profile image data defined with respect to a three-coordinate reference system, The image data is segmented to reveal regions associated with distinct granules, and values of the size-related parameter for the revealed regions are estimated. Then, a geometric correction to each ones of estimated size-related parameter values is applied, to compensate for the random orientation of corresponding distinct granules. Finally, the size distribution of bulk matter is statistically estimated from the corrected size-related parameter values. |
| US08655045B2 |
System and method for processing a deposit transaction
A system for tracking currency bills comprises a currency scanning device. The scanning device includes a sensor that retrieves currency identification characteristic information of each bill processed. The currency identification characteristic information permits the unique identification of each bill processed. The system further comprises a customer identification means and means for associating each processed bill with the customer depositing the bill. Means for identifying the customer (or customer account) associated with a particular processed bill after the deposit transaction has been completed is also included in the system. |
| US08655040B2 |
Integrated image registration and motion estimation for medical imaging applications
Technologies are described herein for generating a diagnostic three dimensional image for a patient. Some example technologies may obtain a sequence of multiple images of the patient using an imaging modality device. The technologies may estimate a registration vector for each image based on a motion function and an image transformation function. Each image may be defined by a measurement noise added to the image transformation function operating on the registration vector with respect to a reference image. The registration vector may be a function of a breathing motion of a prior registration vector added to a transition noise value. The technologies may estimate motion parameters based on the registration vector. The technologies may iteratively refine the registration vector and the motion parameters. The technologies may generate the diagnostic three dimensional image of the patient using the registration vector for each image and the motion parameters. |
| US08655039B2 |
Method of segmenting lesions in images
The method of segmenting a lesion in an image according to the present invention includes the steps of: obtaining an image of a region of interest from an image of a lesion; adjusting the contrast of the obtained image of the region of interest such that the contrast changes according to the distance from the center of the region of interest; removing noise from the image whose contrast is adjusted; and separating the region of the lesion from the noise-removed image. In the step of adjusting the contrast, the image is adjusted such that the contrast is increased as it goes away from the center of the region of interest, and thus it is possible to segment the lesion while maintaining the original shape of the lesion, thereby reliably segmenting the lesion even in the case where the inside of the lesion is not uniform. |
| US08655038B2 |
Method and assembly for correcting a relaxation map for medical imaging applications
A method for correcting a relaxation map of an object scanned with a magnetic resonance imaging modality the object having a plurality of structure and/or tissue types. The method includes deriving a first relaxation map of a scanned object from at least two three-dimensional scans of the object acquired using a sequence of ultrashort echo time pulses adapted for distinguishing between the various types of a plurality of structure and/or tissue types of the object. Information is obtained on the type of structure and/or tissue type present in voxels in the first relaxation map and binarizing the obtained information. A corrected relaxation map is generated by combining the binarized information with the first relaxation map. |
| US08655036B2 |
Presentation of locations in medical diagnosis
Locations, such as computer assisted detection marks, are presented in medical imaging diagnosis, such as for colon computed tomography diagnosis. To avoid fly-through and/or to assist in more rapid and thorough review of CAD marks, a summary of a plurality of detected candidates is pre-computed and presented to the user in a single collection. For example, a single display or screen view includes a gallery of images for different candidates. These pre-computed images are displayed on the screen, allowing the user to quickly identify locations of interest and rule out other locations. The summary may be used for navigation outside the CAD context, such as presenting different portions of an organ to be viewed. |
| US08655035B2 |
Epithelial structure detector and related methods
A method for training a classifier to be operative as an epithelial texture classifier, includes obtaining a plurality of training micrograph areas of biopsy tissue and for each of the training micrograph areas, identifying probable locations of nuclei that form epithelia, generating a skeleton graph from the probable locations of the nuclei that form the epithelia, manually drawing walls on the skeleton graph outside of the epithelia to divide the epithelia from one another, and manually selecting points that lie entirely inside the epithelia to generate open and/or closed geodesic paths in the skeleton graph between pairs of the selected points. Data is obtained from points selected from the walls and the paths and applied to a classifier to train the classifier as the epithelial texture classifier. A method and detector for detecting epithelial structures includes applying a sample micrograph area of biopsy tissue to an epithelial texture classifier; identifying probable locations of nuclei that form epithelia of the sample micrograph area with the epithelial texture classifier, generating a skeleton graph from the probable locations of the nuclei that form the epithelia of the sample micrograph area, determining a set of open and/or closed geodesic paths in the skeleton graph of the sample micrograph area; and determining a set of the epithelial masks using the open and/or closed epithelial paths of the sample micrograph area. |
| US08655032B2 |
Mobile identification system and method
A mobile application stored within the mobile device allows for file collection, transfer, and display on a smart device with G3, G4, EDGE, or similar data communication capabilities. The software is used in conjunction with information collection devices synced to a smart device via blue tooth technology, such as a fingerprinting device. The device will transfer a file to the smart device running the mobile application. The application will then encrypt the file and encode the file that is then packaged into a proprietary format. The file is then sent to a web location using the data transmission capability of the mobile device. The device will then monitor a file location of a web address for a return response. It will then get the file from the web location in a standard NIST approved format, extract information and images from the file, displaying them in a GUI. |
| US08655028B2 |
Photo sharing system with face recognition function
A photo sharing system with a face recognition function is provided. The photo sharing system includes a photo browser and a photo sharing platform. The photo browser has a photo classification module for classifying plural photos according to face image contained in the plural photos, thereby generating a photo classification message. The photo classification message contains the photos having the face image of the same person. Moreover, the photo classification message may be transmitted to the photo sharing platform at the same time to be shared to the receiver corresponding to face image. By the photo sharing system, the efficacy of sharing photos will be enhanced. |
| US08655027B1 |
Method of image-based user authentication
A method of authenticating a user by capturing an image of the user, assigning a user-name, selecting an image category, selecting a pattern, selecting locations on the user's face, assigning a rotation-value, logging onto a computer, presenting images, where some images are in the image category, selecting images that are the pattern away from the images in the image category, calculating a rotation angle, projecting the selected images that are rotated by the rotation angle onto the user's face at the locations, capturing an image of the user's face with the rotated images projected thereon, and authenticating the user if the user's facial features match the user's face and the projected images are the pattern away from the images in the image-category, are at the locations, are rotated by the rotation angle, and exhibit distortion consistent with the contour of the user's face. |
| US08655025B2 |
Data analysis device, data analysis method, and program
Provided is a data analysis device for automatically detecting a step on the ground based on point cloud data representing a three-dimensional shape of a feature surface. A space subject to analysis is divided into a plurality of subspaces. A boundary search unit (22) searches for a boundary formed by the step on a horizontal plane for each of the subspaces. The boundary search unit (22) searches for a step neighborhood area having a predetermined width, in which the points projected on the horizontal plane are accumulated equal to or more than a criterion set in advance and a cloud of the points have a difference in height equal to or more than a step threshold set in advance, and searches for a directional line along a distribution of the cloud of points belonging to the step neighborhood area on the horizontal plane as the boundary. |
| US08655020B2 |
Method of tracking an object captured by a camera system
A camera system comprises an image capturing device, object detection module, object tracking module, and match classifier. The object detection module receives image data and detects objects appearing in one or more of the images. The object tracking module temporally associates instances of a first object detected in a first group of the images. The first object has a first signature representing features of the first object. The match classifier matches object instances by analyzing data derived from the first signature of the first object and a second signature of a second object detected in a second image. The second signature represents features of the second object derived from the second image. The match classifier determine whether the second signature matches the first signature. A training process automatically configures the match classifier using a set of possible object features. |
| US08655017B2 |
Method for identifying a scene from multiple wavelength polarized images
Techniques for identifying images of a scene including illuminating the scene with a beam of 3 or more wavelengths, polarized according to a determined direction; simultaneously acquiring for each wavelength an image X//(λi) polarized according to said direction and an image X⊥(λi) polarized according to a direction perpendicular to said direction, X⊥(λi) being spatially distinct from X//(λi); calculating for each wavelength an intensity image which is a linear combination of X//(λi) and X⊥(λi), providing an intensity spectrum for each pixel; calculating for each wavelength a polarization contrast image on the basis of an intensity ratio calculated as a function of X//(λi) and of X⊥(λi), providing a polarization contrast spectrum for each pixel; and calculating a spectro-polarimetric contrast image of the scene, each pixel of this spectro-polarimetric contrast image calculated based on the intensity spectrum and the contrast spectrum of the pixel considered. |
| US08655016B2 |
Example-based object retrieval for video surveillance
Methods and apparatus are provided for example-based object retrieval that can retrieve objects from video images in real-time. An object of interest is identified in a sequence of images by obtaining an identification from a user of an example object having at least one attribute of interest; generating a query object based on the identified example object, wherein the query object has a substantially similar viewpoint as objects in the sequence of images and wherein the query object comprises a plurality of attributes that are substantially similar as the example object; and processing the sequence of images to identify the object of interest based on a similarity metric to the query object. |
| US08655014B2 |
System and method for automated address directory updating
A system and method for automated address directory updating. A method includes determining address information corresponding to a destination address for a parcel, the address information including a digitized address. The method includes determining if a previous address entry proposal, corresponding to the address information and having a counter, exists in a database. The method includes, if the previous address entry proposal does not exist, then storing the address information in a new address entry proposal and initializing a counter for the new address entry proposal. The method includes, if the previous address entry proposal does exist, then adjusting the counter for the previous address entry proposal. The method includes adding the address information to a first addressing database when the counter has reached a threshold. |
| US08655010B2 |
Video-based system and method for fire detection
A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors, but suppresses the triggering of an alarm in situations based on the selection of acceptable regions and application of rules associated with each acceptable region. A user defines acceptable regions within the field of view of the video detector and associates with each acceptable region a rule. During processing of video data associated with the field of view, video metrics are calculated and analyzed to detect the presence of fire (e.g., flame or smoke). Prior to triggering an alarm, regions identified as indicative of fire are compared with the user-defined acceptable regions. If there is overlap between the two regions, the rule associated with the acceptable region is applied to determine whether the alarm should be suppressed or triggered. |
| US08655009B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing color-based reaction testing of biological materials
Color-based reaction testing of biological materials may be performed by capturing, in an uncalibrated environment, a digital image of an exposed test strip, together with an adjacently-located reference color chart or on-strip color chart. The image data specifically representing the individual test pads on the test strip, as well as the reference color blocks on the reference chart, are then located within the captured image, and compared to identify any color matches between the test pads and the corresponding sequences of reference color block. Based on this comparison operation, a set of test results can be generated which effectively identifies which of the reference chart's color blocks most closely matches the color of the corresponding dipstick's test pads. The generated test results may then be provided to the user in a printed or displayed form. Alternatively, the test results may simply be stored for later retrieval. |
| US08655007B2 |
Audio jack for a portable electronic device
A portable electronic device having an audio jack is provided. The device comprises: a processor; a jack for receiving a plug of an audio accessory; electrical connectors provided in the jack for enabling communication between the audio accessory and the processor and for contacting corresponding electrical connectors of the plug; and a switching circuit in communication with the processor and two of the electrical connectors. The switching circuit routes audio signals between the corresponding electrical connectors and the processor; after insertion of the plug into the jack, conducts a test on the electrical connectors to determine if a first one of the corresponding electrical connectors is electrically grounded. A method for routing the signals is also provided. |
| US08655006B2 |
Multi-segment cable structures
A headset can include a cable structure connecting non-cable components such as jacks and headphones. The cable structure can include several legs connected at a bifurcation. An extrusion process can be used to manufacture legs of a multi-segment cable structure. As material is processed by an extruder, one or more system factors of the extruder can be dynamically adjusted to change a diameter of the resulting leg (e.g., to provide a smooth leg having a changing size). Once the leg is extruded, portions of the leg can be reformed to create undercuts used to connect the legs at a bifurcation region. In some cases, an extrusion process can be used to construct a jointly formed multi-leg cable structure having an integral bifurcation region and split. |
| US08654997B2 |
Personal miniaturized loudspeaker placement platform
An improved method and materials for retaining small loudspeakers to a platform composed of adjustable connecting miniaturized members utilizing international standards for surround sound in meters, but reduced to inches. One example would be a scale of one inch equaling one foot, but not limited to that particular miniature scale. The present invention utilizes any and all technical aspects of sound delivery and amplification in a miniature scale arrangement with the multi-directional surround sound. The speakers so mounted in measured inches from the center-point midway between the ears of the listener, delivers multi-directional sound in a re-creation of a musical, movie or gaming experience in the same perspective as being in a room with large speakers at high listening levels or a theater setting. Listening in the miniaturized setting, the listener will experience the same high levels in decibels as in the large room setting. |
| US08654995B2 |
Audio control system for a vehicle
An audio control system may receive a plurality of audio input signals. A switch or multiplexer may switch one of the plurality of audio input signals from respective audio sources to a power amplifier. A controller in communication with the multiplexer may control switching of the multiplexer. A display may provide the user with information regarding the switching of the audio signal inputs. A user interface may permit the user to manually switch the audio source. A signal detector in communication with an audio input signal may detect a signal from a priority source. When the signal from the priority source is detected, the controller may direct the multiplexer to route the signal from the priority source to the power amplifier. |
| US08654991B2 |
Audio signal amplifier circuit
An inverting amplifier which drives headphones via an output capacitor includes: an operational amplifier, an input resistor having a first terminal via which an audio signal to be amplified is received, and a second terminal connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier; and a feedback resistor having a first terminal connected to an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and a second terminal connected to the output terminal. A reference voltage source generates a bias voltage Vb, and supplies it to the non-inverting input terminal. A discharging path includes a discharging resistor and a first switch arranged in series between an output terminal of the reference voltage source and an fixed voltage terminal. A second switch is arranged between the output terminal of the operational amplifier and a node on the discharging path where the electric potential is higher than it is at the discharging resistor. |
| US08654986B2 |
System for remotely obtaining audiometric measurements and adjusting hearing aids via the internet
System and method for remotely obtaining audiometric measurements and adjusting hearing aids via the Internet, using telematic means such as video conferencing and e-mail to establish a remote connection between the patient who may be at home, in a medical center or in a pharmacy and a hearing aid specialist at an audiometry laboratory or clinic, whereby the specialist remotely provides the patient with instructions for carrying out an audiometry test and, depending on the results, subsequently transmits adjustment signals via the Internet to the patient's hearing aid which is connected to a computer to which the patient has access. |
| US08654985B2 |
Stereo compatible multi-channel audio coding
A parametric representation of a multi-channel audio signal having parameters suited to be used together with a monophonic downmix signal to calculate a reconstruction of the multi-channel audio signal can efficiently be derived in a stereo-backwards compatible way when a parameter combiner is used to generate the parametric representation by combining a one or more spatial parameters and a stereo parameter resulting in a parametric representation having a decoder usable stereo parameter and an information on the one or more spatial parameters that represents, together with the decoder usable stereo parameter, the one or more spatial parameters. |
| US08654984B2 |
Processing stereophonic audio signals
Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing an input stereophonic audio signal to thereby generate a converted stereophonic audio signal representing the input stereophonic audio signal, the input stereophonic audio signal comprising a left input audio signal and a right input audio signal, and the converted stereophonic audio signal comprising a first converted audio signal and a second converted audio signal. The first converted audio signal is generated based on the sum of the left input audio signal and the right input audio signal. The second converted audio signal is generated based on the difference between a first function of the left input audio signal and a second function of the right input audio signal. The first and second functions are adjustable to thereby adjust at least one characteristic of the converted stereophonic audio signal. |
| US08654983B2 |
Audio coding
A spatial decoder unit (23) is arranged for transforming one or more audio channels (s; l, r) into a pair of bin-aural output channels (Ib, rb). The device comprises a parameter conversion unit (234) for converting the spatial parameters (sp) into binaural parameters (bp) containing binaural information. The device additionally comprises a spatial synthesis unit (232) for transforming the audio channels (L, R) into a pair of binaural signals (Lb, Rb) while using the binaural parameters (bp). The spatial synthesis unit (232) preferably operates in a transform domain, such as the QMF domain. |
| US08654982B2 |
Reducing power consumption in sink devices by having sinks receive only left audio channel or right audio channel
A wireless audio device may realize power savings when processing multi-channel data, e.g. 2-channel stereo audio data, by splitting the multi-channel block data into separate data blocks for each channel, e.g. Left-channel data block and Right-channel data block, and processing each separate data block independently in the source device to generate respective data packets targeting corresponding sink devices, e.g. a Left earphone and a Right earphone. The source device may then transmit each data packet to a different corresponding sink device, e.g. a Left-channel packet to a Left earphone and a Right-channel packet to a Right earphone. The data packets may also include header information indicative of whether a next packet is intended for a given sink device, enabling sink devices to enter sleep mode when the header information indicates that a next packet is not intended for the given sink device, to save power. |
| US08654981B2 |
System and method for conditional access key encryption
A system for processing multimedia channels is described comprising: transmitting decryption keys for decrypting the multimedia channels, the keys encrypted in both a first encryption format and a second encryption format; the keys encrypted in the first encryption format being decryptable by a first type of multimedia receiver; and the keys encrypted in the second encryption format being decryptable by a second type of multimedia receiver. |
| US08654977B2 |
System and method for controlling access between Bluetooth devices
A method and system is provided for using an access list stored on a memory of a first computing device, the access list for controlling communication between the first computing device and a plurality of computing devices in a Bluetooth communication network. The method comprises: initiating a restricted mode of operation on the first computing device, the restricted mode of operation configured to secure the access list to prevent subsequent unauthorized modification thereon, the access list including at least one entry representing at least one selected computing device of the plurality of computing devices being permitted to access the first computing device, the at least one entry comprising at least one identifier to identify the at least one selected computing device; in response to a connection request between the first computing device and a particular computing device of the plurality of computing devices, determining whether the particular computing device is on the access list; and preventing connection between the first computing device to the particular computing device in response to determining that the particular computing device is not on the access list. |
| US08654976B2 |
Apparatus and method for a random wave envelope for generating a sequence of encryption keys for communication security in mobile wireless devices part III
A random wave envelope is created from a set of bounded random numbers by additively combining a triangle, a square and a sine wave. The random wave envelope is then used to create a sequence of wave random numbers from the wave envelope, which are used to generate random-variant keys for encryption in place of the pre-placed encryption key. An ambiguity envelope is thus created over the transmission of data packets as random-variant-keys are used that are distinct and separate for each packet and may also be distinct and separate for each incoming and outgoing packet. The random-variant keys are only created at the time of the actual use for encrypting or decrypting a data packet and not before and then discarded after one time use. The random-variant keys may be used in wireless network using wireless access points, cellular phone and data networks and ad hoc mobile wireless networks. |
| US08654973B2 |
Method, system, and program product for encrypting portions of a document using selective annotation
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for encrypting portions of a document using selective annotation. One method according to the invention includes: defining an annotation border adjacent a portion of a document using a digital pen; applying to the portion of the document an annotation verb specifying that the portion of the document is to be encrypted; entering into the portion of the document information to be encrypted; and encrypting the portion of the document. |
| US08654972B2 |
Keystream encryption device, method, and program
A stream encryption device generates a first pseudo random number sequence from key information, generates a second pseudo random number sequence according to clock control performed according to the first pseudo random number sequence, and subjects it to a nonlinear function calculation, thereby generating a key stream. The stream encryption device performs XOR operation with a plain text so as to create an encrypted text. |
| US08654965B2 |
Method and structure for automated crediting to customers for waiting
A method and structure for reducing customer dissatisfaction for waiting includes a queue monitoring subsystem which detects an entry of a customer into a waiting queue. A reward computing subsystem calculates a reward for the customer for being in the waiting queue, and a communication subsystem communicates the reward to the customer. At least one of subsystems is automated. |
| US08654964B1 |
Agent-centric processing of prioritized outbound contact lists
Outbound contact records for a contact center can be arranged as an ordered list reflecting a priority for reaching a party during defined time periods. For each time period, the corresponding prioritized list is used for originating outbound contacts. Originating outbound contacts involves first determining when an agent is available and determining an agent profile of the available agent. Then, records in the ordered list are searched to identify parties having a compatible called party profile matching the agent profile. When an agent is available, the selected contact records are used to generate outbound contacts and a responding party is matched to the agent. Other responding parties may be matched with other agents having the same agent profile or matched with second-best compatible agents. At certain conditions, the remaining records may be processed in a list-centric manner wherein a responding party is matched with any available agent. |
| US08654963B2 |
Method and system for integrating an interaction management system with a business rules management system
In a contact center, a system for processing communication events has an interaction server for managing events waiting to be routed, a routing server for routing the events, a rules engine, and a gateway server executing rules invocation logic and interacting with the rules engine. The interaction server tracks incoming events, initiates and sends a routing request to the routing server, including a special routing object, for each event that requires conformance to business rules, the routing server, executing the routing object, sends an execution request to the gateway server, which upon receipt of the request prepares a business object model (BOM), being a set of facts upon which the rules engine executes rules appropriate to the facts, resulting in routing direction for the routing server to route the event. |
| US08654962B2 |
System and method of delivering ringback audio content
A system and method of delivering ringback audio content are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a connection request at an originating serving call session control function (S-CSCF) network element. The connection request indicates that a caller device has placed a call to a destination device associated with a ringback audio content service subscriber. The method also includes receiving a plurality of naming authority pointer (NAPTR) records at the originating S-CSCF network element from a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server. The NAPTR records include a plurality of ringback audio uniform resource indicators (URIs) associated with the destination device. The method also includes modifying the connection request to include the plurality of ringback audio URIs. |
| US08654961B2 |
Prioritized call sessions
A local network call handling device is configured to establish multiple concurrent call sessions between local network end devices and an external network. When a prioritized end device attempts to establish a call session, the call handling device may initially determine if a first call session identifier is available. If so, the call session can be established using that first identifier. If the first identifier is in use for a call session of another end device, the call handling device may either use a different call session identifier for the prioritized end device session or may drop a pre-existing call session to free an identifier for use in connection with the prioritized end device. |
| US08654956B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating potentially unauthorized calls
Tthe present invention seeks to avoid origination or continuation of unauthorized calls, while also avoiding the inconvenience, expense and uncertainty for call parties resulting from premature termination of calls because of erroneous or ill-founded suspicions that unauthorized activities are occurring. By permitting one or more parties to a call that is deemed suspicious to provide information establishing proper authorization, or innocent mistake, security procedures can be assured while avoiding improper false-positive determinations that unauthorized calling activities have occurred. When suspicions cannot be overcome, the called party is requested to terminate the call and a separate continuation link is established to the called party. |
| US08654952B2 |
Shareable applications on telecommunications devices
During voice communication between multiple telecommunications devices, a shareable application facilitates concurrent sharing of data and processes between the devices. The application may be configured to monitor the voice communication and execute a predetermined function upon detecting a predetermined condition in the voice communication. The application may further facilitate sharing of functionality and user interface displays during the voice communication. In some implementations, a server computing device on a communications network may facilitate functions of shareable applications on one or more telecommunications devices. |
| US08654950B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically suppressing computer keyboard noises in audio telecommunication session
A communication system automatically mutes a microphone in response to a key event detected from a coupled keyboard to prevent delivery of noise generated by the keyboard to a far end of the communication session. A timer is initiated for a time period when the key event occurs, and the microphone remains muted for the time period of the timer. The timer may be restarted to maintain the microphone mute in response to a subsequent key event detected while the timer is running. If the timer expires before a subsequent key event is detected, the microphone can be restored to its previous state (usually un-muted). The system can be applied to a computer coupled to the keyboard and a microphone and having a communication application operating on the computer. Alternatively, the system can be applied to a computer coupled to the keyboard and coupled to an external conferencing unit having a communication application. |
| US08654948B2 |
Systems and methods of detecting communications fraud
A telephone fraud prevention system is provided. A fraud application server is in communication with a fraud database and a switch that determines which calls are sent to the fraud application server. A policy function may be integrated with existing fraud detection and correlation systems. When a call is originated and authentication fails, whether that's through a PIN, voice recognition, etc., the fraud application server sends a message indicating that this customer has failed to authenticate. After a number of authentication failures, evidence of high-risk calling is determined. Instead of reactively dealing with the fraud, the risk has been captured at the fraud application server and the switch blocks potential damage from that call and from that user. |
| US08654940B2 |
Dialect translator for a speech application environment extended for interactive text exchanges
The present solution includes a real-time automated communication method. In the method, a real-time communication session can be established between a text exchange client and a speech application. A translation table can be identified that includes multiple entries, each entry including a text exchange item and a corresponding conversational translation item. A text exchange message can be received that was entered into a text exchange client. Content in the text exchange message that matches a text exchange item in the translation table can be substituted with a corresponding conversational item. The translated text exchange message can be sent as input to a voice server. Output from the voice server can be used by the speech application, which performs an automatic programmatic action based upon the output. |
| US08654932B2 |
Intelligent communications network tap port aggregator and methods thereof
A network tap port aggregator for use in monitoring a network is provided. The network tap port aggregator includes a first device interface terminal for receiving a first network feed. The network tap port aggregator also includes a second device interface terminal for receiving a second network feed. The network tap port aggregator further includes a circuitry coupled with the first device interface terminal and with the second device interface terminal, the circuitry configured to monitor the first network feed and the second network feed and to aggregate the first network feed and the second network feed into an aggregated network feed. The network tap port aggregator yet also includes a first monitor interface terminal coupled to the circuitry for providing the aggregated network feed to a first network monitor that is external to the network tap port aggregator. |
| US08654930B2 |
Methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks
Example methods and apparatus to trigger maintenance and upgrades of access networks are disclosed. An example method comprises obtaining a first value representing a number of unassigned ports associated with a first digital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), obtaining a second value representing a projected number of ports associated with the first DSLAM needed to satisfy at least one of anticipated, projected or pending service requests, and determining whether to automatically submit a preventative maintenance trouble ticket for the first DSLAM based on the first and second values. |
| US08654928B2 |
X-ray tube target brazed emission layer
A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate comprising molybdenum and having a beveled surface according to a desired track angle, a track comprising tungsten and configured to generate x-rays from high-energy electrons impinging thereon, wherein the track comprises a brazing surface having an area that is less than an area of the beveled surface of the target substrate, and a braze joint attaching the brazing surface of the track to the beveled surface of the target substrate. |
| US08654927B2 |
Electron collecting element with increased thermal loadability, X-ray generating device and X-ray system
The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. Providing an electron collecting element of an X-ray generating device statically may allow for the manufacture of X-ray systems with reduced moving parts and actuating parts, possibly reducing manufacturing costs and sources for failure. Consequently, an electron collecting element with increased thermal loadability is presented. According to the present invention, an electron collecting element (28) is provided, comprising a surface element (22) and a heat conducting element (26). The heat conducting element (26) comprises a first thermal conductivity in a first direction and at least a second thermal conductivity in at least a second direction. The first thermal conductivity is greater than the second thermal conductivity. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to the surface element (22). |
| US08654926B2 |
Radiation detecting apparatus, radiographic image capturing system, and radiographic image capturing method
An electronic cassette in a radiographic image capturing system includes a radiation detector for detecting radiation applied from an image capturing apparatus and transmitted through a patient, a contactless power receiver for receiving electric power supplied contactlessly from a power feeder and supplying the electric power to a battery, an A/D converter for performing an A/D conversion to convert analog radiographic image information generated based on the radiation applied to the radiation detector into digital radiographic image information, an end-of-A/D-conversion determining unit for determining whether the A/D conversion is finished or not, and a charging controller for stopping the power feeder from supplying electric power contactlessly after the image capturing apparatus has started capturing images until the end-of-A/D-conversion determining unit judges that the A/D conversion is finished. |
| US08654925B2 |
Radiation imaging control apparatus and operation control method of the same
A movably constructed radiation imaging control apparatus which receives a predefined operational instruction for radiation imaging to output a control signal for the radiation imaging according to the received operational instruction and displays radiological examination information. The apparatus includes a location information obtaining unit for obtaining location information capable of identifying a location of the apparatus and a function restriction unit for restricting a part of a function of the apparatus if the location identified by the location information obtained by the location information obtaining unit is a location other than a predetermined location. |
| US08654923B2 |
System and methods for using a dynamic scheme for radiosurgery
The present invention is a method and system for developing a dynamic scheme for Gamma Knife radiosurgery based on the concept of “dose-painting” to take advantage of robotic patient positioning systems on the Gamma Knife C and Perfexion units. The spherical high dose volume created by the Gamma Knife unit will be viewed as a 3D spherical “paintbrush”, and treatment planning is reduced to finding the best route of this “paintbrush” to “paint” a 3D tumor volume. Under the dose-painting concept, Gamma Knife radiosurgery becomes dynamic, where the patient is moving continuously under the robotic positioning system. |
| US08654922B2 |
X-ray-based system and methods for inspecting a person's shoes for aviation security threats
The present application discloses a system for scanning a shoe for illegal materials. The system includes an X-ray source for projecting a beam of X-rays onto the shoe, a detector array for detecting X-rays transmitted through the shoe and at least one metal detector coil for detecting metals within the shoe. The system produces a radiographic image of the shoe by processing the detected X-rays and data obtained from the at least one metal detector coil. Other embodiments are directed toward other screening technologies, including millimeter wave screening technologies. |
| US08654921B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus and method for controlling the same
The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator to generate X-rays having at least two different energy levels and irradiate the X-rays onto a subject, a detector to detect the X-rays irradiated by the X-ray generator and transmitted through the subject, and a device to obtain images from the X-rays detected by the detector, to obtain bone image information and soft tissue image information of the subject, based on the obtained X-ray images, and to produce one image including the bone image information and the soft tissue image information. |
| US08654919B2 |
Walk-through imaging system having vertical linear x-ray source
A system and method for acquiring x-ray imaging data from a subject is disclosed. The x-ray imaging system includes a first support structure oriented in a vertical fashion and a second support structure oriented in a vertical fashion and spaced apart from the first support structure to define a scanning area configured to receive a subject to be scanned. A linear x-ray source is affixed to the first support structure on one side of the scanning area and is oriented in a vertical fashion, with the linear x-ray source configured to emit x-rays towards the subject. A linear detector arrangement is affixed to the second support structure on another side of the scanning area and is generally opposite the linear x-ray source. The linear detector arrangement is configured to receive x-rays after passing through the subject. |
| US08654914B2 |
System and method for adaptive time synchronization
A method of estimating a symbol boundary for adaptive time synchronization in a communication system is presented. An embodiment of the method includes receiving a signal comprising a plurality of OFDM symbols from receiver chains. The OFDM symbols include at least a long training field (LTF) symbol. The method further includes determining a normalized correlation signal based on correlation between the received LTF symbol and a reference symbol for each of the receiver chains for different lags. Also, the method includes estimating an energy window length for the normalized correlation signal. The energy window length includes at least one of channel delay spread and a maximum cyclic shift applied to the signal. The method then includes estimating the symbol boundary associated with the received LTF symbol based on a position of peak energy of the normalized correlation signal using the estimated energy window length. |
| US08654913B2 |
Equalisation processing
A method and apparatus for processing a signal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: receiving a signal at a receiver over a wireless channel; sampling the signal to produce a plurality of signal samples; and supplying the samples to an equaliser implemented in software running on a processor of the receiver, the equaliser being configured to process the samples using at least one equaliser time period having a nominal length. The method further comprises dynamically determining one or more characteristics of the channel; in dependence on the determined channel characteristics, dynamically selecting between a first operational state of the equaliser in which the nominal length is used and a second operational state of the equaliser in which an alternative length is used in place of the nominal length; and processing the samples in the equaliser using the determined equaliser time period length. |
| US08654909B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
According to an embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes an amplifier, an interference wave suppression unit, a coupler and a filter control circuit. The interference wave suppression unit includes a filter being controlled to be on or off. The filter is configured to suppress an interference wave component of an amplified signal to output the signal as an output signal when the filter is on. The coupler is configured to detect an input signal or the output signal. The filter control circuit controls the filter to be on when a signal level of a detection input signal or a detection output signal detected by the coupler is greater than or equal to a reference value, and controls the filter to be off when the signal level is smaller than the reference value, at arbitrary determination timing in a period of time between a transmission and a reception. |
| US08654907B2 |
Data receiver with improved response to long and short term fading
The invention relates to apparatus for the receipt of digital data which is transmitted as a data signal from a remote location and a method by which the receiving apparatus can be designed with a configuration to improve the ability to receive the data signal. The design of the configuration is generated with reference to at least one decision metric which is adapted to suit the known characteristics of the data signal which is being received. |
| US08654906B2 |
Receiving device and method
A receiving device includes a FFT unit performing FFT on an input signal of a time domain to transform the input signal into a plurality of signals of frequency domains and outputting the plurality of signals of the frequency domains, a signal extracting unit extracting a signal with a power that is greater than a threshold value from among the plurality of signals of the frequency domains output from the first FFT unit and outputting the extracted signal, an IFFT unit performing IFFT on the extracted signal output from the signal extracting unit, a subtracting unit subtracting the extracted signal output from the IFFT unit from the input signal and outputs a subtracted signal, and a second FFT unit transforming the subtracted signal output from the subtracting unit into a signal of the frequency domain by performing the FFT on the subtracted signal output from the subtracting unit. |
| US08654897B2 |
Receiving circuit, transmitting circuit, micro-controller and method for power line carrier communication
A receiving circuit, a transmitting circuit, a micro-controller, and a method for power line carrier communication. The receiving circuit includes: an analog amplifier, a receiving filter, an analog-to-digital converter, a digital mixer, a digital filter, and a digital demodulator connected successively. The transmitting circuit includes: a digital modulator, a gain controller, a digital-to-analog converter, a transmitting filter, and a transmitting amplifier connected successively. The micro-controller includes a central processor and the receiving circuit or the transmitting circuit. The method for power line carrier communication can be implemented based on the receiving circuit or the micro-controller. The receiving circuit, the transmitting circuit, the micro-controller, and the method for power line carrier communication provided by present invention solve the defect of supporting only one modulation or demodulation mode in a conventional power line carrier communication system, and can process a power line carrier signal in different modulation or demodulation modes. |
| US08654894B2 |
Processing transmissions in a wireless communication system
Disclosed herein are methods of processing transmissions in a wireless communication system to detect whether a transmission unit contains transmitted data, systems for processing transmissions in a digital communications system to detect the same, receivers for processing transmissions in a wireless communications system and computer readable media implementing a method for processing the same. In one embodiment, a method of processing transmissions in a wireless communication system to detect whether a transmission unit contains transmitted data includes: generating an averaged function of bit reliability indicators from a plurality of received samples and applying a test to compare an average of ln cosh(·) (natural logarithm of the hyperbolic cosine) values for the reliability indicators, with a factor proportional to an average signal-to-disturbance ratio of the plurality of samples to determine if the transmission unit contains transmitted data. |
| US08654890B2 |
Adaptive real-time control of de-emphasis level in a USB 3.0 signal conditioner based on incoming signal frequency range
An apparatus comprises a differential equalizer having: a) a first differential input, b) a second differential input, c) a first differential output, and d) a second differential output; a frequency detector coupled to the first and second differential inputs; an amplifier coupled to a first differential output and a second differential output of the differential equalizer; and a logical combiner having a first input coupled to an output of the frequency detector and an output coupled to a control input of the amplifier, wherein the logical combiner can mask at least one received de-emphasis parameter. |
| US08654883B2 |
Systems and methods for enhanced RF MIMO system performance
A system for enhancing performance of a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) receiving system is provided. The performance enhancement system includes a MIMO receiving system having N branches and is configured to operate in accordance with one or more legacy MIMO receiving classes, types and schemes; a radio distribution network (RDN) connected to the MIMO receiving system and including one or more beamformers, wherein at least one of the beamformers is being fed by two or more antennas so that a total number of the antennas in the system is M which is larger than N; and a control module configured to tune the one or more beamformers based on legacy MIMO signals derived from the MIMO receiving system in various methods depending on the MIMO class/type, so that the RDN adds gain and antenna directivity to the MIMO receiving system. |
| US08654882B2 |
Method and apparatus of detecting signal based on minimum mean square error in multiple input multiple output system
A receiver in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system is provided. The receiver includes a channel estimator estimating a channel based on a receiving signal, a minimum mean square error (MMSE) based reciprocal log likelihood ratio (R-LLR) calculator connected with the channel estimator and calculating an R-LLR based on the receiving signal and the estimated channel, and a channel decoder connected with the MMSE based R-LLR calculator and decoding the channel and the receiving signal based on the calculated R-LLR, wherein the R-LLR is calculated based on the reciprocity. |
| US08654881B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data in a MIMO system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data. A data transmission method from a sender terminal to a receiver terminal in a MIMO system using a variable frequency band according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: repeatedly generating a signal field depending on a frequency band that is applied to the transmission of a data frame; generating a data field including the data; generating a data frame including the signal field and the data field; and transmitting the data frame to the receiver terminal. The present invention is advantageous in that a signal field which is transmitted together with the data being transmitted from the sender terminal to the receiver terminal in the MIMO system can be sent more efficiently. |
| US08654880B2 |
Data transmission using low density parity check coding and constellation mapping
Modern coding and modulation techniques have greatly improved the transmission of signals. A method is described including receiving a stream of data bits, demultiplexing the stream into a first and second substream, encoding the first and second substream using a low density parity check coding process, and mapping the first substream to a first region of a symbol constellation map and the second substream to a second region. Also, an apparatus is described including a demultiplexer that produces a first and second bitstream, a first encoder that encodes the first substream using a low density parity check coding process at a first encoding rate, a second encoder that encodes the second substream at a second rate, and a symbol mapper that maps bits from the first substream to a first region of a symbol constellation map and maps bits from the second substream to a second region. |
| US08654877B2 |
Multiple-input, multiple-output telecommunications schemes
This disclosure concerns beam-forming vectors and beam-forming matrices for multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications systems. These systems, from the method perspective, provide, according to one embodiment, a method of feeding back, to a transmitter from a receiver in a MIMO communications system, at least part of a beam-forming vector of a beam-forming matrix, wherein: the vector relates to a spatial stream of the MIMO system; the vector comprises a series of elements; each element specifies a beam-forming weight for a respective transmit antenna of the transmitter; and the method comprises: calculating a scaling factor that would scale a first element of the vector to a value of one; scaling the other element or elements of the vector with the scaling factor; and feeding back the scaled other element or elements to the transmitter to inform a beam-forming process. These systems, from the method perspective, provide, according to another embodiment, a method of processing a beam-forming matrix, wherein: the beam-forming matrix is for adjusting signals that are to issue from the transmit antennae of a MIMO communications system; the MIMO communications system comprises a transmitter and a receiver; the beam-forming matrix is capable of being decomposed into a series of beam-forming vectors; each beam-forming vector relates to a spatial stream of the MIMO system; each beam-forming vector comprises a series of elements; each element specifies a beam-forming weight for a transmit antenna of the transmitter; and the method comprises: obtaining a beam-forming matrix in which the elements are quantized; and orthogonalizing the beam-forming vectors with respect to one another. |
| US08654876B2 |
Transmitting apparatus in multiple input multiple output system
Provided are a transmitting apparatus and a transmitting method in a multiple input multiple output system. A power allocation controller includes a block Tomlinson-Harashima precoder (BTHP) that precodes and outputs data to be transmitted to each user in a nonlinear scheme. The BTHP removes and outputs inference signals from data for each user based on the channel information that is fed back from the users. The data for each user output from the BTHP are allocated with power by the power allocation controller. The power allocation controller calculates power allocation parameters so that receiving minimum distances at receiving ends for each user that receive data through the MIMO antennas are the same, and allocates the calculated parameters to data for each user. |
| US08654872B2 |
Method, apparatus and product of OFDM transmission
Methods for transmission and detection, as well as a transmitter and a receiver for performing the methods are disclosed. An example transmission method according to an aspect of the invention includes determining of a modulation vector for an information symbol vector and modulating subcarriers with elements of the modulation vector. Example resulting out-of-band signal power emission improvements over prior art are demonstrated. |
| US08654867B2 |
Transformer power combiner with filter response
A method for generating an amplified radio frequency (RF) signal is provided. In-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals are received and interleaved so as to generate a time-interleaved signal. Delayed time-interleaved signals are then generated from the time interleaved signal, and each of the delayed time-interleaved signals is amplified so as to generate a plurality of amplified signals. The amplified signals are then combined with a transformer, where the delayed time-interleaved signals are arranged to generate a filter response with the transformer. |
| US08654864B2 |
System and method for selectively performing single-ended and differential signaling
In a communication system, data is selectively transmitted using single-ended or differential signaling. The data is transmitted in relation to a plurality of clock signals having different relative phases. When the data is transmitted using single-ended signaling, data on adjacent signal lines undergo logic transitions at different times in relation to the plurality of clock signals. |
| US08654856B2 |
Motion vector encoding device and decoding device
A prediction error generating unit generates a predictive vector from the motion vectors of a plurality of adjacent blocks, and obtains a difference from a target vector. A plurality of variable-length coding units respectively encode the output of the prediction error generating unit with different encoding methods. A determining unit estimates the accuracy of the predictive vector generated by the prediction error generating unit based on the degrees of non-uniformity of the motion vectors of the plurality of adjacent blocks. A selecting unit selects one of the encoding results obtained by the plurality of variable-length coding units. |
| US08654854B2 |
Video encoding method and decoding method, apparatuses therefor, programs therefor, and storage media which store the programs
A video encoding method includes selecting a reference vector target frame and a reference frame from among already-encoded frames; encoding information for designating each frame; setting a reference vector for indicating an area in the reference vector target frame with respect to an encoding target area; encoding the reference vector; performing a corresponding area search by using image information of a reference vector target area, which belongs to the reference vector target frame and is indicated by the reference vector, and the reference frame; determining a reference area in the reference frame based on the search result; generating a predicted image by using image information of the reference frame, which corresponds to the reference area; and encoding differential information between image information of the encoding target area and the predicted image. |
| US08654853B2 |
Method and apparatus for MPEG-2 to VC-1 video transcoding
A method for transcoding from an MPEG-2 format to a VC-1 format is disclosed. The method generally comprises the steps of (A) decoding an input video stream in the MPEG-2 format to generate a picture; (B) determining a mode indicator for the picture; and (C) coding the picture into an output video stream in the VC-1 format using one of (i) a VC-1 field mode coding and (ii) a VC-1 frame mode coding as determined from the mode indicator. |
| US08654848B2 |
Method and apparatus for shot detection in video streaming
The invention comprises devices and methods for processing multimedia data. Such methods can include obtaining at least one metric indicative of a difference for a selected frame and adjacent frames in a plurality of video frames, the metric comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance difference information, determining a shot event in the selected frame based on the at least one metric, and adaptively encoding the selected frame based on the shot event. An apparatus for processing a multimedia data can include a motion compensator configured to obtain metrics indicative of a difference between adjacent frames of a plurality of video frames, said metrics comprising bi-directional motion information and luminance information, a shot classifier configured to determine a shot event in the plurality of video frames based on said metrics, and an encoder configured to adaptively encode the plurality of frames based on the shot event. |
| US08654847B2 |
Video decoding device, video decoding method, video decoding program, and video decoding integrated circuit
With use of a simplified program or calculating device for motion compensation, a video decoding device decodes video data compressed by motion detection operations on macroblock units, as in the MPEG-4AVC standard. The video decoding device splits compressed data blocks of the prescribed size, 16×16 pixels for instance, to generate sub-blocks, which are smaller than the blocks and on which the video decoding device is able to execute motion compensation operations. The video decoding device duplicates a motion vector assigned to a given block to generate as many motion vectors as there are sub-blocks in the given block, and executes motion compensation on each sub-block using the corresponding duplicate motion vector. Data resulting from the motion compensation operation on each sub-block is combined to obtain a target block corresponding to the given block. |
| US08654844B1 |
Intra frame beating effect reduction
A system (and a method) are disclosed for reducing intra frame beating effect at frame level and macroblock (MB) level within a video processing system. The frame-level system includes a pre-encoding unit, a reconstruction unit, an intra-beat frame evaluation unit, an intra-beat frame selection unit and an entropy encoding unit. The pre-encoding unit identifies an intra-beat frame of current group of pictures (GOP) and its corresponding intra-beat reference frame, and predicts the intra-beat frame by its intra-beat reference frame. The intra-beat frame evaluation unit calculates an intra-beat frame score. The intra-beat frame selection unit selects an intra-beat frame for re-encoding. The macroblock-level system includes corresponding processing units as frame-level system, but configured to efficiently process MBs. The macroblock-level system allows each MB of an intra-beat frame to be selectively pre-filtered using its intra-beat reference frame. |
| US08654843B2 |
Method and device for coding images representing views of the same scene
The present invention concerns a method of coding a plurality of digital image signals in a bitstream, said signals each corresponding to a view of a scene, the said coding method comprising the use of a pre-determined predictive coding structure, the views being associated with input views in the coding structure. The coding method according to the invention comprises, for at least one pair of views of the scene, steps of determining a spatial intersection zone (E44) and of calculating a value representing the similarity between the signals corresponding to said views (E45), according to at least some of the signals contained in said spatial intersection zone. These steps are followed by a step of associating (E46) at least one view with an input view of the predictive coding structure according to at least one calculated similarity value. The invention applies both to fixed image signals and to image sequences. |
| US08654841B2 |
Method and apparatus for coding image information, method and apparatus for decoding image information, method and apparatus for coding and decoding image information, and system of coding and transmitting image information
An image decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream includes a decoding unit that decodes the bit stream and generates a chroma component of quantized coefficients. In addition, the image decoding apparatus includes a setting unit that sets a chroma quantization parameter calculated on the basis of a luma quantization parameter weighted by an addition operation that adds a weight parameter. In addition, the image decoding apparatus includes a dequantization unit that performs dequantization on the chroma component of quantized coefficients using the chroma quantization parameter. Further, the image decoding apparatus includes a transform unit that performs an inverse orthogonal transform. |
| US08654837B2 |
Device adaptive video transmission system for use with layered video coding and methods for use therewith
A video transmission system includes a transceiver module that receives a device parameter from a remote device and that transmits a video signal to the remote device, wherein the video signal is transmitted as at least one separate video layer stream chosen from, an independent video layer stream and at least one dependent video layer streams that require the independent video layer for decoding. A control module chooses the at least one separate video layer stream based on the device parameter. |
| US08654836B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining adaptive filter tap to encode wavelet transform coefficient, wavelet transform apparatus and method using the same, and recording medium for the same
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for determining an adaptive filter tap to encode a wavelet transform coefficient, a wavelet transform apparatus and a method using the same, and a recording medium for the same, wherein the filter tap is determined rendering the high-band energy to be minimized, based not only on whether an edge is present but also on the edge location so as to adaptively determine the filter tap for an efficient coding of the wavelet transform coefficient. Therefore, the disclosure is able to prevent ringing artifacts and increase coding efficiency while maintaining clear definition on the edges. |
| US08654833B2 |
Efficient transformation techniques for video coding
This disclosure describes efficient transformation techniques that can be used in video coding. In particular, intermediate results of computations associated with transformation of a first block of video data are reused in the transformation of a second block of video data. The techniques may be used during a motion estimation process in which video blocks of a search space are transformed, but this disclosure is not necessarily limited in this respect. Pipelining techniques may be used to accelerate the efficient transformation techniques, and transposition memories can be implemented to facilitate efficient pipelining. |
| US08654832B1 |
Apparatus and method for coding and modulation
A communication method includes: receiving input data at a transmitter, the transmitter including at least one convolutional encoder and at least one modulator; applying the input data to a trellis-coded modulation (TCM) scheme to encode the input data and produce one or more TCM symbols representing the encoded data; applying the one or more TCM symbols to a second modulation scheme, the second modulation scheme including a pulse modulation in combination with an additional modulation; and generating one or more modulation symbols representing the encoded data based on the second modulation scheme. |
| US08654823B1 |
Low latency transmitter path data link interface
A data link interface can include a programmable delay chain configured to provide an amount of delay to a first clock signal that clocks a first portion of a data path. The data link interface can include a phase interpolator configured to determine an amount of phase offset applied to a second clock signal that clocks a second portion of the data path. The data link interface further can include a latency detector coupled to the programmable delay chain and the phase interpolator. The latency detector can measure a phase difference between the first and second clock signals and vary the amount of delay applied to the first clock signal and/or the amount of phase offset on the second clock signal responsive to the phase difference. |
| US08654817B2 |
Combining signals with a shuffled-hadamard function
A method can include receiving, at a transmitter, during a symbol time that comprises a plurality of chip times, a data value for each of a plurality of distinct data channel inputs. During each chip time, the method can include (a) indexing a different row of a matrix of data bits; (b) decoding one channel input using a first subset of one or more columns of the indexed row; (c) determining a code value for the decoded one channel from a second subset of one or more columns of the indexed row; and (d) providing the coded data value to a transmission circuit for transmission to a receiver. Actions (a) to (d) can be performed for each of the plurality of chip times in the symbol time. In some implementations, the matrix of data bits is a Hadamard matrix with randomly shuffled rows. |
| US08654807B2 |
Electrical devices formed using ternary semiconducting compounds
An electrical device includes a charge carrier transport layer formed using a ternary semiconducting compound having a stoichiometry of 1:1:1 and an element combination selected from the set of I-II-V, I-III-IV, II-II-IV, and I-I-VI; or having a stoichiometry of 3:1:2 and an element combination selected from the set of I-III-V; or having a stoichiometry of 2:1:1 and an element combination selected from the set of I-II-IV. In some embodiments, the charge carrier transport layer is used as the radiation absorption layer for a photovoltaic cell, or a light emitting layer of a light emitting device. Other devices, such as laser diode, a photodetection device, an optical modulator, a transparent electrode and a window layer, can also be formed using the ternary semiconducting compound as the charge carrier transport. |
| US08654805B2 |
Apparatus and method for balancing combined RF power-supplies for driving a CO2 gas-discharge laser
Radio-frequency (RF) power supply apparatus for supplying RF power to discharge electrodes of a gas-discharge laser includes a plurality of amplifier modules each having an RF output. A power combining arrangement is provided for combining the amplifier module RF-outputs into a single combined RF-output connected to the discharge electrodes. A DC power supply is connectable to or disconnectable from each of the transistor amplifier modules, separately, to allow current drawn by any of the amplifier modules to be monitored by a single current sensor. |
| US08654804B2 |
Optical transmitter with stable output wavelength
An optical transmitter is disclosed, where the optical transmitter shows an emission wavelength kept stable in one of grid wavelengths of the WDM system during the boot of the transmitter. The optical transmitter includes an LD, a TEC to control a temperature of the LD, and a controller. Detecting the flag to enable the optical output, the controller increases the driving current of the LD concurrently with the decrease of the temperature of the TEC to compensate the self-heating of the LD due to the driving current. |
| US08654803B2 |
Light emitting device and method of controlling light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a semiconductor laser, which oscillates in a single longitudinal mode, formed above a semiconductor substrate, a first heater, which controls a temperature of the semiconductor laser, provided near the semiconductor laser, a gain unit, which amplifies a beam outputted from the semiconductor laser and outputs an amplified beam, formed above the semiconductor substrate, a second heater, which controls a temperature of the gain unit, provided near the gain unit, and a second harmonic generation element, which converts the amplified beam outputted from the gain unit to a second harmonic light and outputs the second harmonic light. |
| US08654802B2 |
Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser device, optical transmission apparatus, and information processing apparatus
A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser array includes a substrate having an element forming area, multiple columnar structures formed in the element forming area on the substrate, and at least one metal wire formed adjacent to the multiple columnar structures. Each columnar structure includes a lower semiconductor reflector of a first conductivity type, an upper semiconductor reflector of a second conductivity type, and an active region formed between the lower semiconductor reflector and the upper semiconductor reflector. The columnar structure emits light in a direction perpendicular to the substrate. The at least one metal wire has a distortion applying segment that extends in the same direction relative to the multiple columnar structures. |
| US08654783B2 |
Method for channel switching and device for communication
A method for channel switching comprising the steps: establishing (10) an active communication in a channel ch(m), checking (11) if the communication at an actual timeslot t(n) is successful, if checking (11) if the communication at the actual timeslot t(n) is successful, keeping the communication using the channel ch(m) for a next timeslot t(n+1) and repeating checking (11) if the communication at the actual timeslot t(n) is successful, if checking (11) if the communication at the actual timeslot t(n) is not successful, initiating a selection of a next channel ch(m+1). Further a device for communication is presented. |
| US08654780B2 |
System and method of communication protocols in communication systems
Systems and methods for implementing and designing protocols in such communications systems which can be wireless or wired. The systems and methods can include fundamental changes in the traditional protocol design approaches with their constraints of one-to-one mapping in protocols. By doing so, embodiments of the present invention enable an efficient way to design and implement a system to support single or multiple protocols. |
| US08654776B2 |
Scheduling wireless communications
A system and method is provided for scheduling transmissions from a plurality of services operating over a widely distributed communications network. A headend communications device (such as a cable modem termination system) arbitrates bandwidth among a plurality of cable modems configurable for bi-directional communications. The headend grants a bandwidth region to a specified cable modem or assigns contention regions for a group of cable modems. Each cable modem contains a local scheduler that sends requests for bandwidth according to local policies or rules. Upon receipt of a grant from the headend, the local scheduler selects packets to be transmitted to best serve the needs of the services associated with the cable modem. Accordingly, a service requesting bandwidth may not be the service utilizing the grant corresponding to bandwidth request. Nonetheless, the local scheduler manages bandwidth allocation among its local services such that all requesting services eventually receive bandwidth. |
| US08654774B2 |
Method and system for asymmetric transition handshake in an energy efficient ethernet network
Multi-rate link partners coupled via an Ethernet link may be configured to implement an asymmetric handshake wherein a change of rate in a first direction may be independent of delay that may occur when implementing a change of rate in a second direction. A rate change may be delayed based on a known time delay for configuring a link partner. A change in rate in the first direction may not be delayed by data transmissions in the second direction. Rate changes may be managed via physical layer control characters, physical layer out of band channel and/or packets generated from a layer above the physical layer. Control characters may be transmitted during inter-packet gaps and/or within a packet stream. Data rates may be transitioned from a full rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero to a full data rate, intermediate rate or a rate of zero. |
| US08654771B1 |
Efficient transfer of packets over multiple backhaul links
What is disclosed is a wireless network control system configured to communicate with a wireless access node over a plurality of backhaul links. The wireless network control system includes a backhaul interface configured to monitor individual transmission delays for the backhaul links. The wireless network control system also includes a processing system configured to determine a data packet for transfer to the wireless access node and separate the data packet into a sequence of packet fragments. The processing system is also configured to select an individual one of the backhaul links for each of the packet fragments based on relative positions of the packet fragments in the sequence and based on the individual transmission delays of the backhaul links. |