| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08707540B2 |
Method of manufacturing a leader member in recording tape cartridge
The present invention provides a leader member in a recording tape cartridge that has excellent productivity, even though the leader member is manufactured with stainless steel, a manufacturing method thereof, and the recording tape cartridge. A leader member that is attached to a free end of a recording tape wound around a single reel accommodated in a case and that is pulled out from an opening formed in the case by an pull out member of a drive device is manufactured by metal injection molding of stainless steel. |
| US08707539B2 |
Gun rivet
A gun rivet and a device for placing said rivet are disclosed. The gun rivet contains a rivet head (1) with a collar (3) at one end and a rivet tip (6) at the other. The rivet body contains a cavity (7) in the form of a bore in a sleeve section (22). As with other gun rivets, the gun rivet is shot with a percussive-type action and with the aid of its rivet tip into an opening in two sheets (13, 14) that are to be joined together, until the collar comes to rest on the upper face of the upper sheet. A tensile bolt is then introduced into the cavity and is connected to the base (8) of the latter. This can be achieved by resistance welding. The tensile bolt is then drawn until a rivet head is formed on the opposite side of the two sheets. The tensile bolt is then detached from the gun rivet, for example by shearing. The tensile bolt can be re-used to place another rivet. |
| US08707536B2 |
Assembly of a part that has no plastic domain
A method of assembling a member made of a first material in a part made of a second material having no plastic domain, includes forming the part with an aperture, inserting a radially flared portion of the member into the aperture, without any stress, and elastically and plastically deforming the flared portion of the member in the aperture by moving two tools towards each other axially, respectively on the top and bottom parts of the flared portion, so as to exert a radial stress against the wall of the part surrounding the aperture, causing the elastic deformation of the part, to secure the assembly in a manner that is not destructive for said part. The member can be a timepiece. |
| US08707535B2 |
Method for installing a built-in device on a unit niche and adjusting tool
A built-in device, in particular a kitchen device, is provided and includes a front side and a unit wall comprising a unit front surface. Said method consists of the following steps: at least one adjusting device is secured to the built-in device in such a manner that an adjusting edge of the adjusting device protrudes over the front side of the device, the built-in device is inserted into the furniture niche until the adjusting edge is aligned with the front surface of the unit, the built-in device is secured to the unit niche. The invention also relates to an adjusting tool which is adapted, particularly, for carrying out said inventive method. |
| US08707533B2 |
Single brake spring tool and method of removal of drum brake spring
A brake drum spring release tool includes a straight elongate rod member with a laterally projecting lever arm extending from one side and an extended hook member from the end of the rod member. The lever arm acts as a fulcrum when positioned on a drum brake spring simultaneously engaged by a hook member. Placing a generally lateral force on the grip end of the tool will cause rotational force imparted by the hook member on the spring typically with a mechanical advantage associated with the fulcrum of the lever arm to thereby release the spring from a drum brake shoe. |
| US08707530B2 |
Rivet gun with a changeable cylinder
A rivet gun has a barrel, a handle assembly, a cylinder and a seal ring assembly. The handle assembly is mounted under the barrel and has a hydraulic shaft and a handle mounted around the hydraulic shaft and having an annular shoulder. The cylinder has a top cover, an annular body and a bottom seat. The top cover is mounted under the handle and contacts the annular shoulder. A diameter of the top cover is larger than a diameter of the annular shoulder such that an outer periphery of the top cover protrudes radially out from an outer periphery of the annular shoulder instead of being covered by the annular shoulder. The annular body is mounted detachably on the top cover. The bottom seat is mounted detachably on the annular body. The rivet gun is allowed to change cylinders of different sizes or types. |
| US08707529B2 |
Method and apparatus for breaking scale from sheet metal with recoiler tension and rollers adapted to generate scale breaking wrap angles
A metal processing apparatus comprises a scale breaker apparatus having a plurality of rollers positioned in a staggered arrangement and engaging first and second surfaces of sheet metal. The staggered arrangement creates clearances between the rollers of the first and second surface rollers sufficient to enable the sheet metal to conform to a portion of an outer periphery of at least one of the rollers while passing between the first and second surface rollers under a tensile force. The metal processing apparatus further comprises a recoiler adapted to coil the length of sheet metal. The recoiler subjects the sheet metal passing through the scale breaking apparatus to a tensile force sufficient to conform the sheet metal to a portion of the outer periphery of at least one of the rollers with a wrap angle sufficient to break scale from the sheet metal. |
| US08707527B2 |
Method to provide coil shaved metal fibers
A method for providing coil shaved metal fibers according to the present invention comprises the steps of -providing a metal composite foil, the metal composite foil comprising oat least two metal layers (Lx) for being converted into metal fibers, each pair of adjacent metal layers are mutually separated by a sacrificial layer (Sy) provided from a sacrificial metal, each sacrificial layer (Sy) having a first and second surface, whereby for each sacrificial layer, the first surface contacts one of the pair of adjacent metal layers, the second surface is contacting the other of the pair of adjacent metal layers; -coiling said metal composite foil on a shaft thereby providing a metal coil having one free end surface; -rotating the metal coil and cutting the free end surface of the metal coil by means of a cutting tool, thereby providing a bundle of composite fibers; -removing the sacrificial metal of the sacrificial layers from the composite fibers thereby providing a bundle of metal fibers, each metal fiber being obtained from one of the metal layers (Lx). |
| US08707525B2 |
Fastener assembly and method of using a fastener assembly
A fastener assembly and for joining a first body to a second body and a method for using the fastener assembly are disclosed herein. The fastener assembly includes, but is not limited to, a base component that is configured for engagement with the first body. The base component includes a class A surface. The fastener assembly further includes a fastening component that is connected to the base component and that extends therefrom. The fastening component is configured to translate for a predetermined distance with respect to the base component. The fastening component is further configured to engage the second body. The fastener assembly still further includes a biasing feature that is configured to urge the fastening component towards a substantially concentric arrangement with respect to the base component. |
| US08707524B2 |
Double sided nylon sandwich mesh fabric zipper and slider assembly
A double sided nylon sandwich mesh fabric zipper and slider assembly includes coil strips being left handed and right handed plastic coils each having a center cord and a series of interlocking teeth, each tooth having a tooth head and a tooth body so configured that the tooth heads are respectively interlockable with the tooth heads of the teeth of the coil strips at the other zipper tape. The slider has C-shaped guide grooves to guide locking and unlocking positions horizontal movement of the teeth of the upper and lower coil strips, and a balance guide block configured to match with the configuration of the tooth heads, facilitating accurate alignment between the left and right teeth of the upper and lower coil strips and assuring smooth engagement and disengagement of the interlocking teeth. |
| US08707523B2 |
Device for securing webbing
A webbing securing device comprises a main body having two side arms, a first end, a second end, a cavity between the side arms and a cord securing mechanism. There is a releasable central arm connected to the main body adjacent the first end and an elastic cord connected to the second end. The elastic cord is adapted to be secured on the cord securing mechanism, and is dimensioned so that the cord must be stretched in order to be secured on the cord securing mechanism. A length of webbing is secured in the device by feeding a loop of webbing in between the side arms and over the central arm, or over the side arms and underneath the central arm, and securing the elastic cord on the cord securing mechanism, so that the webbing is secured between the side arms and the central arm. |
| US08707522B2 |
Buckling device
A buckling device for fastening a belt is provided. The buckling device comprises a first portion, a second portion, an elastic portion and at least one push portion. The elastic portion is disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The second portion engages with the belt and the belt is fastened. The at least one push portion is integrally formed with the elastic portion and is exposed from the first portion and the second portion. The at least one push portion is adapted to be pushed inwards by an external force to force the elastic portion to extrude outwards so that the second portion is forced to move outwards to release the belt. |
| US08707517B2 |
Hinge for a folding door
A hinge for a folding door, in particular for movable furniture parts, has at least one abutment part with a first section for securing the hinge to a furniture part and a second section which is at an angle thereto and is adjustable in length. The adjustment in length of the second section is performed using a transmission device for converting a rotary movement into a longitudinal movement. |
| US08707516B2 |
Coupling device and electronic device
A coupling device for coupling a first casing and a second casing in a movable manner, comprising a first coupling member provided at the first casing, a second coupling member provided at the second casing, and coupled to the first coupling member in such a way that the first casing and the second casing move relative to each other, and a cleaning mechanism that cleans a clearance between the first casing and the second casing or the second coupling member. The cleaning mechanism has a wiper blade that moves in the clearance with movement of the casings, air injection means that injects air to the clearance, and/or a hinge cover that is displaceable within the clearance. |
| US08707513B2 |
Twin cyclone vacuum cleaner
An upright vacuum cleaner includes a housing having a suction airstream inlet and a suction airstream outlet. A dirt container is selectively mounted to the housing for receiving and retaining dirt and dust separated from the suction airstream and includes a first cyclonic air-flow chamber and a second cyclonic airflow chamber. The chambers are spaced apart and are each approximately vertically oriented and arranged in a parallel relationship. An air manifold is disposed at a top portion of the dirt container. The air manifold includes an inlet section through which dirty air passes and an outlet section. The inlet section directs a flow of dirty air into two separate inlet conduits leading to a respective one of the first and second airflow chambers. The outlet section collects a flow of cleaned air from both of the chambers and merges the flow of cleaned air into a single outlet conduit. |
| US08707512B2 |
Surface treating appliance
A surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic separating unit including a plurality of first cyclones arranged in parallel about an axis, and a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel, the plurality of second cyclones being divided into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about the axis and a second set of second cyclones. The plurality of first cyclones extends about the first set of second cyclones, and the first set of second cyclones extends about the second set of second cyclones. |
| US08707509B2 |
Surface treating appliance
A surface treating appliance includes a surface treating head, a hose, and a fan unit for generating a flow of fluid. A flexible duct assembly has a first end and a second end moveable relative to the first end between a first position allowing fluid flow between the hose and the fan unit, and a second position allowing fluid flow between the surface treating head and the fan unit. The duct assembly is connected to a first support which is pivotable about a first axis, and to a second support which is pivotable about a second axis spaced from the first axis. A drive mechanism effects the pivoting movement of the supports about their axes to move the second end of the duct assembly between the first and second positions. |
| US08707507B2 |
Cleaning appliance
A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes a chassis, a plurality of front floor engaging steering members connected to the chassis, a rear floor engaging rolling assembly connected to the chassis, and a control mechanism for steering the steering members. |
| US08707506B1 |
Wiper connecting device
A kind of windshield wiper connecting device, disclosed by this utility model, is a combination of various parts whose joint may be applied to installation of different kinds of windshield wiper arms. The device has a base with a connector, on which mounts a functional n-shaped stop pad with a functional external cap above, so as to form an integral wiper joint that is mounted on the main body of various styles of wipers throughout a base. This utility model may connect different structures of wiper arms, greatly improving the wiper adaptation. It features easy assembly, disassembly and replacement. |
| US08707502B2 |
Golf equipment cleaning device and method of use
A cleaning device for golf equipment that is attachable to a wheel is disclosed. The device generally comprises a cleaning support surface for attachment of one or more cleaning accessories. The cleaning support surface is formed in a substantially bowl shape, having a front surface and an opening in place of a rear surface. A perimeter edge is formed along the bottom edge of the cleaning support surface. The perimeter edge includes one or more attachment members for attaching the device to a wheel, such as a golf cart wheel or the like. |
| US08707498B2 |
Multifunctional cleaning tool
A method of cleaning a tubular with a cleaning tool that includes the steps of disposing the cleaning tool in the tubular, the cleaning tool having a main body with a first end, a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a propulsion relief assembly disposed proximate to the second end. The method further includes the steps of sufficiently pressurizing fluid behind the tubular to propel the cleaning tool along the tubular, and increasing the pressure of the fluid to actuate the propulsion relief assembly, whereby fluid is jetted out the outlet and out of the propulsion relief assembly. |
| US08707493B2 |
Method of customizing a linked article
Linked articles and a method for customizing the linked articles are disclosed. The linked articles comprise a first link matrix and a second link matrix comprising a first portion of the article and a second portion of the article, respectively. The first link matrix consists essentially of links of a first material and the second link matrix consists essentially of links of a second material. |
| US08707490B1 |
Survival knife with integrated tools
Survival knife that includes structural elements to implement any combination of a bottle opener/pan holder feature, wire breaker/choil, jimping/wire strippers, hex nut driver/lashing point, pry bar/scraper, glass breaker in a single blade configuration. |
| US08707482B1 |
Fitted covering for a mattress with corner anchor bands
A fitted covering for a mattress includes a body, a peripheral elastic band, and an anchor band. The body includes an upper panel and a side skirt extending outwardly away from the upper panel. The upper panel and the side skirt are coupled to one another along a seam extending substantially entirely around an outer periphery of the upper panel. The upper panel defines at least one corner. The peripheral elastic band is coupled with and extends around the side skirt opposite the upper panel. The anchor band is elongated and defines a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end and the second end are positioned on opposite sides of the at least one corner such that the anchor band extends diagonally across the at least one corner, and each of the first end and the second end is secured within the seam. |
| US08707481B1 |
Extremity warming blanket
An insulated pocketed and sock or slippered blanket is provided. The blanket may be used to quickly warm hands, arms, legs and feet with ease requiring no wires or electricity as with electric blankets. The design of the blanket allows the user to place their legs, feet, arms and hands into insulated and padded pockets and thus ensure that extremities remain warm. The present invention includes a blanket for warming extremities comprising: an arm warmer; a leg pocket configured for receiving legs; and two foot warmers. |
| US08707479B2 |
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag constructed such that its outer circumference is greater than its inner circumference includes additional integrated protuberances, or space fillers, that are added to the interior lining of the sleeping bag to fill-in around the sleeper's body. Making the circumference of the outside of the bag greater than the inside maintains the thickness of the insulation in selected areas. To maintain insulation thickness at other locations around the sleeper's body, the insulation-containing space fillers are incorporated into the interior of the bag and expand under the influence of the insulation to fill-in around the sleeper for reducing the internal volume of the bag. This construction can be carried the length of the sleeping bag. |
| US08707478B2 |
Adjustable folding bed frame
An adjustable folding bed frame including a plurality of longitudinal beams spaced apart and parallel to each other. Each longitudinal beam is formed by a pair of longitudinal bars that are pivotally connected together. The bed frame also includes a plurality of transverse beams spaced apart and parallel to each other. Each transverse beam is formed by a pair of transverse bars that are pivotally connected together. Each transverse bar has a first sliding member slidingly coupled with a second sliding member for adjusting the bed frame to predetermined widths. The bed frame also includes legs connected to a corresponding lower side of each longitudinal bar free end. The longitudinal and transverse bars are coupled together to form a generally rectangular frame when the bed frame is in an open configuration, and are folded adjacent and parallel to each other when the bed frame is in a folded configuration. |
| US08707472B2 |
Protective hood having a shielded elastomeric gasket/seal for sealing engagement with the face piece/mask of a self-contained breathing apparatus or respirator
A protective hood (18) of a protective garment (16) is provided for use with a face piece or mask (12) worn by a user. The hood (18) includes an outer shell (30) having a peripheral edge (20), and a gasket (22) that extends from the peripheral edge (20) to an interior of the hood (18) for sealing engagement with the face piece or mask (12) with the gasket (22) being covered by the outer shell (30) of the hood (18) when worn by a user. |
| US08707468B2 |
Protective garment with tourniquet
A protective garment including a waist portion adapted to be donned proximate the waist of a wearer and first and second leg portions extending from a waist portion to at least proximate a knee portion of the wearer and a tourniquet member attached to an inner surface of at least one of said first and second leg portions. |
| US08707464B2 |
Surgical garment
A surgical garment includes an undergarment and an outer garment configured to be worn over the undergarment. The undergarment includes a brassiere including a front panel, a back panel, a shoulder strap extending from a top portion of a first side of the front panel to a top portion of a first side of the back panel, a width of elastic material extending along a bottom of the front and back panels, and a releasable fastening system releasably coupling a side portion of the first side of the front panel with a side portion of the first side of the back panel. The outer garment includes a torso portion and removable shoulder portions extending from the torso portion. |
| US08707462B2 |
Hinged eye shield
An eye shield is provided that may allow for compact storage and ease of assembly and use. The eye shield may include a frame for supporting the eye shield upon a user and a hinge arranged upon a forehead portion of the frame. A flexible lens may be mounted to the hinge and arranged to move from a flat position by pivoting about the hinge to conform to a shape of the frame. |
| US08713709B2 |
Key management policies for cryptographic keys
A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to management of the key material populating one or more key management fields that define attributes that limit distribution of the key material. |
| US08713708B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling the use of data stored on a media sample
Techniques for controlling the use of data stored on a media or integrated circuit sample are provided. A sample identifier is created at the point of sample use. The type of sample could range from storage media, such as a Digital Video Disc, or DVD, on which, for example, data representing a motion picture is recorded, to an integrated circuit in which computer code is stored. The sample identifier is stored at a location that is different from where the data is to be employed, and compared with other sample identifiers. The use of the data is controlled based on the results of the comparison. |
| US08713706B2 |
Method and system for coordinating client and host security modules
A system and methods for coordinating the operation of a client security module and a host security module on a mobile electronic device. The modules communicate with each other through a platform abstraction layer using application programming interfaces to coordinate their activities. In particular, the client security module instructs the host security module when to lock and unlock the device, and the host security module alerts the client security module to attempts by the user to lock or unlock the device. |
| US08713704B2 |
Behavioral fingerprint based authentication
A computationally-implemented method, for certain example embodiments, may include, but is not limited to: determining that a first user of a computing device is associated with the computing device; and determining a level of authentication associated with the first user via the computing device, the level of authentication at least partially based on a behavioral fingerprint. A level of authentication determination may additionally/alternatively include at least determining a behavioral fingerprint via establishing a statistical predictability of one or more future actions of an authorized user of a computing device. A level of authentication determination may additionally/alternatively include at least determining an authentication level with respect to a computing device at least partially based on a behavioral fingerprint determined from interaction(s) with another device. In addition to the foregoing, other example aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and written description forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US08713703B2 |
Advanced CAPTCHA using images in sequence
A CAPTCHA challenge tool for determining if a user of a computer is a human or an automated program. The tool presents a set of images. At least a portion of the set of images suggests a chronological sequence when organized correctly. The tool receives a suggested order from the user of the computer. If the suggested order matches the correct order, the tool assumes that the user is a human, if the suggested order does not match the correct order, the tool assumes the user is an automated program. |
| US08713701B2 |
Multichannel device utilizing a centralized out-of-band authentication system (COBAS)
A multichannel security system is disclosed, which system is for granting and denying access to a host computer in response to a demand from an access-seeking individual and computer. The access-seeker has a peripheral device operative within an authentication channel to communicate with the security system. The access-seeker initially presents identification and password data over an access channel which is intercepted and transmitted to the security computer. The security computer then communicates with the access-seeker. A biometric analyzer—a voice or fingerprint recognition device—operates upon instructions from the authentication program to analyze the monitored parameter of the individual. In the security computer, a comparator matches the biometric sample with stored data, and, upon obtaining a match, provides authentication. The security computer instructs the host computer to grant access and communicates the same to the access-seeker, whereupon access is initiated over the access channel. |
| US08713697B2 |
Apparatus and method for storing event information for an HVAC system
An apparatus for storing event information relating to operation of an HVAC system includes: (a) at least one memory controller coupled with the HVAC system for receiving the event information; and (b) at least one memory unit coupled with the at least one memory controller. A first memory unit of the at least one memory unit is configured for receiving first selected information of the event information for accessing by at least one of a first party and a second party. A second memory unit of the at least one memory unit is configured for receiving second selected information of the event information for accessing by the second party. |
| US08713696B2 |
Method and system for dynamic digital rights bundling
Methods and systems for dynamically bundling portions into secured destination files are provided. Example embodiments provide a Dynamic Digital Rights Bundling System (“DDRBS”), which dynamically bundles a set of portions each variously containing digital rights management components, user interface controls, and content, into a secured destination file in response to a designated content request. In one embodiment, the DDRBS comprises a bundling engine, a translation engine, a merging engine, and an assortment of data repositories. These components cooperate to dynamically assemble and provide customized secured destination files comprising the requested content together with specialized user interface and digital rights management controls. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08713693B2 |
Secure access to customer log data in a multi-tenant environment
Systems and methods process log data relating to usage of a multi-tenant application server. An input module receives a request from a user that identifies requested log data by a particular user or tenant of the multi-tenant application system. A log query service automatically formats the database query for the requested log data based upon the request received from the user, and stores the formatted database query on the storage device. A batch server subsequently retrieves the database query from the storage device, submits the database query to the data analysis engine, obtains the requested information from the data analysis engine after the query is completed, and notifies the user that the requested information is available for output. |
| US08713689B2 |
Secure workflow and data management facility
Disclosed is a computer program that provides a secure workflow environment through a cloud computing facility, wherein the secure workflow environment may be adapted to (1) provide a plurality of users with a workspace adaptable to provide secure document management and secure communications management, wherein the users comprise at least two classes of user, including a participant and a subscriber, the subscriber having control authority within the workspace that exceeds that of the participant and the participant having control over at least some of the participants own interactions with the workspace, (2) maintain a secure instance of each communication provided by each of the users such that each communication can be managed, (3) maintain a secure instance of each document interaction provided by each user such that each interaction can be managed; and extending the secure workflow environment to the users through a secure network connection. |
| US08713686B2 |
System and method for reducing antivirus false positives
A method for detecting a malicious program infection includes scanning data to determine whether the data exhibits one or more particular symptoms of being infected with a malicious program and, in response to determining that the scanned data exhibits the symptoms of being infected with a malicious program, comparing the scanned data to known-good data. The method also includes initiating remedial action in response to determining that the scanned data does not match the known-good data. |
| US08713684B2 |
Quantifying the risks of applications for mobile devices
Quantifying the risks of applications (“apps”) for mobile devices is disclosed. In some embodiments, quantifying the risks of apps for mobile devices includes receiving an application for a mobile device; performing an automated analysis of the application based on a risk profile; and generating a risk score based on the automated analysis of the application based on the risk profile. |
| US08713683B2 |
Security arrangements for extended USB protocol stack of a USB host system
Security arrangements for a universal serial bus (USB) protocol stack of a USB host system are provided. The security arrangements prevent an unauthorized or suspicious USB device from communicating with the host system, detect suspicious activity originating from a device which is already communicating with the host system and may provide notification to a user. |
| US08713682B2 |
Dynamic learning method and adaptive normal behavior profile (NBP) architecture for providing fast protection of enterprise applications
An adaptive normal behavior profile (NBP) architecture for providing fast protection of enterprise applications are disclosed. The adaptive NBP architecture includes a plurality of profile items. Each profile item includes a plurality of profile properties holding the descriptive values of the respective item. An application-level security system can identify and prevent attacks targeted at enterprise applications by matching application events against at least a single profile item in the adaptive NBP. |
| US08713681B2 |
System and method for detecting executable machine instructions in a data stream
Detecting executable machine instructions in a data is accomplished by accessing a plurality of values representing data contained within a memory of a computer system and performing pre-processing on the plurality of values to produce a candidate data subset. The pre-processing may include determining whether the plurality of values meets (a) a randomness condition, (b) a length condition, and/or (c) a string ratio condition. The candidate data subset is inspected for computer instructions, characteristics of the computer instructions are determined, and a predetermined action taken based on the characteristics of the computer instructions. |
| US08713679B2 |
Detection of code-based malware
This document describes techniques for detection of code-based malware. According to some embodiments, the techniques utilize a collection of known malicious code and know benign code and determine which features of each type of code can be used to determine whether unclassified code is malicious or benign. The features can then be used to train a classifier (e.g., a Bayesian classifier) to characterize unclassified code as malicious or benign. In at least some embodiments, the techniques can be used as part of and/or in cooperation with a web browser to inspect web content (e.g., a web page) to determine if the content includes code-based malware. |
| US08713671B2 |
System and method for providing an extended platform for an operating system
A system and method of adding programming to a Symbian operating system. A binary component for use by the operating system, with the binary component including both a capability level and a trust level. The trust level is either equal to or higher than the capability level. If the trust level of the binary component is equal to or higher than the capability of a calling process the calling process automatically loads the binary component. |
| US08713668B2 |
System and method for redirected firewall discovery in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment that includes receiving metadata from a host over a metadata channel. The metadata may be correlated with a network flow and a network policy may be applied to the connection. In other embodiments, a network flow may be received from a host without metadata associated with the flow, and a discovery redirect may be sent to the host. Metadata may then be received and correlated with the flow to identify a network policy action to apply to the flow. |
| US08713665B2 |
Systems, methods, and media for firewall control via remote system information
A method and system for controlling a firewall for a user computer system. One or more processors of the user computer system receive a control request to control a program of the user computer system by the firewall. The control request includes a condition pertaining to at least one process of a remote computer system. The at least one process is configured to be executed on the remote computer system. The firewall protects the user computer system from external threats. The processors store a remote system condition associated with the program of the user computer system. The remote system condition includes the condition pertaining to the at least one process. The processors ascertain whether the remote system condition is satisfied. The processors direct the firewall to block or allow the transmission of data if it is ascertained that the remote system condition is not satisfied or satisfied, respectively. |
| US08713663B2 |
Method for using extended security system, extended security system and devices
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for using an extended security system, including: configuring one of security processing devices in the extended security system as a primary security processing device and configuring other security processing devices as at least one secondary security processing device connected with the primary security processing device; the method further includes: when the extended security system receives an external packet, selecting, by the primary security processing device, a security processing device to process the received external packet, the selected security processing device being the primary security processing device or the secondary security processing device. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose an extended security system and a primary security processing device and secondary security processing devices. By data interaction between the security processing devices, resource sharing between the security processing devices can be implemented, thereby improving the performance of the extended security system. |
| US08713662B2 |
Method of monitoring and configuring
A method for managing and monitoring communication devices in a firewall/NAT protected network from a Management system outside the firewall/NAT protected network includes periodically and at predefined events opening an http connection and transmitting a request from the respective communication devices to the Management system through a firewall/NAT installation protecting the network, and when receiving said request in the management system, transmitting instructions and data to the communication devices from the management system in a http response through said http connection. |
| US08713661B2 |
Authentication service
A method includes authenticating a party based on presentation of a token by the party. |
| US08713660B2 |
Authentication platform and related method of operation
An authentication platform comprises an authentication unit configured to authenticate the user based on received input data, and a control unit configured to enable communication between a client device and an authentication host as a consequence of successful authentication of the user by the authentication unit. |
| US08713659B1 |
Method and apparatus for allocating and obtaining IP address
A switch sends an authentication request message to a client at intervals of a preset duration. A response message sent by the client is received. The response message carries authentication information of a user carried on the client. An authentication message is sent to a server according to the response message. An authentication reply message sent by the server is received. The authentication reply message carries information about an authentication domain authorized by the server to the user. It is determined, according to the authentication reply message, whether the authentication domain of the user is changed. If the authentication domain of the user is changed, an authentication domain change message is sent to the client according to the authentication reply message, so that the client obtains an IP address again. |
| US08713658B1 |
System for and method of providing single sign-on (SSO) capability in an application publishing environment
A client-server computing system includes a computer cluster for hosting certain resources, applications, programs, processes, files, and/or data that are published to users who are accessing the computer cluster remotely. The computer cluster includes a network of one or more host computers, a gateway server, a gateway service database, and a user database. A single sign-on (SSO) method of the disclosure includes performing a computer cluster authentication process in which a user enters his/her credentials followed by a resource authentication process in which there is no need for the user to reenter his/her credentials, having entered them already in the computer cluster authentication process. |
| US08713657B2 |
System and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement
Systems and methods for weak authentication data reinforcement are described. In some embodiments, authentication data is received in a request to authenticate a user. In response to detecting weak authentication data, the systems and methods determine whether the user was previously authenticated as a human user. An example embodiment may include initiating an authentication process based on determining that the user was previously authenticated as a human user. |
| US08713655B2 |
Method and system for using personal devices for authentication and service access at service outlets
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an interaction system. A first set of information related to a user is received from a personal communication device with or without an embedded secure element, or from an independent secure element at a service outlet. The personal communication device and the secure element are associated with the user. Further, a trust is established between the service outlet and the secure element by a process of mutual authentication. If a personal communication device is used, a communication channel is established between the personal communication device and the service outlet. Thereafter, the user is provided access to multiple services offered by the service provider over the communication channel through the personal communication device. If a personal communication device is not used, the services are provided through the access point of the service outlet. |
| US08713652B2 |
Protecting a gaming machine from rogue code
Systems and methods provide a gaming machine that is protected from the introduction of rogue code. One aspect of the systems and methods includes disabling a user access feature, such as a login or network access feature of an operating system executing on the gaming machine. A further aspect of the systems and methods includes removing debuggers and debugging information from an operating system or application executing on the gaming machine. |
| US08713651B1 |
Advocate for facilitating verification for the online presence of an entity
Some embodiments provide an advocate system to facilitate automated online presence verification for different entities on behalf of the entities. The advocate system places service providers on notice that profiles and information hosted by them and that form the online presence for a particular entity should first be verified with that particular entity. The advocate system further facilitates online presence verification by 1) directly or indirectly connecting the service providers that are placed on notice with the appropriate authoritative entities to facilitate the verification of the profiles and information, 2) selectively targeting service providers hosting profiles and information that are unverified, 3) automatedly verifying hosted profiles and information based on a verified profile lists and verified information that authoritative entities provide to a central repository. In so doing, the advocate system prevents potential damage to the authoritative entity's credibility while also mitigating potential for fraud, identity theft, etc. |
| US08713649B2 |
System and method for providing restrictions on the location of peer subnet manager (SM) instances in an infiniband (IB) network
A system and method can provide subnet manager (SM) restrictions in an InfiniBand (IB) network. A first SM in a subnet in the IB network operates to determine whether a second SM associated with a remote port is trustworthy. Furthermore, the first SM is allowed to send at least one of a request and a response that contains a management key to the second SM, if the first SM determines that the second SM is trustworthy. Additionally, the first SM is prevented from attempting to initiate communication with the second SM, if otherwise. |
| US08713647B2 |
End-of-session authentication
Techniques for facilitating an online transaction session with an end-of-session authentication are provided. The techniques include performing a start-of-session authentication to enable an online transaction session, and performing an end-of-session authentication to end the online transaction session, wherein the end-of-session authentication comprises a scope comprising each pre-defined critical transaction from the transaction session. |
| US08713640B2 |
System and method for logical separation of a server by using client virtualization
A system for logically separating a server using client virtualization includes a client terminal including a virtual environment generation unit for generating a virtual environment, and a virtualized server including a local storage unit, an authentication server for performing authentication on the client terminal when a request for access to the local storage unit is received from a process executed in the virtual environment, and a virtualization filter drier for allowing or blocking the access request to the local storage unit based on the authentication result of the client terminal. The client terminal further includes a virtualization filter driver for transmitting the access request from the process executed in the virtual environment to the local storage unit, and blocking the access request from the process without being made through the virtual environment to the local storage unit. |
| US08713639B2 |
Method and apparatus for policy-based network access control with arbitrary network access control frameworks
A method and apparatus for integrating various network access control frameworks under the control of a single policy decision point (PDP). The apparatus supports pluggable protocol terminators to interface to any number of access protocols or backend support services. The apparatus contains Trust and Identity Mediators to mediate between the protocol terminators and a canonical policy subsystem, translating attributes between framework representations, and a canonical representation using extensible data-driven dictionaries. |
| US08713630B2 |
Verifiable service policy implementation for intermediate networking devices
A network system capable of communicating with a first end user device over a wireless access network, and a method performed by the network system. The method comprises receiving an instruction from the first end user device, the instruction being based on a user input obtained through a user interface of the first end user device, the user input requesting a change to a forwarding service, the forwarding service enabling the first end user device to forward traffic between the wireless access network and one or more other end user devices according to a forwarding policy; determining to change a setting associated with the forwarding policy based on the instruction; and initiating provisioning of one or more elements to change the setting associated with the forwarding policy. |
| US08713623B2 |
Technique for effectively providing program material in a cable television system
In a cable television system in accordance with the invention, program materials are made available to subscribers in a neighborhood on an as needed basis. Specifically, when a subscriber at a set-top terminal selects a program channel to watch, the selection request is transmitted to a headend of the system. In response to such a request, a controller in the headend determines whether the material of the selected program channel has been made available to the neighborhood. If it has been made available, the controller identifies to the set-top terminal the carrier which is carrying the requested program material, and to which the set-top terminal tunes to obtain the requested program material. Otherwise, the controller assigns an unused carrier to carry the requested program material, and informs the set-top terminal of the identity of the newly assigned carrier. The controller also retires those carriers assigned for the program channels which are no longer watched by the subscribers in the neighborhood. |
| US08713619B2 |
Creation and use of test cases for automated testing of media-based applications
A method for testing an automated interactive media system. The method can include establishing a communication session with the automated interactive media system. In response to receiving control and/or media information from the automated interactive media system, pre-recorded control and/or media information can be propagated to the automated interactive media system. The pre-recorded control and/or media information can be recorded in real time. |
| US08713618B1 |
Segmenting video based on timestamps in comments
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for segmenting videos in a video hosting service. To determine segments related to timestamps, user generated comments are parsed for timestamps. The timestamps are organized into sets and a segment is identified for each set of timestamps. A start point for each segment is determined based on the timestamps in each set. The segment will have an endpoint that can be either the end of the itself, or optionally can be determined based on the timestamps. Each timestamp is associated with a segment. One or more indicators represent each timestamp and each indicator is coupled to the segment associated with timestamp represented by the indicator. The segments are ranked according to popularity or the submission time of their related timestamp indicators. Responsive to receiving a client request for a video, the comments, indicators, and segments are loaded to the client. |
| US08713616B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a method for processing data in the same are disclosed. A method for controlling a digital television (DTV) located in one independent space among a plurality of independent spaces physically separated from one another is disclosed. The method includes receiving display type information from a compact wireless device, wherein the display type information is type information of data capable of being processed by the compact wireless device, transmitting the received display type information to a management server, receiving general additional information and additional information dependent on the display type information from the management server, and controlling the general additional information to be displayed on the DTV and transmitting the additional information dependent on the display type information to the compact wireless device. |
| US08713614B2 |
Audiovisual multi-room support
The invention relates to providing audiovisual content on a network, and methods of transferring the audiovisual content between devices attached to the network. The methods involve accepting user input, at a first output device that is outputting audiovisual content, to select a second output device from the output devices associated with the network and subsequently outputting the audiovisual content on the second output device that is selected. |
| US08713612B2 |
Method of providing user-tailored entertainment experience at hospitality location and hospitality media system thereof
A hospitality media system includes a plurality of entertainment devices installed at a hospitality location and a content selector. The content selector is configured to retrieve a plurality of user profiles corresponding to current users of the hospitality location, and automatically adjust content made available on each of the entertainment devices at the hospitality location according to information stored in the user profiles. |
| US08713610B2 |
Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT. |
| US08713607B2 |
Multi-room user interface
Multi-room user interface is described. In an embodiment, a viewing system includes television-based client devices that each receive a different data stream and render a viewing selection from the data stream. A multi-room user interface displayed at a first television-based client device can display a representation of a viewing selection being shown at any one or more of the other television-based client devices. |
| US08713604B2 |
Systems and methods for processing supplemental information associated with media programming
Various systems and methods allow supplemental information such as recipes, parts lists, instructions, notes, outlines or other information associated with a television program to be delivered in the same transport stream that carries the television program to the viewer. The transport stream includes at least two elementary streams, wherein the first elementary stream conveys video content associated with the television program and the second elementary stream conveys supplemental information that summarizes at least a portion of the television program. The device receiving the digital transport stream identifies the first and second elementary streams in the digital transport stream, processes the first elementary stream to present the video content associated with the television program to the viewer, and makes the supplemental information in the second elementary stream available to the viewer. |
| US08713596B2 |
Method and system for blocking hazardous information
A method for blocking objectionable information on a terminal. The method includes receiving header information corresponding to a particular multimedia content, extracting grade information from the header, determining if the extracted grade information is an allowable grade indicating that the particular multimedia content can be received by the terminal, receiving the particular multimedia content if the determining step determines the extracted grade information is the allowable grade, comparing the received multimedia content with objectionable information determination data stored in the terminal to determine if the multimedia content is objectionable, and assigning an objectionable grade to the header of the multimedia content when the comparing step determines the received multimedia content is objectionable. |
| US08713594B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing promotional materials
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a memory coupled to a processor. The processor can be operable to receive a request for promotional information responsive to a media processor detecting a promotional tag in a media program stream and transmit to the media processor promotional information associated with a promotion responsive to a determination that a promotional offer is available. The processor can also be operable to receive from the media processor a request for redeemable material associated with the promotion and store the redeemable material in a portion of a database associated with a user of the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08713589B2 |
Registration and network access control
In embodiments of registration and network access control, an initially unconfigured network interface device can be registered and configured as an interface to a public network for a client device. In another embodiment, a network interface device can receive a network access request from a client device to access a secure network utilizing extensible authentication protocol (EAP), and the request is communicated to an authentication service to authenticate a user of the client device based on user credentials. In another embodiment, a network interface device can receive a network access request from a client device to access a Web site in a public network utilizing a universal access method (UAM), and the request is redirected to the authentication service to authenticate a user of the client device based on user credentials. |
| US08713586B2 |
Optimized delivery of web application code
Application code for deployment to a client over a data link is optimized to minimize download time by supplying only the application code with a particular object that is required by the object. In a web application that includes multiple pages, the HTML and JAVASCRIPT are scanned to identify code resources called by a particular web page. When all called resources are identified, they are extracted and concatenated into a single resource file. When the page is downloaded to the client, the import file is included with the page. The import file may be cached so that it need only be downloaded once, rather than being downloaded every time the page is requested. The invention is suitable for use with other interpreted scripting languages. |
| US08713584B2 |
Event-triggered server-side macros
A computer-implemented method of managing computer macros is disclosed. The method includes storing code for a computer macro at an internet-accessible hosted computer system and associating the stored code with a user account on the hosted computer system. The method also includes automatically identifying with the hosted computer system, independent of whether a user associated with the user account is currently active on the hosted computer system, a triggering event that is defined as being directed to the macro. Furthermore, the method includes executing the macro using an application running on the hosted computer system to generate macro results, and storing the macro results on the hosted computer system. |
| US08713582B2 |
Providing policy-based operating system services in an operating system on a computing system
Methods, apparatus, and products are disclosed for providing policy-based operating system services in an operating system on a computing system. The computing system includes at least one compute node. The compute node includes an operating system that includes a kernel and a plurality of operating system services of a service type. Providing policy-based operating system services in an operating system on a computing system includes establishing, on the compute node, a kernel policy specifying one of the operating system services of the service type for use in the operating system, and accessing, by the kernel, the specified operating system service. The computing system may also be implemented as a distributed computing system that includes one or more operating system service nodes. One or more of the operating system services may be distributed among the operating system service nodes. |
| US08713581B2 |
Selected alert delivery in a distributed processing system
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for selected alert delivery in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include receiving, by an incident analyzer, one or more events from one or more resources, each event identifying a location of the resource producing the event; creating, by the incident analyzer, potential alerts in dependence upon a location of the resource producing the event and location scoping rules; selecting for consolidation, by the incident analyzer, one or more of the potential alerts based on consolidation rules; and creating, by the incident analyzer, a consolidated alert based on the consolidation rules and the selected one or more potential alerts. |
| US08713579B2 |
Managing job execution
Various embodiments involve monitoring the execution of jobs in a work plan. For example, a system maintains a risk level associated with the critical job may be maintained to represent whether the execution of a job preceding the critical job has a problem, and a list associated with the critical job may be maintained so as to quickly identify the preceding job which may cause a delay to the critical job execution. |
| US08713572B2 |
Methods, systems, and physical computer storage media for processing a plurality of input/output request jobs
Methods, systems, and physical computer-readable storage medium for processing a plurality of IO request jobs are provided. The method includes determining whether one or more request jobs are not meeting a QoS target, each job of the one or more request jobs having a corresponding priority, selecting a highest priority job from the one or more request jobs, if one or more request jobs are not meeting the QoS target, determining whether the highest priority job has a corresponding effective rate limit imposed thereon, if so, relaxing the corresponding effective rate limit, and if not, selecting one or more lower priority jobs from the one or more request jobs and tightening a corresponding effective limit on the one or more lower priority jobs from the one or more request jobs in accordance with a delay factor limit. |
| US08713567B2 |
Method for switching between virtualized and non-virtualized system operation
A method performed by an embedded system controlled by a CPU and capable of operating as a virtualized system under supervision of a hypervisor or as a non-virtualized system under supervision of an operating system, is provided. The embedded system is executed in a normal mode if no execution of any security critical function is required by the embedded system, where the normal mode execution is performed under supervision of the operating system. If a security critical function execution is required by the embedded system, where protected mode execution is performed under supervision of the hypervisor, the operating system is switching execution of the embedded system from normal mode to protected mode, by handing over the execution of the embedded system from the operating system to the hypervisor, and when execution of the security critical function is no longer required by the embedded system is switched from protected mode to normal mode, under supervision of the hypervisor. |
| US08713565B2 |
Automated tuning in a virtual machine computing environment
Automatic optimization of application performance parameters is provided. This optimization may be provided by identifying the resource demands of applications using virtual resources, identifying the virtual resources that can be available to the applications, and allocating the virtual resources to the applications to be run on a virtual machine. |
| US08713563B2 |
Data processor with virtual machine management
A data processor includes: a central processing unit (CPU), in which a plurality of virtual machines (101), each running an application program under controls of different operating systems, and a virtual machine manager (190) for controlling the plurality of virtual machines are selectively arranged according to information set in mode registers (140, 150, 151); and a resource access management module (110) for managing access to hardware resource available for the plurality of virtual machines. The resource access management module accepts, as inputs, the information set in the mode registers and access control information of the central processing unit to the hardware resource, compares the information thus input with information set in a control register, and controls whether or not to permit access to the hardware resource in response to the access control information. As a result, redesign involved in changes in system specifications can be reduced, and a malfunction owing to resource contention can be prevented. The invention contributes to increase of security. |
| US08713562B2 |
Intelligent and automated code deployment
Exemplary system and computer program product embodiments for deploying code in a computing sysplex environment are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, a system-wide trending mechanism is applied. At least one of an idle time and a low Central Processing Unit (CPU) utilization time of one system in the sysplex environment is matched with an estimated deployment time obtained from at least one of a latest measured period of time and a calculated time trend. A system-wide coordinating mechanism is applied. A staggered code deployment operation is recommended for at least one node of the system at an optimum system time generated from the matching. Data obtained from the code deployment operation is recorded, including a new latest measured period of time. The data is used to generate an updated time trend. |
| US08713561B2 |
Device, information processing method, and computer-readable storage medium
A device may include a first manager to store attribute information of a first program in a first storage in response to an install request to install the first program, and a second manager to store attribute information of a second program in a second storage in response to an install request to install the second program. The second manager may store attribute information of a third program and attribute information of the second program included in the third program in the second storage, and store attribute information of the first program included in the third program in the first storage, in response to an install request to install the third program that includes the first program and the second program. |
| US08713560B2 |
Compatibility check
System, method and a computer program product for providing a compatibility check are disclosed. Compatibility check includes selecting a solution for purchase by a user, wherein the selected solution is configured to be desired for operation in a first system, performing a compatibility check to determine whether the selected solution is capable of operating in the first system, generating results of the compatibility check, and determining, based on the generated results, whether to purchase the selected solution. |
| US08713558B2 |
Generating package profiles in software package repositories using selective subsets of packages
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating package profiles in software package repositories using selective subsets of packages. A physical or virtual client machine can host a set of installed software packages, including operating system, application, and/or other software. A package manager tracks the set of installed packages and reports the inventory of those packages to one or more package servers. The package server(s) can build an aggregate package population record reflecting all packages installed on all machines in the managed network. The package server(s) can then generate arbitrarily selected package subsets from the aggregate package collection, and group or configure sets of machines based on common or compatible package subsets. Machine groups dedicated to different tasks or applications as reflected in their package subsets can then have updating, security, and/or other management tasks carried out on a collective basis. |
| US08713553B2 |
Disk array apparatus and firmware update method therefor
This invention proposes a disk array apparatus capable of improving its reliability. This disk array apparatus includes a first controller, and a second controller configured redundantly with the first controller, wherein the first controller and the second controller respectively include a storage area for storing firmware and are both in an operating state. When update processing of an update portion as a portion to be updated in the firmware of the first controller is unsuccessful, the first controller confirms whether update processing of an update portion of the firmware of the second controller is also unsuccessful, and, in a case where the update processing of the update portion of the firmware of the second controller has ended normally, rewrites firmware data of the update portion of the first controller with the firmware data of the update portion of the second controller. |
| US08713552B2 |
Avoiding conflict in update in distributed environment employing multiple clients
A client transmits, to a server, an instruction to copy a certain file for update, and receives the copied file. Upon update of the received file, the client generates update information on the update of the received file, and transmits the generated update information to the server. The server extracts a file containing a part related to the received update information, and judges whether or not the extracted file has been copied and then transmitted to a different client. If judging that the extracted file has been copied and transmitted to the different client, the server transmits warning information to the different client to which the extracted file has been transmitted, the warning information indicating that the file is updated in the client other than the different client. |
| US08713551B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for non-interruptively updating firmware on a redundant hardware controller
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for non-interruptively updating firmware on a redundant hardware controller. The apparatus includes a routing module, a receiving module, and a forwarding module. The routing module routes communications between a redundant hardware controller and a service processor associated with a flash update. The receiving module receives a flash command for the flash update from the service processor via a shared serial connection. The forwarding module forwards the flash command via a dedicated point to point connection to the redundant hardware controller configured to receive the flash command over the point to point connection. The apparatus, system, and method provide a non-interruptive overlay of the firmware image on a redundant hardware controller, minimizing system downtime and user intervention. |
| US08713549B2 |
Vectorization of program code
A method for vectorization of a block of code is provided. The method comprises receiving a first block of code as input; and converting the first block of code into at least a second block of code and a third block of code. The first block of code accesses a first set of memory addresses that are potentially misaligned. The second block of code performs conditional leaping address incrementation to selectively access a first subset of the first set of memory addresses. The third block of code accesses a second subset of the first set of memory addresses starting from an aligned memory address, simultaneously accessing multiple memory addresses at a time. No memory address belongs to both the first subset and the second subset of memory addresses. |
| US08713542B2 |
Pausing a VoiceXML dialog of a multimodal application
Pausing a VoiceXML dialog of a multimodal application, including generating by the multimodal application a pause event; responsive to the pause event, temporarily pausing the dialogue by the VoiceXML interpreter; generating by the multimodal application a resume event; and responsive to the resume event, resuming the dialog. Embodiments are implemented with the multimodal application operating on a multimodal device supporting multiple modes of interaction including a voice mode and one or more non-voice modes, the multimodal application is operatively coupled to a VoiceXML interpreter, and the VoiceXML interpreter is interpreting the VoiceXML dialog to be paused. |
| US08713540B2 |
Generating and modifying textual code interfaces from graphical programs
A graphical program is analyzed, where the graphical program includes an I/O interface including one or more ordered parameters for providing input to or receiving output from the graphical program. A function is generated in a textual programming language based on the analyzing, where the function implements the functionality of the graphical program, and includes a textual function I/O interface with the one or more ordered parameters of the I/O interface of the graphical program. User input is received specifying a modified textual function I/O interface that differs from the textual function I/O interface. A wrapper for the function is generated with the modified textual function I/O interface, where the wrapper includes the function, and where during execution the wrapper receives or outputs values in accordance with the modified textual function I/O interface, and provides values to or receives values from the function via the textual function I/O interface. |
| US08713539B2 |
Managing breakpoints in a multi-threaded environment
An electronic device is provided that, in an embodiment, saves a plurality of values for a variable specified by a condition after a respective plurality of encounters of a breakpoint by a program that modifies the variable. One of the plurality of values is selected based on a condition. A determination is made whether to stop execution of the program at the breakpoint based on the one of the plurality of the values. Execution of the program is stopped at the breakpoint if the determining is true. The program is allowed to continue to execute if the determining is false. |
| US08713535B2 |
Reliable and accurate usage detection of a software application
Use of software applications is detected by categorizing components of applications into a usage manifest and implementing a usage detection background service on a client PC that monitors the components according to the usage manifest. The application components are categorized based on the mode of user interaction as well as the component's correlation to active use of an application. The background service tracks events and activities associated with the application components to generate usage metrics that include the frequency of unique launches of an application and the duration of each unique use. A usage manager for the background service may utilize the usage metrics for a component independently, or combine metrics for multiple components in cases where applications work in an interactive manner (such as a plug-in to a web browser) in order to compute application usage by comparing the metrics against predefined thresholds. |
| US08713531B1 |
Integrated bug tracking and testing
A computer implemented software testing method includes receiving a bug report regarding software under test; storing the bug report in a computer readable data store upon receiving the bug report; setting an a status indicator for the bug report to an open condition upon storing the bug report; requesting execution of a test procedure corresponding to the bug report; executing the test procedure using a processor; receiving a test result from the processor indicating a pass state or a fail state for the test procedure; and setting the status indicator for the bug report to a closed condition if the pass state is determined for the test procedure. |
| US08713528B1 |
Verification of computer-executable code generated from a model
A code verification tool verifies that code generated from a model represents all of the functionality of the model and does not contain any unintended functionality. The code verification tool may receive for examination a model or an intermediate representation (IR) of the model and the generated code or an intermediate representation of the generated code. The code verification tool may create further intermediate representations of the model and/or the generated code in order to compare the functionality presented in both. |
| US08713527B2 |
Build process management system
A build process management system can acquire data pertaining to a software build process that is currently being executed by an automated software build system. The software build process can include executable process steps, metadata, and/or environmental parameter values. An executable process step can utilize a build artifact, representing an electronic document that supports the software build process. The acquired data can then be synthesized into an immutable baseline build process and associated baseline artifact library. The baseline artifact library can store copies of the build artifacts. The immutable baseline build process can include baseline objects that represent data values and dependencies indicated in the software build process. In response to a user-specified command, an operation can be performed upon the baseline build process and associated baseline artifact library. |
| US08713524B2 |
Memory management configuration
Dynamic memory management configuration enables certain behavior of an application to be controlled without touching or affecting any executable portion of the application. |
| US08713523B2 |
Documentation roadmaps and community networking for developers on large projects
A version control system includes a mechanism for a learning roadmap based on information available from a source repository. More particularly, the mechanism generates an easily understandable timeline of a project and a directory of developers based on information available in the version control system that contains the source content of a project. The timeline for the project may be tied to the directory of developers. Under each date in the timeline, a list of developers and their roles and commits may be listed. |
| US08713519B2 |
Method for improving the performance of browser-based, formula-driven parametric objects
A computer-aided, design system and method generates procedural code from a plurality of spreadsheet formulas which define the behavior of a parametric object. These spreadsheet formulas drive function calls to an API of the design system when initially drawing the parametric object within a user interface, and these function calls may be cached as procedural code. In subsequent re-drawings of same object, the procedural code may be executed with updated or changed attributes received from an input dialog box. Rather than converting, translating, and parsing the spreadsheet formulas each time an entry is changed, the procedural code may be optimized for execution and also be concealed from the user so that any proprietary information in the formulas and functions is kept secret. |
| US08713514B2 |
Heterogeneous language data typing without executable regeneration
Data typing information for heterogeneous language components is obtained during software development without requiring executable regeneration. After source code is changed, dependent compiled components, which are written in multiple high-level programming languages, are identified. A query engine obtains data typing information of the dependent components, such as function signatures and class definition, directly from internal compiler-created structures for the respective programming languages. Through a synchronizer, a shared model is automatically populated with the data typing information. The updated model supports cross-language software development operations such as autocompletion, refactoring, dependency finding, and definition go-to, without regeneration of an executable code unit which reflects the changed source code. In cases involving SQL or Transact-SQL (T-SQL), a Data Definition Language file can be automatically generated from the data typing information. |
| US08713507B1 |
Method and apparatus for efficiently inserting fills in an integrated circuit layout
A method for efficiently producing a design layout that includes several fills between and around nets of the design layout is described. The method of some embodiments first places a set of fills in the design layout. The method then performs a timing analysis on the design layout to find out the impact of the fills on the timing of the nets. The method identifies a region of the design layout in which to trim a set of fills in order to fix any timing violations of the nets. The method then trims the set of fills in the identified region. In some embodiments, the method employs different trimming strategies for trimming fills around different nets based on the characteristics of the nets. |
| US08713506B2 |
System and method for employing signoff-quality timing analysis information concurrently in multiple scenarios to reduce dynamic power in an electronic circuit and an apparatus incorporating the same
A dynamic power recovery system and method are disclosed herein. Additionally, an EDA tool and apparatus configured to perform dynamic power recovery are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a power recovery module configured to carry out an instance of an initial power recovery process in each of multiple scenarios concurrently, the initial power recovery process including making first conditional downsizing of cells in at least one path in a circuit design with lower dynamic power cells and estimating a delay and a slack of the at least one path based on the first conditional downsizings and (2) a speed recovery module associated with the power recovery module and configured to carry out a speed recovery process in each of the multiple scenarios concurrently, the speed recovery process including determining whether the first conditional downsizings cause a timing violation with respect to the at least one path and making second conditional upsizings with higher dynamic power cells until the timing violation is removed. |
| US08713504B2 |
ASICs having programmable bypass of design faults
A relatively small amount of programmable logic may be included in a mostly ASIC device such that the programmable logic can be used as a substitute for a fault-infected ASIC block. This substitution may occur permanently or temporarily. When an ASIC block is temporarily substituted, faulty outputs of the ASIC block are disabled just at the time they would otherwise propagate an error. The operations of the temporarily deactivated ASIC block(s) may be substituted for by appropriately programmed programmable logic. Thus, a fault-infected ASIC block that operates improperly 1% of the time can continue to be gainfully used for the 99% of the time when its operations are fault free. This substitution can be activated in various stages of the ASIC block's life including after: initial design; pilot production; and mass production. This provides for cost saving and faster time-to-market, repair, and maintenance even years after installation and use. |
| US08713501B1 |
Dual-box location aware and dual-bitmap voltage domain aware on-chip variation techniques
A dual-box location-based on-chip variation (DBLOCV) can be used in STA to significantly reduce pessimism. The DBLOCV analysis includes forming a backward bounding box and a forward bounding box for a cell of the design. A first intermediate maximum distance from the cell to corners of the backward bounding box can be calculated using the coordinates. A second intermediate maximum distance from the cell to corners of the forward bounding box can be calculated using the coordinates. A derate value can be determined from the derate table using the maximum distance of the first and second intermediate maximum distances. STA can be performed using the derate value. At least one timing report can be generated based on the STA. |
| US08713499B2 |
Electron-beam lithography method with correction of line ends by insertion of contrast patterns
A method of electron-beam lithography is provided, notably for technologies of critical dimension of the order of 22 nm. In such methods applied notably to networks of lines, the methods of the prior art do not offer precise and efficient correction of the shortenings of line ends. The method provided solves this problem by carrying out the insertion of contrast intensification structures of types which are optimized for the structure of the lines to be corrected. The method allows the semi-automatic or automatic calculation of the dimensions and locations of said structures. Advantageously, these calculations may be modeled to produce a target design, derived from libraries of components. They may be supplemented with a joint optimization of the size of the etchings and of the radiated doses, as a function of the process energy latitude. |
| US08713498B2 |
Method and system for physical verification using network segment current
A data processing system determines current information corresponding to a node included at a device design. Physical layout information corresponding to the node is received, the physical layout information including one or more layout geometries, the one or more layout geometries providing a circuit network. The circuit network may be partitioned into two or more network segments. A current conducted at a network segment is identified based on the current information. Information representative of dimensions and metal layer of a layout geometry included at the network segment is received. The computer determines that the current exceeds a predetermined maximum threshold, the predetermined maximum threshold determined based on the dimensions and metal layer. |
| US08713495B2 |
Accelerator for a read-channel design and simulation tool
A computer-aided design method for developing, simulating, and testing a read-channel architecture to be implemented in a VLSI circuit. The method uses a coset operating mode and nonzero-syndrome-based decoding to accelerate the simulation of the read-channel's error-rate characteristics corresponding to different parity-check matrices employed in the read-channel's turbo-decoder, such as a low-density parity-check decoder. The acceleration is achieved through recycling some previously generated log-likelihood-ratio values, which enables the method to sometimes bypass certain time-consuming processing steps therein. |
| US08713494B2 |
Synthesizing VHDL multiple wait FSMS into RT level FSMS by preprocessing
Preprocessing parallel sequences of “wait” statements and synthesizing these multiple “wait” statements to construct support for RTL tools. This is accomplished by preprocessing a VHDL process with multiple wait statements (referred to as BehFSM) into an equivalent register transfer. |
| US08713492B2 |
Data processing apparatus including reconfigurable logic circuit
There is provided a data processing apparatus (1) including a logic circuit (10) that is reconfigurable in each cycle and a library (2) that stores hardware control information (20). The hardware control information (20) includes a plurality of pieces of cycle-based mapping information (21) for individually mapping a plurality of cycle-based circuits, which each realize a function in each cycle for executing an application, onto the logic circuit (10) and configuration selection information (22) for selecting at least one of the plurality of pieces of cycle-based mapping information according to an execution state of the application. The data processing apparatus (1) includes a control unit (11) that reconfigures at least part of the logic region (10) using at least one of the plurality of pieces of cycle-based mapping information (21) according to a request in each cycle based on the configuration selection information (22). |
| US08713491B2 |
Pre-colored methodology of multiple patterning
Some embodiments relate to a method of pre-coloring word lines and control lines within an SRAM integrated chip design to avoid timing delays that result from processing variations introduced through multiple patterning lithography processes. The method is performed by generating a graphical IC layout file having an SRAM circuit with a plurality of word lines and Y-control lines. The word lines and Y-control lines are assigned a color during decomposition. The word lines and Y-control lines are further pre-colored in a manner that deliberately assigns the pre-colored data to a same mask. Therefore, during mask building, data associated with pre-colored word and Y-control lines is sent to a same mask, regardless of the colors that are assigned to the data. By assigning word and Y-control lines to a same mask through pre-coloring, processing variations between the word and Y-control lines are minimized, thereby mitigating timing variations in an SRAM circuit. |
| US08713490B1 |
Managing aging of silicon in an integrated circuit device
A mechanism is provided for mitigating aging of a set of components in the data processing system. A modeled age of a component in the set of components is identified. A desired aging requirement for the component is identified and a determination is made as to whether the modeled age of the component is greater than the desired age of the component. Responsive to the modeled age of the component being greater than the desired age of the component, a policy is implemented to mitigate the aging of the component. |
| US08713486B2 |
High performance design rule checking technique
Roughly described, a design rule data set is developed offline from the design rules of a target fabrication process. A design rule checking method involves traversing the corners of shapes in a layout region, and for each corner, populating a layout topology database with values that depend on respective corner locations. After the layout topology database is populated, the values are compared to values in the design rule data set to detect any design rule violations. Violations can be reported in real time, while the user is manually editing the layout. Preferably corner traversal is performed using scan lines oriented perpendicularly to edge orientations, and scanning in the direction of the edge orientations. Scans stop only at corner positions and populate the layout topology database with what information can be gleaned based on the current scan line. The different scans need not reach each corner simultaneously. |
| US08713482B2 |
Gestures for presentation of different views of a system diagram
Presenting different views of a system based on input from a user. A first view of a first portion of the system may be displayed. For example, the first portion may be a device of the system. User input specifying a first gesture may be received. In response to the first gesture, a second view of the first portion of the system may be displayed. For example, the first view may represent a first level of abstraction of the portion of the system and the second view may represent a second level of abstraction of the portion of the system. A second gesture may be used to view a view of a different portion of the system. Additionally, when changing from a first view to a second view, the first view may “morph” into the second view. |
| US08713479B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus for applying image processing to image data by adjusting values of a plurality of adjustment items, comprises an acquisition unit configured to acquire a characteristic of the image data by analyzing the image data, a decision unit configured to decide an order of settings of the values of the plurality of adjustment items based on the acquired characteristic of the image data, and a display unit configured to display value setting fields used to set the values of the adjustment items on a screen in accordance with the decided order. |
| US08713477B2 |
Presenting a link to a user
Presenting links to a user includes: (i) identifying at least one of several work center screens to be made available to a user on a screen. Each work center screen is customizable and contains role-specific information associated with a topic in an enterprise resource computing system. (ii): for each identified work center screen, any screen of a particular type to which the user can directly navigate from the work center screen is identified. (iii): the screen includes: (A) for each identified work center screen, a first link providing navigation to the corresponding work center screen, and (B) for each first link, a second link to each screen of the particular type identified for the corresponding work center screen, providing navigation to the identified screen without visiting the work center screen, the second link displayed to indicate an association with the first link. |
| US08713474B2 |
Providing user interfaces and window previews for hosted applications
A local computing device may use a remote computing device to host various resources on behalf of the local computing device. The local computing device may receive data related to a graphical window of the remotely hosted resource and generate a graphical window on the local desktop environment for the remotely hosted resource. The local computing device may also update a taskbar to include the remote hosted resource. Window previews may also be generated by the local computing device and the window previews may include snapshots or dynamic images of the graphical window for the remotely hosted resource. In some instances, the snapshots may be provided to the local computing device from the remote computing device. |
| US08713473B2 |
Mobile browser context switching
Methods and systems for processing and displaying content are disclosed. An example method of operation may include initializing two or more windows on a mobile device, and displaying a first window of the two or more windows on the mobile device. The method may also include receiving an on-screen switcher indication causing a display view change from the first window being displayed to a combination of the first window and at least one more additional windows being displayed. The method may also include determining a space amount for each of the two or more windows, adjusting a size of each of the two or more windows based on the space amount. The method may further include displaying a frame around each of the two or more windows with the respective adjusted size, and displaying each frame overlaid on top of one another. The example method provides multiple web pages to be concurrently active in a common viewing area of a mobile display device. |
| US08713468B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for determining whether an electronic mail message is compliant with an etiquette policy
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for determining whether an electronic mail message is compliant with an etiquette policy. In use, a predetermined event associated with an electronic mail message is identified. Additionally, it is determined whether the electronic mail message is compliant with an etiquette policy, in response to the predetermined event. Furthermore, a reaction is performed, based on the determination. |
| US08713465B1 |
Tab visibility
According to one general aspect, a method for manipulating tabs within a graphical user interface may comprise associating a tab with a window in a superior-subordinate hierarchal relationship, wherein the tab is the subordinate in the relationship, and wherein the tab and window are graphical user interface elements. The method may also include registering the tab and the tab's association with the window with a window manager, wherein the window manager is configured to manage tabs and windows within a graphical user interface. The method may include receiving a command, from a user, to display an organized representation of one or more tabs registered with the window manager. The method may further include organizing the tabs registered with the window manager according to a predetermined organizational scheme. The method may include displaying the organized representation of the tabs to the user via a graphical display. |
| US08713462B2 |
Browsing or searching user interfaces and other aspects
User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first display area for display representations of documents matching a search query, the first display area configured to display content of the documents which can have a plurality of different types of content including at least one of text-based content and a folder, and displaying a second display area for selecting a selected document to be displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08713452B2 |
User interface for integrating applications on a mobile communication device
A user interface, in accordance with the teachings described herein, is provided for integrating applications on a mobile communication device. An instant messaging user interface may be included for displaying an instant messaging communication that includes an instant messaging contact. An instant messaging user interface menu may be included for displaying a list of commands, one or more of the commands being specific to the displayed instant messaging contact, and the list of commands including a command associated with a calendar application. The user interface may be operable to automatically launch the calendar application in response to a user selecting the command associated with the calendar application. A field in the calendar application may be automatically populated with the instant messaging contact. |
| US08713451B2 |
Late loading rich media
Methods for delivering rich media content to a user within an email system via a dedicated media channel. An email system receives an email message associated with rich media content from a registered sender for delivery to a recipient. To improve the recipient's viewing experience, the email system ensures that the rich media content is loaded in a rich media database before delivering the email message to the recipient. When the recipient reads the email message, the email system delivers the rich media content to the recipient from the rich media database via a dedicated media channel efficiently and at a low cost. |
| US08713444B2 |
System and method for browsing tabbed-heterogeneous windows
The techniques and mechanisms described herein are directed to a method for managing multiple content windows. The content windows may host a web browser, a shell view, a word processing application, and the like. A set of content windows are grouped into a frame in a manner such that a taskbar shows one item for the set of content windows. Each content window is associated with a tab for the frame. A content-specific menu may be associated with each tab. The content-specific menu includes a set of commands based on the heterogeneous content hosted in the content window. The set of commands provide functionality to the heterogeneous content. |
| US08713440B2 |
Techniques to manage communications resources for a multimedia conference event
Techniques to manage communications resources for a multimedia conference event are described. An apparatus may comprise an audio management component operative to manage multiple audio connections for a multimedia conference event. The audio management component may comprise an audio monitor module communicatively coupled to an audio message module. The audio monitor module may be operative to monitor multiple audio connections for the multimedia conference event, and determine at least one audio quality parameter for an audio connection is lower than a defined threshold value to form an audio quality warning state. The audio message module may be operative to generate an operator message with the audio quality warning state and one or more options to improve audio quality for the audio connection. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08713438B1 |
Gathering user feedback in web applications
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing feedback with respect to a web page. A web page is displayed to a user in a web browser. The web page includes one or more page elements. An annotation mode is entered for the web page. The annotation mode enables the user to select and provide feedback pertaining to individual page elements on the web page. A user selection of one or more page elements on the web page is received. A marked-up web page is displayed to the user. The marked-up web page includes the one or more page elements selected by the user. Detailed information about the web page and a current state of the web page is automatically gathered. Feedback for the selected one or more page elements is received from the user. The user feedback and gathered detailed information is sent to one or more recipients. |
| US08713430B2 |
Document layout method
Methods and apparatus for variable document printing are disclosed in which a graphical user interface is configured to allow user manipulation of layout rules associated with content containers within a template for variable document generation. One method involves laying out (626) container objects (407, 408) forming part of a template (624) intended for a variable data document. The objects each have a rectangular boundary in two-dimensional space, and the method comprises detecting an operation (628, 2800) to modify a position of at least one edge of at least one of the objects. Then, rules of association between edges of the objects having a corresponding orientation to the one edge are identified. A position of at least the one edge is then modified while observing the rules of association between all the correspondingly oriented edges. Finally an objective function derived from the rules of association between the correspondingly oriented edges is minimized (3009) to thereby balance a layout of the objects in at least the dimension of modification. Other methods involve maintaining the objective function for a group of edges, the addition and removal of constraints in respect of correspondingly oriented edges, the removal, addition and then removal of constraints in modifying the width of a container, the calculation of text container sizes, and the creation of tables, particularly for text containers. |
| US08713427B2 |
Apparatus and method for extracting cascading style sheet rules
Provided are an apparatus and method for extracting cascading style sheet (CSS) rules. The apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate an identification list that includes identification symbols that correspond to one or more selectors, for each document object model (DOM) node. The apparatus also includes a rule extraction unit configured to select a target DOM node and extract one or more CSS rules that are applicable to the target DOM node based on identification symbols that are included in an identification list that corresponds to the target DOM node. |
| US08713420B2 |
Synchronization of web applications and media
A method to facilitate synchronizing web applications with media playing within a web browser while rendering a web page. The synchronization allowing web applications to be executed during play of IP transmitted media without the web browser having to pre-load the web applications or re-load the web page. |
| US08713413B1 |
Generation of interpolated samples for decision based decoding
A plurality of interpolated samples is generated. Using a plurality of soft-decision detectors, error correction decoding is performed on the plurality of interpolated samples in order to obtain a plurality of decisions. From the plurality of decisions, one is selected by determining which of the plurality of soft-decision detectors are able to come to a decision during error correction decoding. It is determined whether a majority of the detectors that are able to come to a decision come to a same decision. If not, a decision associated with a greatest reliability is selected from the decision detectors that are able to come to a decision. |
| US08713412B2 |
Wireless subscriber managing storage of HARQ packets
Apparatuses of wireless subscribers that manage storage of HARQ packets are disclosed. One embodiment of a wireless subscriber includes receiver circuitry for wirelessly receiving HARQ packets. CRC processing circuitry checks an error status of the received HARQ packets. A HARQ memory controller divides the HARQ packets into HARQ sub-packets for storage in HARQ memory. The HARQ memory controller records storage locations and a storage order of each of the HARQ sub-packets. |
| US08713408B2 |
Methods of operating non-volatile memory devices during write operation interruption, non-volatile memory devices, memories and electronic systems operating the same
A non-volatile memory device may operate by writing a portion of a new codeword to an address in the device that stores an old codeword, as part of a write operation. An interruption of the write operation can be detected before completion, which indicates that the address stores the portion of the new codeword and a portion of the old codeword. The portion of the old codeword can be combined with the portion of the new codeword to provide an updated codeword. Error correction bits can be generated using the updated codeword and the error correction bits can be written to the address. |
| US08713404B2 |
Controller interface providing improved data reliability
In one implementation, a memory device includes non-volatile memory, a memory controller communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory over a first bus, and a host interface through which the memory controller communicates with a host device over a second bus. The memory device can also include a signal conditioner of the host interface adapted to condition signals to adjust a signal level of signals received over the second bus based on signal level data received from the host device, wherein the signal level data relates to a voltage level of signals generated by the host device to encode data transmitted across the second bus. |
| US08713401B2 |
Error recovery storage along a memory string
Apparatus and methods store error recovery data in different dimensions of a memory array. For example, in one dimension, block error correction codes (ECC) are used, and in another dimension, supplemental error correction codes, such as convolutional codes, are used. By using separate dimensions, the likelihood that a defect affects both error recovery techniques is lessened, thereby increasing the probability that error recovery can be performed successfully. In one example, block error correction codes are used for data stored along rows, and this data is stored in one level of multiple-level cells of the array. Supplemental error correction codes are used for data stored along columns, such as along the cells of a string, and the supplemental error correction codes are stored in a different level than the error correction codes. |
| US08713395B2 |
Transmitting apparatus and retransmitting method
In a retransmitting method, at least one ARQ block included in a first PDU is fragmented into a plurality of ARQ sub-blocks, and at least one second PDU is generated from the plurality of ARQ sub-blocks. The second PDU includes a payload including an extended header and at least some of a plurality of ARQ sub-blocks. The extended header includes a field representing a sequence number of the first ARQ sub-block belonging to the payload. |
| US08713392B2 |
Circuitry testing module and circuitry testing device
A circuitry testing module for testing an external circuit of a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) includes at least one logic unit and a latch circuit. Two input terminals of the at least one logic unit are connected to a first end and a second of the LED correspondingly. The output terminal of the at least one logic unit is connected to the latch circuit. If the external circuit works normally, the logic unit outputs a first logic operating signal to the latch unit, and the latch circuit outputs a first latch signal. If the external circuit does not work normally, the logic unit outputs a second logic operating signal to the latch unit, and the latch circuit outputs a second latch signal. |
| US08713387B2 |
Channel marking for chip mark overflow and calibration errors
Marking memory chips as faulty when a fault is detected in data from the memory chip. Upon detecting that a plurality of memory chips are faulty, determining which of a plurality of memory channels contains the faulty memory chips. Marking one of a plurality of memory channels as failing in response to determining that the number of failing memory chips has exceeded a threshold. |
| US08713381B2 |
Systems and methods of using dynamic data for wear leveling in solid-state devices
Methods and systems for wear-leveling in flash storage devices are provided. A flash storage system performs wear-leveling by tracking data errors that occur when dynamic data is read from a first storage block in a first flash storage device and moving the dynamic data to a second storage block in a second flash storage device. Additionally, wear-leveling is achieved by identifying a third storage block containing static data and moves the static data to the storage block previously containing the dynamic data. |
| US08713379B2 |
System and method of interfacing co-processors and input/output devices via a main memory system
A system for interfacing with a co-processor or input/output device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the system includes a computer processing unit, a memory module, a memory bus that connects the computer processing unit and the memory module, and a co-processing unit or input/output device, wherein the memory bus also connects the co-processing unit or input/output device to the computer processing unit. |
| US08713376B1 |
Escalating data backup protection in response to a failure in a cluster of nodes
A system and method for escalating a level of backup protection for a cluster of nodes are described. A backup software application may be configured to backup application data used by the cluster of nodes according to a first level of backup protection. In response to detecting a failure of a node in the cluster, the backup software application may be reconfigured to backup the application data used by the cluster of nodes according to an escalated level of backup protection. For example, reconfiguring the backup software application to backup the application data according to the escalated level of backup protection may cause the backup software application to increase a frequency at which backup operations for backing up the application data are performed. |
| US08713368B2 |
Methods for testing OData services
The present disclosure describes computer implemented methods, computer systems, and computer readable mediums for recursively testing an OData service. One method may include extracting resource identifiers from an initial service document, and for each of the resource identifiers, retrieving a respective response document from the OData service. The method may further include applying a test function to each of the resource identifiers and respective response documents and recording a result of the test function for each of the resource identifiers. The method may further include recursively extracting new resource identifiers from the response documents and retrieving respective new response documents for each new resource identifier from the OData service until no additional resource identifiers are extracted from the new response documents. |
| US08713365B2 |
Re-establishing push notification channels via user identifiers
Embodiments enable recovery of push notification channels via session information associated with user identifiers. A proxy service creates session information describing push notification channels (e.g., subscriptions) for a user and associates the session information with a user identifier. The session information is stored in a cloud service or other storage area separate from the proxy service. After failure of a user computing device or the proxy service, the session information is obtained via the user identifiers and the push notification channels are re-created with the session information. In some embodiments, the proxy service enables delivery of the same notification to multiple computing devices associated with the user identifier. |
| US08713364B1 |
Unified recovery
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes determining an object to be recovered to a client, recovering at least a first portion of the object from a local resource, and recovering at least a second portion of the object from a first remote resource. In some embodiments, this may include recovering at least a third portion of the object from a second remote resource. In some embodiments, the first remote resource may be a backup server, and the second remote resource may be an other client. |
| US08713363B2 |
Power supply system for a data storage system and a method of controlling a power supply
The invention provides a power supply system for a data storage system, the power supply system comprising: a first power supply unit for supplying power to the storage system; a second power supply unit independent from the first power supply unit for supplying power to the storage system; an auxiliary power supply; a power redundancy controller, arranged to monitor the region of an efficiency curve within which the first and/or second power supplies are operating in and control the first and second power supplies accordingly such that the either or both of the first and second power supplies are providing power at any one time, wherein in the event of failure of a power supply unit when only one of the power supply units is operating, the power redundancy controller is arranged to provide power supply to the data storage system from the auxiliary power supply. |
| US08713360B2 |
Registry key federation systems and methods
According to certain aspects, a method is disclosed for registry key management in a network. The method includes detecting registry keys stored in a registry of a plurality of client computing devices and storing on a remote database a copy of the registry keys. The remote database is in communication with each of the client computing devices. The method further includes tracking with a management module running on the client computing devices modifications made to the registry of the first client device. In addition, the method includes modifying the copy of the registry keys on the remote database to reflect the modifications to the registry of the first client computing device; detecting a rebuild operation of the first client computing device; and automatically reinstalling registry keys on the first client computing device based on the copy of the registry keys stored on the remote database. |
| US08713356B1 |
Error detection and recovery tool for logical volume management in a data storage system
Errors arising in logical volume partitions are detected and corrected automatically well before the errors cause a failure to access data. A database is created of configuration information about the logical volume partitions defined in physical volume headers, and the database is stored in storage separate from the headers. Thereafter the errors are detected by capturing configuration information about the logical volume partitions from the headers, and comparing the captured configuration information to the configuration information in the database. The errors are automatically corrected in the corrupt headers. If requested, a report is generated of the volumes and disk partitions that are inaccessible or missing or have the wrong size. The configuration check is performed periodically as a background task and during a re-boot after a system crash or interruption of a configuration process or when invoked prior to a recovery install or database restore. |
| US08713354B2 |
Transitional replacement of operations performed by a central hub
A central hub is coupled to a plurality of computational devices. The central hub stores a data structure that grants locks for accessing common data stored at the central hub, wherein the common data is shared by the plurality of computational devices. Each computational device maintains locally those locks that are held by the computational device in the data structure stored at the central hub. In response to a failure of the data structure stored at the central hub, a selected computational device of the plurality of computational devices is determined to be a manager system. Other computational devices besides the manager system communicate to the manager system all locks held by the other computational devices in the data structure stored at the central hub. The data structure and the common data are generated and stored at the manager system. Transactions are performed with respect to the data structure stored at the manager system, until the data structure stored at the central hub is operational. |
| US08713353B2 |
Communication system including a switching section for switching a network route, controlling method and storage medium
Whether or not a signal which is transmitted from a current operation side node to a stand-by side node has been disconnected is determined on a communication route for the signal. When the signal is determined to have been disconnected, the network route is switched to the network route used when a client unit and the stand-by side node perform data communication. With this, the switching of the network route when processing having been performed by a node of a system is performed by another node in place of the node can be made quickly. |
| US08713351B2 |
Message processing method and apparatus based on the SIP protocol and an IP communication system
The present invention provides a message processing method, apparatus based on the SIP Protocol and an IP communication system, wherein the method comprises: a step for processing messages from a core network, for using a SIP proxy server as a uniform access interface for SIP messages from the core network to judge and distribute the received SIP messages to corresponding application servers for processing; a step for processing messages from the application servers, for using the SIP proxy server as a uniform access interface for SIP messages from the application servers to distribute, according to instructions from the application servers, the received SIP messages to corresponding core network device for processing. Thus, with the method and system of the present invention, when the processing capability of one application server is not enough, the processing capability of the application server could be improved by expanding the number of the application servers without any need to perform modification of the configuration by the core network device. |
| US08713350B2 |
Handling errors in a data processing system
A method of managing errors in a data processing system may involve at least one computer system. Each computer system may include a processor that executes an operating system, firmware, and system memory storing instructions for the operating system. A firmware error handler resident in the firmware may identify an error occurring in the computer system. The firmware error handler may determine whether the operating system is required to take an action in response to the error. If the operating system is not required to take an action in response to the error, the firmware error handler may create an error log accessible to the operating system appropriate to cause the operating system to take no action. |
| US08713349B2 |
Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus may comprise: a first chip ID generation unit configured to receive an enable signal through a first through-silicon via and a clock signal through a second through-silicon via and generate a first chip ID signal and a delayed enable signal; a second chip ID generation unit configured to receive the delayed enable signal through a third through-silicon via from the first chip ID generation unit and the clock signal and generate a second chip ID signal; a first chip selection signal generation unit configured to receive the first chip ID signal and a main ID signal and generate a first chip selection signal; and a second chip selection signal generation unit configured to receive the second chip ID signal and the main ID signal and generate a second chip selection signal. |
| US08713348B2 |
Apparatus for performing timer management regarding a system timer scheduler service, and associated method
An apparatus for performing timer management regarding a system timer scheduler service includes: a processor arranged to control operations of the apparatus; an ordinary timer arranged to provide the processor with time ticks, for use of timing control; and a hardware-based Operating System (OS) timer arranged to provide the processor with at least one scheduler timer, for use of the system timer scheduler service. An associated method for performing timer management regarding a system timer scheduler service is also provided, and can be applied to the apparatus. In particular, the apparatus and the method can give considerations to both run-time power consumption and sleep mode power consumption. For example, the hardware-based OS timer can support an event-based OS timer scheduler to save the run-time power consumption. In another example, the hardware-based OS timer can support timer alignment in accordance with modulator/demodulator (modem) activities to minimize the sleep mode power consumption. |
| US08713347B1 |
Apparatus and method for masking a clock signal
A system and method are disclosed for masking a clock input from a clock line when the clock line is not being driven by a clock source. The clock mask is triggered by a clock cycle from the clock source. In one version, a memory controller configures a masking circuit to either allow a clock signal to the clock input or to mask the clock input from a bidirectional clock bus. The masking circuit may comprise a storage element and a gate, as an example. |
| US08713337B2 |
Power management method for reducing power of host when turning off main monitor and computer system applying the same
A power management method adapted in a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a main monitor and a host. A management method includes the following steps. First, whether the main monitor is turned off or not is determined. When the main monitor is turned off, a power saving program is executed to reduce the power of the host. Furthermore, a computer system applying the above power management method is also provided. |
| US08713335B2 |
Parallel processing computer systems with reduced power consumption and methods for providing the same
A parallel processing computing system includes an ordered set of m memory banks and a processor core. The ordered set of m memory banks includes a first and a last memory bank, wherein m is an integer greater than 1. The processor core implements n virtual processors, a pipeline having p ordered stages, including a memory operation stage, and a virtual processor selector function. |
| US08713330B1 |
Data scrambling in memory devices
A method for data storage includes scrambling data for storage in a memory device using a given scrambling seed. A statistical distribution of the scrambled data is assessed, and a measure of randomness of the statistical distribution is computed. A scrambling configuration of the data is modified responsively to the measure of randomness, and the data having the modified scrambling configuration is stored in the memory device. |
| US08713324B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking mobile terrestrial terminals for satellite communications
System and methods provide tracking capabilities by one or a plurality of satellites for a mobile terrestrial terminal. A user requests that a satellite track a particular mobile terrestrial terminal. If the user privilege level allows for this level of control, the satellite adjusts to track the identified terminal. One method for tracking involves the use of a steerable antenna in which the antenna steers to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. Another method for tracking involves moving the satellite itself to maintain a footprint over the identified mobile terminal. The tracking functionality may utilize a closed loop tracking method. |
| US08713322B2 |
Author signatures for legal purposes
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for establishing trust in an electronic document. An electronic document is received. State dependent content in the electronic document is identified. The state dependent content is content that is renderable to have a several appearances. The electronic document is presented to a user, which includes disclosing the presence of any identified state dependent content in the electronic document. |
| US08713317B2 |
Method and system for encrypting data in a wireless communication system
A method and system for encrypting data in a wireless communication system are provided. The system includes a first node for generating a first encryption key using a plurality of encryption key parameters when performing authentication with a second node, for changing a second parameter among the plurality of encryption key parameters to generate a second encryption key being identical to the first encryption key, if a first parameter among the plurality of encryption key parameters is changed during re-authentication between the first node and the second node, for generating the second encryption key using the changed first parameter and the changed second parameter, and for encrypting data to be transmitted to the second node using the second encryption key. |
| US08713309B2 |
System and method for distributed security
A security architecture in which a security module is integrated in a client machine, wherein the client machine includes a local host that is untrusted. The security module performs encryption and decryption algorithms, authentication, and public key processing. The security module also includes separate key caches for key encryption keys and application keys. A security module can also interface a cryptographic accelerator through an application key cache. The security module can authorize a public key and an associated key server. That public key can subsequently be used to authorize additional key servers. Any of the authorized key servers can use their public keys to authorize the public keys of additional key servers. Secure authenticated communications can then transpire between the client and any of these key servers. Such a connection is created by a secure handshake process that takes place between the client and the key server. A time value can be sent from the key server to the client, allowing for secure revocation of keys. In addition, secure configuration messages can be sent to the security module. |
| US08713308B2 |
Gaming machine certificate creation and management
Methods and systems for creating and managing certificates for gaming machines in a gaming network using a portable memory device. A gaming machine creates a certificate signing request which is stored on a portable memory device at the machine. Then, the memory device is coupled with an appropriate CA server. A certificate batch utility program on the server downloads and processes the CSRs. A certificate services program on the server issues gaming machine certificates according to the CSRs. In one embodiment, the certificates are uploaded onto the memory device, along with copies of certificate authority server certificates, including a root CA certificate. Then, the memory device is coupled with the gaming machine and software on the machine identifies and downloads its certificate based on the certificate file name. |
| US08713304B2 |
Method and system for controlled media sharing in a network
A method for controlling media sharing among a plurality of nodes in a network. The present method is comprised of availing to the network an instance of media content for sharing among the plurality of nodes by a source node communicatively coupled to the network. The present method further includes decrypting the instance of media content from an encryption local to the source node. The present method further includes encrypting the instance of media content into an intermediate encryption. The present method further includes transferring the instance of media content to a node while the instance of media content is in the intermediate encryption. The node is associated with the network. The decrypting and the encrypting and the transferring are in response to receiving a request for the instance of media content from the node. |
| US08713303B2 |
Method and system for establishing security connection between switch equipments
A method and a system for establishing a security connection between switch equipments are disclosed in the present invention. The system includes the first switch equipment and the second switch equipment; the first switch equipment sends the switch key negotiation activation packet and the switch key negotiation response packet to the second switch equipment; the second switch equipment sends the switch key negotiation request packet to the first switch equipment. The embodiments of the present invention provide a security policy for data security transmission between switch equipments by establishing shared switch key between each two switch equipments, thus guaranteeing the confidentiality of the data transmission process between switch equipments in the data link layer. The calculation burden of switch equipment and the delay of the data packets transmitted from the transmission end to the reception end can be reduced and the efficiency of network transmission can be improved. |
| US08713302B1 |
Firewall-tolerant voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) emulating SSL or HTTP sessions embedding voice data in cookies
A voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) client codes audio data as printable ASCII characters, then embeds the ASCII audio data inside a cookie that is sent over the Internet within an HTTP GET message. The GET message is sent to a server acting as a call proxy or external manager that forwards the audio data to a remote client. Return audio data is sent back to the client in the normal data field of an HTTP response message from the server. When the client receives the HTTP response, it sends another GET message without audio data, allowing the server to send another response. This empty GET allows VoIP to pass through strict firewalls that pair each HTTP response with a GET. For secure-sockets layer (SSL), client and server exchange pseudo-keys in hello and finished messages that establish the SSL session. Audio data is streamed in SSL messages instead of encrypted data. |
| US08713296B2 |
Apparatus for restoring setting information of a board management controller from a backup memory before loading an OS when a system board is replaced
An information processing device includes: a processing circuit that processes information; a management circuit that is independent of the processing circuit and that performs status management of hardware including the processing circuit; and a memory into which the management circuit stores setting information of the management circuit and from which the management circuit extracts setting information of the management circuit, the memory being physically connectable to and removable from the management circuit. |
| US08713295B2 |
Fabric-backplane enterprise servers with pluggable I/O sub-system
A Cost-Reduced Enterprise Server (CRES) system includes a flexible resource-efficient server having a plurality of Processor Memory Boards (PMBs) coupled to an Input/Output Module (IOM). The IOM provides all networking and storage interfaces for the server. The IOM is implemented as a field-replaceable pluggable module, and thus all Input/Output (I/O) capabilities or resources of a CRES system may be upgraded via replacement of the IOM. Each PMB is dividable into a pair of Symmetric MultiProcessor (SMP) complexes, and each complex is coupled to a respective portion of the I/O resources provided by the IOM. Each portion of the IOM provides a pair of I/O daughter-module connectors compatible with standard I/O interfaces, such as Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI)-X and PCI-Express. One or more CRES systems may be coupled to one or more Enterprise Server (ES) systems to form a multi-chassis server managed collectively as one or more provisioned servers. |
| US08713293B2 |
Processor micro-architecture for compute, save or restore multiple registers, devices, systems, methods and processes of manufacture
An electronic circuit (4000) includes a bias value generator circuit (3900) operable to supply a varying bias value in a programmable range, and an instruction circuit (3625, 4010) responsive to a first instruction to program the range of said bias value generator circuit (3900) and further responsive to a second instruction having an operand to repeatedly issue said second instruction with said operand varied in an operand value range determined as a function of the varying bias value. |
| US08713291B2 |
Cache memory control device, semiconductor integrated circuit, and cache memory control method
A cache memory control device includes cache memories shared by arithmetic processing units, buses shared by the arithmetic processing units to transfer data, an instruction execution unit that accesses the cache memories to execute an access instruction from the arithmetic processing unit, and transfers data from the cache memory to the bus, an instruction feeding unit that feeds the access instruction to the instruction execution unit while inhibiting feeding of a subsequent access instruction for the cache memory accessed in the preceding access instruction in an execution period of the preceding access instruction and inhibiting feeding of a subsequent access instruction using the same bus as the preceding access instruction in a predetermined period, and a timing control unit that, depending on the type of the subsequent access instruction, controls the instruction executing unit to delay the transfer of the data from the cache memory to the bus. |
| US08713288B2 |
Storage system comprising multiple microprocessors and method for sharing processing in this storage system
The present invention provides a storage system in which each microprocessor is able to execute synchronous processing and asynchronous processing in accordance with the operating status of the storage system. Any one attribute, from among multiple attributes (operating modes) prepared beforehand, is set in each microprocessor in accordance with the operating status of the storage system. The attribute that is set in each microprocessor is regularly reviewed and changed. |
| US08713286B2 |
Register files for a digital signal processor operating in an interleaved multi-threaded environment
A processor device is disclosed and includes a memory and a sequencer that is responsive to the memory. The sequencer supports very long instruction word (VLIW) type instructions and at least one VLIW instruction packet uses a number of operands during execution. The processor device further includes a plurality of instruction execution units responsive to the sequencer and a plurality of register files. Each of the plurality of register files includes a plurality of registers and the plurality of register files are coupled to the plurality of instruction execution units. Further, each of the plurality of register files includes a number of data read ports and the number of data read ports of each of the plurality of register files is less than the number of operands used by the at least one VLIW instruction packet. |
| US08713283B2 |
Method of interfacing a host operating through a logical address space with a direct file storage medium
A method and system for interfacing a system operating through a logical address space with a direct file storage (DFS) medium is disclosed. The method includes receiving data associated with addresses in a logical block address (LBA) format from a host system and generating file objects manageable by the DFS medium based on a determination of the correlation of the LBA data to host file data. The memory system includes non-volatile memory using the DFS format, an interface for receiving LBA format data, and a controller configured to communicate with the host via an LBA interface and generate file objects from the LBA format data correlated to the host application files usable by the memory system. |
| US08713282B1 |
Large scale data storage system with fault tolerance
According to one embodiment, a large scale data storage system with fault tolerance is described. In one example, a system includes a plurality of storage partitions, each partition including a portion of a large scale data store, and metadata corresponding to the portion of the large scale data store. At least one partition includes namespace metadata for the large scale data store including namespace data for a portion of the large scale data store outside the at least one partition. |
| US08713273B2 |
Generating and using checkpoints in a virtual computer system
To generate a checkpoint for a virtual machine (VM), first, while the VM is still running, a copy-on-write (COW) disk file is created pointing to a parent disk file that the VM is using. Next, the VM is stopped, the VM's memory is marked COW, the device state of the VM is saved to memory, the VM is switched to use the COW disk file, and the VM begins running again for substantially the remainder of the checkpoint generation. Next, the device state that was stored in memory and the unmodified VM memory pages are saved to a checkpoint file. Also, a copy may be made of the parent disk file for retention as part of the checkpoint, or the original parent disk file may be retained as part of the checkpoint. If a copy of the parent disk file was made, then the COW disk file may be committed to the original parent disk file. |
| US08713270B2 |
Efficient file system metadata scanning using scoped snapshots
Volumes of a file system remain online, and thus available for use, while being proactively error scanned for corruptions thereon. A snapshot of each volume being proactively error scanned is maintained for the volume during the proactive error scanner processing of the volume. Proactive error scanner processing only requires access to file system metadata to correctly process a volume for an identification of the corruptions thereon, and thus, a snapshot of the entire volume nerd not be generated nor maintained. The clusters of a volume that store file system metadata are identified and only these clusters are maintained in a scoped snapshot for the volume during proactive error scanning of the volume. |
| US08713269B2 |
Distributed image acquisition, storage, and backup system
A distributed image acquisition, storage, and backup system includes a digital camera and a plurality of functionally identical independent storage devices storing digital images. Each digital image is stored as a working copy and a corresponding backup copy on a storage device different from the storage device storing the working copy. One or more storage devices store both a working copy of a first digital image and a backup copy of a second digital image different from the first digital image. Each storage device automatically sends a working copy or backup copy to another of the plurality of storage devices, automatically receives a working copy or backup copy from another of the plurality of storage devices, and automatically stores a received working copy or backup copy. |
| US08713268B2 |
Coordinated garbage collection for raid array of solid state disks
An optimized redundant array of solid state devices may include an array of one or more optimized solid-state devices and a controller coupled to the solid-state devices for managing the solid-state devices. The controller may be configured to globally coordinate the garbage collection activities of each of said optimized solid-state devices, for instance, to minimize the degraded performance time and increase the optimal performance time of the entire array of devices. |
| US08713267B2 |
Method and system for dynamic storage tiering using allocate-on-write snapshots
Systems and methods for dynamic storage tiering using snapshot functionality are disclosed. A point-in-time copy of a virtual volume including a storage hot-spot is created; write operations directed to the virtual volume may be redirected to a point-in-time temporary virtual volume. The virtual volume segment, including the hot-spot, is copied from a first storage pool to a second storage pool. Finally, a logical block address mapping of the virtual volume is reconfigured to reference the virtual volume segment copy in the second storage pool. Upon deletion of the point-in-time copy of the virtual volume, the virtual volume segment copy in the second storage pool may be updated with data from the point-in-time temporary virtual volume. |
| US08713265B1 |
Visual indicator of online backup
The embodiments provide an external drive that is configured to coordinate with an online data backup service and having a visual or an audiovisual indication of the status and progress of the backup. In particular, upon the user's request or as an automatic function, the external drive backs up its contents to a backup storage. In some embodiments, the backup storage is provided by an online backup service remotely via a network, such as the Internet. The external drive comprises a visual or an audiovisual indicator, such as one or more indicator lights, that provide a status of the backup. The various stages of the backup process may be indicated, for example, by changes in the color of the indicator lights, flashing patterns, or any combination of these indication signals. |
| US08713264B2 |
Data processing circuit with arbitration between a plurality of queues
Requests from a plurality of different agents (10) are passed to a request handler via a request concentrator. In front of the request concentrator the requests are queued in a plurality of queues (12). A first one of the agents is configured to issue a priority changing command with a defined position relative to pending requests issued by the first one of the agents (10) to the first one of the queues (12). An arbiter (16), makes successive selections selecting queues (12) from which the request concentrator (14) will pass requests to the request handler (18), based on relative priorities assigned to the queues (12). The arbiter (16) responds to the priority changing command by changing the priority of the first one of the queues (12), selectively for a duration while the pending requests up to the defined position are in the first one of the queues (12). Different queues may be provided for read and write requests from the first one of the agents. In this case, the priority raising request from the agent may be used to raise the priority level of the write queue temporarily to the level of the read queue, until all write requests issued before the priority raising command from the agent have been passed to the request handler. |
| US08713262B2 |
Managing a spinlock indicative of exclusive access to a system resource
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for synchronization between two or more processors. The technique implements a spinlock acquire function and a spinlock release function. A processor executing the spinlock acquire function advantageously operates in a low power state while waiting for an opportunity to acquire spinlock. The spinlock acquire function configures a memory monitor to wake up the processor when spinlock is released by a different processor. The spinlock release function releases spinlock by clearing a lock variable and may clear a wait variable. |
| US08713261B1 |
Caching techniques
Described are techniques for caching. At a first point in time, a first set of data portions currently stored in a first cache of a first data storage system is determined. Each data portion of the first set is located on a first device of the first data storage system. Sent to a second data storage system is first information including information identifying a storage location on the first device for each data portion of the first set. The second data storage system includes a second device that is maintained as a mirror of the first device. The storage location for each data portion of the first set is used to identify a second storage location of the second device corresponding to the storage location. The first information is used to populate a second cache of the second data storage system. |
| US08713258B1 |
Estimating stack distances
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for estimating the stack distance of an access to a cache. In one aspect, a method includes determining a current estimate value of the stack distance. For each of K buckets, a minimum value and a maximum value are initialized, wherein each bucket corresponds to a range of possible fingerprint values for accesses. A first access is processed, including: determining a first fingerprint value for the first access; identifying a first bucket for the first access based on the first fingerprint value; and determining that the first fingerprint value is between the minimum value and the maximum value for the first bucket, and in response, increasing the current estimate value and adjusting the minimum value or the maximum value for the first bucket. |
| US08713257B2 |
Method and system for shared high speed cache in SAS switches
A data storage system includes at least one host device configured to initiate a data request, at least one target device configured to store data, and a serial attached SCSI (SAS) switch coupled between the at least one host device and the at least one target device. The SAS switch includes a cache memory and includes control programming configured to determine whether data of the data request is stored in the cache is at least one of data stored in the cache memory of the SAS switch or data to be written in the cache memory of the SAS switch. The cache memory of the SAS switch is a shared cache that is shared across each of the at least one host device and the at least one target device. |
| US08713254B1 |
System and method for improving cache efficiency
A method and computer program product for receiving a newly-received data portion for storing within a cache memory system. A determination is made concerning whether the newly-received data portion corresponds with at least one data portion previously written to a non-volatile, memory system. If the newly-received data portion does not correspond with at least one previously-written data portion, the newly-received data portion is stored within the cache memory system using a protected data storage methodology. |
| US08713251B2 |
Storage system, control method therefor, and program
A disk array device that can detect the successful completion of data overwrite/update at high speed only by checking a UDT is provided. When a DIF is used as a verification code appended to data, check information that detects the successful completion of overwrite is defined in the UDT, in addition to address information that detects positional errors. Upon request of overwrite/update of data stored in a cache, a check bit of the data in the cache is changed to a value different from a check bit to be appended to new data by a host adapter. Then, data transfer is initiated. Upon completion of the data overwrite, the check bit is changed back to the original value, whereby it is possible to detect the successful completion of overwrite/update (FIG. 8). |
| US08713249B2 |
Configurable memory controller/memory module communication system
A memory system includes a first memory module and a second memory module. A memory controller is coupled to the first and second memory modules and reads configuration information from the first and second memory modules using a memory channel. The controller also configures a switch coupled between the controller and one of the memory modules to communicate using either a chip select line or a memory address line. |
| US08713246B2 |
Memory device program window adjustment
In one or more embodiments, a memory device has an adjustable programming window with a plurality of programmable levels. The programming window is moved to compensate for changes in reliable program and erase thresholds achievable as the memory device experiences factors such as erase/program cycles that change the program window. The initial programming window is determined prior to an initial erase/program cycle. The programming levels are then moved as the programming window changes, such that the plurality of programmable levels still remain within the program window and are tracked with the program window changes. |
| US08713243B2 |
Removable storage device and method for identifying drive letter of the removable storage device
A method for physically identifying an association between a removable storage device and its assigned drive letter, the removable storage device connecting to a computing device. A data structure which comprises the drive letter assigned by an operating system of the computing device is received and analyzed to retrieve the drive letter assigned to the removable storage device. The drive letter of the removable storage device is displayed on a screen of the removable storage device or on a display device connected to the removable storage device. |
| US08713235B2 |
Low latency interrupt collector
This document provides apparatus and methods for providing low latency response from a processor to the interrupts collected from peripheral devices. In an example, an apparatus can collect interrupt requests from a plurality of peripheral devices, and can communicate interrupt information to a processor. Certain examples can reduce the quantity of processor general purpose inputs and outputs configured to receive the peripheral device interrupts in comparison to systems where the peripheral device interrupts are directly coupled to the processor. |
| US08713234B2 |
Supporting multiple channels of a single interface
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request for a transaction from a first agent in a fabric and obtaining an address, a requester identifier, a tag, and a traffic class of the transaction, and determining a channel of a target agent to receive the transaction based on at least two of the address, the requester identifier, the tag, and the traffic class. Based on this channel determination, the transaction can be sent to the channel of the target agent. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08713233B2 |
Interconnect, bus system with interconnect and bus system operating method
Provided are an interconnect, a bus system with interconnect, and bus system operating method. The bus system includes a master, slaves access by the master, and an interconnect. The interconnect connects the master with the slaves in response to selection bits identified in a master address provided by the master. |
| US08713232B2 |
Apparatus and method for transferring a data signal propagated along a bidirectional communication path within a data processing apparatus
An apparatus including a first circuit and a second circuit connected in parallel to the bidirectional communication path, and one of the first and second circuits being an active circuit monitoring a value of the data signal on the bidirectional communication path while the other of the first and second circuits being a passive circuit that is not monitoring the value of the data signal. The active circuit initially starts in a low gain state, but on detection of a transition by transition detection circuitry, it enters a high gain state where the switch circuitry disconnects the transition detection circuitry from the bidirectional communication path, and the drive circuitry is activated in order to drive the data signal on the bidirectional communication path to the opposite value. Once the data signal has been driven to the opposite value, the active circuit and the passive circuits switch states. |
| US08713226B2 |
Device for transmitting data between a serial data bus and working modules such as actuator modules and/or I/O modules
The invention concerns a device for transmitting data between a serial data bus and working modules, wherein the data bus is connected to a bus node in a bus module having at least two serial communication ports which are connected to ports of a hub connected to or integrated with the bus node, wherein the communication ports are designed for the connection and for the power supply of the working modules and wherein at least one of the working modules is designed as an actuator and/or I/O module comprising a serial-to-parallel converter for the parallel connection of actuators and/or I/O interfaces provided on or connected to the respective working module. |
| US08713223B2 |
Methods and systems to accomplish variable width data input
Disclosed are methods and systems for variable width data input to a pattern-recognition processor. A variable width data input method may include receiving bytes over a data bus having a first width and receiving one or more signals indicating the validity of each of the one or more bytes. The valid bytes may be sequentially provided to a pattern-recognition processor in an 8-bit wide data stream. In an embodiment, a system may include one or more address lines configured to provide the one or more signals indicating the validity of the bytes transferred over the data bus. The system may include a buffer and control logic to sequentially process the valid bytes. |
| US08713214B2 |
Media processing method and device
A media processing system and device with improved power usage characteristics, improved audio functionality and improved media security is provided. Embodiments of the media processing system include an audio processing subsystem that operates independently of the host processor for long periods of time, allowing the host processor to enter a low power state while the audio data is being processed. Other aspects of the media processing system provide for enhanced audio effects such as mixing stored audio samples into real-time telephone audio. Still other aspects of the media processing system provide for improved media security due to the isolation of decrypted audio data from the host processor. |
| US08713205B2 |
Data transfer device and data transfer method
A disclosed data transfer device includes one or more data transfer control unit configured to control a command issuance and a data transfer separately, a command issuing unit configured to determine priorities of commands and issue the commands in an order from a higher priority, a memory communication control unit configured to perform the data transfer corresponding to the command from and to a memory, and a signal output unit configured to output a completion signal of the data transfer in a case where the data transfer is normally completed. The command issuing unit sets a priority of a command corresponding to a request for resetting the data transfer control unit lower than the priority of the command issued by the data transfer control unit when the request for resetting is received, and the signal output unit outputs a dummy completion signal to the memory communication control unit. |
| US08713202B2 |
Method and system for network configuration for virtual machines
A method for changing network configuration parameters that includes generating a request to change a network configuration parameter, where the request is generated by a virtual machine, sending the request to a virtual network interface card (VNIC) associated with the virtual machine, sending the request to a VNIC configuration database associated with the VNIC, determining whether the virtual machine is allowed to change the network configuration parameter, if the virtual machine is allowed to change the network configuration parameter, updating the VNIC configuration database and VNIC to reflect the change in the network configuration parameter, and notifying the virtual machine that the change in network configuration parameter is allowed, and if the virtual machine is not allowed to change the network configuration parameter, dropping the request. |
| US08713201B2 |
Method and system for the assignment of security group information using a proxy
A method and system for the assignment of security group information using a proxy is disclosed. The method includes receiving an address of a network device at a first network device, receiving a security group of the network device at the first network device and associating the address information and the security group information with one another at the first network device. The first network device is coupled to a second network device. The address is represented by address information, which is received from the second network device. The security group is identified using the security group information, which indicates the network device is a member of the security group. The address information and the security group information are associated with one another by storing the address information and the security group information at the first network device. |
| US08713196B1 |
Systems for usage based rate limiting over a shared data link
A data communications system includes a controller device and multiple client devices communicating with the controller device through a shared data communications link. The controller device is configured to determine a usage based multiplier value for each of the client devices and monitor the data communications link for congestion. When it is determined that a threshold congestion level has been exceeded, the controller applies a rate-limiting scheme, based on the determined usage based multiplier values, to reallocate client device bandwidth over the data communications link. |
| US08713194B2 |
Method and device for peer arrangement in single substream upload P2P overlay networks
The present invention relates to a method of and a device for arranging a P2P overlay network comprising a streaming source and a plurality of peers arranged in distribution layers, the streaming source being arranged to divide data content to be streamed into a plurality of content sub-streams together forming the data content and to distribute the plurality of content sub-streams to the network peers. |
| US08713192B2 |
System and method for routing streaming data requests
Against this backdrop systems and methods have been developed for selecting a least-cost transmission route for streaming data between a server and client. In an embodiment, a client sends a request for data to a gateway. The gateway maintains information regarding the servers available to stream the data and the costs associated with the different networks available between the servers and the client. From this information the gateway identified what transmission routes are available and selects the lowest cost transmission route for streaming the data. If comparable cost transmission routes are found, a selection is made based on secondary criteria. The client is the directed by the gateway to send a request to the appropriate server to stream the data via the selected transmission route. |
| US08713190B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing real time anomaly detection
A method and apparatus for anomaly detection in a data stream are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method detects an anomalous condition in a data stream, by calculating at least one expected base event count for at least one event in the data stream for a time interval, obtaining an actual event count for the at least one event in the data stream, applying at least one shrinkage factor to the at least one expected base event count to obtain at least one actual estimated event count and detecting the anomalous condition in accordance with the actual event count and the at least one actual estimated event count. |
| US08713189B2 |
System and method for reliable packet data transport in a computer network
A system and method for reliably transmitting a request from a client application (50) running on a client system (13) to a server application (52) running on a server system (15) and receiving a reply to the request, in which functions that provide parameters governing the reliable transport mechanism and message forming and parsing services are provided by the application processes to and called from application-layer protocol stacks (58, 60). |
| US08713186B2 |
Server-side connection resource pooling
A server side connection pool provides pooling of server connections. Thus, client side processes do not create groups of dedicated resources. Clients are provided the capability to communicate to a server side connection broker process to GET a pooled server connection comprising connection state plus a thread of execution for doing some work, whereby requesting the work can bypass the connection broker process and go directly to the assigned pooled connection. Once the client issues a RELEASE to release the pooled connection back to the pool, a completely different client process on potentially a different client middle tier machine can reuse the same pooled connection. The server-side connection pool can be logically partitioned into sub-pools that correspond to connection classes that typically correspond to respective applications. A client process can request a pooled connection having a particular state, where a stored procedure can be executed to generate such state. |
| US08713184B2 |
Systems and methods for assigning a template to an existing network configuration
Methods of assigning network service templates in a communication network including a plurality of network elements that are configured to implement a plurality of network services are provided. The methods include providing a plurality of network service templates for a first network service, providing a network service model for providing the first network service by at least one network element in the communication network, comparing the plurality of network service templates with the network service model, and associating at least one network service template with the network service model in response to the comparison. |
| US08713179B2 |
Grid computing accounting and statistics management system
Performance data is captured periodically from resources and groups of resources in a grid computing environment and stored in a content-addressable data repository from which it can be accessed in response to an arbitrarily complex query in regard to specifics of particular jobs or job portions, particular resources utilized, grid architecture, application environment, concurrent jobs or job portions and the like. The data repository may be distributed or divided in regard to grid environment architecture, security domains or the like and each portion or division may be implemented in a modular fashion including an accounting and statistics management module and additional modules or computing engines for performing particular desired analyses or functions. Results of such analyses or functions may be communicated to a grid workload agent (and associated modules) to improve grid management on a fine-grained basis. |
| US08713177B2 |
Remote management of networked systems using secure modular platform
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the remote configuration of networked systems using a secure modular platform. A network management engine communicates with a set of remote machines, such as a collection of clients or servers on a network. The network management engine can present a systems administrator with a set of compact network commands to permit the administrator to interrogate, configure, and manage the set of controlled machines on a dynamic basis. The network management engine can, for instance, install or update software, detect viruses on the controlled machines, perform an inventory of installed hardware on the controlled machines, and perform other network management functions using pre-configured functions and APIs built into a network library or command directory. Besides incorporating pre-configured management modules, the network management engine further allows a systems administrator to add custom modules in the command directory, using efficient modular interfaces compatible with network-level management processing. |
| US08713176B2 |
Context data in UPNP service information
A system, device, and method provide for the selection of a device to perform a service using context information for the device. The context information may be included in a request from a control point device to the device or may be included in a response from the device to the control point device. The context information provides additional information relative to the services provided by the device or relative to the device itself. For example, if the device is a camera, the camera may include for each photograph taken by the camera a date the photograph is taken, a time the photograph is taken, a location at which the photograph is taken, a subject matter of the photograph, a temperature at the photograph location, a photographer, etc in the context information. Additionally, the camera may include the current geographic location of the camera in the context information. |
| US08713175B2 |
Centralized behavioral information system
Systems and methods for reducing the number of challenge messages that are sent in response to an incoming message in situations where the incoming message is likely not unsolicited. The systems and methods include evaluating the behavior of a sender with regard to one or more federated messaging services and determining if the sender is approved or unapproved. If the sender is approved, the incoming message is deliver to a recipient's inbox without issuing a challenge message. Unapproved senders are required to respond to a challenge message. |
| US08713172B1 |
Identification of websites that break out of frames
Websites or webpages that break frames may be automatically detected by determining a first value, based on a number of occurrences, that a child webpage and a container webpage are provided for presentation, the child webpage being presented within a frame of the container webpage. A second value may be determined, based on a number of occurrences, of user interaction data, indicating user interaction with the container webpage. The method may further include calculating a frame break score for the child webpage based on the first value and the second value and comparing the frame break score to a threshold. The method may further include identifying, based on the comparison to the threshold, the child webpage as a webpage that breaks frames. |
| US08713171B2 |
Computer server capable of supporting CPU virtualization
A computer server including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) pool including a plurality of CPUs, at least two partitions being exclusively offered the plurality of CPUs and independently performing an operation system, and a resource managing and monitoring unit managing a CPU allocation and retrieval of the at least two partitions based on a number of currently available CPUs and a number of currently used CPUs is disclosed. The resource managing and monitoring unit monitors partition status information (the partition status information including the number of currently used CPUs, a number of guaranteed CPUs, a CAP status and a number of maximum available CPUs) for measuring a ratio of CPU usage about each of the at least two partitions. |
| US08713169B2 |
Distributed IPv6 neighbor discovery for large datacenter switching systems
A distributed neighbor discovery module is disclosed where all neighbor discovery operations and functionalities may be distributed to a switch device processor. Each neighbor discovery process on a switch device may run as an individual neighbor discovery router node. There may be no coordination between neighbor discovery processes occurring on different switch devices. All other traffic, including both IPv6 control traffic and data traffic destined to the router may be processed by the central controller processor. |
| US08713166B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating communication with foundation fieldbus linking devices
Systems and methods for facilitating communication with Foundation Fieldbus linking devices are described. A plurality of Foundation Fieldbus linking devices may be identified by a gateway device that includes one or more computers. A single virtual address representative of the plurality of linking devices may be determined by the gateway device. Communications between the plurality of linking devices and an external system may the be facilitated by the gateway device, and the virtual address may be utilized to represent the plurality of linking devices to the external system. |
| US08713164B2 |
Feedback method and processing system for policy installation failures
A feedback method and a processing system for policy installation failures are applied in communication technical field, which is favorable for an Access Resource Admission Control Function (A-RACF) to accurately grasp the detailed information of policy installation failure enforced by the Resource Control Enforcement Function (RCEF), therefore the efficiency of downwardly sending the policies for installation next time is improved. The method includes: when the installation of the policies downwardly sent from the A-RACF to the RCEF is failed, the RCEF generates a feedback message to be sent to the A-RACF, wherein the feedback message includes error reasons of the policy installation failures. |
| US08713159B2 |
Monitoring apparatus for monitoring communication configurations of client devices
A monitoring apparatus for monitoring communication configurations of a plurality of client devices connected to a server, the monitoring apparatus includes: a processor for controlling the communications between the client devices and the server in accordance with a process including: receiving from each of the client devices communication condition information and storing latest communication condition information of each of the client devices; determining at a time interval whether any of client devices became incapable of communication with the server by checking the latest communication condition information of each of client devices; and upon detection of at least one of the client devices for which obsolete communication condition information is stored, issuing a notice indicating that the at least one of the client devices are incapable of communication with the server. |
| US08713158B2 |
System, method and computer program product for monitoring and controlling network connections from a supervisory operating system
A system, method and computer program product that is designed to support high-availability, rapid fault recovery, out of band condition signaling and/or other quality of service assurances and security in a networked environment. In one aspect, a method of the invention includes the step of providing a processing system with a dual-kernel or multi-kernel software operating system. The operating system includes a supervisory operating system and a secondary operating system that provides network functions to user applications. The method also includes the step of providing a Network Control Software (NCS) in the supervisory operating system. The NCS is configured to transparently monitor and control network operations in the secondary operating system. |
| US08713149B2 |
Data feed management
The present disclosure is directed to systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for data feed management. Data feeds can be received at one or more landing directories associated with a feed management system. The feed management system can be configured to map the data feeds in the landing directories to one or more subscribers, and the data feeds can be moved to one or more staging directories associated with the subscribers. The data feeds can be delivered to the one or more subscribers from the staging directories. Receipts indicating delivery of the data feeds can be stored by the feed management system. The feed management system can be configured to manage data feeds, landing directories, and staging directories. |
| US08713141B1 |
System and method for monitoring network activity
Described is a system and method for receiving first data corresponding to usage of a network, receiving second data corresponding to usage of the network, comparing the first data to the second data and providing an indication of a network event when the second data varies from the second data greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08713138B1 |
Extensible framework for client-based active network measurement
A method, system, medium and a lightweight computing framework are provided for active network measurements. A communication network having links that connect a collection of client devices that utilize the computing framework to generate probe streams, receive network data associated with one or more network measurements, and to analyze the network data. The probe streams are generated based on a configuration file. The configuration file implements one or more network measurements and is defined in a scripting language. Additionally, the probe streams collect network data, and the computing framework utilizes the network data to determine link properties along one or more communication paths and to generate additional probe streams when specified conditions are satisfied. |
| US08713133B2 |
Methods, systems and computer program products for importing data from an edge router to a network management system
Methods of importing data from an edge router including a plurality of interface types to a network management system include configuring the edge router to export a flat file containing the data at a designated time to a designated network device communicatively coupled to the edge router. The flat file includes data associated with a plurality of different ones of the interface types. The flat file is received at the designated network device. The data from the received flat file is parsed to a format configured to be imported by the network management system at the designated network device. The parsed data is provided to the network management system. |
| US08713131B2 |
Simultaneous image distribution and archiving
The present specification discloses a storage system for enabling the substantially concurrent storage and access of data that has three dimensional images processed to identify a presence of a threat item. The system includes a source of data, a temporary storage memory for receiving and temporarily storing the data, a long term storage, and multiple workstations adapted to display three dimensional images. The temporary storage memory is adapted to support multiple file input/output operations executing substantially concurrently, including the receiving of data, transmitting of data to workstations, and transmitting of data to long term storage. |
| US08713130B2 |
Peered proctoring
Systems and methods described herein utilize a distributed server network to allow for the real-time distribution of copies of a data stream uploaded from a computing device. The uploaded data stream corresponds to an environment surrounding a user (exam taker) of the computing device during execution of a testing routine for an examination. Providing copies of the data stream in real-time allows proctors as well as other test assessment authorities to ‘peek in’ on the exam taker's environment during the exam. As a result, the environment surrounding the exam taker can be monitored in real-time to determine whether any visual or audio activity in the environment constitutes activity not in accordance with the exam protocol. Following an affirmative determination that the exam taker violated an exam taking protocol, a proctor or other test assessment authority can then make a final or early decision regarding disciplinary action. |
| US08713129B2 |
Thwarting keyloggers using proxies
Techniques for thwarting keylogger using a proxy are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a request received from a client for accessing a Web page provided from a remote Web server over a network, a proxy server retrieves the Web page from the remote Web server and presents the Web page to the client. The proxy server further presents a virtual keyboard to the client to allow a user of the client to enter one or more keys in an input field of the Web page without having to type at the client for the purposes of logging into the Web site. Thereafter, the proxy server directs traffic between the client and the remote Web server over the network. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
| US08713128B2 |
Method and system for utilizing native ethernet as a virtual memory interconnect
In various embodiments of a method and system for utilizing native Ethernet as a virtual memory interconnect, a first networking device may be operable to transcode a memory read command and/or a memory write command to memory access information and encapsulate the memory access information within in one or more fields of an Ethernet frame. The memory access information may be communicated over an Ethernet link to a second networking device where it may be utilized to access memory that is associated with the memory read command and/or the memory write command. For example, the memory access information may indicate an address of the memory to be accessed, whether a read operation and/or a write operation is to be performed, whether the frame comprises data to be written to the memory, and/or whether a locally administered address space is utilized. |
| US08713124B1 |
Highly specialized application protocol for email and SMS and message notification handling and display
A method and system for handling and displaying incoming electronic messages in a user device. The method includes receiving a request to view a contact list on the user device, querying a priority table including a plurality of contacts, receiving a request to tag at least one contact in the plurality of contacts, tagging the at least one contact, and persistently displaying a received electronic message from the at least one contact at the top of a display. |
| US08713122B2 |
Message value indicator
The Email Value Indicator comprises a computer implemented system and method for indicating the value of an email message. The system and method comprise collecting message values assigned to the email message; calculating a composite message value based on the collected message values; and inserting the composite message value into the email message. In additional embodiments, the system and method further comprises the steps of displaying the composite message value in an email reader, sorting the email message based on the composite message value, and calculating the composite message value based on selected message values. |
| US08713120B2 |
Changing sound alerts during a messaging session
Controlling the volume of an audible alert associated with an instant messaging communications session includes rendering, on a first instant messaging user system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least a first instant messaging user and a second instant messaging user, receiving notification of an event related to the instant messaging communications session, determining a characteristic of the event, accessing an audible alert to be rendered to signal existence of the event, adjusting based upon the determined characteristic of the event a volume of the audible alert corresponding to the event, and rendering the audible alert to signal existence of the event. |
| US08713119B2 |
Electronic devices with voice command and contextual data processing capabilities
An electronic device may capture a voice command from a user. The electronic device may store contextual information about the state of the electronic device when the voice command is received. The electronic device may transmit the voice command and the contextual information to computing equipment such as a desktop computer or a remote server. The computing equipment may perform a speech recognition operation on the voice command and may process the contextual information. The computing equipment may respond to the voice command. The computing equipment may also transmit information to the electronic device that allows the electronic device to respond to the voice command. |
| US08713118B2 |
End to end email monitor
An example method to monitor an email system involves sending a test email to an email server. The email server is to automatically forward the test email to a plurality of email accounts of corresponding domains different from one another and different from the email system. When the test email does not arrive at the plurality of email accounts within a time period, a notification identifying the email server is generated. Other test emails are distinguished from the test email based on checksum values in subject fields of the test email and the other test emails. The other test emails correspond to different ones of a plurality of other email systems being tested for operability. Each checksum uniquely identifies a respective one of the test emails and a respective one of the email systems. |
| US08713116B2 |
System and method for confirming delivery of an electronic message
A method for confirming delivery of an electronic message from a sender computer to a recipient over a computer network includes: converting by a server at least part of the content of the message to a dynamic image, and saving it on the server; generating a link to the dynamic image with a unique tracking key; generating a secondary electronic message transmitted to the recipient computer, the secondary electronic message including the link to the dynamic image and recipient details; transmitting the secondary electronic message to the recipient computer; updating the server to reflect that the dynamic image has been viewed by the recipient when the recipient opened the secondary electronic message and the link to the dynamic image to view the dynamic image; and informing the sender that the dynamic image has been viewed by the recipient, thereby confirming the delivery of the original electronic message. |
| US08713115B2 |
Sending notification of event
Usability is improved by decreasing the number of notifications to be read in receiving mails including notifications of events. A notification of an event is sent. In one aspect, this comprises receiving, in response to occurrence of an event, a notification of the event; storing, when event data generated from the received notification matches a conditional expression in a profile associated with the event, the notification of the event in a queue associated with at least one of change management information corresponding to the event and a recipient of the change management information; and sending, when an earliest time out of transfer times set in respective notifications stored in the queue has come, all the notifications stored in the queue, to a client that is the recipient, as a single notification. |
| US08713114B2 |
Direct file transfer between subscribers of a communications systems
Systems and techniques for transferring a file from a first client associated with a first subscriber to a communications system to a second client associated with a second subscriber to the communications system by connecting from the first client to a communications system host; sending, through the communications system host, a request to the second client to establish a direct connection to the second client; when the second client accepts the request, establishing a direct connection to the second client that bypasses the communications system host; and transferring a file over the direct connection. |
| US08713110B2 |
Identification of protected content in e-mail messages
A method of controlling distribution of content in a message sent by a message sender comprises receiving an indication from the message sender that the message is to be protected, identifying content in the message to be protected, adding the identified content to a database of protected content, and determining whether subsequently received content in a subsequently received message is associated with the identified content. A system for controlling distribution of content in a message sent by a message sender comprises a processor configured to receive an indication from the message sender that the message is to be protected, identify content in the message to be protected, add the identified content to a database of protected content, and determine whether subsequently received content in a subsequently received message is associated with the identified content. |
| US08713108B2 |
Navigation system and navigation apparatus
A communication control module of a navigation apparatus determines that a short message that a communication module has received is from a mobile telephone that corresponds to identification data stored in advance in a RAM, and outputs a remote operation signal to a power source module. The navigation module acquires the IP address of the navigation apparatus when switched from a sleep mode to a wake-up mode, and after generating a mail that contains this acquired IP address, sends this mail to the mobile telephone that sent the activation data by using the mail address of this mobile telephone. Therefore, even when a new IP address is assigned to the navigation apparatus each time the navigation apparatus is activated, it is possible to remotely control the navigation apparatus easily from a remote site. |
| US08713107B2 |
Method and system for remote delivery of email
A system and method for delivering electronic mail to the user at a previously defined remote location which also allows the user to reply to the email from such remote location is disclosed. An application program operates at the user's home electronic mail communication system, typically a desktop PC, forwarding electronic mail messages through the internet to a central system, which contains user profile information and acts as a forwarding server. The system can also be applied to the user's mail server instead of the user's desktop PC. Preferred user profiles stored in the forwarding server determine how the server directs notification of new email to the user in accordance with the user's preferred profile. Information regarding the pending emails are directed to the user's mobile telephone or PDA device, allowing the user to determine whether to respond to the electronic mail presently or defer response, in accordance with the user's preference at the time of receipt. The system provides for translation of email messages from text to speech for delivery to the user and also provides for speech to text transcription in the message response mode at the user's selection. |
| US08713104B1 |
Sharing networks determined by sharing of items between individuals
A system in which a sharing network is determined through the sharing and acceptance of items by individuals. Individuals are able to maintain lists of items of interest in an account, such as books, restaurants, hotels, clothes, etc. The system allows an individual to share an item in a list with another individual, and the recipient is able to accept or decline the share. If the recipient accepts the share, a sharing network is established between the individuals. An individual is able to view recommended items in the accounts of other individuals who are within their sharing network. The establishment of sharing networks and the associated distribution of items between individuals can be analyzed to determine the strength of the bond between two or more individuals. |
| US08713103B2 |
Managing delivery of application server content
A method of managing delivery of content to end users of an application executing on an application server is disclosed. A definition of a first variant of a web page is received, the definition of the first variant specifying that an instance of a first widget is to be included in the first variant at a first region conforming to a page layout of the web page. A definition of a second variant of the web page is received, the definition of the second variant specifying that an instance of a second widget is to be included in the second variant at a second region conforming to the page layout of the web page. A comparison of the first variant and the second variant is presented with respect to a performance metric, the performance metric pertaining to an effectiveness of the web page at bringing in revenues to a network-based publication system. |
| US08713102B2 |
Social community generated answer system with collaboration constraints
A method for social network collaboration addresses the need for efficient and effective way of obtaining information. The method obtains aggregated information from members of a social network collaborating in response to a source collaboration message. The method provides for a demand-driven collaborated information production such that the information is significantly more relevant and accurate. |
| US08713099B2 |
Push mechanism for efficiently sending aggregated data items to client
A server push model for client/server communications. The push architecture operates on top of a non-push (e.g., request/response) protocol (e.g., HTTP) to combine notifications from multiple data sources (e.g., email, text messaging, etc.). The server can be a middle-tier server (or proxy) to which a single web client registers interest in one or more notification types from one or more data sources. The mid-tier server aggregates the notifications from the various data sources and delivers the notifications to the requesting client via a single “push” pipe. The web client then distributes each notification to the appropriate parts of the client user interface. A producer/consumer locking mechanism eliminates blocking threads waiting on a mutual exclusion lock. A notification throttling mechanism distinguishes different types of notifications in order to guarantee that the client is not overloaded with too much information. |
| US08713097B2 |
Adaptive period network session reservation
The invention is directed to providing communications session management using an adaptive keep-alive reservation technique responsive to network conditions. |
| US08713095B2 |
Methods circuits apparatuses and systems for facilitating access to online content
Disclosed are methods, circuits, apparatuses and systems for facilitating access to online content, including personalized content. A content access peripheral (CAP) may be provided, such that the CAP may be operated in conjunction with a host computing platform (e.g. host device) in order to facilitate and/or expedite access to online content residing/stored on a computer server connected to the Internet or to another distributed data network. The CAP may initially be associated with specific content(s) residing/stored on the computer server connected to the Internet or to another distributed data network by a CAP to content correlator. |
| US08713090B2 |
Enhancing user experiences using aggregated device usage data
Enhancing user experiences using aggregated device usage data includes receiving aggregated usage data for a device, such as a computing device and/or a peripheral device. A current user context for the device is identified, and based on the aggregated usage data and the current user context an enhanced user interface is generated. |
| US08713089B2 |
Dynamic lookup service in a distributed system
An improved lookup service is provided that allows for the dynamic addition and deletion of services. This lookup service allows for the addition and deletion of services automatically, without user intervention. As a result, clients of the lookup service may continue using the lookup service and its associated services while the updates occur. Additionally, the lookup service provides a notification mechanism that can be used by clients to receive a notification when the lookup service is updated. By receiving such a notification, clients can avoid attempting to access a service that is no longer available and can make use of new services as soon as they are added to the lookup service. |
| US08713087B2 |
Communication system, authentication device, control server, communication method, and program
A forwarding node processes a packet between a supplicant and a prescribed authentication device, in accordance with a processing rule that has been set. The authentication device performs a prescribed authentication procedure with the supplicant and notifies a result thereof to a control server. In a case where an authentication procedure with the authentication device succeeds, the control server creates a first forwarding path between the supplicant and a destination node, and transmits a processing rule for a packet received or transmitted between the supplicant and a destination node, following the first forwarding path, in at least one forwarding node in the first forwarding path. |
| US08713086B2 |
Three-term predictive adder and/or subtracter
A predictive adder produces the result of incrementing and/or decrementing a sum of A and B by a one-bit constant of the form of the form 2k, where k is a bit position at which the sum is to be incremented or decremented. The predictive adder predicts the ripple portion of bits in the potential sum of the first operand A and the second operand B that would be toggled by incrementing or decrementing the sum A+B by the one-bit constant to generate and indication of the ripple portion of bits in the potential sum. The predictive adder uses the indication of the ripple portion of bits in the potential sum and the carry output generated by evaluating A+B to produce the results of at least one of A+B+2k and A+B−2k. |
| US08713085B1 |
Systems and methods for a signed magnitude adder in one's complement logic
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a signed-magnitude adder based on one's complement logic, where the adder offers enhancements in both speed and chip area consumption. The one's complement based adder includes circuitry for converting operands from their signed-magnitude representations to their one's complement representations, circuitry for adding operands in their one's complement representations, and circuitry for converting the resulting sum into a signed-magnitude format. |
| US08713082B1 |
Scalable architecture for rank order filtering
A rank order filter and instantiation thereof in programmable logic is described. A maximum filter core frequency is determined for an input sampling frequency, a filter window height, and a number of input samples. The maximum filter core frequency is greater than the sampling frequency. The maximum filter core frequency may be insufficient for a word serial instantiation of the rank order filter in the programmable logic. The size of a fully parallel instantiation of the rank order filter may be excessive in programmable logic. Thus, a partially parallel filter core is instantiated for the rank order filter with overclocking. |
| US08713079B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for providing metadata entry
An apparatus for providing metadata entry includes an output device, an interface element and a tagging element. The output device is capable of rendering an activity such as a media file via an electronic device. The interface element is capable of accepting a user input of a selection of a key of the electronic device. The tagging element is configured to modify a metadata entry of the rendered media file in response to selection of the key. |
| US08713071B1 |
Detecting mirrors on the web
A system obtains multiple signals associated with first and second hostnames or subtrees. The system uses the multiple signals to determine whether the first hostname or subtree is a mirror of the second hostname or subtree. The multiple signals may include, for example, a same link structure and/or sitemap for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, duplicate content associated with the first and second hostnames or subtrees, a same Internet Protocol (IP) address or subnet for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, a same owner for the first and second hostnames or subtrees, nearly duplicate content associated with the first and second hostnames or subtrees, similarity between the hostnames of the first and second hostnames or subtrees; and/or an indication that one hostname or subtree of the first and second hostnames or subtrees redirects to the other hostname or subtree. |
| US08713069B2 |
Playlist search device, playlist search method and program
A playlist search method includes: using, as search criteria, one or more pieces of content attribute information of a first content contained in a first playlist to search for a second playlist which contains a second content having one or more pieces of common content attribute information with the first content and is different from the first playlist; obtaining the first playlist and the second playlist; and displaying a plurality of contents contained in the first playlist and the second playlist in such a manner that the first playlist and the second playlist cross each other with the first content and the second content used as a base point. |
| US08713064B1 |
Attribute category enhanced search
Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images. |
| US08713063B2 |
Method and system for automatically hiding irrelevant parts of hierarchical structures in computer user interfaces
The invention broadly and generally provides, in a computer-controlled display, a method of simplifying a graphical representation of a set of connected nodes comprising the steps of: (a) selecting a subset of the aforesaid set; and (b) under computer program control, hiding representations of all nodes except (i) nodes within the aforesaid subset and (ii) at least one node having a defined relationship to the aforesaid subset. |
| US08713058B2 |
Transporting business intelligence objects between business intelligence systems
A computer readable medium includes executable instructions to create a first export file that defines attributes and relationships associated with a first business intelligence object. A second export file that characterizes a second business intelligence object associated with the first business intelligence object is formed. The first export file and the second export file are combined into a composite export entity. The composite export entity is distributed. |
| US08713056B1 |
System, method and computer program product for efficient caching of hierarchical items
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a “lazy” approach in caching a hierarchical navigation tree with one or more associated permission trees. In one embodiment, only a portion of a cached permission tree is updated. One embodiment of a method may comprise determining whether a dirty node exists by comparing tree timestamps of the permission tree and the master tree. If the tree timestamp of the master tree is temporally more recent than the tree timestamp of the permission tree, the permission tree has a dirty node and the method may operate to check node timestamps of the master and permission trees. This process may be repeated until the dirty node is found, at which time a portion of the permission tree associated with the dirty node may be reconstructed, rather than the entire permission tree itself, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing access time to the cached permission tree. |
| US08713055B2 |
Dynamically updating privacy settings in a social network
A social network allows its members to regulate what data is accessible to other members using one or more privacy settings. A particular member of the social network can modify the one or privacy settings to grant or deny different users access to different data. When a member modifies a privacy setting, the social network determines which information pathways communicating data between members are affected. The affected information pathways are then modified responsive to the privacy setting to communicate data identified by the modified privacy setting and enforce the new privacy restrictions. |
| US08713053B2 |
Active tags
A method for retrieving data in a data source is provided. The method includes receiving a search term; identifying an active tag associated with the search term; correlating the active tag to dynamic data that is operative to adapt to a mining context in which data is stored; and retrieving the data using the dynamic data. |
| US08713050B2 |
Testing SQL query writing skills
A system and a method described herein relate to testing SQL query writing skills of at least one participant. The system includes an authentication module that authenticates at least one participant for writing an SQL query. The system also includes an execution module that provide access to the at least one participant to an emulated database through a shared pool of configurable computing resources and execute the SQL query of the at least one participant against the emulated database. Further, a database scaling module is present in the system, to scale the emulated database based on inputs received from the at least one participant to tune performance of the SQL query, and an evaluation module is present in the system, to evaluate performance efficiency of the SQL query against the emulated database. |
| US08713048B2 |
Query processing with specialized query operators
Queries targeting various data sources are processed in a query processing pipeline that parses the query into a set of operations (e.g., an expression tree or a translated SQL query) using a set of query operators, each handling a particular type of operation. The query operators are often designed in an unspecialized manner, such that each query operator handles one query operation in an atomic, generic manner (e.g., sorting generic data items for an ORDER BY clause.) More efficient queries may be devised by including specialized queries that operate in common but special cases, such as a sorting of a particular data type (e.g., a floating-point number sort) or a sequence of two or more operations that are often performed together (e.g., a WHERE test of an attribute followed by a SELECT of the same attribute.) The use of specialized operators may result in the formulation of more efficient queries. |
| US08713042B1 |
Processing autocomplete suggestions
Methods and apparatus for processing autocomplete suggestions. Some implementations are directed to methods and apparatus for generating additional suggestions for provided multiple term autocomplete suggestions and determining additional suggestion scores for the additional suggestions. Like entries among the additional suggestions and the autocomplete suggestions may be identified and each similar grouping of the like entries combined into a consolidated entry. A combined consolidated score for each consolidated entry may be determined based on one or more of the additional suggestion scores and any of the autocomplete scores of the like entries combined into the consolidated entry. |
| US08713039B2 |
Co-map communication operator
A high level programming language provides a co-map communication operator that maps an input indexable type to an output indexable type according to a function. The function maps an index space corresponding to the output indexable type to an index space corresponding to the input indexable type. By doing so, the co-map communication operator lifts a function on an index space to a function on an indexable type to allow composability with other communication operators. |
| US08713037B2 |
Translation system adapted for query translation via a reranking framework
A system and method suited to translation of queries are disclosed. The method includes receiving an input query in a source language and outputting a target query, based on a translation of the input query into a target language, different from the source language. The translation is performed with a machine translation system which has been trained on representations of features of translated queries that have been generated by translation of an original query, in the source language, into the target language and a measure of information retrieval performance of each the translated queries, for each of a set of original queries. |
| US08713034B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying similar documents
The present invention provides systems and methods for identifying similar documents. In an embodiment, the present invention identifies similar documents by (1) receiving document text for a current document that includes at least one word; (2) calculating a prominence score and a descriptiveness score for each word and each pair of consecutive words; (3) calculating a comparison metric for the current document; (4) finding at least one potential document, where document text for each potential document includes at least one of the words; and (5) analyzing each potential document to identify at least one similar document. |
| US08713033B1 |
Integrated monitoring in problem management in service desk
A system for monitoring incidents is provided. The system includes a problem management system, a first data store, a second data store, and a monitor. The first data store is accessible by the problem management system and can maintain information related to problems underlying incidents. The second data store is also accessible by the problem management system and can maintain information related to solutions for the problems underlying the incidents. The monitor can monitor the problem management system, the first data store, and the second data store for the number of times the first and second data stores are queried and for other information. |
| US08713024B2 |
Efficient forward ranking in a search engine
Methods and computer storage media are provided for generating entries for documents in a forward index. A document and its document identification are received, in addition to static features that are query-independent. The document is parsed into tokens to form a token stream corresponding to the document. Relevant data used to calculate rankings of document is identified and a position of the data is determined. The entry is then generated from the document identification, the token stream of the document, the static features, and the positional information of the relevant data. The entry is stored in the forward index. |
| US08713023B1 |
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information using advanced active learning techniques
Systems and methods for classifying electronic information or documents into a number of classes and subclasses are provided through an active learning algorithm. Such document classification systems are easily scalable for large document collections, require less manpower and can be employed on a single computer, thus requiring fewer resources. Furthermore, the classification systems and methods described can be used for any pattern recognition or classification effort in a wide variety of fields, including electronic discovery in legal proceedings. |
| US08713022B2 |
Community profiling for social media
Embodiments of the invention relate to modeling communities associated with groups of data items. Tools are provided to iteratively assign data items to communities and to update topic and participant distribution in the assigned communities. As the distributions are updated, the characteristics of the communities are updated. Each activity area is defined from the perspective of a single user. Participants in a community are connected to a user, but not necessarily to each other. The combination of formations of communities and the statistical aspect of evaluating characteristics of the communities provides a multi-facetted organization of connections between data items and associated participants. |
| US08713020B2 |
System and method for organizing, processing and presenting information
In a method for organizing information in a database, abstractions are separated from expressions of the abstractions to obtain a first set of information corresponding to the abstractions and a second set of information corresponding to at least one set of characteristics relating to the expressions of the abstractions. Each abstraction is arranged within the first set of information hierarchically within the database. Each set of characteristics relating to an expression of an abstraction within the second set of information is associated with an abstraction within the database. |
| US08713017B2 |
Summarization of short comments
A method and a system for summarization of short comments are provided. The system comprises a memory to store a comments collection. The comments collection stores a plurality of comments for later access. The comments respectively include an overall rating and at least one phrase. The system also includes one or more processors to implement an aspect module to identify a first head term and a second head term based on a first portion of the comments and to map the first head term and the second head term into an aspect cluster. The one or more processor also implement a rating module to predict an aspect rating corresponding to the aspect cluster based on the respective overall ratings of the portion of the comments. |
| US08713011B2 |
Navigation apparatus, search result display method, and graphical user interface
A navigation apparatus includes: a basic frame generating unit for generating a basic frame two-dimensionally configured based on a search item axis and a search result display axis; a three-dimensional (3-D) search result listing image generating unit for generating a 3-D search result listing image in which a plurality of search result cards show as if they are stereoscopically arranged in a domino-like configuration along the search item axis and the search result display axis of the basic frame, the search result cards having titles of search results thereon; and a control unit for outputting the 3-D search result listing image to a predetermined display unit with a predetermined display angle, thereby displaying the 3-D search result listing image at the display angle. |
| US08713007B1 |
Classifying documents using multiple classifiers
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for classifying resources using scores from multiple classifiers. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving identifying a collection of documents to classify; receiving a plurality of classifiers for scoring a document with respect to a specified property; for each document in the collection, applying each of the plurality of classifiers, each classifier generating a score associated with a likelihood that the document has the specified property, combining the scores from each classifier including applying a multiple classifier model that uses monotonic regression to combine the plurality of classifiers, and classifying the document as having the specified property based on the combined score. |
| US08713005B2 |
Assisted hybrid mobile browser
A system and a method are disclosed for identifying video files on a webpage and streaming video files to a client device. A server receives browsing data including uniform resource locator for a webpage and identifies missing videos on the webpage. The server identifies a source file for the missing videos including identifying a location for each missing video. The server retrieves a thumbnail for each missing video and provides it to a client device. Additionally, the server transcodes the video file responsive to a user input provided by a user. The transcoded video is streamed to the client device. |
| US08713002B1 |
Identifying media content in queries
A computer-implemented method includes receiving a query at a central information provider, identifying media-related terms in the query that indicate the query relates to one or more media-related objects, and providing media-specific results in response to the query associated with one or more programs or program staff. |
| US08713000B1 |
Method and system for leveraging the power of one's social-network in an online marketplace
Methods and systems for leveraging one's social network in the context of an opportunities marketplace are described. One aspect of the invention involves integrating social networking features into an online marketplace, or exchange. Accordingly, one aspect of the invention involves facilitating an opportunity search in a manner that provides social networking information with the results of the search. |
| US08712999B2 |
Systems and methods for online search recirculation and query categorization
A computer-implemented method for generating online search results includes receiving, over the Internet, referring URL data including a query, and a network site ID for a network site that was visited based on third party search engine analysis of the query; generating indexed query and network site data based on the received referring URL data and network site; receiving a new query from a user; determining a network site relevant to the new query based on the indexed query and network site data; and displaying to the user a link to the network site. Systems for generating online search results are also disclosed. |
| US08712995B2 |
Scoring records for sorting by user-specific weights based on relative importance
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product for managing records in a storage device. Responsive to receiving a search query, a computer determines a result set for the search query including one or more one records from a record storage device, and determines whether the one or more records contain a link to a profile associated to an individual in a corporate directory. Responsive to determining that the one or more records contain the link to the profile associated with the individual in the corporate directory, the computer accesses the corporate directory and determines a corporate standing of the individual in the corporate directory. Responsive to determining the corporate standing of the individual in the corporate directory, the computer determines a relevancy score for the corporate standing of the individual in the corporate directory. |
| US08712988B2 |
Owner-brokered knowledge sharing machine
The invention discloses a system and method for promoting information or knowledge sharing among users registered to a computer network by allowing an information or knowledge owner to locate or directly access private information, to publish information for direct access by knowledge requestors, or to broker information or knowledge with an information or knowledge requestor. This invention also discloses a system and method which allow an organization to develop and manage a reward system based on the frequency of an information or knowledge owner's contribution to information or knowledge sharing and the frequency of an information or knowledge requestor's use of shared knowledge. |
| US08712986B2 |
Methods and systems providing desktop search capability to software application
Methods and apparatuses for providing an Internet (Web) search functionality to a target application. The Web functionality allows a target application to access and use the Web search functionality without modification of the target application. For one embodiment, information communicated between the target application and the operating system, or other applications, is intercepted and evaluated. A determination is made as to whether or not to implement the Web search functionality within the target application based upon the intercepted information. For one embodiment of the invention, a Web search capability is implemented with applications to which such capability is deemed beneficial. For one embodiment of the invention, the added Web search functionality automates the process of saving selected web content to the user's personal computer, locating the saved Web content on the personal computer, and appending the saved content into the target application product. |
| US08712985B1 |
Social network user data advertising
Data is received from a social networking system, the data including user data and performance data associated with one or more user pages in the social networking system. A query is received specifying desired user data and performance data. A performance group is generated including user data and performance data of user pages responsive to the query. |
| US08712983B2 |
Database management method
The present invention realize a method of managing a database capable of hierarchically building master nodes, and efficiently performing the update of the master nodes. A lower-level master node sends, to a higher-level master node, a write set expanded in its own memory including a shadow copy of its own database and a heaptuple map, and the higher-level master node that received the write set verifies whether the update has already been executed and sends the record of this update to the lower-level master node as a transaction log, whereby the database can be updated efficiently and consistently from the lower-level master node to the higher-level master node, and from the higher-level master node to the lower-level master node under its control. |
| US08712980B2 |
Consistent retention and disposition of managed content and associated metadata
Consistent retention and disposition of managed content and associated metadata is disclosed. An indication that a retention policy is to be applied to a selected item of content comprising a body of managed content is received. The selected item of content and its associated metadata are retained automatically in parallel in accordance with the retention policy. |
| US08712979B2 |
Statistical identification of instances during reconciliation process
A system for reconciling object for a configuration management databases employs statistical rules to reduce the amount of manual identification required by conventional reconciliation techniques. As users manually identify matches between source and target datasets, statistical rules are developed based on the criteria used for matching. Those statistical rules are then used for future matching. A threshold value is adjusted as the statistical rules are used, incrementing the threshold value when the rule successfully matches source and target objects. If the threshold value exceeds a predetermined acceptance value, the system may automatically accept a match made by a statistical rule. Otherwise, suggestions of possibly applicable rules may be presented to a user, who may use the suggested rules to match objects, causing adjustment of the threshold value associated with the suggested rules used. |
| US08712975B2 |
Modification of an object replica
Several different embodiments of a massively scalable object storage system are described. The object storage system is particularly useful for storage in a cloud computing installation whereby shared servers provide resources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand. In several embodiments, the object storage system includes a ring implementation used to associate object storage commands with particular physical servers such that certain guarantees of consistency, availability, and performance can be met. In other embodiments, the object storage system includes a synchronization protocol used to order operations across a distributed system. In a third set of embodiments, the object storage system includes a metadata management system. In a fourth set of embodiments, the object storage system uses a structured information synchronization system. Features from each set of embodiments can be used to improve the performance and scalability of a cloud computing object storage system. |
| US08712973B2 |
Weighted determination in configuration management systems
A system, method, and medium for providing configurable item configuration data by receiving a plurality of configuration data sets from a plurality of sources, all which pertain to the same configurable item (CI), then using weighting rules and preferences to assign weight values for each option, feature, and component in each report according to discrepancies and commonalities between the data sets, creating a new data set for the configurable item by selecting options, features, and components having the greatest weight values among all of the data sets, assigning confidence factors to each option, feature, and component by weight comparisons between the plurality of data sets; updating a configuration management database entry for the configurable item accordingly. The confidence factors are useful for inhibiting regulated processes, such as software release processes and change control processes, and for generating human-readable configuration reports indicating confidence levels of the reports and their contents. |
| US08712966B1 |
Backup and recovery of distributed storage areas
A system and method for centralized backup and recovery of enterprise content management systems comprises a plurality of distributed heterogeneous content systems comprising distributed content servers having storage areas for managed content. Backup comprises querying the content servers associated with the distributed content systems to determine the host names, directory locations, and directory file structures of the storage areas, and launching coordinated backup processes on each of the distributed servers to backup in a particular order full text index files, databases containing metadata related to the files in storage areas, and storage area content. Backup and recovery is managed by a centralized backup/recovery server application that invokes backup and recovery client processes on the distributed remote content servers. |
| US08712965B2 |
Dynamic report mapping apparatus to physical data source when creating report definitions for information technology service management reporting for peruse of report definition transparency and reuse
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for dynamically creating report mapping relationships at runtime within an information technology infrastructure. When report definition comprising a generalized description of desired data without any database-specific properties is generated, a relationship mapping definition based on the generalized description in the report definition is created, wherein the relationship mapping definition comprises data connection information for accessing the data sources containing the desired data. The relationship mapping definition is then used to initiate a connection to the data sources. Once the desired data has been acquired from the data sources, a report may then be created using the acquired data. |
| US08712963B1 |
Method and apparatus for content-aware resizing of data chunks for replication
Techniques for replicating data chunks in a storage system are described herein. In one embodiment, in response to a request for replicating data chunks of a source storage system having a first average chunk size to a target storage system having a second average chunk size, a new chunk size is determined based on metadata of the data chunks in view of an average chunk size of the target storage system. The data chunks are resized based on the new chunk size to generate resized data chunks. The resized data chunks are transmitted from the source storage system to the target storage system for replication. |
| US08712961B2 |
Database caching utilizing asynchronous log-based replication
A database table within a database to persist within a cache as a cached table can be identified. The database can be a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an object oriented database management system (OODBMS). The cache can be a database cache. Database transactions within can be logged within a log table and the cached table within the cache can be flagged as not cached during runtime. An asynchronous replication of the database table to the cached table can be performed. The replication can execute the database transactions within the log table upon the cached table. The cached table can be flagged as cached when the replication is completed. |
| US08712958B2 |
Method and apparatus for representing sensory effects and computer readable recording medium storing user sensory preference metadata
Provided are method and apparatus for representing sensory effects, and a computer readable recording medium storing user sensory preference metadata. A method for providing user preference information includes: receiving preference information for predetermined sensory effects from a user; and generating user sensory preference metadata including the received preference information, wherein the user sensory preference metadata includes personal preference information that describes the preference information. |
| US08712956B2 |
Systems and methods to provide report part via a web service
Some aspects include reception of a selection of a part of a report, the selected report part associated with queries of a semantic layer, and creation of a description of a Web Service call to return contents of the selected report part. In some aspects, a Web Service call associated with a part of a report is received, the report part associated with queries of a semantic layer, and a query is determined based on the Web Service call to return contents of the report part. |
| US08712952B2 |
Method and system for selecting a target with respect to a behavior in a population of communicating entities
The method uses predictive analysis to determine a model based on past data including a first social network built between communicating entities for a first observation period and behavioral centrality measures derived from behavioral data observed in a following time period. The model thus determined is then applied to a second social network built for a second observation period more recent than the first one. This provides predicted behavioral centrality measures for a future period, which can be used to perform an efficient selection of entities in the target, which may maximize virality with respect to the specific behavior of interest. |
| US08712946B1 |
System and methods for facilitating and documenting user thinking and learning using enhanced interactive constructs
Embodiments of the invention provide system and methods for new approaches for facilitating the development of and transferring of user thinking and understanding about an arbitrary problem, in some embodiments through creating new interactive forms of thinking and knowledge constructs as enhanced interactive and/or visually appealing presentational and working forms. Some embodiments involve the development of an interactive construct by one or more users for use by one or more other users (as in educational or professional development situations, for example). Some embodiments include the interfacing with, receiving input from, or enabling output to other systems, processor or device enabled methods, devices, objects, controllers, or other items. |
| US08712943B1 |
Question and answer system wherein experts are associated with models and have response rates that are associated with time intervals
Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving aggregate user data, the aggregate user data corresponding to response rate of one or more answering users responding to requests, processing the aggregate user data to generate an analytical model, the analytical model describing a probability that an average answering user will respond to a request based on response rates of one or more time intervals, receiving a request, identifying a plurality of answering users, processing the analytical model to identify a sub-set of answering users of the plurality of answering users, and transmitting the request to each answering user of the sub-set of answering users. |
| US08712940B2 |
Structural plasticity in spiking neural networks with symmetric dual of an electronic neuron
A neural system comprises multiple neurons interconnected via synapse devices. Each neuron integrates input signals arriving on its dendrite, generates a spike in response to the integrated input signals exceeding a threshold, and sends the spike to the interconnected neurons via its axon. The system further includes multiple noruens, each noruen is interconnected via the interconnect network with those neurons that the noruen's corresponding neuron sends its axon to. Each noruen integrates input spikes from connected spiking neurons and generates a spike in response to the integrated input spikes exceeding a threshold. There can be one noruen for every corresponding neuron. For a first neuron connected via its axon via a synapse to dendrite of a second neuron, a noruen corresponding to the second neuron is connected via its axon through the same synapse to dendrite of the noruen corresponding to the first neuron. |
| US08712939B2 |
Tag-based apparatus and methods for neural networks
Apparatus and methods for high-level neuromorphic network description (HLND) using tags. The framework may be used to define nodes types, define node-to-node connection types, instantiate node instances for different node types, and/or generate instances of connection types between these nodes. The HLND format may be used to define nodes types, define node-to-node connection types, instantiate node instances for different node types, dynamically identify and/or select network subsets using tags, and/or generate instances of one or more connections between these nodes using such subsets. To facilitate the HLND operation and disambiguation, individual elements of the network (e.g., nodes, extensions, connections, I/O ports) may be assigned at least one unique tag. The tags may be used to identify and/or refer to respective network elements. The HLND kernel may comprises an interface to Elementary Network Description. |
| US08712934B2 |
Temporal document trainer and method
An electronic document sorter is trained to classify documents based on their temporal qualities. The invention can be used in environments such as automated news aggregators, search engines and other electronic systems which compile information having temporal qualities. |
| US08712933B2 |
Systems and methods for determining muscle force through dynamic gain optimization of a muscle PID controller for designing a replacement prosthetic joint
Systems and methods for determining muscle force are presented. Proportional, integral, and derivative control is used to simulate muscle forces for multiple muscles contributing to a kinematic profile. The simulated muscle forces are modified by dynamic gains that are calculated in order to achieve a muscle recruitment objective such as minimizing collective muscle effort while still achieving the kinematic motion. |
| US08712932B2 |
Computer implemented apparatus for generating and filtering creative proposal
A computer implemented apparatus for automatically generating and filtering creative proposals is disclosed. Particularly, the computer implemented apparatus automatically generates all possible featured component code sets which corresponding to all possible featured components, and compares them to the prior art code sets which corresponding to the prior objects. Thereby, the novel code sets which corresponding to the novel creative proposals are rapidly filtered out. The computer implemented apparatus comprises a standard component database, a permutation and combination module, a featured component code set database, a prior art code set database, a matching module, a sifting module and an output module. |
| US08712931B1 |
Adaptive input interface
User input on a computing device can be intelligently predicted using one or more learning algorithms. When user text input is received, an input repository comprising a plurality of text items is accessed. The plurality of text items includes a plurality of user-specific text items, which are classified according to a probabilistic model. One or more input predictions are inferred by applying the probabilistic model to the user text input. A suggested text input is presented using an output element of the computing device. The suggested text input is based on the user text input and one or more text items from the input repository. Additional input is received which overrides the suggested text. Any text associated with the user override is then classified within the probabilistic model, thereby updating the input repository based on the user override. |
| US08712923B2 |
Computer system for routing package deliveries
A shipping system for shipping packages involving the coordinated use of at least a first carrier and a second carrier. The shipping system includes physical delivery facilities for the physical delivery of packages, the physical delivery facilities including at least one transfer location at which the second carrier may take over delivery responsibilities for a package. |
| US08712919B1 |
Methods and systems for determining the reliability of transaction
Systems and methods for determining a reliability of a transaction involving an account identifier identifying a chargeable account are disclosed. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the system receives an account identifier and optionally at least one candidate personal detail. A reliability indicator provider provides at least one reliability indicator indicating an estimated likelihood that at least one stored personal detail associated with the chargeable account was submitted fraudulently. According to particular embodiments, fraudulently submitted stored personal details are indicative that a proposed transaction involving a buyer and a seller is fraudulent. |
| US08712913B2 |
Multi currency exchanges between participants
A method and apparatus for facilitating payment transactions in multiple currencies between participants is provided. In one embodiment, an option is provided to a user to select a currency in which to make a payment. An indication of the selected currency in which to make the payment is received. A determination is made as to whether the selected currency is a primary currency of an account of the user. Based on the selected currency being different from the primary currency of the account of the user, the payment is converted to the selected currency. |
| US08712912B2 |
System and method for providing advice to consumer regarding a payment transaction
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing a consumer with an alert or other information regarding a payment transaction. When a consumer conducts a payment transaction, an alert may be sent to a device to enable the consumer to view the alert. The contents of the alert, the triggers for sending the alert, or the delivery channel for the alert may be determined by a set of preferences that the consumer set when registering for the alert service. In response to the alert, the consumer may send an SMS or other message that requests “help”, “advice”, “need information”, etc. In some embodiments, the consumer may select or activate a user interface element that enables them to obtain advice or information regarding the transaction. In some embodiments, a consumer request for help, advice, or more information may be generated by the consumer during or after a payment transaction. In response to the request for help, advice, or information, the invention may provide the consumer with a menu or list of topics of information that is available regarding the transaction. |
| US08712911B1 |
System and method for investing public deposits
A method, system and program product for operating an exchange method for municipal and/or state funds from banking institutions, comprising: accessing, one or more electronic databases holding data on client transaction accounts and funds in aggregated accounts and banking institutions holding Federal government securities; obtaining transaction data; generating instructions to deposit/transfer funds to or withdraw/transfer funds; receiving data for a first deposit from a first one of the banking institutions, where the first deposit comprises municipal funds and/or state funds; selecting, at least another of the banking institutions holding government securities to receive at least a portion of the first deposit of municipal funds and/or state funds; selecting, a plurality of client transaction accounts from one or more of the other banking institutions for the transfer of funds to the first banking institution; generating instructions to deposit/transfer funds. |
| US08712905B2 |
System and method for reducing the risks involved in trading multiple spread trading strategies
System and methods for reducing the risks involved in trading multiple spread trading strategies in an electronic trading environment are provided. Specifically, reducing the risks involved in trading multiple spreads that share a leg by, among other things, quoting a single order in the shared leg instead of quoting orders for each of the corresponding spread legs. Based on the computed quote price for the single order, associating the single order with the leaned on price that results in the price closest to the inside market in the shared leg. The single quote order is based on the market conditions in the spread legs and the desired spread price. Once the single order fills, a hedge order is sent to the leg that obtains the most advantageous price for the spread based on the other spread options. |
| US08712902B2 |
Advertisement in operating system
Among other disclosure, an operating system that presents one or more advertisements to a user. The operating system can disable one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system can again enable the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost. |
| US08712901B1 |
Method or system for investing and/or trading
The present invention relates to a method or system for investing. A representative embodiment comprises providing a collective investment entity that offers shares of stock for sale to investors, and providing a plurality of investors that purchase shares of stock in the collective investment entity. The shares of stock are subject to a qualifying period. Disbursement value is allocated, and a number of eligible investors is determined. The investors are eligible by virtue of owning at least one eligible share of stock. A disbursement event is conducted, wherein the disbursement value is disbursed to at least one eligible investor chosen in a lottery selection process from among the eligible investors. An eligible share of stock comprises a share that has remained under the ownership of a single investor for the duration of the qualifying period. |
| US08712885B2 |
Method for assisting in the checking of transaction records, transaction device, server, mobile terminal, and corresponding computer programs
A method and apparatus are provided for assisting in checking accuracy of bank transaction records edited in a bank statement and performed by at least one transaction device. The method includes, for at least one of the transactions: emission, by the transaction device, of at least one first signal including a message relating to the transaction; receipt, by at least one mobile terminal, of the at least one first signal; transmission, by the mobile terminal, of a second signal including at least the message, to at least one banking organization; association, by a server of the banking organization in charge of the transaction, of the message with at least one datum relating to the transaction, and marking of the transaction as a pre-checked transaction. |
| US08712884B2 |
Transaction finance processing system and approach
Transaction management for processing payment-related aspects of transactions is facilitated. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a transaction management approach involves the processing of payments on behalf of a buyer or other owing party. These payments are made, e.g., in connection with accounts payable or other functions implemented by the buyer/owing party. In some applications, the payment processing involves a trade credit approach, wherein payment is made on behalf of the buyer/owing party against a credit-type account. |
| US08712878B2 |
Systems and methods for analyzing telecommunications invoices for payment
A system and method for management and processing a plurality of types of telecommunication invoices at a user's site involving importing the plurality of types of telecommunication invoices to provide comparable telecommunication invoices and auditing the comparable telecommunication invoices by performing an automated reasonability test on the comparable telecommunication invoices. The system and method also provide a means for approving, processing and reporting on the comparable telecommunication invoices. |
| US08712874B2 |
System and method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data using a portable electronic device
This invention relates to a system for viewing and manipulating a user's financial transaction data and a method for associating financial transaction data with a user's project data using a portable electronic device. |
| US08712862B2 |
System and method for enabling image recognition and searching of remote content on display
Images are analyzed by programmatic mechanisms for accessing one or more remote web pages to retrieve content on display at the remote web pages. The retrieved images may be analyzed to determine information about an object shown in a corresponding image of the content on display. At least a portion of the object shown in the corresponding image of the content on display may be made selectable and associated with the determined information. This determined information may subsequently be used, in for example, search applications. |
| US08712861B2 |
Methods and systems for delivering customized advertisements
Methods and systems for selecting and customizing an advertisement for a known user are disclosed. The advertisement is customized responsive to social distance between the user and members of the user's social network. |
| US08712858B2 |
Supplier capability methods, systems, and apparatuses for extended commerce
A first file is received. The first file has a first format. The first file includes information associated with an item. The information is extracted from the first file. The extracted information is mapped to a capability profile. |
| US08712846B2 |
Sending targeted product offerings based on personal information
Targeted products are offered over a communications network. Product data for a plurality of products from a plurality of distributors for the products is received. Customer data from a plurality of customers comprising personal information about customers is received. Using the data, at least one user-specific product offering from the plurality of products is generated. Automated messages comprising the at least one user-specific product offering to the one or more customers are then sent. |
| US08712844B2 |
Use of natural query events to improve online advertising campaigns
A system and method to identify targeting criteria for online advertising campaigns based on natural query event data are described. A request to determine targeting criteria is received from an advertiser entity. Natural or algorithmic query event data related to the advertiser entity is retrieved from a data storage module. Attribute data associated with targeted customers is extracted based on the retrieved natural query event data. Finally, the attribute data is further processed to determine a set of criteria to target advertisements to the customers. |
| US08712841B1 |
Incentive based recommendation method for mobile station content
An application store provides an incentive based recommendation method for recommending a mobile station content item. A user of a first mobile station recommends the mobile station content item to a second user. The application store distributes the recommendation through a mobile communication network to a mobile station of the second user. The application store stores information associated with the recommendation and detects access of the mobile station content item by the second user. In response to the detected access, the application store provides a reward to the first user based on the stored information. |
| US08712837B2 |
Rewarding independent influencers
A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. Also, facilitating delivery of a benefit to an owner of the first network-available electronic content and/or an owner of the second network-available electronic content in response to the assessed behavioral influence. |
| US08712835B1 |
Method and apparatus for linking a web browser link to a promotional offer
A method for offering a promotion to a user. A stimulus is received from a broadcast directed to a user location, the stimulus having unique coded information encoded therein. The unique coded information is extracted from the stimulus by decoding this information. From the decoded information, there is determined routing information for routing over a network to a promotion location on the network, which promotion location is operable to offer a promotion. The promotion location on the network is then interconnected in accordance with the determined routing information. A promotion is then offered over the network in response to the interconnection thereof by the step of interconnecting. |
| US08712826B2 |
Method for measuring and improving organization effectiveness
A method of evaluating the effectiveness of an organization. The method includes participants generating responses to a set of organizational statements as part of a one-day event. The participants are able to interact with each other during various phases of the one-day event in order to generate responses. The responses are entered into a software program running on a computer-based platform, and the software program operates on the responses to generate output results (evaluation results . . . e.g., scores associated with various organizational categories) as part of the one-day event. The results may be used to measure and benchmark effectiveness of the organization and to formulate suggestions and actions to be taken by the organization to improve the effectiveness of the organization. |
| US08712823B2 |
System, method and program recording medium for supply capacity estimation
Technology for realizing reductions in time required for production plan by estimating supply capacities of suppliers is provided. A system has a function of registering and displaying transaction information including delivery requests from a buyer including number of required parts and delivery responses from a supplier including number of suppliable parts, a function of managing the series of transaction information as transaction history information on a DB, and an estimating function of estimating supply capacities of parts of the supplier with respect to the delivery responses in reply to delivery requests. The estimating function performs processes of estimating supply capacities by determining numbers of suppliable parts of past delivery responses with respect to numbers of required parts of past delivery requests by using the delivery request history information, the delivery response history information and the process LT information, and outputting a screen including the estimated result information to users. |
| US08712822B2 |
Real-time demand prediction in a fast service restaurant environment
Predicting future sales of a product includes determining a first, historical sales rate curve of historical sales of the product and determining a second sales rate curve for a time t from sales of the product occurring up to a time t−1. The second sales rate curve is determined for a window of time W that includes time t, the window of time W has a shorter duration than the first sales rate curve, and the first and second sales rate curves are for different periods of time. The second sales rate curve is compared to the first sales rate curve and a section of the first sales rate curve is identified based on predetermined criteria for the comparison. Future sales of the product are predicted as a function of a portion of the first sales rate curve in time after the identified section of the first sales rate curve. |
| US08712820B2 |
Mobile application for calendar sharing and scheduling
The embodiments discussed herein describe an application device and method for calendar sharing and scheduling over a communication network. When a meeting is to be scheduled between two or more participants, the organizing participant enters an identification of the participants and requests a time suggestion. In response to the request, information relating to the availability and/or preferences of each participant is gathered from one or more databases and processed centrally in a remote server to determine a block of time during which all the participants are commonly free. The block of time is pushed to a user interface for display. If the organizing user selects the block of time, a meeting request may be sent to the participants to confirm the meeting. |
| US08712817B2 |
Process information structuring support method
A process information structuring support system includes a first acquisition part configured to acquire a process information showing a flow of a plurality of processing elements and containing a plurality of related elements associated with the plurality of processing elements respectively, a holding part configured to hold structured information obtained by structuring information about the plurality of related elements, a second acquisition part configured to acquire the structured information held by the holding part, a generation part configured to generate structured process information by structuring the plurality of processing elements in the process information acquired by the first acquisition part in accordance with the structured information acquired by the second acquisition part and an output part configured to output the structured process information generated by the generation part. |
| US08712811B2 |
Method and systems for detecting duplicate travel path
A system and method comprising: receiving itinerary data from at least two sources; identifying a traveler associated with the itinerary data; and adding information about the identified traveler to the itinerary data. |
| US08712810B2 |
Reserving a time block in a calendar application to account for a travel time between geographic locations of appointments
Techniques are described for accounting for travel time in scheduling appointments in an electronic calendar. For example, a travel time between appointments may be identified and a time block may be reserved on a calendar application to account for such travel time. Geographic locations of adjacent appointments in a calendar may be determined and a route between the geographic locations also may be determined. A travel time associated with traveling the route between the geographic locations may be computed and the computed travel time may be compared to unscheduled time between the adjacent appointments in the calendar to determine whether the unscheduled time exceeds the travel time. If it is determined that the unscheduled time exceeds the travel time, a time block may be reserved on the calendar application to account for the travel time. |
| US08712809B2 |
Method for olympic event hospitality program management
One aspect of the present invention is a method for effectively managing aspects of hospitality for an event. Event's may include Olympic (or other) event. An inventory of event hospitality items is acquired for the creation of hospitality program for client groups. Information from client's guest which make up the client group may be collected in order to identify which hospitality inventory items could best fulfill the client's needs and requests during the days of the event. Hospitality inventory items may include tickets, transportation, hotel, food/beverages, and event staff. Hospitality parameters may be established for each client group, wherein the parameters determine how hospitality inventory items should be allocated for the client group. |
| US08712802B1 |
Transferring a document
Disclosed are systems and methods to transfer a document. The systems and methods provide techniques to provide a secure system coupled to a network, relate a transaction identifier to a transaction, allow a third party access to the secure system to transfer an electronic copy of the document to the secure system and to associate the electronic copy of the document with the transaction identifier, and receive the electronic document file from the third party on the secure system. The transaction may relate to an insurance or financial transaction. |
| US08712801B1 |
Systems and methods for automated institutional processing of payments
Various mechanisms are provided herein for automated institutional processing of payments. For example, fund can be transferred from one party to another party by transfer of funds from a static account into a dynamically created transaction account. Such a transfer can have additional features, including the refunding of the transfer funds and revocation thereof. According to another example, insurance claims can be automatically processed by transferring funds when claims are filed (with or without evidentiary documents). Such transfers can then be validated afterwards. Thus, when claims are received, they can be quickly examined for the relevant fields, such as claim amount, and then the amount can be disbursed in a matter of minutes after receiving a claim submission. Such disbursement, moreover, can be governed according to various heuristics, including the trustworthiness of claimants and rules regarding maximum disbursement amounts. |
| US08712797B1 |
Methods and system for providing drug pricing information from multiple pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)
A system according to certain aspects of the disclosure provides drug pricing information from multiple PBMs to users. For example, the system may obtain, calculate, and/or estimate drug prices that are available under contracts or agreements between PBMs and various pharmacies. These prices may be prices of drugs for purchase at the various pharmacies. In response to requests for prices of particular drugs, the system can display relevant prices. For example, the system displays a price for each pharmacy chain and/or displays prices for a particular geographical area. The users can compare the prices for a particular drug and determine which pharmacy they would like to purchase the drug from. The system can provide a discount coupon that allows the users to purchase the drug at the price listed by the system at the selected pharmacy. |
| US08712794B2 |
Methods and systems for presenting an inhalation experience
Methods, computer program products, and systems are described that include accepting an indication of an individual's compliance with an artificial sensory experience and presenting an indication of an inhalation device-dispensed bioactive agent at least partially based on the indication of the individual's compliance with the artificial sensory experience. |
| US08712793B2 |
Integrated emergency medical database system
An integrated medical database system for the emergency medical transportation business is disclosed. The system includes a dispatch module, clinical module, administration module and billing module. Each module may communicate data with one or more of the other modules to form a system incorporating data sharing, thus achieving an end-to-end automation of emergency medical care accounting. Internal consistency checks are performed by the system to ensure that proper treatments are performed according to a chosen diagnosis. |
| US08712791B2 |
Systems and methods for documenting medical findings of a physical examination
An electronic system and a method for efficiently documenting medical findings that consist of both a problem and a location on or in the body. This invention further provides a method for documenting multiple problems in related body locations. This invention further provides a method for efficiently issuing orders associated with medical findings that consist of both a problem and a location on or in the body. The invention is able to enhance efficiency during the Physical exam making the invention an essential component of the physician's practice workflow. This, in turn, will enable the invention to serve as a single point of integration for a vast array of useful electronic tools and information. For example, in a computer-implemented system and method for documenting one or more medical findings having a body location and a type of medical finding, the method includes the steps of: displaying a body location selection view for a user, the user selecting a body location, the system then displaying a means of selecting possible types of medical findings, the system also then displaying a means of selecting to display a more detailed body location selection view, wherein the user selecting a type of medical finding causes the system to store a finding comprising the user-selected location and problem, and wherein the user selecting to display a more detailed body location selection view causes the system to display a more detailed body location selection view. The method may further include the finding types that may be selected are of a group of finding types and further comprising a means for selecting a different group of finding types to be displayed. Moreover, the groups of finding types each may correspond to a set of finding types related to one system of the body. The system may include a means for selecting one or more appropriate procedures that may be performed at the selected body location and a means for recording an annotation regarding the selected location of the body. The means for recording an annotation may be selected from a group including selecting a pre-generated annotation, recording a text annotation, recording a graphical annotation, recording a sound annotation, and recording a photographic annotation. |
| US08712788B1 |
Method of publicly displaying a person's relationship status
A method of displaying a user's relationship status that includes receiving a user-identifying image at an electronic computing device, selecting from a plurality of pre-defined recognizable personal-status identifiers at least one personal-status identifier indicative of a personal status of the user, at least partially surrounding the user-identifying image with a frame-like image, the frame-like image having a unique visual perception characteristic corresponding to the selected at least one personal-status identifier indicative of a personal status of the user and leaving the user-identifying image substantially unobstructed, and uploading the user-identifying image with the frame-like image to at least two different social networks so that the image is visually accessible to users on the at least two different social networks. |
| US08712785B2 |
Method and system for reduction of quantization-induced block-discontinuities and general purpose audio codec
A method and system for reduction of quantization-induced block-discontinuities arising from lossy compression and decompression of continuous signals, especially audio signals. One embodiment encompasses a general purpose, ultra-low latency, efficient audio codec algorithm. More particularly, the invention includes a method and apparatus for compression and decompression of audio signals using a novel boundary analysis and synthesis framework to substantially reduce quantization-induced frame or block discontinuity; a novel adaptive cosine packet transform (ACPT) as the transform of choice to effectively capture the input audio characteristics; a signal-residue classifier to separate the strong signal clusters from the noise and weak signal components (collectively called residue); an adaptive sparse vector quantization (ASVQ) algorithm for signal components; a stochastic noise model for the residue; and an associated rate control algorithm. The invention further includes corresponding computer program implementations of these and other algorithms. |
| US08712784B2 |
Encoding method and encoding device, decoding method and decoding device and transcoding method and transcoder for multi-object audio signals
A method of encoding a multi-object audio signal and an encoding apparatus, a decoding method and a decoding apparatus, and a transcoding method and a transcoder are provided. A multi-object audio signal encoding apparatus may encode object signals obtained by excluding ForeGround Objects (FGOs) from a plurality of input object signals, and may encode the FGOs, thereby providing a listener with a satisfactory sound quality. |
| US08712779B2 |
Information retrieval system, information retrieval method, and information retrieval program
An information retrieval system comprises: a speech input unit for inputting speech; an information storage unit for storing information with which speech information, of a length with which text degree of similarity is computable, is associated as a retrieval tag; an information selection unit for comparing a feature of each spoken content item extracted from each item of said speech information, with a feature of spoken content extracted from said input speech, to select information with which speech information similar to input speech is associated. The system further comprises an output unit for outputting information selected by said information selection unit, as information associated with input speech. |
| US08712777B1 |
Computerized information and display methods
Methods for obtaining and displaying information, such as directions to a desires entity or organization. In one embodiment, the method makes use of a computerized apparatus configured to receive user speech input and enable performance of various tasks, such as obtaining desired information relating to indoor entities, maps or directions, or any number of other topics. The obtained data may also, in one variant, be displayed with contextually related advertising or other content. |
| US08712774B2 |
Systems and methods for generating a hybrid text string from two or more text strings generated by multiple automated speech recognition systems
A hybrid text generator is disclosed that generates a hybrid text string from multiple text strings that are produced from an audio input by multiple automated speech recognition systems. The hybrid text generator receives metadata that describes a time-location that each word from the multiple text strings is located in the audio input. The hybrid text generator matches words between the multiple text strings using the metadata and generates a hybrid text string that includes the matched words. The hybrid text generator utilizes confidence scores associated with words that do not match between the multiple text strings to determine whether to add an unmatched word to the hybrid text string. |
| US08712772B2 |
Method and system for processing dictated information
A method and system for processing dictated information into a dynamic form are disclosed. The method comprises presenting an image (3) belonging to an image category to a user, dicatating a first section of speech associated with the image category, retrieving an electronic document having a previously defined document structure (4) associated with the first section of speech, this associating the document structure (4) with the image (3), wherein the document structure comprises at least one text field, presenting at least a part of the electronic document having the document structure (4) on a presenting unit (5), dictating a second section of speech and processing the second section of speech in a speech recognition engine (6) into dicatated text and associating the dictated text with the text field. |
| US08712771B2 |
Automated difference recognition between speaking sounds and music
The present invention relates to means and methods of automated difference recognition between speech and music signals in voice communication systems, devices, telephones, and methods, and more specifically, to systems, devices, and methods that automate control when either speech or music is detected over communication links. The present invention provides a novel system and method for monitoring the audio signal, analyze selected audio signal components, compare the results of analysis with a pre-determined threshold value, and classify the audio signal either as speech or music. |
| US08712770B2 |
Method, preprocessor, speech recognition system, and program product for extracting target speech by removing noise
The present invention relates to a method, preprocessor, speech recognition system, and program product for extracting a target speech by removing noise. In an embodiment of the invention target speech is extracted from two input speeches, which are obtained through at least two speech input devices installed in different places in a space, applies a spectrum subtraction process by using a noise power spectrum (Uω) estimated by one or both of the two speech input devices (Xω(T)) and an arbitrary subtraction constant (α) to obtain a resultant subtracted power spectrum (Yω(T)). The invention further applies a gain control based on the two speech input devices to the resultant subtracted power spectrum to obtain a gain-controlled power spectrum (Dω(T)). The invention further applies a flooring process to said resultant gain-controlled power spectrum on the basis of arbitrary Flooring factor (β) to obtain a power spectrum for speech recognition (Zω(T)). |
| US08712769B2 |
Apparatus and method for noise removal by spectral smoothing
A continuous stream of noise is created from a plurality of input signals. A smoothing spectrum estimate is continuously calculated from the continuous stream of noise. Noise is responsively removed from a selected one of the plurality of input signals using the smoothing spectrum estimate. The removal of the noise from the selected input signal is performed substantially synchronously and in time alignment with the creating of the continuous stream of noise and the calculating of the smoothing spectrum estimate. |
| US08712766B2 |
Method and system for coding an information signal using closed loop adaptive bit allocation
A method and system for analysis-by-synthesis encoding of an information signal is provide. The encoder (400) can include the steps of generating a first synthetic signal based on a first pitch-related codebook (402), generating a second synthetic signal based on a second pitch-related codebook (404), selecting a codebook configuration parameter based on the reference signal and the first and second synthetic signals, and conveying the codebook configuration for use in reconstructing an estimate of the input signal. The encoder can include an error expression having an error bias (506) and a prediction gain having a prediction gain bias (508) for determining the codebook configuration. The encoder can employ variable length coding and combinatorial subframe coding (600) for efficiently compressing the codebook configuration parameter and codebook related parameters for one or more subframes. |
| US08712765B2 |
Parameter decoding apparatus and parameter decoding method
A parameter decoding apparatus includes a prediction residue decoder that finds a quantized prediction residue based on encoded information included in a current frame subject to decoding and a moving-average predictor produces a predicted parameter by multiplying a predictive coefficient with a past quantized prediction residue. An adder decodes a parameter by adding the quantized prediction residue and the predicted parameter, wherein the prediction residue decoder, when the current frame is erased, finds a current-frame quantized prediction residue from a weighted linear sum of a parameter decoded in the past and a future-frame quantized prediction residue. |
| US08712758B2 |
Coreference resolution in an ambiguity-sensitive natural language processing system
Technologies are described herein for coreference resolution in an ambiguity-sensitive natural language processing system. Techniques for integrating reference resolution functionality into a natural language processing system can processes documents to be indexed within an information search and retrieval system. Ambiguity awareness features, as well as ambiguity resolution functionality, can operate in coordination with coreference resolution. Annotation of coreference entities, as well as ambiguous interpretations, can be supported by in-line markup within text content or by external entity maps. Information expressed within documents can be formally organized in terms of facts, or relationships between entities in the text. Expansion can support applying multiple aliases, or ambiguities, to an entity being indexed so that all of the possibly references or interpretations for that entity are captured into the index. Alternative stored descriptions can support retrieval of a fact by either the original description or a coreferential description. |
| US08712757B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring communication through identification of priority-ranked keywords
A method for communication management includes receiving at least one keyword and receiving a replay time span input. Further, the method includes receiving a plurality of communication inputs including at least a first communication input and a second communication input, monitoring at least the first communication input and second communication input for the at least one keyword, and determining an instantiation of the at least one keyword in at least one of the first communication input and second communication input. Additionally, the method includes associating the determined instantiation with one of the first communication input and second communication input, and providing at least a portion of the communication associated with the determined instantiation based on the replay time span input responsive to the instantiation. |
| US08712752B2 |
IR(voltage) drop analysis in integrated circuit timing
In one embodiment, an IR drop analysis methodology may include characterizing standard cells without including power parasitic impedances, extracting the power parasitic impedances for the standard cells, and characterizing the standard cells with the power parasitic impedances. A set of timing parameters (such as minimum delays and maximum delays through the cells) may be generated from each characterization. The methodology may include comparing the timing parameters from each characterization, and identifying cells for which additional design effort should be expended to improve the power supply grid (e.g. to reduce the power parasitic impedances). For example, a margin may be budgeted for speed loss (delay increase) due to IR drop. If the difference in the timing parameters exceeds the margin, additional design effort may be warranted. |
| US08712750B2 |
Molten alloy solidification analyzing method and solidification analyzing program for performing the same
A molten alloy solidification analyzing method of the invention is characterized in that the amount of change in fraction solid is calculated based on the solidification rate of molten alloy and the solidification rate parameter that is a parameter for evaluating the influence of the solidification rate on solidification of the molten alloy, according to the fraction solid. By conducting such a simulation that takes into consideration the supercooling, a highly accurate solidification analysis is relatively easily performed for various molten alloys. |
| US08712748B2 |
Medical diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis system for invoked events and methods thereof
A diagnosis, therapy and prognosis system (DTPS) and method thereof to help either the healthcare provider or the patient in diagnosing, treating and interpreting data are disclosed. The apparatus provides data collection based on protocols, and mechanism for testing data integrity and accuracy. The data is then driven through an analysis engine to characterize in a quantitative sense the metabolic state of the patient's body. The characterization is then used in diagnosing the patient, determining therapy, evaluating algorithm strategies and offering prognosis of potential use case scenarios. |
| US08712747B2 |
Decision management system and method
A system and method may be configured to support the evaluation of the economic impact of uncertainties associated with the planning of a petroleum production project, e.g., uncertainties associated with decisions having multiple possible outcomes and uncertainties associated with uncontrollable parameters such as rock properties, oil prices, etc. The system and method involve receiving user input characterizing the uncertainty of planning variables and performing an iterative simulation that computes the economic return for various possible instantiations of the set of planning variables based on the uncertainty characterization. The system and method may (a) utilize and integrate highly rigorous physical reservoir, well, production flow, and economic models, and (b) provide a mechanism for specifying constraints on the planning variables. Furthermore, the system and method may provide a case manager process for managing multiple cases and associated “experimental runs” on the cases. |
| US08712746B2 |
Method of modified facies proportions upon history matching of a geological model
A method of modifying a geological model representative of an underground reservoir is disclosed which respects average proportions of the lithologic facies imposed by a production data calibration process which has application to petroleum reservoir development. A geographical zone Z is defined within the geological model and an average proportion in zone Z allowing the production data to be calibrated is determined for k facies, with an optimization process. The proportions of these facies are modified using a block indicator cokriging method constrained by the average proportions to be respected. A new geological model constrained by the modified facies proportions is simulated and the development of the underground medium is optimized by the simulated model. |
| US08712744B1 |
Simulation tool for air traffic communications security
A method and apparatus for simulating effects of threats to aircraft communications. A simulation of an aircraft environment is run with the aircraft communications in an aircraft communications network in the aircraft environment. A number of conditions is introduced. The number of conditions comprises a threat configured to affect the aircraft communications in the aircraft communications network in an undesired manner. A change in traffic flow of aircraft in an airspace in the aircraft environment is identified in response to the number of conditions. |
| US08712743B2 |
Intake parameter-calculating device for internal combustion engine and method of calculating intake parameter
To provide an intake parameter-calculating device and intake parameter-calculating method for an internal combustion engine, which are capable of accurately calculating intake parameters in a case where an intake throttle valve is provided. The intake parameter-calculating device 1 includes an ECU 2. The ECU 2 calculates an error KTHERRCOR using an error model equation (8) (step 2), and calculates a correction coefficient KTHCOR as the reciprocal of the sum of the error KTHERRCOR and 1 (step 3). The ECU 2 calculates a passing air amount GAIRTH by correcting a basic passing air amount GAIRTHN calculated by an equation (11) using a correction coefficient KTHCOR (step 6). A model parameter A for the error model equation (8) is calculated using equations (14) to (18) by onboard identifying calculation with uniform weighting (steps 48 to 53). |
| US08712742B2 |
Methods, devices and computer program products providing for establishing a model for emulating a physical quantity which depends on at least one input parameter, and use thereof
The present invention proposes methods, devices and computer program products. To this extent, there is defined a set X including N distinct parameter values x_i for at least one input parameter x, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1, first measured the physical quantity Pm1 for each of the N distinct parameter values x_i of the at least one input parameter x, while keeping all other input parameters fixed, constructed a Vandermonde matrix VM using the set of N parameter values x_i of the at least one input parameter x, and computed the model W for emulating the physical quantity P based on the Vandermonde matrix and the first measured physical quantity according to the equation W=(VMT*VM)−1*VMT*Pm1. The model is iteratively refined so as to obtained a desired emulation precision. The model can later be used to emulate the physical quantity based on input parameters or logs taken from the field and thereby support device design optimization. |
| US08712741B2 |
Power supply architecture system designer
A system may include a database configured to store information including characteristics of a plurality of components. The system may further include a server in communication with the database and configured to: receive design parameters indicative of a plurality of power supply loads to be powered; determine a plurality of power supply architectures that may be used to provide power supply solutions satisfying the plurality of loads, each power supply architecture including at least one position requiring a component configured to satisfy a load requirement; for each one of at least a subset of the plurality of power supply architectures, determine, based on the characteristics of the plurality of components, at least one component configured to satisfy the corresponding load requirement for each position of the one of the power supply architectures; and generate at least one power supply design in accordance with the power supply architectures and the determined components. |
| US08712736B2 |
Method for designing sunlight-reflection and heat-radiation multilayer film
A design method for a thermal control film advantageously used in cosmic space, especially for a multilayer film, includes: setting at least two candidate materials for forming the multilayer film and the number of layers of the multilayer film; and designing a combination of the candidate material and a layer thickness by using a genetic algorithm stored in a computer-readable medium using an evaluation function, and recording the obtained results on a computer-readable medium. The evaluation function includes: αs=1−Rs, wherein Rs represents a reflectance of solar energy in a wavelength range used for design, within a solar radiation wavelength range; and ∈H: ∈H=1−RIR, wherein RIR represents a reflectance of heat radiation energy in a wavelength range used for design, within a heat radiation wavelength range. |
| US08712732B2 |
Electrical event detection device and method of detecting and classifying electrical power usage
Some embodiments can concern an apparatus configured to detect an electrical state of one or more electrical devices. The one or more electrical devices are coupled to an electrical power infrastructure and generate one or more high-frequency electrical signals on the electrical power infrastructure. The apparatus can include: (a) a processing module configured to run on a processor of a computational unit; and (b) a sensing device configured to be coupled to an electrical outlet. The sensing device can have: (a) a data acquisition receiver configured to receive the one or more high-frequency electrical signals via the electrical outlet and convert the one or more high-frequency electrical signals into one or more first data signals when the sensing device is coupled to the electrical outlet. The electrical outlet can be electrically coupled to the electrical power infrastructure. The sensing device is in communication with the computational unit. The processing module is further configured to identify the electrical state of the one or more electrical devices at least in part using the one or more first data signals. The high-frequency electrical signals comprise electrical signals in the ten kilohertz to three megahertz range. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08712726B2 |
System and method for predicting remaining useful life of device components
A method and system for accurately predicting the remaining useful life of devices and components based on rigorous statistical analysis data to reduce service costs by implementing condition-based maintenance. One rigorous statistical model is the general degradation path model, which can be used to generate simulated data that shares similar data characteristics of historical field failure data. This generated data can be used in a reliability study based on, for example, Monte Carlo techniques for RUL prediction. The study can be used to investigate the effects of influential factors such as suspension percentage and heavy-tailed behavior. The remaining useful life prediction is based on both the fixed-time predictors and time-dependent covariates. |
| US08712725B2 |
Monitoring activity of a user in locomotion on foot
One disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically measure amounts of time taken by the user to complete respective distance intervals. During the outing, data representing the automatically measured amounts of time may be automatically stored in memory of the least one device. Another disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to automatically identify occasions on which a user completes respective distance intervals. During the outing, the at least one device may display at least one of an average pace of the user since a most recently completed distance interval, an average speed of the user since the most recently completed distance interval, and a projected time to complete a current distance interval based on monitored performance since the most recently completed distance interval. Yet another disclosed method involves using at least one device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing to monitor a distance traveled by the user. An input to the at least one device may be received that specifies a goal distance for the outing, and the at least one device may determine a remaining distance to be traveled to complete one of the specified goal distance for the outing and a calculated fraction of the specified goal distance for the outing. |
| US08712724B2 |
Calendar integration methods and systems for presentation of events having combined activity and location information
A method includes receiving geo-location data collected over time period. The geo-location data is associated with a monitoring device. The method further includes receiving motion tracking data of the monitoring device. The motion tracking data is collected over time period. The method includes identifying one or more activities. The activities are identified based on inference rules that identify certain activities to have occurred when at least part of the motion tracking data is correlated to the received geo-location data. The method further includes defining a metric for one or more of the identified activities. The metric is associated to a calendar date. The method includes sending the metric to a calendar application with integration instructions. The integration instructions define the calendar date to which the metric will be added. |
| US08712722B2 |
360-degree angle decoder
This disclosure is directed to techniques for decoding two or more signals that vary sinusoidally with respect to a parameter value to produce a decoded signal that varies linearly with respect to the parameter value. The techniques may include receiving a first signal and a second signal, the first signal varying with respect to a parameter value according to a first sinusoidal function having a period and a first phase, the second signal varying with respect to the parameter value according to a second sinusoidal function having the period and a second phase different from the first phase. The techniques may further include performing one or more arithmetic operations using the first signal, the second signal, and an offset value to generate a third signal that varies linearly with respect to the parameter value for at least one-half of the period of the first signal and the second signal. |
| US08712721B2 |
Adjustable high precision surveying device
Methods and devices for use in surveying operations are provided. A device is provided for selectively connecting to surveying equipment, such as a surveying pole, and is adapted for accurately adjusting a reference point in at least two axes. The device is adapted to work in conjunction with additional surveying equipment, such as theodolites and transits as well as one or more central processing units for analyzing, storing, and providing data. |
| US08712719B2 |
Method and system for detecting center pivot collision
A system and method is described that allow for detecting center pivot collision and that provide more accurate and reliable collision indications. The system and method described are suitable for low-cost consumer grade GPS devices and other position sensors. |
| US08712717B2 |
Computer device with digitizer calibration system and method
A computer device comprises a calibration module adapted to detect an input frequency for at least one input mode of a digitizer device. The calibration module is configured to determine whether the input frequency is within a frequency tolerance band corresponding to the at least one input mode. |
| US08712715B2 |
Radiation imaging device
Correction by moire elimination is carried out with high precision in an environment where relative misalignment among the focal point, the grid, and the X-ray flat panel detector may occur. A part of each of two signal regions of interest is masked by an X-ray plate, and an operation value Rf=(Sx−Sy)/(Sx+Sy) is defined for signal values Sx and Sy obtained from the masked portions. By associating the operation value Rf with the relative position relationship, the relative position relationship is obtained from the operation value Rf, and a correction parameter for the relationship is used. |
| US08712708B2 |
Method of estimating remaining constant current/constant voltage charging time
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for estimating the remaining charging time of a rechargeable battery. An example embodiment of the invention comprises a method comprising the steps of determining if the battery charging point is in a constant current phase or in a constant voltage phase; if the battery charging point is in the constant current phase, calculating a time remaining to charge in the constant current phase based on the constant current phase charging characteristics and a time remaining to charge in the constant voltage phase based on the constant voltage phase charging characteristics; and if the battery charging point is in the constant voltage phase, calculating a time remaining to charge in the constant voltage phase based on the constant voltage phase charging characteristics. |
| US08712700B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection of the remote origin fraction of radon present in a measuring site
A method and an apparatus for detecting the remote origin fraction of 222Rn present in a measuring site (Z) for the monitoring of dynamic phenomena inside the land crust, comprising the following steps: a) analysis of the measuring site (Z) in order to state a typical ratio between 222Rn of local origin and 220Rn of local origin; b) measurement, at preset time intervals, of alpha spectroscopy in the measuring site (Z) by a measuring chamber (2); c) processing of said alpha spectroscopy in order to find the concentrations of 222Rn and 220Rn present in the measuring site (Z); d) determination of the concentration of 222Rn of local origin by multiplying the concentration of 220Rn with the typical ratio; subtraction of the concentration of 222Rn of local origin from the concentration of 222Rn to obtain the concentration of the remote origin fraction Of 222Rn. |
| US08712696B2 |
Methods of prognosing a rheumatoid arthritis remission phenotype
A method for prognosing a rheumatoid arthritis phenotype using the outcomes of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and clinical variables. A method for genotyping multiple rheumatoid arthritis associated genetic variations comprising use of a DNA microrarray. A microarray for use in the described methods. |
| US08712695B2 |
Method, system, and computer program product for scoring theoretical peptides
The present teachings provide for identification of peptides using small sequence tags to focus computational resources on searching regions of a protein database that are the most likely to yield correct identifications. They allow for the incorporation of modifications and in doing so focuses the search to peptides with a precursor mass match. Additionally, probability or relevance factors can be used to determine peptide hypotheses. Various embodiments are presented that search for peptides when a single precursor is selected or when multiple precursors are simultaneously fragmented. |
| US08712691B2 |
Fusion of road geometry model information gathered from disparate sources
A method and system for implementing the fusion of road geometry model information in different forms from different sources in a manner that is comprehensive, efficient, and effective. Such fused road geometry model information for a particular vehicle (i.e., an ego vehicle) provides for improved performance of active safety functionality. Examples of active safety functionalities include, but are not limited to, curve speed warning, selection of target objects that are potential threats to the ego vehicle by helping the ego vehicle's path prediction, and the like. |
| US08712690B1 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus to determine physical location and routing within a field of low power beacons
A non-time of flight or time of arrival position location system for accurate determination of a user's location in an enclosed, indoor, or covered environment can include a number of beacons mounted in an arrangement within the environment. Each of the beacons is mounted in a known location and transmits a broadcast signal containing a unique identifier that identifies the originating beacon. A handheld electronic device including a receiver and a communicably coupled processor can receive broadcast signals from at least some of the number of beacons, iteratively determine a vector quantity corresponding to each of the received signals, and sum the resultant vector quantities to determine an updated position. The iterative process can be repeated until consecutive iterations yield an updated position that falls within a defined threshold. |
| US08712689B2 |
Method for computer-based determination of a position in a map, navigation device and mobile radio telephone
A digitized image of a map is stored in a data memory. At least one point of the image of the map is selected as reference point. Space coordinates of the location which corresponds to the reference point are determined and allocated to the reference point. A supplementary calibration information item which enables the image of the map to be calibrated in space coordinates is determined. A mobile radio telephone has a navigation device which is set up for carrying out the method. |
| US08712686B2 |
System and method for locating, tracking, and/or monitoring the status of personnel and/or assets both indoors and outdoors
A system and method for locating, tracking, and/or monitoring the status of personnel and/or assets (“trackees”), both indoors and outdoors, is provided. Tracking data obtained from various sources utilizing any number of tracking methods may be provided as input to a mapping application. The mapping application generates position estimates for trackees using a suite of mapping tools to make corrections to the tracking data. The mapping application further uses information from building data, when available, to enhance position estimates. Indoor tracking methods including sensor fusion methods, map matching methods, and map building methods may be implemented to take tracking data from one or more trackees and compute a more accurate tracking estimate for each trackee. Outdoor tracking methods may be implemented to enhance outdoor tracking data by combining tracking estimates such as inertial tracks with magnetic data, compass data, and/or with GPS, if and when available. |
| US08712684B2 |
Method of creating exercise routes for a user and related personal navigation device
A method of creating an exercise route for a user of a personal navigation device includes receiving a selection of a length of an exercise route to be generated, and generating a first plurality of suggested exercise routes according to a current position of the personal navigation device and the selected length of the exercise route, where each of the first plurality of suggested exercise routes has a starting point and ending point substantially equal to one another and equal to the current position of the personal navigation device. The method further includes displaying the first plurality of suggested exercise routes to the user on a display of the personal navigation device, receiving, from the user, selection of a selected suggested exercise route from the first plurality of suggested exercise routes, and displaying routing instructions on the display of the personal navigation device for the selected suggested exercise route. |
| US08712682B1 |
Estimating travel time
A system and method for estimating travel time are provided. A general travel time is determined for a first route. A personal travel time for the first route is determined based on travel data of a user while traveling the first route. A scaling factor is determined based on at least one travel characteristic associated with the user or the route. A travel time for is estimated a second route based on the general travel time, the personal travel time and the scaling factor. |
| US08712679B1 |
System and methods for obstacle mapping and navigation
A system and methods for building a map non-invasively (i.e. mapping of occluded and non-occluded obstacles) based on a small number of wireless channel measurements. Approaches for building an obstacle map are based on coordinated space, random space and frequency sampling, such that the sparse representation of the map in space, wavelet or spatial variations, are exploited in order to build the map with minimal sensing. |
| US08712673B2 |
Idle stop and go system and method for controlling thereof
An ISG system prevents fuel consumption due to unnecessary idling, by controlling the start of an engine, in accordance with engine stop conditions and restart conditions of a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. A method includes determining whether prior conditions for engine stop in an engine controller when an engine is in operation is satisfied, determining whether the engine can be stopped, when the prior conditions for engine stop are satisfied, determining whether engine stop conditions is satisfied, when the engine can be stopped, stopping the engine that is in operation, when the engine stop conditions are satisfied, determining whether key start conditions are satisfied, when the engine is stopped, determining whether restart is possible, when the key start conditions are not satisfied, determining whether conditions for restart are satisfied, when restart is possible, and restarting the engine, when the restart conditions are satisfied. |
| US08712671B2 |
Engine RPM control device
Provided is an engine rpm control device which gradually reduces the output speed of an engine drive object when reducing the engine rpm. The engine rpm control device (20) includes a target engine rpm correction means used upon detection of an engine failure. The target engine rpm correction means has a storage device (51) containing a map of the correlation characteristic between the engine rpm and the output speed of object to be driven by an engine (100). The target engine rpm correction means corrects the target engine rpm so that an instructed engine rpm (Nset) or a derating target engine rpm (Nset′) is shifted to a predetermined failure-preventing engine rpm (N2) while maintaining the reduction ratio of the output speed of the drive object at a predetermined ratio. |
| US08712670B2 |
Controller for internal combustion engine
When a driving region of an engine is in a specified self-ignited combustion region, a valve timing is controlled in such a manner as to establish a negative valve overlap period in which an exhaust valve and an intake valve are closed. During the negative valve overlap period, a direct injection is performed to reform a fuel. After the direct injection, a port injection is performed to control an output. Thereby, a self-ignited combustion control is performed. During the self-ignited combustion control, a fuel reform degree of the fuel injected by the direct fuel injection is detected, and a self-ignited combustion condition in a present combustion cycle is estimated based on the fuel reform degree detected in the present combustion cycle. A fuel injection quantity of the intake port fuel injection is corrected according to the estimated self-ignited combustion condition in order to stabilize the self-ignited combustion condition. |
| US08712665B2 |
Systems and methods for unchoked control of gas turbine fuel gas control valves
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for providing unchoked control of gas turbine fuel control valves. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for active control of a gas flow control valve. The method may include receiving a desired fuel command and an inlet pressure parameter, and determining a gas flow gain based at least in part on the inlet pressure parameter. The method may also include determining a valve flow coefficient based at least in part on the desired fuel command and the gas flow gain, and controlling the gas flow control valve based at least in part on the valve flow coefficient. |
| US08712663B1 |
Systems and methods for vehicle cruise control
An exemplary cruise control system includes an application that integrates curvature speed control, speed limit control, and adaptive speed control and generates an optimized speed profile that is used to control the vehicle. |
| US08712658B2 |
Method for adapting a contact point of a clutch in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle
A method for adapting a contact point of a clutch in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, wherein the clutch is moved by an actuator and the influence of the movement of the clutch on a rotating electric motor is evaluated. A method that is simple and quick to carry out, a clutch torque and/or an actuator path close to the contact point is obtained from a characteristic curve of the clutch representing the relationship of an actuator path to a clutch torque and is set at the clutch. Subsequently the associated actuator path and/or the clutch torque is measured from the clutch influenced by the actively operated electric motor, where the clutch torque read from the characteristic curve and the actuator path measured at the clutch and/or the actuator path obtained from the characteristic curve and the measured clutch torque form the current contact point position of the clutch. |
| US08712655B2 |
Control system for shifting an automatic transmission
A control system is provided for shifting an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, which includes, but is not limited to a speed controller, and an electronic control device. Through the electronic control device the parameters vehicle speed, position of the speed controller and acceleration of the speed controller can be captured. Through the electronic control device and through comparison of the captured values of the parameters with predetermined reference values a shifting time is determined for shifting the automatic transmission. |
| US08712648B2 |
Passive charge cord release system for an electric vehicle
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, passive release of a charge cord is provided for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a charging port having one or more sensors for detecting movement of the charging cable relative to the charging port. A transceiver responds to the detected movement by transmitting an authentication request and receiving an authentication signal, which is processed by a controller and unlocks the charging cable from the charging port responsive to verifying the authentication signal. In an exemplary method, an authentication request is transmitted responsive to detecting an uncoupling action of the charging cable from a vehicle. Upon receipt and verification of an authentication signal, the charging cable is automatically unlocked and unlatched facilitating release of the charging cable. In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the charging cable can be passively released from the vehicle. |
| US08712642B2 |
Method for parking or exiting a parking bay and for avoiding a collision of a vehicle, and corresponding assistance systems and vehicle
An obscured state of a vehicle, in which a distance measuring sensor of an assistance system is obscured by a part of the vehicle, is automatically detected. If the obscured state is present, a steering intervention of the assistance system into a steering system of the vehicle during a parking or parking-bay-exiting process of the vehicle using the assistance system is automatically deactivated or prevented. Furthermore, to avoid a collision of the vehicle using the assistance system, a notification of an obscured state is automatically generated when the obscured state is present. |
| US08712640B2 |
Vehicle driving assistance apparatus
In a vehicle driving assistance apparatus having an electric motor to impart steering torque to the driver and a driving control unit that conducts collision avoidance assistance control and other steering control including lane departure prevention control, power steering control and parking assistance control for providing assistance during parking of the vehicle, when a warning for alerting the driver is made by imparting torque to the steering wheel via the motor, the control input of the other steering control is suppressed, i.e. is reduced during either the first predetermined time before warning or the second predetermined time after warning. Owing to this configuration, the driver can be enabled to perceive the warning without fail even when another steering control is performed in parallel. |
| US08712638B2 |
Control unit of a ride level control system, and ride level control system
A control unit of a pneumatic ride level control system of a motor vehicle, the control unit deactivating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system and/or activating at least one function of the pneumatic ride level control system if a limiting value of at least one dynamic-movement variable is exceeded or undershot, keeping the or each deactivated function deactivated for a defined holding time and/or keeping the or each activated function activated for a defined holding time duration after a subsequent undershooting or exceeding of the limiting value, and subsequently ending the deactivation of the or each deactivated function and/or the activation of the or each activated function after the respective holding time duration has elapsed, and the control unit defining the respective holding time duration as a function of the magnitude of the exceeding or undershooting of the respective limiting value. |
| US08712636B2 |
Vehicle drive control system
A vehicle drive control system includes a motor, a rotational speed detector, an accelerator opening degree detector, a vehicle speed detector, a torque instruction outputting device, an attenuation filtering device, and a controller. The attenuation filtering device is configured to perform attenuation filtering to a torque instruction to attenuate a natural oscillation frequency component of a torque transmission system of a vehicle and configured to output a filtered torque instruction after the attenuation filtering. The attenuation filtering device is configured to identify an attenuation characteristic of the attenuation filtering if the rotational speed of the motor is smaller than or equal to a predetermined rotational speed and the torque of the motor is higher than or equal to a predetermined torque. The controller is configured to cause the motor to generate a torque corresponding to the filtered torque instruction. |
| US08712629B2 |
Method and device for detecting the dysfunction of a gas pressure sensor in a vehicle tire
A method (2) for detecting the malfunctioning of a sensor (11) of the pressure of a gas inside a tire of a vehicle includes at least a step (20) of determining whether a predefined gas temperature variation detection criterion is verified. If a temperature variation is detected, the method (2) includes a step (21) of determining whether a predefined criterion for detection of the variation of the pressure, measured by the pressure sensor (11), is verified. If a pressure variation is not detected, the method (2) includes a step (22) of notifying that a malfunction of the pressure sensor (11) has been detected. A device for detecting the malfunctioning of a sensor (11) of the pressure of a gas inside a tire of a vehicle is also described. |
| US08712628B1 |
Vehicle and communication monitoring
Methods, systems and apparatus for vehicle and communication monitoring. In an aspect, a vehicle device comprising a processing subsystem, a communication subsystem that communicates over a wireless medium, and a memory subsystem that stores processing instructions that are executable by the processing subsystem and upon such execution cause the vehicle device to perform operations comprising: determining an operational status of a vehicle in which the vehicle device is located; receiving, from a communication device, operating data describing an operation being performed by the communication device; accessing usage policy data that describes a usage policy of the communication device during vehicle operation; and in response to determining, based on the operational status of the vehicle and the operation being performed by the communication device, that a usage policy violation has occurred, generating policy violation data describing the usage policy violation. |
| US08712627B2 |
Biodiesel data collection system
A vehicle biodiesel fuel diagnostic method may include determining a biodiesel fuel concentration of fuel added to a vehicle fuel tank during a fueling event at a fueling location and determining the fueling location. The biodiesel fuel concentration and fueling location may be transmitted to an information system where the concentration and location are stored in a database. The method may further include indicating an abnormal biodiesel fuel condition in the database when the biodiesel fuel concentration is outside of a predetermined range. |
| US08712624B1 |
Positioning vehicles to improve quality of observations at intersections
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicles utilizing maps that include visibility information. A map is stored at a computing device associated with a vehicle. The vehicle is configured to operate in an autonomous mode that supports a plurality of driving behaviors. The map includes information about a plurality of roads, a plurality of features, and visibility information for at least a first feature in the plurality of features. The computing device queries the map for visibility information for the first feature at a first position. The computing device, in response to querying the map, receives the visibility information for the first feature at the first position. The computing device selects a driving behavior for the vehicle based on the visibility information. The computing device controls the vehicle in accordance with the selected driving behavior. |
| US08712622B2 |
Power transmission control device for vehicle
A power transmission control device is used for a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and a motor (MG) as power sources, and includes a manual transmission and a friction clutch. A torque of the motor (MG torque) is generally adjusted to the smaller one (=MG torque final reference value) of an MG torque reference value determined based on an accelerator opening and an MG torque limit value determined based on a clutch return stroke. Based on satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to a clutch pedal operation performed by a driver, the MG torque is intentionally adjusted to a value shifted from the MG torque final reference value in place of the MG torque final reference value. As a result, a driving force which is more appropriate or better meets a driver's intention can be obtained. |
| US08712620B2 |
Vehicles with electric motor
An electric vehicle is provided that can include a first generator configured to generate electric power when the electric vehicle is moving at or above a first speed and a second generator configured to generate electric power when the electric vehicle is moving below the first speed or standing at a stop. The electric vehicle can include a main electric motor that is configured to receive electric power from the first generator when the electric vehicle is moving at or above the first speed and from the second generator when the electric vehicle is moving below the first speed. The electric vehicle can also comprise an auxiliary electric motor in communication with the second generator, wherein, activation of the auxiliary electric motor causes the second generator to generate electric power. The electric vehicle can further comprise one or more batteries configured to supply electric power to the auxiliary electric motor. |
| US08712619B2 |
Vehicle and method for controlling vehicle
A vehicle is equipped with a battery configured so as to be rechargeable, a motor generator configured so as to generate the driving force of the vehicle by use of electric power stored in the battery, a switch configured so as to switch between generation of a command for extending the use period of the battery and stop of generation of the command, and an ECU for controlling the state of charge of the battery. The ECU sets the control range of SOC of the battery. When the switch stops generation of the command, the ECU sets the control range to a first range. Meanwhile, when a command is generated by the switch, the ECU sets the control range to a second range narrower than the first range. |
| US08712616B2 |
Regenerative braking control to mitigate powertrain oscillation
A vehicle is provided with at least one wheel and a motor that is coupled to the wheel. The motor is configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to predict future powertrain oscillation based on input indicative of a wheel speed and a total brake torque. The controller is also configured to control the motor to reduce the regenerative brake torque prior to the powertrain oscillation. |
| US08712615B2 |
Artificial engine sound control unit, approaching vehicle audible system, and electric vehicle having them
An artificial engine sound control unit which controls an artificial engine sound which is emitted from a sounding body which is provided at an electric vehicle whose at least a part of drive power is generated by an electric motor, to outside; comprising a speed region determination part which determines a speed region of the electric vehicle and an artificial engine sound generating part, when the speed region determination part determines such that the electric motor of the electric vehicle can be energized and the electric vehicle is stopped, the artificial engine sound generating part controls so as for the sounding body to emit an artificial engine sound, and the artificial engine sound generating part detects such that the electric vehicle comes close to a start running mode, then the artificial engine sound generating part controls the artificial engine sound which is emitted from the sounding body. |
| US08712612B2 |
System for determining movement properties of a guided vehicle
A system for determining the movement properties of a guided vehicle along a section adapted for a lane signaling control. The vehicle includes at least four onboard transponders that are arranged in pairs. The two transponders of each pair are aligned in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with at least one pair downstream and at least one pair upstream from the vehicle, and providing distinct identification means. At least one transponder reader is provided on the ground at each end of the section. A ground calculator communicates with the readers and determines, upon the passage of at least two transponders of a vehicle, a driving direction and a front/rear intrinsic orientation of the vehicle relative to the lane. |
| US08712610B2 |
System and method for determining a characterisitic of an object adjacent to a route
A system is provided for determining at least one characteristic of an object positioned adjacent to a route. The characteristic of the object is related to the operation of a powered system. The powered system travels along the route. The system includes a plurality of cameras attached to the powered system. The plurality of cameras are aligned along a respective line of sight to the object. A method and computer readable media are also provided for determining at least one characteristic of an object positioned adjacent to a route. |
| US08712606B2 |
System and method for configuring a direct lift control system of a vehicle
A system and methods for configuring a direct lift control system of a vehicle are presented. A plurality of fly-by-wire control surfaces is provided, and fly-by-wire control surface deflection commands of the fly-by-wire control surfaces are scheduled. The fly-by-wire control surfaces are symmetrically actuated based on the fly-by-wire control surface deflection commands such that a fluid dynamic lift of the vehicle is modulated without using a short-period pitch control. |
| US08712605B1 |
Apparatus for touch screen avionic device
An apparatus having a graphical touch screen for flight planning and navigation of an aircraft by a pilot. The touch screen may be a graphical interface operable to detect the presence and location of a physical object on or in proximity to the touch screen. The touch screen may be used to perform functions previously only accessible by knobs and buttons on avionic navigational and/or flight planning units. The apparatus may comprise the touch screen and a control device configured to receive and interpret signals from the touch screen. The control device may command the touch screen to display a map and to modify a stored route, such as a flight plan, based on pilot selections input via various gestures of the object on or proximate to the touch screen. |
| US08712604B2 |
Method and device for accessing the documentation of an aircraft according to alarms generated therein
A method and a device for accessing the documentation of an aircraft according to alarms generated therein, where the documentation includes at least one document that is modifiable independently of the manufacturer of the aircraft. After having received at least one indication relating to at least one alarm generated by the avionics of the aircraft, at least one datum relating to the at least one alarm, including a link to at least one element of the documentation, is extracted and displayed. |
| US08712601B2 |
Vehicle control system
A starting apparatus starts an engine of a vehicle in response to a wireless signal transmitted from a remote control and keeps the engine running when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine of the vehicle has been started. Moreover, a function controller included in the starting apparatus disables a function of a powered window apparatus and a sunroof apparatus of the vehicle in response to start of the engine of the vehicle and enables the functions of the powered window apparatus and the sunroof apparatus when a door of the vehicle is opened after the engine of the vehicle has been started. |
| US08712600B2 |
Traveling vehicle system and self-diagnosis method for the traveling vehicle system
Self-diagnosis of a system including a travel route and a plurality of traveling vehicles traveling along the travel route in accordance with instructions from a ground controller is performed. The ground controller provides an instruction to the traveling vehicle regarding a position designated for performing detection using an abnormal condition detection sensor based on an absolute coordinate for uniquely identifying a position on the travel route. The traveling vehicle performs detection at the designated position using the abnormal condition detection sensor, and reports detection data including a detection position and detection time to the ground controller. |
| US08712598B2 |
Adaptive flow for thermal cooling of devices
A method for cooling an electronic device having first and second flow paths for transmitting a coolant. The method includes assessing a merit of impelling the coolant along the first flow path relative to impelling the coolant along the second flow path. When the relative merit is above a threshold, coolant is impelled along the first flow path. When the relative merit is below the threshold, coolant is impelled along the second flow path. |
| US08712590B2 |
System and method for optimizing use of plug-in air conditioners and portable heaters
Thermostatic HVAC and other energy management controls that are connected to a computer network. For instance, remotely managed load switches incorporating thermostatic controllers inform an energy management system, to provide enhanced efficiency, and to verify demand response with plug-in air conditioners and heaters. At least one load control device at a first location comprises a temperature sensor and a microprocessor. The load control device is configured to connect or disconnect electrical power to the an attached air conditioner or heater, and the microprocessor is configured to communicate over a network. In addition, the load control device is physically separate from an air conditioner or heater but located inside the space conditioned by the air conditioner or heater. |
| US08712588B2 |
Method and/or apparatus for navigating mobile robot using virtual sensor
A method and apparatus of improving the navigation performance of robot are provided. The navigation method using a virtual sensor includes: generating information on positions of obstacles, the information which is estimated to be generated by virtual sensors that are virtually present, based on information on positions of the obstacles, which is generated by physical sensors; and controlling a movement of a robot according to the information on the positions of the obstacles. It is possible to overcome limits in the number and arrangement of previously installed physical sensors. |
| US08712587B2 |
Medicament container
The invention relates to a method and system that utilizes one or more cassettes or trays that hold medicaments for dispensing. In one embodiment a medicaments container includes control logic configured to enable the medicaments container to operate with an apparatus; control logic configured to determine whether the medicaments container is authorized for operation with the apparatus; and control logic configured to generate an alert if the medicaments container is not authorized for operation with the apparatus. |
| US08712585B2 |
Bulk vending apparatus, system and method
A vending machine is provided that includes optional modules. A first module includes a plurality of bins, each sized to contain a consumable product, each bin including a pivotable product container. An optional capsule dispensing apparatus is sized to fit on a side of the first module, the optional capsule dispensing apparatus including a plurality of capsules, each containing either a consumable product or a non-consumable product. An optional second module includes a second plurality of bins, each also sized to contain a consumable product, each bin also having a pivotable product container, the optional second module sized to be removeably attachable to the first module. |
| US08712582B1 |
System and method for combining different tablets into a pouch
A system for integrating and packaging a plurality of tablet orders is described. The system comprises a graphical user interface configured to receive one or more inputs for a plurality of tablets associated with a particular patient. A software module is configured to compile the inputs into an integrated order. The system further comprises a filling system configured to dispense a dose from the integrated order into a package associated with a time at which the dose is to be consumed. |
| US08712578B2 |
Device and method for arranging vials
There is provided a device and method for arranging a vial, which can efficiently arrange a plurality of vials in the same arrangement place. A device for arranging a vial includes an arm member 150 for sandwiching one vial 1 and a carrying means 58 for carrying the vial 1 sandwiched by the arm member 150 to a vial arranging section 202. A layout of the vials 1 in the vial arranging section 202 can be set according to the number (n) of the vials 1 carried into the same vial arranging section 202. The carrying means 58 can advance and retract the arm member 150 in at least two or more directions in the vial arranging section 202. |
| US08712571B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless transmission of diagnostic information
The present disclosure provides a system for fabricating a semiconductor device. The system includes a semiconductor fabrication tool. The semiconductor fabrication tool has an integrated inter interface that measures a first process parameter of the fabrication tool. The system also includes a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor is detachably coupled to the fabrication tool. The wireless sensor measures a second process parameter of the fabrication tool. The second process parameter is different from the first process parameter. |
| US08712570B2 |
Systems and methods for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line
The present disclosure relates to systems and processes for detecting and rejecting defective absorbent articles from a converting line. In particular, the systems and methods may utilize feedback from technologies, such as vision systems, sensors, remote input and output stations, and controllers with synchronized embedded clocks to accurately correlate inspection results and measurements from an absorbent article converting process. As such, the systems and methods may accurately apply the use of precision clock synchronization for both instrumentation and control system devices on a non-deterministic communications network. In turn, the clock synchronized control and instrumentation network may be used to control a reject system on converters of absorbent articles. In some embodiments, the controller will reject only defective absorbent articles without the need to reject non-defective absorbent articles. |
| US08712569B2 |
System for determining potential lot consolidation during manufacturing
A system for determining a list of potential lots for consolidation is presented. The system includes a module having a database and an input for receiving an event occurrence. The database may include a set of consolidation rules. The module, upon receiving the event occurrence, retrieves the consolidation rules and initiates a consolidation analysis to determine the list of potential lots for consolidation based on the consolidation rules. |
| US08712567B2 |
Manufactured product configuration
One aspect related to design of systems and methods for manufacture of products is configuration. More particularly, this relates to verification of an existing configuration and to reconfiguration of a product following manufacturing. The present invention contemplates an approach to designing a station capable of configuration verification and reconfiguration and of preventing shipment of a product if an undesirable configuration is detected. A preferred approach also includes guiding the operator to take possible remedial action. The preferred approach further includes storing various types of data needed for the verification and reconfiguration in a server, thereby making such data substantially instantly accessible for verification and reconfiguration purposes. Such data preferably includes software capable of adapting the functions of the station itself, i.e., the tasks to be performed at the configuration verification and reconfiguration station. A system design using this approach is particularly useful in the manufacture of a microwave radio. |
| US08712556B2 |
Composite conductive pads/plugs for surface-applied nerve-muscle electrical stimulation
Composite electrode pads/plugs are configured to be utilized in an electrical stimulator device, particularly one designed to provide surface-applied electrical twitch obtaining intramuscular stimulation (eToims®). The composite pads/plugs include a porous liquid absorbent (e.g., felt) plug sized to be placed in a receptacle of the stimulator device, and a composite pad of porous liquid absorbent (e.g., cotton) material that covers the plug. In an embodiment, the composite pad is formed of cotton stuffing material encased between two sheets of cotton mesh/pad material. The composite pads/plugs can serve to increase, and improve wetting of, the surface area which contacts the patient and delivers the electrical stimulation. In addition to convenience of application, the disclosed structures have been found to help reduce sharp pain felt by the patient during stimulation, without interfering with the ability of the electricity to penetrate deeply in order to provide effective eToims®. |
| US08712555B2 |
Portable device for treating insect bites and the like
A portable device for treating the bites or stings of insects and harmful creatures, comprising:—a piezoelectric element (2) capable of producing a predetermined difference in electrical potential;—an actuating element (3) operable by a user and associated with said piezoelectric element (2) to impart to it a predetermined state of stress/deformation;—a discharge area (4) electrically connected to the piezoelectric element (2) and positionable in proximity to an area of a patient which has been bitten/stung to impart to it an electrical discharge generated by said difference in electrical potential; characterised in that it comprises furthermore a monolithic containing body (5) capable of housing the piezoelectric element (2), the actuating element (3) and the discharge area (4). |
| US08712553B2 |
Means to securely fixate pacing leads and/or sensors in vessels
According to embodiments of the present invention, a cardiac lead system adapted for fixation to a vessel including an expandable fixation mechanism adapted to engage an inner surface of the vessel and a lead member comprising an anchor structure at distal end, the anchor structure configured to removably engage with fixation mechanism. Such anchor structure may be helical, and may removably engage fixation mechanism upon rotation or an application of torque, and may be extendable and/or retractable. Fixation mechanism may be polymer coated weave and/or mesh to trap anchor structure. Lead member and/or fixation mechanism may include electrodes and/or sensors, and lead member may include L-shape, S-shape, spiral, and/or sinusoidal shape for positioning of electrodes and/or sensors or for facilitated engagement of anchor structure. A guide wire attached to fixation mechanism during deployment may, prior to detachment, serve to guide lead member to a target site at fixation mechanism. |
| US08712551B2 |
Mono-body defibrillation probe
A probe including at its distal extremity a tubular flexible sheath core supporting at least a winding forming a shock electrode and connected to an electrical conductor of connection extending in an internal lumen of the sheath core. In one embodiment of the invention, the sheath core extends axially without a solution of continuity in the area supporting the winding. In particular, the sheath core comprises cavities to receive and hold conducting inserts, of homologous size with cavities formed locally close to the ends of the winding, the insert being connected to the interior side to the electrical conductor, and on the external side to the corresponding extremity of winding. A longitudinal slit connects two cavities and allows, by elastic deformation of the sheath core, the introduction into the cavities and in the internal lumen of the unit formed by the final extremity of the electrical conductor beforehand equipped with its two inserts. |
| US08712545B2 |
Electrical stimulation lead, system, and method
A paddle lead includes a plurality of electrodes configured in at least three rows of three electrodes with the second, intermediate row operable to provide anode guarding. The paddle lead further includes a plurality of grooves disposed on a surface opposite the electrodes to facilitate the insertion of the paddle lead within a patient by inhibiting the veering of the paddle lead to one side or the other of the dorsal column as the paddle lead is advanced along the dorsal column midline during implantation. |
| US08712544B2 |
Electromagnetic shield for a passive electronic component in an active medical device implantable lead
A shielded component or network for an active medical device (AMD) implantable lead includes (1) an implantable lead having a length extending from a proximal end to a distal end, all external of an AMD housing, (2) a passive component or network disposed somewhere along the length of the implantable lead, the passive component or network including at least one inductive component having a first inductive value, and (3) an electromagnetic shield substantially surrounding the inductive component or the passive network. The first inductive value of the inductive component is adjusted to a account for a shift in its inductance to a second inductive value when shielded. |
| US08712543B2 |
Implantable device
A device that can be temporarily introduced in a body or permanently implanted in a body comprising at least one elongated electric function conductor for transmitting treatment signals or diagnostic signals, or both, and further comprising a connector, which is connected to the function conductor and disposed on a proximal end of the function conductor, for connecting the device to a further device. Characteristic impedance is present between the function conductor and at least one further conductor. A transition region from the function conductor to the connector is designed such that a characteristic impedance between the function conductor and the further conductor in the transition region is designed to be between the corresponding characteristic impedance of the device in a line section distal of the transition region and the characteristic impedance present proximal of the transition region when the connector is connected to a further device. |
| US08712542B2 |
Deposited conductive layers for leads of implantable electric stimulation systems and methods of making and using
An implantable lead includes an inner core substrate. A plurality of conductors that include at least one layer of at least one conductive material are deposited on the inner core substrate. A patterned insulator layer is disposed over the conductors such that at least two regions of each conductor remain exposed through the insulator. A patterned terminal layer defines a plurality of separated terminals that are deposited at a proximal end of the lead. At least one terminal is electrically coupled to each conductor via at least one of the exposed regions of the at least one conductor. A patterned electrode layer defines a plurality of separated electrodes that are deposited at a distal end of the lead. At least one electrode is electrically coupled to each conductor via at least one of the exposed regions of the at least one conductor. |
| US08712539B2 |
Rule-based stimulation program search
Techniques that involve application of one or more rules to a “parent” program to generate a plurality of different “child” programs are described. Each of the rules may define a respective electrode configuration modification, and each child program may be a variation of the parent based on a modification of the electrode configuration of the parent according to one of the rules. The systems or devices may generate further generations of child programs from a previous generation child program using the same one or more rules. The child programs may be provided to a user, so that the user may test the efficacy of the new programs, assisting the user in identifying desirable programs. The child programs may be relatively minor variations of the parent program, and the user may “fine tune” a generally desirable parent program by testing the child programs. |
| US08712538B2 |
Method and apparatus for visual neural stimulation
The present invention is a flexible circuit electrode array for stimulating neurons where the electrode are less than 20 μm in size and less than 60 μm apart. The array is preferably arranged in a hexagonal pattern to maximize electrode density, and longer in the horizontal direction to correspond to a normal visual scene. The array includes a polymer base layer, metal traces deposited on the polymer base layer, including electrodes suitable to stimulate neural tissue, and a polymer top layer deposited on the polymer base layer and the metal traces defining openings for the electrodes smaller than the electrodes to overlap the electrodes. |
| US08712536B2 |
Eye therapy system
An electrical energy applicator in one embodiment extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The energy conducting applicator includes, at the proximal end, a connection to one or more electrical energy sources. The energy conducting applicator directs electrical energy from the one or more electrical energy sources to the distal end. The energy conducting applicator includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending to the distal end. The outer conductor and the inner conductor are separated by a gap. The outer conductor includes a plurality of moveable outer segments and the inner conductor includes a plurality of moveable inner segments. The plurality of outer segments and the plurality of inner segments form a total contact surface at the distal end. The total contact surface is positionable at a surface of an eye. The electrical energy is applied to the eye according to the total contact surface. |
| US08712535B2 |
Linked area parameter adjustment for spinal cord stimulation and associated systems and methods
Systems and methods for managing pain in a patient using an electrical waveform that link the modulation of a waveform parameter for different areas of a patient. One embodiment in a system for managing pain in a patient comprises an electric device configured to be implanted into the patient and including a plurality of electrodes having at least a first electrode associated with a first area of the patient and a second electrode associated with a second area of the patient. The system further includes an implantable device configured to be coupled to the electrode device and having a computer-operable medium programmed to change the waveform parameter applied to the first electrode and automatically set the waveform parameter applied to the second electrode based on a relationship between a first therapy range and a second therapy range of the waveform parameter. |
| US08712533B2 |
Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications. |
| US08712531B2 |
Automatic baroreflex modulation responsive to adverse event
A system for providing baroreflex stimulation comprises a sensor to detect a parameter and provide a signal indicative of the parameter and a baroreflex stimulator. The baroreflex stimulator includes a driver to provide a control signal adapted to deliver a baroreflex therapy and a controller to receive the signal indicative of the parameter and modulate the control signal based on the signal indicative of the parameter to change the baroreflex therapy from a first baroreflex therapy to a second baroreflex therapy. |
| US08712528B2 |
Lead with lead stiffener for implantable electrical stimulation systems and methods of making and using
A lead includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on the distal end of the lead, a plurality of contact terminals disposed on the proximal end of the lead, a plurality of conductor wires extending along the lead to couple the electrodes electrically to the contact terminals, a central lumen defined by the lead and extending from the proximal end of the lead towards the distal end of the lead, and a tubular stiffener disposed in the proximal end of the central lumen. The tubular stiffener is configured and arranged to facilitate insertion of the proximal end of the lead into a connector. |
| US08712527B2 |
Implantable medical devices including elongated conductor bodies that facilitate device and lead configuration variants
Implantable medical devices include elongated conductor bodies and related features including an attachment to the medical device at one end and a connector that receives a medical lead at the other end. The connector may have various features such as a modular design whereby the connector is constructed from a series of stacked contact modules. Other features of the connector include electrical contacts that are relatively thin conductors or the order of 0.040 inches or less and that may include radial protrusions to establish contact with the electrical connectors of the lead. Furthermore, electrical contacts may be mounted within the connector in a floating manner so that radial movement of the electrical contact may occur during lead insertion. Additional features include a feedthrough where conductors exposed beyond a housing of the implantable medical device make direct electrical connection to conductors present within the elongated body. |
| US08712525B2 |
Method and apparatus for closed-loop control of anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing using hemodynamic sensor
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system includes an implantable medical device that delivers anti-tachyarrhythmia therapies including anti-tachyarrhythmia pacing (ATP) and a hemodynamic sensor that senses a hemodynamic signal. The implantable medical device includes a hemodynamic sensor-controlled closed-loop ATP system that uses the hemodynamic signal for ATP capture verification. When ATP pulses are delivered according to a selected ATP protocol to terminate a tachyarrhythmia episode, the implantable medical device performs the ATP capture verification by detecting an effective cardiac contraction from the hemodynamic signal. The ATP protocol is adjusted using an outcome of the ATP capture verification. |
| US08712524B2 |
Self-diagnostic method and system for implantable cardiac device
A self-diagnostic system for an implantable cardiac device such as a pacemaker, cardioverter, or resynchronization device which utilizes a subcutaneous ECG channel is described. The subcutaneous ECG channel allows the device to, in real time and independent of the standard pacing and sensing circuitry, verify the presence of pacing spikes, chamber senses, and other device outputs and hence establish and verify device integrity. |
| US08712523B2 |
Implantable defibrillator systems and methods with mitigations for saturation avoidance and accommodation
Methods and implantable devices that address response to, or avoidance of, likely non-cardiac voltages including after potentials from external or internal stimulus. Also, methods of operation in implantable medical devices, the methods configured for identifying saturation of input circuitry and mitigating the effects of such saturation. Also, implantable cardiac stimulus or monitoring devices that include methods for identifying saturated conditions and mitigating the effects of such saturation. |
| US08712521B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling cardiac resynchronization therapy using cardiac impedance
This document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for measuring cardiac impedances and producing one or more resynchronization index parameters each indicative of a cardiac synchrony or asynchrony using the measured cardiac impedances. In one example, the one or more resynchronization index parameters are used to adjust one or more pacing parameters of a cardiac resynchronization therapy. |
| US08712520B2 |
Cardiac function management integrating cardiac contractility modulation
An implantable cardiac rhythm/function management system integrates cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) and one or more other therapies, such as to preserve device safety, improve efficacy, enhance sensing and detection, or enhance therapy effectiveness and delivery. Examples of the one or more other therapies can include pacing, defibrillation/cardioversion, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), or neurostimulation. |
| US08712519B1 |
Closed-loop adaptive adjustment of pacing therapy based on cardiogenic impedance signals detected by an implantable medical device
Techniques are provided for controlling therapy provided by the implantable cardiac stimulation device based on cardiogenic impedance. A cardiogenic impedance signal (or intracardiac impedance signal) is an impedance signal representative of the beating of the heart of the patient in which the device is implanted. The cardiogenic impedance signal is sensed along a sensing vector passing through at least a portion of the heart so that the sensed impedance is affected by the mechanical beating of the heart along that sensing vector. Pacing therapy is automatically and adaptively adjusted based on the cardiogenic impedance signal. For example, pacing timing parameters such as the atrioventricular delay and the inter-ventricular delay may be adjusted. Preferably, the adjustments are adaptive, i.e. the adjustments are performed in a closed-loop so as to adapt the adjustments to changes in the cardiogenic impedance signal so as to optimize therapy. In one particular example, the adjustments are performed so as to reduce a degree of fractionation within a cardiogenic impedance waveform. |
| US08712515B2 |
Method and apparatus for disease diagnosis and screening using extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields
Novel methods and apparatus for diagnosing or screening disease states in living organisms by the measurement and analysis of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields, particularly extremely low frequency alternating current. The measurement of such fields is performed at a single point or at several test points on or in the body and compared to one or more reference. Information in the time-varying electromagnetic field is collected, then processed by diagnostic or screening algorithms to provide information about the disease state of the tissue being assessed. |
| US08712510B2 |
Method and apparatus for exercise monitoring combining exercise monitoring and visual data with wireless internet connectivity
Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for a wireless exercise monitoring system for interactively monitoring an aspect of exercise, nutrition, or fitness by connecting a wireless internet device to or with a digital camera and/or an exercise monitoring device. Exercise-related data and/or visual information from the camera is transmitted to a server using standard internet protocols and may be integrated with various operating systems for mobile wireless devices, especially those with enhanced capabilities for handing images and visual data. Responses may be calculated and transmitted back to a user, trainer, or coach. |
| US08712507B2 |
Systems and methods for arranging and labeling cardiac episodes
Methods and systems for arranging and labeling cardiac episodes based on acquired cardiac episode data are described. Cardiac episodes are algorithmically arranged based on one or more discriminating features of the episode data. A user is presented with at least one episode selected from the arrangement of cardiac episodes. The user inputs a label that characterizes the selected episode. The label is algorithmically appended to the data of the selected episode and to other episodes of the arrangement of cardiac episodes based on the discriminating features. |
| US08712506B2 |
Medical imaging probe with rotary encoder
The present invention provides minimally invasive imaging probe having an optical encoder integrated therewith for accurately measuring or estimating the rotational velocity near the distal end of the medical device, such as an imaging probe which undergoes rotational movement during scanning of surrounding tissue in bodily lumens and cavities. |
| US08712502B2 |
Target tracking device and radiation therapy apparatus
A target tracking device for tracking a moving target, based on X-ray fluoroscopic images from a plurality of directions, the target tracking device may include a plurality of X-ray fluoroscopic devices, an image processing unit, and a position determining unit. The X-ray fluoroscopic devices obtain a plurality of images from a plurality of directions, each of the images in a given direction having a different sensitivity. The image processing unit identifies a position of a target image based on pattern matching between the plurality of images and an image of the target. The position determining unit determines a 3D position of the target based on the position of the target image in the plurality of images from the plurality of directions. |
| US08712501B2 |
Method and device for surface scanning of a patient
The invention relates to a method for the surface scanning of a patient, arranged on a patient's couch of a medical diagnostic device, with the following steps: Radiation of a light beam from a positioning light source onto the patient, detection of the light beam on the patient by an image sensor, arranged offset relative to the light beam, with the said light beam running from the positioning light source to the patient, movement of the patient relative to the positioning light source so that the light beam passes over the body of the patient, and determination of the surface of the patient from the detected light beam. A corresponding device is also claimed. |
| US08712500B2 |
Image-monitoring method for electroporation treatment and as associated image-monitoring appliance
An image-monitoring method for an electroporation treatment with an electroporation appliance is provided. The electroporation appliance comprises at least two treatment electrodes and an image-monitoring appliance. At least one image monitoring measurement is performed by the image-monitoring appliance after the administration of a contrast agent and after the electroporation treatment. |
| US08712499B2 |
Quantitative oxygen imaging systems and methods using echo-based single point imaging
An echo-based single point imaging (ESPI) system (10) providing high-resolution oxygen images of a sample is disclosed. The ESPI system (10) employs spin echo detection of the resonance from a spin probe and concurrent Single Point Imaging (SPI) for spatial encoding of the oxygen concentration within the sample. Images are derived by comparing spin echo intensities of two images reconstructed at two time points selected at identical time intervals on either side of a refocusing pulse, eliminating artifacts associated with sample magnetic susceptibility and field inhomogeneity effects. |
| US08712497B2 |
Physiological measuring system comprising a garment in the form of a sleeve or glove and sensing apparatus incorporated in the garment
A measuring system for measuring electrocardiogram signals comprises a diagnostic garment with ECG electrodes that may assume the form of a sleeve or glove. A disposable version of the glove can be inflated. By using an inflatable glove, the contour of the body is automatically matched by the contour of the glove. Samples from the ECG electrodes positioned on a diagnostic garment are compensated so that the samples better approximate samples from EEG electrodes that are positioned at classical locations. Also, samples from ECG electrodes are compensated to reduce signal noise resulting from positioning the ECG electrodes on the diagnostic garment. |
| US08712494B1 |
Reflective non-invasive sensor
Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor emitter including a reflective cavity for re-directing light to a tissue site. By reflecting light towards the tissue site, the amount of light reaching the tissue site is increased. The increased light can improve parameter measurements taken by a non-invasive physiological sensor by producing a stronger and/or cleaner signal. In an embodiment, the reflective cavity is formed on one or more lead frames of the sensor emitter, wherein the lead frames are capable of transmitting electrical signals to emitting elements coupled to the lead frames. Aspects of the present disclosure also include a sensor component configured to protect connection points of wires to conductive leads on the sensor components by inhibiting flex or bending at the connection points. Connection points can protrude along edges of the sensor component. Aspects of the present disclosure also include techniques and processes for producing low-profile sensors. |
| US08712488B2 |
Low temperature pressure chamber unit, magnetic resonance device with a low temperature pressure chamber unit, and an attachment method to attach at least one add-on unit to an external housing of a low temperature pressure chamber unit
In order to attach an add-on unit to a low temperature pressure chamber unit having a low temperature pressure chamber, and an external housing surrounding the low temperature pressure chamber, an attachment device is used to attach at least one add-on unit to the external housing, and the attachment device has an adhesive unit designed for the arrangement and/or attachment of the at least one add-on unit to the external housing. |
| US08712478B2 |
Mobile electronic device
A device and methods for operating a mobile electronic device are presented. A condition of the mobile electronic device is detected to provide a condition of use. Correspondence relation between inputs detected at a first input detector and a second input detector and the inputs to a first display surface and a second display surface are stored in association with the condition of use. The inputs detected by one of the first input detector and the second input detector are processed as the inputs to one of the first display surface and the second display surface based on the correspondence relation in association with the condition of use. |
| US08712474B2 |
Secure soft SIM credential transfer
The method and apparatus described herein transfers soft SIM credentials from a transferring mobile device to a target mobile device while ensuring that only one mobile device contains active soft SIM credentials at a time. Broadly, a transferring mobile device securely transfers the soft SIM credentials to a target mobile device either directly or via a network server. Before the target mobile device receives or activates the soft SIM credentials, the transferring mobile device deactivates the soft SIM credentials to ensure that only one mobile device contains the active soft SIM credentials. |
| US08712469B2 |
Accessing a base station
Method, base station and computer program product for controlling access to the base station, the base station being arranged to serve a zone, the zone comprising a first cell implementing an access mode as one of an open access mode, a hybrid access mode, and a closed access mode. Operating conditions of the zone served by the base station are determined and then the access mode of the first cell is controlled based on the determined operating conditions of the zone served by the base station. |
| US08712468B1 |
Mobile device mode control based on dual mapping of availability (presence) information
An availability map may associate each of a plurality of different availability information indicators with one of a plurality of availability statuses. A user may set which availability status is associated with each of the availability information indicators. A mode map may associate each of a plurality of availability statuses with one or more operational modes of a communication system. A user may set which of the operational modes is associated with each of the availability statuses. A current availability status may be determined by equating a current availability information indicator with the availability status indicated in the availability map to be associated with this current availability information indicator. Current availability information indicators may come from sources including communication devices and external networked applications. Operational modes of the communication system may be set in accordance with the operational modes indicated in the mode map to be associated with the current availability status as determined. |
| US08712461B2 |
Autonomous adaptation of transmit power
Transmit power (e.g., maximum transmit power) may be defined based on the maximum received signal strength allowed by a receiver and a minimum coupling loss from a transmitting node to a receiver. Transmit power may be defined for an access node (e.g., a femto node) such that a corresponding outage created in a cell (e.g., a macro cell) is limited while still providing an acceptable level of coverage for access terminals associated with the access node. An access node may autonomously adjust its transmit power based on channel measurement and a defined coverage hole to mitigate interference. Transmit power may be defined based on channel quality. Transmit power may be defined based on a signal-to-noise ratio at an access terminal. The transmit power of neighboring access nodes also may be controlled by inter-access node signaling. |
| US08712459B2 |
Group control method for machine type communication and mobile communication system using the method
Provided are a group control method for providing a machine type communication (MTC) service, and a mobile communication system using the method. The group control method includes categorizing one or more MTC devices into one or more MTC groups, assigning MTC group identifiers to respective MTC groups, setting MTC radio network temporary identifiers (MTC RNTIs) according to the MTC group Identifiers, and using the MTC_RNTIs for addressing the MTC devices belonging to the respective MTC groups. |
| US08712457B2 |
Method for dynamic multi-level pricing for wireless communications according to quality of service
A method for pricing wireless communications services on a wireless network is described. A selection of a plurality of priorities available for transmitting a wireless communication transaction on a wireless network is provided, wherein the priority to be selected corresponds to the speed and allowable delay by which the transaction is to be transmitted. Transactions of lower priority are temporarily discontinued in favor of higher priority transactions when network capacity reaches a predetermined level. An amount is charged for the wireless communication transaction at a price corresponding to the priority and duration to be selected. |
| US08712456B2 |
Method and system of channel detecting and reporting, terminal, and management center
A method and a system of channel detecting and reporting, a terminal, and a management center are provided. The method includes: a first access device of a terminal detects a channel status of one or more channels; and a second access device of the terminal reports a channel detection result detected by the first access device to destination equipment through an access network. The system includes a terminal and a management center. The terminal can access an access network through various access devices and report a channel detection result to the management center. The management center adjusts communication parameters of relevant equipment according to the detection result. The channel detection result can be reported in time, so that communication dead zones are prevented, and probability of long-term interference on hidden nodes in a communication system is reduced. |
| US08712455B2 |
Proximity-based mobile message delivery
Proximity-based mobile message delivery is described. In an embodiment, a first user stores a message intended for a second user on a first mobile terminal, while the first mobile terminal is located remote from a second mobile terminal of the second user. Subsequent to this, the first mobile terminal detects that it is now in proximity with the second mobile terminal, and this triggers the first mobile terminal to transmit the message to the second mobile terminal. In embodiments, authentication of the second mobile terminal can be performed before transmitting the message. In another embodiment, a mobile terminal comprises a short-range wireless transceiver that can detect that a further mobile terminal is in proximity, and trigger the transmission of a pre-stored message to the further mobile terminal. |
| US08712454B2 |
Method for transmitting an electronic short message to multiple receivers
The invention relates to a method and a system for transmitting an electronic short message via at least one telecommunication network (N) from a first terminal device (D) for telecommunication to a group of two or more receiving devices (A, B). The short message is received by a messaging center (C) and the latter sends this short message as single messages to the receiving devices (A, B). The single messages, after having been received, are marked as unread on the receiving devices (A, B). According to the invention an identifier identifying the short message is allocated to the single messages. One of the receiving devices (A, B), in the case of the single message being read, generates a read confirmation with the identifier and transmits it to the messaging center (C) which then transmits a status change message with the identifier to the other receiving devices (A, B). The status change message is allocated to the single message on the basis of the identifier on the respective receiving device (A, B) and the single message is marked as read on this receiving device (A, B). |
| US08712453B2 |
Login security with short messaging
Additional security is provided for on-line account users beyond that which is otherwise conventionally provided by, e.g., longer passwords, passwords that include both characters and numbers, etc., by implementing an on-line server that notifies a pre-registered account holder via a short messaging system (SMS) with a short message login notification when a log-in (or even just a login attempt) occurs. Thus, even entry of the proper user/password information, which would conventionally be presumed to be authorized, will be notified to the registered SM address of the authorized user. |
| US08712448B2 |
Efficient paging in a wireless communication system
Methods and apparatus for efficient two-stage paging wireless communications systems are described. Wireless terminals are assigned to paging groups. A few first paging message information bits are modulated (using non-coherent modulation) into a first paging signal and communicated from a base station to wireless terminals. WTs wake-up, receive the first paging signal and quickly ascertain whether its paging group should expect a second paging signal, if so, the WT is operated to receive the second paging signal; otherwise, the WT goes back to sleep conserving power. The base station modulates (using coherent modulation) a number of second message information bits into a second paging signal and transmits the signal to WTs. From the information in first and second paging signals, a WT can determine that it is the paged WT and process the paging instructions. The intended paged WT can transmit an acknowledgement signal on a dedicated uplink resource. |
| US08712446B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing paging in a communication network
A method and corresponding entity for optimizing paging process in a communication network. The method comprises of sending (408) the paging signal to the at least one access point in a group associated with the current priority level and determining (410) whether a page response is received from the at least one access point in the group associated with the current priority level. The method includes updating the (412) the group associated with the current priority level based on the mobility observed at each access point in the group. The method further comprises assigning (414) a next priority level in the list of priority levels as the current priority level and repeating the above steps until the page response is received. |
| US08712442B2 |
Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing information related to virtual environments to wireless devices
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are disclosed for providing information related to virtual environments. One such method includes receiving user input identifying an event related to the virtual environment for which a notification is to be provided to a mobile wireless communication device. User input is also received identifying an output to be provided by the mobile wireless communication device in response to receipt of the notification. A determination is then made that the event related to the virtual environment has occurred. In response to determining that the event occurred, the mobile wireless communication device is provided with the notification, and the output identified by the user input is provided by the mobile wireless communication device. |
| US08712432B2 |
Method and system for tracking mobile electronic devices while conserving cellular network resources
A system and associated methods are disclosed for tracking mobile electronic devices while conserving cellular network resources used for such tracking. The tracking may be performed for purposes of facilitating recovery of lost or stolen devices. To conserve network resources, different telephone numbers may be assigned depending upon the location of each device and the time of each call, and individual calls may be made only after a determination has been made that a telephone call is required. A determination that a telephone call is required may be made depending upon whether a protected electronic device had been reported lost or stolen, and/or whether an internet communication between the protected electronic device and a monitoring center has been made within a selected previous period of time. A dynamic schedule permits reserved telephone call slots to be freed up if not needed so that they can be used for devices that need the communication time. |
| US08712428B2 |
Location estimation of wireless terminals through pattern matching of deduced signal strengths
A method of estimating the location of a wireless terminal without the addition of hardware to either the wireless terminal or to the telecommunication system's base stations is disclosed. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is based on the observation that the signal strength of a signal from a transmitter is different at some locations, and, therefore, the location of a wireless terminal can be estimated by comparing the signal strength it currently observes against a map or database that correlates locations to signal strengths. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiment deduces the signal strength of the serving base station's control channel signal at the wireless terminal, RD, based on the principal of reciprocity. |
| US08712425B2 |
Managing a packet service call within mobile communications user equipment
While a circuit service, CS, call is in progress, a request for a packet service, PS, call is received from a background task that is running in the mobile communications user equipment. In response to receiving the request, several air interface parameters that relate to the in-progress CS call are evaluated, in order to decide whether or not to block the PS call based on the evaluation. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08712422B1 |
Dynamic allocation of access channels based on access channel occupancy in a cellular wireless communication system
A method and system for dynamically varying the number of air interface access channels in a wireless coverage area, based on actual access channel occupancy in the coverage area. A cellular base station monitors actual access channel occupancy in the coverage area. When the base station detects a threshold level of actual access channel occupancy for a threshold time period, the base station automatically changes the number of access channels available for use by mobile stations operating in the coverage area. |
| US08712418B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication method, and communication system
A wireless communication system, method and apparatus cooperate to use a wireless coordination signal from a control station in a first frequency band to establish direct links in a second frequency band between different terminals. Once established, the direct links in the second frequency band operate without further needing intervention by the control station. The first frequency band is 1 GHz or higher, and the second frequency band is at a higher frequency than the first frequency band. |
| US08712416B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing seamless call handoff between networks that use dissimilar transmission methods
Call handoff from an 802.1x network to a cellular network, and vice versa. A wireless device that has both cellular and 802.1x capability detects the strength of a cellular signal and of an 802.1x signal. If a call is taking place over the 802.1x network and the strength of the 802.1x signal drops below a particular level and the strength of the cellular signal is above a certain level, the call is handed off from the 802.1x network to the cellular network. If a call is taking place over the cellular network and the cellular signal strength drops below a certain level while the 802.1x signal strength is above a certain level, the call is handed off from the cellular network to the 802.1x network. In addition, the user of the wireless device can manually initiate the handoff by actuating a handoff selector of the wireless device. |
| US08712415B2 |
Timing and cell specific system information handling for handover in evolved UTRA
A method and apparatus for reducing handover time includes a wireless transmit receive unit receiving cell specific information in a downlink signal. The downlink signal is one of a set of signals included in a handover process. |
| US08712412B2 |
Method and system for accomplishing user equipment purge
The present disclosure relates a method and system for accomplishing a UE purge. The method comprises: a combined node initiates a purge flow of the UE to a HSS to which the UE is attached when determining that a registration state of the UE in all mobility management network elements of the combined node is unregistered and the registration state is not consistent with a registration state of the UE stored in the HSS; wherein the combined node comprises one or more mobility management network elements. The method and system for accomplishing user equipment purge provided by the present disclosure are simple and convenient to implement and effectively solve the technical problem in the prior art. |
| US08712411B1 |
Varying latency timers in a wireless communication system
In systems and methods of varying a latency timer in a wireless communication system, a network identifier associated with an access node in communication with a wireless device is received at a communication node during the establishment of a communication session between a wireless device and the communication node. At least one latency timer criteria is determined based on the network identifier, and at least one latency timer is adjusted according to the latency timer criteria. |
| US08712407B1 |
Multiple secure elements in mobile electronic device with near field communication capability
A method of managing data communication network inventory is provided. The method comprises analyzing a plurality of separate data stores, the data stores comprising information about trouble tickets, change requests, and scheduled maintenance, where the analysis is conducted with reference to network inventory items. An integrated data store structured according to network inventory items is built, comprising trouble ticket information, change request information, and scheduled maintenance associated with the network inventory items, where the network inventory items comprise one or more port interfaces. A selection of a network inventory item is received. Filtered information is retrieved from the integrated data store summarizing the trouble ticket information, the change request information, and the scheduled maintenance related to the selected network inventory item. The filtered information is transmitted. |
| US08712406B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication system
There is disclosed a communication apparatus including a first communication portion, a second communication portion, a speech detecting portion, and a communication control portion. The first communication portion wirelessly sends and receives audio data to and from a first other communication apparatus. The second communication portion wirelessly sends and receives general data to and from a second other communication apparatus. The speech detecting portion detects that a user at the first other communication apparatus is speaking. The communication control portion interrupts the wireless communication implemented by the second communication portion when the user at the first other communication apparatus is speaking. |
| US08712403B2 |
Method, base station and system for adjusting cell wireless configuration parameter
The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular to a method, a base station and a system for adjusting a cell wireless configuration parameter. The method includes: obtaining system performance information of an adjustment participating cell and a peripheral cell of the adjustment participating cell under different wireless-configuration-related information; and adjusting a wireless configuration parameter of the adjustment participating cell according to the system performance information of the adjustment participating cell and the peripheral cell of the adjustment participating cell. |
| US08712402B2 |
Enabling improvement in cellular network coverage
A method that has cellphones report to the cellular network signal strength and location information when the signal strength falls below a chosen threshold. Each cellphone maintains a log file of entries, each of which specifies a location and a signal strength (that is below the chosen threshold) and on a regular basis sends the information in the log file to the cellular network's provider. The provider uses the information sent by the cellphones to identify geographic regions where signal conditions are poor, and that enables the provider to upgrade its network. |
| US08712397B2 |
Method and apparatus for controllable communication
Communication and a communications apparatus are controlled with a communication intermediating apparatus. Multiple methods of processing communication requests are provided. Decided rules comprising of pairs of identification information of communication requests and methods of processing are recorded beforehand. When a communication request is received, the identification of the communication request is distinguished, an applying rule is picked from the recorded rules, and the communication request is processed. A virtual account to be set maximum payment amount beforehand is used, and electronic transactions communication is done. |
| US08712392B2 |
Method for releasing a locking in mobile terminal and mobile terminal using the same
The present disclosure is related to a method for releasing a locking on a mobile terminal, the method comprising: locking the mobile terminal; generating a locking-release preliminary signal on the locking; creating a locking-release icon based on a generated position of the locking-release preliminary signal; and releasing the locking by selecting the locking-release icon, and to a mobile terminal using the same. |
| US08712389B2 |
User-initiated quality of service modification in a mobile device
A system and method that facilitates mobile device selection among available qualities of service is described herein. A telecommunications network sends a notification to a mobile device when a change in quality of service is available to the mobile device. The mobile device then enables selection of an upgrade or downgrade to the current quality of service. In response to a selection, the mobile device transmits to the telecommunications network the change in quality of service. The telecommunications network then adjusts the quality of service in accordance with the request. |
| US08712387B2 |
Systems and methods to provide communication history for communication devices
According to some embodiments, a remote server may receive, from a first communication device associated with a first user, information about a first communication event between the first user and another party. The remote server may store the information about the first communication event. The remote server may also receive, from a second communication device associated with a second user, a request associated with the other party. Responsive to the request, the remote server may retrieve and transmit information about the first communication event to the second communication device. |
| US08712385B2 |
Systems and methods for providing live voicemail to a mobile handset
The exemplary live voicemail functionality offers a user of a mobile station the ability to listen to a voicemail message, as the message is being recorded in a voicemail platform. The mobile communication network serving the user directs an incoming call intended for the mobile station to the voicemail platform, which records the audio for the incoming message. The network infrastructure also duplicates the audio and directs the duplicate audio to the mobile station for monitoring of the incoming message by the user, as the platform is recording the voicemail message. |
| US08712383B1 |
Tactile output device for computing device notifications
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user with an alert device that provides alert options indicatives of events associated with applications or actions of a computing device. The provided alert options may be such that they do not create additional distractions, and eliminate the need for the user to have to constantly check for upcoming appointments or events. Specifically, a user can utilize a device to receive alerts from an associated computing device. The alerts may be associated with applications and actions running on the computing device. |
| US08712379B2 |
Authenticating messages sent between a vehicle and a central facility
A system and method for transmitting short message service (SMS) messages between a vehicle and a central facility includes determining an authentication tone having a unique characteristic, generating an SMS message that includes computer-readable data representing the authentication tone; sending the SMS message to a central facility, establishing a call between the central facility and the vehicle using a vehicle telematics unit and a wireless carrier system, generating the determined authentication tone at the vehicle, and transmitting the generated authentication tone over the established call to the central facility. |
| US08712375B2 |
System and method for enhanced transaction payment
An infrastructure that leverages established wireless messaging paradigms (such as, possibly inter alia, Short Message Service, Multimedia Message Service, Wireless Application Protocol, IP Multimedia Subsystem, etc.) to provide, in new and creative ways, an enhanced level of security for the payment element or portion of a transaction—for example, a transaction within Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce, which, broadly speaking, encompasses the buying and selling of merchant-supplied products, goods, and services through wireless devices), a purchase in the checkout lane of a brick-and-mortar store, a purchase at a (fast-food or other) restaurant, etc. The infrastructure may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor. |
| US08712370B2 |
Performance metrics processing for anticipating unavailability
A system and method for processing performance metrics of wireless devices are described. Usage data of wireless devices is obtained and processed. Based on the processed usage data, a data model associating a set of defined wireless device user activities to wireless performance metrics is created. Data obtained from the wireless devices is compared to the data model created. Based on the comparison, the data model is then maintained or updated, and a result based on the comparison is generated and transmitted. |
| US08712364B2 |
In-vehicle communication system and method of operation
An in-vehicle communication system configured to receive signals from a transmitter configured to transmit periodically a time-reference signal and receiver specific information. An information transmission time of receiver specific information is timed relative to a reference transmission time of the time-reference signal. The system includes a receiver characterized as having a receiver identification value. The receiver is configured to operate from an off-state to an on-state during an information-expected time interval to receive receiver specific information. The information-expected time interval is determined based on a reception time of the time-reference signal and the receiver identification value. This provides a way to ensure that the transmitter only transmits messages when it knows the intended receiver is on. It also ensures that the receiver is on only when messages that for that receiver are expected to be received. |
| US08712363B2 |
Power-saving receiver
A signal receiver capable of operating in two modes: a normal mode for reception and decoding of signals and a detection mode for detecting the presence of signals, the signal receiver having: a functional unit that can operate in two manners: a first manner having relatively low power consumption and relatively poor accuracy and a second manner having relatively high power consumption and relatively high accuracy, and a controller for causing the functional unit to operate in the first manner when the receiver is in its detection mode and in the second manner when the receiver is in its normal mode. |
| US08712361B1 |
Method and system for reciprocal mixing cancellation of wideband modulated blockers
A method for reciprocal-mixing noise cancellation may include receiving, from a first mixer, a first signal comprising a wanted signal at a first frequency and a modulated signal at a second frequency. The modulated signal may be a product of a reciprocal-mixing of an unwanted signal with a phase noise. The second frequency may be greater than the first frequency, and at least a portion of the modulated signal may overlap the wanted signal, adding a reciprocal-mixing noise to the wanted signal. Using the first signal, a narrow second signal may be generated at a third frequency, twice the second frequency. At a second mixer, the second signal may be mixed with the first signal to generate a third signal. The third signal may be subtracted from the first signal to remove a reciprocal-mixing noise and to generate the wanted signal at the first frequency without the reciprocal-mixing noise. |
| US08712357B2 |
LO generation with deskewed input oscillator signal
Techniques for generating local oscillator (LO) signals are described. In one design, an apparatus may include a deskew circuit and a divider circuit. The deskew circuit may receive a differential input oscillator signal having timing skew and provide a differential output oscillator signal having reduced timing skew. The differential input oscillator signal may include first and second input oscillator signals, and the differential output oscillator signal may include first and second output oscillator signals. In one design, the deskew circuit may include first and second variable delay circuits that receive the first and second input oscillator signals, respectively, and provide the first and second output oscillator signals, respectively. Each output oscillator signal may have an adjustable delay selected to reduce timing skew. The divider circuit may divide the differential output oscillator signal in frequency and provide differential I and Q divided signals, which may be used to generate LO signals. |
| US08712354B2 |
Radio transmitter and radio receiver with channel condition assessment
FM radio transmitter is being widely used in portable devices as a convenient way to output audio contents to ubiquitously available FM radio receivers in cars or homes. However, the signal from the FM radio transmitter may be interfering with the signal being broadcast by an FM radio station. A scan system is incorporated into the FM radio transmitter to quickly and reliably identify a vacant channel for the FM radio transmitter to use. The scan system measures on-channel and out-of-channel signal quality and selects a best channel for transmission based on the measured on-channel and out-of-channel signal quality. The scan system is also incorporated into an FM radio receiver to quickly and reliably tune to a valid channel. The scan system selects the valid channel based on the measured on-channel and out-of-channel signal quality. |
| US08712353B2 |
Radio communication devices, information providers, methods for controlling a radio communication device and methods for controlling an information provider
In an embodiment, a radio communication device may be provided. The radio communication device may include a first receiver configured to receive from a first cell first data representing a content encoded using a first codec; a second receiver configured to receive from a second cell second data representing the content encoded using a second codec; and a combiner configured to combine the first data and the second data. |
| US08712352B2 |
System and method for controlling device location determination
A controlling device such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments, each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment. Because the controlling device can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device in each environment. Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information. |
| US08712351B2 |
Reception method and reception apparatus
A radio transmitting apparatus that has a plurality of antennas and changes the number of modulated signals transmitted simultaneously according to the propagation environment and so forth. A transmission power changing section 12 of a radio transmitting apparatus of the present invention adjusts the pilot symbol signal level so as to match the data symbol composite signal level according to the number of transmit modulated signals set by a modulated signal number setting section 11. By this means, the operating range of received pilot symbols and the operating range of received data symbols become approximately the same on the receiving side, enabling pilot symbol quantization error to be reduced. As a result, the precision of radio wave propagation environment estimation, time synchronization, and frequency offset estimation using pilot symbols improves, and consequently data reception quality improves. |
| US08712346B2 |
Transmission device
A transmission device, includes an amplifying unit which amplifies and outputs a modulation signal, a detecting unit which detects an output power of the amplifying unit, an output power changing unit which changes the output power of the amplifying unit based on an output of the detecting unit, and a control unit which controls an input impedance of the detecting unit based on each communication method. |
| US08712344B2 |
Transmitter having a programmable amplifier operating class
A transmitter is adapted to be programmed to select an amplifier operating class for the transmitter out of a plurality of amplifier operating classes. The transmitter is also adapted to operate according to the selected amplifier operating class to communicate a signal to an antenna. |
| US08712341B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a communication system
A method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a signal in a communication system are provided. The method includes transmitting a signal to a receiver through one of the antennas, receiving an antenna switching indicator indicating to switch the transmitting antenna from the receiver, and switching the transmitting antenna according to the antenna switching indicator, and transmitting a signal to the receiver through a switched antenna. |
| US08712340B2 |
Method and apparatus for radio antenna frequency tuning
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which can include computer instructions to determine a subset of use cases from a group of use cases stored in a memory of a communication device, and to determine a target use case from among the subset of use cases based on an operational parameter associated with a transceiver of the communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed. |