| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08677383B2 |
Radio frequency transponder for use with a medium
A radio frequency transponder for use with a disc, such as a CD or DVD has an antenna formed by depositing a conductive solution on a surface of disc outside at adjacent to its outer periphery outside of the disc storage area to yield at least one conductive region. A transponder circuit is coupled to the antenna for supplying an RF signal to the antenna in response to a signal received from the antenna. |
| US08677380B2 |
Laser diode holding member with position adjusting member
A laser diode assembly for an optical pickup includes a laser diode, a holding member, and a position adjustment member. The holding member has a housing portion formed therein. The laser diode is housed in the housing portion. The position adjustment member is disposed between the laser diode and an inner wall of the housing portion and configured to adjust a mounting position of the laser diode by abutting the inner wall and the laser diode. |
| US08677378B2 |
Lightweight, high performance, remote reconfigurable communications terminal architecture
A software defined radio system having at least one radio core that has the ability to request or accept the delivery of a Reconfigurable Communications Architecture (RCA) compliant application(s), store the application(s), and has the minimum parts of the RCA framework necessary to run the application(s). |
| US08677375B2 |
Selecting executing requests to preempt
Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for selecting executing requests to preempt. Selecting executing requests to preempt can include determining whether an application is in an overload condition. Selecting executing requests can also include in response to determining the application is in an overload condition, identifying each request that is being executed by the application. Selecting executing requests can also include determining a value for each request that is executing. Furthermore, selecting executing requests can also include selecting executing requests to preempt based on the values for the requests. |
| US08677373B2 |
Computation resource control apparatus, computation resource control method, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A computation resource control apparatus includes an activation unit, a first queue managing unit, an allocating unit and a second queue managing unit. The activation unit activates a computation resource being in a stop state in accordance with a computation request. The first queue managing unit adds the computation resource which is being activated to a first queue. The allocating unit allocates the computation resource, which is output from the first queue, to the computation request to execute a computation process corresponding to the computation request. The second queue managing unit adds the computation resource which has completed the computation process to a second queue and places the computation resource, which is output from the second queue, in the stop state. |
| US08677372B2 |
Method, data processing program, and computer program product to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system, and corresponding overhead calculator for a distributed computing system and corresponding computer system
An improved method to compensate for coupling overhead in a distributed computing system offering a raw processing capacity, comprising an effective processing capacity (404) and the coupling overhead, is disclosed, wherein the distributed computing system comprises at least one computer system and at least one coupling facility. The method comprises determining a coupling efficiency, determining and adding an amount of missing processing capacity to the effective processing capacity based on the coupling efficiency in a way that the effective processing capacity of the raw processing capacity corresponds to a billable target processing capacity. |
| US08677371B2 |
Mixed operating performance modes including a shared cache mode
Functionality is implemented to determine that a plurality of multi-core processing units of a system are configured in accordance with a plurality of operating performance modes. It is determined that a first of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a first performance criterion that corresponds to a first workload of a first logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the first logical partition is associated with a first set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the first operating performance mode. It is determined that a second of the plurality of operating performance modes satisfies a second performance criterion that corresponds to a second workload of a second logical partition of the system. Accordingly, the second logical partition is associated with a second set of the plurality of multi-core processing units that are configured in accordance with the second operating performance mode. |
| US08677368B2 |
Broadcast receiving terminal and program execution method
Under a resource manager, unexpected blocking is prevented without calling a handler for resolving a resource contention, by assigning a priority level depending on the program that has requested for a reservation of a resource as well as by assigning a special priority level which permits a reservation of a resource without any conditions in the case of a program which is urgently needed such as an EAS module. |
| US08677367B2 |
Execution order decision device
An execution sequence decision device is capable of efficiently and appropriately determining the execution sequence of processing modules even in a case where those have a closed circuit in the input/output dependencies. A dependence evaluation sub-unit and an anti dependence evaluation sub-unit evaluate the dependence and anti dependence of each processing module in a processing module group. A priority evaluation sub-unit determines the priority of each processing module in the processing module group based on the dependence and anti dependence. An execution order allocation sub-unit allocates the top of execution sequence to one processing module that has the highest priority obtained by the priority evaluation sub-unit. An execution sequence allocation unit causes the respective sub-units to repeatedly execute the above-mentioned process every time the order of execution sequence of one processing module is determined, and then sequentially allocates the orders of execution sequence to the respective processing modules. |
| US08677365B2 |
Performing zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions
To perform zone-based workload scheduling according to environmental conditions in a system having electronic devices, indicators of cooling efficiencies of the electronic devices in corresponding zones are aggregated to form aggregated indicators for respective zones, where the zones include respective subsets of electronic devices. Workload is assigned to the electronic devices according to the aggregated indicators. |
| US08677363B2 |
Method for managing, tracking and distributing job programs for processing to a plurality of execution computers
A method for controlling a distributed processing system comprising a management computer for managing distributed processing of a job program and a plurality of execution computers for executing the job program, includes dividing the job program into a plurality of jobs and the management computer assigning the plural jobs among the execution computers, transferring processed information obtained by executing said jobs program by each of the execution computers to the management computer, storing processed information corresponding to the executed job program into the execution computers, and re-executing the job program on said management computer by using the processed information when the processed information is available. |
| US08677362B2 |
Apparatus for reconfiguring, mapping method and scheduling method in reconfigurable multi-processor system
Provided are an apparatus for reconfiguring a mapping method and a scheduling method in a reconfigurable multi-processor system. A single function is mapped to a reconfigurable processor. When a task is created in the reconfigurable multi-processor system, a function of the task is dynamically mapped to a host processor or a reconfigurable processor, thereby removing temporal sharing between functions on the reconfigurable processor and thus reducing the number of times reconfiguration is performed. The overhead of the reconfigurable processor is minimized and the reconfigurable processor is optimized for a dynamic multi-application environment. |
| US08677360B2 |
Thread-related actions based on historical thread behaviors
Various embodiments provide techniques for managing threads based on a thread history. In at least some embodiments, a behavior associated with currently existing threads is observed and a thread-related action is performed. A result of the thread-related action with respect to the currently existing threads, resources associated with the currently existing threads (e.g., hardware and/or data resources), and/or other threads, is then observed. A thread history is recorded (e.g., as part of a thread history database) that includes the behavior associated with the currently existing threads, the thread related action that was performed, and the result of the thread-related action. The thread history can include information about multiple different thread behaviors and can be referenced to determine whether to perform thread-related actions in response to other observed thread behaviors. |
| US08677358B2 |
Endpoint-hosted hypervisor management
A client hypervisor comprises a virtual agent that runs outside of a system OS and that allows device management independent of the OS and user. The virtual agent is tied to a device and not a specific instance of the OS. Such client hypervisors expose new functionality to ease managing systems. Some of these capabilities come from the persistence and privileges outside the OS. In some embodiments of the invention, this new management functionality is exposed to allow device management via new virtualization concepts, such as multiple VMs per system, VM replacement, snapshot/rollback, etc. |
| US08677356B2 |
Adjunct partition work scheduling with quality of service attributes
Operating system-directed workload scheduling of an adjunct partition in a logically partitioned computer is selectively overridden to handle platform work requiring a Quality of Service (QoS) guarantee. Firmware may track outstanding requests for platform work for an adjunct partition, and in response to a request for platform work that requires a QoS guarantee, the firmware may assume or take over scheduling decisions for the adjunct partition from the operating system of an associated logical partition and schedule execution of the adjunct partition to ensure that the adjunct partition will be allocated sufficient execution resources to perform the platform work independent of the scheduling desires of the operating system. As a result, any platform work that potentially impacts the platform work of other adjunct partitions will not be held up as a result of an unwillingness or inability of the operating system to schedule execution of the adjunct partition. |
| US08677354B2 |
Controlling kernel symbol visibility and accessibility across operating system linkage spaces
A kernel extension associated with a first instance of an operating system can be detected. The kernel extension is configured to extend functionality of the kernel when loaded in a kernel managed by a second instance of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to detecting symbols for the kernel extension, where the symbols specify one or more functions associated with the kernel extension. Some embodiments are further directed to generating a first namespace that is assigned only to the first of the plurality of instances of the operating system. The first namespace is separate from a second namespace for the second of the plurality of the instances of the operating system. Some embodiments are further directed to storing the symbols in the first namespace. |
| US08677353B2 |
Provisioning a standby virtual machine based on the prediction of a provisioning request being generated
A shared server 40 includes an active virtual machine 41 where a sufficient amount of resources are allocated to an operation of an application system and a standby virtual machine 42 that starts with a minimum amount of resources. When it is predicted that a provisioning request is generated, a standby construction determining unit 22 previously executes provisioning on a standby virtual machine 42, and performs a start of an OS and an application or a setting change of a network apparatus. A provisioning determining unit 23 changes the resource allocation amounts of the active virtual machine 41 and the standby virtual machine 42, allocates a sufficient amount of resources to the standby virtual machine 42, registers the standby virtual machine 42 as a target of load balancing in a load balancer 11, and executes provisioning. |
| US08677352B2 |
Interchangeable guest and host execution environments
Embodiments of the present invention include methods, systems, apparati, computer program products and other tangible realizations of techniques to support interchange of role for guest and host operating system instances executed (or executable) within a virtualization system. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method operating a computer system, the method comprising: (a) selecting a first operating system image from amongst plural operating system images accessible to a hardware machine; (b) booting the hardware machine using the first operating system image and executing code thereof as a host operating system; (c) providing a virtualization environment and instantiating therein a virtual machine using configuration data descriptive of a particular system virtualized, wherein the configuration data is stored separately from the first operating system image; and (d) loading from a second one of the operating system images, a guest operating system and executing code thereof in connection with the instantiated virtual machine. |
| US08677345B2 |
System for creating virtual application, method for installing virtual application, method for calling native API and method for executing virtual application
A virtual application creating system comprises: a virtual environment library block including a plurality of modules that process native application program interfaces (APIs) of an operating system such that the native application APIs are suited to a virtual environment, finding a module capable of processing a specific native API from the plurality of modules when the specific native API is called and operating the found module; a virtual application installation block receiving position information of an application to be virtualized and information on an installation place where the application will be virtualized and installed from a user and inserting the virtual environment library block into a memory to install a virtual application in the installation place; and a virtual application execution block executing the virtual application installed in the installation place. |
| US08677343B2 |
Centrally coordinated firmware upgrade model across network for minimizing uptime loss and firmware compatibility
Techniques are presented for managing firmware updates for a plurality of devices within a wireless network. Embodiments monitor network usage of the plurality of devices to collect historical usage data. An optimal window of time for updating the firmware of the plurality of devices is then determined, based on the collected historical device usage data. Embodiments flag at least one of the plurality of devices for a firmware update, based on a current firmware version of the device and a corresponding available firmware version for the device. In one embodiment, dependencies for each of the plurality of devices are considered in flagging the devices for the firmware update. The firmware of the flagged devices is updated during the determined optimal window of time. |
| US08677341B2 |
Software-delivered dynamic persistent data
A method and apparatus for dynamically managing non-volatile memory items in a wireless device, the method comprising the steps of: checking the non-volatile memory items for a unique identifier item; if the unique identifier item exists, comparing an identifier stored within the unique identifier item with a software identifier located in software on the wireless device; and if the unique identifier item does not exist or if the identifier is different from the software identifier, performing the steps of: updating the non-volatile memory items; and writing the software identifier to the unique identifier item. The method may further include a rollback scheme for previous software versions. |
| US08677338B2 |
Data dependence testing for loop fusion with code replication, array contraction, and loop interchange
Methods and apparatus to data dependence testing for loop fusion, e.g., with code replication, array contraction, and/or loop interchange, are described. In one embodiment, a compiler may optimize code for efficient execution during run-time by testing for dependencies associated with improving memory locality through code replication in loops that enable various loop transformations. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08677334B2 |
Parallelization method, system and program
A computer-implemented method, system, and article of manufacture for parallelizing a code configured by coupling a functional block having an internal state and a functional block without any internal state. The method includes: creating and storing a graphical representation where functional blocks are chosen as nodes and connections between functional blocks are chosen as links; visiting the nodes on the graphical representation sequentially, detecting inputs from functional blocks without any internal state to functional blocks having an internal state and storing these functional blocks as a set of use blocks, and detecting inputs from functional blocks having an internal state to functional blocks without any internal state and storing these functional blocks as a set of definition blocks; and forming strands of functional blocks based on information on the set of use blocks and information on the set of definition blocks stored in association with the functional blocks. |
| US08677333B2 |
Virtual machine and programming language for event processing
A virtual machine supports execution of compiler-generated code and provides an execution environment for code that may correspond to any of several different event-driven or message-driven programming models (such as state machines, rules for complex event processing and event correlation, monitoring contexts, processes, and mediations). The programming models may be used in business monitoring and/or business integration environments. A programming language is defined for execution using the virtual machine, which contains a relatively small number of instructions and which is preferably generated by a compiler from a higher-level, event-driven or message-driven model. |
| US08677330B2 |
Processors and compiling methods for processors
A compiling method compiles an object program to be executed by a processor having a plurality of execution units operable in parallel. In the method a first availability chain is created from a producer instruction (p1), scheduled for execution by a first one of the execution units (20: AGU), to a first consumer instruction (c1), scheduled for execution by a second one of the execution units (22: EXU) and requiring a value produced by the said producer instruction. The first availability chain comprises at least one move instruction (mv1-mv3) for moving the required value from a first point (20: ARF) accessible by the first execution unit to a second point (22: DRF) accessible by the second execution unit. When a second consumer instruction (c2), also requiring the same value, is scheduled for execution by an execution unit (23: EXU) other than the first execution unit, at least part of the first availability chain is reused to move the required value to a point (23: DRF) accessible by that other execution unit.In other compiling methods (FIG. 8), the object program includes a loop kernel block and a basic block preceding the loop kernel block, and the basic block includes a producer instruction (p1) and the loop kernel block includes a consumer instruction (c1, c2) requiring a value produced by the producer instruction. The loop kernel block is scheduled first, after which the basic block is scheduled. These methods can put additional move instructions between producer and consumer instructions in the basic block instead of the loop kernel block, or eliminate the move instructions altogether. |
| US08677329B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for a compiler server
A method and an apparatus that instructs a compiler server to build or otherwise obtain a compiled code corresponding to a compilation request received from an application are described. The compiler server may be configured to compile source codes for a plurality of independent applications, each running in a separate process, using a plurality of independent compilers, each running in a separate compiler process. A search may be performed in a cache for a compiled code that satisfies a compilation request received from an application. A reply message including the compiled code can be provided for the application, wherein the compiled code is compiled in direct response to the request, or is obtained from the cache if the search identifies in the cache the compiled code that satisfies the compilation request. |
| US08677324B2 |
Evaluating performance of an application using event-driven transactions
An event-driven performance measurement technique provides a set of transaction definitions that specify transaction actions that correspond to start and end points of a transaction. Events associated with execution of an application are received by a processor-based machine. The machine uses the events to generate transactions in accordance with the set of transaction definitions. The transactions can be used to evaluate performance of the application. |
| US08677323B2 |
Recording medium storing monitoring program, monitoring method, and monitoring system
A recording medium readable by an information processing apparatus, has recorded thereon a monitoring program for monitoring an operation status of a monitoring target program that runs on an information processing apparatus having a processor and a memory. The monitoring program causes the information processing apparatus to obtain, at a time of installation of a program, information indicating a status where the program is executed in the information processing apparatus and becomes a monitoring target program. The program monitors, on the basis of the information obtained, whether the monitoring target program exists in a memory in which the monitoring target program has been loaded. |
| US08677320B2 |
Software testing supporting high reuse of test data
A software testing system and method provides full reuse of software tests and associated test data in a centralized shared repository, including enabling the full reuse of test assets including test actions, test scenarios, test data; and automation scripts. Reusable test components consisting of test steps and the type of test data needed by those test steps, are managed and maintained. These components are assembled into reusable components with no binding of test data until execution time, thereby treating the test data as a reusable asset. A reusable test is initially defined using only an indication of a type or category of data, and not bound to the actual data itself, until it is assembled into an executable immediately prior to automated or manual test execution. |
| US08677315B1 |
Continuous deployment system for software development
Examples of a continuous deployment system are provided that manage and track releases of software code, where some or all of the steps between check-in and deployment to production can be automated. Such systems can reduce the amount of developer effort needed to deploy a package, as developers may not have to be responsible for scheduling package builds, clicking deployment buttons, or manually running tests. The system can take care of all or some of that work. |
| US08677312B1 |
Generation of compiler description from architecture description
A computer implemented method of generating a compiler description from an architecture description. Information is automatically extracted from an architecture description that is usable in a description of an architecture described by the architecture description. The extracted information is imported into a program comprising a graphical user interface that accepts user provided additional information that is usable in the compiler description. User provided additional information is accessed that is usable in the compiler description. A compiler description is automatically generated for the architecture described by the architecture description, based on the automatically extracted information and the accessed user provided additional information. |
| US08677311B2 |
Separate-type signal processing apparatus and software version updating method therefor
A separate-type signal processing apparatus includes: a first device having a data acquisition part; and a second device connected with the first device by wire or wireless, wherein the first and second devices work in cooperation to execute a predetermined process, the first device acquires version renewal data for addition to or renewal of software components for respectively controlling the first and second devices, through the data acquisition part, the first device has a first control part for sending a completion-of-acquisition notice signal to the second device, the second device has a second control part for sending a response signal to the first control part when the notice signal is input thereto, and the first control part transfers at least a part of the acquired version renewal data to the second control part on receipt of the response signal as an input thereto. |
| US08677309B2 |
Techniques for automated generation of deployment plans in an SOA development lifecycle
A framework (referred to herein as Application Integration Architecture, or AIA) that formalizes and orchestrates activities in an SOA development lifecycle. In one set of embodiments, AIA can capture development-related information in a shared data store and cause the information to flow in an automated or semi-automated manner from one lifecycle phase to the next as the lifecycle progresses. This information flow can, in turn, facilitate automations at each lifecycle phase for the responsible stakeholders (e.g., solution architects, developers, installation developers, etc.), thereby enforcing SOA best practices, enhancing development productivity, and ensuring the quality of the final SOA deliverables. |
| US08677306B1 |
Microcontroller controlled or direct mode controlled network-fabric on a structured ASIC
A network-fabric used for testing with an external or internal tester is shown for a Structured ASIC. In one embodiment, the Structured ASIC uses a microprocessor, network-aware IO routing fabric comprising network agents in a scalable novel configuration, with the network-aware IO having a plurality of blocks connected in series in a plurality of paths in the fabric leading to and from the microprocessor and memory and/or logic, the blocks acting as intelligent network agents under processor control to determine what state they can assume, whether to pass a data signal or not along these paths, comprising open loops and closed loops running to and from the microprocessor and memory and/or logic, primarily for testing and determining the state of the memory and logic. In another embodiment a JTAG controller may receive JTAG test commands from an external testing apparatus and set up to communicate along the fabric. |
| US08677304B2 |
Task-based multi-process design synthesis
A task-based multi-process design synthesis methodology relies on a plurality of child processes to assist a parent process in performing optimizations on an integrated circuit design. Objects from an integrated circuit design are grouped into subsets and assigned to child processes, with each child process performing a transform on each of the objects in the subset assigned to that child process and determining which of the objects in the subset are candidate objects for which performance of the transform has been successful. The child processes then notify the parent process of those objects that qualify as candidate objects, so that the parent process only has to perform the transform on the candidate objects, thereby relieving the parent process from the overhead associated with performing the transform on non-candidate objects for which the transform has been determined by the child processes as not being successful. |
| US08677302B2 |
Multi-threaded detailed routing
Some embodiments provide techniques and systems for routing nets in a circuit design in parallel. During operation, the system can receive a set of partitions for a circuit design, wherein each partition has zero or more overlapping partitions along four directions, e.g., up, down, left, and right. Next, the system can perform, in parallel, detailed routing on non-overlapping partitions in the set of partitions, wherein detailed routing is performed on a partition after detailed routing is completed on adjacent or overlapping partitions that located along two perpendicular directions. In some embodiments, each detailed routing thread that is executing in parallel performs detailed routing on a different net. |
| US08677299B1 |
Latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers
A method, system, and computer usable program product for latch clustering with proximity to local clock buffers (LCBs) where an algorithm is used to cluster a plurality of latches into a first plurality of groups in an integrated circuit. A number of groups in the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined. A plurality of LCBs are added where a number of added LCBs is the same as the number of groups in the first plurality of groups. A cluster radius for a subset of the first plurality of groups of clustered latches is determined, a group in the subset having a cluster radius that is a maximum cluster radius in the subset. The plurality of latches are reclustered into a second plurality of groups responsive to the maximum cluster radius exceeding a radius threshold, the second plurality of groups exceeding the first plurality of groups by one. |
| US08677296B2 |
Circuit design support computer product, method, and apparatus
A computer-readable recording medium stores a design support program that causes a computer to execute a process that includes generating based on a control flow graph conversion result for operation description information concerning a circuit-under-design, a first synthesis result according to which a time length of 1 clock cycle of the circuit-under-design is greater than or equal to a clock period in which the circuit-under-design operates; calculating based on the generated first synthesis result, first circuit scale information indicating a circuit scale of the circuit-under-design; acquiring a second synthesis result that is for the circuit-under-design and conforms to a timing constraint that is based on the control flow graph conversion result; calculating second circuit scale information indicating the circuit scale of the circuit-under-design, based on the generated second synthesis result; and outputting the calculated first circuit scale information and the calculated second circuit information. |
| US08677294B2 |
Semiconductor device, adjustment method thereof and data processing system
A system includes a first device, a second device, and a bus interconnecting the first and second devices to each other, wherein the first device includes a first semiconductor chip that includes a first memory cell array including a plurality of first memory cells, a first control logic circuit accessing the first memory cell array and producing a first data signal in response to data stored in a selected one of the first memory cells, the first control logic circuit being configured to store first timing adjustment information and to produce a first output timing signal that is adjustable in timing of change from an inactive level to an active level by the first timing adjustment information, a first data electrode, and a first data control circuit coupled to the first control logic circuit and the first data electrode. |
| US08677288B2 |
Test pattern selection method for OPC model calibration
A block management method for OPC model calibration includes calculating differences in several different optical functions between first patterns of a first mask and patterns of a second mask corresponding to the first patterns but differing therefrom by a predetermined bias, selecting one or more of the optical functions based on the calculated differences, clustering data of variations in the values of the calculated differences in the selected ones of the optical functions, selecting respective ones of the first patterns in consideration of how the data clusters, and designating the selected first patterns as test patterns. |
| US08677285B2 |
User interface of a small touch sensitive display for an electronic data and communication device
A method and apparatus for receiving an input by a user on an interactive touchscreen display based, electronic data and communication device, the input comprising a contact gesture, which further comprises touchscreen single or multiple simultaneous contacts. The contact gestures are classified as primary, secondary, tertiary, universal and non-universal contact gestures. The method further includes performing an operation or entering an operational mode based on the user input. |
| US08677284B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling and displaying contents in a user interface
A user interface with multiple applications which can be operated concurrently and/or independently by using simple finger gestures allows a user to intuitively operate and control digital information, functions, applications, etc. to improve operability. The user is able to use finger gesture to navigate the user interface via a virtual spindle metaphor to select different applications. The user can also split the user interface to at least two display segments which may contain different applications. Moreover, each display segment can be moved to a desirable location on the user interface to provide a seamless operation environment. |
| US08677277B2 |
Interface cube for mobile device
A computing device presents, on a screen, a three-dimensional rendering of an interface cube that includes a representation of a user's contacts displayed on at least one surface of the interface cube. The computing device receives a communication item from a peripheral application, where the communication item is associated with a particular contact of the user's contacts. The computing device creates a graphic based on the communication item and displays the graphic at a location on the representation of the user's contacts that corresponds to the location of the particular contact within a sequence of the user's contacts. |
| US08677276B1 |
System and method of contextual pre-tuning
A method implemented on a multi-tuner receiver system comprises successively displaying a set of visual cards where each visual card of the set of visual cards comprises a graphical representation. A visual card of the set of visual cards is selected, the visual card being associated with a first television program. Based on a characteristic of the selected visual card, a second television program is identified. The second television program is then tuned. |
| US08677275B2 |
Illustrating a menu of insights associated with visualizations
A system and method are provided for generating one or more menus having options that display insights from visualizations. The options presented in the menus enable users to determine relationships between elements of the visualization. The relationships may be displayed textually to enable user to navigate the menus using a keyboard, a text-to-voice converter, and/or pointers. |
| US08677274B2 |
Highlighting items for search results
The present invention provides a search capability to allow a user to easily locate a preference control, file, folder, control, or other system resource or data item associated with a search result. In one embodiment, a user enters a search term (or a portion thereof) in a search field associated with one or more resource types that may be searched. The user may be presented with a pop-up menu containing a list of likely matches. The user selects the desired preference control from the pop-up menu, and the corresponding preference pane, or other container, containing the selected data item, control, or other resource is displayed. In one aspect, as the user enters the search term (or portion thereof), certain icons are highlighted. Specifically, those icons that represent containers containing matching data items (such as preference panes having controls that match the search term) are highlighted. Different types of highlighting can be used depending on the degree of certainty as to which container is likely to contain the correct match. |
| US08677271B2 |
Method for displaying information in a motor vehicle and display device for a motor vehicle
In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, at least one two-dimensional object is represented graphically with the aid of a display mounted in the motor vehicle, the graphical object including a display field and an operating field. A user-interface device generates graphics data which control the display such that the display field is shown on one side of the two-dimensional graphical object and the operating field is shown on the other side of the two-dimensional graphical object, and in response to an input with the aid of an input device, an arithmetic logic unit of the user-interface device alters the graphics data such that the object in the perspective representation on the display rotates from one side to the other side. A corresponding display device is provided for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle may include such a display device. |
| US08677269B2 |
Creating and maintaining a singular uninterrupted focus while transitioning through a graduated user interface
Method, device, and computer product for displaying a single focus on a device. A piece of content is displayed in a first application on a display of the device. The piece of content is enlarged to create a single focus on the piece of content on the display. Parameters of the piece of content are passed to a second application. The piece of content is duplicated as an identical piece of content in the second application, and the identical piece of content is visually exactly positioned behind the piece of content on the display. The piece of content is seamlessly swapped with the identical piece of content of the second application, so that the identical piece of content is visually positioned to be viewable by the user. Tools of the second application are visually presented in an incremental transition until the tools are viewable and available to the user. |
| US08677267B2 |
Method and system for displaying annotated information associated with a settable variable value feature
A method and user interface which enables the setting of a variable value feature, having a plurality of values associated therewith, wherein the plurality of values include a default value and a plurality of non-default values. The method and user interface displays a first value associated with a user selected variable value feature and changes the displayed first value associated with the selected variable value feature by a predetermined amount so as to display a second value associated with the selected variable value feature by a user engaging a user activatable area associated with the selected variable value feature. The method and user interface determines if an annotated message is associated with the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature and displays the annotated message associated with the selected variable value feature along with the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature when it is determined that the displayed second value associated with the selected variable value feature has an associated annotation message. |
| US08677262B2 |
Presentation of industrial automation data as a function of relevance to user
A visualization system that generates visualization(s) in an industrial automation environment is provided. An interface component receives input concerning displayed objects and information. A context component can detect, infer or determine context information regarding an entity. A reference component infers or determines relevance of respective display objects as a function of the context information. A visualization component dynamically generates a visualization from a set of display object, and spatially organizes the display objects as a function of the inferred or determined relevance. |
| US08677261B2 |
In-vehicle display system
An in-vehicle display system is installed in a vehicle for displaying information to a user. The system includes a display unit that displays information; an operation unit that is located separately from the display unit and that allows a user to perform user operations including a directional operation and a turning operation; and a receiver that receives user instructions for making entry of plural characters that can be displayed on the display unit, based on displayed content displayed on the display unit and the user operations made with the operation unit. The receiver receives: (i) a first one of the directional operation and the turning operation as the user instruction in order to select a group from amongst a plurality of groups displayed on the display unit each of the plurality of groups representing a plurality of characters which are candidates for entry, and (ii) a second one of the directional operation and the turning operation as the user instruction in order to select a character from amongst the plural characters included in the group that is selected by the first one of the directional operation and the turning operation. |
| US08677259B2 |
System and method for annotating multimedia objects
The system and a computer-implemented method annotate a multimedia object on a web page hosted on a publisher computer system. A web page that includes a multimedia object is rendered in a web browser of a client computer system. One or more layers, including a transparent layer, at least partially located over the multimedia object displayed on the web page are generated wherein the one or more layers are configured to facilitate the creation and display of annotation data for the multimedia object based on user interface events produced by a user of the client computer system. Annotation data for the multimedia object is received from the user. The annotation data is transmitted to an annotation server for storage. A visual indicator indicating that the annotation data is associated with the multimedia object is displayed, wherein the visual indicator is rendered in the one or more layers. |
| US08677255B1 |
Expanded container view for graphical editing environment
A Web development environment includes a design view mode that provides an expanded view of container constructs within Web page being edited. When operating in a design view of the development environment, the user is provided an option to view all container constructs in an expanded view. The expanded view will temporarily increase the visual attributes of the container constructs allowing the user to more easily access the editing regions within the cells or content locations of the container. Increasing the visual attributes also allows the developer to see the structure of the edited Web page more clearly. When the developer is finished working with the container, he or she may then return to a standard or other view offered by the graphical development environment. The resulting containers will be re-rendered according to the originally-coded size, without the additional space added for viewing in the expanded mode. |
| US08677254B2 |
Discerning and displaying relationships between avatars
The invention relates generally to virtual universe environments and, more particularly, to discerning and displaying information regarding relationships between two or more avatars in a virtual universe environment. In one embodiment, the invention includes determining whether a first avatar and a second avatar have at least one relationship with one or more common avatars in response to the first avatar initiating an interaction with the second avatar, and in the case that the first and second avatars have at least one relationship with at least one common avatar, displaying information regarding the relationship with the common avatar to at least one of the first and second avatar. |
| US08677248B2 |
Requesting computer user's context data
Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations, the providing includes receiving from first and second sources indications of an ability to supply values for, respectively, an indicated one of the state attributes and another of the state attributes. In such situations, the providing also includes, in response to receiving a request from a first client for a value of the indicated one attribute, determining that the first source is available to supply the value, obtaining the value from the first source, and supplying a value obtained from the first source to the first client. |
| US08677242B2 |
Dynamic positioning of timeline markers for efficient display
Systems and methods are presented for simultaneously displaying a plurality of timeline markers within a timeline marker region of an interface for a video application. The timeline marker region may include multiple display tracks within which numerous timeline markers may be positioned for simultaneous display. At a given instant, each timeline marker may appear in a particular one of the multiple display tracks, and the entire collection of timeline markers being simultaneously displayed at that instant may be arranged so that all of the timeline markers appear separately from each other. Pairs of timeline markers which coincide with non-overlapping portions of the timeline may be placed in the same display track, while timeline markers that coincide with overlapping portions of the timeline may be put into separate display tracks, thus guaranteeing that all the timeline markers appear separately from each other. |
| US08677239B2 |
Electronic album and method for replaying electronic album
An electronic album and a method for replaying the electronic album are provided. The method for replaying the electronic album includes determining whether a predetermined command is received, and replaying an image file and audio file simultaneously, if it is determined that the predetermined command is received. Hence, it is possible for a user to utilize image and audio files which are automatically replayed simultaneously. |
| US08677236B2 |
Contact-specific and location-aware lexicon prediction
Word predictions in a message are selected or prioritized based on the recipient of the message and a previous location of use by a user. An input history is created based on messages sent to the recipient from the user at a particular location (e.g., global positioning system coordinates). As the user composes subsequent messages, a current location of the user is determined. Word predictions are performed based on a comparison of the current location to the previous locations, and based on the recipient(s). In further embodiments, location-aware spell-check functionality is provided for the messages. |
| US08677232B2 |
Devices, methods, and graphical user interfaces for document manipulation
An electronic device displays at least a portion of an electronic document with a predefined page layout at a first magnification level on a display; detects a first input indicating a first insertion point in the document, where the first insertion point is proximate to a first portion of text in the document; and in response to detecting the first input: selects a second magnification level different from the first magnification level, where the second magnification level is selected so as to display the first portion of text at a target text display size, and, while maintaining the predefined page layout of the document, displays, at the second magnification level, a portion of the document that includes the first portion of text. |
| US08677220B2 |
Error control on-demand
The present invention relates to a new error control paradigm in a packet switched network that is particularly advantageous for multicast transmission.A transmission Status Vector TSV (T) is updated at the sender side whenever a new outgoing data packet (Dj−1) is scheduled for transmission. A corresponding Reception status Vector RSV (R) is similarly updated at the receive side whenever a new incoming and correctly indexed data packet (Dj−1) is validly received.As soon as a missing or corrupted data packet (Dj) is detected, the update of the RSV is suspended. A request is then sent to the sender to get the current Tsv's value, or a part thereof. The erroneous data packet is then recovered from the current TSV's value (Sk,m), from the lastly updated RSV's value (Sj−1), and from otherwise validly received data packets (Dj+1, . . . , Dk).The present invention more specifically relates to a transmitting unit (100) and a receiving unit (200) implementing that paradigm, and correspondingly to a method for protecting a flow of indexed data packets against data lost or data corruption, and a method for recovering a missing or corrupted data packet within a flow of indexed data packets. |
| US08677219B2 |
Method and apparatus for adapting a bit interleaver to LDPC codes and modulations under AWGN channel conditions using binary erasure surrogate channels
The present invention relates to code-dependent bit interleavers for parallel non-uniform channels. Since the channel dependence of a given code ensemble is dominated by the mutual information between the channel input and output, the present invention proposes to simplify the analysis about the decoding behavior by using a set of surrogate binary erasure channels. The approximation of the actual channel by the surrogate BEC is established on the equivalence of bitwise capacities, which represent the mutual information between the uniformly-distributed binary input and the likelihood ratios of the effective parallel AWGN channels. Moreover, the transition of the erasure probabilities is modeled by a linear difference equation around the decoding threshold SNR, from which we can derive a necessary condition on the convergence of decoding iterations and achieve a useful guideline for the configuration of the bit interleaver. |
| US08677210B2 |
Method for encoding data with double-interlaced parity symbols, for a radio infrastructure, and associated codec
A method is dedicated to encoding data that must be transmitted by means of a wave-based transmission infrastructure, and comprises i) a step consisting of creating in parallel M first matrices having T rows and C columns with subsets of data from B successive received bursts, the subsets of data from each burst being distributed within at least two successive first matrices, ii) a step consisting of creating in parallel M second matrices each having T rows and N columns with parity symbols resulting from encoding the data that is respectively contained in the rows of each of the M first matrices, iii) a step consisting of creating in parallel M first matrices having K rows and C columns with parity symbols resulting from encoding the data that is respectively contained in the columns of each of the M first matrices, and iv) a step consisting of distributing by interlacing, firstly, J subsets of parity symbols from each second matrix into J successive sets, and secondly P subsets of parity symbols from each third matrix into P of these successive sets, and of placing into each of the successive sets the respective data from the successive received bursts. |
| US08677209B2 |
Subwords coding using different encoding/decoding matrices
In a communications system that demultiplexes user data words into multiple sub-words for encoding and decoding within different subword-processing paths, the minimum distance between bit errors in an extrinsic codeword can be increased by having corresponding subword encoders/decoders in the different subword-processing paths perform subword encoding/decoding with different encoder/decoder matrices. |
| US08677205B2 |
Hierarchical error correction for large memories
A mechanism is provided for detecting and correcting a first number of bit errors in a segment of data stored in a memory region being read, while concurrently detecting the presence of higher numbers of bit errors in that segment of data. In the event of detection of a higher number of bit errors in any single segment of data of the memory region, error correction of that higher number of bit errors is performed on the memory region, while concurrently detecting the presence of an even higher level of bit errors. By performing error correction of higher levels of bit errors in such a hierarchical order, memory latency associated with such error correction can be avoided in the majority of data accesses, thereby improving performance of the data access. |
| US08677201B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit and method of retrieving signal to semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit is configured so that a transition scan test can be performed thereon. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of logic circuit blocks having different operation frequencies; a clock supply unit for supplying a plurality of clock signals having frequencies corresponding to the operation frequencies of the logic circuit blocks from a clock supply source; a compression scan circuit including a plurality of scan chains formed of a plurality of flip-flop circuits, a pattern deployment circuit connected to the scan chains on an input side thereof, and a pattern compression circuit; and a clock control unit for controlling the clock supply unit to stop supplying the clock signals to specific ones of the flip-flop circuits of the scan chains when a capture operation is performed during a transition scan test. |
| US08677200B2 |
Integrated circuit with transition control circuitry for limiting scan test signal transitions during scan testing
An integrated circuit comprises scan test circuitry and additional circuitry subject to testing utilizing the scan test circuitry. The scan test circuitry comprises transition control circuitry configured to detect transitions between binary logic levels in a scan test signal, and responsive to a number of detected transitions reaching a threshold, to limit further transitions associated with a remaining portion of the scan test signal. In an illustrative embodiment, the transition control circuitry limits further transitions associated with the remaining portion of the scan test signal by replacing at least part of the remaining portion of the scan test signal with a limited transition signal. The limited transition signal may be maintained at a constant binary logic level such that it has no transitions. By limiting the number of transitions associated with the scan test signal, the transition control circuitry serves to reduce integrated circuit power consumption during scan testing. |
| US08677199B2 |
Pulse dynamic logic gates with mux-D scan functionality
A scannable pulse dynamic logic gate may include an evaluation network that evaluates dynamic inputs in response to assertion of an evaluate pulse. The evaluate pulse may be generated from a clock signal such that it is shorter in duration than the clock signal. During a normal mode of operation, when the evaluate pulse is asserted, the evaluation network may discharge a dynamic node depending on the state of the dynamic inputs. The resultant state of the dynamic node may be stored within an output storage element. When the evaluate pulse is deasserted, the dynamic node may be precharged. During a scan mode of operation, the dynamic node may remain precharged. Scan data may be transferred to the output storage element under the control of scan-related control signals. |
| US08677198B2 |
Method and apparatus for system testing using multiple processors
An apparatus is provided for performing testing of at least a portion of a system under test via a Test Access Port (TAP) configured to access the system under test. The apparatus includes a first processor for executing instructions adapted for controlling testing of at least a portion of the system under test via the TAP, and a second processor for supporting an interface to the TAP. The first processor is configured for detecting, during execution of the test instructions, TAP-related instructions associated with control of the TAP, and propagating the TAP-related instructions toward the second processor. The second processor is configured for receiving the TAP-related instructions detected by the first processor and processing the TAP-related instructions. The first processor is configured for performing at least one task contemporaneously with processing of the TAP-related instructions by the second processor. An associated method also is provided. |
| US08677196B1 |
Low cost production testing for memory
Embodiments provide methods, systems, devices, and/or machine readable storage medium for memory built-in self testing (memory BIST) that may not require JTAG. Embodiments may provide less chip overhead through the use of one or more direct access pins. Embodiments may provide simple checks to determine if the memories on a chip are good or bad with minimal cost, for example. In some cases, the memory BIST may determine whether or not memories are good when the chip powers on. Some embodiments may also perform stress testing on the memories to force early life failures of the memories. Embodiments do not necessarily have to diagnose failures. |
| US08677195B2 |
Data transmission method using ACK transmission opportunity in wireless network
Disclosed is a data transmission method in a wireless network capable of improving transmission performance on a wireless network by transmitting data, on which ACK is piggybacked, using the ACK transmission opportunity having high priority. The data transmission method includes acquiring a wireless channel by a STA to transmit a first data to the AP, transmitting the first data by the STA acquired the wireless channel to the AP through the wireless channel, analyzing by the AP whether there are second data intended to any one of the plurality of STAs, and, if there are the second data to transmit, transmitting the second data, on which an ACK is piggybacked, to the intended STA from the AP using ACK transmission opportunity having higher priority than that of data transmission. |
| US08677194B2 |
Method and system for site configurable error reporting
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to error reporting methods and systems. An error reporting application may be configured to be a stand-alone program, embedded within another application, or added as a plug-in application. The error reporting application may also be configured to provide a mechanism for a user to describe a problem with another application and send the problem description to a configurable, user defined location. The error report from the error reporting application may then be processed by an error processing system at the user-defined location. |
| US08677191B2 |
Early detection of failing computers
A computer management system may track services on multiple computers executing the same workload. Various performance counters may be retrieved from the computers and analyzed to identify those with low deviations and low mean deviations. Statistical tests may then be used to compare the values of a particular computer to the deviation of the group of computers to identify outliers, which may indicate degraded performance and imminent failure of the computer. The management system may analyze any collectable performance related parameter to identify outlying systems. |
| US08677188B2 |
Web page error reporting
An error in a web page displayed on a device is detected. The error is assigned to a bucket to indicate a type of the error, and a record describing the current state of the device is generated. Both an indication of the bucket and the record describing the current state of the device are then sent to a server. At the server, error information including error records and bucket identifiers are received from multiple devices. Each error record describes a current state of one of the multiple devices at a time when an error in a web page displayed on the one device was detected. Each bucket identifier corresponds to one of the error records and describes a type of the error associated with that error record. The error records are grouped into multiple baskets based at least in part on the current state information in the error records. |
| US08677186B2 |
Debugging in data parallel computations
The debugging of a program in a data parallel environment. A connection is established between a debugging module and a process of the data parallel environment. The connection causes the data parallel environment to notify the debugging module of certain events as they occur in the execution of the process. Upon notification of such an event, the process execution is paused, and the debugging module may query the data parallel environment for information regarding the process at the device independent virtual machine layer. Upon completion of this querying, the process may then resume execution. This may occur repeatedly if multiple events are encountered. |
| US08677183B2 |
Dynamic testing of networks
Service providers strive to maintain networks with high levels of availability and performance. To maintain the networks, the service providers measure performance and perform network diagnostics. Measuring performance and performing network diagnostics typically involves manual verification of functionality or performing individual tests between user agents. Service providers who maintain networks and service providers who use networks can dynamically run tests with operations of a signaling protocol (e.g., session initiation protocol) to diagnose network problems and determine appropriate responses. An agent manager can coordinate the dynamic tests across multiple user agents to gather more information to increase problem diagnosis accuracy. |
| US08677178B2 |
Recovery control in mirrored disks
A method for operating a mirrored disk storage system, comprises a detector component operable to detect that a failure has left read stability in doubt, a determiner component for determining a repair characteristic of a pair of mirrored disks, a comparator for comparing the repair characteristic of a first of the pair with the repair characteristic of a second of the pair, and a selector for selecting one of the first or the second of the pair having a preferred repair characteristic to be used as a synchronization source disk. The preferred repair characteristic comprises the characteristic that no repair is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair, or that a least repair time is required for the one of the first or the second of the pair. |
| US08677175B2 |
Reducing impact of repair actions following a switch failure in a switch fabric
Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card. |
| US08677174B2 |
Management of runtime events in a computer environment using a containment region
The scope and impact of an event, such as a failure, are identified. A Containment Region is used to identify the resources affected by the event. It is also used to aggregate resource state for those resources. This information is then used to manage one or more aspects of a customer's environment. This management may include recovery from a failure. |
| US08677172B2 |
Method and system for correcting error in a PLL generated clock signal using a system clock of lower frequency and/or accuracy
The present invention provides a system for detecting timing characteristics of internal signals in a communications device, the system comprising: a system clock running at a known frequency; a test counter having a test input at which an internal signal to be tested is received; a gating counter having an input arranged to receive the system clock signal; and a system controller for controlling the counters; wherein the system controller controls the gating counter to count a predetermined number of system clock cycles to define a test period, and during the test period the test counter counts the cycles of the internal signal under test, whereby timing characteristics of the internal signal may be found with reference to a time base defined by the system clock. An associated method of operation is also described. |
| US08677170B2 |
Method for generating a clock signal
An apparatus for generating a delayed clock signal. The apparatus is a computer system with a processor to which a memory device is coupled. The memory device has a delay clock generator that has a synchronizing circuit for generating an output clock signal from an input clock signal and further includes a delay circuit having an input coupled to the output of the synchronizing circuit. The delay circuit provides an output clock signal having a delay with respect to the clock signal from the synchronizing circuit according to one of a plurality of programmable time delays selected in accordance with a selection signal. The method of generating a clock signal includes synchronizing an internal clock signal to an external clock signal, and delaying the internal clock signal different amounts based on a selection value indicative of external clock frequency to provide the clock signal. |
| US08677160B2 |
Managing power consumption of a computer
Methods, computers, and products for managing power consumption of a computer, the computer including a computer processor and managing power consumption of a computer includes: dynamically during operation of the computer, setting, by an in-band power manager in dependence upon performance metrics of the computer processor, a current performance state (‘p-state’) of the computer processor; and providing, by the in-band power manager to an out-of-band power manager, the current p-state of the computer processor. |
| US08677156B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image controller that performs processing of input image information, an engine controller into which a first processing part and a second processing part are combined, and a power supply that supplies power to the engine controller. A mode of the image forming apparatus is switchable from a first mode that is a state of image formation or a stand-by state, to a second mode whose power consumption is smaller than a power consumption of the first mode. In addition, a switch unit switches between the first mode in which power is supplied to the second processing part from the power supply. The image controller and the first processing part communicate with each other through the second processing part in the first mode, or the image controller and the first processing part communicate with each other through a communication line but not through the second processing part in the second mode. In the second mode the first processing part controls the switch unit to start supplying power to the second processing part when the image controller orders transition from the second mode to the first mode through the communication line. |
| US08677154B2 |
Protecting sensitive data in a transmission
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product protects sensitive data in a received transmission. A network interface receives a data transmission, which includes multiple units of data. Any sensitive data in the received data transmission is identified by the recipient according to a pre-determined rule. Identified sensitive data from the data transmission is then encrypted. |
| US08677153B2 |
Method for protecting a cryptographic module and a device having cryptographic module protection capabilities
A device and a method for protecting a cryptographic module of which the method includes: estimating a functionality of a circuit that is adapted to malfunction when a physical parameter has a first value different from a nominal parameter value at which the cryptographic module functions correctly. The cryptographic module malfunctions when the physical parameter has a second value different from the nominal parameter value and a difference between the first value and the nominal parameter value being smaller than a difference between the second value and the nominal parameter value. A cryptographic module protective measure is applied if estimating that the circuit malfunctions. |
| US08677147B2 |
Method for accessing services by a user unit
The invention concerns a method for providing a plurality of receivers with conditional access to broadcast services using a simplified means for managing the control messages required by such conditional access schemes. The method involves providing all information which will allow a registered receiver having the necessary decryption key to access the services without having any prior rights loaded locally. A management center keeps a register of all subscribed receivers, including a list of services to which the receiver is subscribed, and encrypts the services using control words encrypted by the necessary keys. Control messages comprising the control words for decryption are provided within a special channel to which the receiver has permanent access, the special channel being a different one from channels used for broadcasting audio/video services. |
| US08677144B2 |
Secure software and hardware association technique
In an embodiment, authenticated hardware and authenticated software are cryptographically binded using symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software ensures that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hardware will only run OEM software. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software protects the OEM binary code so it will only run on the OEM hardware and cannot be replicated or altered to operate on unauthorized hardware. This cryptographic binding technique is referred to herein as secure software and hardware association (SSHA). |
| US08677142B2 |
Method and system for protecting against the execution of unauthorized software
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a client device is protected against the execution of unauthorized software. The client includes a code authentication process that verifies the integrity of executable code, by generating and comparing a first hash value of the executable code with a known hash value of the original code. Furthermore, during boot-up, the client initializes a CPU exception vector table with one or more vector table entries. One or more, or all, of the vector table entries direct the CPU to execute the code authentication process prior to executing an event handler when an exception event occurs. Consequently, the code authentication process is virtually guaranteed to execute, thereby protecting against the execution of unauthorized code. |
| US08677141B2 |
Enhanced security and performance of web applications
A client-side enforcement mechanism may allow application security policies to be specified at a server in a programmatic manner. Servers may specify security policies as JavaScript functions included in a page returned by the server and run before other scripts. At runtime, and during initial loading, the functions are invoked by the client on each page modification to ensure the page conforms to the security policy. As such, before a mutation takes effect, the policy may transform that mutation and the code and data of the page. Replicated code execution may take place at both the client and the server where the server runs its own shadow copy of a client-side application in a trusted execution environment so that the server may check that the method calls coming from the client correspond to a correct execution of the client-side application The redundant execution at the client can be untrusted, but serves to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Web application. |
| US08677138B2 |
System and method of secure authentication information distribution
A system and method of distributing authentication information for remotely accessing a computer resource. A request for authentication information, including identity information, is received from a user of a remote device. When the user is authenticated based on the identity information, requested authentication information is retrieved and returned to the remote device. The authentication information, or information generated from the authentication information, is then used for remotely accessing the computer resource. |
| US08677137B2 |
Communication device, communication method, information processing device, information processing method, program, and communication system
In one example embodiment, an information processing apparatus determines whether a target ID is a unique ID or a partial randomization ID that includes a first part being replaced by a different number and a second part being generated based on the unique ID. In response to the target ID being the partial randomization ID, the information processing apparatus generates an access key based on the second part of the partial randomization ID and a key. The information processing apparatus executes a mutual authentication process using the generated access key. |
| US08677134B2 |
HTTP signing
A system and method for signing data transferred over a computer network is described. In one aspect, the HTTP header of an HTTP response message is extended to include a content identifier, a content expiration time, and a digital signature. The digital signature may be generated from the content identifier, the content expiration time, and the message body of the HTTP response message. |
| US08677128B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient and secure creating, transferring, and revealing of messages over a network
An encryption based method of enabling a plurality of parties to share, create, hide, or reveal message or token information over a network includes a commutative group cipher (CGC), where the underlying CGC is secure against ciphertext-only attack (COA) and plaintext attacks (KPA), and is deterministic. The protocols doe not require a trusted third party (TTP), and execute rapidly enough on ordinary consumer computers as to be effective for realtime play among more than two players. Protocols are defined which include VSM-L-OL, VSM-VL, VSM-VPUM, and VSM-VL-VUM, wherein the letters V, O, SM, P, and UM represent, respectively, Verified, Locking Round, Open, Shuffle-Masking Round, Partial, and Unmasking Round. |
| US08677126B2 |
Method and system for digital rights management of documents
A method and system for transmission of digital content via e-mail with point of use digital rights management is disclosed. The secured access rights to the digital content may be customized for individual recipients by the sender, and may evolve over time. The access rights are enforced according to a time-dependent scheme. A key server is used to arbitrate session keys for the encrypted content, eliminating the requirement to exchange public keys prior to transmission of the digital content. During the entire process of transmitting and receiving e-mail messages and documents, the exchange of cryptographic keys remains totally transparent to the users of the system. Additionally, electronic documents may be digitally signed with authentication of the signature. |
| US08677124B2 |
Method and device for securing data transfers
The method of securing data transfer comprises: a step of attempting to transmit a document from a document sender to at least one document recipient, by implementing at least one transmission attribute and for at least one step of attempted transmission, a step of evaluating the value of at least one transmission attribute and a step of making the evaluation of the value of the transmission attribute available to the sender. Preferably, in the course of the evaluating step, the evaluation is dependent on the anomalies of correspondence that are observed for each attempted transmission. Preferably, in the course of the evaluating step, the evaluation is, moreover, dependent on the elements provided by the recipient in the course of a step of registering with an electronic document transmission service. |
| US08677121B2 |
Monitoring encrypted session properties
Methods and systems for monitoring encrypted session properties include receiving a number of encrypted session properties at a real user monitor (RUM) on a real user monitoring (RUM) system, decrypting the number of encrypted session properties using an identity and access management (IAM) agent on the RUM system, and sending the number of decrypted session properties from a RUM mirror application to the RUM. |
| US08677119B2 |
Remote data viewer
A medical image and data application service provider system provides a way of remotely viewing and manipulating medical images and data for diagnostic and visualization purposes by users unconstrained by geography. Medical images and data are stored on one or more servers running application service provider software along with meta-data such as access control information, origin of information and references to related data. A set of medical data consisting related information is sent as an encrypted stream to a viewing station running client software in a secure execution environment that is logically independent of the viewing station's operating system. |
| US08677115B2 |
Methods for verifying system integrity
A request is received from a client for accessing a resource provided in a network, the request including credential data representing system integrity of at least one component running on the client. In response to the request, one or more credential identifiers identifying the credential data is transmitted to a management server that provisioned the client. Credential reference data is received from the management server based on the one or more credential identifiers. The client is authenticated based on a comparison of the credential data received from the client and credential reference data received from the management server. |
| US08677113B2 |
Transmission of secure electronic mail formats
A method and system for providing e-mail messages to a receiving e-mail application. The e-mail messages as sent from a sending e-mail application being secure and in opaque signed format. The opaque signed e-mail messages being converted to clear signed e-mail messages by decoding extracting message content and digital signatures. The clear signed e-mails being sent to a receiving e-mail application. |
| US08677111B2 |
Booting devices using virtual storage arrays over wide-area networks
Virtual storage arrays consolidate data storage at a data center for physical and virtual computer systems at one or more branch network locations. Standalone and virtualized computer systems at a branch network location load, execute, and store their operating systems, applications, and data using virtual storage arrays and do not require any built-in or external non-volatile data storage devices such as hard disk drives or solid-state drives at the branch network location. The virtual disks of the virtual storage array are mapped to physical data storage at the data center and accessed via a WAN using storage block-based protocols. A storage block cache at the branch network location includes storage blocks prefetched based on knowledge about the computer systems at the branch network location and the behavior of their operating systems and applications. |
| US08677107B2 |
Apparatus and method for handling exception events
Processing circuitry 4 has a plurality of exception states EL0-EL3 for handling exception events, the exception states including a base level exception state EL0 and at least one further level exception state EL1-EL3. Each exception state has a corresponding stack pointer indicating the location within the memory of a corresponding stack data store 35. When the processing circuitry is in the base level exception state EL0, stack pointer selection circuitry 40 selects the base level stack pointer as a current stack pointer indicating a current stack data store for use by the processing circuitry 4. When the processing circuitry 4 is a further exception state, the stack pointer selection circuitry 40 selects either the base level stack pointer or the further level stack pointer corresponding to the current further level exception state as a current stack pointer. |
| US08677105B2 |
Parallel processing of a sequential program using hardware generated threads and their instruction groups executing on plural execution units and accessing register file segments using dependency inheritance vectors across multiple engines
A unified architecture for dynamic generation, execution, synchronization and parallelization of complex instructions formats includes a virtual register file, register cache and register file hierarchy. A self-generating and synchronizing dynamic and static threading architecture provides efficient context switching. |
| US08677103B1 |
Asynchronous pipelined data path with data transition
Systems, methods, and computer program products for controlling a plurality of pipelined stages are described. In some implementations, an apparatus is described that includes a pipelined data path including a plurality of adjacent stages, where a stage includes a data store, a valid indicator, and a transfer controller including a state machine having a plurality of states. In some implementations, the stage is configured to send a status indicator different from the valid indicator to the state machine to indicate whether new data is available for processing by the stage in a next cycle, and whether a new data transfer is desired in the next cycle between the stage and the adjacent stage. |
| US08677092B2 |
Secure memory devices and methods of managing secure memory devices
A computing device and method for managing security of a memory or storage device without the need for administer privileges. To access the secure memory, a host provides a data block containing a control command and authentication data to the memory device. The memory device includes a controller for controlling access to a secure memory in the memory device. The memory device identifies the control command in the data block, authenticates the control command based on the authentication data, and executes the control command to allow the host device to access the secure memory. |
| US08677085B2 |
Virtual machine snapshotting in object storage system
The storage system exports logical storage volumes that are provisioned as storage objects within logical storage containers. These storage objects are accessed on demand by connected computer systems using standard protocols, such as SCSI and NFS, through logical endpoints for the protocol traffic that are configured in the storage system. A snapshot profile can be separately defined for each of these logical storage volumes, even for those that are within the same storage container. The snapshot profile for a logical storage volume defines whether or not snapshot is enabled for that logical storage volume, the frequency of the snapshot, and the number of snapshots to be retained. |
| US08677084B2 |
Method of configuring non-volatile memory for a hybrid disk drive
A system, method and machine-readable medium are provided to configure a non-volatile memory (NVM) including a plurality of NVM modules, in a system having a hard disk drive (HDD) and an operating system (O/S). In response to a user selection of a hybrid drive mode for the NVM, the plurality of NVM modules are ranked according to speed performance. Boot portions of the O/S are copied to a highly ranked NVM module, or a plurality of highly ranked NVM modules, and the HDD and the highly ranked NVM modules are assigned as a logical hybrid drive of the computer system. Ranking each of the plurality of NVM modules can include carrying out a speed performance test. This approach can provide hybrid disk performance using conventional hardware, or enhance performance of an existing hybrid drive, while taking into account relative performance of available NVM modules. |
| US08677067B2 |
Storage system and method for controlling storage system
In a storage system in which storage apparatuses communicatively coupled to a host computer are communicatively coupled to SVPs of the storage apparatuses through a management network, virtual SVPs are configured based on resources of the SVPs, and a maintenance environment for constituent elements of the storage apparatuses is provided through the virtual SVP to a maintenance apparatus accessing through the management network. The virtual SVPs share the information held by the SVPs. The virtual SVP performs maintenance and management of the storage apparatuses through a virtual storage apparatus configured based on the resources of at least two of the storage apparatuses. The virtual SVP acquires a data transmission amount for each communication protocol of a network port from a channel control unit, and sets a bandwidth for each communication protocol of the network port based on the acquired data transmission amount. |
| US08677063B2 |
Parity declustered storage device array with partition groups
This disclosure relates to parity declustered storage device arrays having partition groups. In an exemplary embodiment, the storage system includes a storage device array, such as disk array. Each storage device is divided into partitions. Each partition includes stripe units, such as hundreds or thousands of stripe units in exemplary embodiments. The storage system also includes a physical array controller coupled to the storage device array. In an exemplary embodiment, the array controller includes a partition group lookup table and stores and retrieves data and parity in the storage devices based on the partition group lookup table. In this exemplary embodiment, the array controller also includes a stripe lookup table and/or a log. In an exemplary embodiment, the partition group lookup table and the stripe lookup table take up less memory (e.g., by an order of magnitude) than a single-level stripe map conveying the same information. |
| US08677062B2 |
Caching data in a storage system having multiple caches including non-volatile storage cache in a sequential access storage device
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for caching data in a storage system having multiple caches. A sequential access storage device includes a sequential access storage medium and a non-volatile storage device integrated in the sequential access storage device, received modified tracks are cached in the non-volatile storage device, wherein the non-volatile storage device is a faster access device than the sequential access storage medium. A spatial index indicates the modified tracks in the non-volatile storage device in an ordering based on their physical location in the sequential access storage medium. The modified tracks are destaged from the non-volatile storage device by comparing a current position of a write head to physical locations of the modified tracks on the sequential access storage medium indicated in the spatial index to select a modified track to destage from the non-volatile storage device to the storage device. |
| US08677061B2 |
Information processing apparatus and cache control method
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a storage device, a volatile memory, and a processor. The storage device includes a controller, a first nonvolatile storage module, and a second nonvolatile storage module whose access speed is higher than an access speed of the first nonvolatile storage module. The processor is configured to execute an operating system and a cache driver that are loaded into the volatile memory. The cache driver uses at least part of an area in the second nonvolatile storage module as a cache for the first nonvolatile storage module. |
| US08677060B2 |
Isolation switching for backup of registered memory
Certain embodiments described herein include a memory system having a register coupled to a host system and operable to receive address and control signals from the host system, a volatile memory subsystem, a non-volatile memory subsystem, a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory subsystem, and a circuit coupled to the register, the volatile memory subsystem, and the controller. In a first mode of operation, the circuit is operable to selectively isolate the controller from the volatile memory subsystem, and to selectively couple the volatile memory subsystem to the register to allow data to be communicated between the volatile memory subsystem and the host system. In a second mode of operation, the circuit is operable to selectively couple the controller to the volatile memory subsystem to allow data to be communicated between the volatile memory subsystem and the non-volatile memory subsystem using the controller, and is operable to selectively isolate the volatile memory subsystem from the register. |
| US08677057B1 |
Initiating memory wear leveling
Systems and processes may use a host and an external host. The host may be a portable device that includes a memory, a memory controller, and a communication interface for communication with the external host. The portable device may receive a command signal from the external host and initiate a predetermined amount of wear leveling in response to the command signal. |
| US08677055B2 |
Flexible way of specifying storage attributes in a flash memory-based object store
Approaches for performing a write operation on a solid state device (SSD). One or more containers are maintained on the solid state device. Each container is a logical grouping of objects independent from where the logical grouping of objects are physically stored on the solid state device. When a write operation is received at the SSD, the manner is which changes requested by the write operation should be stored are determined based on which container is being written. Containers provide a flexible approach for specifying attributes of how data should be stored and accessed which is independent from where the data is physically stored. Containers also have particular utility in performing load balancing and ensuring high availability and recovery. |
| US08677054B1 |
Memory management schemes for non-volatile memory devices
A method includes storing data in a non-volatile memory that includes multiple memory blocks. At least first and second regions are defined in the non-volatile memory. A definition is made of a first over-provisioning ratio between a first logical address space and a first physical memory space of the first region, and a second over-provisioning ratio, different from the first over-provisioning ratio, between a second logical address space and a second physical memory space of the second region. Portions of the data are compacted, individually within each of the first and second regions and independently of the other region, by copying the portions from one or more source memory blocks to one or more destination memory blocks using the first and second over-provisioning ratios, respectively. |
| US08677052B2 |
Snapshotting of a performance storage system in a system for performance improvement of a capacity optimized storage system
A system for storing data comprises a performance storage system for storing one or more data items. A data item of the one or more data items comprises a data file or a data block. The system further comprises a segment storage system for storing a snapshot of a stored data item of the one or more data items in the performance storage system. The taking of the snapshot of the stored data item enables recall of the stored data item as stored at the time of the snapshot. At least one newly written segment is stored as a reference to a previously stored segment. |
| US08677049B2 |
Region prefetcher and methods thereof
A prefetch device and method are disclosed that determines from which addresses to speculatively fetch data based on information collected regarding previous cache-miss addresses. A historical record showing a propensity to experience cache-misses at a particular address-offset from a prior cache-miss address within a region of memory provides an indication that data needed by future instructions has an increased likelihood to be located at a similar offset from a current cache-miss address. The prefetch device disclosed herein maintains a record of the relationship between a cache-miss address and subsequent cache-miss addresses for the most recent sixty-four unique data manipulation instructions that resulted in a cache-miss. The record includes a weighted confidence value indicative of how many cache-misses previously occurred at each of a selection of offsets from a particular cache-miss address. |
| US08677047B1 |
Serial/parallel ATA controller and converter
An interface comprises a storage device controller that controls data flow from a Serial ATA bus to a storage device. A configurable bridge circuit is configured in one of a plurality of operating modes including a device bridge mode, and converts Parallel ATA information received on a Parallel ATA bus to Serial ATA information output to the Serial ATA bus when in the device bridge mode. |
| US08677046B2 |
Deadlock resolution in end-to-end credit protocol
A method for deadlock resolution in end-to-end credit protocol includes receiving a data frame and determining a number of credits required to transmit the data frame. The method also includes requesting and receiving credits from an end controller and responsively incrementing a credit counter. The method further includes determining if a value of the credit counter is greater than the number of credits required to transmit the data frame. Based on determining that the value of the credit counter is at least the number of credits required, the method includes transmitting the data frame to the end controller and decreasing the value of the credit counter by the number of credits required to transmit the data frame. Based on determining that the value of the credit counter is less than the number of credits required, the method includes transmitting a credit shortage notification to the end controller. |
| US08677043B2 |
Filler module for computing devices
An A filler module may include, but is not limited to: a body portion; and at least one conductive portion receivable within a component port of a computing device.A method for initializing a computing system may include but is not limited to: detecting a presence or absence of one or more filler modules within one or more computing device component ports; and determining compliance with an allowed filler module configuration according to the detection of the presence or absence of the one or more filler modules withing the one or more computing device component ports.A system comprising: a computing device component port; and a processing device configured to: detect a presence or absence of one or more filler modules within one or more computing device component ports, and determine compliance with an allowed filler module configuration according to the detection of the presence or absence of the one or more filler modules within the one or more computing device component ports. |
| US08677042B2 |
Interrupt moderation
A technique for interrupt moderation allows coalescing interrupts from a device into groups to be processed as a batch by a host processor. Receive and send completions may be processed differently. When the host is interrupted for receive completions, it may check for send completions, reducing the need for interrupts related to send completions. Timers and a counter allow coalescing interrupts into a single interrupt that can be used to signal the host to process multiple completions. The technique is suitable for both dedicated interrupt line and message-signaled interrupts. |
| US08677041B2 |
Balancing loads of a plurality of bus lanes of a snooping-based bus using a receiver, analyzer, and controller
A method and system for balancing loads of a plurality of bus lanes of a snooping-based bus. The system includes: a receiver for receiving snoop transactions from the bus lanes, each of the snoop transactions having a snoop request and at least one snoop response, an analyzer for analyzing respective actual and expected loads of each of the bus lanes dependent on the received snoop transactions, and a controller for providing a next snoop request from a number of outstanding snoop requests to a buffer allocated to the system, where the buffer is dependent on the analyzed loads of the bus lanes. |
| US08677038B2 |
Handheld electronic device and associated method employing a multiple-axis input device and learning a context of a text input for use by a disambiguation routine
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software that is operable to disambiguate text input. In addition to identifying and outputting representations of language objects that are stored in the memory and that correspond with a text input, the device is able to employ contextual data in certain circumstances to prioritize output and to learn new contextual data. |
| US08677034B2 |
System for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system
An I/O control system for controlling I/O devices in a multi-partition computer system. The I/O control system includes an IOP partition containing an I/O processor cell with at least one CPU executing a control program, and a plurality of standard partitions, each including a cell comprising at least one CPU executing a control program, coupled, via shared memory, to the I/O processor cell. One or more of the standard partitions becomes an enrolled partition, in communication with the I/O processor cell, in response to requesting a connection to the IOP cell. After a partition is enrolled with the I/O processor cell, I/O requests directed to the I/O devices from the enrolled partition are distributed over shared I/O resources controlled by the I/O processor cell. |
| US08677031B2 |
Facilitating, at least in part, by circuitry, accessing of at least one controller command interface
An embodiment may include circuitry to facilitate, at least in part, a first network interface controller (NIC) in a client to be capable of accessing, via a second NIC in a server that is remote from the client and in a manner that is independent of an operating system environment in the server, at least one command interface of another controller of the server. The command interface may include at least one controller command queue. Such accessing may include writing at least one queue element to the at least one command queue to command the another controller to perform at least one operation associated with the another controller. The another controller may perform the at least one operation in response, at least in part, to the at least one queue element. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible. |
| US08677030B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing packet classification tables
Methods and apparatus are provided for managing classification of packets within a multi-function input/output device, and for allowing the device's classification tables to be cleared in a non-blocking manner. The input/output device conveys multiple communication connections corresponding to multiple physical and/or virtual PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) functions bound to software images executing on hosts. The device comprises gate logic configured to indicate statuses of the functions or the DMA engines bound to the functions. When the gate logic indicates a particular destination function is valid, the packet is transferred normally after being classified. A portion of the logic corresponding to a given function is reprogrammed to indicate the function is invalid when that function is reinitialized (e.g., FLR or Function Level Reset). The function's entries in packet classification tables are cleared afterward. When the logic indicates a function is invalid, packets destined for that function are dropped. |
| US08677028B2 |
Interrupt-based command processing
In general, this disclosure describes techniques that allow communication between devices/modules of a computer system regarding inter-device/module command execution. In accordance with the techniques described herein, an operating device of a computing system may receive from a client one or more command indications of commands to be executed on the operating device. The operating device may further receive at least one command completion indicator that indicates a command for which one or more clients are awaiting completion of execution. The operating device may generate an interrupt that indicates completion of execution of the command for which the at least one command completion indicator was received. The interrupt may be a generic interrupt or a client-specific interrupt. In this manner, inefficiencies caused by client monitoring of operating device command execution may be reduced. |
| US08677026B2 |
Computers and microchips with a portion protected by an internal hardware firewalls
This invention generally relates to one or more computer networks having computers like personal computers or network servers with microprocessors linked by broadband transmission means and having hardware, software, firmware, and other means such that at least one parallel processing operation occurs that involve at least two computers in the network. |
| US08677025B2 |
Low latency communication via memory windows
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data. |
| US08677019B2 |
Data communication method using unambiguous vehicle identification information
A data communication method between a first communication user arranged at a motor vehicle and a second communication user arranged outside the motor vehicle is provided. The first communication user can be addressed by the second communication user by way of a network address. The network address of the first communication user is defined by an address management unit arranged outside the motor vehicle and is transmitted to the first communication user. |
| US08677016B1 |
System and method for identifying network topology information
A system and method identifies topology information of an autonomous system as well as other autonomous systems, and can provide topology information in response to requests. |
| US08677012B2 |
Method of and apparatus for transceiving data frame in wireless broadband internet network
A method of transmitting/receiving a frame between a portable terminal and a base station in a wireless broadband Internet network are provided. More particularly, a method of transmitting/receiving frames can include activating a session between the portable terminal and the base station, removing at least one header information field included in an Internet protocol (IP) datagram after activating the session, adding a network header which sets a predetermined transport connection identifier (TCID) to the IP datagram, generating the frame, and transmitting the generated frame via the activated session. Preferably, the frame is generated in any one of the portable terminal and the base station, and transmitted to the other one of the portable terminal and the base station. |
| US08677008B2 |
Distributed storage system with high bandwidth utilization
A distributed storage system comprising a plurality of storage-and-computing elements, each storing a plurality of small content fragments associated with a plurality of contents, wherein a content retrieval load is shared between the storage-and-computing elements such that approximately the total uplink bandwidth of the distributed storage system can be utilized, on a continuous basis, by virtually any combination of multiple storage-and-computing elements simultaneously retrieving many contents or retrieving the same content with different time shifts. |
| US08677007B2 |
Systems and methods for bypassing an appliance
Methods for redirecting, on a client, a communication of the client to a server to upon determining the server is not useable to communicate to the client include the steps of: establishing, by an client agent on a client, a transport layer connection between the client and an intermediary appliance, the intermediary appliance providing access to one or more servers; receiving, by the client agent from the intermediary appliance, address information identifying at least one of the one or more servers available to communicate; determining, by the client agent, the transport layer connection is unusable to communicate; establishing, by the client agent, a second transport layer connection between the client and one of the identified available servers to bypass the appliance. Corresponding systems are also described. |
| US08677004B2 |
Migration of logical partitions between two devices
A method includes receiving a command to migrate a workload partition from a source machine to a target machine. The source machine and the target machine are communicatively coupled to a first subnetwork and a second subnetwork, respectively. The workload partition has a source network address defined by network addressing of the first subnetwork. The method also includes determining a socket connection providing network communication between the workload partition and a host. The method includes notifying the host that the workload partition is migrating from the source machine to the target machine, wherein in response to the notifying the host is on alert to receive, through a network tunnel communication, an identification of a target network address that is assigned to the workload partition after the workload partition is migrated to the target machine. The workload partition is migrated from the source machine to the target machine. |
| US08677003B1 |
Distributed processing of streaming data on an event protocol
An exemplary method for distributed processing of streaming data on an event protocol comprises receiving a plurality of related events from the streaming data at a node, amending a state of the related events, determining an error margin based on the amended state, and updating a current data transformation based on the amended state and error margin, thereby enabling real time analysis of streaming data. |
| US08676999B2 |
System and method for remote authentication dial in user service (RADIUS) prefix authorization application
An apparatus comprising a client node configured to communicate with a server node and a plurality of mobile nodes, wherein the client node is configured to obtain Prefix Authorization (PA) for the mobile node from the server node using a Remote Authentication Dial In User Service (RADIUS) protocol. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising sending an Access-Request message to an Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) PA server using a RADIUS protocol, receiving an Access-Accept message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is accepted by the AAA PA server, and receiving an Access-Reject message from the AAA PA server using the RADIUS protocol if the Access-Request message is not accepted by the AAA PA server. |
| US08676997B2 |
System and method for unitized maneuvers for multi-player games
There is provided a system and method for facilitating unitized maneuvers for a shared environment to mitigate the effects of network latency. There is provided a method for use by a processor of a server for facilitating unitized maneuvers for a shared environment, the method comprising receiving a first message generated by a first client of a plurality of clients in response to the first client initiating a first unitized maneuver on a first object for rendering the shared environment and sending a second message to a second client of the plurality of clients in response to receiving the first message to communicate the first unitized maneuver so as to cause the second client to render the first object executing the first unitized maneuver in the shared environment approximately synchronously with the first client until a first end time determinable using parameters of the first unitized maneuver. |
| US08676996B2 |
System and method for variable time scale for multi-player games
There is provided a system and method for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment. There is provided a method for use by a processor of a server for facilitating variations in a time scale for a shared environment, the method comprising receiving a message generated by a first client of a plurality of clients in response to a variation in the time scale, for rendering the shared environment, caused by a user of the first client, and sending a second message to a second client of the plurality of clients in response to receiving the first message to communicate the variation in the time scale caused by the first client, so as to cause the second client to render the shared environment approximately synchronously in accordance with the variation in the time scale. |
| US08676989B2 |
Robust domain name resolution
A recursive DNS nameserver system and related domain name resolution techniques are disclosed. The DNS nameservers utilize a local cache having previously retrieved domain name resolution to avoid recursive resolution processes and the attendant DNS requests. If a matching record is found with a valid (not expired) TTL field, the nameserver returns the cached domain name information to the client. If the TTL for the record in the cache has expired and the nameserver is unable to resolve the domain name information using DNS requests to authoritative servers, the recursive DNS nameserver returns to the cache and accesses the resource record having an expired TTL. The nameserver generates a DNS response to the client device that includes the domain name information from the cached resource record. In various embodiments, subscriber information is utilized to resolve the requested domain name information in accordance with user-defined preferences. |
| US08676987B2 |
Method of processing data in internet protocol television receiver and internet protocol television receiver
A method of processing data in an IPTV receiver and such an IPTV receiver are disclosed. The method includes transmitting a request signal for resolution of a content reference identifier (CRID) corresponding to a content, receiving location information including a session description protocol (SDP) file, and a session initiation protocol-uniform resource identifier (SIP-URI) corresponding to the CRID, and controlling a session setup for processing a content by using the received SDP file. |
| US08676984B2 |
Live directory of cloud tenants to enable inter-tenant interaction via cloud
A system for enabling communication between multiple cloud-based services operating on a common cloud infrastructure includes a cloud infrastructure providing cloud-based services. The cloud-based services include a first service of a first tenant and a second service of a second tenant. A live directory is located within the cloud infrastructure and aggregates and distributing sharing and availability information pertaining to one or more of the cloud-based services. A back-end network is within the cloud infrastructure and enables communication between the cloud-based services and the live directory. A wide area network enables communication between the cloud-based services and one or more remote clients. The sharing and availability information pertaining to one or more of the cloud-based services aggregated and distributed by the live directory is used to establish a back-end connection between the first service of the first tenant and the second service of a second tenant. |
| US08676982B2 |
Home network domain master
A method of generating a transmission schedule for a network device of a home network includes ensuring that strongly interfering nodes of different domains do not transmit simultaneously while enabling other non interfering nodes of the different domains to transmit simultaneously. A domain master for a home network includes a receiver and a scheduler. The receiver receives at least one transmission from at least one node of its domain indicating at least one node of at least one neighboring domain whose transmissions are interfering. The scheduler schedules transmissions of said nodes of its domain in coordination with a domain master of said neighboring domain according to inter-domain node interference. |
| US08676981B2 |
Routing service requests based on lowest actual cost within a federated virtual service cloud
A method for providing a virtual cloud service at the lowest actual cost can begin with an optimal transaction handler of a federated virtual service cloud maintaining a virtual resource pool of transactional units. Each transactional unit can represent a service application deployed to a cloud service provided by a cloud service provider having a usage-based service cost model that allows transactional units to be placed in an inactive state to suspend its operating expense. Operational metrics data for the cloud service providers can be continuously captured. In response to a service request, the transactional unit that meets fulfillment requirements of the service request and incurs a lowest actual cost can be determined based upon cost factors derived from the operational metrics data, the usage-based service cost model, and a current usage state of the virtual resource pool. The received service request can be routed to the determined transactional unit. |
| US08676979B2 |
Methods and systems for efficient API integrated login in a multi-tenant database environment
Methods and systems for efficient API integrated login in a multi-tenant database environment and for decreasing latency delays during an API login request authentication including receiving a plurality of API login requests at a load balancer of a datacenter, where each of the plurality of API login requests specify a user identifier (userID) and/or an organizational identifier (orgID), fanning the plurality of API login requests across a plurality of redundant instances executing within the datacenter, assigning each API login request to one of the plurality of redundant instances for authentication, and for each of the respective plurality of API login requests, performing a recursive query algorithm at the assigned redundant instance, at one or more recursive redundant instances within the datacenter, and at a remote recursive redundant instance executing in a second datacenter, as necessary, until the login request is authenticated or determined to be invalid. |
| US08676976B2 |
Microprocessor with software control over allocation of shared resources among multiple virtual servers
A system and computer program product for controlling the allocation of shared resources. The system includes a next request priority module connected to a shared resource and to a plurality of requesters identified by requester identifiers. The next request priority module includes a pending request mechanism that prioritizes pending requests for the shared resource, a logging mechanism logging requester identifiers associated with previous grants to the shared resource, and next request priority logic. The next request priority logic accesses the next pending request to determine if it should be granted priority to the shared resource. The determining is responsive to logged requester identifiers and to the next requester identifier. Priority is granted to the shared resource to the next pending request in response to determining that the next pending request should be granted priority to the shared resource. The next requester identifier is logged in response to the granting. |
| US08676974B2 |
Quality of service (QoS) based planning in web services aggregation
Embodiment of the present invention include a method, system and computer program product for a data processing system for QoS based planning in a Web services aggregation. The system can include Web service aggregation and coordination logic configured to identify accessible Web services in a registry and to arrange an aggregation of the Web services for invocation responsive to requests received from communicatively coupled clients over a computer communications network. The system further can include QoS planning logic coupled to the Web service aggregation and coordination logic. The QoS planning logic can be enabled to measure both the individual performance of the Web services in an aggregation of Web services and also the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services. Finally, the QoS planning logic can be enabled to modify the aggregation of Web services responsive to measuring both of the individual performance of Web services in the aggregation of Web services and also of the cumulative performance of the aggregation of Web services. |
| US08676971B2 |
Method, system and computer program product for providing ethernet VLAN capacity requirement estimation
A method, system, and computer program product for providing VLAN capacity requirement estimation is provided. The method includes receiving at a computing system a VLAN configuration file that specifies VLAN access ports, VLAN switches and VLAN trunks in a VLAN. A target access port identifier is received at the computing system from a requestor. A target trunk and target switch corresponding to the target access port are determined at the computing system. A bandwidth contribution of the target access port to the VLAN is calculated at the computing system. The calculating is based on a least contribution algorithm that reflects an impact of provisioning the target access port with respect to trunk capacity, and is responsive to the target bandwidth requirement, the target class of service and placement of the target port in the VLAN. The bandwidth contribution is then transmitted to the requestor. |
| US08676966B2 |
Detecting and monitoring server side states during web application scanning
A computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for detecting and monitoring server side state during the scanning of a web application. The method includes: monitoring executed code of the web application while scanning the web application; retrieving code coverage information from the monitoring of the executed code and retrieving scanning information from the scanning of the web application; correlating the code coverage information with the scanning information; and determining a change in the server side state based on the correlation. The system includes one or more devices that executes the steps of the method. The computer program products includes computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium, where the instructions, when executed, will cause a computer to perform the steps of the methods. |
| US08676964B2 |
Detecting outliers in network traffic time series
According to an aspect of the invention, a system and method is configured to detect time series outliers in network traffic. |
| US08676955B1 |
Method and system for managing network traffic
A system and method for directing network connections. The invention enables a network device to direct subsequent connections from a client to a server for accessing resources. A process extracts a persistence key from a received message, and employs the persistence key to identify the appropriate server. An interface is provided, enabling a user program to direct the process of extracting the persistence key. The invention also provides a way for multiple clients to persist to a common server. |
| US08676954B2 |
Method and apparatus of performing simultaneous multi-agent access for command execution through a single client
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of managing a multiple agents via a session client. One example method of operation may include selecting multiple endpoint devices to manage, establishing a connection to a server, and identifying at least two agent identifiers identifying multiple agents corresponding to the multiple endpoint devices. The method may also include transmitting a session setup command to the server including the at least two agent identifiers and receiving a confirmation that a session has been established between the session client and the multiple agents of the multiple endpoint devices. |
| US08676952B2 |
User adaptive HTTP stream manager and method for using same
A stream manager and a method are described herein for creating an adaptive stream manifest file (e.g., HTTP adaptive stream manifest file) associated with original content where the original content is subsequently modified while being streamed based on input from a user of a user device. The user device is configured to request, receive and playback the original content and the modified content associated with the adaptive stream manifest file. |
| US08676949B2 |
Methods for interfacing with a virtualized computing service over a network using a lightweight client
Methods for controlling a virtualized computer service remotely through a client includes receiving a connection request from the client for controlling the virtual service available at a virtual machine. The request includes a plurality of connection parameters that describe the connection requirements of the client and is received at a virtual machine that is equipped with an image processor algorithm. The connection parameters are interrogated using the image processor algorithm to identify a specific virtual machine that provides the requested virtualized computer service. A framebuffer data for the identified virtual machine located in virtual memory is accessed and read directly through a hypervisor. The framebuffer data is processed into a plurality of image data packets using the image processor algorithm and transmitted to the client for presenting on a display device associated with the client. The image data packet grammar is tailored to the client and represents an image of the virtual machine display for the specific virtual machine. |
| US08676948B2 |
Method for tunnel mapping
The present invention discloses a method for tunnel mapping involved with the field of the next generation network. The method of the present invention comprises: according to a service data stream resource information request received, selecting, by a transport resource control function entity (TRC-FE), a corresponding label switch path (LSP) tunnel, and after completing allocation of the service data stream, instructing a transport resource enforcement function entity (TRE-FE) to update a stream label mapping table; and completing, by the TRE-FE, the update of the stream label mapping table, and according to mapping information in the table, mapping the service data stream to the LSP tunnel designated. The present invention solves the problem that a mapping between a service data stream and LSP tunnel resource in a NGN based on MPLS-TE can't be implemented according to current standards, and fills a gap in implementation of resource allocation in a bearer network. |
| US08676945B2 |
Method and system for processing fault alarms and maintenance events in a managed network services system
An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A workflow event corresponding to an alarm indicative of a fault within a customer network is generated. Recovery from the fault is automated according to the workflow event. Alarm information is transmitted to a maintenance management system, wherein the alarm information specifies information about the alarm. A maintenance event information from the maintenance management system is received in response to the transmitted alarm information. Additionally, it is determined whether the alarm is correlated to a maintenance event based on the maintenance event information. Automated handling of the alarm is differentiated based on the correlation. |
| US08676944B2 |
Network models, methods, and computer program products for managing a service independent of the underlying network technology
Embodiments of the present invention provide network models, methods, systems, and computer program products for managing a service. For example, in some embodiments, a network model for managing a service includes an end service domain that associates the service with an end service provider. The end service domain includes a plurality of wholesale service domains that each includes one or more networks that provide traffic transport for the end service domain. One or more gateways are used to couple one of the wholesale service domains to another one of the wholesale service domains, and to perform protocol translation on traffic passing between the coupled wholesale service domains. In addition, one or more gateways are configured to couple a user to the end service domain, and are further configured to communicate with the user by a protocol associated with the service. A process domain provides an abstract representation of applications provided by the end service domain. |
| US08676940B2 |
Communications portal
Per one embodiment, apparatus may be provided that include a communications portal and a back-end system. The communications portal includes a provider interface accessible by providers and a target user interface accessible by target users. The back-end system may include an deployment management. The provider interface is configured to present graphical user interface tools representing offering options. The graphical user interface tools are presented on a remote provider data access point device display remote from the provisioning portal while the remote provider data access point device is authenticated for a given provider. The offering options include “provider selectable assets” screen inputs configured to receive asset selections from the given provider, and “asset location and identifying data” screen inputs configured to receive data locating and identifying assets selected by the given provider. |
| US08676938B2 |
Local streaming proxy server
A local application streaming proxy can create a virtual image of storage media, which allows cloud operators to rapidly deliver applications, or deliver any operating system remotely, while providing better security, network utilization, low power requirements, and consistent performance for streamed applications and operating systems. A station using its WiFi/LAN provides QoS guarantees (or priority) for application streaming network communications to create a consistent user experience regardless of other application bandwidth utilization. “HTTP demand paging” is also possible. |
| US08676936B2 |
Managing method and apparatus for servicing contents provided by content provider
A managing method and/or an apparatus for servicing contents provided by contents provider includes creating a segment for providing contents to a subscriber terminal according to a prescribed regulation; connecting contents connection points connected to the contents with menus; and forming a segment menu of the segment by at least one menu connected to the contents to be provided to the subscriber terminal subscribed to the segment and selected from the menus. |
| US08676934B2 |
Communication device, server, program, and communication system
A communication device including: a communication unit; and a control unit controlling the communication unit to inquire if one upload service allows direct upload to a server storing service information of each of a plurality of upload services, to have the communication unit obtain desired information from the server for directly uploading data to the one upload service when the one upload service allows direct upload, and to have the communication unit directly upload data to the one upload service according to the desired information. |
| US08676933B2 |
NAT traversal method in session initial protocol
The present invention provides an NAT (Network Address Translator) traversal method in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for solving the problems of SIP in Internet phone (VoIP) under current Internet environment. In other words, the present invention solves the SIP problems caused by NAT (Network Address Translator) that P2P (Peer to Peer) transmission cannot traverse the NAT firewall directly. The major content of the present invention is that the computer conducts multiple registrations before issuing an Invite message in order to detect the rule of the NAT server to assign port number and IP address. Additional commands or parameters beyond the SIP standard are not required for the NAT traversal function. Hence, the capability of SIP for a NAT traversal function is provided without no additional commands or parameters. |
| US08676930B2 |
System and method for multiport automation
A system and method are disclosed for enhancing the throughput of signals from a security system receiver to an associated automation server. Multiple parallel Ethernet connections or ports are provided between the receiver and server to enable multiple signals to be transmitted between the two when such signals are received from a client's security system panel. The system and method may access the ports in a variety of orders to provide efficient transmittal of signals from the receiver to the server. In one embodiment, received event signals may be routed though the ports in numeric sequence, forward or reverse. In another embodiment, received event signals may be routed preferentially to the first port, if it is not busy. If the first port is busy then the signal may be routed to the second port, and so on. In a further embodiment, received event signals from specific client panels may be directed through predetermined ports, and a predetermined automation server at the central monitoring facility. |
| US08676928B1 |
Method and system for writing network data
Method and system for writing data in a network is provided. The method includes receiving an original write command from a host system to write data to a target; sending a command notifying the host system to send data, wherein a local router sends the command to the host system; receiving data from the host system, wherein the local router receives data; segmenting the original write command into a plurality of write commands; sending the plurality of write commands with data to a remote router; sending a status command to the local router for the plurality of write commands except for a first write command; assembling the plurality of write commands with data to a single write command, wherein the remote router assembles the plurality of write commands with data; and sending the single write command to the target. |
| US08676921B1 |
Contextual mapping based learning by converting information
A method, network server, communication device and system of preparing a pictorial representation of information. The system comprises a server for providing information and generating the pictorial representation, a wireless network for communicating said server over the air waves, and wireless terminals of said wireless network for receiving the information and making mark-ups or indications to the information from which the pictorial representation is created. |
| US08676918B2 |
Point of presence management in request routing
A system and method for the management of client computing device DNS queries and subsequent resource requests within a content delivery network service provider domain are provided. The management of the DNS queries can include the selection of computing devices corresponding to various Point of Presence locations for processing DNS queries. Additionally, the management of the content requests can include the selection of computing devices corresponding to resource cache components corresponding to various Point of Presence locations for providing requested content. The selection of the computing devices can incorporate logic related to geographic criteria, performance threshold criteria, testing criteria, and the like. |
| US08676917B2 |
Administering an epoch initiated for remote memory access
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering an epoch initiated for remote memory access that include: initiating, by an origin application messaging module on an origin compute node, one or more data transfers to a target compute node for the epoch; initiating, by the origin application messaging module after initiating the data transfers, a closing stage for the epoch, including rejecting any new data transfers after initiating the closing stage for the epoch; determining, by the origin application messaging module, whether the data transfers have completed; and closing, by the origin application messaging module, the epoch if the data transfers have completed. |
| US08676910B2 |
Method, server, client and system for network platform interaction
The present invention discloses a method, a server, a client and a system for network platform interaction which belong to the technical field of communication. The method comprises steps wherein: an intermediate platform detects a location event which includes selecting a contact person on a first platform and locating the contact person at a certain position; the intermediate platform acquires the information about the contact from the first platform, determines a corresponding second platform according to the position, and sends the location event to the second platform; the second platform analyzes the location event to acquire the related data of the position, acquires the contact person's information from the intermediate platform, and executes corresponding operations according to the contact person's information and the related data of the position. The system comprises a server and a client, wherein the server comprises an intermediate platform and the client comprises a first platform and a second platform. The invention reduces the complexity and development cost of the network platform and the mutual dependence and coupling degree of two interacting parties. |
| US08676909B2 |
Method, system and architecture for delivering messages in a network to automatically increase a signal-to-noise ratio of user interests
The present invention pertains to a method for delivering messages in a social network to increase a signal-to-noise ratio for the recipients of messages, characterized in that a process mechanism comprises of a diffusion process and a selection process combined through an adaptive process, in which: the diffusion process dispatches each message through dynamic routing graphs defined between the sender user and a set of potentially interested recipient users; the selection process locally filters the messages that are transmitted from sender users and received by potentially interested recipient users, according to the result of the application of a selection function on the metadata values constituting a message profile extracted from each transmitted message and weighted feature values constituting a user profile of the recipient to establish an estimate of interest for the user regarding each message, and the adaptive process continuously adjusts processing functions to adapt the graphs structure according to the user profiles dynamically updated by message metadata. |
| US08676906B2 |
Email access manager for a wireless communication device
In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for management of email access for a wireless communication device (WCD). The techniques may utilize an email access manager that selects a synchronization mode to synchronize with a remote email server and selects a transfer mode to transfer email messages with the remote email server based on context data regarding the WCD. The context data of the WCD may include one or more of quality of service (QoS) of network connections with the remote email server, battery status of the WCD, and user settings for the WCD. The email access manager monitors the context data from one or more managers, applications, and/or memory within the WCD. The techniques described herein enable an email application on a WCD to dynamically alter synchronization and transfer of email messages with a remote email server as appropriate given the context of the WCD. |
| US08676903B2 |
System and method to control email whitelists
A system and method to control email whitelists by collecting one or more website email addresses parsed from a web page, detecting whether one or more of the user's email addresses are included in a webform of the web page, confirming whether the collected one or more website email addresses are to be added to one or more email whitelists, and updating the configuration of the one or more whitelists in response to a confirmation to add the one or more site email addresses to the one or more email whitelists. |
| US08676901B1 |
Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices
Methods for transcoding attachments for mobile devices are described. In some embodiments, attachments associated with any communication are stored on a server. When a communication is sent from a server to a client device, a representation of the attachment that includes an indication of a native file type of the attachment is also sent along with the communication to the client device. In responding to a user's request to view the attachment, the server transcodes the attachment from the attachment's native file type to a viewable file type configured to display in the client device and then transmits at least a portion of the attachment in the viewable file type to the client device for display. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US08676897B1 |
N-way interactive communication using hand held computers
A method and apparatus for collaborative chatting on a plurality of hand held computer systems are disclosed. A Bluetooth communication may be established among several hand held computer systems. A participants list may be cached from previous sessions, eliminating a typical step of discovery. Collaborative chatting software may be automatically initiated on the hand held systems in the group. Information entered by any member of the group may be displayed in substantially real time on all hand held computer systems. Information may be color coded to identify its source. In this novel manner, collaborative chatting on a plurality of hand held computer systems may occur, resulting in richer, more efficient and more secure communication between group members. |
| US08676891B2 |
Visibility inspector in social networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transmitting a content data set to a computing device for displaying digital content to an author user, the author user having authored the digital content, receiving user input from the author user, the user input corresponding to the digital content, and, in response to receiving the user input, transmitting first data and second data to the computing device for display to the author user, the first data comprising a number of contacts that are able to access the digital content and the second data indicating one or more relationships between the author user and the contacts. |
| US08676889B2 |
Connection device, connection method for the same, and program
A connection device according to an aspect of the present invention is a server (104) which establishes a connection among a terminal (101), a terminal (102), and a terminal (103) for a multipoint conference in which media data is directly transmitted and received among the terminals (101 to 103), the connection device includes a caller information obtaining unit (202) and a callee information obtaining unit (203) which obtains media information of the terminals, a holding unit (204) which transmits, to the terminal (101), a first message for preventing the terminal (101) from starting a transmission of the media data to the terminal (102) and the terminal (103), when the media information of the terminal (102) and the terminal (103) is not obtained, and a communication starting unit (205) which transmits a second message (i) including the media information of the terminal (102) and (ii) for causing the terminal (101) to start transmitting the media data to the terminal (102), when the media information of the terminal (102) is obtained after the first message is transmitted. |
| US08676888B2 |
Method for multi-terminal session, and communication system and related device thereof
A method for a multi-terminal session, and a communication system and related devices thereof are disclosed according to the present invention. Accordingly, the user experience is improved. The method of the present invention includes setting up a connection between each terminal of a multi-terminal user and a session transfer server; setting up a connection between the session transfer server and a peer user; conducting a session between each terminal of the multi-terminal user and the peer user via the session transfer server. |
| US08676884B2 |
Security configuration
An example embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one memory including executable instructions, the at least one memory and the executable instructions being configured to, in cooperation with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: retrieving, from a reputation server, reputation data of uniform resource locators (URL) of one or more web sites relating to one or more web site features that are available via the web site; and determining executable web site features on the basis of the retrieved reputation data. |
| US08676883B2 |
Event management in a distributed processing system
Methods, systems, and computer program products for event management in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include receiving, by the incident analyzer, one or more events from one or more resources, each event identifying a location of the resource producing the event; identifying, by the incident analyzer, an action in dependence upon the one or more events and the location of the one or more resources producing the one or more events; identifying, by the incident analyzer, a location scope for the action in dependence upon the one or more events; and executing, by the incident analyzer, the identified action. |
| US08676876B2 |
Synchronizing an active feed adapter and a backup feed adapter in a high speed, low latency data communications environment
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for synchronizing an active feed adapter and a backup feed adapter in a high speed, low latency data communications environment that include brokering, by a stream administration server, establishment of an active message stream to a subscribing client device from an active feed adapter, the active message stream capable of communicating active application messages; brokering, by the server, establishment of a backup message stream to the client device from a backup feed adapter, the backup message stream capable of communicating backup application messages; receiving an active feed adapter state in backup messaging middleware of the backup adapter from active messaging middleware of the active adapter; determining, by the backup feed adapter, whether a backup feed adapter state is synchronized with the active feed adapter state; and administering, by the backup feed adapter, operation of the backup adapter in dependence upon the determining. |
| US08676869B2 |
Adaptive display for enhancing audio playback
An audio playback device and method searches initiates a web search for images related to music or other audio files being played, downloads images from selected web pages returned by the search engine, and outputs one or more images from the selected web pages on a display to enhance the user's listening experience. |
| US08676868B2 |
Macro programming for resources
A system and a method are disclosed for generating, storing, retrieving, and utilizing a search macro or shortcut link to a resource, such as a web site that provides access to an information database. The system may load a page into an application from the resource. The resource may have a Uniform Resource Identifier, and the page may have a search field that causes the application to generate a message when activated. The system may read the Uniform Resource Identifier insert a placeholder into the search field, and activate the search field, which causes the application to generate a message. The system may read the message and parse the message to isolate a search string containing the placeholder. The system may store the search string in a data structure, and may also store the Uniform Resource Identifier and associate it with the search string in the data structure. The system may further retrieve the search string, replace the placeholder with a search term, and generate a message as a function of the search string and the search term. |
| US08676866B2 |
Computing canonical hierarchical schemas
Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for receiving a plurality of source hierarchical schemas, processing the source hierarchical schemas to generate a merged graph, which is comprising a plurality of merged nodes, each merged node being provided based on one or more nodes from at least two of the source hierarchical schemas, determining and resolving using conflicts in the merged graph to generate a conflict-free merged graph, wherein resolving comprises splitting one or more merged nodes into respective sub-sets of merged nodes, defining and processing a constraints satisfaction problem (CSP) to generate a plurality of mediated hierarchical schemas (MHSs), each MHS being a solution to the CSP, identifying an MHS of the plurality of MHSs as an optimum MHS, wherein a canonical hierarchical schema (CHS) is provided as the optimum MHS, and storing the CHS as a computer-readable document in a computer-readable memory. |
| US08676864B2 |
Methods and systems for providing schema layout in an on-demand services environment
Methods and systems are provided for automatically arranging graphical representations of objects on a canvas. Optionally, the automatic arrangement of the graphical representation of the object may be performed in an on demand, multi-tenant database as part of a tool for creating and displaying schema. A data object with more connections to other data objects may tend to be placed closer to other objects, where as data objects with fewer connections may tend to be placed further apart. The algorithm for placement is based on computations of pseudo-forces between objects. The pseudo force on an object from all other objects is calculated in a given time step and when the force is less than a threshold value, the positions of the objects is updated based on the forces. When the computed displacements are less than a threshold, the objects are in equilibrium. |
| US08676862B2 |
Information management
A method for information management comprises monitoring output from an application to an operating system, wherein the output is monitored substantially continuously; determining if a policy applies to data associated with the output; and executing the policy if the policy applies. |
| US08676860B2 |
Web service discovery via data abstraction model
A method includes querying a discovery registry associated with a data abstraction model of a database to discover one or more web services that are resolvable based on a particular logical field selected via a database query interface. The data abstraction model includes a plurality of logical fields that each correspond to a particular data structure of the database. A web service input of a discovered web service is associated with a first logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry, and a web service output of the discovered web service is associated with a second logical field of the data abstraction model via the discovery registry. A modified database query interface includes a text entry element to receive a text search term and a first selectable input associated with the first discovered web service. |
| US08676858B2 |
Grouping and differentiating volumes of files
Methods and apparatus teach a digital spectrum of a file. The digital spectrum is used to map a file's position in a multi-dimensional space. This position relative to another file's position reveals distances between the files. Closest files can be grouped together. When contemplating voluminous numbers of files for digital spectrums, various methods include: concatenating all such files together to get a single key useful for creating a file's spectrum; or compressing files individually and combining their collective dictionaries into a single dictionary that defines the digital spectrum. Each provides advantage over the other. The latter consumes considerably less run time because each compression event can be distributed to a separate processor. Method two provides better spectrums because it is more “informationally” valid than is method one. |
| US08676852B2 |
Process and apparatus for selecting an item from a database
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for selecting database items from a database, where the database items are indexed by a list of item identifiers. The item identifiers may be in the form of text. An initial display is generated which includes one or more parts of the item identifiers. Selection of the one or more parts may be made and results in the generation of a display of a further one or more parts for selection. The further one or more parts may be selected in order to add to the selected one or more parts to build a larger part or whole of an item identifier. Selection from a large list of item identifiers may be carried out in a relatively short time period. |
| US08676848B2 |
Configuring cloud resources
A method, system, and program product for identifying cloud resources are provided, and further a method, system, and program product for configuring cloud resources are provided. The method for identifying cloud resources may include receiving a request with respect to at least one resource in a cloud and determining a set of resources among the at least one resource in the cloud in accordance with the received request. Determining the set of resources may include consulting an ontology including metadata associated with the at least one resource in the cloud and computing the set of resources based on the metadata and the received request. Additionally, the method may include computing a cost factor with respect to the determined set of resources. Furthermore, the method may include rendering, in response to the received request, the determined set of resources and the cost factor with respect to the determined set of resources. |
| US08676847B2 |
Visibility control of resources
Organization and assignment of access privileges to resources in a computer network. The resources of the network are organized into a hierarchical tree structure, with each node in the tree representing a resource, resource group, or resource instance. Read and/or write permission to one or more resources may be explicitly granted to the resource or implicitly granted based upon the location of the resource in the hierarchical structure. The access rights attach to the resource(s). Upon movement of the resource within the tree structure or to an alternate tree structure, the access rights associated therewith remain with the relocated resource. |
| US08676846B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database functionality with a common security policy function
Methods for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database (VPD) functionality are provided. The methods may include inserting rows into a user security table in a database providing VPD functionality, each row comprising a user ID for which database access is to be controlled, the name of a database object to be secured, and a predicate; and defining a security policy function common to all secured database objects, said security policy function generating a second predicate to be appended by the database's VPD functionality to queries made on a queried secured database object by a querying user, said second predicate based on at least one predicate in at least one row in the user security table, the at least one row referencing the name of the queried secured database object and the user ID of the querying user. Related systems and computer program products are also provided. |
| US08676843B2 |
Failure recovery in a parallel-processing database system
A system and method for failure recovery in a multiple processing node system are described herein. Each node can be adapted to store a backup copy of its database portion and/or results to disk storage or memory of at least one other node. In the event of a failure of a node, the replacement node can be adapted to transfer or copy the backup copy of the database portion of the failed node from the failed node's neighbors to the replacement node's disk storage or memory in between database operations. Before the transfer or copy of the backup copy is completed, the replacement node can be adapted to perform database operations in part on the portion of the backup copy the replacement node has already received and in part on the backup copy stored at the neighboring node(s). |
| US08676841B2 |
Detection of recurring non-occurrences of events using pattern matching
Techniques for detecting recurring non-occurrences of an event. In one embodiment, techniques are provided for detecting the non-occurrence of an event within each of a series of time periods following the occurrence of another event. Language extensions are provided that enable queries to be formulated for detecting recurring non-occurrence of an event following occurrence of a triggering event. |
| US08676837B2 |
Systems and methods for personalizing aggregated news content
A system customizes a news document associated with a user of a news aggregation service. The system includes multiple news source servers that store news content and a remote news aggregation server. The news aggregation server creates a customized news document based on one or more personalized search queries received from a user. The news aggregation server fetches the news content from the multiple news source servers, aggregates the news content, and searches the aggregated news content based on the one or more personalized search queries. The news aggregation server provides selected news content to the customized news document based on results of the search. |
| US08676832B2 |
Accessing medical image databases using anatomical shape information
The invention relates to a system (100) for retrieving a volumetric image data subset comprised in a data storage (105) of volumetric image data sets, the system comprising: a first query unit (111; 113) for composing a first query for searching the data storage (105) for a volumetric image data set comprising the volumetric image data subset; a second query unit (112; 113) for composing a second query for searching the volumetric image data set for the volumetric image data subset, the second query comprising anatomical structure information for identifying an anatomical structure within the volumetric image data set; a first determination unit (121; 123) for determining the volumetric image data set, based on the first query; a second determination unit (122; 123) for determining the volumetric image data subset of the volumetric image data set, based on the anatomical structure identified within the volumetric image data set, using the anatomical structure information comprised in the second query; and a retrieval unit (125) for retrieving the determined volumetric image data subset. The system is thus capable of retrieving a reduced amount of data describing the anatomical structure, i.e. a subset of a volumetric image data set. |
| US08676830B2 |
Keyword recommendation for internet search engines
A computer implemented method of generating keyword recommendations is provided, which includes providing keyword frequency data in computer readable media that indicate frequency counts of keywords used in past internet searches; providing keyword affinity data in computer readable media that indicate affinities between pairs of keywords used in past user internet searches; identifying keywords from the keyword frequency data that include the selected keyword; identifying keywords from the keyword affinity data that have an affinity to the selected keyword; and prioritizing the identified keywords based upon the keyword frequency. |
| US08676826B2 |
Method, system and program storage device for automatic incremental learning of programming language grammar
The embodiments provide for automatic incremental learning of programming language grammar. A corpus (i.e., a text file of software code written in a particular programming language) is parsed based on a set of grammar rules. An unparsed statement from the corpus is identified along with a section thereof, which did not match any of the grammar rules in the set. A subset of the set of grammar rules at fault for the parsing failure is identified. Groups of new grammar rules are developed such that each group comprises at least one new grammar rule, such that each group can parse the unparsed statement, and such that each new grammar rule is a modification of grammar rule(s) in the subset. One specific group can then be selected for possible incorporation into the set of grammar rules. Optionally, before a specific group is selected, the groups can be heuristically pruned and/or ranked. |
| US08676822B2 |
System and method for quality assured media file storage
There is provided a system and method for quality assured media file storage. There is provided a method for use by a processor to verify quality of a new media file by transcoding a master media file into a first media file, determining a quality of the first media file, applying a first quality assurance scheme to the first media file for an assured quality, calculating a first hash value using a hash function for the first media file, storing the first hash value in a memory, transcoding the master media file into a new media file, calculating a test hash value using the hash function for the new media file, and searching the memory for the test hash value to decide whether the new media file has the assured quality, without having to apply the first quality assurance scheme again to the new media file. |
| US08676820B2 |
Indexing and search query processing
A method for processing a search query according to one embodiment includes receiving a search query containing terms; combining at least some consecutive terms in the search query to create biwords; looking up at least some of the terms and biwords in a search index for identifying sections of documents containing the at least some of the terms and/or biwords; generating a content score for each of the identified sections based at least in part on a number of the terms and biwords found in the sections of each document, wherein the biwords are given a higher priority than matched terms, wherein the priority affects the content score; and selecting and outputting an indicator of at least one of the sections, or portion thereof, based at least in part on the content score. |
| US08676815B2 |
Suffix tree similarity measure for document clustering
The subject innovation provides for systems and methods to facilitate weighted suffix tree clustering. Conventional suffix tree cluster models can be augmented by incorporating quality measures to facilitate improved performance. Further the quality measure can be employed in determining cluster labels that show improvements in accuracy over conventional means. Additionally “stopnodes” can be defined to facilitate traversing suffix tree models efficiently. Quality measurements can be determined based in part on weighting factors applied to terms in a vector model, said terms being mapped from a suffix tree model. |
| US08676810B2 |
Multiple index mixed media reality recognition using unequal priority indexes
An MMR system for processing image queries across index tables with unequal priority comprises a plurality of mobile devices, a pre-processing server or MMR gateway, and an MMR matching unit, and may include an MMR publisher. The MMR matching unit receives an image query from the pre-processing server or MMR gateway and sends it to one or more of the recognition units to identify a result including a document, the page, and the location on the page. The MMR matching unit includes a dispatcher, a plurality of recognition units, and index tables, as well as an image registration unit. In one embodiment, the system includes an MMR matching plug-in installed on the mobile device. The present invention also includes methods for processing image queries across index tables of unequal priority and updating a high priority index based on received or projected image queries. |
| US08676809B1 |
Method and apparatus for mapping virtual machine incremental images
Embodiments of the present invention include a method and apparatus for performing incremental mapping of virtual machine incremental images. The method and apparatus comprise creating a map of the base file as well as the incremental file, utilizing at least a portion of the file tables contained in the various images. This map indicates the type of change (i.e., whether the file is contained completely in an incremental image, is contained in the base image, or is contained in both). In another embodiment, the map may also contain the location of the change or the location of the file within the sequentially stored images upon the backup media. |
| US08676804B1 |
Managing information about entities using observations generated from user modified values
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing entities using observations. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data identifying an entity; generating a user interface document that, when rendered by a user device, presents a plurality of attribute values to a user and allows the user to modify one or more of the plurality of attribute values; and storing an observation in a data store, the observation including a user-modified value of one of the plurality of attribute values and a context including one or more of the presented attribute values. |
| US08676803B1 |
Clustering images
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for clustering images. In one aspect a system includes one or more computers configured to, for each of a plurality of digital images, associate extrinsic image-related information with each individual image, the extrinsic image-related information including text information and co-click data for the individual image, assign images from the plurality of images to one or more of the clusters of images based on the extrinsic information associated with each of the plurality of images, receive in the search system a user query from a user device, identify by operation of the search system one or more clusters of images that match the query, and provide one or more cluster results, where each cluster result provides information about an identified cluster. |
| US08676802B2 |
Method and system for information retrieval with clustering
Methods and systems that enable searching with clustering in information access systems are described. The methods of clustering operate on a collection of materials wherein each item in the collection may be associated with one or more properties. An original subset of materials is selected from the collection and relevant properties associated with the subset of materials are clustered into property clusters. Each property cluster generally contains properties that are more similar to each other than to properties in a different property cluster. The property clusters can be used to respond to the query. A mapping function can be used to identify a set of materials that correspond to each property cluster based on the associations between individual items and properties. The property clusters can also be used for iterative query refinement. |
| US08676799B1 |
Evaluating techniques for clustering geographic entities
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating clusters of geographic entities, for example, to be used in a randomized geographic experiment. One method includes using a clustering algorithm to cluster geographic entities into a set of clusters, and identifying whether each geographic entity is an ambiguously classified entity or a definitively classified entity. The method further includes determining a measurement for the set of clusters according to a quantification of an attribute of the definitively classified entities and the ambiguously classified entities. Similar measurements can be calculated for other sets of clusters, and the clusters can be compared according to their measurements. |
| US08676795B1 |
Dynamic visual representation of phrases
A plurality of phrases may be extracted from documents associated with one or more document sources. The plurality of phrases may be filtered and processed to determine a frequency in which the plurality of phrases appear in the documents and/or a number of the document sources in which each phrase appears. A weight may be assigned to each of the phrases and, based at least in part on the assigned weight, a visual representation of the plurality of phrases may be presented. The visual representation may be dynamically updated based at least in part on an updated frequency or an updated total number of document sources associated with any one of the plurality of phrases. |
| US08676794B2 |
Method and system for online searching of physical objects
Online searching related to a physical object by a user making use of a computing device is accomplished by creating a representation of the object at the user's computing device. A software button originating remote from the user's computing device is provided to the user's computing device, and the button is constructed based upon the representation of the object. The software button is associated with a second device in use by a subscriber associated with the object, the button and it is actuable by the user. Upon actuation of the software button by the user, an executable agent is downloaded to his computing device, effective to establish a connection between the user's computing device and the second device. |
| US08676793B2 |
Systems and methods of building and using custom word lists
Standard word lists that are often used for such operations as predictive text, spell checking, and word completion are based on general linguistic data that might not accurately reflect actual text usage patterns of particular users. Systems and methods of building and using a custom word list for use in text operations on an electronic device are provided. A collection of text items associated with a user of the electronic device is scanned to identify words in the text items. A weighting is then assigned to each identified word, and the words and corresponding weightings are stored. |
| US08676790B1 |
Methods and systems for improving search rankings using advertising data
Systems and methods for improving search rankings using advertising data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a search engine implements a method comprising receiving a search query, identifying a plurality of articles relevant the search query, determining advertising data associated with the search query, and ranking the articles based at least in part on the advertising data. |
| US08676789B2 |
Systems and methods to sort information related to entities having different locations
Systems and methods sort location dependent information based on selecting multiple groups of information according to location, ordering the groups based on location, and ordering the information within the groups based on at least one or more other criteria. The size(s) of the areas used to select the groups may be predetermined, or dynamically determined (e.g., based on clustering of information along distance to a location of interest). |
| US08676788B2 |
Structured large object (LOB) data
Provided are techniques for processing structured content within Large Object (LOB) data that is stored in a column of a database table. Structural metadata describing structures that each define a different format of the structured content is stored. A request for data in the database table is received. The structural metadata is used to create an empty result set with columns defined by at least two of the structures. For each row of data in the database table that includes LOB data, control data is used to identify one of the structures to be applied to the structured content within the LOB data stored in that row of data, and the structured content within the LOB data in that row of data is mapped to the columns in the result set based on the identified one of the structures. The result set is returned. |
| US08676785B2 |
Translator of statistical language programs into SQL
System and method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL. These statements include one or more input statements and have a plurality of data rows. These statements include one or more array statements, the array statements having a set of original variables. The method for translating statements and expressions within statistical language programs into SQL includes the step of defining a select statement including a subset of the original variables. The expressions include one or more assignment expressions, the assignment expressions including a set of original variables and a set of new variables affected by the assignment expressions. |
| US08676784B2 |
Relevant individual searching using managed property and ranking features
Embodiments are configured to provide information relevant to individuals of interest to a searching user. In an embodiment, a method includes identifying relevant individuals of a network using a relevance model that includes the use of a number of managed properties and ranking features to identify relevant individuals of a defined network. The relevance model of one embodiment is defined by a schema that includes a textual matching ranking feature, social distance ranking feature, a levels to top ranking feature, and a proximity ranking feature. |
| US08676779B2 |
Efficient storage and search of word lists and other text
A computer readable storage medium tangibly embodying machine-readable digital data arranged to facilitate expedited searching. The data includes a plurality of words residing in a table having rows and columns, each word residing in a different row and each letter of the word occupying a different column in that row. Each continuous run of same letters in a column forms an interval. The words are positioned relative to each other to maximize lengths of the intervals, and/or optimize efficiency of compression of the columns by run length encoding. |
| US08676778B2 |
Method and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network
Methods and apparatus for electronically publishing information on a computer network are disclosed. A computer connected to a computer network is provided to host a database. The computer is configured receive a request from a user to electronically publish information on the computer network. The computer then may accept and store input from the user in a database. The computer may then electronically publish the user input by making information stored in the database freely accessible on the computer network. |
| US08676768B1 |
Collaborative modeling environment
A system may receive a model, extract information from the model, form a group of tags using the extracted information, and associate the group of tags with the model. The system may further receive a search query including one or more sequences of characters and determine whether to provide the model in a list of models created for the search query, based on the one or more sequences of characters and the group of tags. |
| US08676767B2 |
Real time XML data update identification
A data file comprising a plurality of blocks of data may have two or more versions. The meaning of the data file is insensitive to the ordering of the blocks of data within the data file. Updates to the data file may be identified by providing each of said plurality of blocks of data with a first checksum and each of said versions of the data file with a second checksum of the said version of the data file as a whole. The second checksum of the first version of the data file is compared with the second checksum of the second version of the data file. If the comparison indicates that the second checksums of the first and second versions of the data file differ, then the first checksums of each of said plurality of blocks of data of the first and second versions of the data file are compared and an indication is provided of which of the plurality of blocks of data differs between the first and second versions of the data file. |
| US08676766B2 |
Computer-readable recording medium storing cluster system control program, cluster system, and cluster system control method
A computer-readable recording medium stores a cluster system control program controlling a cluster system in which clustered nodes are connected to a shared disk having a journaling file system. The cluster system control program causes a computer to execute a request reply information generation procedure for, when a request is accepted from a client, generating request reply information including an identification number identifying the request and reply data to respond to the request from the client, and a saving procedure for saving the request reply information generated by the request reply information generation procedure in the journaling file system. |
| US08676765B2 |
Database archiving performance benefit determination
A database archiving performance benefit determination system may include a data reduction module to ascertain a reduction value of data stored on a database, and a database setup module to ascertain a setup of the database. A performance modeling module may calculate a performance increase for a database application using the database based on the reduction value, the setup of the database, and at least one parameter representing the database application. |
| US08676763B2 |
Remote data protection in a networked storage computing environment
A method, system, and program product are provided for protecting and restoring data within a networked (e.g. cloud) storage computing environment through asynchronous replication and remote backup of data and its associated metadata. Data backup and recovery functionality provides data backups by detecting incremental updates to the data and its associated metadata at specific points in time determined by policies. The policies are configurable based on user requirements. Multiple copies of the data backups can be made and stored in separate compressed files at backup/disaster recovery locations. The backups of data and its associated metadata, which includes file system configuration information can be used to restore the state of a computer file system to that of a given point-in-time. Accordingly, a data protection approach is disclosed for protecting data at both the file system level and application level. |
| US08676762B2 |
Efficient backup and restore of a cluster aware virtual input/output server (VIOS) within a VIOS cluster
In a Virtual Input/Output (I/O) Server (VIOS) partition within a data processing system that comprises cluster-aware VIOSes, the system provides the functions of: performing, via a backup/restore utility of a cluster aware (CA) operating system (OS) executing on a processor resource of the first VIOS partition, a backup operation on the first VIOS partition, which creates a first configuration backup file having configuration information about the hardware, logical and virtual devices of the VIOS partition; storing the configuration backup file within local storage; and responsive to receipt of a VIOS restore command: retrieving the configuration backup file from the local storage; and restoring the configuration of the hardware, logical and virtual devices of the first VIOS to a state that existed at a time at which the backup operation creating the configuration backup file was performed. |
| US08676758B2 |
Extending configuration management databases using generic datatypes
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for allowing users with minimal database skills to produce efficient, extended configuration management databases. Input is received from a user to extend a configuration management database, wherein the input includes a generic data type. The generic data type is mapped to a database data type of the configuration management database. An SQL statement is then generated to create the database data type in the configuration management database. Responsive to a successful execution of the SQL statement, the tables in the configuration management database are updated with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type. |
| US08676755B2 |
Contact entry population from call entity information
Populating a contact entry with selected entity information based on an identifier associated with a call (e.g., a telephone call, VoIP call, text message, electronic mail message, or any other communication). As the call is detected, entity information for the identifier (e.g., a telephone number, VoIP address, MAC address, etc.) is generated. The entity information is filtered based on a category of the entity information, user preferences, location of a computing device (e.g., mobile telephone) of the user, or other filtering criteria. The filtered entity information is associated with the contact entry for the identifier, thereby enhancing the contact entry while reducing typing on the computing device. In some embodiments, additional information such as advertisements for a competitor of the entity are provided to the user. |
| US08676754B2 |
Method and apparatus for data disaster tolerance preprocessing, and service control point
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for data disaster tolerance preprocessing and a Service Control Point (SCP), the method and the apparatus are used in each SCP of a plurality of SCPs with databases, the method comprises: setting a first database in a first SCP, wherein the first database is used to perform disaster tolerance backup for a second database in a second SCP. Through the present invention, the cost of the construction of the system is reduced, and the stability and feasibility of a disaster tolerance system are enhanced. |
| US08676751B2 |
High availability database systems and methods
Described are systems and methods for communicating between a primary database and a standby database of a high availability data recovery (HADR) system. A plurality of primary partitions in a primary database and a plurality of standby partitions in a standby database are configured to communicate with each other. A transition of the plurality of primary partitions from a first HADR state to a second HADR state is synchronized. |
| US08676749B2 |
Statement logging in databases
System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for logging of data manipulation language (DML) statements are described herein. An embodiment includes a database engine, a replication agent and a replication server which replicates data from the database engine to one or more replicate databases. The database engine writes parsed query information into a transaction log so that a process of replication agent may read the parsed query information and forward it to the replication server. The database engine writes all log records associated with a statement in a manner that allows the replication server to distinguish if those log records belong to same statement. In another embodiment, replication agent selectively sends SQL statement information to the replication server based on the replication server architecture. |
| US08676746B2 |
Database management system risk assessment
A method of evaluating an implementation of a DBMS is provided. The method comprises collecting data associated with the implementation of the DBMS and accessing a database comprising problems and their associated solutions, wherein the solutions are configured to remedy at least one of the problems. The method further comprises comparing the data associated with the implementation of the DBMS with the problems and identifying at least one problem associated with the DBMS. Finally, a DBMS risk assessment report is generated that identifies the problem associated with the DBMS and a solution configured to remedy the problem. |
| US08676740B2 |
Attribute estimation system, age estimation system, gender estimation system, age and gender estimation system and attribute estimation method
An attribute estimation system and a method in which there are no cases that the estimation accuracy declines in a specific numerical value area, and an age estimation system, a gender estimation system and an age and gender estimation system using this is provided.It is a system to estimate an age of a person photographed in an input image, the system including: a classifier 3 that estimates the age of a person as a discrete quantity based on data of an input image; a classifier 4 that estimates the age of a person as a continuous quantity based on data of an input image; and an integration unit 7 that integrates an estimated result of the classifier 3 and an estimated result of the classifier 4. |
| US08676738B2 |
Relationship detector, relationship detection method, and recording medium
For a group of elements defined with a first relationship between elements stored in a first data memory unit and a second relationship therebetween different from the first relationship stored in a second data memory unit, a relationship detector includes a first distance calculating unit that calculates a predetermined first distance between the two elements belonging to the group in the first relationship, a second distance calculating unit that calculates a predetermined second distance between the two elements belonging to the group in the second relationship, and an unpredictability calculating unit that calculates a dissociation level between the first distance and the second distance between the two elements belonging to the group through a predetermined rule. |
| US08676735B1 |
System and method to facilitate and document user thinking about an arbitrary problem with collaboration system
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and methods for facilitating of formal and informal collaborative or cooperative groups, teams or multiple individuals according to exemplary or preferred approaches for problem solving and conducting inquiry based projects. Preferred embodiments use exemplary archetype processes or archetype structures for problem solving or thinking about a problem or inquiry based project. |
| US08676730B2 |
Sentiment classifiers based on feature extraction
Method and apparatus are provided for providing one or more sentiment classifiers from training data using supervised classification techniques based on features extracted from the training data. Training data includes a plurality of units such as, but not limited to, documents, paragraphs, sentences, and clauses. A feature extraction component extracts a plurality of features from the training data, and a feature value determination component determines a value for each extracted feature based on a frequency at which each feature occurs in the training data. On the other hand, a class labeling component labels each unit of the training data according to a plurality of sentiment classes to provide labeled training data. Thereafter, a sentiment classifier generation component provides a least one sentiment classifier based on the value of each extracted feature and the labeled training data using a supervised classification technique. |
| US08676724B2 |
Training with complex event processing engine to identify semantic meaning of virtual world object state changes
Techniques for training a system to identify state changes in objects in virtual worlds. Base events transmitted by a virtual world engine are observed. Statistical analysis of the observed base events is performed. Based at least in part on this statistical analysis, a computer processor determines that a group of one or more of the observed base events is correlated to a first identified higher-level event. Optionally, the determination is based in part on a frequency of occurrence of the group of base events, on generated rules, or both. A candidate higher-level event including the group of base events thus determined is stored. User input is received about the candidate higher-level event. If so specified by the received user input, the candidate higher-level event is stored as a second identified higher-level event. As a result, the system is advantageously trained to identify higher-level events which represent abstract situations. |
| US08676723B2 |
Automated test system based on three-dimensional application software framework and a method thereof
A three-dimensional application program framework structure; a method for implementing an application program based on the same; and an automatic testing system based on a three-dimensional application software framework and a method therefor. The three-dimensional application program framework structure provides a framework comprising functions and management of the environment of the system and events to be implemented by the user (developer), and the developer can easily expand the graphic user interface (GUI) and an actual modeling function as required, and user model. In addition, by using an automatic test system based on the framework, it is possible to record the function-execution history of the user and to automatically generate a test case, and to thereby test the functioning of the application software through the use of the test case regardless of changes in the source code and the GUI. |
| US08676720B1 |
Collaborative method for managing electronic catalogs
The present invention allows multiple parties to collaborate on managing the content of an electronic catalog. In one embodiment, the invention can include receiving at a hub records from a first source, receiving at the hub updates of the records from a second source, and transferring the updated records to the first source. In another embodiment, the invention can include transferring to a hub records having information related to items in an electronic catalog and receiving updates of the records from the hub. |
| US08676718B2 |
Efficiently delivering and displaying a heated food product
Aspects for delivering and displaying warm food products are disclosed. In one aspect, a disclosed method includes determining a threshold delivery time for delivering such products after production, and ascertaining a peak period corresponding to a sale of those products at a delivery location. The method further includes loading the warm food products onto a heat-insulated container at a production source, and scheduling a delivery of those products in the heat-insulated container. A heat-insulated display case is also provided, which includes a housing compartment coupled to a display door that includes a window. Here, a seal between the display door and the housing compartment in a closed position is configured to maintain an optimal ambient temperature range within the housing compartment. In a further aspect, another disclosed method includes receiving warm food products from a production source, and loading those products onto a heat-insulated display case. |
| US08676717B2 |
Psychometric analysis tool for predicting the renege rate
Embodiments of the present invention provide a renege reducing hiring method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a renege factor evaluation method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide an organizational renege reduction method. Other embodiments of the present invention provide a candidate renege prediction method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. An still other embodiments of the present invention provide a psychometric analysis tool for predicting the renege rate. |
| US08676715B2 |
System and method for authenticating indicia using identity-based signature scheme
Methods and systems for verification of indicia that do not require key management systems, and in which revocation of key pairs is easily performed without adding costs to the verification process are provided. Indicia are generated and authenticated utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. A key generating authority generates a private key for a PSD, distributes the private key securely to the PSD, and provides public information for use by a verification service when verifying cryptographic digital signatures generated with the private key. The corresponding public key is a string consisting of PSD information that is provided as part of the indicium. The verification service can verify the signature of each indicium by obtaining the public key string from the indicium, and utilizing the key generating authority's public information. |
| US08676713B2 |
Dynamic constraints for content rights
A device for playing digital media comprises a connection for receiving content over a network and a digital rights management (“DRM”) module that identifies rights for the received content by accessing a DRM data structure. The DRM data structure can be a temporal cache. The device receives content and the DRM module identifies identifiers associated with the content and/or the device. The DRM module uses the identifiers to access the DRM data structure and identify rights associated with the content. The identified rights are applied to the content to prevent and/or permit activities with respect to the content. Permitted activities for the content may be presented in a display of the device and can be updated as the content changes and/or as rights associated with content change. Content providers and other authorized entities can change the rights associated with particular content by updating the DRM data structure. |
| US08676711B2 |
Payment method and apparatus for use in digital distribution system
A method to distribute and monetize media content by associating media content with a cost stored in associated media information within a media package. The user can elect to pay all of the cost, a portion of the cost, or none of the cost. When the user does not pay all of the cost, informative messages paid for by sponsors can be presented as part of the presentation of media content. |
| US08676705B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communicating implementer, an incoming communication ID implementer, a payment monetary value data transmitting implementer, a remaining monetary value data updating implementer, an automated supplementary monetary value data adding implementer, and a simultaneous implementation implementer. |
| US08676693B2 |
System and method for risk management using average expiration times
A margin requirement is computed while trading. The margin requirement may be calculated while trading because the preferred system takes into account working orders to generate the margin requirement. The on the fly possibility allows the preferred system to provide pre-trade risk calculations, but can also be used to provide post-trade calculations. A generic spread number and the maximum number of outright positions are determined. Average expirations for the generic spread are computed. Using the spread positions, the average expirations and the maximum number of outright positions, a spread margin and an outright margin are calculated, which when summed provide a total margin requirement. Limits based in part on the total margin requirement may be imposed on one or more traders. |
| US08676688B2 |
Methods and systems for providing preferred income equity replacement securities
In one aspect, the invention comprises a method comprising issuing perpetual preferred securities that provide non-cumulative dividends with a fixed liquidation preference; wherein valuation of the securities upon redemption or conversion is based on market value of a specified number of common shares, and wherein the securities are operable to receive treasury stock method accounting. In various embodiments: (1) the securities receive C or D Basket treatment from Moody's; (2) the securities receive treasury stock method accounting because, upon conversion or redemption, common shares are issued only with respect to the valuation of the securities in excess of the fixed liquidation preference; and (3) upon conversion or redemption the number of common shares is equal to (A×B−C)/B, where A=a conversion rate, B=price per share of the common shares, and C=the fixed liquidation preference. |
| US08676686B2 |
Program for alternative funding of employee and retiree benefits
An investment program for funding benefits by maintaining assets in the investment program that includes an employer owned trust account and at least one life, disability, health or annuity contract (including a terminal annuity) obtained directly or indirectly from a partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company. The insurance contract is purchased with assets from the trust account and the partially or wholly owned or non-owned captive insurance company is a least partially, wholly or non-owned by the employer. When paying or reimbursing benefits, the employer or the trust may pay the benefit and if the employer pays the benefit, the trust may reimburse the employer. |
| US08676685B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating monetary and reward transactions and accounting in a gaming environment
Financial and player tracking/reward transactions are facilitated by a system including at least one server and a plurality of gaming machines. The server has a memory containing data files corresponding to players that contain information such as credits or monies in an account belonging to the player. The data files also contain player tracking information, such as points awarded to a player based upon their game play. Players are issued media in the form of player cards having identification information thereon that may be used to access the player's account or files. A player and a casino may manage the player's accounts, such as by placing criteria upon the account, including the use of associated credits. A player may play a game using credits associated with their account. A player may also manage their accounts, including viewing financial and game play or reward information and transfer funds into and out of an account. |
| US08676683B1 |
Business transaction facilitation system
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to methods, systems and computer program products for facilitating a business relationship between a customer and at least one provider. The methods, systems and computer program products allow for a system for conducting business transactions and/or facilitating business relationships wholly electronically via an e-vault system. The e-vault system provides at least one interface for one or more client systems to upload data to and from an storage system via a network. |
| US08676681B2 |
Methods and apparatus for using assignable fee profiles to define fee structures for remittance services
A method includes storing a plurality of service fee profiles. Each of the profiles is for associating a respective service fee level with each of a plurality of transaction amount tiers. The method further includes, after the storing step, selecting a pair of currencies. The pair of currencies includes a sender currency and a recipient currency. The method also includes assigning one of the stored service fee profiles to the selected pair of currencies to set up a service fee schedule for the selected pair of currencies. |
| US08676675B2 |
Tax transaction system
A tax transaction system, and combined sale and tax transaction systems, are disclosed for use in electronic commerce for the deduction of a tax, which may be a sales tax, value-added tax, or any tax on income related to a transaction or taxing event. A trusted third party server system (300, 1060) may be provided which handles the calculation and/or deduction of a tax, e.g. related to a transaction of the sale of a good or service from a seller (200) to a buyer (100), on behalf of the seller, and which further provides for the remission of the tax to a tax collection agency (500, 1090), and which may perform the entire sale and tax transaction by proxy on behalf of the seller. Software modules (1070) including objects which embody instruction code and data structures to enable integral tax calculation and collection solutions, including multi jurisdictional tax calculation, remission and reporting, and even real time tax collection at point of sale, are provided. Such modules may form part of a data processing system hosted by a third party to a taxing event transaction, or be distributed in a pervasive manner, such as via the Internet in multiple server locations, as a downloadable client module, embodied in multiple hardware devices such as smartcards, electronic tags, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. |
| US08676672B2 |
Systems and methods for electronic delivery of stored value
Systems and methods for electronic delivery of stored value are provided. An example method includes receiving a set of identifiers corresponding to a merchant's stored value tracking system, receiving a request for an electronic value card, associating an identifier from the set of identifiers with the electronic value card, synchronizing the merchant's stored value tracking system with the issued electronic value card, and delivering the electronic value card to a customer. An example system includes a merchant stored value tracking system having a set of unique identifiers, a network communicatively linked with a merchant stored value tracking system; and a value card manager communicatively linked with the network. The value card manager may be configured to receive a request for an electronic value card, synchronize the electronic value card with the merchant stored value tracking system using the unique identifiers, and deliver the electronic value card to a customer for use in the merchant stored value tracking system. |
| US08676666B2 |
System for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs
A system for assessing environmental impact of processing print jobs includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and comprises one or more programming instructions for: electronically receiving a campaign specification data structure including at least one job specification; and operatively selecting a plurality of vendors from a database. Each of the selected vendors is capable of performing a job as operatively specified by the at least one job specification of the campaign specification data structure. The computer-readable storage medium is in communication with the processor and also includes one or more programming instructions for generating a plurality of environmental impact assessments corresponding to the campaign specification data structure. Each of the plurality of environmental impact assessments is operatively associated with one of the selected capable vendors. |
| US08676660B2 |
System and method for providing a streamlined checkout process
Once a purchaser has proceeded through a check out experience with an online retail system, the settings established during that checkout experience will be applied to future checkout experiences by that purchaser. By capturing and thereafter using checkout settings in this manner, a purchaser can proceed from a shopping cart directly to a checkout review page with the checkout review page being pre-populated with such prior established settings. Furthermore, the methodology allows the purchaser to have a virtually unlimited number of goods in their shopping cart and to have multiple different types of order fulfillment options (e.g., shipping, store pickup, delivery to an organization, etc.) automatically established for those goods. |
| US08676657B2 |
Automated service and support notices using electronic shopping lists
A method and system of updating an electronic shopping list (ESL) indicating items that may be purchased in response to detecting, by a wireless device having access to the ESL, a service request event corresponding to an asset. Upon detection of the service request event, a service request item may be inserted into the ESL. The asset may be queried from time to time to verify operation of the asset. The items listed in the ESL may be ordered according to a date the service request event was detected. |
| US08676656B2 |
Method for product demonstration
A method of demonstrating a household appliance by executing a demonstration software to cause demonstration of at least one component of the appliance and to display related information on a user interface of the appliance by a multimedia program. |
| US08676650B1 |
Allocating and pricing geo-located advertisements for display on maps
In one embodiment, a map server provides online maps with advertisements corresponding to map features included in the online maps. The map server holds an auction to determine which advertisers can display their associated advertisements in an online map. In one embodiment, the map server selects which advertisers with collocated advertisements in the online map can display their advertisements and calculates a price paid by the selected advertisers for the display of the advertisements. |
| US08676647B2 |
Response attribution valuation
A computer-implemented method is described for determining a response attribution value that represents a credit assignment to a communication, for an associated response received from a recipient during a marketing campaign. |
| US08676645B2 |
Identification of users for advertising using data with missing values
A method and system for identifying users for advertising. Users, attributes, and first web sites provided by ISPs accessed by the users are identified. First data including content of the first web sites and user time spent thereon are received from ISPs and analyzed to determine first attribute values indicative of user interest. Second data received from ISPs include content of second web sites and user time spent thereon. Second attribute values, derived from questionnaires completed by the users, indicate interest in each attribute by each user. Third attribute values are determined by combining the first and second attribute values. The third attribute values are processed to identify users to which a product or service may be advertised. The identified users are communicated to a service provider or product provider. The first, second, or third attribute values may have missing values, which are determined by correlation and linear regression. |
| US08676642B1 |
System and method for granting promotional rewards to financial account holders
A system and method for offering rewards. The method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality transaction occurrences from a plurality of merchants relating to at least one account; ordering the plurality of transaction occurrences based on an ordering scheme; selecting a winning transaction from the plurality of transaction occurrences based on a reward selection scheme; and rewarding at least one reward to a user associated with the winning transaction. |
| US08676640B2 |
Method for managing contests
A service to manage sweepstakes, games, contests, loyalty programs and scavenger hunts is disclosed. The user of an end user device moves to different locations and sends back information regarding the user's location to the service. The service can be updated/adjusted real time to automatically track users, points, entries, location, and multiple step scavenger hunts. The service may send the user to different locations where the user can obtain prizes. Companies can engage with their customers in new ways by leveraging and modifying mobile technology. In one implementation locations, address book, on device animations, randomized unique ID generated by a device during the contest can be modified in real time during operation of the service. |
| US08676636B2 |
System for managing electric energy grid-vehicle exchange devices
A system for managing electric energy exchange devices is disclosed. The system comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a set of predefined parameters for electric energy exchange a vehicle using an electric energy exchange device for a time increment. The processor is further configured to receive a set of transaction specific parameters. The processor is configured to determine a price for electric energy exchange based at least in part on the set of predefined parameters and the set of transaction specific parameters. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions. |
| US08676634B2 |
Statistical credibility metric for online question answerers
Techniques for statistically estimating a rating or other “figure of merit” for a user are disclosed. According to one such technique, a first quantity of submissions that were submitted by a user is determined. A second quantity of submissions that (a) were submitted by the user and (b) obtained a particular rating from a rating mechanism also is determined. A user rating for the user is determined based at least in part on the first quantity, the second quantity, and a factor that is independent of both the first quantity and the second quantity—such as the probability that an answer submitted by any answerer in a population will obtain the particular rating from the rating mechanism. The influence that the second quantity has on the user rating relative to the influence that the factor has on the user rating may depend at least in part on the first quantity. |
| US08676633B2 |
Office document assessment method and system
A method and system for the assessment of the office document production environment(s) in a facility, and more particularly to a client-based method and system that can be used to collect, analyze, model, optimize, and report on document output costs and efficiencies in an office environment. |
| US08676630B2 |
Systems and methods for selectively updating forecast data
A characteristic forecasting system is disclosed. The characteristic forecasting system may have a memory module and a processor. The memory module may store instructions, that, when executed, enable the processor to generate forecast data for a target item based on historical data related to the target item, the forecast data representing a forecast for characteristics of the target item. The processor may also be enabled to analyze a subset of the historical data within an observation window to determine whether the forecast data should be updated with new forecast data and generate the new forecast data for the target item responsive to a determination that the forecast data should be updated with the new forecast data. |
| US08676626B1 |
Event notification and organization utilizing a communication network
A user of a telecommunications or other computing device may notify his or her contacts of an event of interest, which event may be modified by the user's contacts without requiring the permission of the originating user to do so. In this regard, an event organizing service receives an event notification request from a user of a telecommunications device (e.g., a mobile telephone), automatically identifies the user's contacts to whom the event notification is to be published, and publishes the event notification to the automatically identified contacts. A contact who receives the event notification may update the event, e.g., by modifying data describing the event, without the permission of the originating user. Accordingly, a contact who has received the event notification may modify the event (e.g., change the date/time, change the location, etc.) and the event organizing service may publish a notification for the updated event to the originating user and his or her contacts informing them of the modification. It will be appreciated that as updates to the event are made by the user's contacts (and in some cases the user herself), the event is ultimately organized by the user's social network or community without requiring the user to organize the details of or manage the event herself. |
| US08676625B2 |
Customer terminal for conducting a video conference between the customer terminal and an operator terminal and in which an estimated wait time is determined based on operator skill and an average dealing time
A reception management system for handling transactions includes a plurality of ACMs (Automated Contract/Consulting Terminals) for receiving procedure requests for predetermined transactions from customers, a plurality of ROTs (Remote Operation Terminals) to be employed by an operator for handling the procedure requests, a server for storing information for managing the operators for each transaction skill, and information about queues formed for each transaction skill upon a procedure request accepted from an ACM, and a queue monitoring terminal for monitoring the queues by receiving information from the SACD server. |
| US08676624B2 |
Conveying requests to service persons using avatars acting as proxies
A method may include defining an avatar as information related to at least one of communication, skills, responsibilities, experience, physical location, availability, workload, or history of work success. The avatar may be registered in an enterprise and interaction with a service may occur based on the information defining the avatar. |
| US08676623B2 |
Building directory aided navigation
A navigation system utilizes building directories to aid navigation. A mobile device, such as a mobile phone, captures an image of a building directory. The building directory includes information regarding the names and/or locations of tenants. An image recognition algorithm is performed on the captured image to extract information from the building directory. The extracted information is used to access a map database. The mobile device may display directions or a map to guide the user to a selected destination. In addition, the captured image may be used to build the map database or update the map database. Finally, the captured image may be matched with stored images of the building directory to determine the current location of the mobile device. |
| US08676622B1 |
Job resource planner for cloud computing environments
Methods and apparatus for a job resource planner for cloud computing environments are disclosed. A system includes a plurality of resource instances of a provider network, and a resource planner. The planner receives a plan request from a client, comprising a job goal and an indication of a resource acquisition policy to be used to obtain resource instances for the job. The policy specifies one or more instance data sources. The planner generates a resource acquisition plan for the job, based at least in part on an analysis of pricing data obtained from a specified data source. The analysis comprises one or more computation steps indicated in the policy. The generated plan includes at least one recommended acquisition price for a resource instance. |
| US08676618B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic detection and processing of instances of business rules
A method for processing instances of business rules, includes providing a business rule, parsing the business rule to extract entities used as rule parts, creating a hierarchical entity buffer indicating the entities used as the rule parts and identifying instances of each of the entities and real data corresponding to each of the identified instances of the entities and creating a step result table indicating instances of the business rule and information identifying the real data in the hierarchical entity buffer used by each of the instances of the business rule. |
| US08676617B2 |
Architectural design for self-service procurement application software
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for implementing a software architecture design for a software application implementing self-service procurement used to procure goods and services “ad hoc” by requests from within an organization. The application is structured as multiple process components interacting with each other through service interfaces, and multiple service interface operations, each being implemented for a respective process component. The process components include an Accounting process component, an Internal Request Processing process component, a Purchase Request Processing process component, a Purchase Order Processing process component, a Goods and Service Acknowledgement process component, a Supplier Invoice Processing process component, a Payment Processing process component, an RFQ Processing process component, and a Due Item Processing process component. |
| US08676616B2 |
Transaction tracking, managing, assessment, and auditing data processing system and network
An improved processing system for tracking commerce on the Internet provides for subvariable processing and includes web page scanning to discern fraud or improper content to insure proper promotion of select products within the network environment. |
| US08676614B2 |
Automated airlines reservations system
Disclosed is an automated reservations system for use with a frequent flyer account or other similar awards account. The automated reservations system initially authenticates customers utilizing one or more forms of identification. The customer is then prompted to provide travel itinerary information to the reservations system by a series of voice prompt menus. Utilizing the customer-entered itinerary information, the automated reservations system queries a flight information database to determine if the requested itinerary is available. The automated reservations system then determines if the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles to book the requested itinerary. If the customer has the required amount of frequent flyer miles, the automated reservations system allows the customer to either ticket or hold the requested itinerary. The automated reservations system is also capable of assigning seats for each passenger in the customer's itinerary. |
| US08676611B2 |
System and methods for fraud detection/prevention for a benefits program
Systems and methods of the present invention detect and/or deter individuals who may be collecting or intending to collect unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and simultaneously receive pay from an employer. Embodiments identify, during either initial screening of a UI applicant or on an ongoing basis for current recipients, those individuals who would seek to defraud UI programs by receiving improper payments. Methods include locating account information in databases from one or more (preferably, a plurality) of financial service organizations pertaining to deposit (or other) accounts for an individual applying for benefits, analyzing deposit transactions into those accounts, determining whether the individual is likely to be receiving deposits from employment or wages, and providing information to an entity such as a government agency regarding likely employment deposits for the individual. |
| US08676610B2 |
Insurance product, rating system and method
In the present invention, an insurance product, rating system and method generally relates to a rating and pricing system for quantifying the risk that the annual savings will not fall below specified levels associated with implementing and maintaining economic improvements. The product, system and method can be applied to various industries, including, power generation, petro-chemical, manufacturing and refining facilities. Various embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and products for providing a computer implemented insurance product. |
| US08676608B2 |
Genetic data analysis and database tools
A computerized tool and method for delivery of pharmacogenetic and pharmacological information, comprising a core system having algorithms and databases for storing, collating, accessing, cross-referencing, and interpreting genetic and pharmacologic data, with a graphical user interface for a client network of providers of laboratory genetic testing services to access the core services under contract. The system includes “paypoints” in support of improved business models. Included are mechanisms for ‘pass through’ third party and insurance reimbursement for interpretive reports, insurance reimbursement for on-line access to pharmacogenetic information at the point of care, tools for market segmentation, and a conversion tool for capturing new subscribers. Also disclosed are tools and predictive algorithms for preventing drug-drug and drug-gene adverse drug reactions. |
| US08676604B2 |
Method and apparatus for medication prescription consultation
A method and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation prevents a person from receiving a medication prescription if consultation is required, and enables a user to readily view the medication prescription information and convey information to the person. Methods and apparatus of providing a pharmaceutical consultation are provided herein. The methods and apparatus include receiving medication prescription data relating to the medication prescription, and displaying a consultation review screen having a medication prescription view with information relating to the medication prescription and a discussion view with information to be conveyed to the person. The medication prescription data includes a consultation requirement for the medication prescription. A transaction for the medication prescription is prevented if consultation is required, and permitted when data is received indicating the consultation is completed. The methods and apparatus of pharmaceutical consultation also include remote consultation between a user and a person at different geographic locations. |
| US08676596B1 |
Stimulating reviews at a point of sale
A user is prompted to provide a review at a point of sale. Review data is received from the user. The review data is transmitted to a reputation platform configured to evaluate the received review data. If the review data indicates a positive review, a review request action is commenced. If the review data indicates a negative review, a remedial action is commenced. |
| US08676595B2 |
Manifest delivery system and method
There is provided a method and system of determining efficient routing of a mail piece in a delivery system for delivering mail pieces. The system determines whether or not the mail piece requires urgent delivery. The system determines a weight of the mail piece. Also, the system determines, based on the urgency determination and the weight determination, a most cost-effective place in which to introduce the mail piece into the delivery system. |
| US08676588B2 |
System for handling a plurality of streaming voice signals for determination of responsive action thereto
Streaming voice signals, such as might be received at a contact center or similar operation, are analyzed to detect the occurrence of one or more unprompted, predetermined utterances. The predetermined utterances preferably constitute a vocabulary of words and/or phrases having particular meaning within the context in which they are uttered. Detection of one or more of the predetermined utterances during a call causes a determination of response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s). Based on the response-determinative significance of the detected utterance(s), a responsive action may be further determined. Additionally, long term storage of the call corresponding to the detected utterance may also be initiated. Conversely, calls in which no predetermined utterances are detected may be deleted from short term storage. In this manner, the present invention simplifies the storage requirements for contact centers and provides the opportunity to improve caller experiences by providing shorter reaction times to potentially problematic situations. |
| US08676585B1 |
Synchronizing the playing and displaying of digital content
The techniques disclosed herein allow a user to synchronize the playing and displaying of digital content on an electronic device. The device may render a first portion of digital content so it may be displayed. The device may also play a segment of the digital content as audio using text to speech software. The device may also render a second portion of digital content for display depending on whether the position of the last word read is greater than the last position in the first portion of digital content. |
| US08676584B2 |
Method for time scaling of a sequence of input signal values
The invention relates to a digital signal processing technique that changes the length of an audio signal and, thus, effectively its play-out speed. This is used for frame rate conversion or sound effects in music production. Time scaling may further be used for fast forward or slow-motion audio play-out.According said method the waveform similarity overlap add approach is modified such that a maximized similarity is determined among similarity measures of sub-sequence pairs each comprising a sub-sequence to-be-matched from a input window and a matching sub-sequence from a search window wherein said sub-sequence pairs comprise at least two sub-sequence pairs of which a first pair comprises a first sub-sequence to-be-matched and a second pair comprises a different second sub-sequence to-be-matched.The input window allows for finding sub-sequence pairs with higher similarity than with a WSOLA approach based on a single sub-sequence to-be-matched. This results in less perceivable artefacts. |
| US08676581B2 |
Speech recognition analysis via identification information
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the use of identity information to help avoid the occurrence of false positive speech recognition events in a speech recognition system. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving speech recognition data comprising a recognized speech segment, acoustic locational data related to a location of origin of the recognized speech segment as determined via signals from the microphone array, and confidence data comprising a recognition confidence value, and also receiving image data comprising visual locational information related to a location of each person in an image. The acoustic locational data is compared to the visual locational data to determine whether the recognized speech segment originated from a person in the field of view of the image sensor, and the confidence data is adjusted depending on this determination. |
| US08676572B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation
A computer-implemented system and method for enhancing audio to individuals participating in a conversation is provided. Audio data for individuals participating in one or more conversations is analyzed. Possible conversational configurations of the individuals are generated based on the audio data, and each possible conversational configuration includes one or more subconfigurations of at least two of the individuals. A probability weight is assigned to each of the subconfigurations and includes a likelihood that the individuals of that subconfiguration are participating in one of the conversations. A probability of each possible conversational configuration is determined by combining the probability weights for the subconfigurations of that possible conversational configuration. The possible conversational configuration with the highest probability is selected as a most probable configuration. The individuals participating in the conversations are determined based on the most probable configuration. Audio for each individual participating in the determined conversations is enhanced. |
| US08676571B2 |
Audio signal processing system and audio signal processing method
An audio signal processing system including a time-frequency conversion unit which converts an audio signal in time domain into frequency domain in frame units so as to calculate a frequency spectrum of the audio signal, a spectral change calculation unit which calculates an amount of change between a frequency spectrum of a first frame and a frequency spectrum of a second frame before the first frame based on the frequency spectrum of the first frame and the frequency spectrum of the second frame, and a judgment unit which judges the type of the noise which is included in the audio signal of the first frame in accordance with the amount of spectral change. |
| US08676570B2 |
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to perform audio watermark decoding
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to perform audio watermark decoding are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving an audio signal including an audience measurement code embedded therein using a first plurality of frequency components, sampling the audio signal, transforming the sampled audio signal into a first frequency domain representation, determining whether the code is detectable in the first plurality of frequency components of the first frequency domain representation, and when the code is not detected in the first plurality of frequency components, examining a second plurality of frequency components of a second frequency domain representation to determine whether the code is detected, the second plurality of frequency components being offset from the first plurality of frequency components by a first offset, the first offset corresponding to a sampling frequency mismatch. |
| US08676568B2 |
Information processing apparatus and message extraction method
A storage unit stores first filter information specifying the formats of messages and second filter information specifying weights for words or phrases. A first search unit selects messages matching the formats specified by the first filter information from a plurality of messages as messages to be extracted. A second search unit calculates the importance level of each message unselected by the first search unit, based on the words or phrases included in the message and the second filter information, and selects messages to be extracted, according to the calculated importance levels from the messages unselected by the first search unit. |
| US08676563B2 |
Providing human-generated and machine-generated trusted translations
Customers having a translation project to select a translation method from a variety of options, ranging from a completely human translation to a completely automated translation. For human translations, translation job information may be communicated through one or more network service modules which execute within a network service application, such as a web-based networking application. A network service module may register a user having an account with the network service application as a translator and communicate translation jobs to the user. One or more users who express interest in performing the translation are selected to perform a translation job, each job comprising at least a portion of the translation project. After a user provides a translation for the translation job, the translation is analyzed to generate a trust level prediction for the translation. A user translation profile may be updated after each translation to reflect the user's performance. |
| US08676556B2 |
Method for determining the properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs from geophysical data
A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image (102) of a rock sample characteristic of a reservoir of interest (101); segmenting the 3D image into compositional classes (103) based on similarities in mineralogy, structure and spatial distribution; selecting a model (105) that relates an effective material property of interest to the volume fractions of each compositional class; and determining the parameters of the model (106). The model may be used to assess the commercial potential of the subsurface reservoir (107). |
| US08676554B2 |
Simulation apparatus for motor-driven compressor system and the simulation method thereof
With a simulation apparatus for a system including a motor-driven compressor, a compressor that does not suffer from a driving torque shortage and surging, but can operate at low costs, can be provided.A simulation apparatus for a motor-driven compressor system includes a simulation section in which a driving motor, a compressor driven by the driving motor, a suction throttle valve controlling the inlet flow rate of the compressor, and an anti-surge valve interposed between pipes for returning a part of gas discharged from the compressor to the inlet side of the compressor are translated into unit models and stored. The simulation apparatus further includes an input section through which designed specification data of the compressor is input, a data setting section storing the designed specification data, and a display section displaying unsteady-state Q-H characteristics and required driving torque obtained through simulation by the simulation section. |
| US08676547B2 |
Parameter extraction method
It is an object to provide a parameter extraction method using a model equation having a physical meaning, in which parameters optimum for an element are extracted without setting appropriate initial values based on experience or deep understanding of models and actual device characteristics.A structure is provided in which multiple patterns of initial values of parameters are generated by a random number generator mechanism, and automatic parameter extraction is executed for each initial value to select a combination of parameters in which ultimate difference between a calculated value and a measured value is minimized thereby finding an optimal solution. |
| US08676546B2 |
Grading method utilizing flow grade solution
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to create a flow-grade solution. In a computer application, a curve from which a slope is to be projected and an elevation field depth buffer, that provides a 2D array with one element for each coordinate, are defined. A slope angle for the slope is specified. As grading shapes are rendered, by sweeping a cone with the slope angle along the curve, a grid is used to capture, into the buffer, an elevation for each vertex of the grid. A flow grade solution represented by the field depth buffer is thus obtained. The flow grade solution includes a path of steepest slope (determined from the elevations stored in the buffer) from any given location in the grid. |
| US08676545B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine air duct system configurations
Example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to determine pliable air duct configurations are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves determining a first quantity of adjustable air outlet duct sections to configure an air delivery duct system when an operating mode identifier is received. The operating mode identifier is associated with an amount of air delivered by the air delivery duct system into targeted areas. The first quantity of adjustable air outlet duct sections is based on an airflow rate value and the operating mode identifier. The airflow rate value is indicative of airflow through an air delivery duct system. Each adjustable air outlet duct section includes at least one adjustable air outlet having at least one size-adjustable orifice. |
| US08676544B2 |
Method of predicting the aerodynamic behavior of an aircraft element
A method for predicting the aerodynamic performance of an aircraft element under predetermined conditions, the aircraft element having at least one break at least partially separating two parts that cannot or should not be modeled with a common envelope form, in which: a digital form representative of the form that the aircraft element assumes under the predetermined conditions studied and in which each break is represented, is created, for each break, a totally non-coincident boundary surface at the joining of the two parts is created, and a partial structured meshing around each part is generated, the two partial meshings made in this way being independent of one another, and digital aerodynamic simulation computations using this meshing are carried out with the aid of an aerodynamic computation code capable of processing a totally non-coincident join. |
| US08676541B2 |
Footwear having sensor system
A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. The collected data can be further processed for a variety of different uses or applications. |
| US08676540B1 |
Methods for automatic trigger threshold adjustment
Methods are presented for adjusting trigger threshold values to compensate for drift in the quiescent level of a signal monitored for initiating a data recording event, thereby avoiding false triggering conditions. Initial threshold values are periodically adjusted by re-measuring the quiescent signal level, and adjusting the threshold values by an offset computation based upon the measured quiescent signal level drift. Re-computation of the trigger threshold values can be implemented on time based or counter based criteria. Additionally, a qualification width counter can be utilized to implement a requirement that a trigger threshold criterion be met a given number of times prior to initiating a data recording event, further reducing the possibility of a false triggering situation. |
| US08676539B2 |
System and method for rapidly locating historical performance data
A method is described for providing performance metrics stored in an array of at least three-dimensions. The method includes receiving at least one metric criteria associated with a performance metric. The method also includes determining a list of array elements. The list represents a portion of the array including the at least one metric criteria. The method further includes sorting the list of array elements according to predetermined ordering criteria to identify a best match of the at least one metric criteria. A system and article of manufacture are also described for providing performance metrics stored in an array of at least three dimensions. |
| US08676530B2 |
System and method for variation testing for performance test
A performance testing framework enables multiple components working together to test a deployed application automatically in an unattended manner and to analyze the test results easily. At very high level, the performance testing framework can run performance tests on a tested system with one or more variations without user intervention and save the test results and configuration metadata to a database for later analysis. Each of the variations is composed of a set of logical dimensions and values associated with each of those dimensions to be tested. |
| US08676526B2 |
High speed frequency and phase estimation for flow meters
Meter electronics (20) for processing sensor signals in a flow meter and for computing mass flow rate, density or volume flow rate includes an interface (201) for receiving a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal and a processing system (203) in communication with the interface (201) and configured to generate a ninety degree phase shift from the first sensor signal with a Hilbert transform and compute a phase difference from the ninety degree phase shift, the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal. A frequency is computed from the first sensor signal and the ninety degree phase shift. A second ninety degree phase shift can be generated from the second sensor signal. |
| US08676523B2 |
Method of detecting the position, in a signal received by a detector, of a wavefront corresponding to an event
A method of detecting the position of a wavefront in a time-varying signal corresponding to an event is disclosed. According to one aspect, the method includes digitizing a signal received by a detector to produce a working signal, filtering the working signal N4 times with a band-pass filter to obtain N4 filtered working signals with different pass-bands, detecting a peak of the N4 filtered working signals to detect the position of a first wavefront as a function of time of occurrence. The N4 points are plotted such that an ordinate is one of the times of occurrence and an abscissa is the width of the associated band. An exponential asymptote that fits a maximum number of the N4 points is applied, and the position of the wavefront is determined as the ordinate of the point that has the maximum abscissa and substantially fits the exponential asymptote. |
| US08676520B2 |
Method and system for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern
A method for determining an amount of a liquid energy commodity in storage in an underground cavern generally comprises the steps of: establishing a volume function for a brine pond associated with the underground cavern; acquiring an image of the brine pond; transmitting the acquired image to a central processing facility; analyzing the acquired image to calculate a depth of the brine in the brine pond; estimating the volume of the brine in the brine pond based on the calculated depth and using the volume function; determining the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage in the underground cavern associated with the brine pond based on the estimated volume of the brine in the brine pond; and communicating information about the amount of the liquid energy commodity in storage to a third-party market participant. |
| US08676513B2 |
Method and device for early signal attenuation detection using blood glucose measurements
Methods and devices to detect analyte in body fluid are provided. Embodiments include receiving one or more analyte sensor data, receiving a reference measurement value associated with an analyte level, determining a sensitivity parameter based on the received one or more analyte sensor data and the reference measurement value, performing a probability analysis based on prior analyte sensor data to determine presence of signal attenuation, and generating an output value based on the probability analysis. |
| US08676511B2 |
Method and system for predicting liver fibrosis and related pathologies
Provided herein are methods of detecting and staging liver fibrosis in an individual with liver disease. Also provided are methods of detecting necroinflammatory activity. Invention methods utilize four serum markers, age, and gender to determine an end value. The end value is compared to a cut-off value, in order to identify significant fibrosis (METAVIR stages F2 to F4), or an absence of advanced fibrosis (stages F3 and F4) or cirrhosis (stage F4). In particular aspects, progression or treatment of liver fibrosis can be monitored by invention methods. The end value is also used to distinguish between no to mild necroinflammatory activity (METAVIR grade A0 to A1) and moderate to severe necroinflammatory activity (grade A2 to A3). |
| US08676510B2 |
Clinical-result confirming device, clinical-result confirming method, and computer program therefor
A pattern matching unit performs pattern matching on present data obtained this time in clinical examination of a part of a subject and previous data obtained last time in the clinical examination of the part with reference patterns. Reference patterns that are most closely approximate to the present data and the previous data are selected. A distance calculator calculates a distance between selected reference patterns. A determining unit determines whether a re-examination is necessary based on the distance. |
| US08676508B2 |
Method for determining a road profile of a lane located in front of a vehicle
A method for determining a road profile of a lane located in front of a vehicle via sensed image data (1) and/or sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2). An estimating device (3) is provided, to which the sensed image data (1) and/or the sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2) are supplied. A road elevation profile (P) of the lane located in front of the vehicle is determined via the sensed image data (1) and/or the sensed inherent vehicle movement data (2). |
| US08676507B2 |
Vehicle navigation system
A vehicle navigation system includes a map database storing map data. The map data has links representing road segments, road number icons, and additional road information icons. At least one of the links is associated with at least one of the road number icons and at least one of the additional road information icons. The vehicle navigation system may furthermore include a processing unit coupled to the map database and configured to control outputting of route guidance information via an output device. The outputting of route guidance information may include displaying a road number icon and an additional road information icon together with a link if the link is associated with the road number icon and the additional road information icon. |
| US08676506B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying missing signage
Methods and systems for identifying missing signage are described herein. The method includes generating a route from an origin to a destination, the route having a plurality of maneuvers. The method further includes receiving missing signage information from a first device, the missing signage information relating to one or more maneuvers of the plurality of maneuvers, and providing the missing signage information and at least one of the one or more related maneuvers to a second device. |
| US08676500B1 |
Method of providing intersection assistance and related portable electronic device
A method of providing intersection assistance with a portable electronic device to remind a user of traffic rules when the user approaches traffic intersections includes receiving an input from the user indicating a destination location for generating navigation instructions to the destination location, determining a current location of the portable electronic device according to received position signals, providing navigation instructions to the destination location according to the current location of the portable electronic device, and reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections for a geographical location in which the portable electronic device is currently located when the portable electronic device detects that the portable electronic device is approaching an intersection, where reminding the user of traffic rules related to intersections comprises indicating a side of a second road the user should turn onto when making a turn from a first road onto the second road. |
| US08676499B2 |
Movement guidance system, movement guidance device, movement guidance method, and computer program
Movement guidance systems, devices, methods, and programs set a guidance branch point on a guidance route. The systems, devices, methods, and programs acquire a position and a shape of the guidance branch point and a prior branch point, and determine whether the prior branch point is adjacent based on the acquired information. The prior branch point is adjacent when the prior branch point exists within a first predetermined distance from the guidance branch point and is connected with a road in a same direction as the guidance branch point. When it is determined that the prior branch point is adjacent, the systems, devices, methods, and programs complete verbal guidance for the guidance branch point at a timing at which the movable body is located at a guidance end point that is located a second predetermined distance before the prior branch point. |
| US08676497B2 |
Method and apparatus to search and process POI information
An apparatus and method searches and provides additional Points-of-interest (POI) information to a user when basic POI information such as POI name, address, phone number, etc. is specified. In one aspect, the system includes an information managing unit to search, display and transmit POI information, a communication interface and a plurality of information providers adapted to stream information to the communication interface, and a communication network adapted to connect the information managing unit and the communication interface. The basic information and an additional POI information search request can be transmitted from the information managing unit to the communication interface to search for the additional POI information in the information providers and transmit the additional POI information back to the information managing unit. The additional POI information may be filtered and organized before presenting to the user. |
| US08676483B2 |
Guidance control device, guidance control method, and guidance control program
Guidance control device, methods and programs control an in-vehicle apparatus of a vehicle. The devices, methods, and programs access vehicle state information that specifies a state of the vehicle and determine whether a vehicle state condition is established based on the accessed vehicle state information. The devices, methods, and programs access driving environment information that specifies a driving environment of the vehicle and determine whether a driving environment condition is established based on the accessed driving environment information. The devices, methods, and programs generate guidance based on whether the vehicle state condition is established and whether the driving environment condition is established and cause the generated guidance to be output on a display. |
| US08676479B2 |
Methods and systems for assisted direct start control
Method and systems are provided for controlling a vehicle system including an engine that is selectively deactivated during engine idle-stop conditions. One example method comprises, adjusting a brake torque applied to a deactivated rotating engine after an engine restart request, the brake torque applied to slow the engine to at least a predetermined threshold speed without stopping the engine, and engaging a starter to the still rotating engine to increase the engine speed and restart the engine. |
| US08676478B2 |
Engine stop control device
Target rotation speed at a reference point set at TDC slightly preceding a target stop position of engine rotation is set. A target trajectory of an engine rotation behavior extending since an engine rotation stop behavior starts until the target rotation speed at the reference point is reached is calculated based on the target rotation speed at the reference point and an engine friction. Torque of an alternator is controlled to conform the engine rotation behavior to the target trajectory during the engine rotation stop behavior. Generation of the torque of the alternator stops at a position preceding the reference point by a predetermined crank angle. Therefore, the torque of the alternator is controlled such that an energy deviation between the target trajectory and the engine rotation behavior becomes zero at the position preceding the reference point by the predetermined crank angle. |
| US08676468B2 |
Vehicle control device
Provided is a vehicle control device which generates a speed pattern of a vehicle and controls traveling of the vehicle based on the speed pattern, including: rear vehicle travel situation checking means for checking a travel situation of a rear vehicle which travels behind the vehicle; wave-like travel speed pattern generating means for generating a wave-like travel speed pattern where acceleration travel and free run travel are alternately repeated based on the travel situation of the rear vehicle; and control means for controlling the traveling of the vehicle based on the wave-like travel speed pattern. |
| US08676460B2 |
Shift control device for vehicle
A shift control device is provided for a vehicle of shift-by-wire type having shift operation detecting means electrically detecting a shift operation of a driver, range switching means switching a shift range in response to the shift operation of the driver, failure detecting means detecting a failure in a shift operation detection executed by the shift operation detecting means, and vehicle state detecting means detecting a vehicle state upon detection of the failure in the shift operation detection, the range switching means being switched to a fail-safe mode, when the shift operation detection is recovered from a failed state to a normal state and the range switching means is switched from the fail-safe mode to a normal control mode, a recovery condition for determining switching of the fail-safe mode to the normal control mode being altered depending on the vehicle state. |
| US08676456B2 |
Controlling tip-in bump performance in a transmission
A method of managing tip-in bump in an automatic transmission includes detecting a set of conditions indicative of an impending throttle tip-in event, including calculating a speed difference between engine speed and turbine speed, and reducing a pressure command to a designated clutch of the transmission to a threshold level. The method also include setting an upper limit on engine torque, flaring the turbine speed during the tip-in event, and using proportional-integral-derivative control logic of a controller to reduce flare to about zero in a calibrated duration, thereby allowing the clutch to dissipate engine inertia and minimize the severity of the tip-in bump. A transmission in a vehicle is operatively connected to an engine and has a torque converter with a turbine. The transmission includes a clutch and a controller configured to manage tip-in bump performance in the transmission via the above method. |
| US08676451B2 |
Method and apparatus for in situ treatment of grass
An apparatus for spraying a treatment liquid onto grass growing on a ground surface includes a plurality of rotatable discs spaced laterally apart across the path of travel. Each disc has a plurality of cutters which are adapted to penetrate the ground surface and to cut holes therein as the apparatus travels forwardly. The holes are spaced apart along the path of travel and are also spaced apart laterally. The apparatus also includes a set of nozzles positioned on the apparatus above the grass such that each nozzle is spaced rearwardly along the path of travel from its associated disc but is aligned along the path of travel with such disc. The nozzles are adapted to spray the treatment liquid. The apparatus also including a controller for causing the nozzles to spray the treatment liquid into the holes. |
| US08676449B2 |
Vehicle governance system
Disclosed are a method and system for preventing the unauthorized use of a vehicle. A set of vehicle operating parameters is entered onto a person's driver's license, and that person registers as an authorized user of a specified vehicle. When that person enters the vehicle, the person inserts the driver's license into a card reader, and the card reader reads the operating parameters and enters those parameters onto a computing platform. The computing platform receives these operating parameters and checks to determine if the person is an authorized user of the vehicle. If the computing platform determines that the person is an authorized user, the computing platform sends the operating parameters to a control module within the vehicle. If the person then operates the vehicle, the control module controls the vehicle to maintain that operation within the operating parameters. |
| US08676445B2 |
Hydraulic steering diagnostic system and method
The present disclosure relates to computer-implemented methods of diagnosing a vehicle hydraulic power steering system and steering diagnostic systems for executing the same. Some exemplary diagnostic systems are configured to detect a steering system condition based on an evaluation of a steering pump outlet pressure, an engine speed and/or a steering wheel position. The system sends a warning signal when a predetermined steering system condition is detected. |
| US08676438B2 |
Method and system for implementing ultrasonic sensor signal strength calibrations
Temperature compensation for ultrasonic sensors can have a significant error that is highly undesirable because temperature of ultrasonic sensors and the temperature of the medium through which they sense objects affect signal strength calibrations (e.g., echo thresholds) applied when detecting an object. In order to increase the detection capabilities and reported distance of an object, ultrasonic sensors need to adjust their detection criteria and distance calculations as the temperature of air surrounding a vehicle (i.e., outside air temperature) changes and also as the temperature of the sensor changes. Embodiments of the inventive subject matter provide for a simple, effective and consistent approach for determining a temperature upon which such detection criteria and distance calculation adjustments can be based. |
| US08676437B2 |
Vehicle test system including plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via network
A vehicle test system including a plurality of apparatuses mutually communicable via a network. A control apparatus included in the apparatuses controls two or more objects in the vehicle by using respective control modules each having fault detecting module used to detect fault in the object being controlled. A test apparatus connected to the control apparatus commands any one of the control module included in the control apparatus in order to read out fault information in the objects. The control apparatus generates, in response to the test apparatus, a response command indicative of the fault information detected by the fault detecting module and transmits the response command to the test apparatus via the network. The response commands includes both fault information corresponding to the control module to which the test apparatus commands and fault information corresponding to the other control module. |
| US08676436B2 |
Method for monitoring the oil system of a turbomachine
A monitoring method that includes calculating the autonomy of a lubrication system of an airplane engine and also providing for the diagnosis and prognosis of a plurality of problems and breakdowns of the engine and of its lubrication system by means of measurements taken by sensors arranged in the lubrication system. The method further comprises the step of calculating the status of the lubrication system at a given moment and calculating its evolution over time in order to determine the remaining lifetime before a breakdown. |
| US08676432B2 |
Fault prediction framework using temporal data mining
A vehicle fault diagnosis and prognosis system includes a computing platform configured to receive a classifier from a remote server, the computing platform tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions for evaluating data sequences received from a vehicle control network and applying the classifier to the data sequences, wherein the classifier is configured to determine if the data sequences define a pattern that is associated with a particular fault. |
| US08676430B1 |
Controlling a vehicle having inadequate map data
A vehicle can be controlled in a first autonomous mode of operation by at least navigating the vehicle based on map data. Sensor data can be obtained using one or more sensors of the vehicle. The sensor data can be indicative of an environment of the vehicle. An inadequacy in the map data can be detected by at least comparing the map data to the sensor data. In response to detecting the inadequacy in the map data, the vehicle can be controlled in a second autonomous mode of operation and a user can be prompted to switch to a manual mode of operation. The vehicle can be controlled in the second autonomous mode of operation by at least obtaining additional sensor data using the one or more sensors of the vehicle and navigating the vehicle based on the additional sensor data. |
| US08676428B2 |
Server request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor
A system for triggered request for downloaded information from a vehicle-based monitor comprises a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The processor is coupled to the transmitter and the receiver. The processor is configured to determine whether it is desired to receive one or more data from a vehicle-based monitor. In the event that it is desired to receive one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor, the processor is configured to provide an indication that it is desired to receive the one or more data from the vehicle-based monitor. The processor is configured to receive the one or more data. |
| US08676427B1 |
Controlling autonomous vehicle using audio data
A method includes receiving, at a computing system, audio data from one or more microphones associated with a vehicle. In one example, the audio data originates from a source external to the vehicle and the vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode. The method also includes processing the audio data to generate directional data related to a direction of the source of the audio data relative to the vehicle and processing the audio data to generate identification data related to an identity of the source of the audio data. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle in the autonomous mode in response to the directional data and the identification data, using the computing system. |
| US08676426B1 |
Automatic guided vehicle system and method
An apparatus and method for guiding an automatic guided vehicle along a magnetic pathway and more specifically to an apparatus and a method capable of accurately and precisely following a weak magnetic field emitted by a substantially continuous passive magnetic marker having route junctions. |
| US08676425B2 |
Methods and systems for maintenance and other processing of container-grown plants using autonomous mobile robots
A system is provided for processing container-grown plants positioned in a given area. The system includes a processing station positioned in the area for processing the container-grown plants. It also includes one or more autonomous mobile container handling robots configured to: (i) travel to a source location in the area and pick up a container-grown plant, (ii) transport the container-grown plant to the processing station where a process is performed on the container-grown plant, (iii) transport the container-grown plant from the processing station to a destination location in the area, (iv) deposit the container-grown plant at the destination location, and (v) repeat (i) through (iv) for a set of container-grown plants in the source location. |
| US08676422B2 |
Creep control device and method for hybrid vehicle
Disclosed is a creep control system and method for a hybrid vehicle, which controls the driving of a motor according to the distance to a preceding vehicle in order to provide creep driving when the hybrid vehicle has come to a complete stop. In particular, driving information is detected and a determination is made as to whether the hybrid vehicle is in an idle stop and completely stationary state. Then when the hybrid vehicle is in the idle stop and completely stationary state, a determination is made as to whether a distance from a preceding vehicle is more than a predetermined distance. When the distance to the preceding vehicle is more than the predetermined distance, a motor is driven to perform creep driving. |
| US08676419B2 |
Time-based vehicle battery balancing system and method
A power system for a vehicle may include at least one controller and a battery having a plurality of cells. The at least one controller may, for each of the cells, determine a voltage of the cell, determine a discharge time to reduce the voltage to a value approximately equal to a minimum of the determined voltages, and cause the cell to discharge for the discharge time to balance the battery. |
| US08676416B2 |
System and method for starting fuel cell vehicle in emergency
The present invention provides a system and method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency, which can start the fuel cell by supplying necessary air to the fuel cell even in the event of a failure or malfunction of a high voltage system, the high voltage system including a high voltage DC-DC converter and a high voltage battery which are generally used as a power source of an air blower during start-up of the fuel cell. In particular, the present invention provides a system and method for starting a fuel cell vehicle in an emergency, in which a controller drives an air blower by a voltage output from a low voltage battery to start the fuel cell in an emergency, if it is determined that there is a failure or malfunction in the high voltage system during start-up of a fuel cell system. |
| US08676409B2 |
Electric brake apparatus
Even when a rigidity table stored in a RAM at the time of a start of a brake operation does not coincide with an actual rigidity characteristic of an electric caliper which changes according to brake conditions including how often and how long a brake operation is applied, it is possible to reduce a deviation between a pressing force instruction value and a generated pressing force by updating the characteristic of the relation between a pressing force instruction value and rotational position each time an estimated thrust force value is calculated during one brake operation. It is possible to steadily keep followability to a pressing force instruction according to an actual state of the rigidity characteristic of the electric caliper, thereby ensuring generation of an appropriate brake force. |
| US08676408B2 |
Unmanned aircraft and aerial surveillance system for unmanned aircraft
An unmanned aircraft includes a camera, a laser ranging system and a driving unit. The laser ranging system measures a distance to an object in the field of view of the camera. The driving unit rotates the field of view. Thus, it is possible to acquire relative position data of the object around the unmanned aircraft with a small and light-weight unit. |
| US08676399B2 |
System and method for generating and displaying an electric taxi index
A taxi method for an aircraft having a primary thrust engine taxi system and an electric taxi system is provided. The method involves obtaining aircraft and airport status data and generating therefrom taxi drive information indicative of the relative cost of taxiing the aircraft along a predetermined route using the electric taxi system versus the aircraft engine taxi system. The taxi drive index information is presented to a user. |
| US08676397B2 |
Regulating the temperature of a datacenter
A method for regulating the temperature of a datacenter within an optimum temperature range includes predicting, using a computing device, a thermal load from a workload scheduler containing information on machines assembled in the datacenter to be turned on and/or off during a particular time period, and the thermal load of the datacenter associated with the work of the machines within the particular time period; and controlling at least one cooling system of the datacenter based upon the predicted thermal load within the particular time period under consideration of the thermal inertia of the datacenter by at least one of activating, controlling, and deactivating cooling resources of the cooling system in advance to maintain the temperature of the datacenter within the optimum temperature range. |
| US08676396B2 |
Mesh delivery system
A mesh delivery system for controlling electricity supplied to one or more electrical devices from a power source are disclosed. Signals relating to characteristics of the electrical devices are uniformly or non-uniformly sampled at discrete intervals are provided along with associated sampling time indications via the mesh network to a destination controller. |
| US08676390B2 |
Universal remote machinery controller and monitor
A system is provided herein for remotely controlling and monitoring machinery, the machinery having a control network for control thereof, one or more switches coupled to the control network for controlling the machinery via the control network. The system includes a controller hardwired coupled to the control network of the machinery. The controller is configured to control the machinery via the control network separately from the switches, and the controller is configured to monitor operation of the machinery. In addition, the system includes an arrangement for receiving signals for controlling the controller from a remote location and an arrangement for transmitting, to a remote location, information collected by the controller resulting from the controller monitoring operation of the machinery. Advantageously, with the subject invention, the system can control and monitor machinery from remote locations directly. In the event of faults or failures, corrective action may be taken using the subject invention. |
| US08676386B2 |
Fault detection system for a generator
A fault detection system is provided, and includes a generator, a power converter, a breaker, a current monitoring device, and a control module. The power converter is selectively connected to the generator and is selectively activated to produce a test voltage. The breaker is located between the generator and the power converter for selectively connecting the generator to the power converter. The breaker includes an open position and a closed position. The current monitoring device is located between the generator and the power converter. The current monitoring device measures a line current between the generator and the power converter. The control module is in communication with the current monitoring device and the power converter. The control module has a memory with a threshold current value. |
| US08676385B2 |
Method for operating a heat exchanger unit
A method operates a heat exchanger unit and determines a current physical characteristic of a process fluid at or adjacent a process fluid outlet of the heat exchanger unit and predetermining a desired physical characteristic of the process fluid at which the process fluid is desired to exit the heat exchanger unit. If the current physical characteristic of the process fluid is greater than the desired physical characteristic of the process fluid, then either a current fan speed is incrementally increased or the current fan speed is set at a predetermined low set point fan speed. Alternatively, if the current physical characteristic of the process fluid is less than the desired physical characteristic of the process fluid, then either the current fan speed is incrementally decreased or the current fan speed is set at a predetermined high set point fan speed or an OFF operating mode is activated. |
| US08676380B2 |
Moving robot and operating method for same
There are provided a moving robot and a method of operating the same. A bottom surface is photographed to sense a moving distance and a moving direction based on input image data. The amount of light radiated to photograph the bottom surface is sensed to feedback control the light emission degree of a light source unit. The light source unit is controlled when errors are generated in sensing the image data. Therefore, the sensing ratio of the photographed image is improved so that correctness of calculating the position of the moving robot is improved. |
| US08676378B2 |
Robot with docking station, system and method
A robot, a station, system and method therefor is described. The docking system includes, among other items, a robot and a docking station. The robot may have a power storage unit configured to supply power for the robot, a docking terminal group having a first docking terminal and a second docking terminal, and a robot control unit configured to control working state of the robot. The docking station includes a conductive terminal group comprising at least a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The conductive terminal group is configured to be electrically connected to the docking terminal group respectively. The robot control unit comprises a signal transmission module configured to be electrically connected to the first docking terminal and send a predetermined detection signal, a signal receiving module configured to be electrically connected to the second docking terminal. When the signal receiving module receives a predetermined feedback signal corresponding to the predetermined detection signal, the robot control unit verifies that the docking of the docking terminal group of the robot with the conductive terminal group of the docking station has succeeded. The robot can reliably dock to the docking station without human intervention, which brings extreme convenience to production and life. |
| US08676377B2 |
Retail shelf supply monitoring system
An inventory shelf monitoring system includes a plurality of track systems located on at least one shelf of a retail or warehouse establishment. Each track system includes a sensor and actuator that determines the position of a product pusher. The identity and location of the product pusher, for each track system on the shelf, is sent to a data acquisition and transmitter circuit that assembles, formats, and transmits pusher position data to a central receiver. The data is then transmitted to a central processing unit in a user device that maintains data corresponding to product count, availability, and activity associated with each track unit of each shelf employing the system. Inventory control, the prevention of out-of-stock situations, and the assessment of activity indicative of theft or accident is thus monitored in real time for prompt remedial action. |
| US08676376B2 |
Systems and methods for dispensing control for a product dispenser
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods of dispensing control for a product dispenser. In one embodiment, a system or product dispenser can be provided. The system or product dispenser can include a plurality of beverage ingredient sources comprising a respective beverage ingredient, a plurality of beverage supply lines in respective communication with the plurality of ingredient sources, at least one pump in communication with the plurality of beverage supply lines, and a controller in communication with the at least one pump and operable to execute a set of instructions. The set of instructions can be operable to store data associated with a prior poured beverage, provide a command for a user to dispense the prior poured beverage in a subsequent pour, and after selection of the command, based at least in part on the data associated with a prior poured beverage, dispense a subsequent beverage similar to the prior poured beverage. |
| US08676372B1 |
Tool path generation for machining operations
A method and apparatus for managing machining. A desired level of engagement of a tool may be identified with a workpiece. A tool path for the tool may be generated relative to the workpiece. The tool path may have a number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path. The number of levels of engagement of the tool with the workpiece along the tool path may be based on the desired level of engagement. |
| US08676371B2 |
Rolling of a strip in a rolling train using the last stand of the rolling train as a tension reducer
A rolling train for rolling a strip has a number of rolling stands and a coiler. The rolling stands have work and backing rolls. Data of the strip are fed to a control device of the rolling train which determines individual pass reductions for the rolling stands based on the data. It controls the main rolling stands and the coiler such that the strip is rolled in the main rolling stands according to the individual pass reductions and then coiled up. It determines the individual pass reductions such that they are zero and controls the rolling stand arranged directly upstream of the coiler such that—with respect to this main rolling stand—the tension in the strip on the outlet side is less than on the inlet side, but the strip runs through this rolling stand without undergoing any forming, at least on one side. |
| US08676367B2 |
Lot process order modification to improve detection of manufacturing effects
A system for lot based, multi-step wafer manufacturing processes is provided and includes a transfer apparatus, disposed among tools for performing respective process steps on each wafer of each lot of wafers transferred thereto, the transfer apparatus being configured to transfer each lot from a current tool to a next tool in accordance with a process step sequence, a dispatcher operably coupled to the transfer apparatus to modify the lot order in response to a modification condition detection, a measurement unit configured to receive each wafer of each fully processed lot and to collect measurements therefrom and a processor disposed in signal communication with the dispatcher and the measurement unit to analyze the measurements relative to the lot order for evidence that a process step of a corresponding tool is responsible for performance effects. |
| US08676362B2 |
Encapsulation of high definition audio data over an input/output interconnect
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for encapsulation of high definition audio data over an input/output interconnect. In some embodiments, a system includes tunneling logic coupled with a high definition (HD) audio controller. The tunneling logic may receive digital audio data from the HD audio controller, encapsulate the digital audio data in a message suitable for an in-band input/output (IO) interconnect, and send the message to an add-in graphics card via the in-band input/output IO interconnect. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08676358B2 |
Numerical control method and numerical control device
A numerical control machine tool has two spindles mounted in opposition to each other. In order to enable consecutive operations of lathe turning machining work in accordance with a speed command, drill machining work for drilling with rotating tools with a work positioned at a given angle, and other machining works while keeping a state where a single work is grasped by both of the spindles, switching means 152, 215 and 225 are provided which switch a reference spindle 314 to a profile control axis in a state where both of the spindles are held in the position control mode selected during spindle synchronized control, in a case where a C-axis control switching command is issued to treat the reference spindle 314 as the profile control axis while spindle synchronized control is performed for the reference spindle 314 and a synchronized spindle 324 and the synchronized spindle 324 is revolving at a command speed given to the reference spindle 314. |
| US08676357B2 |
System and method for implementing an extended safety instrumented system
An apparatus, system and process is provided for communicating safety-related data, over an open system, from a sender to a receiver. Safety-related components, including function blocks, flexible function blocks, resource blocks and transducer blocks, as well as, safety-related objects are provided. Also, an extended safety-related protocol provides for authenticating communications between safety-related components over an existing black channel, such as one using a fieldbus Architecture. |
| US08676355B2 |
Position control apparatus including iterative learning circuit, exposure apparatus, method for manufacturing device, and iterative learning method for use in position control apparatus having iterative learning circuit including learning filter
A position control apparatus includes a detecting unit configured to detect a position of a control target, a subtracting unit configured to subtract an output of the detecting unit from a target value, an iterative learning control circuit including a filter into which a deviation between the output of the detecting unit and the target value is input, where the iterative learning control circuit feeds forward a control input to the control target, and a parameter computing unit configured to compute a variation in a parameter of the control target. A characteristic of the filter is changed in accordance with the variation in the parameter of the control target. |
| US08676353B2 |
Control system
In the control system having plural control devices that are connected to a network, and control objects different from each other, an engine control device, a meter control device, and an AT control device, which are second control devices store a control volume computation procedure for computing the control volume of a pre-determined control among controls made by the engine control device which is a first control device, therein. The engine control device compares the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the engine control device with the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the meter control device. If a comparison result is different, the engine control device again compares the control volume with the control volume related to the pre-determined control computed by the AT control device, and controls an object to be controlled by the engine control device according to the comparison result. |
| US08676352B2 |
Implantable electrode line
A device for fastening permanently or temporarily implantable medical devices includes a main body (1) having a first end (1a) and a second end (1b), a flexible and extensible body section (2) therebetween, and a first inflexible and inextensible body support (3) which is fixedly attached to the body section (2) at the second end (1b) of the main body (1), whereby the extensible section (2) can be converted from an unextended state to an extended state in which it is lengthened in comparison with the unextended state. At least one first flexible finger-shaped anchor (4) protrudes away from the main body (1) and is attached to the first body support (3) at an anchor mount (4a). At least one first flexible retraction device (5) is provided for retraction of a respective first anchoring means (4), wherein the retraction device (5) is connected to the body section (2) and to the anchor (4). On conversion of the body section (2) from the unextended state to the extended state, the retraction device (5) does not expand, so that the respective anchors (4) are moved in the direction of the main body (1). |
| US08676349B2 |
Mechanism for releasably engaging an implantable medical device for implantation
An apparatus for releasably engaging an implantable medical device during delivery includes an elongate, tubular body having an open distal end a plurality of deflectable jaw members extending distally from the distal end of the body and terminating in distal tip portions, and an actuating member slidably disposed within the body and including a distal end portion operable to prevent inward deflection of the jaw members when positioned proximate the distal tip portions. The jaw members are adapted to releasably engage an engagement feature of the implantable medical device. |
| US08676340B2 |
MRI-safe implantable lead
A stimulation lead is configured to be implanted into a patient's body and includes at least one distal stimulation electrode and at least one conductive filer electrically coupled to the distal stimulation electrode. A jacket is provided for housing the conductive filer and providing a path distributed along at least a portion of the length of the lead for conducting induced RF energy from the filer to the patient's body. |
| US08676331B2 |
Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection
Devices for controlling spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, and associated systems and methods, including controllers for automated parameter selection are disclosed. A particular embodiment includes receiving a first input corresponding to a location of a signal delivery device implanted in a patient, establishing a positional relationship between the signal delivery device and an anatomical feature of the patient, receiving a second input corresponding to a medical indication of the patient, and, based at least in part on the positional relationship and the indication, automatically identifying a signal delivery parameter in accordance with which a pulsed electrical signal is delivered to the patient via the signal delivery device. |
| US08676325B2 |
Adaptive airway treatment of dorsal displacement disorders in horses
An adaptive airway treatment system is described for treating a dorsal displacement disorder in a horse. A pacemaker processor generates a dorsal displacement disorder treatment signal as a function of at least one therapy parameter. One or more stimulation electrodes are adapted to interface with tissue of the horse for delivering the treatment signal to continuously or intermittently stimulate soft palate tissue of the horse during an entire period of increased activity of the horse or for training prior to exercise. |
| US08676324B2 |
Electrical and magnetic stimulators used to treat migraine/sinus headache, rhinitis, sinusitis, rhinosinusitis, and comorbid disorders
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation devices and magnetic stimulation devices are disclosed, along with methods of treating medical disorders using energy that is delivered noninvasively by such devices. The disorders comprise migraine and other primary headaches such as cluster headaches, including nasal or paranasal sinus symptoms that resemble an immune-mediated response (“sinus” headaches). The devices and methods may also be used to treat rhinitis, sinusitis, or rhinosinusitis, irrespective of whether those disorders are co-morbid with a headache. They may also be used to treat other disorders that may be co-morbid with migraine or cluster headaches, such as anxiety disorders. In preferred embodiments of the disclosed methods, one or both of the patient's vagus nerves are stimulated non-invasively. In other embodiments, parts of the sympathetic nervous system and/or the adrenal glands are stimulated. |
| US08676321B2 |
Connection housing and manufacture of same
A medical implant includes a hermetically sealed hollow housing having a hermetically sealed feedthrough suitable for conducting electrical signals to and from the hollow housing without impairing the hermetic seal thereof. The hollow housing includes a circuit suitable for measuring signals from the human body, sending signals to the human body, and transmitting signals to a receiver located outside the body. The implant also includes a connection housing having an insulating connection body, an externally accessible cavity for connecting an implantable electrode line, an insulating substrate having at least one electrically conductive strip conductor structure, and contacts that are securely electrically connected to a strip conductor structure present in or on the substrate material. The substrate may be embedded in the connection body in such a way that the contacts are present in the externally accessible cavity. |
| US08676313B2 |
Wearable medical treatment device with motion/position detection
A wearable defibrillator consists of a vest (or belt) which is worn by the patient. The device monitors the patient's ECG with sensing electrodes and can monitor other patient conditions and in appropriate cases can treat certain conditions. An accelerometer(s) in the wearable defibrillator can allow for the device to determine the position, movements, forces applied to the patient, and/or the device. The device can use a least one patient motion detector generating a signal indicative of patient activity. Analysis of the signal can be indicative of patient activity appropriate for treatment or indication of device condition. |
| US08676311B2 |
Memory device associated with defibrillation electrodes
An electrode package for use with a defibrillator, the electrode package comprising an outer shell providing a vapor barrier between an interior space inside the outer shell and an exterior environment, one or more defibrillation electrodes positioned in the interior space inside the outer shell, each of the defibrillation electrodes including a metallic layer in electrical contact with a conductive liquid-containing layer through which electrical current is delivered to a patient when the defibrillation electrodes have been applied to the patient, the conductive a liquid-containing layer being subject to drying out as liquid from the water-containing layer vaporizes and travels from the interior space to the external environment, and one or more electrical conductors extending from inside of the outer shell to a package electrical connector outside of the shell, the package electrical connector being configured to be connected to a mating defibrillator electrical connector connected to the defibrillator, and an electronic memory device positioned outside the outer shell and in electrical contact with some of the electrical conductors extending from the outer shell to the package electrical connector. |
| US08676309B2 |
Systems and methods for neuromodulation for treatment of pain and other disorders associated with nerve conduction
Methods and apparatus are provided for selective destruction or temporary disruption of nerves and/or conduction pathways in a mammalian body for the treatment of pain and other disorders. Apparatus comprises catheters having electrodes for targeting and affecting nerve tissue at a cellular level to reversible and irreversible nerve poration and incapacitation. |
| US08676305B2 |
Automated analysis of complex fractionated electrograms
A method for mapping abnormal electrical activity, including obtaining electrical signal data from respective locations in a heart of a living subject, and automatically analyzing the signal data to identify complex fractionated electrograms (CFEs) therein. The method further includes analyzing the CFEs so as to identify reentry locations comprised in the respective locations, and displaying information derived from the identification in relation to a map of the heart. |
| US08676303B2 |
Methods and systems for treating heart instability
Systems and methods define an index of risk for cardiac disease by detecting cellular derangements that may lead to cardiomyopathy, heart rhythm disorders or ischemic heart disease. The markers include fluctuations or abnormal rate-behavior of electrical, mechanical or other measurable biosignals. The invention operates in modes that can be applied to prevent atrial fibrillation or the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Alternative embodiments are applied to tissue outside the heart such as skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, the central nervous system, the respiratory system, the urogenital system and the gastrointestinal system. |
| US08676302B2 |
Systems and methods for multi-spectral bioluminescence tomography
Bioluminescent imaging has proven to be a valuable tool for monitoring physiological and pathological activities at cellular and molecular levels in living small animals. Using biological techniques, target cells can be tagged with reporters which generate characteristic photons in a wide spectrum covering the infra-red range. Part of the diffused light can reach the body surface of a subject/specimen (e.g., a small animal), be separated into several spectral bands using optical means, and collected by a sensitive camera. Systems and methods are disclosed herein for multi-spectral bioluminescence tomography (MBLT), in which an image of an underlying 3D bioluminescent source distribution is synergistically reconstructed from spectrally resolved datasets externally measured. This MBLT process involves two or multiple imaging modalities that produce structural information of the object and optical properties of the object as well to enable and improve the quality of MBLT. |
| US08676301B2 |
Guide wire incorporating a handle
A guide wire incorporating a handle that incorporates a handle at the proximal end of said guide wire, the handle incorporating a guide wire actuator slidably disposed upon an actuator rail, the guide wire actuator being affixed to the proximal end of the guide wire and a guard rail contained within the actuator rail that prevents buckling of the proximal end of the guide wire. The handle can be connected to a catheter device amalgamating the guide wire and the catheter, allowing the catheter and guide wire to be operated simultaneously while also enabling the guide wire to be advanced or torqued independently of the catheter device. |
| US08676296B2 |
Echo-specific K-space reordering approach to compatible dual-echo arteriovenography
A dual-echo sequence technique provided herein empowers simultaneous acquisition of both TOF MRA and BOLD MRV in a single MR acquisition. By this approach, an echo-specific K-space ordering scheme permits the adjustment of the scan parameters that are compatible for each of the MRA and MRV. The image quality in the MRA and MRV acquired by this compatible dual-echo arteriovenography (CODEA) technique is comparable to that for conventional, single-echo MRA and MRV. When the technique is integrated with MOTSA, seamless vascular connectivity is achieved in both MRA and MRV over a large area of brain anatomy. The technique will facilitate routine clinical acquisition and application of dual-echo MRA and MRV, as both MRA and MRV can be acquired with minimal impact on the image quality and without adversely affecting the scan throughput. |
| US08676295B2 |
Interventional instrument tracking device imageable with magnetic resonance imaging and method for use thereof
A tracking device configured to be coupled to an interventional instrument and tracked by a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The tracking device includes, for example, paramagnetic and diamagnetic components that form first and second tracking members. When the tracking device is adjusted into a first arrangement, the tracking device will produce a local magnetic field in the presence of the magnetic field of an MRI system that is measurable by the MRI system. However, when the tracking device is adjusted into a second arrangement, the local magnetic field produced by the tracking device is reduced relative to the first arrangement, wherein the reduced local magnetic field produces substantially no magnetic field disturbances detectable by the MRI system. Images may be acquired of a patient in which the tracking device has been introduced and, using a numerical fitting method, an accurate location of the tracking device can be determined. |
| US08676287B2 |
System and methods for processing analyte sensor data
Systems and methods for processing sensor analyte data, including initiating calibration, updating calibration, evaluating clinical acceptability of reference and sensor analyte data, and evaluating the quality of sensor calibration. During initial calibration, the analyte sensor data is evaluated over a period of time to determine stability of the sensor. The sensor may be calibrated using a calibration set of one or more matched sensor and reference analyte data pairs. The calibration may be updated after evaluating the calibration set for best calibration based on inclusion criteria with newly received reference analyte data. Fail-safe mechanisms are provided based on clinical acceptability of reference and analyte data and quality of sensor calibration. Algorithms provide for optimized prospective and retrospective analysis of estimated blood analyte data from an analyte sensor. |
| US08676286B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing coupling between signals in a measurement system
A method and an apparatus for separating a composite signal into a plurality of signals is described. A signal processor receives a composite signal and separates a composite signal in to separate output signals. Feedback from one or more of the output signals is provided to a configuration module that configures the signal processor to improve a quality of the output signals. In one embodiment, the signal processor separates the composite signal by applying a first demodulation scheme to the composite signal to generate a first output signal. In one embodiment, the signal processor also applies a second demodulation scheme to the composite signal to generate a second output signal. In one embodiment, the composite signal is obtained from a detector in a system for measuring one or more blood constituents. |
| US08676283B2 |
Method and apparatus to compensate for melanin and hemoglobin variation in determination of a measure of a glycation end-product or disease state using tissue fluorescence
A method of determining a measure of a tissue state (e.g., glycation end-product or disease state) in an individual is disclosed. A portion of the skin of the individual is illuminated with excitation light, then light emitted by the tissue due to fluorescence of a chemical with the tissue responsive to the excitation light is detected. The detected light can be combined with a model relating fluorescence with a measure of tissue state to determine a tissue state. The invention can illuminate the skin and detect responsive light over a time that spans a plurality of cardiac cycles of the individual, which can, as an example, help mitigate the effects of time-varying signals such as those due to hemoglobin. The invention can also determine the amount of light to be directed to the skin, for example by controlling the time that a light source is energized. The amount of illumination light can be determined from a skin reflectance characteristic such as pigmentation or melanin in the skin. Controlling the amount of light directed to the tissue can reduce the dynamic range required of a corresponding optical system, for example by allowing a single system to accurately measure individuals with very light skin and individuals with very dark skin. |
| US08676278B2 |
Mobile terminal device
A mobile terminal device comprise a first housing 11a provided with a displaying unit 13; a second housing 11b on which the first housing 11a is laid; a hinge portion 12 pivotably connecting respective one end portions of the first housing 11a and second housing 11b with each other such that the first housing 11a moves toward/away from the second housing 11b; and a self-stand maintaining unit for maintaining a self-standing state where the displaying unit 13 is inclined by pivoting the first housing 11a relative to the second housing 11b with the hinge portion 12 as a pivoting center, as well as moving the first housing 11a along an axial direction of the hinge 12 to bring a side of the first housing 11a and a contact portion A on a side surface of the second housing 11b into contact with a placement surface. |
| US08676276B2 |
Mobile device having solar cell and power control method thereof
A mobile device has a solar cell and a rechargeable battery and may be connected with an external power source. A method for a power control of the mobile device allows a continuous and reliable power supply through selective connections with the solar cell, the battery and the external power source. In one embodiment, if the battery is unavailable or absent, the mobile device executes at least one function thereof by using electric power supplied from the solar cell. In another embodiment, if the battery is available with the mobile device powered off, the mobile device charges the battery by using electric power supplied from the solar cell. In still another embodiment, if the battery is available with the mobile device powered on, the mobile device executes at least one function thereof by using electric power supplied from both the solar cell and the battery. |
| US08676273B1 |
Communication device
A communication device, wherein when the communication device is in a ringing mode, audio data is output from the speaker, and when the communication device is in a silent mode, audio data is converted to a text data and the text data is output from the display in a visual fashion. |
| US08676271B2 |
Application displaying method and mobile communication terminal based on user's habit
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and provides an application displaying method and a mobile communication terminal based on a user's habit. The method includes: when the mobile communication terminal runs an application, acquiring a statistical value of displaying in a landscape manner and a statistical value of displaying in a portrait manner when the mobile communication terminal previously ran the application, comparing the statistical value of the landscape-manner displaying and the statistical value of the portrait-manner displaying to acquire a displaying manner corresponding to a larger displaying statistical value; and displaying a display interface of the application of the mobile communication terminal in the displaying manner corresponding to the larger displaying statistical value. |
| US08676269B2 |
Mobile terminal having wide display unit
A mobile terminal having a wide display unit is provided. The mobile terminal includes a main body having a first display unit therein. The mobile terminal includes a folder unit having a second display unit at an inner surface opposite to the first display unit. The terminal also includes a sliding unit connected to one end of the folder unit to guide the folder unit capable of performing a slide movement. The terminal includes a hinge coupler to connect the sliding unit and the main body such that the sliding unit rotates based on the main body. The folder unit positions the second display unit to be adjacent to the first display unit by performing a slide movement toward the main body when the folder unit is opened as the sliding unit rotates based on the hinge coupler, and a wide display unit is formed when a surface of the first display unit and a surface of the second display unit become in a single plane. Thereby, mobility of a mobile terminal while providing a wide display unit can be provided. |
| US08676253B2 |
Method and device for ranking frequencies
An arbitration method and device for arbitrating receiving conflict in a multi-mode multi-SIM multi-standby communication terminal is provided. The method includes: determining if there are at least two cards to receive messages in a time cycle while all of the cards are in standby states, the time cycle being a radio frame of one card; identifying types of messages to be received by the at least two cards after determining there are at least two cards to receive messages in the time cycle, and the types of messages comprising paging message and broadcast message; determining if a receiving conflict occurs; and arbitrating based on the types of receiving conflicts and obtaining arbitration results after determining there is a receiving conflict. The arbitration results include: receiving a paging message preferentially; receiving the paging message with the longest paging period; and receiving the broadcast message with the highest priority. |
| US08676252B2 |
Dual mode mobile terminal in MIMO wireless communication system and controlling method thereof
A method for dual mode mobile terminal in an MIMO wireless communication system is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of if an uplink transmission mode is for simultaneous transmission to an LTE base station and a CDMA base station, determining whether a transmission power to the LTE base station is equal to or greater than a threshold value, transmitting a simultaneous transmission mode dedicated scheduling request signal for excluding a risky frequency band from an uplink band to the LTE base station, receiving a scheduling information on the uplink band except the risky frequency band from the LTE base station, transmitting a CS service signal to the CDMA base station, and transmitting a PS service signal to the LTE base station using the scheduling information. |
| US08676250B2 |
Portable electronic device and control method therefor
Disclosed are a portable electronic device that can change imaging instruction keys according to the position of the casing, and a control method therefor. The device is provided with an operating unit casing, an operating unit that has multiple keys, an assessment unit that assesses the position of the operating side casing, a setting unit that sets the prescribed keys in the operating part to be the imaging instruction keys that give instructions for imaging according to the position of the operating side casing assessed by the assessment unit, and a camera that performs imaging according to the imaging instructions from the imaging instruction keys that are set by the setting unit. |
| US08676249B2 |
Apparatus and method for increased security of wireless transactions
A mobile communication device with security mechanisms is provided for enabling wireless personal information transfer with increased security. In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile communication device is used to confirm a transaction. |
| US08676248B2 |
Device, method, and medium for optimizing simultaneous long term evolution (LTE) signals and signals in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio band
A wireless communication device includes a processing unit with first chip and second chip that operates in parallel with the first chip. The first chip transmits/receives data according to LTE. The second chip transmits/receives data over a WLAN. The processing unit determines access points (AP) through which data can be transmitted/received by the second chip over the WLAN; and identifies an optimal AP, based on factors including a determination, for each AP, of whether transmission/reception of data by the first chip according to the LTE standard, simultaneous to transmission/reception of data over the WLAN by the second chip, would decrease the overall throughput of the first and second chips. When the second chip is previously connected to the WLAN through any AP other than the optimal AP, the second chip is disconnected from the other AP, and it is connected to the WLAN through the optimal AP. |
| US08676242B2 |
Method and apparatus for registration of location information of wireless devices in a wireless communication network supporting multicast calls
An apparatus and method for transmitting push-to-talk (PTT) communications through multicast channels to a plurality of wireless devices. The PTT server uses the unicast approach to deliver the PTT communication to a group of PTT clients when it does not have the location information of the PTT clients in the group. In one embodiment, the wireless devices report their location to a PTT server after receiving a PTT communication for a group and a timer is started. The wireless devices continue to report their location when moving from an area served by one base station to an area served by another before the timer expires. The PTT server also starts the timer for that PTT group with the same value after initiating the PTT group communication. The PTT server uses the location information to determine if multicast channels can be used when transmitting PTT communications to the wireless devices. |
| US08676241B2 |
Distributed antenna system, communication control method and base station apparatus
The selection range of antenna candidates effective for MIMO communication is widened in a base station to increase the throughput of MIMO communication. A terminal sends a sounding signal at given time intervals with the maximum transmission power or with an antenna selection transmission power threshold or larger. With this transmission, since the number of antenna candidates that receive the signal is increased at a base station in the distributed antenna system, the radio propagation channel state between the terminal and the base station apparatus is checked to select the combination of antennas having good orthogonality. Before the terminal sends the sounding signal, the terminal reserves beforehand the transmission timing of the sounding signal or performs carrier sensing to determine whether a surrounding terminal is sending a signal to avoid the collision/interference of packets of sounding signals between terminals. |
| US08676240B2 |
Timing of component carriers in multi-carrier wireless networks
Mechanisms for efficient transmission of large amount of download data from a base station to a user equipment in a multi-carrier that minimizes power consumption on the user equipment are described. When multiple component carriers are to be used to transmit the download data, the base station informs the user equipment. The base station transmits on the anchor carriers without wait after informing the user equipment and transmits on the non-anchor carriers after waiting a predetermined delay. The predetermined delay provides time to allow the user equipment to activate the receiving resources and be ready to receive the download data over the non-anchor carriers. In this manner, the user equipment can be in a power conservation mode and activate the receiver resources only when needed. |
| US08676235B2 |
Method and device for forwarding short messages in GSM/UMTS mobile radio networks
The invention relates to a method and a device for forwarding short messages from a transmitter (24) to a target number of a receiver (26) in GSM/UMTS mobile radio networks, wherein the target number of the receiver (26) is replaced by a forwarding call number before establishing routing information required for delivery of the short message in a service node (10) and delivery of the short message to the forwarding call number is carried out. |
| US08676233B2 |
Methods and apparatuses supporting multiple positioning protocol versions in wireless communication networks
Methods and apparatuses that support multiple positioning protocol versions within wireless communication networks are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining, at a first device, a first set of versions of a positioning protocol supported by the first device. An indication signal is transmitted from the first device to a second device. The indication signal includes a set of position determination data messages (PDDMs). Each particular PPDM of the set of PDDMs has a corresponding particular version of the first set of versions. |
| US08676225B2 |
Wireless communication device, wireless communication method, information processing device, information processing method, and program
A wireless communication device includes a transmission portion, an information acquisition portion, a storage portion, a selection portion, and a transmission control portion. The transmission portion transmits information. The information acquisition portion acquires location information for the wireless communication device that includes a received signal strength of a signal that is transmitted from a base station in the vicinity. The storage portion stores, in association with specific location information, regulating information that regulates the transmission from the transmission portion of the information that corresponds to the location of the wireless communication device. The selection portion selects from the storage portion the regulating information associated with the location information acquired by the information acquisition portion. The transmission control portion controls, based on the regulating information that was selected by the selection portion, the transmission from the transmission portion of the information that corresponds to the location of the wireless communication device. |
| US08676219B2 |
Combined wired and wireless communications with field devices in a process control environment
A method of providing a wireless extension to a plant automation network connected to a plurality of wired devices, each wired device performing a process control function, includes connecting a plurality of wireless devices to the plant automation network, each of the plurality of wireless devices adapted to communicate with at least another one of the plurality of wireless devices via at least one respective wireless connection; and providing access to each of the plurality of wireless devices from a host disposed in the plant automation network, such that the host accesses the plurality of wired devices and the plurality of wireless devices using a common communication scheme. |
| US08676218B2 |
Coverage hole compensation in a cellular wireless network
A method for use in providing coverage for at least part of a coverage hole in a first cell or cell sector in a cellular wireless network, in which method a second cell or cell sector is selected, from a group of cells or cell sectors in the cellular wireless network which neighbor the first cell or cell sector, to adapt its coverage so as to cover at least part of the coverage hole in the first cell or cell sector, the method including carrying out an identification process using data relating to a cell or cell sector in the group to identify a cell or cell sector suitable for selection as the second cell or cell sector, the identification process being carried out on one or more cells or cell sectors in the group in turn. |
| US08676215B2 |
Method and apparatus for interference suppression in heterogenous networks
A method is provided a wireless system for providing an interference suppression zone in a portion of the macro cell coverage area bordering the small-cell coverage area for a small cell, but outside that small-cell coverage area. The transmission power of a UE located within the interference suppression zone is minimized to minimize the inter-cell interference to the small cells. The invention methodology further operates to enhance the redirection/redistribution methods of the art for UEs located in the interference suppression zone, further reducing macro to small cell interference. In further embodiments of the invention, methods are provided for determining the scope of an interference suppression zone and for determining proximity of an UE to the interference suppression zone. |
| US08676212B2 |
User equipment terminal and signal power measurement of neighboring cells
A user equipment terminal for measuring signal power in a neighbor cell includes a movement speed estimating unit configured to estimate a movement speed of the user equipment terminal or a fading frequency of a propagation; a measurement bandwidth determining unit configured to determine a measurement bandwidth according to the movement speed or the fading frequency of the propagation; and a measurement unit configured to measure signal power in the neighbor cell within the determined measurement bandwidth. |
| US08676202B2 |
Mobile terminal, network node, and packet transfer management node
A technique is disclosed, according to which a race condition between a PMIPv6 binding by a PBU message of PMIPv6 and a CMIPv6 binding by a BU message of CMIPv6 can be resolved. MN 200 has a plurality of radio communication interfaces, and a first interface is connected to MAG 220 of a home PMIPv6 domain 230, for instance. In case the connection of a second interface is changed from MAG 221 of a home PMIPv6 domain to AR 222 of a CMIPv6 domain 231, a BU message 262 is transmitted from the second interface to LMA/HA 250, and identification information of this BU message is notified to MAG from the first interface. By adding time information to this identification information and by transmitting it to LMA/HA, MAG can identify transmission time of the BU message (i.e. relative order with the other messages) from this time information. |
| US08676201B2 |
E-UTRAN and handover
The present invention relates to a method, a base station and an interface for handover in a wireless communication network. Handover is initiated when the signal quality falls below a predetermined value. Random access serves as an uplink procedure to enable the UE to make handover from a first base station (eNodeB) to a suitable second base station (eNodeB). In the present invention, random access parameters are exchanged between second and first base station before said first base station signals said random access parameters to said user equipment. |
| US08676200B2 |
Mobile communication system, base station device, mobile station device, and handover method
A mobile communication system includes: a mobile station device; a first base station device to which an accessible time is set; and a second base station device. If the mobile communication system detects that a time according to the accessible time elapses and if the mobile station device is in communication with the first base station device, the mobile communication system performs a handover to switch a communication connection between the mobile station device and the first base station device to a communication connection between the mobile station device and the second communication device. Accordingly, disconnection of a call is prevented from occurring if the communication device is in communication with the first base station device when the accessible time expires. |
| US08676192B2 |
High data rate aircraft to ground communication antenna system
A method for ground to air communication includes receiving a first pilot signal on a first wide beam from a first ground base station by a first antenna element covering a first range of azimuth angles from an aircraft. Data is received on a directed data beam from the first ground base station by the first antenna element. A second pilot signal is received on a second wide beam from a second ground base station by a second antenna element covering a second range of azimuth angles different than the first range of azimuth angles. A signal strength of the second pilot signal is compared with a signal strength of the first pilot signal. Data reception is switched from the first antenna element to the second antenna element if the signal strength of the second pilot signal is greater than the signal strength of the first pilot signal. |
| US08676190B2 |
Network apparatus and method for performing a handover in a network
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a network apparatus may be provided, which network apparatus may include a detecting device, a selecting device, a receiving device, a determining device and a sending device. The detecting device may be adapted to detect a condition for a handover. The selecting device may be adapted to select a first group, wherein the first group includes at least one first target apparatus member. The receiving device may be adapted to receive a second group, wherein the second group may include at least one second target apparatus member. The determining device may be adapted to determine a difference group of the first target apparatus members and the second target apparatus members. The selecting device may be adapted to select at least one target apparatus member of the difference group. The sending device may be adapted to send a preparation information to the at least one selected target apparatus member of the difference group. |
| US08676188B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for calibrating and verifying a wireless communication device
An apparatus for testing a wireless communication device includes a receiver, a capture module, and a control module. The receiver receives at least one test packet transmitted from the wireless communication device. The capture module captures at least a portion of the at least one test packet. The control module selectively controls the capture module to capture at least the portion based on a predetermined test flow. In one example, the at least one test packet is transmitted by the wireless communication device according to the predetermined test flow. In one example, control module selectively controls the capture module to capture at least the portion based on an expected calibration value associated with the at least one test packet. In one example, the control module selectively controls the capture module to capture at least the portion based on a predetermined value of interest. |
| US08676185B2 |
Method for optimising transmission resources by inter-cellular loop in a mobile cellular radio-communication network and corresponding local network and adaptors
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting data exchanged by two terminals in a cellular radiocommunication network, each of the terminals being respectively associated with a base station of the cellular network. The method includes: identifying a shortened transmission path between the base stations, the shortened transmission path defining a direct transmission path for the data between the base stations without transiting via transcoding equipment present in the cellular radiocommunication network; and transmitting at least a portion of the data via the shortened transmission path, which is also called an intercellular loop-back operation. |
| US08676184B2 |
Method for remotely controlling a device by means of a fixed transceiver station, device, use of a fixed transceiver station and program
A method for remotely controlling a device by a fixed transceiver station in a radio cell of a cellular mobile telecommunications network, the cellular mobile telecommunications network being at least one of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network or a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), includes: transmitting to the device on a control channel, by the fixed transceiver station, control information specific to the radio cell; wherein the control channel is a channel or a portion of a channel used to broadcast location information; wherein the control information comprises an identification part for specifying the device; and wherein the device is not required to have a registration with the network. |
| US08676183B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling de-subscription of a master device at a base station
A master device transmits a de-subscription command to a base station with which it is subscribed. The de-subscription command indicates the master device intends to de-subscribe itself, which requires resolution of a conflict handling process. Upon resolution of the conflict handling process, the base station de-subscribes the master device. |
| US08676174B2 |
Easy call for content
A method and apparatus for quickly and easily requesting content over a mobile device via a telephone network without requiring user entry of a number of pieces of information or having to forward through to certain request screens and/or browse for content. The method includes verifying a mobile device based on an incoming telephone call to a particular destination telephone number; retrieving by a content server the specific content associated with the particular destination telephone number in which contact has been initiated by the mobile device; and providing the specific content to the mobile device requesting the content. Specific content includes but is not limited to broadcast data, satellite transmitted data, and cable network data provided during a telephone call, so that a mobile device can receive everything from television shows to news broadcasts and educational shows, etc. so long it is within range of a telephone network. |
| US08676171B2 |
Short URL metadata merge application
This invention provides a method of merging metadata generated during an SMS interaction on a mobile device, with metadata gleaned from the User Agent and the resulting Internet Multimedia Content Session (internet/web, video, audio, image, email, etc.). |
| US08676167B2 |
Mobile station with voice call acknowledgement and missed call scheduling
A communication station has a circuit that receives an incoming voice call from a calling party, and an acknowledgement mechanism that produces an acknowledgement message sent to the calling party in response to the incoming call if a user of the communication station does not answer the call. In the examples, the communication station sends short message service (SMS) or multimedia message service (MMS) acknowledgement message to the calling party. Also, a scheduling mechanism may be provided for adding a calendar entry to a calendar implemented in the communication station so as to remind the user about the acknowledged incoming call. |
| US08676165B2 |
Method and apparatus for peer-to-peer instant messaging
The invention proposes a method of peer-to-peer instant messaging and the mobile terminal thereof, which could make the mobile terminal to establish and maintain a list of friend users and update the connection status of the friend users timely. The method of peer-to-peer instant messaging includes following steps: receiving the list of on-line users with capability of peer-to-peer instant messaging sent by the radio network (S260); comparing said list of particular users with said received list of on-line users (S270); updating, according to said comparison result, the connection status record of each user in said list of particular users (S280) so that the mobile terminal could establish a peer-to-peer instant messaging with at least one user mobile terminal in said list of particular users according to said updated connection status record. The present invention enables the user to establish peer-to-peer connection more effectively and to perform instant messaging while occupying less network resources. |
| US08676161B2 |
Enforcing time-out periods in payment-enabled mobile device
A mobile device includes a housing and an antenna mounted in or on the housing. The antenna is for transmitting and receiving transaction signals to and from a point of sale (POS) terminal. The device also includes at least one user interface element mounted on the housing and a transceiver mounted in the housing and coupled to the antenna. Still further, the device includes a secure element mounted in the housing. The secure element is coupled to the transceiver and stores a payment application program. The payment application program is for handling exchanging of the transaction signals with the POS terminal. A tick counter is operated within the secure element. The tick counter is for enforcing at least one time-out period with respect to transactions handled by the payment application program. |
| US08676157B2 |
Wireless network system
A wireless network system wherein just inputting information regarding new wireless network settings from one client system enables the wireless network settings in the wireless network wireless communication control system and all of the client systems to be synchronously changed. The wireless communication control system is provided with a setting change instruction unit transmitting setting change instructions to all of the client systems based on a setting change request of the wireless network from a single client system and a wireless communication control system side setting content update unit updating the wireless network setting content in the wireless communication control system in synchronization with the processing of the setting change instruction unit. Each of the client systems is provided with a setting change instruction reception unit receiving a setting change instruction from the setting change instruction unit and a client system side setting content update unit updating the wireless network setting content in the client system based on the setting change instruction received by the setting change instruction reception unit. |
| US08676153B2 |
Method for geo-targeting wireless emergency alerts
Geo-targeting may be used in combination with wireless alert capabilities to provide alerts to a more granulated geographical area. Disclosed herein is a system and method for performing geo-targeting for various alert areas such that emergency messages may be delivered to mobile and static devices of different types in a localized area. In an example embodiment, geo-targeting supports the delivery area for wireless emergency alerts by identifying the cell sites that are in a specified geographic area that have technology capable of delivering wireless emergency alerts. The components of the telecommunications system that support a wireless emergency alert system may be identified and mapped to any geographical area. The method and system of geo-target mapping may provide an efficient and more robust way of determining the telecommunication components to be employed for broadcasting emergency alerts. |
| US08676152B2 |
Alarm systems having multiple communication alternatives for contacting a monitoring service and methods of operating the same
An alarm system includes a mobile terminal and an alarm controller. The alarm controller is configured to communicate with the mobile terminal, to attempt a call to a monitoring service using a first communication technique responsive to detection of an alarm condition, and to attempt a call to the monitoring service using the mobile terminal if the call attempt using the first communication technique is unsuccessful. |
| US08676148B2 |
Differential amplifier circuit and wireless receiving apparatus
A differential amplifier circuit includes a source follower circuit to which is input one of the differential signals and a common source circuit that is connected in series with the source follower circuit and to which is input the other of the differential signals. |
| US08676147B1 |
Detection system, controller, and method of detecting a signal of interest
A detection system includes a receiver configured to generate a receiver signal representative of detected electromagnetic energy, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to generate a plurality of signal samples based on the receiver signal. The detection system also includes a detection module configured to identify a plurality of sample offsets for the signal samples, and execute a plurality of autocorrelation functions on the signal samples to provide an output of each of the autocorrelation functions, wherein each autocorrelation function is executed on at least a portion of the signal samples identified by a sample offset of the plurality of sample offsets. The detection module is also configured to compute a sum of the autocorrelation function outputs, normalize the sum of the autocorrelation function outputs, and determine whether a signal of interest is present within the electromagnetic energy based on the normalized sum. |
| US08676145B2 |
Mixer circuits for second order intercept point calibration
A balanced mixer circuit (300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800) in a baseband receiver (202) includes an oscillator circuit (212), a mixer (214 and 215), a digital-to-analog converter (258 and 259) and a digital signal processor (250). The mixer includes CMOS devices (301, 302, 303 and 304). In response to differential outputs from the mixer, the digital signal processor controls the digital-to-analog converter to output bias voltages for the gate of at least one of the CMOS devices of the mixer to compensate for imbalance in the differential output of the mixer that may be caused by mismatch among two or more CMOS devices of the mixer or caused by other reasons, in order to increase second order intercept point of the mixer. |
| US08676143B2 |
Multimode receiver with active blocker suppression
Various embodiments of a wireless multimode receiver having an off-chip duplex filter associated with a multimode band, and a blocker cancellation circuit disposed on a semiconductor chip are described in the present disclosure. |
| US08676142B2 |
Antenna diversity method with fallback and weighting
In a radio communication station having antennas an antenna diversity system and a gain controllable amplifier the gain of the gain controllable amplifier is set by using a first antenna, the signal levels of signals received at the antennas is measured, a group of antennas is determined having a signal level which exceeds the signal level of the first antenna by no more than a predetermined value, and out of said group of antennas the antenna with the highest signal level is selected out or the first antenna is selected out if said group is empty. |
| US08676137B2 |
Mobile wireless terminal, a method of measuring signal strength of a received signal, and a method of searching for a base station
A mobile wireless terminal includes a wireless receiving part configured to receive a wireless signal from a base station which belongs to a mobile communication system using a time-frequency conversion for baseband processing; a received signal processing part that includes a time-frequency converting circuit and is configured to process the wireless signal; a setting part configured to successively set central frequencies within regions, wherein a frequency band that the mobile communication system uses is divided into the regions having a predetermined bandwidth; and a received signal strength measuring part configured to measure signal strength of received signals over the regions of the frequency band that the mobile communication system uses based on time-frequency conversion results from the time-frequency converting circuit, the time-frequency conversion results being obtained for the respective regions using the respective central frequencies set by the setting part. |
| US08676135B2 |
In-vehicle mobile music purchase
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improvements in vehicle entertainment systems. A user (vehicle passenger) may wish to buy a song (or other media item) that is currently playing on the vehicle digital radio. In one embodiment, the user may direct a purchase command directly to a music vendor, without going through a central server. In the example of purchasing digital music files, such vendors currently may include iTunes, Amazon.com, Rhapsody and others. The purchase command may be entered at the user's mobile phone user interface. In another embodiment, the purchase request may be entered to the vehicle control system without the use of a mobile phone. The requested media item is downloaded to the vehicle and or to a designated alternative destination which may be the user's home or office or mobile device. |
| US08676133B2 |
Reference signal design for LTE A
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate creating antenna ports to correspond to two or more groups of user equipment (UEs). The subject innovation can organize two or more groups of user equipment and signal to each of the two or more groups a respective antenna port. The subject innovation can further communicate mapping information, a reference signal, or delay related to a linear combination in order to identify antenna ports. Based on such communicated information, the reference signal can be decoded in order to identify each antenna port. |
| US08676131B2 |
Method and apparatus for allowing soft handoff of a CDMA reverse link utilizing an orthogonal channel structure
Method and apparatus for base stations and subscriber units allows soft handoff of a CDMA reverse link utilizing an orthogonal channel structure. Subscriber units transmit an orthogonally coded signal over a reverse link to the base stations. A given base station provides timing control of the timing offset of the reverse link signal. Based on at least one criterion, an alignment controller determines that the given base station should hand off timing control to another base station, and a soft handoff process ensues. In response to a command or message for soft handoff of the subscriber unit from the given base station to another base station, the subscriber unit makes a coarse timing adjustment to the timing of the coded signal. The subscriber unit may make fine timing adjustments based on feedback from the base station controlling timing. Multiple base stations may provide power control feedback to the subscriber unit. |
| US08676128B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing uplink signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for providing uplink signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation in a wireless communication system. A first signal is received over a first channel and a second signal is received over a second channel, where the second signal is received at a higher signal power level than said first signal. A signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the second signal is measured, and the SNR of the first signal is determined based at least in part upon the measured SNR of the second signal. |
| US08676124B2 |
Scheduling based on effective target load with interference cancellation in a wireless communication system
Techniques for scheduling users for transmission on the uplink in a wireless communication system are described. A cell may perform interference cancellation for uplink transmissions and may observe lower effective noise and interference due to interference cancellation. The lower effective noise and interference may allow the cell to operate with a higher effective target load, which may support a higher overall throughput for the cell. In one design, an effective target load for a cell using interference cancellation may be determined, e.g., based on a target rise-over-thermal (RoT) for the cell and an interference cancellation efficiency factor. An available load for the cell may be determined based on the effective target load, which may be higher than a target load for the cell without interference cancellation. Users in the cell may then be scheduled for transmission on the uplink based on the available load. |
| US08676122B2 |
Secure satellite modem for personal digital assistant method and apparatus
A system for enabling communication utilizing a satellite communications network includes a mobile communication device and a satellite modem apparatus. A text message is generated at the mobile communication device and transmitted to the satellite modem apparatus using a short range wireless protocol. The satellite modem transmits the text message as a short burst data message to a satellite within the satellite communications system where it is routed to a receiver unit. The satellite modem apparatus does not include a processor. Instead, the mobile communication device includes a processor and program code for generating, transmitting, and receiving text messages, and for encrypting a text message, and/or compressing a text message to a size suitable for transmission via an L-band communications protocol from the satellite modem apparatus. |
| US08676121B1 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting message from short-range wireless device over a satellite network
A communications system including a SN Device including a satellite transmitter and a local wireless transceiver and a GUI Device, separate from the SN Device. The GUI Device includes a user interface and local wireless transceiver capable of establishing a wireless link with the SN Device. The GUI Device transmits command information to the SN Device and the SN Device transmits at least location data to a satellite network. |
| US08676120B2 |
Coupled short-range wireless mobile terminal and relay
A wireless communication system is provided. The wireless communication system includes a wireless relay and a mobile terminal. The wireless relay is coupled to a phone network. The mobile terminal is physically coupled to the wireless relay to make a voice communication with the phone network via the wireless relay. Further, the mobile terminal and the wireless relay exchange control data and voice data corresponding to the voice communication over a short-range wireless link based on one of a transparent mode and a translation mode. A signaling connection is established on an asynchronous connection-oriented logical (ACL) transport channel between the mobile terminal and the wireless relay for exchanging the control data, and a voice connection is established on a synchronous connection oriented (SCO) channel between the mobile terminal and the wireless relay for exchanging the voice data. |
| US08676119B2 |
Device pairing via intermediary device
A first device may include and/or involve at least one contact sensor, and logic to facilitate pairing between a second device and a third device as a result of contact between the contact sensor and at least one of the second and third devices. |
| US08676118B2 |
Location-aware multimodal communication system
A system and method for providing a multimodal list of transceiver devices to a remote terminal is disclosed. A positioning unit determines a location of a remote terminal. A processor identifies transceivers for communicating in at least a first communication mode and a second communication mode according to the location of the remote terminal. The processor retrieves information about the identified transceivers from a database and generates a multimodal list. The processor causes a transceiver to transmit the multimodal list of transceiver devices to the remote terminal using a communication mode of the remote terminal. |
| US08676115B2 |
Apparatus and methods for testing using modulation error ratio
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for testing or qualifying a repeater/transmitter in a multicarrier system by utilizing modulation error ratio (MER). In particular, a disclosed method includes determining an estimated effective modulation error ratio of an output of the repeater/transmitter. The estimated effective modulation error ratio is compared with a predetermined threshold, and the repeater/transmitter is qualified when the estimated effective modulation error ratio is greater than the predetermined threshold. Using an estimated modulation error ratio for repeater/transmitters, which can have non-flat modulation error ratios over a total number of subcarriers, affords an efficient method to test and qualify repeater/transmitters. |
| US08676114B2 |
Digital radio broadcast receiver, broadcasting methods and methods for tagging content of interest
A method for specifying content of interest using a digital radio broadcast receiver is described. A digital radio broadcast signal includes first audio content and first program data, wherein the first program data includes information identifying a first item, and includes second audio content and second program data, wherein the second program data includes information identifying a second item. A user command entered at a user interface during reception of audio content is registered, indicating a user's interest in either the first or second audio content. It is determined whether there is an ambiguity in the content of interest. If there is an ambiguity, a first data structure is stored for the first audio content, and a second data structure is stored for the second audio content. The first data structure includes the information identifying the first item, and the second data structure includes the information identifying the second item. |
| US08676111B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method for the same
An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a fixing unit, a cooling roller disposed downstream relative to the fixing unit in a sheet feeding direction, an ejection roller disposed downstream relative to the cooling roller in the sheet feeding direction, a driving unit rotating the cooling roller and the ejection roller normally or reversely, and a controller including a determining unit determining whether a detected temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the controller switching between a first mode to, after a sheet passes through the cooling roller, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally and a second mode to, in a state where the cooling roller is nipping the sheet, control the driving unit to reversely rotate the cooling roller and the ejection roller being rotating normally, based on the determination of the determining unit. |
| US08676108B2 |
Protecting agent supplying member, protective layer forming device, and image forming apparatus
To provide a protecting agent supplying member, containing a core, and a foam layer formed on a periphery of the core, wherein the protecting agent supplying member is in the shape of a roller, and wherein the foam layer has concavities regularly arranged in a surface thereof. |
| US08676107B2 |
Lubricant applying device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A lubricant applying device includes a solid lubricant, and a rotatable applying member scraping lubricant off the solid lubricant and applying the scraped lubricant onto an application subject. In the lubricant applying device, a pressing unit applies that applies an applying pressure of pressing the solid lubricant against the applying member and that varies the applying pressure in accordance with a rotation speed of the applying member. |
| US08676099B2 |
Developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus contains a developer for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier. The developing apparatus includes a developer carrier disposed opposite to the image carrier; a developer regulating member regulating an amount of the developer carried by the developer carrier; and a developer circulating unit transporting the developer in a circulating path. The developer circulating unit includes a rotatable first transport member supplying the developer to the developer carrier while transporting the developer in a horizontal direction, a shielding member preventing the developer separated from the developer carrier from flowing back toward the first transport member, and a rotatable second transport member collecting the developer separated from the developer carrier while transporting the developer in the horizontal direction. A distance between the second transport member and the developer carrier is greater than a distance between the first transport member and the developer carrier. |
| US08676097B2 |
Developing device, assembly, and image forming apparatus with a biasing member
A developing device includes a first developing member rotating such that a moving direction of a portion opposing the image carrier is opposite a moving direction of the image carrier. A second developing member is provided on a downstream side of the first developing member in a rotating direction of the image carrier rotating such that a moving direction of a portion opposing the image carrier is the same as the moving direction of the image carries. A distributing member is supported movably relative to a proximal portion where the first developing member is closest to the second developing member so as to distribute developer to the first and second developing members by contact with the developer, and a biasing member biases the distributing member upstream in the rotating direction of the first developing member. |
| US08676096B2 |
Powder container and image forming apparatus
A powder container includes a body and a pair of walls that block one end of the body and the other end. The powder container is mountable in an apparatus. The body has an opening in a location closer to the one end to supply the powder to the apparatus. The powder container includes a shutter, a guide portion and a boss. The shutter is situated in a closed location before the powder container is mounted in the apparatus and is moved to an opened location to open the opening when the powder container is mounted in the apparatus. The guide portion maintains the shutter on the body and guides the shutter. The boss is located between the shutter and an outer wall surface of the one of walls and next to the end of the shutter at the closed location in a movement direction of the shutter. |
| US08676092B2 |
Image-forming device having mechanism for separating developing rollers from photosensitive drums
An image-forming device includes image carrying members aligned in a first direction in a main casing, one of the image carrying members being for black color, and remaining ones of the image carrying members being for other colors; a developing members provided in one-to-one correspondence with the image carrying members, each of the developing members configured to contact a corresponding image carrying member, one of the developing members being for black color, and remaining ones of the developing members being for other colors r; and a first contact/separation member linearly movable in the first direction, the first contact/separation member being disposed on one side of the plurality of developing members. The first contact/separation member comprises an elongated shape in the first direction. The first contact/separation member comprises a separating surfaces configured to contact respective developing members to separate the developing member from the image carrying member. |
| US08676090B1 |
Rotational force transmitting part
An electrophotographic photosensitive drum unit includes (a) a cylinder having a photosensitive layer at an outer periphery thereof and (b) a drum flange provided at one end of the cylinder, with the drum flange including at least two projections provided inside of the drum flange and projected radially inwardly of the drum flange, and with a space diametrically between the two projections. Each of the two projections projects radially inwardly of the drum flange to a greater extent at a position farther from the cylinder than it does at a position closer to the cylinder. |
| US08676089B2 |
Composition for use in an apparatus for delivery of a functional material to an image forming member
The presently disclosed embodiments relate generally to an image forming apparatus comprising a delivery member in contact with either the surface of an imaging member or in contact with the surface of the bias charge roller, wherein the delivery member is fabricated as a polymer matrix impregnated with functional materials, such that the functional material is transferred onto the imaging member or bias charge roller from the delivery member. Embodiments also pertain to an improved electrophotographic imaging member comprising a very thin outer layer on the imaging member surface, where the outer layer comprises functional materials, such as paraffin, that act as a lubricant and/or a barrier against moisture and/or surface contaminants. The improved imaging member exhibits improved xerographic performance, such as reduced torque, reduced friction, and deletions in high humidity conditions. |
| US08676079B2 |
Operating device, information processing apparatus, and image forming apparatus
An operating device includes a first support frame, a support shaft, an operating panel, a second support frame, and a spring. The first support frame is fixed to a front side of a main apparatus. The support shaft projects from the first support frame in a widthwise direction of the main apparatus. The second support frame is pivotally supported on the support shaft in such a manner as to be displaceable within a predetermined range in the widthwise direction while supporting the operating panel. The spring biases the second support frame in a first direction which the second support frame is pressed against the first support frame. The first support frame has a plurality of recesses on a circumference of a circle that is concentric with the support shaft. The second support frame has a first projection capable of being engaged into any one of the recesses. |
| US08676078B2 |
Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method for fixing toner image on recording medium
A fixing device includes a pressing rotary body pressed against a fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed; a heater to heat the fixing rotary body, disposed opposite a circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body and upstream from the fixing nip a predetermined circumferential distance along the circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body in a direction of rotation of the fixing rotary body; a heater driver to turn on and off the heater; a timing calculator to calculate a reference time at which a trailing end portion of the recording medium in a conveyance direction of the recording medium reaches the fixing nip; and a heater driver controller to cause the heater driver to turn off the heater at a turn-off time earlier than the reference time. |
| US08676076B2 |
Heating controlling device, heating device, image forming device, program storage medium, and method
There is provided a heating controlling device having: a receiving section receiving heating instructions for plural heaters; and a controller that, when the receiving section receives a heating instruction to heat another heater while two or more heaters other than the heater for which the heating instruction is received are heating, stops heating of the heaters that are heating, after a first predetermined time period elapses from the control to stop heating, starts heating of the heater for which the heating instruction is received, and each time a number of second predetermined time periods elapses from the control to start heating, restarts heating, on the basis of predetermined priority rankings, of the heaters that were controlled to stop heating. |
| US08676075B2 |
Image forming apparatus for suppressing reverse transfer of images
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveying belt; a first photosensitive member; and a second photosensitive member; a first transfer member; a second transfer member; a first pushing member; a second pushing member; and a changing unit, wherein the first photosensitive member is disposed on the upstream side of the second photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member, and the changing unit changes the pushing force of the second transfer member that is disposed on the downstream side of the first photosensitive member in a conveying direction of the transfer receiving member. |
| US08676074B2 |
Method for providing ratio modulated printing with discharge area development
Methods for printing are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing a primary imaging member having engine pixel locations with a ratio modulated difference of potentials, establishing a first development difference of potential to form a first net development difference of potential between the first development difference of potential and the engine pixel location and providing a first charged toner such that the first toner develops at the engine pixel location according to the first net development difference of potential. Establishing a second development difference of potential that is greater than the first difference of potential proximate the engine pixel location such that a determined amount of second toner develops at the engine pixel locations. Wherein the range of first toner potentials is such that a determined range of ratios of first toner amounts and the determined second toner amount provide ratio modulated differences of potential. |
| US08676070B2 |
Image forming apparatus
The image forming apparatus hasa first and a second transfer member which transfer toner images onto a transfer body; anda control section, which measures a first density of a first toner image formed on the transfer body, measures a second density of a second toner image formed on the transfer body anddetermines a transfer current for the first and the second transfer member based on the first and the second density. |
| US08676067B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charger configured to charge the photoconductor, the charger including a discharge wire and a grid; a voltage applying circuit configured to generate charge voltage and apply the charge voltage to the discharge wire of the charger; a grid-current detector configured to detect a grid current passing through the grid; a controller configured to control the voltage applying circuit on the basis of a detection value detected by the grid-current detector so that the grid current is constant; an abnormal-discharge detector configured to detect an abnormal discharge occurring in the charger; and a suppression resistor configured to suppress abnormal discharge energy. The suppression resistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is connected to the grid. The second terminal is connected to at least one of the grid-current detector and the abnormal-discharge detector. |
| US08676065B2 |
Method for processing paper jam in image forming apparatus having at least one option cassette, and image forming apparatus that performs the method
An image forming apparatus including at least one option cassette, and a paper jam handling method performed in the image forming apparatus are provided. The paper jam handling method includes the operations of detecting whether paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus, checking whether paper sheets exist on a transfer path of the image forming apparatus and on a transfer path of the option cassette, when the paper jam is detected, and leaving the paper sheet on the transfer path of the option cassette as it is and discharging the paper sheet caught on the transfer path of the image forming apparatus. Accordingly, paper damage or paper consumption may be prevented by not discharging a paper sheet caught on a transfer path of at least one option cassette during paper jam. |
| US08676063B2 |
Quantum correlated photon pair generating device and method
A quantum correlated photon pair generating device includes a nonlinear optical medium that generates quantum correlated photon pairs from excitation light by spontaneous parametric fluorescence and generates auxiliary idler light from the excitation light and auxiliary signal light by stimulated parametric conversion. The excitation light and auxiliary signal light are generated separately, combined, and input simultaneously to the nonlinear optical medium. An optical demultiplexer separates the auxiliary signal light and the auxiliary idler light output from the nonlinear optical medium. The intensities of the output auxiliary signal light and auxiliary idler light are detected, and the intensity or wavelength of the excitation light or the temperature of the nonlinear optical medium is controlled to maintain the ratio of the detected intensities at a preset value. The rate at which the quantum correlated photon pairs are generated is thereby held steady. |
| US08676062B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus and method
In an optical transmission apparatus, a light-emitting laser varies its output wavelength when applied with a wavelength control signal for switching wavelengths. A wavelength controller outputs the wavelength control signal, and a filter unit subjects the wavelength control signal to a filtering process to remove high-frequency noise superimposed on the wavelength control signal. The filter unit stops the filtering process during the wavelength control and executes the filtering process during the operation. |
| US08676056B2 |
Subcarrier multiplex system
A subcarrier system generates a phase comparison signal in a transmitter and transmits the phase comparison signal together with an optical subcarrier multiplex signal in the same transmission channel of an optical network. A receiver measures a phase distortion between a phase reference signal and the received phase comparison signal for each modulation section of the received subcarrier symbols, calculating at least one correction value and correcting time jitters or phase impairments of all parallel received or regained subcarrier symbols as a function of the phase distortion of the received phase comparison signal. Time jitter/phase jitter can be compensated without high hardware expenses. |
| US08676054B2 |
Optical transmission receiver and method for the same
There is provided an optical transmission receiver includes an optical switch configured to switch between optical transmission channels, the optical transmission channels being gradually switched from one to the other, an optical amplifier configured to amplify a light propagating in the other of the optical transmission channels which is in a state subsequent to switching, and a switching speed controller configured to control a switching speed of the optical switch based on a level of the light amplified by the optical amplifier. |
| US08676050B2 |
Autofocus calibration for long lenses
A method for calibrating a focus point for a camera lens may include capturing a reflection of a focus point measuring device that is affixed to the camera. The method may include evaluating a captured image of the reflection to measure a calibration amount for a focus point, and adjusting a focus point of a lens of the camera by the calibration amount. The focus point measuring device may include a substantially planar target surface defining a plane, and a ruled target surface inclined at substantially 45° to the substantially planar target and extending through the plane thereof, marked to indicate respective distances in front of and behind the plane. The device may further include a fixture for holding the substantially planar target surface and the ruled target surface in a defined orientation to the camera, enabling performance of the method. |
| US08676049B2 |
Imaging control unit, imaging apparatus, and imaging control method
An imaging control unit includes: a detecting unit that detects a focused-status of a focus detecting range set to an image data of each frame; a setting unit that sets, at a position of a distinctive-region including a distinctive points of an object detected from an processed image data, a focus detecting range of an image data of a subsequent frame; and a control unit that performs, when the focus detecting range is not in focused-status, a focal length control to change a focal length of a imaging lens so that the focus detecting range is in focused-status. When a displacement amount from the focus detecting range set to the imaged image data to the distinctive-region detected in the processed image data based on the imaged image data is large, the control unit aborts performing the focal length control even when the focus detecting range is not in focused-status. |
| US08676047B2 |
Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image capture apparatus comprises an inclination detection unit which detects an inclination of the image capture apparatus, a display unit which displays the inclination of the image capture apparatus, and a predetermined reference orientation set for the image capture apparatus, a still state determination unit which determines that the image capture apparatus is in a still state, if a variation of the inclination falls within a predetermined range, and a reference orientation setting unit which sets the reference orientation of the image capture apparatus, wherein the reference orientation setting unit does not set the reference orientation if the still state determination unit determines that the image capture apparatus is not in the still state. |
| US08676045B1 |
Studio arrangement
Disclosed are various embodiments of a studio arrangement and a method of capturing images and/or video. One embodiment of the disclosure includes a front light source aimed at a background, an image capture position located between the background and the front light source, an elevated platform positioned between the image capture position and the background, and at least one rear light source positioned between the elevated platform and the background. A subject can be photographed and/or filmed on the elevated platform to achieve a desired effect of a substantially seamless background where a rear edge of the elevated platform is imperceptible to an image capture device positioned at the image capture position. |
| US08676044B2 |
Dynamic sauna
Systems and methods are provided for controlling infrared radiation (IR) sources of a sauna including tuning IR wavelength-ranges and radiated power-levels of IR sources, and directing IR to locations on a user's body. In one illustrative embodiment, a sauna may be provided having adjustable heat sources to emit IR at any wavelength resulting in a desirable radiation treatment for the sauna user. In another illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for tuning IR sources in a sauna. |
| US08676043B2 |
Video data processing system, video server, gateway server, and video data management method
A system includes a reading unit reading first management information including a first item specifying video data and the video data from a storage medium, a storage unit recording second management information including the first item obtained from the first management information and the video data transferred from the reading unit, a memory storing third management information including the first item and a second item specifying a transfer or no transfer of the video data, and a controller transferring the first management information to the memory from the reading unit, updating the second item of the third management information in response to the transfer of the video data, and controlling the transfer of the video data in the video content which is designated by a read request from one of the reading unit and the storage unit to the outside based on the second item of the third management information. |
| US08676042B2 |
Method and apparatus for seeking a frame in multimedia contents
A multimedia content frame seeking method and apparatus is provided. The multimedia content frame seeking method may include setting a candidate position for a target frame, the target frame corresponding to a target time, according to an average bitrate of an average bitrate calculation section that is set with respect to frames in the multimedia content, adjusting the candidate position by progressively decreasing a size of the average bitrate calculation section based on the candidate position, and determining the target frame to be a frame having a start time that differs from the target time by a difference within a predetermined allowable range of error, wherein the target frame is determined from among frames of which starting points are closest to candidate positions. |
| US08676039B2 |
Recording apparatus, control method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
There is provided an information processing apparatus which generates, for an image reproducing apparatus, an application program that is executable by the image reproducing apparatus, the image reproducing apparatus operating under a basic program that is capable of executing an application program recorded in a first area of a recording medium but that is incapable of reproducing image data that is recorded in a second area of the recording medium, and the information processing apparatus comprising: a program generation unit which generates a reproducing program for the image reproducing apparatus to reproduce the image data recorded in the second area of the recording medium, as an application program executable by the image reproducing apparatus; and a recording unit which records the reproducing program generated by the program generation unit into the first area of the recording medium. |
| US08676031B1 |
Locality-based video playback to enable locally relevant product placement advertising
A system and method are disclosed for providing a digital medium, such as a Digital Video Disc (DVD), enabling playback of different versions of a media presentation depending on the locality of the viewer, where each version includes embedded advertisements for a corresponding locality. In one embodiment, a DVD stores a media presentation such as, for example, a movie, an episode of a television program, or the like. Depending on the location of the viewer, the DVD provides a version of the media presentation having embedded advertisements relevant to the locality of the viewer. |
| US08676029B2 |
Recording medium, method and apparatus for recording and/or reproducing digital data streams
A method and apparatus for recording digital data streams on a recording medium, are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes recording a received digital data stream of data packet units by grouping the data packet units into an object; and creating and recording a managing information for the object, the managing information including entry point map information associated with an entry point of the digital data stream and indication information indicating whether or not the entry point map information associated with the entry point exists, wherein the management information is recorded in an area separate from the data packet units on the recording medium. |
| US08676014B2 |
Optical fiber and method of manufacturing optical fiber
An optical fiber having excellent strength that can be manufactured at low cost, as well as a method for making such optical fiber, is provided. An optical fiber 1 is a silica-based optical fiber comprising a core 11, an optical cladding 12 surrounding the core 11, and a jacketing region 13 surrounding the optical cladding 12 and having a uniform composition throughout from the internal circumference to the outer circumference. A compressive strained layer having a residual compressive stress is provided at the outermost circumference of the jacketing region 13. |
| US08676012B2 |
Fiber optic cable for very-short-distance networks
A fiber optic cable includes a polymeric jacket defining an outer periphery and a cavity interior thereto, an optical fiber positioned within the cavity, and first and second longitudinal strength elements fully embedded in the jacket on opposite sides of the cavity from one another, where the strength elements define a bend axis of the cable passing there through that is orthogonal to the length of the cable, and the bend axis and the length of the cavity define a preferential plane for bending. The cable resists bending about a third axis that is orthogonal to the length of the cable and the bend axis, where the third axis and the length of the cable define a non-preferential plane for bending. The difference in flexural rigidity between the preferential and non-preferential planes limits formation of spontaneous knots in a coil of the cable while providing flexibility for ease of handling. |
| US08676011B1 |
Water blocked fiber optic cable
A cable can inhibit water that may inadvertently enter the cable from flowing lengthwise within the cable. The cable can include an outer jacket and at least one optical fiber disposed within the outer jacket. Water blocking barriers can be disposed at different longitudinal locations along the cable, and each water blocking barrier can provide a seal. Each barrier can include a polymer or a cured material and at least one derivative of at least one initiator that induces a reaction with the polymer or the cured material. The at least one initiator can include at least one of a photoinitiator or a thermal initiator. |
| US08676010B2 |
Electrical cable with optical fiber
An electrical cable includes a cable jacket extending a length and having an internal passageway that extends along the length of the cable jacket. Twisted pairs of insulated electrical conductors extend within the internal passageway along the length of the cable jacket. Each twisted pair includes two insulated conductors twisted together in a helical manner. At least two optical fibers extend within the internal passageway along the length of the cable jacket. The optical fibers are independently held within the internal passageway of the cable jacket relative to each other. |
| US08676005B2 |
Light guide for light source device and method for manufacturing the same
A light guide for a light source device includes a core layer which is formed from a transparent resin and has a refractive index n1 and cladding layers which are provided on both surfaces thereof and have a refractive index n2 which is lower than the refractive index n1 of the core layer. A light reflecting layer which scatters and reflects light is provided in the front surface of one cladding layer, the front surface of the other cladding layer is set as a light emitting face, and a recess is provided which reaches from at least one of either of the front surface of the one cladding layer or the front surface of the other cladding layer to the core layer passing through the cladding layer. |
| US08676002B2 |
Method of producing a photonic device and corresponding photonic device
Method of producing a photonic device including at least one light source and at least one photodetector on a structure including a waveguide layer, this method comprising the following steps: a) growing successively on a substrate (10), a photodetection structure (11) and a light source structure (12), the photodetection structure and the light source structure being made of a stack of layers, the light source layers being stacked on top of the photodetector layers and both structures sharing one of these layers. b) bonding the structure obtained by step a) to the said waveguide structure (2), the light source structure being in contact with the said waveguide structure (2), c) removing the substrate (10) from the structure obtained by step b), d) etching the structure (3) obtained by step c) to define the at least one photodetector (4), e) etching the structure obtained by step d) to define the at least one light source (5), f) forming electrodes (44, 43; 54, 53) on the least one photodetector (4) and on the least one light source (5). |
| US08676000B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing interpolation based on transform and inverse transform
Provided are a method and apparatus for interpolating an image. The method includes: selecting a first filter, from among a plurality of different filters, for interpolating between pixel values of integer pixel units, according to an interpolation location; and generating at least one pixel value of at least one fractional pixel unit by interpolating between the pixel values of the integer pixel units by using the selected first filter. |
| US08675997B2 |
Feature based image registration
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to feature based image registration. Feature based image registration determines correspondence between image features such as points, lines, and contours to align or register a reference or first image and a target or second image. The examples disclosed herein may be used in mobile devices such as cell phones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, cameras, and video recorders. |
| US08675995B2 |
Precisely locating features on geospatial imagery
Methods for locating a feature on geospatial imagery and systems for performing those methods are disclosed. An accuracy level of each of a plurality of geospatial vector datasets available in a database can be determined. Each of the plurality of geospatial vector datasets corresponds to the same spatial region as the geospatial imagery. The geospatial vector dataset having the highest accuracy level may be selected. When the selected geospatial vector dataset and the geospatial imagery are misaligned, the selected geospatial vector dataset is aligned to the geospatial imagery. The location of the feature on the geospatial imagery is then determined based on the selected geospatial vector dataset and outputted via a display device. |
| US08675987B2 |
Systems and methods for determination of a camera imperfection for an image
Methods and systems for creating an image filter is described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first plurality of images captured by an at least one camera with a same setting as a first camera. The method further includes creating an averaged image from the plurality of captured images, wherein the averaged image comprises a measurement value of intensity for each pixel in the averaged image. The method also includes determining an image imperfection in the averaged image. The method further includes creating the image filter to reduce the image imperfection. |
| US08675983B2 |
Method to determine a pixon map in iterative image reconstruction and spectral analysis
A method for iterative reconstruction of an object containing noise using the pixon method determines the pixon map from a variable that is used to update the object in the iteration. The updating variable is based on an optimized merit function, and smoothes the updating variable during each iteration. The updating variable depends on the reconstruction method, but is typically a gradient of a merit function or a multiplicative update factor. The updated object can optionally also be further smoothed at the end of the iteration, using the pixon map determined during the iteration. |
| US08675979B2 |
Transcoder, method of transcoding, and digital recorder
A transcoder reduces the processing amount when a coded stream to which at least intra prediction is applied is transcoded into a coded stream to which intra prediction and inter prediction are applied. The transcoder converts a first coded stream to at least part of which intra prediction is applied, into a second coded stream to which intra prediction and inter prediction are applied. The transcoder includes a decoding unit that decodes the first coded stream to generate decoded image data; a prediction mode obtaining unit that obtains a prediction mode of intra prediction applied in decoding; and a coding unit that codes the decoded image data by applying the intra prediction or inter prediction to generate the second coded stream. A control unit controls causes the coding unit to use the prediction mode obtained by the prediction mode obtaining unit when the coding unit applies intra prediction. |
| US08675977B2 |
Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
Computer-readable medium with an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image of a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method used in synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing prediction image by performing motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image; wherein synthesizing a prediction image uses a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein the interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information; wherein interpolation is via the rounding method specified by rounding method information included in the encoded bitstream when the current frame is a P frame; wherein the rounding method information is not in the encoded bitstream when the current frame is an I frame; and wherein the rounding method information specifies one of a plurality of values. |
| US08675974B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A classification result is stored in advance. At the time of identification, classification is performed at a high speed based on the stored classification result. In pre-classification, classification is performed divisionally in two stages. In the first classification, a plurality of representative vectors are generated from the classification result using a fast executable method. In the second classification, the created representative vectors are classified, and the result is stored in a lookup table. When an identification target image is input, the classification result can be reflected at a high speed by using the lookup table. |
| US08675969B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting page boundaries
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for detecting page boundaries which are capable of accurately detecting complete page boundaries and dealing with many kinds of complex conditions. The method comprises: an edge image detecting step for detecting an edge image from the book document image; a horizontal page boundary detecting step for detecting top page boundaries and bottom page boundaries on the edge image; a binding center line detecting step for detecting the binding center line by searching an intersection point of the left page and the right page on the top page boundaries and the bottom page boundaries; a page width determining step for determining the page width of the book document image; and a vertical page boundary determining step for determining the left page boundary and the right page boundary by using the top page boundaries, the bottom page boundaries, the binding center line and the page width. |
| US08675965B2 |
Method and system for analyzing an image generated by at least one camera
A method for analyzing an image of a real object, particularly a printed media object, generated by at least one camera comprises the following steps: generating at least a first image by the camera capturing at least one real object, defining a first search domain comprising multiple data sets of the real object, each of the data sets being indicative of a respective portion of the real object, and analyzing at least one characteristic property of the first image of the camera with respect to the first search domain, in order to determine whether the at least one characteristic property corresponds to information of at least a particular one of the data sets of the first search domain. If it is determined that the at least one characteristic property corresponds to information of at least a particular one of the data sets, a second search domain comprising only the particular one of the data sets is defined and the second search domain is used for analyzing the first image and/or at least a second image generated by the camera. |
| US08675957B2 |
Image quality assessment to merchandise an item
Image-based features may be significantly correlated with click-through rates of images that depict a product, which may provide a more formal basis for the informal notion that good quality images will result in better click-through rates, as compared to poor quality images. Accordingly, an image assessment machine is configured to analyze image-based features to improve click-through rates for shopping search applications (e.g., a product search engine). Moreover, the image assessment machine may rank search results based on image quality factors and may notify sellers about low quality images. This may have the effect of improving the brand value for an online shopping website and accordingly have a positive long-term impact on the online shopping website. |
| US08675951B2 |
Method and system for generating a 3D model
A method for generating a three dimensional (3D) model of an object is depicted in a two dimensional (2D) image is disclosed, The 2D image includes associated 3D information. The method includes an operator determining a geometric primitive corresponding to shape characteristics of the object and then the generation of the 3D model based on the determined geometric primitive, the 2D image, and the associated 3D information. |
| US08675948B2 |
Mask inspection apparatus and mask inspection method
A mask inspection apparatus includes irradiation means for irradiating a sample with an electron beam, electron detection means for detecting a quantity of electrons generated from the sample having a pattern formed thereon by the irradiation with the electron beam, image processing means for generating image data of the pattern on the basis of the quantity of the electrons, and control means for creating a line profile and a differential profile of the pattern formed on the sample on the basis of the quantity of the electrons detected by the electron detection means. The control means detects a rising edge and a falling edge of the pattern on the basis of the differential profile, and then generates mask data of a multi-level structure on the basis of data of the edges and the image data created by the image processing means. |
| US08675941B2 |
Method for visualization of airway anatomical changes
A method (100) that evaluates the contours of patient airways and visualizes anatomical changes to the airways. |
| US08675931B2 |
Medical image segmentation
A segmentation method comprises clustering spatial, intensity and volumetric shape index to automatically segment a medical lesion. The algorithm has the following steps: (1) calculating volumetric shape index (SI) for each voxel in the image; (2) combining the SI features with the intensity range and the spatial position (x, y, z) to form a 5-dimensional feature vector set; (3) grouping the 5-dimensional feature vector set into clusters; (4) employing a modified expectation-maximization algorithm (EM) considering not only spatial but also shape features on an intensity mode map from the clustering algorithm to merge the neighbouring regions or modes. The joint spatial-intensity-shape feature provides rich information for the segmentation of the anatomic structures of interest, such as lesions or tumours. |
| US08675929B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing corresponding landmarks among a plurality of images
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for synchronized viewing of a plurality of images of an object. Corresponding landmarks of an object are synchronized between a first image set and a second image set. In an embodiment, the landmarks are folds of a human colon and the first image set and second images sets are computerized tomography scans, at least one image set being a prone scan of a portion of anatomy and at least one image set being a supine scan of a portion of the anatomy. An indicator for at least a first location in a first image set is displayed. The location of a second location in a second image set of an object is determined, wherein the second location corresponds to the first location of the object. The second location in the second image set is displayed. |
| US08675927B2 |
Method and apparatus for information processing
According to one of embodiments, taking in facial image data for a user, extracting feature points of the face of the user from the facial image data and then coding the feature points, and registering the facial image data on a destination management table so that the facial image data is associated with a special identifier and/or the coded feature points. In particular, the face of the sender is incorporated into a video mail, so that the exchange of addresses (faces) is facilitated and the reliability of the e-mail itself can be enhanced. Further, a face can be automatically registered on an address book at a receiving end. In this case, a similar face can be updated by the latest face. |
| US08675926B2 |
Distinguishing live faces from flat surfaces
Multiple images including a face presented by a user are accessed. One or more determinations are made based on the multiple images, such as a determination of whether the face included in the multiple images is a 3-dimensional structure or a flat surface and/or a determination of whether motion is present in one or more face components (e.g., eyes or mouth). If it is determined that the face included in the multiple images is a 3-dimensional structure or that that motion is present in the one or more face components, then an indication is provided that the user can be authenticated. However, if it is determined that the face included in the multiple images is a flat surface or that motion is not present in the one or more face components, then an indication is provided that the user cannot be authenticated. |
| US08675923B2 |
Providing feedback about an image of a financial document
A technique for providing feedback about an image of a financial document to a user is described. During this feedback technique, the user provides the image of a financial document, such as W-2 form. For example, the user may take a picture of or may scan the financial document. This image may be analyzed using predefined information in a set of financial documents (such as different types of income-tax documents), and a quality metric for the image may be determined using the analysis. Moreover, the feedback, which is based on the determined quality metric, may be provided to the user. For example, the user may be instructed to retake the image, and the instructions may include an image of the desired orientation and content. In this way, the user may be advised as to how to improve the quality metric in the revised image. |
| US08675920B2 |
Fall detection and reporting technology
Fall detection and reporting technology, in which output from at least one sensor configured to sense, in a room of a building, activity associated with a patient falling is monitored and a determination is made to capture one or more images of the room based on the monitoring. An image of the room is captured with a camera positioned to include the patient within a field of view of the camera and the captured image of the room is analyzed to detect a state of the patient at a time of capturing the image. A potential fall event for the patient is determined based on the detected state of the patient and a message indicating the potential fall event for the patient is sent based on the determination of the potential fall event for the patient. Techniques are also described for fall detection and reporting using an on-body sensing device. |
| US08675919B2 |
Method for quantifying the number of free fibers emanating from a surface
The present disclosure provides a method for counting the number of fibers emanating from the surface of a web substrate. |
| US08675915B2 |
System for tracking user manipulations within an environment
Systems, methods and for analyzing game control input data are disclosed. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for analyzing game control input data is also disclosed. |
| US08675913B2 |
Gesture recognition method and interactive system using the same
A gesture recognition method for an interactive system includes the steps of: capturing image windows with an image sensor; obtaining information of object images associated with at least one pointer in the image windows; calculating a position coordinate of the pointer relative to the interactive system according to the position of the object images in the image windows when a single pointer is identified according to the information of object images; and performing gesture recognition according to a relation between the object images in the image window when a plurality of pointers are identified according to the information of object images. The present invention further provides an interactive system. |
| US08675909B2 |
Traffic signal connected digital electronic display and method of controlling the same
A digital electronic display connected to a traffic signal and a method of controlling the digital electronic display are provided. The digital electronic display includes a communication unit configured to receive content including content segments and metadata, a display screen, and a processor. The processor is configured to monitor the traffic signal to determine when, and the duration during which, a red light and a green light of the traffic signal is illuminated, present a content segment on the display screen corresponding to the red light based on the metadata and substantially for the entire duration when the red light is illuminated, and control the display screen to operate in a low-power state substantially for the entire duration when the green light is illuminated. |
| US08675907B2 |
Vehicle audio system having door mounted speaker support
A vehicle audio system comprises a loud-speaker, a door assembly including a rigid inner panel and an outer panel joined to the inner panel along a front edge, a rear edge, and a bottom edge. A speaker support defined by a highly rigid panel is configured to receive and support the loud speaker in a speaker mounting opening. The speaker support comprises three sides having mounting points located at each corner such that the speaker support and loud speaker supported thereby, contacts the door assembly at a rigid front edge portion, a rigid bottom edge portion and a front corner defined by the intersection of the two. |
| US08675899B2 |
Front surround system and method for processing signal using speaker array
A front surround sound reproduction system which improves the performance of beam steering by using a speaker array arranged geometrically on two or more planes or on one curved surface, and a signal reproducing method of the system. The audio reproduction apparatus to reproduce a multi-channel audio signal by using a plurality of speakers includes a signal distribution unit to duplicate a multi-channel audio signal and to distribute the duplicated signals as one or more groups of multi-channel signals corresponding to one or more speaker array groups, a steering processing unit to form sound beams with steering angles predetermined in relation to each speaker array group, from the groups of multi-channel signals distributed by the signal distribution unit, and a speaker array unit having one or more speaker array groups to reproduce the sound beams of each group formed by the steering processing unit, in the speaker array group. |
| US08675897B2 |
Ear-muff type headset for two-way communication
It is an object of the invention to provide a headset for performing simultaneous two-way communication or alternate two-way communication, which has excellent sound insulating properties such that external noise is not possibly mixed even when used under high noise conditions. A pair of bowl-shaped housings 1 each having an annular pad 2 attached to the rim of an opening portion are connected together through a headband 3, an acoustic speaker 5 supported by a buffer material 4 is arranged in at least one of the housings 1, and a bone conduction microphone 6 supported by the buffer material 4 such that the distal end is brought into abutment against the ear or the portion around the ear when a user wears the headset is arranged in at least one of the housings 1. |
| US08675895B2 |
Microphone assembly with integrated self-test circuitry
The present invention relates to a condenser microphone assembly comprising an electro-acoustic transducer element comprising a diaphragm and a back plate, signal processing circuitry operatively connected to the transducer element so as to process signals generated by the transducer element, and a mode-setting circuitry for selectively setting the condenser microphone assembly in a test mode or an operational mode. The electro-acoustic sensitivity of the condenser microphone assembly, when operated in the test mode, is at least 40 dB lower than the corresponding electro-acoustic sensitivity of the assembly when operated in the operational mode. The present invention further relates to a method for determining a performance parameter of a signal processing circuitry mounted inside a housing of an assembled condenser microphone assembly. |
| US08675891B2 |
Power supply unit with noise reduction capability
Embodiments of the present invention provide a power supply unit capable of achieving noise reduction while maintaining efficiency under the light load state. A FET driver controls switching elements in either one of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) mode, an intermittent mode having a lower operating frequency than that in the PWM mode, and a noise-free mode having a higher operating frequency than an audible frequency range. The FET driver operates first in the intermittent mode under the light load state. A microphone collects noise generated from the surroundings of a power supply unit. When the level of an audio signal collected by the microphone exceeds a predetermined level, the FET driver transitions from the intermittent mode to the noise-free mode. In accordance with such an embodiment, the FET driver operates in the noise-free mode only when noise is actually generated. |
| US08675888B2 |
Car audio
Provided is a car audio, in which a holding unit where a portable media device is held is inserted in an insertion space formed through the font of a car audio body and the holding unit is drawn out by opening and closing the insertion space with a front panel unit. Therefore, it is possible to hold and use a portable media device in a vehicle and the holding unit is stored in the insertion space when the portable media device is not used. |
| US08675887B2 |
Wireless illuminative speaker system and wireless illuminative speaker thereof
A wireless illuminative speaker system, comprising a wireless transmitter comprising a transmitter body, a wireless transmit module, a main board printed board circuit assembly (PCBA), and a support, and at least one wireless illuminative receiving speaker comprising a speaker body, an illuminating part, a speaker part, and a wireless receiving module. The wireless transmitter operates to obtain audio data from an external electronic device and to transmit the audio data in the form of wireless audio digital signals, the wireless transmit module is disposed in the transmitter body, the main board PCBA operates to control the wireless transmit module, the support operates to mount an audio playing device thereon, the wireless illuminative receiving speaker operates to receive the wireless audio digital signals from the wireless transmitter and to plays the received wireless audio digital signals after digital-to-analog conversion, and the illuminating part is disposed in the speaker body. |
| US08675886B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing a splitter in a notification system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and concomitant method for providing a splitter in a notification system. More specifically, the present invention provides a splitter, e.g., between an audio power booster and at least one notification appliance in a supervised emergency voice evacuation system. |
| US08675885B2 |
Adjusting noise reduction in headphones
A headset includes first and second earcups each having a front opening adapted to be adjacent to a respective ear of a user and including an electroacoustic transducer, a headband coupled to each of the earcups, and an active noise reduction circuit coupled to the electroacoustic transducers. The headband is configurable between at least two configurations that each press the earcups against the head of the user with different amounts of force. The active noise reduction circuit is configured to determine which of the at least two configurations the headband may be configured in, to provide a different amount of noise reduction when the headband may be configured in each of the different amounts of force, and to automatically transition between the different amounts of noise reduction in response to a change in the configuration of the headband between the at least two configurations. |
| US08675881B2 |
Estimation of synthetic audio prototypes
An approach to forming output signals both permits flexible and temporally and/or frequency local processing of input signals while limiting or mitigating artifacts in such output signals. Generally, the approach involves first synthesizing prototype signals for the output signals, or equivalently characterizing such prototypes, for example, according to their statistical characteristics, and then forming the output signals as estimates of the prototype signals, for example, as weighted combinations of the input signals. |
| US08675877B2 |
Sharing a secret via linear interpolation
A method and system distributes shares of a secret among cooperating entities using linear interpolation. In one embodiment, a linear equation is formed using the secret and random elements. The linear equation represents a K-dimensional secret hyperplane, where K is the number of shares to reconstruct the secret. Shares of the secrets are created, with each share containing a point on the secret hyperplane. The shares are then distributed to cooperating entities for secret sharing. |
| US08675874B2 |
Apparatus for performing data compression processing using algebraic torus
A compressing unit compresses an element on an algebraic torus into affine representation according to a compression map. A determining unit determines whether a target element on the algebraic torus to be compressed is an exceptional point representing an element on the algebraic torus that cannot be compressed by the compression map. The compressing unit generates, when it is determined that the target element is the exceptional point, a processing result including exceptional information indicating that the target element is the exceptional point, and generates, when it is determined that the target element is not the exceptional point, a processing result including affine representation obtained by compressing the target element according to the compression map. |
| US08675872B2 |
Secure content distribution apparatus, systems, and methods
Various embodiments facilitate program content access management. One embodiment is a system with a secure content provider communicatively coupled to a first system and a second system, operable to stream encrypted content over the first system, and operable to communicate access control information over the second system; and a receiving device coupled to the first system and the second system, operable to receive the encrypted program content from the first system, operable to receive the access control information over the second system such that the encrypted program content is decrypted based on the access control information to generate program content, and operable to communicate the program content to a presentation device. |
| US08675871B2 |
Protecting a control vector in an optional block of a standard key block
A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for validating parameters passed to a parameter database, computing a length required for control vector CV data, preparing an optional block in accordance with a result of the computation, converting the CV to a format for a standardized key block while copying the converted CV into the optional block and updating optional block data in the standardized key block. |
| US08675870B2 |
Encryption apparatus
There is provided an encryption apparatus including an idle data inserting unit that takes input of a frame including a fixed-length header and a variable-length payload and an encrypting unit that receives an output of the idle data inserting unit. If the length of a block to be processed, included in the payload, is less than a predetermined value, the idle data inserting unit appends idle data following the block and transmits the frame including the block padded with the idle data to the encrypting unit. |
| US08675867B2 |
Key generation algorithm using secret polynomial over finite ring and transformation
Provided is an information processing apparatus for realizing an electronic signature system of the MPKC signature method capable of safety certification with respect to chosen-message attack. An information processing apparatus including a first inverse transformation unit that transforms an element y of a finite ring Kn containing elements constituted of n numbers into an element y′ of the finite ring Kn by an inverse transformation T−1 of a first secret polynomial T, an element computation unit that considers the element y′ of the finite ring Kn obtained here as an element Y of an n-order extension A of a finite ring K and computes an element Xε{Z|f(Z)=Y} of an inverse image of mapping f: A→A represented by a predetermined multivariable polynomial by using the element Y, an element selection unit that selects one element X of the inverse image with a probability p proportional to a number of elements α of the inverse image and outputs an exception value with a probability (1-p), and a second inverse transformation unit that considers the element X selected here as an element x′ of the finite ring Kn and transforms the element x′ of the finite ring Kn into an element x of the finite ring Kn by an inverse transformation S−1 of a second secret polynomial S is provided. |
| US08675864B2 |
Apparatus for encrypting data
An apparatus for encrypting data is provided. The apparatus is capable of symmetrically encrypting data and then encrypting the symmetrically encrypted data with the aid of a bit string. The bit string has a maximum entropy. Encryption of the symmetrically encrypted data is designed such that a section of the bit string is used for encryption and successive encryption operations are carried out with varying sections of the bit string while the bit string remains unchanged. |
| US08675855B2 |
Call authorizatin for pay-per-call services
A VoIP-enabled communications system includes IVR authentication for web initiated telephone calls. A web-based user initiates a telephone call by providing his telephone number and one or more target telephone numbers. In some embodiments, the target telephone number is identified by clicking on a call hyperlink. The system calls the user's telephone number and plays an IVR recording that asks the user to accept or reject the proposed connection to the target telephone number. If the user rejects, then he may be subject to being added to a Do Not Call list. If the user accepts, then the target number is called, and the connection bridged. Alternatively, if the user accepts, then the target number is called, and an IVR recording played. If the target also accepts, then the system bridges the telephone numbers and connects the call. Additional features may also be provided through the IVR recordings, for example, adding or removing numbers from the Do Not Call list. |
| US08675854B2 |
Multi-modal communications with conferencing and clients
A system and method for merging multi-modal communications are disclosed. The multi-modal communications can be synchronous, asynchronous and semi-synchronous. By way of a non-limiting example, at least two devices operating with varied modalities can be connected to a conferencing appliance. The conferencing appliance can integrate the differing modalities from the at least two devices by executing at least one of turn taking, conference identification, participant identification, ordering of interjections, modulation of meaning, expectation of shared awareness, floor domination and combination thereof. |