最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08688624B2 Seed data automation
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the automated loading seed data for testing in a product integration environment includes receiving input data associated with a test session. The input data may be received in a first format that includes at least one object. A processor may be used to automatically convert the input data into a second format that includes the metadata data string. The metadata data string may then be loaded into a database.
US08688622B2 Methods and systems for loading data into a temporal data warehouse
A system disclosed includes a temporal data warehouse and a platform independent temporal data warehouse load application operable to run on the system. The load application uses timestamp data from incoming data in conjunction with a relational algebra of set operators to identify and sequence net changes between the incoming data and data previously stored within the data warehouse. The load application loads the identified and sequenced net changes into the data warehouse with relatively little intrusion into normal operation of the data warehouse. Optimizations, including but not limited to, distinct partitioning of the workload into parallel streams are selectable via metadata.
US08688621B2 Systems and methods for information compression
Systems and methods for information compression. In a first method embodiment, a computer implemented method for compressing information includes finding a closest match entry of a dictionary to a data block, the dictionary stored in computer usable media. A logical exclusive OR combination of the closest match entry and the data block is performed to form a spatial difference vector identifying locations wherein the data block differs from the closest match entry. An information difference vector comprising differences between the data block and the closest match entry is formed. A compressed data block comprising the spatial difference vector, the information difference vector and a reference to the closest match entry is produced. The compressed data block is characterized as being smaller than the data block.
US08688615B2 Content selection based on consumer interactions
In some embodiments, there is provided a technique for detecting a consumer's skipping habits at a given time and determining the consumer's current preferences based at least in part on those skipping habits. Skipping habits are determined by detecting which content is skipped (or not skipped) during presentation of content. Skipping habits, indicating trends in the consumer's consuming or skipping of content, that are detected during presentation of content may be used to determine a consumer's current preferences. Selection of content for presentation may be based on current preferences of the consumer. In this way, a consumer's interactions with the content, including the consumer's skipping habits, can be used to alter a selection of content to be presented to the consumer.
US08688610B1 Estimation of individual causal effects
Methods and media for facilitating estimation of the causal effect for individuals based on predictor factors associated with the individuals. Estimated values of the causal effect may be used to distinguish between individuals and to recommend treatment based on the predicted treatment effect for the individuals.
US08688607B2 System and method for detecting healthcare insurance fraud
A system and method for detecting healthcare insurance fraud is disclosed. The method includes creating a database containing source data related to at least one healthcare claim submitted for reimbursement, selecting data from the database to compare to a set of rules using an audit module, and comparing the selected data to the set of rules using the audit module. The method also includes using the audit module to automatically identify suspected fraudulent data when the selected data violates at least one rule of the set of rules and using the audit module to flag the fraudulent data. In addition, the method includes using the audit module to generate a report illustrating patterns of irregularities within the source data to visually identify the fraudulent data displayed within the source data by user-friendly graphs and charts, and generating at least one automated statement for display to identify the at least one rule of the set of rules that was violated by the selected data using a documentation module.
US08688604B2 Systems and methods for facilitating communication between a point of sale device and a consumer device
Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for facilitating communication between a point of sale device and a consumer device. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for communicating with a consumer device at a point of sale (POS) can be provided. The method can include establishing, by a merchant POS device, communication with the consumer device at the point of sale; collecting, by the merchant POS device, transaction-related information from a payment application associated with the consumer device; determining, by the merchant POS device, that the collected transaction-related information does not include both payment-related information and value added services (VAS) information associated with one or more VAS; and collecting, by the merchant POS device based at least in part upon the determination, second transaction-related information from a second payment application associated with the consumer device.
US08688602B1 Metadata generation based upon extraction of information from full text of books
A computer system and method generate new metadata associated with a book from existing data about the book, including the body text of the book. The existing data is analyzed to determine input data for a machine learning algorithm, including lexicographical data determined from the body text. The machine learning algorithm is applied by a processor and generates new metadata, and a correspondence between the new metadata and the book is recorded.
US08688601B2 Systems and methods for generating machine learning-based classifiers for detecting specific categories of sensitive information
A computer-implemented method may include (1) identifying a plurality of specific categories of sensitive information to be protected by a DLP system, (2) obtaining a training data set for each specific category of sensitive information that includes a plurality of positive and a plurality of negative examples of the specific category of sensitive information, (3) using machine learning to train, based on an analysis of the training data sets, at least one machine learning-based classifier that is capable of detecting items of data that contain one or more of the plurality of specific categories of sensitive information, and then (4) deploying the machine learning-based classifier within the DLP system to enable the DLP system to detect and protect items of data that contain one or more of the plurality of specific categories of sensitive information in accordance with at least one DLP policy of the DLP system.
US08688600B2 Method and system for interacting with a user in an experiential environment
A method and system for provides a user with an ability to capture a sample of an experiential environment and deliver that sample to an interactive service to trigger one or more predetermined events. In exemplary embodiments of the invention such triggered events include the delivery of information and services to the user, the execution of tasks and instructions by the service on the user's behalf, communication events; surveillance events and other control-oriented events that are responsive to the user's wishes. In other exemplary embodiments of the invention, the triggered events include transaction-oriented events, entertainment events, and events associated with enhancements to human ability or function.
US08688599B2 Transportation problem solving device, transportation problem solving method, and program and recording medium therefor
A transportation problem solving device for solving a transportation problem to optimize the end-to-end physical distribution consisting of a regional transportation and an inter-depot transportation, comprising a transformation section for adding a regional representative node representing a plurality of collection and delivery spots belonging to a depot to a model of inter-depot transportation, and incorporating the regional transportation between each of the plurality of collection and delivery spots belonging to the depot and the depot into a part of the model of inter-depot transportation as the inter-depot transportation between the depot and the regional representative node, an inter-depot transportation computing section for solving the transportation problem, based on a transformation model in which the regional transportation is incorporated into the inter-depot transportation, and computing a transportation plan for each delivery order in an inter-depot transportation portion, when a plurality of transport requests are input, and an output section for outputting the transportation plan computed by the inter-depot transportation computing section.
US08688597B2 Job-management systems
Computer implemented job-management systems for adding employment seeking features to computer applications showing job data and receiving input. Systems may include a data storage system, instruction data including computer readable instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instruction data. In some examples, the instruction data may include an interface component for interfacing with from the computer application to capture input and job data and displaying a user interface. In some examples, the instruction data may include a storage component for storing data to the data storage system, the data including the input. Some examples may include a retrieval component for retrieving saved data from the data storage system and an interface component including computer executable instructions for entering the retrieved saved data into the form. In some examples the computer application may be configured to receive communication input and to send the communication input to an employer contact.
US08688596B2 Project activity reporting
A project management and activity recording system defines project tasks, project positions, and assigns personnel to the project positions. As the assigned personnel perform project tasks from a remote location, they may periodically record their activities in the project software. The recorded activity information is used to update the project to keep records such as time, cost, expenses, and task completion current, even when offsite personnel or contractors are used. A reporting user interface may be selected based on the reporting device, and data entry may be performed by updating historical or default values.
US08688595B2 Analyzing transactional data
A system and method for measuring or at least detecting the effect of at least implicit communication on transactions within a social group, optionally such as consumer purchases for example. The group may optionally comprise a social network, a pair, 3 or more individuals and so forth. By “implicit communication” it is meant communication for which there is no record, for example in a database. The aftereffects of such communication may optionally be determined, detected and/or measured through detection and/or measurement of influence, as described in greater detail below. For example, if a first consumer performs purchase of an item and a second consumer later purchases the same or similar item within a given time period, the two purchases may optionally be linked through influence which may in turn have optionally occurred through implicit communication. Optionally, the system and method may also measure or at least detect the effect of explicit communication, for which there is a record, for example in a database that describes the communication itself.
US08688592B1 System and method for processing transactions
A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving a first scan of an identifier from a first computing device is disclosed. The identifier is associated with a financial transaction. A second scan of the identifier is received from a second computing device. The financial transaction is processed based upon, at least in part, receiving the second scan of the identifier from the second computing device.
US08688589B2 Method and system for utilizing authorization factor pools
One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a system and associated processes for sharing cardholder data (CHD) between a merchant that utilizes tokenization and a second merchant that may or may not utilize tokenization. In one embodiment, the merchant, or an employee of the merchant, can use the system and associated processes to reacquire CHD from a tokenization provider system. In one embodiment, the merchant identifies to the tokenization provider system a desire to share CHD, which is associated with a token, with a second merchant. The merchant and/or the tokenization provider system can then invite the second merchant to register with the tokenization provider system. Once registered with the tokenization provider system, the second merchant can access any CHD that the merchant associated with the second merchant.
US08688579B1 Automatic remote deposit image preparation apparatuses, methods and systems
The AUTOMATIC REMOTE DEPOSIT IMAGE PREPARATION APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS (hereinafter “MultiCrop”) transforms uploaded check images and check deposit information inputs via MultiCrop components image into deposit confirmation outputs. For example, in one embodiment, a user may employ a personal computer connected to a web camera, and/or a smartphone with a built-in camera to initiate the remote deposit by holding a check in front of the camera, and the MultiCrop may capture images of the check and send them to a financial institution for deposit processing.
US08688574B2 Payment system
Disclosed embodiments provide systems and methods of processing payment authorisation requests for payment transactions to be conducted via a data communications network. The method allows identification of an issuing bank from a plurality of issuing banks as one which is to be utilised in a given transaction and facilitate a user specifying, in real time in relation to the given transaction, a particular bank account that is to be used to deduct funds for that transaction.
US08688573B1 Method and system for identifying a merchant payee associated with a cash transaction
Cash transaction entry data indicating a consumer has conducted a cash transaction with an unidentified merchant payee is obtained and geo-location data associated with the cash transaction data is used identify potential merchant payees of the cash transaction. If more than one potential merchant payee is identified, data representing the potential merchant payees is analyzed using historical financial transaction data associated with the consumer, and/or products or services and operations data associated with the potential merchant payees, and/or historical financial transaction data associated with a community of consumers, including consumers other than the consumer, to generate a potential merchant payee probability score for each of the potential merchant payees. The potential merchant payee probability score for each of the potential merchant payees is then used to generate a prioritized potential merchant payee list for the cash transaction that includes at least one of the potential merchant payees.
US08688570B2 System and method for performing person-to-person funds transfers via wireless communications
A funds-transfer system includes a processor and a memory storing control logic for causing the processor to enable a buyer to transfer funds to a seller via a mobile telephone. The control logic includes program code for causing the processor to receive a payment request transmitted from a mobile telephone of the buyer. The payment request is for a transfer of funds from a financial account held by the buyer to a financial account held by the seller, and the payment request is transmitted from a payment application stored in the buyer's mobile telephone. The payment request identifies a purchase amount to be transferred, and information identifying the financial account held by the buyer. The control logic also includes program code for causing the processor to charge the purchase amount to the financial account held by the buyer and to transfer the purchase amount to a financial account held by the seller. Additionally, the control logic includes program code for causing the processor to provide a payment acknowledgment to the buyer's mobile telephone and to the seller.
US08688566B2 System and method for providing latency protection for trading orders
A system for managing trading orders comprises a memory operable to store an order associated with a first price. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to identify a latency value. The processor is further operable to receive a counterorder and to identify a potential trade associated with the order and the counterorder, the potential trade based at least in part on the first price. If the latency value satisfies a configurable condition, the processor is further operable to initiate a configurable period of time. If the potential trade is not valid upon expiration of the configurable period, the processor is further operable to prevent the execution of the potential trade.
US08688564B2 User interface for semi-fungible trading
A user interface and method are disclosed for providing trading between a plurality of semi-fungible and non-fungible goods. A plurality of book axes are displayed in a single interface, each book axis representing a market for a particular good. Orders for goods are displayed as marks on the axes to display the relative value of the orders. A value axis is provided that relates the value of the goods from each market to each other. Thus, a single interface provides the means to relate the values of different semi-fungible goods. The value axis may be displayed in units of price, or a custom value designated by a user or pre-defined by the interface. Quantity information is represented in the interface through the display of a dimension of an order icon. Precise information about each order is displayed either in a panel view or a pop-up window.
US08688558B2 System and method for analyzing data associated with statistical arbitrage
Providing computer-based systems and methods for analyzing historical performance of financial securities and identifying trades in those securities based on the securities' current position as compared to this historical performance. These computer-based systems and computer-implemented methods include identifying stock pairs to include in a trading portfolio, based on a measure of the pair's relative performance, such as a modified Sharpe Ratio. The value of the stocks in each stock pair in the portfolio is assessed and deviations determined. This assessment can occur daily or at a longer or shorter time step. Stocks are bought or sold based on the current price of the stock as compared to historical performance. The present invention preferably employs a large number of stock pairs in the trading portfolio. This use of a large number of pairs results in a plurality of stocks being in more than one stock pair.
US08688556B2 Retirement planning application
A method includes generating a first interactive graphical user interface (GUI) that identifies one or more guaranteed income options to fund essential retirement expenses and receiving a selection of a guaranteed income option. The method includes generating a second interactive GUI that identifies one or more investment options to fund lifestyle retirement expenses and receiving a selection of an investment option. The method includes generating a third interactive GUI that identifies one or more unexpected liability coverage options and receiving a selection of an unexpected liability coverage option. The method includes generating a fourth interactive GUI that identifies one or more legacy planning options and receiving a selection of a legacy planning option. The method includes generating a retirement plan that identifies the selected guaranteed income option, the selected investment option, the selected unexpected liability coverage option, and the selected legacy planning option.
US08688555B2 Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer
It is an object of the present invention to enable a buyer to collectively manage information related to a variety of commercial transactions performed by the buyer as well as to the settlements for these transactions. The calendar server 25 supplies a calendar screen to a buyer system 3 that is used by the buyer 1. This calendar screen has electronic invoices addressed to the buyer 1, which are issued by the supplier system 7, and electronic deposit/withdrawal detailed statement of the buyer's deposit account, which are issued by a banking system 13, pasted in the spaces for the relevant dates. When the buyer 1 selects an arbitrary invoice on this calendar screen and inputs his or her approval of this invoice, an account transfer telegraphic message for payment of this invoice is automatically sent to the banking system 13. The calendar server 25 manages the status of each invoice (“opened”, “payment request in progress”, “paid”), and notifies the supplier system 7 and banking system 13 of this invoice status. The calendar server 25 also supplements news such as advertisements which are sent by the supplier system 7 and banking system 13, and so forth, selects news following the buyer's consumption trends, and pastes this news in the spaces on the calendar screen which pertain to dates that slightly precede dates on which buyer consumption other forms without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
US08688553B1 Method and system for using consumer financial data in product market analysis
A system and method for product market analysis using consumer financial data obtains financial data associated with a given consumer. At least part of the consumer financial data is then stored by the process for product market analysis using consumer financial data, or another party/application, typically in accounts/locations associated with the given consumer. An electronic media based marketing device is then provided by a product marketer, the electronic media based marketing device being capable of activation. When a consumer activates the electronic media based marketing device at least part of the consumer financial data associated with the consumer is transferred to the product marketer. As a result, the product marketer obtains significant amounts of information for market analysis purposes such as creating a potential consumer profile and determining a target market for the given product an/or service.
US08688552B1 Performing separate accounting and billing for each customer of a shared customer device
Techniques are described that facilitate performing accounting and billing separately for each customer of a service provider account registered to an owner of a shared customer device. An access router performs separate data usage accounting for each of the customers in sub-accounts of the registered service provider account based on customer virtual local area network (CVLAN) and service VLAN (SVLAN) tags included in data packets. A network operator may, therefore, generate a bill for the shared customer device that includes separate data usage charges for each customer. To facilitate the techniques, the access router may determine a CVLAN and SVLAN associated with a customer. The CVLAN and SVLAN tags are included in a service request toward a service provider, and copied into a service request reply toward the shared customer device. The shared customer device then includes the tags in data packets to identify the customer to the access router.
US08688550B1 Method and apparatus for leveraged tax efficient investment management
A method and apparatus for automatically managing investment portfolios to substantially track a selected index and to automatically harvest tax losses is disclosed. Preferably, the system comprises an accounting system for maintaining tax lot information for individual accounts, an optimization system for rebalancing each account to substantially model the index and for harvesting tax losses, and a trading system for executing trades. Each investor owns the securities in his account, and therefore, harvested losses can be used to offset capital gains. The period between successive optimization procedures is selected to avoid application of the internal revenue service wash sale rules.
US08688548B2 Negative balance management
A system, apparatus, and method for managing account data for accounts having a negative balance. The invention embodiment includes a method, process or workflow for processing data for accounts associated with a debit, credit, pre-paid card or other form of financial instrument that have a negative balance. The data processing includes application of issuer criteria or filters to determine if certain of the accounts having a negative balance are not suitable for chargeback processing and instead may be processed in bulk, thereby reducing administrative and data processing overhead. For each account that is potentially eligible for chargeback processing, the invention embodiment accesses the account data and determines if the data supports initiation of a chargeback procedure for one or more transactions described by the account data. If the account contains one or more transactions that are eligible for chargeback processing, then a provisional credit in the amount of the one or more transactions may be applied to the account.
US08688545B1 Fail-safe ordering
An action submitted via a network may be fulfilled despite the network, or a website accessible via the network, experiencing an error that prevents processing of the action when the action is received. In one example, the user that submitted the action may receive a confirmation page indicating that the action has been received. Transaction data may be retrieved based at least in part on the action and/or the user that submitted the action. Once the transaction data is stored in a queue, the transaction data may be processed either automatically or manually. Subsequently, the action may be fulfilled without the user needing to resubmit the action. Alternatively, the action may be optimistically fulfilled prior to the action being processed.
US08688540B1 System and method for fulfillment services coordination
Various embodiments of the system and method for managing sales and fulfillment services described herein may include a fulfillment coordination service. The fulfillment coordination service may be configured to receive a selection of one or more items of a merchant. The one or more items may be registered for fulfillment service with a fulfillment service provider. The fulfillment coordination service may also be configured to generate a sales listing for each selected item for listing with a sales listing provider. The fulfillment coordination service may in various embodiments receive an order indication for one or more of the selected items listed on the sales listing. The fulfillment coordination service may be configured to send a fulfillment request to the fulfillment service provider for the one or more items indicated by the order indication.
US08688537B2 Maintenance of a company profile of a company associated with a supplier/buyer commerce network
Embodiments for maintaining a company profile of a company associated with a supplier/buyer commerce network are disclosed. One method includes collecting activity information of the company. The collecting includes monitoring a plurality of databases that each maintains activity information associated with the company, assigning a unique identification for the company across the plurality of databases, exporting the activity information associated with the company from each of the plurality of databases, and aggregating the activity information. The method further includes updating the company profile with the aggregated activity information of the company.
US08688536B2 Method for integrated recommendations
A recommendation appliance, system and method are provided for generating and deploying additional web page content or functionality (e.g., retail recommendations) to an existing web page server system. For example, the present invention may be embodied as a reverse proxy server that is inserted as an intermediate network node between a web server and the end users accessing the web server. In this position, the recommendation appliance can introduce recommendation messages to web pages generated by the web server without requiring any modification to the code or architecture of the web server. In addition, the appliance may separately track the transaction activities of end users who receive recommendation messages and the transaction activities of end users who do not receive recommendation messages, so that a comparison of the effectiveness of the recommendations may efficiently be demonstrated without requiring any modification to the code or architecture of the web server.
US08688535B2 Using model information groups in searching
Managing user accesses is disclosed, including: generating journal files over a predetermined period of time, wherein a journal file includes merchandise information associated with an accessed webpage; determining, for a merchandise category, information related to an attribute based at least in part on the generated journal files; aggregating information associated with the attribute from journal files associated with the merchandise category, wherein the aggregated information is to be included in a model information group associated with the merchandise category; and returning, in a subsequent search of merchandise information corresponding to the merchandise category, search results that are based at least in part on information associated with the model information group. Conducting searches of merchandise information is disclosed, including: determining a merchandise category associated with a query based at least in part on received keywords associated with the query; retrieving a model information group corresponding to the determined merchandise category; extracting attribute information from the retrieved model information group based at least in part on a quantity associated with an attribute; and presenting the extracted attribute information.
US08688532B2 Real-time ride share system
A method of organizing the sharing of vehicle trips includes receiving a ride request from one or more riders, wherein the ride request includes a rider location and a rider destination, identifying a beginning waypoint and an ending waypoint for vehicle travel, determining a vehicle route based on the beginning and ending waypoints, choosing a rider whose rider location or rider destination is geographically closest to the determined vehicle route, presenting the rider location and rider destination of the chosen rider to the driver, and if the driver accepts, sending a notification to the chosen rider alerting the chosen rider of the acceptance.
US08688527B2 Systems and methods to facilitate transactions
Systems and methods to facilitate programmatic access to a network-based commerce facility via a network are described. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request from a third party application via the network at the network based commerce facility. The request performs an action pertaining to electronic commerce and being one of a plurality of requests recognized by the network-based commerce facility. In responsive to the request, the method performs the action pertaining to the electronic commerce and communicates from a result of the action from the network-based commerce facility to the third party application in a programmatically accessible format.
US08688522B2 System and method for dynamic online advertisement creation and management
A method and system may in response to a request for advertisement components stored at a server, select a subset of advertisement components, and transmit the advertisement components to a client. The client may, for example insert the components into an advertisement in order to, for example, display an advertisement that is custom made for the particular client, or includes a random selection of components, or is an advertisement with components assembled for a different reason.
US08688520B2 Opportunistic alignment of advertisement delivery with cellular basestation overloads
A method includes controlling communications by users across a network with a predetermined capacity for desired communication flows for all the users and opportunistically aligning advertisement delivery to the users when an overload condition in the network occurs so that users perceive the disruption in communication service by the network as a minimum.
US08688518B2 Method, algorithm, and computer program for targeting messages including advertisements in an interactive measurable medium
Techniques for improving and optimizing or attempting to optimize performance of messaging campaigns, particularly to marketing campaigns in which advertisements or other messages are distributed over an interactive measurable medium. When message is an advertisement, campaign involves a list of ad alternatives and a target customer population. Goal of message manager or marketing manager is to allocate ad alternatives to customer population to optimize business objectives such as maximizing the number of positive responses received. This is achieved by segmenting customer population into segments and then finding best allocation of ad alternatives for each segment. The number of segments and grouping of a customer population changes at different stages of the campaign. When the message is other than an advertisement, goal is to allocate messages to optimize analogous business or campaign objectives, typically measured by the number of successes or successful responses.
US08688512B2 Offer insertion system
The invention provides a computer system and method for managing electronic transactions. A plurality of consumer and merchant accounts are stored in a data store. Each consumer account has a first consumer account identifier. Each merchant account has a merchant account identifier. A merchant offer is stored in the data store in association with the merchant account having the respective merchant account identifier. A push module associates the merchant offer with the consumer account identifier. A communication and routing module receives a charge request over the network interface device, the charge request including an amount and a second consumer account identifier and identifies a selected one of the consumer accounts by associating one of the first consumer account identifiers with the second consumer account identifier. A transaction processing system that processes the charge request based on an account detail of the selected consumer account.
US08688509B2 Parking locator system providing variably priced parking fees
A parking locator system providing variably priced parking includes one or more parking sensors and one or more parking kiosks. The parking sensors may generate parking information identifying one or more occupied parking spaces and one or more unoccupied parking spaces within a vicinity. Promotion information including one or more discounts to parking fees may be received at the parking kiosks. The parking kiosks may display the discounted parking fees and receive payment of the same. The discounts to parking fees may expire at particular times. The size of the discounts may be set based on traffic congestion, which may be determined based on the number of occupied parking spaces within the vicinity.
US08688505B1 Method for continuous sampled satisfaction polling
Systems and methods for polling populations. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a respondent pool (which can be, 10% of the population), and polling the pool at first time in a roiling period. The method also includes randomly replacing a fraction (20% in some embodiments) of the respondents with respondents who were previously polled more than one rolling period ago. The poll is then repeated and the results compared with the results from about one rolling period before. The population can be small enough that the results tend to exhibit skew and kurtosis. In some embodiments, the skew can be outside of the range of −0.8 to 0.8 and the kurtosis can be either leptokurtic or platykurtic. The organization taking the poll can have an ongoing relationship with the population. Some embodiments include an order taking system for a merchant (such as a promotional goods merchant) along with a polling system.
US08688504B2 Method and apparatus for collecting data for an item
A sale of a product or service may trigger a third party, such as a payment provider, to arrange for the collection of individual post-sale market data from the consumer. Alternatively, such post-sale market data may be directly provided by smart devices and the like. Dependent upon the type of product or service involved, a schedule for continuously submitting post-sale market data for the product or service may be provided and the consumer may be encouraged to submit post-sale market data in accordance therewith through a variety of incentives. The received, individual, post-sale market data may be aggregated by one or more sources to determine aggregate post-sale market data for the product or service. The submitted individual data and/or the determined aggregate post-sale market data may then be provided to consumers in order to assist them in making purchasing decisions.
US08688503B2 System and method for targeting family members of transaction account product holders to receive supplementary transaction account products
Utilization of information in a closed loop data system further augments modeling while at the same time enabling customization of offers based on spend patterns. Data mining techniques are leveraged to identify rules to determine higher response rate populations. These rules are referred to herein as “triggers,” in that the presence of particular attributes will trigger a cardholder as being more likely to respond to a particular offer. The benefit yielded by this approach is a greater acceptance rate to an offer provided by a transactional account company. To identify the triggers, records of cardmembers who already utilize a given product are analyzed to determine their spend patterns. The spend histories of customers who are eligible to use the product are analyzed according to the identified triggers. Customers whose spend patterns most closely correspond to the triggers are then targeted with offers for the given product.
US08688501B2 Method and system enabling dynamic composition of heterogenous risk models
A method and system for quantifying risk by composing a heterogeneous risk model are provided. The method comprises providing risk input data associated with one or more risk nodes to a processor, running one or more risk models to output individual risk quantifications for each risk node, and aggregating the individual risk quantifications into a single output. The system comprises a processor operable to provide risk input data associated with one or more risk nodes to a processor, run one or more risk models to output individual risk quantifications for each risk node and aggregate the individual risk quantifications into a single output.
US08688500B1 Information technology resiliency classification framework
Techniques for assessing a resiliency level in an information technology system and architecting the information technology system in accordance with the resiliency level are disclosed. An estimated resiliency level may be estimated from different system characteristics to obtain an estimated resiliency level for the information technology system. The cost and the degree of effort to design for the information technology system may be estimated from the estimated resiliency level. The resiliency level may be further determined from different system factors. Consequently, a specification for a resiliency feature is obtained by accessing a set of resiliency guidelines based on the resiliency level and a technology theme. The resiliency feature may then be applied to the information technology system.
US08688496B1 System and method for transferring articles such as airline transfer bags
A system and method for transferring articles such as, for example, airline transfer bags, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, the articles are transferred from an arrival gate of an inbound flight to one or more departure gates of connecting flights.
US08688494B2 Broker price opinion evaluation and scoring system and method
A system and related methods for the management and evaluation of broker price opinions comprising, a method of determining a standardized score representative of the accuracy and quality of a broker price opinion. Data from the broker price opinion is extracted and evaluated according to a plurality of rules applicable to the type of broker price opinion. Each rule is given a particular weight, and an appraisal score may be calculating by summing each instance of a rule triggered multiplied by the weight assigned to that rule. Weights may be set by experts, or determined by statistical analysis.
US08688493B2 Attachment alignment measurement system, method and device
The present invention provides an Attachment alignment measurement system, method and tool, for identifying the level of Attachment Variance in a relationship between a caregiver and a subject (e.g. new member) in the social structure. Attachment Variance is the degree of alignment (or misalignment) between a subject's (e.g. new member) actual Attachment to the social structure compared with the Attachment of the subject as perceived by the caregiver. The Attachment alignment measurement method for measuring attachment variance in social structure, including the steps of measuring a Subject's actual Attachment to a social structure (Actual Attachment), measuring a primary carer's perception of the Subject's Attachment to a social structure (Perceived Attachment), and comparing Actual Attachment and Perceived Attachment such that Attachment Variance is assessable, wherein Attachment Variance provides an indication of alignment between a Subject's Actual Attachment the Perceived Attachment and the programming instructions for performing the steps.
US08688492B2 Associating ad results with purchases made via a mobile devices
Implementations and techniques for associating ad results with purchases made via mobile devices are generally disclosed.
US08688490B2 System and method for determining a hotel marketability index score in a network environment
A method for evaluating travel accommodations is provided that includes identifying a plurality of hotel properties and assigning a hotel marketability index score to one or more of the properties such that one or more of the properties may be ranked. The hotel marketability index score may be based on a selected one or more characteristics associated with one or more of the hotel properties, the characteristics including rate competitiveness, hotel availability, hotel location within a cluster location, and hotel quality within the cluster location.
US08688486B2 System, method and program for setting wage for call center personnel
System, method and program product for dynamically setting a wage offered to a multiplicity of inactive call center personnel. First program instructions automatically estimate a wait time for calls to a call center. The calls are handled by a plurality of active call center personnel. Second program instructions automatically determine and set a wage, based in part on the estimated wait time, offered to inactive call center personnel to induce them to become active call center personnel to handle calls. Third program instructions, responsive to a request by an inactive call center person to become active at said wage, automatically designate the requesting inactive call center person as active at the wage and assign a call to the requesting inactive call center personnel that was designated as active. Program instructions also set a renewal wage paid to active call center personnel, based in part on the estimated wait time, to induce the active call center personnel to remain active.
US08688480B1 Automated accounts receivable management system with a self learning engine driven by current data
An automated system is disclosed for managing accounts receivable for outstanding healthcare accounts. In particular, the system in accordance with the present invention is an automated system which preemptively assesses the risk of denials of outstanding healthcare accounts by way of a self-learning engine driven by current data and prioritizes those accounts for follow up according to the risk profile of the account. As such, the system is able to minimize denials by the respective payers thereby improving optimizing the efforts of healthcare accounts receivable personnel while improving the revenue yield and minimizing the revenue cycle.
US08688477B1 Method, system, and computer program product for determining a narcotics use indicator
A method, system, and computer program product for determining a narcotics use indicator to enable a physician, or other prescriber, to quickly review a numerical score that reflects a patient's past drug use and is indicative of proper, or improper, future drug use. This score analyzes many aspects of a patient's past activities to determine multiple individual indicator values that may be selectively weighted to create a final narcotics use indicator. Such individual indicator values may include a usage related indicator factoring in the patient's past drug use, particularly the type of narcotics and controlled substances used; an instruction related indicator that may consider the patient's past use of prescribers, quantity of prescriptions, or the number of open prescriptions from different prescribers; a dispensing related indicator that examines a patient's use of pharmacies, in filling prescriptions; or even an auxiliary indicator that may reflect the patient's number of active prescriptions.
US08688474B2 Patient health record access system
An integrated system provides patients with secure, real-time access to their Personal Health Record and an Enterprise Health Information System (PHR and EHIS, respectively). Access may be provided by way of the Internet and via a Personal Health Portal (PHP) web page. From the secure PHP web page, patients can view information created and maintained by their health care providers and their affiliated staff. The patients can also request services and information from their health care providers and affiliated staff, directly access EHIS-related services, such as scheduling an appointment, scheduling, paying a bill, enrolling in a class, completing insurance and other forms, and viewing information and Internet services that are relevant to their particular health status.
US08688470B1 Liability insurer and health plan data exchange
A data information exchange, which accesses data from liability insurers and health plans, manages the data and allows health plans to identify when their plan participants are third party claimants in injury claims. In another aspect, subrogation entities access the data information exchange in order to perform subrogation operations for the health plans, relating to the health plan's participants. In another aspect, coordination of benefit recovery entities access the data information exchange in order to perform recovery operations for the health plans, relating to health providers which rendered services to participants of the health plans.
US08688469B2 System and method for identifying a prospective clinical therapy for a prospective patient having a medical device
System and method for identifying a prospective clinical therapy for a prospective patient. The patient has a medical device, performed with a medical apparatus. The system has a historical database and an analyzer. The historical database incorporates information relating to a multiplicity of patients, each of the multiplicity of patients having a medical device and each of the multiplicity of patients having undergone a clinical therapy, the information including, for each of the multiplicity of patients, device characteristics of the medical device and an assessment of efficacy of clinical therapy. The analyzer correlates device characteristics of the prospective patient with the device characteristics and the assessment of efficacy of clinical therapy of the multiplicity of patients using the historical database to identify a prospective clinical therapy for the prospective patient associated with the device characteristics in the historical database having a relatively greater efficacy than the clinical therapy.
US08688463B2 System and method for automatic response piece information retrieval
Disclosed is a system, method, and medium for automatically analyzing response pieces. The system may scan the response piece, identify the response piece, and generate an image from the response piece. The system also processes the image. Processing the image may include determining response piece identification information and sending the response piece identification information to an accounting system to update an account associated with the response piece identification information. Processing the image may also include reading information from the response piece.
US08688462B2 Media auto exchange system and method
A network based distribution system and method is disclosed for automatically exchanging playable media items, such as movies in a digital format. The automatic exchange system includes a number of components that interoperate to improve a subscriber's experience, including an intelligent queue monitor which works on his/her behalf to identify potential items of interest for the subscriber. The system can thus automatically exchange for desirable tides, including other titles from other subscribers, under a set of programmed directives from the user, and/or in response to supply/demand requirements of other subscribers.
US08688461B1 Electronic registry for authenticating transferable records
An electronic registry stores information relating to a transferable electronic record and the controller of an authoritative copy of the transferable electronic record. The electronic registry includes information for authenticating a true copy of the authoritative copy of the transferable electronic record. The electronic registry also facilitates registration of the transferable electronic record and transfer of legal rights associated therewith.
US08688457B2 Transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, receiving apparatus, receiving method, computer program, and broadcasting system
The transmitting apparatus includes an encoder creating an encoded content signal by encoding the content, a generator generating sign language word identification information corresponding to chronologically-ordered sign language words appearing in a speech in the content, a creating unit creating control information containing the generated chronologically-ordered sign language word identification information, a storage unit storing sign language word images for displaying a sign language video corresponding to the sign language words by grouping the sign language word images into a plurality of modules according to a frequency of appearance of the sign language words in the speech in the content, a multiplexer creating a data stream by combining the encoded content signal with the control information and by repeatedly replicating the plurality of modules at a frequency corresponding to the frequency of appearance, and a transmitter transmitting the created data stream.
US08688455B2 Facilitating text-to-speech conversion of a domain name or a network address containing a domain name
A method and apparatus of facilitating text-to-speech conversion of a domain name are provided. At a processor of a computing device, a pronunciation of a top level domain of a network address is determined by one or more of: generating a phonetic representation of each character in the top level domain pronounced individually; and, generating a tokenized representation of each individual character of the top level domain suitable for interpretation by a text-to-speech engine. For each other level domain of the network address, at the processor, a pronunciation of the other level domain is determined based on one or more recognized words within the other level domain.
US08688453B1 Intent mining via analysis of utterances
According to example configurations, a speech processing system can include a syntactic parser, a word extractor, word extraction rules, and an analyzer. The syntactic parser of the speech processing system parses the utterance to identify syntactic relationships amongst words in the utterance. The word extractor utilizes word extraction rules to identify groupings of related words in the utterance that most likely represent an intended meaning of the utterance. The analyzer in the speech processing system maps each set of the sets of words produced by the word extractor to a respective candidate intent value to produce a list of candidate intent values for the utterance. The analyzer is configured to select, from the list of candidate intent values (i.e., possible intended meanings) of the utterance, a particular candidate intent value as being representative of the intent (i.e., intended meaning) of the utterance.
US08688450B2 Disambiguation of contact information using historical and context data
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for disambiguating contact information are described. A method includes determining, for each of multiple communications that were initiated by a user of a mobile device, a time when the communication was initiated or received; determining, for each of multiple contacts associated with the user, a probability associated with the contact based at least on the times when the communications were initiated or received; weighting a contact disambiguation grammar according to the probabilities; and processing audio data using the contact disambiguation grammar to select a particular contact.
US08688447B1 Method and system for domain-specific noisy channel natural language processing (NLP)
A method for processing transcriptions using natural language processing (NLP), the method includes obtaining transcriptions corresponding to an utterance from a user device, where each of the transcriptions is a different speech-to-text conversion of the utterance. The method further includes tagging a first transcription with at least one entity tag and a first transcription-level tag to obtain a first tagged transcription, tagging the second transcription with at least one entity tag and a second transcription-level tag to obtain a second tagged transcription, determining a highest probability transcription-level tag from the first transcription-level tag and second transcription-level tag. The method further includes identifying a subject-matter domain using the highest probability transcription-level tag, retagging the first transcription and the second transcription using entity tags associated with the subject-matter domain to obtain retagged transcriptions, performing, using the retagged transcriptions, an action to obtain a result, and sending the result to the user device.
US08688441B2 Method and apparatus to facilitate provision and use of an energy value to determine a spectral envelope shape for out-of-signal bandwidth content
One provides (101) a digital audio signal having a corresponding signal bandwidth, and then provides (102) an energy value that corresponds to at least an estimate of out-of-signal bandwidth energy as corresponds to that digital audio signal. One then uses (103) the energy value to simultaneously determine both a spectral envelope shape and a corresponding suitable energy for the spectral envelope shape for out-of-signal bandwidth content as corresponds to the digital audio signal. By one approach, if desired, one then combines (104) (on, for example, a frame by frame basis) the digital audio signal with the out-of-signal bandwidth content to provide a bandwidth extended version of the digital audio signal to be audibly rendered to thereby improve corresponding audio quality of the digital audio signal as so rendered.
US08688438B2 Generating speech and voice from extracted signal attributes using a speech-locked loop (SLL)
A speech processing system includes a plurality of signal analyzers that extract salient signal attributes of an input voice signal. A difference module computes the differences in the salient signal attributes. One or more control modules control a plurality of speech generators using an output signal from the difference module in a speech-locked loop (SLL), the speech generators use the output signal to generate a voice signal.
US08688437B2 Packet loss concealment for speech coding
A speech coding method of significantly reducing error propagation due to voice packet loss, while still greatly profiting from a pitch prediction or Long-Term Prediction (LTP), is achieved by limiting or reducing a pitch gain only for the first subframe or the first two subframes within a speech frame. The method is used for a voiced speech class; a pitch cycle length is compared to a subframe size to decide to reduce the pitch gain for the first subframe or the first two subframes within the frame. Speech coding quality loss due to the pitch gain reduction is compensated by increasing a bit rate of a second excitation component or adding one more stage of excitation component only for the first subframe or the first two subframes within the speech frame.
US08688435B2 Systems and methods for normalizing input media
A method and system for processing input media for provision to a text to speech engine comprising: a rules engine configured to maintain and update rules for processing the input media; a pre-parsing filter module configured to determine one or more metadata attributes using pre-parsing rules; a parsing filter module configured to identify content component from the input media using the parsing rules; a context and language detector configured to determine a default context and a default language; a learning agent configured to divide the content component into units of interest; a tagging module configured to iteratively assign tags to the units of interest using the tagging rules, wherein each tag is associated with a post-parsing rule; a post-parsing filter module configured to modify the content component by executing the post-parsing rules identified by the tags assigned to the phrases and strings. The context and language detector, tagging module, learning agent and post-parsing filter module are configured to iteratively process the content component and modifications thereto until there are no further modifications or a threshold number of iterations are performed.
US08688433B2 Message translations
Systems for translating text messages in an instant messaging system comprise a translation engine for translating text messages into a preferred language of a recipient of the text messages. The systems are preferably configured to send and receive the text messages and to determine whether the text messages that are received in a source language are in the preferred language of the recipients so that the text messages are displayed in the preferred language of the recipients of the text messages. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US08688430B1 Using computational phases to model the load on a computer system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system that simulates a load on a computer system. The system starts by collecting a set of sampled values from one or more monitors in the computer system during the execution of program code. Next, the system uses the set of sampled values to determine if one or more repeating computational phases occurs during the execution of the program code. If one or more repeating computational phases occurs, the system subsequently simulates a load on the computer system by executing portions of the program code that caused each repeating computational phase one or more times.
US08688424B2 Method of modelling a porous geologic medium traversed by a network of fractures
A method of modelling a fractured reservoir having application for petroleum reservoir development is disclosed utilizing a set of several families of equivalent blocks of regular shapes and sizes. The fractured reservoir is modelled by a complex porous medium made up of irregular blocks. A function defining the progress of an imbibition front within these blocks, whose derivative A′(X) is calculated, is determined. A function defining the progress of an imbibition front within regular equivalent blocks, whose derivative A′eq(X) is calculated, is then determined. This derivative, which constitutes at least two line segments with distinct slopes, depends on the dimensions of the equivalent blocks. Finally, the dimensions of the equivalent blocks are obtained by adjusting the two derivatives A′eq(X) and A′(X).
US08688420B2 Efficient evaluation of network robustness with a graph
Likely disconnections or system-level-impact producing slowdown in a flow parameter in a network can be identified by annotating a graph representing the network with a weight to edges of a graph representing the network. The weight can be linearly or non-linearly proportional to the inverse of the severity of the impact, and/or linearly or non-linearly proportional to the inverse of the likelihood of disconnection. Minimal cut sets needed to generate a disconnection in the network are identified from the annotated network based on the weights on the edges. Subsets of each minimal cut set are generated and evaluated during a simulation. The subsets can correspond to almost isolated scenarios for the network. The scope of the simulations can be reduced by selecting the minimal cut sets employing the weight.
US08688419B2 Method for predicting the operational reliability of an aircraft system
The present invention relates to a method for predicting the reliability of an aircraft system (S) onboard an aircraft, constituted by a plurality of elements. The operation of the aircraft is constituted by a sequence of cycles, each cycle comprising a flight phase and a ground station phase. The method of reliability prediction allows in particular calculation of the breakdown probability of the aircraft system at each cycle of operation of the aircraft. The present invention can also estimate the rate of operational interruption of this system.
US08688416B2 Methods and systems for improved pharmaceutical intervention in coagulation control
Contemplated methods and devices for coagulation control allow to establish a more constant dosage of required medication and to quantify/take into account patient-specific sensitivity to warfarin and Vitamin K by using logit (1/INR) as the dependent variable to so stabilize the variance across all values of INR. Moreover, it should be noted that such use simplifies the relation between INR and dose of coumarins or Vitamin K and reduces the number of parameters to be estimated for each patient.
US08688414B2 Identification of fluid flow bottlenecks
Techniques for determining one or more fluid flow characteristic values of a structure are disclosed. A fluid flow vector and a pressure gradient vector for a portion of the structure are determined, and a dot/cross product of the fluid flow vector with the pressure gradient vector is obtained to provide a fluid flow characteristic value. The fluid flow characteristic value can be used for modifying the structure to improve fluid flow through the structure.
US08688412B2 System and method for solving chemical engineering equations and model development using equation editor
A system includes a process controller and an equation evaluation apparatus. The equation evaluation apparatus includes an equation editor, a model factory, and an equation evaluation engine. The equation editor is adapted to receive equations describing a process to be controlled by the process controller. The equation editor is also adapted to generate model information representing the equations. The model factory is adapted to receive the model information and generate an equation stack representing the equations. The equation evaluation engine is adapted to receive evaluation information from the process controller, evaluate at least one of the equations using the evaluation information and the equation stack, and send a result of the evaluation to the process controller. The model information could include information representing algebraic equations, differential equations, algebraic states, differential states, inputs, parameters, constants, and/or expressions.
US08688410B2 Cable management and inventory enhancement
A cable-management system that integrates management information about infrastructure into objects and provides a visualization of cable and inventory objects within a building. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer-implemented cable management system comprising a cable module configured to manage at least one cable object associated with at least one physical cable and to automatically synchronize cable availability information with at least one inventory database, an infrastructure module configured to manage at least one infrastructure object associated with a building layout, wherein attributes of the at least one infrastructure object are associated with the at least one cable object, and a capacity module configured to calculate at least one utilization value associated with the at least one infrastructure object, whereby the at least one utilization value, the at least one cable object, and the at least one infrastructure object are integrated into a visualization of the building layout.
US08688409B2 Method for determining an arrangement of measurement points on an anatomical structure
A method for determining arrangement data which represents an arrangement of measurement points on an anatomical structure of a patient, wherein the arrangement data is individually determined for different regions of the anatomical structure.
US08688405B2 Remote monitoring systems and methods
A system for monitoring an industrial process, comprising one or more sensors connected to one or more operating components of the industrial process; a remote monitoring station, comprising a computer and a database; and a connection between the one or more sensors and the remote monitoring station, wherein the remote monitoring station is at least about 100-2500 miles away from the industrial process, for example 500-1000 miles.
US08688399B2 Strobe-offset control circuit
A method of operation in a memory controller is disclosed. The method includes receiving a strobe signal having a first phase relationship with respect to first data propagating on a first data line, and a second phase relationship with respect to second data propagating on a second data line. A first sample signal is generated based on the first phase relationship and a second sample signal is generated based on the second phase relationship. The first data signal is received using a first receiver clocked by the first sample signal. The second data signal is received using a second receiver clocked by the second sample signal.
US08688397B2 Error calculation method for angle detection device
An angle detection device formed in the shape of a disk includes: a graduation plate having a plurality of graduation lines being provided radially from the center toward the circumference thereof; and two detectors being disposed along the circumference of the graduation plate in a manner to be opposite to each other in a radial direction, the detectors detecting the graduation lines. The angle detection device is configured to calculate a center error based on angles detected by the detectors.
US08688396B2 Targeted data collection for positioning systems
Selecting devices from which to receive data for adjusting the performance of a positioning system. The positioning system infers the location of the devices based on beacons observed by the devices. The performance of the positioning system is compared to performance targets. One or more of the devices are selected based on the comparison. Data collection from the devices is adjusted to affect performance of the positioning system (e.g., improved or reduced). For example, if the positioning system predicts positions poorly for a particular area, data collection from selected devices within the particular area may be increased.
US08688394B2 Data center power conversion efficiency management
A data center energy management (DCEM) server configures a power supply in the data center. The DCEM server sums input alternating current (AC) power of the power supply to a total AC power of the data center, wherein the total AC power of the data center is a sum of AC power of a plurality of power supplies. The DCEM server sums output direct current (DC) power of the power supply to a total DC power of the data center and reports a ratio of total AC power to total DC power as data center power conversion efficiency. The DCEM server sets a preset power supply efficiency threshold. The DCEM server determines that a real-time power efficiency level is below the power supply efficiency threshold. The DCEM server, responsive to a determination that real-time power efficiency level is below the power supply efficiency threshold, may remedy the power supply.
US08688392B2 System and method for testing a light sensor of a portable electronic device
An improved system and method for testing a sensor of a portable electronic device based on expected sensor data and not timing information. The system and method for testing a sensor of a portable electronic device retrieves sensed data from the portable electronic device (i.e. device under test) after the device has traversed a series of test areas or zones. The sensed data is compared against a set of expected sensor data patterns to determine which components of the sensed data correspond to each test area or zone. The sensor of the portable electronic device may be tested based on an association of the test areas or zones with segments of the sensed data.
US08688390B2 Thermoelectric evaluation and manufacturing methods
A means for determining the electrical resistance and resistivity of thermoelectric material allows quality control at all steps in the construction of a bismuth telluride and antimony telluride thermoelectric generator. The method involves measuring negative thermoelectric voltage with no current flowing and then a measure of negative thermoelectric voltage while forcing known current through the material in the same direction as shorted to accurately determine thermoelectric resistance. A manual and automatic method of manufacturing thermoelectric rings using forcing current for in-process testing means.
US08688385B2 Methods for selecting initial doses of psychotropic medications based on a CYP2D6 genotype
Methods for selecting a medication for a patient are described that include determining the patient's genotype for a panel of genes and selecting the medication based on the genotype. Articles of manufacture also are provided that include nucleic acid molecules for detecting alleles of genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and genes encoding products involved in neurotransmission.
US08688382B2 Detection of downhole vibrations using surface data from drilling rigs
Disclosed is a method for estimating downhole lateral vibrations a drill tubular disposed in a borehole penetrating the earth or a component coupled to the drill tubular. The method includes rotating the drill tubular to drill the first borehole and performing a plurality of measurements in a time window of one or more parameters of the drill tubular at or above a surface of the earth during the rotating using a sensor. The method further includes estimating the downhole lateral vibrations using a processor that receives the plurality of measurements.
US08688380B2 Even driven data acquisition switch
A method and apparatus in a vehicular telemetry system and a remote data analysis system for detecting an event and switching a data acquisition mode. Checking a state of a data acquisition mode. If the state is in a filtered data state and if an indicator value is at or above a threshold value, then switch the data acquisition mode to an unfiltered data state and acquire unfiltered data. If the data acquisition mode is in an unfiltered data state and if the indicator value is below the threshold value, switch the data acquisition mode to a filtered data state and acquire filtered data.
US08688377B1 System and method of using automatically-identified prominent establishments in driving directions
A system and method provides turn-by-turn directions by identifying placemarks, such as businesses or other landmarks that appear along a traveled route. The system may determine whether signage is associated with each placemark along the route and whether the signage is visible from the route. The system may also determine how prominent the signage is from the route. The system selects the placemark by determining how easily the placemark may be identified from the route, based on the signage's visibility and prominence. The selected placemark may then be identified in connection with the turn-by-turn directions.
US08688375B2 Method and system for locating and monitoring first responders
The present invention is directed to methods and systems for locating and monitoring the status of people and moveable assets, such as first responders, including firefighters and other public service personnel, and their equipment both indoors and out. The invention can provide for locating and monitoring the status of people and assets in environments where GPS systems do not operate, or where operation is impaired or otherwise limited. The system and method uses inertial navigation to determine the location, motion and orientation of the personnel or assets and communicates with an external monitoring station to receive requests for location, motion orientation and status information and to transmit the location, motion orientation and status information to the monitoring station. The system and method can include storing the location, motion and orientation data as well as status data, in the event that the communication system is unable to communicate with and transmit information to the monitoring station, the system will wait until communication is restored and transmit the status information to the monitoring station to update the location, motion orientation and status information for the person or asset.
US08688371B2 Multiple directions to a destination without providing a specific origin
The automatic generation of multiple sets of directions for navigating geographically to a specific destination without specification of an origin. Based on the destination, candidate roads or other transportation conduits are selected for analysis. Candidate meta-departure points are analyzed and selected along the roads based on distribution about the destination, cardinal directions relative to the destination, road metadata, distance to the destination, driving time, and other factors. The number of departure points generated to represent routes to the destination from the several logical cardinal directions is minimized. The generated departure points also represent routes that a majority of people would likely take to the destination. Additionally, the generated departure points originate from places that users are likely to be familiar with and can get to without additional guidance. The final instruction sets for navigating to the destination are presented along with a map that identified the departure points.
US08688370B2 Information display method, information processing apparatus, and information display program
Disclosed is an information display method whereby an information processing apparatus displays a map on a display screen such that a cursor is displayed at a position measured as the current position of a position indication object on the map. The method includes the steps of, when the moving speed of the position indication object is equal to or less than a threshold speed, scrolling the map on the display screen in accordance with the movement of the position indication object in a first display mode, and when the moving speed of the position indication object is greater than the threshold speed, fixing the map on the display screen in a second display mode or reducing the speed of scrolling the map on the display screen so that the scrolling speed is less than that in the first display mode.
US08688369B2 Data mining in a digital map database to identify blind intersections along roads and enabling precautionary actions in a vehicle
Disclosed is a feature for a vehicle that enables taking precautionary actions in response to conditions on the road network around or ahead of the vehicle, in particular, a blind intersection along a section of road. A database that represents the road network is used to determine locations where a blind intersection is located along a section of road. Then, precautionary action data is added to the database to indicate a location at which a precautionary action is to be taken about the blind intersection located along the section of road. A precautionary action system installed in a vehicle uses this database, or a database derived therefrom, in combination with a positioning system to determine when the vehicle is at a location that corresponds to the location of a precautionary action. When the vehicle is at such a location, a precautionary action is taken by a vehicle system as the vehicle is approaching a blind intersection.
US08688368B2 Image-based localization for addresses
The present localization system determines a precise location for an address based on images. Some implementations identify the precise location using one image. Other implementations identify the precise location using multiple images. While still other implementations identify the precise location by interpolation, which uses precise locations of addresses nearby that were previously localized using one or more images. The images used in determining the precise locations have a visual feature associated with the address appearing in the image.
US08688367B2 Storage and visualization of points of interest in a navigation system
A navigation system accepts driver input that extends the navigation capabilities of the navigation system, while permitting the driver to navigate using a digital map that indicates vehicle position. The driver input may identify a new point of interest, an icon for the new point of interest, and location information for the new point of interest. The navigation system supplements a pre-configured navigation database with the driver input. During a subsequent trip, when the vehicle approaches the new point of interest, the navigation system alerts the driver of the new point of interest.
US08688364B2 Method for determining a remaining range
A method determines a partial area of a map which is described by features, the partial area describing the remaining range of a motor vehicle. An energy-storage system supplies a drive system which acts on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle. The remaining range is determined as a function of energy stored in the energy-storage system using an algorithm which expands from a current position of the motor vehicle. The method uses divides the map into geometric, in particular rectangular, structures of equal size. Whenever, in the context of the expansion, a feature lying in a structure or corresponding to a structure is added, the structure is added to the partial area.
US08688360B2 Method for operating a fording-capable motor vehicle, and fording-capable motor vehicle
A motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a differential pressure sensor or two pressure sensors for detecting a pressure difference, which may be in an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the detected pressure difference. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle. A controlling arrangement is provided for controlling an automatic start-stop system or an ignition system of the motor vehicle as a function of the result of the evaluation of the detected pressure difference used to detect immersion or submersion of a tailpipe of the exhaust tract in water, sludge, or a similar liquid medium in order to prevent the internal combustion engine from shutting off when the tailpipe is immersed or submerged.
US08688359B2 Idle stop control method and control device
There is provided an idle stop system that can more quickly restart with small noise in conducting idle stop. In preparation for a restart request during an engine inertial rotation, after a motor is rotated in a state where a starter motor is not coupled to the engine, a pinion is engaged with a ring gear during the motor is subjected to inertial rotation like the engine. In this situation, the rotational speed including future pulsation of the engine is estimated with the use of information on the crank angle, and a pinion pushing timing is controlled so that the pinion and the ring gear contact each other with a given rotational speed difference taking a delay time of a pinion pushing unit into consideration.
US08688358B2 Torque estimating system for internal combustion engine
A torque estimating system for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders and estimates torque for each cylinder. A cylinder pressure of a cylinder pressure sensor (CPS) mounted cylinder #1 is acquired. Measured indicated torque Te1 resulting from an explosion in the CPS-mounted cylinder #1 is calculated based on the cylinder pressure. A first angular acceleration dω1/dt and a second angular acceleration dω2/dt are calculated. Estimated indicated torque Te2 resulting from an explosion in a CPS-less cylinder #2 is calculated using the measured indicated torque Te1 of the CPS-mounted cylinder #1 and a difference value between the second angular acceleration dω2/dt and the first angular acceleration dω1/dt.
US08688356B2 Control device for internal combustion engine
When the variation of the knock control system learning value is large, an idle speed learning control is performed in a learning acceleration mode. In this mode, the idle speed learning update increases and idle speed learning is performed at a high speed. By performing the idle speed learning in the learning acceleration mode, the idle speed learning can immediately follow large variations of the knock control system learning value. Accordingly, the idle speed learning control performed during idling of a hybrid car can be completed in a short time, and fuel consumption during idling can be reduced.
US08688354B2 Fuel injection control apparatus
A fuel injection control apparatus of the invention includes: a temperature acquisition portion that estimates the present temperature of a catalyst and the convergence temperature of the catalyst; an increase value calculation portion that calculates a base OT increase value that is an increase value for the fuel injection amount that a fuel injection valve provided in an internal combustion engine needs to inject, on the basis of the present temperature and the convergence temperature of the catalyst estimated by the temperature acquisition portion; a correction portion that calculates an OT increase correction-reflected value by correcting the base OT increase value on the basis of the present temperature and the convergence temperature if the present temperature is lower than the convergence temperature; and an increase value determination portion that selects one of the base OT increase value and the OT increase correction-reflected value as the OT increase value for the fuel injection amount that the fuel injection valve needs to inject, on the basis of the base OT increase value and the OT increase correction-reflected value.
US08688353B2 Engine control system with algorithm for actuator control
An engine control apparatus which may be employed in automotive vehicles. The engine control apparatus is equipped with a controlled variable arithmetic expression which defines correlations between a plurality of combustion parameters and a plurality of controlled variables of actuators for control of an operation of the engine to calculate a combination of command values to be outputted to the actuators for regulating the controlled variables needed to achieve target values of the combustion parameters. When one of the command values is produced outside an allowable operation range of a corresponding one of the actuators, the engine control apparatus corrects or limits the one of the command values to an upper or a lower limit of the allowable operation range, thereby ensuring the stability in bringing engine output characteristics close to desired values.
US08688351B2 Modification of engine control signal timing by emulation of engine position sensors
The timing of a controlled event is advanced or retarded in an IC engine by emulating the engine speed and position signal pattern prior to transmission of that signal pattern to an output such as a fuel injector. In a multi-controller engine in which a second controller is controlled at least in part by signals delivered by first controller, the signal preferably is emulated in the first controller prior to transmission to the second engine controller in order to allow the shifting of a timing of a controlled event without direct data transfer from the second controller to the first controller. The technique is particularly well-suited for controlling diesel fuel injection in a dual fuel or other multi-fuel engine. In this case, the first controller must be a dual fuel controller and the second controller may be a diesel controller.
US08688350B2 Hybrid powertrain and method for controlling a hybrid powertrain
A hybrid powertrain includes a combustion engine, an electric machine arrangement, a gearbox operable to receive motive power from at least one of the combustion engine and the electric machine arrangement for providing motive power to a load of the powertrain. The powertrain is configurable in operation so that its combustion engine is switchable between an inactive state and an active state. The combustion engine is cranked to switch it from its inactive state to its active state. Application of cranking torque to the combustion engine is controlled in operation to substantially temporally coincide with a gear change in the gearbox.
US08688346B2 Electric motors
An electric motor includes one or more separate coil sets arranged to produce a magnetic field of the motor. The electric motor also includes a plurality of control devices coupled to respective sub-sets of coils for current control. A similar arrangement is proposed for a generator. A coil mounting system for an electric motor or generator includes one or more coil teeth for windably receiving a coil for the motor and a back portion for attachably receiving a plurality of the coil teeth. A traction control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels independently powered by a respective motor. A suspension control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel being mounted on a suspension arm of the vehicle and being independently powered by a respective motor.
US08688345B2 Electric motors
An electric motor includes one or more separate coil sets arranged to produce a magnetic field of the motor. The electric motor also includes a plurality of control devices coupled to respective sub-sets of coils for current control. A similar arrangement is proposed for a generator. A coil mounting system for an electric motor or generator includes one or more coil teeth for windably receiving a coil for the motor and a back portion for attachably receiving a plurality of the coil teeth. A traction control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels independently powered by a respective motor. A suspension control system and method for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, each wheel being mounted on a suspension arm of the vehicle and being independently powered by a respective motor.
US08688344B2 Method for recuperating kinetic energy of a motor vehicle in a optimum way in terms of energy
So that kinetic energy of a motor vehicle is recuperated in an optimum way in terms of energy, after a target point for braking or initiation of braking by the motor vehicle driver during travel of the motor vehicle has been detected, an optimum braking distance is determined insofar as the energy which can be recuperated is concerned, and a signal for the vehicle driver is generated which informs the driver the form of the measure which he has to perform in order to brake the vehicle or during braking of the vehicle for braking to actually occur over the optimum braking distance and for kinetic energy to be recuperated in an optimum way. The method combines the calculation of optimum operating states with autonomy of the vehicle driver during braking.
US08688343B2 Vehicle brake control device
A vehicle brake controller is provided with a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder, a brake hydraulic actuator, a vehicle-stop-state motor-OFF controller and a pressurization rate controller. The vehicle-stop-state motor-OFF controller performs a vehicle-stop-state motor-OFF control that stops the pump motor upon the vehicle being stopped by the brake operation, and that maintains a stop state of the pump motor as is during stopping of the vehicle. The pressurization rate controller adjusts a pressurization rate of the wheel cylinder pressure to a higher value as a road surface gradient becomes larger upon resuming operation of the pump motor after the vehicle-stop-state motor-OFF control ends due to acceleration from the vehicle stop state.
US08688341B2 Method for managing a braking system for an aircraft fitted with electromechanical brakes
A braking system for an aircraft with electric brakes comprising plural electromechanical actuators (2). The system comprises a braking control unit (20) delivering a normal braking setpoint (21) for one or more controllers (10) of the actuators, and selection logic (15) for causing the braking system to operate in a plurality of modes. The system includes: a normal braking mode where the control unit generates a normal braking setpoint (21) for the controller(s); an ultimate braking mode, having priority over the normal braking mode, being responsive to a parking control member, and controlling actuators to respond to the actuation of the parking control member; and a parking braking mode, applied in response to the parking control member and only if the aircraft is stationary, in which the actuators are controlled to apply a force in response to the parking control member being actuated and are then blocked in position.
US08688339B2 Method and system for providing a neutral tow mode in a shift-by-wire transmission
A method and system provides a Neutral Tow mode in a vehicle with a shift-by-wire transmission by displaying a Neutral Tow mode option when the transmission control mechanism has been used to select Park, an ignition switch is on, and an engine is off or an information button has been pushed and entering a Neutral Tow mode upon detecting a triggering event. The Neutral Tow mode is canceled upon detecting a certain sequence of events, such as turning on the ignition switch, depressing and holding a brake pedal, and selecting Park. When in Neutral Tow mode the transmission will stay in Neutral, without automatically shifting to Park or using battery power, thereby enabling the vehicle to be towed long distances without draining battery power.
US08688334B2 Systems, methods, and devices for controlling a movement of a dipper
Systems, methods, and devices for controlling an industrial machine. The industrial machine includes, for example, a dipper, a boom, a hoist motor, a crowd motor, one or more operator control devices, and a controller. The control devices are configured to be manually controllable by an operator of the industrial machine. The controller receives an output signal associated with a desired movement of the dipper, receives a signal associated with a hoist motor characteristic, and receives a signal associated with a crowd motor characteristic. The controller determines a present position of the dipper with respect to a boom profile, determines a first future position of the dipper with respect to the boom profile and based on the output signal from the operator control devices, and automatically controls a movement of the dipper with respect to the boom profile when the first future position of the dipper approximately corresponds to a boom profile limit.
US08688333B2 System and method for determining ground engaging tool position based on fluid pressure
An agricultural implement is provided that includes a ground engaging tool configured to engage soil in a working position and to disengage the soil in a non-working position. The agricultural implement also includes an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position based on a flow of fluid from a fluid supply system. In addition, the agricultural implement includes at least one sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and a controller configured to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the signal.
US08688331B2 Method to enhance performance of sensor-based implement height control
In an example embodiment, a system for providing a height change command for an implement, comprises a height control module configured to interact with a computer, and configured to receive topographical data, provide a virtual field map based on said topographical data, provide a forward view polygon for an implement based on said virtual field map, and provide a height change command for said implement based on said forward view polygon and an implement control unit configured to receive said height change command and control movement of said implement.
US08688328B2 Apparatus and method for movement control of a vehicle
When a start-up operation by a driver is detected while a vehicle is maintained at a stopped state, a target driving force for suppressing the movement of the vehicle on the road to be driven is calculated, based on the grade obtained regarding the road to be driven on. After the vehicle is driven by the target driving force, the braking force is released so as to terminate the maintaining of the stopped state of the vehicle. Preferably, the state of being driven by the target driving force is maintained until the releasing of the braking force is completed. When the releasing of the braking force is completed, the driving force is increased to start-up the vehicle. With such a start-up control, vehicles are prevented from moving temporarily in a direction opposite from the traveling direction, and a smooth star-up can be achieved.
US08688323B2 Wire harness and electronic device control system
A wire harness includes a standard connection circuit part which connects a standard electronic device and an ECU, and an optional connection circuit part which connects optional electronic devices and the ECU. The optional connection circuit part includes a communication connector which is provided to be connectable to the optional electronic devices, and an optional circuit which connects the ECU to the communication connector. The communication connector performs multiplex communication which multiplexes communication of the optional electronic devices and the ECU.
US08688321B2 Traffic density estimation
Traffic density may be estimated by increasing a value of a parameter if an object enters a predefined zone on a side of the vehicle and decreasing the value of the parameter after an object exits the predefined zone such that the value of the parameter increases as traffic in a vicinity of the vehicle increases and decreases as traffic in the vicinity of the vehicle decreases.
US08688320B2 Vehicle information system with customizable user interface
In accordance with one embodiment, an information system located within a vehicle includes a data storage device configured to store programmed instructions to implement a web browser, a data communication module, and a controller operatively coupled to the data storage device, and the data communication module, the controller configured to execute the web browser to receive a plurality of data elements, identify a respective content type for each of the plurality of data elements, assign a relevance level to each of the plurality of data elements based on the respective identified content type, compare the assigned relevance to a predetermined relevance threshold; and generate a user interface using at least one of the plurality of data elements based upon the comparison.
US08688319B2 Procedure for adaptive configuration recognition
The invention involves a procedure for adaptive configuration recognition after the run-up of a control device with or without configuration storage, which performs an automatic and operator-assisted, optimal configuration of the operating software of a motor vehicle.In a first variant, a central control device, after its run-up, receives at the earliest possible time, as a rule after activation of the ignition, identifying information from other components connected directly or indirectly to the central control device by data link. Upon receipt of the identifying information of a component, the central control device assumes that this component is present. Otherwise it assumes that it is not present. An additional configuration memory area is envisioned in a second variant in which the central control device, after the first receipt of the identifying information of a component, stores either the information, the associated software parts, or the software configuration resulting from the total of the recognized components. In this way, the appropriate software configuration can be quickly made available upon the new start of the vehicle with an unchanged hardware configuration. Furthermore, the procedure facilitates a guarantee that no error reports will be generated about components that are not present.
US08688318B2 DC converter diagnostics for vehicles
Methods, program products, hybrid, and non-hybrid vehicles are provided for providing diagnostics for a direct current (DC) converter of the hybrid, and non-hybrid vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine, a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), the direct current (DC) converter, and a controller. The engine is automatically turned on and off based on driver inputs in accordance with an auto-stop feature. The RESS at least facilitates turning on the engine. The DC converter is coupled to the RESS. The controller is coupled to the DC converter, and is configured to determine a status of the engine, receive a DC converter voltage value from the DC converter, and provide diagnostics for the DC converter based on the engine status, RESS voltage, and the DC converter voltage.
US08688312B2 Driving assistance system for vehicle and vehicle equipped with driving assistance system for vehicle
A driving assistance system for vehicle obtains short-duration data representing a present traveling condition and driving operation and intermediate-duration data representing a traveling condition and driving operation of that day. A drive diagnosis is carried out by comparing a distribution of the short-duration data and a distribution of the intermediate-date, and a drive diagnosis result is evaluated with two evaluation criteria so as to provide an alarm or an operation improvement suggestion.
US08688310B2 Method and device for monitoring that a vehicle in standby mode is correctly immobilized for transport, and vehicle equipped with such a device
A method for monitoring that a vehicle on standby has been correctly immobilized for transport, the vehicle including a course control device, wheel speed sensors, a yaw speed sensor, a processing unit processing information managing operation modes of the vehicle, and a device for immobilizing the vehicle. The method includes detecting the vehicle is in a standby mode at a standstill following installing of the vehicle on a transport support, detecting a non-zero vehicle speed through the speed sensors of at least two wheels over a defined period, detecting a non-zero yaw speed through the yaw speed sensor, over a predefined period, and under these conditions determining a mode whereby immobilization of the vehicle for transport is monitored, in which mode information from at least the wheel speed sensors is filtered after a determined number of attempts at immobilizing the vehicle and allowing the vehicle to be fired up.
US08688309B2 Active and stateful hyperspectral vehicle evaluation
A system, method and program product for evaluating a vehicle. A system is disclosed that includes: a plurality of hyperspectral sensors located in the vehicle; a system for fusing hyperspectral sensor data with user data into a feature vector; a support vector machine having a set of models, wherein the support vector machine implements a selected model based on the feature vector and outputs an evaluation based on data in the feature vector and the selected model; and a system for training the set of models.
US08688302B2 Hybrid power system braking control
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for hybrid power system braking. In one embodiment, a deceleration input is received. In response to receiving the deceleration input, a target negative torque trajectory is determined. To achieve the target negative torque trajectory, a regenerative braking device and an electrical energy dissipation device are activated.
US08688301B2 Power converter
In a power converter a controller determines that an AC motor is in an abnormal state when a voltage of each phase of the AC motor detected by a voltage detector is in an unbalanced state where the voltage exceeds a predetermined value, and turns an opening/closing unit OFF to prevent damage generated in the AC motor from becoming worse. Moreover, the controller determines abnormality of the opening/closing unit based on a current of each phase detected by a current detector, and the controller performs control to reduce the number of revolutions of the AC motor upon determining that at least one of the AC motor and the opening/closing unit is in an abnormal state.
US08688300B2 Hybrid vehicle and control method thereof
The invention provides a hybrid vehicle and a control method thereof with which, in a case where a vehicle speed V obtained by a vehicle speed sensor equals or exceeds a first determination vehicle speed V1 at a time of occurrence of an internal combustion engine-related abnormality, which is when an abnormality relating to motors MG1 and MG2 is determined not to have occurred but an abnormality relating to an engine is determined to have occurred while the engine is operative, the motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled such that traveling torque is output to a ring gear shaft serving as a drive shaft from the motor MG2 while the engine is motored by the motor MG1 such that a crankshaft rotates at a target rotation speed until the vehicle speed V subsequently falls to or below a second determination vehicle speed V2.
US08688297B2 Methods and systems for continually measuring the length of a train operating in a positive train control environment
Methods and systems for continually measuring the length of a train operating in a positive train control environment are provided. Particularly, the methods and systems provided herein equate repetitive line of sight ranging measurements from the head end to the rear end of a train with the physically draped length of the train along a mapped track with various horizontal and vertical curvature characteristics.
US08688296B2 Method for maximum data collection with a control moment gyroscope controlled satellite
The present invention relates to a method for maneuvering an imaging satellite, and more particularly a method for commanding control moment gyroscopes on an imaging satellite to change the attitude of the satellite. In one embodiment, a method for generating a gimbal rate trajectory for maneuvering a satellite to point to a target includes providing a final attitude for pointing to the target and a final satellite rate for imaging the target, providing an initial attitude and an initial set of gimbal angles, and determining a gimbal rate trajectory from the initial set of gimbal angles to a final set of gimbal angles.
US08688294B2 Supervisory control and data acquisition system for energy extracting vessel navigation
A Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system guides navigation of a vessel enabled to extract energy from wind and/or water currents primarily in offshore marine environments. An exemplary SCADA system embodies server and client software applications running on microprocessor systems at a remote control central service logging and energy distribution facility, and the vessel itself.
US08688293B2 Real-time flexible vehicle control apparatus and method
An apparatus on an integrated circuit, and method thereof, provides a real-time flexible interface between inputs from a vehicle components and outputs to the vehicle control components. The functions comprises of a programmable interconnection matrix, engine sensors and a control interface. Both engine sensors and control functions comprise of fixed hardwired functions and a customization hardware area. The apparatus therefore provides means for flexible powertrain events control target for the next generation of low-polluting power trains of vehicles.
US08688292B2 Motion stabilizer for tractor
A pendular motion determination unit of a motion stabilizer for a tractor includes a parameter computation unit configured to compute a determination parameter PA indicative of a quantity of change in an actual yaw rate Y, a threshold value setting unit configured to compute a threshold value PAth for the determination parameter PA, and a determination unit configured to determine that a pendular motion caused by swaying motion of a trailer is imparted, if the determination parameter PA is greater than the threshold value PAth. At least one of PAth and PA is changed based upon a correlation of a value related to a lateral acceleration based yaw rate Yg with a value related to the standard yaw rate Ys and a correlation of a value related to the actual yaw rate Y with a value related to the standard yaw rate Ys.
US08688285B2 Total energy limiting and controlling device, and total electric power limiting and controlling device and method
The total electric power limiting/controlling device comprises: a total allocated electric power inputting portion for receiving information on the total allocated electric power; a heating time estimating portion for estimating a heating time when an operating quantity of an individual controlled loop has been set from its present value to a specific output value; electric power limiting portions for estimating a required output that is the operating quantity that is required in order to change the controlled quantity for an individual loop in accordance with a change in a setting value during the heating time, for finding a required output wherein the electric power use total quantity does not exceed the total allocated electric power, and for setting, as an operating quantity output upper limit value for an individual controlled loop, the required output that has been found; and a controlling portion that is provided for each individual controlled loop.
US08688278B2 Economizer control
Methods for controlling an economizer of an HVAC system are disclosed. An illustrative control method may include positioning one or more controllable dampers in first and second configurations such that a mixed air stream has first and second mixing ratios of incoming outside air to return air. First and second measures related to the temperature of the mixed air stream may be recorded when the dampers are in each of the first and second configurations. Based on the recorded first and second measures, it may be determined whether and/or how much of the incoming outside air to admit into the economizer via the one or more controllable dampers during subsequent operation of the HVAC system.
US08688272B2 Mobile robot system and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein are a mobile robot system to restrict a traveling region of a robot and to guide the robot to another region, and a method of controlling the same. Only when a remote controller reception module of a beacon senses a signal transmitted from a mobile robot, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot in the form of a response signal. In addition, the Field-of-View (FOV) of the remote control reception module is restricted by a directivity receiver. Only when the signal transmitted from the mobile robot is sensed within the restricted FOV, the sensed result is reported to the mobile robot.
US08688268B2 Device for dispensing a preparation, with automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the properties of the preparation by means of an integrated sensor of the surroundings
A cosmetic or dermatological system includes a packaging and dispenser device containing one or more compositions from which the dispensed preparation is prepared, a surroundings sensor that is suitable for delivering at least information associated with a physical magnitude of the surrounding environment of the device, an adjustment system that is coupled to or suitable for coupling to the packaging and dispenser device, and that enables at least one characteristic of the dispensed preparation to be varied, and a processor for automatically controlling the adjustment system as a function of data delivered by the surroundings sensor or for informing the user, as a function of the data, about an action to be exerted on the adjustment system.
US08688265B2 Processing of undeliverable as addressed mail
A computerized method includes sorting mail that comprises a multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein the multiple pass mail sort operation for a mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed comprises performing a first pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation, wherein performing the first pass comprises capturing data to identify a feature of the mail piece. The multiple pass mail sort operation also includes generating a first fingerprint for the mail piece between performing the first pass and performing a second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. The multiple pass mail sort operation also includes performing the second pass of the multiple pass mail sort operation. Performing the second pass includes determining a final disposition of the mail piece that is undeliverable as addressed.
US08688262B1 Semi-automated lab tube selection apparatus for rack contained tubes
A tube handling system with a semi-automatic lab tube selection apparatus for enabling a user to pick a select lab tube in a standard lab tube holding rack with open-bottom wells that contain one or more lab tubes that includes a tube selection unit having, a housing with a top deck having a tube rack support, a transport mechanism contained within the housing having a carriage assembly, with the carriage assembly having a carrier with a push-pin, a drive system that moves the carrier and the push-pin under the tube rack support, and an actuator that raises the push-pin on command for removal, and, a control system to locate the carrier and the push-pin at a select location corresponding to a selected position under an open-bottom well of a tube rack positioned on the tube rack support to raise the push-pin for removal.
US08688260B2 Configuration of machine processes
A method enables a user to create, edit, monitor and/or optimize the overall machine process of a programmable machine or system assisted by a graphics editor. The programmable machine or system is initially put together as a system of individual machine units which are involved in the overall machine process during certain times by running a number of partial machine processes that are firstly synchronized with one another once they have been set up and then parameters are set for them. These method steps take place in a two-dimensional process diagram created by the graphics editor that plots all the partial machine processes involved in the overall machine process via assigned process symbols that are positioned or repositioned by the graphics editor so that they are arranged in a machine component dimension and in a time dimension.
US08688253B2 Systems and methods for sound recognition
Systems and methods for recognizing sounds are provided herein. User input relating to a sound is received from a computing device. Instructions, which are stored in memory, are executed by a processor to discriminate the sound, analyze one or more databases using data included in the discriminated sound, the one or more databases being selected based upon the discrimination of the sound. Additionally, the processor may be executed to obtain information regarding the discriminated sound, from the one or more databases, based on the analysis, and in response to the search query, transmitting for display the information regarding the discriminated sound to the computing device.
US08688252B2 Remote control system and communication system
When a controlled device has changed the value of a parameter, the controlled device transmits the result of the change as updated information UPDATE to controllers by multicast, and aside from this, also transmits synchronization data SYNC in each synchronization period by multicast. Upon detecting a reception error of those data, the controller requests, from the controlled device, the information of the parameter which has been changed in one or more synchronization periods including and after the synchronization period subsequent to the last synchronization period in which the controller could normally receive all of the packets, and corrects the parameter value in the controller based on the current value of the changed parameter transmitted from the controlled device in response to the request.
US08688248B2 Method and system for content sampling and identification
A method and system for content sampling (106) and identification is presented. A data stream is recorded, and samples of the stream are identified. Samples (106) can be initially taken at random for identification. Once a sample (106) is identified and segmented within the data stream, the next time to sample (106) may be calculated to be outside the time frame of the identified sample (106). Thus, the sampling period can be adaptively adjusted to be at times after identified tracks.
US08688246B2 Operation monitoring system for processing apparatus
In a processing apparatus having: moveable parts disposed to form a predetermined processing environment within a processing chamber in which a predetermined processing is performed on an object to be processed; and a control means for controlling the operation of each of the moveable parts, abnormality inclusive of deterioration with time of the moveable parts constituting the processing apparatus is made to be easily judged. There is provided a vibration detection means for detecting the waveforms of vibrations that occur accompanied by the operation of the moveable parts. When control is made from the control means in order to operate any one of the moveable parts, there are obtained event data corresponding to the control and the waveforms of vibrations of all the moveable parts that are operating simultaneously at the time in question. Each time the control corresponding to the event data is selected, or when a waveform of vibration corresponding to another event data of the same kind as that of the above-mentioned event data has been obtained, the change in the waveform is monitored. When the waveform has changed beyond a predetermined range, the processing apparatus is judged to be abnormal.
US08688244B2 Method for identifying the operating state of a control element, and a control apparatus
In order to flexibly identify the current operating state of control elements which are used to control a process installation, the invention provides a method for identifying the operating state of at least one control element, which is designed for an active and a passive operating state, for a control apparatus, wherein, in the active operating state, the control element controls a process function of an area of a process installation, comprising the following steps: the control apparatus is connected to the process installation, the control element is functionally associated with the process function, and the operating state of the control element is identified as active on the basis of successful functional association of the control element with the process function. The invention also provides a control apparatus for controlling at least one process function for an area of a process installation, as well as a process installation which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention.
US08688243B2 Method and apparatus for controlling fans in heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems
Systems, apparatus, and methods of controlling a variable-speed fan of an environmental maintenance module that controls temperatures of a plurality of zones of a building are provided. A first critical zone of the building is identified by analyzing the first zone temperature errors, which are used to determine a final speed setting of the variable-speed fan. Systems, apparatus, and methods of calibrating an environmental maintenance module that controls a temperature of a zone of a building are also provided. A location parameter is calculated for a plurality of zone temperatures, and a scale parameter is computed that quantifies a variation of the zone temperatures relative to a location parameter. A first temperature setpoint for the zone is determined and used in controlling the temperature of the zone.
US08688241B2 Distributed control system for monitoring a significant control
Provided is a control system capable of reducing cost while securing reliability of original processing of a microcomputer. An engine control device and a meter control device each store a control amount calculating procedure for calculating a control amount regarding a significant control to be performed on the control target of the engine control device. The engine control device compares a control amount regarding the significant control calculated by the engine control device, and a control amount regarding the significant control calculated by the meter control device, to thereby control the control target of the engine control device based on a result of the comparison.
US08688238B2 Implantable medical elongated member including fixation elements along an interior surface
An implantable medical elongated member includes a first outer surface portion and a second outer surface portion extending around at least ten percent of an outer perimeter of the elongated member. A fixation element extends a distance from the first outer surface portion of the implantable medical elongated member. A longitudinally-extending section of the second outer surface portion proximate to a distal end of the elongated member is substantially devoid of any fixation elements that extend the distance from second outer surface portion.
US08688237B2 Endotracheal tube apparatus
An apparatus for monitoring EMG signals of a patient's laryngeal muscles includes an endotracheal tube having an exterior surface and a first location configured to be positioned at the patient's vocal folds. A first electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially below the first location. A second electrode is formed on the exterior surface of the endotracheal tube substantially above the first location. The first and second electrodes are configured to receive the EMG signals from the laryngeal muscles when the endotracheal tube is placed in a trachea of the patient.
US08688231B2 Medical probe and a method of providing a medical probe
A medical probe is provided that has a single longitudinally uniform interconnect that provides a connection between a distal end and a proximal end of the probe. The interconnect is obtained by forming a thin uniform film as a spiral on a wafer and subsequently applying this spiral as a helix on a base element of a medical probe. The thin film spiral is manufactured with multiple connecting wires to enable connection between an electronics module and a multiplicity of electrodes (an electrode array) at the distal end of the medical probe.
US08688223B2 Implantable medical device impedance measurement module for communication with one or more lead-borne devices
Example techniques for communicating between two medical devices are described. One medical device may be an implantable medical device. Another medical device may be a lead-borne implantable medical device. The lead-borne implantable medical device may be referred to as a satellite. The implantable medical device may measure impedance of a path including at least two electrodes, at least one of which is on the lead, using an impedance measurement module. In some example implementations of this disclosure, the implantable medical device may also use the impedance measurement module to communicate with the satellite on the lead.
US08688222B2 Stimulus timing for a stimulating medical device
Methods and systems are disclosed for determining the timing of stimulation applied using a medical device. In embodiments, the medical device filters a received signal to obtain a plurality of band-pass filtered signals, each corresponding to one or more stimulation channels. The medical device then determines the envelopes of these band-pass filtered signals. Next, the medical device determines the stimulation timing (i.e., the pulse times) for the corresponding stimulation channel based on the timing of a particular phase (e.g., a peak, a minimum, etc.) of the envelope. A pulse amplitude for the stimulation channel may then be determined, and stimulation applied using the determined amplitude and pulse time.
US08688220B2 Systems, devices and methods for the treatment of neurological disorders and conditions
The present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems used for the treatment of and/or promoting recovery from various neurological disorders and conditions, including epilepsy and other seizure disorders and movement and other related disorders; for promoting recovery from acute or chronic brain injury (e.g. stroke, hypoxia/ischemia, head trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and other forms of brain injury, for awakening and/or promoting the recovery of patients in various levels of coma, altered mental status or vegetative state); or for promoting recovery from chronic daily headache and migraine and related disorders via external (cutaneous) stimulation of the sensory branches of the trigeminal nerve in the face and forehead. More specifically, devices and electrode assemblies configured for stimulation of the supraorbital, supratrochlear, infraorbital, auriculotemporal, zygomaticotemporal, zygomaticoorbital, zygomaticofacial, nasal and infratrochlear nerves are disclosed.
US08688219B2 Dynamic sampling
Dynamic sampling of physiological parameters based on the next anticipated occurrence of a relatively periodic physiological event. Embodiments of the invention may be used to increase the battery life or effective data storage capacity of implantable medical devices while retaining or improving measurement resolution.
US08688217B2 Method to detect proper lead connection in an implantable stimulation system
An implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator for coupling to a lead with a distal end and a proximal end, the lead comprising at least one terminal disposed at the proximal end. The implantable pulse generator comprises a connector for receiving the proximal end of the lead, the connector having at least one contact, and a sensor configured and arranged for detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead, the sensor comprising at least one sensor contact, the sensor contact being configured and arranged for electrically coupling to a terminal of the lead and at least one of the contacts of the connector when the lead is fully inserted in the connector and thereby detecting electrical connectivity between the implantable pulse generator or external trial stimulator and the lead.
US08688216B2 Autothreshold with sensing from pacing cathode
Cardiac electrostimulation energy is delivered to a heart chamber of a subject according to a normal pacing mode using a set of implantable pacing electrodes. When a threshold test for the heart chamber is initiated and a sensing electrode independent from the set of pacing electrodes is unavailable for the heart chamber, cardiac electrostimulation energy is delivered to the subject according to a threshold test mode. The threshold test mode includes sensing a cardiac activity signal from a subject using a set of sensing electrodes that includes an electrode common to the set of pacing electrodes, and changing the electrostimulation energy and sensing a resulting cardiac activity signal using the set of sensing electrodes to determine the optimum electrostimulation energy for capture of the heart chamber.
US08688213B2 Managing cross therapy sensing in a multiple therapy implantable device
An apparatus comprises a cardiac signal sensing circuit configured to sense an electrical cardiac signal from at least one of an atrium or ventricle of a heart of a subject, a therapy circuit configured to provide electrical pacing therapy and electrical autonomic neural modulation therapy to the subject, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to initiate delivery of the autonomic modulation neural therapy, and the control circuit includes a signal detection circuit configured to detect delivery of the autonomic neural modulation therapy in the sensed cardiac signal. The control circuit is configured to change, in response to detecting the delivery, a sensitivity of the cardiac signal sensing circuit during delivery of the autonomic neural modulation therapy.
US08688212B2 Implantable neurostimulator-implemented method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation
A method for managing bradycardia through vagus nerve stimulation is provided. An implantable neurostimulator configured to deliver electrical therapeutic stimulation in both afferent and efferent directions of a patient's cervical vagus nerve is provided. An operating mode is stored, which includes parametrically defining a maintenance dose of the electrical therapeutic stimulation tuned to restore cardiac autonomic balance through continuously-cycling, intermittent and periodic electrical pulses. The maintenance dose is delivered via a pulse generator through a pair of helical electrodes via an electrically coupled nerve stimulation therapy lead independent of cardiac cycle. The patient's physiology is monitored, and upon sensing a condition indicative of bradycardia, the delivery of the maintenance dose is suspended. A progressively increasing amount of time is spent waiting via a controller and, upon sensing a condition indicative of an absence or termination of the bradycardia, a progressively increasing partial maintenance dose is delivered via the pulse generator.
US08688210B2 Implantable medical device crosstalk evaluation and mitigation
Electrical crosstalk between two implantable medical devices or two different therapy modules of a common implantable medical device may be evaluated, and, in some examples, mitigated. In some examples, one of the implantable medical devices or therapy modules delivers electrical stimulation to a nonmyocardial tissue site or a nonvascular cardiac tissue site, and the other implantable medical device or therapy module delivers cardiac rhythm management therapy to a heart of the patient.
US08688209B2 Device for ambulatory monitoring of brain activity
A device for ambulatory monitoring of brain activity includes a patch secured to a head of a monitoring subject and an electrode secured to the head of the monitoring subject. The electrode produces a signal indicating brain activity of the monitoring subject. The device further includes a signal processor that receives the signal produced by the electrode and processes the signal to produce data. The signal processor is secured to the monitoring subject. The device further includes a display that displays the data produced by the signal processor, the display being secured to the monitoring subject. The device also includes a power source secured to the monitoring subject, the power source providing power to the electrode, the signal processor, and the display wherein the monitoring subject may ambulate unimpeded by the patch, the electrode, the signal processor, the display and the power source.
US08688208B2 Method and system for meshing human and computer competencies for object categorization
The subject disclosure relates to a method and system for visual object categorization. The method and system include receiving human inputs including data corresponding to passive human-brain responses to visualization of images. Computer inputs are also received which include data corresponding to outputs from a computerized vision-based processing of the images. The human and computer inputs are processing so as to yield a categorization for the images as a function of the human and computer inputs.
US08688207B2 System and methods for graphic display of ST-segment deviation
Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a patient and graphically representing ST-segment deviations.
US08688203B2 Dual sensing for brady-tachy pacemaker/ICD
A system detects events related to cardiac activity. The system comprises a primary cardiac signal sensing circuit, at least one secondary cardiac signal sensing circuit having a higher sensitivity than the primary sensing circuit, and a controller circuit coupled to the primary and secondary cardiac signal sensing circuits. The controller circuit determines a rate of depolarization using the primary sensing circuit and detects tachyarrhythmia using the rate. The controller circuit also detects tachyarrhythmia using the secondary sensing circuit and also deems the tachyarrhythmia valid if the controller circuit detects the tachyarrhythmia using both the primary and secondary sensing circuit.
US08688194B2 Medical imaging system
A medical imaging system is provided. The medical imaging system includes a patient positioning table and a patient examination area that is open on at least three sides and accessible from a front side. The patient positioning table is able to be moved into the patient examination area. At least one positioning motor is arranged on a rear side and is separated from the front side by a rear wall element. The at least one positioning motor is operable to adjust the position of a framework. The patient positioning table is disposed on the framework.
US08688193B2 Magnetic resonance imager, method and program which continuously applies steady-state free precession to k-space
A magnetic resonance imager for forming images of a moving portion of a patient includes imaging coils. The imager includes a computer that causes the imaging coils to apply continuously steady-state free precession to k-space of a magnetic resonance image series of the patient and acquire the image series, and generates images from the image series. A method for forming images of a moving portion of a patient includes the steps of applying continuously steady-state free precession to k-space of a magnetic resonance image series of a patient. There is the step of acquiring the image series. There is the step of generating images from the image series. A method for forming images of a patient includes the steps of triggering a steady-state free precision imaging sequence to an ECG r wave of cardiac cycles of the patient. There is the step of performing the steady-state free precision imaging sequence with imaging coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner such that data for a series of k-space data sets associated with the imaging sequence are acquired in a manner that is time resolved through the cardiac cycle, with data acquired over a number of consecutive cardiac cycles. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium to form an image of a patient with an MRI.
US08688192B2 High-resolution magnetocardiogram restoration for cardiac electric current localization
Magnetocardiogram (MCG) provides temporal and spatial measurements of cardiac electric activities, which permits current localization. An MCG device usually consists of a small number of magnetic sensors in a planar array. Each sensor provides a highly low-resolution 2D MCG map. Such a low-res map is insufficient for cardiac electric current localization. To create a high resolution MCG image from the sparse measurements, an algorithm based on model learning is used. The model is constructed using a large number of randomly generated high resolution MCG images based on the Biot-Savart Law. By fitting the model with the sparse measurements, high resolution MCG image are created. Next, the 2D position of the electric current is localized by finding the peak in the tangential components of the high resolution MCG images. Finally, the 2D current localization is refined by a non-linear optimization algorithm, which simultaneously recovers the depth of the electric current from the sensor and its magnitude and orientation.
US08688189B2 Programmable ECG sensor patch
The invention provides a disposable programmable ECG sensor patch for the non-invasive detection of risk patterns according to programmed criteria. The patch is programmed by a medical professional to select one or more monitoring parameters for detection and alarm indication. One application is to detect changes in the ECG due to cardioactive drugs. Another application is triggering an alarm for a cardiac patient during a stress condition. The programmable patch operates in conjunction with an external programming unit for selecting the detection monitoring parameters.
US08688185B2 Device for measuring blood, tissue, and skin parameters
The invention relates to a device and a method for measuring blood, tissue, or skin parameters, in particular the oxygen saturation in blood, by attaching one or more sensors to body parts such as fingers, earlobes, toes, hand, or foot. The invention relates further to a method for the preparation of said device.
US08688184B2 Noninvasive photoplethysmographic sensor platform for mobile animals
A noninvasive photoplethysmographic sensor platform for mobile animals such as small rodents, namely rats and mice is useful such as in a laboratory research environment. The noninvasive photoplethysmographic sensor platform may be a collar which provides an easily affixed, adjustable attachment mechanism that encircles the animal, such as the neck. The neck of the animal provides several particular advantages as a sensor mounting platform for photoplethysmographic sensors. For pulse oximetry, the neck location will provide significant blood flow under all conditions. For small mammals, such as rats and mice, transmittance pulse oximetry through the neck of the subject remains possible. The neck mounted collar also offers inherent bite resistance to the sensor platform.
US08688182B2 Superconductive cable
A superconductive electric cable is provided in which a cable core is arranged in a cryostat, where the cable core is composed of three phase conductors arranged concentrically around an inner cooling duct, with an electric insulation arranged between the phase conductors, and where the cryostat is surrounded by an electric insulation, which is surrounded by a neutral conductor of normally conductive materials. In this cable, a neutral conductor or a screening is arranged only outside of the cryostat, and is formed by normally conductive material which surrounds the cryostat as a common neutral conductor, where an insulating material is arranged between this neutral conductor and the cryostat.
US08688180B2 System and method for detecting use of a wireless device while driving
A system for detecting the use of wireless devices such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or pagers in a moving vehicle receives wireless signals inside a vehicle using a radio frequency (RF) sensor(s) and converts the RF signals into voltage signals. The voltage signals are then compared with known waveforms to determine if the wireless signals indicate a received call, if the received call is answered, a transmitted call, an SMS text message, data associated with internet browsing on a wireless device, or Bluetooth activity.
US08688179B2 Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal includes a terminal main body including a circuit board for processing a radio signal, a conductive member including an exposed surface exposed to the outside of the main body and a plurality of recesses formed to be recessed toward the interior of the main body from the exposed surface and disposed to be spaced apart, at least a portion thereof being formed to transmit and receive the radio signal, and a filling member forming an external appearance of the main body and filling the recess portions.
US08688176B2 Components with mechanically-bonded plastic and methods for forming such components
Components and methods for forming such components with mechanically-bonded plastic are provided. A representative method includes: providing a metal chassis, the chassis having an opening extending through; placing the chassis in a mold; flowing plastic into the mold such that the plastic flows into the opening, the plastic being mechanically bonded to the metal of the chassis to form an integrated metal and plastic component; and removing the integrated metal and plastic component from the mold.
US08688174B2 Integrated, detachable ear bud device for a wireless phone
An integrated, detachable ear bud system that is attached to an associated wireless phone. The integrated, detachable ear bud system may be one ear bud, or pair of ear buds, or ear bud or ear buds including a microphone. In certain embodiments an integrated, detachable, attached auditory device is physically connected to its associated wireless phone via an extendable and retractable electrical cord, and integrated into the case of the associated wireless phone, to forcibly keep with the wireless phone even when not in use, preventing misplacement, loss, or even inadvertent separation from the wireless device. The ear buds may connect to a recharge port on the wireless phone, and be charged when the wireless phone is charging. When in its attached home position, the ear-mountable speaker may tuck into a mating cavity. A latch or magnet may assist in attaching the integrated, detachable ear bud to the wireless phone.
US08688162B1 Method and device for reducing latency by anticipating responsive data communications
A method and system for reducing latency by anticipating responsive data communications is described. When the user of a first mobile station receives a message sent from a second mobile station, the user of the first mobile station may responsively reply. If, before the reply is sent, the second mobile station releases its network radio link and goes dormant, the reply may be delayed as the radio link is set up again after the reply is sent. To reduce this latency, the first mobile station may monitor its user's actions and, upon an indication that the user intends to soon reply to the earlier received message, the first mobile station may send a signal into the network which causes the second mobile station to maintain its radio link or to set up a new radio link if it has gone dormant.
US08688157B2 Wireless communication method and system for transmitting data over a selected part of bandwidth on a communication path
A method providing wireless communication between a first station and a second station. The method establishes at least one communication path between at least one pair of antennas including a first antenna of the first station and a second antenna of the second station, wherein at least one of the first and second antennas is a narrow beam antenna, selects at least one part of the bandwidth available on the communication path, and transmits data between the pair of antennas over the selected part of the bandwidth.
US08688156B2 Method and apparatus for controlling link margin
A method and apparatus for controlling a link margin are provided. The method includes: receiving, from a second device, a link margin frame including information about the link margin related to a communication link between a first device and the second device; and performing at least one operation selected from among a change in transmission power, a change in a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), beam forming, and a change of the communication link to another frequency band, based on the received link margin frame.
US08688154B2 Method and apparatus for communicating with blind interference alignment using power allocation and/or transmission architecture
A method and system are disclosed herein for power allocation and/or clustering in a wireless communication system that uses blind interference alignment. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of receivers, where each receiver in the plurality has a multi-mode antenna with a single radio frequency (RF) chain that is operable in a plurality of antenna modes, and wherein each receiver shifts between the plurality of antenna modes in a predetermined manner. The system also includes a plurality of base stations to perform cluster-based transmission, each base station in the plurality of base stations having one or more transmitters having a transmit antenna and being operable to communicate with one or more of receivers in the plurality of receivers using a blind interference alignment (BIA) scheme, and wherein the plurality of base stations are grouped in different clusters at different times according to cluster patterns.
US08688152B2 Method for creating a peer-to-peer immediate messaging solution without using an instant messaging server
A messaging method in a system including a wireless network, a routing server, and a plurality of mobile stations. A first mobile station has first communications applications and a first PIN and a second mobile station has second communications applications and a second PIN. The method includes sending an invitation including the first PIN from the first mobile station to the second mobile station using one of the first communications applications, and sending an acceptance including the second PIN from the second mobile station to the first mobile station using one of the second communications applications. The method further includes creating first messages including the second PIN and sending them to the second mobile station through the wireless network, and creating second messages including the first PIN and sending them to the first mobile station through the wireless network. The routing server routes the messages based on the PINs.
US08688150B2 Methods for identifying messages and communicating with users of a multimodal message service
Methods for combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS) to create a multimodal SMS service are provided. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of test into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. An automatic and unique identification of each message is created to allow retrieval of the message without manually selecting the message. Additional services include message lists, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.
US08688147B2 System and method for location-based, interactive consumer engagement platform
A location based wireless consumer interactive system is disclosed. The system includes a first gateway device stationed at a first location which includes a first antenna configured to generate a first wireless zone covering a preassigned area proximal to the first location. The first gateway device includes a first network interface coupled to the first antenna which is configured to communicate with a client device that is connected to the first wireless zone. The first gateway device includes a first memory configured to store a first content profile received from a server device via the first network interface, wherein the first memory stores executable programming instructions to process preloaded consumer content of the first content profile. The first gateway device includes a first processor configured to generate a first interactive content site containing the consumer content on the client device.
US08688144B1 Method and apparatus to configure mobile communication and applications
Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses to configure mobile communication and applications based on location detection. A method for operating a mobile terminal includes storing operational configurations in association with locations in the mobile terminal, detecting a location of the mobile terminal, determining an operational configuration based on the detected location, and configuring the mobile terminal according to the determined operational configuration. The operational configurations include communication configurations and application configurations.
US08688139B2 Concurrent wireless transmitter mapping and mobile station positioning
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to concurrently estimating locations for one or more mobile stations and one or more wireless transmitters.
US08688134B2 Method and device for resource allocation control in radio communications system
A resource allocation control method and device that can reduce inter-cell interference in a radio communications system are provided. According to a method for resource allocation control between a plurality of cells in a radio communications system, radio communication devices respectively controlling at least two cells notify information about control resources of its own cell to each other. In the resources of its own cell, each of the radio communication devices sets a buffer resource within a predetermined resource range corresponding to a control resource of the other cell. At a request for information transmission in its own cell, each of the radio communication devices restricts the allocation of the set buffer resource.
US08688133B2 Method for operating a WiMAX femtocell base station and femtocell base station
A method for operating a WiMAX femtocell base station, wherein the femtocell base station has an active operational mode, in which the radio interface subsystem of the femtocell base station is fully power supplied, is characterized in that a power saving mode with reduced radio interface activity is provided, wherein the femtocell base station is enabled to transit between the active operation mode and the power saving mode. Furthermore, a corresponding femtocell base station for deployment in a WiMAX network is disclosed.
US08688132B2 Sensing wireless transmissions from a licensed user of a licensed spectral resource
Sensing wireless transmissions from a licensed user of a licensed spectral resource includes obtaining information indicating a number of adjacent sensors that are concurrently sensing wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource. Such information can be obtained from a main node controlling the sensor and its adjacent sensors, or by the sensor itself (e.g., by means of short-range communication equipment targeting any such adjacent sensors). A sensing rate is then determined as a function, at least in part, of the information indicating the number of adjacent sensors that are concurrently sensing wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource. Receiver equipment is then periodically operated at the determined sensing rate, wherein the receiver equipment is configured to detect wireless transmissions from the licensed user of the licensed spectral resource.
US08688131B2 Apparatus and methods for facilitating simulcasting and de-simulcasting in a distributed antenna system
An RF connection matrix may include first and second carrier-specific RF connection matrix modules. The first carrier-specific RF connection matrix module can be adapted to route a first downlink transmission to one or more remote antenna units for transmission on a first carrier. The second carrier-specific RF connection matrix module can be adapted to route a second downlink transmission to one or more remote antenna units for transmission on a second carrier. Methods for facilitating simulcasting and de-simulcasting may include receiving a signal associated with a sector ID, which signal includes a first downlink transmission for a first carrier and a second downlink transmission for a second carrier. The first downlink transmission can be routed to one or more remote antenna units for transmission on the first carrier. The second downlink transmission can be routed to one or more remote antenna units for transmission on the second carrier.
US08688129B2 Grade of service (GoS) differentiation in a wireless communication network
Techniques for handling arriving calls with grade of service (GoS) differentiation for multiple tiers of services are described. The multiple tiers may be for different levels of service subscriptions, different types of calls, etc. In one design, calls in multiple tiers of services may be received by a base station. The calls in the multiple tiers may be differentiated based on at least one parameter. In one design, different blocking rates may be supported for calls in different tiers, e.g., with progressively lower blocking rates being supported for calls in progressively higher tiers. In another design, different call setup queuing delays may be supported for calls in different tiers, e.g., with progressively shorter queuing delays being supported for calls in progressively higher tiers.
US08688128B1 Method and system for providing toll-free telematic and mobile services applications
Methods and systems of providing toll-free services access from a telecommunications network to a mobile device supported by toll-free telecommunications networks entail placing a called telephone number on a service provider's telecommunications network by identifying the called telephone number as a toll-free call, querying a database for called telephone number information for routing to a destination number, and routing the called telephone number using the called telephone number information through the service provider's telecommunications network to a wireless telecommunications network. The called telephone number is routed through the wireless telecommunications network by mapping the called telephone number and information to a mobile service identification number that identifies a mobile device hosted by a mobile switching center. A connection between the mobile switching center and the mobile device using the mobile service identification number is established to connect the toll-free call to the mobile device.
US08688127B1 Method and system for inter-frequency handoff
An inter-frequency handoff of a mobile station engaged in a call via wireless network is effected by gradually changing a carrier frequency of a forward link signal from a first-channel frequency, corresponding to a first frequency channel, to a second-channel frequency, corresponding to a second frequency channel. Initially, a first transmitter in the wireless network transmits the forward link signal in the first frequency channel. A second transmitter then transmits the forward link signal while changing the carrier frequency from the first-channel frequency to the second-channel frequency at a specified tuning rate. The tuning rate may be dynamically adjustable in response to requests from the mobile station. Once the second-channel frequency is reached, a third transmitter continues transmitting the forward link signal in the second frequency channel. The mobile station may also gradually change the carrier frequency of the reverse link signal that it transmits for the call.
US08688126B2 Method for falling back to 2G/3G network, relevant device and communication system
Embodiments of the present invention provides a method for falling back to a 2G/3G network, a relevant device and a system. The embodiments of the present invention includes: receiving, by a mobility management entity, a first message from an access network device, where the first message carries location area information of a target 2G/3G cell to which a user equipment UE prepares to connect; sending a second message for requesting to perform a location update on the UE to a mobile switching center MSC corresponding to a location area of the target 2G/3G cell; receiving a third message from the MSC, where the third message carries a temporary mobile station identity TMSI allocated to the UE by the MSC; and sending, to the UE, a fourth message carrying the TMSI, so that the UE, after being connected to the target 2G/3G cell, communicates with the MSC by using the TMSI.
US08688125B2 RRC messages and procedures
A method and apparatus for radio resource control (RRC) messaging. A method in a Node B includes transmitting a RRC change command including a plurality of commands to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), and receiving an RRC change response from the WTRU, wherein the RRC change command includes a command for performing a measurement gap configuration procedure and a command for performing a measurement gap activation procedure.
US08688123B2 Method and system for a transmitting mobility state
A method for transmitting a mobility state is provided in the present invention, the method includes: when an source evolved NodeB (eNB) performs a handover of a user equipment (UE) in a connectivity state, it sends the UE historical information to a target eNB; the target eNB decides a mobility state of the UE according to the UE historical information. Alternatively, when the source eNB performs a handover of the UE in a connectivity state, it decides the mobility state of the UE according to the UE historical information, sets the corresponding mobility state instruction information and sends it to the target eNB; the target eNB acquires the mobility state corresponding to the UE according to the received mobility state instruction information. A system for transmitting a mobility state is also provided in the present invention.
US08688121B2 UE handling of common configuration after handover
A method for a user equipment (UE) operating in a Long Term Evolution network. The method includes the UE receiving a command for a handover from a source cell to a target cell. The method further includes, when the UE has valid stored system information for the target cell, the UE discarding a dedicated radioResourceConfigCommon information element received from the source cell in the handover command and the UE applying radio resource configuration information retrieved from the stored system information.
US08688115B2 Access control according to a policy defined for a group of associated electronic devices comprising a cellular modem
Access control according to a policy defined for a plurality of electronic devices comprising a cellular modem and associated with the same user If an end user has two electronic devices, such as a fire alarm or an electricity meter, which both have a cellular modem and are allowed to operate in parallel under the same subscription, the end user can abuse this subscription by lending or selling one of the devices to another person. This abuse can be prevented by the present invention in that the network access is controlled according to a policy defined for the plurality of electronic devices operating under the same subscription. In particular, the policy defines a threshold distance between a primary electronic device and each additional electronic device belonging to said plurality of electronic devices operating under the same subscription which specifies the maximum distance from the primary electronic device which still allows to gain access to the network.
US08688113B2 Method and system for implementing location service
The present invention discloses a method and a system for implementing location service, in which the method comprises: sending a location request message from a source user to a MMSG by a MMSC; sending the location request message to a multimedia message generating platform by the MMSG; initiating a location request to an LSP by the multimedia message generating platform according to the location request message; performing location according to the initiated location request and returning a location result to the multimedia message generating platform by the LSP; generating multimedia message information according to the location result and sending the multimedia message information to the MMSG by the multimedia message generating platform; and sending the received multimedia message information to the source user through the MMSC by the MMSG. The present invention can not only reduce the requirement of the location service on terminal capability, but also more conveniently develop the location service, thereby realizing the aim of providing convenient and efficient location service to users by using multimedia message information.
US08688110B1 Apparatus and method for limiting searches for a home PLMN according to its proximity
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for reducing or eliminating searches by a UE for its home PLMN when the mobile station is roaming in a network not in the vicinity of the home PLMN. That is, the UE may be provisioned with information about its home PLMN. For example, some embodiments can comprise a neighbor database indicating neighbor relationships between PLMNs and the home PLMN. This can enable a UE to determine whether the home PLMN is likely to be nearby when it is visiting a different PLMN. Forgoing a PLMN home search reduces processing and can aid in conserving power resources. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08688107B2 Voice bridging gateway for tactical communications
Each of a number of gateway network radios operates with a transmission protocol of an associated one of plural incompatible communication networks. Each network radio has an audio terminal for producing first audio signals detected from transmissions of user radios in its associated network, and a microphone terminal for receiving second audio signals for transmission to the user radios. A voice bridging gateway server has multiple ports each corresponding to one of the networks for coupling to the network radio associated with the one network. Each port receives the first audio signals from the audio terminal of the associated network radio, and produces the second audio signals for applying to the microphone terminal of the network radio. The server implements a private branch exchange application whereby user radios in a given communication network can be voice bridged with user radios in a selected one or more of the other networks.
US08688105B2 Method for setting control multi point in wireless communication system and apparatus thereof
The present invention relates to a method for setting a control multi point of a serving cell in a wireless communication system. The serving cell selects more than one adjacent base station as a control multi point set based on first link information between terminals and the adjacent base stations received from the terminals. Furthermore, the serving cell: receives a pre-coding matrix index corresponding to the adjacent base stations which is selected by the terminals, selects more than one pre-coding matrix index from the received pre-coding matrix indexes according to a preset condition, generates a pre-coding matrix index list, and transmits pre-coding matrix index list to the corresponding base station.
US08688101B1 Position information assisted network control
A network controller including processing circuitry may be configured to receive dynamic position information indicative of a three dimensional position of at least one mobile communication node, compare fixed position information indicative of fixed geographic locations of respective access points of a network to the dynamic position information to determine a relative position of the at least one mobile communication node relative to at least one of the access points based on the fixed position information and the dynamic position information, and provide network control instructions to at least one network asset based on the relative position.
US08688095B2 Multiple user profiles and personas on a device
A mobile device is configurable to accommodate multiple personas and associated profiles. Once the mobile device is triggered to configure itself with a selected persona/profile, no more information is required by a user (the provider of the trigger) of the mobile device. Each persona/profile is autonomous from any other persona/profile with which the mobile device can be configured. A persona is indicative of a personality, role, or identity portrayed by the device, such as a phone number, for example. A profile is indicative of functions associated with a persona. The mobile device is easily reconfigured via simple UI operations.
US08688088B2 System for targeting advertising content to a plurality of mobile communication facilities
A system for targeting advertising content includes the steps of: (a) receiving respective requests for advertising content corresponding to a plurality of mobile communication facilities operated by a group of users, wherein the plurality includes first and second types of mobile communication facilities with different rendering capabilities; (b) receiving a datum corresponding to the group; (c) selecting from a first and second sponsor respective content based on a relevancy to the datum, wherein each content includes a first and second item requiring respective rendering capabilities; (d) receiving bids from the first and second sponsors; (e) attributing a priority to the content of the first sponsor based upon a determination that a yield associated with the first sponsor is greater than a yield associated with the second sponsor; and (f) transmitting the first and second items of the first sponsor to the first and second types of mobile communication facilities respectively.
US08688086B1 Providing supplemental content to wireless communication devices based on device status
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving a registration request from a wireless communication device, and in response, monitoring device status and updating a data structure with device status data for the wireless communication device. The method also includes receiving a content request from the wireless communication device for primary content from a primary content provider, and in response, determining an anonymous key associated with the wireless communication device and transferring the anonymous key for delivery to a supplemental content provider. The method also includes receiving a device status request comprising the anonymous key transferred by the supplemental content provider, and in response, transferring the device status data from the data structure for delivery to the supplemental content provider. The method also includes receiving supplemental content transferred by the supplemental content provider responsive to the transferred device status data, receiving the primary content transferred by the primary content provider, and transferring the primary content and the supplemental content to the wireless communication device.
US08688084B2 System and method for integrating an outgoing cellular call as an enterprise call
A method on a wireless user equipment (UE) device facilitates integration of an outgoing cellular call as an enterprise call. The UE device attaches to a wide area cellular network on which the device has a non-enterprise address. Upon blocking incoming calls, the UE device sends a request to a node in a data network to initiate an outgoing cellular call with an expectation of receiving an incoming circuit-switched (CS) call back from the network node within a time window. The incoming CS call contains an enterprise address associated with a user of the wireless UE device as a calling line identity to identify that the incoming CS call is related to the request to initiate the outgoing cellular call. The UE device indicates to the network node that a call leg is established between the enterprise user and the network node.
US08688079B2 Systems and methods of voice call setup involving mobile devices
A mobile device can send a notification to place a call using a PBX (e.g., using SIP signaling) or receive a notification of call availability for the mobile device at the PBX. An authentication token is provided over a data channel for use in authenticating the mobile device when calling the PBX on a voice channel. However, when the mobile device calls the PBX (e.g., on a DNIS number, where ANI information is made available to an application server), if ANI information is found to correspond to the mobile device, the PBX can send tone(s) indicating that the mobile device can respond with an abbreviated validation tone, rather than the entirety of the authentication token. If the ANI information is not obtained or not matched, then a different tone(s) is sent, indicating to provide the authentication token. If the authentication token provided does not match or if the mobile device does not respond, the voice channel is not set up.
US08688078B2 System and method for mobile service geochronous validation
In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method may be provided for validating communication for a wireless communications device. The system and method may include receiving a geographic location of a wireless communications device. A database comprising records correlating the geographic location with permissions may be accessed in order to determine, based upon the received geographic location information and the accessed database record, if there are restriction on communication associated with the wireless communications device. An indicator may be communicated in response to the determined restriction, effectively providing the information needed to inform the wireless communications device of any current restrictions.
US08688076B2 Subscriber identifier and method for subscriber authentication
The subject innovation relates to a subscriber identifier for subscriber authentication in a mobile telecommunications network. The subscriber identifier comprises a memory device that contains a first subscription data record for subscriber authentication in a first mobile telecommunications network. The memory device further contains a second subscription data record for subscriber authentication in a second mobile telecommunications network. Based on an available mobile telecommunications network, one of the contained subscription data records being usable for subscriber authentication in each case.
US08688073B2 Method and apparatus for measurement of active user devices per quality-of-service class indicator
Methods, apparatus, and systems for measuring, on a per-QoS-class basis, the average number of user devices active on the uplink of a wireless communication system are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a number of mobile terminals with buffered data for transmission to a base station is estimated based on received buffer status reports. An estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is calculated, based on the received buffer status reports and a number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted. In some embodiments, the estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is estimated on a per-traffic-class basis, in which case the technique includes calculating first and second estimated quantities, corresponding to mobile terminals having active data bearers for first and second traffic classes, respectively, based on the received buffer status reports and the number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted.
US08688072B1 Agent notification triggered by network access failure
A method of electronic communication is provided. The method comprises receiving a first call detail record (CDR), where the first call detail record comprises usage information associated with a portable wireless communication device, and the usage information comprises at least a first parameter. Based on the value of the first parameter, a copy of the first call detail record is transmitted to a computer, where the computer does not perform billing functionality. The computer then changes a subscriber account associated with the portable wireless communication device or changes a provisioning associated with the portable wireless communication device.
US08688069B1 Mobile radio with independent, user-operated messaging channel carrying location information
A mobile communication system may include a remote communication system which may transmit communications to and receive communications from a plurality of mobile radios over one or more wireless communication channels. Each mobile radio may include a location sensing system which may sense the location of the mobile radio. A user interface within each mobile radio may receive a request from the user to transmit information indicative of the location of the mobile radio to a remote messaging system. A message transmitter within each mobile radio may transmit the location of the mobile radio sensed by the location sensing system to the remote messaging system in response to the request by the user over a wireless messaging channel. The remote messaging system may aggregate the location information from each mobile radio and deliver this aggregate location information to the remote communication system and/or to the mobile radios.
US08688055B2 Push-pull low-noise amplifier with area-efficient implementation
An amplifier integrated circuit (IC) including a push-pull amplifier having a push stage and a pull stage. A first loop of wire configured to form a first degeneration inductance of the push stage. A second loop of wire configured to form a first degeneration inductance of the pull stage. The first loop and the second loop are concentric. The first loop is connected to a reference potential. The second loop is connected to a supply voltage.
US08688051B2 Mobile station and mobile communication method
A mobile station (UE) according to the present invention includes: a measurement unit (13) configured to measure a radio quality of a serving cell and a peripheral cell; a filtering unit (14) configured to perform filtering on the measurement result; and a determination unit (15) configured to determine as to whether or not to notify the measurement result after the filtering. The filtering unit (14) configured to adjust a filter coefficient for filtering the measurement result, when the mobile station (UE) is in a discontinuous reception state.
US08688049B2 Method for predicting channel quality indicator (CQI) values
The object of the present invention is to perform an enhanced prediction technique. The object is achieved by a method in a base station comprised in a radio access network. The base station is adapted to communicate with at least one user equipment, the method comprises the steps of receiving a sequence of CQI values sampled at the times t=1, . . . , n, from one or more of the at least one user equipments; estimating for each of the received specific CQI value k, the conditional expectation of the CQI value at time t+d, given the specific CQI value k at time t; and obtaining a predicted CQI value for the specific CQI value k, which predicted CQI value is the estimated conditional expectation of the CQI values at a time t+d for the specific CQI value k.
US08688044B2 Method and system for selective equalization enablement based on modulation type
Aspects of a method and system for selective equalization enablement based on modulation type are disclosed. One such method includes receiving a signal via an RF channel, detecting a modulation type of the signal, and selecting an equalization circuit for processing the signal based on the modulation type.
US08688037B2 Magnetic latching mechanism for use in mating a mobile computing device to an accessory device
A mobile computing device and an accessory device are individually equipped with features and components that enable magnetic coupling of the two devices. Specific embodiments provide for the use of one or more horseshoe magnets for use in the magnetic coupling mechanisms. As an addition or alternative, electromagnetic coupling may be used to selectively maintain and/or orient the two devices in a mated position.
US08688034B2 Repeater with mobile communication device feedback
The apparatus comprises a plurality of antennas that are configured to receive wireless signals comprising communication signals and interference signals. Each antenna provides an antenna output signal that is processed by a wireless signal processor of the apparatus to generate a processed wireless signal. A user equipment (UE) communication interface is configured to transmit the processed wireless signal to the mobile wireless communication device. A signal quality feedback interface receives, from the mobile wireless communication device, a wireless feedback signal indicating the characteristic of the processed wireless signal received at the mobile wireless communication device. The wireless signal processor combines the antenna output signals based on the wireless feedback signal to minimize interference signals received at the mobile wireless communication device.
US08688031B2 Radio base station, relay station, radio communication system and radio communication method
In order to achieve effective utilization of radio communication resource, there is provided a relay station, for relaying a signal to be transferred between a radio base station and a radio terminal, which includes a storage section adapted to store communication controlling information for communication control with the radio terminal, a base station side signal reception section adapted to receive, from the radio base station, scheduling information in communication between the radio base station and the radio terminal through the relay station, a complementation section adapted to complement contents of the scheduling information received by the base station side signal reception section in accordance with the communication controlling information stored in the storage section, and a terminal side signal transmission section adapted to transmit the scheduling information whose contents are complemented by the complementation section to the radio terminal.
US08688029B2 Radio access network integrated set-top device
A device may receive a signal strength indicator associated with a connection between a mobile device and a first base station. The signal strength indicator may indicate a strength of a radio signal received by the mobile device from the first base station. The device may transmit the signal strength indicator to a network device, and may receive, from the network device, a first notification to activate a second base station based on the signal strength indicator. The device may activate the second base station based on the first notification. The second base station may provide temporary wireless connectivity for the mobile device.
US08688028B2 Broadcast response system
A broadcast response system provides, e.g., a radio broadcast listener with the ability to obtain media content such as music or speech while listening to the radio. The user can respond to items in the radio broadcast such as advertisements, fund raising drives, or interactive listener polls during the broadcast. Data such as song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using, e.g., the RBDS/RDS data stream. A reference number representing song title and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital version of the content is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation. This reference number can reside in a lookup table to be accessed by broadcast response server.
US08688017B2 Image formation unit and image formation apparatus
An image formation unit includes an image carrier, a developer carrier configured to supply developer to the image carrier to form a developer image on the image carrier, first and second developer supply members configured to supply the developer to the developer carrier, a first developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the first developer supply member, and a second developer container room configured to contain therein the developer and accommodating therein the second developer supply member.
US08688015B2 Development device, processing unit and image forming apparatus
A development device includes a developer carrier configured to carry on a surface thereof a developer, the developer carrier being disposed to face a latent image carrier, a developer tank having the developer carrier, a developer container configured to house the developer to be supplied to the developer tank, the developer container being connected to the developer tank through a partition having an opening, and a developer carrier member configured to carry the developer in the developer container, the developer being supplied to the developer tank from the opening while being carried by the developer carrier member, and the amount of developer to be supplied to the developer tank from the opening being gradually increased in a developer carrying direction of the developer carrier member.
US08688006B2 Drive transmission device including a detection device and a protection member made of a conductive material
A drive transmission device includes drive transmission members including a detection target gear, a detection device detecting the rotational position of the target gear and including a position detection member and a detection unit, and a conductive protection member protecting the detection unit. The detection unit and the protection member are assembled to the same member to be installed to an external apparatus. If there is a dimensional error in the protection member causing a portion of the protection member closest to the target gear to shift in position relative to the detection unit beyond a predetermined range, the protection member comes into contact with the detection unit in the assembling process, and is corrected in shape by the detection unit, with the shift in position relative to the detection unit of the portion of the protection member closest to the target gear kept within the predetermined range.
US08688003B2 Process cartridge and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge is provided for detachably mounting to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The process cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a drum frame supporting the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing frame supporting the developing roller, the developing roller being movable between a contacting position in which the developing roller is in contact with the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and a spacing position in which the developing roller is spaced from the electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a force receiving member capable of taking an operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position, and a stand-by position retracted from the operating position, an urging portion for urging the force receiving member, and an engaging portion for engaging with the force receiving member.
US08688002B2 Image forming apparatus having a cartridge and an exposure device that can each be rotated and inclined at different angles to detach the cartridge
An image forming apparatus to which a cartridge having a photosensitive drum is detachably mounted. A cartridge supporting member supports the cartridge mounted to a main body of the apparatus, and an operation member is operated to be moved when the cartridge is mounted. When the operation member is moved in a state in which the cartridge is mounted, the cartridge supporting member is rotated away from the transfer member so that the cartridge is rotated and inclined at an angle θ1 with respect to the transfer member, and an exposure device is rotated away from the transfer member and is inclined at an angle θ2 greater than the angle θ1 with respect to the transfer member, so that the cartridge is allowed to be detachable from the main body of the apparatus.
US08687998B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a paper supply section, a housing member and an ion generating unit. The housing member is disposed at least below the image forming section, and gives the same shape in plane view as the image forming section and the paper supply section. The ion generating unit is contained in the housing member. The ion generating unit includes a duct forming a pathway of flow to guide the air that is sucked in from outside of the housing member again to outside of the housing member, an ion generating device disposed inside the duct, and a fan for generating an air current in the duct.
US08687997B2 Image forming apparatus configured to direct cooling air flow to a fixing device roller proximate the outer side of the apparatus main body
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device that has: a fixing roller heated by induction and a pressing roller brought into press-contact with the fixing roller to fix a toner image borne on a paper sheet conveyed toward the fixing device by a conveyor unit. When a paper sheet having a width smaller than a width of a maximum-width recording medium that can be passed through the fixing device is passed through the fixing device, a non-paper passing region is formed at each end portion of each of the fixing and pressing rollers. Sirocco fans cool the non-paper passing region at a part of an outer peripheral surface of the pressing roller. The pressing roller is disposed opposed to the outer side of the main body of the image forming apparatus.
US08687995B2 Fusing device of an electrophotography image forming apparatus including a heating roller
A heating roller including a resistive heating layer and a fusing device including the heating roller. By separately disposing a plurality of electrodes in an axis direction of the heating roller, and by independently controlling each electrode, the heating roller may correspond to various papers having different sizes. Accordingly, the temperature of the heating roller may be stably controlled.
US08687992B2 Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes an image heating rotational member configured to heat an image on a recording material, a pressure member configured to form a nip portion with the image heating rotational member and pinch the heated recording material in the nip portion, a first external heater including a first heat generation member and configured to contact an outer surface of the image heating rotational member and heat an area of the image heating rotational member that has passed the nip portion, and a second external heater including a second heat generation member and configured to contact an outer surface of the image heating rotational member and heat an area of the image heating rotational member heated by the first external heater. In the image heating apparatus, maximum power applied to the second heat generation member is smaller than maximum power applied to the first heat generation member.
US08687991B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit that forms, on an image bearing member, an image for adjusting operations of the image forming apparatus, a container that contains toner removed from the image bearing member, and a controller that controls formation of the image for adjusting the operations of the image forming apparatus so that after an amount of toner contained in the container reaches a threshold value, an amount of toner removed from the image bearing member and to be contained in the container is reduced to less than before the amount of toner contained in the container reaches the threshold value.
US08687990B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable image carrying member, a rotatable transfer member cooperative with the image carrying member, and a fixing unit having a fixing nip for nipping and feeding the recording material discharged from the transfer nip while fixing the toner image. In addition, a bowing amount measuring unit measures a bowing amount of the recording material, a storing portion stores a target bowing amount, and a speed controller controls a feeding speed of the recording material. The storing portion stores a plurality of target bowing amounts, which are selectable depending on kinds of the recording material, and the speed controller controls the feeding speed in the fixing nip, and then controls the feeding speed so that the bowing amount is substantially zero at the time when a trailing edge of the recording material leaves the transfer nip.
US08687985B2 Belt drive apparatus for correcting belt position in direction of width
A belt drive apparatus is equipped with an endless belt rotationally movable by being supported by a plurality of rollers. A moving speed signal output part outputs a signal based on a rotational movement of the endless belt. A width direction position signal output part outputs a position signal for which its value changes in response to a position of the endless belt in a direction of width of the endless belt. A width direction position control part controls a position of the endless belt in the direction of width of the endless belt. A process execution part performs a predetermined process using the signal output from the moving speed output part based on the position signal output from the width direction position signal output part.
US08687984B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, to which a plurality of cartridges are detachably mountable, with the cartridges each having a cartridge side identification portion, includes an image forming unit configured to form an image, a plurality of mounting portions to which the cartridges are demountably mountable, and an identification urging mechanism provided in each of the mounting portions. The identification urging mechanism permits a cartridge to be mounted to the mounting portion when the cartridge is to be properly mounted to the mounting portion on the basis of correspondence with the cartridge side identification portion, and urges the cartridge in a direction opposite a direction in which the cartridge is mounted when the cartridge is improper for the mounting portion. The identification urging mechanism permits, even when the cartridge is improper for the mounting portion, the cartridge to enter to a mount position where the proper cartridge is mounted.
US08687982B2 OSNR measuring device and optical communication system
An OSNR measuring device n OSNR measuring device includes an input port to which a signal light is given; a wavelength filter which includes a variable passband, and selectively takes out an optical component corresponding to a signal optical wavelength to be measured from the signal light; a wavelength control circuit which controls the passband of the wavelength filter; a delay interferometer which branches a light output from the wavelength filter and delays one of the branched lights with respect to the other branched light and in which the branched lights are made to interfere with each other; a photodetector which detects a power of a delay interference light output; and an OSNR calculation circuit which calculates, based on a bandwidth of a passband of the wavelength filter and the power of the delay interference light, an optical signal to noise ratio of a signal optical wavelength to be measured.
US08687980B2 Feedback light tuning device and optical communication system and method using the same
A feedback light tuning device and the optical communication system and method using the same are provided. By tuning the feedback light, the mechanism can completely correct the mean-wavelength drift up to 30 nm or 19400 ppm. The mechanism can be applied to various harsh environments which cause the mean-wavelength drift, so as to achieve a required stable mean-wavelength for the light source and to increase the acceptable range of radiation dose.
US08687979B2 Method, device and system for generating and receiving a phase polarization modulated signal
In the field of communications transmission, a method, a device, and a system for generating and receiving a phase polarization modulated signal are disclosed. The device for generating the phase polarization modulated signal includes: a Laser Diode (LD), a time division demultiplexer, a phase precoding module, a phase modulating module, a polarization precoding module and a polarization modulating module. The device for receiving the phase polarization modulated signal includes: an optical splitter, a polarizer, a phase demodulating and receiving unit, a Polarization Beam Splitter (PBS), a balanced receiver, a power divider, an exclusive OR, a delayer and a data interface processing unit. Therefore, problems in the prior art that a Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) signal cannot bear and transmit information at a higher rate and that non-linear effect is strong during transmission are solved, and transmission performance of an optical signal is improved.
US08687976B1 Optical access network having emitter-free customer premise equipment and adaptive communication scheduling
An access network includes an access device having an optical interface module that outputs a plurality of pairs of optical communication signals, each of the pairs of optical communication signals comprising a modulated optical transmit signal and an unmodulated optical receive signal, each of the pairs of optical communication signals having a different wavelength. A customer premise equipment (CPE) comprises an optical interface module to receive the modulated optical transmit signal and the unmodulated optical receive signal for any of the plurality of pairs of optical communication signals. The optical interface module includes a receive module to demodulate the modulated optical transmit signal into inbound symbols and a transmit module having an optical modulator and reflective optics to modulate the unmodulated optical receive signal in accordance with a data signal and reflect a modulated optical receive signal to communicate outbound data symbols to the access device.
US08687973B2 Voltage generator, control circuit, vector sum phase shifter, and optical transceiver
A voltage generator (400) includes a resistor ladder including resistors (4000-4008) which divide a supplied voltage to generate a plurality of reference voltages, a resistor (4009) provided between a power supply voltage (VCC) and one terminal of the resistor ladder, and a resistor (4010) provided between a power supply voltage (VEE) and the other terminal of the resistor ladder.
US08687968B2 Vector sum phase shifter, optical transceiver, and control circuit
A vector sum phase shifter includes a 90° phase shifter (1) which generates an in-phase signal (VINI) and a quadrature signal (VINQ) from an input signal (VIN), a four-quadrant multiplier (2I) which changes the amplitude of the in-phase signal (VINI) based on a control signal (CI), a four-quadrant multiplier (2Q) which changes the amplitude of the quadrature signal (VINQ) based on a control signal (CQ), a combiner (3) which combines the in-phase signal (VINI) and the quadrature signal (VINQ), and a control circuit (4). The control circuit (4) includes a voltage generator which generates a reference voltage, and a differential amplifier which outputs the difference signal between a control voltage (VC) and the reference voltage as the control signal (CI, CQ). The differential amplifier performs an analog operation of converting the control voltage (VC) into the control signal (CI, CQ) similar to a sine wave or a cosine wave.
US08687967B2 Optical transceiver
To provide an optical transceiver with which a plurality of optical transmitters and receivers constituting the optical transceiver can be detached individually and exchanged/repaired easily, so that waste of components can be avoided. The optical transceiver includes: an optical transceiver main body; a plurality of pairs of optical transmitters and optical receivers housed inside the optical transceiver main body by being disposed in parallel; optical transmitter substrates and optical receiver substrates, which individually hold each of the optical transmitters and the optical receivers; an optical transceiver substrate which holds each of the optical transmitter substrates and the optical receiver substrates; and connectors which connect each of the optical transmitter substrates as well as the optical receiver substrates to the optical transceiver substrate detachably.
US08687962B2 Method and arrangement for transmitting signals in a point to multipoint network
Bidirectional data signals are exchanged between a central unit and a plurality of network terminals. The optical carrier frequencies of the downstream and upstream signals are chosen so that reflections do not interfere with the selected signal at the optical network unit and not with the received upstream signals at the central unit. The optical network units select their associated downstream signal and generate an associated upstream signal.
US08687956B2 Standby restoration signaling for optical networks
Systems and methods are described that provide a distributed restoration signaling protocol for shared mesh restoration with standbys for transparent optical networks.
US08687955B2 Image capturing device and activation method therefor
An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller.
US08687951B2 Halogen water heater
A fluid heating apparatus includes a housing containing a flattened tube and lamps. The apparatus further includes a first conduit flow-coupled to the flattened tube, the first conduit being adapted to provide fluid to the flattened tube. The apparatus further includes a second conduit flow-coupled to the flattened tube, the second conduit being adapted to channel fluid from the flattened tube. The lamps are arranged to irradiate the flattened tube, and the flattened tube is adapted to absorb radiation from the lamps and heat fluid contained therein.
US08687949B2 System and method for digital content retrieval
Flexibility with respect to access and enjoyment of time shifted content in a content distribution network is provided, especially with regard to content not present on a DVR. A DVR accesses a network storage device over a network for particular portions of content not available on the DVR and the network storage device provides those missing portions. The user may then rewind and playback not only already locally stored content but also that content provided by the storage device. Content can be provided through faster-than-real-time transmissions such that the content is made available to the DVR prior to it being needed for rewind functionality or playback.
US08687948B2 Apparatus and a record carrier for, and a method of recording a sequence of video data signals
An apparatus for recording a sequence of video data signals on a record carrier has been proposed. The apparatus comprises input means (1) for receiving video data signals, generating means (100) for generating characteristic point information signals, processing means (100) for processing the characteristic point information signals for a plurality of characteristic points into a sequence of characteristic points information signals (CPI) and writing means (102) for writing the sequence of video data signals and the sequence of characteristic points information signals on the record carrier. The characteristic point information signals identify a characteristic point in the sequence of video data signals. Various measures are proposed in relation to the CPI aiming at improving quality of trickplay and random access playback operations.
US08687940B2 Method and a digital broadcast receiver for providing a list of records
A method for providing a list of records in a digital broadcast receiver and a digital broadcast receiver for providing a list of records are disclosed. A reception unit receives a broadcast signal including a data broadcast-associated application. A storage medium store records. And A controller manages the application, receives a list request for requesting a list of record series belonging to a series from the application, generates a list, selects a record from a list of the stored records based on a link between the series and the record, includes the selected record in the generated list, and transmits the generated list to the application.
US08687938B2 Video recording system, video recording apparatus, and video recording method
A content can be recorded for certain in a video recording system including a video recording apparatus and a video recording and transmitting apparatus. The video recording apparatus includes: a recording control unit that starts recording the content when a period of time indicated by scheduled recording information starts; and a message transmitting unit that transmits recording-state information to the video recording and transmitting apparatus at regular intervals. The video recording and transmitting apparatus includes: a recording-state monitoring unit that determines whether or not the continued reception of a signal has been suspended during the period of time; and a recording control unit that starts recording the content when the recording-state monitoring unit determines that the continued reception of the signal has been suspended.
US08687934B2 Fiber optic component holders and enclosures and methods including the same
A method for securing a fiber optic component includes: providing a holding medium having a tack and mounted on a substrate; and placing the fiber optic component in intimate contact with the holding medium to thereby secure the fiber optic component to the substrate. The tack of the holding medium releasably bonds the fiber optic component to the holding medium and the holding medium retains its tack upon removal of the fiber optic component to permit re-placement of the fiber optic component or placement of a further fiber optic component on the holding medium to secure said fiber optic component or further fiber optic component to the substrate.
US08687931B2 Optical fiber
The present invention relates to an optical fiber having a structure to enable both prevention of resin coating combustion due to leaked light, and low-loss light transmission. The optical fiber comprises a core region, and a cladding region. The cladding region is constituted by an optical cladding which affects the transmission characteristics of light propagating in the core region, and a physical cladding which does not affect the transmission characteristics of light propagating in the core region. Particularly, a leakage reduction portion is provided in the physical cladding so as to surround an outer periphery of the core region through the optical cladding. The leakage reduction portion functions to suppress propagation of the leaked light propagating from the core region toward outside the cladding region.
US08687930B2 Optical fiber cables
Cables have reduced freespace, reduced tube diameters, and reduced strength member diameters. The cables are designed to pass robustness testing such as GR-20 while using smaller amounts of raw materials to produce.
US08687924B2 Managing digital images
Approaches for managing a library of digital images and information about any editing operations performed on those digital images are provided. A managed library of digital images and a referenced library of digital images may be maintained. Digital images may be moved from the managed library of digital images to the referenced library of digital images, and vice-versa. A preview digital image data may also be generated from master digital image data. Rather than performing image operations directly on the master digital image data, change data that identifies one or more operations to perform to a digital picture represented by either the preview digital image data or the master digital image data may be stored, thereby allowing operations to be performed on the preview digital image data when the master digital image data is not accessible. Digital image may be automatically renamed based on rules for doing so.
US08687912B2 Adaptive overshoot control for image sharpening
A method for sharpening a captured image includes the steps of (i) identifying a plurality of edge pixels in the captured image, (ii) reviewing the plurality of edge pixels to identify one or more line pixels, and one or more non-line pixels in the captured image (354), and (iii) sharpening the captured image utilizing a first level of overshoot control for the non-line pixels (362), and utilizing a second level of overshoot control for the line pixels (360) The method also includes the steps of (i) identifying an intensity value for each of a plurality of neighboring pixels that are positioned near a selected pixel in a predetermined pixel window that have the highest intensity values and the lowest intensity values.
US08687909B2 Method for deblurring an image that produces less ringing
A method for reducing blurring in a blurred image (14) of a scene (12) includes the steps of: (i) creating an edge mask (362) from the blurred image (14); (ii) extending the edge mask (362; (iii) forming an initial array (e.g. extending the blurred image (360); and (iv) performing Lucy-Richardson iterations, with masking. With the deblurring method disclosed herein, the reconstructed adjusted image (16) (i) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around the edges (22) of the captured object(s) (20C), and (ii) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around border (24). As a result thereof, the adjusted image (16) is more attractive and more accurately represents the scene (12).
US08687907B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus creates a basic-structure component image representing an image that an input image except edge is smoothed while preserving the edge in the input image; and creates a detail component image representing an image that the basic-structure component image is subtracted from the input image. Subsequently, the image processing apparatus decomposes the detail component image into a plurality of frequency-band images through multiresolution transform processing, and performs noise removal on the obtained frequency-band images. After that, the image processing apparatus performs inverse multiresolution transform processing of combining the noise-removed frequency-band images, thereby creating a noise-removed detail-component image.
US08687906B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and storage medium for performing pseudo graduation-increased processing
An image processing device includes a first output unit that performs predetermined image processing for image data, and outputs image data having m bits per pixel; a second output unit that performs pseudo gradation-increase processing by a dither method or a multilevel error diffusion method for the output image data, and outputs image data having n bits per pixel, where n
US08687905B2 Method and device for selecting optimal transform matrices for down-sampling DCT image
Down-sampling of an image may be performed in the DCT domain. Transform matrices are obtained for down-sampling a DCT image of size M×N to a down-sampled DCT image of size I×J. The transform matrices may be used to down-sample the DCT image directly in the DCT domain. A spatial domain down-sampling method is selected and applied to the DCT image to produce a down-sampled DCT reference image. The transform matrices are selected by solving an optimization problem, leading to transform matrices which achieve a desired trade-off between the visual quality of images obtained using the transform matrices and the computational complexity associated with using the transform matrices. The visual quality is a measure of the difference between the down-sampled DCT image obtained using the transform matrices and the visual quality of the DCT reference image obtained using a spatial domain down-sampling method.
US08687904B2 Image coding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding method, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus which include arithmetic coding or arithmetic decoding
An image coding method includes: frequency-transforming image data to generate a unit of processing in a frequency domain; binarizing a coefficient included in the unit of processing, to generate a binary signal; determining, as a context for a binary signal, one or more contexts common to a plurality of the coefficients included in a segment which includes the binarized coefficient, the segment being one of a plurality of segments obtained by dividing the unit of processing; performing binary arithmetic coding on the binary signal according to probability information corresponding to the determined context; and updating, based on the binary signal, the probability information corresponding to the determined context.
US08687901B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, processing method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An information processing system assigns a comment to a specific region of an image, and calculates a total value of evaluation scores based on assigned comments for each image as an evaluation value of that image.
US08687896B2 Picture image processor, method for processing picture image and method for processing picture image
A picture image processing apparatus includes a candidate detection unit that detects a lateral boundary line candidate and a paint-blank boundary line candidate from the picture image information acquired, and a verification unit that verifies whether or not the lateral boundary line candidate etc. detected is the lateral boundary line etc.; a storage unit that memorizes, as hysteresis information, verification information including the lateral boundary line etc. in case the lateral boundary line candidate etc. detected has been verified to be a lateral boundary line etc. The storage unit also memorizes car speed information associated with the hysteresis information. The apparatus further includes an estimation unit that, using the hysteresis information and the car speed information, estimates positions of the lateral boundary line etc. in a next frame. The storage unit memorizes the estimation information including the position in the next frame of the lateral boundary line position etc. estimated. The verification unit uses the estimation information memorized at a time point of estimation in the storage unit to execute verification.
US08687891B2 Method and apparatus for tracking and recognition with rotation invariant feature descriptors
Various methods for tracking and recognition with rotation invariant feature descriptors are provided. One example method includes generating an image pyramid of an image frame, detecting a plurality of interest points within the image pyramid, and extracting feature descriptors for each respective interest point. According to some example embodiments, the feature descriptors are rotation invariant. Further, the example method may also include tracking movement by matching the feature descriptors to feature descriptors of a previous frame and performing recognition of an object within the image frame based on the feature descriptors. Related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US08687889B2 Form image managing system and form image managing method
A form image managing system includes a partitioned master image storing unit which stores partitioned master images obtained by partitioning a master image, a form image obtaining unit which obtains an image of a form, a searching unit which searches the partitioned master image storing unit for a partitioned master image having a high correlation with each of a plurality of partial images obtained by partitioning the image of the form, a difference data generating unit which generates difference data between the partial image and corresponding partitioned master image having the high correlation with the partial image, and a form image data storing unit which stores, as form image data that represents the image of the form, identification information for identifying the corresponding partitioned master image and the difference data by making the identification information and the difference data correspond to the partial image.
US08687886B2 Method and apparatus for document image indexing and retrieval using multi-level document image structure and local features
An image based document index and retrieval method is described. During document indexing, each source document is analyzed to generate index information at document, page, region and unit levels. Region and unit level index information is generated by segmenting each text region into units, constructing unit length or unit density histograms, and analyzing the units in a few most frequent bins of the histogram. The index information and the source document images are stored in a database. During document retrieval, a target document is analyzed to generate target index information in the same way as during document indexing. The target index information is compared to stored index information in a progressive manner (from higher to lower levels) to identify source documents with index information that matches the target index information. Fuzzy logic is used in the comparison steps to increase the robustness of the document retrieval.
US08687884B2 Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing apparatus adapted to perform tone correction of luminance of an image, comprises: a image dividing unit configured to divide the image into a plurality of blocks; a calculation unit configured to calculate a plurality of feature amounts of each of the blocks including a luminance value and calculate a saturated feature amount based on the plurality of calculated feature amounts, wherein the saturated feature amount represents color deviation tendency when the tone correction is applied to the image using a reference tone correction characteristic; a changing unit configured to change the reference tone correction characteristic according to the calculated saturated feature amount; and a correction unit configured to perform the tone correction based on the changed reference tone correction, wherein the changing unit weakens a degree of the reference tone correction characteristic when the saturated feature amount indicates a stronger tendency toward color deviation.
US08687882B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for facilitating white balancing of an image
An apparatus, and an associated method, facilitates selection of white balancing to adjust the color cast of a captured image. A quantum dot element is positioned to receive incident light associated with a scene forming an image that is to be captured. Incident light upon the quantum dot element causes photonic emissions that are detected and converted into electrical form. The electrical representations of the photonic images are used to measure or determine a color ratio. The value of the color ratio is utilized to select white balancing of a captured image, captured either prior to, concurrent with, or subsequent to, the color-ratio determination.
US08687881B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing device including a decoding unit that decodes compressed image data that is an encoded image and generates a decoded image that is decoded and parameters that relate to encoding which are calculated during encoding; an image processing unit that applies image processing including at least a color adjustment process on the decoded image; a control unit that controls whether to encode the decoded image on which image processing has been applied by the image processing unit using the parameters or to encode the decoded image without using the parameters according to processing of the image processing unit; and an encoding unit that encode the decoded image according to a control of the control unit.
US08687880B2 Real time head pose estimation
Methods are provided for generating a low dimension pose space and using the pose space to estimate one or more head rotation angles of a user head. In one example, training image frames including a test subject head are captured under a plurality of conditions. For each frame an actual head rotation angle about a rotation axis is recorded. In each frame a face image is detected and converted to an LBP feature vector. Using principal component analysis a PCA feature vector is generated. Pose classes related to rotation angles about a rotation axis are defined. The PCA feature vectors are grouped into a pose class that corresponds to the actual rotation angle associated with the PCA feature vector. Linear discriminant analysis is applied to the pose classes to generate the low dimension pose space.
US08687879B2 Method and apparatus for generating special-purpose image analysis algorithms
Provides quantitative data about a two or more dimensional image. Classifies and counts number of entities an image contains. Each entity comprises a structure, or some other type of identifiable portion having definable characteristics. The entities located within an image may have different shape, color, texture, etc., but still belong to the same classification. Alternatively, entities comprising a similar color/texture may be classified as one type while entities comprising a different color/texture may be classified as another type. May quantify image data according to set of changing criteria and derive one or more classifications for entities in image. I.e., provides a way for a computer to determine what kind of entities (e.g., entities) are in image and counts total number of entities visually identified in image. Information utilized during a training process may be stored and applied across different images.
US08687873B2 Inspection method
A method for inspecting flat objects, especially wafers, comprising the steps of scanning a digital image of the object surface; detecting defects on the object surface; generating a binary image of the scanned image where only detected defects are represented; and compressing the binary image; and wherein detected defects are enlarged before compressing by adding additional, adjacent image points to the image points of the defects. It may be advantageous if only defects having a selected size, shape or position are enlarged.
US08687868B2 Image generating apparatus, image generating method, and program
An image generating apparatus of the present invention has a determination unit that sets a target area in a part of an area inside a subject, executes processing to adjust a phase of each detection signal based on a distance from each detection element to a target area and a tentative velocity, and calculate dispersion of intensities of a plurality of detection signals of which phases are adjusted, for a plurality of tentative velocities, and determines a velocity for which dispersion of intensities is minimum, out of the plurality of tentative velocities, as a propagation velocity.
US08687867B1 Computer-aided detection and classification of suspicious masses in breast imagery
Systems and methods are presented that detect and classify mass-like regions exhibiting spiculated and/or dense characteristics with high sensitivity and at acceptable false positive rates. One or more suspicious masses are identified in medical imagery of the breast. In certain embodiments, a quantitative measure of spiculation and quantitative measure of density are computed for each suspicious mass located. At least one classification scheme, developed using true and false positives with similar quantitative measures, is then selected for each suspicious mass according to both quantitative measures. In certain other embodiments, a measure of breast location is computed for each suspicious mass. In one embodiment, the location determines whether a suspicious mass appears inside or outside of the parenchyma region of the breast.
US08687865B2 Telemetric orthopaedic implant
The invention relates generally to orthopaedic implants, and more particularly to orthopaedic implants having data acquisition capabilities and their use in monitoring and diagnosing fracture healing. RSA is also disclosed as a method for measuring inter-fragmentary movement in long bone fractures in order to confirm whether the fracture is reduced and for detecting changes in stiffness of the healing callus.
US08687864B2 Image diagnostic processing device and image diagnostic processing program
An image diagnostic processing device includes peripheral region specifying means which specifies a peripheral region connecting to an abnormal candidate region included in an image representing the inside of a subject, and judging means which judges whether the abnormal candidate region is an anatomic abnormal region or not, based on a first feature quantity of the abnormal candidate region and a second feature quantity of the peripheral region.
US08687863B2 Image processing apparatus, control method thereof and computer program
One aspect of embodiments of the present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which specifies one of boundary positions of retina layers in a fundus image showing a retina tomosynthesis, sets a distance transfer function for converting the distance from the specified boundary position to a parameter expressing opacity such that the peak position of the opacity is set to a predetermined position in the retina, sets a luminance transfer function for converting a luminance value of the fundus image to the parameter expressing opacity, and generates a translucent display image by calculating the opacity of respective positions of the tomosynthesis using the distance transfer function and the luminance transfer function, and by volume rendering.
US08687859B2 Method for identifying a tooth region
A method for identifying tooth regions. The method includes generating a first threshold image from a first tooth image by selecting intensity data values higher than a first predetermined threshold value c1; generating a second threshold image from a second tooth image by selecting intensity data values higher than a second predetermined threshold value c2; generating a preliminary tooth regions image that defines at least a first tooth region from the intersection of the first and second threshold images; generating a reference binary image from the first image by selecting intensity data values higher than a third predetermined threshold value c3, wherein threshold value c3 exceeds c1; and generating a refined tooth regions image from at least the first tooth region in the preliminary tooth regions image. The first tooth region is connected to objects in the reference binary image.
US08687858B2 Method and device for producing thin sections of a sample by means of an image recognition system
A method and a device for producing thin sections of a sample by means of a microtome is described, in which a camera acquires at least one image of a surface generated by sectioning of the sample. With the aid of an evaluation device, the image of the surface is evaluated in terms of predefined characteristic values of a section quality. As a function of the characteristic values that are identified, a decision is then made as to whether the section of the sample is accepted or not.
US08687857B2 Systems and methods for automated extraction of high-content information from whole organisms
Systems and methods for extracting information about an organism of interest, such as an atlas of the organism of interest; a storage device for at least temporarily storing an image of the organism of interest; and an operating device that automatically creates a map of the image of the organism of interest and automatically compares the map of the image to the atlas of the organism.
US08687850B2 Apparatus and method for determining kind of steel material
An apparatus 1 for determining a kind of a steel material detects a spark pixel from a color picked-up image 2 of a spark 19 produced when a steel material 18 is ground, and detects a pixel, in which the density of any one color component for judgment selected from among RGB color components is low, as a low-density pixel from the spark pixels. The apparatus 1 determines that the steel material is a steel material consisting of the high-strength steel if the ratio of the total number of low-density pixels to the total number of spark pixels is not lower than a threshold value for judgment, and determines that the steel material is a steel material consisting of the ordinary steel if the ratio is lower than the threshold value for judgment.
US08687847B2 Image processing apparatus and control method therefor
A parameter for each of a plurality of images captured in time series is computed based on information obtained from the image, and a normal reference image (an image captured before an image targeted for processing is stored). A degree of similarity between the image targeted for processing and the normal reference image is computed, and a parameter to be used in image processing applied to the image targeted for processing is computed by performing weighted addition such that a parameter computed from the normal reference image has a higher weight than a parameter computed from the image targeted for processing the higher the degree of similarity.
US08687845B2 Information processing apparatus, method for controlling display, and program for controlling display
A method, computer-readable storage medium, and apparatus for managing content presented on a display is provided. The method includes receiving signals representing first and second characteristics of a user, presenting first and second images on the display, the first and second images being respectively associated with the first and second characteristics, and presenting association information on the display, the association information indicating an association between the first and second images.
US08687844B2 Visual detection system for identifying objects within region of interest
According to one embodiment, a visual detection system includes an image processing unit coupled to a display and one or more neuro-physiological sensors. The display generates an image that may be viewed by a user. The neuro-physiological sensors generate neuro-physiological signals representing neuro-physiological characteristics of the user while viewing the display. The image processing unit receives the neuro-physiological signals from the neuro-physiological sensors, determines a region of interest in the image according to the neuro-physiological signals, and provides an indication of the presence of the region of interest in the image.
US08687842B2 Cooker and control method thereof
Provided are a cooker and a method of controlling the cooker. An image of food scanned by an image sensor is corrected, and thus, can be free from distortion due to a lighting device. Accordingly, a user can more accurately recognize a cooking state of the food.
US08687840B2 Smart backlights to minimize display power consumption based on desktop configurations and user eye gaze
Methods and devices to conserve power on a mobile device determine an active region on a display and dimming a portion of the display backlight corresponding to the non-active regions. The method includes detecting an active region and a non-active region on a display. The detection may be based on a user interaction with the display or processing an image of the user to determine where on the display the user is looking. The method may control a brightness of a backlight of the display depending on the active and non-active region.
US08687834B2 Garment with built-in audio source wiring
An audio source device may be used with a garment such as a hooded garment by passing the audio wires into a channel in the hood and having them exit the hood inside hollow lanyards with earbuds at the ends. A means to fix the wires and the lanyards to each other inside the hood is shown; and a means is shown to prevent lateral movement inside the hood. The wires and lanyard are crimped at the earbuds to prevent relative movement, the wires also being slacked inside the lanyard. The wire inside one or both of the lanyards can have an activatible microphone and the a source device can be a Bluetooth equipped device.
US08687833B2 Method of providing input parameters or information for the fitting process of hearing instruments or ear pieces for a hearing device
Input parameters or information for the fitting process of individually shaped or customized hearing devices and/or ear pieces of a hearing device are provided by storing fitting relevant data during the manufacturing process of an ear piece for the use with a hearing device into storage means, the data storage means being arranged at/or in the ear piece and/or a storage means kept or linked to the ear piece of the hearing device.
US08687826B2 Amplifier circuit
An amplifier circuit comprises an input, for receiving an input signal to be amplified; a preamplifier, for amplifying the input signal based on a variable gain; a power amplifier for amplifying the signal output from the preamplifier, and a variable voltage power supply for supplying one or more supply voltages to the power amplifier. The supply voltages are adjusted based on the variable gain or the input digital signal. According to other aspects of the invention, a power supply of an amplifier circuit is clocked using a clock signal, whereby the clock signal has a frequency that varies in accordance with a volume signal or an input signal.
US08687823B2 Microphone interface and method of operation
An interface is provided between a transducer and audio processing circuitry. The interface has a switching device coupled to the transducer. The interface also has a first signal path that is selectively coupled to transducer via the switching device and includes a first output, the first signal path being configured to selectively receive input signals from the transducer, and form a first output signal at the first output by amplifying the input signals to provide a first gain. The first output is coupled to the audio processing circuitry. A second signal path is provided that is selectively coupled to the transducer via the switching device and includes a second output. The second gain is selected to be substantially larger than the first gain. The switching device is configured to switch the input signal between the first signal path and the second signal path.
US08687817B2 Method and system for surveillance of a wireless connection in a hearing aid fitting system
A method is presented of evaluating a wireless connection while fitting a hearing aid. The method comprises the steps of sending a signal via the wireless connection from a computer system (103) to a portable device (102), receiving the signal in the computer system via the wireless connection from the portable device, thereby obtaining information about the wireless connection, evaluating the information in the computer system through retrieving a current value representative of the quality of the wireless communication, smoothing the current value thereby obtaining a smoothed value, and providing a quality parameter based on the smoothed value. Also a system for fitting a hearing aid, a computer program, and a computer system adapted to the use of such a method are presented.
US08687815B2 Method and audio system for processing multi-channel audio signals for surround sound production
A method and audio system for processing multi-channel audio signals for surround sound production on a plurality of loudspeakers to a listening area. The plurality of loudspeakers is front located with respect to the listening area. The plurality of loudspeakers comprises an outer left loudspeaker, an inner left loudspeaker, an inner right loudspeaker and an outer right loudspeaker. The multi-channel audio signals comprise one or more low frequency effects audio signals and one or more audio signals categorized as front based left inclined, front based right inclined, rear based left inclined, rear based right inclined, and center based. The method comprising filtering and adjusting phase and amplitude of one or more audio signals that are front based left inclined, front based right inclined, rear based left inclined and rear based right inclined in a specific manner, and transmitting the one or more processed audio signals in a specific manner to the outer left loudspeaker, the outer right loudspeaker, the inner left loudspeaker and the inner right loudspeaker.
US08687814B2 Securing encrypted virtual hard disks
Securing encrypted virtual hard disks may include a variety of processes. In one example, a virtual hard disk is created for a user and encrypted with a volume key, and the volume key placed in an administrator header. The administrator header may be encrypted with a protection key, the protection key created from a user identifier corresponding to the user, a volume identifier corresponding to the virtual hard disk, and two cryptographic secrets. The protection key may then destroyed after encrypting the administrator header and therefore, might never leave the encryption engine. The two cryptographic secrets may be stored in separate storage locations, one accessible to the user and the other accessible to administrators. Accordingly, the protection key might never transmitted or can be intercepted, and no single entity may be compromised to gain access to all of the information needed to recreate the protection key.
US08687813B2 Methods circuits devices and systems for provisioning of cryptographic data to one or more electronic devices
Disclosed are methods, circuit, devices and systems for provisioning cryptographic material to a target device. According to embodiments, a cryptographic material provisioning (CMP) module may be adapted to process a provisioning message with a first message portion which is encrypted with a native key of the target device and which includes first cryptographic material along with a first permissions data vector, wherein the CMP may be further adapted to process data bits of a second portion of the provisioning message using the first cryptographic material and in accordance with usage limitations defined in the first permissions data vector.
US08687809B2 System and method for decryption of content including disconnected encryption chains
Embodiments may include receiving a protected version of content including different encryption chains including encrypted blocks of content. The protected version of content may include decryption information for decrypting the encrypted chains; the decryption information may include initialization vectors that are distinct from the content. Embodiments may also include performing chained decryption on a particular sequence of data blocks including multiple encryption chains from the protected version of the content and at least some of the initialization vectors. Some of the initialization vectors may be positioned between the encryption chains within the particular sequence such that during the chained decryption the initialization vectors are decrypted in sequence with the data blocks of the encryption chains. The chained decryption may result in a sequence of decrypted data blocks including decrypted initialization vectors. Embodiments may include generating a decrypted version of the content by excluding the decrypted initialization vectors from that sequence.
US08687807B2 Cascading dynamic crypto periods
Systems and methods for performing cascading dynamic crypto periods are disclosed. In embodiments, a control word and a set of functions is transmitted between a head-end and recipient devices at the beginning of a crypto period. The crypto period is divided into a discrete number of sub-crypto periods. The control word used to encrypt and decrypt the broadcast content is changed during each sub-crypto period. At the end of the first sub-crypto period, a derived control word is generated by passing the original control word to a function in the set of functions in order to generate a derived control word at the first transition between sub-crypto periods. The derived control word is used for encryption and decryption of the broadcasted content during the second sub-crypto period. Upon transitioning to the third sub-control-period, the derived control word is input into another function to produce a second derived control word.
US08687805B2 Context-aware based cryptography
A method, of providing a key pair for secure transmission of data between at least two applications, includes receiving context information relating to the context of the applications. generating a key pair using the provided context information from the applications, and sending the generated key pair to the at least two applications.
US08687801B2 Method and apparatus for acquiring domain information and domain-related data
Provided are a method and apparatus for acquiring data regarding a domain for the protection of digital content, and more particularly, a method and apparatus for acquiring domain information and domain-related data in which content received from an external source is converted into content that complies with a set of rules of a digital rights management (DRM) system and a license for the use of the result of the conversion is issued by receiving domain information including a domain key identifier from a domain information providing apparatus and receiving an updated domain key that is a valid domain key currently being used in a domain from a DRM object providing apparatus.
US08687799B2 Data processing circuit and control method therefor
When an encryption processing circuit encrypts data, a current flows in the encryption processing circuit. A noise current generated by a noise generation circuit is superimposed on the current consumed by the encryption processing circuit. The present invention is applicable to an IC chip that encrypts plaintext data using a key, thus preventing the key from being broken by DPA attacks based on analysis of the current consumption to provide high security.
US08687798B2 Microphone line based detection of headset plug removal
Embodiments of the invention include methods, apparatus, systems and means for distinguishing between microphone line signals resulting from: actuation of a microphone button of a headset plugged into a telephone device jack, and removal of the headset plug form the jack. During a telephone call, a first signal can be detected on a microphone line of a headset jack to indicate whether a microphone button of the headset is actuated. Also, while the headset plug is being disconnected from the jack, a transition on the microphone line can be detected, from a second signal indicating that the microphone is being disconnected, to a third signal indicating that the microphone button is actuated. Consequently, to avoid erroneously hanging up a call, transitions to the third signal when removing the plug form the jack can be ignored and the call can be maintained. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08687797B2 Method and system for a dual echo canceller
Methods and systems for a dual echo canceller (EC) are disclosed and may include cancelling echo in utilizing a dual echo canceller, wherein said dual echo canceller includes an active echo canceller and an adaptive echo canceller. Filter coefficients may be copied from the adaptive echo canceller to the active echo canceller for the cancellation, based on whether said adaptive echo canceller has converged. The coefficients may be copied utilizing copy logic, which may comprise divergence detection and/or echo path change detection. The coefficients may be reset to default settings utilizing the copy logic. The coefficients may be calculated utilizing normalized block least mean squares (NBLMS), and may be calculated when the NBLMS is enabled by update logic. The coefficients may be calculated utilizing linear predictive coefficient (LPC) filtered uplink and downlink signals.
US08687795B2 System and method for generating forecasts and analysis of contact center behavior for planning purposes
A method of predicting expected performance of a processing center system is accessed. The method includes receiving performance information from a performance monitoring system associated with the processing center system. A computer model of the processing center system is developed based on the performance information. The method further includes generating predictions based on the computer model, and analyzing the predictions to generate performance scenarios for the processing center system.
US08687791B1 System, method, and computer readable medium for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform
A system, method, and computer readable medium for routing an agent to a preferred communications platform comprises accessing a server comprising a routing strategy, wherein the routing strategy consists of a site value, a project identification value, a project load value, and an attribute value of the agent, and wherein the site value takes precedent over the project identification value which takes precedent over the project load value which takes precedent over the attribute value of the agent, and routing the agent to the preferred environment based on a result of the routing strategy.
US08687788B2 Method, apparatus and system for call leg selection
A method, apparatus and system for call leg selection is provided. In an embodiment, a call manger is provided which is connected to telephones that have the same telephone number. When the call manager receives an incoming call identifying that telephone number, the call manager sends a query to each of the telephones inquiring as to which telephone should receive the call. Depending on the response, the call manager will route the call to the appropriate one of the telephones.
US08687787B2 Method and arrangement for making a call-setup
A method and arrangement for providing a ring-back presentation to a calling terminal after receiving a call setup request from the calling terminal (A) for a first communication session (308) with a called terminal (B). A second packet-based communication session (310) is established with the calling terminal, independent of the first session, and pre-defined media content is provided as said ring-back presentation (312) to the calling terminal over the second session. Thereby, ring-back presentations to waiting callers can be selected from a great range of media types, including visual media. A calling user can also control the playout or display of the ring-back presentation irrespective of when the call is answered.
US08687785B2 Authorization to place calls by remote users
A system includes a first interface to connect with a network, and a second interface to connect with a telephone device of an enterprise. A unit controls a connection between the first and second interfaces for an outgoing call from the telephone device to a remote telephone device connected to the network. A processor subsystem coupled with the unit operates to initiate communications with a telephone device associated with a supervisor having authority to allow or deny the call. The processor subsystem also operates too present the supervisor with information that includes a purpose or reason for the outgoing call. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.
US08687781B2 Phone appliance with display screen and methods of using the same
A phone appliance and method of use are provided where the phone appliance can be used to make VoIP communications calls. In a preferred embodiment, the phone appliance includes an RF connection for connecting to a computer or other computing device for facilitating the placement of the VoIP communications calls. The phone appliance further includes a display or portal for depicting advertisements provided by various advertisers. The advertisements provided can be used to defray all or part of the cost associated with making VoIP communications calls. The portal can also be used to communicate with businesses for ordering products, such as ordering a pizza, and to perform various services, such as purchasing stocks. In an exemplary system, the phone appliance is used to transmit to a control center information related to the user of the phone appliance, such as interests and buying habits, and queries for receiving additional information for various advertised products and services. The control center transmits the queries to the appropriate vendors for providing the user with additional information. Other functions and features are provided to the phone appliance, such as being able to download e-mail messages stored within or received by the computer.
US08687780B2 Communication signal distribution unit and methods
A communication signal distribution unit includes a plurality of input ports for receiving incoming communication signals, a plurality of outlet ports for providing communication signals to electronic devices, a display for viewing information; and a set of keys for selecting one of the outlet ports, for entering a time to disable the communication signal provided by the selected output port, and for entering a time to re-enable provision of the communication signal at the selected output port. A 911 lock permits emergency calls through a disabled port. Programming methods are included.
US08687779B2 Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.
US08687771B2 Methods and apparatus to test a subscriber line for a broadband access service
Methods and apparatus to test a subscriber line for a broadband access service are disclosed. An example network interface device (NID) comprises a tone generator to transmit a tone on a subscriber line to characterize the subscriber line while a DSL modem is providing a DSL service via the subscriber line, the tone having a frequency occurring within a range of frequencies in use by the DSL modem to provide the DSL service, and a pair of terminals to couple the DSL modem and the tone generator to the subscriber line.
US08687767B2 Firing delay for retrofit digital X-ray detector
A method and apparatus are disclosed for obtaining an x-ray image from an x-ray imaging apparatus using a digital radiography receiver installs a retrofit connection apparatus that adapts the x-ray imaging apparatus for use with the digital radiography receiver by forming a receiver interface channel for communicating signals to and from the digital radiography receiver, forming an operator interface channel for routing at least an input expose signal from an operator control to the connection apparatus and forming a generator interface channel for transmitting at least an output expose signal from the retrofit connection apparatus to an x-ray generator of the x-ray imaging apparatus. An input expose signal over the operator interface channel initiates a reset of the digital radiography receiver over the receiver interface channel before the output expose signal to the x-ray generator is transmitted over the generator interface channel.
US08687765B2 Cargo scanning system with boom structure
The present application is a self-contained mobile inspection system and method and, more specifically, improved methods and systems for detecting materials concealed within a wide variety of receptacles and/or cargo containers. In particular, the present application is an improved method and system for inspecting receptacles and/or cargo containers using a single boom placed on a turntable with pivot points to allow for folding and unfolding of the boom, such that the inspection system is relatively compact in a stowed configuration and has a low center of gravity lending to greater stability.
US08687762B2 CT system
A CT system for scanning a patient is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the system includes a tube/detector system, which can be set by a control device in respect of tube voltage and/or dose power; a patient couch, which can be displaced in a controlled fashion at least in the direction of a system axis; and a computer system, which can control the CT system. In at least one embodiment, the system includes an evaluation unit for a prescribed logical decision tree, which is integrated into the computer system, and which determines examination and scan parameters for the CT system on the basis of the input of at least one patient parameter described in a parameter list and operates the CT system using these examination and scan parameters.
US08687758B2 Method for managing internal equipment in reactor pressure vessel and apparatus thereof
A access apparatus is set on instrumentation nozzles penetrating a bottom portion of a reactor pressure vessel, in the reactor pressure vessel filling water. The access apparatus has an arm turned, and a mounting fixture that can move along the arm and having a holding member. A cover apparatus having a guide pipe covers the access apparatus, and is installed on the bottom portion in underwater environment in the reactor pressure vessel. The water below the cover apparatus is drained from the reactor pressure vessel to form an air space below the cover apparatus. A variety of device heads is suspended and lowered in the air space through the guide pipe, and mounted to the holding member of the mounting fixture. Repair or preventive maintenance operation against the instrumentation nozzles is performed by the variety of device heads.
US08687753B1 Fast syncing method of handling data
A method of syncing a serial data stream includes the step of providing a data stream having frames and sub-frames. Each sub-frame is provided with an expected SYNC Word, and there is an expected offset between the SYNC Words in each sub-frame. The data is sent to a plurality of sync modules. Each sync module searches for an expected and different one of the SYNC Words. The sync modules identify an expected SYNC Word, then look for a different one of the SYNC Words at said expected offset from its expected SYNC Word to verify that it has properly identified a SYNC Word.
US08687747B2 Method and apparatus for symbol timing recovery
Methods and apparatus for symbol timing recovery are provided. Both a coarse symbol timing recovery method and apparatus, and a fine symbol timing recovery method and apparatus are described which can be used jointly for symbol recovery, for example in phase shift keying receivers. The coarse method involves the use of differential correlations and finding the time difference in peak values of the correlation results. The fine method involves interpolation of a received digital signal, followed by filtering and timing error detection. The error detection signal is further filtered and used to control the interpolator. The methods provide for robust symbol timing synchronization.
US08687736B1 Multi-band bandpass-sampling receiver
A multi-channel quadrature bandpass-sampling receiver is provided with a plurality of RF signals that are modulated at different carrier frequencies, are frequency-shifted, and are staggered to a first IF frequency. A quadrature bandpass-sampling analog-to-digital demodulator digitizes and down-converts the aggregate RF signals to a second low IF frequency, wherein each frequency-shifted RF signal can be demodulated to DC by a digital down converter.
US08687733B1 Digital predistortion (DPD) method and system for selecting at least one data sample
A method, circuit, and a system for performing digital predistortion are disclosed. Digital predistortion may be used to compensate for or null the distortion caused by power amplifiers. The distortion of power amplifiers is usually larger at higher magnitudes or powers, and therefore, a larger percentage of the samples collected for the digital predistortion may be of higher magnitude or power. At least one sample of lower magnitude or power may be ignored or not collected. Accordingly, fewer samples can be used to perform digital predistortion, thereby allowing digital predistortion to be performed more quickly and efficiently with fewer resources.
US08687731B2 Uplink open-loop spatial multiplexing in wireless communications
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate cycling through precoders for transmitting wireless network communications in a time domain. The precoders can be cycled according to a precoder sequence for each data symbol transmission. When the last precoder is selected the cycle can begin again, a new precoder sequence can be received or defined, and/or the like. A precoder sequence related to a subset of precoders present in a wireless device can be defined sequentially, cyclically shifted according to an identifier or one or more communications parameters, randomly, pseudo-randomly according to an identifier or one or more communications parameters, and/or the like. In addition, the precoder sequence can be utilized to select a precoder for one or more retransmissions. Such cycling of precoders can increase transmit diversity.
US08687729B2 Radio device, communication control method, and radio communication system
A radio device including a plurality of antennas transmitting and receiving a signal a reception band filter which controls a pass frequency band a measuring circuit which measures a reception level of the signal received by each of the plurality of antennas in a preamble in the signal received through the reception band filter an antenna switch which switches the plurality of antennas based on a measurement result from the measuring circuit and a processor which controls transmission and reception of the signal of the radio device and a pass frequency band of the reception band filter, and which transmits, based on a packet density, an instruction for changing the preamble from a first data length to a second data length to the other radio device and for changing the pass frequency band of the reception band filter from a first band to a second band.
US08687725B2 Wireless transmission system, wireless communication device and wireless transmission method
Disclosed herein is a wireless transmission system. Transmission antennas are provided on a first communication apparatus while reception antennas individually corresponding to the transmission antennas are provided on a corresponding second communication apparatus. Each reception antenna receives a desired wave from a corresponding transmission antenna as a direct wave and receives an unnecessary wave from a different transmission antenna as a direct wave. The first communication apparatus modulates only the amplitude of a carrier signal for all channels. The second communication apparatus demodulates composite waves of desired waves and unnecessary waves received by the reception antennas by envelope detection or square-law detection and carries out correction operation for the demodulation signals based on transmission characteristics of transmission spaces between the transmission and reception antennas to acquire transmission subject signals.
US08687723B1 Adaptive signal decompression
The adverse effects of RF and baseband circuits are mitigated using a post-compensation method wherein a transfer function that would un-distort or complement a distorted waveform is parameterized to a relatively small number of degrees of freedom; and the parameters are estimated in a feedback loop. The error function of the feedback loop is generated by comparing some relatively low-order statistics that are known a priori or can be computed with relative certainty from the decided output waveform—to the statistics of the corrected signal.
US08687722B2 Channel estimation in a multi-user MIMO-OFDM system in the presence of user terminal symbol-specific phase offsets
An OFDM wireless communication system with an access point and a plurality of remote user terminals estimates an uplink channel. The access point receives training symbols transmitted by the user terminals. Each training symbol includes pilot symbols associated with phase offset estimation OFDM sub-carriers. The phase offset estimation sub-carriers include subsets of sub-carriers associated with each respective user terminals. Each subset is used exclusively by the associated user terminal during channel estimation. The channel estimation sub-carriers are used by all user terminals. For each terminal the access point estimates symbol-specific phase offsets specific to the user terminal using the received pilot symbols associated with the user specific subset of the phase offset estimation sub-carriers. The access point also estimates the uplink channel using the user-terminal-symbol-specific phase offset estimates and the received symbols.
US08687717B2 Method and apparatus for closed loop beamforming in wireless communication systems
Varying embodiments of the present invention describe a closed loop system for processing the beamforming information, qualifying the expected performance, activating and deactivating the beamforming system. A first embodiment is a method for closed loop beamforming in a wireless communication system, the system comprising a transmitter and a receiver, the method comprising initiating beamforming on a communication channel between the transmitter and the receiver, monitoring the communication channel, periodically determining a condition of the communication channel and controlling beamforming based on the condition of the communication channel.
US08687706B2 Memory word array organization and prediction combination for memory access
Described systems and methods allow a reduction in the memory bandwidth required in video coding (decoding/encoding) applications. According to a first aspect, the data assigned to each memory word is chosen to correspond to a 2D subarray of a larger array such as a macroblock. An array memory word organization allows reducing both the average and worst-case bandwidth required to retrieve predictions from memory in video coding applications, particularly for memory word sizes (memory bus widths) larger than the size of typical predictions. According to a second aspect, two or more 2D subarrays such as video predictions are retrieved from memory simultaneously as part of a larger 2D array, if retrieving the larger array requires fewer clock cycles than retrieving the subarrays individually. Allowing the combination of multiple predictions in one memory access operation can lead to a reduction in the average bandwidth required to retrieve predictions from memory.
US08687702B2 Remote transmission and display of video data using standard H.264-based video codecs
Embodiments include implementing a remote display system (either wired or wireless) using a standard, non-custom codec. In this system, the decoder side can be fully implemented using an existing standard from a decode/display point of view and using a single stream type. The encoder side includes a pre-processing component that analyzes screen images comprising the video data to determine an amount of difference between consecutive frames of the screen images, divides each screen image into a plurality of regions, including no change regions, high quality regions, and low quality regions. The pre-processor characterizes each region as requiring a minimum quality level, encodes the low quality regions for compression in accordance with the H.264 encoding standard; and encodes the high quality regions using the lossless compression scheme of the H.264 standard. A no change region is encoded using a version of the H.264 encoding standard that adaptively and dynamically selects between lossless and lossy compression in a manner that optimizes efficiency of the compression operation.
US08687701B2 Method and device for arithmetic code package outputting
A method and a device for arithmetic code package outputting. The method comprises: acquiring the 7-bit output string of the upper bits according to the CodLow value, i.e., the starting position of the probability space to be updated, and using the 7-bit ID string to identify the output characters with undetermined state in the 7-bit output string; acquiring the number of valid bits according to the CodRange value, i.e., the length of the probability space to be updated, wherein the number of valid bits indicates the number of valid bits of output characters in the 7-bit output string according to the CodLow value to be updated; extracting the valid output characters in the 7-bit output string according to the number of valid bits, identifying the output characters with undetermined state among the extracted valid output characters according to the 7-bit ID string; and processing the extracted valid output characters, acquiring and outputting the coding output bytes.
US08687699B1 Method and/or apparatus for optimized video coding
A method for processing a video signal, comprising the steps of (A) generating a plurality of residual blocks by performing motion compensation on a current block of a video signal comprising a series of frames, where each frame comprises a plurality of blocks, (B) generating a plurality of rate-distortion costs for a plurality of bitstream segments generated for each of the residual blocks using a first transform, (C) determining a residual block having an optimal cost, and (D) transforming the selected block with the optimal cost using a second transform, where the first transform has a lower complexity than the second transform.
US08687698B2 Using multiple transform/subband representations for video encoding
A method of encoding a sequence of video frames, comprising receiving a sequence of video frames, encoding at least a first portion of the sequence of frames using the first type of transform/subband representation to produce first transform/subband coefficients, encoding at least a second portion of the sequence of frames using the second type of transform/subband representation to produce second transform/subband coefficients; and providing the first and second transform/subband coefficients at an output.
US08687697B2 Coding of motion vector information
Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding motion vector information for video images are described. For example, a video encoder yields an extended motion vector code by jointly coding, for a set of pixels, a switch code, motion vector information, and a terminal symbol indicating whether subsequent data is encoded for the set of pixels. In another aspect, an encoder/decoder selects motion vector predictors for macroblocks. In another aspect, a video encoder/decoder uses hybrid motion vector prediction. In another aspect, a video encoder/decoder signals a motion vector mode for a predicted image. In another aspect, a video decoder decodes a set of pixels by receiving an extended motion vector code, which reflects joint encoding of motion information together with intra/inter-coding information and a terminal symbol. The decoder determines whether subsequent data exists for the set of pixels based on e.g., the terminal symbol.
US08687696B2 Derivation of frame/field encoding mode for a pair of video macroblocks
The method wherein the field or frame mode is selected according to the following steps: determination of a motion vector associated with a co-located macroblock of a macroblock to be coded and finding in the next reference picture, a predefined macroblock to be coded, for the selection, in field or frame mode, scaling of the motion vector according to the temporal distances between the reference pictures corresponding to this motion vector and between the current picture, field or frame, according to a predefined mode and a reference picture chosen from among the reference pictures corresponding to this motion vector, determination of the temporal macroblock in the chosen reference picture, designated by the motion vector scale attributed to the macroblock to be coded, and its field or frame coding mode, selection of field or frame coding mode of the temporal macroblock for the coding of the current macroblock. The applications relate to the compression of data using for example the MPEG4 part 10 standard.
US08687695B2 Apparatus and method of determining motion vectors assigned to image regions
An image includes a plurality of image blocks each including a plurality of pixels and having an associated motion vector. The image is processed by selecting an image block and a corner region (E1x) located in a corner of the selected image block to provide a selected corner region. A plurality of adjacent image blocks located adjacent to the selected corner region are then selected from the plurality of image blocks. The motion vectors assigned to the adjacent image blocks are then compared to determine if the motion vectors form a homogeneous vector field. When the motion vectors of the adjacent image blocks form a homogeneous vector field, a motion vector for the corner region is generated from the motion vectors of the adjacent image blocks. When the motion vectors of the adjacent image blocks do not form a homogeneous vector field, the motion vector for the corner region is set equal to the motion vector of the image block.
US08687693B2 Temporal image prediction
For frames sequentially functioning as a reference frame in a video sequence frame set, a motion estimate set is accessed. One motion estimate characterizes motion associated with pixels of each region of the reference frame in relation to regions of one frame of the set of frames, which is temporally displaced in time with respect to other frames in the set of frames. An additional motion estimate characterizes motion associated with pixels of each reference frame region in relation to a second frame of the set, which is temporally displaced from the one frame and other frames of the frame set. A temporal image prediction set, corresponding to the first and additional motion estimate, is predicted, based on an alignment of the reference frame regions over the frame set. The temporal image predictions are blended and a temporal predictor is generated over the frame set based on the blending.
US08687688B2 Inter-layer prediction method for video signal
The present invention relates to a method for using interlaced video signal of a base layer in interlayer texture prediction. The present method separates interaced video signal of a base layer into even-field and odd-field components, interpolates the even-field and the odd-field components respectively in vertical and/or horizontal direction, and constructs a combined video data by interleaving the interpolated even-field and odd-field components.
US08687687B2 Communication system
A mobile station transmits a physical address given to the mobile station to a connection device via a base station when subscribing to a communication system. The connection device previously stores the physical address given to the mobile station and an IP address in a table of the connection device in association with each other, searches the table for the IP address corresponding to the physical address transmitted from the mobile station from the address storage section, generates a header compression rule in accordance with the IP address searched for, and transmits the generated header compression rule to the mobile station via the base station.
US08687685B2 Efficient transcoding of B-frames to P-frames
Techniques are described for efficient transcoding from a first format that supports I-units, P-units and B-units to a second format that supports I-units and P-units but does not support the B-units. In particular, techniques are described for converting B-frames or B-slices of the first format into P-frames or P-slices of the second format. The techniques avoid the need to decode and re-encode that frames or slices. Instead, residuals associated with the B-video blocks in the first format are augmented and made to be dependent upon only one of the two lists associated with the B-video blocks so that such B-video blocks in the first format can be redefined as P-video blocks in the second format.
US08687683B2 Method of optimizing floating DFE receiver taps
A method for determining floating tap positions in a DFE of a receiver is disclosed. The method include providing a group of floating taps for the DFE; obtaining a baseline eye opening value for the receiver when the group of floating taps is disabled; providing a plurality of floating tap distribution configurations, each specifying a distribution configuration for the group of floating taps within the DFE; obtaining a plurality of eye opening values for the receiver, each particular eye opening value corresponding to a particular floating tap distribution configuration when the group of floating taps are distributed within the DFE according to the particular floating tap distribution configuration; comparing each of the plurality of eye opening values against the baseline eye opening value; and identifying an optimal floating tap distribution configuration based on the comparison of each of the plurality of eye opening values against the baseline eye opening value.
US08687681B2 Receiver and signal testing method thereof
A receiver includes a CDR circuit, serial-to-parallel converter, and test module. The CDR circuit is for receiving the test signal groups inputted in series and following transmitting frequency of the test signal groups to obtain a clock signal, wherein the clock signal is used to provide an operational frequency of the receiver. The serial-to-parallel converter is for receiving the test signal groups outputted by the CDR circuit and converting the serially-inputted test signal groups into a plurality of test bytes outputted in parallel, wherein each of the test bytes has multi-bit of data. The test module is for receiving the test bytes and the clock signal and comparing two adjacent bytes of the test bytes to determine whether the two adjacent test bytes are completely the same.
US08687675B2 Method and system for transmitting/receiving data in communication system
Disclosed is a data transmission/reception method and system for minimizing intercarrier interference (ICI) in a communication system using a multicarrier. The data transmission method by a transmitter includes grouping transmission signals in units of a predetermined number of transmission signals when the transmitter has received the transmission signals, multiplying each group of the transmission signals by a transmission coding matrix, and transmitting the transmission signals multiplied by the transmission coding matrix to a receiver.
US08687670B2 Paging channel prediction for bluetooth paging procedure
A Bluetooth paging procedure can implement a mechanism for predicting a Bluetooth paging channel in a paging channel hopping sequence. One or more Bluetooth paging channels, on which one or more page requests intended for a Bluetooth device were received, are determined from a plurality of Bluetooth communication channels. One of a plurality of paging channel hopping sequences associated with the Bluetooth device that comprises each of the one or more determined Bluetooth paging channels is identified. A time delay associated with determining a target Bluetooth paging channel from the plurality of Bluetooth communication channels on which to transmit a page response is determined. The target Bluetooth paging channel is determined based, at least in part, on the identified one of the plurality of the paging channel hopping sequences and the time delay.
US08687669B2 Automatic gain control and DC offset compensation
A signal receiver having a gain control circuit comprising: detection means configured to form a representation of the excess amplitude during a training period of a signal received by the receiver; a first gain stimulus generator configured to generate a first gain stimulus in dependence on the excess amplitude detected by the detection means during the training period; averaging means configured to estimate the average of the signal received by the receiver during the training period; a second gain stimulus generator configured to generate a second gain stimulus in dependence on the average estimated by the averaging means during the training period; and a gain control signal generator configured to generate a gain control signal for the receiver in dependence on the first gain stimulus and the second gain stimulus.
US08687667B2 Laser system
To improve a laser system comprising at least one externally stabilizable semiconductor laser, from the laser active zone of which a laser radiation field can be coupled out, and a feedback element, disposed externally in the laser radiation field, which couples out, from the laser radiation field, a feedback radiation field having a defined wavelength and bandwidth, and couples back same into the active laser zone for determining the wavelength and bandwidth of the laser radiation field, in such a way that the wavelength stabilization may be achieved more cost-effectively, it is proposed that the feedback element is a resonant waveguide grating which reflects back a portion of the laser radiation field lying within an angular acceptance range.
US08687661B2 Pulsed CO2 laser output-pulse shape and power control
In order to maintain a constant laser output pulse power in a RF-energized, sealed-off, diffusion cooled, pulsed, CO2 gas-discharge laser, each laser output pulse is generated by train or burst of shorter RF pulses. When the time between laser output pulses becomes short enough that the power in one pulse would be reduced by gas-discharge heating effects of a previous pulse, power in the RF pulse trains is varied by varying the duration or duty cycle of pulses in the bursts, thereby keeping output-pulse power in the laser output pulses constant. RF pulses in any burst can have a different duration for tailoring the temporal shape of a corresponding laser-output pulse.
US08687654B1 Method to packetize an encoded video frame
A system, method and apparatus for transmitting a packetized video stream over a network comprising receiving a frame of a video stream having a plurality of partitions of varying sizes, the plurality of partitions having an ordered sequence, identifying one or more of the plurality of partitions having a size that is less than a predetermined maximum, and allocating the identified one or more of the plurality of partitions into a plurality of packets in a manner that: (a) results in each packet having a size that is less than the predetermined maximum; (b) minimizes a cost value that is based at least in part on the difference between the size of the smallest packet and the size of the largest packet; and (c) maintains the allocated partitions in the ordered sequence. After allocation, the packets are transmitted over the network.
US08687644B2 Packet transfer device
An optical multi-drop path is set to a downstream direction, an optical path between adjacent nodes is set to a upstream direction, a packet sorting unit is provided for appropriately controlling packet streams in the downstream direction and upstream direction, and one-to-one or one-to-N communication can be performed not only between servers and clients but also between the clients even when a multi-drop transmission is used in the downstream direction.
US08687641B2 Systems and methods for converting and delivering nondestructive evaluation images to mobile devices and remote communications systems
A method for automated conversion and delivery of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) images, comprising: storing a plurality of NDE images, metadata associated with the plurality of NDE images, converted NDE images, a plurality of standardized format specifications for a plurality of destination devices and services, and a plurality of message templates; receiving a NDE image file via a communications interface; determining whether the NDE data includes NDE image data; determining an output destination type; correlating the output destination type with one or more of the plurality of standardized format specifications and with one or more of the plurality of message templates; converting the NDE data format associated with the NDE data based on the standardized format specifications that correlate with the output destination type; and assembling at least one output message that includes the converted NDE data based on the message templates that correlate with the output destination type.
US08687640B2 Controlling communication sessions
There is provided a method of enabling media bypass for a media gateway in a telecommunications network which includes a plurality of media gateways via which a signaling path for transfer of signaling information for setup of a communication session between endpoint devices can be established and via which a media path for transfer of media data between the endpoint devices during the communication session can be established. The method includes receiving, at the media gateway, an inbound communication session setup request message requesting setup of a communication session between an originating endpoint device and a terminating endpoint device in the telecommunications network, the inbound communication session setup request message being transmitted along an inbound signaling path to the media gateway; transmitting, from the media gateway, an outbound communication session setup request message in response to receiving the inbound communication session setup message, the outbound communication session setup request message being transmitted along an outbound signaling path from the media gateway; and including preceding device connectivity data in the outbound communication session setup request message, the preceding device connectivity data indicating at least one media connectivity setting for at least one preceding device which is located before the media gateway in the inbound signaling path, the at least one connectivity setting identifying one or more other devices to which the at least one preceding device is configured to be connectable in the media path, to enable bypass of the media gateway in the media path if an ensuing device in the outbound signaling path determines that such bypass should be conducted.
US08687631B2 System and method for providing a translation mechanism in a network environment
An example method is provided and includes receiving a packet associated with a flow, determining a tunnel identifier for the flow, and determining a flow identifier for the flow. The method includes associating the flow identifier and the tunnel identifier to an Internet protocol (IP) address to generate a binding to be used for a network address and port translation (NAPT). In other embodiments, a routing decision is executed based on the binding between the identifiers and the IP address. The flow identifier can be a context identifier (CID), and the tunnel identifier can be a softwire tunnel ID. In yet other embodiments, the packet can be tagged as part of an encapsulation operation, which includes providing information about a network location at which the network address and port translation is to be executed.
US08687624B2 Apparatus and method to handle dynamic payloads in a heterogeneous network
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for handling dynamic payloads in a heterogeneous network. An example embodiment includes a first node interface to receive a first request for data communication from a first node, the first request being coded in a first protocol and including information identifying a first payload type. The example embodiment includes a second node interface to receive a second request for data communication from a second node, the second request being coded in a second protocol and including information identifying a second payload type. The first node interface of the example embodiment configures a message coded in the first protocol to include the information identifying the second payload type and to send the message to the first node.
US08687620B2 Fast cell search
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate searches for a cell in a wireless communication environment. A mobile device can employ a searcher that can detect timing information respectively associated with PSCs and cells to determine the cell with the highest correlation. The searcher can detect SSCs, which can include detecting associated phase information, to determine the SSC with the highest correlation, CP length, and/or other information to facilitate identifying a desired cell having the strongest signal to establish communication between the mobile device and the desired cell. PSCs respectively associated with cells can have different positions in the symbol sequences, and SSCs can respectively be phase shifted at different angles to facilitate detection and identification of a cell(s), where a PSC can be utilized as a phase reference by the associated SSC.
US08687617B2 Wireless communication system with improved broadcast coverage
Techniques to transmit data with cyclic delay diversity and pilot staggering are described. For cyclic delay diversity, OFDM symbols having different cyclic delay durations are generated. The cyclic delay durations for the OFDM symbols may be selected to be time varying with respect to the cyclic delay durations for OFDM symbols transmitted by a neighboring base station. An FDM pilot is generated and multiplexed on multiple sets of subbands in different symbol periods. Waveforms for a second radio technology (e.g., W-CDMA) may be generated for data to be transmitted with this radio technology. The OFDM symbols are multiplexed onto time slots used for OFDM, and the waveforms for the second radio technology are multiplexed onto time slots used for this radio technology. One or multiple modulated signals may be generated based on the multiplexed OFDM symbols and waveforms. Each modulated signal is transmitted from a respective antenna.
US08687614B2 System and method for adjusting radio frequency parameters
A system for method for adjusting radio frequency parameters. A network performance device includes a network performance function executed to monitor network performance between a wireless network device and a wireless packet network switch, determine whether at least one network performance value of the wireless network device exceeds one or more predetermined threshold values, and communicate an instruction to adjust the one or more RF parameters between the wireless network device and the wireless device in response to exceeding the one or more predetermined threshold values. An RF signal path is provided between the wireless network device and the wireless device. The network performance is concatenated into data packets communicated between the wireless network device and the wireless packet network switch utilizing a packet network.
US08687611B2 Methods and apparatus for weighted queuing in DL MU MIMO
Embodiment and methods and means for scheduling an access point (AP) traffic for multiple stations (STAs) in a downlink multiple-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) network transmission are provided for employing a weighted queuing mechanism.
US08687608B2 Method and apparatus for supporting communication in pico networks
Techniques for extending coverage of a wireless communication network (e.g., a cellular network) to indoor and other locations are described. A wireless device may communicate with a base station in a wireless network via downlink and uplink frequency channels in a licensed frequency band using frequency division duplexing (FDD). The wireless device may communicate with a piconet base station (PBS) in a pico network (piconet) via the uplink frequency channel using time division duplexing (TDD). The PBS may communicate with the wireless device on the uplink frequency channel and may exchange data with the wireless network via a wireline communication link. The PBS may forward data received from the wireless device to the wireless network and may also forward data received from the wireless network for the wireless device to the wireless device. The PBS may receive paging messages from the wireless network for the wireless device and may forward the paging messages to the wireless device.
US08687607B2 Method and apparatus for feedback reporting in a wireless communications system
Feedback from user stations to the base station for a multicast/broadcast transmission is performed by decoding multicast/broadcast data received from a transmitter on a downlink resource, forming a feedback message corresponding to the reception of the multicast/broadcast data, and queuing the feedback message for transmission to the transmitter on an uplink resource. The uplink resource used corresponds to the downlink resource used for the multicast/broadcast transmission. For unicast transmissions the uplink resource is dedicated to an uplink transmission corresponding to a downlink transmission on the downlink resource.
US08687606B2 Alternate channel for carrying selected message types
A method is implemented by a subscriber unit in a wireless communication for establishing a network session. The subscriber unit encodes an acknowledgment message for transmission on a shared reverse link channel to a base station. Acknowledgment information associated with a received session tag at the subscriber unit to the base station is transmitted over the shared reverse link channel, on a condition that the session tag is received from a network server via the base station on a forward link channel and identified by the subscriber unit. The acknowledgment is transmitted on a reverse traffic channel on a condition that the session ID tag is not identified by the subscriber unit.
US08687604B2 Method and apparatus for improved cell acquisition with reduced frequency error impact
A method and apparatus for improved initial cell acquisition with reduced frequency error impact. The method determines the slot timing of a transmission, identifies the primary scrambling code and frame timing using the common pilot channel, and provides a path profile using a pseudorandom noise (PN) search. An apparatus using a cell searcher that performs the method is also described.
US08687602B2 Methods and apparatus for error correction for coordinated wireless base stations
Methods and apparatus for coordinated error correction among a set of wireless base stations in communication with one another. In one embodiment, the wireless base stations are part of a cellular network having various cellular base stations (including a serving base station, and multiple supplemental base stations), and transmit multiple redundant versions of a transport block using a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) based scheme. The aggregate of the multiple redundant versions of the transport block are soft combined and acknowledged (ACK) or not-acknowledged (NACK) by the cellular equipment. The serving base station and supplemental base station devices dynamically configure the bundled acknowledgment operation based on various desired operational attributes relating to the operational parameters of the network.
US08687595B2 Method, apparatus, and system for implementing user equipment handover
A method, an apparatus, and a system for implementing User Equipment (UE) handover are disclosed. A Mobility Management Entity (MME) obtains address information of a serving Interworking Function (IWF) by interacting with a function entity in a network and notifies the IWF to process handover according to the obtained IWF address information, so that the MME is capable of obtaining the address information of the serving IWF. Therefore, the normal proceeding of a UE handover procedure in a Circuit Switched over Packet Switched (CSoEPS) scenario is ensured.
US08687593B2 System and method for multimedia sharing in a collaborative session
A system and method for multimedia sharing in a collaborative session are provided. A method for operations at an applications server, where the applications server is a member of a session, includes receiving a first message to change a controller device from a first device to a second device, reconfiguring a signaling path of the session based on the first message, and communicating media with a remote party through the signaling path.
US08687592B2 Method for switching session of user equipment in wireless communication system and system employing the same
A system and method for switching a session of a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system are provided. According to the method, if the UE performs a handover from a macro base station of a macro cell to a femto base station of a femto cell, a femto base station transmits a path switch request message, which includes a serving gateway relocation Information Element (IE), to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the macro cell, in order to request a switching from an existing session of the UE to a new session managed by the femto base station. Then, in response to the path switch request message, the MME switches the existing session of the UE to the new session and transmits a path switch approval message to the femto base station. The serving gateway relocation IE includes information requesting relocation of a serving gateway of the UE to a femto serving gateway within the femto cell.
US08687589B2 Neighbor cell search on a secondary carrier
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing frequent secondary carrier measurement reports in multicarrier wireless communications. Secondary carrier measurement reports can be provided based on anchor carrier measurement reports. When an event or request to generate an anchor carrier measurement report is received, the anchor carrier measurement report can be generated along with a secondary carrier measurement report. In this regard, access points can receive the carrier measurement reports and determine mobility for a wireless device based on more than one carrier.
US08687588B2 Low power modes for femto cells
Devices and methods are provided for deploying and/or implementing a low power mode in an access point (AP) base station. The low power mode may be implemented based on the presence and/or status of access terminals (ATs). In one embodiment, the method may involve determining whether any ATs are present within at least one defined coverage area. In another embodiment, the method may involve determining whether the ATs are in an idle or active state.
US08687586B2 System and method for managing IP sessions based on how many IP sessions are supported
Systems and Method are provided for managing IP sessions based on how many IP sessions are supported. According to an embodiment of the application, the wireless network determines how many IP sessions can be supported for the mobile device residing in a given area such as a routing area, and to transmit to the mobile device an identification of how many IP sessions can be supported. According to another embodiment of the application, the mobile device receives the identification of how many IP sessions can be established, and manages IP sessions based on the identification. Since the mobile device is privy to how many IP sessions can be established, the mobile device is able to properly manage IP sessions.
US08687578B2 Method for transmitting and receiving resource allocation information and mobile station apparatus using the same
A method for allocating the resources of a remaining region other than a region carrying a SuperFrame Header (SFH) and signaling the resource allocation is disclosed. A Mobile Station (MS) receives resource allocation information about a remaining region other than a region carrying an SFH in a predetermined channel bandwidth by the SFH from a Base Station (BS) and decodes the received resource allocation information. The MS decodes control information efficiently by receiving repetition number information about a sub_secondary SFH (sub_S-SFH) or sub_secondary Broadcast CHannel (sub_S-BCH) from the BS by a Primary SFH (P-SFH) or Primary BCH (P-BCH).
US08687574B2 System and method of allocating channels for multiple traffic streams
Provided is a system and method that may allocate channels with respect to multiple traffic channels. A channel request apparatus may determine a correlation between traffic streams to which channels are allocated, and to determine whether the traffic streams are related to each other, may generate a channel allocation request message that simultaneously requests channel allocation with respect to related traffic streams that are related to each other, and may transmit the channel allocation request message to a channel response apparatus to request the channel allocation with respect to the related traffic channels.
US08687571B2 Digital broadcast transmitter, digital broadcast receiver, and methods for configuring and processing streams thereof
A method for processing a stream of a digital broadcast receiver is provided. The method which processes a stream that is divided into a first area allocated to first mobile data and a second area allocated to normal data, includes: receiving a transport stream including new mobile data in at least a part of the second area separately from the first mobile data, demodulating the transport stream, equalizing the demodulated transport stream, and decoding at least one of the first mobile data and the new mobile data from the equalized transport stream. Accordingly, mobile data services may be provided in various ways.
US08687567B2 Utilization of multiple access points to support multiple applications and services
A method that includes establishing a connection with a default access point, transmitting a request to access or utilize an application, a service, or a resource, receiving a response to the request that includes a location of a serving access point that provides the application, the service, or the resource, establishing a connection with the serving access point, and receiving an assignment of a network address that is anchored by the serving access point.
US08687566B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling downlink transmissions in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing communication system
A communication system performs adaptive scheduling by considering present and past reported CQI values and other indications of channel conditions in scheduling a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and then executing a ‘dithering’ function in order to effectuate an MCS that is intermediate between adjacent discrete MCSs. In one embodiment, the communication system determines a first MCS based on a channel quality metric received from a mobile station (MS) and then transmits data utilizing the first MCS. The communication system assigns weights to each of the first MCS and a second MCS based on whether the transmitted data is acknowledged and, based on the assigned weights, selects one of the first and second MCSs for a subsequent transmission of data to the MS. The communication system also may assign weights to each of a first and second MCS based on a transition between a MIMO-A and a MIMO-B transmission scheme.
US08687565B2 Method of effectively transmitting radio resource allocation request in mobile communication system
A method allowing a terminal with data to be transmitted in an uplink direction to transmit a radio resource allocation request message to a base station by effectively using radio resource(s) to its maximum level is disclosed. In particular, the method allows the terminal to select a radio resource allocation request message of a proper format according to a situation of radio resource(s) or the amount of data of each channel and transmit the same to the base station.
US08687558B2 Methods and apparatus to route emergency communication sessions
Methods and apparatus to route emergency communication sessions are disclosed. An example method involves querying a gateway node cache in response to a first broadcast probe received at a node of a wireless Internet-based network. When the gateway node cache identifies a first gateway node, a first response is selectively sent to nodes that participated in a search flood associated with the first broadcast probe.
US08687556B2 Method for correlating connection information with mobile device identity
A method comprising establishing a first control connection between a home node and a home node gateway having a first control connection identity, establishing a second control connection between the home node gateway and a mobility management device having a second control connection identity, communicating network traffic sent between the home node and the mobility management device on behalf of a mobile device using the first control connection and the second control connection, receiving a mobile device identifier included in a control message sent from the mobility management device using the second control connection in response to an entity type indication sent to the mobility management device from the home node gateway, the mobile device identifier uniquely identifying the mobile device, and correlating the mobile device identifier with a context including the first control connection identity and the second control connection identity.
US08687554B2 System and method for simple pairing of wired and wireless healthcare devices to a gateway
A system and method for effecting communication between a plurality of healthcare measurement devices and a remote patient monitoring server is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of effecting communication between the healthcare measurement devices and the remote patient monitoring server, includes communicating with an healthcare gateway device using a common gateway protocol to receive translated data via a plurality of translation units associated with a plurality of device communication modules residing in wired and wireless healthcare measurement devices, and communicating with the remote patient monitoring server using a plurality of remote protocols residing in a plurality of remote communication modules to transmit the received translated data. In some embodiments, the healthcare gateway device is communicatively coupled between the healthcare management devices and the remote patient monitoring server.
US08687550B2 Method and system for configuring base station parameters
A system for configuring base station parameters comprises a base station, a mobile station and a code generating system. Additionally, a method for configuring base station parameters comprises steps of: after a code generating system generates an operation code, the operation code is sent to a base station via a mobile station, wherein the operation code includes information required for performing a configuration operation; the base station, if determining the operation code as received to be valid, then performs the corresponding configuration operation according to the information required for performing the configuration operation. According to the present invention, without depending on the base station controller and other network elements such as a network management system, the base station can implement message interaction over air link, i.e., parameter configuration may be implemented without requiring the base station to access to the network management system; by using a key and a check code, a parameter configuration process which is triggered inadvertently or maliciously is avoided.
US08687548B2 Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system for handling status information of data units
A method is provides in a receiving node for handling status information of data units transmitted from a sending node to the receiving node over a radio link. The receiving node establishes (401) that a number of data units that has been transmitted by the sending node are missing. The receiving node sends (402) a reduced status message to the sending node over the radio link, which message is reduced such that it comprises the negative acknowledgement for a first part of missing data units and omits negative acknowledgements for the rest of the missing data units. The omitted negative acknowledgement for the rest of the missing data units will not erroneously be interpreted as correctly received data units by the sending node.
US08687540B2 Echo cancellation repeater using an inserted pilot with gain-based power level control scheme
A device for generating a pilot signal for use in a wireless repeater where the pilot signal is added to a transmit signal for transmission includes a pilot power control unit configured to set a power level of the pilot signal as a function of a gain of the repeater and a power level of the transmit signal, where the function comprises a linear or non-linear function. In one embodiment, the operation of the repeater may be divided into gain regions and the inserted pilot power is controlled according to the different gain regions of the repeater. When the repeater gain is low, the pilot power may be set greater than the transmit power to ensure there is sufficient signal to use for channel estimation. When the repeater gain is in steady state, the pilot power may be set to be lower than the transmit power to avoid interference.
US08687536B2 Method and apparatus to create multicast groups based on proximity
Devices and methods use close range communication links, such as near field communication (NFC) protocol links, to enable users to authenticate mobile devices to one another to create or expand secure multicast groups. Once the two or more devices establish a close range communication peer-to-peer link the devices exchange multicast group communication data sufficient to permit the devices to receive or send multicast messages. Long range wireless or wired network communication links are then used for multicast message communications. Proximity limits of the close range communication P2P link enables mutual trust to be presumed among devices, reducing the need for security and authentication signaling. The limited range of close range communication P2Plinks renders multicast groups established in this manner less vulnerable to eavesdropping and intrusion. Embodiments enable users to initiate secure multicast group participation merely by bringing two or more devices into close proximity.
US08687535B2 Method and system for server-side handling of a low-power client in a wide area network
A CMTS may receive a request that a network device be permitted to enter a power-saving mode of operation. In response, the CMTS may enter a power-saving mode of operation wherein MAC management messages, transmission opportunities for the sleeping network device, and/or contention periods on one or more channels occur at independently determinable intervals. The CMTS may then transmit a message granting the network device permission to enter the power-saving mode of operation. The CMTS may start a sleep timer upon transmitting the MAC management message and may deregister the network device if no communication is received from the network device prior to expiration of the sleep timer. The CMTs may buffer traffic destined for the network device in a buffer of the CMTS while the network device is in the power-saving mode of operation, and may wake the network device upon the amount of buffered traffic reaching a threshold.
US08687531B2 Wireless system for communication
A system for wirelessly communicating from a high speed data modem using a first radio transceiver at a first location and a second radio transceiver at a second location preferably includes: (i) a housing (containing the data modem, the first radio transceiver, a radio processor, and a power supply) connected to an outdoor supporting structure, which supports a coaxial cable carrying an RF signal and AC power; (ii) a splitter to split the RF signal from the AC power, wherein the radio processor sends a digital signal to the first radio transceiver, which sends the signal to a first antenna, and wherein the signal is provided from the first antenna to a second antenna coupled to the second radio transceiver at a user device, wherein the system communicates the signal from the second antenna to the second radio transceiver and then to a second radio processor coupled to the user device; and wherein the DC power is provided to the data modem, the first radio transceiver, and the radio processor.
US08687529B2 Circulator tuning for reduced intermodulation distortion in a wireless communication device
A mobile wireless communication device includes a circulators coupled between a respective communications arrangement and their antennas. Each circulator includes a coupled tuning network, wherein the tuning networks are operable to tune their circulators for maximum isolation from cross coupling between the power amplifiers within an operating frequency band of the respective communications arrangement.
US08687528B2 Layer 2 relay multiplexing and interference mitigation
A network arrangement comprising a relay node (RN), wherein the RN is configured to assign a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) allocated by an enhanced node B (ENB) for at least one user equipment (UE). A network comprising an ENB, wherein the ENB is configured to allocate a plurality of RBs for an RN, wherein the RBs are assigned for at least one UE. Also disclosed is a method for communicating in a network, comprising selecting a time-division (TD) communication mode, and using resource scheduling based on the selected TD communication mode.
US08687524B2 Software defined radio
A multi-protocol, multi-standard, software-defined radio (SDR) includes one or more RF front ends to support each radio frequency band, and a programmable processor that replaces special-purpose hardware for the tuning and demodulation of each radio service. The programmable processor has limited peak processing capabilities, and calculations are made to see if present user terminal assignments will result in processing conflicts that could exceed the peak processing capabilities. In traffic slot applications in particular, any possible simultaneous arrival or overlap of traffic slots from the respective radio services is projected. If conflicts will result from the current user terminal assignments, then those assignments are reshuffled to obtain a non-conflicting result.
US08687515B2 Reception device and method of determining the velocity of the device based on a received pilot signal
A channel characteristic obtained from a pilot signal is stored for a prescribed number of symbols and a Fourier transform is performed (1), the power of each Doppler frequency component is calculated (2), filtering is performed in the time direction for each Doppler frequency component (3), noise components are masked (4), power changes between mutually adjacent Doppler frequency components are emphasized (5), and motion information is generated by comparison with a predetermined decision threshold (6). Velocity detection that detects velocity of motion from a received signal with high precision in order to improve mobile reception performance by optimizing demodulation operations according to velocity of motion thereby becomes possible.
US08687514B2 Base station device and interference suppression method
Interference suppression by beam forming is achieved even in an FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system. A base station device 1 performs communication based on FDD. The base station device 1 includes a downlink signal reception unit 12 that receives a downlink signal transmitted from another base station device. The base station device 1 performs a beam forming process for directing a null beam to an arrival direction of the downlink signal from the another base station device, by using transmission path information between the base station device and the another base station device, the information being available from the downlink signal received by the downlink signal reception unit 12.
US08687511B2 Secure location session manager
A Secure Location Session Manager (SLSM) is an intelligent router for open mobile alliance (OMA) Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Version 1.0 (and later) messages best implemented when multiple, geo-diverse SUPL servers are deployed in a distributed environment, such as an active-active redundant configuration within a wireless carrier's network. In a standalone option, the SLSM acts as a “middleman” for all SUPL positioning messages between a mobile device and a responsible SUPL server. In an embedded option, the SLSM resides within an existing server. The SLSM manages and stores session information for all pending and ongoing SUPL positioning sessions in internal tables for routing and load balancing purposes. The external interfaces of the SLSM consist of OMA ULP messages.
US08687510B1 Adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission over a wireless channel
Systems and techniques relating to processing a signal received over a wireless channel. A technique includes adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission based on both a signal quality measure of a received signal and a channel quality measure derived from the received signal, the channel quality measure being indicative of frequency selectivity in the wireless channel. An apparatus includes a channel estimator configured to be responsive to a received OFDM signal corresponding to multiple frequency tones of the channel, and configured to evaluate channel response characteristics of the frequency tones; and a channel state indicator configured to generate a channel quality measure usable along with a signal quality measure in adaptively determining a data rate of packetized information transmission, wherein the channel quality measure is generated from the channel response characteristics of the frequency tones and is indicative of frequency selectivity in the wireless channel.
US08687509B2 Method for beamforming
The present invention relates to a method for random beam-forming based on a codebook. The method includes generating a first random variable corresponding to a Gaussian distribution; generating a second random variable corresponding to a uniform distribution; generating a plurality of beam elements by using the first variable, the second variable, spatial correlation between channels, and indexes of transmitting antennas; and forming a beam by using the plurality of beam elements.
US08687506B2 Identifying network performance alert conditions
A computer-implemented method includes receiving diagnostic data from a plurality of network interface devices via a plurality of network connections corresponding to the network interface devices. Each of the plurality of network interface devices includes a diagnostic module to gather diagnostic data pertaining to the network interface device, to gather diagnostic data pertaining to the corresponding network connection, and to gather diagnostic data pertaining to a video device at a user location. The video device is coupled to the network interface device to receive video data via the corresponding network connection. The method also includes analyzing the diagnostic data at the computing device to identify one or more performance alert conditions associated with a service provider network. The method further includes generating an output identifying the one or more performance alert conditions.
US08687496B2 Base station, mobile station, communication system, and reordering method thereof
Disclosed is a reordering method for sending packets, to which numbers indicating sequence are attached, from a base station to a mobile station, and rearranging the packets in order of the sequence number in the mobile station. When a handover source base station transfers packets which have not been sent to the mobile station, out of packets received from a host station, to a handover target base station, and the handover target base station sends the packets to the mobile station, data is sent from the handover source base station to the mobile station to notify that transference of the packets has been executed at the execution of handover sequence. The mobile station executed, reordering of the received packets when the transference of the packets has been executed.
US08687495B2 Method and apparatus for polling in a wireless communication system
A data packet communication system employs radio link control (RLC) transmission between a transmitter and a receiver with an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) arrangement whereby polling of the receiver is accomplished with reduced amount of redundantly transmitted data, such as between an access node and terminal. Upon a polling event, such as emptying of a transmission buffer of the transmitter, expiration of a polling timer, or reaching a radio link control (RLC) protocol data units (PDUs) count threshold, the transmitter sends a polling command to the receiver. This polling command is smaller than any of the RLC PDUs by resegmenting to a variably sized PDU sending a reduced amount of data. With evolving communication standards tending toward larger PDUs, such as in excess of a kilobyte for HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access Evolution) and 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution), this inefficiency can be of increasing impact.
US08687489B2 Aborting a packetized wireless communication
Systems and methods are provided for a signaling an ongoing communication of a data unit in a data packet is to be aborted. Upon a determination to abort an ongoing communication is made, a code-point in a data unit header is utilized to indicate the ongoing communication is to be aborted. A first class of code-point is a dedicated, predefined abort data unit field header. A second class of code-point is a combination of a set of existing, predefined data unit header fields, at least one data unit header field in the combination holds a value that is either invalid or legitimate yet unlikely to occur. Conveying code-point(s) to indicate termination of an ongoing communication of a data unit in a data packet in a regular communication mitigates transmission disruption and saves channel capacity.
US08687488B2 Information processing device and method
An information processing device includes: an encoding section that encodes image data to generate a codestream, the image data being to be transmitted to another information processing device; a controlling section that controls whether or not main data of the codestream is to be transmitted, on the basis of whether or not an amount of data of the codestream exceeds an allowable rate that is an upper limit value of a bitrate at which the codestream is flawlessly transmittable; a packetizing section that packetizes the codestream into packets when the amount of data of the codestream does not exceed the allowable rate and that packetizes only a header of the codestream when the amount of data of the codestream exceeds the allowable rate, in accordance with the control performed by the controlling section; and a transmitting section that transmits the packets to the another information processing device.
US08687486B2 Systems and methods for selecting a network access system
A system according to some embodiments of the invention includes (1) a component (e.g. ANDSF) that provides a cell selection rule to a UE and (2) a component (e.g. an access node) that provides the UE with information about the load in the cell currently utilized by the UE. This enables the UE to determine whether to leave the cell, which may be a 3GPP cell, and use a different cell, which may be a non-3GPP cell, by applying the cell selection rule in conjunction with its knowledge about the load of the cell.
US08687485B1 Method and apparatus for providing replay protection in systems using group security associations
A method and apparatus is disclosed which enables detection of undesired packets received at a device in a network, where the device is a member of a group of devices in the network. A registration table stores transform identifiers for each member of a group and controls the forwarding of the transform identifiers to the members of the group as members are added and deleted. A transform identifier indicates a format or transformation of a packet transmitted by an associated member. The transform identifier can therefore be used at a receiving device to distinguish between transmissions by different members of the group, thereby enabling the receiving device to extract sequence information associated with the member from the packet. The sequence information can be compared against an expected sequence number for the member to determine whether the packet is an undesirable or rogue packet.
US08687479B2 Methods and apparatus for channel estimation and rate feedback in a peer to peer network
Methods and apparatus for performing channel estimation and reporting back channel information or other information such as a suggested traffic transmission rate are described. A signal including a pilot signal of interest is received. Portions of the signal corresponding to the pilot signal are analyzed to determine if any of the portions, e.g., signal portions corresponding to individual tone symbols used to communicate the pilot signal, were subject to excessive interference, such as might be the result of collisions, rendering the signal portions unreliable. Signal sub-portions determined to be unreliable are excluded from a determination of the amount of pilot signal energy that was received. Signal interference is determined from a portion of the received signal on which the pilot signal was not transmitted. Channel information in the form of information and/or a suggested traffic rate may be reported back to the device which transmitted the pilot signal.
US08687478B2 Method and apparatus for band separation for multiband communication systems
Aspects of a method and apparatus for band separation for multiband communication systems are provided. One or more circuits for use in a transceiver may comprise a triplexer and a leakage processing module. The triplexer may comprise a multiband port, a Multimedia Over Coaxial Alliance (MoCA) port, a television upstream port, and a television downstream port. The leakage processing module may comprise a television downstream input port, a cable television downstream output port, a MoCA port, and a cable television upstream port. The leakage processing module may be operable to (1) process a MoCA signal to generate a first compensation signal; (2) process a cable upstream signal to generate a second compensation signal; (3) process a filtered signal based at least in part on the first and second compensation signals; and (4) output the processed filtered signal via the cable television downstream output port of said leakage processing module.
US08687476B2 Embedded virtual media
A method and an optical storage medium are provided for storing data to and accessing data from an embedded virtual medium within the optical storage medium. Information describing the embedded virtual medium may be stored on to the optical storage medium. Space for an embedded lead-in area of the embedded virtual medium, as well as user data for the embedded virtual medium, may be allocated within a data zone of the optical medium. A spare sector bitmap may be included in a lead-an area of the optical medium indicating spare sectors within the embedded virtual medium as being unavailable. A spare sector bitmap may be included within the embedded virtual medium indicating available spare sectors of the embedded virtual medium. Physical sector/logical block mapping of the optical storage medium may be modified for accessing data stored on the embedded virtual medium.
US08687475B2 Optical pickup device, optical pickup unit and data streamer apparatus
In one embodiment, an optical pickup device includes a fixed portion 100, a movable portion 11, first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b, one and the other ends of which are secured to the fixed portion 100 and the movable portion 11, respectively, and an objective lens 8 secured to the movable portion 11. The objective lens 8 is arranged inside of the area that is defined between two lines that are respectively drawn from one and the other ends of the first elastic supporting member 12a perpendicularly to the first elastic supporting member 12a and outside of the area defined between the first and second elastic supporting members 12a and 12b.
US08687468B2 Trick-action type clock
In a trick-action type clock, a part of an hour plate rotates along a plane parallel to a clock support plate. The trick-action type clock includes a first hour plate portion which is fixed to the clock support plate and has a circular shape, and a second hour plate portion which is rotated by a driving motor. The first hour plate portion includes an indicator needle shaft insertion portion which is provided at a position remote from a center of the first hour plate portion so as to insert an indicator needle shaft 101 therethrough. The second hour plate portion includes a circular notched hole which has a rotation center coincides with the center of the first hour plate portion with a circular shape and has the same shape as that of the first hour plate portion.
US08687466B2 Cell, element of ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic transducer including the same, and method of manufacturing cell of ultrasonic transducer
An element of an ultrasonic transducer includes a first substrate, at least one cell of the ultrasonic transducer arranged above the first substrate, and a second substrate arranged under the first substrate, in which a first power supply for applying an electric signal to the first substrate is formed.
US08687463B2 Method for processing at least two sets of seismic data
This invention relates to a method for processing at least two seismic data sets (10, 20), each data set comprising several seismic traces (i, j) grouped by bins (Bi, Bj) and by offset classes (Oi, Oj), the method including the following steps: calculating at least one attribute (a(i, j)) characteristic of a similarity between a first trace (i) of a first data set (10) and a second trace (j) of a second data set (20), selecting or not the first and second traces (i, j) according to a selection criterion applied to the calculated attribute (a(i, j)).
US08687462B2 Position determination of a seismic source array
A method of obtaining information about the positions of sources in a marine seismic source array that has N seismic sources, including at least Nunique types of sources that are nominally non-identical to one another, where 1≦Nunique≦N−1. The method comprises measuring the pressure field at M independent locations of the N sources, where M>Nunique, and obtaining information about the positions of sources from the M pressure measurements and from the constraint that at least two of the sources are nominally identical to one another.
US08687456B2 Multi-port memory based on DRAM core
A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of N external ports, each of which receives commands, and an internal circuit which performs at least N access operations during a minimum interval of the commands that are input into one of the external ports.
US08687447B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus and test method using the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes: a precharge voltage control unit configured to selectively output a bit line precharge voltage or a core voltage as a control voltage in response to a test signal; a bit line equalization unit configured to precharge a bit line to the control voltage; a sense amplifier driving control unit configured to generate a first voltage supply control signal, a second voltage supply control signal and a third voltage supply control signal in response to the test signal, a sense amplifier enable test signal, a first voltage supply signal, a second voltage supply signal and a third voltage supply signal; and a voltage supply unit configured to provide the core voltage, an external voltage and a ground voltage to a sense amplifier with an open bit line structure in response to the first to third voltage supply control signals.
US08687439B2 Semiconductor apparatus and memory system including the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes one or more semiconductor chips configured to have predetermined capacity and structure; and a signal level control unit configured to control levels of external signals, which are input to the one or more semiconductor chips, in order to realize various capacities and structures using the one or more semiconductor chips.
US08687438B2 Method and apparatus of changing device identification codes of a memory integrated circuit device
In the disclosed technology, the device identification code of a memory integrated circuit is changeable. In some cases, multiple device identification codes are stored on the memory integrated circuit, and multiple device identification code selection data are stored on the memory integrated circuit. A device identification code register can store a selected device identification code.
US08687435B2 System and method for reducing pin-count of memory devices, and memory device testers for same
Methods, memory devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device receives command signals through the same input/output terminals that receive address signals and write data signals and transmit read data signals. The input/output terminals are connected to a multiplexer, which is responsive to a received mode control signal to couple the input/output terminals to either a command bus or an input/output bus. A latch in the memory device latches the command signals when the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus. As a result, the command signals continue to be applied to the command bus. When the mode control signal causes the input/output terminals to be coupled to the input/output bus, write data signals are clocked into the memory device and read data signals are clocked out of the memory device responsive to a received clock signal.
US08687432B2 Multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell and array
This invention proposes a multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell and array thereof. Multiple conduction paths are formed on each memory cell and independent of each other, and each conduction path can be in a high-resistance or low-resistance state, so as to form a multi-bit resistive-switching memory cell. A memory cell array can be formed by arranging a plurality of multi-bit resistive-switching memory cells, and the memory cell array provides a simple, high density, high performance and cost-efficient proposal.
US08687430B2 Analog sensing of memory cells with a source follower driver in a semiconductor memory device
Memory devices, methods, and sample and hold circuits are disclosed, including a memory device that includes a sample and hold circuit coupled to a bit line. One such sample and hold circuit includes a read circuit, a verify circuit, and a reference circuit. The read circuit stores a read threshold voltage that was read from a selected memory cell. The verify circuit stores a target threshold voltage that is compared to the read threshold voltage to generate an inhibit signal when the target and read threshold voltages are substantially equal. The reference circuit stores a reference threshold voltage that can be used to translate the read threshold voltage to compensate for a transistor voltage drop and/or temperature variations.
US08687428B2 Built-in self trim for non-volatile memory reference current
A non-volatile memory built-in self-trim mechanism is provided by which product reliability can be improved by minimizing drift of reference current used for accessing the non-volatile memory and for performing initial trimming of the reference current. Embodiments perform these tasks by using an analog-to-digital converter to provide a digital representation of the reference current (Iref) and then comparing that digital representation to a stored target range value for Iref and then adjusting a source of Iref accordingly. For a reference current generated by a NVM reference bitcell, program or erase pulses are applied to the reference cell as part of the trimming procedure. For a reference current generated by a bandgap-based circuit, the comparison results can be used to adjust the reference current circuit. In addition, environmental factors, such as temperature, can be used to adjust the measured value for the reference current or the target range value.
US08687426B2 Multi-semiconductor material vertical memory strings, strings of memory cells having individually biasable channel regions, memory arrays incorporating such strings, and methods of accesssing and forming the same
Multi-semiconductor vertical memory strings, strings of memory cells having individually biasable channel regions, arrays incorporating such strings and methods for forming and accessing such strings are provided. For example non-volatile memory devices are disclosed that utilize NAND strings of serially-connected non-volatile memory cells. One such string can include two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells each having a channel region. Each memory cell of the two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells shares a common control gate and each memory cell of the two or more serially connected non-volatile memory cells is configured to receive an individual bias to its channel region.
US08687424B2 NAND flash memory of using common P-well and method of operating the same
A flash memory using hot carrier injection and a method of operating the same are provided. A plurality of strings constituting a page are formed on a single p-well and share the p-well. During a program operation, a string selection transistor is turned off, and electrons are accumulated in a source or drain region in response to a bias voltage applied to the p-well. Thereafter, the accumulated electrons are trapped in a charge trap layer of a memory cell in response to a program voltage applied through a word line. Also, during an erase operation, holes accumulated in response to a bias voltage applied to the p-well are trapped in the charge trap layer in response to an erase voltage. The flash memory performs NAND-type program and erase operations using hot carrier injection.
US08687423B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a control logic configured to generate an internal command in response to an internal clock, a finite state machine configured to generate a plurality of current state signals in a program pulse and verify pulse setup operation for a program operation and a program verify operation in response to the internal command, after a program operation using a program pulse and a program verify operation using a program verify pulse are completed, and a glue logic configured to generate check control signals for checking a plurality of page buffers of the page buffer unit in response to the plurality of current state signals in the setup operation.
US08687422B2 Method for operating a NAND flash memory device in multiple operational modes
A method and device are provided for operating in a special mode using a special mode enable register. In one example, a memory device includes registers in volatile memory and a memory array. At least one of the registers may include a special mode bit that controls a special mode of operation of the memory device.
US08687420B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device which includes multi-bit memory cells that store multi-bit data and memory cells that store data of fewer bits then that of the multi-bit data. Thus, the semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells which store n-bit (where n is a natural number that is equal to or larger than 2) data for one cell. Among the plurality of memory cells, h-bit (h≦n) data is stored in a memory MLC of a first region MLB, and i-bit (i
US08687419B2 Adjusting operational parameters for memory cells
Techniques and devices relating to adjusting one or more operational parameters for memory cells are provided. One such device may include a detection unit configured to perform one or more reading operations on a set of memory cells to determine an upper bound of the threshold voltages of the set of memory cells. The device may further include a parameter adjustment unit configured to adjust one or more operational parameters for the set of memory cells based, at least in part, on the determined upper bound of the threshold voltages. Other techniques and devices are also provided.
US08687416B2 Signal processing circuit comprising buffer memory device
It is an object to provide a signal processing circuit for which a complex manufacturing process is not necessary and whose power consumption can be suppressed. In particular, it is an object to provide a signal processing circuit whose power consumption can be suppressed by stopping the power supply for a short time. The signal processing circuit includes a control circuit, an arithmetic unit, and a buffer memory device. The buffer memory device stores data sent from the main memory device or the arithmetic unit in accordance with an instruction from the control unit; the buffer memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells; and the memory cells each include a transistor including an oxide semiconductor in a channel formation region and a memory element to which charge whose amount depends on a value of the data is supplied via the transistor.
US08687415B2 Domain wall motion in perpendicularly magnetized wires having artificial antiferromagnetically coupled multilayers with engineered interfaces
Magnetic wires that include two antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic regions show improved domain wall motion properties, when the domain walls are driven by pulses of electrical current. The magnetic regions preferably include Co, Ni, and Pt and exhibit perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, thereby supporting the propagation of narrow domain walls. The direction of motion of the domain walls can be influenced by the order in which the wire's layers are arranged.
US08687414B2 Magnetic memory element and magnetic random access memory
A magnetic memory cell includes: a magnetization recording layer; and a magnetic tunneling junction section. The magnetization recording layer includes a ferromagnetic layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic tunneling junction section is used for reading information in the magnetization recording layer. The magnetization recording layer includes two domain wall moving areas.
US08687405B2 Phase change memory and method for fabricating phase change memory
A phase change memory includes an insulating layer on a substrate, an electrode layer having one pole and an electrode layer having another pole within the insulating layer, an opening portion whose lower portion on an upper portion of the insulating layer is substantially square or substantially rectangular, a phase change portion formed substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate along the respective sides of the lower portion of the opening portion, and two connection electrodes having a pole and connected to the phase change portion at two opposing corners of the lower portion of the opening portion connecting a diode portion connected to the electrode layer having one pole and the phase change portion, and two connection electrodes having another pole and connected to the phase change portion at the other two opposing corners connecting the phase change portion and the electrode layer having another pole.
US08687404B2 Memory element and drive method for the same, and memory device
A memory element capable of increasing capacity with an improvement of distribution of resistance in the high-resistance state, a drive method therefor, and a memory device are provided. The memory element includes first and second electrodes, and a plurality of resistance change elements electrically connected in series between the first and second electrodes, whose resistance values are reversibly changeable in response to application of a voltage to the first and second electrodes, and changeable to the same resistance state relative to the voltage application.
US08687403B1 Circuits having programmable impedance elements
An integrated circuit (IC) device may include a first portion having a plurality of volatile memory cells; and a second portion coupled by a data transfer path to the first portion, the second portion including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells, each nonvolatile memory cell including at least one resistive element programmable more than once between different resistance values. A memory device may also include variable impedance elements accessible by access bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) having at least a portion formed by a semiconductor layer formed over a substrate. A memory device may also include a plurality of memory elements that each includes a dielectric layer formed between a first and second electrode, the dielectric layer including a solid electrolyte with a soluble metal having a mobility less than that of silver in a germanium disulfide.
US08687388B2 Three-phase soft-switched PFC rectifiers
A low input-current harmonic three-phase boost rectifier includes an input stage for receiving a three-phase input voltage in relation to a neutral node and an output stage adapted to couple to at least one load. The rectifier further includes one or more switching converter stages, each having a plurality of switches coupled to the neutral node, the plurality of switches operating with a fixed duty cycle, the fixed duty cycle being a substantially 50% duty cycle. The rectifier further includes one or more controllers adapted to vary the switching frequency of the plurality of switches based on at least one of a condition of the at least one load or the input voltage and includes one or more decoupling stages, each including one or more inductive elements adapted to inductively decouple the output stage from at least one of the one or more switching converter stages.
US08687386B2 Synchronous rectifier bi-directional current sensor
A method and apparatus for bi-directional current sensing for a synchronous rectifier bi-directional converter system is disclosed. A first current is measured through a first synchronous rectifier via a first transformer to provide a first signal. A second current is measured through a second force synchronous rectifier via a second transformer to provide a second signal. The first signal and the second signal are DC restored to provide a first DC restored signal and a second DC restored signal respectively. A first correction current is added to the first DC restored signal to produce a first corrected signal, and a second correction current is added to the second DC restored signal to produce a second corrected signal. The first corrected signal and the second corrected signal are added to produce a combined signal.
US08687384B2 Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device that includes a feedback terminal to which a feedback signal according to a load state is input, and a comparator which compares a terminal voltage of the feedback terminal with a reference voltage and determines whether the load state is a normal load state or a light load state. The switching power supply device also includes pull-up resistors which are connected to the feedback terminal, a switch element which switches resistance values of the pull-up resistors according to the change of the load state, and a switch element which switches the resistance values of the pull-up resistors according to whether the input voltage is high or low.
US08687374B2 Electronic controller for vehicle
An electronic controller for a vehicle includes a box-shaped frame having only one opened side that has a notch portion into which an electric connector whose connection port protrudes toward an outside fits and a cover that closes an opening of the frame, in which while a groove filled with a sealant is provided at least on a bonded surface of an electric connector to which the cover is bonded, a first convex portion that fits into the groove is provided in a circumferential portion of the cover. Moreover, the electric connector has a flange portion opposite to an inner wall of the frame around the notch portion, and the flange portion is provided with a second convex portion protruding toward the inner wall to surround the notch portion.
US08687373B2 Card structure, socket structure, and assembly structure thereof
A card structure includes a first element and a second element. The first element includes a first peripheral portion and a plurality of first contact points exposed by the first peripheral portion. The second element includes a second peripheral portion and a plurality of second contact points corresponding to the first contact points of the first element and exposed by the second peripheral portion. When the first and second elements are joined with each other, the first peripheral portion of the first element and the second peripheral portion of the second element are adjacent to each other, to juxtapose the first contact points of the first element and the second contact points of the second element to each other. The juxtaposed first and second contact points of the first and second elements are coupled to each other by a welding portion.
US08687372B2 Flexible circuit assembly with wire bonding
A flexible circuit assembly that includes a flexible circuit substrate. A spacer is attached to a first side surface of the substrate, and a die carrier is attached to the opposite side surface of the substrate. The die carrier includes one or more photonic die mounted thereon that face an opening formed through the substrate so that the photonic die transmits and/or receives optical signals through the opening. Wire bonds electrically connect the photonic die to an electrical pad on the first side surface of the substrate. The spacer helps to space the wire bonds from an optical connector that connects to the flexible circuit assembly, so that the wire bonds do not interfere with the mechanical connection between the flexible circuit assembly and the optical connector.
US08687358B2 Power conversion apparatus
The power conversion apparatus includes electronic components constituting a power conversion circuit, a cooler for cooling at least some of the electronic components, and a case housing the at least some of the electronic components and the cooler. The at least some of the electronic components and the cooler are fixed to and integrated in a frame as an internal unit. The frame has such a shape that at least some of the electronic components constituting the internal unit are disposed inside the frame. The frame includes a terminal block on which input/output terminals for inputting and outputting controlled power are mounted for providing connection between the input/output terminals and external devices.
US08687353B2 Electronic equipment
Electronic equipment is obtained, which is capable of regulating the arrangement position of a connection cable connected to an antenna module and preventing antenna properties from being degraded by a positional shift of the connection cable. The electronic equipment includes a housing, an antenna module placed in an end portion of the housing, and a connection cable connecting the antenna module to another electric circuit, wherein a guide groove accommodating the connection cable and regulating an arrangement position of the connection cable is formed on the housing.
US08687351B2 Scanning jacket for a handheld device
A jacket for a handheld device is disclosed. The jacket may include a housing including a receiving area for the handheld device. The housing may include an opening configured to align with a display surface of the handheld device and engaging structure disposed about the opening to engage at least a portion of the display surface of the handheld device when the device is disposed within the receiving area. The jacket may also include a connector member and a scanner. The connector member may connect to the handheld device when the handheld device is in the receiving area and the scanner may communicate with the handheld device when the handheld device is connected to the connector member.
US08687349B2 Bulk transfer of storage devices using manual loading
A storage device transfer station is provided for transferring storage devices from a human operator to automated machinery for testing. The storage device transfer station includes a plurality of slots each capable of holding a storage device. The plurality of slots is arranged in at least one field, and the field is arranged between two parallel planes. Each slot has a first open end and a second open end, such that each open end is accessible for loading and unloading a storage device. The first open ends are accessible at a first plane of the two parallel planes and the second open ends are accessible at a second plane of the two parallel planes.
US08687342B2 Method of surface charge distribution
A lightning strike protection system for protecting composite structures, an improved lightning strike appliqué (LSA) for such a lightning strike protection system, and a method of protecting composite structures, such as an aircraft fuselage. The LSA is electrically connected to adjacent conductive surfaces, e.g., by a fuzz button or a wire bond inserted in the bottom of the LSA. An adjacent conductive surface may be another LSA, a lightning diverter overlay, or a current return network. Charge, e.g., from a lightning strike to the LSA, flows to the conductive layer through the electrical connector.
US08687341B2 Control circuit for electric unlocking devices using actuating solenoids
A system and method is provided for an enhanced and user friendly control circuit for an electric unlocking device, such as for example, an electric door strike or other unlocking devices utilizing actuating solenoids. The control circuit minimizes the potential for human error while also providing a small footprint, minimal DC in-rush current, over current protection, and minimized heat dissipation. Additionally, the present invention is directed to providing visual notification/diagnostics and improved field compatibility with existing electric unlocking devices.
US08687337B2 Over-current protection device
An over-current protection device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first grating electrode, a second grating electrode and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material layer. The first grating electrode and the second grating electrode are formed on the first substrate and are interlaced and spaced on a same plane. The PTC material layer is formed on the first substrate, the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode, and between the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode. In an embodiment, the first grating electrode and the second grating electrode serve as a current input port and a current output port, respectively.
US08687334B2 Power feeding circuit
A controller 43 turns on a semiconductor switch 41 in a normal mode, and turns off the semiconductor switch 41 in a sleep mode. A bypass resistor 5 is connected in parallel to the semiconductor switch 41. A resistance value of the bypass resister 5 is so large as that in the sleep mode, a dark current is supplied to an electronic device 3 via the bypass resistor 5, and if an electric wire downstream of the bypass resistor is short-circuited, an electric current more than a permissive current is prevented from flowing to the electric wire.
US08687332B2 Transistor circuit with protecting function
The present invention provides a transistor circuit with protecting function. The transistor circuit includes a transistor, a voltage detecting unit, a current detecting unit, a temperature detecting unit, and a protecting unit. The voltage detecting unit detects a voltage drop of the transistor and generates an over-voltage protection signal. The current detecting signal detects a current flowing through the transistor and generates an over-current protection signal. The temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of the transistor circuit and generates an over-temperature protection signal. The protecting unit is coupled to the control terminal to control a state of the transistor according to the over-voltage protection signal, the over-current protection signal, and the over-temperature protection signal to reduce the voltage difference between the control terminal and the second terminal, such that the voltage drop of the transistor is decreased or decreased to zero.
US08687330B2 Semiconductor device
The invention provides a low cost semiconductor device with which it is possible to easily select IGBT soft shutdown characteristics appropriate to a system.The drive IC (100) is configured of an output stage circuit (1), a shutdown circuit (2), a logic circuit (3), and an alarm signal processing circuit (4), the shutdown circuit (2) is configured of a resistor circuit (5) and an n-MOSFET (8), and the resistor circuit (5) is formed by an n-MOSFET (9), a resistor (10), and a switching conductor (11). By switching the switching conductor (11) of the resistor circuit (5) among A, B, and C conditions, it is possible to easily select shutdown characteristics of an IGBT (61) appropriate to a system.
US08687326B2 Short circuit protecting device and method thereof for DC-DC converter with soft-start function
The invention discloses a short circuit protecting device adapted to a DC-DC converter with a soft-start function, and a voltage output terminal of the DC-DC converter increases an output current in segments in multiple time periods after the DC-DC converter is started. The short circuit protecting device including a voltage sensor connected to the voltage output terminal to sense the output voltage; a start timer generating a enable signal in a predetermined period after the DC-DC converter is started; a comparison circuit connected to the voltage sensor and the start timer and comparing the output voltage with a predetermined voltage according to the enable signal. The sum of the time period is a startup time of the DC-DC converter, and the startup time is longer than the predetermined period. When the output voltage is smaller than the predetermined voltage, a comparison circuit outputs a control signal to stop the DC-DC converter.
US08687325B2 Micro-electromechanical switch protection in series parallel topology
An electrical switching device is presented. The electrical switching device includes multiple switch sets coupled in series. Each of the switch sets includes multiple switches coupled in parallel. A control circuit is coupled to the multiple switch sets and configured to control opening and closing of the switches. One or more intermediate diodes are coupled between the control circuit and each point between a respective pair of switch sets.
US08687322B1 Magnetic recording head and disk drive including the same
According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head of a disk drive includes a main pole configured to generate a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a recording layer of a recording medium, a write shield magnetic pole opposite to a trailing side of the main pole with a gap, a coil configured to excite a magnetic flux in a magnetic circuit, and a high-frequency oscillator provided between a tip portion of the main pole on a side of the recording medium and the write shield magnetic pole to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The write shield magnetic pole includes an end face opposite to the high-frequency oscillator and the end face is formed so that a distance from the main pole increases with an increasing distance from the recording medium.
US08687319B2 Magnetic recording apparatus with magnetic recording head capable of recording information on a magnetic recording medium
A spin torque oscillator for microwave assisted recording includes a perpendicular free layer having a magnetic anisotropy axis in a direction perpendicular to a film surface, and an in-plane free layer composed of a magnetic film effectively having a magnetization easy plane on a film surface. When electric currents flows from the in-plane free layer side to the perpendicular free layer side, both free layers exchange spin information and thereby rotate their respective magnetizations almost antiparallel to each other and along a boundary surface with high-speed. Preferably, the perpendicular free layer is thinner than the in-plane free layer. It is also preferable that a magnetic anisotropy field of the perpendicular free layer attributable to materials should balance, in reverse directions, with an effective demagnetizing field in the perpendicular direction. Furthermore, the perpendicular free layer is preferably placed on the main pole side.
US08687318B2 Recording head coil structure
A recording head comprising a write pole and a coil structure asymmetric with respect to the write pole and configured to generate more magnetic flux on a trailing side of the main pole than the magnetic flux on a front side of the main pole.
US08687314B2 Methods for fast center calibration of a tape drive for a flangeless tape path
According to one embodiment, a method includes sensing a first servo sensor while a longitudinal tape is moved in a first direction; determining position error between the magnetic head and a desired position related to the at least one defined servo track; providing signals to operate a fine actuator to translate the magnetic head laterally in a manner to reduce the determined position error; calculating a first average position of the magnetic head for at least one first run-out cycle while the longitudinal tape is moved in the first direction; calculating a first offset of the magnetic head while the longitudinal tape is moved in the first direction; operating a coarse actuator to position the coarse actuator substantially at a target position using the first offset and the first average position.
US08687313B2 Disk drive mapping out data tracks to avoid thermal asperities
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein the head comprises a write element and a read element. An asperity in a target data track is detected, and a range of data tracks proximate the target data track is mapped out, wherein the range of data tracks spans at least twice a radial offset between the read element and the write element at the radial location of the target data track.
US08687312B1 Edge detection for disk drives
A process is disclosed for determining one or more edges of usable portions of a disk drive. Such knowledge can be used to determine the range of valid tracks of the disk and improve utilization of available disk space. The process can detect the edges by processing one or more disk controller signals, such as an adaptive feed-forward (AFC) injection signal, or a position error signal (PES).
US08687310B1 Iterative decoding using adaptive feedback
An apparatus comprises read channel circuitry and signal processing circuitry associated with the read channel circuitry. The signal processing circuitry is configured to: equalize a digital data signal; align the equalized digital data signal; determine a detector reliability metric based at least in part on the aligned equalized digital data signal; perform an iterative decoding process to determine a decoded digital data signal using the detector reliability metric; adjust the aligned equalized digital data signal using the decoded digital data signal; and repeat at least determining the detector reliability metric and performing the iterative decoding process using the adjusted equalized digital data signal.
US08687309B2 Magnetic recording media and magnetic recording system
This invention provides a magnetic recording medium excellent in terms of corrosion resistance. The magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetic recording layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer provided on a nonmagnetic substrate, and the lubricant layer comprises a compound having a heterocyclic ring.
US08687307B1 Disk drive detecting gas leaking from head disk assembly
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head disk assembly (HDA) filled with a gas, the HDA comprising a head actuated over a disk, and an electrical heating element. A pressure inside the HDA is measured, and the electrical heating element is heated for a first heating time. A rate of temperature change of the electrical heating element is measured, and the gas leaking from the HDA is detected in response to the pressure and the rate of temperature change.
US08687306B1 Systems and methods for improving sequential data rate performance using sorted data zones
Systems and methods for writing a sequence of data to a disk drive using sorted data zones are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-head disk drive comprises a plurality of disk surfaces, wherein each disk surface comprises a plurality of data zones, each data zone having a data transfer rate different from the other zones of the respective disk surface. The multi-head disk drive also comprises a head assembly comprising a plurality of heads, wherein each head is configured to write data to a respective one of the disk surfaces, and a controller configured to operate the plurality of heads to sequentially write a sequence of data blocks to the plurality of disk surfaces in accordance with a list of head-zone combinations ordered from highest data rate to lowest data rate, each head-zone combination corresponding to one of the heads and a data zone of the respective disk surface.
US08687302B2 Reference voltage circuit for adaptive power supply
Interface circuitry of a storage device or other type of processing device comprises at least one data path, and an adaptive power supply configured to provide a variable supply voltage to the data path. The adaptive power supply comprises a reference voltage circuit having a plurality of field effect transistors collectively configured to provide a variable reference voltage, with different ones of the field effect transistors being biased into different operating regions. For example, a first subset of the field effect transistors may each be biased into a linear region such that the variable reference voltage tracks variations in on-resistance of one or more corresponding field effect transistors of the data path, and a second subset of the field effect transistors may each be biased into a saturation region such that the variable reference voltage tracks variations in threshold voltage of the corresponding field effect transistors of the data path.
US08687299B1 Bayonet attachment mechanisms
An attachment mechanism includes a compliance member positioned between a body and bayonets. The bayonets collectively define an aperture therebetween. Alignment members prevent rotation of the bayonets relative to the body while allowing the bayonets to move radially outwardly against the compliance member. When a second attachment mechanism is received in the aperture of the first attachment mechanism, relative rotation therebetween may interlock corresponding bayonets thereof. The attachment mechanisms may release from one another in a drop event or other incidence of force applied thereto by allowing a bayonet to radially move outwardly out of contact with a corresponding bayonet of the second attachment mechanism. Related methods are also provided.
US08687297B2 Lens actuating module
A lens actuating module for realizing focus adjustment and optical zooming. The lens actuating module includes a rod which is disposed on one side of a lens barrel on which at least one lens is mounted, and has an axis direction corresponding to an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, a driving force transmission member which has a conjoining recess to be conjoined with an outside surface of the rod and has magnetism so as to be conjoined with the outside surface of the rod due to a magnetic force, and a piezoelectric actuator which is disposed on one side of the driving force transmission member in the optical axis direction to provide an axis direction driving force to the rod via the driving force transmission member.
US08687296B2 Driving mechanism, lens barrel, and camera
A driving mechanism includes a first piezoelectric element that vibrates in a thickness-shear vibration mode in a first direction, a first member that is driven to vibrate in the first direction by the first piezoelectric element, a second piezoelectric element that is supported by the first member and that vibrates in the thickness-shear vibration mode in a second direction, and a second member that is driven to vibrate in the second direction by the second piezoelectric element.
US08687295B2 Apparatus for adjusting optical element
An apparatus for adjusting an optical element includes at least one optical element for passing light, an adjustment frame coupled to an edge of the optical element, a lens barrel supporting a rear side of the adjustment frame, an elastic support unit arranged between the adjustment frame and the lens barrel and providing an elastic force to the adjustment frame, and at least one axial adjustment unit coupled to the lens barrel by penetrating the adjustment frame and the elastic support unit and adjusting a position of the adjustment frame in an axial direction.
US08687293B2 Optical imaging system
An optical imaging system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element with a positive refractive power, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element with a positive refractive power having an aspheric surface and a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power. An image-side surface of the fifth lens element is concave, and at least one of two surfaces of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The relationship between a sum of thicknesses of all lens elements with refractive powers on an optical axis and a distance on the optical axis between an object-side surface of the first lens element and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element in the optical imaging system can effectively reduce the total length as well as the sensitivity of the optical imaging system while gaining superior resolution.
US08687289B2 Projection objective and projection exposure apparatus with negative back focus of the entry pupil
The disclosure concerns a projection objective, which can include an object plane in which an object field is formed, an entry pupil, a mirrored entry pupil (RE) in a mirrored entry pupil plane obtained by mirroring the entry pupil (VE) at the object plane, an image plane, an optical axis, at least a first mirror and a second mirror. The projection objective can have a negative back focus of the entry pupil, and a principal ray originating from a central point of the object field and traversing the objective from the object plane to the image plane can intersect the optical axis in at least one point of intersection, wherein the geometric locations of all points of intersection lie between the image plane and the mirrored entry pupil plane.
US08687286B2 Meso-optic device
A meso-optic device (1) includes a substantially annular meso-optic body (100) including an axis of revolution (2), a divergent conic optical surface (112) substantially coaxial with the axis of revolution (2), with the divergent conic optical surface (112) configured to receive electromagnetic radiation propagating along an optical axis (3) from an impingent direction, wherein the optical axis (3) is coincident with or intersects the axis of revolution (2), and with the divergent conic optical surface (112) configured to divergently re-direct the electromagnetic radiation away from the axis of revolution (2), and a convergent conic optical surface (114) substantially coaxial with the axis of revolution (2), with the convergent conic optical surface (114) configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation divergently re-directed by the divergent conic optical surface (112) and with the convergent conic optical surface (114) configured to convergently re-direct the electromagnetic radiation toward the axis of revolution (2).
US08687284B2 Lens apparatus
A lens apparatus has an image pickup optical system including a focus lens and a zoom lens, a focus detector, a defocus amount calculating unit, and a controller. The focus detector detects a focus state of the image pickup optical system. The defocus amount calculation unit calculates a defocus amount based on the detected focus state. The controller calculates a driving amount necessary to drive the focus lens to a focus position based on the calculated defocus amount. The controller controls the driving of the focus lens. In particular, the controller controls a driving speed of the focus lens depending on the calculated defocus amount and the calculated driving amount.
US08687281B2 Liquid optics image stabilization
A lens system suitable for use with a camera is disclosed. The lens system employs liquid optics to provide stabilization of an image. A pair of liquid lens cells provides stabilization of the image. A second pair of liquid lens cells may provide stabilization in another direction. The two pairs of liquid cells may provide stabilization in any direction.
US08687278B2 Opto-mechanical switch
An opto-mechanical switch produces different optical paths from two optical path sections out of a plurality of optical path sections that are oriented in different spatial directions. The switch has an optical component on which one end of each optical path section impinges, and which is adapted to be moved linearly in a direction of movement at right angles to the optical path sections between different switching positions, in which it selectively couples different optical path sections optically with each other. Further provided is a measuring system for the analysis of fluids, having such an opto-mechanical switch.
US08687276B2 Optical system with optical image stabilization using a MEMS mirror
An optical system with optical image stabilization of the present invention compensates the movement of the optical system occurring during imaging process using a Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) unit having an MEMS mirror to stabilize an image of an object formed on an image plane. A micro-actuator with the in-plane translation makes the MEMS mirror have a required rotation to change optical paths of light from the object to the image plane for optical image stabilization. The optical system with optical image stabilization or the present invention provides fast speed, light weight, simple operation, and high image quality image stabilization for the optical system.
US08687275B2 Curved retarder-based optical filters
Curved polarization filters and methods of manufacturing such filters. The method includes laminating a planar polarization layer to a planar retarder layer at a predetermined orientation and bending the laminate to create a curved filter. The strain on the retarder layer results in stress-induced birefringence, and the predetermined orientation of the retarder substantially compensates for the stress-induced birefringence. In some embodiments, the predetermination is based on mathematical models. In some other embodiment, the predetermination is based on experimental data.
US08687270B2 Multi-pass amplifier architecture for high power laser systems
A main amplifier system includes a first reflector operable to receive input light through a first aperture and direct the input light along an optical path. The input light is characterized by a first polarization. The main amplifier system also includes a first polarizer operable to reflect light characterized by the first polarization state. The main amplifier system further includes a first and second set of amplifier modules. Each of the first and second set of amplifier modules includes an entrance window, a quarter wave plate, a plurality of amplifier slablets arrayed substantially parallel to each other, and an exit window. The main amplifier system additionally includes a set of mirrors operable to reflect light exiting the first set of amplifier modules to enter the second set of amplifier modules and a second polarizer operable to reflect light characterized by a second polarization state.
US08687269B2 Opto-electronic device
An optical amplifier has a low polarization dependent gain. The amplifier includes a gain medium including a plurality of adjoining semiconductor layers to provide optical gain wherein the adjoining semiconductor layers define one or more quantum wells for electrons and are operative to provide both direct and indirect electron-hole transitions in the gain medium. A first quantized electron energy level in the conduction band and a first quantized hole energy level in the valence band is located in a first layer. A further first quantized hole energy level in the valence band is located in an adjacent second layer.
US08687266B2 Display device driven by electric field
The present invention relates to an electric-field drive display device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electric-field drive display device comprises: a first substrate; a first electrode which is formed on the first substrate; a second electrode which is formed on the first substrate and is disposed in parallel with the first electrode; a drive partition wall which is formed on the first electrode and the second electrode and has a plurality of opening and closing holes; and a plurality of drive bodies which are disposed inside each of the opening and closing holes. Consequently, the electric-field drive display device according to one embodiment of the present invention can adjust the amount of light transmitted and so display the desired image by adjusting the positions of the drive bodies in the horizontal direction through the use of electrical force.
US08687265B2 Methods of operating a display device
Provided are methods of operating display devices. The method includes applying a first electric field to a capsule including first particles having a first color and second particles having a second color to move the first and second particles into a first region of the capsule; and applying a second electric field to the capsule to move the second particles into a second region of the capsule different from the first region and to leave the first particles in the first region of the capsule.
US08687262B2 Ion conductor and electrochromic display device
An ion conductor includes a mixture including an electrolyte including a salt including inorganic or organic pairs of negative and positive ions, and a low-molecular liquid crystal material. Further, an impedance of the ion conductor varies in accordance with an increase of a voltage applied to the ion conductor due to an orientation response of the low-molecular liquid crystal material, the impedance being determined by an AC impedance method.
US08687259B2 Polymerisable LC material and polymer film with negative optical dispersion
The invention relates to a polymerizable LC material with negative optical dispersion, a polymer film with negative optical dispersion obtainable from such a material, and the use of the polymerizable LC material and polymer film in optical, electrooptical, electronic, semiconducting or luminescent components or devices.
US08687258B2 Variable transmittance optical filter and uses thereof
Variable transmittance optical filters capable of transitioning from a light state to a dark state on exposure to UV radiation and from a dark state to a light state with application of an electric voltage are provided. The optical filters comprise a switching material that comprises one or more chromophores that have electrochromic and photochromic properties.
US08687256B2 Lens barrier device and lens barrel equipped with the same
A lens barrier device includes a first barrier blade including a shielding portion, a connection portion, and an abutment portion. The abutment portion is connected, on an optical axis imaging surface side of the shielding portion, to the shielding portion via the connecting portion. Further, a second barrier blade is provided on an optical axis imaging surface side with respect to the shielding portion. A regulating portion is provided whose optical axis imaging surface side is configured to contact the abutment portion, wherein an outer peripheral portion of the second barrier blade, the connecting portion, and the abutment portion are located in this order from an optical axis center to an optical axis outer side.
US08687254B2 Optical filter and optical module having optical filter
An optical filter comprising a first substrate, a first mirror formed on the first substrate, a second substrate coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate including a concave portion, and a second mirror formed on the concave portion and facing the first mirror, wherein the first substrate includes a first portion located on the first mirror, a second portion located around the first portion, a third portion located around the second portion, and a fourth portion located around the third portion, wherein both a thickness of the second portion and a thickness of the fourth portion are equal to or smaller than a thickness of the first portion.
US08687253B2 Speckle noise reduction based on longitudinal shift of sample
A method and apparatus for reducing speckle noise in an image of an object are disclosed. The method includes, placing the object in an interferometer at a first position along a beam path of an object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam, moving the object from the first position to a second position by longitudinally shifting the object along the beam path of the object beam, irradiating the object with the object beam at the second position. At each of the first and second positions a holographic image formed by interference between the object beam and a reference beam is recorded. An object image with reduced speckle noise is obtained by averaging the holographic images. Either an arithmetic mean or a weighted average may be used in the averaging of the holographic images.
US08687252B2 Device for light modulation
In known light modulation means, complex phase and amplitude values for modulating light waves are implemented and modulated either separately by two different light modulation means or a light modulation means having two layers of double-refracting materials, leading to increased expenses for material and adjustment. A new device is disclosed that simplifies the modulation of light waves in phase and amplitude in a single light modulation means made of double-refracting material. In a device having regularly disposed, controllable light-modulated elements having a double-refracting material for complex modulation of coherent light waves, and a modulation controller controlling the force-induced alignment of the optical axes of the molecules of the double-refracting material, means are provided for independently aligning the optical axes of the molecules in the light-modulating elements in two dimensions. The alignment can take place by electrical, magnetic, or optical acting means.
US08687251B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program, and recording medium
An optimal interval obtaining sheet is output, and the density thereon is measured using a color meter. A layout determining unit determines an optimal interval at which patches are to be arranged on a sheet including a plurality of patches having the same color and the same gradation based on the measurement.
US08687245B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus is provided. The image reading apparatus includes a first transparent section to have a first original sheet set thereon, a second transparent section to have a second original sheet conveyed by a sheet conveyer, a reader unit being movable in a sub-scanning direction to read the image on the original sheet being set on the first transparent section and to be maintained still to read the image being conveyed by the sheet conveyer, a white reference member, of which image is read by the reader unit and recognized as a reference white color, and a light reductive member arranged on an inner bottom of a casing to reduce an amount of incident light.
US08687244B2 Image reading apparatus, method of controlling the apparatus and storage medium
In a case where it is determined after reading an original that an abnormal pixel is included in image data generated by reading the original, after the original is reversed by a reversing unit for re-reading of the original by a reading unit, the original is conveyed to a reading position of the reading unit and image data generated by the re-reading of the reading unit is corrected.
US08687242B2 Image processing apparatus for obtaining image data comprising a code generation section, an encryption section, a pattern generation section, and an addition section
In a digital multi-function peripheral, a QR code generation section generates image data of a QR code on the basis of first data for security of obtained image data. An encryption section encrypts second data for security of the image data. A micro gradation generation section generates a micro gradation (a gradation pattern) on the basis of the second data having been encrypted by the encryption section and history data, and adds the micro gradation to the image data of the QR code generated by the micro gradation QR code generation section.
US08687239B2 Relevance based print integrity verification
A relevance based print integrity method includes comparing current raster image data that define a document to be printed with golden raster image data that define a previous version of said document with a known (perfect) quality. A plurality of differences between said current raster image data and said golden raster image data are calculated, and each of the differences is processed to determine a relevance value of the difference and to assign the relevance value to the difference. The method includes generating and storing a list of the differences, wherein the list is ordered in terms of the relevance value assigned to each difference. The difference list is presented to a user textually or graphically and/or is used to control or interrupt printing operations.
US08687237B2 Image processing method and apparatus that changes pixel value of pixel of interest when trapping processing is determined
An image processing apparatus includes the following elements. A characteristic value calculator calculates characteristic values of a preset area set around a pixel of interest. A trapping determining unit determines, for each color plane of an N-valued image, on the basis of the calculated characteristic values, whether the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing. A pixel value calculator sets, for each color plane, a position of a reference pixel in a reference area, and calculates a pixel value for changing the pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of a pixel value of each color plane at the position of the reference pixel. A pixel-of-interest value changing unit changes the pixel value of the pixel of interest into the calculated pixel value when the trapping determining unit determines that the pixel of interest is to be subjected to trapping processing.
US08687232B2 Function execution device
A function execution device connected to at least one other device includes: a memory storing a plurality of setting values corresponding to a plurality of setting items; an execution portion executing a function by using the plurality of setting values; a screen data supply portion supplying, to a display device, device screen data for showing a device screen, on which a user selects a target device from the at least one other device, and item screen data for showing an item screen, on which the user selects at least one setting item from the plurality of setting items; an acquisition portion that acquires device information about the target device; and a transmission portion transmitting, to the target device, at least one setting value corresponding to the at least one setting item selected by the user on the item screen, among the plurality of setting values stored in the memory.
US08687229B2 Image scanning apparatus and method which controls time and intensity of light emitting elements
An image scanning apparatus and method. The image scanning apparatus which scans an image of document includes a light source including at least three light emitting elements of red, green, and blue, which are sequentially lit up at intervals of a first time, a light emitting time control unit to control a light emitting time of the at least three light emitting elements such that the first time is shorter than a second time by a predetermined value, a sensor array to transform an image formed by light reflected from the document into an electric signal according to results of the control of the light emitting time and the light intensity, and an output unit to output image data corresponding to the transformed electric signal.
US08687225B2 Memory management during simplex and duplex printing with an image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a rendering processing unit for generating rendering data by sequentially performing a rendering process on units of printing data corresponding to a job and storing the rendering data in a first area, an image processing unit for generating image data by sequentially performing an image process on units of rendering data in the page unit and storing the image data in a second area, an output control unit for outputting the image data in an order, and a memory full detection unit for detecting, if the output of subject units of the image data is incomplete when a specific time elapses since the rendering process on the subject units of the job is completed and only a part or all of the subject units of the image data are stored in the second area, that an image data storage amount exceeds an acceptable amount.
US08687224B2 Server apparatus, image forming system, and management method of image forming data
According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a storage unit, a transfer unit, and a management unit. The storage unit stores user identification information and an extension condition with information indicating a print job. If the transfer unit receives an inquiry of a print job including user information from an image forming apparatus, the transfer unit transfers the print job corresponding to the user information included in the inquiry to the image forming apparatus as the inquiry sending source from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit. The management unit deletes a print job, to which an extension condition was added, from among the print jobs stored in the storage unit after the elapse time from the print job receiving time point exceeds the preservation period and the extension condition is then further exceeded.
US08687223B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method utilizing efficient memory regions
An image processing method includes storing image data in a storage unit; setting a common region in the storage unit, the common region including an input image data storage region and an output image data storage region; sequentially storing the image data that is compressed at a preset compression ratio in the input image data storage region; sequentially expanding the image data stored in the input image data storage region; temporarily storing the expanded image data in the output image data storage region; and controlling allocation of the input image data storage region and the output image data storage region in the common region. In an embodiment, the allocation of the input image data storage region and the output image data storage region in the common region may be determined depending on the compression ratio of the sequentially inputted image data.
US08687221B1 Creating a printed material inspection script and inspecting printed material according to a script
Embodiments of the present invention include a method, an apparatus, a system, and logic encoded in one or more computer-readable tangible media to carry out a method. The method in some versions forms a script that is usable by an inspection system for inspecting printed material produced according to a printing workflow. The method in some versions inspects printed material produced according to a printing workflow, the inspecting including executing a script.
US08687218B2 Printing system, device management server, information processing method, and storage medium for creating a screen for setting print setting information about a function based on printing device configuration data and print setting data
When a print server apparatus receives a service utilization request that includes setting identification information, printing device identification information, and service provision unit identification information, the print server apparatus transmits to a device management server apparatus print setting data identified based on the setting identification information, the printing device identification information, and location information indicating a location of the service provision unit identified based on the service provision unit identification information. The device management server apparatus creates a screen for setting print setting information of a function that can be executed by the printing device based on configuration data about the printing device identified based on the printing device identification information and the print setting data, associates the location information with a predetermined object included in the screen, and transmits the screen.
US08687212B2 Method for protecting content of a fax confirmation sheet
What is provided are a system, method, and computer program product for protecting information displayed on a fax confirmation page. Several embodiments are provided. In one embodiment, for example, a Gaussian kernel is used to blur the digitized image to be printed on the confirmation page. In one method, a large enough blur kernel is selected so that text of a certain size will be rendered illegible. A method is also provided wherein a copy of the first page of the faxed document used to provide the content to be displayed on the confirmation page of the faxed document is stored on a storage device. A character sequence which references the stored original content on the storage media is printed on the confirmation page. A new confirmation page can be reconstructed and printed if it is desirable to have the altered content made visibly legible. Various other embodiments are disclosed.
US08687211B2 Image forming apparatus that displays plural pages of document images in three-dimensional preview presentation
In an image forming apparatus including a control unit made of a display panel and a touch panel display for providing preview display, the touch panel display includes: a finished state preview controller for displaying the finished state of a hard copy formed by the image forming apparatus, on the display panel; and a confirmatory display controller for displaying preview images for confirmation in a turning manner. The display panel includes a first display area for displaying the finished state of the hard copy, a second display area for displaying a image of the page to be turned for confirmation and a third display area for displaying the images that have been displayed for confirmation, in order in a layered manner.
US08687210B2 Document data access
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for accessing data from electronic documents stored as print streams are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic document conforming to one of a plurality of print formats is obtained. The electronic document is parsed according to the one of the plurality of print formats to generate an intermediate data structure conforming to an intermediate format such that the electronic document is converted to the intermediate format, wherein the intermediate format is different from the plurality of print formats. One or more rules are applied to obtain data for a plurality of regions of the electronic document from the intermediate data structure. The data for the plurality of regions of the electronic document that has been obtained from the intermediate data structure is stored or provided, thereby enabling a report to be generated using at least a portion of the data for the plurality of regions that has been stored or provided.
US08687208B2 Printing control apparatus and printing control method
When the processing of process steps of a print job that includes job definition information showing the process steps of a printing process and information relating to drawing data used in printing is executed by devices, a printing control apparatus connected to the devices determines whether the processing content of a target print job has been changed by the devices from a processing content defined by the job definition information, and, if determined that the processing content has been changed, collects the job definition information defining the changed processing content.
US08687198B2 Coupled cavity dispersion enhanced ring laser gyroscope
A ring laser gyroscope includes active cavity containing gain medium, first reflective surfaces coupled to active cavity, medium exciter to excite gain medium, second reflective surfaces coupled to first passive cavity, and third reflective surfaces coupled to second passive cavity. Excited gain medium induces first and second laser fields within active cavity. First plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, second, and third reflective surfaces that reflect light within active cavity. Second plurality of reflective surfaces includes first, fourth, and fifth reflective surfaces that reflect light within first passive cavity. Third plurality of reflective surfaces includes fourth, sixth, and seventh reflective surfaces that reflect light within second passive cavity. First and fourth reflective surfaces are partially transmissive such that they both transmit and reflect light. Second or third cavities induce frequency dependent phase shift on light traveling through ring laser gyroscope causing anomalous dispersion of first and second laser fields passing through gain medium.
US08687197B2 Method of monitoring progress of substrate polishing and polishing apparatus
A method of monitoring progress of polishing of a substrate having at least two regions including a first region and a second region with different structures is provided. The method includes: applying light to plural measurement points on the substrate during polishing of the substrate; receiving reflected light from each measurement point; measuring intensity of the reflected light; producing a spectrum of the reflected light from the intensity; classifying the spectrum as spectrum of the reflected light from the first region or as spectrum of the reflected light from the second region based on a shape of the spectrum or the intensity of the reflected light; and monitoring progress of polishing of the substrate based on a temporal change in the spectrum of the reflected light from the first region.
US08687196B2 Composite panel having integrated rain sensor
A composite pane arrangement, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided with a composite pane that includes, but is not limited to at least two panes connected with each other by an intermediate layer, and with at least one optical sensor device for the optical detection of moisture on an outer surface of the composite pane facing away from the intermediate layer. The optical sensor device is arranged between the two panes and is electrically contacted by means of transparent, laminar conductive traces.
US08687195B2 Optical measurement apparatus and chip lifetime judgment method
An optical measurement apparatus including a light irradiation portion configured to irradiate light onto a sample flowing through a flow path in a detachable chip; a light detection portion configured to detect optical information emitted from the sample when irradiated with the light by the light irradiation portion; and a judgment portion configured to judge an exchange period of the chip based on the optical information detected by the light detection portion.
US08687192B2 Through silicon imaging and probing
Through silicon imaging and probing. A light source provides unpolarized light to be projected on a device under test (DUT). Light reflected from the DUT may be captured by a camera or other image capture device. A pellicle is utilized to reflect light from the light source toward the DUT. The pellicle also passes light reflected by the DUT to the camera. One or more linear polarizers or half wave plates may be used to provide the desired light polarization. The ability to provide the desired polarization provides an improved image that can be captured by the camera.
US08687189B2 Analysis of arrays by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
The present invention relates to the detection of materials using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). This invention discloses methods to draw the analyte of interest in a homogeneous matrix and subsequent analysis of these matrices, wherein the said matrices are preferably arranged in an array format. This invention is particularly applicable to analysis of Liquid samples arranged in an array format.
US08687188B2 Metallic nanoparticles and methods for their preparation and use
Provided herein are Raman active particles and methods for their preparation and use. The particles can include a SERS-active material that is at least partially encased within a spherical porous hollow casing. In some embodiments, this can be especially advantageous when employed for water analysis and/or being employed in combination with silica particles.
US08687186B2 Nanowire-based systems for performing raman spectroscopy
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire-based systems for performing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In one embodiment, a system comprises a substrate having a surface and a plurality of tapered nanowires disposed on the surface. Each nanowire has a tapered end directed away from the surface. The system also includes a plurality of nanoparticles disposed near the tapered end of each nanowire. When each nanowire is illuminated with light of a pump wavelength, Raman excitation light is emitted from the tapered end of the nanowire to interact with the nanoparticles and produce enhanced Raman scattered light from molecules located in close proximity to the nanoparticles.
US08687185B2 Device and method for optical parallel analysis of a sample arrangement and corresponding manufacturing method
A device and a method for optical parallel analysis of a sample arrangement. The device includes a system of sample areas provided on and/or in a front face of the carrier substrate for receiving a sample substance; a system of detector areas provided on and/or in a back face of the carrier substrate, each detector area being assigned to a corresponding sample area; and a system of optical devices, each optical system being assigned to a corresponding sample area and being designed in such a way that it deflects light beams, which the corresponding sample area in response to an optical excitation does not emit in the direction of a detector area assigned to it, in the direction of the detector area assigned to it and/or in the direction of a detector-free area on the back face of the carrier substrate.
US08687182B2 Surface inspection apparatus and surface inspection method
A surface inspection apparatus and a surface inspection method aim to securely deal with finer repetition pitch without shortening the wavelength of illumination light. To this end, the apparatus includes a unit illuminating repetitive pattern(s) formed on the substrate surface to be inspected with linearly polarized light, a unit setting to an oblique angle an angle between the direction of an intersecting line of a vibration plane of the linearly polarized light on the substrate surface and the repetition direction of repetitive pattern(s), a unit extracting a polarized light component perpendicular to the vibration plane of the linearly polarized light, from light having been emitted from the repetitive pattern(s) in a specular direction, and a unit detecting a defect of the repetitive pattern(s) according to the light intensity of the polarized light component.
US08687181B2 Method and apparatus for testing light-emitting device
Disclosed is a method for testing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of: providing a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes; driving the plurality of the light-emitting diodes with current; generating an image of the light-emitting device; and determining a luminous intensity of each of the light-emitting diodes with the image. An apparatus for testing a light-emitting device comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a current source to provide a current to drive the plurality of the light-emitting diodes; an image receiving device for receiving an image of the light-emitting device in the driven state; and a processing unit for determining a luminous intensity of each of the light-emitting diodes with the image.
US08687180B2 System, method, and device for determining a focal position of an objective in a microscopy imaging system
A system and method of determining a focal position for an objective positioned at a measurement location of a sample holder in a microscopy imaging system are provided. The objective is moved to a position relative to the sample holder that corresponds to a distance between the objective and the sample holder. The sample holder has a conditioned upper surface. A focusing light beam is projected onto the sample holder when the objective is located at the position, and the objective focuses the focusing light beam on the sample holder. A reflected light beam resulting from reflection of the focusing light beam off the conditioned upper surface is observed. The focal position for the objective is determined based on the reflected light beam such that the objective produces an in focus image of a microscopy sample when the objective is located at the focal position.
US08687178B2 Process for testing a laser device
A process is proposed for testing a laser device that has been set up to emit pulsed focused laser radiation, the focal position of which is adjustable both in and across the direction of propagation of the laser radiation. The laser device includes a contact element that is transparent to the laser radiation, with an abutment surface for abutment of an object to be machined. Within the scope of the process, a test object that is transparent to the laser radiation at least in a machining region is applied onto the abutment surface of the contact element. Then laser radiation is beamed into the test object bearing against the abutment surface and in the process the focal position is moved in accordance with a predetermined test pattern, in order to generate enduring machining structures in the test object.
US08687176B2 Color measurement device and color measurement method
To press a medium using an appropriate pressing force and perform colorimetric measurement, a color measurement device for performing colorimetric measurement of a print pattern printed on a medium, the color measurement device comprising a pressing member for pressing the medium; a power source for outputting power for the pressing member to press the medium; a detecting part for detecting a pressing force on the medium; a color measurement section for performing colorimetric measurement of the print pattern; and a control part for controlling the power source so that the pressing force detected by the detecting part is equal to a predetermined pressing force, and for causing the color measurement section to perform colorimetric measurement of the print pattern printed on the medium pressed by the pressing member.
US08687168B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which measures are taken to prevent or reduce the presence of bubbles in liquid through which the projection beam radiates. This may be done, for example, by ensuring that a gap between a substrate and a substrate table is filled with immersion liquid or by causing a localized flow radially outwardly from the optical axis in the vicinity of the edge of the substrate.
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