| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08656339B2 |
Method for analyzing sensitivity and failure probability of a circuit
A method, implemented in a processor, of determining a likelihood of failure of a circuit to be made in accordance with a circuit design, and a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions to the processor for carrying out the method. A sensitivity of a figure of merit to each variable of a plurality of variables is determined by simulating operation of the circuit using the processor. Determining the sensitivity is based on a departure of each of the variables from a respective mean value, where the variables include at least one variable derived from measurements of a fabricated component or component combination to be included in the circuit. Results from the simulation are used to predict a failure probability of the circuit to be made in accordance with the circuit design. |
| US08656338B2 |
Hardware synthesis using thermally aware scheduling and binding
Technologies are generally described for hardware synthesis using thermally aware scheduling and binding. Multiple versions of a hardware design may be generated, each having variations of schedule and binding results. The scheduling and binding may be performed such that thermal profiles of the multiple versions have thermal peaks that are distant between the versions. The increased physical distance between the thermal peaks of the versions can give the versions unique thermal characteristics. A schedule of rotation between the multiple versions of the design may be constructed such that the thermal profile of the integrated circuit balances out during operation. A linear programming framework may be used to analyze the multiple designs and construct a thermally aware rotation scheduling and binding. For example, the K most efficient versions may be selected and then durations for operating each version within a rotation may be determined. |
| US08656335B2 |
System and methods for inferring higher level descriptions from RTL topology based on connectivity propagation
A system and several methods for inferring higher level descriptions of circuit connectivity from register transfer level (RTL) netlists in order to provide more understandable and manageable design descriptions for complex System-on-Chip (SOC) designs, is provided. In particular, interface matching based on connectivity propagation is automatically performed whereby port names and properties on instances of functional elements and blocks are propagated to top level design ports as well as other instances of functional elements and blocks to create a more robust description of connectivity according to the RTL netlist, and to automatically form signal groupings that comprise a higher-level abstracted description. Also, a facility is included to allow user-guided grouping of instantiated interfaces with respect to actual signal names and properties in an RTL-level design. |
| US08656333B1 |
Integrated circuit package auto-routing
A plurality of approaches for forming a semiconductor device using an adaptive patterning method is disclosed. Some approaches include placing a semiconductor die unit on a carrier element, calculating trace geometry for a second set of traces, constructing a prestratum comprising a first set of traces, and constructing the second set of traces according to the calculated trace geometry. Forming the semiconductor device may further include electrically connecting at least one of the first set of traces to at least one of the second set of traces, and electrically connecting at least one bond pad of the semiconductor die unit to a destination pad through the at least one of the first set of traces and the at least one of the second set of traces. |
| US08656328B1 |
System and method for abstraction of a circuit portion of an integrated circuit
A system, such as a computer aided design (CAD) system, is configured to abstract at least a portion of an integrated circuit (IC) design provided thereto. The system selects two signals of the IC and determines the respective sub-circuits ending at each of the signals, excluding the other sub-circuit when two sub-circuits intersect. It then identifies an intersection of the two sub-circuits and therefore establishes an abstraction therefrom. The abstraction replaces the circuit for verification purposes of the IC design. The process can repeat as may be necessary or until no two signals have sub-circuits that intersect. The process described for two signals is equally applicable to a plurality of signals for which the intersection is defined as the intersection of all the sub-circuits defined by the plurality signals. The abstraction allows for effective verification of portions of ICs as may be necessary. |
| US08656327B2 |
Statistical formal activity analysis with consideration of temporal and spatial correlations
Techniques for statistical formal activity analysis with consideration of temporal and/or spatial correlations are described herein. According to one embodiment, a sequential circuit having a feedback loop is unrolled into multiple unrolled circuits, where the sequential circuit is represented by a finite state machine (FSM). A temporal correlation is introduced to each of the unrolled circuits via a correlation network for an activity analysis of the sequential circuit. The temporal correlation represents a dependency relationship between a current logic state of a signal and a previous logic state of the signal. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08656326B1 |
Sequential clock gating using net activity and XOR technique on semiconductor designs including already gated pipeline design
The circuit design process requires ways to reduce the power consumption of large integrated circuits and system-on-chip designs. This is typically done by introducing a process of clock gating thereby enabling or disabling flip-flops associated with specific functional blocks within the circuit. However, such changes in the circuit require synthesis and verification to ensure correctness of design and operation as sequential clock gating changes the state function dynamically. It is therefore necessary to define synthesis methods adapted to such dynamic changes in the design. According to an embodiment a sequential clock gating method uses an exclusive-OR technique to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art methods. |
| US08656322B1 |
Fin design level mask decomposition for directed self assembly
A design layout including shapes of target areas for forming semiconductor fins employing directed self-assembly can be decomposed into guiding patterns and cut patterns. The lengthwise edges of the shapes of target areas are adjusted. Widthwise edges of the adjusted shapes are extended outward to generate diffusion shapes. Guiding pattern shapes are then generated employing the diffusion shapes. Taper edges are adjusted based on process bias of a photoresist material to be subsequently employed. Optionally, a portion of a guiding pattern shape between diffusion shapes may be removed as a connection shape. The guiding pattern shapes can define at least one guiding pattern mask for lithographic pattern of guiding pattern shapes, and cut shapes can be derived from the diffusion shapes and the guiding pattern shapes. The guiding pattern shapes and the cut shapes may be adjusted to accommodate effects at device cell edges and at device macro edges. |
| US08656318B2 |
System and method for combined intraoverlay metrology and defect inspection
A method and system for measuring layer overlay and for inspecting a mask for defects unrelated to overlay utilizing a singe comprehensive tool is disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving a mask design database that corresponds to a mask and has a die area with a mask database feature. A mask image of the mask is received, and a comprehensive inspection system compares the mask image to the mask design database in order to detect mask defects that are not related to layer alignment. The system produces mask defect information corresponding to the mask defects. The comprehensive inspection system also compares the mask image to the mask design database to determine a database-to-mask offset. From the database-to-mask offset, a mask overlay characteristic is determined. |
| US08656314B2 |
Finger touch gesture for joining and unjoining discrete touch objects
An approach is provided to join graphical user interface objects into a group. A request is received at a touch-enabled display screen to join a first graphical user interface object with a second graphical user interface object. The request is from a user of the system. The first and second graphical user interface objects are then associated with each other. The first and second graphical user interface objects are displayed on the touch-enabled display screen adjacent to each other and a visual indicator is also displayed near the objects that indicates that the objects have been joined in a group. |
| US08656311B1 |
Method and apparatus for compositing various types of content
At least some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method for compositing media and non-media content of user interface for display on a device. The method includes constructing a data structure having a hierarchy of layers associated with the user interface of the device. The method further includes determining whether each layer of the data structure is associated with media or non-media content. The data structure or layer tree is traversed in order to determine whether each of the layers of the data structure is associated with media or non-media content. The method further includes detaching a layer associated with media content from the data structure. The method further includes storing media content in a first memory location. The method further includes storing non-media content in a second memory location. The method further includes compositing the media and non-media content for display on the device. |
| US08656305B2 |
Adaptive user interface elements
Presented is a method of adapting user interface elements. The method includes identifying state of a computer application, adapting one or more user interface elements associated with the computer application based on the state of the computer application, and displaying the one or more user interface elements. |
| US08656301B2 |
Information display system
An information display system (10) comprises computing hardware (30) coupled to a graphical screen interface. (50) The system (10) further includes one or more interface modules (70) including local data processing thereat for receiving input data streams (S1 to SN). Moreover, the computing hardware (30) is operable to execute one or more software products for generating a software environment presented in operation on the graphical screen interface (50). Furthermore, the computing hardware (30) is operable when executing the one or more software products to present a representation of one or more of the input data streams (S1 to SN) in one or more graphical windows (100, 110, 120A to 120F) within the software environment as provided on the graphical screen interface (50). |
| US08656299B2 |
Electronic display device, electronic display method, electronic display program, and recording medium
An electronic display device capable of displaying content written horizontally and written vertically in an electronic display device having a plurality of display screens. The electronic display device includes a plurality of display screens that are bound and that can be opened like a book, includes a content storage unit storing content to be displayed on the display screens, includes a content reading unit reading the content from the content storage unit, includes an opening direction recognizing unit recognizing a first opening direction or a second opening direction of the content on the display screen, and includes a display control unit arranging and displaying the content based on the first opening direction or second opening direction of the content. |
| US08656293B1 |
Configuring mobile devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for configuring mobile devices using emulations of the mobile devices. |
| US08656289B1 |
System and method for managing and displaying data messages
A system and method for managing and displaying data messages includes a computing device configured to receive stream data, assign data messages of the stream data to one or more display columns of a graphical user interface, and display the data messages in the assigned columns. The stream data may be embodied as short data messages such as text messages having predetermined maximum character length. The data messages may be assigned to the display columns based on meta-data associated with the data messages such as the author of the data message, the source of the data message, and/or the type of the data message. |
| US08656288B2 |
Sensitive information handling on a collaboration system
On a document collaboration system, such as a wiki, the content of postings to the collaboration system is monitored for sensitive information. Under some embodiments, when instances of such sensitive information are detected, an e-mail is sent to the user that posted the collaboration page posting. In other embodiments, a message is then sent to a person associated with the entity that indicates that the information placed on the collaboration page is confidential information or is related to an asset of the entity. In further embodiments, individual people are assigned responsibility for monitoring the use of certain instances of sensitive information on the collaboration system. Each user is only notified when the instances they are responsible for appear on a collaboration page. In other embodiments, if a collaboration page includes an instance of sensitive information, access to the collaboration page is changed such that fewer people can access the collaboration page. |
| US08656280B2 |
Device for estimating user operation intention and electronic device using the same
There is provided an apparatus which provides manipulation assistance, even in the case where a user trying to executing a certain function has performed a wrong manipulation, by inferring the function which the user originally wanted to execute.The apparatus according to the present invention is to be used in an electronic device having an input section to receive a manipulation by a user and operating based on the user's manipulation, and infers a manipulation intent of the user. This apparatus includes a storage which stores a database in which a function of the electronic device is associated with a manipulation that is highly mistakable when a user having an experience of manipulating an electronic device other than the electronic device uses the electronic device; and a manipulation assistance section for, when the manipulation by the user is wrong, determining a substance of manipulation assistance for executing a function which is intended by the user, in accordance with the function which is associated with the highly-mistakable manipulation in the database. This apparatus determines an operation of the electronic device based on the substance of manipulation assistance, and outputs an instruction to the electronic device. |
| US08656279B2 |
Global settings for the enablement of culture-based gestures
A method of configuring a device to receive gesture inputs of a particular culture includes: responsive to a user request to adapt a device to gestures of a culture, assigning a data record representing cultural setting of the device to the culture, and responsive to the assigning the culture setting of the device, adopting a gesture recognizer of the device to the culture setting. |
| US08656274B2 |
Automatic identification and storage of context information associated with phone numbers in computer documents
Telephone numbers are identified and highlighted on any computer document being loaded into a graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing by a user. The user may click on any particular highlighted telephone number in the computer document while displayed in the GUI window in order to store the telephone number together with any desired context information associated therewith. |
| US08656270B2 |
Change-oriented spreadsheet application
The invention discloses a data organization method for a change oriented spreadsheet application. In one embodiment, the valid updates to cells and the update times are stored with the cell positions as the primary index, and the valid updates to the same cell are arranged in the order of time. In another embodiment, the valid updates to cells are stored with the update time points of the valid updates of the cells as the primary index, and all the valid updates at the same valid update time point are arranged into an update table, the update table having the same cell structure as the spreadsheet file. In yet another embodiment, data structures organized in both manners are maintained at the same time. |
| US08656265B1 |
Low-latency transition into embedded web view
To help reduce latency when an application presents an embedded web view, the application may provide to a web view controller not only a base uniform resource indicator of a web application defining the web view but also preview data for the web view controller to render for presentation together with a cached version of the web view. In accordance with script logic defined by the web application, the web view controller may then (i) incorporate the provided preview data into the cached version of the web view and render the result as a preview view for presentation at a user interface, (ii) download instance data for the web view while the preview view is presented, and (iii) upon receipt of the instance data, establish and render a full version of the web view based on the instance data, for presentation at the user interface. |
| US08656262B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data
A digital broadcast system and a method of processing data are provided. The transmitting system of the digital broadcast system includes an encoder for encoding mobile data for FEC to build RS frames, a signaling encoder for encoding TPC data including the RS frame mode information, a divider for dividing at least one of the RS frames into a plurality of portions, a block processor for converting one portion to a plurality of SCCC blocks, a converter for converting the SCCC blocks to data blocks, a group formatter for forming data groups, a packet formatter for forming data packets including data in the data groups, a multiplexer for multiplexing main data packets including main data and the data packets, a trellis encoder for performing trellis encoding on data in the multiplexed data packets and a transmission unit for transmitting the broadcast signal including a parade of the data groups. |
| US08656260B1 |
Methods and circuits for processing a data block by frames
Methods and circuits process a data block of first bits. A circuit includes a register and a parallel combiner. The register is configured to store second bits. The second bits are iteratively a partial parity for each of multiple frames of the data block. The parallel combiner is coupled to the register and configured to generate a combination of bits from third bits and the second bits from the register. These third bits are iteratively those of the first bits within each of the frames of the data block. The circuit also includes respective exclusive-or circuits associated with the second bits. These exclusive-or circuits are coupled to the parallel combiner and the register. The respective exclusive-or circuit for each second bit is configured to generate the second bit from the combination of bits. |
| US08656259B2 |
Data transmission
If the number of bits at which 64-bit width data has changed at the same time has exceeded a threshold, the data is outputted, with the polarity of each bit inverted. Otherwise, the data is outputted. A 7-bit width error correcting code is given to the outputted data and the inversion instruction signal indicating whether the number of the changed bits has exceeded the threshold. Error code correction is performed for the data and the inversion instruction signal with the use of the transmitted error correcting code. If the inversion instruction signal for which the error code correction has been performed indicates that the number of the changed bits has exceeded the threshold, the data for which the error code correction has been performed is outputted, with the polarity of each bit inverted. Otherwise, the data for which the error code correction has been performed is outputted. |
| US08656258B2 |
Method of encoding and decoding multi-bit level data
A method of encoding multi-bit level data includes: determining a range of an error pattern generated according to a transmission symbol, encoding an M-bit level of a P-bit level corresponding to the transmission symbol based on the range of the error pattern, and excluding encoding of a P-M bit level of the P-bit level. The variable P is a natural number of a value at least two, and the variable M is a natural number less than P. |
| US08656257B1 |
Nonvolatile memory controller with concatenated error correction codes
A nonvolatile memory controller may recover encoded data using the outer error correction code of the encoded data if it is determined that a correction capacity of the outer error correction code is not exceeded. Alternatively, the nonvolatile memory controller may recover the encoded data using the inner error correction code of the encoded data followed by the outer error correction code of the encoded data if it is determined that the correction capacity of the outer error correction code is exceeded. Additionally, if it is determined that the correction capacity of the outer error correction code is exceed after recovering the data using the inner error correction code, the nonvolatile memory storage module may perform a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) operation to recover the data. |
| US08656256B2 |
Apparatus and method for multi-mode operation of a flash memory device
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for operating a multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory circuit. Data is read from a memory block of a plurality of memory blocks in the MLC flash memory circuit, wherein each of the plurality of memory blocks can operate in one of at least three modes of operation comprising an MLC mode, a single-level cell (SLC) mode and a defective mode, and wherein the memory block is initially operating in the MLC mode. Error correction is performed on the read data to correct read errors in the read data. A determination is made if a number of bits corrected by the error correction exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If the number of bits corrected by the error correction exceeds the predetermined threshold value, the operating mode of the memory block is switched from the MLC mode to the SLC mode. |
| US08656251B2 |
Simultaneous data transfer and error control to reduce latency and improve throughput to a host
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that transfers data from a storage device to a host. The system includes a communication mechanism that receives a request to read a set of blocks from the host. Next, upon reading each block from the set of blocks from the storage device, the communication mechanism transfers the block over an interface with the host. The system also includes an error-detection apparatus that performs error detection on the block upon reading the block, and an error-correction apparatus that performs error correction on the block if an error is detected in the block. The communication mechanism may then retransfer the block to the host after the error is removed from the block. |
| US08656249B2 |
Multi-level LDPC layer decoder
Various embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatuses for multi-level layer decoding of non-binary LDPC codes. For example, an apparatus is disclosed for layer decoding of multi-level low density parity check encoded data. The apparatus includes a low density parity check decoder operable to perform layered decoding of a plurality of circulant submatrices from an H matrix. The apparatus also includes a parity check calculator connected to the low density parity check decoder, operable to detect whether a stopping criterion has been met in the low density parity check decoder. The low density parity check decoder is also operable to end a decoding operation at less than a maximum number of iterations when the stopping criterion is met. |
| US08656248B2 |
Hierarchical CRC scheme
A hierarchical cyclic redundancy check (CRC) is provided that enables CRC appending and detection. A message that includes a first message portion and a second message portion is transmitted to two or more receivers. The receivers are not aware of the first message portion. One of the receivers can be aware of the second message portion of the message. Each portion of the message can be encoded with a CRC in order to provide protection. The receiver that is aware of the second message portion is provided a higher level of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) protection than the receivers that are not aware of the second message portions. |
| US08656247B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and decoding block low density parity check codes with a variable coding rate
A matrix multiplier multiplies the signal output from a first adder by an inverse matrix T−1 of a partial matrix T of a parent parity check matrix, and outputs the multiplication result to a first switch. The output of the matrix multiplier becomes a second parity vector P2. A second switch is switched on at a transmission time of the information word vector ‘s’, a third switch is switched on at a transmission time of the first parity vector P1, and the first switch is switched on at a transmission time of the second parity vector P2. When a puncturing scheme is applied to the parent parity check matrix, a controller controls the first and second switches to puncture the parity according to the corresponding coding rate. |
| US08656243B2 |
Radio receiver and method for channel estimation
A radio receiver includes an input terminal to receive a first radio signal, an equalizer, coupled to the input terminal, to equalize the first radio signal and to output an equalized signal and a first channel estimator, coupled to the input terminal and the equalizer, to estimate first channel parameters by using the first radio signal and a signal derived from the equalized signal. The radio receiver may contain a controller implementing a HARQ protocol and a HARQ buffer to store likelihood information based on the equalized signal. The radio receiver may contain a reconstruction unit to provide the signal derived from the equalized signal based on a content of the HARQ buffer. |
| US08656241B2 |
Cell dependent multi-group hybrid automatic repeat request method for multicast in wireless networks
A method and apparatus are described including determining address using an access point address and a multicast group address, transmitting a recovery request message to a recovery server to request recovery data using the address and receiving the recovery data from the recovery server. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a registration message, transmitting a reply to the registration message, receiving a recovery request message, transmitting recovery data responsive to the recovery request message and transmitting a message to a recovery multicast group to determine status of the recovery multicast group. |
| US08656237B2 |
Core circuit test architecture
A scan test architecture facilitates low power testing of semiconductor circuits by selectively dividing the serial scan paths into shorter sections. Multiplexers between the sections control connecting the sections into longer or shorted paths. Select and enable signals control the operation of the scan path sections. The output of each scan path passes through a multiplexer to compare circuits on the semiconductor substrate. The compare circuits also receive expected data and mask data. The compare circuits provide a fail flag output from the semiconductor substrate. |
| US08656236B2 |
Remote boundary scanning
Techniques related to remotely boundary scanning of an integrated circuit embedded in a target computing system are disclosed herein. In an example, a host computing system includes a first peripheral port and a second peripheral port. A port-to-port boundary scan assembly is to interface boundary scan data between the first and the second peripheral ports. Thereby the boundary scan data can be routed from the second peripheral bus to the target computing system via a network port at the host computing system. |
| US08656234B2 |
Test port connected to master output of override selection logic
A system comprises a plurality of components, scan chain selection logic coupled to the components, and override selection logic coupled to the scan chain selection logic. The scan chain selection logic selects various of the components to be members of a scan chain under the direction of a host computer. The override selection logic detects a change in the scan chain and, as a result, blocks the entire scan chain from progressing. |
| US08656228B2 |
Memory error isolation and recovery in a multiprocessor computer system
A system and computer implemented method for isolating errors in a computer system is provided. The method includes receiving a direct memory access (DMA) command to access a computer memory, a read response, or an interrupt; associating the DMA command to access the computer memory, the read response, or the interrupt with a stream identified by a stream identification (ID); detecting a memory error caused by the DMA command in the stream, the memory error resulting in stale data in the computer memory; and isolating the memory error in the stream associated with the stream ID from other streams associated with other stream IDs upon detecting the memory error. |
| US08656222B2 |
Method and system for recording a selected computer process for subsequent replay
The execution behavior of a selected application is recorded for subsequent replay. During recording, only those portions of memory that are accessed by the selected application are stored. As a result, the amount of data that is stored during the recording session is reduced and data that is not necessary for replaying the selected application, which may include possible sensitive and personal information, are not stored. |
| US08656221B2 |
System on chip breakpoint methodology
A system-on-chip (SoC) with a debugging methodology. The system-on-chip (SoC) includes a central processing unit (CPU) and multiple computing elements connected to the CPU. The CPU is configured to program the computing elements with task descriptors and the computing elements are configured to receive the task descriptors and to perform a computation based on the task descriptors. The task descriptors include a field which specifies a breakpoint state of the computing element. A system level event status register (ESR) attaches to and is accessible by the CPU and the computing elements. Each of the computing elements has a comparator configured to compare the present state of the computing element to the breakpoint state. The computing element is configured to drive a breakpoint event to the event status register (ESR) if the present state of the computing element is the breakpoint state. Each of the computing elements has a halt logic unit operatively attached thereto, wherein the halt logic unit is configured to halt operation of the computing element. The ESR is configurable to drive a breakpoint event to the halt logic units to halt at least one of the computing elements other than the computing element driving the breakpoint event. |
| US08656215B2 |
Disaster recovery production takeover
Various embodiments for disaster recovery (DR) production takeover in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. If, for a designated storage system operable in the computing environment, a takeover operation may be executed, and a DR storage system has validly replaced the designated storage system using a replacement process, a withdrawal of a DR mode of operation is performed, and ownership of at least one storage device operable in the computing environment is transferred to the DR storage system. The replacement process authorizes the DR storage system to transfer the ownership while withdrawn from the DR mode of operation. |
| US08656213B2 |
Implementing storage adapter performance optimization with chained hardware operations and error recovery firmware path
A method and controller for implementing storage adapter performance optimization with a predefined chain of hardware operations configured to minimize hardware and firmware interactions and a bridge code configured to select a firmware sequence for error recovery to complete the operations responsive to an identified error in the predefined chain, and a design structure on which the subject controller circuit resides are provided. A selected predefined chain is configured to implement a particular performance path to maximize performance. Responsive to an identified predefined error during hardware operations in the predefined hardware chain, a bridge code is configured to select a non-performance path firmware sequence for error recovery completion of remaining operations. |
| US08656210B2 |
Match server for a financial exchange having fault tolerant operation
Fault tolerant operation is disclosed for a primary match server of a financial exchange using an active copy-cat instance, a.k.a. backup match server, that mirrors operations in the primary match server, but only after those operations have successfully completed in the primary match server. Fault tolerant logic monitors inputs and outputs of the primary match server and gates those inputs to the backup match server once a given input has been processed. The outputs of the backup match server are then compared with the outputs of the primary match server to ensure correct operation. The disclosed embodiments further relate to fault tolerant failover mechanism allowing the backup match server to take over for the primary match server in a fault situation wherein the primary and backup match servers are loosely coupled, i.e. they need not be aware that they are operating in a fault tolerant environment. |
| US08656208B2 |
Communication system with automatic restoring function against faulty operation and restoring method thereof
Provided are a communication system and a method of restoring the communication system. The communication system includes a master device for transmitting a reference clock through a clock line, transmitting and receiving data through a data line, and requesting and receiving input data and error detection data, and a slave device for detecting human touch input data, transmitting and receiving the data in synchronization with the reference clock or generating and transmitting the input data, and transmitting the error detection data in response to the request for error detection data. Here, the master device compares stored error detection data with the received error detection data and initializes the slave device when the stored error detection data is not the same as the received error detection data. Therefore, in the master-slave communication system capable of automatic restoration from a malfunction and the method of restoring the communication system, a master device recognizes malfunction of a slave device having a volatile storage due to its surroundings, initializes the slave device, and thus can restore the slave device to its normal operating state. |
| US08656204B2 |
Security device meant to be connected to a processing unit for audio/video signal and method using such a device
Example embodiments relate to a security device having two communication interfaces sharing at least one pin, each interface being capable of operating according to either of two predetermined communication protocols. The security device may further include a frequency detector to detect the frequency of a clock signal on the shared pin. Depending on the value of the detected frequency, and to which of a plurality of predetermined frequency ranges the detected frequency pertains, the security device may function according to one of the two predetermined communication protocols, operating at two different frequencies. |
| US08656202B2 |
Method and system for managing plug network based on appliance identification
A method and system for managing a plug network based on appliance identification. In a basic implementation, when a new appliance is activated on the plug network, a power usage profile for the new appliance is computed based on current and voltage measurements. The new appliance is classified into an appliance class based on the power usage profile. A power management action message respecting the new appliance is generated based on the class and is outputted. By judiciously configuring the power management actions applicable to different appliance classes, a business can monitor which types of appliances are attached by employees to power outlets and/or set the terms and conditions under which such appliances operate. |
| US08656201B2 |
CPU status controlled uninterruptible power supply
Systems, apparatus and methods for controlling the flow of power are provided. A current source (110) can be coupled to an uninterruptible power supply (120) to provide an uninterruptible current. A first service connection (190) can be coupled to the uninterruptible current using one or more conductors. A monitor (150), measuring one or more parameters, can be disposed in, on, or about the one or more conductors coupled to the first service connection (190). A first interruptible service connection (182) can be coupled to the current source (110) using one or more conductors. A first switch (172) can be disposed in, on, or about the conductors coupled to the one or more interruptible service connections (182). A control logic device (160) can be coupled to the monitor (150) and to the first switch (172) to interrupt the flow of current to the first interruptible service connection (182) when one or more parameters measured by the monitor (150) falls below a pre-determined threshold. |
| US08656200B2 |
System for reducing power consumption in an electronic chip
A system for reducing power consumption in an electronic device comprising at least one electronic chip comprises a plurality of local access network (LAN) ports, a transceiver coupled between the LAN ports and the electronic chip, a PLA device, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU is configured to power off the electronic chip in response to a period of inactivity on the LAN ports and power on the electronic chip in response to a signal from the PLA device. |
| US08656194B2 |
Method and system for distributing power to networked devices
One embodiment disclosed relates to a system for power distribution to network devices. The system includes a plurality of network switches each having an internal power supply and a plurality of ports for connecting to the network devices and an external power supply having a plurality of output ports for connecting to the network switches. The external power supply communicates power available to the network switches. Each network switch determines amounts and priority levels of power for the network devices connected thereto, sums together the amounts at each priority level, determines additional amounts and priority levels of power required beyond the internal power supply capability, and sends a power request to the external power supply. The external power supply allocates power to the network switches depending on the power requests received. |
| US08656192B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing power in power of ethernet system
An apparatus and method for supplying power in a PoE system are provided. The amount of power required by a device is determined when the device connects to an interface. Power is temporarily supplied to the device if the required power supply is available to the device. It is determined whether to authenticate the device. Power is continuously supplied to the device if the device is authenticated. |
| US08656191B2 |
Secure system-on-chip
A secure system-on-chip for processing data, the system-on-chip comprising at least a central processing unit (CPU), an input and an output channel, an encryption/decryption engine and a memory, wherein, said input channel comprises an input encryption module to encrypt all incoming data, said output channel comprising an output decryption module to decrypt all outgoing data, said CPU receiving the encrypted data from the input encryption module and storing them in the memory, and while processing the stored data, said CPU reading the stored data from the memory, requesting decryption of same in the encryption/decryption engine, processing the data and requesting encryption of the result by the encryption/decryption engine and storing the encrypted result, outputting the result to the output decryption module for decryption purpose and exiting the decrypted result via the output channel. |
| US08656190B2 |
One time settable tamper resistant software repository
A one-time-settable tamper resistant software repository may be used in any computing system to store system information such as security violations and policies for responding to them. A one-time-settable tamper resistant software repository may be cryptographically signed, encrypted with a per device key and accessible by only the most privileged software executed by a computing device, e.g., hypervisor or operating system kernel. A one-time-settable tamper resistant software repository may be mirrored in RAM for performance. Recordable event fields in a software repository may be one-time-settable without the ability to reset them in a field operation mode whereas they may be resettable in a different mode such as a manufacturing mode. Memory allocated to a one-time-settable tamper resistant software repository may be reset, reclaimed, reassigned, scaled and otherwise flexibly adapted to changing conditions and priorities in the lifespan of a computing device, which may be particularly useful for service-backed consumer devices. |
| US08656186B2 |
Use of indirect data keys for encrypted tape cartridges
A method, system and program are provided for enabling selective access to multiple users' encrypted data in a single storage cartridge. A unique, derived key is generated for each user's data by performing cryptographic operations on a combination of a common base key and metadata related to the data to be encrypted (e.g. its total block count). The base data key is wrapped with one or more encryption keys to form one or more encryption encapsulated data keys (EEDKs). The base key and the derived key are wrapped to create a session encrypted data key (SEDK), which along with the EEDKs, are conveyed to the tape drive, where the SEDK is decrypted. The EEDKs are then stored in one or more places on the storage cartridge. The base key and the derived key are used to encrypt a predetermined user's data, with the derived key stored on the cartridge with the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be subsequently decrypted by retrieving the EEDK and decrypting it with a decryption key to extract the base data key. The extracted base data key can then be used with other information to calculate the derived key. Once calculated, the derived key is used to decrypt its associated encrypted data. |
| US08656185B2 |
High-assurance processor active memory content protection
A method and apparatus for preventing compromise of data stored in a memory by assuring the deletion of data and minimizing data remanence affects is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of monitoring the memory to detect tampering, and if tampering is detected, generating second signals having second data differing from the first data autonomously from the first processor; providing the generated second signals to the input of the memory; and storing the second data in the memory. Several embodiments are disclosed, including self-powered embodiments and those which use separate, dedicated processors to generate, apply, and verify the zeroization data. |
| US08656181B2 |
Method and system for business workflow cycle of a composite document
A method and system for a business workflow of a composite document are described. An integrity and authenticity of an entry table are identified and verified using a verification key, a map file corresponding to entries in the table are identified using a private user decryption key, signature verification keys and access keys are read from the map file, and authenticity of the map file and the document parts are verified. Following verification, content is delivered to a user for review, update and/or modification of the content, and then is encrypted, signed, and moved along the workflow, normally to the next workflow participant. A secure distribution version of a composite document is created from a master copy by creating a serialization including at least one part of a composite document and at least one user, creating a table listing document parts and associated users, generating encryption and decryption keys, encrypting document parts, applying signatures to encrypted document parts, updating the tables with the signed parts and updating the composite document with the updated tables. A master copy is updated from a secure distribution copy after the distribution copy has completed a workflow and a workflow wrap. |
| US08656176B2 |
Simple visual authentication of documents exchanged in commerce
Verifying the integrity of a received binary object by calculating a first displayable authenticator derived from an input binary object. The first authenticator is then attached to the input binary object, producing a first composite binary object, which is sent to a remote receiver. A second composite binary object is received back from the remote receiver, wherein the second composite binary object includes a received binary object, a received first displayable authenticator, and a second displayable authenticator. A third displayable authenticator is calculated, derived from the second composite binary object, then a display of the first displayable authenticator is compared to a display of the third displayable authenticator, and verification of the integrity of the received binary object is indicated by an exact match between displays of the first and third displayable authenticators. |
| US08656175B2 |
Secure processing device, secure processing method, encrypted confidential information embedding method, program, storage medium, and integrated circuit
When performing secure processing using confidential information that needs to be confidential, the secure processing device according to the present invention prevents the confidential information from being exposed by an unauthorized analysis such as a memory dump. A signature generation device that provides a message M with a signature by using a signature key comprises: a split key storage unit that stores split secret keys obtained by splitting the signature key d into at least two, a signature key generation equation F for calculating the split secret keys to obtain the signature key d, and a signature generation equation; a signature key generation identical equation generation unit that generates a signature key generation identical equation G for obtaining the same result as the signature generation equation F, with use of an associative law, a distributive law, and a commutative law; a combined split key generation unit that generates a plurality of combined split keys that are each a result of calculating the split secret keys, and that are to be arguments for the signature key generation identical equation G; and a signature generation unit that provides the message with the signature, based on the signature key generation identical equation G and the split secret keys. |
| US08656174B2 |
Recovering from de-synchronization attacks against watermarking and fingerprinting
The invention provides a method of recovering from de-synchronization attacks includes registering original and altered digital content using nonlinear transformations to iteratively attempt to provide better-approximated registration. Approximation occurs at more than one level of granularity, by selecting among a greater number of possible transformation functions at each step. Transformations and comparisons might be conducted directly on pixel values, on coefficients for a set of basis wavelets, or on some transformation of the original and altered digital content. A human operator might assist this process, such as by suggesting transformations or providing evaluation of the degree of registration. Upon resynchronization, embedded identifying information in the original digital content is recovered. |
| US08656173B2 |
Electronic image data verification program, electronic image data verification system, and electronic image data verification method
An electronic image data verification program disclosed herein is capable of detecting presence or absence of a change, specifying a changed portion (the position of a change) if present, and making the presence or absence and the changed portion provable to third parties, by generating partial signature information separately from electronic image information to be registered, by dividing and maintaining the partial signature information, and by clearly separating functions/roles of the electronic image information (original information) and the partial signature information (verification information). The present invention comprises: a partial signature information generation section 40 that uses partial information of electronic image information, to generate partial signature information for specifying presence or absence of a change to the electronic image information and a changed portion if a change has been made; a registration section 70 that registers the electronic image information and the partial signature information generated from the electronic image information; a storage section 80; and a partial signature verification section 50 that uses the electronic image information and the partial signature information registered by the registration section, to verify presence or absence of the change to the electronic image information, or a changed portion if a change has been made to the electronic image information. |
| US08656171B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for configuring key
A method, an apparatus, and a system for configuring a key are provided. The method includes the following steps. A mobile node (MN) and an authentication authorization accounting home server (AAAH) generate a domain specific root key (DSRK) of a visited domain respectively. The AAAH sends the DSRK to an AAA visited server (AAAV). The MN and the AAAV generate a domain specific media independent handover service root key (DS-MIHS-RK) by using the DSRK respectively. The AAAV sends the DS-MIHS-RK to a visited domain media independent handover (MIH) authenticator. Thus, cumbersomeness and risks of errors in configuring and authenticating a password manually are avoided, so that large-scale and secure deployment of the MIH service becomes possible. |
| US08656168B2 |
Information processing apparatus, recovery apparatus, and disk recovery method
An information processing apparatus includes: a disk to store data; a transmitting and receiving unit to exchange information with a recovery apparatus over a network; an authentication processor to, when receiving a first authentication key from the recovery apparatus, perform an authentication process based on the first authentication key and a second authentication key; and a writing controller to write an image file to the disk upon the authentication performed by the authentication processor and issue a completion message to the recovery apparatus on completion of the writing. |
| US08656159B1 |
Versioning of modifiable encrypted documents
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a modifiable electronic document. The method includes generating a new version of the modifiable electronic document. The method also includes encrypting the new version of the modifiable electronic document using an encryption key that is used to encrypt the modifiable electronic document and different versions of the modifiable electronic document. The method includes saving the new version of the modifiable electronic document. |
| US08656146B2 |
Computer system comprising a secure boot mechanism
A secure boot processing may be accomplished on the basis of a non-volatile memory that is an integral part of the CPU and which may not be modified once a pre-boot information may be programmed into the non-volatile memory. During a reset event or a power-on event, execution may be started from the internal non-volatile memory, which may also include public decryption keys for verifying a signature of a portion of a boot routine. The verification of the respective portion of the boot routine may be accomplished by using internal random access memories, thereby avoiding external access during verification of the boot routine. Hence, a high degree of tamper resistance may be obtained, for instance, with respect to BIOS modification by exchanging BIOS chips. |
| US08656142B2 |
Managing multiple speculative assist threads at differing cache levels
An illustrative embodiment provides a computer-implemented process for managing multiple speculative assist threads for data pre-fetching that sends a command from an assist thread of a first processor to second processor and a memory, wherein parameters of the command specify a processor identifier of the second processor, responsive to receiving the command, reply by the second processor indicating an ability to receive a cache line that is a target of a pre-fetch, responsive to receiving the command replying by the memory indicating a capability to provide the cache line, responsive to receiving replies from the second processor and the memory, sending, by the first processor, a combined response to the second processor and the memory, wherein the combined response indicates an action, and responsive to the action indicating a transaction can continue sending the requested cache line, by the memory, to the second processor into a target cache level on the second processor. |
| US08656141B1 |
Architecture and programming in a parallel processing environment with switch-interconnected processors
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of tiles. Each tile includes a pipelined processor configured to process multiple streams of instructions for the processor; and a switch including switching circuitry to forward data over data paths from other tiles to one or more pipeline stages of the processor and to switches of other tiles. At least some of the data is forwarded based on one or more streams of instructions for the switch. |
| US08656140B2 |
Data processing device
An internal buffer is provided for a DRP core. A selector SEL switches input/output destination of the DRP core between external memory and an internal buffer. Control software executed by a CPU core receives information a pipeline of configurations for a sequence of target processing and generates combinations as to whether the processing result is transferred between the configurations via the external memory or via the internal buffer as transfer manners. Next, for each manner, bandwidth and performance of the external memory used by the DRP core in the manner are calculated. The manner of the best performance satisfying a previously specified bandwidth restriction is selected among the manners and the selector SEL is switched in accordance with the manner. |
| US08656138B2 |
Efficiently accessing an encoded data slice utilizing a memory bin
A method begins by a processing module receiving an encoded data slice to store and determining a slice length of the encoded data slice. The method continues with the processing module comparing the slice length to a plurality of bin widths, wherein each of the plurality of bin widths represents a fixed storage width of a plurality of memory bins within each of a plurality of memory containers, wherein a storage unit includes the plurality of memory containers. The method continues with the processing module selecting one of the plurality of memory containers based on the comparing to produce a selected memory container, identifying an available bin of the plurality of bins of the selected memory container, and storing the encoded data slice in the available bin. |
| US08656134B2 |
Optimized memory configuration deployed on executing code
A configurable memory allocation and management system may generate a configuration file with memory settings that may be deployed at runtime. An execution environment may capture a memory allocation boundary, look up the boundary in a configuration file, and apply the settings when the settings are available. When the settings are not available, a default set of settings may be used. The execution environment may deploy the optimized settings without modifying the executing code. |
| US08656133B2 |
Managing storage extents and the obtaining of storage blocks within the extents
Auxiliary storage is segmented into different types of extents (i.e., ranges of storage), including extents with 4K blocks of storage, extents with 1M blocks of storage, empty extents, and mixed extents that include blocks of storage of various sizes (e.g., 4K blocks and 1M blocks). The auxiliary storage, and in particular, the extents and blocks of storage therein, are managed to reduce storage fragmentation and optimize system performance. |
| US08656130B2 |
Low latency and persistent data storage
Persistent data storage is provided by a method that includes receiving a low latency store command that includes write data. The write data is written to a first memory device that is implemented by a nonvolatile solid-state memory technology characterized by a first access speed. It is acknowledged that the write data has been successfully written to the first memory device. The write data is written to a second memory device that is implemented by a volatile memory technology. At least a portion of the data in the first memory device is written to a third memory device when a predetermined amount of data has been accumulated in the first memory device. The third memory device is implemented by a nonvolatile solid-state memory technology characterized by a second access speed that is slower than the first access speed. |
| US08656129B2 |
Aggregate symmetric multiprocessor system
An aggregate symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) data processing system includes a first SMP computer including at least first and second processing units and a first system memory pool and a second SMP computer including at least third and fourth processing units and second and third system memory pools. The second system memory pool is a restricted access memory pool inaccessible to the fourth processing unit and accessible to at least the second and third processing units, and the third system memory pool is accessible to both the third and fourth processing units. An interconnect couples the second processing unit in the first SMP computer for load-store coherent, ordered access to the second system memory pool in the second SMP computer, such that the second processing unit in the first SMP computer and the second system memory pool in the second SMP computer form a synthetic third SMP computer. |
| US08656124B2 |
Managing backup relationships in a data storage system
A method for re-establishing a backup relationship between first and second volumes associated with one or more storage media in a data storage system is provided. The method comprises storing first information for preserving the backup relationship, in response to or in advance of receiving a request to terminate the backup relationship; recording changes to the first or second volumes that occur subsequent to terminating the backup relationship; and re-establishing the backup relationship between the first and second volumes according to the first information such that the first and second volumes are synchronized by merging the recorded changes with the first or second volumes. |
| US08656123B2 |
Snapshot preserved data cloning
A method and device for cloning snapshots is provided. A new snapshot can be created by cloning an existing snapshot. The clone snapshot may use the preserved data of the existing snapshot, thereby obviating the need to copy the preserved data. Additionally, the clone snapshot may be created with a data structure for storing write data. Since the clone snapshot initially has no write data to store, the creation of the entire clone snapshot can be accomplished without copying any preserved data or write data from the existing snapshot, thereby increasing the efficiency with which a clone snapshot can be created. |
| US08656120B2 |
Device, method and computer-readable medium relocating remote procedure call data in heterogeneous multiprocessor system on chip
Disclosed is a device, method and computer-readable medium relocating Remote Procedure Call (RPC) data in a heterogeneous multiprocessor System-on-Chip (MPSoC). The method, for example, includes determining a memory where data is to be stored based on a use of a parameter of a function, and data access patterns of a function caller and a function callee, and storing the data in the determined memory. |
| US08656116B2 |
Integrating plurality of processors with shared memory on the same circuit based semiconductor
A shared memory made on a chip based on semiconductors comprising: an integer number m, greater than one, of data buses; m address and control buses; m input/output interfaces, each input/output interface being connected to one of the m data buses and to one of the m address and control buses; an integer number p, greater than one, of memory banks, each memory bank comprising: a memory, comprising a data input/output and an address and control input controlled by each of the address and control buses; a block of m switches, each of the m switches being connected on the one hand to a memory data bus, said memory data bus being connected to the data input/output of the memory, and on the other hand to one of the m data buses. |
| US08656110B2 |
Non-volatile storage device, access device, and non-volatile storage system for releasing a cache object in accordance with a data matching flag
When multiple pieces of content data are being recorded continuously to a nonvolatile storage device having page cache function, a preparation time before starting next content data recording is reduced. When a cache releasing section of a nonvolatile storage device (1) receives cache releasing from an access device (2), it releases addresses included in one logical block among multiple addresses which are cache objects at the same time. Further, the nonvolatile storage device (1) includes a cache information outputting section which outputs information regarding a time period required for releasing addresses which are cache objects outside, and the access device (2) refers to the information to select the address to be an object of releasing. |
| US08656109B2 |
Systems and methods for background destaging storage tracks
A system includes a write cache configured to store a plurality of storage tracks and configured to be coupled to one or more hosts, and a processor coupled to the write cache. The processor includes code that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the method below. One method includes monitoring the write cache for write operations from the host(s) and determining if the host(s) is/are idle based on monitoring the write cache for write operations from the host(s). The storage tracks are destaged from the write cache if the host(s) is/are idle and are not destaged from the write cache if one or more of the hosts is/are not idle. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including a computer program product for performing the above method. |
| US08656108B2 |
Method and apparatus for saving power by efficiently disabling ways for a set-associative cache
A method and apparatus for disabling ways of a cache memory in response to history based usage patterns is herein described. Way predicting logic is to keep track of cache accesses to the ways and determine if an access to some ways are to be disabled to save power, based upon way power signals having a logical state representing a predicted miss to the way. One or more counters associated with the ways count accesses, wherein a power signal is set to the logical state representing a predicted miss when one of said one or more counters reaches a saturation value. Control logic adjusts said one or more counters associated with the ways according to the accesses. |
| US08656106B2 |
Managing unforced injections of cache lines into a cache utilizing predetermined address ranges
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are disclosed for cache management. Embodiments include receiving, by a cache controller, a request to insert a new cache line into a cache; determining, by the cache controller, whether the new cache line is associated with a forced injection; in response to determining that the new cache line is associated with a forced injection, accepting, by the cache controller, the insertion of the new cache line into the cache; and in response to determining that the new cache line is not associated with a forced injection, determining, by the cache controller, whether to accept the insertion of the new cache line based on a comparison of an address of the new cache line to a predefined range of addresses. |
| US08656102B2 |
Method for preloading configurations of a reconfigurable heterogeneous system for information processing into a memory hierarchy
A method for preloading into a hierarchy of memories, bitstreams representing the configuration information for a reconfigurable processing system including several processing units. The method includes an off-execution step of determining tasks that can be executed on a processing unit subsequently to the execution of a given task. The method also includes, during execution of the given task, computing a priority for each of the tasks that can be executed. The priority depends on information relating to the current execution of the given task. The method also includes, during execution of the given task, sorting the tasks that can be executed in the order of their priorities. The method also includes, during execution of the given task, preloading into the memory, bitstreams representing the information of the configurations for the execution of the tasks that can be executed, while favoring the tasks whose priority is the highest. |
| US08656096B2 |
On demand conversion of standard logical volumes to thin-provisioned logical volumes
A method for concurrently converting a standard volume to a thin-provisioned volume includes initially establishing metadata for a thin-provisioned volume. The method then updates the metadata for the thin-provisioned volume to point to extents residing in a standard volume. The method then suspends I/O to metadata for the standard volume. Upon suspending the I/O, the method migrates control of the extents in the standard volume from a standard-volume control algorithm to a thin-provisioned-volume control algorithm. The method then resumes the I/O to the metadata for the thin-provisioned volume. Using this technique, standard volumes may be rapidly converted to thin-provisioned volumes while minimally disrupting I/O to the volumes. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed and claimed herein. |
| US08656093B1 |
Supporting late DRAM bank hits
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism to transmit commands received from an L2 cache to a bank page within the DRAM. An arbiter unit determines which commands from a command sorter to transmit to a command queue. An activate command associated with the bank page related to the commands is also transmitted to an activate queue. The last command in the command queue is marked as “last.” An interlock counter stores a count of “last” commands in the read/write command queue. A DRAM controller transmits activate and commands from the activate queue and the command queue to the DRAM. Each time a command marked as “last” is encountered, the DRAM controller decrements the interlock counter. If the count in the interlock counter is zero, then the command marked as “last” is marked as “auto-precharge.” The “auto-precharge” command, when processed, causes the bank page to be closed. |
| US08656089B2 |
Electronic device, memory controlling method thereof and associated computer-readable storage medium
An electronic device including a NAND flash memory, an auxiliary memory, and a controller is provided. A code for detecting a read command sequence of the NAND flash memory is stored in the auxiliary memory. During a boot procedure of the electronic device, the controller reads the code from the auxiliary memory and executes the code to obtain the read command sequence of the NAND flash memory, so as to access content stored in the NAND flash memory according to the read command sequence. |
| US08656083B2 |
Frequency distributed flash memory allocation based on free page tables
Systems and/or methods that provide for frequency distributed flash memory allocation are disclosed. The systems and methods determine the rate at which a system address is being written and the current erase cycle state of each data block in the non-volatile memory device and assigns a physical address to the write operation based on the determined system address rate and the current erase state of each data block in the non-volatile system. In this regard, system addresses that are assigned more frequently are assigned physical page addresses from data blocks which have a low erase cycle state (i.e., greater cycle endurance remaining) and system addresses that assigned less frequently are assigned physical page addresses from data blocks which have a high erase cycle state (i.e., lesser cycle endurance remaining). The result is a more robust non-volatile device having increased erase/initialization cycle endurance, which adds to the overall reliability of the device over time. |
| US08656082B2 |
Flexible and expandable memory architectures
Memory system architectures, memory modules, processing systems and methods are disclosed. In various embodiments, a memory system architecture includes a source configured to communicate signals to a memory device. At least one memory cube may coupled to the source by a communications link having more than one communications path. The memory cube may include a memory device operably coupled to a routing switch that selectively communicates the signals between the source and the memory device. |
| US08656081B2 |
System and method for coordinating control of an output device by multiple control consoles
A system and method for interfacing multiple inputs and outputs in a control system is provided. A digital input/output system provides a localized interface between multiple operator consoles and at least one output device to coordinate and monitor the operation of the at least one output device. The digital input/output system includes an interface device which re-routes discrete lines to and from the operator consoles and output devices and eliminates conflicting signals sent from the operator consoles to the output devices. |
| US08656080B2 |
Wireless charging method for wireless computer peripheral device
A wireless charging method of the present invention is applied to a wireless computer peripheral device. Firstly, the access points that are able to emit wireless radio waves and located near a computer are searched by the computer. After a target access point is selected, the connection information about the target access point is transmitted to the wireless computer peripheral device. According to the connection information, the connection between the wireless computer peripheral device and the target access point is established. Consequently, the charging signal can be acquired by the wireless computer peripheral device, and the wireless charging operation will be performed. By the wireless charging method of the present invention, the wireless charging feasibility and convenience will be enhanced. |
| US08656074B2 |
Data transmission system and method thereof
A data transmission system is provided. The data transmission system includes a first control circuit coupled to a first device, a translation circuit coupled to the first control circuit and a second control circuit coupled to the translation circuit. The first control circuit decodes a first format data packet sent by the first device. The translation circuit receives the decoded first format data packet and translates the decoded first format data packet into a second format data packet. The second control circuit transmits the second format data packet to a host. A data transmission rate of the first device is slower than that of a second device, and the data transmission system is backward compatible to the first device. |
| US08656072B2 |
Memory bus architecture for concurrently supporting volatile and non-volatile memory modules
A memory/storage module is provided that implements a solid state drive compatible with Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) or Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) signaling on a double-data-rate compatible socket. A detachable daughter card may be coupled to the memory module for converting a memory bus voltage to a second voltage for memory devices on the memory module. Additionally, a hybrid memory bus on a host system is provided that supports either DDR-compatible memory modules and/or SATA/SAS-compatible memory modules. In one example, the memory/storage module couples to a first bus (DDR3 compatible socket) to obtain voltage and/or other signals, but uses a second bus for data transfers. In another example, the memory module may repurpose/reuse electrical paths that typically carry non-data signals for data traffic to/from the memory/storage module. Such data traffic for the memory/storage module permits concurrent data traffic for other memory modules on the same memory bus. |
| US08656070B2 |
Striping with SCSI I/O referrals
The present disclosure is directed to a method for communication between an initiator system and a block storage cluster. The method may comprise initiating an input/output (I/O) request from the initiator system to a first storage system included in a plurality of storage systems of the block storage cluster, each of the plurality of storage systems comprising a plurality of data segments; receiving a referral response from the first storage system, the referral response providing information describing a layout of data requested in the I/O request; obtaining a virtual disk count, a segment size, and at least one indexed port identifier based on the referral response; and directing the I/O request from the initiator system to the block storage cluster based on the virtual disk count, the segment size, and the at least one indexed port identifier. |
| US08656067B2 |
Peripheral device identification for pairing
In one implementation, a pairing device provides an identify instruction to a peripheral device during a pairing process. The peripheral device generates an identification output in response to the identify instruction. |
| US08656066B2 |
Monitoring input/output operations to specific storage locations
Provided are techniques for storing one or more storage rules for each of one or more storage locations, along with one or more actions to be taken for each storage rule that is violated, intercepting an I/O operation issued to the storage subsystem, and determining whether the I/O operation violates one or more of the storage rules. In response to determining that the I/O operation violates one or more of the storage rules, an application that issued the I/O operation is identified and each of the one or more actions associated with the one or more violated storage rules are performed. |
| US08656062B2 |
System and method for wireless pairing via wired connection
Methods, devices, and computer-readable media related to establishing wireless connections using a wired connection are disclosed. A remote device is communicatively coupled via a wired connection. The remote device receives, via the wired connection, an initialization request to initialize a wireless connection to the remote device. A search of remote device data stored in the remote device is performed. The remote device data can store authentication data related to one or more wireless connections. At the remote device, an initialization response to the initialization request is determined based on the search. The remote device sends the initialization response via the wired connection. The initialization response can indicate whether the initialization response is accepted or rejected. If the initialization response is accepted, the wireless connection to the remote device can be subsequently established and the wired connection can be subsequently closed. |
| US08656051B2 |
Method and device for network address configuration
A data transfer system comprises interconnected network devices organized to constitute a hierarchical logical arrangement having at least three levels of network hierarchy. A network device (102) receives from another network device (101) that is higher at the hierarchy a first data item such as an IP-prefix defining a first set of network addresses such as IP-addresses. The network device composes second data items so that each of the second data items defines one of mutually non-overlapping sub-sets of the first set. The network device transmits the second data items to network devices (104, 105) that are lower at the hierarchy in order to allocate one of the sub-sets to each of these network devices at the lower level of the hierarchy. This procedure can be repeated on all levels of the network hierarchy. Thus, the address configuration can propagate downwards through the hierarchical logical arrangement of the network devices. |
| US08656048B2 |
System and method for transmission of data
A system and method for data communication connecting on-line networks with on-line and off-line computers. The present system provides for broadcast of up to the minute notification centric information thereby providing an instant call to action for users who are provided with the ability to instantaneously retrieve further detailed information. The notification centric portions of information is wirelessly broadcast to wireless receiving devices which are attached to computing devices. Upon receipt of the information at the personal computer, the user is notified through different multimedia alerts that there is an incoming message. Wirelessly broadcasted URL's, associated with the data, are embedded in data packets and provide an automated wired or wireless connection back to the information source for obtaining detailed data. |
| US08656047B1 |
Intelligent switching of client packets among a group of servers
The content-aware application switch and methods thereof intelligently switch client packets to one server among a group of servers in a server farm. The switch uses Layer 7 or application content parsed from a packet to help select the server and to schedule the transmitting of the packet to the server. This enables refined load-balancing and Quality of-Service control tailored to the application being switched. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes maintaining a server load metric for each server in a group of servers; parsing application content from a packet; selecting a destination server from the group of servers, wherein selecting the destination server is dependent on the server load metric for each server, assigning a priority to the packet, the priority being dependent on the application content; and dropping the packet if the priority comprises at least one of a predetermined type. |
| US08656045B2 |
Communication protocol for controlling transfer of temporal data over a bus between devices in synchronization with a periodic reference signal
A communication protocol over the serial bus allows a peripheral device to control the flow of data between a host computer and the peripheral device so as to maintain synchronization to a periodic reference signal. The protocol involves transferring flow control messages between the peripheral device and the host computer, allowing the peripheral device to control how and when the host computer sends the uncompressed audio and video data. |
| US08656035B2 |
System and method for enabling user requested channels in an IP marketplace
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and evaluated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards. |
| US08656028B2 |
System, method, and program for communication connection by polling
A communication connection system, a communication connection method, and a communication connection program is capable of establishing push-type communication by a connection request from a server side, rather than a client side, in communication between terminals or a terminal and a server. A polling server 50 periodically conducts polling to a connection server 100 to check if the connection server 100 has received connection request data. The polling server 50 transmits the connection request data 10 to a user terminal 10 when the connection server 100 determines that the connection server 100 has received the connection request data from a support terminal 150. The user terminal 10 connects with the support terminal 150 through the polling server 50 and the connection server 100 by a predetermined communication application regardless of input by a user when the user terminal 10 receives the connection request data. |
| US08656027B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, method for disconnection process thereof, and storage medium
A wireless communication apparatus (for example, a wireless LAN access point) sends to an opposite apparatus during connection (for example, a wireless LAN terminal) advance notice of disconnection that notifies disconnection to a transmission frame before sending a disconnection frame (a deauthentication frame). After the advance notice of disconnection, the disconnection frame is sent and a disconnection process is executed. Since advance notice of disconnection is executed before the disconnection frame is sent, unless the wireless communication apparatus or the opposite apparatus during connection receives advance notice of disconnection before the disconnection frame is received, the disconnection frame is ignored, that is, disconnection frames from apparatuses except the apparatus during connection is ignored, then, illegal connection disconnection can be prevented. |
| US08656024B2 |
Transactional application processing in a distributed environment
Transactional application processing in a distributed environment using an application-aware network infrastructure element is described. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises a plurality of network interfaces, forwarding logic, and transaction manager logic. The plurality of network interfaces is operable to communicatively connect to one or more packet-switched networks. The forwarding logic is coupled to the plurality of network interfaces and, when executed, is operable to receive packet flows therefrom and to forward the packet flows thereto. The transaction manager logic is encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed is operable to: receive first information that specifies one or more remote resources associated with an extended transaction, where the extended transaction comprises a plurality of child transactions; and reserve the one or more remote resources by sending out one or more reservation requests over a network management protocol. |
| US08656022B2 |
Methods and apparatus for dynamic allocation of servers to a plurality of customers to maximize the revenue of a server farm
A method and structure for dynamic allocation of servers to customers in a server farm which supports a flexible contract structure such that the total revenue of the farm is maximized. The invention creates a resource allocation plan based on a long term forecast for the server farm, taking into account traffic, number of servers, customers' contracts and revenue optimization algorithms. The plan is then modified as indicated by short term forecasting using currently monitored load metrics to reallocate to maximize revenue for particular time periods. |
| US08656021B2 |
Methods and apparatus for constructing an execution environment in which the application operates
The problem is solved by including a read unit reading operation information corresponding to an application according to an execution request and relating to an operation of the application; and a construction unit constructing an execution environment in which the application operates, based on the operation information read by the read unit. |
| US08656017B2 |
Peer-to-peer collaboration system with edge routing
A peer-to-peer collaboration system in which changes to a shared space may be broadcast to all of the peers in a collaboration session using messages sent with a combination of addressing techniques. Messages may be addressed for direct peer-to-peer transmission, indirect transmission through another peer or indirect transmission through a server. The type of addressing used to communicate with each peer is determined through the use of a routing table. The routing table defines interconnected groups of peers and may be used to select one or more peers in each group as the initial recipients of the message. The initial recipients may forward the message to other peers within their groups, such that all peers receive the message. For peers behind a NAT, one or more NAT traversal techniques may be used to obtain information to construct the routing table. |
| US08656014B1 |
Communication assets survey and mapping tool with add/edit feature
A Communication Assets Survey and Mapping Tool. The method includes collecting and storing agency, communication asset and interoperability data in a database, receiving a request for a display of agency, communication asset and interoperability of a geographic area, retrieving data regarding agency, communication asset and interoperability information from the database, determining interoperability between agencies based on their communication assets data and displaying interoperability information. Features include prioritizing interoperability solutions (a need vs ability analysis), data entry graphical user interface, data export, and community forum. |
| US08656012B2 |
Management computer, storage system management method, and storage system
It is provided a management computer coupled to a plurality of storage apparatuses and a plurality of physical computers, which comprises a memory, a processor and a network interface. The management computer collects performance information on each of at least one resource included in a path based on monitoring priority assigned to the each of the at least one resource; identifies a first path including a first resource based on configuration information in a case where a first event has occurred on the first resource; identifies a second resource included in the first path; determines whether a third resource for which the monitoring priority needs to be changed is included in the second resource based on the first event and the monitoring priority information; and changes the monitoring priority of the third resource in a case where the third resource is determined to be included in the second resource. |
| US08656007B2 |
Communication network system and service processing method in communication network
A communication network system includes a resource network element and further includes a resource server adapted to retrieve availability information of the resource network element and to allocate the resource network element according to the retrieved availability information. A service processing method in a communication network at the resource server side includes: receiving a resource query request; and searching for an available resource network element and responding with it being a response result. A service processing method in a communication network at the resource network element side includes: receiving a request for a service; determining whether the service can be processed immediately, and if not, transmitting a resource query request to a resource server; and transmitting the service request to an available resource network element in a response result. A resource server and a resource network element are further disclosed. With a resource server, the invention can monitor dynamically availability information of a resource network element and allocate appropriately an idle resource network element to thereby improve both a utilization ratio of network resource and a service processing capability of network element. |
| US08656004B1 |
Method and apparatus for delivering selected multimedia content to a user in pervasive computing environments
A method and apparatus for delivering selected multimedia content to a user of a mobile device in a pervasive computing environment is disclosed. Communication with a mobile device in the environment is established. A user profile and viewing history is received from the mobile device. Multimedia content is selected and sequenced for viewing by the user. The selection of multimedia content is based on search logic that includes the user profile and viewing history. Metadata is transmitted to the mobile device that is associated with the selected multimedia content. |
| US08656002B1 |
Managing resource dependent workflows
Systems and method for the management of resource dependent workflows are provided. One or more resource control devices monitor usage of a computing resource by server computing devices. Each resource control device may direct a server computing device to proceed with a workflow or to pause processing a workflow. A resource control device may further direct a server computing device to take resource conserving actions. When a computing resource is determined to be available, a resource control device may direct a paused server computing device to resume a workflow. |
| US08655999B2 |
Automatically adjusting scheduled inventory of switched fabrics
A mechanism is provided in a storage management application that automatically reconfigures agents and scheduled probes of agents in cases where the agents do not automatically reconfigure themselves to manage a newly formed fabric after fragment segmentation. The solution does not burden the storage administrator to reconfigure agents or to reconfigure regularly scheduled inventory probes through storage management applications. |
| US08655991B2 |
Automated rapid registration of applications
A method and apparatus for managing distribution and use of software applications. An application manager at an administrator computer may be configured to receive requests for registering an application from a client computer. The application manager may determine whether the request should be approved based on historical responses to similar registration requests. A response to the request may accordingly be sent automatically to the requesting client computer. |
| US08655989B2 |
Business network access protocol for the business network
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for providing access to business network data. One method includes identifying a logical graph from business network linked graph data to be transformed into a resource graph, the logical graph including at least two nodes and at least one edge connecting a pair of nodes and defining a connection between the nodes. Each node is converted into a resource. A resource graph associated with the logical graph can be generated, where generation comprises, for each identified node, associating at least one attribute associated with the identified node as a resource attribute of the corresponding resource, adding at least one node connected to the identified node via an edge in the logical graph as a resource attribute of the corresponding resource, and dissolving at least one connection between the identified node and at least one other entity in the logical graph. |
| US08655988B2 |
Method and system for configuring network access nodes
In order to put a network access node such as a wireless router or home gateway in a home network in operation, the node needs to be configured with several parameters requiring technical skills that an ordinary user often does not have. The present invention solves this problem by introducing a system and a method to assist the user to configure the router. The system comprises a web based wizard, an inference engine coupled to said wizard and a knowledge base coupled to said inference engine. The wizard guides the user to provide input which together with stored information retrieved from the knowledge base is processed by the inference engine. The inference engine further generates configuration data that is stored in the wireless router or home gateway. The user can without detailed technical knowledge easily configure the router. |
| US08655986B2 |
Data path processing
An intermediate device receives a content data message addressed to a receiving device for a communication session between a source device and the receiving device. The intermediate device substitutes adapted content data for content data of the content data message and then sends the adapted content data to the receiving device such that it appears to the receiving device that the adapted content data originated from the source device. The communication from the source device to the receiving device is intercepted by the intermediate device in a manner that is transparent to the source device and receiving device. |
| US08655982B2 |
Information searching apparatus, number deciding method, information searching program, information searching system and recording medium
There are provided an information searching apparatus, a number deciding method, an information searching program, an information searching system and a recording medium, in which a user can efficiently browse search results. A first data group constituted of a predetermined number of pieces of data is transmitted to a terminal device in a data group which is data corresponding to an searched information group, a transmission request of data different from the first data group is received from the terminal device, a second data group different from the first data group is transmitted to the terminal device in the data group corresponding to the searched information group, a presence of a user interest in the first data group is determined based on contents of a user operation detected by the terminal device after the first data group is transmitted until the transmission request is received, and when the user is not interested in the first data group, the second data group constituted of a larger number of pieces of data than the number of pieces of data constituting the first data group is transmitted. |
| US08655980B2 |
Networked computer system for communicating and operating in a virtual reality environment
The present invention relates to interactive virtual reality networked computer systems and methods that facilitate communication and operation in a virtual reality environment. The virtual reality networked computer system has an infrastructure that includes a number of users, hosts and servers. The interconnected hosts and servers allow users to effectively locate, activate, access and interact within virtual reality environments in a variety of different ways. For example, users can establish user groups such that interaction within the virtual reality environment occurs between hosts (accessed by users) without the need of a central or dedicated server. |
| US08655979B2 |
Method for replacing a network interface device
A method of replacing a network demarcation device that isolates an internal transport medium from an external transport medium includes establishing a connection from a service computer to the demarcation device via a service interface of the demarcation device and accessing a storage arrangement of the demarcation device with the service computer. The method also includes using the service computer to select configuration information of the demarcation device and establishing a connection between the service computer and a service interface of the replacement demarcation device. The method also includes using the service computer to cause the selected configuration information to be transferred from the demarcation device to the replacement demarcation device interfacing the replacement demarcation device to the internal transport medium and the external transport medium. |
| US08655977B2 |
System and method for caching inquiry data about sequential access devices
An intermediate device communicatively connected to a host device and a sequential device in a storage area network. The host device is configured to issue different kinds of commands to the sequential device, including an inquiry command. The sequential device is configured to sequentially process requests from the host device. The intermediate device is configured to cache inquiry data about the sequential device itself in a cache memory connected to the intermediate device and service inquiry commands from the host device. |
| US08655974B2 |
Zero copy data transmission in a software based RDMA network stack
A method for data transmission on a device without intermediate buffering is provided. An application request is received to transmit data from the device to a second device over a network. The data from application memory is formatted for transmitting to the second device. The data are transmitted from the device to the second device without intermediate buffering. A send state is retrieved. The send state is compared to expected send state. If the send state meets the expected send state, a completion of the data transmit request is generated. |
| US08655971B2 |
Breaking locks held by two-phase commit transactions while preserving data consistency
A technique for breaking locks held by two-phase commit (2PC) transactions while preserving data consistency that guarantees that either the “commit” phase or the “abort” phase of the 2PC protocol is completed at a higher-priority server. Accordingly, all locks on data objects are released and a high-priority operation can proceed. Data consistency is also preserved because the 2PC coordinator adheres to the 2PC protocol and properly notifies both the higher-priority server and one or more lower-priority servers when they are available. |
| US08655963B2 |
Transmission apparatus and reception apparatus for message and method of data extraction
A reception apparatus which receives a first and second message includes a determination unit configured to determine correspondence between the first message and the second message, an acquisition unit configured to acquire data length information expressing a data length from the first message, and an extraction unit configured to extract data which has the data length based on the data length information from the second message when the determination unit determines that the first message corresponds to the second message. |
| US08655962B2 |
Shared address collectives using counter mechanisms
A shared address space on a compute node stores data received from a network and data to transmit to the network. The shared address space includes an application buffer that can be directly operated upon by a plurality of processes, for instance, running on different cores on the compute node. A shared counter is used for one or more of signaling arrival of the data across the plurality of processes running on the compute node, signaling completion of an operation performed by one or more of the plurality of processes, obtaining reservation slots by one or more of the plurality of processes, or combinations thereof. |
| US08655959B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for providing a rating of an electronic message
A system, method, and computer program product are included for providing a rating of an electronic message to a recipient. In use, an electronic message intended for a recipient is rated. Additionally, the rating and die electronic message are provided to the recipient. |
| US08655958B2 |
System and method to prioritize chat alerts based on an organizational hierarchical chain
In a chat alert method and system, a chat user creates alert profiles that include the requestor's level in an organizational hierarchy as a parameter and the alert type for the level. When a chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, the chat client determines if there is a chat alert profile that matches the requestor's level. If so, then an alert is issued to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile. Optionally, the chat alert profile sets an alternate alert system, where if the receiver does not respond to the request within a specified time, an alert is sent using the alternate alert system. Chat requests from requesters higher up in the reporting chain can be highlighted for the receiver. The receiver can then prioritize the chat requests that he/she receives and respond to them in a timely fashion. |
| US08655955B2 |
Stream processing using a client-server architecture
A system for responding to requests using stream processing can include a processor configured to initiate executable operations including receiving a server request from a server, wherein the server is configured to generate the server request responsive to a client request, generating a request identifier associated with the server request, and, responsive to the server request, sending a stream processing request derived from the server request to a first stream processing node. The stream processing request can include the request identifier. Responsive to receiving a create response message including a stream processing result and the request identifier from a second stream processing node, the stream processing result can be correlated with the server request. A write response message specifying the stream processing result can be sent to the server. |
| US08655953B2 |
System and method for playback positioning of distributed media co-viewers
Systems and methods are disclosed for obtaining and presenting information to a user playing a media item identifying playback positions of a number of other users also playing the media item. In one embodiment, a first user begins playback of a media item. Information identifying playback positions of a number of second users also playing the media item is obtained from a playback information broker and presented to the first user. The first user may then provide user input identifying a desired action to take with respect to one or more of the second users. In response, the desired action is effected. |
| US08655945B2 |
Centralized rendering of collaborative content
A method is disclosed that includes rendering a portion of a collaborative data stream at a first application running in a first virtual machine on a physical server. The method also includes the first application sharing the rendered portion of the collaborative data stream with a multiplicity of second applications running in second virtual machines on the physical server. Apparatus and program products are also disclosed. |
| US08655940B2 |
Computer for performing inter-process communication, computer-readable medium storing inter-process communication program, and inter-process communication method
In response to an all-to-all inter-process communication request from a local process, a computer repeatedly determines a destination server in accordance with a destination-server determination procedure so that, in a same round of destination-server determinations repeatedly performed by the respective servers during all-to-all inter-process communication, the servers determine servers that are different from one another as destination servers. Each time the destination server is determined, the computer sequentially determines a process running on the determined destination server as a destination process. Each time the destination process is determined, the computer obtains transmission data for the destination process from a send buffer in which the transmission data is stored as a result of execution of the local process and transmits the obtained transmission data to the destination server so as to enable reading of the transmission data during execution of the determined destination process in the destination server. |
| US08655938B1 |
Social media contributor weight
A system and method is disclosed for measuring contributor weight or influence in social media. Content posted by a user on one or more social media platforms is identified. The identifying the content posted by the user includes searching the one or more social media platforms for content posted by the user with identifying information. Downstream content associated with the content posted by the user is identified. Metrics measuring a contributor weight of the user based on the downstream content are calculated. |
| US08655936B2 |
System and method for processing a signal with a filter employing FIR and IIR elements
A system and method for processing a signal with a filter employing FIR and/or IIR elements. The required controller function is decomposed into primary FIR and/or IIR elements and a compensation filter is provided to address the latency in the primary elements, which would result in undesired operation of the filter. Several configurations of suitable filters are discussed, including multi-rate filters and filters with reduced power requirements. |
| US08655931B2 |
Media aware distributed data layout
A storage system includes a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS) for storage. Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system includes a memory having multiple classes of service. The system includes an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis for storage. A file system for storing a file. A file system for storing includes a plurality of vdisks. A method for storing a file. |
| US08655927B2 |
Memory device, electronic system, and methods associated with modifying data and a file of a memory device
A memory device, system and method of editing a file in a non-volatile memory device is described. The memory device includes a controller and a memory array configured to copy an existing first file into a second file during editing and to maintain the first file while applying edits to the second file. When editing is completed, a first cluster pointer of the first file is redirected to point at the first cluster of the second file that has been edited. |
| US08655926B2 |
Synchronized distributed media assets
Synchronized distributed media assets is described. In embodiments, a global media catalog of global metadata is maintained for media assets that are accessible by client devices registered to a user. The global metadata corresponds to the media assets that are located remotely from one or more of the client devices. A client device can communicate a request for a media asset that is identified by the global metadata and located at a location remote from the client device. |
| US08655922B2 |
Device and process for remote management of a network of audiovisual information reproduction systems
Management device for a network of audiovisual information reproduction systems or jukeboxes, including a database with a plurality of sets of arrays, each array containing grouped information either about the composition of a jukebox, or the use of the jukebox, or the payment of fees. The database is managed by a computer server connected with the audiovisual information reproduction systems to receive messages sent by each audiovisual information reproduction device and containing information necessary to update determined sets of arrays in the database, and update data or the program for each audiovisual information reproduction device with information stored in at least one set of arrays in the database and transmitted in this message. |
| US08655921B2 |
True/false decision method for deciding whether search query containing logical expression is true or false
When a searching apparatus accepts a search condition including a logical condition formed of variables, transition table is created by using a BDD method. In the transition table, a combination of a bit string indicative of true or false of a variable at each level for arriving from a starting-point variable to an arrival variable and the starting-point variable is associated with the arrival variable. Then, a true/false decision on the search condition of the search target data is made by, with an arrival variable of a transition destination being taken as the starting-point variable, extracting a bit string of a predetermined number of digits from the starting-point variable from among logical bit strings of the search target data and specifying the arrival variable as the transition destination based on the combination and the transition table. |
| US08655919B2 |
Storage system and method for updating a hash tree
A system and method is provided for updating a hash tree in a protected environment. An integrity protection controller is provided for observing one or more system parameters of a storage system and one or more hash tree parameters of the hash trees, and for updating a hash tree in dependence on the storage system parameter and the hash tree parameter. |
| US08655918B2 |
System and method of transforming data for use in data analysis tools
A process of transforming data residing in databases, such as relational databases, into forms suitable as input to data analysis tools, such as predictive modeling tools includes the steps of defining a business process problem to be solved and identifying data requirements. For example, the business process problem may relate to predicting a customer's propensity to make purchases in the future or a store's requirements for inventory in the future. In the process, a computer implemented method is used for automatically transforming data for data analysis such as predictive modeling. Database metadata that describe database tables, their interrelationships, dimensional information, fact tables and measures are accessed. A mining transformation profile is created to encapsulate aggregations and transformation on data stored in relational databases in order to convert the data to forms suitable for predictive mining tools. The mining transformation profile specifies data transformations relative to the data base metadata. Executable data transformation codes is then generated from the database metadata and the mining transformation profile. Execution of this code results in aggregation and transformation of data residing in a database for input to a data analysis tool such as a predictive modeling tool. The data transformation code can be used by, for example, the predictive modeling tool to generate an output that provides a solution to a business process problem. |
| US08655917B2 |
Custom web services data link layer
A data interface efficiently transports, manages, and provides data transfer. The data transfer may happen between a data storage layer and a presentation layer, as examples. The presentation layers may be graphical user interfaces that display or report complex data sets, with the data storage layer providing the source data for the presentation layers. The data interface implements a data link layer that efficiently caches, stores, and locates query results, while simultaneously handling security. The data link layer may include load balancing, efficient cache refresh, and other features. |
| US08655913B1 |
Method for locating web elements comprising of fuzzy matching on attributes and relative location/position of element
The subject technology discloses techniques for locating an element in a document object model (DOM) tree structure based on fuzzy matching of attributes of the element and the relative positioning of other elements in the DOM tree structure. For instance, different attributes for searching an element in a DOM tree structure are received. The subject technology determines a location of an element in a DOM tree structure based on the plurality of attributes. A relative location of the element in the DOM tree structure is then determined if determining the location of the element is unsuccessful based on the plurality of attributes. In one example, the relative location of the element is based on fuzzy matching according to a predetermined percentage of one or more matching attributes and based on respective positions of one or more elements in the DOM tree structure. |
| US08655912B2 |
Computer-implemented method and system for combining keywords into logical clusters that share similar behavior with respect to a considered dimension
A computer-implemented method and system for combining keywords into logical clusters that share a similar behavior with respect to a considered dimension are disclosed. Various embodiments are operable to order a list of keywords from high activity to low activity, partition the list into at least two sets, a head partition including keywords with an activity level above a predefined threshold, a tail partition including the remainder of the keywords in the list, model the keywords in the head partition based on a set of variables, score the keywords in the head partition based on the modeling, and cluster head partition keywords with tail partition keywords having at least one common variable into at least one keyword cluster. |
| US08655911B2 |
Expressing frequent itemset counting operations
Techniques are provided for (1) extending SQL to support direct invocation of frequent itemset operations, (2) improving the performance of frequent itemset operations by clustering itemset combinations to more efficiently use previously produced results, and (3) making on-the-fly selection of the occurrence counting technique to use during each phase of a multiple phase frequent itemset operation. When directly invoked in an SQL statement, a frequent itemset operation may receive input from results of operations specified in the SQL statement, and provide its results directly to other operations specified in the SQL statement. By clustering itemset combinations, resources may be used more efficiently by retaining intermediate information as long as it is useful, and then discarding it to free up volatile memory. Dynamically selecting an occurrence counting technique allows a single frequent itemset operation to change the occurrence counting technique that it is using midstream, based on cost considerations and/or environmental conditions. |
| US08655904B2 |
Method and system to enhance data integrity in a database
A system and method are provided to process listing data in a network-based commerce system, for example, a network-based auction facility. The method may comprise providing a user with a graphic user interface to enter listing data in the network-based commerce system, the listing data including at least one entered word. A database including a plurality of reference words that relate to listings provided by the network-based commerce system may then be investigated. If at least one entered word is misspelled, the method may include identifying at least one suggested word from the plurality of reference words and communicating the at least one suggested word to the user. In one embodiment, the reference words include words frequently misspelled and the at least one suggested word is the correct spelling of the word. The at least one suggested word may be associated with at least one category associated with a listing. |
| US08655903B2 |
Automatically making changes in a document in a content management system based on a change by a user to other content in the document
A content management system detects a change to one part of a document, and to generate a corresponding change in a different part of the same document. Dynamic inclusion rules define conditions that, when satisfied, allow automatically changing a link in a document to a new link when corresponding data in the document is added or changed. If a change corresponds to a defined dynamic inclusion rule, a corresponding query in the rule is evaluated according to the changes in the document. When there is enough information to run the query, the query is automatically executed in a background process. If there is a single link that satisfies the query, the document may be updated with the new link. If multiple links satisfy the query, the top ranked query result may be automatically selected, or the user may select which link should be included in the document. |
| US08655902B2 |
Identifying superphrases of text strings
Methods and apparatus are described by which “superphrases” of “seed phrases” representing basic concepts may be identified without having to compare all possible pairs of seed and candidate phrases. According to one class of embodiments, a data structure similar to an inverted index is used for indexing phrases. The elimination of seed and candidate phrase pairs is enabled by building and traversing the index in a particular manner. |
| US08655901B1 |
Translation-based query pattern mining
This specification describes technologies relating to search systems. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a query pattern, the query pattern identifying a particular rule to interpret a particular type of query, the query pattern being in a first language; identifying a collection of queries in the first language matching the query pattern; annotating each query of the collection of queries with one or more labels; translating the collection of annotated queries in the first language into a translated collection of queries in a second language; aligning the translated collection of queries including identifying a most common term in the translated collection of queries and determining the corresponding positions of the annotations relative to the translated query terms; and extracting a translated query pattern from the aligned translated collection of queries. |
| US08655898B2 |
Virtualization of metadata for file optimization
Mechanisms are provided for optimizing files while allowing application servers access to metadata associated with preoptimized versions of the files. During file optimization involving compression and/or compaction, file metadata changes. In order to allow file optimization in a manner transparent to application servers, the metadata associated with preoptimized versions of the files is maintained in a metadata database as well as in an optimized version of the files themselves. |
| US08655896B2 |
Apparatus and methods for organizing data items having time of life intervals
A data structure for storing items of information having a time of life includes a time of life interval for each item of information, and methods for using the same. The items of information are organized in a data structure having nodes and edges connecting the nodes. This data structure is preferably a directed acyclic graph structure. The data structure includes parent nodes and child nodes. The time of life interval specified for any child node generally is contained within the time interval specified for that child node's parent node, such that the data structure includes no child nodes with a time of life interval that falls outside of the time of life interval of its parent node. |
| US08655893B2 |
Organizing images captured by multiple image capture devices
A method for organizing images from multiple image capture devices includes allowing the determination of an offset between image capture times recorded in a first image capture device and image capture times recorded in a second image capture device, adjusting the image capture times recorded in the second image capture device by the offset to produce adjusted image capture times by a computer processor, and sequencing images taken by the first image capture device and the second image capture device in an chronological order. The sequencing is based on the image capture times for the images captured by the first image capture device and the adjusted image capture times for the images captured by the second image capture device. |
| US08655888B2 |
Searching documents for ranges of numeric values
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for searching documents for ranges of numeric values. Document identifiers for documents are accessed, wherein the documents include at least one value that is a member of a set of values. A number of posting lists are generated. Each posting list is associated with a range of consecutive values within the set of values and includes document identifiers for documents including at least one value within the range of consecutive values associated with the posting list, and wherein each document identifier is associated with one value in the set of values included in the document identified by the document identifier. The generated posting lists are stored, wherein the posting lists are used to process a query on a range of values within the set of values. |
| US08655886B1 |
Selective indexing of content portions
A request monitor may monitor user requests, each user request including at least one keyword. A portion evaluator may determine inclusive portions of content file portions of indexed content files within an index, and may assign values to the inclusive portions, based on a providing of at least one of the indexed content files to the user in response to the user request. A portion selector may select, from the inclusive portions and based on the values, retained portions to be retained within the index. An index updater configured to update the index to replace the indexed content files with the retained portions. |
| US08655880B2 |
Graphical information navigator
Embodiments facilitate graphical navigation of data. In a specific embodiment, the system includes a graphical user interface that is adapted to graphically depict data via one or more displayed icons. The graphical user interface is further adapted to enable a user to cause the display of a first icon and one or more additional icons associated therewith by selection of the first icon. A learning module is adapted to monitor use of the graphical user interface and to adjust behavior of the graphical user interface in response to learned information obtained from monitoring the use of the graphical user interface. The system may be specifically adapted to facilitate user navigation of data that is maintained by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. |
| US08655879B2 |
System and method for generating media bookmarks
Disclosed herein are systems, methods and computer-readable media for transmedia video bookmarks, the method comprising receiving a first place marker and a second place marker for a segment of video media, extracting metadata from the video media between the first and second place markers, normalizing the extracted metadata, storing the normalized metadata, first place marker, and second place marker as a video bookmark, and retrieving the media represented by the video bookmark upon request from a user. Systems can aggregate video bookmarks from multiple sources and refine the first place marker and the second place marker based on the aggregated video bookmarks. Metadata can be extracted by analyzing text or audio annotations. Metadata can be normalized by generating a video thumbnail representing the video media between the first place marker and the second place marker. Multiple video bookmarks may be searchable by metadata or by the video thumbnail visually. |
| US08655874B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring and displaying image data corresponding to content data
An information reproducing apparatus and method thereof. The information reproducing apparatus includes a storage unit, communication unit, controller, and display unit. The storage unit stores music data and at least one first string of characters corresponding to the music data. The reproducing unit reproduces the music data from the storage unit. The communication unit communicates with an image data storage unit, which stores a plurality of image data each corresponding to at least one second string of characters. The controller controls acquisition of one image data from the image data storage unit via the communication unit. The one image data is acquired based on a comparison between the at least one first string of characters and the plurality of the at least one second string of characters. Further, the display unit is configured to display the acquired image data when the reproducing unit is reproducing the music data. |
| US08655871B2 |
Sharing of profile information with content providers
In some implementations, a method includes receiving a search query, at an information provider, from a mobile device; generating a plurality of search results that are responsive to the search query and directed to corresponding content providers that are external to the information provider; identifying one or more search results from the plurality of search results that are directed to partners of the information provider; and providing, to the mobile device, the plurality of search results, wherein the one or more search results directed to partners of the information provider include location information that is stored in a profile maintained by the information provider and associated with the mobile device, wherein the location information is passed to the corresponding partners upon selection of the one or more search results. |
| US08655870B2 |
Apparatus and method for retrieving data at high speed to perform post-processing on satellite telemetry data
A telemetry data retrieval apparatus and method for post-processing are provided. The telemetry data retrieval apparatus may include a retrieval initiating unit to receive an input of a retrieval time, and to calculate a percentage of the retrieval time during an entire retrieval period, a start position calculating unit to calculate a retrieval start position in which data retrieval is started within a stored file, based on the calculated percentage, and a telemetry data retrieval unit to verify a start pattern and a time tag from the calculated retrieval start position, and to retrieve a position of telemetry data in the stored file. |
| US08655863B2 |
Search device, search system, search device control method, search device control program, and computer-readable recording medium
A search device includes a first search section and a second search section. The first search section searches, for second image data sharing a common attribute with first image data being processed by an image processing apparatus, a storage section in which image data processed by the image processing apparatus is stored. The second search section searches the storage section for third image data processed by the image processing apparatus within a time period from a predetermined time before a reference time to a predetermined time after the reference time, the reference time being a point of time at which the second image data was processed by the image processing apparatus. This makes it possible to prevent a search omission in the search device for searching for the second image data sharing a common attribute with the first image data. |
| US08655862B1 |
System and method for query re-issue in search engines
A system embodiment receives a query from the user. The query is processed by a search infrastructure which may return a set of results. Results may then be estimated for quality by a quality estimator. The quality estimator may determine an initial quality estimation of the search result(s). A query re-issuer generates re-issued query information based on the initial quality estimation of the search result(s) for the initial query. A query modifier then receives the re-issued query information and generates a modified re-issued query in accordance with the query re-issue information. A method embodiment modifies and re-issues a query to the search infrastructure. The method includes determining an initial quality estimation of the search result, generating re-issued query information based on at least an initial quality estimation of the search result for the initial query, receiving the re-issued query information and generating a modified re-issued query in accordance with the re-issued query information. |
| US08655861B2 |
Query metadata engine
In one example, a method comprises receiving, with a data access service, an input query from an enterprise software application, wherein the data access service is positioned between the enterprise software application and a multidimensional data source; parsing the input query into a parse tree; generating an abstract syntax tree based on the parse tree, the abstract syntax tree comprising input query elements and multidimensional expression query elements based on the input query; performing an evaluation of metadata comprised in the multidimensional expression query elements of the abstract syntax tree; restructuring the abstract syntax tree based on the evaluation of the metadata; executing a query based on the restructured abstract syntax tree on the multidimensional data source; and retrieving a query result set from the multidimensional data source comprising results that are responsive to the query based on the restructured abstract syntax tree. |
| US08655857B1 |
Dynamic construction of java class hierarchy based on metadata
Integrating a new class into a class hierarchy is disclosed. A new class having a place in a class hierarchy is received. Metadata, associated with the new class, that includes the new class's place in the class hierarchy is also received. Hierarchy data associated with a previously compiled class is dynamically modified to reflect the place of the new class in the class hierarchy. |
| US08655853B2 |
System and method for optimizing database transaction termination
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system and method for optimizing transaction termination. A database interface receives an indication to terminate a transaction. The database interface decides whether to send a command to the underlying database server to terminate the transaction. If the database interface does send a command to the database server, it determines which command is appropriate to send. |
| US08655852B2 |
Storage system with improved multiple copy targeting
A storage control apparatus in cooperation with a plurality of controlled storage apparatus arranged in a cascade of point-in-time copy relationship. The apparatus includes: a rate control component operable to set a desired rate for cleaning a first target one of the plurality of controlled storage apparatus; a comparator component in communication with the rate control component to identify discrepant bits associated with first and second targets; and a copy initiator, responsive to the comparator component to initiate a copy operation responsive to the identified discrepant bits. |
| US08655851B2 |
Method and system for performing a clean file lock recovery during a network filesystem server migration or failover
A method for file lock recovery in a distributed computer system. The method includes executing a distributed computer system having a plurality of nodes comprising a cluster, and initiating a network file system server migration from one node of the cluster to a different node of the cluster. A migration count is incremented, wherein the migration count is stored at each of the nodes comprising the cluster. File lock services are paused at each of the nodes comprising the cluster. The network file system server migration is completed at the different node of the cluster. The migration count is then decremented in response to the completion. File lock services are then resumed at each of the nodes comprising cluster. |
| US08655846B2 |
System and method for generating and managing quick recovery volumes
The invention relates to computer readable medium storing program code which when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform a method for creating a quick recovery volume of a primary data set used by a first computer in a backup storage system, which includes identifying a snapshot image of the primary data set generated by a snapshot application, creating the quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot image of the primary data set and controlling transfer of data from the first computer to an archival storage unit. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for creating a quick recovery volume of a primary data set that includes creating a snapshot image of the primary data set and creating a quick recovery volume of the primary data set from the snapshot image of the primary data set. |
| US08655844B1 |
File version tracking via signature indices
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for efficiently processing information are disclosed. In some embodiments, this may include creating a first signature of a file, associating a first timestamp with the first signature, creating a second signature of a file, associating a second timestamp with the second signature, comparing the first signature with the second signature, determining if the file has been modified based on the comparison, and identifying a time of modification based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp. |
| US08655842B2 |
Push pull caching for social network information
Embodiments are directed towards modifying a distribution of writers as either a push writer or a pull writer based on a cost model that decides for a given content reader whether it is more effective for the writer to be a pull writer or a push writer. A cache is maintained for each content reader for caching content items pushed by a push writer in the content writer's push list of writers when the content is generated. At query time, content items are pulled by the content reader based on writers a content reader's pull list. One embodiment of the cost model employs data about a previous number of requests for content items for a given writer for a number of previous blended display results of content items. When a writer is determined to be popular, mechanisms are proposed for pushing content items to a plurality of content readers. |
| US08655837B2 |
Data session notification means and method
The method and apparatus is for improving transactions in a communication system. The method including: dynamically monitoring a data session between at least one of first and second parties in a transaction in the communication system; and engaging a third party into the transaction as a function of the monitoring of the data session between the first and second parties. The apparatus implements the method. |
| US08655833B2 |
Database architecture for supporting group communications among wireless communication devices
A system and method for continually updating a large and substantially continually changing dataset that is accessed by multiple application threads, such as a group identity database of members in communication groups of wireless communication devices. A first server holds the group identity database and, as application threads on the first server access the database to set up group communications, a second server sends new group identity data to update the database, with the new data arriving as discrete, ordered blocks. A first server-resident data-index table is updated with the ordering information of the new data blocks, and a first server-resident checkpointing thread places the ordering information of the new data blocks into a checkpoint cache and checkpoints the ordering information as the new data blocks are updated into the group identity database and verifies the ordering (or version) of the data as against the data-index table. |
| US08655832B2 |
Publishing activity tasks in a collaborative environment
A method, system and apparatus for publishing activity tasks in a collaborative environment can include the step of publishing selected activity tasks for status viewing by other collaborators in the collaborative environment. In one aspect of the invention, the publishing step can include the step of publishing selected activity tasks for viewing by a subset of the collaborators in the collaborative environment. In another aspect of the invention, the publishing step can include the step of publishing selected activity tasks for viewing by the collaborators in the collaborative environment only for a specified duration. In yet another aspect of the invention, the publishing step can include both publishing selected activity tasks for viewing by the collaborators in the collaborative environment, and periodically updating a status for each of the selected activity tasks. |
| US08655831B1 |
Smart parsing of data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automatically parsing data from disparate data sources. In some implementations, actions include receiving first data from a first data source, identifying a first regular expression that corresponds to a data format of the first data, selecting a first set of parsing rules from a plurality of parsing rules based on the first regular expression, parsing the first data based on the first set of parsing rules to provide a first set of sub-data, populating data fields of a first data object with respective sub-data from the first set of sub-data, and transmitting the first data object to a computing device. |
| US08655829B2 |
Activity stream-based recommendations system and method
A computer-implemented activity stream-based recommendations system delivers recommendations in accordance with a selected item of an activity stream, inferences of interests based on usage behaviors, and a contextual neighborhood of objects. In addition, or alternatively, the recommendations may be generated in accordance with an inference of expertise. The contents of the objects in the activity stream may be generated by humans or automatically by a processor-based device. Explanations for the recommendations may be delivered to recommendation recipients. |
| US08655827B2 |
Questionnaire generation
A questionnaire generation process presents a first subset from a set of questions of the questionnaire and receives first answers from a user. The first answers are used to determine whether the first answers are sufficient to give definite values to conditions of first rules, wherein the first rules have conditions for providing output. When the first answers are not sufficient, the conditions of the first rules can be used to identify a second subset of the questions, wherein the second subset of questions has second answers such that a combination of the first and second answers is sufficient to give definite values to the respective conditions of the first rules, and the second subset of questions can be presented to the user. |
| US08655826B1 |
Processing and acting on rules for content recognition systems
A method and a computer-readable storage medium configured with instructions that when executed to carry out the method, and a computer system configured to carry out the method. The method includes storing a set of rules in computer-interpretable form in a processing system. The rules allow the expression of a range of possibilities for determination of recognition of items of content and a wide range of actions to take when such determination is made. Using the rules, a processing system can recognize content and possibly act on the recognition results, the recognition and acting according to the stored set of rules. |
| US08655824B1 |
Global policy framework analyzer
Analyzing a set of policies. A goal comprising a particular outcome is received. An analysis object comprising a data structure maintaining information needed to perform an analysis of the goal is defined. The analysis object is configured to limit a number of calculations needed to achieve the goal. Each member of a set of expressions found in the set of policies has an output. The output is the same for each expression. One of the set of expressions is solved. The solved output is cached in the analysis object such that the solved output is associated with each member of the set of expressions. The analysis object is processed to create a set of values that achieves the goal. Processing includes referencing the cache to retrieve the solved output each time a member of the set of expressions is to be solved during processing of the analysis object. |
| US08655823B1 |
Event management system based on machine logic
Improved techniques of identifying actions to take in response to events involve assigning, to each set of event parameter values which characterizes an event, a set of weight values, each weight value indicative of a probability of the event belonging to a cluster of events which follow a set of rules. To continue the previous example, an event management system may determine the probability of the first event belonging to the first cluster is 51% and that for the first event belonging to the second cluster is 49%, while the probability of the second event belonging to the first cluster is 49% and that for the second event belonging to the second cluster is 51%. In such a case, the event management system can be configured to respond to such similarly configured events in similar ways. |
| US08655815B2 |
Neural processing unit
The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture for neural-based processing. In one aspect, there is provided a method. The method may include reading, from a first memory, context information stored based on at least one connection value; reading, from a second memory, an activation value matching the at least one connection value; sending, by a first processor, the context information and the activation value to at least one of a plurality of microengines to configure the at least one microengine as a neuron; and generating, at the at least one microengine, a value representative of an output of the neuron. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US08655814B1 |
Modeling efficiency over a range of velocities in underwater vehicles
A method of generating a model of propulsive efficiency for an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is based on a multilayer perception neural network model using data from aquatic species, such as undulatory fin propulsion in the knifefish (Xenomystus nigri), and a sensitivity analysis is used to lower the number of required inputs. The model of propulsive efficiency allows an AUV to achieve high values of propulsive efficiency over a range of forward velocity, giving a lowered energy drain on the battery. In an embodiment, externally monitored information, such as that on flow velocity, is conveyed to an apparatus residing in the vehicle's control unit, which in turn signals the locomotive unit to adopt kinematics, such as fin frequency and amplitude, associated with optimal propulsion efficiency. Power savings could protract vehicle operational life and/or provide more power to other functions, such as communications. |
| US08655809B2 |
Data structures and apparatuses for representing knowledge
Data structures and apparatuses to represent knowledge are disclosed. The processes can comprise labeling elements in a knowledge signature according to concepts in an ontology and populating the elements with confidence values. The data structures can comprise knowledge signatures stored on computer-readable media. The knowledge signatures comprise a matrix structure having elements labeled according to concepts in an ontology, wherein the value of the element represents a confidence that the concept is present in an information space. The apparatus can comprise a knowledge representation unit having at least one ontology stored on a computer-readable medium, at least one data-receiving device, and a processor configured to generate knowledge signatures by comparing datasets obtained by the data-receiving devices to the ontologies. |
| US08655806B2 |
Disaster analysis and decision system
A disaster analysis and decision system comprises a geographic area module that comprises geographic data for a given geographic area; an artificial facilities module that comprises artificial facilities data positioned in the geographic area; a disaster control facilities module that comprises disaster control facilities data for the geographic area; an environmental variable module that receives and stores environmental variables that affects the geographic area; an analysis module that analyzes how the environmental variables affect the geographic area, the artificial facilities within the geographic area and the disaster control facilities for the geographic area, and decides how to control the disaster control facilities; a report module that provides reports for the analysis; and a database that stores data from other modules. |
| US08655805B2 |
Method for classification of objects in a graph data stream
A method for classifying objects in a graph data stream, including receiving a training stream of graph data, the training stream including a plurality of objects along with class labels that are associated with each of the objects, first determining discriminating sets of edges in the training stream for the class labels, wherein a discriminating set of edges is one that is indicative of the object that contains these edges having a given class label, receiving an incoming data stream of the graph data, wherein class labels have not yet been assigned to objects in the incoming data stream, second determining, based on the discriminating sets of edges, class labels that are associated with the objects in the incoming data stream; and outputting to an information repository object class label pairs based on the second determining. |
| US08655804B2 |
System and method for determining a characteristic of an individual
A system and method for determining a characteristic of an individual is provided. The method includes determining at least one nonconscious element of an interaction by the individual and correlating the at least one nonconscious element with at least one identifiable demographic characteristic of the individual. The system includes a computerized medium having a human interface system situated to facilitate interaction with the individual and produce a quantity of data corresponding to the interaction. A programmable device is in communication with the computerized medium and is situated to use at least a portion of the quantity of data corresponding to the interaction with the individual to determine at least one nonconscious element of the interaction with the individual. A correlation system is situated to correlate the at least one nonconscious element with at least one identifiable demographic characteristic and output a quantity of resulting information. |
| US08655801B2 |
Computing device, a system and a method for parallel processing of data streams
A computing arrangement for identification of a current temporal input against one or more learned signals. The arrangement comprising a number of computational cores, each core comprises properties having at least some statistical independency from other of the computational, the properties being set independently of each other core, each core being able to independently produce an output indicating recognition of a previously learned signal, and at least one decision unit for receiving the produced outputs from the number of computational cores and making an identification of the current temporal input based the produced outputs. |
| US08655800B2 |
Distance based visualization of event sequences
Event analysis methods and apparatus in which sequences (44, 46) of one or more events are identified based on event records (20) describing the events. Respective distance values (28) representing distances between ones of the sequences (44, 46) are determined. A configuration of points in a target metric space is constructed based on the distance values (28), where each of the points represents a respective one of the sequences (44, 46). A visual representation (38) of the configuration is presented on a display (34). |
| US08655796B2 |
Methods and systems for recording verifiable documentation
Systems and methods for collecting information, verifying authenticity of such information, processing, maintaining, and managing such information are described. The system can be a standalone unit or can comprise a combination of various units configured to function together. |
| US08655792B1 |
Deriving the content of a social network private site based on friend analysis
Content of a private profile/site of a user is derived based on analysis of the user's friend's profiles/sites. A mapping module maps a social networking group with a number of members. A pattern module determines a pattern of publishing activity of each of the members in posting content on sites of other of the members. A profiling module defines a member usage profile for each member based on the pattern. An identification module identifies a private site of a private member of the social networking group to be analyzed. An analysis module analyzes content posted by the private member on public sites of public members of the social networking group. A prediction module predicts responses of the public members to the content posted by the private member based on the member usage profiles of the public members. An estimation module estimates the type and amount of content posted on the private site based on the analysis of the public sites and the prediction based on the member usage profiles. |
| US08655789B2 |
Systems and methods for non-traditional payment using biometric data
Facilitating transactions using non-traditional devices and biometric data to activate a transaction device is disclosed. A transaction request is formed at a non-traditional device, and communicated to a reader, wherein the non-traditional device may be configured with an RFID device. The RFID device is not operable until a biometric voice analysis has been executed to verify that the carrier of the RFID equipped non-traditional device is the true owner of account information stored thereon. The non-traditional device provides a conduit between a user and a verification system to perform biometric voice analysis of the user. When the verification system has determined that the user is the true owner of one or more accounts stored at the verification system, a purchase transaction is facilitated between the verification system. Transactions may further be carried out through a non-RF device such as a cellular telephone in direct communication with an acquirer/issuer or payment processor. |
| US08655788B2 |
Authentication of an end user
A method for authenticating an end user. The method begins by generating a login field in response to receiving an authentication request from an end user. The login field comprises a plurality of colored nodes containing a first subset of nodes matching both color and location to a second subset of nodes residing in a transparent credit card being controlled by the end user. Next the method determines the authenticity status of the end user by comparing data received from the end user with the first subset of nodes. The end user having generated the data by overlaying the transparent credit card on top of the login field and selecting at least one colored node. Each node being selected according to a function utilizing both static and dynamic variables. Finally, the method sends the determined authenticity status to the end user via an output device. |
| US08655784B2 |
Method and system for the supply of data, transactions and electronic voting
A method and system for supply of data, including generating a first digital certificate referred (empowerment certificate) signed with a first signing entity's electronic signature. The empowerment certificate includes attributes of the described entity, information identifying the first signing entity, indication of data relating to the described entity, indication of a source of the data, and identification of a relying entity to which the data can be supplied. The relying entity forwards the empowerment certificate to a source supplying the data indicated in the empowerment certificate. The data may be supplied to the relying entity by a second digital certificate (custom certificate), signed with a second signing entity's electronic signature. Custom certificates may appear in custom certificate revocation lists. A system and method for transfer of ownership of electronic property from a first entity to a second entity, and a method and system for electronic voting are also provided. |
| US08655783B1 |
Check printing instructions in ACH transactions
A computer-implemented method includes issuing a transaction on the Automated Clearing House (ACH) electronic network, the transaction including instructions for printing a check, receiving the transaction, and printing the check according to the instructions. |
| US08655782B2 |
System and method for authenticating transactions through a mobile device
A user may claim to have not made or allowed a transaction and that the transaction was made in error. Where it appears the user has not authorized the transaction, the funds of the transaction are returned to the user, or are charged back. Systems and methods provide a way to confirm whether or not a transaction was actually authorized by the user, thereby settling a chargeback dispute for a previously executed transaction. The method comprises receiving the dispute regarding the transaction including associated transaction data, and retrieving a digital signature associated with the transaction data, the digital signature computed by signing the transaction data. The digital signature is then verified using a public key, wherein the public key corresponds to a private key stored on a mobile device. It is then determined whether or not the transaction is fraudulent based on a verification result of the digital signature. |
| US08655781B2 |
Dynamic currency conversion system and method
A system for dynamic currency conversion is provided. The system includes a bank identifier system determining whether currency conversion is available for a card-issuing bank of a presented card, such as by comparing a bank identifier from the card with a list or table of participating banks. An exchange rate system determines whether an exchange rate has expired, such as an exchange rate associated with the foreign currency of the card-issuing bank. The card holder is presented with an option for selecting a foreign currency transaction after it is determined that currency conversion is available for the card-issuing bank and that the exchange rate has not expired, such that the card holder does not need to see such information unless foreign currency processing is available. |
| US08655777B2 |
Merchant performance rating for payments on account
A business derives its cost to pay accounts payable (AJP) with a corporate card versus other payment methods. The business identifies each merchant to whom the business owes AJP who but does not accept the corporate card. A weighting factor is derived for each such merchant from costs of paying with and without the corporate card, as well as from its history of past payments to the merchant. The benefit to the business is derived, using the corresponding weighting factor, for each such merchant in paying the corresponding AJP to the merchant with the corporate card. Where the benefit exceeds a predetermined threshold, information is sent to each such merchant sufficient for the merchant to receive payment of the corresponding AJP with the corporate card. |
| US08655773B1 |
Geo-location based underwriting
A method for processing financial requests, including: identifying an approval criterion and a predefined proximity for approving financial requests; receiving, from a mobile device of a merchant, a financial request including merchant-provided data, where the merchant-provided data includes an address of the merchant; receiving a location coordinate from the mobile device; determining, by a computer processor, that the location coordinate is within the predefined proximity of the address of the merchant; identifying, by the computer processor, at least a portion of the merchant-provided data required to evaluate the approval criterion; evaluating, by the computer processor, the approval criterion using the portion of the merchant-provided data; determining, based on evaluating the approval criterion, that the approval criterion is satisfied; and approving the financial request in response to determining that the location coordinate is within the predefined proximity and determining that the approval criterion is satisfied. |
| US08655762B2 |
Integration of gift card services for mobile devices and social networking services
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for social networking services integrated with gift card services. In general, a profile of a member of a social networking service may be presented with one or more merchant credit services for prepaid merchant account credit, data characterizing a request to provide a credit service from the merchant credit services and a mobile phone number associated with an intended recipient of the first credit service may be received, and a message may be caused to be sent to the mobile phone number, where the message characterizes provision of the first credit service to the intended recipient. Interest in the credit service may be tracked and associated with a loyalty indicator associated with the member. |
| US08655761B2 |
Geographic and keyword context in embedded applications
A computer-implemented method includes generating, using an embedded client application, a keyword context for a container document holding the embedded client application; generating, using the embedded client application, a geographic context associated with a device on which the container document is displayed; submitting the keyword context and the geographic context to a remote server; and displaying an interactive application using information obtained in response to the submission of the keyword context and geographic criteria. |
| US08655760B1 |
Method and system for validating the quality of streaming financial services data
Methods and systems for providing validating financial services data is provided. The financial services data is translated into a normalized format. The normalized financial services data is validated with one or more validations modules, and an alert is transmitted if any of the validations fail. |
| US08655759B2 |
Controlling a shared service
A method includes determining whether a first amount of liability contributed by a first subscriber during a provision of a service to the first subscriber exceeds a first balance indicative of a first portion of available funding that may be consumed by the first subscriber, determining whether a second amount of liability contributed by a second subscriber during a provision of a service to the second subscriber exceeds a second balance indicative of a second portion of the available funding that may be consumed by the second subscriber, issuing a first communication to a device to affect the provision of a service to the first subscriber if the first amount of liability exceeds the first balance, and issuing a second communication to the device to affect the provision of a service to the second subscriber if the second amount of liability exceeds the second balance. |
| US08655757B1 |
System and method for assigning a unique asset identity
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide for managing a customer asset, which is a hardware or software component of a customer device, in a data processing system having an offering platform program. The customer asset's is discovered by an asset manager, and an asset identity is assigned. The asset identity is stored persistently. |
| US08655755B2 |
System and method for the automated brokerage of financial instruments
Disclosed herein in a preferred embodiment is an automated financial instrument brokerage system wherein a front end layer interacts with customers to generate activity requests for an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer preferably processes the activity requests and places financial instrument orders on a financial market if appropriate. A backend layer preferably provides data to the intermediate layer for processing activity requests. Multiple heterogeneous front end customer applications may be supported by the same intermediate layer. Further, multiple backend layer applications may interact with the intermediate layer in a manner transparent to the front end layer. Further, scalability can be achieved be partitioning various tasks of the intermediate layer onto separate servers, and more preferably on-separate redundant servers. Load balancers may then be used in the intermediate layer to provide distributed access to these servers. Also disclosed herein is a caching technique whereby turnaround time for processing activity requests can be reduced by reducing the number of times that the intermediate layer needs to interact with the backend layer. |
| US08655754B2 |
Intercompany transactions elimination system
A financial computer system at a holding company receives an approval of an intercompany transaction between two related subsidiary entities. The system generates an eliminating entry for the intercompany transaction at the time and every time it receives an approval, thereby providing timely and accurate financial information for the holding company. |
| US08655752B2 |
Apparatus and method for analyzing cross-enterprise radio frequency tag information
The invention includes a computer readable medium with executable instructions to analyze radio frequency (RF) tag information. The executable instructions access cross-enterprise RF tag information, identify a product transition based upon the cross-enterprise RF tag information, define a new product path based upon the product transition, and apply logic to the new product path to facilitate cross-enterprise product flow analysis. |
| US08655751B2 |
System and method for control of commodities inventory for animal feed rations
A data processing system and method are provided in the form of a livestock management system for specifically managing feeding tasks for a group of animals within a designated location. The system and method incorporate a data processing function wherein comprehensive data is gathered and maintained on individual feed rations which are selectively used to feed a selected group of animals. Functionality of the management system and method include the ability to track amounts of ingredients used for each type of feed ration and any excess or surplus ingredients which may have been withdrawn from storage locations. The management system and method results in improved commodity inventory control to prevent waste of ingredients and to prevent potential cross contamination between different types of feed ration. |
| US08655750B2 |
Identifying the most relevant computer system state information
Operations to manage statements relating to a computer system state include obtaining, in a computer system and from any of several sources, statements that relate to a current state of the computer system. Each statement comprises several elements. The operations comprise assigning focus values to the elements of each statement, each focus value indicating a relevance of the element to the current state of the computer system. The operations comprise identifying a subset of the statements based on the focus values. The operations comprise making a first output to a user, the first output being selected from several predefined outputs using the subset of the statements. The output may represent the current state to the user or it may present at least one of several predefined goals to the user for selection, the at least one goal being identified as being possible to accomplish based on the current state. |
| US08655746B1 |
Methods and system for providing real time offers to a user based on obsolescence of possessed items
In a remote communication environment, a method for real-time presentation of information to one or more users accessing one or more websites using an electronic communications device. Various aspects of the method comprise at least the following. Communication is established via the electronic communications device between the user and the website to conduct one or more primary transactions. One or more electronic identifiers associated with the user are obtained. One or more further or additional data elements related to the user are obtained from a third party using the at least one electronic identifier. Based at least on the electronic identifier and the further data element, the information is selected for presentation to the user in real time with the primary transaction. The information is presented to the user in real time with the primary transaction. |
| US08655745B1 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for automatic query and order processing via the internet
A system, method, and computer readable medium for facilitating user interaction with numerous product suppliers to determine which supplier to utilize for ordering a product based on various parameters are provided. A user may interact with one or more suppliers using similar or different parameters for each supplier within the same application without having to switch to another external application. Results are provided in a visually appealing and logical manner and automate the ordering of an item if that item is found at a particular supplier within predefined thresholds specified by the user. In this manner, orders may be submitted at the moment order thresholds are met, and decisions may be made automatically by one or more of the system, the user, or on an interaction by the user and another individual. |
| US08655744B2 |
Custom hair coloring identification
There is disclosed a method for custom hair coloring formula identification. The method includes accepting user input of user characteristics including natural hair color, current hair coloring, hair treatments, hair coloring characteristics and hair treatment characteristics. The method further includes accepting user input of desired hair coloring and identifying a hair colorant suitable to create the desired hair coloring in view of the user characteristics. An order is then generated for the hair colorant. |
| US08655743B1 |
System and method for online management of restaurant orders
A system and method for online management of restaurant orders may comprise of a server computer for storing data related to a plurality of vendors; a client computer for sending a request for vendor product to the server computer; and a vendor point of sale system, at a specific location, for interfacing with the server computer and for processing the request. |
| US08655742B2 |
System and method for determining order fulfillment alternative with multiple supply modes
A system and method for optimizing order fulfillment by considering multiple supply modes in one aspect, plans supply of inventory by forecasting demand, estimating accuracy of said forecasted demand, and establishing reorder point policy based at least on said accuracy of said forecasted demand and a plurality of supply transportation modes. Current inventory position is monitored and if the current inventory position is below the reorder point policy, orders are placed according to a selected shipping method. The selected shipping method may be based at least on customer order priority and transportation budget. |
| US08655735B2 |
Transferring an item
A request is received from a first consumer to sell at least one ticket, in which a provider of the ticket may have authorized the ticket to be sold. Information regarding the ticket may then be presented to at least a second consumer, who may make an indication to purchase the ticket. Thereafter, an inducement may be paid to the provider of the ticket in connection with a sale of the ticket to the second consumer. |
| US08655728B1 |
System, method, and computer program for presenting a non-competing advertisement with content
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for presenting a non-competing advertisement within content. In use, content is identified. Further, an advertisement is selected based on an automatic determination that the advertisement is non-competing with the content. Still yet, the advertisement is presented in association with the content. |
| US08655727B2 |
Method and system for generating and placing keyword-targeted advertisements
A method and system for identifying advertisement and search term combinations for placing advertisements along with search results. The advertisement system includes multiple advertisement generators that automatically create advertisement sets that each contain one or more advertisements, one or more search terms, and a link to an advertised item. The advertisement system also includes an advertisement manager that receives the advertisement sets from the advertisement generators, identifies a fee to be associated with each advertisement set, and selects which advertisement sets are to be submitted to various search engine services. The advertisement system may also include a fee calculator that generates a fee amount or bid for each advertisement set. |
| US08655724B2 |
Evaluating performance of click fraud detection systems
Methods and apparatus are described for evaluating a binary classification system operable to classify each of a plurality of events as a first event type or a second event type. At least some of the events of the first event type are independently verifiable with reference to verification data. The binary classification system is susceptible to a first error type in which events of the first event type are classified as the second event type, and a second error type in which events of the second event type are classified as the first event type. Operation of a first configuration of the binary classification system is evaluated with reference to an objective function. The objective function is derived by expressing a number of errors of the second error type in terms of a number of errors of the first error type with reference to the verification data, and by assuming relative proportions of the first and second event types within the plurality of events. |
| US08655723B1 |
System and method for providing a date range aggregate to reduce a number of lookups for web analytics
Disclosed is a computer implemented method of determining an aggregated web analytics value. A first data storage medium stores a sequence of episodic values, each associated with a respective time interval. A second data storage medium stores a sequence of aggregate values, each aggregating an equal number of the episodic values. Further aggregates are stored and provided in a like manner, until an additional sequence of higher level aggregate values cannot be created using the same base number. When a request for an aggregate value over a range of episodic values is received, the system queries the storage mediums in a parallel operation, retrieving as little aggregated values and episodic values needed to compute the requested value. |
| US08655722B1 |
Anonymous rewards club program
A method and system for rewarding anonymous patrons of an anonymous loyalty program is disclosed herein. The anonymous loyalty program only uses an identification generated on a mobile communication device for all transactions by the member. The member does not need to disclose his or her phone number to participate in the anonymous loyalty program although the member's mobile communication device is used for all of the transactions. |
| US08655720B2 |
Systems for providing returns on rebated items at a point-of-sale
A system for providing instant rebates to a customer at a point of sale includes a kiosk by which the customer initiates a rebate process by presenting a machine readable document having rebate information generated by a retailer's POS system. The customer may initiate an electronic funds transfer to the customer's account for amount of the rebate due, or alternately receive a printed check or a store card with a credit balance redeemable at the point of sale. The kiosk may report rebates in real time and have additional functionality to assist manufacturers and retailers for other marketing purposes. |
| US08655718B2 |
Methods for augmenting user-generated content using a monetizable feature
A system for monetization of content includes a storage device for storage and retrieval of data, and a library of content and advertisements stored within the storage device. The library comprises an organizational structure for facilitating the storage and retrieval. The system also includes a monetization engine for identifying within the library a first content item having a first monetizable feature. The system is configured for selecting a second content item from several content items within the library, and associating the second content item to the first content item by using the first monetizable feature for presentation of the second content item in conjunction with the first content item. Further embodiments include various additional systems, methods, and computer readable media for implementation of the foregoing. |
| US08655715B2 |
System and method for interactive contests
A system and method provide content review, distribution, ranking and access and automate creation and performance of contests among sets of content-based contestants. The system and method provide customizable interactive, ongoing, multi-level, multi-round contests with expert review of and filtered submission of content-based contestants. Among other advantages, providers may use the system and method to obtain expert and consumer review and ranking of their content. |
| US08655708B2 |
Systems and methods for generating and using trade areas associated with business branches based on correlated demographics
Methods and systems are provided for determining and using market areas associated with one or more branches of a business. Market areas are determined using a combination of deterministic and probabilistic techniques. Distances are calculated between customers and associated branches and a convex hull formed containing the closest 60%. A block and a tightened block is formed of dissemination areas contained within the convex hull. Where blocks are shared between branches, dissemination areas are weighted according to the portion of customers associated with each branch. |
| US08655702B2 |
System and method for optimizing end-to-end response times distribution across components in a performance engineering process
The disclosed embodiment relates to a method for optimizing end-to-end response times distribution across a plurality of components in a performance engineering process. The method preferably comprises determining first, second, and third end-to-end response times for a plurality of components in the process, and determining an optimal end-to-end response time for the components in the process, wherein the optimal end-to-end response time distribution is based on an average of the first end-to-end response time, the second end-to-end response time, and the third end-to-end response time for each component. The disclosed embodiment also relates to a system and computer-readable code that can be used to implement the exemplary methods. |
| US08655700B2 |
Method and system for grouping events
A method and system for grouping events is provided in which a plurality of base groups (303) each define a set of event points. Combined groups (304) have a set of event points defined by the combination of the event points in combining groups. The combination may be by a union of groups or an exclusion of groups and may combine base groups (303) and/or combined groups (304) together. The method and system activate or deactivate groups to enable or disable the generation of events defined by the event points in a group. The generation of events may record event instances (306) of the event points for analysis, to provide an alert for an event instance of predetermined value, to trigger a further event or activity, or to publish the event instances for the event points. |
| US08655698B2 |
Performance-based logistics for aerospace and defense programs
This invention relates to an automated method and system for forming and implementing a performance-based logistic contract through managing the maintenance an item of equipment in accordance with a maintenance plan. Embodiments of the present invention include a method and system for maintaining an item of equipment supports the provision of predictive maintenance in a manner which eliminates or reduces downtime of the equipment. The method includes tracking performance data on the equipment or a particular component of the equipment. At least one required maintenance activity is predicted based upon the performance data with respect to a defined performance standard. Performance of the required maintenance activity is scheduled at a defined respective time based upon the prediction. |
| US08655696B2 |
System for performing schedule management, schedule management method and program
A system includes a structure information obtaining unit which obtains structure information containing information on components of a development target in a project and on dependency relationships between the components, the structure information described, e.g., in SysML, a work item determining unit which determines work items and a work execution order based on the structure information obtained by the structure information obtaining unit; a detailed item determining unit; a date scheduling unit and a WBS storage which manages the determined work items and work execution order as work schedule definition information. The work item determining unit determines a work item related to a leaf component, which is a component not including any other component, and determines, in a case where all of the multiple components included in a single predetermined component are leaf components, a work item related to a coupling relationship between the leaf components. |
| US08655692B2 |
Method and system for network-enabled venue booking
Method and system for network-enabled means to book a venue. Via a network, a bidding sub-system is deployed for providing information related to a venue to a subscriber and receiving a bid from the subscriber to book the venue for a future event. Information related to a received bid is posted via electronic means and provided to a venue representative who represents the venue and desires to receive a bid via the network for booking the venue. Through a venue representative control sub-system, the venue representative is able to select a bid to book the venue for a future event hosted by a subscriber who placed the selected bid via the bidding mechanism. |
| US08655691B2 |
Processing invitations and accepting configuration information on a device
Systems, methods, and computer program products display invites on a mobile device calendar. An invitation is received that identifies an event having a start time and a duration. The invitation is presented to a user of a mobile device, where the mobile device includes two or more calendars. The invitation is associated with at least one of the two or more calendars, and the event is displayed in at least one calendar associated with the invitation. |
| US08655684B2 |
Method for operating a return generation system and a system for generating returns
A method for operating a return generation system comprises several steps. In a first step, a group of a plurality of individuals is determined. In a further step, at least one asset is gathered from each of said individuals. Said at least one asset is subsequently transferred to a pool of assets. Upon death of one of the individuals, a rate to be distributed to the surviving individuals is automatically calculated. Subsequently, the assets are distributed among the surviving individuals. |
| US08655682B2 |
Treatment decision engine with applicability measure
A system and method may generate a report to help decide among a plurality of treatment options for a medical condition. The system and method receive patient information and to generate a plurality of potential treatment options for the medical condition. The system and method also receive the patient's preference(s) for potential treatment outcomes of the treatment options, used to produce a preference value. The system and method also analyze indexed study data relating to the plurality of treatment options to produce based on the analysis a study score for each of the treatment options. For each treatment option, the system and method produce a treatment score based on at least the preference value and the study score, thus permitting generation of a report listing the treatment options and a) the treatment scores or b) the information derived from the treatment scores. |
| US08655680B2 |
Minimizing disruption during medication administration
Methods, computer systems, and computer readable media for reducing disruptions to a clinician during medication administration are provided. An input is received indicating that the medication-administration process has been initiated by the clinician. The medication-administration process is associated with one patient in a clinical care room. Incident to receiving this input, the clinician is prevented from receiving messages concerning patients and other matters not related to the one patient in the clinical care room. In addition, one or more visual indicators are provided to alert other clinicians, patients, and visitors that the clinician has begun the medication-administration process. |
| US08655679B2 |
System and methods for an intelligent medical practice system employing a learning knowledge base
An intelligent care provider medical practice system which learns the care provider's preferences and historical diagnosis for predicting and treating patients based on provided information. The system makes use of one or more medical knowledge bases and utilizes artificial intelligence and reasoning to learn the provider's preferences and tendencies. The system also automatically generates the provider's notes, treatment plans, and other medical practice actions for treating, billing, and processing the patient after an exam or visit. |
| US08655676B2 |
Medication administration and management system and method
A system, method and computer program for programming a medical device to administer a medication to a patient includes the medical device, a scanner that may be associated with a point of care (POC) system, and a medication management unit (MMU). A computer in the POC system can directly program the medical device with the permission of the MMU after a full “five rights” check or the “right patient” check can be delayed until after the pump program is downloaded. Other workflows are disclosed for programming the medical device in manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes, with safety checks incorporated at various points. |
| US08655675B2 |
System and method for providing individually tailored health-promoting information
A system and method for providing to an individual certain information which is relevant to that individual's health status. More specifically, the invention relates to a system and method for providing information relevant to an individual's health status and wherein the information provided is chosen on the basis of not only the individual's health status but also complex psychosocial behavioral factors related to that individual's motivational structure and likely impact. |
| US08655673B2 |
Mobile multi-media intelligent tourist guide service system and its realizing method
The present invention discloses a mobile multi-media intelligent tourist guide service system, comprising GPS positioning receiver, GPS subsystem, mobile tourist guide service control subsystem, trigger area network subsystem, tourist guide information intelligent selecting and compositing subsystem, multi-media managing display subsystem, and electronic map subsystem. The mobile tourist guide service control subsystem receives and processes position information from the GPS positioning subsystem, produces multi-media tourist guide information in real-time through trigger area network subsystem and a tourist guide information intelligent selecting and compositing subsystem, plays on said multi-media managing display subsystem, and controls said electronic map subsystem displaying position in real-time, recording track and displaying corresponding geography information. |
| US08655672B2 |
Targeted invitation delivery
Data about a plurality of events is stored in an event database, including information for selecting who should be invited to the event. Data about a plurality of members is stored in a member database, preferably including members' preference criteria specifying the type of events in which each member likes to participate. The member information is matched against the invitee selection criteria and the event information is matched against the member preference criteria to determine which members should be invited to each event. Based on results of this matching process, e-mail invitations to the selected events are sent to the members. |
| US08655670B2 |
Audio encoder, audio decoder and related methods for processing multi-channel audio signals using complex prediction
An encoder, based on a combination of two audio channels, obtains a first combination signal as a mid-signal and a residual signal derivable using a predicted side signal derived from the mid signal. The first combination signal and the prediction residual signal are encoded and written into a data stream together with the prediction information. A decoder generates decoded first and second channel signals using the prediction residual signal, the first combination signal and the prediction information. A real-to-imaginary transform may be applied for estimating the imaginary part of the spectrum of the first combination signal. For calculating the prediction signal used in the derivation of the prediction residual signal, the real-valued first combination signal is multiplied by a real portion of the complex prediction information and the estimated imaginary part of the first combination signal is multiplied by an imaginary portion of the complex prediction information. |
| US08655669B2 |
Audio encoder, audio decoder, method for encoding an audio information, method for decoding an audio information and computer program using an iterative interval size reduction
An audio decoder has an arithmetic decoder for providing decoded spectral values on the basis of an arithmetically-encoded representation and a frequency-domain-to-time-domain converter for providing a time-domain audio representation. The arithmetic decoder selects a mapping rule describing a mapping of a code value onto a symbol code in dependence on a numeric current context value describing a current context state. The arithmetic decoder determines the numeric current context value in dependence on a plurality of previously decoded spectral values. The arithmetic decoder evaluates at least one table using an iterative interval size reduction to determine whether the numeric current context value is identical to a table context value described by an entry of the table or lies within an interval described by entries of the table, and derives a mapping rule index value describing a selected mapping table.An audio encoder also uses an iterative interval table size reduction. |
| US08655666B2 |
Controlling a set-top box for program guide information using remote speech recognition grammars via session initiation protocol (SIP) over a Wi-Fi channel
A method may include receiving, via a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session over a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) channel, a digital audio signal from a remote control configured to receive audible information; terminating, responsive to receiving the digital audio signal, the SIP session; converting the digital audio signal into text based on a number of speech grammars corresponding to program guide information; obtaining, using the program guide information, a matching set of program guide entries related to the text to determine command information corresponding to the audible information; sending, via hypertext transfer protocol or file transfer protocol, the command information to a set-top box; and generating, at the set-top box responsive to receiving the command information, a display indicative of the matching set. |
| US08655665B2 |
System and method for multi level transcript quality checking
Methods and systems for multi level quality checking of transcripts are disclosed. The method includes the steps of searching subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts, identifying a group of transcripts having at least one particular subset of metadata, selecting a number of transcripts from the group of identified transcripts corresponding to a predetermined percentage, identifying a group of correctionists having a proper set of characteristics to correct the selected transcripts by matching the identified subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts with characteristics of correctionists, providing the transcripts and any voice files from which the transcripts derive to the selected correctionists, and, following correction, updating the subsets of metadata associated with the transcripts to include subsets of metadata pertaining to the voice files from which the transcripts were derived, any transcriptionist who transcribed the transcripts, or any correctionist who corrected the transcripts. |
| US08655662B2 |
System and method for answering a communication notification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance. |
| US08655658B2 |
Recognizing the numeric language in natural spoken dialogue
A system and a method are provided. A speech recognition processor receives unconstrained input speech and outputs a string of words. The speech recognition processor is based on a numeric language that represents a subset of a vocabulary. The subset includes a set of words identified as being for interpreting and understanding number strings. A numeric understanding processor contains classes of rules for converting the string of words into a sequence of digits. The speech recognition processor utilizes an acoustic model database. A validation database stores a set of valid sequences of digits. A string validation processor outputs validity information based on a comparison of a sequence of digits output by the numeric understanding processor with valid sequences of digits in the validation database. |
| US08655655B2 |
Sound event detecting module for a sound event recognition system and method thereof
A sound event detecting module for detecting whether a sound event with characteristic of repeating is generated. A sound end recognizing unit recognizes ends of sounds according to a sound signal to generate sound sections and multiple sets of feature vectors of the sound sections correspondingly. A storage unit stores at least M sets of feature vectors. A similarity comparing unit compares the at least M sets of feature vectors with each other, and correspondingly generates a similarity score matrix, which stores similarity scores of any two of the sound sections of the at least M of the sound sections. A correlation arbitrating unit determines the number of sound sections with high correlations to each other according to the similarity score matrix. When the number is greater than one threshold value, the correlation arbitrating unit indicates that the sound event with the characteristic of repeating is generated. |
| US08655654B2 |
Generating representations of group interactions
A transcript of a group interaction is generated from audio source data representing the group interaction. The transcript includes a sequence of lines of text, each line corresponding to an audible utterance in the audio source data. A conversation path is generated from the transcript by labeling each transcript line with an identifier identifying the speaker of the corresponding utterance in the audio source data. A representation of the group interaction is generated by associating the conversation path with a set of voice profiles, each voice profile corresponding to an identified speaker in the conversation path. |
| US08655653B2 |
Speech coding by quantizing with random-noise signal
A method, system and program for encoding and/or decoding a speech signal. The method comprises: generating a first signal representing a property of an input speech signal; transforming the first signal using a simulated random-noise signal, thus producing a second signal; quantizing the second signal based on a plurality of discrete representation levels, thus generating quantization values for transmission in an encoded speech signal, and also generating a third signal being a quantized version of the second signal; and performing an inverse of the transformation on the third signal, thus generating a quantized output signal, wherein the generation of the first signal is based on feedback of the quantized output signal. The method further comprises controlling the transformation in dependence on a property of the first signal so as to vary the magnitude of a noise effect created by the transformation relative to the representation levels. |
| US08655647B2 |
N-gram selection for practical-sized language models
Described is a technology by which a statistical N-gram (e.g., language) model is trained using an N-gram selection technique that helps reduce the size of the final N-gram model. During training, a higher-order probability estimate for an N-gram is only added to the model when the training data justifies adding the estimate. To this end, if a backoff probability estimate is within a maximum likelihood set determined by that N-gram and the N-gram's associated context, or is between the higher-order estimate and the maximum likelihood set, then the higher-order estimate is not included in the model. The backoff probability estimate may be determined via an iterative process such that the backoff probability estimate is based on the final model rather than any lower-order model. Also described is additional pruning referred to as modified weighted difference pruning. |
| US08655644B2 |
Language translation in an environment associated with a virtual application
Methods and apparatus for language translation in a computing environment associated with a virtual application are presented. For example, a method for providing language translation includes determining languages of a user and a correspondent; determining one or more sequences of translators; determining a selected sequence of selected translators from the one or more sequences of the translators; requesting a change in virtual locations, within the computing environment associated with the virtual application, of one or more selected translator virtual representations of the selected translators to a virtual meeting location within the computing environment associated with the virtual application; and changing virtual locations of the one or more selected translator virtual representations to the virtual meeting location. One or more of determining languages, determining one or more sequences, determining a selected sequence, requesting a change in virtual locations, and changing virtual locations occur on a processor device. |
| US08655643B2 |
Method and system for adaptive transliteration
A system and method for transliteration between two different character-based languages is provided. In some embodiments, the system and method provide transliteration from the Arabic language into Roman-based languages such as English. In some embodiments this system and method allows a user to more easily produce Arabic text on English or Roman-based computer hardware and software. |
| US08655641B2 |
Machine translation apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium
A technical term dictionary stores terms of a first language and each translated term of a second language. A translation memory stores source sentences of the first language and each target sentence of the second language. A translation unit translates a text of the first language into an output text of the second language by the technical term dictionary and the translation memory. A corresponding translation pair extraction unit extracts, from a source sentence matched with a sentence of the text and a target sentence corresponding to the source sentence stored in the translation memory, a corresponding translation pair comprising a word in the source sentence and a translated word corresponding to the word in the target sentence. An unmatch check unit checks whether the translated word does not match with a translated term corresponding to the word in the output text. |
| US08655638B2 |
Methods for converting instructions with base register-relative addressing in an emulation
An original processor uses addresses with a first length of n bits for addressing in a cyclical address space and a target processor uses addresses with a second length of m bits, where the second length m is greater than the first length n. In the original processor, distance values that lie between a lower value min and an upper value max are permissible for the base register-relative addressing. The supported address space on the original processor for the code to be emulated is limited in such a manner that the conversion of address operands as described in the following steps leads to semantically equivalent behavior on the target processor. A projected address on the target processor is initially determined by forming the sum of the content of the base register (R) and an offset (D) that is greater than or equal to a first offset (D1) of a base register-relative instruction and less than the difference (max−min), and projecting the sum onto a cyclical address space with addresses having a length of n bits. Addresses for converting the base register-relative instructions are determined from the calculated projected address and the respective distance values (D1, D2) of the instructions minus the offset D. |
| US08655637B2 |
Address range comparator for detection of multi-size memory accesses with data matching qualification and full or partial overlap
An memory access address comparator includes two comparators comparing an input memory access address with respective reference addresses. The comparators produce a match indication on selectable criteria, such as address size, full or partial overlap, greater than, less than, equal to, not equal to, less than or equal to, and greater than or equal to, and can be selectively chained. Input multiplexers permit memory access address bus selection. The comparator output may be selectively dependent upon corresponding data matches. The reference addresses, comparison data and control functions are enabled via central processing unit accessible memory mapped registers. |
| US08655630B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for construction of a design workflow
A design workflow construction apparatus is provided for supporting design of an object having a plurality of design elements. In constructing the design workflow, the apparatus uses input variables, design variables, and intermediate variables. The design workflow construction apparatus includes means for acquiring object design elements and means for determining an order of designing the object design elements. The apparatus also includes means for determining the important design variables. |
| US08655624B2 |
System and method for objective self-diagnosis of measurement device calibration condition
A measurement system uses a plurality of transducers that may differ from each other in at least one respect, such as having different operating principles or being made by different manufacturers. Respective measurement values obtained from the transducers are applied to a processor which provides a measured value based on the measurement values from a plurality of the transducers. The processor also provides information about the calibration drift of each of the transducers based upon a comparison between the measurement value obtained from the transducer to a value obtained from a combination of respective measurement values obtained from a plurality of the transducers. The calibration drift information provides an objective evaluation about the calibration condition of each of the transducers. When a transducer is determined to be outside of its calibration tolerance, a calibration needed alert occurs. |
| US08655621B2 |
Systems and methods for use in monitoring operation of a rotating device
A system for use in monitoring operation of a rotating device includes at least one sensor configured to sense a position of a component coupled to a rotating device with respect to a predefined axis and generate a signal indicative of the component position. A processor is programmed to calculate a plurality of property values of the component based at least partially on the position, and graphically present at least one time-based waveform based on at least a portion of the component property values. The processor is also programmed to graphically present at least one orbit plot based on at least a portion of the plurality of component property values, and synchronize the time-based waveform with the orbit plot. The time-based waveform is indicative of a position of the component along the axis, and the orbit plot is indicative of a position of the component within a predefined plane. |
| US08655619B1 |
System, method, and software for estimating a peak acceleration of an optical system
A method includes accessing a plurality of acceleration values generated by an inertial measurement unit of an optical system. The method includes identifying a maximum acceleration value (the accessed acceleration value having the greatest absolute value), identifying one or more adjacent acceleration values (the accessed acceleration value adjacent in time to the maximum acceleration value), and identifying a nearest adjacent acceleration value (the adjacent acceleration value having the value nearest the maximum acceleration value). The method includes determining a corrected peak acceleration. The corrected peak acceleration is the sum of a first value corresponding to an average of the maximum acceleration value and the nearest adjacent acceleration value and a second value corresponding to the product of a correction value and the difference between the maximum acceleration value and the nearest adjacent acceleration value. The method includes determining whether the corrected acceleration value exceeds a predefined threshold acceleration value. |
| US08655613B2 |
System and method of battery capacity estimation
A method includes measuring an operating parameter of a battery of a mobile device. The measured operating parameter is translated into an equivalent series resistance (ESR) value. The ESR value is adjusted by a correction factor to generate a corrected ESR value. The capacity of the battery is determined based on the corrected ESR value. The correction factor is automatically calibrated based on the measured operating parameter. |
| US08655611B2 |
Establishing a power profile for generating electrical ratings
Establishing a power profile of power consuming components of computer system configurations for generating electrical ratings, beginning with a default, limited configuration of a computer system and continuing for a number of configurations of the computer system, each configuration including additional power consuming components not included in a previous configuration, where establishing a power profile includes: measuring, for a present configuration, power consumption of the computer system; calculating, in dependence upon the measured power consumption for the present configuration, an estimated power rating for the one or more additional power consuming components; and recording, in a power profile, estimated power ratings for the additional power consuming components, where the number of configurations of the computer system for which power consumption is measured is less than the number of possible configurations of the computer system. |
| US08655609B2 |
Fault location using traveling waves
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for calculating a fault location in electric power delivery system based on a traveling wave created by an electrical fault in the electric power delivery system. According to one embodiment, an intelligent electronic device may be configured to detect a transient traveling wave caused by an electrical fault. A first traveling wave value of the transient traveling wave may be determined and a corresponding first time associated with the first traveling wave may be determined. The IED may receive a second time associated with a second traveling wave value of the transient traveling wave detected by a remote IED. The distance to the remote IED may be known. An estimated fault location may be generated based on the time difference between the first time and the second time. Additional methods of calculating the fault location may also be employed. |
| US08655608B2 |
Symmetrical component amplitude and phase comparators for line protection using time stamped data
A set of current measurements may be transmitted from a remote Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) to a local IED. The current measurements may comprise a timestamp and/or be associated with timestamp information to allow the local IED to time align the local current measurement with the remote current measurement. The local IED may detect a fault within the power system segment defined by the local and remote IEDs by comparing an operating current to a scaled restraint current. A fault may also be detected by comparing the operating current to a scaled nominal current. The operating and restraint currents may be derived from the local and remote current measurements. The restraint current scale may be derived from the characteristics of the local and/or remote IED. The current measurements may correspond to a negative-sequence component and/or a zero-sequence component of a three-phase current measurement set. |
| US08655603B2 |
Methods for monitoring and managing delivery of syrup in bag-in-box systems
The present invention includes systems, methods and apparatus for detecting whether an acceptable mixture of fluid and water has been delivered by a vending machine. Embodiments of the invention utilize one or more second flow meters located downstream of a mix manifold. The additional flow meter allows the controller of the delivery system or vending machine to monitor and compare the volume of water to the volume of the final mix in order to determine whether an appropriate volume of syrup has or has not been mixed in the dispensed beverage. |
| US08655601B1 |
Method and system for detecting phosphorus in soil from reflected light
The present invention relates to a method of detecting soil nutrients or soil nutrients in soil from reflected light, and also includes systems for the measurement, calculation and transmission of data relating to or carrying out that method. |
| US08655600B2 |
Method and system of estimating the cross-sectional area of a molecule for use in the prediction of ion mobility
A method of estimating the cross-sectional area of a molecule for use in the prediction of ion mobility gives gas phase interaction radii determination and cross-sectional algorithm computation to provide separation and characterization of structurally related isomers. More specifically, the invention provides a method of correlating the differences in the molecular structures with differences in anti-cancer activity of pre-determined anti-cancer drugs by utilizing a new algorithm for estimating the cross-sectional area of the molecules of such drugs. |
| US08655595B1 |
Systems and methods for quantifying flood risk
In various embodiments, a flood risk score may be determined for a property point that provides a comprehensive assessment of the property point's risk of flooding. Determining the flood risk score may include determining a flood risk characteristic for the property point and assigning a flood risk score that corresponds to the flood risk characteristic. In some embodiments, flood risk characteristics may include a difference in elevation between the elevation of the property point and an elevation of a calculated point (e.g., on a known flood risk zone boundary). Flood risk characteristics may also include a flood zone determination for the property point and/or proximity of the property point to a known flood risk zone boundary or a flood source. In some embodiments, flood risk scores may be provided on flood risk score reports. |
| US08655591B2 |
Method of creating varied exercise routes for a user
A method of creating an exercise route for a user of a personal navigation device includes receiving a selection of a length of an exercise route to be generated, and generating a first plurality of suggested exercise routes, each suggested exercise route of the first plurality of suggested exercise routes being generated according to a current position of the personal navigation device, one or more waypoints to be visited along the suggested exercise route, and the selected length of the exercise route, wherein each of the first plurality of suggested exercise routes has a starting point and ending point substantially equal to one another and equal to the current position of the personal navigation device. The method further includes receiving, from the user, selection of a selected suggested exercise route from the first plurality of suggested exercise routes, and displaying routing instructions for the selected suggested exercise route. |
| US08655589B2 |
System and method for controlling motion of spacecrafts
A motion of an object is controlled from a geostationary transit orbit (GTO) of an earth to an orbit of a moon. A first trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from an intermediate orbit of an earth to a neighborhood of a stable manifold of a first Lagrange point (L1). A second trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the GTO to the intermediate orbit. A third trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the neighborhood to the stable manifold to an L1 orbit, and a fourth trajectory of the motion of the object is determined from the L1 orbit to the orbit of the moon. A trajectory from the GTO to the orbit of the moon is determined based on a combination of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth trajectories. |
| US08655585B2 |
Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus includes a display means 2 for displaying either a route using a car pool lane or a route not using the car pool lane, an input means 3 and 210 for inputting a command, and a control unit 10 for switching from the route using the car pool lane, which is displayed by the display means, to the route not using the car pool lane or vice versa according to a command inputted from the input means. |
| US08655584B2 |
Map data utilization apparatus
A map data utilization apparatus retrieves a version information of map data for a specific area when a current position of a vehicle is updated. Then, the version information of the map data of the specific area is compared with a version information of the map data of an identical area in a version list that is retrieved in advance for map data updating. When the version of the map data in the version list is different from the one of the map data of the specific area, an inquiry screen is displayed on a display unit for inquiring a user whether the map data is updated. When an update is instructed by the user, map data update data is acquired from an information center, and the map data of the specific area is updated by using the map data update data. |
| US08655583B2 |
Automated route determination
A preferred route may be determined from an origin location to a destination location. The determination is made by processing directed links (e.g., one-way edges) in a graph that includes one or more links and two or more nodes. The determination of a preferred route may include an estimate of the time required at one or more intersections along alternative. Individual routing preferences, such as a preference of a rural over an urban route, also may be considered. Techniques are described that may help reduce the time required to identify a preferred route, including the identification and removal of no outlet routes before processing the directed links and techniques using particular data formats. |
| US08655582B2 |
Method and system for route based search including stopping point addition
A route may be created and provided to a client. A stopping point along the route is received, and a search is performed for at least one point of interest according to the stopping point. Further, a route is created and provided to a client, and at least one stopping point associated with the route is identified based on at least one of a distance along the route, an indication of a place on a map, a category search, and a key word search. |
| US08655580B2 |
Method for transmitting information on position on digital map and device used for the same
A method of transmitting position information of a digital map capable of transmitting a position on a digital map efficiently and accurately in which a transmitting side transmits position information including coordinate series information for specifying a vector shape on a digital map and a receiving side execute map matching by the coordinate series information to thereby identify the vector shape on the digital map, the coordinate series information is transmitted by adding azimuth information of a coordinate point included in the coordinate series information thereto. By transmitting shape data by adding the azimuth information thereto, accuracy of matching can be promoted and necessary time for matching can be shortened. |
| US08655579B2 |
Driving assistance device
A device for providing driving assistance for a driver of the vehicle to avoid the object of the risk subject when driving the vehicle, which includes: an object determination unit that detects the object; a collision prediction time calculation unit that calculates a time to collision which is a time indicating a degree to which the vehicle approaches to the object; an estimated risk level determination unit that determines an estimated risk level indicating a possibility of the object moving onto a predicted travelling path of the vehicle; and a driving assistance content determination unit that determines driving assistance content based on the collision prediction time and the estimated risk level. |
| US08655574B2 |
Idling stop device, engine start system, and engine start method
An idling stop device is mounted on a vehicle and automatically stops and starts an engine of the vehicle. A microcomputer has an idling stop function of automatically stopping the engine when a predetermined stop condition is established and automatically starting the engine when a predetermined start condition is established during the stopping of the engine. A detecting unit detects that a power voltage of the microcomputer, which is obtained by dropping a voltage of a battery of the vehicle is lower than a minimum operating voltage of the microcomputer. A storage unit stores voltage reduction information irrespective of a state of the microcomputer if the power voltage is lower than the minimum operating voltage. A power control unit causes a capacitor which stores electric charges corresponding to power for driving a starter motor of the engine to supply power to the starter motor when the engine is started, if the voltage reduction information is stored in the storage unit. |
| US08655573B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided that can successfully achieve a desired acceleration by avoiding an absence of torque of the internal combustion engine due to an influence of EGR gas when the torque increases toward a required torque. A required throttle valve opening degree TAreq is set based on a required torque TQreq in accordance with a required throttle valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required torque TQreq and the required throttle valve opening degree TAreq. In addition, a required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq is set based on a required load factor KLreq in accordance with a required EGR valve opening degree map that defines a relation between the required load factor KLreq and the required EGR valve opening degree EGRreq. |
| US08655570B2 |
Method, apparatus, signals and media, for selecting operating conditions of a genset
An apparatus for selecting operating conditions of a genset, the apparatus including a processor circuit configured to select a set of operating points from a plurality of operating points of the genset each comprising an engine speed in a generator electrical output value and a plurality of cost values associated with operating the genset at respective operating points such that the sum of the cost values associated with the operating points in said set is minimized and such that the engine speed increases or decreases monotonically with monotonically increasing or decreasing electrical power output values. |
| US08655569B2 |
Method and system for varying an output of a driveforce unit based on load data
A method and system for varying an output of a driveforce unit based on load data. The present invention includes an automobile including a driveforce system. The driveforce system includes a driveforce unit for generating an output according to a driveforce map, a memory for storing the driveforce map, a load determination unit for determining a load data indicating a load on the automobile, a speed sensor for detecting speed data indicating a speed of the automobile and/or an acceleration of the automobile, an acceleration input device for detecting acceleration input data indicating a percent application of the acceleration input device, and a processor. The processor receives the acceleration input data, the speed data, and the load data, and adjusts a driveforce curve in the driveforce map to maintain a speed of the automobile, even when the load data indicates an increased or decreased load on the automobile. |
| US08655563B2 |
Braking/driving force controller of vehicle
In a braking/driving force control apparatus, a vehicle target braking/driving force and a vehicle target yaw moment through the control of braking/driving forces of wheels are calculated, and when the target braking/driving force and the target yaw moment cannot be achieved through the control of the braking/driving forces of the wheels, the vehicle target braking/driving force after the modification and the vehicle target yaw moment after the modification are calculated such that, within the range where the ratio of the vehicle target braking/driving force after the modification and the vehicle target yaw moment after the modification coincides with the ratio of the target braking/driving force and the target yaw moment, the vehicle braking/driving force and the vehicle yaw moment by the target braking/driving forces of the wheels take the greatest values. |
| US08655562B2 |
Method and system for setting a vehicle in motion
A method for setting a vehicle in motion: The vehicle includes a combustion engine for generating driving force for transmission to at least one powered wheel via a clutch and a gearbox. The driving force is selectively transmitted from the engine to the powered wheels by closure of the clutch. Gear changes by the gearbox are at least partly controlled by a control system. With the clutch closed and upon demand for the vehicle to be set in motion with the clutch closed, the control system activates the vehicle's starter motor with gear engaged, and uses the starter motor to accelerate the combustion engine to an initial speed which represents a speed at which the combustion engine will start. |
| US08655559B2 |
Agricultural autopilot path adjustment
Predictive tractor path adjustments improve implement tracking performance by enabling agricultural autopilots to anticipate the effect of curves, slopes, changing soil conditions and other influences. |
| US08655558B2 |
Control system for hybrid construction machine
A controller is connected to a pressure sensor. The controller controls a regulator of a sub-pump in accordance with a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, detects an output of a main pump, and controls an output of an electric motor according to the output of the main pump based on a table stored beforehand. |
| US08655551B2 |
Method and device for the assisted parking of a motor vehicle
A method and a device for the assisted parking of a motor vehicle into a parking space are provided. The method comprises the following method steps: approaching the parking space; measuring the parking space using sensors situated on the motor vehicle; calculating a setpoint parking path and indicating the setpoint parking path on a display; indicating the actual parking path on the display such that the actual parking path may be adapted to the setpoint parking path. |
| US08655549B2 |
Vehicle driving control apparatus and vehicle driving control method
A vehicle driving control apparatus is provided with a lane detecting device, a future position estimating device and a vehicle control device. The lane detecting device detects a lane marker of a lane. The future position estimating device estimates a future transverse position of a host vehicle after a prescribed amount of time. The vehicle control device executes a vehicle control such that a yaw moment is imparted to the host vehicle toward a middle of the lane. The yaw moment is imparted upon determining that the future transverse position is positioned laterally farther toward an outside of the lane from the middle of the lane than a prescribed widthwise lane position that is determined in advance using the lane marker as a reference. The vehicle control device suppresses an impartation of the yaw moment device when a recognition degree of the lane marker is lower than a prescribed value. |
| US08655546B2 |
Vehicle driving support apparatus
A vehicle driving support apparatus in which a cruise control unit starts to blink a hazard light when it is determined that a subject vehicle is stopped by collision prevention control through an automatic braking intervention. The blinking is continued until a predetermined operation input is performed by a driver so as to call the attention of a driver of a following vehicle or the like even if the driver is upset due to a sudden stop of the subject vehicle. |
| US08655543B2 |
Vehicle on-board unit
A vehicle on-board unit communicates with vehicles to increase the accuracy of lane centerline determination. The on-board unit includes a communication system and a controller. The controller has a vehicle path history generating component, a lane centerline determining component, and a message processing component. The vehicle path history generating section generates a host vehicle path history data. The lane centerline determining section receives a preceding vehicle message including at least a preceding vehicle centerline data from the communication system and determines a host vehicle lane centerline data indicative of a centerline of the lane based on the host vehicle path history data and the preceding vehicle centerline data. The message processing component produces a host vehicle message including the host vehicle lane centerline data, the communication system being configured to broadcast the host vehicle message. |
| US08655541B2 |
Vehicle upgrade system and method thereof
A vehicle update system for updating a vehicle's ROM data is provided. More specifically, a telematics unit is configured to receive new ROM data transmitted from a telematics server. An electronic control unit (ECU) is configured first check to determine whether certain update conditions are satisfied and when they are satisfied, update the old ROM data to the new ROM data using at least one of a main battery and an auxiliary battery. More specifically, the update conditions are that the charged state and the voltage level for at least one of the main battery and the auxiliary battery is greater than a certain level, the vehicle is stopped or parked, and the controller area network (CAN) communication state of the vehicle is normal. |
| US08655537B2 |
Modifying behavior of autonomous vehicle based on predicted behavior of other vehicles
A vehicle configured to operate in an autonomous mode could determine a current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. The environment of the vehicle includes at least one other vehicle. A predicted behavior of the at least one other vehicle could be determined based on the current state of the vehicle and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. A confidence level could also be determined based on the predicted behavior, the current state of the vehicle, and the current state of the environment of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the confidence level may be related to the likelihood of the at least one other vehicle to perform the predicted behavior. The vehicle in the autonomous mode could be controlled based on the predicted behavior, the confidence level, and the current state of the vehicle and its environment. |
| US08655533B2 |
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle is provided. The electric vehicle may include a motor for driving a wheel; a brake device for braking the wheel in response to a driver's operation of a brake operation member; and a controller for controlling the motor in response to the driver's operation of an accelerator operation member. The controller may include a first motor control section for causing the motor to be placed in a regenerative braking mode to generate a first regenerative braking force, when a displacement amount of the accelerator operation member decreases to an amount less than a predetermined reference displacement amount; and a second motor control section for causing the motor to generate a second regenerative braking force which is a sum of the first regenerative braking force and a predetermined additional braking force, in response to the operation of the brake operation member. |
| US08655532B2 |
System and method for operating a hybrid vehicle
A method of modifying the charging target for the state-of-charge (SOC) of a hybrid vehicle battery in response to a sudden power draw includes determining that the hybrid vehicle has entered a steep grade environment, adjusting a power management scheme of the hybrid vehicle from a standard charging mode to an aggressive charging mode, and operating the hybrid vehicle operated using the adjusted power management scheme. The charging target may include both an immediate charging target and an ultimate charging target, where the immediate charging target is less than the ultimate charging target, and where adjusting a power management scheme from a standard charging mode to an aggressive charging mode includes increasing the immediate charging target. |
| US08655528B2 |
Real-time allocation of actuator torque in a vehicle
A method for allocating forces among the corners of a vehicle having a redundant actuator suite includes determining a set of desired forces at the center of gravity of the vehicle, and allocating the set of desired forces among the corners of the vehicle as virtual control commands using a controller. The method also includes mapping the virtual control commands at the corners to actual or true control commands at the corners, and controlling a plurality of actuators at the corners using the actual or true control commands. The actuators may include friction brakes and wheel motors. Mapping the virtual control commands may include using a Least Squares formulation. Control of the actuators may be prioritized with respect to each other using weighting matrices. A vehicle includes a controller having actuators and a controller configured for executing the above method. |
| US08655524B2 |
Power supply system, vehicle provided with the same and control method of power supply system
A power supply system includes power storage units formed of battery assemblies, respectively, converters corresponding to the power storage units, respectively, and a charger receiving an electric power from an external power supply for externally charging the power storage units. An ECU estimates an SOC of each power storage unit based on the SOC of a battery block of the smallest SOC in the power storage unit. When the power storage unit attains a state allowing charging by the external power supply, the ECU controls the corresponding converter to charge the power storage unit with the charge current supplied from the charger, and derives, for each power storage unit, a charge-allowed power based on the SOC of the battery block of the largest SOC. When a total value of the derived charge-allowed powers of the respective power storage units is equal to or smaller than an actual value of the supply power supplied from the external power supply, the ECU ends the external charging of the power storage units. |
| US08655523B2 |
Vehicle control device and control method of vehicle control device
A vehicle control device (10) comprises a driving device (20) including an engine (22) and a rotary electric machine (24), a power circuit (30) connected to the rotary electric machine (24), a control part (50), and an ecoswitch (42). The CPU (52) of the control part (50) comprises a low fuel consumption travel instruction judgment module (60) for judging on or off of the ecoswitch (42), an operation condition switch module (62) for switching the operation condition of the rotary electric machine on the basis of the on or off of the ecoswitch (42), an engine state judgment module (64) for judging whether or not the engine (22) is in a started state or a stopped state, and a damping control module (68) for carrying out damping control when the engine (22) is stalled or stopped. |
| US08655518B2 |
Transportation network scheduling system and method
A system includes a scheduling module and a resolution module. The scheduling module determines plural initial schedules for plural different vehicles to concurrently travel in a transportation network. The initial schedules include locations and times for the vehicles to travel. The resolution module modifies at least one of the initial schedules to one or more modified schedules based on an anomaly in at least one of the vehicles or the routes that prevents one or more of the vehicles from traveling in the transportation network according to the initial schedules. The scheduling module communicates the modified schedules to the vehicles so that energy management systems disposed on the vehicles modify travel of the vehicles according to the modified schedules. |
| US08655516B2 |
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 and receive a trip profile from an off-board device. The trip profile is related to tractive and/or braking effort supplied by one or more powered units of the rail vehicle consist. The routing modules are disposed on the powered units and are communicatively coupled with the antenna modules. The routing modules are communicatively coupled with a network connection extending along the rail vehicle consist between the powered units. The arbitration module is communicatively coupled with the routing modules by the network connection. The routing modules transmit the received trip profile to the arbitration module. The arbitration module reconstitutes the trip profile into a message that is transmitted to a propulsion subsystem of one or more of the powered units. |
| US08655508B2 |
Aircraft environmental threat detection and mitigation
A method of aircraft engine thermal threat mitigation includes detecting an airflow thermal profile at a location on the aircraft forward of an aircraft engine inlet and transmitting the thermal profile to an aircraft control system. The thermal profile is compared to a catalog of thermal threat profiles at the aircraft control system and a determination is made if a thermal threat is present based on the comparison. A thermal threat mitigation measure is initiated to reduce an effect of the thermal threat on aircraft engine performance. |
| US08655506B2 |
Implementing continuous descent approaches for maximum predictability in aircraft
The present disclosure relates to methods of calculating and flying continuous descent approaches to an airport or the like, and to aircraft navigation systems for implementing these methods. The present disclosure resides in the recognition that greater predictability in arrival times may be achieved by flying continuous descent approaches by maintaining a constant aerodynamic flight path angle. |
| US08655503B2 |
Short range communication apparatus
A control unit performs a forced decoupling of a communication link between a second in-vehicle apparatus and a short range communication unit, and couples a communication link between a first in-vehicle apparatus, and the short range communication unit when the second in-vehicle apparatus has a lower profile priority order than the first in-vehicle apparatus. Additionally, the forced decoupling is performed when, at the time of the communication request by the first in-vehicle apparatus, the short range communication unit was in communication with a maximum “M” number of in-vehicle apparatuses, and the second in-vehicle apparatus had the lowest priority order of the M number of in-vehicle apparatuses. The control unit re-couples the second in-vehicle apparatus when at least one of the M number of in-vehicle apparatuses has completed its profile function ending the communication link. |
| US08655501B2 |
Cooling assist module
Systems associated with moving heat out of a computer are described. One exemplary system embodiment includes a large heat exchanger, large, quiet, automatically redundant fans, automatically redundant pumps, and a leak containment apparatus. The example system may also include logics for selectively controlling air flow, liquid flow, and flow paths. |
| US08655499B2 |
Controlling virtual power circuits
A method and apparatus for controlling circuits in an electrical power grid. Parameters in the circuits are monitored. Each circuit comprises nodes in the electrical power grid and a number of lines connected to the nodes in the electrical power grid. The number of lines is configured to carry electrical power. The nodes control the electrical power in the number of lines. A number of agent processes associated with the nodes communicate with each other using a communications network, configure the nodes in the electrical power grid into a number of circuits, and control a delivery of the electrical power through the number of circuits to loads. A determination is made as to whether to make a change to the number of circuits based on the number of parameters and a policy. The circuits are changed using the policy in response to a determination to make the change. |
| US08655498B2 |
Method and system for standby power generation supplementing solar arrays
A system for timely standby power generation supplementing a solar array during periods of cloud coverage, including a power plant comprising solar arrays for normal power production during periods of maximum or reduced solar influx, and distributed generating sets (DGS) for standby power generation to supplement the solar arrays during periods of cloud coverage. A weather station has sensors for acquiring real-time meteorological data in the vicinity of the power plant and a processor for processing the acquired meteorological data so as to generate data related to a solar influx reduction event at the power plant including an event starting time. A controller receives the event data from the processor and operating the DGS in response to the received event data. |
| US08655493B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining load of energy consuming appliances within a premises
A controller in communication with one or more energy consuming appliances for a premises includes a transmitter device for transmitting wireless signals to a utility meter to request an energy consumption reading, and a receiver device to receive wireless signals including energy consumption information. The controller is configured to receive a signal from an energy consuming appliance indicating the appliance was actuated, and to responsively transmit a signal to the utility meter to request an energy consumption reading and thereafter receive a signal including an energy consumption value. Following deactivation of the appliance, the controller is configured to transmit a signal to the utility meter to request an energy consumption reading, and thereafter receive a signal from the meter including another energy consumption value. The controller is configured to determine from a difference between the energy consumption values an estimate of the energy consumption level associated with the appliance. |
| US08655492B2 |
Air-conditioning apparatus control device and refrigerating apparatus control device
A control device that controls a plurality of air conditioners includes a data memory section for storing performance model data representing the relationship between air conditioning capability and power consumption for each of the plurality of air conditioners. An overall air conditioning load calculating section calculates an overall load that is the sum of air conditioning loads of the plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses. An air conditioning capability allocation calculating section an air conditioning capability for each of the plurality of air conditioners on the basis of the performance model data and the overall load so that the sum of the air conditioning capability of the plurality of air conditioners is the overall load and the sum of the power consumption of the plurality of air conditioners is minimum. A control signal section sends a control signal related to the air conditioning capability to each of the plurality of air conditioners. |
| US08655485B2 |
Vending machine and control system for passenger vehicle-for-hire
A vending machine and associated control system in support of vending one or more items to a passenger in a rear passenger salon of a taxicab includes a computer having a processor and memory and a display arranged for viewing by the passenger. Code modules execute in the processor and provide interactive selection controls on at least a portion of the display. The passenger can cause an item to be vended from a remotely-located machine by interacting with the selection controls. One code module communicates vended item cost information to another module for inclusion in a calculation of a total fare for the taxicab ride and any vended items. The vending machine is preferably located in the taxicab trunk and is arranged to deliver items into the passenger salon through a rear deck of the taxicab. The vending machine can be refrigerated using, in part, the taxicab's air-conditioning system. |
| US08655483B2 |
Wafer cassette transportation method and system thereof
A wafer cassette transportation method includes the steps: (a) Provide a monitoring system, overhead platforms, a detection system, and a plurality of transportation systems; (b) The detection system detects whether or not any overhead platform has a wafer cassette and generates and transmits first signals to the monitoring system; (c) The monitoring system reads the first signals and instructs one of the transportation systems to move the wafer cassette to an empty overhead platform; (d) The detection system detects whether or not any overhead platform has a wafer cassette and generates and transmits second signals to the monitoring system; and (e) The monitoring system reads the second signals and instructs another transportation system to move the wafer cassette away from the overhead platform, so as to enhance the transportation speed of the wafer cassette and lower the manufacturing cost. The present invention further provides a wafer cassette transportation system. |
| US08655467B2 |
Audio testing system and method
An audio testing system includes an acquisition unit, an input unit, a first analysis unit, a second analysis unit, and an output unit. The acquisition unit obtains an audio signal played back by the audio player. The input unit generates a first input signal and a second input signal. The first analysis unit analyzes the acquired audio signal with a first analysis method in response to the first input signal to obtain performance parameters of the audio player. The second analysis unit analyzes the acquired audio signal with a second analysis method in response to the second input signal to obtain another set of performance parameters of the audio player. The first analysis unit is more accurate than the second analysis unit, and efficiency of the second analysis unit exceeds that of the first analysis unit. |
| US08655465B2 |
Method and electronic device
The invention relates to a method and an electronic device especially for car audio entertainment including a car audio equipment (2) and an other electronic device (4) like a handheld including at least one data connection (5) and at least one control connection (3) between the car audio equipment and the other electronic device, whereby the car audio equipment is able to send data to the other electronic device which is able to respond to the data send by the car audio equipment by sending a data answer, wherein the car audio equipment is able to compare the data send and the data received and generates a control signal to allow the control of the other electronic device like the handheld by the car audio equipment. |
| US08655464B2 |
Adaptive playlist onboard a vehicle
Systems and methods for generating an adaptive playlist on a computing device onboard a vehicle are provided. The system may include an onboard vehicle computing device configured to execute a media player program. The media player program may include a media storage module configured to store a plurality of media items, a user preference module having user media preferences, a contextual data module configured to receive dynamic contextual data from an onboard vehicle data source, and a playlist manager module. The playlist manager module may include a playlist generation engine configured to generate an adaptive playlist including user playlist media items, and a contextual media selection engine configured to select contextual media items based on the dynamic contextual data and interleave the selected contextual media items into the adaptive playlist. |
| US08655462B2 |
System and method for analyzing golfer driving accuracy
In a method for analyzing the driving accuracy of a golfer, the number of fairway hits and the severity level of the number of fairway misses is adjusted based on a course rating and slope rating of the current and average courses in a database. An adjusted total stroke cost is applied to a driving accuracy handicap lookup table to produce a driving accuracy handicap. This handicap is graphically displayed to the user by itself, or compared to the driving accuracy handicap of users of the same or similar skill level. Finally, a hole-by-hole analysis can be graphically displayed to give a graphic representation of where the golfer needs improvement. |
| US08655458B2 |
Conformal electrodes for shaped medical device lead body segments
A medical lead includes a lead body having at least one conductor extending from a proximal end of the lead body to a distal end of the lead body. The proximal end is adapted to be connected to a pulse generator, and the distal end includes a curved portion. One or more electrodes are operatively connected to the at least one conductor and coupled to the curved portion of the lead body. At least a portion of each of the one or more electrodes includes an arrangement of interconnected, spaced-apart elements that are selectively configured to allow the one or more electrodes to conform to contours of the curved portion during and after implantation of the medical lead. |
| US08655457B2 |
Paddle lead configurations for electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using
A paddle lead includes a paddle body with a plurality of electrodes disposed on the paddle body. The plurality of electrodes includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed laterally around the circumference of the paddle body. At least one connecting wire is disposed on, or within, the paddle body to electrically couple the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08655452B2 |
Method and apparatus for treating ischemic diseases
The present invention relates to the treatment of ischemic diseases, and more particularly, to treatment of diabetic retinopathy and ischemia of the retinal and choroidal tissues. The treatment, which will work in vitrectomized eyes as well as non-vitrectomized eyes, is based on selective and fractional electrolysis of the vitreous humor to produce oxygen and optionally active chlorine while simultaneously controlling pH. Oxygen or active chlorine can suppress or reverse the onset of diabetic retinopathy, other retinovascular diseases, and choroidal neovascularization. |
| US08655450B2 |
Controlling a personal medical device
Medical monitoring and treatment apparatus, which is controlled by a plurality of control sources, includes a “personal medical device” (PMD) or an “implantable medical device” (IMD), respectively carried by, or implanted in, a patient. The PMD/IMD is alternatively self-controlled or controlled by one or more local external control stations, at or near the location of the patient, and/or one or more remote external control stations, remote from the patient. Either or both of the local and remote stations may be operated by a person, such as the patient, a patient facilitator and/or a medical professional, or the stations may operate automatically. Since the device is controlled by multiple sources, hierarchies are used to select the source of control. |
| US08655445B2 |
Method for enhancing the performance and general condition of a subject
The invention concerns the therapy with a cardiac resynchronization device (CRT) and/or therapy with an automated internal cardiac defibrillator (ICD) for treating patients with any cancer or patients with cachexia due to acute or chronic illness other than cardiac illness, including malignant tumor disease, COPD, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, chronic infections, and/or AIDS. Areas of application are the life sciences, in particular medicine and medical technology. |
| US08655444B2 |
Electrical muscle controller
A method of modifying the force of contraction of at least a portion of a heart chamber, including providing a subject having a heart, comprising at least a portion having an activation, and applying a non-excitatory electric field having a given duration, at a delay after the activation, to the portion, which causes the force of contraction to be increased by a least 5%. |
| US08655440B2 |
System and method of speech sound intelligibility assessment, and program thereof
A speech sound intelligibility assessment system includes: a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a user; a presented-speech sound control section for determining a speech sound to be presented by referring to a speech sound database retaining a plurality of monosyllabic speech sounds; an audio output section for presenting the speech sound determined by the presented-speech sound control section as an audio; a characteristic component detection section for utilizing the electroencephalogram signal of the user measured by the biological signal measurement section to determine presence or absence of a characteristic component of an event-related potential at 800 ms±100 ms from a point of presenting the audio; and a speech sound intelligibility assessment section for, based on a result of determination by the characteristic component detection section, determining whether the user has aurally comprehended the speech sound or not. |
| US08655439B2 |
System and method of speech discriminability assessment, and computer program thereof
A speech discriminability assessment system includes: a biological signal measurement section for measuring an electroencephalogram signal of a user; a presented-speech sound control section for determining a speech sound to be presented to the user by referring to a speech sound database retaining a plurality of monosyllabic sound data; an audio presentation section for presenting an audio associated with the determined speech sound to the user; a character presentation section for presenting a character associated with the determined speech sound to the user, subsequent to the presentation of the audio by the audio presentation section; an unexpectedness detection section for detecting presence or absence of an unexpectedness signal from the measured electroencephalogram signal of the user, the unexpectedness signal representing a positive component at 600 ms±100 ms after a time point when the character was presented to the user; and a speech sound discriminability determination section for determining a speech sound discriminability based on a result of detection by the unexpectedness detection section. |
| US08655434B2 |
Physician's programmer with ST-segment histogram display capability
A physician's programmer for an implantable device is disclosed. The programmer includes a receiver for receiving wireless transmission data from the implantable heart monitor. A processor is configured to extract from the wireless transmission data ST-deviation histogram data as a function of heart rate. The histogram data for a particular heart rate range is shown on a display in the form of a bar chart. The histogram data for a plurality of heart rate ranges is shown in the form of a chart with multiple line plots. |
| US08655430B2 |
Positioning system for thermal therapy
Systems and methods are provided for positioning a therapeutic device relative to a target displaced on a platform. A base member has a first track extending along a length of the platform for defining a first pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. A curved frame is slidably mounted on the base member through the first track. The curved frame has a second track along an interior wall of the curved frame for defining a second pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. A housing is disposed in the second track of the curved frame and configured to receive the therapeutic device. The housing is extendible at least along a radial direction of the curved frame for defining a third pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. Applications of the systems and methods may include image-guided thermal therapy. |
| US08655428B2 |
Neuro-response data synchronization
Efficient and effective mechanisms for collecting electroencephalography (EEG) data are provided to synchronize neuro-response data collection with stimulus material presentation for in situ engagement monitoring and tracking. An EEG headset includes multiple point electrodes individually isolated and amplified. In some examples, a stimulus material presentation mechanism includes a clock source and a clock transmitter. The clock transmitter sends clock signals to a neuro-response data collection mechanism to allow synchronization of neuro-response data collected with stimulus presentation events. The EEG headset can be configured to perform processing while supporting both continuous input and output. |
| US08655427B1 |
Catheter systems for measuring electrical properties of tissue and methods of use
Catheter systems for measuring at least one electrical property, e.g., impedance, of cardiac tissue of a living being are disclosed. The system includes a catheter having a tip with a sensing electrode, a guard electrode and an electrical shield. The sensing electrode is arranged to engage the cardiac tissue and is coupled to circuitry for measuring the at least one electrical property of the cardiac tissue, shielding the sensing electrode from bulk blood adjacent the cardiac tissue. The measurement can gated to the cardiac cycle. Additional embodiments include multi-electrode sensor catheter tips for high density mapping. Moreover, such tips may be dynamically configurable, i.e., their electrodes can be variably assigned as sensor electrodes or guard electrodes by associated circuitry. Such multi-electrode configuration and reconfiguration can be gated to the cardiac cycle. |
| US08655426B2 |
Device for measuring concentration of constituent in blood and measuring method
A device for measuring concentration of a constituent in blood includes: an irradiation unit for irradiating light toward a living body, the light having a wavelength disposed in a light absorption band of the constituent in the blood; a light receiving unit for receiving light, which is reflected in the living body or transmitted through the living body; and a concentration measurement unit for measuring the concentration of the constituent in the blood based on variation of light intensity of light received by the light receiving unit, the variation attributed to a pulse wave of the living body. |
| US08655425B2 |
Optical sensor biosignal measurement apparatus and method of controlling optical sensor of the apparatus
An optical sensor biosignal measurement apparatus including an optical sensor having a luminous element to emit light towards the skin of a user and a photo detector to detect light from the skin of the user; a light quantity adjustment member to adjust an optical transmission area of the photo detector; and a light quantity controller to detect the quantity of light detected by the photo detector, and control the light quantity adjustment member to adjust the optical transmission area of the photo detector according to the quantity of light is provided. |
| US08655423B2 |
Superconducting coil
A superconducting coil is provided with a superconducting coil portion having a plurality of concentric coil layer portions. The superconducting coil portion is formed by winding a thin-film superconducting wire and an insulating material with a multilayer structure, wherein the concentric coil layer portions are adjacent to each other at boundary portions having adhesive force that are set to be less than that of other portions. The concentric coil layer portions each has a non-circular shape or circular shape. |
| US08655421B2 |
Portable wireless device with expandable mechanism and wireless communication method
A portable wireless device and a wireless communication method, which can transmit and receive wireless signal without affecting influence from metallic part that is included in an expandable mechanism, are provided. In the portable wireless device taking two statuses of an expanded status in which an upper housing 2 and a lower housing 7 are arranged approximately in series and a contracted status in which the upper housing 2 and the lower housing 7 are overlapped each other, at least a part of rotating mechanism 1 which makes the expanded status and the contracted status variable is formed of metal, and the metal part of rotating mechanism 1 operates as an antenna. |
| US08655418B2 |
Method and apparatus for a frequency domain echo suppression filter
Residual frequency components of a reference signal are suppressed from an error signal. A magnitude of the frequency domain representation of the reference signal is divided by a magnitude of the frequency domain representation of LMS-filtered representation of the error signal to obtain a frequency domain ratio of the frequency domain representation of the reference signal to the frequency domain representation of the LMS-filtered signal. The frequency domain ratio of the frequency domain representation of the reference signal to the frequency domain representation of the LMS-filtered signal is multiplied by the frequency domain ratio of the frequency domain representation of the reference signal to the frequency domain representation of the LMS-filtered signal, to obtain a frequency domain signal having reduced residual frequency components of the reference signal. |
| US08655416B2 |
User interface for a portable device including detecting close proximity of an ear to allow control of an audio application with a touchscreen
In a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone with a touchscreen display and a camera, if the camera detects that the user's ear is near the touchscreen (indicating that the user is using an audio application such as a phone call, radio player, music player, etc.) then the touchscreen can accept a touch or swipe from the user's ear, head, cheek or adjacent area. The adapted input can allow the user to control the audio application such as by swiping to change the volume, channel, song, etc. |
| US08655415B2 |
Mobile terminal and slide controlling program
A mobile terminal 10 includes a first case C1 and a second case C2. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 10 is a slidable mobile terminal in which the first case C1 is slidably coupled to the second case C2 so as to be stacked thereon. On a top surface of the first case C1, a first display 26 is provided. Also, on a top surface of the second case C2, a second display 34 is provided in such a position so as not to be exposed in a home position (closed position) and so as to be exposed when a sliding operation is performed. For example, when a switch to a sliding position is made by a user during an incoming call, a name of a communication partner is displayed on the second display 34. |
| US08655412B2 |
Information processing apparatus having a display with luminance or illuminance controlled depending on an apparatus condition
A mobile communication apparatus includes: a first casing including a display unit having a backlight; a second casing being connected to the first casing, and having an input unit; a condition detecting unit that detects whether a condition is changed from a first condition to a second condition, the first condition in which the first casing is overlapped with the second casing, the second condition being different from the first condition; and a control unit that controls the backlight to illuminate the display unit by turning on the backlight in a certain turn-on condition when the condition detecting unit detects that the first condition is changed to the second condition. The backlight is turned on in a lower value than a normal value in at least one of luminance and illuminance. |
| US08655409B2 |
Antenna with cellular and point-to-point communications capability
An antenna includes one or more radiofrequency radiating elements for forming a radiofrequency beam and a point-to-point antenna for forming a point-to-point beam. The point-to-point element may be fixed with respect to the antenna's radome. Adjustment of the point-to-point element orientation may be achieved using the antenna mount to adjust the orientation of the point-to-point element and radome together. |
| US08655405B2 |
Mobile communication terminal and control method thereof
A mobile communication terminal has a first wireless communication unit, an interface capable of detachably connecting an external apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether the external apparatus connected to the interface is a second wireless communication unit, a battery voltage detection unit for detecting battery voltage of a power supply unit, a charging detection unit, and a control unit for controlling, if the battery voltage detected by the battery voltage detection unit is lower than a first predetermined value while the charging detection unit detects the charging state, so as to prohibit concurrent use of the first wireless communication unit and the second wireless communication unit. |
| US08655404B1 |
Systems and methods for distributing content with a portable electronic device
Systems and methods are provided for sharing and distributing content using a mobile client on a cellular telephone. The mobile client may transmit the shared content to a service portal and the service portal may distribute the shared content to client devices. The content may include images, audio, video, documents, and any other content a user desires to share using the cellular telephone. The mobile client may be configured to operate in a variety of sharing modes. In some of the sharing modes, the mobile client may perform certain functions automatically in response to the creation of new content. Each item of content may be shared and distributed to one or more social groups. Each social group may include one or more users. Each of the users in a social group may be associated with a client device and may be associated with another cellular telephone. |
| US08655399B2 |
Determining a maximum SIR target for power control in a cellular network
It is presented a power controller which is adapted to be coupled to a fixed node of a cellular network, wherein at least one user equipment is adapted to be associated with the fixed node. The power controller comprises: a signal to interference ratio, SIR, determiner arranged to determine a maximum SIR target for each of the at least one user equipment, which maximum SIR target is arranged to limit maximum transmission power of the at least one user equipment; wherein the determiner determines a maximum SIR target for each of the at least one user equipment directly or indirectly based on the number of user equipments in the cell of each respective user equipment. A corresponding method, computer program and computer program product are also presented. |
| US08655387B2 |
Method and apparatus of location measurement using the location of neighbor UE
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of allowing a mobile terminal to measure its own location. The measurement method may include receiving a temporary identifier from a neighbor terminal using near field wireless communication; transmitting a location information request to a base station using the temporary identifier when location information is required; and receiving location information from the base station. The location information may be measured by the neighbor terminal. |
| US08655385B2 |
Social networking methods and apparatus for use in facilitating participation in user-relevant social groups
A mobile device is associated with a user profile which includes one or more user interests. The device sends a request for identifying social groups in a mobile geographic location. In response to the request, the device receives data identifying a plurality of social group profiles corresponding to a plurality of social groups in the mobile geographic location. The mobile device presents a list of the social groups based on the received data, ranked in accordance with similarity scores. Each similarity score is produced based on both a proximity identified between the mobile and social group geographic locations, and similarities identified between the one or more user and group interests. In response to receiving a user input, the device may enter into the social group and present a chat session interface for a chat session for the selected social group. |
| US08655382B2 |
Wireless event notification system and methods for use therein
A wireless event notification system that selectively notifies members of events based on their location and/or interests, and devices and method for use therein. The wireless event notification system provides single or multifactor filtering based on one or more of proximity to an event, membership in a subgroup to which an event pertains and/or desire to receive events at the severity level of an event. Superfluous notifications are thereby reduced. Location-based filtering may be done by a notification server device to which member locations are reported or, to enhance member privacy, by wireless client devices using unreported member locations. Additionally, in some embodiments, wireless client devices are distributed by a system administrator to members after the system administrator has registered the members with the system to remove device acquisition, device compatibility and member registration hurdles that can present obstacles to universal participation in the system. |
| US08655376B2 |
Methods and apparatus for transmitting position information among user terminals
A position coordinate receiving section obtains a position from a user terminal. A nearby user distributing section provides information about a source user terminal to a recipient user terminal. The nearby user distributing section controls whether or not to provide the information about the source user terminal to the recipient user terminal based on a position that is obtained from the recipient user terminal and a position obtained from the source user terminal. The position obtained from the source user terminal that is used in the control is a position outside an area set by a user of the source user terminal. Accordingly, a user is provided a way to prevent other users from knowing that the user is in a place specified by the user. |
| US08655375B2 |
System and method for determining locations to be stored in a location database
A present location of a user is periodically determined. The present location of the user is compared to a previous location of the user. A determination is made as to whether the present location is within a specified distance of the previous location. If the present location is within the specified distance of the previous location, a determination is made as to whether the user has been at the present location for a specified time period. If the user has been at the present location for the specified time period, the present location is stored in a location database. |
| US08655371B2 |
Location determination using cached location area codes
Methods, program products, and systems for location determination using cached location area codes are described. A server computer can receive location information from location-aware mobile devices (e.g., GPS-enabled devices) located in a location area of a cellular communications network. The server computer can also receive from the mobile device the location area code associated with the location area in which the mobile devices are located. The server computer can estimate a coarse geographic location of the location area, as well as a number of cells encompassed by the location area using the received information. The server computer can store the estimated geographic locations associated with sufficiently large location areas (e.g., location areas having more than a certain number of cells). The server computer can provide the stored geographic locations to second mobile devices that are not GPS-enabled for estimating current locations of the second mobile devices. |
| US08655370B2 |
Geographical location information sharing among wireless devices
A system and method for sharing geographical location information among a set of wireless telecommunication devices, such as mobile telephones. A first wireless telecommunication device generates geographical location information of that wireless telecommunication device, either through a resident device such as a GPS device, or has another computer device on the network provide the geographic location information, and then shares the geographical location information through sending the location information to one or more servers for relay to a predesignated target set of wireless telecommunication devices. The server stores the identity of member devices of the target set and controls communication between the first wireless telecommunications device and the member devices of the target set. A second server can be used to modify the geographical information, such as providing a map showing the location of the first wireless telecommunication device and other member devices of the target set. |
| US08655369B2 |
Cognitive radio system using care-of-address for packet routing in a mobile IP network
A co-existing multi-radio system and a method of establishing the same are provided. The co-existing multi-radio system includes a base station system and at least one first mobile device. The first mobile device and the base station system operate in a same communication environment. The first mobile device is capable of sensing a set of information associated to the communication environment, followed by analyzing the set of information and self-reconfiguring so as to communicate with another first mobile device and/or the base station system. |
| US08655368B2 |
Method and arrangement for supporting multiple settings of mobility triggers in a telecommunications system
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement (102, 104, 106, 202, 302, 304, 502, 504, 702, 704, 1000, 1014) for prioritizing one of multiple cell-related mobility decisions associated with multiple parallel mobility events being triggered, comprising recognizing parameter settings associated with at least two parallel mobility events being triggered (steps 406, 604; 806), evaluating the parameter settings for determining which cell-related mobility decision to prioritize (steps 408; 606; 808), and performing a task according to the cell-related prioritized mobility decision (steps 410, 608; 814), to achieve a cell re-selection in idle mode or a hand over in connected mode. By applying multiple parameter settings a better performance is achieved as can be seen by a reduced percentage of time a User Equipment (102, 202, 302, 502, 702, 1000) is not connected to the best cell. |
| US08655362B2 |
Apparatus, and associated method, for permitting communication system transition based upon signal threshold determination
A method and apparatus of optimizing transitioning between EVDO and CDMA 1X systems in a hybrid access terminal, the method having the steps of: preventing a reconnect data call from being sent from the hybrid access terminal. The preventing step including checking whether a transition between an EVDO and a CDMA 1X system is successful; and if not blocking the data call, and/or checking whether an EVDO received signal strength indication is greater than or equal to a receiver sensitivity on the hybrid access terminal; and if yes, allowing the hybrid access terminal to connect to the EVDO system, and/or delaying a connection timer for connecting to the EVDO system and/or applying fast dormancy to the hybrid access terminal in an EVDO state. |
| US08655361B2 |
Femtocell service registration, activation, and provisioning
A femto cell service framework is employed for registration, activation, and provisioning of femtocell service. An account management service enables femtocell account creation, and registration thereof. Registration includes validation of wireless coverage for a location of operation of a femto AP, and validation of availability enhanced 911 (E911) service. As part of registration provisioning, record(s) are updated to indicate registration status. Connection of femto AP to a network interface triggers activation process; the femto AP delivers an activation request. A femto network validates registration of the connected femto AP and conducts a location tolerance check of a received actual location of the femto AP and a registered location. Upon tolerance validation, a cell identifier and radio frequency channel(s) are assigned to femto AP. When femto AP radiates wireless signal, network activation status indicators are provisioned. Handling of errors that arise during registration or activation is provided. |
| US08655353B2 |
Method and system for international roaming and call bridging
Disclosed is an enhanced system and method for bridging calls across telecommunications networks, including an illustrative application of the invention as it relates to international roaming among prepaid wireless subscribers. For instance, whenever wireless subscribers roam internationally they may invoke the system by keying in an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) short code followed by the number to be dialed. Said subscriber's prepaid account is then decremented in real-time (until such account is fully depleted). A key feature of the disclosure generally is the bridging of the call legs between the wireless subscriber initiating the telephone communication and that of the receiving party through a series of general purpose databases and computers without requiring modifications to existing core network or handset infrastructure. |
| US08655351B2 |
Method and device for maintaining continuity of radio transmissions
The present invention provides a method for maintaining continuity of radio transmissions, particularly unlicensed low-power FM transmissions, comprising transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of the media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal. The invention also provides an electronic device for radio transmission of media data with maintained link continuity, comprising a radio transmitter, a controller adapted for transmitting frequency modulated media data via a radio transmission on a carrier frequency, interrupting the transmission of said media data while maintaining the transmission of the carrier frequency, transmitting a frequency modulated substitute signal during said interruption, and continuing the transmission of said frequency modulated media signal. |
| US08655347B2 |
Measuring macrocell quality using femtocell
The disclosure is related to measuring macrocell quality of a macrocell using femtocells. A method may be provided for measuring macrocell quality of at least one macrocell using a femtocell base station. The method may include measuring, by the femtocell base station, macrocell quality of at least one macrocell based on event information, generating macrocell quality report information based on a result of the measuring, and transmitting the generated macrocell quality report information to a server through a femtocell gateway. The measuring macrocell quality may include determining whether a macrocell identifier is present in the event information, measuring the macrocell quality of a target macrocell corresponding to the mermen identifier of the event when the macrocell identifier is present in the event information, and measuring the macrocell quality of substantially all neighbor macrocells when the macrocell identifier is absent from the event information. |
| US08655345B2 |
Proximity-enabled remote control
The invention relates to systems and methods that enable a mobile device to be approximated with an object in order to enable control of the object. In one possible embodiment of a method of the invention, a mobile device is brought in physical proximity with an object, the identity of the object is determined wirelessly, based on such determination, a remote control user interface is presented by the mobile device, the mobile device receives input relating to a desired control action for the object, and the mobile device wirelessly communicates with a remote computer to facilitate control of the object. Various embodiments of the invention are possible to address a wide range of practical applications. |
| US08655341B2 |
Methods for mobile phone applications
A set of systems and methods are described that: a) provides methods for viral mass distribution of mobile phone applications by use of phone book, contact lists, or other social network information, b) enable any Internet-enabled mobile device user to download and use such mobile applications without requiring PC access, and c) provides a technique for unifying code versions for most existing mobile devices, expediting the viral distribution of said applications. |
| US08655337B2 |
Operating a server to determine model of mobile terminal
A determines the model of a mobile device and delivers configuration parameters to the mobile device consistent with the model determined. The application server captures the mobile device's phone number and associates it with a generated unique identifier. The unique identifier is sent to the mobile device as part of a URL. When the mobile device accesses the URL, the request sent to the application server includes the unique identifier as well as a user agent header. The model number of the mobile device can be extracted from the user agent header, and thus the model number can be tied to the mobile device's phone number by way of the unique identifier. The model number and phone number association can be used to correctly configure applications for use on the mobile device. |
| US08655335B2 |
Playback pause before signal loss of a mobile device
One embodiment described herein may take the form of a system and/or method for monitoring a position of a mobile device and pausing play or recording a multimedia presentation when the mobile device enters or approaches a zone where a wireless signal may be degraded or lost. In one embodiment, the mobile device may utilize a global position system (GPS) signal to determine the location of the mobile device. Further, the mobile device may be configured to display one or more multimedia presentations and may, in response to the mobile device being located near or within a dark zone, pause play of the multimedia presentation until the mobile device returns to a zone of sufficient wireless signal coverage. In this manner, the mobile device may prevent the user from losing or missing portions of the multimedia presentation due to lost or degraded wireless signal of the mobile device. |
| US08655333B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for establishing settings of communications service features
Establishing settings of communications service features for a user includes identifying a plurality of communications services of the user. The plurality of communications services include wireline phone service, cellular phone service and/or electronic mail (e-mail) service. A plurality of user selectable communications service scenarios for the user are defined. Settings for the plurality of communications services to be applied for the user upon selection of one of the scenarios are established. A selection of one of the scenarios is received. The current settings of the communications service features for the user are automatically changed to the established settings for the selected one of the scenarios responsive to receiving the selection of the one of the scenarios. |
| US08655329B2 |
Downloadable profiles for mobile terminals
There is disclosed a method of providing a profile to a mobile terminal, the method comprising: allocating a profile to a specific event; detecting an association of a mobile terminal with said event; and transmitting said profile to said mobile terminal. |
| US08655323B2 |
Mobile-originated voicemail messages with location metadata
A voicemail message system may process voicemail messages sent by mobile communication devices. A network interface may receive the voicemail messages over a network communication system. Each voicemail message may include metadata relating to the voicemail message containing location information indicative of the location of the mobile communication device at approximately the time the message is sent by the mobile communication device. A voicemail message processing system may cause each message which is received by the network interface to be stored in a message storage system, along with its location information. Related mobile communication devices, telephone switches, and recipient phone call devices are also described. |
| US08655319B2 |
Email SMS notification system providing selective server message retrieval features and related methods
A communications system may include at least one wireless communications device and a plurality of electronic mail (email) servers for storing email messages for the at least one wireless communications device. The system may further include an email relay server for detecting a new email message on a given one of the email servers and, based thereon, sending a short message service (SMS) notification with a unique server identifier (ID) of the given email server to the at least one wireless communications device. The at least one wireless communications device may detect the SMS notification and send an email retrieval request to the email relay server instructing the email relay server to retrieve email messages from the given server based upon the unique server ID. |
| US08655317B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for SMS-based location querying
The disclosure provides devices, systems, and methods for determining a position of a mobile communication device by communicating with the device via a Short Messaging System (SMS). A location query is submitted to an SMS center, which formats a first SMS message for delivery to the device. The first SMS message is delivered to a designated SMS port on the device. A location logic on the device receives the SMS via the SMS port, extracts the location query, and attempts to calculate a location from received satellite signals. The calculated location is submitted back to the SMS server, either to be forwarded to the location server, or to a network element or device that submitted the location query to the SMS center in the first place. Assistance data may additionally be delivered to the mobile communication device via the SMS port. |
| US08655316B2 |
Method for controlling access of terminal to home (e)NodeB
A method for controlling access of a terminal, which is connected to a Home (e)NodeB operated in a closed access mode, the method comprises: determining whether a timer, which designates allowable time to access to the Home (e)NodeB by using a specific closed subscriber group (CSG) ID, has expired; comparing an allowed CSG list for the terminal with a CSG ID list of the Home (e)NodeB if the allowed access timer has expired; and changing the specific CSG ID of the terminal into another CSG ID such that service to the terminal from the Home (e)NodeB is maintained if there is the another CSG ID in both the allowed CSG ID list for the terminal and the CSG ID list of the Home (e)NodeB. |
| US08655315B2 |
SMS authentication method
The present invention provides a SMS authentication method. The SMS authentication method includes transferring the authentication message into different types of authentication codes and/or review codes, sending the authentication codes and/or review codes to the authentication request end and the user via different types, providing the authentication codes input by the user and the authentication codes from the authentication service supply end to the authentication service supply end by the authentication request end, and making the user determine according to the review codes whether the authentication procedure is correct. Hence, the SMS authentication method of the present invention prevents the authentication information from being illegally recorded or stole during the transmission of the authentication message and prevents the phone number from being stole or forged. |
| US08655305B2 |
Methods for requesting emergency bearer services for low priority devices, and apparatuses using the same
A mobile communication device configured for Non Access Stratum (NAS) signaling low priority is provided. In the mobile communication device, a wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a service network, and a controller module originates an EXTENDED SERVICE REQUEST message for requesting emergency bearer services in an EMM IDLE mode. The controller module further transmits an RRC CONNECTION REQUEST message comprising an establishment cause indicating an emergency case to the service network via the wireless module in response to originating the EXTENDED SERVICE REQUEST message. |
| US08655301B2 |
Frequency agile duplex filter
Systems and methods are disclosed for an electronically adjustable signal filter system, which comprises, in some embodiments, a first filter coupled to an antenna coupling network and a second filter, a power amplifier coupled to the first filter, an antenna connected to an antenna coupling network, a pilot tone generator coupled to the first filter, and a first signal source connected to the power amplifier and first filter. In some embodiments, the power amplifier amplifies the first signal, the first filter places a notch into the first signal transmitted to the antenna coupling network, the antenna coupling network combines the first signal and a second signal received from the antenna and transmits a third signal to the second filter. |
| US08655290B2 |
Antenna with built-in filter and electronic device
An antenna with a built-in filter for use in an electronic device includes: an antenna element; and a circuit board unit connected to the antenna element, wherein the circuit board unit includes: a filter circuit that filters input and output signals of the antenna element; and a matching circuit that performs impedance matching of the antenna element. |
| US08655289B2 |
Distortion compensation device, transmitter, and distortion compensation method
A distortion compensation device includes a distortion compensator that predistorts an input signal based on delay signals and distortion compensation coefficients corresponding to the respective delay signals obtained by applying different amounts of delay to the input signal, a calculator that calculates an error signal based on the predistorted input signal and an output signal from an amplifier that amplifies the predistorted input signal, a calculator that calculates prospective distortion compensation coefficients for updating the distortion compensation coefficients, based on the error signal, a saturation processor that performs saturation processing for bringing, when the prospective distortion compensation coefficients do not fall into a preset range, the prospective distortion compensation coefficients into the preset range, and a controller that controls the updating of the distortion compensation coefficients based on pieces of coefficient saturation information indicating whether the saturation processing is performed on the prospective distortion compensation coefficients. |
| US08655286B2 |
Method and apparatus for tuning a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer instructions to obtain at least one operational parameter associated with a communication device and to adjust a steerable antenna of the communication device when the communication device does not satisfy an impedance threshold, where the satisfying of the impedance threshold is determined based on the at least one operational parameter. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08655284B2 |
Systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems
Embodiments include systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems. Embodiments comprise separated chambers containing wireless devices. The chambers are connected by propagation path corridors. |
| US08655283B2 |
Cluster-based cooperative spectrum sensing in cognitive radio systems
Cluster-based cooperative spectrum sensing is provided for cognitive radio systems. For each cluster of cognitive users, a cluster head is determined. Each cluster head collects energies of a reporting channel measured by the cognitive users within the cluster and decides whether a primary user is absent from a given spectrum. A common receiver then aggregates the cluster-level decisions made by the cluster heads, and makes a decision across multiple, or all of, the clusters whether the primary user is absent based on a fusion function of the cluster-level decisions. If the primary (licensed) user is absent, then secondary (unlicensed) users may utilize the spectrum. |
| US08655281B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting object terminal in a multi-BS MIMO system
According to an embodiment of the present invention, on a radio resource block for Multi-BS MIMO, one of the coordinating base stations selects a mobile terminal at first, and informs the other base stations of the characterization information and the pre-coding information etc. of the selected mobile terminal, and the selection made by the other base stations will obey the selection result of the base station that selects at first. By applying the method and apparatus provided by the present invention, the joint selection of object terminals in the Multi-BS MIMO is realized, and such selection is distributed without any central scheduling device which is necessary in the central scheduling scheme. In addition, only very limited information exchange among the coordinating base stations is required to realize the present invention. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the object terminals selected by the coordinating base stations are matched well with each other such that the total performance of the system is improved; according to an embodiment of the present invention, the fairness among the base stations can be well satisfied. |
| US08655278B2 |
Band steering
A method for band steering includes, with a wireless access point, refraining from responding to a probe request from a client device on a first frequency band until a first period of time has elapsed if said client device is capable of communication on a second frequency band. The method further includes, with the wireless access point, responding immediately to a probe request from said client device on said second frequency band. |
| US08655277B2 |
Workspace energy management using multifactor presence detection and mobile phone identity verification
A workspace energy management method and system control the power state of workspace appliances using multi-factor presence detection and mobile phone identity verification. Multifactor presence detection substantially reduces the risk that workspace appliances will be powered-up in response to erroneous detection of presence at the workspace (e.g., false positive). Mobile phone identity verification, which verifies that the office worker's mobile phone is at the workspace (and thus that the office worker is also likely at the workspace) before workspace appliances are powered-up, prevents workspace appliances from being inadvertently powered-up by personnel other than the office worker, but without compromising worker privacy. |
| US08655276B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method for communication apparatus, and storage medium
When a communication apparatus is brought within a predetermined range of a partner apparatus in a state where data of transmission target is designated, the communication apparatus notifies the partner apparatus of a transmission notification indicating that data transmission is performed, before transmission of the data of transmission target is started. When the communication apparatus has received the transmission notification from the partner apparatus, a transmission order of data is determined, and a communication is performed by switching between transmission of the data to the partner apparatus and reception of the data from the partner apparatus according to the determined transmission order. |
| US08655272B2 |
Wireless charging coil filtering
Example embodiments are disclosed for limiting radio frequency noise created during wireless charging of rechargeable batteries in radio frequency communication devices. In an example embodiment, a power source circuit in a wireless charging device produces a source alternating current. The source alternating current is passed through a radio frequency blocking filter to limit radio frequency noise. The filtered source alternating current is then driven through a transmitting coil in the charging device, which inductively couples with a proximately located receiving coil in a radio frequency communication device. An induced alternating current is passed through a second radio frequency blocking filter in the communication device, which limits radio frequency noise that could otherwise be created by the rectifier and control circuits in the communication device. |
| US08655271B2 |
System and method for storing near field communication tags in an electronic phonebook
Disclosed is a system, method and computer application for exchanging information using near field communications. In one aspect, the method comprises: transmitting a request for information from a mobile telephone through a near field communication (NFC) adapter associated with the mobile telephone. Information is then received in response to the request for information by the NFC adapter from an electronic device. The NFC tag of the electronic device is stored in the electronic phonebook of the mobile telephone. Storage of the NFC tag may be automatically and/or manually. After the initial storing of the information in the electronic phonebook, future communications between the mobile telephone and the electronic device and/or user utilize a user-friendly designation (e.g., contact information) to inform the mobile telephone user when the devices are in range for communication. |
| US08655270B2 |
Method and apparatus for compensation for weather-based attenuation in a satellite link
Method for managing power and bandwidth resources in operation over a plurality of links from a hub, said power and bandwidth resources being limited, the method comprising: initially assigning power and bandwidth combinations to individual links according to current conditions pertaining to respective links, each combination having a corresponding resource cost; and controllably changing said initially assigned combinations at respective ones of said links to reduce respective resource costs, thereby to controllably balance an overall resource cost of said plurality of links to lie within available overall power and bandwidth resource limitations. |
| US08655268B2 |
Relay station and radio communication system
In order to achieve effective utilization of radio communication resource, there is provided a relay station, for relaying a signal to be transferred between a radio base station and a radio terminal, which includes a storage section adapted to store communication controlling information for communication control with the radio terminal, a base station side signal reception section adapted to receive, from the radio base station, scheduling information in communication between the radio base station and the radio terminal through the relay station, a complementation section adapted to complement contents of the scheduling information received by the base station side signal reception section in accordance with the communication controlling information stored in the storage section, and a terminal side signal transmission section adapted to transmit the scheduling information whose contents are complemented by the complementation section to the radio terminal. |
| US08655265B2 |
Efficient multicast control processing for a wireless network
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method comprises an exchange of messages between an access point and a wireless network switch. One message, a PROXY IGMP JOIN message, is transmitted to the access point for propagation to a multicast router. This is performed so that multicast data associated with the multicast group identified by the PROXY IGMP JOIN message is routed to the access point without any unnecessary involvement by the wireless network switch. |
| US08655263B2 |
Method, terminal and radio network controller for searching for the single frequency network cluster
A method for searching for a broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster, when a terminal needs to receive the broadcast/multicast service in the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster, the terminal synchronizes to a non broadcast/multicast single frequency network cell which is associated with the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster; and the terminal searches for the broadcast/multicast single frequency network cluster on the basis of the information indicated by the system information in the non broadcast/multicast single frequency network cell. So that the UE can search for the corresponding MBSFN cluster, and can receive the MBMS service in the searched MBSFN cluster. |
| US08655260B2 |
System and method for learning concept map
A system for creating the learning organizational tool known as a concept map to thereby facilitate learning includes a manipulation-sensing device with a wireless data transceiver, an information integration platform, and a data processing device. The wireless manipulating-sensing device allows users to physically manipulate the concept map and then transmit/receive data related to the results of the physical manipulation via a wireless network. The wireless manipulation-sensing device includes a plurality of conceptual modules for recording data in the process of learning a concept map, a plurality of connecting modules for recording data of the connection relations between the conceptual modules, and a plurality of connecting wires connected between the plurality of conceptual modules and the plurality of connecting modules to form connection relations therebetween. The information integration platform receives the results of the physical manipulation transmitted from the conceptual modules to form concept map information by translation. The data processing device receives the concept map information formed by the information integration platform. In addition, a method for learning a concept map using the system described above is further provided. |
| US08655254B2 |
Lubricant applicator, image forming apparatus, and method of mounting lubricant applicator
A lubricant applicator includes: a lubricant application unit that is arranged so as to be in contact with a surface of an image carrier, scrapes a solid lubricant, and applies the solid lubricant onto the surface of the image carrier while moving a surface of the lubricant application unit; a lubricant holding member that holds the solid lubricant; and a lubricant biasing unit that biases the solid lubricant against the lubricant application unit. The lubricant biasing unit is housed in a housing under a state that one end of the lubricant biasing unit is held by the lubricant holding member so that a position of the one end of the lubricant biasing unit is restricted, and another end of the lubricant biasing unit is held by a biasing-unit holding member that is provided to restrict a position of the another end of the lubricant biasing unit. |
| US08655251B2 |
Image processing apparatus including a gloss applying device
An image forming apparatus includes a gloss applying mode for applying gloss to an image on a sheet and a non-gloss-applying mode. The image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a fixing member and a pressurizing member that is pressed into contact with the fixing member to form a fixing nip portion in which toner is fixed to the sheet; and a gloss applying device including a first roller including a heating unit and a second roller that is pressed into contact with the first roller to form a gloss applying nip portion in which gloss is applied to the toner. The fixing device and the gloss applying device are provided on a sheet conveying path line. When the sheet is conveyed in the non-gloss-applying mode, nip pressure of the gloss applying nip portion in the gloss applying device is lower than that in the gloss applying mode. |
| US08655250B2 |
Apparatus and method for marking material fix level control in a printing apparatus
An apparatus and method control fix levels in a printing apparatus. The apparatus can include a media transport configured to transport a media sheet having marking material on at least a first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a media sheet rub module configured to rub a rub material against the first side of the media sheet. The apparatus can include a sensor configured to sense marking material on the rub material, the marking material rubbed from the first side of the media sheet onto the rub material. The apparatus can include a controller configured to determine a fix level of marking material on the media sheet based on the sensed marking material on the rub material, the fix level indicating how well the marking material is affixed to the media sheet. |
| US08655249B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for belt-roll fuser latching
A belt-roll fuser system includes a belt-roll fuser module that is movable to engage and disengage to a main frame of the belt-roll fuser system. The belt-roll fuser has an internal pressure member that defines a fusing nip with an external pressure member of the main frame when the belt-roll fuser module is engaged. The belt-roll fuser module is movable by a latch, and when engaged, a nip load path crosses through a point at which the latch attaches to the belt-roll fuser module. |
| US08655247B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a heat source, a roller being heated by the heat source, an endless belt that contacts the roller and rotates along with a rotation of the roller, a guiding portion that includes a first resin member being disposed inside the endless belt and guiding a rotation of the endless belt, a pressing portion that includes a second resin member being disposed inside the endless belt and pressing the endless belt on the roller, and a plate member that includes an elongated metal member of which the longitudinal direction is arranged to be parallel to a rotation axis of the roller, a first end and a second end of the elongated metal member in the transverse direction being unified with the first resin member and the second resin member, respectively, wherein the elongated metal member has a part facing the inner surface of the endless belt. |
| US08655244B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device includes a stationary at least partially tubular thermal member, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, and a rotatable pressure member. The thermal member has a tubular portion thereof extending in an axial direction and defining a closed axial cross-section. A circumference of the thermal member is subjected to heating. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the thermal member. An inner circumference of the fuser belt at least partially faces the thermal member. The fuser pad is held stationary inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends opposite the thermal member in the axial direction with the fuser belt interposed between the fuser pad and the pressure member. The fuser pad is pressed against the pressure member through the fuser belt to form a fixing nip. The thermal member is spaced apart from the fuser pad. |
| US08655239B2 |
Transfer belt unit and image forming apparatus
A secondary transfer unit stretches a transfer belt in an endless form over a driving roller, a driven roller, a transfer roller, an auxiliary roller, and a support roller therebetween. The transfer belt moves, by rotation of the driving roller, along a circulation path which passes through a transfer position. The transfer roller and the auxiliary roller press the transfer belt from the inner peripheral surface of the transfer belt toward an intermediate transfer belt in the transfer position. The transfer belt has an outer peripheral surface thereof which is pressed against the intermediate transfer belt and is roughened so that the surface roughness of the outer peripheral surface becomes 6 μm to 10 μm. |
| US08655238B2 |
Developing member
Provided is a developing roller including elastic layer and resin layer adhered to each other and having an appropriately resistance, thereby suppressing fogging. The developing member comprises a mandrel; an elastic layer; and a resin layer, wherein: the resin layer comprises polyurethane resin obtained by isocyanate and polyol; and the elastic layer includes cured silicone rubber composition comprising (a)-(d): (a) organopolysiloxane having two or more alkenyl groups bonded to silicon atom and having methyl group as a group other than the alkenyl bonded to the silicon; (b) organopolysiloxane having three or more hydrogen atoms bonded to silicon atom and having methyl group as a group bonded to the silicon; (c) carbon black; (d) organopolysiloxane represented by formula (1) and having Mw of 18,000-110,000 and Mw/Mn of 1.0-2.0 (R1 represents alkenyl group, R2 represents functional group reacting with isocyanate, and n represents an integer of 1 or more). |
| US08655233B2 |
Developer container, developing device and image forming device
A developer container includes: an outer case; an ejection opening that is rectangular and formed on the outer case and extends longitudinally along an axial direction of the outer case, and from which a developer is ejected by a weight of the developer. A toner ejection index that is calculated from S/μdM is equal to or more than 0.79, where μ is a degree of agglomeration of the developer, d is a compact density, M is a fill amount of the developer and S is the area of the ejection opening. |
| US08655230B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a recording material includes mounting means for detachably mounting a plurality of process cartridges each including a photosensitive drum and a developing roller. Movable members are provided that are actable on first and second clutches for switching between an operation state for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers and a non-operation state not transmitting the driving force thereto. Also provided is a switching member for switching among a first mode for transmitting the driving force to the developing rollers of all of the process cartridges, a second mode for not transmitting the driving force to any one of the developing rollers, and a third mode for transmitting the driving force only to the developing roller of a black process cartridge. |
| US08655226B2 |
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. |
| US08655225B2 |
Processing assembly, fixing device and image forming apparatus with fixing device
A processing assembly includes: a processing housing configured to support a processor for executing a given process; an immobilizing mechanism configured to immobilize the processing housing and including an operation portion configured to release the immobilized processing housing; a cover mounted on the processing housing so as to be rotatable between a first position where the operation portion is covered by the cover and a second position where the operation portion is exposed to be visible; and a knob rotatably mounted on the processing housing and configured to rotate integrally with the cover. |
| US08655224B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; an intermediate transfer unit including an intermediate transfer body onto which an image on the image carrier is transferred, and plural rotation members around which the intermediate transfer body is wound, each rotation member rotating around a rotation axis, the intermediate transfer unit detachably attached, in the rotation axis direction, to an apparatus main body; a secondary transfer unit that makes contact with and separates from the intermediate transfer body, the secondary transfer unit provided at an opposite side of the rotation members across the intermediate transfer body; a positioning unit that, when the intermediate transfer unit is attached to the apparatus main body, positions the intermediate transfer unit in the secondary transfer unit side at least at two points differently located in the rotation axis direction; and a securing unit that secures the intermediate transfer unit to the apparatus main body. |
| US08655223B2 |
Developer cartridge with counting mechanism
The invention provides a developer cartridge with a counting mechanism. The developer cartridge comprises a developer and the counting mechanism, wherein the counting mechanism is provided with protrusions which come in contact with a contact lever on an electronic photographing device so as to count the developer cartridge; and each protrusion has a first position and a second position in the direction perpendicular to a side wall of the developer cartridge, and is, in the first position, in contact with the contact lever, but is not, in the second position, in contact with the contact lever. The working principle of the developer cartridge adopting the counting mechanism is greatly different from the prior art. Therefore, the structure of the counting mechanism of the developer cartridge is simpler and more convenient and reliable; the production precision and the production cost are reduced; and the market competitiveness of the developer cartridge is improved. |
| US08655222B2 |
Developing member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Provided is a developing member capable of suppressing a variation in resistance even when exposed to a high-temperature, high-humidity environment for a long time period. The developing member comprises: a mandrel; an electro-conductive elastic layer provided on a periphery of the mandrel; and a surface layer provided on a surface of the elastic layer, wherein: the elastic layer contains a dimethyl silicone rubber and carbon black; and an amount α of a hydrogen atom bound to a silicon atom of the dimethyl silicone rubber, and an amount β of a hydrogen atom of methyl groups bound to a silicon atom of the dimethyl silicone rubber, satisfy a relationship of 2.5×10−5≦α/β≦1.0×10−4. |
| US08655217B2 |
Airflow management method for corona charger
Methods are provided for controlling airflow across a width of a charger support area having a charger housing supporting a corona charger that is proximate to a primary imaging member. In one method, a flow of air is provided proximate an inlet side of the charger housing area and a deflection surface is used to deflect the flow of air from a first direction to a second direction leading to an impact surface against which the flow of air is disbursed. The impact surface is outside of the width of the charger housing so that the air flow can supply a volume of disbursed air into the charger housing and primary imaging member that is sufficient to create a pressure that causes the disbursed air to move to an outlet on an opposite side of the area without directly exposing the charger or the primary imaging member. |
| US08655216B2 |
Switching power supply device and image forming apparatus including switching power supply device
A switching power supply device including: a transformer configured to include a primary winding, a secondary winding, and an auxiliary winding; a switching unit configured to switch a current that flows through the primary winding of the transformer; a control unit configured to control a switching operation of the switching unit; a starting resistor connected between a voltage input side of the primary winding and a power supply terminal of the control unit; a voltage supply unit configured to rectify and smooth a voltage output from the auxiliary winding and supply the resultant to the power supply terminal; and an activation control unit configured to control activation timing of the control unit by inputting a voltage to an ON/OFF terminal of the control unit, the activation control unit being connected between the voltage input side of the primary winding and a ground side of the auxiliary winding. |
| US08655215B2 |
Method for reducing wear on an electro-photographic printer drum
A method for reducing wear upon an electro-photographic printer drum includes the steps of determining a non-image region of a page to be printed, applying a halftone pattern of toner to a portion of the printer drum corresponding to the non-image region, and rotating the printer drum against a cleaning blade, the halftone pattern of toner providing lubrication between the drum and the cleaning blade. |
| US08655213B2 |
Image heating device and image forming apparatus
An image heating device includes: a rotatable heater for heating an image on a recording material; a pressor for pressing the heater to form a nip in which the recording material is to be nip-conveyed; a belt for heating and contacting the heater; a first member for heating the belt while pressing the belt against the heater; a second member, provided downstream of the first member with respect to a rotational direction of the heater, for heating the belt while pressing the belt against the heater; a first portion for heating the first member by energization; and a second portion for heating the second member by energization. Each of the first and second portions is supplied with power so that a maximum of the power supplied to the first means is smaller than that of the power supplied to the second portion. |
| US08655212B2 |
Image forming apparatus that controls a transporting velocity of a transporter
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium; a fixing device that fixes the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit while nipping and transporting the image formed on the recording medium at the image forming unit; a transporting section provided downstream from the fixing device in a direction of transportation of the recording medium, the transporting section nipping and transporting the recording medium; and a controller that performs control for changing a transporting velocity of the fixing device and a transporting velocity of the transporting section on the basis of information used for triggering a change in the transporting velocity of the fixing device when the recording medium is held by the fixing device and the transporting section. |
| US08655207B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a developing roller which carries developer and contacts the photosensitive member, and a control device which is configured to apply, to the developing roller, a developing bias having a direct current component and an alternating current component overlapped with each other so as to supply developer from the developing roller to the photosensitive member. The control device is configured to execute either one of a first mode in which an amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a first set value and a second mode in which the amplitude of the alternating current component of the developing bias is set with a second set value larger than the first set value, based on whether or not a temperature of the developing roller is a first predetermined value or larger. |
| US08655205B2 |
Waste toner container and image forming apparatus including same
A waste toner container includes a waste toner reservoir extending in a depth direction, an inlet portion provided above the waste toner reservoir, in which at least one waste toner inlet is formed, a first conveyance member provided in the waste toner reservoir to transport the waste toner in the depth direction, the first conveyance member movable upward as the amount of the waste toner in the waste toner reservoir increases, a second conveyance member provided in the inlet portion to transport the waste toner in a width direction and including a drive transmitter to transmit a driving force from the second conveyance member to the first conveyance member, and a waste toner detection unit to detect whether an amount of the waste toner in the waste toner container reaches a predetermined amount by detecting upward movement of the first conveyance member. |
| US08655203B2 |
Toner supply control system and method for image forming apparatus
A toner supply control system for an image forming apparatus includes a supply controller to compute a toner supply amount required for a toner supply operation to cancel a toner concentration fluctuation in the developing agent. The supply controller includes an image-information-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on image information used for forming an image; a toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit to predict toner consumption amount based on a detection result of a toner concentration detector; and a toner supply determination unit to determine a toner supply timing and amount and initiate a toner supply operation based on the toner consumption amount predicted by the toner-concentration-based consumption prediction unit right after the toner consumption occurs. When the toner-consumed developing agent comes to a toner supply area again after the toner consumption occurs, a toner supply operation is initiated using a toner amount computed based on the image information in view of the already supplied toner. |
| US08655200B2 |
Image forming device, device and system for controlling an image forming device, and recording medium
A controlling system comprising an image forming device and a controlling device for the image forming device, the image forming device having an indicating device which can indicate that a toner cartridge is in a toner near empty state and a communication part for communicating with the controlling device via a communication network, and when the toner near empty state of the toner cartridge is detected, the communication part transmits the information to the controlling device. The controlling device has a controlling condition table in which a controlling condition set for each image forming device to be controlled is recorded, and when a toner near empty signal is received from the image forming device to be controlled, the controlling device refers to the controlling condition of the image forming device recorded in the table, and outputs or does not output a toner near empty indication instruction signal depending on the controlling condition. When the image forming device receives the toner near empty indication instruction signal, it displays so on the indicating device. |
| US08655198B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner cartridges with differently sized guided portions
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a toner container mount, first and second toner containers removably insertable into the toner container mount horizontally, container guides formed in toner container mount to guide lateral side portions of the first and second toner containers, respectively, and an insertion opening forming member positioned defining first and second insertion openings through which the first and second toner containers are inserted, each including a laterally projecting portion. The second toner container is greater than the first toner container in cross section perpendicular to a direction of insertion, and the second insertion opening is greater than the first insertion opening. The first and second toner containers include guided portions projecting laterally, and the guided portion of the first toner container has a vertical length longer than that of the guided portion of the second toner container. |
| US08655191B2 |
Symbol timing recovery in polarization division multiplexed coherent optical transmission system
A method, apparatus and system for providing clock and data recovery in a receiver for receiving a high speed coherent polarization division multiplexed optical signal using a digital signal processing block including a spectral domain spatial combiner are provided. |
| US08655189B2 |
Optical modulation utilizing structures including metamaterials
An optical modulation system includes a metamaterial structure configured to receive and process an input optical signal at at least one operational wavelength, where the metamaterial structure changes between a transmissive state and a non-transmissive state with respect to the optical signal(s) at the operational wavelength(s) in response to an external stimulus applied to the metamaterial structure. An external stimulus source is coupled with the metamaterial structure and is configured to change the metamaterial structure between its transmissive and non-transmissive states by applying selected stimulus pulses to the metamaterial structure. The optical modulation system processes the input optical signal to output a modulated optical signal that modulates in correspondence with the selected pulses applied to the metamaterial structure. |
| US08655188B2 |
Driver and optical transmission apparatus
A driver circuit includes a plurality of delay circuits and an inverter. The plurality of delay circuits delay branched driving signals. The inverter inverts at least one of the branched driving signals. At least one of the plurality of delay circuits is at least one variable delay circuit delaying a variable amount of delay. The output driving signal is output by combining the inverted signal of the branched driving signal output via at least one inverter and at least one non-inverted signal of the branched driving signals output from the delay circuits. |
| US08655185B2 |
Optical node, optical network system, and method for measuring polarization mode dispersion
An optical node disposed along a transmission line that uses optical fiber. The optical node includes a first signal generator and a monitor. The first signal generator generates a first measurement signal for measuring polarization mode dispersion values and transmits the first measurement signal along the transmission line. The monitor detects a second measurement signal from the transmission line and measures polarization mode dispersion values by performing signal processing with respect to the second measurement signal. |
| US08655179B2 |
System of devices of which some include an infared remote control interface
Infrared control signals are communicated between an infrared remote control unit (16) and an infrared controlled device (18) via network gateways (14). A sub-network of a backbone network (10) is automatically set up prior to transmission of messages. The sub-network comprises a selection of devices coupled to a backbone network (10). The setting up of the sub-network comprises automatically sending out a request from the first one of the network gateways (14) to detect network gateways (14) that indicate ability to transmit infrared control messages prior to transmission of the message and storing information defining the sub-network in the first one of the network gateways dependent to a response to the request. Subsequently, when a first infra red control signal is received from the infrared remote control unit (16) at a first one of the network gateways (14), a message is transmitted dependent on information derived from the first infrared control signal from the first one of the network gateways (14) over the backbone network (10) to the subnetwork of the selected devices. The message from the backbone network (10) is received at a second one of the network gateways (14). The second one of the network gateways (14) transmits a second infrared control signal from to the infrared controlled device (18) dependent on information derived from the message. The information in the network message may comprise sample values of the demodulated infrared control signal. |
| US08655175B2 |
Method and apparatus for enabling multiple passive optical networks to share one or more sources
A method and apparatus for implementing a hybrid SOA-Raman amplifier in a central office in order to enable multiple passive optical networks to share one or more enhancement service sources, e.g., to share a source for a broadcast service are disclosed. |
| US08655169B2 |
Degradation adaptation network
Consistent with the present disclosure, based on system requirements or in response to an increase in optical signal-to-noise level of an optical channel, such as a WDM channel, additional FEC bits are inserted into and replace selected data payload bits in each frame carried by the channel. The replaced data payload bits may then be transmitted in subsequent frames on the same channel. As a result, the transmitted frames have a reduced data payload rate, but a higher coding gain. Alternatively, the replaced data payload bits may be included in frames transmitted on another optical channel. In that case, the frames carried by the two channels typically have the same bit length or number of bits and may thus be compliant with the frame length requirements of G.709, for example. Preferably, the number of coding bits may be changed dynamically to obtain different coding gains. |
| US08655162B2 |
Lens position based on focus scores of objects
Embodiments herein relate to setting a lens position based on focus scores. A plurality of initial positions of a lens are determined. Each of the initial positions may correspond to a position of the lens at which one of a plurality of objects has a highest quality. A focus score may be determined at each of the initial positions for the corresponding object having the highest quality. A final position of the lens between two of the initial positions may be calculated based on the focus scores. |
| US08655160B2 |
CFC radiant heater
An IR radiant heater has at least one planar carbon heating element (1) arranged in a housing, which is transparent or at least partially transparent to IR radiation. At least one carbon heating element (1) is a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFC) web arranged in a plane and arranged between two plates (2, 3), of which at least one is transparent or partially transparent. |
| US08655158B2 |
Apparatus and method for indexing MPEG video data to perform special mode playback in a digital video recorder and indexed signal associated therewith
There is disclosed an apparatus for implementing special mode playback operations in a digital video recorder. The apparatus comprises an Intra frame indexing device capable of receiving an incoming MPEG video stream and identifying therein data packets associated with Intra frames, wherein the Intra frame indexing device modifies header information in a first data packet associated with a first Intra frame to include location information identifying a storage address of a second data packet associated with a second Intra frame. |
| US08655156B2 |
Auxiliary audio transmission for preserving synchronized playout with paced-down video
In one method embodiment, providing a multiplex of compressed versions of a first video stream and a first audio stream, each corresponding to an audiovisual (A/V) program, the first video stream and the first audio stream each corresponding to a first playout rate and un-synchronized with each other for an initial playout portion; and providing a compressed version of a second audio stream, the second audio stream corresponding to a pitch-preserving, second playout rate different than the first playout rate, the second audio stream synchronized to the initial playout portion of the first video stream when the first video stream is played out at the second playout rate, the first audio stream replaceable by the second audio stream for the initial playout portion. |
| US08655151B2 |
Editing apparatus, editing method, program, and recording media
An editing apparatus is disclosed. A story determination block determines a story expressed by a time function and provides a reference for selecting an image from among candidate images. An evaluation value computation block computes an evaluation value for each of the candidate images for each selection time in the story based on the story determined by the story determination block and at least one feature value indicative of a feature of each of candidate images set to each thereof. An image selection block selects an image for each selection time from among the candidate images based on the computed evaluation value. An editing processing block links selection images that are images selected by the image selection block for each selection time to each other in a time-dependent manner. |
| US08655146B2 |
Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related to currently playing media
Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related to currently playing media. Based on certain characteristics associated with the media, additional information related thereto is identified and output along with the media itself. This provides an enhanced experience for a user, in that, this supplemental information augments the presentation of the media to the user. Such supplemental content can be any one or combination of a wide variety of types including textual information, image content, audio content, video content, etc. This supplemental content may be output automatically in conjunction with the media (e.g., when such media is being output). Alternatively, the supplemental content may be output upon the authorization of a user. The supplemental content may be output in a predetermined location (e.g., location within a video display). Alternatively, such supplemental content may be output within an unused (or infrequently used) area of such a video display. |
| US08655139B2 |
Video recording and reproducing system and reading method of video data
A data reading device includes a reading means for reading video data recorded in a video processing device which records and plays back video data and a control means for controlling the reading means so as to read video data from the video processing device by transmitting a reading request of index data to a video writing device which writes the video data to the video processing device when video data whose index data indicating an address of the video data is not recorded in the video processing device from the video processing device, and by designating the address indicated by the index data transmitted from the video writing device. |
| US08655138B2 |
Waveguide structure and related fabrication method
A method for fabricating a waveguide structure (i.e., preferably an optical waveguide structure) uses a two mask process step sequence for forming a waveguide layer over a substrate. A first mask within the two mask step process sequence is used to etch the substrate to provide a pillar within the substrate. A second mask within the two mask process step sequence is self aligned to, and covers a top and at least a portion of the sidewalls of, the pillar. The second mask is used as a thermal oxidation mask that provides an optical waveguide layer from a top portion of the pillar that is separated from a thinned substrate derived from the substrate by a waveguide isolation layer formed from thermal oxidation of at least a bottom portion of the pillar. Under conditions of manufacturing economy, and as a result of the processing sequence, the waveguide layer is formed with a non-planar bottom surface including a valley in the bottom surface of the waveguide layer and the substrate is formed with a non-planar top surface including a peak in the top surface of the substrate that corresponds with the valley in the bottom surface of the waveguide layer. |
| US08655137B2 |
Datacommunications/telecommunications patching systems with integrated connectivity module
A module adapted for use with a datacommunications equipment mounting structure includes: a generally upright divider panel; a cover panel disposed generally parallel to the divider panel, the cover panel and divider panel being spaced apart from each other to form a gap; and a plurality of telecommunications cables, each of the telecommunications cables comprising a plurality of telecommunications patch cords, the cables comprising bundled patch cords at a first end and unbundled patch cords at a second opposite end, the cables being positioned in the gap between the divider panel and cover panel. The bundled patch cords at the cable first end include first interconnection terminals, and the unbundled patch cords at the second end include second interconnection terminals. The first terminals are located at first edges of the divider and cover panels. The unbundled patch cords are separately moveable between a stored position, in which the second terminals are located at second edges of the divider and cover panels, and an extended position, in which the second terminals are positioned away from the second edges of the divider and cover panels. |
| US08655131B2 |
Multi-core optical fiber
The present invention relates to a multi-core optical fiber having a structure to effectively reduce crosstalk between adjacent core regions among a plurality of core regions. The multi-core optical fiber (1) has a leakage reduction portion (50), at least a portion of which is arranged at a position on a straight line connecting adjacent core regions together among a plurality of core regions (10). The leakage reduction portion (50) reduces leakage light in the multi-core optical fiber (1) from each of the core regions (10), thereby effectively reducing crosstalk between adjacent core regions. |
| US08655124B2 |
Dielectric waveguide intersection with reduced losses
A waveguide intersection includes an input waveguide and an output waveguide; a crossing waveguide intersecting the input waveguide and the output waveguide to form an intersection; and a block that is optically joined to the intersection such that a guided mode is produced within the intersection. A method of reducing optical losses within a waveguide intersection includes increasing a cross-sectional height of an intersection such that optical energy passing through the intersection is laterally confined. |
| US08655122B2 |
Mode converter
Provided is a mode converter capable of efficiently coupling or emitting light having a single-peaked spot, and has high flexibility of the shape to be easily manufactured. The mode converter is formed of multiple single-mode waveguides optically coupling areas 1 and 2; when an axis parallel to a light propagation direction is z axis, an axis perpendicular to the z axis in a direction crossing the single-mode waveguides is x axis, an axis perpendicular to the x and z axes is y axis, and a plane passing through a center of the mode converter and includes the z axis is plane 1, the multiple single-mode waveguides are arranged reflection-symmetrically with respect to the plane 1; and the mode converter converts light entering from the area 1 into the even mode to cause the light of the even mode to propagate and couple optically with the area 2. |
| US08655118B2 |
Optical waveguide device and manufacturing method thereof
An optical waveguide device which is free from interference with an optical path between a light emitting element and an optical waveguide thereof, and to provide a method of manufacturing the optical waveguide device. A light emitting element (5) is provided on an upper surface of a first under-cladding layer (21), and a second under-cladding layer (22) is provided on the upper surface of the first under-cladding layer (21), covering the light emitting element (5). A core 3 which receives light emitted from the light emitting element (5) through the second under-cladding layer (22) is provided on an upper surface of the second under-cladding layer (22). The core (3) is located in a position such that the light emitted from the light emitting element (5) is incident on the core (3). |
| US08655117B2 |
Optical fiber sensors having long active lengths, systems, and methods
Optical fiber sensors adapted to measure strain or pressure are disclosed. The optical fiber sensor has a lead-in optical fiber having an end surface at a forward end, and a first optical element having a body with an outer dimension, Do, a front end surface coupled to the lead-in optical fiber, a pedestal including a retracted surface that is spaced from the front end surface, the retracted surface at least partially defining an optical cavity, a gutter surrounding the pedestal, the gutter having a gutter depth defining an active region of length, L, the first optical element further exhibiting L/Do≧0.5. Also provided are systems including the optical fiber sensor, and methods for manufacturing and using the optical fiber sensor. Numerous other aspects are provided. |
| US08655115B2 |
Integrated polymer optical waveguide current sensor
Provided is an integrated optical current sensor for measuring the magnitude of current. The integrated optical current sensor is fabricated by integrating optical elements, such as a thermo-optic phase modulator, a waveguide polarizer and an optical coupler, on a single substrate. As compared to the known current sensors using optical fibers, the integrated optical current sensor is more compact and enables measurement of current with higher reliability. Provided also is a method for producing current sensor chips in a large scale by using a process for fabricating integrated optical elements. |
| US08655113B2 |
Method and system for determining validity of a printed document
A method and system to determine validity of a printed document is provided. An example system comprises a validation module and an alert module. The validation module may be configured to detect, using a scanning device, a document identification associated with a printed document and determine, based on the document identification, a state of the electronic document The alert module may be configured to trigger an alert, based on the determined state of the electronic document. |
| US08655111B2 |
System and method for creating and sharing photo stories
A system and method are described for creating, managing and sharing photo stories. For example, one embodiment of a computer implemented method for selecting among a plurality of different photo story templates comprises: receiving a plurality of new photos from a user the photos having metadata associated; analyzing the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; responsively grouping the photos into a plurality of different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos; and selecting a set of photo story design templates for each of the different photo stories based on the analysis of the photos and the metadata associated with the photos grouped into the different photo stories. |
| US08655108B2 |
Adaptive image up-scaling technique
A method for scaling an image includes providing a set of filters based upon a low-resolution data set and a high-resolution data set suitable for up-scaling a low resolution image to a high resolution image. The filters are collectively representative of at least a portion of an image space and a substantial number of the filters are representative of a different at least one selected from a volume and a shape within the image space. A low-resolution image is received and generates a corresponding high-resolution image based up the filters. |
| US08655106B2 |
Automated valuation model with customizable neighborhood determination
Automated valuation model with customizable neighborhood determination. A map image is displayed corresponding to a geographical area, and then user input accommodates definition of a particularly defined geographic area to provide custom identification of a neighborhood to be subject to automated valuation. Once the defined geographic area is established, the automated valuation model is applied to property data corresponding to properties within the defined geographic area. A subject property and corresponding properties within the defined geographic area are then displayed on a map image, preferably with articulation of the defined geographic area as the neighborhood of interest. The neighborhood may be defined by, among other criteria, inclusion within a user-defined shape, as well as exclusion of a user-defined shape from a displayed geographic area. |
| US08655104B2 |
Cyclic noise removal in borehole imaging
A method for removing cyclic noise from a borehole image includes transforming the image into the frequency domain using a two-dimensional (2-D) Fourier Transform, removing cyclic noise components from the transformed image, and inverse transforming the image back into the spatial domain using an inverse 2-D Fourier Transform. The cyclic noise component may also be isolated by subtracting the corrected image from the original image or by removing all non-cyclic noise components from the transformed image prior to inverse transforming. Removal of the cyclic noise from a borehole image tends to enable the identification of borehole features and provide for improved accuracy in formation parameter evaluation. Evaluation of the cyclic noise component may also enable the source of the noise to be identified and mitigated. |
| US08655103B2 |
Deriving an image representation using frequency components of a frequency representation
A method of deriving a representation of an image by processing signals corresponding to the image, the method comprises deriving a function of the image, where a function of a translated, scaled or rotated version of the image is a translated or scaled version of the derived function of the image, and using a plurality of frequency components of a frequency representation of the function to derive a representation of the image. |
| US08655097B2 |
Adaptive bilateral blur brush tool
A system and method for a blur brush performing adaptive bilateral filtering is disclosed. The method may include receiving user input selecting an area of an image to be filtered, such as by pointing to the image area using the blur brush. The selected image may comprise an edge and a plurality of pixels. The method may operate to the blur brush identifying the edge in the selected image area. The method may operate to apply a filter tool (e.g., a bilateral filter) to the selected image area, while preserving the edge. The methods may be implemented by program instructions executing in parallel on CPU(s) or GPUs. |
| US08655091B2 |
Basis vector spectral image compression
Computer implemented methods for compressing 3D hyperspectral image data having a plurality of spatial pixels associated with a hyperspectral image, and a number of spectral dimensions associated with each spatial pixel, include receiving, using a processor, the 3D hyperspectral image data, a set of basis vectors associated therewith, and either a maximum error amount or a maximum data size. The methods also include partitioning the 3D hyperspectral image data into a plurality of 2D images, each associated with one of the number of spectral dimensions, and an associated one of the set of basis vectors. The methods additionally include ranking the set of basis vectors if not already ranked. The methods may further include iteratively applying lossy compression to the 2D images, in an order determined by the ranking. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. |
| US08655082B1 |
Engineering and tooling drawing comparison, disposition status and analysis
A system and method for an automatic drawing comparison are disclosed. A batch capture processing module captures a plurality of pairs of drawing picture frames, and a drawing normalization module normalizes the pairs of drawing picture frames of the plurality to establish pairs of normalized drawing picture frames. A drawing comparison module compares each drawing picture frame of each of the respective pairs to generate respective drawing comparisons thereof, and a statistical data generator module communicates a statistical report identifying which of the respective drawing comparisons are recommended and not recommended for review. |
| US08655080B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying combinations of matching regions in images
Matching combinations of regions are identified in a first and second image of a common scene. First and second sets of image regions are first identified in the first and second image on their own. Next a search is made for potentially matching first and second regions from the first and second set. First and second geometrical parameters such as moments are computed, which provide a first order approximation of the shapes of the first and second region respectively, in terms of the size and directions of major and minor axes of ellipses. These first and second geometrical parameters may be considered to define a first and second normalizing map, which map the first and second regions to isotropic regions, wherein the ellipses become circles. A search is made for closest third and fourth regions in the first and second image with matching distances to the first and second regions in spaces obtainable by mapping locations in the first and second image according to the first and second normalizing maps. The match is verified when such matching closest regions are found. |
| US08655078B2 |
Situation determining apparatus, situation determining method, situation determining program, abnormality determining apparatus, abnormality determining method, abnormality determining program, and congestion estimating apparatus
A congestion estimating apparatus includes an area dividing unit that divides a moving image into partial areas. A movement information determining unit determines whether there is movement, and a person information determining unit determines whether there is a person, in each partial area. A staying determining unit determines a state for each partial area. The staying determining unit determines the state as a movement area in which there is a movement of person when there is movement and there is a person; and determines the state as a noise area when there is movement and there is no person; and determines the state as a staying area in which there is a person who is staying when there is no movement and there is a person; and determines the state as a background area in which there is no person when there is no movement and there no person. |
| US08655074B2 |
Document editing apparatus and method
A method for storing a document recognition result is proposed. The method includes selecting a picture area from a document image, storing an image of the selected picture area in an image file format, removing the selected picture area, filling the removed picture area with a surrounding background color, and performing character recognition of a text area. |
| US08655071B2 |
Methods and systems for determining a document region-of-interest in an image
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for identifying a document region in a non-scanned image. A first candidate document region-of-interest mask may be determined from a luminance-only image by foreground elimination, non-uniformity reduction and thresholding. A second candidate document region-of-interest mask may be formed by subtracting from the first candidate document region-of-interest mask an edge mask resulting from detecting edges in the luminance-only input image. The second candidate document region-of-interest mask may be refined, to form a final document region-of-interest mask, based on text features calculated from the luminance-only input image. The document region-of-interest may be extracted using the final document region-of-interest mask. |
| US08655070B1 |
Tree detection form aerial imagery
Methods and systems for detecting trees in aerial imagery are provided. A method for detecting trees in aerial imagery may include training a pixel-level classifier to assign a tree or non-tree label to each pixel in an aerial image. The method may further include segmenting tree and non-tree regions of the labeled pixels. The method may also include locating individual tree crowns in the segmented tree regions using one or more tree templates. A system for detecting trees in aerial imagery may include a trainer, a segmenter and a tree locator. |
| US08655069B2 |
Updating image segmentation following user input
Methods of updating image segmentation following user input are described. In an embodiment, the properties used in computing the different portions of the image are updated as a result of one or more user inputs. Image elements which have been identified by a user input are given more weight when updating the properties than other image elements which have already been assigned to a particular portion of the image. In another embodiment, an updated segmentation is post-processed such that only regions which are connected to an appropriate user input are updated. |
| US08655068B1 |
Color correction system
A color correction system includes an identical first color chart (FCC) and a second color chart (SCC), and a color correction unit (CCU). The FCC and the subject are positioned in view of a source image capture device (SICD) at a source location. The SCC and a display unit are positioned in view of a destination image capture device (DICD) at the destination location. The SICD captures and transmits source image content (SIC) of the subject and the FCC to the CCU at the destination location via a network. The DICD captures destination image content (DIC) of the SCC and the SIC displayed on the display unit. The CCU generates calibration parameters by comparing the FCC extracted from the SIC and/or the DIC, with the SCC extracted from the DIC, and corrects the SIC of the subject and gamma parameters on the display unit using the generated calibration parameters. |
| US08655067B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program product
An image processing apparatus includes a hue identifying unit that identifies to which hue region among three or more hue regions provided in a color space a hue of each pixel contained in input image data belongs; an output-color converting unit that converts a color of each pixel to a predetermined output color in accordance with the identified hue region; a luminance calculating unit that selects a luminance calculation coefficient corresponding to the identified hue region of each pixel from among luminance calculation coefficients determined for the respective hue regions, and calculates luminance to be applied to each pixel of image data converted to the output color, on the basis of the selected luminance calculation coefficient; and an image-data generating unit that applies the calculated luminance to each pixel in the converted image data to generate color-reduced image data containing a reduced number of colors than the input image data. |
| US08655065B2 |
Image processing device using adding module for adding error diffusion value or error diffusion seed
An image processing device comprises a halftoning module, a detecting module, an adding module and a generating module. The halftoning module generates an error diffusion value. The detecting module detects an edge at a current pixel of an image. The adding module adds the pixel value of the current pixel with one of the error diffusion value and an error diffusion seed according to the detecting result. The generating module generates the error diffusion seed. The error diffusion seed is generated by a formula based on the pixel value and location of the current pixel and a random number, or the error diffusion seed is generated by a formula based on the pixel value of the current pixel and a looked-up value, and the looked-up value is retrieved from a look-up table according to the location of the current pixel. |
| US08655061B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for performing a convolution operation
Provided is an image processing apparatus including an extraction unit that extracts a color boundary of an image, an influence value calculation unit that calculates an influence value indicating the degree of an influence of the color boundary on a pixel, a setting unit that sets a coefficient for a convolution operation in accordance with the color boundary extracted in the extraction unit and the influence value calculated in the influence value calculation unit, and an operation unit that performs a convolution operation using the coefficient set by the setting unit. |
| US08655060B2 |
Night-scene light source detecting device and night-scene light source detecting method
A night-scene light source detecting device includes a pixel value obtaining unit configured to obtain a pixel value of each pixel in an input image; a night-scene-feature extraction unit provided for extracting a zone area of a mean corrected-brightness value and a high corrected-brightness value of the input image as two night-scene features based on the pixel value of each pixel in the input image; a night-scene image detection unit provided for determining whether the input image is a night-scene image or not based on the two night-scene features; a specific color detection unit provided for detecting whether each pixel belongs to specific color or not; and a night-scene light source determining unit provided for determining whether the night-scene image is picked up under irradiation by the specific light sources in a night scene or not based on the result of the specific color detection. |
| US08655059B2 |
Method for image classification for copy path billing
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for processing image data representing a document using an image processing apparatus. The processor receives image data, determines the classifications and counts of pixels in the image data (e.g., in device independent space that are degrees of neutral or non-neutral), classifies the image data into a category based on the determination of classifications and counts of pixels, and determines a billing structure for the image data based on the classification of image data. The classification can be performed on the image data prior to conversion into device dependent space. For example, by counting true color, neutral, non-neutral, and fuzzy color pixels and comparing them to thresholds, the image data can be classified as neutral or very colorful. By classifying images earlier in the image path, errors in billing are reduced. |
| US08655057B2 |
Information processing apparatus and information processing method
In an information processing apparatus that processes data using cascade-connected weak classifiers, processing specification information specifying the processing content of each of the weak classifiers is stored. The weak classifiers to be used in processing the data are selected from the weak classifiers by referring to a table in which is specified information for determining the weak classifiers to be used based on a condition for processing the data. The data is then processed by the selected weak classifiers based on the processing specification information that corresponds to those weak classifiers, and an object is extracted from the data using an obtained evaluation value. Through this, a combination of extraction process speed and extraction accuracy can be changed in a flexible manner when extracting a specific object from image data. |
| US08655056B2 |
Content-based matching of videos using local spatio-temporal fingerprints
A computer implemented method for matching video data to a database containing a plurality of video fingerprints of the type described above, comprising the steps of calculating at least one fingerprint representing at least one query frame from the video data; indexing into the database using the at least one calculated fingerprint to find a set of candidate fingerprints; applying a score to each of the candidate fingerprints; selecting a subset of candidate fingerprints as proposed frames by rank ordering the candidate fingerprints; and attempting to match at least one fingerprint of at least one proposed frame. |
| US08655055B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for converting a 2D image into a 3D image
For converting a two-dimensional visual image into a three-dimensional visual image, the two-dimensional visual image is segmented into regions, including a first region having a first depth and a second region having a second depth. The first and second regions are separated by at least one boundary. A depth map is generated that assigns variable depths to pixels of the second region in response to respective distances of the pixels from the boundary, so that the variable depths approach the first depth as the respective distances decrease, and so that the variable depths approach the second depth as the respective distances increase. In response to the depth map, left and right views of the three-dimensional visual image are synthesized. |
| US08655051B2 |
Image editing method, image editing apparatus, computer program, and memory product
In the case where a three-dimensional image including a plurality of element figures, such as a quadrangular plane, a curved surface including a ridgeline, and a cylinder, is edited using an image editing apparatus such as a three-dimensional CAD apparatus, when one element figure in the three-dimensional image is specified, other element figures connected to the specified one element figure, or other element figures included in the same three-dimensional image in which the one element figure is included are retrieved, and other element figure in the retrieved other element figures, which was determined as having a specific relationship to the one element figure is related to the one element figure. Then, the specified element figure and the element figures related to the specified element figure are edited collectively based on an operation received by the image editing apparatus. |
| US08655043B2 |
Imaging system with dynamic range maximization
A method of operating an instrument that is a macroscope, microscope, or slide scanner is provided where the instrument has a larger dynamic range for measurement than a dynamic range required in the final image of a specimen. In the method, data is measured from a specimen using the instrument, and the dynamic range of the measured data is contracted in the final image file during scanning. |
| US08655041B2 |
Automatic detection of contrast injection
A method for automatically detecting the presence of contrast in an x-ray image includes acquiring an x-ray image prior to administration of contrast. A background image is estimated based on the x-ray image. The contrast is administered. A set of x-ray images is acquired. The background image is subtracted from the set of images. Image intensity is determined for each of the subtracted images. The subtracted images having highest image intensity are selected. A predefined shape model is fitted to the selected subtracted images. The fitting of the predefined shape model is used to fit the shape model to each of the subtracted images. A feature value is calculated for each image frame based on pixel intensities of each pixel fitted to the shape model for the corresponding subtracted image. An image frame of peak contrast is determined by selecting the image frame with the greatest feature value. |
| US08655034B2 |
Information processing apparatus, processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
An information processing apparatus comprises: a spatial filtering unit configured to perform spatial filtering in a frequency range based on a spatial frequency of an object for image data of a current frame; and a recursive filtering unit configured to perform recursive filtering by obtaining image data, which has been processed prior to the current frame, from a memory, multiplying the obtained image data by a coefficient α (α<1), adding the image data multiplied by the coefficient α to the image data of the current frame after the spatial filtering, and storing the image data after the addition in the memory. |
| US08655033B2 |
Iterative reconstruction
An improved iterative reconstruction method to reconstruct a first image includes generating an imaging beam, receiving said imaging beam on a detector array, generating projection data based on said imaging beams received by said detector array, providing said projection data to an image reconstructor, enlarging one of a plurality of voxels and a plurality of detectors of the provided projection data, reconstructing portions of the first image with the plurality of enlarged voxels or detectors, and iteratively reconstructing the portions of the first image to create a reconstructed image. |
| US08655026B2 |
Robust biometric feature extraction with and without reference point
A basic idea of the present invention is to selectively employ one of at least two different feature extraction processes when generating a biometric template of an individual. An individual offers a physiological property, such as a fingerprint, an iris, an ear, a face, etc., from which biometric data can be derived, to a sensor of an enrollment authority. In the following, the property to be discussed will be fingerprints, even though any suitable biometric property may be used. From the fingerprint, a positional reference point of the biometric data is derived. The derivation of the positional reference point may be accomplished using any appropriate method out of a number of known methods. Such a reference point could be the location of a core, a delta, a weighted average of minutiae coordinates, or alike. Typically, the reference point includes a core of a fingerprint expressed as a three-dimensional coordinate denoted by means of xr, yr, and angle αr. A contribution indicator is calculated for the derived positional reference point, and it is determined whether the derived positional reference point can be considered reliable. Depending on the reliability of the derived reference point, one of the two different feature extraction processes is selected; either the first feature set is extracted using a method which is invariant of the derived reference point, or a method is used taking into account the derived reference point. The better the estimation of the reference point is, the more reliable the reference point-dependent extraction method is. Finally, the biometric template is generated using the extracted first feature set. |
| US08655022B2 |
System and method for detecting position of underwater vehicle
The position detection system includes a pressure sensor that detects the vertical position of an underwater vehicle, a range sensor unit that detects the relative distances of the underwater vehicle from its surrounding structures; a measurement image acquisition unit that acquires a measurement image of the horizontal plane, an image storage unit that stores images, an image selector that selects one of the stored images that corresponds to the horizontal plane in which the relative distances have been detected, a corresponding-area identification unit that identifies the area in the selected image that corresponds to the measurement image by performing map matching, and a horizontal position calculator that identifies, the pixel that corresponds to the position at which the relative distances have been detected and calculates the horizontal position of the underwater vehicle. |
| US08655019B2 |
Driving support display device
Disclosed is a driving support display device that composites and displays images acquired from a plurality of cameras, whereby images which are easy for the user to understand and which are accurate in the areas near the borders of partial images are provided. An image composition unit (41) formulates a bird's eye perspective image on the basis of a mapping table reference unit (45) using images of the area around the vehicle acquired from a plurality of cameras (31). An obstacle detection unit (42) detects obstacles in the images acquired by the plurality of cameras (31). On the basis of the obstacle information detected by the obstacle detection unit (42), an obstacle trajectory prediction unit (43) predicts the trajectory of the obstacle and determines the borders so that the borders of the obstacle and the composite image from the plurality of cameras (31) do not overlap. The image composition unit (41) acquires necessary information from the mapping table reference unit (45) and creates a bird's eye perspective image in which the borders of the obstacle and the images from the plurality of cameras do not overlap. |
| US08655018B2 |
Object detection system based on a pool of adaptive features
A method, system and computer program product for detecting presence of an object in an image are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a method for detecting a presence of an object in an image comprises: receiving multiple training image samples; determining a set of adaptive features for each training image sample, the set of adaptive features matching the local structure of each training image sample; integrating the sets of adaptive features of the multiple training image samples to generate an adaptive feature pool; determining a general feature based on the adaptive feature pool; and examining the image using a classifier determined based on the general feature to detect the presence of the object. |
| US08655011B2 |
Content identification and electronic tickets, coupons and credits
The present invention relates to digital watermarking methods and systems. In one embodiment, a handheld device displays a digitally watermarked image at an event center. An optical scanner captures optical scan data representing the device display. A watermark decoder analyzes the captured optical scan data to obtain the watermark. The watermark is used to determine authorized entry. The handheld device may include a cell phone or other portable computing device. |
| US08655008B2 |
Configurable headset support with variable positioning
A method and a device are disclosed for a portable headset including an attached earphone and a support structure configured to position the earphone in a random position by user action. In various embodiments, the support structure is further configured to be detachably coupled to various different earphones. The portable headset is further configured to be attachable to different seats or anchor points. |
| US08655005B2 |
Earphone system comprising an earphone and a portable holding device
An earphone system (1; 23) comprising a wireless earphone (2; 20, 21) and a portable holding device (3; 22). The earphone (2; 20, 21) comprises an ear hook (8) for attaching the earphone (2; 20, 21) to the ear (14) of a user. The holding device (3; 22) comprises an outer surface (25) with an earphone recess (4; 30, 31) adapted for receiving the earphone (2; 20, 21) with the ear hook (8), such that the ear hook (8) follows the outer surface (25) of the holding device (3; 22), and attachment means for attaching the earphone (2; 20, 21) in the earphone recess (4; 30, 31). |
| US08655003B2 |
Earphone arrangement and method of operation therefor
An earphone arrangement comprises a microphone (109) which generates a microphone signal and a sound transducer (101) which radiates a first sound component to a user's ear (103) in response to a drive signal. An acoustic channel (111) is further provided for channeling external sound so as to provide a second sound component to the user's ear (103). An acoustic valve (117) allows the attenuation of the acoustic channel (111) to be controlled in response to a valve control signal. A control circuit (105) generates the valve control signal in response to the microphone signal to provide a variable attenuation resulting in a mixed sound of the first sound component and the second sound component reaching the user's ear (103). The combined use of acoustic and e.g. electric signal paths allows improved performance and in particular allows a dynamic trade-off between open and closed earphone design characteristics with respect to external sounds. |
| US08655002B2 |
Piercing conducted bone conduction device
A bone conduction device for enhancing the hearing of a recipient comprising a sound input element configured to receive an acoustic sound signal; an electronics module configured generate an electrical signal representing the acoustic sound signal; a transducer configured to generate mechanical forces representing the electrical signal for delivery to the recipient's skull; one or more extensions mechanically coupled at a first portion to the transducer and further mechanically coupled at a second portion of the one or more extensions to the recipient's bone, wherein the one or more extensions are configured to transfer the mechanical forces from the transducer to the recipient's bone. |
| US08655000B1 |
Method and apparatus for a finger sensor for a hearing assistance device
A hearing assistance device including a conductive member used for a touch or touch-less sensor for changing a setting, mode, or function of the hearing assistance device. In various applications, the conductive member is also used as an antenna for a wireless communication system. |
| US08654996B2 |
Spacer for a capacitive microphone and capacitive microphone with the same
The present invention relates to a spacer for a capacitive microphone and a capacitive microphone with such spacer, in which the spacer is mounted between polar plates and vibrating diaphragm of the microphone and the spacer comprises at least one insulating layer and at least one conductive layer bonded with the insulating layer. With the above-mentioned structure, static electricity is effectively prevented from occurring or storing during manufacturing process of the spacer and meanwhile, disadvantages such as difficult processing, high cost and tendency to increase parasitic capacitance while making spacer with metal sheet are overcome. |
| US08654994B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving a downmix signal including at least one object signal, and object information extracted when the downmix signal is generated, receiving mix information including mode selection information, the mix information for controlling the object signal, and generating a stereo output signal using the downmix signal or extracting a background object and at least one independent object from the downmix signal, based on the mode selection information, wherein the downmix signal corresponds to a mono signal, wherein the stereo output signal corresponds to a time-domain signal including a signal generated from decorrelating the downmix signal, and wherein the mode selection information includes information indicating which one of modes including a normal mode, a mode for controlling the background object, and a mode for controlling the at least one independent object. |
| US08654993B2 |
Portable audio device providing automated control of audio volume parameters for hearing protection
A method of operating a media player includes playing back audio media. During the step of playing back audio media, a maximum volume parameter is refined for the playing back of the media by the media player. The refining is based at least in part on the playing back of audio media during a time period prior to executing the maximum volume refining step. After a period of time, the maximum volume refining step is repeated. The refining is configured to prevent/minimize harm to hearing of the media player user based, for example, on the actual volume of media playback and time/duration profiles provided by occupational safety and/or other organizations. |
| US08654992B2 |
Sound processing apparatus, method for correcting phase difference, and computer readable storage medium
There is provided a sound processing apparatus for processing received sounds. A plurality of sound receiving units which are included in the apparatus output individually a sound signal corresponding to a received sound, then the sound signals in a time domain are converted into respective converted signal in a frequency domain, and a spectral ratio between the two converted signals is calculated for driving a phase correction value which corrects a phase of the sound signal. |
| US08654989B2 |
Rear surround sound system and method for vehicle
A vehicle rear surround sound audio system for a vehicle includes a plurality of speaker nodes, each of the speaker nodes including at least one speaker. A subset of the speaker nodes are located in a video viewing region of a vehicle. A head unit includes a DVD or other multi-channel surround sound source, a digital signal processor (DSP), an amplifier, and a fader. The head unit selectively implements: (i) a normal audio mode in which a plurality of different surround sound speaker signals are output to the plurality of speaker nodes according to a first mapping; or (ii) a rear surround audio mode in which all of the plurality of different surround sound speaker signals are output to only the subset of speaker nodes located in the video viewing region according to a second mapping such that the subset of speaker nodes are active to output all of the surround sound speaker signals. |
| US08654975B2 |
Joint encryption of data
A method for joint generation of a ciphertext by devices of a data processing system includes providing, by a first device, a first message, representing secret data of the first device, generating an initial ciphertext comprising an initial blinded encrypted message, in which the first message is encrypted under a public key of a trusted entity, and an initial consistency component for validating the initial ciphertext using the bilinear map; and sending the initial ciphertext to a second device; wherein the second device provides a second message, representing secret data of the second device, generates an updated ciphertext comprising an updated blinded encrypted message and an updated consistency component for validating the updated ciphertext, and generating a final ciphertext comprising the final encrypted message and a final consistency component for validating the final ciphertext, wherein the final consistency component is generated using the updated consistency component and the bilinear map. |
| US08654970B2 |
Apparatus and method for implementing instruction support for the data encryption standard (DES) algorithm
A processor including instruction support for implementing the Data Encryption Standard (DES) block cipher algorithm may issue, for execution, programmer-selectable instructions from a defined instruction set architecture (ISA). The processor may include a cryptographic unit that may receive instructions for execution. The instructions include one or more DES instructions defined within the ISA. In addition, the DES instructions may be executable by the cryptographic unit to implement portions of an DES cipher that is compliant with Federal Information Processing Standards Publication 46-3 (FIPS 46-3). In response to receiving a DES key expansion instruction defined within the ISA, the cryptographic unit may generate one or more expanded cipher keys of the DES cipher key schedule from an input key. |
| US08654967B2 |
System for conditioning echo response of loop start trunk line
An echo canceling system has an adaptive filter connected to an echo source, for canceling echo from an echo path. A fixed echo conditioning filter is connected in series with the adaptive filter, intermediate the echo source and the adaptive filter. The fixed echo conditioning filter cancels the constant part of the echo path using a measured impulse response of the echo path. |
| US08654960B2 |
Dual network telephone device
A dual network telephone device selectively performs a telephone communication via a public telephone network and via an IP telephone network. The dual network telephone device generates IP telephone identification information for a non-IP telephone device registers to an IP telephone server an association of an IP address of the dual network telephone device and the IP telephone identification information for the non-IP telephone device, receives a first call request sent from the IP telephone server, sends a call request notice instruction to the non-IP telephone device when the first call request includes the IP telephone identification information for the non-IP telephone device as a call request destination, receives IP telephone identification information input to and sent from the non-IP telephone device, sends a second call request to the IP telephone server. |
| US08654958B2 |
Managing call forwarding profiles
Call forwarding profiles corresponding to call forwarding settings based on time, location, and/or presence states of a called party are created. Different call forwarding settings are then activated based on corresponding predefined call forwarding profiles. Users are enabled to pre-configure their call forwarding profiles based on one or more rules. |
| US08654957B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing internet protocol services to a user of a private branch exchange
A method and apparatus for providing one or more Internet Protocol (IP) services to users of a private branch exchange (PBX) in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives user phone information from the private branch exchange (PBX) via a data feed, and stores the user phone information in a storage device located within the network. |
| US08654955B1 |
Portable conferencing device with videoconferencing option
Products for conferencing between a local and a distant party through an electronic channel include a portion installed to a fixed conferencing environment and another portion removable from the fixed environment for roaming conferencing. A breakout box detachable from the removable portion may be used having connections for installation-type conferencing elements such as speakers, microphones and other conferencing devices. The removable portion may include an acoustic echo canceler. The removable portion may be connected to a communication-handling device, such as a computer with VOIP software, or may be directly connected to a communication channel. Speakers or microphones in the removable portion may be automatically or manually disabled on connection with the fixed portion. |
| US08654953B2 |
Managing subconference calls within a primary conference call
Managing subconference calls within a primary conference call. An approach includes establishing a primary conference call including a plurality of participants, establishing a subconference call including a subset of the plurality of participants, and providing respective output signals to each of the plurality of participants. Members of the primary conference call are provided with audio only of the primary conference call, and members of the subconference call are provided with audio of the subconference call. The approach also includes providing a visual display that shows respective groupings of members of the subconference call and members of the primary conference call. |
| US08654951B1 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing transcripts and recordings of a bridge conference and using the same to navigate through the recording
A method, apparatus and computer program product for synchronizing transcripts and recordings of a bridge conference is described. An audio file recording of a bridge conference is accessed as well as a transcript of events associated with the bridge conference. The transcript of events associated with the bridge conference is synchronized with the audio file recording of a bridge conference such that a user can utilize the transcript to navigate to a desired place in the audio file recording of a bridge conference. |
| US08654949B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for providing access to personal profiles in communications systems
Methods of switching personas associated with an asserted identity by determining a selected persona based on at least one of a sequence of digits entered during initiation of a call are provided. The at least one of the sequence of digits indicates a request for a persona associated with an asserted identity. It is indicated that an original persona associated with the asserted identity should be switched to the selected persona associated with the asserted identity if it is determined that the original persona and the selected persona are different. Related systems and computer program products are provided. |
| US08654946B1 |
System, method, and computer program for sending a missed call notification to a receiver based on an instruction from a caller
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for sending a missed call notification to a receiver based on an instruction from a caller. In use, an instruction is received from a caller to send a missed call notification to a receiver. Additionally, at least one parameter associated with the instruction is identified. Further, the missed call notification is generated utilizing the at least one parameter. Moreover, the missed call notification is sent to the receiver. |
| US08654945B2 |
Blocking a channel in a communication system
Embodiments relate to a communication system comprising a call handler arranged to process channel signalling received from a communication network; a workload controller comprising means to determine the workload of at least one processing resource of the communication system; wherein the call handler comprises means to block establishment of at least one channel in response to the workload of the at least one processing resource. |
| US08654943B2 |
System and method of enhanced caller-ID display using a personal address book
In one particular embodiment, a method includes receiving at a set-top box a call signal including a caller identifier from a network, where the caller identifier includes a calling number and a billing name associated with the calling number. An alias (or display name) associated with the calling number is retrieved from a personal address book stored in a memory of the set-top box. A modified caller identifier including the calling number and the alias is provided to a display device. |
| US08654942B1 |
Multi-device video communication session
A method of multi-device video communication. A server receives recorded content from a multi-device video communication session and processes the recorded content to detect vocal expressions from a plurality of participants. The server generates a plurality of text elements each corresponding to one or more of the vocal expressions. The server receives at least one rating for at least one participant of the plurality of participants and generates a word cloud based on the plurality of text elements and at least in part on the at least one rating for the at least one participant. |
| US08654939B2 |
Recording and receiving voice mail with freeform bookmarks
Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by providing bookmarks for voice mail messages in order to facilitate improved navigation thereof. A bookmark is preferably conveyed by the caller leaving a voice mail message to indicate information such as a change in the topic of the message, or a particular important passage within the message, or perhaps to identify some information for special treatment (such as a telephone number and time of day at which the call can be returned). Once the message has been bookmarked, the listener can navigate the message more efficiently (for example, by listening to a few seconds of each topic and then skipping to the next topic, or by listening only to the special information) and can also perform actions on parts of the voice mail message (such as forwarding only a selected segment to a third party, while keeping the remainder of the message confidential). Optionally, audio cues may be rendered with the voice mail message as it is played to the listener, where audio cues are sounds that are either “incorporated in” with the audio rendering as a separate (background) audio stream or inserted in-line within the message. (For example, audio cues may change to signify that the bookmarked topics of the message change, or many announce the type of bookmark associated with an upcoming audio message segment). |
| US08654938B2 |
Relay processing device, communication terminal, relay processing system, relay processing method, and program
When a call from a call terminal to a called terminal is received, a relay processing device transmits calling terminal specific information that specifies the calling terminal to the called terminal by using data communication. The calling terminal specific information, for example, is a phone number of the calling terminal, but may be a user's name of the calling terminal. The called terminal transmits to the relay processing device, connection information that indicates whether or not to respond to the call from the calling terminal. The transmission of the connection information may be performed by any one of voice communication and data communication. The relay processing device connects the phone call between the called terminal and the calling terminal or cuts off the connection between the calling terminal and the relay processing device according to the connection information. |
| US08654937B2 |
System and method for call center agent quality assurance using biometric detection technologies
A method, system and computer program for assessing the quality of a call recipient response during an interactive voice dialog. Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to biometric analysis and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for call center agent quality assurance using biometric technologies. A solution for automated monitoring of call center agents' skill, mood, professionalism and behavior using biometric technologies and for providing appropriate action to improve customer handling and satisfaction is provided. The solution provides an automated method for detecting potential problems and preemptively taking action to provide consistent, quality customer service. |
| US08654935B2 |
Method and system for using conversational biometrics and speaker identification/verification to filter voice streams
A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code having programming instructions tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium. The programming instructions are operable to receive an audio stream of a communication between a plurality of participants. Additionally, the programming instructions are operable to filter the audio stream of the communication into separate audio streams, one for each of the plurality of participants, wherein each of the separate audio streams contains portions of the communication attributable to a respective participant of the plurality of participants. Furthermore, the programming instructions are operable to output the separate audio streams to a storage system. |
| US08654934B2 |
Multimodal interactive voice response system
Multi-modal interaction with a telephonic device using a call handling system is enabled by receiving a call at an interactive voice response (IVR) system of the call handling system, the call being received from a telephonic device of a caller. A voice communications session between the IVR and the telephonic device is established in response to the call. Whether the telephonic device is capable of processing multi-modal communications is determined. Based on determining that the telephonic device is not capable of processing multi-modal communications, the IVR is enabled to access and audibly deliver voice page content to the caller via the voice communications session. Alternatively, based on determining that the telephonic device is capable of processing multi-modal communications, the call handling system is configured to exchange multi-modal communications with the telephonic device during the call. |
| US08654933B2 |
Mass-scale, user-independent, device-independent, voice messaging system
A mass-scale, user-independent, device-independent, voice messaging system that converts unstructured voice messages into text for display on a screen is disclosed. The system comprises (i) computer implemented sub-systems and also (ii) a network connection to human operators providing transcription and quality control; the system being adapted to optimize the effectiveness of the human operators by further comprising 3 core sub-systems, namely (i) a pre-processing front end that determines an appropriate conversion strategy; (ii) one or more conversion resources; and (iii) a quality control sub-system. |
| US08654931B2 |
Communication channel capacity estimation
Prediction of a channel capacity is accomplished based on a TDR echo without explicitly estimating the topology of the line. The prediction is based on obtaining a measured TDR echo, determining a theoretical TDR echo for a plurality of loop lengths, estimating the equivalent TDR length based on an optimization, updating the equivalent TDR length and utilizing the updated TDR length to predict one or more of the upstream and downstream data rates. |
| US08654929B2 |
Methods, systems and computer products for video calling and live help via IPTV
Systems, methods and computer products for querying for an interactive assistant for communication over a network via the set-top box. Communications are initiated between a subscriber and an interactive assistant. A diagnostic data log is uploaded from the set-top box to the interactive assistant. Based on the communications between the subscriber an interactive assistant and the diagnostic data log, diagnostic protocols are executed within the set-top box to generate a diagnostic report. The interactive assistant provides feedback analytics via the set-top box based on the communications between the subscriber and the interactive assistant, the diagnostic data log and the diagnostic report. Firmware solutions are downloaded to the set-top box based on results from the diagnostic report. |
| US08654924B2 |
X-ray tube with target temperature sensor
An X-ray tube including a target adapted for generating X-rays upon impact of an electron beam on a focal spot, and a further electrode. The further electrode is arranged and adapted for measuring thermo ionic electron emission from the target. The X-ray tube is adapted for providing a signal relating to a temperature of the target based on thermo ionic electron emission measured by the further electrode. |
| US08654920B2 |
System for detecting pin hole of fuel cell stack parts
The present invention relates to a device and a method for detecting a pin hole in a part of a fuel cell stack part to accurately detect the presence of pin holes of stack parts thereby ensuring quality of a fuel cell stack. That is, the present invention provides a system for detecting a pin hole in parts of a fuel cell stack that allows for quality assurance of the fuel cell stack and prevents defective parts from being used, by examining each fuel stack part, which largely influence the quality of the fuel cell stack, using an X-ray device and a vision system, in order to determine the presence of a pin hole in the parts, and a method thereof. |
| US08654918B2 |
Method to select a value of a voltage to be set at an x-ray tube, computer tomography apparatus and data medium
A method is provided to select a value of a voltage to be set at an x-ray tube of a computer tomography for scanning a patient before an acquisition of x-ray projections of a body region of the patient so as to reduce the dose of x-ray radiation to be applied to the patient in the course of the scan. According to the method, the selection of the value of the voltage takes place under consideration of at least one item of information that can be learned from a topogram of the patient and at least one item of information about the patient that can be learned from a patient file of the patient. The invention also encompasses a computer tomography apparatus with a computer for the execution of the method, as well as a data medium on which is stored a computer program that can be executed on a computer device to perform the method. |
| US08654917B2 |
Nuclear reactor (alternatives), fuel assembly of seed-blanket subassemblies for nuclear reactor (alternatives), and fuel element for fuel assembly
Fuel elements are supported by fuel assemblies configured for use in land-based nuclear reactors such as the VVER-1000. The fuel elements include a kernel having a multi-lobed profile that forms spiral ribs that include fissionable material (e.g., uranium or plutonium), a central metal displacer extending along a longitudinal axis of the kernel, and a metal cladding (e.g., zirconium and/or other refractory metals) enclosing the kernel. The fuel element may be fabricated by joint extrusion of the displacer, kernel, and cladding through a die to metallurgically bond the kernel and cladding. |
| US08654916B2 |
Method for regulation of operational parameters of the core of a pressurised water nuclear reactor
The invention relates to a method for regulation of operational parameters of the core of a pressurised water nuclear reactor comprising: a step of acquisition of values (FH, FB, TBC, TBF, Q) which are representative of the conditions of operating of the core of the reactor; a step of evaluation of the actual values (Tmoye, AOe, {circumflex over (P)} maxe) of the operational parameters at least according to the values acquired (FH, FB, TBC, TBF, Q); a step of selection of a control law for the concentration of a neutron-absorbent component ([B]) and for the positions of insertion (Z1 to Z5) of the groups (P1 to P5) of rods selected from at least the first and second control laws which are different from one another; and a step of regulation of the operational parameters by means of the control law selected, according to set points (Tmoyc, AOc, {circumflex over (P)} maxc) relative to the said parameters and to the actual values (Tmoye, AOe, {circumflex over (P)} maxe) evaluated. |
| US08654915B2 |
Control signal receiver and communication device having the same
A control signal receiver includes a converting circuit and a synchronization detection circuit. The converting circuit generates a complex control symbol stream including transmission configurations by converting an input signal. The synchronization detection circuit generates a first bit stream by applying a first determination criterion to the complex control symbol stream and generates a first synchronization signal by comparing the first bit stream with a reference synchronization word. The synchronization detection circuit generates a second bit stream by applying the first determination criterion and a second determination criterion to the complex control symbol stream in that order and generates a second synchronization signal by comparing the second bit stream with the reference synchronization word. The synchronization detection circuit outputs one of the first synchronization signal and the second synchronization signal as asynchronization enable signal. The control signal receiver effectively establishes frame synchronization. |
| US08654908B2 |
Correlation prevention methods for satellite adaptive cancellation links
A method of reducing signal correlation in a symmetrical adaptive canceller link comprising spectrally inverting one of a first carrier signal and a second carrier signal by causing a spectral inversion of one of the first and second carrier signals using a modulator, transmitting the first and second carrier signals within a bandwidth to a remote receiver using a transmitting device such that a composite carrier signal results, and cancelling at least one of the first carrier signal from the composite carrier signal using a cancellation technique such that the second carrier signal results on one end of the link and the second carrier signal from the composite carrier signal using a cancellation technique such that the first carrier signal results on the opposite end of the link. |
| US08654902B2 |
BICM decoding in the presence of co-channel interference
Systems and methods are provided for computing soft information for digital information based on a received signal, where the received signal suffers from noise and interference. A receiver that decodes the received signal may estimate channel information, such as the channel gain, associated with the interfering source. The receiver may also obtain modulation information through a backbone network or by decoding control information transmitted by the interfering source. Using the modulation information and the channel information, the receiver may estimate the effect that interference has on the received signal, and may compute soft information (e.g., a log-likelihood ratio) for the digital information. |
| US08654901B2 |
Decoding apparatus, decoding method, and computer-readable storage medium
Provided are a decoding apparatus and method. The decoding apparatus includes a repository and a configuration unit. The repository stores a plurality of functional units having an input port and an output port which are respectively represented as tokens. The configuration unit receives decoder description which includes an identifier of at least one of the functional units and connection relationship information between the functional units, selects each functional unit corresponding to the received identifier from the repository, and connects the selected functional units by using the token to configure a variable decoder. The decoding apparatus and method defines the connection relationships between a plurality of functional units that configure a decoder, and thus can quickly and dynamically configure a decoder suitable for various encoding schemes. Accordingly, the decoding apparatus and method enable to easily verify suitability in each level of encoding, decoding and standardization and achieve the concentration of information, thereby accelerating the progress and standardization of technologies. |
| US08654899B2 |
Pilot symbol assisted modulation signal processing systems and methods
Pilot symbol assisted modulation (PSAM) techniques for Rayleigh and Rician fading channels are derived. Previous techniques implement PSAM signal detectors as an ad-hoc design, using pilot symbols to first estimate channel gain, and then using channel gain estimates in a conventional coherent detector to make data decisions. Although this structure may be effective for binary phase shift keying in Rayleigh fading, it is suboptimal for Rician fading and for 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation in Rayleigh fading. According to techniques disclosed herein, a PSAM signal detector jointly processes pilot symbols and data symbols. The performance of signal detectors according to embodiments of the invention is analyzed and compared with that of conventional detectors. Numerical results are presented to show that the performance gain of a proposed new PSAM signal detector over conventional PSAM detectors can be as much as 2 or 3 dB for Rician fading in some cases. |
| US08654896B2 |
Clock recovery apparatus and method thereof
A method of recovering a clock signal from a digital signal in a receiver includes generating a representation of an eye diagram from symbols of the digital signal, in which the symbols are sampled at a sample rate such that the representation of the eye diagram is generated by a plurality of samples. The generated representation is converted into an array of data elements having a first set of data corresponding to the plurality of samples, and a second set of data representing a plurality of data bins. A plurality of measurements are performed on the array of data elements and/or the eye diagram to obtain a plurality of measurement outputs corresponding to the plurality of samples, which are combined at each sample. A sample is selected as a clock sample based on results of the combination. |
| US08654892B2 |
Multiple transmit antenna interleaver design
An arrangement of interleavers allocates bits from an input symbol across sub-symbols transmitted via sub-carriers of multiple orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) carriers. The input bits are allocated in a fashion to provide separation across subcarriers, and rotation of sub-symbols across the OFDM carriers provides additional robustness in the present of signal path impairments. |
| US08654886B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving broadcasting-communication data
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving broadcasting-communication data, the apparatus including an original signal generator configured to receive the original data and generate baseband original signals, a first modulator configured to receive the baseband additional signals and generate original signals of a predetermined band, an additional signal generator configured to receive the additional data and generate baseband additional signals, a second modulator configured to receive the baseband additional signals and generate additional signals of a predetermined band, an average power controller configured to control an average power of the additional signals of the predetermined band, an inserter configured to insert the additional signals of the predetermined band with a controlled average power to the original signals of the predetermined band to thereby generate mixed signals of a predetermined band, and a transmitter configured to transmit the mixed signals of the predetermined band. |
| US08654879B2 |
Multi-antenna channel estimation method based on polyphase decomposition
A multi-antenna channel estimation method based on polyphase decomposition includes: receiving frequency domain received signals transformed using discrete fourier transformation (DFT) in pilot symbols; performing phase correction on the frequency domain received signals; performing polyphase decomposition on the frequency domain received signals which are corrected using phase correction and acquiring polyphase signals; performing interpolation on the polyphase signals and acquiring the estimation values of the multi-antenna channel parameters with various linear combinations on each frequency; acquiring decorrelation array based on the pilot structure of the transmission antenna and decorrelating the estimation values of the multi-antenna channel parameters with various linear combination on each frequency using the decorrelation array and acquiring channel parameters of the pilot symbols on each frequency; acquiring channel parameters of data symbols based on the channel parameters of the pilot symbols. With the present invention, the inversion problem in multi-antenna channel estimation is avoided with lower complexity, and results of the multi-antenna channel estimation method become more accurate since the DFT and filtering are performed in the interpolation after polyphase decomposition. |
| US08654875B2 |
Method and apparatus for multi-stream received signal processing in a communication receiver
The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for partitioning sets of MIMO streams, for joint processing. In particular, there is an optimum or otherwise best partitioning of a set of MIMO streams into a first subset to be jointly processed and a second subset to be suppressed as interference with respect to that joint processing. Of course, more than one partitioning may be used, e.g., across different joint processing stages and/or at different times, such that all streams of interest are processed. Correspondingly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for selecting an optimum or otherwise relative “best” subset of MIMO streams for processing together in a joint process, from among a larger set of MIMO streams. The method and apparatus may, for example, be employed in a multi-stage joint processing receiver, where subset selections are performed on a per-stage basis. |
| US08654873B2 |
Method to invoke channel decoder early to decrease the acquisition time in demodulators
In one embodiment, a Television (TV) receiver to perform a method of synchronizing a demodulator at a Viterbi decode input in the TV receiver using one or more bit de-interleaved even and odd Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols is provided. The method includes (i) performing a Viterbi decoding on the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols when a frame boundary does not exist for the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols, (ii) performing a convolutional encoding on an decoded data output of the Viterbi decoding, (iii) determining whether an output of the convolutional encoding of the bit de-interleaved OFDM symbols matches an input at a Viterbi decode, and (iv) determining whether the output of the convolutional encoding of the bit de-interleaved even and odd OFDM symbols matches with a SYNC pattern or a SYNC′ pattern to obtain a RS packet align boundary. |
| US08654870B2 |
Communication method, communication system and communication device
A communication system for performing serial communication using a first level, a second level and a middle level includes a first device; a second device; and a signal line, wherein the serial communication is performed by a first communication format signal sent together with a clock from the first device to the second device under a first mode, and a second communication format signal sent from the second device to the first device under a second mode, wherein the first communication format signal includes a first start bit, a plurality of first data bits, a plurality of first inverted data bits, a first check bit generated from the first data bits and a first inversion check bit, and the second communication format signal includes a second start bit, a plurality of second data bits, and a second check bit generated from the second data bits. |
| US08654869B2 |
Multi-path radio transmission input/output devices, network, systems and methods with link suitability determination
Devices, networks, systems and methods for coordinating communications on multi-path radio transmission mesh networks include evaluating available path metrics to ensure the best available connection routes through the network can be understood and utilized. The evaluation of the path metric may include comparing an xth percentile signal strength indication (RSSI) value with a predetermined RSSI threshold level, wherein x is strategically selected to address multi-path signal fading issues. |
| US08654868B2 |
Offloaded processing for wireless applications
Processing may be performed by a first device on behalf of a second device to offload processing from the second device. In some aspects a device from which processing has been offloaded may be advantageously adapted to consume less power, have a smaller size, and have less complexity. Offloaded processing may be employed to enable a first device to process data for transmission and then send the data to another device for processing. Offloaded processing may be employed to enable a first device to process data on behalf of a second device and then send the processed data to the second device. In some aspects the data may be waveform encoded for wireless transmission between the devices. Offloaded processing may be implemented in a static manner or in a dynamic manner. |