Document Document Title
US08707461B2 Scanning method for scanning a sample with a probe
The method relates to a method of scanning a sample. Scanning a sample is typically done by scanning the sample with a probe along a multitude of parallel lines. In prior art scan methods a sample is scanned multiple times with a nominally identical scan pattern. The invention is based on the insight that the coherence between adjacent points in a direction along the scan direction is much better than the coherence of adjacent points perpendicular to the scan direction. By combining two images that are scanned perpendicular to each other, it should thus be possible to form an image making use of the improved coherence (due to shorter temporal distance) in both directions. The method thus involves scanning the sample with two scan patterns, the lines of one scan pattern preferably perpendicular to the lines of the other scan pattern. Hereby it is possible to use the temporal coherence of scan points on a line of one scan pattern to align the lines of the other scan pattern, and vice versa.
US08707459B2 Determination of originality of content
Making a determination of originality of content is disclosed. At least one originality factor related to the content is analyzed, wherein the originality factor is independent of a time when the content is detected. Based on the analysis of the at least one originality factor, automatically the determination is automatically made. The determination is outputted.
US08707453B2 System and method for restricting access to a computer system to live persons by means of semantic association of images
A system and method for restricting access to a computer system, resource, or network to live persons, and for preventing the execution of automated scripts via an interface intended for human interaction. When queried for access to a protected resource, computer system, or network, the system will respond with a challenge requiring unknown petitioners to solve a visual puzzle before proceeding, said puzzle consisting of a collection of apparently random objects, and exploiting the natural human impulse to form semantic or symbolic associations between images of objects. The subject of the test must either recognize a semantic or symbolic association between two or more objects, or isolate an object that does not belong with the others, indicating their selection with the pointing device on their local computer. If the subject succeeds in passing the test they are granted access to the requested resource, computer system, or network.
US08707451B2 Search hit URL modification for secure application integration
A flexible and extensible architecture allows for secure searching across an enterprise. Such an architecture can provide a simple Internet-like search experience to users searching secure content inside (and outside) the enterprise. The architecture allows for the crawling and searching of a variety of sources across an enterprise, regardless of whether any of these sources conform to a conventional user role model. The architecture further allows for security attributes to be submitted at query time, for example, in order to provide real-time secure access to enterprise resources. The user query also can be transformed to provide for dynamic querying that provides for a more current result list than can be obtained for static queries.
US08707448B2 Secure distribution of media data
A technique for distributing media data in a secured fashion that mitigates unwanted or illegal copying/distribution of such data. An initial, degraded version of the media data is sent to one or more recipient(s). After confirming identity of a recipient at a receiving system, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving system which augments the degraded version such that it can then be played by the recipient(s). The degraded version of the media data has a reduced quality that is obtained by removing portions of the data and filling in the removed portions with dummy data. During a subsequent rebuilding of the media data, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving data processing system where it is merged/combined with the degraded version to form a copy that corresponds to the original, high-quality version of the media data.
US08707446B2 Enforcing alignment of approved changes and deployed changes in the software change life-cycle
On a host, host content change requests are intercepted in real-time. In a tracking mode, the change requests are logged and allowed to take effect on the host. In an enforcement mode, the change requests are logged and additionally compared against authorized change policies and a determination is made whether to allow the change to take effect or to block the changes, thereby enforcing the authorized change policies on the host. Tracking and enforcement can be done in real-time. In either mode and at any time, the logged changes can be reconciled against a set of approved change orders in order to identify classes of changes, including changes that were deployed but not approved and changes that were approved but not deployed.
US08707444B2 Systems and methods for implementing application control security
Systems and methods for implementing application control security are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a first device, a decrypted white-list, and an executable program. The first device may be in electrical communication with a memory containing an encrypted white-list. The encrypted white-list may be decrypted using an identifier of a second device. The executable program may be referenced in the decrypted white-list.
US08707439B2 Selecting security offerings
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for selecting a set of security offerings. A particular method includes receiving a security need profile associated with a computing environment and receiving security offering information related to a plurality of security offerings. The security offerings of the plurality of security offerings are evaluated with respect to the security need profile. A set of security offerings from the plurality of security offerings are automatically selected.
US08707438B1 System and method for providing storage for electronic records
Techniques for providing storage for electronic records are described herein. According to one embodiment, a command is received from a client through an interface of a storage system. An approval is received from an authorization agent associated with the storage system for the received command. In response to the approval received from the authorization agent for the received command, an operation associated with the received command is performed. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08707432B1 Method and system for detecting and preventing access intrusion in a network
A wireless computer network includes components cooperating together to prevent access intrusions by detecting unauthorized devices connected to the network, disabling the network connections to the devices, and then physically locating the devices. The network can detect both unauthorized client stations and unauthorized edge devices such as wireless access points (APs). The network can detect intruders by monitoring information transferred over wireless channels, identifying protocol state machine violations, tracking roaming behavior of clients, and detecting network addresses being improperly used in multiple locations. Upon detecting an intruder, the network can automatically locate and shut off the physical/logical port to which the intruder is connected.
US08707424B2 Method for making secure execution of a computer programme, in particular in a smart card
A method for making secure execution of a computer program includes the following steps: stacking a predetermined value in a pile of instructions of the program; and stack popping the pile, the stack popping step being adapted, as the case may be, to enable detection of an anomalous execution.
US08707421B2 System and method for a web based teleservice for updating machine software
A system and method for maintaining a machine control program includes a machine controller including a machine program stored on computer media and configured to control a machine. A router is coupled to the machine controller. A server is coupled to the router to establish communications between the machine controller and an entity that provides source file updates or changes to the machine program such that the server hosts application software needed to compile the source file updates or changes wherein compiled source files are accessible by the machine controller over a secure link to the server.
US08707419B2 System, method and apparatus for protecting a network or device against high volume attacks
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for protecting against high volume attacks. The present invention receives a packet, determines a source of the received packet, and updates a tree-based data structure based on the source of the received packet. The received packet is accepted or passed on whenever one or more statistics stored within the tree-based data structure do not exceed a threshold. The received packet is dropped whenever the one or more statistics exceed the threshold. The present invention can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination thereof. The software will implement the steps as one or more code segments of a computer program embodied on a computer readable medium.
US08707415B2 Method for storing data, computer program product, ID token and computer system
A method includes: establishing a first connection between a first ID token and a first computer system via a second computer system for reading at least one first attribute from the first ID token, establishing a second connection between a second ID token and the first computer system via the second computer system for reading at least one second attribute from the second ID token, sending the first and second attributes from the first computer system to a third computer system, receiving the data from the third computer system by the first computer system, writing the data into the second ID token via the second connection by the first computer system thereby storing the data in the second ID token, where the first connection still exists, wherein the first and the second connection are respectively connection with end-to-end encryption and a connection oriented protocol.
US08707410B2 System and method for single session sign-on
A method and system for cross-system authentication or credentialing of clients. Credentials from one system (e.g., system 2) are placed on a client, such as with a cookie on a browser, and the credentials are then extracted by another system (e.g., system 1), and used by system 1 to impersonate the client to system 2. If the client's credentials with system 2 are valid, system 2 provides that information to system 1 (which is impersonating the client), and system 1 uses the validity of the credentials from system 2 to grant the client access to protected resources on system 1.
US08707405B2 Refreshing group membership information for a user identifier associated with a security context
A method for selectively refreshing group membership for an identifier associated with an authenticated user. The identifier represents an application server security context, and it is generated to enable a user credential associated with the authenticated user to be persisted. Following such authentication, the client is provided with a time-bounded, renewable security token. The method begins by configuring an option whether group membership information is refreshed during renewal of an expired security token. During renewal of an expired security token, the method determines whether the option is set. If so, an attempt is made to refresh information. This attempt performs a set of checks to verify certain conditions. If these checks are valid, the identifier is refreshed and the security token renewed with updated group membership information. If any check is not valid, the identifier is refreshed and the security token renewed with existing information.
US08707400B2 System and method for implementing an extended authentication and authorization credential store
A system and method for consumer-side authorization and authentication is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request for a credential from a business-side party, matching the credential request to a set of available credentials, the available credentials comprising consumer-side information. The credential is retrieved from a credential store, and the authorization of the business-side party to receive the credential is evaluated before returning a response. In another embodiment, the system comprises a receiver module adapted to receive credential requests from business-side parties. The credential request is passed to a selection and matching module for matching against consumer-side credentials. The credential is retrieved from a storage and retrieval module, but is not passed until an authorization module allows a sender module to return a credential response to the business-side party.
US08707399B2 Security architecture for a process control platform executing applications
A security component within a supervisory process control and manufacturing information system comprising a set of user roles corresponding to different types of users within the information system, a set of security groups defining a set of security permissions with regard to a set of objects, wherein each security group includes an access definition relating the security permissions to at least one of the set of user roles, and a set of user accounts assigned to at least one of the defined roles thereby indirectly defining access rights with regard to the set of objects having restricted access within the system. The security permissions within the supervisory process control and manufacturing information system are assigned at an object attribute level.
US08707397B1 Access control center auto launch
Methods and systems provide indirect and temporary access to a company's IT infrastructure and business applications. The methods/systems involve establishing an access control center (ACC) to control the access that technical support personnel may have to the company's IT infrastructure and business applications. Thin client terminals with limited functionality may then be set up in the ACC for use by the technical support personnel. The thin client terminals connect the technical support personnel to workstations outside the ACC that operate as virtual desktops. The virtual desktops in turn connect the technical support personnel to the IT infrastructure and business applications. An ACC application may be used to automatically establish the connection between the thin client terminals and the virtual desktops and the virtual desktops and the IT infrastructure and business applications.
US08707392B2 Systems and methods for disease management
A computer-implemented diabetes management system is provided that supports enhanced security between a diabetes care manager in data communication with a medical device. The diabetes care manager includes: a first application that operates to request access to a first security role supported by the medical device, where the first security role is associated with a first set of commands for accessing data on the medical device that are defined as a private extension of the communication protocol; and a second application that operates to request access to a second security role supported by the medical device, where the second security role is associated with a second set of commands for accessing data on the medical device that are defined as a private extension of the communication protocol. The second set of commands has one or more commands that are mutually exclusive from the first set of commands.
US08707391B2 Supporting a server-arbitrated group communication session over a local wireless network via a wireless wide area network proxy client
In an embodiment, a proxy client is positioned within a local wireless network (e.g., a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)) and maintains a connection to an application server in a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) that is separate from the local wireless network. The application server arbitrates group communication sessions between a plurality of user equipments (UEs). An Internet Protocol (IP) unicast connection is established between the proxy client and the application server. The proxy client associates with at least one of the UEs over the local wireless network, and notifies the application server of the association. The application server sends, to the proxy client, traffic associated with a group communication session to the associated UE(s). The proxy client re-transmits the received traffic via IP multicast over the wireless network.
US08707389B2 Multi-transport mode devices having improved data throughput
A method for transmitting data between a client and a server is provided. The method comprising the following steps. The data is segmented into a plurality of data packets, which are scheduled to be transmitted via different ones of a plurality of access points. Each of the plurality of access points is configured to communicate with the client using a different protocol and communicate with the server using a different network path. Each of the plurality of data packets is transmitted between the client and the server via the scheduled access point. A client device and proxy server configured to implement the method are also provided, as is a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for implementing the method.
US08707388B1 System, method and computer program product for an authentication management infrastructure
A system and method for allowing a user to access enterprise resources comprising authentication devices and an authentication server. The authentication devices allow a user to enter authentication data. The authentication server is in communication with the authentication devices. The authentication server comprises a policy database storing a policy. The policy comprises guidelines including a first guideline establishes a qualification necessary for the user to access enterprise resources and a second guideline establishes a qualification necessary for the user to activate a silent signal. The authentication server is adapted to request assistance for the user if the silent signal is activated.
US08707386B2 Policy processing system, method, and program
In a policy handling system performing automatic execution, management, and control of a system, a policy retrieving section (102) retrieves a policy associated with a triggering condition, and notifies a policy-execution-pattern analyzing section (105) of the retrieved policy. A policy-operation-log retrieving section (106) refers to a policy-operation-log storage section (107) to acquire the number of triggering times of the retrieved policy in a predetermined history acquisition period. The policy-execution-pattern analyzing section (105) compares the number of triggering times of the retrieved policy against a predetermined threshold and causes an abnormality notifying section (108) to issue abnormality information when the number of triggering times exceeds the threshold.
US08707385B2 Automated compliance policy enforcement in software systems
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that maintains a software system. During operation, the system obtains a compliance policy for the software system and monitors the software system for a violation of the compliance policy. If such a violation is detected, the system retrieves a change package associated with the violation based on the compliance policy and automatically deploys the change package to the software system to resolve the violation.
US08707378B2 Catalog and user application for a video provisioning system
A method performed by a video provisioning system may include receiving metadata associated with a video asset; storing the metadata in a catalog of video assets available through the video provisioning system; publishing information from the stored metadata to a first device associated with a video assets store front for set top boxes; and publishing information from the stored metadata to a second device associated with a video assets store front for devices other than set top boxes. A method may further include registering a user device with a user profile; identifying a media manager application for the user device that is configured to play video assets available via the video provisioning system on the user device; providing the media manager application to the user device; and synchronizing settings associated with the media manager application with settings associated with another user device registered with the user profile.
US08707376B1 Convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network
A system and method are described herein for providing an convenient video program start over system and method for a video entertainment distribution network whereby a user may interactively revert back to the beginning of an ongoing video program that is currently broadcasted over the video distribution network. The novel system and method may be implemented on any video network having interactive television (ITV) capabilities, wherein user requests from a client are serviceable at an upstream head end, and video storage means exist for the purpose of storage of time based broadcast video programs. The system preferably utilizes a process that involves a minimally complicated sequence of commands that are easily understood and remembered by virtually any user, thereby enhancing the probability of consumer acceptance. The start over system and method may be embodied as a program of instructions, defining a controller, that are executed by a micro-processor located in the STB (client) or head end (server). Optional means are also provided for allowing only a subset of all available broadcast video programs that emanate from a plurality of programming sources to be used with the start over system.
US08707374B2 Electronic device, electronic device control method, and electronic device system
An electronic device includes: a digital signal transmission/reception unit configured to perform two-way transmission of a digital signal using multiple differential signal lanes prepared at a transmission path with an external device; a transmission path arrangement determining unit configured to determine a transmission path arrangement including the number of use lanes, a use lane number, and a transmission direction by performing communication with the external device using a two-way communication line prepared at the transmission path with the external device; and a transmission path arrangement control unit configured to control the arrangement of the digital signal transmission/reception unit based on the information of the transmission path arrangement determined at the transmission path arrangement determining unit.
US08707370B2 Digital satellite broadcast program distribution over multicast IP broadband networks
Systems and methods for distributing digital satellite broadcast programs over multicast Internet Protocol (IP) networks are provided. A satellite receiver gateway receives a signal from a digital satellite broadcast and generates service information multicast packets that are transmitted over a multicast IP network. A device receives the service information multicast packets and generates a channel list or electronic program guide for a user. When a user selects a service from the channel list or electronic program guide the device sends a service request for the service towards the satellite receiver gateway. Either the satellite receiver gateway or a switch within the multicast IP network can then transmit the service in multicast IP packets to the requesting device.
US08707369B2 Recommended recording and downloading guides
Techniques for recommending recording and/or downloading suggestions to a DVR user are provided. According to one technique, a list of suggestions is received from a recommending entity. Each of the suggestions identifies either to-be-broadcasted content or downloadable content. The entity is mapped to the list, thereby establishing an entity-to-list mapping. Data, which indicates a user's selection of a list, is received. The user's DVR is mapped to the selected list, thereby establishing a DVR-to-list mapping. Based on this mapping, one or more candidate items are automatically selected from among a set of items. Identities of the candidate items are sent to the DVR. The recommending entity does not own or operate the DVR.
US08707364B2 System for presenting media programming guides
A system for presenting media programming guides is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media receiver having a controller element to generate a Media Program Guide (MPG) that groups media programs according to a redundancy of media programs and a viewing history of a subscriber of the media receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08707363B2 Synchronization guides for group video watching
Systems and methods are disclosed for recommending items in a video series to a group of viewers. In general, video series item recommendations are generated for a viewer group detected within a viewing area of a media device based on personal viewing histories of users in the viewer group. In one embodiment, the video series item recommendations are recommendations for video series items that: (a) are from one or more video series historically viewed by at least a first predefined minimum threshold number of users in the viewer group and (b) have not yet been viewed by any of at least a second predefined minimum threshold number of users in the viewer group. The video series item recommendations are then provided to the viewer group.
US08707360B2 Method and apparatus for playback of content items
The present invention relates to simultaneously playing back a plurality of content items, wherein preferred content items can be played back in overlays (203, 205, 207, 209) alongside a main screen area (201) playing back a currently selected content item.
US08707357B1 Thematic VOD navigation
According to the invention, a method for allowing selection of video programs from a program guide presented to a viewer is disclosed. The video programs are selected from a program guide presented to a viewer. Selection of video programs is allowed from a program guide presented to a viewer. A program is presented with characterizing identifiers. A selection of the program is received by a viewer. It is determined that a viewer is likely switching away from the program or has activated a thematic link. A plurality of programs is determined. A search of the plurality of programs for one or more programs that have similar characterizing identifiers. The one or more programs are presented in a menu that is presented for the viewer.
US08707356B2 Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08707354B1 Graphically rich, modular, promotional tile interface for interactive television
A user interface arranged as hierarchical grid of tiles configurable to be individually and dynamically programmed for both content type and content placement according to a set of rules defining content placement and display specified by a content controller.
US08707353B2 Image content and advertisement data providing method, system, and apparatus
To provide an image content providing method capable of promoting advertisement effect by dynamically inserting an advertisement image to a distributed image content, an image content reproducing apparatus requests an image content providing apparatus to distribute the image content. Then, the image content is distributed to the image content reproducing apparatus and a viewer can utilize the image content. At this occasion, the image content providing apparatus distributes the image content, detects an advertisement inserting position and requests an advertisement image providing apparatus to distribute an advertisement image. Then, the advertisement image providing apparatus selects the advertisement image to be inserted to the image content and transmits thereof to the image content providing apparatus. Thereafter, the image content providing apparatus inserts the advertisement image to a position of the image content for inserting the advertisement and distributes thereof to the image content reproducing apparatus.
US08707352B1 Systems and methods for creating an animation sequence representative of a modeled condition
Methods and systems for providing a local content to a viewer in the form of an animation sequence. A micro program may be data-cast to a receiver to provide national and local content to a number of receiver units that may be located at, e.g., a cable headend or other distribution point. The micro program executes, at least in part, on each receiver unit. If the micro program is relevant to the receiver unit, then the micro program executes to completion. The micro program may include a code representative of local conditions that is mapped by the local receiver unit to a library of animation graphics used to create an animation sequence to convey the local conditions to a viewer. For example, the local conditions may be weather conditions and the animation sequence conveys how the weather will feel or affect a viewer.
US08707349B2 Providing enhanced content
Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for providing enhanced content are presented. Data including a first program, a first caption stream associated with the first program, and a second caption stream associated with the first program may be received. The second caption stream may be extracted from the data, and a second program may be encoded with the second caption stream. The first program may be transmitted with the first caption stream including first captions and may include first content configured to be played back at a first speed. In response to receiving an instruction to change play back speed, the second program may be transmitted with the second caption stream. The second program may include the first content configured to be played back at a second speed different from the first speed, and the second caption stream may include second captions different from the first captions.
US08707345B2 Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08707344B2 Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel.
US08707338B2 Visual enhancement for turntable playback
An apparatus for enhancing media playback on a turntable, such as an audio record turntable, includes an illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus is generally placed on the turntable's platter, beneath a record to be played. The record may be transparent or semi-transparent. The illumination apparatus includes a light source that projects light up through the record for producing a visual effect.
US08707334B2 Computer system event detection and targeted assistance
A computer event is detected and a notification is displayed. If a dialog box corresponding to the computer event triggered the event detection, then the dialog box is modified to include further details of the event and an assistance control that links to a search engine Web page. If a dialog box did not trigger the event detection, then a dialog box is displayed with the event details and assistance control. Upon selection of the assistance control, the search engine Web page is displayed with event details pre-populated in the search term field. Targeted advertisements are displayed according to bidding on a unique descriptor associated with the specific computer event.
US08707331B2 RDMA (remote direct memory access) data transfer in a virtual environment
In an embodiment, a method is provided. In an embodiment, the method provides determining that a message has been placed in a send buffer; and transferring the message to an application on a second virtual machine by bypassing use of an operating system to process the message by directly placing the message in an application memory space from which the application can retrieve the message.
US08707328B2 Electronic device and application program switching method thereof
An application program switching method for an electronic device having a first body and a second body is provided. A relative position of the first body and the second body is changed from a first state to a second state to activate a second application program while an external message is received during a first application program being executed, and an image displayed by the electronic device is switched from an executing frame of the first application program to an executing frame of the second application program for replying the external message via a keyboard of the second body. Next, the relative position of the first body and the second body is changed from the second state to the first state, and the image displayed by the electronic device is switched from the executing frame of the second application program to the executing frame of the first application program.
US08707326B2 Pattern matching process scheduler in message passing environment
Processes in a message passing system may be unblocked when messages having data patterns match data patterns of a function on a receiving process. When the match occurs, the process may be added to a runnable queue, and in some embodiments, may be raised to the top of a runnable queue. When a match does not occur, the process may remain in a blocked or non-executing state. In some embodiments, a blocked process may be placed in an idle queue and may not be executed until a process scheduler determines that a message has been received that fulfills a function waiting for input. When the message fulfills the function, the process may be moved to a runnable queue.
US08707325B2 Retrieving an object
A method of locating an object across a network comprises locating the copy of object that is the best copy available through either JNDI object location and webservice location. The method initially comprises attempting to locate a local copy of the object (step 8). If a local copy of the object is not located, the method then attempts (step 10) to locate a remote copy of the object. If a remote copy of the object is not located, the method then attempts (step 12) to locate a remote web service object.
US08707321B2 Resource sharing system and method thereof
A resource sharing system for a plurality of user devices accessing at least one resource at the same time is provided. The system comprises a plurality of virtual machines and a connection broker. The virtual machines are established on at least one computer, wherein each user device corresponds to at least one of the virtual machines and each of the at least one resource corresponds to one of the virtual machines. The connection broker connects to the virtual machines and receives login information from each of the virtual machines and joins the virtual machines sending the login information into a group. Through the connection broker, the user devices share and access the resources corresponding to the virtual machines in the group.
US08707319B2 Resource location verification by comparing and updating resource location with a location of a consumer device after a threshold of location mismatches is exceeded
A method to be implemented using a computer system, the method comprising the steps of providing a resource database that specifies locations of resources for use by consumers, receiving a location communication originated by a mobile consumer device associated with a consumer at a time temporally proximate a time when the consumer accesses a resource where the location communication indicates the location of the consumer device and using the location of the consumer device indicated in the communication to update the resource database.
US08707317B2 Reserving a fixed amount of hardware resources of a multimedia console for system application and controlling the unreserved resources by the multimedia application
A system and method provides a high level of system functionality in a multimedia console through the use of system applications, while reducing any corresponding lack of control that multimedia applications will have while running on the console. A predetermined amount of hardware resources of the multimedia console is reserved. The system application is executed substantially using the predetermined amount of reserved hardware resources and the multimedia application is executed substantially within the remaining unreserved hardware resources.
US08707312B1 Document reuse in a search engine crawler
A search engine crawler includes a scheduler for determining which documents to download from their respective host servers. Some documents, known to be stable based on one or more record from prior crawls, are reused from a document repository. A reuse flag is set in a scheduler record that also contains a document identifier, the reuse flag indicating whether the document should be retrieved from a first database, such as the World Wide Web, or a second database, such as a document repository. A set of such scheduler records are used during a crawl by the search engine crawler to determine which database to use when retrieving the documents identified in the scheduler records.
US08707310B2 Batch processing of jobs on multiprocessors based on estimated job processing time
A system for processing a batch of jobs is provided. The system comprises a plurality of processing elements that are characterized in that each processing element is configured to sequentially process jobs with an estimated process time within a respective allotted range of values. The jobs may comprise packets of data within a data processing system. The system is particularly useful for processing data corresponding to translated text in a text translation system.
US08707307B2 Creating jobs by replacing execution attributes within job definition when a job activation request is received with execution attributes based on predetermined conditions being satisfied
When there is a job activation request accompanied with variable information in which an execution attribute and an identifier of a job are associated, a job definition in which an execution attribute is described with an arbitrary identifier is referred, and based on the variable information, an identifier within the job definition is replaced with the execution attribute to create a job. Then, the job created in this manner is activated.
US08707306B1 Implementing user-selectable concurrent access protection mechanism in a multi-tasking modeling environment
A system for providing model level protection for resources holding data accessed by multiple tasks in a model is discussed. The protection occurs at the model level so that the protection mechanism does not interfere with model dynamics. Resources concurrently accessed by multiple tasks are identified so that a unified protection mechanism can be applied to the resource. A user interface may be provided which enables the selection of a particular type of protection mechanism for the data in the resource. User supplied protection mechanisms may also be implemented.
US08707303B2 Dynamic virtualization and policy-based access control of removable storage devices in a virtualized environment
A method includes executing a hypervisor (165) with computing hardware (105) to implement a virtual machine (175); responsive to detecting a removable storage medium (115) communicatively coupled to the computing hardware (105), executing a virtualized migration control appliance (180) through the hypervisor (165) separate from the virtual machine (175); and blocking the virtual machine (175) from accessing data (185) stored by the removable storage medium (115) with the virtualized migration control appliance (180) if at least one governing policy prohibits the virtual machine (175) from accessing the data (185).
US08707301B2 Insertion of management agents during machine deployment
An invention is disclosed for configuring a VM of a deployment to be managed by a management system. In an embodiment, a deployment manager of a deployment instructs a host to create a VM. The VM is created with a base management agent that exposes interfaces to the deployment manager that enable the deployment manager to install management agents on the VM. The deployment manager installs a management agent that corresponds to a management system on the VM, and registers the VM with the management system. The management system may then manage the VM by communicating with the installed management agent on the VM.
US08707297B2 Apparatus and methods for updating firmware
A method for updating firmware comprises executing a native operating system change management program that acts cooperatively with a firmware update package to update a firmware program in the information handling system. An apparatus comprises an information handling system running an operating system. An operating system change management program in a memory of the information handling system acts cooperatively with the operating system and a firmware update package to update a firmware program in the information handling system. Another method for updating firmware comprises building a firmware update package that is executable in a change management program running in a native operating system on an information handling system, and storing the firmware update package in a repository available to a user.
US08707291B2 Firmware recovery of wireless devices
One embodiment may take the form of a method and apparatus for remotely providing firmware to a wireless device. The wireless device may be configured to detect when the device's firmware is corrupted or may need updating. The device may then transmit a request for a firmware image on a first wireless communication channel. If the request is answered by an updating device, the wireless device may establish a communication with, and begin receiving the firmware image from, the updating device. Further, the wireless device may verify transmitted data and send an acknowledgment message to the updating device for each transmitted data packet.
US08707290B2 Firmware update in an information handling system employing redundant management modules
An information handling system includes a set of processing resources and a management resource. The processing resources include a microprocessor and memory accessible to the microprocessor. The management resource is operable to power-up, reset, and power-off the processing resources. The management resource includes a first management module and a redundant second management module. The management resource responds to a single firmware update request by updating firmware on the first management module while maintaining the second management module in a slave mode and, upon successfully updating the firmware on the first management module, updating firmware on the second management module while maintaining the first management module in a passive mode.
US08707288B2 System for automatic management of applications on remote devices
Management of applications on remote devices is performed independently of managing platform software. A per platform player using a common protocol to communicate and receive applications is installed on a device. The player is developed and installed independently of applications which run using commands supported by the player. On player startup, the player obtains boot instructions, fetches an application manifest, and obtains player and application resources using the application manifest from a content and application server. The content and application server determines application resources to send to the player and tracks applications and application versions installed on a per user/per platform basis.
US08707285B2 Software object lock management using observations
Embodiments include a method comprising loading a software class containing class information for a lock state. The method includes allocating an instance of a software object derived from the software class, wherein the allocating includes allocating of a lock word as part of the instance of the software object. The lock word defines whether the object is locked by a thread of multiple threads. The method includes observing activity relative to the instance of the software object. The method also includes, responsive to observing the activity relative to the instance of the software object that indicates that the lock state of the instance of the object is non-locking, removing the lock word from the instance of the object.
US08707284B2 Dictionary-based dependency determination
Techniques are described herein for performing a dictionary-based dependency determination. For example, when a package is selected to be imported from a store (e.g., a database), a dictionary-based dependency operation may be performed to determine which elements of the package are dependent on other elements of the package. A dictionary includes indexes, each of which has at least one value. The indexes correspond to respective resources, and each value indicates an element of the package that produces the resource that corresponds to the respective index. If an element of the package consumes a resource, the indexes and corresponding values in the dictionary may be reviewed to determine which element(s) of the package produce that resource.
US08707281B2 Performing parallel processing of distributed arrays
One or more computer-readable media store executable instructions that, when executed by processing logic, perform parallel processing. The media store one or more instructions for initiating a single programming language, and identifying, via the single programming language, one or more data distribution schemes for executing a program. The media also store one or more instructions for transforming, via the single programming language, the program into a parallel program with an optimum data distribution scheme selected from the one or more identified data distribution schemes, and allocating the parallel program to two or more labs for parallel execution. The media further store one or more instructions for receiving one or more results associated with the parallel execution of the parallel program from the two or more labs, and providing the one or more results to the program.
US08707280B2 Using parallel processing constructs and dynamically allocating program portions
A computing device-implemented method includes receiving a program, analyzing and transforming the program, determining an inner context and an outer context of the program based on the analysis of the program, and allocating one or more portions of the inner context of the program to two or more labs for parallel execution. The method also includes receiving one or more results associated with the parallel execution of the one or more portions from the two or more labs, and providing the one or more results to the outer context of the program.
US08707279B2 Method and apparatus for executing stored code objects in a database
A system, method and database development tool are disclosed for automatically generating parameters for use in executing a stored code object in a data base, by parsing source code derived nom existing data base code which represents the stored code object, wherein the parameters may represent complex data types.
US08707278B2 Embedding class hierarchy into object models for multiple class inheritance
A model is provided for transforming a program with a priori given class hierarchy that is induced by inheritance. An inheritance remover is configured to remove inheritance from a given program to produce an analysis-friendly program which does not include virtual-function pointer tables and runtime libraries associated with inheritance-related operations. The analysis-friendly program preserves the semantics of the given program with respect to a given class hierarchy. A clarifier is configured to identify implicit expressions and function calls and transform the given program into at least one intermediate program having explicit expressions and function calls.
US08707277B2 Systems, methods, and language for SCA CORBA descriptor files
A preparser tool is provided for converting Software Communications Architecture (SCA) Extensible Markup Language (XML) files into Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) structures usable by an SCA Core Framework (CF) and comprises a CF_PreParsers interface definition language (IDL) and a first preparser. The CF_IDL is configured to be in operable communication with an XML parser and with at least a first type of preparser. The first type of preparser is in operable communication with the CF_PreParsers IDL, is associated with a first type of descriptor for the CF, and is configured to call the XML parser to request parsing of a first set of first XML files, convert the first parsed set of first XML files into a first CORBA structure type, encode the first CORBA structure type into a first CORBA Common Data Representation (CDR) file; and write the first CORBA CDR file as a first octet sequence.
US08707275B2 Simulation environment for distributed programs
A scheduler receives a job graph which includes a graph of computational vertices that are designed to be executed on multiple distributed computer systems. The scheduler queries a graph manager to determine which computational vertices of the job graph are ready for execution in a local execution environment. The scheduler queries a cluster manager to determine the organizational topology of the distributed computer systems to simulate the determined topology in the local execution environment. The scheduler queries a data manager to determine data storage locations for each of the computational vertices indicated as being ready for execution in the local execution environment. The scheduler also indicates to a vertex spawner that an instance of each computational vertex is to be spawned in the local execution environment based on the organizational topology and indicated data storage locations, and indicates to the local execution environment that the spawned vertices are to be executed.
US08707270B2 Method and system for configurable pessimistic static XSL output validation
A system, method, and computer readable medium. A method includes loading a first language definition and a second language definition. The method includes loading a transformation definition corresponding to the first language definition and the second language definition and loading a validation rule definition. The method includes applying the validation rule definition to the transformation definition to produce a validation result indicating whether the transformation definition produces a valid transformation between the first language definition and the second language definition. The method includes storing the validation result.
US08707259B2 Framework for open dynamic reflective applications
A framework for open, dynamic, and reflective applications contains high level metadata that define blocks of composable elements using a service definition, which defines specific keys for using the block of code. The service definition may be exported from the code using reflection without having to load the code into memory, and decisions on which block of code and how to load the code may be made at runtime. The composable elements may be grouped into composable parts. Composable part definitions may be used to instantiate or produce composable parts. At runtime, dynamic applications may search from many composable elements, and instantiate and execute the composable element as part of the application.
US08707256B2 System for writing a simulation program
The invention relates to a system for writing a simulation program for simulating an automation installation. To facilitate the writing of a simulation program for a complex automation installation, the system comprises: means for defining a respective resource object for at least two components of the automation installation, means for defining port data for each port, which define characteristics of the values which can be interchanged on the associated port, means for identifying a first port of a first resource object, which is provided for interchanging values with a second port of a second resource object, on the basis of the port data associated with the first and second ports, means for defining precisely one variable which can be engaged with the values to be interchanged between the first and second ports, and means for integrating the program fragments associated with the first and second resource objects into the simulation program and for engaging the variables with the values to be interchanged between the first and second ports.
US08707255B2 Comparison of interfaces between software components
The invention relates to a method for testing the compatibility between two software components of a control device network, a technical interface description being assigned to each software component, this interface description having a specified description standard, and each description standard having a hierarchical position in an hereditary hierarchy of all possible description standards. The common description standard, which is nearest in the hereditary hierarchy, of the software components to be compared is determined based on the hereditary hierarchy, and the common portion of the respective interface descriptions is determined based on the common description standard of the common portion of the respective interface descriptions and compared with one another.
US08707252B1 Techniques for automatic generation of parsing code
Described are techniques for generating a parser. A graphical representation of a finite state machine is provided for determining whether an input is syntactically valid in accordance with a syntax represented by the graphical representation. A second representation is generated which corresponds to the graphical representation. Using the second representation, a parser is generated for parsing an input. The parser determines whether the input is syntactically valid in accordance with the syntax.
US08707251B2 Buffered viewing of electronic documents
A system, program storage device, and method of buffering an electronic document received from a host computer, wherein the method comprises determining whether an original source code of the electronic document includes executable coding which when executed by a client computer, causes the client computer to perform undesired operations, and producing an alternate source code of the electronic document, which eliminates the coding, wherein the undesired operations are characterized as undesirable based on predetermined settings established by the client computer. The electronic document comprises any of a web page, electronic mail message, an electronic mail attachment, a note in a hypertext format, a text document, a text file, and an application-specific electronic document. Each of the original source code and the alternate source code comprises a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) source code.
US08707249B2 Workflow execution model
A generalized workflow execution model is configured to provide access to workflow elements. A computer system instantiates a generalized workflow execution model that provides access to workflow elements stored in a database that is connected to the workflow execution model. The workflow execution model includes the following: activity models that include both agents which are configured to express the control flow of the activity models and symbols which represent values usable by the activity models and metadata configured to identify the workflow execution model. The computer system also receives user input requesting workflow elements and accesses the database to provide the requested workflow elements using the generalized workflow execution model.
US08707247B2 Templating mechanism for rapid development of graphical editors in metamodel-driven approaches
The subject matter described herein relates to a templating system and method. In the templating system and method, each of the domain model and the graphic model are defined according to a template, and the corresponding elements of the domain model and graphic model are created. Next, a binder is created, which associates corresponding attributes in domain and graphic models. Path expressions such as XPath expressions, are used to describe locations in the domain and graphic models. These path expressions, templates, and binders are interpreted or called by a framework, which performs detailed synchronization.
US08707246B2 Engineering project event-driven social networked collaboration
Engineering team activities are facilitated through social networked collaboration driven by engineering project events. An engineering team member profile on a private network contains an identification of the team member including an offline name, direct links to profiles of other team members, automatically generated news items of team member engineering activities, and a summarized view of engineering project data. A news generator automatically collects engineering events and includes corresponding event descriptions in the profile, for wiki article updates, software bug reports, software modifications, project schedule changes, and other engineering events. Some news items automatically include a suggested engineering activity as a follow up for the team member to perform. For example, the team member may click a news item link to view an updated product specification, create a product test, view detailed test results, or create a virtual machine session.
US08707245B2 Semiconductor device design method, system and computer-readable medium
In a semiconductor device design method performed by at least one processor, first and second electrical components are extracted from a layout of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate and the first and second electrical components in the semiconductor substrate. Parasitic parameters of a coupling in the semiconductor substrate between the first and second electrical components are extracted using a first tool. Intrinsic parameters of the first and second electrical components are extracted using a second tool different from the first tool. The extracted parasitic parameters and intrinsic parameters are combined into a model of the semiconductor device. The parasitic parameters of the coupling are extracted based on a model of the coupling included in the second tool.
US08707243B2 Interface configuration system and method
A computer-implemented method for designing an electrical interconnect device. The method comprises the steps of entering an instrument ID into a computer through an input device, entering a slot number corresponding to the instrument ID into the computer through the input device, entering an interface component identifier into the computer through the input device, associating the interface component identifier with the instrument ID and the slot number in a database in the computer, generating and displaying on a computer display a preview of a configuration of an electrical interconnect device, wherein the preview comprises a table showing the instrument ID, the slot number, the interface component identifier and an association between the interface component ID and the instrument ID, and wherein the interface component ID shown in the preview comprises a link to data associated with the interface component, and displaying in a separate window on the computer display the data associated with the interface component.
US08707240B2 Structured placement for bit slices
Techniques are disclosed for improving bit slice placement and wiring. Some embodiments include swapping cells to improve routing. An alternative embodiment includes copying wiring from a first bit slice to a second bit slice. Another embodiment includes copying blocks or cells from a first bit slice to a second bit slice. Further, the wiring from the first bit slice may be copied to the second bit slice.
US08707238B2 Method to determine optimal micro-bump-probe pad pairing for efficient PGD testing in interposer designs
The present disclosure relates to a method of routing probe pads to micro-bumps of an interposer. An interposer is provided having target micro-bumps and probe pads. The probe pads are initially unassigned. Target micro-bump locations and probe pad locations are obtained. Possible route assignments from the probe pads to the target micro-bumps are obtained. Costs are developed for the possible route assignments at least partially according to the target micro-bump locations and the probe pad locations. Final assignments are selected from the possible assignments according to the costs.
US08707237B2 Method of inserting dummy patterns
A method of inserting dummy patterns is provided. The method includes: determining an applicable area in which dummy patterns shall be inserted and an inapplicable area in which dummy patterns shall not be inserted on a chip; and inserting dummy patterns starting from one side of the inapplicable area and arranging the inserted dummy patterns into circles. The method of the present invention ensures that dummy patters are preferentially inserted around the device that requires protection by dummy patterns, so that good uniformity of chip pattern densities is guaranteed and within-wafer uniformity is improved, thus improving the yield and performance of semiconductor devices.
US08707232B2 Fault diagnosis based on design partitioning
Aspects of the invention relate to techniques for fault diagnosis based on circuit design partitioning. According to various implementations of the invention, a circuit design of a failing die is first partitioned into a plurality of sub-circuits. The sub-circuits may be formed based on fan-in cones of observation points. Shared gate ratios may be used as a metric for adding fan-in cones of observation points into a sub-circuit. Based on test patterns and the sub-circuits, sub-circuit test patterns are determined. Fault diagnosis is then performed on the sub-circuits. The sub-circuit fault diagnosis comprises extracting sub-circuit failure information from the failure information for the failing die. The sub-circuit fault diagnosis may employ fault-free values for boundary gates in the sub-circuits.
US08707231B2 Method and system for derived layer checking for semiconductor device design
A system and method are provided for enabling a systematic detection of issues arising during the course of mask generation for a semiconductor device. IC mask layer descriptions are analyzed and information is generated that identifies devices formed by active layers in the masks, along with a description of all layers in proximity to the found devices. The IC mask information is compared to a netlist file generated from the initial as-designed schematic. Determinations can then made, for example, as to whether all intended devices are present, any conflicting layers are in proximity to or interacting with the intended devices, and any unintended devices are present in the mask layers. Steps can then be taken to resolve the issues presented by the problematic devices.
US08707230B1 Method and system for semiconductor simulation
An integrated circuit (IC) simulation method comprises providing a device process model from a non-transitory machine readable storage medium into a programmed computer. The device process model includes one or more device variables. Each device variable defines a probability distribution of an active-device-level variation of devices in an IC. A conductive line model and/or a multi patterning technology (MPT) model is provided from the storage medium to the computer. The conductive line model includes one or more conductive line variables. Each conductive line variable defines a probability distribution of a conductive-line process-induced variation. The MPT model includes one or more MPT variables. Each MPT variable defines a probability distribution of a mask-misalignment-induced conductive line coupling variation. A Monte Carlo simulation is performed in the computer, including the device process model and the conductive line model or MPT model, to identify parasitic couplings in the IC.
US08707229B1 Static analysis of VLSI reliability
A circuit verifier having an input interface configured to receive descriptions of integrated circuits and a processing unit configured to scan through a description of an integrated circuit received through the input interface in order to identify clock domain crossings in the circuit and to provide a numerical score for each of the identified clock domain crossings.
US08707228B1 Method and system for implementing hierarchical prototyping of electronic designs
Disclosed are improved methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing flexible models to perform efficient prototyping of electronic designs, which allows for very efficient analysis of the electronic designs. The flexible models allow many of the existing tools for designing electronics to perform more efficiently.
US08707222B1 Lithography mask functional optimization and spatial frequency analysis
In an electronic design automation technique for optical proximity correction, a mask is represented by a function with an exact analytical form over a mask region. Using the physics of optical projection, a solution based on a spatial frequency analysis is determined. Spatial frequencies above a cutoff are determined by the optical system do not contribute to the projected image. Spatial frequencies below this cutoff affect the print (and the mask), while those above the cutoff only affect the mask. Frequency components in the function below this cutoff frequency may be removed, which will help to reduce computational complexity.
US08707221B2 Circuit assembly yield prediction with respect to manufacturing process
Embodiments of the invention include systems and methods for automatically predicting production yield for a circuit assembly according to attributes of its components and defect data mapped thereto. Embodiments receive a proposed design specification for a circuit assembly, including bill of materials (BOM) and schematic data, at a yield prediction environment. The yield prediction environment maps a set of attributes to each component in the BOM and maps a set of possible defects to each component according to its attributes. Defects may be further mapped to a manufacturing process assigned to populate each component in the circuit assembly. The defects are associated with predicted frequencies of occurrence, which can be used to roll up a yield prediction for the circuit assembly. Embodiments further allow “what-if” analyses to be performed so that different yield prediction results can be compared according to different form factor options and/or different manufacturing process options.
US08707220B2 Semiconductor manufacturing optimization by combining small lots into individual carriers
An integrated circuit is formed by identifying process parameters of a plurality of process steps for the first partial lot containing the integrated circuit; confirming the number of wafers in the first partial lot is less than the wafer carrier capacity; examining lots upstream of the partial lot and identifying a second partial lot which can be combined with the first partial lot into a single wafer carrier and which can be processed with the first partial lot; combining the wafers of the partial lots into a single wafer carrier; processing the partial lots through the plurality of process steps; and performing a multi-lot verification process. The multi-lot verification process determines if all wafers in the partial lots have completed the process step; determines if any wafers in the partial lots are on hold; and determining if all wafers in the partial lots are in a same material carrier.
US08707219B2 Method and apparatus for unlocking screen saver
A method for unlocking a screen saver includes: when a screen is in a screen saver state, receiving a motion track input by a user on the screen; and when the motion track crosses boundaries of a first area and a second area of the screen at least two times, enabling the screen to exit the screen saver state. With the above technical solutions, characteristics of the motion track on the screen are detected, for example, the number of times of crossing the boundaries of the first area and second area of the screen; therefore, the screen saver can be unlocked based on the flexibly input motion track, so that the screen saver can be unlocked more flexibly.
US08707216B2 Controlling objects via gesturing
The present invention is directed toward a system and process that controls a group of networked electronic components using a multimodal integration scheme in which inputs from a speech recognition subsystem, gesture recognition subsystem employing a wireless pointing device and pointing analysis subsystem also employing the pointing device, are combined to determine what component a user wants to control and what control action is desired. In this multimodal integration scheme, the desired action concerning an electronic component is decomposed into a command and a referent pair. The referent can be identified using the pointing device to identify the component by pointing at the component or an object associated with it, by using speech recognition, or both. The command may be specified by pressing a button on the pointing device, by a gesture performed with the pointing device, by a speech recognition event, or by any combination of these inputs.
US08707211B2 Radial graphical user interface
Systems, methods, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for displaying a radial graphical user interface. The radial graphical user interface can include displaying a first layer radial menu item as a circular shape and displaying a second layer radial menu of a number of first menu sub-items related to the first layer menu item grouped concentrically around the first layer radial menu in response to a user selecting the first menu item. The graphical user interface can also include replacing the first layer menu with a user selected first menu sub-item and replacing the second layer radial menu with a number of second menu sub-items related to the selected first menu sub-item in response to a user selecting one of the number of first menu sub-items, wherein the second layer is rotatable by a user.
US08707210B2 Display control apparatus and method for selecting an interactive object on a display frame by a numeric controller
A display control apparatus is applied to generate an interactive object mark on a display apparatus to enable a user to select the interactive object in a display frame via a numeric controller. The display control apparatus includes a content receiving module, for receiving a display control data; a display content processing module, for generating a display frame and display frame position information according to the display contend data; an interactive object selecting module, for determining a target interactive object according to the position information and an interactive object selecting rule; an on-screen display (OSD) module, for generating an interactive object mark corresponding to the target interactive block; and a frame output control module, for combining the display frame and the interactive object mark to output a combined frame to the display apparatus.
US08707205B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a display in an electronic device
A method and apparatus for presenting information is provided. In an embodiment, an electronic device with wireless telephony features is provided. An embodiment includes a flexible dialog box tailored to the resources limitations of electronic devices.
US08707203B2 Object display apparatus and control method thereof
An object display apparatus displays a plurality of object at respective display positions, and receive a designation to set one of the plurality of displayed object as an object of interest. Upon reception of an addition or deletion instruction of one or more objects with respect to the plurality of displayed objects, a display of the objects is updated by moving object other than the object of interest while keeping the display position of the designated object of interest.
US08707193B2 Remote monitoring system and method
A remote monitoring system including a sensor configured to take measurements of a physical parameter of an associated machine, a data acquisition module configured to gather machine data from the sensor, an application server in communication with the data acquisition module across a network, a database in communication with the application server and configured to receive and store the machine data from the data acquisition module across the network, and an interface configured to facilitate communication between a user and the machine data maintained in the database, wherein the machine data stored in the database is accessible to the user connected to the network in real-time.
US08707189B2 Methods, computer program products, and hardware products for providing interactive program guide and instant messaging convergence
Interactive program guide (IPG) and instant messaging (IM) convergence is provided by displaying an IPG that includes one or more IM icons. In response to detection of a user clicking on an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons or hovering over an icon of the one or more displayed IM icons, a pull-down menu is displayed that includes one or more IM options or a new screen is displayed that includes one or more instant messaging options. The pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all IM users that are watching a program in a particular geographic location. Alternatively or additionally, the pull-down menu or new screen displays a list of all buddies for the user that are watching a program listed in the IPG.
US08707188B2 Caller initiated distinctive presence alerting and auto-response messaging
Presence information of a first user is relayed to a second user. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others includes, can be implemented as follows. A first communications client of a first user detects a change in the presence status of a first user and sends an alert message to a second communications client of a second user.
US08707185B2 Dynamic information management system and method for content delivery and sharing in content-, metadata- and viewer-based, live social networking among users concurrently engaged in the same and/or similar content
Disclosed are tools, methods, and systems for establishing generally live, Content-based social networks, and for concurrently sharing Content and Content-relevant information within a social network. A Service registers Viewers and/or n-Users, and provides tools that enable a Viewer to identify n-Users concurrently viewing the same or similar Content, or having an interest in the same or similar Content. A Viewer can initiate or join a Content-based social network, and can share their Content with others, or view others' Content, and interact with n-Users via any of several methods. Service tools also enable a Viewer to define and selectively block or alter objectionable material so that it is no longer perceivable in its objectionable form. The described tools, methods, and systems also enable numerous innovative approaches to generate revenue for a Service, for providers of product and/or services, for Content providers, and others.
US08707175B2 Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A method of controlling a mobile terminal is presented. The method includes detecting a first touch on the mobile terminal for a predetermined time when the mobile terminal is in a locked state, simultaneously displaying a locking icon and an unlocking icon in response to the detected first touch, and detecting a second touch on the locking icon or the unlocking icon, wherein touching the locking icon for a predetermined time will partially unlock the mobile terminal, and wherein touching and dragging the unlocking icon to the locking icon will fully unlock the mobile terminal.
US08707172B2 Internationalization technology
Internationalizing a target program includes associating a text string in the program with an attribute of a user interface element. The user interface element is defined in the program and the associating is provided at least partly by a non-executable user interface element annotation in the program. A resource bundle annotation in the program defines a name for a resource bundle to which the text string of the user interface element annotation may be extracted. An annotation processor program automatically creates the resource bundle by processing source code of the target program, including the user interface element annotation and the resource bundle annotation. Executing a method in the target program causes the text string to be displayed on the attribute for a displayed instance of the user interface element. The method determines whether to obtain the displayed text string from the user interface element annotation or from the resource bundle.
US08707170B2 Gesture based edit mode
A system and method for document editing. A system includes an operator input device, a processor, gesture recognition program, and an edit mode program. The operator input device that senses gestures and multiple simultaneous touch points. The processor is coupled to the operator input device. The processor executes the gesture recognition program, which recognizes inputs from the input device. The gesture recognition program recognizes a predetermined edit mode gesture and, based only on the gesture, causes the processor to execute the edit mode program. The edit mode program provides a plurality of document editing functions for modifying a currently displayed document.
US08707168B2 Generating financial data documents using templates
A computing system is disclosed including a computer processor configured to receive a selection of a template and identify a data field in the template. The data field indicates financial data to fill in the data field. The computer processor is configured to retrieve the financial data for the data field from stored financial data and generate a document according to the selected template. The generated document has the financial data within the data field.
US08707166B2 Plain text formatting of data item tables
Methods and systems are described for plain text formatting of data item tables. An example system includes a plain text table manager including a template manager configured to obtain a hierarchical template including table information associated with a table, table information formatted in accordance with a non-proprietary markup language format. The example system also includes a parsing engine configured to parse the table information associated with the table to determine one or more markup language elements associated with the table. The example system also includes a plain text layout engine configured to determine a plain text graphical table structured layout associated with the table, based on the one or more markup language elements. The example system also includes a graphical table structure generator configured to generate a plain text graphical table structured view of the table indicating one or more data items indicated by the table information.
US08707163B2 Transmitting and receiving data via barcodes through a cellphone for privacy and anonymity
A user with a mobile device (e.g. cellphone) can transfer sensitive data to her device from another computer, where the latter might be a computer in a bank, or associated with a bank, like an Automated Teller Machine. The external computer has a screen that shows data, encoded in a barcode. The user's device has a camera that can take an image of the barcode and decode it. If there is too much data to be encoded in a single barcode, they could be encoded in several barcodes, which are then played on a computer screen and imaged by the user's device. The user avoids directly accessing the transmitting device on the Internet, for improved anonymity and privacy. The data that is transferred might be keys to a symmetric cryptosystem, or a one time pad, to encrypt a future interaction between the user and the other entity.
US08707162B1 Methods and systems for reducing web page transmission bandwidth
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reduction of web page transmission bandwidth by resolving a web page into static and dynamic components. An embodiment includes intercepting a request for a web page, retrieving the requested web page from a server, reading transmission instructions for the web page, the instructions based on an analysis of two or more identified versions of the web page, the analysis having identified one or more static and dynamic components of the web page, extracting the dynamic components of the retrieved web page based on the instructions, and providing the dynamic components of the web page along with one or more references to the static components in response to the request. Another embodiment includes constructing a web page for display using the received dynamic components and static components retrieved from a cache using the one or more references.
US08707159B1 Translating tabular data formatted for one display device to a format for display on other display device
A method and system are provided that translates tabular data prepared for a first display format into a second display format. Tabular data prepared for display on a conventional desktop display device may be adjusted for display on a portable computing device having a different display device. Tabular formatting may be removed for single row and single column tables. The method and system may also remove tabular formatting for tables having horizontal dimensions exceeding a specified amount. Tabular data may be removed from tables having more than one column that exceeds a specified maximum column size. The method and system may also identify nested tables and eliminate tabular formatting for all but the innermost tables.
US08707156B2 Render engine for spreadsheet
A render engine for a spreadsheet application is described. The render engine facilitates the rendering of cell regions containing data that are maintained by both a spreadsheet application (user-defined cell region) and/or a third-party application (application-defined cell region). In particular, an embodiment of the render engine facilitates the repositioning of one or more existing cell regions within a spreadsheet interface, when the insertion of a new cell region is determined to cause a layout conflict with one or more existing cell regions. Repositioning of the existing cell regions is achieved without overwriting any cell information, and without breaking any formulas contained within an affected cell.
US08707153B2 Displaying comment data corresponding to a video presentation
Video presenting systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, among others, a method comprises presenting a video presentation and enabling a viewer to select an option to receive a plurality of sequential data supplements. The sequential data supplements correspond to on-screen comments of the video presentation. In addition, the sequential data supplements have a plurality of respective time intervals corresponding to respective portions of the video presentation. The method further comprises receiving a first input from the viewer regarding selection of the option to receive the plurality of sequential data supplements. Responsive to receiving the first input corresponding to selecting the option to receive the plurality of sequential data supplements, the method includes providing the plurality of sequential data supplements at the plurality of respective times corresponding to respective portions of the video presentation. The on-screen comments include comments from another viewer and at least one set of comments selected from director comments, producer comments, and actor comments.
US08707150B2 Applying effects to a video in-place in a document
An application program utilizes a decoding sub-system and a three-dimensional (3D) rendering sub-system to apply effects to a video in-place in a document. The program configures pixel shaders for use with a rendering device for applying pixel-level effects to the decoded frames of the video, generates meshes, and pre-renders textures for use in implementing effects. When a request is received to play back the video in-place in the document, a decoding surface and a rendering surface are allocated. The decoding sub-system decodes frames of the video and copies the decoded frames to the decoding surface on one thread. A separate thread copies decoded frames from the decoding surface to a texture and from the texture to the rendering surface. The rendering device utilizes the pixel shaders, meshes, pre-computed textures, and other data to render the frames of the video to a rendering target.
US08707149B2 Motion compensation with error, flag, reference, and decompressed reference data
A method, system and apparatus of lossy compression technique for video encoder bandwidth reduction using compression error data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes storing an error data from a compression of an original reference data in an off-chip memory, accessing the error data during a motion compensation operation, and performing the motion compensation operation by applying the error data through an algorithm (e.g., determined by the method of storing the error data). The method may include generating a predicted frame in the motion compensation operation using a motion vector and an on-chip video data. In addition, the method may include determining the error data as a difference between a compressed reference data (e.g., is created by compressing the original reference data) and an original reference data (e.g., reconstructed from a prior predicted frame and a decompressed encoder data).
US08707148B2 Method of producing and decoding error correction code and apparatus therefor
An apparatus and method for producing error correction code and error correction decoding are provided. The method for producing error correction code includes generating an asymmetric matrix by arranging input data bits in a matrix of a predefined size and adding a zero bit column and/or a zero bit row, each of the column and the row consisting of zero bits, to the matrix; primarily encoding the asymmetric matrix by adding one or more parity bits to each row; and secondarily encoding the primarily encoded matrix by adding one or more parity bits to each column of the encoded matrix.
US08707147B1 Viterbi decoder method and apparatus with RI detector in servo channel
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for decoding data stored on a data storage medium. A disclosed decoding method and decoder include a radial incoherence (RI) detector that increases the probability of detecting RI and improves the decoding performance in terms of the bit error rate of the decoded signal. RI is detected by comparing an input signal to the decoder against a RI threshold value and generating a RI-type signal. The RI detector may include a filter for filtering out noise and error in the RI-type signal, an adaptive threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon the RI-type signal, a transition-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon each transition in the input signal, or a path-based threshold unit that adjusts the RI threshold value based upon a best surviving path corresponding to the input signal, in combination or alone.
US08707145B2 System, method and apparatus for tail biting convolutional code decoding
Techniques to decode tail biting convolutional code are disclosed. A plurality of sets for a trellis may be determined. Each set may include a first stage and a second stage of the trellis. Path metrics for each state in a set may be determined when the first stage and the second stage have a same state. The path metrics may be compared to determine a state with a minimum path metric. Bits from the state with the minimum path metric may be output. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08707144B2 LDPC decoder with targeted symbol flipping
A non-binary low density parity check data decoder comprises a variable node processor operable to update variable node symbol values according to a plurality of elements in a non-binary Galois Field, a check node processor connected to the variable node processor and operable to perform parity check calculations, and a controller operable to perform symbol flipping and to control decoding iterations in the variable node processor and the check node processor.
US08707143B1 Multiplication-based reed-solomon encoding architecture
Circuitry for generating a first number of Reed-Solomon check symbols from a second number of input data symbols includes storage for a plurality of generator coefficients, a plurality of multipliers, each of the multipliers having a data symbol input, and a coefficient input connected to the storage, and having an output. The circuitry also includes accumulator circuitry that accumulates outputs of the multipliers to generate the check symbols. The circuitry can be provided in fixed logic, or configured in a programmable integrated circuit device, such as a programmable logic device.
US08707141B1 Joint optimization of packetization and error correction for video communication
In one embodiment, a process determines a size of a video unit (e.g., frame) to transmit from a sender to a receiver across a communication channel for an associated video stream, and also determines an updated packet loss rate on the channel. In response, the process may dynamically determine both a number N of video data packets and a number M of forward error correction (FEC) packets to transmit for the video unit based on the size of the video unit, the updated packet loss rate on the channel, and an error resilience requirement for the video stream. In an illustrative embodiment, N and M are determined during transmission of the video stream through a look-up operation into a table indexed by the size of the video unit and the updated packet loss rate as co-indices, the co-indices co-indexing a pre-determined N and M pair.
US08707138B2 Method and arrangement for blind demultiplexing a polarisation diversity multiplex signal
A received optical signal is coherently demodulated and converted into orthogonal x-polarization samples, and y-polarization samples. These samples are converted into signal x-samples and signal y-samples by an FIR butterfly filter. Correction values are calculated in an error calculating circuit of a control unit and added to filter transfer functions derived by a standard algorithm to determine corrected filter coefficients. Degenerate convergences calculating the transfer functions are avoided.
US08707134B2 Data storage apparatus and apparatus and method for controlling nonvolatile memories
According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus comprises a channel controller, an encoding module, and a data controller. The channel controller configured to control data input and output to and from nonvolatile memories for channels. The encoding module configured to generate encoded data for an interchannel error correction process, using data stored in each of the nonvolatile memories. The data controller configure to manage the encoded data in units of logical blocks when the channel controller writes the encoded data in parallel to the channels, and to allocate parity data contained in the encoded data to planes of the same channel in each logical block.
US08707133B2 Method and apparatus to reduce a quantity of error detection/correction bits in memory coupled to a data-protected processor port
An interface device to interface a processing device and a memory device includes an error correcting code (ECC) encoder to calculate ECC bit(s) and to provide the ECC bit(s) to the processing device based at least in part on data provided by the memory device, thereby eliminating a need to store the ECC bits in the memory device. The interface device may include a parity encoder to provide parity bit(s) to the memory device as a function of data provided by the processing device, and a parity decoder to selectively modify the ECC bit(s) as a function of the data and parity bit(s) provided by the memory device. The ECC encoder may provide ECC bits, and the parity decoder may selectively modify the ECC bits provided to the processing device based on data provided by the memory device and parity bit(s) provided by the memory device.
US08707129B2 Feedback signaling error detection and checking in MIMO wireless communication systems
A method of feedback in a wireless transmit receive unit includes providing a precoding matrix index (PMI), error checking the (PMI) to produce an error check (EC) bit, coding the PMI and the EC bit and transmitting the coded PMI and EC bit.
US08707124B2 Method for processing forward error correction, FEC, data, device and system thereof
A method for processing Forward Error Correction, FEC, data, which includes: a sender encapsulates the FEC data to be a Transport Stream, TS, message, sets FEC identification information in the TS message, and encapsulates the TS message to be a Real-time Transport Protocol, RTP, message; then sends the RTP message to a terminal side. The reception end receives the RTP message; if the reception end has a function for FEC decoding, the reception end identifies the FEC data according to the FEC identification information in the TS message of the received RTP message, and recovers the missed media message according to the FEC data; if the reception end does not have the function for FEC decoding, the reception end processes the RTP message after removing the message header. The embodiments of the present invention also provide a transmission and processing device.
US08707118B2 Data, mode and ready bit packets on bidirectional control/data leads
A system and method for sharing a communications link between multiple protocols is described. A system includes a communications interface configured to exchange information with other systems using at least one of a plurality of protocols; a protocol select register that stores a value that selects a protocol from among the plurality of protocols to become an active protocol; and a state machine accessible to the communications interface, the state machine used to control the exchange of information through the communications interface according to the active protocol. The active protocol is used by the communications interface to exchange information while the remaining protocols of the plurality of protocols remain inactive. The state machine sequences through a series of states that cause the communications interface to operate according to the active protocol, and that are designated as inert sequences under the remaining protocols.
US08707117B2 Methods and apparatus to test multi clock domain data paths with a shared capture clock signal
Methods, circuits and systems are provided to test data paths that traverse multiple clock domains using a common capture clock that is applied to multiple domains. Test data is launched to a first clock domain, and each of the clock domains is selected to receive the common capture clock signal while the test data propagates through the selected clock domain. The test data is capture after it has propagated through each of the multiple domains in response to the shared domains. Applying a common capture clock to each of the different domains eliminates hold time errors that might otherwise occur as the data transitions from one clock domain to another.
US08707116B2 Transitioning a state machine through idle, sequence, and unlock states
Operating a state machine includes enabling operation of the state machine upon receiving a signal indicating a change from operation of a test access port to a scan test port. The process maintains the state machine in an IDLE 1 state while receiving a scan test port capture signal and transitions the state machine to an IDLE 2 state when receiving a scan test port shift signal. The process then transitions the state machine to a SEQUENCE 1 state, then to a SEQUENCE 2 state, and then to a SEQUENCE 3 state when receiving sequential scan test port capture signals. The state machine then transitions to an UNLOCK TAP state and then back to the IDLE 1 state when receiving sequential scan test port shift signals on the test mode select/capture select lead.
US08707094B2 Fault tolerant stability critical execution checking using redundant execution pipelines
A circuit arrangement and method utilize existing redundant execution pipelines in a processing unit to execute multiple instances of stability critical instructions in parallel so that the results of the multiple instances of the instructions can be compared for the purpose of detecting errors. For other types of instructions for which fault tolerant or stability critical execution is not required or desired, the redundant execution pipelines are utilized in a more conventional manner, enabling multiple non-stability critical instructions to be concurrently issued to and executed by the redundant execution pipelines. As such, for non-stability critical program code, the performance benefits of having multiple redundant execution units are preserved, yet in the instances where fault tolerant or stability critical execution is desired for certain program code, the redundant execution units may be repurposed to provide greater assurances as to the fault-free execution of such instructions.
US08707093B1 Hybrid redundant array of disks
A system, method and program product, the system in embodiments comprising: one or more computers operably connected to one or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-readable program code to perform steps: associating a first plurality of data disk blocks; generating checksum data on a second plurality of checksum disk blocks, using an m-out-of-n encoding algorithm; generating a third plurality of redundant storage disk blocks, using an 1-out-of-n encoding algorithm that allows for reconstruction using a second recovery algorithm of a selected disk block by reading a proper subset of remaining data disk blocks, reconstructing a single one of the data disk blocks when one or more reconstruction criteria are met, using the second recovery algorithm; reconstructing, when two or more of the data disk blocks are lost, the two or more of the data disk blocks and/or checksum disk blocks that are lost, using the first recovery algorithm.
US08707091B2 Failsafe directory file system in a dispersed storage network
A file directory system comprises a directory file, a directory address for the directory file, and a directory address failsafe mechanism. The directory file includes one or more directory entries and one or more corresponding addresses for the one or more directory entries. The directory address failsafe mechanism functions to dispersed storage error encode the directory address to produce a plurality of encoded components of the directory address and transmit the plurality of encoded components of the directory address to a plurality of agent modules.
US08707089B2 Storage control device for formatting to storage media, storage control method for formatting to storage media, and medium for storing storage control program for formatting to storage media
A storage control device for managing data in a storage while maintaining redundancy of the data includes a formatting management table, a formatting processing section, a recovery management table and a recovery processing section. The formatting management table manages a formatted region and an unformatted region in a management target volume. The formatting processing section executes formatting of the unformatted region in the management target volume on the basis of the formatting management table. The recovery management table retains a content of the formatting management table at a point of occurrence of a redundancy restoration event when a redundancy restoration event has occurred during formatting. The recovery processing section executes recovery of a formatted region, which had been formatted at the point of occurrence of the redundancy restoration event, on the basis of the recovery management table in parallel with the formatting.
US08707088B2 Reconfiguring data storage in multiple dispersed storage networks
A method begins by a processing module determining access performance to copies of dispersed storage encoded data, wherein the copies of the dispersed storage encoded data are stored in a set of a plurality of dispersed storage networks (DSNs). The method continues with the processing module modifying the set of the plurality of DSNs based on the access performance and the desired access performance level to produce a modified set of the plurality of DSNs when the access performance is not at a desired access performance level. The method continues with the processing module, for a new DSN of the modified set of the plurality of DSNs, determining error coding dispersal storage parameters based on local data retrieval accesses allocated to the new DSN and facilitating the new DSN storing another copy of the dispersed storage encoded data.
US08707085B2 High availability data storage systems and methods
Provided are systems and methods for accessing a storage device from a node when a local connection failure occurs between the node and the storage device. A failure is determined to have occurred at a first node access path between a first node and a storage device that prevents an application at the first node from accessing the storage device from the first node access path. An access request is sent from the first node to a second node. The second node has a second node access path to the storage device. A determination is made that the second node can communicate with the storage device. The storage device is accessed by an application at the first node via the second node access path.
US08707084B2 Data center management unit with protection against network isolation
A data center management unit (DCMU, 100) for managing and controlling power distribution to computers in a data center, includes a power inlet (101), a plurality of power outlets (111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118) for providing power to respective ones of the computers, a processor (141), at least one wired data port (151, 152, 153, 154) for controlling one or more of the computers, and a network interface (155) enabling a data center administrator to manage the data center management unit (DCMU, 100) remotely via wired network connectivity. In addition the data center management unit (DCMU, 100) contains a redundant meshed wireless network interface (156). The data center management unit (DCMU, 100) is adapted to automatically switch to the redundant meshed wireless network interface as an alternative for the network interface (155) in situations where the wired network connectivity is lost.
US08707081B2 Memory clock slowdown
Circuits, methods, and apparatus for slowing clock circuits on a graphics processor integrated circuit in order to reduce power dissipation. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a graphics processor having two memory clocks, specifically, a switched memory clock and an unswitched memory clock. The switched memory clock frequency is reduced under specific conditions, while the unswitched memory clock frequency remains fixed. In a specific embodiment, the switched memory clock frequency is reduced when related graphics, display, scaler, and frame buffer circuits are not requesting data, or are such data requests can be delayed. Further refinements to the present invention provide circuits, methods, and apparatus for ensuring that the switched and unswitched memory clock signals remain in-phase and aligned with each other.
US08707078B2 Methods and apparatus for trimming of CDR clock buffer using histogram of clock-like data pattern
Clock buffers in a clock and data recovery (CDR) system are trimmed by receiving a first transmitted clock-like data pattern in a reduced rate mode, locking the CDR using the received version of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern; and receiving a second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The first transmitted clock-like data pattern is transmitted using a first rate mode and the reduced rate mode divides the first rate mode by an integer value. The second transmitted clock-like data pattern has a run-length that is an integer division of a run-length of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern. A phase of the clock buffers is adjusted using the second transmitted clock-like data pattern. The received first transmitted clock-like data pattern has edges that correspond to only positive or negative edges of the first transmitted clock-like data pattern.
US08707077B2 Method and apparatus for time synchronisation in wireless networks
A wireless media distribution system is provided comprising an access point (6) for broadcasting media and a plurality of stations (2) for reception and playback of media. Each station is configured for receiving and decoding a timestamp in a beacon frame transmitted repeatedly from the access point. This is used to control the output signal of a station physical layer clock (12) which is then used as a clock source for an application layer time synchronization protocol. This application layer time synchronization protocol can then be used in the station to control an operating system clock (8) for regulating playback of media.
US08707075B2 Adaptive network and method
A plurality of modules interact to form an adaptive network in which each module transmits and receives data signals indicative of the proximity of objects. A central computer accumulates the data produced or received and relayed by each module. One of the modules is operable as a leaf node having a sleep mode to conserve energy and an interactive mode. The central computer can send a message to the leaf node commanding it to stay awake in order to receive subsequent communications.
US08707074B2 Priority-based power capping in data processing systems
A mechanism is provided for priority-based power capping. A power management controller identifies a set of priorities for a set of partitions of the data processing system. The power management controller determines whether a measured power of the data processing system exceeds a power cap for the data processing system. Responsive to the measured power exceeding the power cap, the power management controller sends a set of commands to a set of component actuators to adjust one or more of a set of operation parameters for a set of components associated with the set of partitions using the set of priorities. The set of component actuators adjust the one or more of the set of operational parameters associated with the set of component in order to reduce a power consumption of the data processing system.
US08707073B2 Energy-efficient polling loop
Logic is provided for increasing energy-efficiency of a data processing system. First logic continuously checks a plurality of I/O ports for incoming workload. Responsive to the incoming workload being lower than a low workload threshold for a current operating frequency, second logic reduces an operating frequency of the processor. Responsive to the incoming workload being higher than a high workload threshold, the second logic increases the operating frequency of the processor.
US08707069B2 Server
A server includes an enclosure, a motherboard, and first and second switches. The enclosure includes a base and a cover. The first switch is used to manually turn on or off the motherboard. The second switch is capable of turning off the motherboard and is mounted on a sidewall of the base. A stopping piece extends down from one side of the cover to abut against the second switch. The second switch is connected to a power-on pin of the motherboard. When the cover is not covering the base, the stopping piece fails to abut against the second switch. And the second switch is turned off. The power-on pin receives a power-off signal to power off the server.
US08707062B2 Method and apparatus for powered off processor core mode
For one disclosed embodiment, a processor comprises a first processor core, a second processor core, and a cache memory. The first processor core is to save a state of the first processor core and to enter a mode in which the first processor core is powered off. The second processor core is to save a state of the second processor core and to enter a mode in which the second processor core is powered off. The cache memory is to be powered when the first processor core is powered off. The first processor core is to restore the saved state of the first processor core in response to the first processor core transitioning to a mode in which the first processor core is powered. The second processor core is to restore the saved state of the second processor core in response to the second processor core transitioning to a mode in which the second processor core is powered. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08707058B1 Systems and methods for cryptographic masking of private data
Systems and methods for cryptographically masking private data are described. The apparatus may include a masking engine to hash private data and a masking values table to provide a masked value using a lookup value derived from the hashed private data. The method my include receiving private data, transforming the private data into a set of masked data items and providing the set of masked data items.
US08707057B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method
A data processing apparatus includes an address bus, a scramble unit, and a data bus. The address bus outputs address data to be given to a memory apparatus. The scramble unit scrambles write-in data into a storage position in the memory apparatus identified by the address data to obtain confidential data. The data bus outputs the confidential data. The scramble unit includes a first scrambler, a first converter and a second scrambler. The first scrambler XORs first mask data corresponding to the address data and the write-in data for each bit and makes it first scrambled data. The first converter performs one-to-one substitution conversion of the first scrambled data. The second scrambler XORs second mask data corresponding to the address data and data after the conversion of the first scrambled data by the first converter and outputs obtained second scrambled data as the confidential data.
US08707051B2 Method and system for embedded high performance reconfigurable firmware cipher
A firmware cipher component is provided which can be configured and programmed to efficiently implement a broad range of cryptographic ciphers while accelerating their processing. This firmware cipher component allows an ASIC to support multiple cipher algorithms while accelerating the operations beyond speeds conventionally achieved by software or firmware only solutions. This system combines cryptographic specific custom instructions with hardware based data manipulation accelerators. The cryptographic specific custom instructions and hardware accelerators may support both block and stream ciphers. Thus, the system may be reconfigured, allowing the cipher algorithm to change without halting the system. Further, embedding the Firmware Programmable Cipher within an ASIC may allow future capabilities to be supported in secure applications.
US08707050B1 Integrity self-check of secure code within a VM environment using native VM code
A method of running an application in a process virtual machine (PVM) on a computing device using a dynamically-linked module (DLM) with an integrity self-check feature is provided. The DLM is written in PVM-native bytecode, and the PVM is configured to execute applications stored as PVM-native bytecode within a single code file associated with that application. The method includes (a) dynamically linking the application to the DLM by loading the PVM-native bytecode of the DLM from a resource file separate from the single code file of the application, (b) performing the integrity self-check feature on the DLM to ensure the integrity of the PVM-native bytecode of the DLM, and (c) in response to the DLM passing the integrity self-check, calling functions of the DLM from within the application. Embodiments directed to analogous computer program products and apparatuses are also provided.
US08707049B2 Authentication method and key device
The present invention discloses an authentication method and a key device and relates to the information security field. The authentication method comprises initiating user authentication, generating a dynamic code and then a first verification code on the basis of the dynamic code, and outputting the dynamic code, by a key device; and receiving a second verification code entered by a user via a host, and collating the second verification code with the first verification code, by the key device, and if a match is found, the user access is authorized to the key device; otherwise, the user access is prohibited. The key device comprises a trigger module, a generator module, an output module, a communication module, a collator module, a controller module and a security module. According to the present invention, better security is achieved by reducing the possibility of sensitive information disclosure and misuse in case of password theft for the key device.
US08707048B2 Dynamic pattern insertion layer
Various methods and systems are provided for inserting a user-selected pattern below a main application display when sensitive information is being requested or to be communicated. The border of the main application layer may also be modified at this time, either with or without the underlying pattern. This visual change provides the user an assurance that the application or site is authentic and not a phishing attack. The user-selected patterns are stored in secure areas, such as a secure element on the user device or in a cloud accessible by the application or site.
US08707046B2 Method of anonymous entity authentication using group-based anonymous signatures
Methods for anonymous authentication and key exchange are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes initiating a two-way mutual authentication between a first entity and a second entity. The first entity remains anonymous to the second entity after performing the authentication. The method also includes establishing a mutually shared session key for use in secure communication between the entities, wherein the initiating and the establishing are in conjunction with direct anonymous attestation (DAA).
US08707043B2 Split termination of secure communication sessions with mutual certificate-based authentication
A method and apparatus are provided for split-terminating a secure client-server communication connection when the client and server perform mutual authentication by exchanging certificates, such as within a Lotus Notes environment. When the client submits a certificate to the server, an intermediary device intercepts the certificate and submits to the server a substitute client certificate generated by that intermediary. A certificate authority's private key is previously installed on the intermediary to enable it to generate public keys, private keys and digital certificates. With the private key corresponding to the substitute certificate, the intermediary extracts a temporary key from a subsequent server message. The intermediary uses the temporary key to read a session key issued later by the server. Thereafter, the intermediary shares the session key with another intermediary, and together they use the session keys to access and optimize (e.g., accelerate) messages sent by the client and the server.
US08707037B2 Cryptographic authentication apparatus, systems and methods
Apparatus, systems, and methods send an interrogation command from an interrogation and timing apparatus to a timed identification (TID) apparatus. The TID apparatus receives the interrogation command, performs a series of logical operations to calculate a response, and returns the response within a maximum length of time established by the interrogation and timing apparatus. The interrogation and timing apparatus confirms that the length of time between sending the interrogation command and receiving the response is within the maximum length of time and that the response is correct. If so, the TID apparatus is authenticated. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08707035B2 High privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality
Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also contain one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.
US08707034B1 Method and system for using remote headers to secure electronic files
An improved file security system that manages secured files (documents) is disclosed. The file security system provides centralized management and storage of security information that can be referenced by secured files. In other words, a secured file need not itself contain security information that is needed to determine whether access to the secured file is to be permitted. That is, at least a portion of the security information can be remotely stored and accessed by way of an identifier that is provided within the secured file. By centralizing storage of security information, the file security system is able to subsequently modify access criteria for secured files (documents) without having to physically make modifications to the secured files.
US08707032B2 System and method for securing controllers
A system includes a controller and a certificate authority. The controller is configured to control a process. The certificate authority (CA) is configured to issue and to revoke certificates, wherein the controller is configured to use the CA to mutually authenticate a user to enter into a secure mode of operation.
US08707028B2 Certificate-based cookie security
A cookie attribute for use during secure HTTP transport sessions. This attribute points to a server-supplied certificate and, in particular, a digital certificate. The cookie attribute includes a value, and that value is designed to correspond to one or more content fields in the digital certificate. During a first https session, a first web application executing on a first server provides a web browser with the cookie having the server certificate identifier attribute set to a value corresponding to a content field in a server certificate. Later, when the browser is accessing a second server during a second https session, the browser verifies that the value in the cookie matches a corresponding value in the server certificate received from the second server before sending the cookie to the second server. This approach ensures that the cookie is presented only over specified https connections and to trusted organizations.
US08707026B2 Apparatus for certificate-based cookie security
A cookie attribute for use during secure HTTP transport sessions. This attribute points to a server-supplied certificate and, in particular, a digital certificate. The cookie attribute includes a value, and that value is designed to correspond to one or more content fields in the digital certificate. During a first https session, a first web application executing on a first server provides a web browser with the cookie having the server certificate identifier attribute set to a value corresponding to a content field in a server certificate. Later, when the browser is accessing a second server during a second https session, the browser verifies that the value in the cookie matches a corresponding value in the server certificate received from the second server before sending the cookie to the second server. This approach ensures that the cookie is presented only over specified https connections and to trusted organizations.
US08707024B2 Methods and systems for managing identity management security domains
Embodiments of the present invention provide identity management security domains that may be used in an enterprise security system. A security domain provides a centralized registry of services provided by the enterprise security system. For example, certificate authorities and other services, such as key archives, and the like, in the enterprise security system may register information about themselves in the security domain. Authorized users can then discover the location of these services. In some embodiments, the security domain may provide an interface that indicates a topology between services of the enterprise security system. The security domain may also serve as a distribution point for security policies. A security policy may comprise information that indicates, for example, a set of trusted certificate authorities, certificate templates, certificate revocation lists, and the locations of the services in the enterprise security system.
US08707021B2 Data recording device, data recording method to be used in same, and data record controlling computer program
A data recording device is provided to record and redistribute stream data such as TV programs without imposing loads proportional to the number of users. Stream data of a distributed program is collated by a recording range judging section 4 with data already recorded of a stream data recording section 6 and, based on results from the collation, only newly distributed data is appended to the stream data recording section. Recording demand information representing a range of stream data of a program that a user makes a request for recording is recorded in a range recording section 5 and a user identifier to identify the user is recorded in a manner to be associated with the above recording demand range information. Stream data only in a range corresponding to the above recording demand range information of the user recorded by the above demand range recording processing is read out by a redistributing section 7 from the stream data recording section 6 and is redistributed to the user.
US08707017B2 Method and system for managing core configuration information
Embodiments of a method and system for managing a system are disclosed herein. The method and system provides a means to permanently and/or securely store core system configuration information so that the core system configuration information stays with a particular system, such as a computing device or motherboard for example. The method and system provide a means for channel integrators, manufacturers, and technicians to quickly troubleshoot and return a system to full service after receiving the system from a customer as part of an unstable, non-functioning, or other system service event. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08707015B2 Reclaiming physical registers renamed as microcode architectural registers to be available for renaming as instruction set architectural registers based on an active status indicator
A method of operating a processor includes reclaiming a physical register renamed as a microcode architectural register used by a microcode routine. The physical register is reclaimed according to an indicator corresponding to the microcode architectural register and indicating that a pointer to the physical register and corresponding to the microcode architectural register is an active pointer.
US08707014B2 Arithmetic processing unit and control method for cache hit check instruction execution
According to an aspect of an embodiment of the invention, an arithmetic processing unit includes a first cache memory unit that holds a part of data stored in a storage device; an address register that holds an address; a flag register that stores flag information; and a decoder that decodes a prefetch instruction for acquiring data stored at the address in the storage device. The arithmetic processing unit further includes an instruction execution unit that executes a cache hit check instruction instead of the prefetch instruction on the basis of a decoded result when the flag information is held, the cache hit check instruction allowing for searching the first cache memory unit with the address to thereby make a first cache hit determination that the first cache memory unit holds the data stored at the address in the storage device.
US08707013B2 On-demand predicate registers
In accordance with at least some embodiments, a digital signal processor (DSP) includes an instruction fetch unit and an instruction decode unit in communication with the instruction fetch unit. The DSP also includes a register set and a plurality of work units in communication with the instruction decode unit. The register set includes a plurality of legacy predicate registers. Separate from the legacy predicate registers, a plurality of on-demand predicate registers are selectively signaled without changing the opcode space for the DSP.
US08707010B2 Switch, information processing apparatus, and address translation method
A switch connects and disconnects an input and output control device to and from an input and output device. The switch includes a storage unit that stores therein a translation table for use in translating a physical address used on a virtual machine that a guest operating system specifies as a direct memory access transfer destination to the input and output device, into a physical address used on a real machine; and an address translating unit that translates an address contained in a direct memory access request issued by the input and output device into a physical address used on the real machine by referring to the translation table.
US08707007B2 Memory storage device, memory controller thereof, and method for automatically creating fill-file thereof
A memory storage device, a memory controller thereof, and a method for automatically creating a fill-file thereof are provided. In the present method, a plurality of logical addresses is configured and grouped into a plurality of logical blocks to be mapped to physical blocks of a memory chip in the memory storage device. When a host system is powered on, whether the logical addresses have been formatted into a partition is determined. If the logical addresses have been formatted into a partition, whether a fill-file of a predetermined file capacity exists is determined. If the fill-file does not exist, data related to the fill-file is respectively filled into a file allocation table (FAT) and a root directory of the formatted partition when the host system reads the FAT and the root directory, so as to automatically create the fill-file.
US08707006B2 Cache index coloring for virtual-address dynamic allocators
A method for managing a memory, including obtaining a number of indices and a cache line size of a cache memory, computing a cache page size by multiplying the number of indices by the cache line size, calculating a greatest common denominator (GCD) of the cache page size and a first size class, incrementing, in response to the GCD of the cache page size and the first size class exceeding the cache line size, the first size class to generate an updated first size class, calculating a GCD of the cache page size and the updated first size class, creating, in response to the GCD of the cache page size and the updated first size class being less than the cache line size, a first superblock in the memory including a first plurality of blocks of the updated first size class, and creating a second superblock in the memory.
US08707003B1 Rate control for asynchronous data replication
Pacing data transfers includes receiving, at a first storage device, a first plurality of data writes that are written before a first time, receiving, at the first storage device, a second plurality of writes that are written after the first time and before a second time, transferring the first plurality of writes to a corresponding second storage device while the second plurality of data writes are being written to the first storage device, and acknowledging writes to the first storage device, where acknowledging is delayed in response to either the first storage device or the second storage device having a backlog of data. Pacing data transfers may also include providing the second plurality of data writes to cache slots the first storage device.
US08707001B2 Method and system for measuring memory access time using phase detector
Methods and systems for determining a memory access time are provided. A first phase skew is measured between a first clock signal used by a memory and a second clock signal used as a reference clock signal. Then, a second phase skew is measured between a delayed version of the first clock signal output by the memory when the memory completes a given read operation and the second clock signal. The memory access time is determined based on the first and second phase skews.
US08706997B2 Storage device, access control program recording medium, and control method of storage device
A storage device for storing data includes a device configured to store data read or written by a host, a command storage unit configured to store commands transmitted by the host to acquire information relating to the device, a command acquisition unit configured to acquire commands issued to the device when the host requests access to the data stored in the device, and an access determination unit configured to permit the access, if the commands acquired by the command acquisition unit have been stored in the command storage unit.
US08706994B2 Synchronization of replicated sequential access storage components
Various embodiments for synchronization of source and replicated instances of sequential access storage components in a computing environment by a processor device are provided. A replication synchronization table (RST) of a source instance is updated at a source component with the compacted information. Based on the RST of the source instance and the RST of the replicated instance, data representative of a most recent position on the source component from which data should be transmitted to a replicated component to achieve a full synchronization is determined.
US08706992B2 System and method for high performance enterprise data protection
High performance, enterprise-level data protection system and method provides efficient block-level incremental snapshots of primary storage devices, and instant availability of such snapshots in immediately mountable form that can be directly used in place of the primary storage device. Related systems and applications are described, including an “Enterprise Image Destination” (EID) for backup images; a mirroring technique whereby a replacement physical primary facility may be created while working with a second storage unit as the primary source file system; and a technique for eliminating redundant data in backup images when multiple systems with partially common contents (e.g., operating system files, common databases, application executables, etc.) are being backed up. A number of examples showing “Fast Application Restore” (FAR) with the use of the invention are also provided.
US08706990B2 Adaptive internal table backup for non-volatile memory system
Methods and apparatus for allowing tables to be adaptively backed up are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a memory system with a non-volatile memory that includes a reserved memory area, a plurality of physical blocks and a plurality of data structures including an erase count block involves determining when contents associated with at least one data structure of the plurality of data structures are to be substantially backed up. A request to substantially back up the contents associated with the at least one data structure is executed when it is determined that the contents associated with the at least one data structure are to be substantially backed up. Executing the request allows contents associated with the at least one data structure are substantially backed up in the reserved memory area.
US08706986B2 Load equalizing storage controller and control method for the same
An object of the invention is to provide a storage controller and control method that can efficiently and easily prevent reduced data I/O processing performance due to an imbalance between loads on controllers. In the storage controller and control method for providing, to a host computer, logical volumes created in a storage area provided by a storage device and controlling data I/O to/from the logical volumes, the state of loads on the control units for controlling data I/O to/from the logical volumes is monitored, and a control unit allocated to a logical volume is changed to another control unit to equalize loads on the control units.
US08706985B1 System and method for optimizing garbage collection in data storage
The present invention is directed to systems and methods for optimizing garbage collection in data storage. The data storage may be a shingled disk drive or a non-volatile solid-state memory device. Garbage collection is optimized by selectively saving data read from certain locations of the data storage in response to host read commands and using the saved data for subsequent garbage collection operations. The decision of whether to save data may be based on a number of criteria, including whether the data is located in an area of the data storage that is due to be garbage collected in the near future. In this manner, certain garbage collection operations can be performed without having to re-read the saved data.
US08706980B2 Method and apparatus for slice partial rebuilding in a dispersed storage network
A dispersed storage system includes a plurality of storage units that each include a partial rebuild grid module. The partial rebuild grid module includes partial rebuilding functionality to reconstruct one of a plurality of encoded data slices wherein the plurality of encoded data slices are generated from a data segment based on an error encoding dispersal function. In the partial rebuilding process, a data slice is rebuilt by combining in any order slice partials generated from at least a threshold number T of the plurality of data slices.
US08706979B2 Code reuse and locality hinting
A method and apparatus for handling reusable and non-reusable code is herein described. Page table entries include code reuse and locality fields to hold hints for associated pages. If a code reuse and locality field holds a non-reusable value to indicate an associated page holds non-reusable code, then an instruction decoded from the associated page is not stored in the trace to obtain maximum efficiency and power savings from the trace cache and decode logic.
US08706977B2 Method and apparatus for inter-processor communication in mobile terminal
A method for inter-processor communication in a mobile terminal is disclosed. The method of inter-processor communication for a mobile terminal having a first processor, a second processor, and a shared memory includes determining, by the first processor, the size of data to be sent to the second processor, comparing the determined size of the data with the size of one of multiple buffer areas in the shared memory to be used for transmission, rearranging the shared memory according to the data size when the size of the data is greater than the size of the buffer area to be used, and sending the data to the second processor through the rearranged shared memory. It is possible to increase data transfer rates between processors when inter-processor communication is performed through a shared memory in a mobile terminal having multiple processors.
US08706975B1 Memory access management block bind system and method
A shared memory management system and method are described. In one embodiment, a memory management system includes a memory management unit for coordinating context memory storage block binds and independently controlling access to the context memory without interference from other engine activities. In one exemplary implementation the context information is included in a block and the memory management unit binds the block to instance memory. The instance memory can be protected memory. The instance memory can also support multiple channels associated with the plurality of engines. In one exemplary implementation, the instance memory includes a pointer to a page table. The instance memory can also include context save and restore data and each one of the plurality of engines initiates a unique block bind by indicating an association between their engine ID and a given block of instance memory.
US08706974B2 Snoop request management in a data processing system
In a data processing system, a method includes a first master initiating a transaction via a system interconnect to a target device. After initiating the transaction, a snoop request corresponding to the transaction is provided to a cache of a second master. The transaction is completed. After completing the transaction, a snoop lookup operation corresponding to the snoop request in the cache of the second master is performed. The transaction may be completed prior to or after providing the snoop request. In response to performing the snoop lookup operation, a snoop response may be provided, where the snoop response is provided after completing the transaction. When the snoop response indicates an error, a snoop error may be provided to the first master.
US08706971B1 Caching and deduplication of data blocks in cache memory
A storage system comprises a cache for caching data blocks and storage devices for storing blocks. A storage operating system may deduplicate sets of redundant blocks on the storage devices based on a deduplication requirement. Blocks in cache are typically deduplicated based on the deduplication on the storage devices. Sets of redundant blocks that have not met the deduplication requirement for storage devices and have not been deduplicated on the storage devices and cache are targeted for further deduplication processing. Sets of redundant blocks may be further deduplicated based on their popularity (number of accesses) in cache. If a set of redundant blocks in cache is determined to have a combined number of accesses being greater than a predetermined threshold number of accesses, the set of redundant blocks is determined to be “popular.” Popular sets of redundant blocks are selected for deduplication in cache and the storage devices.
US08706963B2 Storage managing system, computer system, and storage managing method
The present invention provides a configuration which can realize both two objects of prevention of performance deterioration and a reduction in storage management cost and shift a volume to a storage device which supports a hierarchical pool. To provide the configuration, a storage managing system acquires access information indicating an access load to a logical volume in a storage subsystem from a device file in a host server as access information in a page unit. The storage managing system acquires, from a storage subsystem having a hierarchical pool function, information concerning the configuration and a capacity of hierarchies of the storage subsystem. A capacity of the logical volume is calculated from the number of pages and a page unit capacity indicated by the access information. The storage managing system calculates, on the basis of information concerning the capacity of the logical volume and information concerning the configuration and the capacity of the hierarchies, a configuration candidate of a hierarchical pool for allocating a storage region for storing data included in the logical volume via the hierarchical pool to a virtual logical pool and outputs the configuration candidate of the hierarchical pool.
US08706960B1 Techniques for performing data migration
Described are techniques for performing data migration for a source logical volume and a target. The target is configured as storage for another mirror of the source logical volume prior to copying data from the source logical volume to the target, and if the target is configured storage of another logical volume of the data storage system, the configured storage is remapped as storage for another mirror of the source logical volume prior to copying data from the source logical volume to the target. One or more invalid bits are set indicating that the target does not contain a valid copy of data from the source logical volume. Data is copied from the first mirror of the source logical volume to the target. Invalid bits are cleared as data portions of the first mirror of the source logical volume are copied to the target.
US08706959B1 Virtual storage machine
The disclosure relates to a method and system for creating a virtual array in a physical array. Unassigned whole volumes in at least one physical array are identified. The identified volumes are associated with a first virtual array. Unique names are given to the identified volumes. At least one path is assigned to the first virtual array. The first virtual array may be associated with a second virtual array. Data may be migrated or replicated from the first virtual array to the second virtual array using existing array services.
US08706954B2 Memory management apparatus and memory management method
A terminal apparatus including a non-volatile memory for which writing is performed in units of blocks; and a control unit configured to perform a first method of managing bad blocks in the non-volatile memory with respect to blocks corresponding to an information management table in a file system of the non-volatile memory, and to perform a second method of managing bad blocks in the non-volatile memory with respect to blocks corresponding to user data in the file system.
US08706953B2 Data storage device and method performing background operation with selected data compression
A method of storing data in a storage medium of a data storage device comprises storing input data in the storage medium, and reading the input data from the storage medium and compressing the read data during a background operation of the data storage device.
US08706951B2 Selectively accessing faster or slower multi-level cell memory
Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with selectively accessing memory are described. In one embodiment, a method detects an indication indicative of whether to program fast access pages or slow access pages of a flash memory. In response to the detected indication, data is programmed from a volatile memory: (1) to the fast access pages of the flash memory while skipping the slow access pages, or (2) to the slow access pages while skipping the fast access pages.
US08706950B2 Memory system
A memory system includes a volatile first storing unit, a nonvolatile second storing unit in which data is managed in a predetermined unit, and a controller that writes data requested by a host apparatus in the second storing unit via the first storing unit and reads out data requested by the host apparatus from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and transfers the data to the host apparatus. The controller includes a management table for managing the number of failure areas in a predetermined unit that occur in the second storing unit and switches, according to the number of failure areas, an operation mode in writing data in the second storing unit from the host apparatus.
US08706948B2 Data writing method for non-volatile memory, and controller and storage system using the same
A data writing method for writing data from a host system into a plurality of memory dies of a rewritable non-volatile memory storage apparatus is provided. The data writing method includes determining whether the data transmission interface of the host system complies with a first interface standard or a second interface standard. The data writing method also includes using a general mode to write the data into the memory dies when the data transmission interface of the host system complies with the first interface standard and using a power saving mode to write the data into the memory dies when the data transmission interface of the host system complies with the second interface standard. Accordingly, the data writing method can effectively prevent the stability of the rewritable non-volatile memory storage apparatus from reducing due to insufficient power supplied by the data transmission interface.
US08706947B1 Virtual machine memory page sharing system
Various embodiments disclosed herein including systems and methods for improving allocation of computing resources in a virtual machine (VM) environment. Embodiments maintain data relating to how VM image data is stored in storage devices and loaded into volatile memory such as random access memory (RAM). The data is then used to identify common content in the volatile memory that can be shared across VM instances. In some embodiments, multiple VM instances can share at least a portion of a single common VM image loaded into a shared volatile memory.
US08706945B2 Memory control device
To provide a technology of increasing the number of ranks of a memory module with a small change in architecture. A memory control device accessing a memory module having a plurality of ranks, includes an interface unit having selection signal lines via which to flow selection signals for selecting the ranks and address signal lines via which to flow address signals specifying addresses on the rank, and a control unit transmitting the signal for selecting the rank via part of the address signal line and via the selection signal line.
US08706944B2 Dual bus standard switching bus controller
In some embodiments, an electronic system includes a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, a bus in communication with the processor, an Express Card controller coupled to the bus, the Express Card controller providing an interface to an external device, a USB3 controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller, and a PCIE controller coupled to the bus and in communication with the Express Card controller. The Express Card controller may be configured to determine whether the external device is a USB3 device or a PCIE device and to switch between the USB3 controller and the PCIE controller based on the state of a USB3 select pin strap. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08706943B2 System for interfacing between a terminal and a smart card, method for same, and smart card applied to same
The present invention provides a system and method for interfacing between a terminal and a smart card embedded within smart card, and a Universal Subscriber Identification Module (USIM), and a smart card applied to the same. That is, the execution procedure of a service application in the smart card is defined using a new interface between the terminal and the smart card by providing construction of a smart card equipped with one or more service applications, executing the special service application according to the request of the terminal, providing an output value according to the execution of the special application to the terminal, and requesting a special I/O device.
US08706939B2 Device for arbitrating bus accesses and method for controlling same
In an information-processing apparatus including a plurality of modules and a first arbiter which arbitrates bus-access requests of the plurality of modules, at least one of the plurality of modules includes a plurality of submodules and a second arbiter which arbitrates bus-access requests of the plurality of submodules and transmits at least one of the bus-access requests of the plurality of submodules to the first arbiter.
US08706938B2 Bandwidth limiting on generated PCIE packets from debug source
Method, circuit, and system for performing an operation for regulating bandwidth, the operation comprising receiving at a memory, debug data packets and functional data packets for transmittal on a shared bus. The operation then transmits, via the shared bus, the functional data packets and one or more of the debug data packets according to a predefined ratio of debug data packets to functional data packets. The operation then drops one or more of the received debug data packets at the memory, and maintains a count of the one or more dropped debug data packets. The operation then updates the predefined ratio based on the count, and uses the updated predefined ratio to transmit the functional data packets and one or more of the debug data packets.
US08706936B2 Integrated circuit having a bus network, and method for the integrated circuit
A bus network passes pending messages from bus interface to bus interface until they are downloaded at a target bus interface by a target device connected to the target bus interface. The messages are tagged with at least one download control bit. The download control bit has a priority state indicating that a message has already passed the target bus interface at least once without being downloaded. When controlling selection of messages for downloading by the target device, the target bus interface selects messages with the download control bit in the priority state with a greater probability than messages not having a download control bit in the priority state.
US08706932B1 Replaceable non-volatile memory apparatus with a plurality of pluggable electrical connectors
In one embodiment of the invention, a replaceable memory apparatus is disclosed. The replaceable memory apparatus includes a first rectangular multilayer printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a first male pluggable electrical connector mounted to the first side near a first edge; a first female pluggable electrical connector mounted to the second side; and first non-volatile memory mounted to the first side and the second side. The first female pluggable electrical connector is coupled to the first male pluggable electrical connector to feed through first signals. The first non-volatile memory is coupled to the first female pluggable electrical connector and the first male pluggable electrical connector to receive the first signals.
US08706930B2 KVM switch, method for controlling the same, switching system for multi-monitor, and switching method for multi-monitor
A KVM switch includes: a first input portion and a second input portion that inputs a plurality of video signals from the first and the second information processing apparatus, respectively; a converting portion that converts the video signals input from the first or second input portion into a plurality of pieces of image data which are capable of being displayed on a remote terminal; a transmitting and receiving portion that transmits the pieces of converted image data to the remote terminal, and receives various requests from the remote terminal; and a switching portion that switches the video signals input from the first input portion to the video signals input from the second input portion when the transmitting and receiving portion receives a switching request for switching from a first information processing apparatus to a second information processing apparatus from the remote terminal.
US08706929B2 Data transfer management
Methods, controllers, and systems for managing data transfer, such as those in solid state drives (SSDs), are described. In some embodiments, the data transfer between a host and a memory is monitored and then assessed to provide an assessment result. A number of storage units of the memory allocated to service another data transfer is adjusted based on the assessment result. Additional methods and systems are also described.
US08706928B2 Integrated circuit and method for reducing violations of a timing constraint
An integrated circuit comprises a shared resource for providing data to a buffer. The buffer is coupled to a buffer level monitor and a filling circuit. An access-requesting circuit is coupled to the shared resource for receiving the data from the shared resource when the access-requesting circuit has access to the shared resource. An arbiter is coupled to the shared resource, the filling circuit, and the access-requesting circuit, for receiving access requests from the filling circuit and from the access-requesting circuit, and for granting to a selected one thereof access to the shared resource. A controller is coupled to the buffer level monitor and to the access-requesting circuit, for causing the access-requesting circuit to reduce a rate of access requests sent to the arbiter when a condition involving the monitored level of data in the buffer indicates an anticipated violation of a timing constraint.
US08706927B2 Method for the recovery of a clock and system for the transmission of data between data memories by remote direct memory access and network station set up to operate in the method as a transmitting or, respectively, receiving station
In the method, data are transmitted between a first memory allocated to a source computer and a second memory allocated to a target computer via a network by remote direct memory access. On the source computer side, a predetermined number of directly consecutive transmission buffers is selected from a continuous buffer memory area and transmitted in a single RDMA transmission process to the target computer. On the target computer side, an RDMA data transfer is executed over the entire continuous buffer memory area and a buffer sequence procedure. The buffer sequence procedure causes the received buffers to be supplied to the target application in the transmitted sequence.
US08706926B2 Architecture for data storage systems
A hard disk controller (HDC) of a hard disk drive (HDD) includes an encoder module, a buffer manager module, N first-in first-out (FIFO) modules, and N read channel modules, where N is an integer greater than 1. The encoder module is configured to encode data received from a host and to generate P units of encoded data, where P is an integer greater than 1. The buffer manager module is configured to store the P units of encoded data in a buffer, retrieve N of the P units from the buffer, and output the N units in parallel. The N FIFO modules are configured to receive the N units in parallel from the buffer manager. The N read channel modules are configured to receive the N units from the N FIFO modules in parallel, respectively, and to output the N units to a magnetic medium of the HDD.
US08706921B2 Software initialization of USB devices on a single bus
A method of initializing programmable devices on a shared bus, comprises, on power up, loading control instructions on a processor from an attached tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium, automatically allowing a first programmable device on a common bus to exit its reset state and enter a read-to-program state as the computer system powers up, automatically holding a second programmable device on the common bus in its reset state, querying the common bus by the processor to identify the first programmable device, copying the contents of a program image file by the processor from the computer-readable medium across the common bus to the first programmable device, and once the first programmable device has been programmed with the contents of the program image file, signaling the first programmable device to release the reset hold on the second programmable device.
US08706920B2 Accessory protocol for touch screen device accessibility
Techniques for controlling a touch input device using an accessory communicatively coupled to the device are disclosed. In one aspect, an accessibility framework is launched on the device. An accessory coupled to the device is detected. Receipt of input from the accessory is enabled. An accessibility packet is received from the accessory. The accessibility packet includes an accessibility command and one or more parameters. The accessibility packet is processed to extract the first accessibility command and the one or more parameters. Input is generated for the accessibility framework based on the accessibility command and the one or more parameters. In some implementations, the device also sends accessibility commands to the accessory, either in response to accessibility commands received from the accessory or independent of any received accessibility commands.
US08706919B1 System and method for storage and retrieval of personal preference audio settings on a processor-based host
A system and method for automatic storage and retrieval of personal audio settings used with telephony or other audio or multimedia application software running on stand-alone or networked computers or other processor-based host systems are disclosed. The system generally includes an audio device adapted to communicate with a processor-based host executing an audio software application, the audio device having configurable user-specific settings associated therewith. The audio software application enables the host to store audio settings specific to each user and to selectively retrieve and apply user-specific settings to the audio device for the current user. Examples of audio settings include audio device model, inbound and outbound volume levels, tone, frequency response, and sidetone volume. The audio device communicates with the host via a communications port such as a USB port. The host may be on a network sharing access to a central audio settings storage with other processor-based hosts via the network. Each user may store audio settings for multiple audio device such that the audio software application selectively retrieves the audio settings for the current user and for the audio device being used by the current user.
US08706917B1 General purpose input/output controller
The present invention permits an I/O port to be used with a variety of different I/O devices, regardless of their device type implementation. Thus, one set of pins may be used for various different I/O devices.
US08706911B2 Power saving display information converting system and method
Display information to be displayed by a display device having a power consumption model is converted according to a power-saving conversion model and the power consumption model, such that the power consumption of the display device for displaying the converted display information is lower than that for displaying the original display information.
US08706908B2 System, method and apparatus for media access control (MAC) address proxying
A method for link layer address proxying includes receiving a first data packet from a first client device. The first data packet has a first source data link layer address field and a first source network layer address field. The method further includes determining a first data link layer address value associated with the first client device from the first source data link layer address field. The method further includes determining a first network layer address value associated with the first client device from the first source network layer address field, and translating the first data link layer address value into a proxy data link layer address value assigned to the first client device. The method still further includes replacing the first data link layer address value within the first source data link layer address field with the proxy data link layer address value to produce a first proxied data packet, and forwarding the first proxied data packet to a destination device.
US08706907B2 Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus
A method for transferring a complete copy of media designated as time-sensitive over a network. The method involves transmitting media designated as time-sensitive from sending node to a receiving node and receiving the media designated as time-sensitive at the receiving node. At the receiving node, any missing media designated as time sensitive is noted. One or more receipt reports are generated at the receiving node and are sent back to the sending node, the receipt reports including a low priority request for retransmission of the identified missing media. In response, the sending node retransmits the low priority request for retransmission, the retransmission occurring when bandwidth on the network in excess of what is needed to transmit time-sensitive media becomes available. Eventually a complete copy of the media including the missing media is obtained at the receiving node after the retransmission.
US08706906B2 Multipath routing process
Methods and apparatus that enable more than one server to host a resource using a shared IP address such that a client may generally access the resource on any of the servers using the shared IP address are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing paths that allow a client to access a resource in a TCP/IP network includes obtaining an IP address, as well as associating the IP address to first and second servers. The first and second servers support the resource at the IP address, and a first path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the first server and a second path of the plurality of paths that allow the client to access the resource is between the client and the second server.
US08706903B2 Audio on-demand communication system
An audio-on-demand communication system provides real-time playback of audio data transferred via telephone lines or other communication links. One or more audio servers include memory banks which store compressed audio data. At the request of a user at a subscriber PC, an audio server transmits the compressed audio data over the communication link to the subscriber PC. The subscriber PC receives and decompresses the transmitted audio data in less than real-time using only the processing power of the CPU within the subscriber PC. According to one aspect of the present invention, high quality audio data compressed according to lossless compression techniques is transmitted together with normal quality audio data. According to another aspect of the present invention, metadata, or extra data, such as text, captions, still images, etc., is transmitted with audio data and is simultaneously displayed with corresponding audio data.
US08706898B2 Navigating a video, a transcript of a dialog, and a histogram
A method and apparatus for navigating a media program via a searchable transcript of the dialog of the media program is disclosed. In one embodiment, a textural transcript of the dialog is generated, wherein the textural transcript comprising a plurality of portions wherein each portion is associated with a segment of the media program, a command is accepted to display the transcript and in response to that command, user interface data is transmitted to the client computer for presentation in a user interface, wherein the user interface comprising a concurrently presented media program player and the textural transcript.
US08706892B2 Communication system and server
A SOAP-SIP adapter 2 establishes a session with the terminals 5b and 5c in accordance with a SIP. At this time, the SOAP-SIP adapter 2 sends an INVITE message including its own IP address and port number to the terminals 5b and 5c. Each terminal 5b, 5c sends a 200 OK including its own IP address and port number to the SOAP-SIP adapter 2. The SOAP-SIP adapter 2 stores correspondingly the IP address and port number of each terminal 5b, 5c in a memory. The SOAP-SIP adapter 2 transfers a media stream received from each terminal 5b, 5c to the destination of the corresponding IP address and port number by referring to the memory. Also, a pseudo RBT is sent to the terminal A5b from establishing the session with the terminal A5b till establishing the session with the terminal B5c to prevent a silent state.
US08706891B2 Method and communication device for transmitting packet-oriented information
A communication network (PKN) fashioned in conformance with at least one transmission protocol is configured such that data packets (BPDU) having first address information (08 address) as protocol-specific address information are processed under the at least one transmission protocol. At least one communication device (PB) is assigned to the communication network (PKN), which communication device is fashioned in such a manner that second address information (00 address) is configured as protocol-specific address information and that data packets (BPDU) having the second address information (00 address) are processed under the at least one transmission protocol. According to the invention, in the case of data packets (PB) incoming at the communication device (PB) and containing first address information (08 address), this is replaced by the second address information (00 address) and the converted data packets (BPDU′) are processed further by the communication device (PB). Advantageously, communication devices with a predetermined address configuration can be used in communication networks with different address configurations, as a result of which a cost saving is achieved.
US08706886B2 Method and system of digital content sharing among users over communications networks , related telecommunications network architecture and computer program product therefor
A method and a system for digital content sharing between individual users in a peer-to-peer fashion, wherein each user is connected to a respective local access network through a transport network. The method and system provide local network storage areas associated with each user arranged for archiving digital contents, and carry out the transferring of contents via the transport network from a storage area associated with a user holding requested contents to a remote network storage area associated with a requesting user on a different access network according to the connectivity available on the transport network. The shared contents are made available for access by the requesting user on its local network storage area. A telecommunications network architecture includes the system so that there is a plurality of services of content sharing between pairs of individual users implementing the above method.
US08706885B2 Systems and methods for health based spillover
The present solution provides a spillover management technique for virtual servers of an appliance based on health. Using a health based spillover technique, a network appliance may direct requests to a backup or second virtual server upon determining that a predetermined percentage of services being load balanced are down. In this manner, the spillover will occur based on a user controlled determination of a level of services being down to the number of services enabled. Instead of waiting for a last service of a virtual server to be marked down to spillover to another virtual server, the spillover may occur based on a user specified percentage. For example, the appliance may spillover from one virtual server to another virtual server when the number of services marked down relative to the number of enabled services falls below a specified percentage.
US08706882B2 Apparatus and method for allocating devices to a communication route
There is provided an apparatus and method for allocating devices to a communication route. Network topology information and device information including a device-cost assigned to each of candidate-devices allowed to be allocated to a plurality of segments on the communication route are provided. An integer/linear programming problem is generated to obtain a feasible device-allocation, and an objective function for calculating an objective function value is defined. A sequence of feasible device-allocations are generated by sequentially generating a next feasible device-allocation from a current feasible device-allocation while improving an objective function value until the objective function value is not improved any more, and the last one of the sequence of feasible device-allocations is determined to be an optimum device-allocation. The next feasible device-allocation is generated from the current feasible device-allocation by replacing a basic candidate-device with an alternative candidate-device selected based on reduced-costs calculated for nonbasic candidate-devices.
US08706880B2 Manage a shared computing resource based on resource use reports
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to managing a shared computing resource based on resource use reports. In one embodiment, a manager electronic device manages a shared computing resource based on resource use reports from agent electronic devices. The manager electronic device may send resource use instructions to the agent electronic devices, and the agent electronic devices may use the resource based on the instructions.
US08706879B2 Automated discovery and inventory of nodes within an autonomic distributed computing system
A distributed computing system conforms to a multi-level, hierarchical organizational model. One or more control nodes provide for the efficient and automated allocation and management of computing functions and resources within the distributed computing system in accordance with the organization model. The model includes four distinct levels: fabric, domains, tiers and nodes that provide for the logical abstraction and containment of the physical components as well as system and service application software of the enterprise. A user, such as a system administrator, interacts with the control nodes to logically define the hierarchical organization of distributed computing system. The control node detects the addition of a node added to the network and automatically identifies attributes for the detected node.
US08706878B1 Preferential loading in data centers
Infrastructure is disclosed for optimizing performance and minimizing errors during normal operation of replicated data centers. In some implementations, systems that are replicated in each data center under a common IP address may have service requests routed to them using routing tables that favor one of the systems. The routing tables may prefer the system that resides in the data center where the service requests originated, or they may prefer the system that meets other criteria. Other systems replicated in the data center may have service requests routed to them using configuration tables that favor one of the systems. The configuration tables may also prefer the system that resides in the data center where the service requests originated, or they may prefer the system that meets other criteria. This arrangement helps optimize performance during normal operation and minimize potential for disruption of service should one of the data centers fail.
US08706877B2 Systems and methods for providing client-side dynamic redirection to bypass an intermediary
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for dynamically redirecting on a client communications of the client with a server to bypass an intermediary that is determined to be unavailable for such communications. An acceleration program on the client establishes a transport layer connection between the client and server, and intercepts communications of the client to the server. The transport layer connection may be established via an intermediary, such as a gateway, proxy or appliance. If the client-side acceleration program determines the intermediary is not available for communicating by the client to the server, the acceleration program automatically establishes a second transport layer connection to the server in order to bypass the intermediary. The acceleration program then transmits the intercepted communications of the client via the second transport layer connection to the server. The acceleration program may automatically redirect intercepted communications of the client to the server transparently to any user or application of the client.
US08706876B2 Method and system for tunable distribution of content
A method and system for tunable distribution of content are disclosed. Preferably, the content comprises digital rights and/or watermark information. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving a request from a client. One or more content files related to the request and a user profile of a user are determined. One or more seeders are assigned to start the delivery of the one or more content files. The client is allowed to obtain a plurality of pieces of the one or more content files from the one or more seeders. At least one piece of the plurality of pieces of the one or more content files contains digital rights and/or watermark information.
US08706875B2 Sharing access to application located on a smart card for clients in parallel
This patent application relates to a method, a computer program product, a computer program, an apparatus, and a system for sharing an access to at least one application located on a smart card unit.
US08706874B2 Remote configuration of a hardware setting on one or more target computing device(s)
A method includes registering one or more target computing device(s) with a request processing module of a server computing device and an application executing on a client computing device communicatively coupled to the server computing device, and initiating, through the application, a request to configure a hardware setting on the one or more target computing device(s) based on a communication mechanism. The method also includes processing, through the request processing module, the request to generate a validated message related to the hardware setting configuration and to extract information related to identifiers of the one or more target computing device(s), a hardware thereof and the hardware setting. Further, the method includes redirecting the validated message to the one or more target computing device(s) along with the extracted information, and interpreting the received validated message and the extracted information at the one or more target computing device(s).
US08706869B2 Distributed cloud placement software
Techniques are described for distributed placement of a request on one of a plurality of deployment nodes. Embodiments receive a request specifying resource requirements for instantiating the request, and transmit at least an indication of the resource requirements to the plurality of deployment nodes. An indication of suitability is then received from at least two of the plurality of deployment nodes, the indication of suitability describing a suitability of the respective deployment node for instantiating the request. Embodiments select one of the at least two deployment nodes based on the indications of suitability, and transmit the request to the selected deployment node for instantiation.
US08706863B2 Systems and methods for monitoring data and bandwidth usage
Access to a communications network may be provided via a data provider that may charge for access. In some cases, the access fee may be related to the amount of network resources consumed (e.g., amount of data downloaded or bandwidth used). In some cases, a user may have access to a particular amount of data provider resources and be required to pay an additional fee for using resources in excess of the particular amount. To assist the user in managing his data resource consumption, a resource utilization component may provide different alerts and notices informing the user of current consumption, expected future consumption, and recommendations for reducing data provider resources consumed (e.g., stopping particular processes or data provider requests, such as downloading media). If several electronic devices in a network are connected to the same data provider resources, a network component may manage the data provider resource use among the several electronic devices (e.g., allow only particular users or devices access).
US08706862B2 Methods and apparatus for performing non-intrusive data link layer performance measurement in communication networks
Methods and apparatus for performing non-intrusive data link layer performance measurement in communication networks are disclosed. An example method to measure data link layer performance between existing network nodes disclosed herein comprises coupling a first intelligent network interface (INI) to an available access port of a first existing network node providing access to a network, wherein the first INI obtains power and input information only from the access port after being coupled thereto, and exchanging test messages between the first INI and a second INI coupled to a second existing network node during normal operation of the first and second existing network nodes to measure data link layer performance, wherein the test messages originate in the first INI and are routed through the first and second existing network nodes using a first data link layer address associated with the first INI and a second data link layer address associated with the second INI.
US08706855B2 Method and apparatus for idling a network connection
The described embodiments provide a system that controls the operating state of a network interface. During operation, in response to receiving a request from an application to use the network interface for a route, the system creates a route structure for the route and increments a route reference counter in an interface data structure for the network interface. Upon subsequently determining that the application is no longer using the route, the system sets a route expiration timer in the route structure to a predetermined expiration time. When the route expiration timer expires, the system deletes the route structure and decrements the route reference counter in the interface data structure. When decrementing the route reference counter in the interface data structure causes the route reference counter to be equal to zero, the system sends a signal to a configuration application to inform the application that the network interface can be idled.
US08706852B2 Automated scaling of an application and its support components
An execution environment provides a plurality of components that support execution of an application, wherein the plurality of components and the application are hosted by a plurality of nodes arranged in one or more clusters. The execution environment monitors runtime behavior of the application and the plurality of components, and generates a scaling event based on a comparison of the runtime behavior to one or more scaling policies. The execution environment automatically scales at least one of the application or a component of the plurality of components if the scaling event does not violate a constraint, wherein the scaling comprises adding a new node to at least one cluster of the one or more clusters or removing a node from at least one cluster of the one or more clusters based on the scaling event.
US08706850B2 Computer system and configuration management method therefor
Provided is a computer system that requires only a server administrator for construction thereof and configuration change thereof. A management server acquires connection destination interface identifiers set for external apparatuses, stores the connection destination interface identifiers into a first table, acquires specifications of server computers and identifiers of the server computers, stores the specifications and the identifiers into a second table, acquires specifications of external apparatuses, stores the specifications into the first table, receives a profile to be deployed onto one of the server computers, acquires a server computer satisfying the profile from the second table, acquires an external apparatus satisfying the profile from the first table, acquires a connection destination interface identifier from the first table, and notifies the server computer acquired from the second table of the acquired interface identifier, and the server computer updates an interface identifier of an interface by the received interface identifier.
US08706845B2 Method, apparatus, and system for maintaining status of bootstrap peer
A method for maintaining the status of a bootstrap peer includes: selecting a bootstrap peer; obtaining the status information of the bootstrap peer; updating a local bootstrap peer list according to the status information of the bootstrap peer. An apparatus and system for maintaining the status of a bootstrap peer are also disclosed. The bootstrap peer list is updated according to the status information of the selected bootstrap peer, which ensures the validity of the bootstrap peer list on the bootstrap server so that the information in the bootstrap peer list obtained by a joining peer is valid. This improves the success rate of joining the overlay network by the joining peer, shortens the joining process time of the joining peer, and implements load balancing between the bootstrap peers.
US08706844B2 Provision of troubleshooting tools in a network system
In an embodiment, a method is provided for providing a tool used for troubleshooting a component. This tool is included in an application server that is in communication with multiple client computing devices. Here, a request to activate the tool is received from one or more client computing devices. This request includes a diagnostic identifier that uniquely identifies the client computing device that transmitted the request. Upon receipt of the request, the tool is activated at the application server with the diagnostic identifier used as an input parameter. When activated, the tool can identify the client computing device based on the diagnostic identifier and can provide a functionality associated with the troubleshooting to the client computing device.
US08706840B2 System and method for provisioning a remote resource for an electronic device
The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprises the steps of: downloading access information from the server for the resource; presenting the resource for selection on a graphical user interface (GUI) rendered on a display; sending a request to the server to download the resource from the communications network; and after receiving the resource from the communications network, integrating the resource into the application.
US08706838B2 Testing apparatus, testing method and computer-readable storage medium
A testing apparatus includes a storage to store a communication log including a communication time and a response confirmation number of packets, and a processing circuit to generate an additional packet having a communication time and a response confirmation number between two consecutive packets having an interval greater than or equal to a threshold value in the communication log. The interval may be an interval of the communication times of or, an interval of the response confirmation numbers of the two consecutive packets. The testing apparatus also includes an interface unit to send the packets stored in the storage and the additional packet to a destination at a time interval based on communication times thereof.
US08706837B2 System and method for managing switch and information handling system SAS protocol communication
An SAS domain map is automatically generated at an SAS concentrator switch by a virtual mapping device that presents itself as a target for discovery by SAS devices interfaced with the concentrator, such as information handling systems and storage devices. During the SAS protocol discovery process, the virtual mapping device generates the SAS domain map by acquiring the device name and the device port for each concentrator port that interfaces with a device. A management application running on the concentrator applies the SAS domain map to provide network functions, such as zoning or diagnostics.
US08706835B2 Method and apparatus for virtualizing an address book for access via, and display on, a handheld device
A method and apparatus turns a typical home telephone system into a platform for delivery of web based content and services. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a broadband enabled telephone system for the home and a series of web servers that collect, package, and deliver personalized content and services to all of the telephone handsets throughout the home. With this end-to-end solution, any information or services available via the web can be delivered through a broadband enabled telephone system. Through the web, each member of a family can build a profile which defines what information and services they want available through the handset. In addition, each handset can be dynamically personalized for any family member. The color screens on the handsets become windows through which an individual can view and interact with a broad range of content and services. The audio channels thus become an extension of the voice based services, such as messaging and voice chat.
US08706834B2 Methods and apparatus for remotely updating executing processes
Methods, apparatus, and computer-accessible storage media for remotely updating an executing process that receives I/O requests on I/O port(s), stores write data to a write log on local storage, and uploads data from the write log to remote storage. An update for the process is detected and downloaded, and an updated process is instantiated from the update. The current process is directed to perform a shutdown for update during an update window. In response, the current process saves its current configuration, flushes an in-memory portion of the write log to local storage, and releases its I/O port(s). The updated process loads the saved configuration, detects that the port(s) have been released, and starts accepting I/O requests on the ports. During flushing, the current process flushes current data in memory while continuing to append new write data, stops accepting new write requests, and then flushes the new write data.
US08706832B2 Low latency, high bandwidth data communications between compute nodes in a parallel computer
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for data transfers between nodes in a parallel computer that include: receiving, by an origin DMA on an origin node, a buffer identifier for a buffer containing data for transfer to a target node; sending, by the origin DMA to the target node, a RTS message; transferring, by the origin DMA, a data portion to the target node using a memory FIFO operation that specifies one end of the buffer from which to begin transferring the data; receiving, by the origin DMA, an acknowledgement of the RTS message from the target node; and transferring, by the origin DMA in response to receiving the acknowledgement, any remaining data portion to the target node using a direct put operation that specifies the other end of the buffer from which to begin transferring the data, including initiating the direct put operation without invoking an origin processing core.
US08706831B2 Device and method for controlling dissemination of contents between peers having wireless communication capacities, depending on vote vectors
A method is intended for controlling dissemination of content in a peer-to-peer mode between peers having wireless communication capacities and comprising a cache memory for storing contents. This method consists, each time a peer, having a group of variable values each associated to a content it can store into its cache memory and representative of utility that storing of this content represents for it and for other peers, accesses to a wireless network or to another peer offering access to these contents, in downloading N contents having the N highest variable values into its group, N being a number depending on the storage capacity the peer is ready to use into its cache memory to store contents to be downloaded.
US08706828B2 All hazards information distribution method and system, and method of maintaining privacy of distributed all-hazards information
An information distribution method includes: gathering all-hazards information into an information exchange from a first information source; gathering all-hazards information into the information exchange from a second information source; distributing the all-hazards information from the information exchange to a first independently-controlled alert network; distributing the all-hazards information from the information exchange to a second independently-controlled alert network.
US08706826B2 Automatically enabling the forwarding of instant messages
In some examples, an instant message addressed to an intended instant messaging recipient may be forwarded to the recipient's mobile telephone when the recipient's mobile telephone number is known to the instant message sender. In one example, an instant message is forwarded to the intended recipient's mobile telephone number when the instant message sender's contact information for the intended recipient includes an instant message address (e.g., a screen name or other type of instant message identifier) and a mobile telephone number, without dependence upon the intended recipient's presence on the instant message (IM) system or through actual login or registration with an IM forwarding service. In another example, an instant message addressed to an intended instant messaging recipient is forwarded to the recipient's mobile telephone when the recipient is known to the instant message sender.
US08706823B2 Bulk message identification
Distinctively treating digital communications sent by bulk message senders includes providing a set of bulk sender behavior policies and monitoring compliance by a bulk message sender with the set of policies. Based on compliance by the bulk message sender with the set of policies, digital communications sent by the bulk message sender are distinctively treated.
US08706821B2 Method and apparatus for time adaptation of online services to user behavior
An approach is provided for time adaption of online services. Timing information relating to usage by a user of one or more online services is retrieved. A pattern of consistent usage is determined from the timing information. Scheduling information is generated for transmission of a message based on the determined pattern.
US08706814B2 Method and apparatus for layering software agents in a distributed computing system
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for layering agents in a distributed computing system. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring and controlling a distributed computer network including a plurality of components (e.g., devices) includes a plurality of cells, each of the cells being deployed to directly monitor and control one of the components of the network. The system also includes at least one federation, where the federation is made up of cells that cooperate to solve common problems, and at least one supercell, where the supercell provides supplemental decision making capabilities to the cells and federations. In this manner, problems detected by a cell that cannot be resolved by the cell may be forwarded to the cell's associated federations or supercells for resolution.
US08706813B2 Populating online forums
In general, in one aspect, a forum for user interaction is provided. A clone of the forum is created, thereby allowing any number of users to be in the same forum while limiting the number of users in each instance of the forum. It is determined whether a relationship exists between a user entering the forum and one or more other users entering the forum or with one or more other users already in the forum. If a relationship exists, the user entering the forum is placed in a clone of the forum based on the relationship.
US08706810B2 Real-time collaborative document review and transfer method and system
A computer based document review and transfer system and method is disclosed. In an embodiment, the system receives a request from user for a unique identifier (ID). The system generates a unique ID and assigns it to the user. Users access the system to upload documents and other data. Users can request that documents and data be sent to another user by referencing the other user's unique ID. The system stores all documents and data on a cloud server that is accessible from any type of user device. Data consistency is maintained across devices. Access to documents and data comprises collaborative review of a document simultaneously by multiple users, revision of the document by one or more users; recording comments on the document by one or more users, and transfer of the document to various user devices. Data analytics are also performed on the data and various statistical information made available to users.
US08706809B2 Systems and methods of creative work collaborative systems
Systems, methods, and tangible computer-readable storage mediums for tracking collaboration are presented. More particularly, embodiments relate to providing, using a processor, an environment for collaboration between users; and tracking, using the processor, information regarding the collaboration; such that the tracked information includes rights information regarding rights of the collaborating users. Some further embodiments include storing, in a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, the rights information. Some further embodiments include determining compensation for at least one user based on the rights information. Some further embodiments include: storing, in a non-transient, computer-readable storage medium, initial content; and storing, in the storage medium, additional content, such that the additional content builds on the initial content.
US08706807B2 System and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television system
A computerized system and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television (IPTV) system are disclosed including structures and methods for allocating an IPTV video conference channel to groups of video conference participants' set top boxes (STBs), accessing STB data at the server indicating a group of video conference participants' STBs in the groups of video conference participants' STBs, the group of STBs being associated with one video conference data, mapping at the server, the video conference channel to the group of video conference participants' STBs and to one IP address for the one of the video conferences data, and delivering from the server over the video conference channel from a first one of the of IP addresses, the first one of the video conferences data to the first group of video conference participants' STBs.
US08706806B2 Technique for enabling a plurality of software components to communicate in a software component matrix environment
A technique for enabling a plurality of software components to communicate in a software component matrix environment is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized by a method for enabling a plurality of software components to communicate in a software component matrix environment comprising the steps of encoding a request at a client side; communicating the request to a server at a server side via a communication interface; comparing the request to a plurality of operations supported at the server side; determining whether a function match exists at the server side; and returning a response comprising the function match to the client side in response to the request via the communication interface wherein the response is mapped to a data model of a client.
US08706805B2 Information caching system
A method, data processing system, and computer program product for caching information. A computer determines whether at least one of a client data processing system and a hardware device in a plurality of hardware devices has performed a number of operations that have been identified as being associated with a request that is sent to a first hardware device in the plurality of hardware devices. The first hardware device is configured to obtain information from a second hardware device in the plurality of hardware devices for use in generating a response to the request. The computer caches the information in a cache for the plurality of hardware devices prior to a subsequent request for the information being sent to the first hardware device in response to a determination that the at least one of the client data processing system and the hardware device has performed the number of operations.
US08706797B2 Image processing system for an x-ray installation
The invention relates to an image processing system for an x-ray installation or such like having at least one image source, a plurality of computing units for processing different algorithms, at least one non-volatile storage and a data sink, with the image source, the plurality of computing units, the non-volatile storage and the data sink each being physically connected to at least one control unit operating as a circuit module in a physical network, as a result of which a star-shaped logical topology can be configured by the control unit.
US08706795B2 SIMD integer addition including mathematical operation on masks
Methods, apparatuses, and articles associated with SIMD adding two integers are disclosed. In embodiments, a method may include element-wise SIMD adding corresponding elements of a first SIMD-sized integer (A) and a second SIMD-sized integer (B) to generate a SIMD-sized integer result (R) and a carry bit. A may have an integer size (SizeA), while B may have an integer size (SizeB). The addition, in response to SizeA greater than SizeB, may further include updating R and the carry bit in view of one or more elements of A that do not have corresponding element or elements of B. Further, element-wise SIMD adding may include performing one or more mathematical operations on first one or more masks, with the first one or more masks interpreted as integers, and interpreting one or more integer results of the one or more mathematical operations as second one or more masks.
US08706793B1 Multiplier circuits with optional shift function
Multiplier circuits that can optionally be configured as bit shifters. An exemplary multiplier includes a one-hot circuit, a multi-bit multiplexing circuit, and a multiply block. The one-hot circuit has a multi-bit input and a multi-bit output. The multiplexing circuit has first and second multi-bit inputs and a multi-bit output, with the first input of the multiplexing circuit being coupled to the output of the one-hot circuit. The multiply block has first and second multi-bit inputs and a multi-bit output, with the first input of the multiply block being coupled to the output of the multiplexing circuit. When selected by the multiplexer, the position of the single high bit in the one-hot circuit output determines the number of bits by which the multiplier output is shifted relative to the second multiplier input. When the one-hot circuit output is not selected as an input to the multiplier, the multiplier performs a multiply function.
US08706792B1 Low-complexity q-ary LDPC decoder
f(x(sk−1, sk))=A(sk−1)+B(sk) is calculated for nm2 pairs of consecutive state variables {sk−1, sk} using A(sk)=minsk−1,x{A(sk−1)+Γ(xk=x)} and B(sk)=minsk+1,x{B(sk+1)+Γ(xk+1=x, sk+1)}, where Γ(xk=x) is a metric associated with a branch xk=x connecting consecutive state variables sk−1 and sk. The nm lowest values are selected from the nm2 calculated values of f(x(sk−1, sk))=A(sk−1)+B(sk) and log likelihood ratios (LLRs) are set to those lowest f(x(sk−1, sk)) values. The nm values of x that correspond to the nm lowest values are determined.
US08706791B2 Low power fir filter in multi-MAC architecture
Embodiments of the invention are directed to system and method that enable relatively low power dissipation by scheduling operations of multiply accumulators chain of two or more multiply accumulators units by delivering an output result of a first multiply accumulator of the chain as an input to a second subsequent multiply accumulator of the chain.
US08706790B1 Implementing mixed-precision floating-point operations in a programmable integrated circuit device
The resources needed—particularly in a programmable device—when carrying out a mixed-precision multiplication-based floating-point operation (i.e., multiplication or division) is reduced by maintaining the mantissas of the operands in their native precisions instead of promoting the lower-precision number to the higher precision. Exponents and other elements can be handled by the higher-precision logic as they do not consume significant resources.
US08706788B2 Modular calculator, operation method of the modular calculator, and apparatuses having the same
A modular calculator and a method of performing a modular calculation are provided. The modular calculator includes a first register to receive and to store a first integer, a second register to receive and to store a second integer, a calculator connected to an output terminal of the first register and an output terminal of the second register, and a controller to determine an arithmetic operation of the calculator by referring to a sign of the first integer and a sign of the second integer and to control the calculator to perform the determined arithmetic operation on one of an addition and a subtraction of the first integer and the second integer and a modulus value.
US08706777B2 Media content catalogs
In a method in a computer system for displaying on a display device a personal catalog of media content, a plurality of media content listings is received from a plurality of network enabled media devices. The plurality of network enabled media devices has common ownership with the computer system, which comprises a network enabled media device. The plurality of media content listings and a media content listing of the computer system are used to compile a personal catalog of media content. The personal catalog of media content is displayed on the display device.
US08706776B1 Extending status models in a computer system
A design-time status schema model is defined at design-time and includes a core status schema group and an. a status schema model. The status schema model includes a core status schema group and an extended status schema group. The status schema model also includes a precondition included in one of the status schema groups. The precondition identifies how a status affects whether an action included in the other of the status schema groups is to be allowed to be performed at runtime by a data object node instance having the status. Based on a status schema instance, the status of a data object node instance is monitored to determine whether the action is allowed to be performed by the data object node instance. In response to a determination that the action is allowed, enabling the action to be executed.
US08706775B2 Editing device and editing method using metadata
A waiting time until editing starts is shortened. Metadata that are a part of metadata are transferred from an optical disc set in a disc unit to an HDD in an editing device. The metadata are text data including a clip ID and continuing time information of material data, and they are small in information quantity. Thus, a waiting time for waiting for the completion of metadata transfer does not take place, and immediately after the optical disc is set editing processing can start. An editor selects a clip in accordance with a clip ID included in the metadata. Further, the editor selects a used portion of the clip in accordance with the continuing time information included in the metadata. Editing data are generated on the basis of these selected results.
US08706774B2 GINA WorldSpace
A multi-dimensional information access capability, WorldSpace, within a Global Information Network Architecture (GINA) can create a user-definable environment for managing information access within the GINA object-oriented, software-based modeling environment for the modeling of various data sources and allowing queries and transactions across those sources. The modeling environment is described in itself, and is used to describe the model for information access. GINA WorldSpace allows different users to have different views of data sources depending upon their WorldSpace definition, which controls a user's view of the data source. The WorldSpace definition can use the attributes that makes the user unique and map them through GINA vectors to the characteristics of information to which the user has access. Attributes can include username, roles, language, locale, organization, and/or others. WorldSpace views can also impact the behavior of the data sources.
US08706772B2 Strict tenant isolation in multi-tenant enabled systems
A plurality of partitions can be defined in a database for a multi-tenant computing system provided on one or more processors such that each partition of the plurality of partitions is associated with only one business tenant of a set of business tenants supported by the multi-tenant system. The database can stored shared content that is shared among and accessible to all tenants of the multi-tenant computing system while tenant content for each business tenant can be stored in the database in one partition of the plurality of partitions. The one partition can be assigned to an associated business tenant. At least a portion of the tenant content can be unique to and associated with the associated business tenant. One or more errors can be generated to prevent tenant content associated with a first business tenant of the set of business tenants from being accessed by a second business tenant of the set of business tenants when an application code executed within the multi-tenant computing system comprises a construct that would otherwise enable cross-tenant access by the second business tenant to tenant content associated with the first business tenant. Related systems, methods, and computer program products are described.
US08706771B2 Systems and methods for analyzing and transforming an application from a source installation to a target installation
The present application is directed towards systems and methods for analyzing and transforming an application from a source installation to a target installation. Customized functions, objects, databases, and code of the source installation may be analyzed in accordance with analysis rules to create a meta-model representative of the elements of the customized elements and their relationships with each other and objects of the source installation. Responsive to transformation rules, the meta-model may be modified to create a transformed meta-model representative of the elements and their relationships with each other and objects of the target installation. The transformations may then be applied to the customized functions, objects, databases, and code of the source installation to convert them into transformed functions, objects, databases, and code, compatible with the target installation.
US08706766B2 System and method for triggering a provisioning event
Systems and methods are provided for triggering a provisioning event in a service provider using a provisioning request message generated by an external system. A provisioning system may be used to receive the provisioning request message from the external system and transmit information in the provisioning request message to the service provider to trigger the provisioning event. The provisioning request message may have a data structure that includes a header section and a body section. The body section may contain a provisioning entity section that includes information identifying an entity to which the provisioning event pertains, wherein the provisioning entity section includes one or more attributes defined by the external system.
US08706765B2 Method to raise accuracy of targeting the segmentation for sample distribution
To enhance the targeting accuracy in providing services such as provision of samples for members by performing management of member information and authentication while securing personal anonymity. There is provided a center server and a store terminal. The center server gives a unique ID to a member application, sends it to a particular mobile information terminal and manages it as authentication information about a member who is the user of the mobile information terminal. In response to purchases of a particular article by the member, the store terminal inputs the ID from the mobile information terminal and inputs purchase information about the article the member purchases. The center server then acquires attribute information about a member identified by the ID. Then, by checking the purchase information, the attribute information and service information set in association with attribute information about the member and kinds of articles and stored in particular storage means, information about a service to be provided for the member is identified.
US08706763B1 Method and system for storing, retrieving, and sharing data using a field-accessed database system comprising a mobile unit
A method using a field-accessed database system identifies an object by a data identifier, and stores and/or retrieves object data using the associated data identifier. In one mode of operation, a field terminal uploads to a database object-based data and employs the associated data identifier to group the uploaded object data with object data relating to other objects having substantially similar data identifiers. In another mode of operation, the system identifies one or more data products stored in a database and previously grouped according to an identified object's data identifier, and a field terminal downloads from database one or more data products related to the identified object and processes downloaded data products for user access.
US08706760B2 Method to delay locking of server files on edit
A server is implemented with a modified file open action, which, when a user performs the modified open, initially opens a file without locking the file. When a user indicates (either explicitly or implicitly) that the user is attempting to or intending to open the file, the file can then be locked for editing. In this way, the default action when a user requests a file is to open the file without denying other users access to the file. Then, when the user indicates that editing should occur, the lock for the file is obtained.
US08706757B1 Device, method and computer program product for generating web feeds
A method for generating a feed, the method includes: receiving selection information representative of a selection of a selected element out of multiple elements of a web content representation; and generating an equivalent indication representative of at least one equivalent element that is similar to the selected elements.
US08706755B2 Distributed file system for intelligently managing the storing and retrieval of data
A distributed file system enables the intelligent storing and retrieval of files among a plurality of storage units. The distributed file system utilizes a metadata data structure to track and manage detailed information about each file, including, for example, the device and block locations of the file's data blocks, to permit different levels of replication and/or redundancy. The distributed file system includes a switch to receive a read request for a file and to send the read request to one of the storage units. Each of the plurality of storage units is operable to monitor access to the file, such that a block cache module is operable to perform a scalable number of packet read aheads, wherein the scalable number is based on at least a current read rate and a current latency of a link to access the at least one file.
US08706754B2 System and method for integrating knowledge engines in a cloud computing environment
The present invention is a system for integrating knowledge engines in a cloud computing environment, having a cloud computing platform, a graphical user interface (GUI), several applications for integrating information, knowledge engines for extracting knowledge from data and information, and an index consisting of an index engine, an index database, and a connector to several data sources. The present invention also includes a method of integrating knowledge engines in a cloud computing environment.
US08706753B2 Search result ranking with search string certainty weighting
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with search result ranking with certainty weighting are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a search string being input to a search system to retrieve stored artifacts relevant to the search string. A first certainty level associated with a first portion of the search string is determined and a second certainty level associated with a second portion of the search string is determined. Artifacts retrieved by execution of the search string are ranked to produce a search result. The ranking is based, at least in part, on whether a retrieved artifact is relevant to the first portion or the second portion of the search string.
US08706744B2 Determining dependencies during macro expansion
In certain embodiments, a parser parses a formula to yield one or more functions, at least one function comprising a dependent value of a dependent object. One or more macro handlers configured to execute the functions are determined. At least one macro handler is instructed to register with one or more dominant objects on behalf of the dependent object, where the dominant objects are used to evaluate the dependent value.
US08706742B1 System for enhancing expert-based computerized analysis of a set of digital documents and methods useful in conjunction therewith
A system including an electronic repository having a multiplicity of accesses to a respective multiplicity of electronic documents and metadata; a document rater using a processor to run a first computer algorithm on the multiplicity of electronic documents which yields a score which rates each of the multiplicity of electronic documents to an issue; and a metadata-based document discriminator to run a second computer algorithm on at least some of the metadata which yields leads, each lead having at least one metadata value for at least one metadata parameter, whose value correlates with the score of the electronic documents to the issue, typically used in combination with an electronic document analysis method receiving N electronic documents pertaining to a case encompassing a set of issues including at least one issue and establishing relevance of at least the N documents to at least one individual issue in the set of issues.
US08706738B2 Systems, methods and machine readable mediums to select a title for content production
Systems, methods and machine-readable mediums to identify web page titles for content production are provided. The systems may include a storage device and a processor. The storage device may store a plurality of titles, each title is associated with a respective one of a plurality of web pages. The processor may be programmed to select a title from the plurality of titles and determine a value for the selected title. The value may be based on the number of times that the selected title appears in the plurality of titles, and on the number of web pages that link to the selected title. If the value is greater than a first threshold level, the processor may be programmed to identify the selected title for online publication.
US08706737B2 Method and apparatus for processing of top-K queries from samples
A method and apparatus for processing top-k queries are disclosed. For example, the method receives a top-k query with a value for a number of samples and a value of a confidence parameter. The method samples in accordance to the number of samples, and determines a top-k weight of a sample top-k set. The method bounds the top-k weight in an interval having an upper bound and a lower bound such that the top-k weight is in the interval with a probability equal to one minus the value of the confidence parameter, and provides a response to the top-k query in accordance with the upper and lower bounds.
US08706735B2 Method and system for indexing and searching timed media information based upon relevance intervals
A method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving information from timed media files based upon relevance intervals. The method and system for indexing, searching, and retrieving this information is based upon relevance intervals so that a portion of a timed media file is returned, which is selected specifically to be relevant to the given information representations, thereby eliminating the need for a manual determination of the relevance and avoiding missing relevant portions. The timed media includes streaming audio, streaming video, timed HTML, animations such as vector-based graphics, slide shows, other timed media, and combinations thereof.
US08706732B1 Managing information about entities using clusters of received observations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for managing entities using observations. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an observation, the observation including an updated piece of information about an entity and a context, wherein the context includes at least one value of an attribute describing the entity to which the updated piece of information relates; matching the received observation with a first cluster of observations representing the entity using the context; and associating the received observation with the first cluster of observations.
US08706731B2 System and method for providing healthcare program service based on vital signals and condition information
A method for providing a healthcare program service over a wireless communication network includes receiving vital signals for a condition from measurement devices transmitted from multiple users and grouping the received vital signals, registering by a plurality of service providers corresponding healthcare programs classified by particular diseases, providing a healthcare program service to the multiple users, receiving feedback of use satisfaction for the healthcare programs from each user, counting the number of uses and gathering utilization information for each of the healthcare programs. The method further includes searching for a corresponding group of users using each healthcare program, adding up the user satisfactions and utilizations, databasing the results and upon receipt of vital signals for a condition from a particular user, comparing against similar signals and recommending a preferred healthcare program for a corresponding user group having vital signals for the condition.
US08706729B2 Systems and methods for distributed data annotation
Systems and methods for distributed data annotation in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a distributed data annotation server system includes a storage device configured to store source data, one or more annotators, annotation tasks and a processor, wherein a distributed data annotation application configures the processor to receive source data including one or more pieces of source data, select one or more annotators, create one or more annotation tasks for the selected annotators and source data, request one or more annotations for the source data using the annotation tasks, receive annotations, determine source data metadata for at least one piece of source data using the received annotations, generate annotator metadata for at least one annotator using the received annotations and the source data, and estimate the ground truth for the source data using the source data metadata and the annotator metadata.
US08706726B2 Method and system for monitoring and analyzing tickets
Exemplary embodiments include methods and systems for monitoring and analyzing tickets including collecting data associated with one or more parameters/keywords of tickets. The methods and systems may also include determining if a number of tickets associated the one or more parameters/keywords exceeds a count threshold associated with the one or more parameters. The methods and systems may further include outputting a result of the analysis of the collected data.
US08706725B2 Ranking contextual signals for search personalization
Methods are provided for re-ranking documents based on user-specific features. Search results are received from a non-contextual ranking system such that the search results are not specific toward a particular user, such as the user who submitted the search query. Contextual signals are received and provide user-specific features that are used to re-rank documents so that the most important and relevant documents are listed at the top of the list of search results. Each of the user-specific features are evaluated and compared to determine a new position of each document. A set of contextual search results is then generated based on the new positions.
US08706722B2 Systems and methods for adaptive scheduling of references to documents
The order and type of display of documents may be updated or adaptively scheduled. The documents may include advertisements and articles that are displayed together. A popularity or selection weight of the documents may be monitored and used to determine when and where to display the documents.
US08706720B1 Mitigating topic diffusion
Determining the relevance of a web node is disclosed. A seed score value of a first type is assigned to a seed set of nodes. A score value of a second type is derived for the web node based on a mapping of a reachability relationship between one or more seed nodes and the web node. A score value of the first type is derived for the web node based on a mapping of a reachability relationship between the web node and one or more evaluation nodes having derived weight values of the second type. Topic diffusion is mitigated.
US08706716B2 Iterative and dynamic search of publicly available data based on augmentation of search terms and validation of data relevance
Validation measures related to information obtained from publicly available data sources are generated for providing recommendations about a potential client. Trusted search criteria are used to obtain a set of query results. These results are used to gather metadata associated with a potential client for loan offers. The validation measures are initiated from the associations and used to modify the search criteria or identifying data for searching further. A credit worthiness score related to the potential client is configured based on the validation scores and relevancy of the data. The client information is updated dynamically with continued modification of the initial search criteria in order to alter a scope and improve an accuracy of information.
US08706715B2 Methods and systems for joining indexes for query optimization in a multi-tenant database
Methods and systems for query optimization for a multi-tenant database system are provided. Some embodiments comprise receiving at a network interface of a server in a multi-tenant database system an original query transmitted to the multi-tenant database system by a user associated with a tenant, wherein the original query is associated with data accessible by the tenant, and wherein the multi-tenant database system includes at least a first index and a second index. Metadata associated with the data is retrieved, wherein at least a portion of the data is stored in a common table within the multi-tenant database system. A tenant-selective query syntax is determined by analyzing at least one of metadata generated from information about the tenant or metadata generated from the data accessible by the tenant. An improved query is then generated using the query syntax, wherein the improved query is based at least in part upon the original query and a result of a join between a first number of rows associated with the first index and a second number of rows associated with the second index.
US08706714B2 File aggregation method and information processing system using the same
The performance of the analysis system is deteriorated because file content extraction processing is performed in the file aggregation server and in the analysis server and further because annotation data creation is performed in the file aggregation server. Therefore, the present invention solves the problem by providing a file aggregation server classifying files into analysis target contents, non analysis target contents, and content matched data, and providing only the analysis target contents to the analysis server. Since this method enables the analysis server to acquire the analysis target contents directly from the file aggregation server, the processing of extracting contents from the files becomes unnecessary, and the throughput of the entire analysis system is improved.
US08706712B2 Graphic query suggestion display method
A method which generates at a user's computer system a display which graphically shows the relationships among a core query and one or more suggested related queries in a search conducted through an online search engine. The display preferably is a set of partially overlapping geometric figures such as circles, with the size of each circle indicating the number of resources found by the search queries and the overlap indicating commonality between a core query and a suggested related query.
US08706705B1 System and method for associating data relating to features of a data entity
A system and method for associating data relating to features of an entity. A first and second processor may receive and store first and second data relating to a first and second feature of a data entity in first and second memories. A third processor may store the first and second data in a first file in a third memory with respective time stamps. The first and second processor may receive third and fourth data relating to the first and second features and store the first and second data with respective time stamps. The third processor may compare time stamps and store data relating to the first and second features associated with the most recent time stamp.
US08706702B2 Method for data management in a collaborative service-oriented workshop
A method for managing data in a collaborative service-oriented workshop, which is adapted to treat objects associated with data representative of real or process data, is provided to share data and resources in an architecture of a workspace. The architecture is adapted to design complex objects and manipulate information technology objects that represent data, which may be representative of a real object or a process based on metadata representing characteristic data. The metadata includes a generic part that is common to all data, a specific part that is inherent to the type of data, and links to other objects. The links make it possible to establish, at a later time, the traceability of the data, or in other words the traceability between the different data produced or used during execution of processes.
US08706698B2 Coordination of event logging operations and log management
A plurality of log processes are synchronized. Each is independently performed in parallel with one another, into a single set of log files. A line buffering mechanism of an operating system (OS) of the computing environment forecloses interleaving of the log processes. Log management operations are concurrently performed by a single process protected by a file-system lock of the OS. The log management operations include at least one of a log compression, log retention, and log rotation operation.
US08706697B2 Data retention component and framework
Systems and methods for dynamically managed data retention are described. The system comprises a tiered framework having a plurality of namespaces. The namespaces are configured by a user to have selected data retention attributes. Data including a manifest may be received by the system, processed, and directed to a namespace based upon the manifest. Data storage partitions may be created automatically in association with a namespace, and the data partitions may be assigned partition attributes. Data in a storage partition may be migrated automatically to another namespace based on the partition attributes. Code necessary for creating storage partitions and migrating data is generated by the data management system.
US08706696B2 Method and system for on-demand communities
In an embodiment, communities are generated on demand. In this specification a community is a group of webpages in which users share ideas with one another by posting ideas and sending messages for one another to read. An on-demand community is a community that may be created via tools specialized for creating communities, with just a few keys strokes and/or mouse clicks and by adding information (e.g., about the members and/or the topic or set of topics that the community is focused upon), such that a community maybe established within a short amount of time, such as a few minutes or a few hours. Optionally, the communities may be initially populated with ideas related to a particular topic or set of topics. Optionally, each member may be provided with tools for establishing one or more profile page and/or one or more friend pages.
US08706693B2 Map update data delivery method, map update data delivery device and terminal device
A map update data delivery method includes: storing update unit data compiled in correspondence to each set of update data used to update map data in a specific version to map data in another version for a map element by incorporating update data for another map element that must also be updated in coordination with a change made for the map element; searching for base update data needed to update a map data for a map element designated as an update target in a map area specified at a terminal as a map data update target; searching for related update data with a relation to contents of update data included in the base update data searched; and transmitting the base update data and the related update data to the terminal.
US08706688B2 System and method for providing high availability data
A computer-implemented data processing system and method for storing a data set at a plurality of data centers. The data centers and hosts within the data centers may, for example, be organized according to a multi-tiered ring arrangement. A hashing arrangement may be used to implement the ring arrangement to select the data centers and hosts where the writing and reading of the data sets occurs, version histories may also be written and read at the hosts and may be used to evaluate causal relationships between the data sets after the reading occurs.
US08706687B2 Log driven storage controller with network persistent memory
A method of updating database volumes by writing database updates to a smart storage controller, and having the smart storage controller generate the log update records for updating local and remote log volumes, and data volumes.
US08706682B1 Information technology configuration management
The described embodiments contemplate a system, method and computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions for managing an information technology network. The novel system includes a network of data sources and a federated configuration management database capable of communicating with the data sources. The data sources also may be federated. The federated configuration database management identifies among the data sources. The system also includes a core database that is capable of communicating with the federated configuration management database. The core database defines relationships of the data sources with a business practice.
US08706679B2 Co-operative locking between multiple independent owners of data space
Locking allocated data space is disclosed. An indication is received that certain previous version data is required to be retained. A map of metadata records, each associated with a journaling process write of previous version data which write includes previous version data required to be retained, is built. In some embodiments, the map associates a write time with each record in the map. A reclamation process checks to determine whether any storage proposed to be reclaimed is included in the map of record identifiers. In some embodiments, the determination is made based at least in part on the write time associated in the map with at least a first record identifier in time-sorted order.
US08706678B2 System and method for facilitating evergreen discovery of digital information
A computer-implemented system and method for facilitating evergreen discovery of digital information is provided. A hierarchy of topics for topically-limited subject areas is defined. Seed words characteristic of each topic are selected. Training material from the digital information that corresponds to the respective subject area of each of the topics is designated. Candidate topic models are formed from the seed words. Each candidate topic model includes a pattern evaluable against the digital information. An ability of each of the candidate topic models to identify such digital information matching the candidate topic model's topic is tested by matching the pattern in the candidate topic model to the training material. The candidate topic model for each topic that includes the highest abilities with respect to the topic in performance, simplicity and bias is chosen. An evergreen index is formed by pairing the chosen candidate topic model to each topic in the hierarchy.
US08706676B2 Estimating a state of at least one target using a plurality of sensors
The method includes receiving a plurality of target observations from a respective plurality of sensors and using the target observations to compute target state estimates. Each of the target state estimates is assessed to check if it suffers from one of a set of modelled possible fault types. The target state estimates are adjusted to compensate for any modelled fault type when it is assessed to be suffering from that fault type. A reliability value is computed for each of the target state estimates and the target state estimates are fused together based on the computed reliability values to produce a fused target state estimate.
US08706674B2 Media tag recommendation technologies
Technologies for recommending relevant tags for the tagging of media based on one or more initial tags provided for the media and based on a large quantity of other tagged media. Sample media as candidates for recommendation are provided by a set of weak rankers based on corresponding relevance measures in semantic and visual domains. The various samples provided by the weak rankers are then ranked based on relative order to provide a list of recommended tags for the media. The weak rankers provide sample tags based on relevance measures including tag co-occurrence, tag content correlation, and image-conditioned tag correlation.
US08706669B2 Classification using support vector machines and variables selection
A method of deriving a classifier for classifying items using a plurality of variables for characteristics of the items, the method comprising determining a representative subset of the variables for use in said classifier.
US08706667B2 Transactional graph-based computation with error handling
Processing transactions using graph-based computations includes determining that at least one of a plurality of graph elements of a computation graph of a set of one or more computation graphs includes a computation to be performed for a given transaction, associating the given transaction with an instance of the computation graph that includes reusable computation elements associated with respective graph elements, and executing the graph to perform the computation.
US08706661B2 System and method for generating an image sprite
A method of determining whether a sprite will be generated determines a probability of a first page module being displayed on a web page together with a second page module, and if the probability exceeds a predetermined threshold, generates the sprite based on a first image within the first page module and a second image within the second page module, a rule indicating that the sprite contains the first image and the second image, and a style sheet code associated with the sprite.
US08706660B2 System and method for efficient interpretation of natural images and document images in terms of objects and their parts
Methods and system employing the same for optimizing an objective function are provided. The objective function assesses the quality of a candidate solution. One or more variables of an objective function are selected as pivot variables. Each of the variables include one or more candidate values. An upper bound function is generated from the objective function, where the pivot variables are held fixed. For each combination of the candidate values, one or more candidate solutions are searched using the upper bound function. One or more optimal solutions are selected from among the solutions to the searches.
US08706656B1 Multi-label modeling using a plurality of classifiers
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for multi-label models. One of the methods includes receiving training records, each training record having an input, a first output, and a second output. The method includes generating a first classifier using as input one of the inputs and using as output a corresponding one of the first outputs. The method includes generating a second classifier using as input one of the inputs and using as output a corresponding one of the second outputs. The method includes inputting the inputs into the first classifier and generating first predictive outputs. The method includes inputting the inputs into the second classifier and generating second predictive outputs. The method also includes generating a third classifier using as input the first output and the second output and using as output the first output and the second output of the corresponding training record.
US08706655B1 Machine learned classifiers for rating the content quality in videos using panels of human viewers
A multi-phase process first trains a machine learned rating classifier, and then uses the rating classifier to automatically rate videos in a selected category in a way which mimics human rating. Panels of human viewers rate videos in tuples, and these tuples along with human preference data distilled from the ratings are used to create a training set that is used to train the machine learned rating classifier. The rating classifier becomes capable of predicting human preferences with regards to videos in the selected category. Optionally a second machine learned classifier can be trained to automatically identify videos in the selected category for the panels of human viewers to rate. The output of the multi-phase process can be used to highlight content that is predicted to be higher quality.
US08706654B2 Earthquake damage prediction and prevention system and method thereof
An earthquake damage prediction and prevention system for determining an impact or damage caused by an earthquake to objects associated with different geographical locations. A central unit with a filter module selects and collects earthquake related data of a plurality of network units. At least one impact ratio table is stored with a first data structure for storing geographical and/or topographical data coordinates of the different geographical locations. The geometric distances of the geographical locations from a hypocenter/epicenter are generated by an intensity calculation module with a coordinates processor. Local intensity values based upon the generated geometric distances and a given earthquake magnitude of a stored parameterization including variable weight parameters are generated by a propagation calculation unit of the intensity calculation module, whereas the generated geometric distances are stored assigned to the corresponding geographical locations by a second data structure of the impact ratio table.
US08706653B2 Knowledge corroboration
Knowledge corroboration is described. In an embodiment many judges provide answers to many questions so that at least one answer is provided to each question and at least some of the questions have answers from more than one judge. In an example a probabilistic learning system takes features describing the judges or the questions or both and uses those features to learn an expertise of each judge. For example, the probabilistic learning system has a graphical assessment component which aggregates the answers in a manner which takes into account the learnt expertise in order to determine enhanced answers. In an example the enhanced answers are used for knowledge base clean-up or web-page classification and the learnt expertise is used to select judges for future questions. In an example the probabilistic learning system has a logical component that propagates answers according to logical relations between the questions.
US08706645B2 System and method for appraising valuable items
Systems and methods for computer appraisal of jewelry and other valuable items, such as antiques, for use in assessing sales, underwriting assessments, and claims adjustments. A user provides a description of an item (102) to be valued; elements of the provided description (102) are used in conjunction with previously-collected data (126) to classify (125) and assess the value of the item. The user may select an analysis/appraisal type and method. Gaps in required information are optionally filled using already-known data (110) by table look-upo methods or by interpolation from known ranges, and the selected analysis method is used to compete valuation and description of the item (130). Assessment options include for example valuations, appraisals, technical or aesthetic descriptions, title chains, and underwriting and insurance schedules. Optionally data supplied by the user is retained for use in future evaluations.
US08706644B1 Mining phrases for association with a user
Techniques for generating and providing phrases are described herein. These techniques may include analyzing one or more sources to generate a first corpus of phrases, each of the phrases for use as an identifier and/or for association with a user for executing a transaction. Once a first corpus of phrases has been generated, these phrases may be filtered to define a second corpus of phrases. Phrases of this second corpus may then be suggested to one or more users. In some instances, the phrases suggested to a particular user are personalized to the user based on information previously known about the user or based on information provided by the user.
US08706642B2 Apparatus, system, and method for securely authorizing changes to a transaction restriction
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for securely authorizing changes to a transaction restriction. A security module securely stores encryption keys for a payment instrument. The payment instrument electronically transacts payments and includes a transaction restriction. An authentication module receives an authentication from a user of the payment instrument. The security module validates the authentication with a first encryption key. In addition, the security module authorizes a change to the transaction restriction using a second encryption key if the authentication is valid. The security module resides on a computer that the user designates as authorized to validate the authentication.
US08706641B2 Method and system for providing risk information in connection with transaction processing
A system for providing real-time risk mitigation for an authorization system. The system receives authorization requests from multiple merchants (or their respective acquirers) and processes such requests. Each processed request is then forwarded to its corresponding issuer for further authorization. Each processed request includes an authorization message. The authorization message can include a risk score, a number of reason codes, and a number of condition codes. The use of the risk score, reason codes and condition codes allows issuers to make better informed decisions with respect to providing authorizations.
US08706639B1 Framework for specifying access to protected content
A determination is made regarding whether a user is allowed to access a content item. The content item is associated with a website. An offer associated with the website is identified. The offer includes a set of use-time rules specifying time periods during which the offer can be used to access content. A use-time rule is associated with a user class. A class of the user with respect to the offer is determined. The user's class indicates whether the user has accepted the offer or whether the user has registered with the website. A determination is made regarding whether the user is allowed to access the content item based on the offer, the user's class, and a current timestamp.
US08706635B2 Use of licensed content without identification thereof
A content key (CK) to decrypt a piece of encrypted content is obtained encrypted according to a public key of a licensor (PU-L) to result in (PU-L(CK)). (PU-L(CK)) is obscured according to (PU-L) and a value R to result in Obs (PU-L(CK)), and Obs (PU-L(CK)) is sent to the licensor, which applies a private key (PR-L) corresponding to (PU-L) to Obs (PU-L(CK)) to result in Obs (CK) as an obscured version of (CK). Obs (CK) is received from the licensor; and (CK) is obtained from Obs (CK) based on applying R thereto. The licensor cannot identify from Obs (PU-L(CK)) or from Obs (CK) the encrypted content or the content key (CK) from which the encrypted content may be identified.
US08706633B2 Remittance system with improved service for unbanked individuals
A service provider computer receives a request for a transfer of funds from a sender to a recipient. The service provider computer makes a data record about the transaction available to a receiving financial institution. The receiving financial institution receives a visit from the recipient, issues a new payment card account to the recipient, and communicates the account number for the new account to the service provider computer. The service provider computer initiates a payment transaction in a payment card system to route the requested funds transfer from a payment card account belonging to the sender to the newly issued payment card account for the recipient.
US08706626B2 Systems and methods for provisionally transferring an electronic currency
Persistent, electronically anchored currency notes (PEAC notes) may be generated by a transaction provider and maintained in a datastore. Each PEAC note may be associated with a respective unique identifier and an asset held by a custodian. The transaction provider may provide for assigning ownership of the PEAC notes to various entities and/or transferring ownership therebetween. Ownership transfers may be performed by the transaction provider while maintaining the PEAC notes in the datastore and/or maintaining the asset(s) associated therewith with their respective custodian(s). The transfer of a PEAC note may be tied to one or more transfer conditions. A PEAC note may be provisionally transferred from a first entity to a second entity subject to one or more transfer conditions. When the transfer conditions are met, the PEAC note may be permanently transferred to the second entity.
US08706621B2 Secure checkout and challenge systems and methods
A method for correlating information received directly from an access device operated by a user, and information from a merchant server is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a server of a merchant entity from an access device used by a consumer, a checkout request to initiate a transaction, providing, from the merchant server to a server of a non-merchant entity, transaction information associated with said transaction, wherein the transaction information comprises a merchant ID, and receiving, at the merchant server from the non-merchant server, a response message regarding the transaction, wherein the response message is based on a correlation between the transaction information and device information specifically associated with the access device and provided directly from the access device to the non-merchant server, and is based on additional processing associated with the transaction information and the device information, performed by the non-merchant server.
US08706618B2 Release of funds based on criteria
A method and system to transfer payment to a seller of a network-based commerce transaction are described herein. The method includes generating a risk model based on seller-specific criteria, and releasing funds from a holding account to the seller based on the risk model.
US08706617B2 System and methods for providing starter credit card accounts
A system and method for providing starter credit card products to selected customers of a credit card issuer is disclosed. Methods, systems and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention enable a credit card issuer to identify a group of customers that may not eligible to obtain standard credit card products offered by the credit card issuer. The credit card issuer may rank these customers and present offers for starter credit card accounts with adjusted account parameters tailored to these customers. The credit card issuer monitors the activities of each starter card account during a trial period to determine whether each respective account has met predetermined criteria. Based on the results of the monitor process, the credit card issuer may adjust the parameters associated with each starter credit card account. The adjustment may include increasing a credit limit of the starter credit card account if the predetermined criteria has been met, or conversely, restarting the trial period if an account has not met the predetermined criteria during the trial period. Once a starter card account that meets selected criteria during the trial period will graduate and receive new parameters and benefits defined by the credit card issuer.
US08706616B1 System and method to profit by purchasing unsecured debt and negotiating reduction in amount due
A purchase of debt system (“PODS”) and process that allows a debtor and entity using the system to financially benefit by exploiting the errors, fraud and inefficiencies contained in debts, such as medical bills. Specifically, the type of debt associated with, for example, medical bills is debt liability that has no asset(s) associated with it. The debtor is benefited by assigning the debt and associated liability, at a reduced price, to a third party (the entity using the system). The entity using the system then obtains a financial benefit by settling the debt, with the creditor, for an amount less than that paid to it by the debtor.
US08706615B2 Systems and methods for evaluating the ability of borrowers to repay loans
Systems and methods are provided for evaluating the ability of a borrower to repay a potential or existing loan. The systems and methods can use daily cash flows of the borrower obtained from one or more transaction accounts of the borrower. The cash flows can correspond to a period preceding the time of the analysis, and can include the most recent cash flow information in the transaction account. The cash flows can be adjusted to account for seasonal and day to day variations in the cash flows. The adjusted or non-adjusted cash flows can be trended, and projections of the cash flows can be generated based on the trends. The projected cash flows can be evaluated to provide an indication of whether the cash flow of the borrower is and will remain sufficient to facilitate repayment of the loan.
US08706614B2 Systems and methods for automated political risk management
According to some embodiments, a computer-implemented method to facilitate management of risk related to political exposure associated with a financial transaction may comprise receiving financial transaction data associated with the transaction, determining that the participant is a politically identified person, calculating a first category political risk score based on the financial transaction data, calculating a second category political risk score based on the financial transaction data, calculating an overall transaction political risk quotient associated with the financial transaction based on the first and second category politically risk scores, generating a suggested action for the financial transaction based on the overall transaction political risk quotient, and delivering the matching name and a suggested action to a user interface in a format based on a user preference and a user device configuration.
US08706609B2 System and method for creating trade-related annotations in an electronic trading environment
A client terminal displays a trading screen interface and an annotation interface in relation to the trading screen interface. The annotation interface allows a trader to enter trade-related annotations in a quick and efficient manner or flag a predetermined time and input annotations to be associated with the flagged time a later time, while the trading screen interface allows the trader to make trades at the most favorable prices and in a speedy manner. The annotation interface may alternatively not be displayed and allow for audio input.
US08706607B2 Method and apparatus for an electronic marketplace for services having a collaborative workspace
A method and system for buying and selling services online includes a process for custom services, a commodity process and a collaborative workspace on a website. The process for custom services includes the posting by a buyer of specific criteria for a desired service, the bidding by a seller to perform the service, and the selection of a seller by the buyer. The commodity process includes the posting by a seller of a service offering, the posting by the buyer of requirements for the purchase of the service offering, and the purchase of a service offering by the buyer. The commodity process may also include an optimization process that provides the buyer with an optimized list of service offerings. The collaborative workspace includes communication tools, a file structure, workbenches and project management tools used by the buyer and seller for facilitating the setup, development and release of one or more services.
US08706605B2 System and method for replenishing quantities of trading orders
A system for replenishing trading orders comprises a memory coupled to a processor. The memory stores a trading order comprising a total quantity of a product, and at least one formula to determine a displayed quantity for the trading order. The processor applies the formula to determine the displayed quantity. The processor further determines a reserved quantity based on the determined displayed quantity and the total quantity. The processor communicates the trading order having the determined displayed quantity and the determined reserved quantity.
US08706596B2 Account portfolio risk characterization
Input characterizing one or more economic indicators and a portfolio of accounts can be used to estimate a portfolio level effect of the economic indicators on the portfolio of accounts is estimated. Based on this estimation, an account level effect of the economic indicators is simulated for each of the accounts. The overall affect of the simulated account level effects approximates the portfolio level effect. Simulated account level effects can thereafter be aggregated in order to characterize future risk for the portfolio of accounts. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.
US08706594B2 Business method for charitable fund raising
The invention provides a method for charitable fund raising. The method can include the initial operation of identifying a charitable cause in need of funding. A further operation is providing a plurality of flags to be displayed as a healing field. The display of the healing field can be linked to the charitable cause in need of funding. The healing field can also be displayed as part of a public awareness campaign. Finally, the flags that are displayed in the healing field can be sold, with the profits from the sale going to the charitable cause in need of funding.
US08706587B1 Statistical prioritization and detection of potential financial crime events
Systems and methods for calculating financial crimes ratings for banking entities are provided. High risk transaction data for a plurality of similarly situated banking entities is collected. The banking entities may include banking centers, business customers, individual customers or other banking entities. Summary data is then calculated from the high risk transaction data. The summary data for a banking entity is then compared to summary data of the similarly situated banking entities to calculate the rating. Financial crimes ratings may be used to allocate investigation and enforcement resources.
US08706576B1 System, method and computer program product for performing one or more maintenance tasks on a remotely located computer connected to a server computer via a data network
A method and computer executable program code are disclosed for performing one or more maintenance tasks on a remotely located computer connected to a server computer via a data network.
US08706574B2 Pharmaceutical waste identification system
A pharmaceutical waste identification system presents pharmaceutical waste information and, in response to a client entering a pharmaceutical name, the system provides a pharmaceutical waste disposal recommendation. This recommendation can include a labeling recommendation for a container for the pharmaceutical, a disposal recommendation for an empty container previously containing the pharmaceutical, and a disposal recommendation for the pharmaceutical.
US08706569B2 Methods for managing contract procurement
Computer implemented methods of facilitating contract procurement and contract management through an online contract procurement and management website. An example of a computer implemented method includes assigning a personalized contracting entity member user web page to each of a plurality of contracting entity member users associated with a contracting entity, and assigning a personalized contractor member user home web page to each of a plurality of contractor member users associated with a plurality of potential contractors. The personalized contracting entity member user web pages can provide centralized access to perform contract procurement functions for each of the virtual contract rooms associated with the respective contracting entity member users. The personalized contractor member user web pages can provide consolidated contract room access and consolidated contract room task and communication review for each of the virtual contract rooms associated with the respective contractor member users.
US08706566B1 Method, medium, and system for adjusting a selectable element based on social networking usage
Systems and methods are disclosed that use social networking profiles of users to generate personalized content of display pages. The personalized content may be generated using profile data retrieved via an application program interface of a social networking system, and may be presented on the display pages of a distinct system, such as a site that hosts an electronic catalog of items. The personalized content may include features that allow a user to indicate a like or preference for an item and that can be customized based on, e.g., the extent of the user's social network or the influence the user has over other potential users of the catalog system. Systems and methods are also disclosed that use the social networking profiles to generate personalized messages that can be posted to social network contacts of the user to provide information about items for which the contacts may be interested.
US08706561B2 Product common object
Stored product management information in a first format for use by a first computerized system is transformed to readily make the stored product management information available for use in a second computerized system that utilizes a second format in a cost-efficient and time-efficient manner.
US08706559B2 Methods and systems for activating a contactless transaction card
A method and system for issuing and activating a contactless transaction card is provided. The method uses a server system coupled to a database. The method includes providing a promotional transaction card including a proof of purchase identifier to a consumer, receiving a request message for ordering a contactless transaction card for the consumer wherein the request message includes the proof of purchase identifier and consumer registration data, validating the request message, issuing an inactive contactless transaction card to the consumer including a product identifier and an activation number, storing the product identifier and the activation number in the database, receiving the product identifier and the activation number from a client computer system, and activating the inactive contactless transaction card after the server system verifies that the received product identifier and activation number match the stored product identifier and activation number.
US08706555B2 Determination of customer proximity to a register through use of sound and method thereof
A method is disclosed for determining a customer's proximity to a checkout register at a store. A mobile electronic device with mobile self-checkout software thereon may record and analyze ambient noise to determine when a customer is in a checkout line as well as to track the customer's progress through the checkout line. The mobile self-checkout software may present information to the customer according to the customer's position in the checkout line. The type and nature of the information presented to the customer may be changed according to the customer's distance from the checkout terminal as well as how quickly the customer is approaching the terminal. The software may provide detailed data about the shopping and checkout experience. This information may be correlated to customer satisfaction and used identify particular strengths and weaknesses in the shopping experience offered by a store.
US08706554B1 Transaction cost recovery inventory management
Apparatus and methods for determining a transaction cost recovery amount are provided. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined for each of a plurality of locations. The locations may include point-of-sale terminals and/or checkout lanes. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on Merchant Category Code (“MCC”) information. When a customer leaves a first location associated with a first MCC, the customer may be informed of a transaction cost recovery amount at a second location. The second location may be associated with a second MCC. The transaction cost recovery amount may be determined based on a product inventory. The transaction cost recovery amount may be imposed to maintain an inventory level above a critical level. The transaction cost recovery amount may be based on a decrease and/or increase in an inventory level.
US08706551B2 Systems and methods for determining user actions
A method for tracking user actions associated with an advertisement includes receiving conversion information. The method also includes determining whether the conversion information represents a valid conversion corresponding to a user action.
US08706548B1 System and method for optimizing paid search advertising campaigns based on natural search traffic
One methodology in accordance with the disclosure is a computer-implementable methodology for quantitatively assessing the impact of paid search advertising on the total visits (paid and organic search-based visits) from search engines and utilizing this assessment to improve search engine marketing performance. The methodology relies on the computation of a synergy score for each search engine keyword of interest or coefficients in a synergy equation. Once computed, the score can be used to repeatedly compute the total return on advertising spend (ROAS) and other performance metrics on a go-forward basis without the time lag inherent in computing the synergy score itself. The methodology includes specific computer-implementable methods for improving search engine marketing performance based on the total (paid plus organic) performance metrics.
US08706547B2 Dynamic pricing for content presentations
A request for content is received. First content is selected for the request. The first content is selected from among multiple content items based on information in the request, a characteristic of how the first content is to be presented, and a stored pricing threshold value selected based on the characteristic. The characteristic of how the first content is to be presented includes an amount of available space that is occupied by the first content when the first content is presented. The selected first content is provided for presentation by a publisher that provides second content.
US08706546B2 Selecting and/or scoring content-relevant advertisements
Ads eligible to be served with a document (for example, because they are relevant to the document) may each be scored using a price parameter associated with the ad and an indication of relevancy of the ad to the document. The indication of relevancy of the ad to the document may be based on an ordinal ranking of a relevancy criteria of the document used to select the ad, and/or a value of a relevancy criteria of the document used to select the ad. The eligible ads may be determined by obtaining relevancy criteria for the document and selecting ads using at least some of the obtained relevancy criteria. The ads may be selected, and perhaps filtered, in a distributed manner.
US08706545B2 Variable learning rate automated decisioning
Methods and related system are described for making decisions. A described method includes selecting a choice from the available choices, receiving an outcome relating to the selected choice, and automatically learning from the received outcome by incorporating the received outcome into subsequent steps of selecting a choice. The method may also include calculating estimated probabilities associated with the each choice using Bayesian networks. The automated learning can be based on a learning rate which is variable with time, and influences the degree on which prior outcomes are relied upon when calculating an estimated probability associated with a choice. The learning rate can be a function of time and an estimate of drift of the probability associated with the selected choice.
US08706535B2 Transforming a prioritized project hierarchy with work packages
A software and/or hardware facility to improve the management of project schedules containing prioritized tasks. The project management facility allows a user to create one or more work packages by selecting tasks from one or more existing projects. Each work package is a collection of tasks that are to be executed out of order from the project or projects from which the tasks were selected. At the same time, the facility maintains the prioritization of the tasks in the original project or projects from which the tasks were selected. When tasks are added to a work package, the facility recalculates the work package schedule and any impacted project schedules to reflect the re-prioritization of the task. In some embodiments, the facility generates a link between each task that is contained in a work package and the project from which the task was selected.
US08706529B2 Managing related electronic medical records
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for a method for linking the health records of two or more patients and alerting them of a change in at least one of the patient's health records are provided. One method comprises, in part, receiving an indication of a desire to link the first medical record of the first patient to a second medical record of a second patient and searching a connected health network for at least one of the first medical record associated with the first patient or the second medical record associated with the second patient. The method further comprises designating a sharing level between the first medical record of the first patient and the second medical record of the second patient, the sharing level indicating an extent of healthcare information that can be shared between the first medical record and the second medical record. The method also includes requesting the second patient to accept a link between the first medical record and the second medical record, and linking the first medical record associated with the first patient and the second medical record associated with the second patient.
US08706523B2 Methods and systems for treatment regimen management
Methods and systems for treatment regimen management are described. In one embodiment, a treatment regimen associated with a user is determined. The treatment regimen includes treatment first treatment component and a second treatment component. The treatment regimen also includes a first treatment schedule associated with the first treatment component and a second treatment schedule associated with the second treatment component. Multiple treatment events are scheduled in an electronic calendar. The treatment events are based upon the first treatment schedule and the second treatment schedule. A treatment alert associated with each of the treatment events is generated. Other methods and systems are also described.
US08706522B2 Methods and systems for pharmacy location
Methods and systems for pharmacy location are described. In one embodiment, a plurality of pharmacy network associations of a member is determined. The pharmacy network associations are associated with a drug benefit plan of the member. A pharmacy within a pharmacy network association of the plurality of pharmacy network associations is capable of fulfilling a prescription for a prescription drug. A location associated with the member is accessed. A display is generated based on the determination of the pharmacy network associations and the location of the member. The display includes a first indicator and a second indicator. A first network pharmacy of a first pharmacy network association is associated with the first indicator on the display. A second network pharmacy of a second pharmacy network association is associated with the second indicator on the display. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
US08706521B2 Treatment related quantitative decision engine
A system and method generate a report to help decide among a plurality of treatment options for a medical condition. The system and method receive patient information and generate a plurality of potential treatment options for the medical condition. The system and method also receive the patient's preference(s) for potential treatment outcomes of the treatment options, used to produce a preference value. The system and method also analyze indexed study data relating to the plurality of treatment options to produce, based on the analysis, a study score for each of the treatment options. For each treatment option, the system and method produce a treatment score based on at least the preference value and the study score, thus permitting generation of a report listing the treatment options and a) the treatment scores or b) the information derived from the treatment scores.
US08706519B2 Apparatus and methods for determining and processing medical outcomes
A data processing system is provided for determining clinical outcomes of medical data gathered by the system. The system can allow a person to define a medical study and can then administer the medical study and can collect and analyze data from potentially geographically diverse doctors, patients and other people associated with a study. Users enter sets of medical information. The system can analyze the medical data according to any number of clinical algorithms that may be custom defined and edited before and during the study. The system conditionally outputs the clinical outcome to the user. The clinical outcome can be used for treatment of patients participating in the study immediately after the data is input and analyzed. The medical outcomes can indicate such things as performance comparisons, composite outcomes, and risk stratification and assessments for such things as treatments, drugs, illnesses, doctors, patients and physician groups.
US08706515B2 Methods, systems, and apparatus for providing a notification of a message in a health care environment
The disclosure relates to methods, systems, and apparatus for providing a notification of a message in a health care environment. A message from a source and location information associated with a plurality of patients may be received. The location information associated with the plurality of patients and a notification of the message from the source may be output in a geospatial arrangement via a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may be updated when a change occurs in either the location information associated with at least one of the plurality of patients or the status of the message from the source. In addition, a user query for the location information associated with each of the plurality of patients receiving care from a physician in the health care environment may be received and output in the geospatial arrangement via the graphical interface.
US08706513B2 Global investment grade for natural and synthetic gems used in financial investments and commercial trading and method of creating standardized baskets of gems to be used in financial and commercial products
A process to create a fungible global standard for diamonds and gemstones. The process involves grouping diamonds in an investment standard according to their gemological, proportional, optical and light behavior characteristics. Diamonds that conform to the investment grade standard are interchangeable within a specific size range according to an equivalent monetary bundling process. Diamonds subjected to the standard conform to a holistic set of gemological, proportional, optical and light characteristic requirements that enables diamonds to be classified into a extraordinarily homogeneous, visually indistinguishable and highly fungible group which can be used to create baskets of diamonds to form an index/benchmark for diamond pricing, financial instruments, and a standard that can be used for certifying diamonds as investment grade to insure quality.
US08706512B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, storage medium, and program
An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a storing element for storing content data; a managing element for managing preference data by which to determine preferences of a user; a reading element for reading the content data from the storing element in response to an instruction from the user; a sorting element for sorting the content data read by the reading element, in accordance with the preference data managed by the managing element; and a composing element for composing the content data sorted by the sorting element, into a single item ready to be handled by the user.
US08706509B2 Method and a decoder for attenuation of signal regions reconstructed with low accuracy
The embodiments of the present invention improves conventional attenuation schemes by replacing constant attenuation with an adaptive attenuation scheme that allows more aggressive attenuation, without introducing audible change of signal frequency characteristics.
US08706506B2 Waveform compressing apparatus, waveform decompressing apparatus, and method of producing compressed data
In a waveform compressing apparatus, a trial mode selecting portion selects a trial mode having the highest compression rate from a plurality of candidate modes which have not been selected before as a trial mode for generating a residue code, the selected trial mode comprising a scalar quantization mode or a vector quantization mode. A waveform data compressing portion compresses a given data amount of original waveform data according to the selected trial mode so as to generate the residue code, the data amount being determined in correspondence with the selected trial mode. A waveform data restoring portion generates a restored waveform data from the compressed data using the generated residue code. A determining portion measures an evaluation value of a quantization error contained in the restored waveform data relative to the original waveform data, and determines whether the evaluation value is equal to or smaller than a predetermined allowable value. A mode change instructing portion outputs a mode change instruction for instructing the trial mode selecting portion to select another trial mode when the evaluation value is not smaller than the predetermined allowable value.
US08706505B1 Voice application finding and user invoking applications related to a single entity
A computing device is configured to initiate actions in response to speech input that includes a name or other indication of an entity, in a first spoken utterance, followed by an action, in a second spoken utterance. The computing device receives the first spoken utterance, identifies an entity based on the first spoke utterance, and indicates a plurality of available actions based on the identified entity. The computing device then receives the second spoken utterance and identifies a selection of at least one of the available actions based on the second spoken utterance. The computing device then initiates the at least one selected action.
US08706503B2 Intent deduction based on previous user interactions with voice assistant
Methods, systems, and computer readable storage medium related to operating an intelligent digital assistant are disclosed. A text string is obtained from a speech input received from a user. Information is derived from a communication event that occurred at the electronic device prior to receipt of the speech input. The text string is interpreted to derive a plurality of candidate interpretations of user intent. One of the candidate user intents is selected based on the information relating to the communication event.
US08706497B2 Speech signal restoration device and speech signal restoration method
A synthesis filter 106 synthesizes a plurality of wide-band speech signals by combining wide-band phoneme signals and sound source signals from a speech signal code book 105, and a distortion evaluation unit 107 selects one of the wide-band speech signals with a minimum waveform distortion with respect to an up-sampled narrow-band speech signal output from a sampling conversion unit 101. A first bandpass filter 103 extracts a frequency component outside a narrow-band of the wide-band speech signal and a band synthesis unit 104 combines it with the up-sampled narrow-band speech signal.
US08706493B2 Controllable prosody re-estimation system and method and computer program product thereof
In one embodiment of a controllable prosody re-estimation system, a TTS/STS engine consists of a prosody prediction/estimation module, a prosody re-estimation module and a speech synthesis module. The prosody prediction/estimation module generates predicted or estimated prosody information. And then the prosody re-estimation module re-estimates the predicted or estimated prosody information and produces new prosody information, according to a set of controllable parameters provided by a controllable prosody parameter interface. The new prosody information is provided to the speech synthesis module to produce a synthesized speech.
US08706492B2 Voice recognition terminal
A voice recognition terminal executes a local voice recognition process and utilizes an external center voice recognition process. The terminal includes: a voice message synthesizing element for synthesizing at least one of a voice message to be output from a speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and a voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process so as to distinguish between characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the external center voice recognition process and characteristics of the voice message to be output from the speaker according to the local voice recognition process; and a voice output element for outputting a synthesized voice message from the speaker.
US08706490B2 Indexing digitized speech with words represented in the digitized speech
Indexing digitized speech with words represented in the digitized speech, with a multimodal digital audio editor operating on a multimodal device supporting modes of user interaction, the modes of user interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal digital audio editor operatively coupled to an ASR engine, including providing by the multimodal digital audio editor to the ASR engine digitized speech for recognition; receiving in the multimodal digital audio editor from the ASR engine recognized user speech including a recognized word, also including information indicating where, in the digitized speech, representation of the recognized word begins; and inserting by the multimodal digital audio editor the recognized word, in association with the information indicating where, in the digitized speech, representation of the recognized word begins, into a speech recognition grammar, the speech recognition grammar voice enabling user interface commands of the multimodal digital audio editor.
US08706488B2 Methods and apparatus for formant-based voice synthesis
In one aspect, a method of processing a voice signal to extract information to facilitate training a speech synthesis model is provided. The method comprises acts of detecting a plurality of candidate features in the voice signal, performing at least one comparison between one or more combinations of the plurality of candidate features and the voice signal, and selecting a set of features from the plurality of candidate features based, at least in part, on the at least one comparison. In another aspect, the method is performed by executing a program encoded on a computer readable medium. In another aspect, a speech synthesis model is provided by, at least in part, performing the method.
US08706483B2 Partial speech reconstruction
A system enhances the quality of a digital speech signal that may include noise. The system identifies vocal expressions that correspond to the digital speech signal. A signal-to-noise ratio of the digital speech signal is measured before a portion of the digital speech signal is synthesized. The selected portion of the digital speech signal may have a signal-to-noise ratio below a predetermined level and the synthesis of the digital speech signal may be based on speaker identification.
US08706482B2 Voice coder with multiple-microphone system and strategic microphone placement to deter obstruction for a digital communication device
The present invention provides a voice coder for voice communication that employs a multi-microphone system as part of an improved approach to enhancing signal quality and improving the signal to noise ratio for such voice communications, where there is a special relationship between the position of a first microphone and a second microphone to provide the communication device with certain advantageous physical and acoustic properties. In addition, the communication device can have certain physical characteristics and design features. In a two microphone arrangement, the first microphone is located in a location directed toward the speech source, while the second microphone is located in a location that provides a voice signal with significantly lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).
US08706480B2 Audio encoder for encoding an audio signal having an impulse-like portion and stationary portion, encoding methods, decoder, decoding method, and encoding audio signal
An audio encoder for encoding an audio signal includes an impulse extractor for extracting an impulse-like portion from the audio signal. This impulse-like portion is encoded and forwarded to an output interface. Furthermore, the audio encoder includes a signal encoder which encodes a residual signal derived from the original audio signal so that the impulse-like portion is reduced or eliminated in the residual audio signal. The output interface forwards both, the encoded signals, i.e., the encoded impulse signal and the encoded residual signal for transmission or storage. On the decoder-side, both signal portions are separately decoded and then combined to obtain a decoded audio signal.
US08706478B2 Transforming a natural language request for modifying a set of subscriptions for a publish/subscribe topic string
A natural language request for modifying a set of subscriptions for one or more topics in a publish/subscribe topic hierarchy is received at a processing device. The natural language request includes a predetermined natural language element. The natural language request is transformed into a publish/subscribe topic string and the predetermined natural language element is transformed into a publish/subscribe symbol. The symbol represents one or more topics in the topic hierarchy. One or more subscriptions to one or more topics is modified based on the transformed topic string.
US08706476B2 Natural language processing method by analyzing primitive sentences, logical clauses, clause types and verbal blocks
Methods for converting a natural language sentence into a set of primitive sentences. The method includes identifying verbal blocks in the sentence, splitting the sentence into a set of logical clauses, determining a type of each clause wherein the type of each clause determines whether or not said clause contains verbal blocks, disambiguating ambiguous verbal blocks within each logical Clause, mad constructing a primitive sentence for each verbal block by duplicating the shared noun phrases of verbal blocks.
US08706474B2 Translation of entity names based on source document publication date, and frequency and co-occurrence of the entity names
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, related to entity name translation. In general, a set of data records including one or more names of one or more entities in a source language is received and candidate translations are generated for the names of the data records. The candidate translations are strings of characters in a target language that has a different orthography than an orthography of the source language. A data repository is queried for records matching the candidate translations. A translation of at least one of the candidate translations is selected based on a comparison of a combination of candidate translations and properties of the source record comprising of the publication date, entity name co-occurrence and their frequency with the result of the querying the data repository.
US08706472B2 Method for disambiguating multiple readings in language conversion
Disambiguating multiple readings in language conversion is disclosed, including: receiving an input data to be converted into a set of characters comprising a symbolic representation of the input data in a target symbolic system; and using a language model that distinguishes between a first reading and a second reading of a character of the target symbolic system to determine a probability that the heteronymous character should be used to represent a corresponding portion of the input data.
US08706471B2 Communication system using mixed translating while in multilingual communication
A translation between a source language and a target language is disclosed. The source language items are divided, with primary and secondary source language items or named entities being identified, where the primary and secondary source languages being different from each other and from the target language. The entities in the second source language are translated in a different way. For example, they may be copied into the target language, or translated in a special way that is based on their meaning, e.g, into a term that has a more descriptive meaning in the target language.
US08706470B2 Methods of offering guidance on common language usage utilizing a hashing function consisting of a hash triplet
Usages of language are analyzed in ways that are at least partially language independent. In preferred embodiments, portions of a document are hashed, and the resulting hash values are compared with each other and with those of other documents in real-time. Analyses can be used to gauge conformity of a document to one or more standards utilizing a hash triplet consisting of a hash for each document word and two involving the word and its preceding and following words, to provide suggestions to the author, and to filter email.
US08706462B2 System and method for providing a physical property model
There is provided a system and method for creating a physical property model representative of a physical property of a region. An exemplary method comprises transforming information from a model domain that represents the physical property model into simulated data in a data domain, the data domain comprising simulated data and measured data representative of a plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method also comprises determining an areal misfit between the simulated data and the measured data representative of the plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing an evaluation of the areal misfit based on known criteria. The exemplary method comprises adjusting data in the data domain or information in the model domain corresponding to a region in the model domain based on the evaluation of the areal misfit.
US08706461B1 Modeling propulsion-related interfaces in computational fluid dynamics
Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for modeling propulsion-related interfaces in computational fluid dynamics (“CFD”). According to some embodiments disclosed herein, a model is obtained or developed and propulsion-related interfaces within the model are identified. Flow directions of velocities, temperature, and/or mass are calculated adjacent to the propulsion-related interface and compared. A mass flow rate, a conserved variable state jump, a change in flux across the interface, and/or incoming and outgoing flux values can be calculated for the propulsion-related interface. The calculated values can be returned and embedded in the model. The model is solved and a solution is output.
US08706459B2 Traffic sensor management
A method for selecting a subset of at least one traffic sensor includes modeling multiple sensor types to generate at least one sensor model, creating a sample space of at least one sensor combination of multiple sensors, modeling traffic movement of a region, running a traffic simulation based on the at least one sensor model, the sample space of at least one sensor combination and traffic movement of the region, wherein the traffic simulation generates multiple candidate sets of sensors, and selecting a subset of the multiple sensors based on the multiple candidate sets of sensors.
US08706454B2 Transmission evaluation
Disclosed are various embodiments for transmission evaluation. In one embodiment, among others, a method includes evaluating a plurality of contingencies to generate a plurality of contingency results, where at least one of the contingency results includes an overload condition. The evaluation is based at least in part upon a case associated with a transmission network. The method further includes sorting the plurality of contingency results based upon corresponding overload-contingency pairs and determining a potential remediation solution to the overload condition based at least in part upon the overload-contingency pair. In another embodiment, a system includes a transmission evaluation application executed in a computing device. The application includes logic that obtains a plurality of contingency evaluation results including an overload condition, determines at least one potential remediation solution to the overload condition, updates the case to include the potential remediation solution, and generates a second plurality of contingency evaluation results.
US08706450B2 Method and system for identification of grouping characteristics
A method and engineering system by which relationships are automatically identifiable between CAD objects of different CAD models, where use of a transformation rule which maps points of the envelope geometry of a first CAD object of a first CAD model onto points in a second CAD model is used such that the points involved in the transformation rule each relate to the same modeled raw component. The transformation rule is applied to at least two CAD objects of the first CAD model. If the transformed points in the second CAD model are surrounded by a common-envelope geometry, this spatial relationship is interpreted as a grouping relationship. A hierarchical data structure is then formed automatically within the engineering system, taking account of the already recognized grouping relationship, and allowing synchronous data keeping.
US08706448B2 Wireless field device with removable power source
A wireless field device for use in controlling or monitoring an industrial process, includes a process interface configured to couple to a process fluid. Field device circuitry is coupled to the process interface and configured to measure or control a process variable. Wireless communication circuitry is configured to provide wireless communication. At least one electrical access terminal is configured to provide an electrical connection to circuitry of the field device. A power supply is configured to power the wireless field device. The power supply includes a removable primary power source to provide power to the field device for extended periods of time. A secondary power source is configured to provide power to the field device when the primary power source is removed.
US08706447B2 Procedure for the prognostic of a structure subject to loads
A method for prognostics of a structure subject to loads, particularly an aircraft structure, includes, detecting the state (strains) of the structure at multiple primary points and additional points. The loads acting on the structure associated with the state detected in the primary points are determined. Based on the determined loads, the state of the structure in the additional points is estimated. The estimated state of the structure is compared with the state detected in the additional points. A soundness state of the structure is assessed if the estimated and detected values of the state quantity are in agreement, or a defectiveness state of the structure if such values differ.
US08706446B2 Automated tire inspections utilizing conductive filaments
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a structural health of an object. A conductivity of at least one filament associated with the object is determined, and a structural health parameter associated with the object is determined based on the determined conductivity of the at least one filament.
US08706443B2 System and method for monitoring rotating device
A system for use in monitoring operation of a rotating device is described herein. The system includes at least one sensor, an input device, a display device, and a processor. The sensor is configured to sense a position of a component coupled to the rotating device, and to generate a signal indicative of the position of the component with respect to a reference. The input device is configured to generate a signal indicative of a user selection input. The processor is coupled in communication with the sensor, the input device, and the display device, and is programmed to calculate a plurality of timebased position values associated with a relative position of the component with respect to a predefined period of time. A plurality of orbital position values associated with a relative position of the component are calculated by the processor. The processor graphically presents at least one of a plurality of timebased traces corresponding to the calculated plurality of timebased position values and a plurality of orbit traces corresponding to the calculated plurality of orbital position values in response to a user selection input via said input device.
US08706442B2 Alignment system, lithographic system and method
A lithographic system includes a lithographic apparatus comprising a projection system which projects a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of a substrate and an alignment system which measures the position of a feature of the pattern on the substrate at a number of locations over the substrate. A controller compares the measured positions with points on a grid of values and extrapolates values for intermediate positions on the substrate based on values of corresponding intermediate points on the grid, so as to provide an indication of the intermediate positions on the substrate and their displacements relative to the grid. The grid is based on at least one orthogonal basis function, the measurement on the substrate being performed at positions corresponding to the root values of the at least one orthogonal basis function.
US08706438B2 Time domain network analyzer
An apparatus for measuring s-parameters using as few as one pulser and two samplers is described. The apparatus calibrates itself automatically using the internal calibration standards.
US08706437B2 Calibration of particle detectors
A method of calibrating an optical detector arrangement (38,42) comprises simultaneously generating a plurality of entangled photon pairs, such that one photon from each pair traverses a first path (36-38-42) and the other photon from each pair traverses a second path (36-40-44). The number of photons received along the first path is calculated using the detector arrangement (38,42), while the number of simultaneously-generated photons received along the second path is calculated using a second detector arrangement (40,44). These photon numbers are used to calculated an estimate of the detection efficiency (50) of the first detector arrangement (38,42).
US08706432B2 Resistor matrix offset compensation
A method of measuring resistance in each of a plurality of resistors in a resistor matrix is provided. Each resistor is located at a different intersection between a column conductor and a row conductor. The method includes determining an offset error row current of each row conductor, scanning each row conductor to identify if that row conductor is connected to a column conductor by one of the plurality of resistors, scanning each resistor connected to that row conductor to determine if that resistor is connecting a column conductor to that row conductor, and if that resistor is connecting a column conductor to that row conductor, outputting an offset compensated resistance of that resistor calculated from the row current measured for that resistor less the offset error row current for that row conductor.
US08706429B2 Sensor apparatus and robot apparatus
To well remove a noise component due to vibration of a flexible member from an original detection signal output from a detecting unit and suppress a phase delay of a detection signal obtained by filtering. For this purpose, the present invention provides a detecting unit including a flexible member deforming according to a state of an object to be measured and a sensor detecting an amount of deformation of the flexible member and outputting an original detection signal indicating a detection result. A filtering unit outputs a detection signal obtained by filtering the original detection signal using a filter coefficient. A calculating device calculates a vibration frequency of the flexible member contained in the original detection signal. A changing unit changes a filter coefficient of the filtering unit to cause the filtering unit to function as a filter for attenuating the vibration frequency calculated by the calculating device.
US08706423B2 Chemical reaction-type metaheuristic
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to various embodiments of a chemical reaction-type metaheuristic. According to an embodiment, solutions to an objective function can be determined by iteratively searching for a minimum energy state of one or more interactions of molecules in a chemical reaction. The molecules in the chemical reaction can be assigned to represent the possible outcomes of the objective function. In a specific embodiment, the interactions of the molecules can modeled as on-wall ineffective collisions, decompositions, inter-molecular ineffective collisions, and synthesis. The type of interaction can affect where the next molecular structure is searched.
US08706422B2 Determining a nucleic acid sequence imbalance
Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for determining whether a nucleic acid sequence imbalance exists within a biological sample. One or more cutoff values for determining an imbalance of, for example, the ratio of the two sequences (or sets of sequences) are chosen. The cutoff value may be determined based at least in part on the percentage of fetal DNA in a sample, such as maternal plasma, containing a background of maternal nucleic acid sequences. The cutoff value may also be determined based on an average concentration of a sequence per reaction. In one aspect, the cutoff value is determined from a proportion of informative wells that are estimated to contain a particular nucleic acid sequence, where the proportion is determined based on the above-mentioned percentage and/or average concentration. The cutoff value may be determined using many different types of methods, such as sequential probability ratio testing (SPRT).
US08706420B2 Seismic fluid prediction via expanded AVO anomalies
A seismic fluid prediction data, e.g., a dataset, is generated for a subsurface region by preconditioning seismic data for amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis. Seismic AVO attribute data is generated for the subsurface region, including creating intercept (A) and gradient (B) seismic data using two or more angle stacks of seismic data. Lithology prediction data is generated with the intercept (A) and gradient (B) seismic data, and an AVO crossplot for fluids is generated to identify an initial AVO anomaly. Seismic fluid prediction data is generated based on the generated AVO crossplot and lithology prediction data.
US08706418B2 Methods and systems for testing navigation routes
Various embodiments may include a method and system for testing data defining one or more navigation routes. A starting location may be input at a computer remote from the starting location. A destination location may also be input. Map data including GPS information based on the starting location input and the destination location input may be received. Route data may also be received. Based on the map data and the route data, data defining one or more navigation instructions may be generated for one or more routes. The one or more navigation instructions may be executed at the computer and compared to the map data. Based on the comparison, an accuracy of the navigation instructions may be determined. The data defining the navigation instructions may be corrected if the data is determined to be inaccurate.
US08706417B2 Anchor lane selection method using navigation input in road change scenarios
A method for selecting an anchor lane for tracking in a vehicle lane tracking system. Digital map data and leading vehicle trajectory data are used to predict lane information ahead of a vehicle. Left and right lane boundary markers are also detected, where available, using a vision system. The lane marker data from the vision system is combined with the lane information from the digital map data and the leading vehicle trajectory data in a lane curvature fusion calculation. The left and right lane marker data from the vision system are also evaluated for conditions such as parallelism and sudden jumps in offsets, while considering the presence of entrance or exit lanes as indicated by the map data. An anchor lane for tracking is selected based on the evaluation of the vision system data, using either the fused curvature calculation or the digital map and leading vehicle trajectory data.
US08706415B2 Changing emphasis of list items in a map navigation tool
A map navigation tool presents directions using a map navigation user interface that simplifies navigation in various ways. In particular, the map navigation tool dynamically adjusts presentation of graphics and/or text for directions depending on current location, so as to emphasize upcoming instructions. For example, based on current location, the tool identifies an upcoming list item in a list of directions for a route. The map navigation tool renders a view of at least part of the list of directions, rendering a given list item differently depending on whether it is the upcoming list item, a future list item, or a previous list item. Upon successful completion of navigation for the upcoming list item, the tool outputs an indication of positive feedback, changes the upcoming list item to be the next list item, and renders a new view in which the next list item is emphasized.
US08706413B2 Determining a likelihood of a directional transition at a junction in an encoded routability graph description
Techniques are provided, which may be implemented in various methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture, to obtain an encoded routability graph representative of feasible paths in an indoor environment represented by an encoded map, and assign likelihoods of transition from an ingress edge in the encoded routability graph to individual egress edges through a junction connecting the ingress edge to a plurality of egress edges based, at least in part, on one or more features of the encoded map.
US08706411B2 Method and system for dispatching vehicle
A method and a system for dispatching vehicle are provided. The method for dispatching vehicle includes the following steps: A. obtaining the vehicle information, which includes vehicle numbers, vehicle states and relative positions; B. placing the vehicle icons corresponding to the vehicle numbers in the corresponding positions on the virtual line schedule map according to the vehicle states and the relative positions; C. displaying the virtual line schedule map refreshed via step B. The system for dispatching vehicle includes vehicle information obtaining unit, vehicle states judging and processing unit, displaying unit and dispatching unit. The system realize the visual vehicle dispatching method by utilizing the virtual line schedule map, so as to implement vehicle monitoring and dispatching.
US08706409B2 Vehicle route selection based on energy usage
Vehicle management systems and associated processes can consider energy consumption when selecting routes for fleet vehicles. Vehicle management systems and associated processes are described that, in certain embodiments, evaluate vehicle energy usage based on factors such as terrain or elevation, vehicle characteristics, driver characteristics, road conditions, traffic, speed limits, stop time, turn information, traffic information, and weather information, and the like. The features described herein may also be implemented for non-fleet vehicles, such as in personal vehicle navigation systems.
US08706407B2 Method and apparatus for generating route exceptions
An approach for providing mapping information and route information based on exception information received from various users travelling within a common area is described. A navigation system processes travel information associated with one or more devices for comparison against predetermined route information. The navigation system also determines one or more exceptions based, at least in part, on the comparison. The predetermined route information, mapping information, or a combination thereof it then caused to be updated based, at least in part, on the processing of the one or more exceptions.
US08706404B2 Navigation features for obtaining fuel before returning a rental vehicle
Systems, devices, features, and methods for routing to a fuel or gasoline station before returning a rental vehicle are disclosed. For example, one method comprises identifying a selected destination to be a rental service return location associated with a rental vehicle. An option to obtain gasoline before returning the rental vehicle to the rental service return location is offered. Upon selection of the option, a gasoline station along a route to the rental service return location is identified. Route guidance to the gasoline station is provided. Route guidance from the gasoline station to the rental service return location is also provided.
US08706403B2 Systems and methods for detecting bifurcations
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of detecting a bifurcation in a navigable feature. The method includes first determining a first possible segment and a second possible segment of the navigable feature based on location measurements along the navigable feature, the location measurements representing a heading vector and the location measurements having a higher probability of being on the first possible segment than on the second possible segment, second determining an angle based on the heading vector and a vector between the second possible segment and one of the location measurements, and detecting a bifurcation based on the angle.
US08706400B1 Method and apparatus of physically moving a portable unit to view an image of a stationary map
A background map remains stationary while a portable unit moves within a plane parallel to the screen of the portable unit. As the user moves the unit, images of the background map appear on the screen of the portable device. The user scans the stationary map presented on the screen of the portable unit. This has several benefits since now relative distances and angular displacements within the plane between objects that are outside of the range of the screen of the handheld unit can be immediately be located and placed into view on the screen of a portable unit. The handheld unit is like a Sliding Window which provides a view of this image of a stationary map lying in the background of the portable unit.
US08706398B2 Electronic device with object indicating function and an object indicating method thereof
The present invention discloses an electronic device with object guiding function and the method thereof. In one embodiment, the electronic device includes a view window area, via which a user may watch a view. The electronic device may determine whether an object is located in the view window area when the user inputs the position of the object, and may further show an object indicating message or an object guiding message according to the determination result. Therefore, the electronic device is able to provide the user with short distance guiding function. In another embodiment, the electronic device may also show information related to the object located in the view window area, such as information about every mountain range, constellation, user's friends, or specific landmark that is located in the view window area.
US08706397B2 System and method for determining an optimal route using aggregated route information
A system for providing navigation information is provided. A navigation server receives route information from multiple mobile devices. A storage module stores the route information received from the mobile devices as aggregated route information. In response to receipt of a request for direction information from a starting location to a destination location, a route calculation module calculates one or more potential routes from the starting location to the destination location. An optimal route determination module determines which route of the one or more potential routes is an optimal route. The optimal route is determined based on the aggregated route information and a preselected criterion.
US08706391B2 Transmission of routes between client and server using route IDs
Dehydration of routes enables transmitting a description of a route requiring much less space than full specification of the route. A series of “breadcrumbs” and hints are used for dehydration. A breadcrumb includes coordinates of a point, a heading at which the route enters the breadcrumb, and a heading at which the route leaves the breadcrumb. A dehydration module places a breadcrumb at the location marking the beginning of the route, and having a leaving heading identifying the link in the original route. The node at the end of each link in the original route is examined. If the link leaving the node is the most parallel link to the link entering the node, nothing is added to the dehydrated route. If not, a breadcrumb is added to the dehydrated route, specifying the coordinates of the point, the entering heading of the breadcrumb and the leaving heading of the breadcrumb.
US08706389B2 Range- and/or consumption calculation with energy costs associated with area segments
Energy costs which are assigned to area segments are used when calculating the range and/or consumption for a vehicle.
US08706386B2 Method for controlling fuel injection for a dual fuel engine
A fuel injection system including injectors for two different fuels is disclosed. In one example, fuel injection is adjusted to compensate for changes in engine intake air amount. Combustion stability during transient conditions may be improved.
US08706383B2 Distributed fuel delivery system for alternative gaseous fuel applications
A control system includes an engine control module that generates fuel injector command signals for fuel injectors of an engine and engine parameter signals that indicate operating characteristics of the engine. A fuel injector control module communicates with the engine control module via a network. The engine control module transmits the engine parameter signals to the fuel injector control module via the network. The fuel injector control module generates compensated fuel injector signals based on the fuel injector command signals and the engine parameter signals. The engine control module may generate fuel injector command signals for a gaseous fuel mode based on signals received from the fuel injector control module.
US08706382B2 Control device of spark-ignition gasoline engine
The disclosure provides a control device of a spark-ignition gasoline engine. When an operating state of an engine body is within a low engine speed range, a controller controls a fuel pressure variable mechanism so that a fuel pressure is higher within a high engine load range compared to a low engine load range, the controller operates, within the high engine load range, a fuel injection valve to perform a fuel injection at least at a timing that is more retarded than an injection timing of a fuel within the low engine load range and is within a retard period from a late stage of a compression stroke to an early stage of an expansion stroke, and the controller operates, within the high engine load range, an ignition plug to ignite at a timing within the retard period and further after the fuel injection.
US08706377B2 Control device and method for the control of functions
A controller system in which a plurality different main functions are integrated includes a plurality of microcontrollers. Each of the microcontrollers is associated with one of the main functions. At least one monitoring unit is implemented for the plurality of the main functions, for example a brake monitor and a comfort monitor. When the at least one monitoring unit detects a defect of a main function in the controller, only the defective main function is deactivated.
US08706376B2 Vehicular ABS control system with internal parameter automatic calibration function
To provide an ABS control system and software with an automatic parameter calibration function. An ABS control system according to the present invention includes an electronic control unit (ECU), a wheel speed sensor, and a brake pressure sensor. The wheel speed sensor and the brake pressure sensor measure wheel speed and brake pressure during ABS braking, and the ABS control system automatically calibrates an internal parameter used in ABS control in response to the wheel speed and brake pressure measurement results.
US08706374B2 Accelerator pedal device
An accelerator pedal device provided with a driving control device. The driving control device generates a braking force for braking a vehicle when the operation quantity of an acceleration pedal is below a first threshold value, and generates a driving force for driving the vehicle when the operation quantity exceeds a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value. The driving control device does not generate either the driving force or the braking force, and allows the vehicle to drive inertially, when the operation quantity ranges from the first threshold value to the second threshold value.
US08706373B2 Acceleration adjuster for vehicles with an electronic accelerator
An aftermarket amplifier of acceleration signal (FIG. 2, box A), which is mounted between the potentiometer of the acceleration pedal (FIG. 2, box B) and the electronic control unit (FIG. 2, box C) and is programmed to control and to modify the signals from the accelerator pedal. The amplifier improves the acceleration of a car and overcomes the problems occurring during overreacting. The amplifier measures the signals from the acceleration pedal, calculates the change of the angle of the potentiometer of acceleration speed (angular speed) and multiplies the signals from the acceleration pedal by a value which is determined by the angular speed of the potentiometer of the accelerator pedal. Additionally, the amplifier includes a function of a cruise control, which can be controlled with a single control switch (FIG. 2, box F).
US08706372B2 Method for adjusting a brake system of a vehicle in the event of a collision
In a method for adjusting a brake system of a vehicle, braking power is automatically built up in the event of a collision. The automatic buildup of the braking power may be terminated by a defined driver response when the actuation of a driving pedal of the vehicle at a defined intensity and for a minimum period of time is maintained by the driver.
US08706369B2 Closed-loop torque phase control for shifting automatic transmission gear ratios based on friction element load estimation
A closed loop shift control apparatus and method based on estimated torque in friction elements controls a torque transfer phase when shifting from a low gear configuration to a high gear configuration for an automatic transmission system. When pressure actuated friction elements are selectively engaged and released to establish torque flow paths in the transmission, estimates of torsional load exerted on the off-going friction element are used to predict the optimal off-going friction element release timing for achieving a consistent shift feel. The estimated torque is preferably calculated by using estimated torque signals generated as a function of speed measurements represented either the engine speed and turbine output speed or transmission output speed and wheel speed under dynamically changing conditions.
US08706368B2 Secondary drive device of a mobile working appliance
A secondary drive device of a mobile working appliance with an electronic control unit for actuating a power take-off shaft clutch arranged between a transmission and a power take-off shaft is disclosed. According to the disclosure, the control unit is designed with a flange-mounting function unit which, when activated, executes a rotary position correction of the power take-off shaft with respect to the drive shaft. Furthermore, a method for coupling and/or uncoupling a working machine to/from the secondary drive device of a mobile working appliance as an energy source is proposed. The method includes the steps of leading a drive shaft of the working machine up to the end spline shaft profile of a power take-off shaft of the secondary drive device, checking the relative rotary position of the power take-off shaft with respect to the drive shaft of the working machine, and selectively triggering a flange-mounting function of the secondary drive device as a function of the result of the check of the relative position for the electronically controlled rotary position correction of the power take-off shaft with respect to the drive shaft.
US08706367B2 Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine stores priorities preset for a plurality of external loads on the internal combustion engine and actuates the plurality of external loads in order of priority at time intervals when requests for actuation of the external loads are simultaneously made during idling of the internal combustion engine. The plurality of external loads are properly actuated, thus preventing possible engine stall.
US08706363B2 System and method for adjusting a boundary for a machine
A system for modifying a boundary of operation of a machine has a change in terrain sensor system. A controller determines a change in terrain based at least in part upon a change in terrain signal. If the change in terrain exceeds a threshold, the controller modifies the boundary of operation of the machine. A method is also provided.
US08706360B2 Device for measuring the distance between a head and a headrest, headrest-position adjusting device using said device, method for measuring the distance between a head and a headrest, and headrest-position adjusting method using said method
Disclosed is a headrest position adjusting device provided with a distance measuring device and drive motor units. The distance measuring device is provided with a plurality of detection electrodes and a detection circuit including a plurality of capacitance detection circuits and a computation circuit. The computation circuit uses capacitance values, position information from the detection electrodes, and a high-degree function with a degree of at least 3 to compute a high-degree curve in a two-dimensional coordinate system with capacitance on the y-axis and detection-electrode position on the x-axis. The computation circuit computes the highest-degree coefficient of the high-degree curve and determines the distance between a head and a front part of a headrest on the basis of the computed highest-degree coefficient. On the basis of the measurement result, the headrest position adjusting device moves the front part of the headrest towards the front or back of a vehicle.
US08706359B2 Vehicle for deploying a mobile surveillance module
A surveillance module may be deployed from a vehicle. The vehicle to deploy the surveillance module includes a first portion configured to accommodate a user to operate the vehicle. A second portion includes a module configured to accommodate the user and comprising a roof and an entrance accessible through an interior of the vehicle from the first portion. The second portion also includes a lifting mechanism coupled to the module and operable to move the module vertically from a retracted position to an extended position. A third portion defines an opening to accommodate the module, wherein the roof of the module couples to a periphery of the opening in the retracted position.
US08706355B2 Steering control system
A tire angle change motor steers a host vehicle according to a tire angle corresponding to the rotation angle of a steering wheel detected by a steering wheel angle sensor. A gear ratio calculating unit of a tire angle control unit changes the amount of steering corresponding to the rotation angle of the steering wheel required for the tire angle change motor to steer the host vehicle, depending on the amount of pushing of the steering wheel detected by the pushing amount sensor. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of a driving operation for steering. A pushing direction reaction force motor changes a reaction force generated against the amount of pushing of the steering wheel by the driver, depending on the speed of the host vehicle detected by a vehicle speed sensor. Therefore, the reaction force makes it possible to prevent the host vehicle from being steered by an unintended operation of the driver in various traveling states of the vehicle.
US08706353B2 Lane departure control system
A lane departure control system is provided which works to control a lane departure of a vehicle using a steering mechanism. The lane departure control system determines a deviation angle between a direction in which the vehicle is pointing and a boundary line of a lane. When the vehicle is expected to unintentionally leave the lane, the lane departure control system calculates an assist angle between a target angular direction of the vehicle and the boundary line and outputs a control signal to the steering mechanism to steer the vehicle in a direction away from the boundary line toward the center of the lane by the sum of the deviation angle and the assist angle. The lane departure control system determines the assist angle as a function of the deviation angle. Such calculation results in a decreased load on the system in controlling the steering of the vehicle.
US08706350B2 Secondary sensing for intelligent passive entry passive start polling
A system and method for providing a polling signal transmitted from a vehicle that is received by a key fob held by an authorized user of the vehicle as the user approaches the vehicle. When the key fob receives the polling signal, it will automatically transmit a command signal back to the vehicle for some vehicle operation to be performed. Battery power is conserved on the vehicle by using an infrared detector to first detect whether a living thing is in proximity to the vehicle prior to the vehicle transmitting the polling signal.
US08706349B2 Devices, systems and methods for controlling permitted settings on a vehicle
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for altering permitted settings of a vehicle according to a driver identified through short range wireless communication. The vehicle captures a unique identifier from a wireless communication device of the driver of the vehicle. This unique identifier is used to reference a database to determine the identity of the driver as well as settings for the driver created by a controlling authority. The controlling authority may be, for instance, a parent or employer of the driver. The settings may limit certain devices within the vehicle and/or the vehicle itself. Speed control settings, radio settings, wireless communication device settings, and various other settings are all possible to limit distractions to the driver. Further, the settings may be influenced by the number or identities of passengers within the vehicle.
US08706337B2 Method for operating a hybrid vehicle
A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a first driven axle (10) that can be driven exclusively electrically by at least one first electric machine (14) assigned to the first axle (10), and having a second driven axle (12) that can be driven by at least one second electric machine (16) assigned to the second axle (12) and/or by an internal combustion engine (15) assigned to the second axle (12). During each current driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle a kilometer reading/mileage reading, or a variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the hybrid vehicle is determined, and an operating strategy is determined for a subsequent new driving cycle of the hybrid vehicle on the basis of the kilometer reading/mileage reading, or the variable representing the kilometer reading/mileage reading, of the previous driving cycle.
US08706335B2 Method for operating a hybrid drive unit and device for controlling a hybrid drive unit
A method for operating a hybrid unit comprising a first drive-power source, such as a supercharged internal combustion engine, and a second drive-power source, such as an electric machine. The second drive-power source operates as a generator for charging the energy accumulator and as a motor for discharging of the energy accumulator. Depending on torque desired by a driver, drive torque can be called for, on the one hand, from the first drive-power source and, on the other hand, from the second drive-power source operating as a motor. When the torque desired by the driver increases, to ensure operation of the hybrid unit with reduced fuel consumption and reduced emissions, depending on the charge condition of the energy accumulator, torque demanded from the first drive-power source is delayed and/or reduced, and the resulting reduced dynamic response is compensated for by demanding torque from the second drive-power source.
US08706330B2 Electronic system and method of automating, controlling, and optimizing the operation of one or more energy storage units and a combined serial and parallel hybrid marine propulsion system
A method of integrating, optimizing and combining in a marine hybrid system, the operation of one or more variable speed high voltage direct current (HVDC) generator(s), one or more energy storage units and a combination of one or more HVDC parallel hybrid and serial hybrid propulsion systems through use of an Energy Management Computer. One aspect of the invention involves the application of logic programming to automate the optimization and the operation of the Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) so that whenever the system requires their usage, they are operated at optimum efficiency conditions. For an ICE to operate at peak efficiency a combination of a large energy storage unit used as a buffer combined with a mixture of both a serial and a parallel hybrid system is used.
US08706322B2 Method and computer program product for controlling inertial attitude of an artificial satellite by applying gyroscopic precession to maintain the spin axis perpendicular to sun lines
A method of controlling inertial attitude of an artificial satellite in order to perform a navigation function and to maximize terrestrial coverage of the Earth by the satellite. The method includes deploying the artificial satellite in an orbit about the poles of the Earth; applying gyroscopic precession to the artificial satellite spin axis to precess and maintain the satellite near the ecliptic pole; deploying the artificial satellite so that the spin axis is initially perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to sun lines; and applying gyroscopic precession to the artificial satellite spin axis to precess the spin axis away from an initial deployed attitude at a selectively-variable precession rate and to maintain the spin axis perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the sun lines.
US08706317B2 Data processing method for determining drift values of at least one tire
A data processing method for determining the drift values of at least one tire comprising, for various positions of the vehicle on a track, determining coordinates of GPS antennas, determining values of roll of the vehicle, determining various points of contact between tire and track based on coordinates of at least one GPS antenna and based on various values of roll of the vehicle, said contact points defining a trajectory of the tire on the track; determining a tangent to the trajectory of the tire at at least one contact point, determining, based on coordinates of the GPS antenna, an orientation of a wheel plane associated with the tire, and determining a drift value based on the tangent and on the orientation of the wheel plane.
US08706315B2 Cooling controlling apparatus, electronic apparatus, and cooling controlling method
A cooling controlling apparatus that cools an electronic apparatus includes a cooling fan that discharges air in an inside of the electronic apparatus to an outside of the electronic apparatus; an intake air temperature detector that detects a temperature of air taken into the electronic apparatus by the cooling fan; a part temperature detector that detects a temperature of an electronic part arranged inside the electronic apparatus; and a fan controller that controls a rotation number of the cooling fan based on the detected temperature of the electronic part and the detected intake air temperature.
US08706306B2 System and method of managing line pressure in a vehicle during a fault pending condition
An exemplary system includes a hydraulic device configured to operate at a fluid pressure. A sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure in the hydraulic device and generate a pressure signal representative of the measured fluid pressure. An actuator configured to regulate fluid flow to the hydraulic device. A control module is configured to identify a fault pending condition based on the measured fluid pressure, increase the fluid pressure in the hydraulic device during the fault pending condition, and iteratively enable and disable the actuator during the fault pending condition to determine if the actuator has failed.
US08706304B2 Method for optimising the transition from one grade to another
The present invention relates to the polymerization of olefin monomers in a slurry loop reactor and to a model for determining and optimizing the changes in operating conditions that need to be applied when changing from one polymer grade to another.
US08706302B2 Method for offline programming of an NC-controlled manipulator
In a method for the offline programming of an NC-controlled manipulator which follows at least one real trajectory, possibly in a sensor-supported manner, with tool center point thereof in the real working mode, a kinematic manipulator model and, possibly, an environmental model are stored in an offline programming environment with user interface, at least one virtual trajectory of the manipulator and a virtual tolerance zone assigned to said trajectory are defined using the offline programming environment in a definition routine, and the offline programming environment is used to check, in a check routine, the previously defined tolerance zone at least in part in terms of kinematic singularities of the manipulator, the occurrence of which prompts a singularity routine to be executed.
US08706301B2 Obtaining force information in a minimally invasive surgical procedure
Methods of and a system for providing force information for a robotic surgical system. The method includes storing first kinematic position information and first actual position information for a first position of an end effector; moving the end effector via the robotic surgical system from the first position to a second position; storing second kinematic position information and second actual position information for the second position; and providing force information regarding force applied to the end effector at the second position utilizing the first actual position information, the second actual position information, the first kinematic position information, and the second kinematic position information. Visual force feedback is also provided via superimposing an estimated position of an end effector without force over an image of the actual position of the end effector. Similarly, tissue elasticity visual displays may be shown.
US08706300B2 Method of controlling a robotic tool
A method of controlling a robot system includes the steps of providing a tool supported by a moveable mechanism of the robot system, providing a workpiece supported by a holder, generating an image of the workpiece, extracting a data from the image, the data relating to a feature of the workpiece, generating a continuous three-dimensional path along the workpiece using data extracted from the image, and moving the tool along the path.
US08706297B2 Method for establishing a desired area of confinement for an autonomous robot and autonomous robot implementing a control system for executing the same
A method of establishing an area of confinement and an autonomous robot for performing a task within the area of confinement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising: a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P1, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P1 within a memory device; b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P1 to a plurality of location points P2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P2-N within the memory device; and c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P1 and the plurality of location points P2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device.
US08706295B2 Apparatus and method for synchronizing robots
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for synchronization robots. According to an aspect of the present invention, a portable robot synchronization apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data defining physical models and behaviors of a real robot, a manipulation unit, an output unit, a communication unit configured to perform wired and wireless communication with the real robot or a server, and a control unit configured to model a size and behavior of a virtual robot, having a shape and behavior of the real robot, in response to a manipulation command received through the manipulation unit, on the basis of the data stored in the storage unit, output the modeled virtual robot through the output unit, and control the behavior of the virtual robot in response to the behavior of the real robot when communicating with the real robot through the communication unit.
US08706294B2 Multi-lidded dispensing cartridge system
A dispensing system has a cartridge with a body having a plurality of bins and a plurality of attached lids that cover the respective bins when the lids are closed. The body has an external connector and the lids are opened by receipt of a command signal through the connector. The system also includes a cabinet with a docking location configured to accept a cartridge. The cabinet has a docking connector that connects to the cartridge connector when the cartridge is placed on the docking location. The cabinet also has a controller that sends the command signal through the docking connector to the cartridge to open one or more of the lids.
US08706291B2 Modular automated tool dispenser
The invention relates to a modular automated tool dispenser comprising at least one tool delivery module with at least one tool compartment containing a plurality of tools that are combined to form tool classes and with a plurality of tool conveying devices, each device being associated with one of the tool classes and conveying tools of one class to a tool delivery point. Each tool class is defined by the tool type, tool size and/or the tool weight as a tool parameter. The dispenser also comprises a tool selection device for selecting the desired tool class and the number of tools to be delivered and for activating the tool conveying device that is associated with the selected tool class.
US08706288B2 Apparatus and method for non-contact sensing of transparent articles
A laser-based displacement detector is used to detect cosmetic coatings applied to one surface of the transparent article and thereby determine which side is uppermost when loaded into the laser processing system. In particular, articles that are transparent to visible light and are particularly difficult to orient properly in laser processing systems are oriented using a laser-based displacement detector in conjunction with a partial coating on the article.
US08706287B2 Control system for a mill and method for operating a mill
The invention related to a control system for a mill, particularly a roller grinding mill, comprising a mill control device (11), which is designed to control at least one mill characteristic on the basis of an associated target variable, and a fuzzy-control device (13), which is connected to the mill control device (11) and designed to adjust the target variable of the at least one mill characteristic to be controlled when at least one operating parameter of the mill deviates from a predefined normal range as a function of fuzzy rules that are based on said at least one operating parameter of the mill until the at least one operating parameter of the mill has reached the predefined normal range again. A solution is to be provided, which enables automated optimized mill operation even with changing operating conditions, particularly a mill operation that prevents the “mill rumbling”. This is achieved in that the at least one operating parameter of the mill encompasses as least the air pressure difference over the mill.
US08706285B2 Process to design and fabricate a custom-fit implant
A process for designing and fabricating a custom-fit implant, comprising: a) processing medical image data of a patient's pathologically defective or anatomically deformed area having a symmetrical part to construct a three-dimensional (3D) digital model; b) forming a mirror image of the left or right side of the three-dimensional (3D) digital model based on its axis of symmetry depending on which side the pathologically defective or anatomically deformed area is; c) overlying the mirror image on the original image to form a composite image with a non-overlapping area wherein the implant will be fitted; d) generating a digital implant by cutting off the non-overlapping area of the mirror image; e) designing mounting points between the digital implant and the pathologically defective or anatomically deformed area where the implant is mounted thereon; f) building a positive and a negative mold based on the digital implant to fabricate a custom-fit implant.
US08706278B2 Non-bussed vehicle amplifier diagnostics
Non-bussed amplifier diagnostics are implemented for a vehicle. The vehicle includes an amplifier that includes a computer processor and a memory unit communicatively coupled to the amplifier. The memory unit stores audio test tones, each of which corresponds to a respective diagnostic test result. The vehicle also includes an input device communicatively coupled to the amplifier via wiring. The input device provides an analog signal indicative of a diagnostic test trigger to the amplifier. The computer processor of the amplifier receives the analog signal and executes a diagnostic test defined by the diagnostic test trigger, selects one of the audio test tones based on results of the diagnostic test, and outputs the selected audio test tone via speakers of the vehicle.
US08706273B2 Apparatus and method for conveying audio signals from an input locus to an output locus
An apparatus for conveying audio signals from an input locus to an output locus remote from the input locus includes: (a) a multi-pin unit configured for receiving at least three signal paths at the input locus, including at least two audio signal paths for conveying the audio signals and at least one ground path; (b) at least one cable unit coupled with the multi-pin unit, substantially spanning an interval between the multi-pin unit and the output locus, and presenting the at least three signal paths at the output locus; (c) a connector pin unit coupled with the at least one cable unit at the output locus, and presenting the at least three signal paths in a single-pin configuration; and (d) a filter unit coupled with the at least one cable unit for filtering at least one predetermined signal component from the at least two audio signal paths.
US08706269B2 Controller and machining apparatus with position encoder compensation
A controller which generates a driving instruction to control driving of an object while detecting a position of the object based on two periodic signals that are provided by an encoder and have different phases, comprises a counter configured to count periods of one of the two periodic signals, and a processor configured to detect the position of the object based on an arctangent value of a ratio of values of the two periodic signals and a count value provided by the counter, and to generate the driving instruction based on the position, wherein the processor is configured to compensates an error in the count value based on the driving instruction generated in the past and an acceleration of the object computed based on the arctangent value and the count value, and to compute the position of the object based on the compensated count value.
US08706268B2 Asynchronous control of machine motion
A method of machine control can include providing at least a system master signal, selectively synchronizing at least sub-system master signal to the system master signal based on the value of the system master signal, and carrying out at least one operation based on the value of the other master signal. For example, a machine controller may provide a system virtual master signal and synchronize one or more module virtual master signals to the system virtual master based on the system virtual master count value. One or more components of the module may operate based on the count value of the module virtual master signal. The use of an asynchronous control method may advantageously increase the flexibility of the machine. Because the operation of the components of the machine may depend on respective virtual master signals, a machine using asynchronous control methods may advantageously continue operating one component or module in the event of a fault involving other components. Additionally, component operation can be redefined while other components of the machine continue to run.
US08706267B2 Process model identification in a process control system
A method of controlling a process control system having a plurality of control loops includes collecting operating condition data in connection with the operation of each control loop of the plurality of control loops, identifying a respective process model for each control loop of the plurality of control loops from the respective operating condition data collected for each control loop of the plurality of control loops and developing a process model history by storing data indicative of the multiple identified process models for each control loop of the plurality of control loops.
US08706266B2 Power control system
A power control system is provided with a plurality of electric appliances and a power control apparatus that controls the operation of the plurality of electric devices. The plurality of electric devices are grouped into one or a plurality of groups, each group containing a plurality of electric devices, and on the basis of state information of the electric devices, the power control apparatus controls the operation of each electric device by group according to a plurality of sets of control contents prepared ahead of time.
US08706262B2 CPU unit of PLC, system program for PLC, and recording medium storing system program for PLC
A system program causes, as an execution preparation process for a control operation of a PLC, execution of a process for generating a reception buffer for storing received input data, and execution of a process for generating, for each input data referred to by a control program, an input synchronization buffer used by the control program as a reference target for the input data. The system program causes, as an execution control process for the control operation of the PLC, execution of an input copy process for copying the received input data from the reception buffer to the input synchronization buffer corresponding to the input data, and execution of a control program start process for starting execution of the control program.
US08706260B2 Heart wall ablation/mapping catheter and method
A catheter suitable for use in applying ablation energy to body tissue or detecting electrical signals conducted within the body tissue is disclosed. The catheter has a deflectable distal tip section. At least one electrode is adapted to be disposed against body tissue for delivery of ablation energy thereto or for conduction of body tissue electrical signals. An actuation mechanism comprising first and second pull wires is adapted to curve a proximal segment in a first direction and to independently bend an intermediate segment in a second direction.
US08706257B2 Connector design for implantable pulse generator for neurostimulation, implantable stimulation lead, and methods of fabrication
In one embodiment, a stimulation system for generating and delivering electrical stimulation pulse to tissue of a patient, comprises: a pulse generator for generating electrical pulses, the pulse generator comprising a housing portion and a header portion with feedthroughs extending from the housing portion into the header portion; and a stimulation lead comprising a flex film component enclosed in a lead body of insulative material, the flex film component including a plurality of electrically isolated conductors extending along a substantial length of the stimulation lead, the stimulation lead further comprising a plurality of electrodes electrically coupled to the conductors, the flex film component comprising a proximal portion that is exposed out of the insulative material of the lead body and includes a plurality of terminal bond bands, the terminal bond bands being electrically coupled to the conductors; and wherein the header portion of the pulse generator comprises a lid component to compress the terminal bond pads of the stimulation lead into electrical contact with conductors of feedthroughs of the pulse generator.
US08706254B2 Server for a communication with an implantable medical device
A system and method for modifying the parameters of an implantable medical device includes an implantable medical device that communicates with a remote control device that, in turn, communicates through the browser of a computer or any other device capable of using mark-up language protocol. The computer optionally communicates with other computers and/or devices through a network.
US08706253B2 System and apparatus for controlled activation of acute use medical devices
An integrated activation system for an implantable medical device (IMD) sharing a power source, the activation system comprising a switching circuit having first and second inputs and having an output coupled to the acute use device, a gating element coupled to the first input and configured to gate power from the power source to the switching circuit, and a sensing element coupled to the second input of the switching circuit. The sensing element is configured to sense an activation condition, enable an operation interval of the switching circuit, and transmit a signal to the switching circuit during the activation condition. The switching circuit is configured to transmit power to the acute use device upon receipt of a pre-determined number of signals from the sensing element.
US08706252B2 Systems and methods for clinician control of stimulation system
Systems and methods for programming and logging medical device and patient data are provided. The systems include a handheld device, which is capable of communicating with a medical device, and a base station, which provides connectivity for the handheld device to accomplish various functions such as recharging, programming, data back-up and data entry. The methods comprise the steps of detecting a medical device, obtaining and recording information from the medical device. Additionally, medical device parameters may be modified and the recorded information may be archived for future reference.
US08706241B2 System for patent interactive neural stimulation with robotic facilitation of limb movement
Systems and methods for patient interactive neural stimulation and/or chemical substance delivery are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes affecting a target neural population of the patient by providing to the patient at least one of an electromagnetic signal and a chemical substance. The method can further include detecting at least one characteristic of the patient, with the characteristic at least correlated with the patient's performance of an adjunctive therapy task that is performed in association with affecting the target neural population. The method can still further include controlling at least one parameter in accordance with which the target neural population is affected, based at least in part on the detected characteristic.
US08706236B2 System and method for conditioning a diaphragm of a patient
A method of conditioning a diaphragm of a patient is provided. The method can include the steps of implanting an electrode adjacent a target site in the diaphragm of the patient and operating the electrode to deliver a sufficient amount of electrical stimulation to the target site in the diaphragm of the patient to cause the diaphragm to contract.
US08706235B2 Transvenous method to induce respiration
A system and method for delivering a nerve stimulation therapy determines whether a cardiac EGM signal can be sensed by a bipolar pair of electrodes selected from a number of electrodes positioned for stimulating a nerve. In response to not being able to sense a cardiac signal using the bipolar pair, stimulation of the nerve using a selected pair of the electrodes is enabled.
US08706227B2 Electronic device with adjustable kickstand
A programmer for an implantable medical device includes an adjustable kickstand. In one example, the kickstand is configured to combine with the base to support the programmer in an upright position when the kickstand is fully-collapsed to support the programmer in a reclined position when the kickstand is fully-extended. Further, the programmer housing may include a fan grate that allows airflow from a cooling fan to pass through the programmer housing. The fan grate is positioned behind the kickstand when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position. The kickstand includes an aperture adjacent the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position, the aperture allowing airflow from the cooling fan to pass through the fan grate when the kickstand is in the fully-collapsed position.
US08706225B2 Control of a defibrillator and/or pacemaker
An electronic medical person access to a medical professional (MP) who can monitor, diagnose and treat the person from a remote site. The apparatus includes a plurality of medical treatment devices coupled to an electronic adapter designed to communicate with (A) each treatment device and (B) a local, first transmitting/receiving device which, in turn, is adapted to electronically communicate with a remote, second transmitting/receiving device used by the MP. Signals representing physiologic information of the person via the adapter to the MP and, in response, the MP may transmit a control signal to one or more treatment devices. The treatment devices may communicate via the adapter.
US08706221B2 Method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing therapy
A method and device for delivering anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver the therapy, sensing circuitry, electrically coupled to the electrode, to detect the tachycardia event in response to the sensed cardiac signals, and a processor to control delivery of the therapy. The processor determines whether a return cycle length generated subsequent to the delivery of the first plurality of pacing pulses is greater than a cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and less than a sum of the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and a total prematurity associated with the first plurality of pacing pulses, and adjusts delivery of a second plurality of pacing pulses in response to the return cycle length being greater than the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and less than the sum of the cycle length associated with the tachycardia event and the total prematurity associated with the first plurality of pacing pulses.
US08706220B2 Method and apparatus for detecting and treating tachyarrhythmias incorporating diagnostic/therapeutic pacing techniques
An implantable medical device (IMD) and methods of operating the same to treat a tachyarrhythmia are disclosed herein. In accordance with this method, an arrhythmia of the heart is classified based on one or more supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) rejection rules, which differentiate between a first group of heart rhythms that do not require treatment and a second group of heart rhythms that possibly require treatment. Diagnostic/therapeutic pacing can then be performed to further discriminate the second group of heart rhythms as being within a first sub-group of heart rhythms and a second sub-group of heart rhythms which are to be treated by applying a ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) therapy sequence. In another implementation, the order in which the IMD performs diagnostic/therapeutic pacing and analyzes passive detection and classification criteria can be reversed.
US08706219B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring an organ of a patient
An apparatus for determining tissue versus fluid components of an organ include a detector that generates a detector signal based on electrical signals derived from tissue and fluid. The apparatus includes a signal processor in communication with the detector which subtracts in real time a tissue component from the detector signal and produces a fluid volume signal. A method for monitoring a patient's fluid volume of a patient's organ. An apparatus for monitoring a patient's organ. A method for monitoring a patient's organ. A method to piggyback an admittance system onto a AICD/Bi-ventricular Pacemaker for a heart of a patient, in particular a weakened heart having features consistent with congestive heart failure. An apparatus for monitoring an organ, such as a heart, lungs, brain, skeletal muscle, and bladder of a patient which includes a detector which detects the admittance of the organ. The apparatus includes a transmitter in communication with the detector which transmits a wireless signal indicative of the admittance of the organ. A method for monitoring an organ of a patient includes the steps of detecting with a detector the admittance of the organ. There is the step of transmitting with a transmitter in communication with the detector a wireless signal indicative of admittance of the organ.
US08706217B2 Cardioverter-defibrillator having a focused shocking area and orientation thereof
One embodiment of the present invention provides an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for subcutaneous positioning between the third rib and the twelfth rib within a patient, the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator including a housing; an electrical circuit located within the housing; a first electrode coupled to the electrical circuit and located on the housing; and a second electrode coupled to the electrical circuit. Some embodiments also include a physiologic sensor. Other embodiments comprise methods of implanting and subcutaneously positioning an implantable defibrillator.
US08706214B2 ECG rhythm advisory method
A method of automatically determining which type of treatment is most appropriate for a cardiac arrest victim, the method comprising transforming one or more time domain electrocardiogram (ECG) signals into a frequency domain representation comprising a plurality of discrete frequency bands, combining the discrete frequency bands into a plurality of analysis bands, wherein there are fewer analysis bands than discrete frequency bands, determining the content of the analysis bands, and determining the type of treatment based on the content of the analysis bands.
US08706212B2 Neural stimulation systems, devices and methods
Various system embodiments comprise circuitry to determine when an arrhythmia has terminated, and a neural stimulator adapted to temporarily deliver a neural stimulation therapy to assist with recovering from the arrhythmia in response to termination of the arrhythmia.
US08706210B2 Transdermal integrated actuator device, methods of making and using same
The invention provides for a device for delivering a drug comprising: a. forming one or more micropores in a tissue membrane; and b. applying a patch containing a drug to the one or more micropores formed in the tissue membrane The invention also provides for methods of making and methods of using the same.
US08706207B2 Method and apparatus for measuring and treating shivering during therapeutic temperature control
Methods and apparatus for the prevention and treatment of shivering encountered during therapeutic temperature regulation are disclosed that utilize an active system of counterwarming such that the timing and intensity of warmth provided to selected body areas is regulated dynamically in response to such factors as the extent of cooling applied to the core, the degree of shivering encountered, and patient temperature. Additionally, methods and apparatus are disclosed for the measurement and quantification of shivering for use in this and other applications.
US08706205B2 Functional analysis of neurophysiological data
A method for functional analysis of neurophysiological data by decomposing neurophysiological data and EEG signal to form a plurality of signal features. The signal features may then optionally be analyzed to determined one or more patterns.
US08706202B2 Implantable medical device with adaptive signal processing and artifact cancellation
A medical device having a sensor sensing an n-dimensional signal during a first known variable condition and during a second known variable condition different from the first known variable condition, a processor performing principal component analysis (PCA) on the sensed n-dimensional signal to generate a first template corresponding to a principal component of variation associated with the first known variable condition and a second template corresponding to a principal component of variation associated with the second known variable condition, a storage device storing the first template and the second template, and a controller detecting a patient condition in response to the stored templates.
US08706201B2 Apparatus and method for analysis of high frequency QRS complexes
An apparatus for QRS waveform quantifying, comprising: an input unit, for receiving one or more high frequency (HF) range QRS complexes from one or more ECG leads, a primary analyzer, for calculating a primary index from the high frequency (HF) range QRS complex, and a secondary analyzer, connected after the primary analyzer, for deriving a secondary index from the primary index, thereby to provide a quantification of QRS complexes.
US08706199B2 Liquid injector with appropriate operating conditions set by selecting displayed image
A contrast liquid injector has a controller that calculates a necessary volume of the contrast medium based on a read out necessary dose of effective component per unit weight, weight of the subject, and concentration of the effective component. The injection rate of a base-operation condition is changed based on the calculated necessary volume of the contrast medium, wherein the predetermined injection time is unchanged, for all volumes of the contrast medium, when making the injection pattern, whereby a timing of an optimum concentration of the contrast medium will be substantially unchanged for all volumes of the contrast medium.
US08706196B2 Method for simulating a blood flow
A method for simulating a blood flow in a vascular segment of a patient is proposed. A 3D image dataset of an examination region is recorded by a radiographic diagnostic device for generating a 3D vascular model. Contrast agent propagation in the examination region is captured by a dynamic 2D angiography method for generating a real 2D angiography recording. A CFD simulation of the blood flow is performed in the 3D vascular model based on a blood flow parameter for generating a virtual 2D angiography recording. A degree of correspondence between the real and the virtual 2D angiography recordings is determined from identical angulation and adjusted recording geometry of the patient and compared with predefinable tolerance values. The CFD simulation is iteratively optimized while changing the blood flow parameter as a function of the comparison. The degree of correspondence is outputted when the optimum CFD simulation is achieved.
US08706194B2 Position detection in a magnetic field
This patent document discusses assemblies and methods for remotely detecting a position of a surgical instrument in the presence of a magnetic field. In varying examples, a position detection system includes an encoder coupled to move in concert with the instrument. The encoder includes an a translucent substrate and light blocking indicia disposed thereon. A light source and a light detector array are effectively disposed outside of the magnetic field. Light from the light source is carried to an encoder first side using an input optical fiber, while the light passing through the encoder is received at an encoder second side by an output optical fiber. The light received by the output optical fiber is transmitted to the light detector array, which converts the received light to position representative electrical signals. Such signals are subsequently transmitted to a control module adapted to formulate and convey a position of the instrument.
US08706192B2 Magnetic resonance elastograph system with hydraulic driver
A hydraulic driver of a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) system is provided. The hydraulic driver is adapted to be connected to at least a passive actuator for contacting with a subject. The hydraulic driver includes a pump, a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit operatively coupled to the pump, and a tube assembly. The tube assembly includes a proximal end in fluid communication with the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit and a distal end in fluid communication with the passive actuator. The passive actuator oscillates in response to hydraulic energy generated in a fluid in the hydraulic driver as the pump drives the piston forward and backward in the cylinder of the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit.
US08706191B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance angiography method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires 3D data of a subject, extracts 2D data for ky=constant out of the 3D data concurrently with the collection of 3D data, Fourier-transforms in a z-axis direction the extracted 2D data for ky=constant and rearranges the same on a kx-z space concurrently with the collecting of 3D data, performs a one-dimensional Fourier transform on z-data completed in a kx direction and acquires a 2D image for real space concurrently with the collection of 3D data, and displays a 2D image on a monitor concurrently with the collection of 3D data. Meanwhile, the the 3D data in the z-axis direction is Fourier-transformed and rearranged on a kx-ky-z space, a two-dimensional Fourier transform is performed on the z-data completed in a kx/ky direction and a 3D image is acquired for real space.
US08706186B2 Apparatus for insertion of a medical device during a medical imaging process
The end-effector (150) includes a sheath (152) and a medical device or needle carrier (154) that is disposed within the interior compartment (160) of the sheath. Aperture (162) is located in a portion of the sheath proximal a distal end of the sheath that is inserted into a natural or artificial cavity. This device is guided by a real-time imager.
US08706185B2 Method and apparatus for surgical navigation of a multiple piece construct for implantation
A method and apparatus for percutaneous and/or minimally invasive implantation of a construct. The construct may be implanted using a navigation system for planning and execution of a procedure. A plurality of portions of the construct may be interconnected using locations and paths determined and navigated with the navigation system.
US08706184B2 Methods and apparatus for displaying enhanced imaging data on a clinical image
In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus includes a display device. The display device displays a desaturated image of tissue captured in the visible electro-magnetic (EM) spectrum from a body cavity; and a first color enhanced image combined with the desaturated image. The first color enhanced image represents the first data captured from the body cavity outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The relative brightness between the desaturated image and the first color enhanced image is set to emphasize the first data over the tissue captured in the visible electromagnetic spectrum to provide improved information content.
US08706181B2 Target therapy delivery site selection
In some examples of selecting a target therapy delivery site for treating a patient condition, a relatively high frequency electrical stimulation signal is delivered to at least two areas within a first region (e.g., an anterior nucleus of the thalamus) of a brain of a patient, and changes in brain activity (e.g., as indicated by bioelectrical brain signals) within a second region (e.g., a hippocampus) of the brain of the patient in response to the delivered stimulation are determined. The target therapy delivery site, an electrode combination, or both, may be selected based on the changes in brain activity.
US08706178B2 Method and device for determining oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, for determining hematocrit of blood, and/or for detecting macular degeneration
A method and device for accurately determining oxygen saturation of hemoglobin by the measurement of the optical density of a sample, such as a blood vessel, in response to illumination by light having at least three wavelengths (λ1, λ2, λ3, . . . ) within a range of about 460 nm to about 523 nm. The hematocrit of a sample may be determined from optical density measurements at the three or more wavelengths in conjunction with a known path length. The device may be an intravenous or intra-arterial fiber optic catheter used to deliver the interrogating light signal to the blood and to detect the reflected signal. A method and device of determining the thickness of the retinal well using spectroscopic information are also disclosed.
US08706177B2 Pocket pager protector
A shock and water resistant wireless pager enclosure, and a tamper-proof lockable enclosure system. The enclosure comprises a bottom container, which supports a transparent film, secured by a cover hinged to the bottom container. The enclosure system comprises an enclosure cover provided with securing members which lockingly engage the bottom container. A lock release tool comprises latching means for engagement with the securing members, and a cam and cam followers which operate on the latching means to pull the securing members outwards to release the locked engagement.
US08706175B2 Phone and tablet stand
A phone and tablet stand that includes a rotatable mounting head that attaches a tablet to the phone and tablet stand, attachment magnets that are evenly disposed on a rotatable mounting head to magnetically attach a tablet to the phone and tablet stand and an adjustable stand that includes a stem and a pair of adjustment knobs. The phone and tablet stand also includes a base that provides stability to the phone and tablet stand and a gel attachment interface that is in direct contact with a contact surface where the phone and tablet stand is removably secured. The phone and tablet stand can also include a protective casing that is placed around the back of a tablet and is magnetically attached to the phone and tablet stand and includes a metal disc disposed and centered on the front facing of the protective casing.
US08706174B2 Portable electronic apparatus
An object is to provide a portable electronic apparatus that improves operability of a person who operates the portable electronic apparatus. The portable electronic apparatus includes a screen unit 1, an operation unit 2, a U-shaped bridge unit 3 that is connected to the operation unit 2 so as to be able to fold the screen unit 1 and the operation unit 2 to face each other, and an anchor unit 4 that anchors the screen unit 1 to the bridge unit 3 while stopping rotation of the screen unit 1, in which the screen unit 1 is connected to the bridge unit 3 so that the screen unit 1 rotates around an axis that is in a generally same direction as a fold axis for the operation unit 2 and the bridge unit 3.
US08706173B2 System and method for selectively activating a communication device
The disclosure provides a system and method for managing power and activation of a communication device. The system comprises: a microprocessor controlling the electronic device; an accelerometer; and a power application operating on the microprocessor. The application provides instructions to the microprocessor to place the electronic device in a low power state from a higher power state upon determining from movement data generated by the accelerometer that the electronic device has been returned to around a resting location where the electronic device was previously in a stationary state from a first location that is in a spaced relationship to the resting location.
US08706162B1 Automatic routing of call audio at incoming call
A mobile device receives notification of an incoming call and identifies that an external speaker is connected to the mobile device. The mobile device detects that a user has positioned the mobile device in a position, relative to the user, to use an integrated ear speaker of the mobile device. When the mobile device detects that the user has positioned the mobile device in position to use the integrated ear speaker, the mobile device answers the incoming call and routes audio for the incoming call away from the external speaker and to the integrated ear speaker.
US08706159B2 Media data transfer
Methods and systems that facilitate data delivery to electronic devices are disclosed. One aspect pertains to data delivery to mobile devices. In one embodiment, a local server is provided at a particular location, such as at an establishment, venue, etc. The local server can operate to locally wirelessly transmit data to mobile devices within its vicinity. Typically, the mobile devices are associated with persons (users) at the particular location. The mobile devices, or their users, can control, request or influence the particular data content being delivered. The local server can also provide customized data to the mobile devices, individually or as a group. The customization can be based on location, characteristics, interests, preferences and/or requests of the users of the mobile devices.
US08706149B2 Method for allocating priority to resource and method and apparatus for operating resource using the same
Disclosed are a method for allocating priority to resources, and a method and apparatus for operating resources using the same. The method for allocating priority to resources includes: selecting a resource block including at least one unit; determining a priority level of the selected resource block by reflecting a retrieval rate (or recovery rate) including a retrieval frequency and a retrieval period of the selected resource block; and allotting the determined priority level to the selected resource block.
US08706145B2 Multihop paging of a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate indirectly paging a peer in a peer-to-peer communication network via a series of direct peer-to-peer pages. Paging messages may be communicated directly between peers. Moreover, a paging message communicated from a first peer to a second peer may be further routed to a third peer. For example, the paging message may include information (e.g., an identifier associated with an ultimate destination) utilized to effectuate multihop paging; thus, upon obtaining the paging message, a peer may forward the paging message based upon such information.
US08706142B1 Probabilistic estimation of location based on wireless signal strength and platform profiles
According to an embodiment, a method of estimating a location of an access point is provided. The method includes storing a first and a second sample respectively received from a first and a second mobile device, both samples including a location of their respective mobile devices, an access point identifier from the access point, and a value corresponding to a signal strength of a signal from the access point measured at their respective mobile device. A first and second platform profile is selected based on characteristics of the respective first and second mobile devices. The cells of a matrix are populated with probabilities based on mobile device locations, the signal strength values and platform profiles based on platform profiles associated with mobile devices. Finally, the location of the access point is estimated based on the matrix.
US08706135B2 Method and system for integrating global navigation satellite system (GNSS), wireless local area network (WLAN), and cell phone technology
Location of a mobile terminal may be determined via a satellite navigation system receiver integrated within the mobile terminal. The satellite navigation system receiver may comprise a GPS receiver, a Galileo receiver and/or a GLONASS receiver. The location of the mobile terminal may then be used to determine communication standard parameters needed for operation. Different countries may require different parameters for various applications, such as digital video broadcasting (DVB) and/or Bluetooth communication. The mobile terminal may then configure itself to use the appropriate parameters for operation using the determined standards. The configuration information may be stored in the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may comprise at least one radio wireless communication that may need to be updated. The wireless communication may comprise cellular communication, Internet access, and reception of audio and/or video broadcasts, where the audio/video broadcasts may be analog and/or digital.
US08706132B2 Radio communication system, base station, mobile station, control method of base station, control method of mobile station, and storage medium storing program
An object of the present invention is to provide a radio communication system capable of effectively coping with the two problems, which are in a trade-off relation between the deterioration of the use efficiency of the radio resources and the deterioration of the radio quality of the secondary cell, in the cases where both a combination of carrier frequency bands that are away from each other and a combination of carrier frequency bands that are adjacent to each other can be alternatively used as the combination of carrier frequency bands for a primary cell and a secondary cell. A radio communication system according to the present invention includes a mobile station (20), and a base station (10) configured to perform radio communication with the mobile station (20) by using first and second carrier frequency bands simultaneously for at least one of an uplink direction and a downlink direction. Further, the mobile station (20) and the base station (10) are configured to be able to switch whether or not to perform control relating to the second carrier frequency band by using a radio channel transmitted on the second carrier frequency band.
US08706131B2 Device location prediction for mobile service optimization
Described technologies are generally related to predicting future mobile device locations and using the predictive information to optimize mobile communications service parameters. Mobile device locations may be predicted using real-time device location information, destination information, and location history. Predicted location information for a given device, and possibly other devices as well, may be used to adjust mobile communications service parameters such as handoffs, channel assignment, multipath fading response parameters, data rates, transmission modes, opportunistic scheduling parameters, location-based services, and location update rates.
US08706130B2 Dynamic frequency band allocation between radio communication networks
Methods and apparatus relate to cellular communications and in particular to a frequency spectrum shared by two cellular networks. An object is flexible utilization of the spectrum. This is achieved by a method where a first of the networks occupies part of the shared spectrum in relation to the traffic load in the first network. The first network informs a second of the networks on the extent the shared spectrum is occupied, for the second network to be free to use the shared spectrum outside the occupied part. A radio resource management unit, a base station controller, and a radio base station are also disclosed. An advantage is that spectrum can be lent from an old system when a new system is introduced.
US08706129B2 Method of improving semi-persistent scheduling resources reconfiguration in a wireless communication system and related communication device
A method of improving SPS reconfiguration for a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes receiving an RRC connection reconfiguration message and reconfiguring SPS resources in accordance with an SPS resources configuration IE when the SPS resources configuration IE is included in the RRC connection reconfiguration message and is set enable.
US08706128B2 Method and apparatus for managing frequencies used by devices
The illustrative embodiments described herein are directed to a method and apparatus for managing frequencies used by devices. In one embodiment, the process detects a set of frequencies from a set of devices to form a set of assigned frequencies. The process may also detect a first frequency used by a first device. The process may determine whether the first frequency interferes with the set of assigned frequencies. The process may also identify an unassigned frequency for use by the first device in response to determining whether the first frequency interferes with the set of assigned frequencies.
US08706127B2 System and method for modulation scheme changes
A system and method are disclosed that allow changes of a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) without overhead signaling. A priori, a network device and a user device know the manner in which the MCS will be changed. In one embodiment, the network device indicates the MCS to be used to decode a second portion of a message in a first portion of the message. In another embodiment, the user device blind detects the MCS used over a sub-set of MCSs.
US08706124B2 Data path transfer for multiband communication
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to setup data path transfer between concurrently operating frequency bands of multiband wireless LAN (WLAN) devices. The embodiments provide an enhancement to the Fast Session Transfer (FST) by introducing a new Information Element (IE) in the Fast Session Transfer (FST) frames to enable negotiating the parameters to be established as a result of switching of at least a portion of the existing data/traffic streams to another frequency band. The new Information Element (IE) includes at least the number of streams being switched and for each stream being switched the stream ID. The new Information Element enables the transmitting and receiving devices to negotiate the connection setup parameters associated with a requested transfer of the operating frequency band.
US08706123B2 Common data channel resource usage report
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate indicating channel resource usage information for receiving additional channel resources in a wireless network. An access point can initially receive a set of channel resources from a network controller for providing wireless network access to one or more devices. The access point can grant and/or deny requests for one or more of the channel resources from a plurality of devices and can feedback information to the network controller regarding the granting/denying. The network controller can determine a load on the access point based at least in part on the feedback information and adjust channel resource allocation based on the load. Thus, where an access point has granted close to capacity of allocated resources to one or more devices, the network controller can provide additional resources to the access point based on received feedback information related to the granted resources.
US08706122B2 Circuit switched fallback for mobile terminated calls
In order to prevent a mobile terminated (MT) call to a user equipment (UE) from being lost by addressing a Location Area/Tracking Area (LA/TA) mismatch problem that could occur during a circuit switched (CS) Fallback, the method comprises the steps of: receiving a paging message from a mobility management entity, MME, where the paging message identifies suitable location areas, the paging message is sent because a first mobile switching center, MSC1, received a MT call request for the UE; determining that there are no 2G/3G cells belonging to the suitable location areas based on a current location of the UE; identifying a target 2G/3G cell in a location area associated with the current location of the UE but not part of the 2G/3G cells belonging to the suitable location areas; and enabling a signaling connection to be established between the UE and the first MSC1 via a second mobile switching center, MSC2, where the second MSC2 interfaces with a base station controller, BSC2, or a radio network controller, RNC2, that manages the target 2G/3G cell, where the signaling connection allows the MT call to be established with the UE.
US08706117B2 Methods and systems for proactively requesting neighbor base station information
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure allow a mobile station (MS) to proactively request neighbor base station information from a serving base station, for example, if a mobile neighbor advertisement (MOB_NBR-ADV) message is not received (or expected) in a predetermined time period.
US08706114B2 Handover of a communication device
An apparatus is provided that includes a controller configured to detect at least one predefined event and, in response to the detection of the predefined event, to trigger a handover of the communication device from a first access system to a second access system on the basis of the power efficiency of the second access system. The predefined event may be in communications between a communication device and a communication system and/or may be in relation to power consumption. Corresponding communication systems, methods and controllers are also provided.
US08706109B1 Smart antenna for interference rejection with enhanced tracking
A smart antenna system is provided for communicating wireless signals between a mobile device and a plurality of different fixed base stations using one or more channels and one or more beams. The smart antenna system includes a control subsystem, a radio transceiver and an antenna subsystem coupled to each other and adapted to perform scanning of one or more combinations of base stations, channels and beams using one or more test links established with one or more of the fixed base stations where the test links use at least some of the channels and the beams. A first combination of base station, channel and beam is selected based on the scanning; and a first operating link is established for transmitting a wireless signal to the selected base station using the selected channel and beam.
US08706108B2 Frequency scanning technique for a cell search procedure
A technique for scanning multiple carrier frequencies during a cell search procedure is described. The cell search procedure involves for an investigated frequency multiple serially arranged processing steps until it will be determined that a network connection can be established on the investigated frequency. A method embodiment of this technique comprises performing a first processing step for an investigated first frequency, and in parallel with performing a second or further processing step for the first frequency, performing the first processing step for an investigated second frequency.
US08706106B2 Method for testing the allocation of a transmission frequency, tester and base station
A method for testing an assignment through a base station of transmission frequency(ies) from a total number of frequencies is provided. The method includes transmission of data-signal portion(s) on assigned frequency(ies) with a signal power and a phase position, and transmission of test-signal portion(s) on non-assigned frequency(ies), where respective test-signal portion for respectively one frequency or one frequency block with several frequencies is transmitted with an individually-adjusted transmission power and phase position for each frequency or each frequency block, which differ from one another. The method includes reception of test-signal portion(s) with non-assigned frequency(ies), evaluation of signal powers and/or phase positions for test-signal portions in an individual manner for non-assigned frequencies and/or frequency blocks and evaluation of signal power and/or phase position of the assigned frequency, determination of a frequency or a frequency block to be assigned and return of an assignment signal, and comparison with an anticipated value.
US08706104B1 Intelligent cellular communications gateway device, system, and method
A device, system, and method include receiving via a first network, by a remote computer server, a customized application from a user. The customized application is transmitted, by the remote computer server, to one or more intelligent cellular communications gateway devices. The customized application can be automatically installed and configured. Each intelligent cellular communications gateway device can receive local information from a device. The local information is analyzed and the local device can be controlled by the intelligent cellular communications gateway device based on the analyzed local information. In addition, the intelligent cellular communications gateway device can filter and/or compress the local information, and transmit via a cellular network, the filtered and compressed information, to the remote computer server. The filtered and compressed information includes a portion of the local information that is less than a total amount of the local information received, thereby conserving bandwidth of the cellular network.
US08706101B2 Method and apparatus for associating a subscriber directory identifier to a subscriber identifier
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method, in a communication network, of associating a subscriber directory identifier to a first subscriber identifier. The method comprises receiving a request to connect a communication device to the network, the request including a subscriber identifier derived from the first subscriber identifier, determining the first subscriber identifier from the received subscriber identifier, and associating a subscriber directory identifier with the determined subscriber identifier.
US08706096B2 Call management and notifications in media player applications
In accordance with one configuration, a network communication manager identifies an expected duration of time to complete playback of the streaming content. Subsequent to receiving a do not disturb command, the network communication manager prevents visual notifications of future phone calls during the estimated duration of time to provide undisturbed playback of the streaming content on the display screen. Accordingly, embodiments herein support a do not disturb function in which a subscriber can prevent display of visual notifications such as phone call alerts (e.g., pop-up text messages) on the display screen during playback of the streaming content. The do not disturb functionality can be disabled in response to any suitable trigger such as that the subscriber has terminated playback of the streaming content, playback of the streaming content completed, etc.
US08706093B2 Predictive calendar
A method for obtaining content using a calendar application is executed on a first electronic device. The method may include receiving travel parameters from a first user through a user interface of the calendar application. The travel parameters may include a destination and a date of travel. The method may further include obtaining destination information from a content source communicatively coupled to the first electronic device based on the travel parameters and notifying the first user of the obtained destination information at a predetermined time before the date of travel.
US08706090B2 Method and apparatus for delivering a voice mail message with an indication of the presence of the sender
A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering voice mail messages to one or more intended recipients with an indication of the presence of the sender. A message recipient can automatically respond to a voice mail message using a desired form of communication. The presence server can provide presence information across domains so that a user in one domain can automatically obtain presence information and respond to a user in another domain. A client-side presence enabled voice mail application process (i) retrieves voice mail messages from a voice mail server of a user, (ii) queries a presence server to determine the presence of the sender of each retrieved message, and (iii) presents the retrieved voice mail message(s) to the recipient with an indication of the presence of the sender. In addition, the disclosed presence enabled voice mail application process allows the message recipient to automatically respond, for example, by an email, instant message or telephone call to a device where the sender is believed to be present.
US08706086B2 Identification of a manipulated or defect base station during handover
A method of and arrangement for detecting a manipulated or defect base station of a communication network is disclosed, wherein a target base station, having selected one or more algorithms on the basis of a prioritized algorithm list (PAL) and a UE security capabilities (SCAP), reports UE SCAP related information to a core network node. The core network node having knowledge of the UE SCAP compares this information or parts of this information with the retrieved UE SCAP related information in order to be able to identify a manipulated or defect base station when a comparison fails to match.