| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08819483B2 |
Computing device with redundant, dissimilar operating systems
The adverse impact of system abnormalities, such as crashes or other failures or problems, is minimized by switching control of a computing device from a first operating system to a second operating system in the event a system abnormality is detected. For example, if a system abnormality causes a processor system under control of the first operating system to crash, another processor system under control of a second operating system can take over. An application program that was executing under control of the first operating system when the crash or other abnormality occurred can continue functioning under control of the second operating system. |
| US08819481B2 |
Managing storage providers in a clustered appliance environment
Via a processor, receiving a power off alert indicating a power off condition of a first processing system on which a first storage provider is installed, the first storage provider managing at least one storage controller. The method further can include, responsive to the power off alert, issuing a first command to a second storage provider installed on a second processing system, the first command indicating to the second storage provider to assume management of the storage controller. |
| US08819480B2 |
Display apparatus and method for updating micom code thereof
A display apparatus and a method for updating a micom code thereof are provided. According to the display apparatus, if an error occurs while a CPU is updating a micom code, a micom may drive the CPU using a system code. Accordingly, even if an error occurs in the process of updating the micom code, the display apparatus may be restored automatically without a jig apparatus. |
| US08819479B2 |
Asymmetric data mirroring
Methods, systems, and products mirror data between local memory and remote storage. A write command is sent from a server to a remote storage device, and a timer is established. A current time of the timer is compared to a maximum time period. If the maximum time period expires without receipt of an acknowledgment to the write command, then a write error is assumed to exist to the remote storage device. |
| US08819478B1 |
Auto-adapting multi-tier cache
A method, computer program product, and storage network system for detecting a failure of a highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system included within a storage network. The highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system includes cache data. The cache data is replicated onto a non-volatile, solid-state, cache memory system included within the storage network. At least one data request concerning the highly-available, volatile, solid state cache memory system is redirected to the non-volatile, solid-state, cache memory system. |
| US08819474B2 |
Active training of memory command timing
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to systems, methods, and apparatuses for the active training of memory command timing. In some embodiments, the CMD/CTL timing is actively trained using active feedback between memory modules and the memory controller. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08819468B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of controlling power consumption thereof
A method of controlling power consumption of an image forming apparatus includes outputting information regarding power consumption of a plurality of operation units if a power consumption check mode is set, performing power save operation in which at least one operation unit from among the plurality of operation units is turned on and the remaining operation units are turned off if a power save mode is set. Accordingly, on/off of the plurality of operation units may be controlled in the power save mode based on power consumption of each of the operation units. |
| US08819467B2 |
Image forming apparatus, system on chip unit and driving method thereof
An image forming apparatus connected to a host apparatus includes a first memory; a second memory; a USB interface to receive a USB control signal or a USB data signal from the host apparatus; a first CPU to perform an operation using the first memory in a normal mode and being deactivated if the normal mode is converted into a power saving mode; and a second CPU to perform an operation using the second memory in the power saving mode. In the image forming apparatus, if the USB data signal is input in the power saving mode, the second CPU activates the first CPU to convert the power saving mode into the normal mode, and if the USB control signal is input in the power saving mode, the second CPU retains the power saving mode and performs an operation corresponding to the USB control signal using the second memory. |
| US08819466B2 |
Method and device for waking users of a bus system and corresponding users
An apparatus for waking up users of a CAN bus system, wherein a sensing element, in particular a counter, is provided which senses at least one predefined signal property of the signals transmitted on the bus system and initiates the further wakeup operation when a predefined number is reached with reference to the signal property, the data stream of the CAN bus itself being used as a clock for detecting the signal property. |
| US08819465B2 |
Information processing device and data distribution method
An information processing device that is connected to one or more other information processing devices and distributes hibernation data to another information processing device, includes: a storage unit that stores the hibernation data; a configuration information acquisition unit that acquires identification information and configuration information describing a device configuration of each information processing device from the other information processing device; a configuration evaluation unit that analyzes the acquired configuration information and determines if the configuration of the device is the same as the configuration of the other information processing device; and a data transmission unit that, when there is at least one information processing device with the same device configuration as itself among the other information processing devices, sends the hibernation data to an information processing device with the same configuration using the identification information of that other device as the address. |
| US08819464B2 |
Electronic apparatus and system for placing plurality of devices into corresponding power save modes according to priority level
An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of devices configured to operate in a power save mode. A detecting section is configured to detect execution of the function of a device and identify a number of executions of each device. An obtaining section is configured to obtain a frequency of use or usage history of the device based on the number of executions. A priority determining section is configured to determine a priority level of the device in being powered on normally, the priority level being determined in accordance with the frequency of use of the device. A power save mode selecting section holds a plurality of power save modes and configured to select a power save mode from among the plurality of power save modes in accordance with the priority level. A controller is configured to control the plurality of devices based on the selected power save mode. |
| US08819457B2 |
Systems and methods for content playback and recording
A method for content playback and recording may include using a computer to obtain media content from a recorded medium. Concurrently with obtaining the media content, the method may include reencrypting the encrypted media content using a secondary encryption key and storing the reencrypted media content in a storage device. |
| US08819453B1 |
Protection of user-generated information in the cloud
Data is protected from unauthorized access with a combination of technological and legal means. A technological measure is used to control access to a user created data package including a work of original authorship and user data, thus enabling the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to be invoked, thereby making it illegal for a service provider to access the user data without authorization from the creator of the data package. In other instances, data is sent to a cloud service provider in an encrypted format by a user. When the user wishes to authorize access to the data, the user provides a decryption key, which may be generated from the original work, and in some instances, is valid only for a limited period of time. Thus, access to the encrypted data can be effectively controlled by the user, even when it is stored in the cloud. |
| US08819452B2 |
Efficient storage of encrypted data in a dispersed storage network
A method begins with a processing module obtaining data to store and determining whether substantially similar data to the data is stored. When the substantially similar data is not stored, the method continues with the processing module generating a first encryption key based on the data, encoding the first encryption key into encoded data slices in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function, and storing the encoded data slices in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory. The method continues with the processing module encrypting the data using an encryption key of the substantially similar data in accordance with an encryption function to produce encrypted data, compressing the encrypted data in accordance with a compression function to produce compressed data, storing the compressed data when the substantially similar data is stored. |
| US08819447B2 |
Secure storage of protected data in a wireless communication device
A wireless communication device comprises first processing circuitry configured to execute an RF operating system and second processing circuitry configured to execute an open operating system, wherein the first processing circuitry is linked to a secure memory device inaccessible to the second processing circuitry. The RF operating system is configured to receive protected data and store the protected data in the secure memory device. The open operating system is configured to receive a request for the protected data from one of a plurality of user applications and transfer the request to the RF operating system. In response to the request for the protected data, the RF operating system is configured to retrieve the protected data from the secure memory device, encrypt the protected data, and transfer the encrypted protected data to the open operating system for delivery to the one of the user applications associated with the request. |
| US08819446B2 |
Support for secure objects in a computer system
A method and structure in a computer system, including a mechanism supporting a Secure Object that includes code and data that is cryptographically protected from other software on the computer system. |
| US08819441B2 |
Long-term signature server, long-term signature terminal, and long-term signature verification server
A long-term signature server includes a signing target data acquisition function for acquiring signing target data, a signature data transmission function for transmitting to a long-term signature terminal signature data for the electronic-signing of the acquired signing target data, a signature value reception function for receiving an electronic signature value of the signing target data generated using the signature data transmitted from the long-term signature terminal, a time stamp acquisition function for acquiring a time stamp corresponding to the received electronic signature value, and a signature data generation function for generating basic signature data using at least the acquired signing target data, the received electronic signature value, and the acquired time stamp. |
| US08819436B2 |
Protection method, decryption method, recording medium and terminal for said protection method
Protecting data transmission, either multimedia or a control word, between a security processor and a terminal includes, at the security processor, building a current session key by root key diversification as a function of a parameter transmitted by the terminal, decrypting the data, encrypting it with the session key, and transmitting it, and at the terminal, decrypting it using a secret code to obtain plain data, recording, in advance, secret codes, each enabling decryption of only data encrypted by a corresponding session key obtained by root-key diversification with a parameter, which can be the transmitted parameter, receiving the parameter in a message that also contains the data to be decrypted by the security processor, and in response, selecting, from the secret codes, a code for decrypting the data encrypted with the session key, as a function of the parameter or another parameter in the message. |
| US08819425B2 |
Privacy protected interactions with third parties
Various embodiments are directed to computer-implemented methods and systems for a site to facilitate privacy protected interactions between users of a site and a third party utility. For example, a computer may receiving from a user selected from the users of the site, a request to interact with the third party utility. The computer may also encrypt an identification of the user to generate an encrypted user identification associated with the third party utility; and provide the encrypted user identification and the request to the third party utility. |
| US08819424B2 |
Token-based authentication using middle tier
An intermediary system that facilitates a connection request from a client to a server. The intermediary system may participate in either or both of a token creation phase and a server connection phase. If participating in the token creation phase, the intermediary system generates a token that may later be used by the client during a server connection phase. The token includes a session identifier and is returned to the client. If participating in the server connection phase, the intermediary receives the token, extracts the session identifier from the token, and compares against the session identifier for the session in which the token was created. If the session identifiers match, then the intermediary connects to the server to complete the connection request. |
| US08819422B2 |
System and methods for access control based on a user identity
System and methods for access control in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network are based on a user identity. A control point has an identity assertion capability for identifying a user. The control point is configured to declare a value of an attribute associated with the identity assertion capability. A device is communicatively coupled to the control point via the UPnP network. The device has a first access control list and a trusted-to-identify access control list (TIA). The device is configured to permit the user to perform one or more actions based upon whether the user identity appears as a subject in the first access control list. |
| US08819420B1 |
Encryption and decryption approach that prevents exposing clear-text in memory
The present invention provides an encryption/decryption approach to protect valuable information from being represented in a clear-text form when an application processes the valuable information. The present invention processes a structured input file to create internal data structures and generates an encrypted output file from the extracted internal data structures. The encrypted file of internal data structures can be decrypted to enable further processing of the valuable information without representing the valuable information as clear-text in memory. Further, the decrypted internal data structures are stored at different locations in memory. |
| US08819416B2 |
Method and system for modular authentication and session management
Modular authentication and session management involves the use of discrete modules to perform specific tasks in a networked computing environment. There may be a separate authentication server that verifies the identity of the user and an authorization client that grants various levels of access to users. There may also be an authentication client that receives an initial request from a requesting application and forwards the request to the authentication server to verify the identity of the use. The authorization client may then be invoked to provide the necessary level of access. The use of discrete modules allows multiple business applications to use the same modules to perform user authentication tasks, thus alleviating the unnecessary multiplication of code. |
| US08819415B2 |
Method and device for authenticating personal network entity
A method of authenticating a Personal Network Entity (PNE) is provided. The method includes transmitting a PNE serial number (SNPNE) to a CPNS (Converged Personal Network Service) server by a Personal Network GateWay (PN GW); storing an authentication value chain of a PNE transmitted from the CPNS server and an inherent assignment key (TKPNE) that is secret information of a corresponding PNE; encrypting a selected authentication value from among the authentication value chain with the inherent assignment key of the corresponding PNE to transmit the encrypted authentication value to the corresponding PNE and storing the encrypted authentication value in the corresponding PNE; and performing an authentication procedure between the corresponding PNE and the CPNS server by using the encrypted authentication value stored in the PNE. |
| US08819412B2 |
System and method of delivering confidential electronic files
A private document delivery system and method includes a sending computer configured to transmit an electronic document over a computer network, a dynamically established encrypted line to traverse the computer network from a receiving computer to the sending computer where the delivery address of the receiving computer is resolved at the time of transmission of the private message such that no third parties to the message receive a permanent copy of the message. The system and method also includes a signaling mechanism configured to notify the receiving computer that the electronic document is waiting for delivery. The system and method includes a verification agent configured to verify the receiving computer's identity with a protocol specified by the sending computer and to provide access instructions to the receiving computer with which the receiving computer locates the sending computer via the dynamically established encrypted line and receives the transmitted electronic document. |
| US08819407B2 |
Personal messaging security
A method may include creating, by a user device, an electronic message, the electronic message comprising destination information corresponding to an intended recipient of the electronic message. The method many include receiving, by the user device and from a user, a security key corresponding to a particular type of user input and corresponding to the intended recipient of the electronic message. The method may include encrypting, by the user device, the electronic message based on the security key, and the method may include communicating, by the user device, the electronic message based on the destination information corresponding to the intended recipient. |
| US08819406B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
An information processing device including: a data processing unit that generates content for transmitting to a client; and a communication unit that transmits the generated content of the data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit generates, based on basic encrypted content having a plurality of units that each includes a SEED that is data for encryption key generation and a block that is encrypted data that is encrypted by an encryption key generated using the SEED, each data of (a) converted encrypted content on which conversion processing to replace the SEED with dummy data or to delete the SEED is performed, and (b) encrypted SEED that is the SEED encrypted by content transmission processing or by individual keys that are different by units of users at a transmission destination, and transmits the generated converted encrypted content and encrypted SEED as data provided to the client via the communication unit. |
| US08819404B2 |
Method of disseminating advertisements using an embedded media player page
A method of disseminating advertisements includes the step of transmitting to a media device (110) an embedded media player page for playing a media file. The embedded media player page allows a user of the media device (110) to create a bookmark for a browser. The bookmark points to the embedded media player page. The bookmark includes an address of the media file as a parameter. When the bookmark is used in the browser to play the media file, the embedded media player page instructs the media device (110) to request an advertisement from an advertisement server (104) for display in the embedded media player page. |
| US08819403B2 |
Method and device for performing data synchronization of a snapshot image by selectively reloading data from nonvolatile to volatile memory after wakeup from hibernation
A method and apparatus for supporting a hibernation function in a mobile device are provided. In the method, the mobile device detects a wakeup event in a hibernation mode and, in response to the wakeup event, loads a snapshot image into a volatile memory from a snapshot image region of a nonvolatile memory. After the loading of the snapshot image, the mobile device determines whether there is a system status has been modified. If the system status has not been modified, the mobile device finishes a system boot. If the system status has been modified, the mobile device performs data synchronization and then finishes the system boot. |
| US08819401B2 |
Semiconductor device and reset control method in semiconductor device
Reset request from external are held at a reset request holding unit having holding units connected in series; a reset switching unit performs a logical product operation of all of outputs of the holding units to set it as an asynchronous reset request, setting an output of the holding unit at a final stage of the holding units as a synchronous reset request, performing a logical product operation of the asynchronous reset request and the synchronous reset request, and outputs an operation result; the asynchronous reset request is masked in a synchronous reset mode; and a reset signal is output from a reset output unit based on the operation result at the reset switching unit. |
| US08819393B2 |
Facilitating management of storage of a pageable mode virtual environment absent intervention of a host of the environment
Host page management assist functions are employed to manage storage of a pageable mode virtual environment. These functions enable storage to be managed by a processor of the environment absent intervention of a host of the environment. The functions include a resolve host page function; a pin function; and unpin functions. |
| US08819392B2 |
Providing metadata in a translation lookaside buffer (TLB)
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) to store entries each having a translation portion to store a virtual address (VA)-to-physical address (PA) translation and a second portion to store bits for a memory page associated with the VA-to-PA translation, where the bits indicate attributes of information in the memory page. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08819391B1 |
Memory controller with enhanced block management techniques
Methods and apparatuses for managing unusable blocks in a memory module are provided. The memory table may include a plurality of unusable block addresses in the memory module where the plurality of unusable block addresses is arranged in a sequential order in the memory table. A number of unusable blocks in the memory module is identified by reading a word that represents the number of unusable blocks from the memory table. A first pair of addresses comprises a first unusable block address and a first corresponding mapped memory address. The pair of addresses are read from the memory table and stored in a storage element of a controller. Only a single pair of addresses is stored in the storage element of the controller at any one time according to one embodiment. |
| US08819390B1 |
Speculative reads
Patterns of access and/or behavior can be analyzed and persisted for use in pre-fetching data from a physical storage device. In at least some embodiments, data can be aggregated across volumes, instances, users, applications, or other such entities, and that data can be analyzed to attempt to determine patterns for any of those entities. The patterns and/or analysis can be persisted such that the information is not lost in the event of a reboot or other such occurrence. Further, aspects such as load and availability across the network can be analyzed to determine where to send and/or store data that is pre-fetched from disk or other such storage in order to reduce latency while preventing bottlenecks or other such issues with resource availability. |
| US08819389B2 |
Administering registered virtual addresses in a hybrid computing environment including maintaining a watch list of currently registered virtual addresses by an operating system
Administering registered virtual addresses in a hybrid computing environment that includes a host computer and an accelerator, the accelerator architecture optimized, with respect to the host computer architecture, for speed of execution of a particular class of computing functions, the host computer and the accelerator adapted to one another for data communications by a system level message passing module, where administering registered virtual addresses includes maintaining, by an operating system, a watch list of ranges of currently registered virtual addresses; upon a change in physical to virtual address mappings of a particular range of virtual addresses falling within the ranges included in the watch list, notifying the system level message passing module by the operating system of the change; and updating, by the system level message passing module, a cache of ranges of currently registered virtual addresses to reflect the change in physical to virtual address mappings. |
| US08819386B1 |
Memory efficient use of dynamic data structures used to manage sparsely accessed data
When a dynamic data structure is used for managing sparsely accessed data stored in memory of a digital computer, pages of the memory are dynamically allocated and de-allocated to respective portions of the dynamic data structure so that the pages become distributed over the portions of the dynamic data structure and the de-allocated pages include free pages that are mapped in the dynamic data structure and free pages that are not mapped in the dynamic data structure. To reduce memory fragmentation and recover memory, upon de-allocating a page of memory from a portion of the data structure, a determination is made whether or not to un-map the de-allocated page from the portion of the dynamic data structure so that un-mapping of the de-allocated page has a probability that is the inverse of a superlinear function of the number of allocated pages in the portion of the dynamic data structure. |
| US08819378B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for performing memory transactions within such a data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus has processing circuitry for executing a memory access instruction in order to generate a memory transaction comprising at least one address transfer specifying a memory address, and at least one associated data transfer specifying data to be accessed at the specified memory address. The apparatus is arranged to route each address transfer and associated data transfer via a first interface when the specified memory address is within a first memory address range, or to route each address transfer and associated data transfer via a second interface when the specified memory address is within a second memory address range and is further configured, when using the first interface, to execute the memory access instruction so as to cause each address transfer and associated data transfer to be presented at the first interface with a first relative timing. |
| US08819375B1 |
Method for selective defragmentation in a data storage device
A data storage device is disclosed including a non-volatile media having a plurality of physical locations for storing user data, each physical location associated with a logical block address (LBA), a translation table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a mapping of one or more LBAs to a corresponding number of physical locations on the non-volatile media. The data storage device further includes control circuitry that divides the translation table into a plurality of segments, each segment including a group of entries corresponding to a range of LBAs, determines a first score for each segment using a first metric, and selects a segment for defragmentation by utilizing the first score for each segment. |
| US08819374B1 |
Techniques for performing data migration
Described are techniques for migrating data from a source device of a source data storage system to a target device of a target data storage system. The target data storage system is configured to operate in accordance with a spoofing mode and a pass-through mode. A first set of commands from the host are processed for the target device when in the pass-through mode and the spoofing mode with respect to the target device. Data is migrated from the source device to the target device. The target data storage system is configured to operate in an echo mode for the target device and processes a second set of commands from the host when in the echo mode for the target device using information stored in the cache from processing the first set of commands. |
| US08819369B1 |
Restoring a virtual machine
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for restoring an original virtual machine from a snapshot according to a current virtual machine layout different than an original virtual machine layout, where the original virtual machine layout is specified within the snapshot. That is, a snapshot of an original virtual machine stored within one or more original datastores according to an original virtual machine layout may be created. Over time, as changes occur to the virtual machine, the original virtual machine may be stored as a current virtual machine according to a current virtual machine layout. To effect the restoration, a cloned datastore comprising replicas of the original datastores may be created from the snapshot, and a cloned virtual machine and one or more cloned virtual machine disks (from the cloned datastore) may be migrated to one or more current datastores according to the current virtual machine layout. |
| US08819365B2 |
Flexible data storage system
Methods and systems for managing and locating available storage space in a system comprising data files stored in a plurality of storage devices and configured in accordance with various data storage schemes (mirroring, striping and parity-striping). A mapping table associated with each of the plurality of storage devices is used to determine the available locations and amount of available space in the storage devices. The data storage schemes for one or more of the stored data files are changed to a basic storage mode when the size of a new data file configured in accordance with an assigned data storage scheme exceeds the amount of available space. The configured new data file is stored in accordance with the assigned data storage scheme in one or more of the available locations and the locations of the new data file are recorded. |
| US08819360B2 |
Information processing apparatus, cache apparatus, and data processing method
A more efficient technique is provided in an information processing apparatus which executes processing using pipelines. An information processing apparatus according to this invention includes a first pipeline, second pipeline, processing unit, and reorder unit. The first pipeline has a plurality of first nodes, and shifts first data held in a first node to a first node. The second pipeline has a plurality of second nodes respectively corresponding to the first nodes of the first pipeline, and shifts second data held in a second node to a second node. The processing unit executes data processing using the first data and the second data. The reorder unit holds one of the output second data based on attribute information of the second data output from the second pipeline, and outputs the held second data to the second pipeline. |
| US08819359B2 |
Hybrid interleaving in memory modules by interleaving physical addresses for a page across ranks in a memory module
A memory system that interleaves storage of data across and within a plurality memory modules is described. The memory system includes a hybrid interleaving mechanism which maps physical addresses to locations within memory modules and ranks so that physical addresses for a given page all map to the same memory module, and physical addresses for the given page are interleaved across the plurality of ranks which comprise the same memory module. |
| US08819358B2 |
Data storage device, memory system, and computing system using nonvolatile memory device
Provided is a data storage device including two or more data storage areas including may have two or more (heterogeneous) types of nonvolatile memory cells. At least one of the data storage areas includes a plurality of memory blocks that are sequentially selected, and metadata are stored in the currently selected memory block. The memory blocks can be sequentially used and metadata can be stored in a uniformly-distributed manner throughout the data storage device. Therefore, separate merging and wear-leveling operations are unnecessary. Thus, it is possible to improve the lifetime and writing performance of a data storage device having two or more heterogeneous nonvolatile memories. |
| US08819357B2 |
Method and system for ensuring cache coherence of metadata in clustered file systems
Metadata of a shared file in a clustered file system is changed in a way that ensures cache coherence amongst servers that can simultaneously access the shared file. Before a server changes the metadata of the shared file, it waits until no other server is attempting to access the shared file, and all I/O operations to the shared file are blocked. After writing the metadata changes to the shared file, local caches of the other servers are updated, as needed, and I/O operations to the shared file are unblocked. |
| US08819355B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes: a storage unit having a plurality of storage areas which holds storage data including main body data and order data according to the writing order of the storage data, a receiving unit respectively receiving a plurality of reception data including the main body data and the order data, a comparing unit determining whether or not to write the reception data to the storage area on the basis of a result obtained by comparing the order data included in one or a plurality of storage data from the last in the storage area with the order data included in the reception data received by the receiving unit, and a writing unit writing the reception data to the storage area as the storage data in accordance with the determination made by the comparing unit. |
| US08819353B2 |
Host bus adapters with shared memory and battery backup
The present disclosure includes methods and systems that share memory located on one PCIe based HBA across other PCIe based HBAs in the system. In addition, the backup battery is effectively shared across multiple PCIe based HBAs in the system. This approach saves significant costs by avoiding the need to have a separate DRAM with its own dedicated battery backup on each HBA board in the system. This also allows the redundant memory and backup batteries to be removed while still retaining the same functionality through the common DDR3 memory chip and battery backup shared across multiple HBAs in the system. The component cost for batteries and memory, management module, board space, and the board manufacturing cost are all reduced as a result. |
| US08819351B2 |
Management of host passthrough and session commands using resource groups
For at least one storage resource object associated with at least one of the plurality of resource groups by a resource group attribute, at least one policy is defined for limiting host requests to the storage resources in the at least one of the plurality of resource groups to prevent an issuance of the host requests to an unowned one of the storage resources. |
| US08819350B2 |
Memory system
A memory system includes a plurality of storage groups, each of which includes a nonvolatile first storing unit and a second storing unit as a buffer memory of the first storing unit and is capable of performing data transfer between the first storing unit and the second storing unit, and a plurality of MPUs. A first control for data transfer between the host device and the first storing unit via the second storing unit for one of the storage groups and a second control including a control for maintenance of the first storing unit for other storage groups are allocated to the MPUs to be performed independently by the MPUs. |
| US08819349B2 |
Invoking operating system functionality without the use of system calls
Embodiments of the invention operate within the context of a system with a processor providing memory-monitoring functionality. The lower-privileged code of a first process, such as user application code, communicates directly with higher-privileged code of a second process, such as interrupt-handling code of the operating system kernel, without using a software interrupt or other gate mechanism. This enhances overall system performance by eliminating the saving of state and processing inherent in interrupt handling, and also avoids missing events that may occur while other interrupts are masked during event handling. Specifically, the second process initializes a monitored memory area that is directly accessible by processes having at least the privilege level of the first process. The second process further initializes memory-monitoring hardware of the processor to monitor writes to the monitored memory area, such that the second process will resume execution from a dormant state when a write takes place. |
| US08819345B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for inter-core communication in multi-core processors
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments of the invention are disclosed for efficient communication between processor units in a multi-core processor integrated circuit architecture. In example embodiments of the invention, a method comprises: storing with a shared inter-core communication unit in a multi-core processor, first data produced by a producer processor core, in a first token memory located at a first memory address of a memory address space; and connecting with the shared inter-core communication unit, the first token memory to a consumer processor core of the multi-core processor, to load the first data from the first token memory into the consumer processor core, in response to a first-type command from the producer processor core. |
| US08819342B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing page crossing instructions with different cacheability
An instruction in an instruction cache line having a first portion that is cacheable, a second portion that is from a page that is non-cacheable, and crosses a cache line is prevented from executing from the instruction cache. An attribute associated with the non-cacheable second portion is tracked separately from the attributes of the rest of the instructions in the cache line. If the page crossing instruction is reached for execution, the page crossing instruction and instructions following are flushed and a non-cacheable request is made to memory for at least the second portion. Once the second portion is received, the whole page crossing instruction is reconstructed from the first portion saved in the previous fetch group. The page crossing instruction or portion thereof is returned with the proper attribute for a non-cached fetched instruction and the reconstructed instruction can be executed without being cached. |
| US08819341B2 |
Method and device for caching in a wireless peer-to-peer network
The invention relates to a method and entity that allow for saving of uplink bandwidth in connection with peer-to-peer sharing in a wireless communication system. A caching entity, called a reverse cache, intercepts a point-to-point connection between a mobile network user plane gateway and a wireless user equipment running a peer-to-peer application. The reverse cache caches content loaded to the peer-to-peer application and stores information indicative of the wireless user equipment to which the cached content is loaded. A request on the point-to-point connection for delivery of a first content from the wireless user equipment is intercepted by the reverse cache. When the requested first content is cached in the reverse cache along with information indicating that the requested first content has been loaded to the wireless user equipment, the reverse cache responds by delivering the requested first content, without involving the wireless user equipment. |
| US08819334B2 |
Solid state drive data storage system and method
The present disclosure relates to a data storage system and method that includes at least two solid state devices that can be classified in at least two different efficiency levels, wherein data progression is used to allocate data to the most cost-appropriate device according to the nature of the data. |
| US08819333B2 |
Using the short stroked portion of hard disk drives for a mirrored copy of solid state drives
Mechanisms for storing data to a storage system comprising a set of one or more solid state storage devices and a set of non-solid state storage devices are provided. A request to write data to the storage system is received and the data is written to the set of one or more solid state storage devices in response to receiving the request. Moreover, a mirror copy of the data is written to the set of non-solid state storage devices in response to receiving the request. Thus, the non-solid state storage devices serve as a mirror backup copy of the data stored to the solid state storage devices. |
| US08819331B2 |
Memory system and memory controller
A memory system according to the embodiment comprises a memory device including a plurality of memory cells operative to store storage data, the storage containing input data from external to which parity information is added; and a memory controller operative to convert between the input data and the storage data, the storage data containing information data corresponding to the input data, and a relationship between the information data and the input data being nonlinearly. |
| US08819329B2 |
Nonvolatile storage device, access device and nonvolatile storage system
A memory controller includes a reading/writing control unit for controlling writing and reading of data to and from a physical block of a nonvolatile memory, a writing mode table for storing one of a first writing mode of protecting data against a power shutdown during writing and a second writing mode of writing data at a higher speed than the first writing mode, and a setting unit for setting the writing mode received from an access device in a writing mode table. The reading/writing control unit performs data writing based on the writing mode that has been set in the writing mode table. |
| US08819328B2 |
Controller and method for performing background operations
The embodiments described herein provide a controller and method for performing a background commands or operations. In one embodiment, a controller is provided with interfaces through which to communicate with a host and a plurality of flash memory devices. The controller contains a processor operative to perform a foreground command received from the host, wherein the processor performs the foreground command to completion without interruption. The processor is also operative to perform a background commands or operations stored in the controller's memory, wherein the processor performs the background command until completed or preempted by a foreground command. If the background command is preempted, the processor can resume performing the background command at a later time until completed. |
| US08819327B2 |
Communication system having a can bus and a method for operating such a communication system
A communication system having one CAN bus and at least two devices interconnected by the CAN bus is described, at least one of the devices including: i) a CAN controller, which is suitable for transmitting CAN data frames over the CAN bus using a first physical protocol in a first operating mode; ii) an asynchronous serial communication interface unit, which is suitable for transmitting ASC data frames over the CAN bus using a second physical protocol in a second operating mode; iii) a first switching means, which is suitable for switching the first operating mode and the second operating mode depending on at least one agreement in effect between the device and at least one of the other devices; and iv) another switching means, which is suitable for switching the device to a third (restricted) operating mode, which differs from the first operating mode and the second operating mode, for powering up the device. |
| US08819318B2 |
System and method for switching use of serial port
A baseboard management controller (BMC) of a server includes a general purpose input output (GPIO) pin. An voltage level of the GPIO level determines if a BIOS of the server or the BMC uses a serial port of the server. If the BMC wants to use the serial port and the voltage level of the GPIO pin is at a high level, the serial port can be used by the BMC. If the BMC wants to use the serial port but the voltage level of the GPIO pin is not at the high level, the serial port is be used by the BIOS. If the BIOS has been initialized, the voltage level of the GPIO pin is pulled up. |
| US08819317B1 |
Processing input/output requests using proxy and owner storage systems
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include configuring a first storage system as a proxy for a logical volume stored on a second storage system. The first computer system receives an I/O request from a host computer for the logical volume, the host computer, and identifies a port on the second storage system for the I/O request. In some embodiments, the second storage system has multiple SCSI ports, and the identified port comprises a least busy SCSI port. A probe request verifying availability of the logical volume is conveyed to the identified port, and upon receiving a response from the second storage system verifying the availability of the logical volume for the I/O request, the I/O request is conveyed to the identified port, a result of the I/O request is received from the identified port, the result is conveyed to the host computer. |
| US08819313B1 |
Traffic management system
A real-time traffic management system comprising a main light controller module configured to monitor and control functionality of one or more traffic lights, a master control unit server software application, a network operations control module, and a network watcher application program. The main light controller module communicates with one or more coordinating light controller modules, onsite personnel, and a network operations center. The main light controller uses a camera that detects instances of vehicle demand and provides live images for situational awareness. The main light controller module comprises a global positioning satellite receiver and a light sensor for monitoring ambient lighting conditions. The network watcher application program continuously scans incoming data, monitors performance of all components in the system, and issues alerts and alarms to notify personnel of events or conditions outside of established tolerances. |
| US08819308B1 |
Pseudo writing system and method
A method, computer program product, and computing system for combining a plurality of discrete IO write requests to form a combined IO write request, wherein the plurality of IO write requests define data to be written to a storage network. The combined IO write request is provided to a pseudo multi-write device included within the storage network. |
| US08819306B2 |
General input/output architecture with PCI express protocol with credit-based flow control
An enhanced general input/output communication architecture, protocol and related methods are presented. |
| US08819303B2 |
Deferred transfer of content to optimize bandwidth usage
In one embodiment, a method includes determining a request for a transfer of content where the request is associated with a user device. It is determined if a deferred transfer should be performed. The deferred transfer defers the transfer of the content with a completion by a completion time. The request is stored in a queue where the request is associated with the completion time. The method processes the request from the queue to transfer the content at a start time. The content is transferred by the completion time. The method then adjusts, for a user associated with the user device, a charging parameter for the transfer due to the transfer being deferred. |
| US08819294B2 |
Hardware control interface for IEEE standard 802.11 including transmission control interface component
A standardized 802.11 hardware control interface may be provided such that a driver may communicate with any one or more of a variety of network adapters. |
| US08819291B2 |
Compression on thin provisioned volumes using extent based mapping
A set of logical extents, each having compressed logical tracks of data, is mapped to a head physical extent and, if the head physical extent is determined to have been filled, to at least one overflow extent having spatial proximity to the head physical extent. Pursuant to at least one subsequent write operation and destage operation, the at least one subsequent write operation and destage operation determined to be associated with the head physical extent, the write operation is mapped to one of the head physical extent, the at least one overflow extent, and an additional extent having spatial proximity to the at least one overflow extent. |
| US08819287B2 |
System and method for compressing URL request parameters
Method and system for compressing URL request parameters is provided. At least a portion of a URL is converted from a first form into at least a second form and communicated. |
| US08819285B1 |
System and method for managing network communications
The invention relates to managing network communications packets on a local segment of a network. If an attack on the network segment is detected, the system creates one or more synthetic hardware addresses for substitution with existing hardware address. If this substitution is maintained in address resolution tables, packets sent to or from an attacker may be monitored, managed, dropped, or responded to in a controlled manner while preventing communication with sensitive devices on the local network segment. If a permissible packet is sent to the synthetic hardware address, the packet may be reformulated by a server, workstation, smart router, or security device, among others and sent with the appropriate hardware address. The synthetic hardware address may be a hardware address not associated with a device on the local network segment. For example, the synthetic hardware address may be synthetic MAC address. |
| US08819281B2 |
Method and system for forwarding a message in a session initiation protocol based communications network
Method and system for forwarding a message in a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, based communications network, to a first and second SIP user equipment of a subscriber via a controller server and one of a plurality of traffic handler servers. The first user equipment may have first capabilities different from second capabilities of the second user equipment. The controller server receives the message; determines which first traffic handler server of the plurality of traffic handler servers is arranged for providing a first service associated with the first capabilities, and which second traffic handler server of the plurality of traffic handler servers is arranged for providing a second service associated with the second capabilities; and forwards the message to the first user equipment via the first traffic handler server, and to the second user equipment via the second traffic handler server. |
| US08819277B2 |
System and method for delivering alerts
A technique is provided for delivering an alert to a user. The technique includes identifying which single device of a user's multiple devices should receive the alert. A server is configured to collect device statistics about the user's devices and determine which device should receive the alert. Example device statistics include locations of the devices, last use time of the devices, statistics received from other applications that the user is accessing (e.g., email, search engine, applications, mobile apps, etc.), statistics from other users in the same location as the user, statistics from cameras, motion detectors, or proximity sensors associated with the devices, history/pattern of the user consuming previous alerts, what type of message is associated with the alert (e.g., email, SMS, picture, video, etc.), and/or whether a particular device is ON/OFF or locked/unavailable, among others. |
| US08819276B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of processing printing operation on home network
An apparatus, a system, and a method of processing a printing operation on a home network that searches an available media storage device upon a request of a printing job of predetermined contents, transmits an address of the searched media storage device, and prints printing contents transmitted to the address are provided. The apparatus for processing a printing function on a home network includes a printing request management unit which processes a printing request transmitted from a printing controller on a home network; a media storage device processing unit which provides information on an available media storage device on the home network when printing job information is transmitted from the printing request management unit; and a printing management unit which downloads predetermined contents stored in the media storage device, and performs a printing job according to the printing request of the printing controller. |
| US08819275B2 |
Load balancing and session persistence in packet networks
Methods and systems for performing load balancing and session persistence in IP (e.g., IPv6) networks are described herein. Some aspects relate to a destination options extension header that may be defined as a load balancing session persistence option (LBSPO) for storing a client identifier and a server identifier for each of a client and a server during a session. Packets sent between the client and the server may include the LBSPO with the client and server identifiers. A load balancer with a virtual IP address of a target application can perform session persistence and assign a destination server to a client based on a preexisting session between the server and the client, as determined by the LBSPO information. While a target VIP node may process data packets based on the LBSPO information, once established, the LBSPO information may remain unchanged for the duration of the session. |
| US08819269B2 |
Adaptive bit rate method and system using retransmission and replacement
An adaptive method and system for dynamically facilitating access to higher quality content in the event transport of the higher quality content requires a greater allocation of network resources when compared to transport of the same content at a lower quality. |
| US08819267B2 |
Network virtualization without gateway function
A local network, such as a data center, includes a plurality of servers each of which are linked to a network switch. Some of the plurality of servers are network virtualization capable and some are not. The network virtualization capable servers include functionality that encapsulates a data frame, generated by one network virtualization servers that is to be sent to another network virtualization capable server, with a network virtualization identity. In the event that a network virtualization server generates a data frame for transmission to a server that is not capable of network virtualization, the network virtualization capable server does not encapsulate the data frame with the network virtualization identity. |
| US08819266B2 |
Dynamic file transfer scheduling and server messaging
According to some embodiments, first and second schedule patterns are determined. For example, a graphical user interface might be used to indicate the times, days, and/or weeks when information is to be transferred. A first transfer of information may be scheduled between remote devices in accordance with the first schedule pattern, and a second transfer may be scheduled in accordance with the second schedule pattern. Moreover, a third transfer of information between remote devices may be automatically scheduled in accordance with both the first and second schedule patterns. |
| US08819263B2 |
Method and user interface for downloading audio and video content filters to a media player
A client server arrangement for downloading media content filters from a server device to a client device. The media content filters define portions of a separate audio visual presentation containing potentially objectionable subject matter. Depending on user selections, identified portions of the audio/visual presentation may be skipped and/or muted during play. In one particular implementation, the client device, e.g., a DVD player, is configured to initiate a connection with a server device. Upon successful connection, the server device transmits one or more media content filters to the client device. The client device may be configured to determine whether a particular media content filter is available, to facilitate deletion of some existing media content filters in order to secure adequate memory space, and to ensure that the media player has an active account, before initiating a connection with the server device. The server device may be configured to determine whether the media player is associated with an active user account, whether a requested filter is available, and whether adequate memory space is available at the media player, before transmitting media content filters to the client device. |
| US08819261B2 |
Load-balancing an asymmetrical distributed erasure-coded system
Load-balancing an asymmetrical distributed erasure-coded system including fractional-storage CDN servers, storing, at a high storage gain, erasure-coded fragments encoded with a redundancy factor greater than one from segments, and a plurality of assembling devices, each obtaining fragments from a subgroup of the servers. The subgroups are selected from the servers still capable of increasing their fragment delivery throughput. Wherein not all of the servers have the same fragment delivery bandwidth capability, and the storage gain of each segment on each server is usually not strictly proportional to the bandwidth capability of the server, and the aggregated throughput used by the servers to deliver fragments may approach the aggregated bandwidth capabilities of the servers. |
| US08819258B2 |
Architecture for building multi-media streaming applications
A streaming engine and method includes a plurality of input types configured to pass one of samples and frames from an input stream. A processing block is configured to process the samples and frames independently of input and output types and produce any kind of output samples and frames in accordance with processing elements employed in the processing block. A plurality of output types is configured to initiate a session which determines connections between inputs and outputs so that the samples and the frames are received from the processing block in accordance with the session to appropriately direct the stream. |
| US08819253B2 |
Network message generation for automated authentication
A message generation mechanism for a network interface is provided. The message generation mechanism is operable to generate a message which includes data for signing and authentication procedure instructions. The message is for conveying information to a user device for presentation to a user via a user interface of the user device. The data is arranged in the message in a manner which permits the user device to utilize the data in an automated signing procedure. The automated signing procedure may be a digital signing procedure. The data for signing may be random data, pseudo-random data or secure random data and may be arranged in the message in a manner which avoids presentation to the user. |
| US08819252B1 |
Transaction rate limiting
Transaction rate limiting is provided to monitor new connections. If the number of new connections requested by a particular client exceeds a predetermined threshold value, then the client may be frozen out for a configured period of time. By denying access for the configured period of time, the client is prevented from monopolizing a particular client. Additionally, if the client does have malicious intent, a denial of service attack may be thwarted. The denial of service may be accomplished without alerting the client. This prevents a malicious client from regrouping and attempting an assault via a different mechanism. |
| US08819250B2 |
Method for the computer-aided determination of a control variable,controller, regulating system and computer program product
A method for the computer-aided determination of a control variable using context information from one or more units to be controlled is described. This method involves a controller using simulation to ascertain a piece of simulated context information which is used as a control variable, wherein the simulated context information comprises a first variable which represents a presumed state of the one or more units at a given time. The controller compares a received piece of context information, which comprises a second variable which represents the actual state of the unit to be controlled at a time which is before the given time, with the simulated context information and checks whether the simulated context information matches the context information within prescribed limits. In addition, the controller requests a piece of updated context information from one or more units to be controlled if the simulated context information matches the context information at the given time outside the present limits. |
| US08819248B2 |
Secure messaging facility system
A secure message facility transfers authentication data between various applications, operating systems, and authentication devices and software in the form of messages. These messages comprise a data structure with a standard header with fields that describe the class, length, and type of message, and routing information. This header information is used to route the message to the appropriate handler. The messages are transferred between applications via the messaging facility DLL and the messaging facility Service. The messaging facility DLL is intended to be loaded by an application. The messaging facility DLL forms the messages, directs them to the appropriate messaging facility service (local or remote) and interprets the responses. The messages sent between the messaging facility DLL and messaging facility Service are extremely flexible and can be used to send any type of data or content of messages. |
| US08819242B2 |
Method and system to transfer data utilizing cut-through sockets
A method and system to exchange information between computer applications are provided. The system may include a source operating system, a destination operating system and an offload stack, all residing on the device. The source operating system and the destination operating system appear to users as distinct network entities. The offload stack may be configured to function as an intermediate network device for the source operating system. The offload stack, in one embodiment, comprises a back end to receive a message from the source operating system to the destination operating system, an analyzer to determine that the destination operating system resides on the device and a cut though socket module to process the message such that a network layer of the offload stack is bypassed. |
| US08819241B1 |
System and method for a self service portal and automation for internally hosted virtual server resources
A method and apparatus may provision a new computer code file as an update or a new application for end nodes of a cloud computing system. The method and apparatus may receive a computer code file at a repository server via a portal interface to an automation service. The computer code file may include a discrete file or package of files corresponding to a complete application or an update for an application for execution on cloud computing system nodes. The method and apparatus may also receive provisioning conditions at the automation service via the portal interface, send the computer code file to the cloud computing system end nodes based on the received provisioning conditions, and cause the sent computer code file to be installed on each of the plurality of cloud computing system end nodes. |
| US08819240B2 |
Managing computing environment entitlement contracts and associated resources using cohorting
Mechanisms are provided for managing computing resources relative to a computing environment entitlement contract. These mechanisms generate one or more computing environment entitlement contract (CEEC) data structures, each CEEC data structure defining terms of a business level agreement between a contracting party and a provider of the data processing system. A CEEC cohort is generated comprising a collection of CEECs having similar terms. Utilization of a collection of computing resources in accordance with the similar terms of the collection of CEECs is monitored to identify a usage pattern within the CEEC cohort. Membership of a CEEC in the CEEC cohort based on the identified usage pattern is modified based on the monitored utilization. |
| US08819239B2 |
Distributed resource management systems and methods for resource management thereof
Distributed resource management systems and methods thereof are provided. Distributed resource management system at least includes resource managers (RMs) and resource consumers (RCs). RMs obtain current usage information of the resources of the distributed resource management system and generate first distributed resource graphs according to the current usage information of the resources. RMs obtain identification information of the RMs and generate second distributed resource graphs according to the identification information. RCs obtain a resource expense information regarding resource expense required by a plurality of jobs and generates third distributed resource graphs according to the resource expense information. A compound distributed resource graph (CDRG) is obtained by combining the first, second, and third distributed resource graphs and then the jobs to be performed by a corresponding amount of the resources within the distributed resource management system are determined according to the CDRG. |
| US08819237B2 |
Method for monitoring and providing information over a peer to peer network
The present invention relates to a pseudonode used for deployment on a peer to peer network which pseudonode comprises an IP address and client ID that is changeable upon the occurrence of a preselected event and includes a list containing at least one searchable data object. The pseudonode is programmed for monitoring the network to receive search requests therefrom and to compare each said received search with said list of data objects and to respond to such request. The pseudonode has at least one stored object corresponding to a request object stored at said pseudonode; and monitors the network to detect requests matching at least one of the stored objects and acquires a unique ID generated by any network node requesting the object matching that stored object on the pseudonode and responding to substantially each node representing an acquired ID. |
| US08819235B2 |
Multi-adapter link aggregation for adapters with hardware based virtual bridges
Mechanisms for providing a network adapter and functionality for performing link aggregation within a network adapter are provided. With these mechanisms, a network adapter is provided that includes a plurality of physical network ports for coupling to one or more switches of a data network and a link aggregation module, within the network adapter, and coupled to the plurality of physical network ports. The link aggregation module comprises logic for aggregating links associated with the plurality of physical network ports into a single virtual link. The link aggregation module interfaces with a virtual Ethernet bridge (VEB) of the network adapter to send data to the VEB and receive data from the VEB. |
| US08819231B2 |
Domain based management of partitions and resource groups
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for domain based partition and resource group management is disclosed. The method includes: responsive to determining that an operation is being attempted on an object, determining a partition identifier associated with the object; determining a domain identifier associated with a user attempting the operation; determining whether the operation can proceed on the partition based on domain isolation rules, the domain isolation rules indicating rules for allowing or disallowing operations to proceed on the partition based on partition identifiers and domain identifiers; and responsive to determining that the operation on the partition can proceed based on the domain isolation rules, permitting the operation. |
| US08819228B2 |
Detecting the health of an operating system in virtualized and non-virtualized environments
A remote management controller is provided for use in conjunction with a managed host computer. The remote management controller exposes a virtual network interface controller, such as a driverless virtual USB network interface controller, to the managed host computer. Through the in-band connection provided by the virtual network interface controller, the remote management controller can send a command to the host operating system or one or more guest operating systems executing in a virtualized environment. If no reply is received to the command, the remote management controller takes corrective action to restore the operation of the host operating system or the non-responsive guest operating systems. |
| US08819227B1 |
Discerning web content and services based on real-time DNS tagging
A method for profiling network traffic of a network, including obtaining a plurality of flows comprising a plurality of client IP addresses, a plurality of server IP addresses, and a plurality of server ports, extracting a plurality of fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) from a plurality of DNS flows in the network traffic, analyzing correlation between the plurality of flows and the plurality of FQDNs to generate a result, and presenting the result to an administrator user of the network. |
| US08819226B2 |
Server cluster monitoring
A master monitor spawns a local monitor in each node of a server cluster. Each local monitor, responsive to a database event, determines a metric of a performance-related variable. A maximum period between measurements may be imposed to reduce irrelevant results, as may a minimum period. The metric may be stored in a measurement file on the respective node and/or may be reported to the master monitor. The master monitor may make any reported metrics available to a user via a front end. |
| US08819225B2 |
Hardware-assisted integrity monitor
A hardware-assisted integrity monitor may include one or more target machines and/or monitor machines. A target machine may include one or more processors, which may include one or more system management modes (SMM). A SMM may include one or more register checking modules, which may be configured to determine one or more current CPU register states. A SMM may include one or more acquiring modules, which may be configured to determine one or more current memory states. A SMM may include one or more network modules, which may be configured to direct one or more communications, for example of one or more current CPU register states and/or current memory states, to a monitor machine. A monitor machine may include one or more network modules and/or analysis modules. An analysis module may be configured to determine memory state differences and/or determine CPU register states differences. |
| US08819224B2 |
Health and welfare monitoring of network server operations
Methods, systems and computer program products for monitoring and analysis of network servers and web analytics programs are disclosed. A monitoring program, for example, is configured to monitor the status of web analytics program(s) associated with one or more network servers. The monitoring program may monitor server-specific metrics such as server free disk space, server available memory, server on-line/off-line status, report processing time, difference between system time and log file time, table size details, etc. The program may be configured to present status indicators to the user that are indicative of the health of the web analytics program and/or server. A user may receive an alert generated by the monitoring program regarding a change in web analytics program status. Additionally, the monitoring program may be configured to automatically take corrective action to remedy or prevent a critical event that may cause loss of data or delay web analytics reporting. |
| US08819220B2 |
Management method of computer system and management system
To provide a fault analysis result classification function capable of reducing the time required to eliminate a fault in a monitoring target apparatus. The fault analysis results (fault cause candidates) obtained during the fault analysis processing are classified for the influence range of each of the fault cause candidates by analyzing which of the other fault cause candidates relate to the fault events of the apparatus abnormal state, which are used as the basis to derive the each of the fault cause candidates. Further, the classification results are displayed on a GUI. |
| US08819216B2 |
User interface
A method of controlling communication quality between one node and at least one other node in a packet switched communication system, the method comprising the steps of detecting at one of said nodes a condition that indicates that communication quality is below an acceptable threshold, automatically generating instructions based on the detected condition for a user of the at least one node, said instructions intended to provide a remedy to improve the communication quality, and receiving input from a user of the at least one node responsive to the instructions to implement the remedy and thereby improve the communication quality. |
| US08819206B2 |
Graph based flexible service discovery and management system and method
An article including at least one computer readable medium storing a network management application comprising computer executable code that upon execution by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to receive and execute the computer executable code of the network management application to store an identifier indicative of a candidate service in a database, receive the information indicative of managed entities from the one or more input devices, transform the data indicative of the managed entities into neutral data structure represented by graphs, vertices and edges, store these neutral data structures in the database and determine whether the telecommunication network is configured to execute the candidate service by applying predetermined rules on these neutral data structures. |
| US08819202B1 |
Service configuration and deployment engine for provisioning automation
A method for automating provisioning of services in a target computer system. The method includes providing a set of provisioning adaptors each defining an interface to a provisioning application and receiving a provisioning request from a user interface. The method further includes identifying one of the provisioning applications for completing a provisioning operation based on the received provisioning request, and then, invoking the identified one of the provisioning applications using one of the interfaces defined by one of the provisioning adaptors associated with the provisioning tool or application. The method includes providing agents on the components of the target computer system collecting configuration regarding the components from the provisioning agents, and using the collected data during identifying provisioning applications and invoking the identified applications. Dependencies are determined during the method that need to be complied with during provisioning, and the method includes ensuring compliance with these dependencies. |
| US08819201B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing routing and access control filters
A method and apparatus for providing an access control filter and/or a route filter in a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a new filter rule or a modified filter rule associated with at least one of: a routing policy, or a security policy. The method creates or modifies one or more filter templates in accordance with the new filter rule or the modified filter rule. The method identifies one or more affected interfaces and audits the one or more affected interfaces. The method then generates one or more commands in accordance with the one or more filter templates if the auditing of the one or more affected interfaces is successful, and downloads filter content to one or more routers using the one or more commands. |
| US08819196B2 |
Selection and configuration of servers
The invention provides a mechanism for convenient management for configuring and selecting servers for running modules. The invention provides a method for managing a plurality of servers including receiving a request to configure a suitable server being suitable for running a module, locating an identifier of the suitable server from a table comprising identifiers of suitable servers, configuring the suitable server to run the module. |
| US08819181B2 |
Adaptable network service access through dynamic request routing
In an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network in which multiple subscriber data servers are deployed with partitioned subscription data for users, a subscriber location function (SLF) is used to proxy queries to a subscriber data server (such as an HSS) in which subscription data for a user can be found. The SLF receives a query for the subscriber data server, looks up the address of appropriate subscriber data server and proxies the query to the appropriate subscriber data server. Preferably, the SLF is co-located with a subscriber data server. |
| US08819180B2 |
Integrated handset browser settings
A mobile computing device with a mobile operating system and desktop operating system running concurrently and independently on a shared kernel without virtualization. The mobile operating system provides a user experience for the mobile computing device that suits the mobile environment. The desktop operating system provides a full desktop user experience when the mobile computing device is docked to a second user environment. A seamless cross-environment workflow is provided in a multi-operating system computing environment. Two or more application programs, running in independent operating systems, share user interaction state information including user data, user settings, and/or application context information. Interaction state information may be shared for applications that are used primarily to access and edit local user content as well as applications that communicate to a remote server or access and navigate other remote content (i.e., Internet-based application, browser). |
| US08819177B2 |
Adding personalized value to web sites
The present invention adds new value to the Web, such as to improve accessibility, while maintaining changes to existing web sites to a minimum. An example system includes a first Web server and at least one other Web server, wherein a Web page can be displayed on a Web browser in a client device connected with the first Web server and the other Web server via a network, wherein the first Web server registers URLs of files providing added value for each of the first Web server and the other Web server that are defined as a set of Web servers to be provided with the same added value, and wherein the first Web server and the other Web server display an existing Web page in the Web browser, and provide the added value to the Web page by manipulating a DOM from another frame or another window. |
| US08819173B2 |
System and method for effectively implementing an electronic image manager device
A system and method for effectively implementing an electronic image manager device includes one or more input/output interfaces for bi-directionally communicating with various information sources to transfer content information that includes image data. The electronic image manager device also includes a memory device for archiving the content information, and an application program that manipulates the content information by performing various procedures such as downloading and uploading the content information, organizing and managing the content information, editing the content information, and displaying the content information. |
| US08819172B2 |
Smartphone-based methods and systems
Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08819169B2 |
Prompting service
Computer-readable media, computer systems, and computing methods are provided for establishing and updating a prompting scheme for soliciting feedback from a customer. Initially, the customer provides a type of occasion to monitor and temporal criteria for receiving communications from a service. The service generates a prompting scheme based on the type of occasion in order to properly compose solicitations for feedback from the customer. Also, the service uses the temporal criteria for establishing the prompting scheme, which influences the scheduling of communications bearing the solicitations, respectively. Upon delivering the communications, interaction between the customer and the service is monitored and evaluated in order to update the prompting scheme. Specifically, the scheduling of communications is updated based upon the most common time periods at which the customer responds to the communications, while the composition of the solicitations is updated based upon which communications the customer considers worthy of response. |
| US08819168B2 |
Link expansion service
Various embodiments enable an application to obtain information associated with a link to content without navigating to the link. The application can be configured to identify a link, receive input to attain information associated with the link, and send a request to a service for the information. In one or more embodiments, a service can be configured to receive a request for information associated with a link, ascertain one or more sources from which to gather the information, determine appropriate mechanisms by which to obtain the information, and acquire the information. Alternately or additionally, the service can further assemble the information into a consumable format, and return the consumable format to a requesting application or device. |
| US08819167B2 |
Apparatus and method for requesting and transferring contents
Disclosed are an apparatus and method enabling a user to efficiently share contents. A user of an electronic device performs an image capturing by use of a camera, thereby generating an image capture event. According to the image capture event, the electronic device obtains address information of a content transferring apparatus and transfers a content requesting message to the content transferring apparatus having the address information. Upon reception of the content requesting message, the content transferring apparatus provides the electronic device with contents in execution and status information of the content. The electronic device uses the content and the status information to restore a status of the content which has been executed in the content transferring apparatus. |
| US08819165B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing bookmark information for content stored in a networked media server
A method and apparatus for managing bookmark information of a media server through a network based on the UPnP AV standard is disclosed. If a request for bookmarking a content item is made, a bookmark item is created and the created bookmark item is linked to the content item by adding the ID of the created bookmark item to the property information of the content item and recording the ID of the content item to be bookmarked in the created bookmark item. |
| US08819163B2 |
Method, system, and apparatus for enterprise wide storage and retrieval of large amounts of data
A scalable network of mobile data storage containers that are connected in peer-to-peer networks to archive large data storage capacities. The various embodiments provide a method of extracting a large amount of data from a variety of sources and storing the extracted data in mobile, storage units. The various embodiments provide storage units housed in mobile containers that can store multiple days/weeks of sensor data in the order of petabytes (1024 terabytes). The various embodiments, integrate high performance computing devices into the mobile storage containers that are able to perform critical extraction, pattern, and index processing on the sensor data. The various embodiments, provide a method for the efficient physical transport of the mobile storage containers from current locations to a center analysis location for re-connecting in another peer-to-peer network for integration into a central enterprise data warehouses. |
| US08819157B2 |
Point-to-point chat method and system
A point-to-point chat system and method are provided. The system comprises a USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) signaling interface unit and a chat control unit. The USSD signaling interface unit is configured to receive a USSD chat request message of an inviting party and a USSD chat joining message of an invited party via a core network, and to forward the USSD chat request message and the USSD chat joining message to the chat control unit. The chat control unit is configured to send a chat inviting message to the invited party after receiving the USSD chat request message, to start the chat after receiving the USSD chat joining message, and to receive chat information of the inviting party or the invited party to forward to the other party of the inviting party or the invited party. |
| US08819156B2 |
Systems and methods for message collection
The invention provides systems and methods for processing communication content from a user device. The method performed by a computer and comprising inputting an electronic communication that includes communication content and a routing character string. The communication content constituted by data generated as a result of, and representative of, characters keyed into the user device by the user. Maintaining a bin collection including bins. Performing processing on the communication content including identifying the user and a bin collection of the user based on the routing character string; and processing the communication content including (1) mapping first data to a command; and (2) mapping second data to a bin label. The command dictates particular action to be performed, and the bin label identifies an identified bin upon which to perform the action; and performing the action on the identified bin. |
| US08819150B1 |
Generating a conversation associated with a webpage
A conversation server having one or more processors and memory receives a first request from a first client for a conversation associated with a first webpage while there is no conversation associated with the first webpage. In response to the first request, the conversation server generates a first conversation that is associated with the first webpage and sends information to the first client enabling the first conversation to be displayed as an element embedded in the first webpage. After the first conversation has been generated, the conversation server receives, from a second client, a second request for a conversation associated with the first webpage. In response to the second request, the conversation server sends information to the second client enabling the first conversation to be displayed as an element embedded in the first webpage. |
| US08819149B2 |
Systems and methods for notifying a computing device of a communication addressed to a user based on an activity or presence of the user
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for notifying a computing device of a communication addressed to a user based on an activity or presence of the user. According to an aspect, a method includes storing identification of a computing device associated with one or both of an activity and presence of a user. For example, the identification may be stored in a mobile device. The method may include receiving a communication addressed to the user. For example, the communication may be received at a mobile device and managed by a communication manager. In response to receiving the communication, the communication manager may apply a communication rule for notifying the computing device of the communication based on the activity and/or presence of the user. |
| US08819148B2 |
Alternate E-mail delivery
A method is provided for transmitting an electronic mail (e-mail) message from a sender having a non-ASCII username to a recipient. The method comprising the following steps. It is determined whether or not the recipient is configured to receive the e-mail message. If the recipient is configured to receive the e-mail message, the message is transmitted to the recipient. If the recipient is not configured to receive the e-mail message, the e-mail message is submitted for storage in a data store, a uniform resource locator (URL) to identify a location of the stored e-mail message is obtained; and a notification message, including the URL, is transmitted to the recipient. A proxy server and e-mail server for implementing the method are also provided. |
| US08819146B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for transferring remote device support data to a monitor using E-mail
In a monitoring system for networked devices, a system, method, and computer program product for transferring monitoring information from a remote monitor to a central monitor responsible for monitoring devices on multiple networks. A communications link is established between a remote monitor and a message transfer server. Monitoring information is formatted into a standard format, encrypted, encoded, and sent from the remote monitor to the central monitor as an attachment to an e-mail sent via the communication link to the message transfer server. |
| US08819145B1 |
System and method for message presentation consolidation
The present disclosure includes a method for formatting messages that comprises receiving a plurality of messages that have been translated from a plurality of platform-specific message formats into a generic message format, indexing the pluralities of messages using at least one of a plurality of index fields, and threading the pluralities of messages into at least one of a plurality of threads using at least one of a plurality of threading fields. |
| US08819141B2 |
Centralized mobile and wireless messaging opt-out registry system and method
Provided herein is a centralized registry service enabling subscribers to “opt-out” of any or all mobile messaging programs. The registry service supports access to storage medium information by mobile and wireless carriers, companies operating mobile messaging programs, mobile applications or platforms, and most importantly, individual subscribers. The registry service can be used with any message based network, including non mobile networks. |
| US08819135B2 |
Method of performing data mediation, and an associated computer program product, data mediation device and information system
A data mediation method involves receiving an incoming data stream from a data communication network; analyzing the incoming data stream to determine an inbound second-format message for transport in the network; processing a part of the inbound second-format message by parsing a selected subset of the message parameters; generating a run-time data structure to represent the parsed message parameters in the selected subset; processing the generated run-time data structure by applying a data mediation logic which defines actions to be taken upon incoming data messages, the actions including adaptation of the generated data structure by modifying any of the message parameters in the selected subset and/or adding new message parameters based on the parsed message parameters; building an outbound second-format message from the inbound second-format message and the generated data structure; and sending the outbound second-format message in an outgoing data stream on the network. |
| US08819133B2 |
Method, system, and device for controlling a token for an auxiliary stream in a multi-point double-stream conference
The present invention discloses a method, a system, and a device for controlling a token for an auxiliary stream in a multi-point double-stream conference. In the multi-point double-stream conference, a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) receives a token depriving request message, judges whether to execute the token depriving according to the identifier carried in the token depriving request message, and deprives the token when deciding to execute the token depriving. The solution of the present invention effectively solves the problem that the auxiliary stream token is held by a certain conference terminal for a long time and the sending of an emergent and important auxiliary stream is disturbed and provides for the control of the auxiliary stream token in a multi-point double-stream conference to facilitate the need of a user. |
| US08819128B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer program for providing instant messages related to a conference call
A call conferencing apparatus, method, and computer program detect one or more events that are related to a conference call. The apparatus, method, and computer program then send one or more instant messages to one or more participants associated with the conference call. The one or more events could include, for example, a participant joining the conference call, a participant exiting the conference call, a participant failing to log into the conference call correctly, a participant transferring to another communication device during the conference call, a beginning of the conference call, and an end of the conference call. |
| US08819126B2 |
Distributed control for a continuous play background music system
A system and method executed at a computing device for providing digital content, is provided. The method includes: remotely providing digital media files via a network to a playback device responsively to a computer being remotely located from both the computing device and the playback device; receiving at least one first communication from the computer via the network; and sending at least one second communication to the playback device via the network and based upon the first communication. Playback of ones of the provided digital media files at the playback device is modified responsively to the at least one second communication. |
| US08819125B2 |
Method of transmitting data of USB device to server, and client terminal performing the method
There is provided a data processing method of a client terminal that communicates with a server, including: receiving a data request message for requesting data of a USB device connected to the client terminal, from the server, the data request message including information about a size of data that is to be read from the USB device; acquiring data corresponding to the size of data included in the data request message, from the USB device; deciding a size of data that is able to be additionally transmitted from the USB device, according to operation states of other USB devices connected to the client terminal; and transmitting a data transmission completion message to the server, wherein the data transmission completion message includes information about the size of data that is able to be additionally transmitted, and the data acquired from the USB device. |
| US08819124B2 |
System and method for one-way delivery of notifications from server-to-clients using modified multicasts
A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify game devices and other related activities. A notification system and method is provided for providing one-way delivery of notifications to clients of a server. |
| US08819121B2 |
Unaffiliated web domain hosting service based on service pools with flexible resource
A website hosting architecture provides a plurality of services, from a plurality of service pools, to each of a plurality of unaffiliated websites, each of the plurality of service pools is adapted to contribute services to distinct service packages for at least a plurality of unaffiliated websites, each of the plurality of service pools is distributed across a plurality of servers, at least a portion of the servers being adapted to provide an overlapping service set in order to facilitate flexible resources from each of the plurality of service pools. |
| US08819119B2 |
Dynamic definition for concurrent computing environments
Exemplary embodiments allow a user to create configurations for use in distributed computing environments. Configurations can be arranged in hierarchies in which elements of the hierarchy can inherit characteristics from elements in other layers of the hierarchy. Embodiments also allow a user to flatten a hierarchical configuration to remove hierarchical dependencies and/or inheriting capabilities of elements in the hierarchy. Exemplary embodiments further allow users to deploy a distributed computing configuration on their desktop to evaluate performance of the configuration and then deploy the configuration in a distributed computing environment without having to change programming code run on the desktop/distributed computing environment. |
| US08819114B2 |
Server apparatus, method for controlling the server apparatus, and storage medium
The present invention provides a server apparatus that can communicate with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, including a receiving unit configured to receive device information relating to a peripheral device capable of being connected to a client apparatus along with an acquisition scheme of the device information from the client apparatus, a storing unit configured to store the device information in association with the acquisition scheme, a judging unit configured to judge whether or not the device information received by the receiving unit has already been stored in the storing unit, and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the device information is valid based on the acquisition scheme when it is judged by the judging unit that the received device information has already been stored in the storing unit. |
| US08819111B2 |
Method and system for notifying an addressee of a communication session
Requests for communications and for establishing communication sessions with an intended addressee are detected and notifications regarding the pending communication request are provided to the intended addressee. If the addressee is operating on-line in an IP environment, the messages are delivered to the addressee via a real-time mechanism. However, if the addressee is not operating on-line in an IP environment, a message is sent via an alternate means, such as SMS, email etc. For on-line addressees, if the addressee is presently running an application program, the type of application program can be ascertained and the notification message can be compatible with the rendering functions of the application program. |
| US08819103B2 |
Communication in a distributed system
Controllers communicate commands in terms of goals and constraints. A goal is an objective. A constraint is information regarding how the goal is to be achieved. For example, a constraint may specify when, or how much of, a resource may be used to achieve a goal. Additionally, or alternatively, a constraint may specify an acceptable or expected accuracy or tolerance regarding how the goal is achieved. Each controller is expected to achieve assigned goals in accord with associated constraints. Thereby, system communication may be reduced. If controllers achieve goals according to specified constraints, the controllers do not need to provide updates or be updated regarding the status of activities of other controllers or regarding other operational context information. In some embodiments, commands are generally not acknowledged. Instead, serving controllers respond to a command with an error message if a goal cannot be met in accord with an associated constraint. |
| US08819101B2 |
Multi-bit sampling and quantizing circuit
Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses methods and techniques for performing multi-bit quantization. One such apparatus includes an input signal line; a first comparator having a first input coupled to the input signal line, a second input coupled to a first reference signal, and an output; a rectifier having an input coupled to the input signal line and also having an output; and a second comparator having a first input coupled to the output of the rectifier, a second input coupled to a second reference signal, and an output, with the first comparator and the second comparator being clocked so as to produce sequences of quantized samples at substantially the same times. |
| US08819097B2 |
Constant geometry split radix FFT
An apparatus for performing a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is provided. The apparatus comprises a reorder matrix, symmetrical butterflies, and a memory. The reorder matrix is configured to have a constant geometry, and the butterflies are coupled in parallel to the reorder matrix. The memory is also coupled to the reorder matrix and each butterfly. The reorder matrix, the butterflies, and the memory can then execute a split radix algorithm. |
| US08819093B2 |
Systems and methods to reduce I/O and/or speed up out-of-core linear solvers
Systems and methods to reduce I/O (input/output) with regard to out-of-core liner solvers and/or to speed up out-of-core linear solvers. |
| US08819090B2 |
Trusted file indirection
Methods and systems for performing file transfers across different domains hosted by a virtualization server are described herein. A trusted domain (Dom 0) may indicate that one or more files, directories, and/or volumes are available to a second domain (guest domain) by updating share information stored in a key value store. The guest domain may enumerate the shared files to appear as if within its own file system structure. The guest domain intercepts calls to its file system, determines whether the requested data is actually stored in its own file system or in trusted domain, and proxies the file system call to the trusted domain when the requested data is shared by the trusted domain. Key value store information and shared data information and contents may be communicated using one or more memories shared between the trusted domain and guest domain. |
| US08819087B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for assisting the production of media works and the like
Systems and methods for assisting one or more users in the production of a media work from a plurality of recordings are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, digital versions of the recordings are stored on a file-storage server accessible over a communications network. A media-library server provides an organized way for users to access and view the digital versions, and to associate various data files with the digital versions, such as transcription files, logging files, and storyboard documents. The exemplary media library generates web pages that enable users to search and access the digital versions from an internet browser running on a conventional personal computer. The browser also enables users to view the digital versions with a browser-compatible media viewer. |
| US08819085B2 |
Systems and processes for interactive data collection and assessment
Data collection and assessment systems and processes for delivering a personalized experience to a user by gathering information from the user through a dynamic interface, performing detailed analyses based on the data collected, identifying the most probable user-specific outcome(s), and providing relevant feedback and analyses based on the most probable user-specific outcome identified. Embodiments of the described system and process also comprehensively track and store user data, thereby enabling the highest levels of user status supervision, client relations and efficiency. |
| US08819081B2 |
System, method and computer program product for rule-based performance of actions on related objects
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for rule-based performance of actions on related objects. These mechanisms and methods for rule-based performance of actions on related objects can provide a generalized technique for configuring related object actions that are responsive to object updates. The ability to provide this generalized technique can enable actions to be automatically performed on objects in response to updates to related objects, in a rule-based manner. |
| US08819073B2 |
Method for managing a directory, controller, system including servers, and computer program
In a method for managing a directory (10) stored on at least one server (8), the directory (10) includes entries (12) arranged in a tree structure. Each entry (12) includes at least one attribute. An alias entry (12A) includes an attribute pointing to a target entry (12T). The method includes assigning to an application (14) an owner role in relation to an alias entry (12A). An application (14) is referred to as owner of the alias entry (12A). The method further includes requesting, by an application (14), deletion of the alias entry (12A), determining if a deletion condition is satisfied, and, if so, deleting the alias entry (12A). The deletion condition includes that the application (14) is the only owner of the alias entry (12A). A controller (30) for managing a directory (10), a server (8) including a directory (10), a system, and a computer program are also disclosed. |
| US08819070B2 |
Methods and apparatus for information organization and exchange
Methods and apparatus for information organization and exchange by providing a data store of interconnected items of information that together form an intent-driven taxonomy. This allows users to easily discover and exchange real-time items of information across applications. |
| US08819067B2 |
Non-deterministic audit log protection
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system that performs non-deterministic auditing. The system audits an operation, a record associated with which is maintained in an audit log. In one embodiment, the system subsequently determines whether the operation satisfies one or more criteria. In response to the operation satisfying the criteria, the system protects the audit log. In a further embodiment, the system protects the audit log based on a probability distribution, which indicates a frequency of audit log protection. |
| US08819063B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for natural language processing
Various embodiments are described for searching and retrieving documents based on a natural language input. A computer-implemented natural language processor electronically receives a natural language input phrase from an interface device. The natural language processor attributes a concept to the phrase with the natural language processor. The natural language processor searches a database for a set of documents to identify one or more documents associated with the attributed concept to be included in a response to the natural language input phrase. The natural language processor maintains the concepts during an interactive session with the natural language processor. The natural language processor resolves ambiguous input patterns in the natural language input phrase with the natural language processor. The natural language processor includes a processor, a memory and/or storage component, and an input/output device. |
| US08819062B2 |
Providing enhanced business listings with structured lists to multiple search providers from a source system
A source system receives listing identification data for delivery of an enhanced listing to a plurality of provider systems. For each provider system of the plurality of provider systems the source system transmits to the provider system identification data. The source system receives corresponding identification data. When the corresponding identification data is valid identification data, the source system delivers the enhanced listing to the provider system with a provider-supplied external identifier as an indication to the provider system to update a listing with enhanced content. When the corresponding identification data is not valid identification data, the source system delivers the enhanced listing to the provider system without the provider-supplied external identifier as an indication to the provider system to create a listing using the enhanced content. The enhanced content may comprise one or more structured lists. |
| US08819056B2 |
Facilitation of search, list, and retrieval operations on persistent data set using distributed shared memory
In one exemplary embodiment, a DSM is used to store the data structures in a cluster shared memory, such that updates, deletions and insertions are applied to both the persistent data set and the DSM, and search, list and retrieval operations are processed directly from the DSM. A data structure in the persistent data set is stored in two separate DSM pages: a first page includes an identifying search key of the data structure, the search key also pointing to a location of the data structure in the storage. A second page includes the updatable properties of the data structure. A DSM storing the data structures' pages is organized as a two-row matrix. |
| US08819055B2 |
System and method for logical people groups
A system for managing a logical people group. The system comprises a computer, including a computer readable medium and processor operating thereon. The system also comprises a query module, executing on the computer, operable to receive a complex query and return a logical group of users. The query module is operable to search, based on the complex query, across a plurality of information sources including a user directory, a plurality of roles, and an attribute directory. The system also comprises a query cache which stores, for a user-definable period, a reverse lookup table of users and the logical groups to which the users belong based on previously received complex queries. |
| US08819054B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method for processing information, and storage medium
There is provided a method including acquiring content distribution information with respect to a criterion denoted by an attribute of metadata supplied to the content, determining as an option, of a plurality of options, a candidate of a search condition to be added as a query related to the attribute, based on the distribution information, displaying a screen including the attribute and the option, and retrieving content from the candidate displayed in the displaying step based on an attribute value corresponding to an option of the plurality of options selected by a user. |
| US08819051B2 |
Tagging offline content with context-sensitive search-enabling keywords
Techniques for providing information about “offline” content are provided. In one technique, content (e.g., televised or paper-printed content) is “tagged” with a service-associated icon and a keyword. A person seeing the icon in the content may submit the keyword to the service via his web browser. The service responsively submits search-limiting criteria, associated with the keyword, as query terms to a search engine. The search engine determines relevant web pages based on the query terms, dynamically generates search results and returns the search results to either the web browser or the service, which may dynamically generate and send to the web browser another web page containing the search results. Due to the automatic addition of the search-limiting criteria to the query terms, the set of web pages that the search engine determines to be relevant is narrower and more focused than the set otherwise would be. |
| US08819050B2 |
Context-and-version-aware facade for database queries
A method, computer program product, and system for accessing versioned data objects within a database, comprising creating a first new connection to a database stored in a memory, receiving a first query from a first client that requests access to a versioned data object stored in the database, and modifying the received first query to add contextual information configured on the first new connection, so that the modified first query is able to retrieve a first version of the versioned data object that corresponds to the contextual information. |
| US08819043B2 |
Combining song and music video playback using playlists
A single playlist can be generated that includes both songs and music videos. Additionally, a song on a playlist can be identified and a check made as to whether a music video corresponding to the identified song is available. If a music video corresponding to the identified song is not available, then the identified song is played back. However, if a music video corresponding to the identified song is available, then the music video is played back instead of the identified song. |
| US08819040B2 |
Method and system for querying a database
A method and system for querying a database involves dragging and dropping selected search criteria from one portion of a display to another portion of a display. When searching multiple criteria, a Boolean operation associated with the method depends upon the respective positions of the search criteria in the display. The method also allows for the results of the search to be dynamically updated as different criteria are selected. |
| US08819037B2 |
Search optimization in a computing environment
Systems and methods for verifying membership in one or more sets that are subsets of a global set are provided. The method compromises representing members of the global set by mapping each member to a distinct Boolean variable of length d, wherein 2d is not less than the number of members in the global set; representing each of the given subsets of the global set by a Boolean expression which evaluates to a first value for any of the assignments to the Boolean variables which represent members of the subset, and which evaluates to a second value for any of the assignments to the Boolean variables which represent members of the global set that are not members of the subset. |
| US08819035B2 |
Providing search results based on keyword detection in media content
A method can include accessing a cookie file to obtain a keyword where the cookie file is associated with a media device and scanning a stream of media content to locate the keyword within a portion of the stream of media content. The method can include generating a filtered search set by applying filtering to additional words to exclude a black listed word, where the additional words are located within a pre-determined proximity to a location corresponding to an occurrence of the keyword within the portion of the stream of media content. The method can include providing a search result based on a network search conducted using the keyword and the filtered search set. |
| US08819033B2 |
Content processing device
A content processing device includes a first acquisition unit acquiring a content data; a second acquisition unit acquiring a history including a time when a user plays the content data; a first extraction unit extracting a keyword from the content data; a management unit extracting a preference keyword representing a preference of the user from the keyword based on the history, said management unit managing the extracted preference keyword with an importance score; a presentation unit presenting a recommended content data according to a comparison of the keyword and the preference keyword; an update unit updating the importance score of the preference keyword corresponding to the recommended content data selected by the user; and a second extraction unit extracting another recommended content data using the updated importance score. |
| US08819032B2 |
Presenting content built around word phrases selected for profitability
A computing device receives, over a network, information regarding word phrases (e.g., search terms) and determines longevity values associated with content built around the word phrases. The computing device selects, based on the longevity values, a first phrase from the word phrases. Content is built or created around the first phrase, and the built or created content is presented or published over a network such as the Internet. |
| US08819025B2 |
Recommending applications for mobile devices based on installation histories
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving installation data, the installation data corresponding to one or more applications that can be installed and executed on mobile computing devices, receiving metadata corresponding to each of the one or more applications, for each application: generating a time series based on a number of installs, processing the time series and the metadata, calculating a score, determining that the score is greater than or equal to a threshold score, and in response to the determining, adding the respective application to an index of trending applications, storing the index of trending applications in computer-readable memory, retrieving the index of trending applications, and transmitting indications of one or more applications for display based upon the index of trending applications. |
| US08819018B2 |
Virtual sub-metering using combined classifiers
A virtual sub-metering process using combined classifiers includes generating an electric power consumption signature database by receiving data from an electric power consumption measuring meter and auxiliary data from a building management system, and clustering the data. After the generation of the electric power consumption signature database, additional data from the electric power consumption measuring meter and the auxiliary data from the building management system is received, and this additional data is processed to generate a second steady-state load classification component. A second transient state component is extracted from the additional data. The steady-state load classification components and the transient shape components from the electric power consumption signature database, the second steady state load classification component, the second transient shape component, and control signals and status signals associated with the plurality of electric power consuming devices are correlated and combined. |
| US08819017B2 |
Affinitizing datasets based on efficient query processing
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer-storage media for affinitizing datasets based on efficient query processing. In one embodiment, a plurality of datasets within a data stream is received. The data stream is partitioned based on efficient query processing. Once the data stream is partitioned, an affinity identifier is assigned to datasets based on the partitioning of the dataset. Further, when datasets are broken into extents, the affinity identifier of the parent dataset is retained in the resulting extent. The affinity identifier of each extent is then referenced to preferentially store extents having common affinity identifiers within close proximity of one other across a data center. |
| US08819015B2 |
Object identification apparatus and method for identifying object
An object identification apparatus includes an image data input unit configured to input captured image data including an object, an object identification data generation unit configured to generate data for identifying the object by extracting a feature vector from a partial area of the input image data to convert the feature vector according to the partial area, an object dictionary data storage unit configured to store object dictionary data generated from previously recorded image data, and an object identification unit configured to identify a class to which the object belongs, which is included in the image data input by the image data input unit, based on the data for identifying the object and the object dictionary data. |
| US08819014B2 |
Digital slate
Some embodiments provide a method performed by a digital slate. The method receives input of a first set of metadata for a particular video clip from a user. The method receives a second set of metadata for the particular video clip from a camera as the camera films the particular video clip. The method embeds the first and second sets of metadata in a data storage structure. The method transmits the data structure for later use in matching the first and second sets of metadata with the particular video clip. Some embodiments display at least a portion of the stored metadata about the particular video clip in front of a camera at the start of the particular video clip. |
| US08819013B2 |
Customer support solution recommendation system
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium and a method for automatically providing support solutions in response to user feedback items. The method comprises receiving user feedback items and corresponding support solutions. The method further comprises identifying, using clustering techniques, associations between the user feedback items and the corresponding support solutions. The method further comprises storing the identified associations as an items-solutions model that correlates the user feedback items with the corresponding support solutions. The method further comprises receiving a new user feedback item. The method further comprises automatically determining, using the items-solutions model, at least one support solution that corresponds to the new user feedback item. The method further comprises providing the at least one support solution in response to the received new user feedback item. |
| US08819012B2 |
Accessing anchors in voice site content
A method, an apparatus and an article of manufacture for accessing a specific location in voice site audio content. The method includes indexing, in a voice site index, a specific location in the voice site that contains the audio content, mapping the audio content with information regarding the location and adding the mapped content to the index of the voice site, using the index to determine content and location of an input query in the voice site, automatically marking the specific location in the voice site that contains the determined content and location of the input query, and automatically transferring to the marked location in the voice site. |
| US08819011B2 |
Command line interpreter for accessing a data object stored in a distributed storage network
A user device includes a DSN interface operably coupled with a DSN memory and a DS processing module for storing and retrieving a data object from the DSN memory, wherein the data object is partitioned into a plurality of data segments and wherein each of the plurality of data segments is stored in the DSN memory as a plurality of encoded data slices that are generated based on an error encoding dispersal function. The user device also includes a command line interpreter operable to interpret a file command as a request to display the data object by an application program, determine the data object is stored in the DSN memory and request the DSN processing module to retrieve the data object from the DSN memory and provide the data object to the application program. |
| US08818997B2 |
Information processing method, information processing apparatus, and storage medium with recorded information processing program
An information processing apparatus which can communicate with terminals, includes a terminal environment acquiring portion which acquires terminal environment information from a terminal intended to input transmission information, the terminal environment information is an information about an environment of the terminal; a keyword reading portion which reads a plurality of keywords from a keyword recording portion based on the terminal environment information acquired by the terminal environment acquiring portion, the keyword recording portion records associating keywords in transmission information which has been inputted through terminals with terminal environment information of the terminals through which the transmission information has been inputted; and a keyword presenting portion which presents the plurality of keywords read by the keyword reading portion as selection candidates to the terminal intended to input transmission information. |
| US08818989B2 |
Memory usage query governor
Techniques for managing query execution based on memory usage using memory compression. Embodiments may receive a query from a requesting entity and estimate an amount of memory required to execute the query. Upon determining that executing the query would consume an impermissible amount of memory, embodiments may optimize the query by adjusting an amount of memory compression used in executing the query. The optimized query may then be executed to produce a set of query results, which may then be returned to the requesting entity. |
| US08818986B1 |
Onboard advance search refinement
A method of refining a search comprising receiving, by a mobile communication device, a user input, the user input defining a search request; refining, by the mobile communication device, the search request based on a user profile; sending, by the mobile communication device, the refined search request to a search engine; receiving, by the mobile communication device, a search result from the search engine; displaying, by the mobile communication device, the search result. |
| US08818985B2 |
Rule-based prioritization of social data
A method of prioritizing feed items based on rules is provided. User input establishes one or more rules to prioritize a feed item, wherein at least one of the one or more rules incorporates the input data. Such user input may include user-created data or feed metrics. The one or more rules may be weighted. Additional user input configures one or more message cues. A plurality of feed items are prioritized based on the one or more rules. The plurality of feed items are associated with a plurality of feeds, wherein each feed is associated with an object stored in a database system. The plurality of feed items are then displayed in combination with the one or more message cues to a plurality of users of the database system. |
| US08818983B1 |
Synchronization of search engines
A computer-implemented method for search engine synchronization is disclosed according to an aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises receiving, at a computing device, a search engine entry for a search engine, wherein the search engine entry comprises a keyword for invoking the search engine, and a globally unique identifier (GUID) uniquely identifying the search engine. The method also comprises determining whether there is a local search engine entry stored locally on the computing device with the same GUID as the received search engine entry, and, if there is a local search engine entry with the same GUID as the received search engine entry, then performing steps. The steps comprise determining whether the received search engine entry is newer than the local search engine entry, and, if the received search engine entry is newer, then replacing the local search engine entry with the received search engine entry. |
| US08818982B1 |
Deriving and using document and site quality signals from search query streams
A system analyzes one or more search streams to detect one or more associations between a document and one or more queries in the one or more search streams. The system further derives a value for the document based on the detected associations and uses the derived value in evaluating a quality of the document with respect to one or more subsequent queries. |
| US08818979B2 |
Document retrieving apparatus and document retrieving method
A document retrieving apparatus can retrieve a target document and output the retrieved target documents according to ranking when a retrieval keyword or retrieval expression is input. However, it requires a skilful technique to narrow a retrieval range since an appropriate retrieval keyword or retrieval expression needs to be created. A document retrieving apparatus of the present invention reads out and compiles a document list included in a designated area when a user designates an area of a document to be read on a two-dimensional map. When the user designates an area of a document to be read on the two-dimensional map, the document retrieving apparatus of the present invention combines query vectors of a plurality of documents included in a designated area and extracts documents based on a combined query vector. |
| US08818977B1 |
Context sensitive ranking
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which context can be used to rank search results. Context associated with a user session can be identified. A search query received during the user session can be used to identify a contextual click model based upon the context associated with the user session. |
| US08818972B2 |
Detecting and combating attack in protection system of an industrial control system
A method for detecting and combating an attack in an industrial control system includes sending a command stream from a protection network of an industrial control system to at least one zone, the command stream comprising at least one command; concatenating the at least one command into at least one sequential command package comprising units of work; passing the at least one sequential command package to a crypto hash generator; generating at least one of unit of work hash codes or sequence hash codes; comparing the generated hash codes against a database of existing valid unit of work hash codes and sequence hash codes; and if a command stream fault is detected, generating an alert and accessing a database comprising emergency procedures. |
| US08818970B2 |
Partitioning a directory while accessing the directory
A process for reading entries in a directory is initiated. A first index is maintained to indicate how far the read has progressed in the directory. If, during execution of the process, the directory is partitioned into subdirectories, then a second index is maintained for each of the subdirectories to indicate how far the read has progressed in each of the subdirectories. A third index that indicates how far the read has progressed in the partitioned directory is also maintained. |
| US08818961B1 |
User restoration of workflow objects and elements from an archived database
A system and method for restoring data including a workflow from an archived copy of a database file. The method includes receiving a request to restore a workflow from an archived copy. The workflow comprises attributes describing a sequence of conditions and actions corresponding to an item and comprises a history log. The item may comprise an electronic document and associated context information describing the document in an intranet portal application environment. The associated context information includes an identifier corresponding to the workflow. The method includes retrieving records comprising the workflow attributes from the archived copy. The method further includes generating from the retrieved records a workflow metadata file comprising tagged elements corresponding to the workflow attributes and history log. Then the method stores the workflow metadata file in a file system. The method further includes restoring the workflow to the intranet portal application via the file system. |
| US08818960B2 |
Tracking redo completion at a page level
Embodiments are directed to implementing a transitional redo phase to allow pre-redo phase data access and to determining which data pages including unprocessed transactions are to be processed during a transitional redo phase. In an embodiment, a computer system initiates an analysis phase of a database recovery that scans a database transaction log and builds a dirty page table that includes pages corresponding to unprocessed data transactions. The computer system determines from the dirty page table which pages are to be processed during the transitional redo phase, before the final redo phase. The computer system processes the determined pages during the transitional redo phase, before the final redo phase is reached and, upon completion of the system transaction undo phase, makes available those pages that were processed during the transitional redo phase, as well as those database pages that are not scheduled for processing during the final redo phase. |
| US08818953B2 |
Method and apparatus for loading data into multi-table tablespace
A relational database load operation is disclosed for loading data into a multi-table tablespace, such as a segmented tablespace in a DB2® environment. In one aspect, the load operation allows one or more tables to be replaced in a single pass of the tablespace without modifying, loading or replacing other tables in the tablespace. Thus, the disclosed operation can replace one or more tables in a single pass of the tablespace without the need to unload and reload tables not targeted for replacement. In another aspect, the load operation allows for a combined operation where one or more tables are replaced and one or more tables are resumed in a single pass of the multi-table tablespace without modifying other tables already residing in the tablespace. |
| US08818952B2 |
Storage apparatus and duplicate data detection method
An optimum chunk cutout method is selected according to the type of content.A storage apparatus is a storage apparatus for storing content in a backup volume in response to a content storage request from a host system connected to the storage apparatus via a network and includes a chunk cutout unit for cutting out the content into one or more chunks and a duplication judgment unit for managing a duplicate state of the chunk or chunks which have been cut out by the chunk cutout unit; wherein the chunk cutout unit selects a method for cutting out the chunk based on content type identification information indicating a type of the content. |
| US08818951B1 |
Distributed file system having separate data and metadata and providing a consistent snapshot thereof
Described are techniques for creating a snapshot of a distributed file system or a file thereof. The distributed file system includes metadata file systems storing metadata about files in the distributed file system and includes data file systems storing file content data. Quiescing is performed for requests affecting the distributed file system, or a file thereof, for which a snapshot is being created. A snapshot of metadata is obtained. For the distributed file system, this includes a snapshot of each metadata file system. For a file, this includes a snapshot of the file's metadata. A snapshot of file data is obtained. For distributed file systems, this includes a snapshot of each data file system. For a file, this includes a snapshot of the file's data. Unquiescing is performed for requests affecting the distributed file system, or the file thereof, upon successful completion of obtaining snapshots of metadata and file data. |
| US08818949B2 |
Systems and methods for migrating database data
In one general aspect, a computer-implemented method for migrating data from a source database to a target database includes a computer-implemented method that includes executing, using at least one processor, instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The method includes ensuring that the source database has correct version information, creating an image copy of the data in the source database, and collecting metadata describing the source database. The metadata may include information used to verify that the target database is compatible with the source database, to automatically translate object identifiers, and to avert the migration if no data has changed in the source and the target databases (e.g., table and index spaces) since a previous migration. The method may further include refreshing the data in the target database using the image copy after determining that the source database and the target database are compatible. |
| US08818944B2 |
Data change tracking and event notification
The described implementations relate to updating views in a database system. One implementation can identify an active view that retrieves records from a database and determine one or more physical tables in the database that are referenced by the active view. The implementation can track one or more columns in the physical tables that are used by the active view and identify a change to the physical tables in a transaction log of the database. If the change does not affect the one or more columns, the change can be treated as an ignorable change for the active view. |
| US08818943B1 |
Mirror resynchronization of fixed page length tables for better repair time to high availability in databases
In a mirrored database system, mirror resynchronization of fixed length pages is optimized for quick repair and high availability by identifying those lost page changes that must be made for resynchronization and ignoring other duplicate changes. Essential pages are identified using log sequence numbers (LSNs) to locate the most current version of a changed page, and other lower valued LSNs of less current versions of that page are eliminated as having changes that are duplicated in the current version of the page. Page changes since the last database checkpoint before losing mirror synchronization and the current LSN of the transaction log are identified as possibly necessary changes to be made. |
| US08818942B2 |
Database system with multiple layer distribution
Method and system for accessing subscriber data in a telecommunication system, and providing a database system with a master database and slave databases acting as memory caches located with requester applications. The method including: configuring data clusters at the master database, each data cluster identifying subscriber data associated with an operation and assigned a priority; determining at the master database the priority of the data cluster associated with a received operation; and either providing the data cluster associated with the operation from the master database towards the slave database, replicating the received data cluster at the slave database, and executing the operation with the received data cluster at the slave database, where the priority of the data cluster is higher than for previous operations; or executing the operation with the data cluster at the master database, where the priority of the data cluster is lower than for a previous operation. |
| US08818938B2 |
System, method and computer program product for synchronizing entities within a system
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for synchronizing entities. These mechanisms and methods for synchronizing entities can enable improved data synchronization, improved data management, etc. |
| US08818937B2 |
Advanced contact management in communications networks
A system provided herein permits a communications network subscriber to establish a local contact database on at least one communications device. The local contact database can communicate with a global contact database to receive contact information updates for a group of subscribers stored within the local contact database. The contact information can include basic contact information, such as name, address, email address, and telephone number. The contact information can also include advanced contact information, such as registration and activity information for each communications device associated with the group of subscribers, location information, hotspot information, points of interest information, and social networking information. Methods are provided herein that permit subscribers to introduce each other and obtain contact information securely. Methods are also provided herein that permit subscribers to request further contact information after a communication session is terminated. |
| US08818931B2 |
Comparative expertise level-based discovery system and method
A comparative expertise level-based discovery system infers an expertise level associated with a system user from a plurality of usage behaviors and compares this expertise level with expertise levels associated with computer-implemented objects. One or more of the computer-implemented objects are selected for delivery to the user in accordance with a comparison of the inferred expertise level of the user and the expertise levels associated with the computer-implemented objects. The expertise levels associated with the computer-implemented objects may be inferred from information within the objects such as text and/or may be inferred from usage behaviors. Inferences of interests of the user may further inform the selection of one or more of the computer-implemented objects for delivery to the user. Explanations for the delivery of the computer-implemented objects may be provided to the user. |
| US08818930B2 |
Knowledge base system, logic operation method, program, and recording medium
A knowledge base system (1000) includes: a storage unit storing a knowledge base; and an operation unit (1070) performing a logic operation on the stored knowledge base. The knowledge base includes an entity identifier identifying an entity and one or more attributes of the entity associated with the entity identifier of the entity. Each attribute includes: an attribute identifier identifying the attribute; and at least one of feature data that is one or more pieces of data representing the attribute and is associated with the attribute identifier, and identification data that is data associated with a word representing the attribute and is associated with the attribute identifier. The entity identifier is not a word representing the entity, and is made of a symbol having no meaning per se. The attribute identifier is not the word representing the attribute, and is made of a symbol having no meaning per se. |
| US08818927B2 |
Method for generating rules and parameters for assessing relevance of information derived from internet traffic
A method is disclosed for generating a set of optimal rules and parameters for use by an evaluation engine on a volume of information extracted from a stream of IP packets associated with a web browsing session conducted over a network in order to filter user-initiated traffic flowing across the network from non-user-initiated traffic. Deep packet inspection is performed to extract the volume of information from the stream that conforms to at least one discrimination criteria. An initial iteration of application of the evaluation engine to the volume is performed by selecting initial discrimination criteria and rules for generating the filtered results and a distance between the filtered results and known actual user-initiated traffic is measured. Subsequent iterations of application of the evaluation engine to the volume are performed by changing the discrimination criteria and/or rules until there is no significant improvement in the measured distance. |
| US08818926B2 |
Method for personalizing chat bots
A system and method for automatically building chat bot content from scripts of conversations. A script is parsed into query-response pairs, so that a computerized device may be programmed to give the same responses when given similar queries. Each query is converted into canonical form and then matched against patterns, as in prior art chat bots. The response is then linked to the matched pattern. A new chat bot is constructed out of the canonical form conversions and the set of pattern-response links. The chat bot is further improved by adding interactive human conversations, provided that those conversations are rated highly. The resulting chat bot can run on a computer server that responds to public queries, and the server can also display context-sensitive advertisements. |
| US08818924B2 |
Automated solar collector installation design
Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives. |
| US08818922B2 |
Method and apparatus for predicting application performance across machines with different hardware configurations
A method and system for predicting performance of an application on a machine of a predetermined hardware configuration simulates the performance of the application under a plurality of different simulated hardware configurations; builds a predictive model of the performance of the application based on the results of the simulations; obtains the performance of the application on a plurality of actual machines, each of the machines having a different hardware configuration; and Bayesian reinterprets the predictive model built from the results of the simulations using the performance of the application on the plurality of actual machines, to obtain a final predictive model of the performance of the application having an accuracy greater than the predictive model built from the results of the simulations. |
| US08818921B2 |
Content search mechanism that uses a deterministic finite automata (DFA) graph, a DFA state machine, and a walker process
An improved content search mechanism uses a graph that includes intelligent nodes avoids the overhead of post processing and improves the overall performance of a content processing application. An intelligent node is similar to a node in a DFA graph but includes a command. The command in the intelligent node allows additional state for the node to be generated and checked. This additional state allows the content search mechanism to traverse the same node with two different interpretations. By generating state for the node, the graph of nodes does not become exponential. It also allows a user function to be called upon reaching a node, which can perform any desired user tasks, including modifying the input data or position. |
| US08818919B2 |
Multiple imputation of missing data in multi-dimensional retail sales data sets via tensor factorization
A system, method and computer program product provides for multiple imputation of missing data elements in retail data sets used for modeling and decision-support applications based on the multi-dimensional, tensor structure of the data sets, and a fast, scalable scheme is implemented that is suitable for large data sets. The method generates multiple imputations comprising a set of complete data sets each containing one of a plurality of imputed realizations for the missing data values in the original data set, so that the variability in the magnitudes of these missing data values can be captured for subsequent statistical analysis. The method is based on the multi-dimensional structure of the retail data sets incorporating tensor factorization, that in a preferred embodiment can be implemented using fast, scalable imputation methods suitable for large data sets, to obtain multiple complete data sets in which the original missing values are replaced by various imputed values. |
| US08818912B2 |
Methods and systems for supporting the production of shipping labels
Methods and systems for supporting the production of shipping labels are provided. Example embodiments provide a Shipment Management System (“SMS”), which facilitates the production of shipping labels. The SMS may be configured to generate a shipping uniform resource identifier (“URI”) that identifies a shipping protocol and includes shipment information and post-back information. The shipping URI may be provided to a shipping label module configured to produce a shipping label in accordance with the shipping protocol by outputting a shipping label based on the shipment information, and automatically posting information about the producing of the shipping label to a code module identified by the post-back information. 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. |
| US08818911B2 |
Permit creation and tracking in a mailing machine
The present invention includes methods for operating a mailing machine. A permit mail imprint is generated in the mailing machine on the basis of input signals entered into the mailing machine via a user interface of the mailing machine. At least some of the input signals may represent alphanumeric characters. For example, the permit number may be entered via a keypad or keyboard in the form of numeric characters. |
| US08818910B1 |
Systems and methods for prioritizing job candidates using a decision-tree forest algorithm
Computer-based systems and methods for prioritizing a list of job candidates for a job opening(s) with a hiring firm use the Random Forest algorithm, in which a number of decision trees are generated and the job candidates' respective probabilities of being the right fit for the hiring firm and for the position(s) are computed using the forest of decision trees. The job candidates may then be ranked according to their computed hiring probability. Non-conventional variables can be used, such as social media-related variables and external industry variables, such as the candidates' driving records. Other non-conventional variables that can be used include results from a personality or behavior assessment, results from a third-party skill assessment, and performance evaluations for prior projects or jobs of the candidates. |
| US08818905B2 |
System and method for encrypting interactive voice response application information
Encrypting sensitive information sent using an interactive voice response (IVR) system. The systems and methods may include an HSM that provides a secure platform to encrypt the sensitive information. They may also include interfaces with IVR systems and transaction processing hosts. The systems and methods may interact directly with a customer using an IVR to receive the sensitive information. They may also provide for a secure platform to validate the strength of the information, such as a PIN or password, prior to further processing of the sensitive information. |
| US08818903B2 |
Transaction coordinator for digital certificate validation and other services
System and methods for facilitating electronic commerce by securely providing certificate-related and other services, including certificate validation and warranty services. The system services include a certificate status check service and a warranty service. The certificate status check service allows a relying customer to validate a subscribing customer's digital certificate. The warranty service allows the relying customer to receive a collateral-backed warranty that the subscribing customer's digital certificate is valid, and also confirms the ability of the subscribing customer to pay. All participants and a root entity are provided with a transaction coordinator for combining services and operations into a single transaction having the qualities of atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability. The transaction coordinator provides a single consistent interface for certificate-status messages and requests, as well as messages and requests relating to other services. |
| US08818900B2 |
Distributed license management
Techniques for distributed license management are provided. Three or more services or servers cooperate and negotiate with one another to establish primary, secondary, and tertiary licensing services. Initially, the primary is designated as a master licensing service and manages a license for a plurality of users over a network. If the primary fails to respond within a configurable period of time to both the secondary and tertiary licensing services, then the secondary dynamically assumes a master licensing service role for purposes of managing the license. |
| US08818896B2 |
Selective encryption with coverage encryption
A method and apparatus for enabling use of multiple digital rights management scenarios (DRM). Unencrypted data representing digital content is examined to identify at least segments of content for DRM encryption. The identified segments of content are duplicated and then encrypted using a first encryption method associated with a first DRM to produce first encrypted segments. Duplicates are encrypted using a second encryption method associated with a second DRM to produce second encrypted segments. At least a portion of segments not selected for DRM encryption are encrypted using a coverage encryption method. The coverage encryption key is encrypted by each of a third and fourth encryption methods associated with the first and second DRMs respectively. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract. |
| US08818890B2 |
System and method for managing trading orders received from market makers
According to one embodiment, a method of managing trading is provided. A first offer for a particular instrument in a particular market is received from a first market maker at a first offer price. A first bid for the same particular instrument in the same particular market is received from a second market maker at a first bid price, the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price. As a result of the first bid price being higher than or equal to the first offer price, the first offer price is automatically increased to a price higher than the first bid price such that a trade is not executed between the first offer and the first bid. In some embodiments, such method may be used to protect market makers from unwanted trades caused by inherent latency in the market makers' pricing engines and/or networks. |
| US08818877B2 |
Presenting compatible components and system conditions for computer devices
Presenting system and device conditions and purchasing options for components compatible with hardware devices of a computer system. In one aspect, an operating system determines the identity of a hardware device in communication with the operating system, communicates over a network to receive current purchasing information related to the hardware device, and displays components that can be selected for purchase and used with the hardware device. Another aspect provides a selectable user interface control for display in a graphical user interface that indicates a new operating condition of the computer system, different from a prior operating condition, by displaying a different appearance of the control. One embodiment has a new operating condition occurring when a component of a hardware device is within a predetermined threshold of requiring replacement, refilling, or supplementation. |
| US08818874B2 |
System and method to authenticate products
A system and method to authenticate products. The method includes storing identity data corresponding to products to be sold into a database, accessing the database at a point-of-sale of a product, and determining the authenticity of the product at the point-of-sale by comparing the product's identity data with the identity data stored in the database. |
| US08818873B1 |
Method of operating a duty-free store at an airport with a product storage area and product pickup area
The disclosure provides a method of operating a duty-free retail operation at an airport. The airport includes a secure zone and a non-secure zone, which are separated for passengers by a security checkpoint. The duty-free store may be located in the non-secure zone of the airport. The airport may also include a product storage area and a product pickup area, which can be accessible from the duty-free store or remote from the duty-free store. The product storage area may store copies of the products displayed in the duty-free store. A passenger customer can purchase products displayed in the duty-free store, for example, by scanning QR codes associated with products and making a payment using a mobile computing device. Copies of purchased products may then be retrieved from the product storage area and delivered to a designated product pickup area before the customer boards the plane. |
| US08818872B2 |
Point of sale transaction processing
A disclosed transaction processing method includes transmitting a request to a credit aggregator in response to a message from a point of sale device to a wireless communication device of a user. Responsive to receiving credit account information from the credit aggregator, a user interface indicative of at least some of the credit account information including account identification information for a plurality of user credit accounts is displayed. Responsive to detecting a user selecting one of the plurality of credit accounts, credit account information is transmitted to the point of sale device. The request may include information identifying the user. The message from the point of sale device may indicate a price associated with the transaction. The credit account information may include available credit information, current balance information, closing date information, payment date information, annual percentage rate information, and so forth. |
| US08818870B2 |
Using a secure element coupled to a mobile device as a POS terminal for processing mag stripe transactions
A method and system for conducting an online payment transaction through a point of sale device. The method includes receiving input from a user selecting an item for purchase through the point of sale device; calculating a total purchase amount for the item in response to a request from the user to purchase the item; and sending payment authorization for the total purchase amount from the point of sale device to a payment entity, in which the payment authorization is sent to the payment entity via a mobile communication device of the user. The method further includes receiving a result of the payment authorization from the payment entity through the mobile communication device; and completing the payment transaction based on the result of the payment authorization. |
| US08818869B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing subscriptions
A subscription system allows a customer to establish a subscription to a product with one or more retailers (e.g., by establishing the subscription through a controller or central system). In one embodiment, a subscription may be established after receiving information that identifies a product. Terms of a subscription for the product are established, such as a frequency and a duration of the subscription. |
| US08818866B2 |
Content display processing apparatus and method of displaying advertisement in contents
An advertisement inserted in contents of, for example, a game does not serve its purpose after a while. An advertisement-information reception unit (112) receives an advertisement-space definition file (32). The advertisement-space definition file (32) is a file that defines an advertisement space for an advertisement to be inserted when contents are displayed and an advertising agency is assigned to the advertisement space. An assignment changing unit (116) cancels the assignment of an advertising agency, whose license has expired, to the advertisement space even when the advertising agency is assigned to the advertising space in the advertisement-space definition file (32). An advertisement downloading unit (118) downloads advertisement data to be inserted in the advertisement space from the server of the advertising agency validly assigned to the advertisement space. A rendering engine (130) inserts, when displaying the contents on a screen, the downloaded advertisement in the advertisement space and displays accordingly. |
| US08818864B2 |
Integrated digital broadcasting system, network, and methods
An integrated system, network, and method for providing audio/video broadcasting of programming and advertising content. The system provides sales, traffic, playback automation, and accounting services to a media outlet. The network links multiple integrated systems together between multiple media outlets and advertising clients. The network also provides distribution of programming and advertising content to multiple media outlets simultaneously. |
| US08818863B2 |
Advertising system supporting dual input interfaces
An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. |
| US08818853B2 |
Promotion system supporting emailed promotions and at seller premises transaction completion
An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity. |
| US08818850B2 |
Method and process for registration, creation and management of campaigns and advertisements in a network system
The presented invention is a method for an advertising sponsor user, using a client computer, or mobile device to be able to register, login and create zip code related local sponsor advertisements, with small advertisements for creating interest in the offers, that link to bigger advertisements with an embedded shopping cart. When a user creates the advertisements, they can upload their images, and create their type for the offers in the same interface form and the advertisements are instantly created and able to be published immediately throughout a network. Utilizing zip codes allows the system to use an intelligent smart decision engine, to make decisions of where advertisements and campaigns should be displayed as related to registered users locations. Also past performance and past advertisement information is utilized by the present invention to make appraisal value judgments as to the value of advertisements for sale, and campaign values for sale. |
| US08818847B2 |
Systems and methods for campaign offers and rewards with offer serving engine based on digitized receipt data
A campaign offers and rewards system includes a receipt intelligence engine with receipt processing that extracts information from a receipt, including information about items purchased based on a receipt from at least one of a shopping trip and an electronic receipt from an online or offline transaction. An analytics engine includes data intelligence coupled to the receipt processing and performs analysis of the receipt. The system is configured to be coupled to a mobile device. |
| US08818845B2 |
Online game rewards for web-based purchases
Example systems and methods related to providing rewards for an online game in response to web-based purchases are presented. In an example, an online catalog webpage including information describing a product available for purchase is generated. The online catalog webpage includes code instructing a device receiving the online catalog webpage to issue a request to an online gaming system to determine an in-game reward for a user based on the product. The online catalog webpage is transmitted to a client device of the user. An order for the product is received from the client device. The order indicates the in-game reward determined in the online gaming system. An order confirmation webpage is transmitted to the client device in response to the order, and the order confirmation webpage indicates the in-game reward. |
| US08818838B1 |
System and method for efficiently developing a hypothesis regarding the structure of a market
A method in a computer system for efficiently modeling a market corresponding to a set of competing products includes receiving product attribute selection data associated with the set of competing products from an interactive user interface, automatically generating a hierarchical market structure based on the received product attribute selection data, so that the hierarchical market structure is descriptive of hypothesized competitive relations within the set of competing products, and displaying a graphical representation of the hierarchical market structure on the interactive user interface. |
| US08818837B2 |
Monitoring and managing regulatory compliance among organizations
A dynamic system and method for efficiently measuring organizational compliance with multiple, overlapping, selected sources of compliance requirements by making associations of individual source controls and survey questions with a limited set of discrete compliance objectives, and by enabling creation of compliance surveys and analysis of survey answer sets based on user-selected criteria that may include selection of a specific source or sources; one or more discrete compliance objectives, and/or a choice of questions from a master question pool. Custom surveys with weighted questions and dynamic reporting enables responses to compliance audits to be analyzed against a predetermined benchmark result, against responder's own prior results, or against other responders. |
| US08818834B1 |
System and method for automated community schedule management
A system and method for automated community schedule management, including registration, management, and sharing of activity, group, and carpool information for a community is provided. The system may enable a caregiver to register participants in one or more activities. The system and method may also enable one or more activity providers to register and administer one or more activities. The system may further enable a carpool creator to create and/or manage one or more carpools to activities and/or destinations and events separate from activities. |
| US08818819B2 |
Creating, managing, evaluating, optimizing creating business partnership standards and creating reuseable knowledge and business intelligence for business partnerships and alliances
A system and method for determining business partner value by creating weighted metrics for identifying, evaluating and selecting a business partner for a company; creating a business agreement and weighted metrics for evaluating the agreement; creating weighted metrics for ongoing management of the partner; and managing the partner by ongoing periodic evaluation of the weighted metrics for partner selection, agreement, and management. Both company and partners may participate in the evaluation on an ongoing basis (e.g., once per month or once per quarter) rather than an annual review. In one embodiment, weighted metrics of partner selection, agreement, and management are reported, charted and graphed providing for visual evaluation and side-by-side comparison of the perceptions of company and partner for optimization of the business relationship and prediction of future performance. |
| US08818818B2 |
Audio encoding device, method, and program which controls the number of time groups in a frame using three successive time group energies
[PROBLEMS] To provide a high-quality audio signal encoding technique by controlling the number of time/frequency groups in a frame.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] An audio encoding device includes: a time group boundary candidate position extraction unit (101) for analyzing a sub-band signal (2001) obtained by frequency-changing an input signal and calculating a candidate position of the time group boundary by comparing change in energy of three successive time groups; a time group quantity generation unit (103) for outputting a maximum value of the time group quantity; a time group selection unit (102) for generating a time group quantity not greater than the maximum time group quantity by using the candidate position; and a frequency group generation unit (104) for generating a frequency group by using the generated time group information. The device generates a time/frequency group accurately reflecting a change of the input signal and performs operations while controlling the number of time/frequency groups in the frame. |
| US08818812B2 |
Text input method which assigns initial phoneme, medial phoneme, and final phoneme to shape of watch
The present invention relates to a text display method and a text input method. The text display method creates a syllable by combining one or more consonants and vowels based on a combination rule of initial, medial and final phonemes, wherein the initial phonemes are assigned with respective consonants based upon the length and direction of the hour hand, the medial phonemes are assigned with respective vowels based upon the length and direction of the minute hand, and the final phonemes are shaped by the length of the second hand and assigned with consonants similar to the initial phonemes but with a shorter length. As such, not only can people quickly learn how to read and write, they can also input text easily. |
| US08818811B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing voice activity detection
This application relates to a voice activity detection (VAD) apparatus configured to provide a voice activity detection decision for an input audio signal. The VAD apparatus includes a state detector and a voice activity calculator. The state detector is configured to determine, based on the input audio signal, a current working state of the VAD apparatus among at least two different working states. Each of the at least two different working states is associated with a corresponding working state parameter decision set which includes at least one voice activity decision parameter. The voice activity calculator is configured to calculate a voice activity detection parameter value for the at least one voice activity decision parameter of the working state parameter decision set associated with the current working state, and to provide the voice activity detection decision by comparing the calculated voice activity detection parameter value with a threshold. |
| US08818806B2 |
Speech processing apparatus and speech processing method
A signal portion is extracted per frame having a specific duration from an input signal, thus generating a per-frame input signal. The per-frame input signal in the time domain is converted into a per-frame input signal in the frequency domain, thereby generating a spectral pattern of spectra. Peak spectra having peaks are detected in the spectral pattern. A harmonic spectrum is determined, in the peak spectra, having a harmonic structure showing a relationship between a fundamental pitch and a harmonic overtone. |
| US08818805B2 |
Sound processing apparatus, sound processing method and program
A sound processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an input correction unit that corrects a difference between characteristics of a first input sound input from a first input apparatus and characteristics of a second input sound input from a second input apparatus. The apparatus further includes a sound separation unit that separates the first input sound corrected by the input correction unit and the second input sound into a plurality of sounds. The apparatus further includes a sound type estimation unit that estimates sound types of the plurality of sounds. The apparatus further includes a mixing ratio calculation unit that calculates a mixing ratio of each sound in accordance with the estimated sound type. The apparatus further includes a sound mixing unit that mixes the plurality of sounds separated by the sound separation unit in the mixing ratio calculated by the mixing ratio calculation unit. |
| US08818804B2 |
Global speech user interface
A global speech user interface (GSUI) comprises an input system to receive a user's spoken command, a feedback system along with a set of feedback overlays to give the user information on the progress of his spoken requests, a set of visual cues on the television screen to help the user understand what he can say, a help system, and a model for navigation among applications. The interface is extensible to make it easy to add new applications. |
| US08818802B2 |
Real-time data pattern analysis system and method of operation thereof
A method for real-time data-pattern analysis. The method includes receiving and queuing at least one data-pattern analysis request by a data-pattern analysis unit controller. At least one data stream portion is also received and stored by the data-pattern analysis unit controller, each data stream portion corresponding to a received data-pattern analysis request. Next, a received data-pattern analysis request is selected by the data-pattern analysis unit controller along with a corresponding data stream portion. A data-pattern analysis is performed based on the selected data-pattern analysis request and the corresponding data stream portion, wherein the data-pattern analysis is performed by one of a plurality of data-pattern analysis units. |
| US08818799B2 |
Method of indicating presence of transient noise in a call and apparatus thereof
A method and an apparatus for indicating presence of a transient noise in a call are provided. The method comprises the steps of determining activity at an endpoint of the call by monitoring presence of a signal input from the endpoint into the call and monitoring presence of a potential source of transient noise at the endpoint. Further, based on the activity determination and the monitoring of the presence of a potential source of transient noise, a signal representative of the presence of a transient noise in the call is sent. The present invention is advantageous in that it enables improvement of the quality of the call. |
| US08818798B2 |
Method and system for determining a perceived quality of an audio system
The invention relates to a method for determining a quality indicator representing a perceived quality of an output signal of an audio system with respect to a reference signal. The reference signal and the output signal are processed and compared. The processing includes dividing the reference signal and the output signal into mutually corresponding time frames, and includes scaling the intensity of the reference signal towards a fixed intensity level, and then performing measurements on time frames within the scaled reference signal for determining reference signal time frame characteristics. Further on, the loudness of the output signal is scaled towards a fixed loudness level in the perceptual loudness domain. Finally, the loudness of the reference signal is scaled from a loudness level corresponding to the output signal related intensity level towards a loudness level related to the loudness level of the scaled output signal in the perceptual loudness domain. |
| US08818791B2 |
Techniques for assisting a user in the textual input of names of entities to a user device in multiple different languages
A computer-implemented technique includes receiving a first input from a user at a user device, the first input including a first word of a first alphabet-based language, which is a transliteration of a non-alphabet-based language, which is one of a logogram-based language and a syllabogram-based language. The technique then compares the first words to pluralities of potential translated words from one or more datastores associated with a second alphabet-based language and the logogram-based or syllabogram-based languages. The technique may then generate a probability score for each of the pluralities of potential translated words, the probability score indicating a likelihood of an appropriate translation. The techniques may then provide the user with some or all of the pluralities of potential translated words and the user may select an appropriate translated word to obtain a selected word, which may then be displayed via a display of the user device. |
| US08818788B1 |
System, method and computer program product for identifying words within collection of text applicable to specific sentiment
A content intelligence module may implement a sentiment analysis method to identify words or phrases from user-generated content that are associated with a particular sentiment. The method may comprise grouping or splitting text into different sentiment segments, tokenizing words or phrases and/or removing stopwords across the sentiment segments, performing a frequency analysis to count the words or phrases in each sentiment segment, scaling the frequency results across the sentiment segments where necessary, and removing commonly used words from the sentiment segments. The words or phrases that are left in a specific sentiment segment are the most-used words for that sentiment segment. The word cloud module therefore allows for very quick generation of a summary around sentiment segments. A sentiment overview containing the summary can be presented to a user in connection with a selected product or service with which the user-generated content is associated. |
| US08818787B2 |
Method and system for predicting performance of software applications on prospective hardware architecture
A system and method for identifying optimal system architectures for a reference application are provided. The system and method comprise executing a reference application and a plurality of test applications on a current system architecture and sampling performance data for each of the applications. The performance data is used to compute an application signature for each application. A similarity element is derived from the application signatures that illustrates the similarity between each application and every other application. Using a similarity threshold and an algorithm, a subset of test applications that are similar to the reference application are derived. |
| US08818784B1 |
Hardware description language (HDL) incorporating statistically derived data and related methods
A method of designing a circuit can include modeling one or more circuits in a hardware design language (HDL) (102) and confirming a basic behavior of such models (104). If a basic behavior has been met, the model can be modified to include an algorithm that is based on an experimental statistical analysis of manufactured circuits representing particular condition (e.g., factor) limits (referred to as “corners”) (106). Once a circuit model has been modified to include an algorithm that can represent performance corners, a simulation can be run that will represent circuit response at such an operational corner (110). |
| US08818783B2 |
Representing state transitions
A method for representing state transitions within a state machine includes representing a set of allowed transitions between states as a transition pair wherein a first value of the transition pair indicates a set of nodes from which to transition and a second value of the pair indicates a set of nodes to which to transition. The nodes represent states within a state machine. The method further includes defining a role of an entity within the state machine by assigning a number of transition pairs to the entity, the value pairs defining how the entity can transition through the state machine. |
| US08818781B2 |
Method for operating an oil pool based on a reservoir model gradually deformed by means of cosimulations
A method is disclosed for operating an oil pool based on a reservoir model gradually deformed by means of cosimulations. A map of a property of the pool is obtained by a stochastic simulation of a first random function. A correlation coefficient is chosen between the first random function and a second random function with an identical mean and covariance. The map is modified by a cosimulation of the two random functions by using the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient is modified and the cosimulation step is reiterated to deform the map and minimize a matching objective function. Finally, the pool is operated by implementing an operating scheme accounting for the deformed map. |
| US08818780B2 |
Forming a model of a subsurface region
A method of forming a geologic model of a subsurface region is disclosed. Data related to the subsurface region is obtained. A framework is constructed to represent the subsurface region. A template is selected from a plurality of templates. The selected template provides at least one property that is characteristic of the subsurface region. The selected template is inserted into the framework, to form the geologic model. The geologic model is then outputted. |
| US08818776B2 |
System and method for downhole tool system development
A disclosed method of downhole tool system development comprises: receiving specifications of a downhole tool system that comprises multiple strings, each string having one or more components; and checking for interference between the multiple strings in an initial position. A disclosed system comprises: a memory that stores software; and a processor coupled to the memory to execute the software. The software causes the processor to provide a graphical user interface that enables a user to specify a downhole tool system having multiple strings, and to test the strings for diametrical overlap attributable to relative motion of the strings. |
| US08818774B2 |
Behavioral model generating device and method therefor
There is provided a behavioral model generating device in which a first pattern generator selects behavioral patterns from all the behavioral patterns in behavioral pattern groups by duplicate sampling according to a weighting factor of each group, and adds modification to each pattern to generate first behavioral patterns, a second pattern generator generates device operation patterns from the first behavioral patterns, a power consumption calculator calculates power consumption data based on the device operation patterns, an evaluation selector selects behavioral patterns from the first behavioral patterns by duplicate sampling according to a likelihood of the calculated power consumption data with respect to measured power consumption data, a first updater merges a pair of most similar groups out of all the groups including a group of the selected behavioral patterns and sets a weighting factor of the merged group as a sum of respective weighting factors of the pair. |
| US08818771B2 |
Computer implemented tool box systems and methods
According to the preferred embodiments, a system or method is provided that involves the programming of a computer or other processing device with a software, hardware or firmware configured to create a processing tool (i.e., referred to herein as a tool box) that can be configured to provide one or more operational function based on new mathematical principles described herein for the purposes of, e.g., synthesizing or analyzing shapes and the like. |
| US08818769B2 |
Methods and systems for managing synchronization of a plurality of information items of a computer-aided design data model
The present disclosure features systems and methods for maintaining consistency of a CAD model across a plurality of homogenous or heterogeneous applications across one or more computing devices and used by one or more users. The systems include a common data model, comprising chapters of different information items to describe various aspects of the CAD model, and lightweight change instructions representative of modifications made by a user to a chapter of the CAD model. By utilizing a common data model and difference-based change instructions, a plurality of users may concurrently collaborate on the design of a CAD model, or a single user may utilize a plurality of applications of a CAD suite efficiently and with an enhanced user experience. |
| US08818765B2 |
System and method to monitor compressor rack operation
A commercial refrigeration system receives data from a plurality of compressors in a compressor rack, and uses the data to model a steady state amp draw for each of the compressors in the compressor rack. The system receives additional data from the plurality of compressors, and determines a steady state amp draw for each of the compressors from the additional data. The system then compares the amp draw from the additional data with the steady state amp draw model, and identifies a compressor fault based on the comparison of the steady state amp draw from the additional data with the steady state amp draw model. |
| US08818764B2 |
Downmixing device and method
A downmixing device includes: a matrix conversion unit configured to perform a matrix operation for an input signal; a rotation correction unit configured to rotate an output signal of the matrix conversion unit; a spatial information extraction unit configured to extract spatial information from the output signal of the rotation correction unit; and an error calculation unit configured to calculate an error amount of the matrix operation result for the input signal by performing a matrix operation for the output signal of the rotation correction unit and the spatial information extracted by the spatial information extraction unit using a matrix that is inverse to the matrix used for the matrix operation by the matrix conversion unit. |
| US08818763B2 |
Seismic acquisition and filtering
Designing a multi-dimensional Finite Impulse Response FIR digital filter to attenuate the coherent noise while preserving reflection signals on seismic data, particular in land seismics, includes computing filter coefficients to minimize an l-norm function of differences between a response of a filter with the computed coefficients and a predetermined response which attenuates signals outside a predetermined range of slowness relative to signals within the predetermined range of slowness. Additional constraints may be imposed on the coefficients to improve the attenuation of signals outside the predetermined range of slowness of the desired reflection signals, and/or to improve uniformity within the desired range. |
| US08818759B2 |
Computer system for remote testing of inflatable personal restraint systems
A system for testing a number of electronic module assemblies (EMAs) that control one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor with a computer system transmits signals that instruct the EMAs to perform a diagnostic self-test. The results of the self-test are received by the computer system and stored in a computer readable memory. In one embodiment, the computer system is a cabin management computer system for use on an aircraft. |
| US08818758B1 |
Methods and apparatus to track, visualize and understand energy and utilities usage
Techniques disclosed herein include systems and methods for tracking, visualizing and understanding energy or utilities usage of one or many buildings. The system links building characteristics with energy or utilities use thereby enabling users to view energy or utilities usage and cost information at the portfolio, development, building, or meter levels. This technique allows for easy comparison among and between buildings in a portfolio, group, or common ownership. The system provides for quick creation of custom reports to compare buildings across portfolios. These custom reports further enable users to compare energy/utilities use of buildings within a given account relative to energy/utilities use of similar buildings in a larger database, thus providing meaningful performance benchmarking based on real data. |
| US08818753B2 |
Methods and systems for processing social interactive data and sharing of tracked activity associated with locations
A method includes determining a location of a first monitoring device used while performing an activity. The first monitoring device is worn by a first user. The method includes determining a location of a second monitoring device used while performing an activity. The second monitoring device is worn by a second user. The method further includes determining whether the locations of the first and second monitoring devices are within a range and whether the activities are similar. The method includes sending a prompt to the first monitoring device upon determining that the activities are similar and the locations are within the range. The prompt includes a request for permission from a first user account to allow a second user account to access information from the first user account regarding the activity performed using the first monitoring device. |
| US08818749B2 |
Circuits and methods for generating a self-test of a magnetic field sensor
A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation. |
| US08818748B2 |
Posture sensor automatic calibration
A system and method automatically calibrate a posture sensor, such as by detecting a walking state or a posture change. For example, a three-axis accelerometer can be used to detect a patient's activity or posture. This information can be used to automatically calibrate subsequent posture or acceleration data. |
| US08818744B2 |
Test and measurement instrument and method of switching waveform display styles
A test and measurement instrument and method of switching waveform display styles includes acquiring an electrical signal, storing peak detect data samples from the electrical signal to one or more memory devices, storing filtered data samples or unfiltered data from the electrical signal, automatically switching to a first waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a first mode when a user selects the unfiltered data, and automatically switching to a second waveform display style having the peak detect data samples configured in a second mode when the user selects the filtered data samples. |
| US08818743B2 |
Energy meter application programming interface
An energy meter includes metering circuitry configured to monitor power consumption. The energy meter includes firmware including internal functions configured to control elements of the energy meter. Further, the energy meter includes an input/output port or a communications device configured to receive customized instructions and a processor. The processor controls the metering circuitry, receives customized instructions from the input/output port or the communications device. The customizable instructions provide additional control of the elements of the energy meter beyond the internal functions of the firmware. The processor interprets the customized instructions and executes the customized instructions using the internal functions of the firmware. |
| US08818738B2 |
Tuning parameter of Kalman filter in a wheel inspection
An apparatus for tuning a parameter of a Kalman filter in a wheel inspection for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes an association module that associates wheel inspection data of the vehicle with locations of corresponding wheels in the vehicle; an evaluation module that evaluates a wheel stable score of the vehicle based on the wheel inspection data and the association, where the wheel stable score indicates reliability of the wheel inspection; and a parameter tuning module that tunes a measurement error covariance of the Kalman filter according to the evaluated wheel stable score. |
| US08818734B1 |
Peptide ligands for sperm DNA fragmentation assay
This invention comprises peptides, methods and a kit for identifying DNA fragmentation in non-viable sperm. Specific peptide sequences are claimed that bind to ssDNA and fragmented DNA. |
| US08818724B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating sketch map information in portable terminal
Provided is an apparatus and method for generating a sketch map in a portable terminal. The apparatus includes a sketch map generating unit. The sketch map generating unit collects information about route points of the portable terminal by using location information, generates a sketch map message including the route information, and shares the generated sketch map message with another user. |
| US08818722B2 |
Rapid lidar image correlation for ground navigation
A method includes generating current coarse edge count representation based on current fine grid representation of current section, correlating current edge quantity values of current coarse pixels with historical edge quantity values of historical coarse pixels of historical coarse edge count representation of environment, and identifying first subsection of historical coarse edge count representation with highest correlation to current coarse edge count representation. Each current coarse pixel in current coarse edge count representation represents current fine pixels from current fine grid representation. Fine grid representation of current section of environment is based on data from range and attitude sensor. Each current coarse pixel within current coarse edge count representation includes current edge quantity value that represents quantity of current fine pixels represented by current coarse pixel that include edge. Each historical coarse pixel corresponds to historical fine pixels in historical fine grid representation of environment. |
| US08818721B2 |
Method and system for exchanging data
A system for exchanging data. A first mobile device configured to generate a first set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the first mobile device has been located and configured to exchange the first set of data with a second mobile device wherein the first mobile device receives a second set of data related to a plurality of geographic positions where the second mobile device has been located. A mapping system configured to receive the first set of data and the second set of data and to generate a map based on the first set of data and the second set of data. |
| US08818717B2 |
Method for increasing waypoint accuracies for crowd-sourced routes
A method for increasing route accuracies, comprising receiving GPS waypoints associated position accuracy prediction (PAP) parameters, comparing the PAP parameters to corpus PAP parameters associated with corpus GPS waypoints, and updating the corpus PAP parameters and the corpus GPS waypoints based on the comparison of the PAP parameters to the corpus PAP parameters. |
| US08818716B1 |
System and method for gesture-based point of interest search
A user, such as the driver of a vehicle, to retrieve information related to a point of interest (POI) near the vehicle by pointing at the POI or performing some other gesture to identify the POI. Gesture recognition is performed on the gesture to generate a target region that includes the POI that the user identified. After generating the target region, information about the POI can be retrieved by querying a server-based POI service with the target region or by searching in a micromap that is stored locally. The retrieved POI information can then be provided to the user via a display and/or speaker in the vehicle. This process beneficially allows a user to rapidly identify and retrieve information about a POI near the vehicle without having to navigate a user interface by manipulating a touchscreen or physical buttons. |
| US08818713B2 |
System and apparatus providing localized evacuation guidance
A method and apparatus for detecting hazardous gases. The method includes the steps of providing a central station and a plurality of environmental detectors within a protected area, each of the plurality of environmental detectors detecting environmental events within the protected area and reporting detected events to the central station, one of the plurality of environmental detectors detecting an environmental event within the protected area and reporting that event to the central station, the central station determining a location of the detected event and of each of the plurality of environmental detectors within the protected area, the central station dynamically computing a route from the determined location of each of the plurality of environmental detectors to the closest and safest exit based upon the determined location of the detected environmental event and the central station generating and sending a respective map showing the computed route to the closest and safest exit for that environmental detector to each of the plurality of environmental detectors. |
| US08818709B2 |
Augmented reality shopper routing
A store routing system for guiding a shopper in a store comprises a storage storing a store product map comprising location information for products available at the store. The system also comprises an analytics engine for identifying one or more recommended products for the shopper based on a set of one or more sought products. The system also comprises a route calculator for calculating a route through the store to a location of each of the sought products based on the store product map and for including a waypoint in the route corresponding to a location of each of the one or more recommended products. |
| US08818705B2 |
Capturing environmental information
In general, a method performed on a vehicle includes determining that the vehicle is located within a predetermined range of a beacon, the beacon being associated with a beacon identification, navigating the vehicle to a first location based on determining that the vehicle is located with the predetermined range, generating a first report based on determining that the vehicle is located at the first location, the generating including: specifying the beacon identification, recording navigation data that includes an altitude, a distance from the beacon, and a bearing relative to the beacon, and recording environmental data. The method further includes transmitting the first report from the vehicle to a base station, the first report including the beacon identification, the navigation data, and the environmental data. |
| US08818700B2 |
Motorised vehicle with controlled inclination
The motor vehicle of the invention is provided with at least three wheels and includes a driving cab capable of accommodating a single person in the width direction. The motor vehicle comprises a bend-balancing means that acts by the inclination of at least the portion of the chassis that bears the driving cab. According to the invention, the vehicle is also provided with speed, acceleration and/or inclination sensors, and the balancing means are automatically controlled when the information supplied by the sensors is lower than a main predetermined threshold. The invention also provides that the automatic control of the balancing means is deactivated when the information provided by the sensors is higher than said main threshold. |
| US08818696B2 |
Method and system for aerial vehicle trajectory management
A method and system of managing an aerial vehicle trajectory is provided. The remote trajectory management system (RTMS) for a fleet of aircraft includes an input specification module configured to manage information specifying flight-specific input data used to generate a trajectory, an aircraft model module including data that specifies a performance of the aircraft and engines of the aircraft, a predict 4D trajectory module configured to receive the specified inputs from the input specification module and an aircraft performance model from aircraft model module and to generate a 4D trajectory for a predetermined flight, and a trajectory export module configured to transmit a predetermined subset of the predicted trajectory to the aircraft. |
| US08818695B2 |
Method for reporting traffic conditions
A targeted area audio distribution system for Satellite Digital Audio Radio Services Receivers (“SDARS”) provides specific content to listeners based on location. A service provider can facilitate delivery of local content using a telematics device installed in the listener's vehicle. The telematics device uses a content database indexed on an identifier formed from coordinates of a desired geographical area to target particular content for users in a targeted area as small as a few blocks. In addition, interstate drivers can receive location specific advertisements for exits that they may be approaching. Digital audio content can be queued up for insertion into the audio stream based on specific locations. The identifier can also be used to report vehicle performance information from a plurality of vehicles to facilitate providing real-time traffic conditions for many traffic corridors. |
| US08818693B2 |
Engine system control device
The present invention provides an engine system control device to be applied to an engine system provided with an engine having a variable compression ratio mechanism capable of changing a compression ratio. In the case where generation of failure in a compression ratio control system is detected, determination of a state of a member placed in an intake and exhaust system of the engine is inhibited. |
| US08818691B2 |
Exhaust system and method for controlling temperature of exhaust gas in an exhaust system
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, an internal combustion engine includes a fuel system in fluid communication with a cylinder to direct a fuel flow to be mixed with air in the cylinder and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the cylinder to receive an exhaust gas produced by the combustion process, wherein the exhaust system includes an oxidation catalyst, a particulate filter downstream of the oxidation catalyst. The system also includes a control module that determines an amount of energy to be provided by at least one of: a post-injection process, hydrocarbon injector, and heating device, wherein the amount of energy is based on a desired temperature at a selected location in the exhaust system, an exhaust gas flow rate, a temperature of the received exhaust gas, a flow rate and temperature of the exhaust gas at the inlet of the oxidation catalyst. |
| US08818688B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine operated with a gas as fuel
A method for operating an internal combustion engine (100), particularly of a motor vehicle, operated with a gas as fuel, a lambda value of an air/fuel mixture being regulated by means of lambda control as a function of a signal from a lambda probe (130), and, when a lean/rich jump is detected by the lambda probe (130), a mixture control factor (GRF) which controls the mixture composition being varied at least for a predeterminable time such that a shift of the lambda air ratio toward rich is caused, is characterized in that the mixture control factor (GRF) is varied in such a way that an additional defined shift of the lambda air ratio toward rich is caused. |
| US08818687B2 |
Control apparatus of internal combustion engine
A control pattern corresponding to a ultra high expansion cycle is executed, wherein an actual timing IVCa of an intake valve closing timing is controlled to agree with a steady adapted value IVCt, an actual value εma of a mechanical compression ratio is controlled to agree with a steady adapted value εmt, and an ignition timing SA is controlled to agree with a steady adapted timing SAt. There are four cases that might be generated, including a case in which the IVCa is shifted toward a retard angle side or toward an advance angle side from the IVCt due to a response delay of a variable intake valve timing apparatus, and a case in which εma is shifted to a greater side or to a smaller side from the εmt due to the response delay of a variable compression ratio mechanism. |
| US08818686B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine, hybrid vehicle including the same, and method for controlling internal combustion engine
A purge control implementation determination unit determines whether or not to implement purge control in accordance with predetermined implementation conditions. If it is determined to implement the purge control, a purge control unit actually implements the purge control. A throttle opening degree upper limit switching unit switches an upper limit value of an opening degree of a throttle based on a determination result of the purge control implementation determination unit. A throttle opening degree control unit controls the opening degree of the throttle so as not to exceed the upper limit value set by the throttle opening degree upper limit switching unit. |
| US08818684B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting failure in gas turbine hardware
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for detecting failure in gas turbine hardware. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting a failure in a gas turbine is provided. The method can include monitoring a parameter associated with the turbine, wherein the monitored parameter comprises at least one turbine bucket temperature, detecting an event associated with operation of the turbine, wherein the event is based at least in part on the monitored parameter, and initiating shutdown of the turbine upon detection of the event wherein the monitored parameter is above a predetermined value for at least a predetermined time duration. |
| US08818677B2 |
System and method of vehicle speed control having vehicle speed limit control and speed increase rate control
If a condition for finishing speed limit control is satisfied, a gradient of a slope of the road is estimated based on a steady component of the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle, and a correction factor is computed based on the slope gradient of the road, while a target acceleration of the vehicle is computed based on the vehicle speed. Then, a target vehicle speed is computed by adding the target vehicle speed of the last cycle to the product of the correction factor, target acceleration and the cycle time of the control, and the braking or driving force of each wheel is controlled so that the vehicle speed becomes equal to the target vehicle speed. In this manner, a passenger of the vehicle is prevented from feeling uncomfortable about the speed increase after the completion of the vehicle speed limit control. |
| US08818676B2 |
Redundant Torque Security Path
An engine control system includes a torque request control module to determine a first engine torque request. An artificial neural network (ANN) torque request module determines a second engine torque request using an ANN model. A torque security check module that selectively generates a malfunction signal based on the difference between the first engine torque request and the second engine torque request. |
| US08818675B2 |
Method and device for ascertaining the speed of a motor vehicle
A method for ascertaining the speed of a motor vehicle with the aid of wheel rotational speed sensors. To improve the calculation of the vehicle speeds on the basis of the wheel speeds, a first group of wheels of the motor vehicle is decelerated and a second group of wheels of the motor vehicle is simultaneously accelerated. |
| US08818670B2 |
Wear leveling for road life optimization
There are provided methods and systems for road wear leveling. A method includes determining a location of a velocity change point based on wear leveling information for a road segment including the location. The method further includes communicating the location of the velocity change point to a vehicle. |
| US08818669B2 |
Motor vehicle regenerative braking method
A regenerative braking method for a motor vehicle, in which the regenerative braking action is applied progressively, a rate of application of the braking action being dependent on a speed of the motor vehicle. |
| US08818667B2 |
Method for producing a differential torque acting on the vehicle wheels of a vehicle
In a method for generating a differential torque in a vehicle, in the case in which the vehicle is in a load change state and simultaneously in an extreme driving situation, in which wheel torques of different magnitudes are present at the vehicle wheels, the torque distribution between the vehicle wheels is changed. |
| US08818666B2 |
Method for controlling a damper clutch
A method for controlling a damper clutch may include determining whether the damper clutch is in a slip or lock-up state in a driving state of a vehicle, determining whether a condition of the vehicle is within a predetermined resonant range, determining whether a torque of the vehicle is within a predetermined resonant torque range, detecting a subharmonic vibration when the damper clutch is in the slip or lock-up state, the condition of the vehicle is within the predetermined resonant range, and the torque of the vehicle is within the predetermined resonant torque range, and controlling the damper clutch to slip or be open when the subharmonic vibration is larger than a predetermined value. |
| US08818659B2 |
Supervisory thermal management system and method for engine system warm up and regeneration
This disclosure provides a thermal management system and method that can recommend operational behavior to an operator of an engine system to optimize fuel economy over a period of time in which a components of the engine system is in a warm up and/or regeneration state. In one representative embodiment, the expected temperature change of the engine component at a later time is determined based on inefficient operation of the engine, such as a transmission down shift resulting in higher engine speed and lower engine torque, and the expected temperature change of the engine component resulting from operating the engine under current conditions or expected conditions at that later time is determined. A determination is made as to whether the inefficient engine operation is the optimal operation in view of fuel economy and a recommendation is generated for the operator based if optimal operation is determined. |
| US08818657B2 |
Continuously variable transmission and shift control method
The shift control unit shifts the sub-transmission mechanism while changing the speed ratio of the variator in response to a change in the speed ratio of the sub-transmission mechanism so that the through speed ratio does not change after the through speed ratio is caused to reach the final through speed ratio by changing only the speed ratio of the variator if the speed ratio corresponding to the shift instruction from the driver is between a first speed ratio at which the sub-transmission mechanism is in the second gear position at the high speed side and the speed ratio of the variator is lowest and a second speed ratio at which the sub-transmission mechanism is in the first gear position at the low speed side and the speed ratio of the variator is highest when the manual mode is selected. |
| US08818648B2 |
Hybrid construction machine
A hybrid construction machine includes a hydraulic pressure work element driven by hydraulic pressure generated by driving power of an internal combustion engine or a motor generator, and also includes an electric-motor work element driven by an electric motor. A superordinate control unit generates a control command which controls drive of the hydraulic pressure work element and the electric-motor work element. A subordinate control unit controls drive of the hydraulic pressure work element and the electric-motor work element based on the control command generated by the superordinate control unit. The subordinate control unit monitors an error in the superordinate control unit. |
| US08818644B1 |
Apparatus for determining a seat occupancy
A seating determination apparatus includes a transition processing unit 29 configured to make a transition of the state between a first seating determination state in which an airbag apparatus is brought into an operation-permitted state and the second seating determination state in which the airbag apparatus is in the operation-prohibited state when a transition condition on the basis of a magnitude relationship between a seat load and a preset threshold value is satisfied, and configured to prohibit the transition of the state between the first seating determination state and the second eating determination state when the direction of variation of the seat load is determined to have inverted before a predetermined time set in advance has elapsed from a time point when the transition condition is satisfied. |
| US08818640B2 |
Seatbelt device of vehicle
A seatbelt device of a vehicle includes: a webbing reel around which a webbing is rolled up; a motor; an acceleration detection unit detecting an acceleration applying to the vehicle; an electric current control unit controlling a driving current of the motor; and an acceleration condition determination unit determining whether or not an acceleration greater than or equal to a set value has been applied to the vehicle within a predetermined amount of time after an acceleration greater than or equal to a first threshold acceleration value has been applied to the vehicle. When the acceleration condition determination unit determines that an acceleration greater than or equal to the set value has been applied to the vehicle within the predetermined amount of time, the electric current control unit controls the driving current of the motor so that a set amount of the webbing is wrapped up. |
| US08818639B2 |
Control unit and method for activating passenger protection means and sensor for outputting a crash-relevant signal
A control unit and a method for activating passenger protection arrangement, as well as a sensor for outputting a crash-relevant signal, are proposed. A digital signal, which is relevant for activating the passenger protection arrangement, is output with the aid of an interface. The interface has a plurality of power sources for influencing the signal edges of the digital signal. |
| US08818638B2 |
Device and method for triggering passenger protection means
A device and a method for triggering passenger protection means as a function of signals of a sensor module is provided. For example, the sensor module includes at least two sensors which are accommodated in one housing. The signal conditioning for the at least two sensors takes place on separate hardware paths. |
| US08818631B2 |
Vehicle steering control unit
A vehicle steering control unit which can implement various type of self-tuning in accordance with various properties of an objective vehicle is realized. ECU includes a control information acquiring part 501 which acquires control information which is information relating to the controlling of steering of the vehicle, a parameter value calculation part 502 which calculates after-change values for parameters whose values need to be changed in various steering control parameters based on the control information acquired by the control information acquiring part 501, and a parameter value rewrite part 503 which rewrites the values of steering control parameters. The control information includes information representing system properties of an objective vehicle, information retained by the chassis control system, and information on elements which make up a steering system which is installed on the objective vehicle. |
| US08818629B2 |
Look ahead vehicle suspension system
An active suspension system senses roadway defects and adjusts an active and controllable suspension system of the vehicle before tires come in contact with the defect. The active suspension system identifies a type of defect or debris, e.g., pothole, bump, object, etc., along with the size, width, depth, and/or height information of the defect to more accurately control operation of the suspension system to prepare for, or avoid contact with the roadway defects and obstacles. Imaging techniques are employed to identify the defect or debris. Operation of a serviced cruise control system is controlled to enhance passenger safety and comfort. |
| US08818627B2 |
Regeneration control system for vehicle
An object of the invention is to increase the recovered kinetic energy as much as possible in a regeneration control system for a vehicle that converts the kinetic energy of a wheel into electrical energy while the vehicle is decelerating. To achieve the object, in the invention, the electric energy generated by a generator is decreased at the time when the wheel slips. In consequence, the recovered kinetic energy can be made larger as compared to the case where the electric energy generated by the generator is decreased based on an anticipation of slippage of the wheel made in advance. |
| US08818610B1 |
User interface for displaying internal state of autonomous driving system
Autonomous vehicles use various computing systems to transport passengers from one location to another. A control computer sends messages to the various systems of the vehicle in order to maneuver the vehicle safely to the destination. The control computer may display information on an electronic display in order to allow the passenger to understand what actions the vehicle may be taking in the immediate future. Various icons and images may be used to provide this information to the passenger. |
| US08818609B1 |
Using geometric features and history information to detect features such as car exhaust in point maps
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for classifying regions of a scanning zone of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) scan. One example includes a method for receiving information indicative of a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) scan of a vehicle. The method further involves generating a point map of the scanning zone. The method further involves generating a density profile of the point map that is indicative of density of one or more regions of the scanning zone characterized at one or more distances. The method further involves generating an elevation profile of the point map that is indicative of elevation of one or more reflected features in the scanning zone characterized at one or more distances. The method further involves classifying regions of the scanning zone based on the density profile and the elevation profile. |
| US08818607B2 |
Variable offset positioning antenna array for enhanced guidance of automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
An automated storage system for storing a plurality of objects in storage locations, the automated storage system comprising a master control computer, a guidance network, a plurality of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) each having an onboard microprocessor and a receiver for receiving control commands from the master control computer, and a plurality of trays for engagement with the plurality of AGVs for transportation and storage of the objects. |
| US08818596B2 |
Motor controller
Provided is a technology capable of ensuring drivability of an electric vehicle while preventing thermal destruction of its parts and deterioration of a battery, caused by an LC resonance. The present specification discloses a motor controller for an electric vehicle having a battery, a converter circuit, an inverter circuit, a smoothing capacitor, and a motor, the motor controller configured to control a drive of the motor by controlling an operation of the inverter circuit. In this motor controller, an operating region of the motor that causes a resonance of an LC circuit configured by a reactor of the converter circuit and the smoothing capacitor is set as a resonance region. In this motor controller, execution of square-wave control on the motor is permitted only over a predetermined time period, when the converter circuit is not boosting the DC power and an operating point of the motor is included in the resonance region. |
| US08818594B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid vehicle
A method is provided for operating a hybrid vehicle (1) having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (4) and having a regenerable filter device that absorbs fuel vapors from a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine. To improve the reproducible operation of a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, in a purely electric driving mode in which the hybrid vehicle (1) is driven only by the electric machine (4), the regenerable filter device is rinsed by switching on the internal combustion engine (2) with a scavenging strategy that is dependent on the velocity of the hybrid vehicle (1). |
| US08818591B2 |
Storage medium with data memory and charging station
There is provided a storage medium for use as a source of energy for vehicles. An exemplary storage medium comprises a data memory that stores information about the charge status of the storage medium. The exemplary storage medium also comprises a SIM card. |
| US08818590B2 |
Combination of electric rotary machine and electronic control unit in automobile
A system including at least one electric rotary machine and an integrated control circuit and an electronic control unit, the system being embarked in an automobile. The integrated control circuit of the system includes a RAM connected to the electronic control unit via a data communication link, and the electronic control unit includes a rewritable memory. The system further includes a configuration data permanent storage of the system in the rewritable memory as well as an upload of the configuration data into the RAM during a configuration phase of the system. The system herein enables the integrated control circuit of the electric rotary machine to be standardized by virtue of the fact that the configuration data are no longer written in a read-only memory but reside in a RAM of this circuit. |
| US08818585B2 |
Flat wheel detector with multiple sensors
The present disclosure is directed to a flat wheel detector. The flat wheel detector may have a first sensor configured to be located adjacent a rail of a railroad track. The first sensor may be oriented at a first angle relative to a horizontal plane. The flat wheel detector may also have a second sensor configured to be located adjacent the rail. The second sensor may be oriented at a second angle relative to the horizontal plane. In addition, the flat wheel detector may have a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to receive signals from the first and second sensors. The controller may also be configured to detect a flat wheel on a railroad car based on the signals. |
| US08818584B2 |
System and method for modifying schedules of vehicles
A system includes an interface module, a simulation module, and a resolution module. The interface module determines a captured state of vehicles traveling in a transportation network according to associated schedules and a proposed modification to the schedules. The captured state represents locations of the vehicles in the transportation network at a selected time. The simulation module simulates movement of the vehicles according to the proposed modification to the schedules. The movement of the vehicles is simulated from the selected time of the captured state of the vehicles. The resolution module determines potential ramifications from the movement of the vehicles that is simulated. The potential ramifications are representative of a simulated change in travel of the vehicles due to the proposed modification. The resolution module is further configured to use the potential ramifications for use in determining whether to implement the proposed modification in actual travel of the vehicles. |
| US08818582B2 |
Method and system for determining the position of an aircraft during its approach to a landing runway
A method for guiding an aircraft during its final approach to a landing runway, whereby the aircraft is guided during its approach by aircraft position information obtained from an GNSS satellite navigation system, wherein: prior to the start of the final approach a first time tFAF is determined corresponding with the start of said final approach and a second time tTD corresponding with the landing of the aircraft on said runway, then a set of satellites is determined of the satellite navigation system for excluding from the calculation of said aircraft position information during at least a part of the time interval comprised between said first and second times; and during the final approach, the aircraft position information is determined while excluding the information corresponding with all the satellites of said set of satellites and the aircraft is guided along its final approach path by said position information. |
| US08818581B2 |
Parafoil electronic control unit having wireless connectivity
A method is described that includes performing a), b) and c) below with an electronic control unit of a parafoil: a) after being dropped from an airborne vehicle, wirelessly receiving the parafoil's desired landing location; b) determining a flight path for the parafoil that lands at the desired landing location; and, c) controlling the parafoil's flight path consistently with the determined flight path. |
| US08818576B2 |
Tailored arrivals allocation system trajectory predictor
The different advantageous embodiments provide a system for generating trajectory predictions for a flight comprising a flight object manager and a trajectory predictor. The flight object manager is configured to generate flight information using a number of flight plans, a number of flight schedules, and flight status information. The trajectory predictor is configured to receive flight information from the flight object manager and use the flight information to generate the trajectory predictions. |
| US08818572B1 |
System and method for controlling a remote aerial device for up-close inspection
The method and system may be used to control the movement of a remote aerial device in an incremental step manner during a close inspection of an object or other subject matter. At the inspection location, a control module “stabilizes” the remote aerial device in a maintained, consistent hover while maintaining a close distance to the desired object. The control module may retrieve proximal sensor data that indicates possible nearby obstructions to the remote aerial device and may transmit the data to a remote control client. The remote control module may determine and display the possible one or more non-obstructed directions that the remote aerial device is capable of moving by an incremental distance. In response to receiving a selection of one of the directions, the remote control module may transmit the selection to the remote aerial device to indicate the next movement for the remote aerial device. |
| US08818571B1 |
Steering control system for radio control vehicle and a radio controlled car comprising the same
A steering control system for a RC vehicle is provided. The steering control system comprises an angular speed sensor and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive a first steering signal from a receiver of the radio controlled vehicle which indicates a position of a control stick or a control wheel of a controller for the radio controlled vehicle and to receive a signal from the angular speed sensor. The first steering signal is adjusted based on the signal from the angular speed sensor and the position of a control stick or a control wheel of a controller to improve stability of the vehicle without deteriorating a maneuverability of the vehicle. |
| US08818566B2 |
Appliance demand response randomization after demand response event
An energy management system and method for one or more appliances includes a controller for managing power consumption within a household. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of one or more energy parameters of an associated energy supplying utility, including at least a peak demand period or an off-peak demand period. The controller is configured to at least one of communicate to, control and operate one or more appliances in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode in response to the received signal. The one or more appliances operate in the normal operating mode during the off-peak demand period and operate in the energy savings mode during the peak demand period. The controller is configured to control the return of the one or more appliances to the normal operating mode after the peak demand period is over to prevent an energy surge for the associated energy supplying utility. |
| US08818561B2 |
Slump flow monitoring
Method and system for monitoring slump flow of hydratable cementitious material such as wet concrete in a rotating mixing drum. Whereas prior art methods use a single value of the hydraulic pressure for turning the drum (such as the average value) and correlating with slump values using the vertical drop measurements of the standard slump test (e.g. ASTM C 143-05), the present invention involves analysis of values corresponding to slump flow of concrete samples, preferably having slump flow values of 16-36 inches when measured using standard slump flow tests (e.g., ASTM C1611-05). |
| US08818557B2 |
Cortical control of a prosthetic device
A methodology for using cortical signals to control a multi jointed prosthetic device for direct real-time interaction with the physical environment, including improved methods for calibration and training. |
| US08818550B2 |
Horizontal circuit storage system
The invention relates to a horizontal circuit storage system (1) for storing storage goods carried by load-carriers. The horizontal circuit storage system has a storage zone (2) with a plurality of stacked horizontal storage planes (5). A plurality of load-carriers (6) are arranged in a row in each of the storage planes. The storage zone (2) is located between two vertical conveyers (3, 4) which interconnect the storage planes vertically in each case. The load-carriers (6) can be moved horizontally in the storage planes (5) to the vertical conveyers (3, 4) by horizontal conveyers (8) which are associated each with a storage plane (5). According to the invention, a control unit is provided in order to permit faster access to individual load-carriers and, depending on a control signal from the control unit, the storage system can be brought into a condition in which a horizontal circuit is formed for the load-carriers (6). The invention also relates to a method for accessing a particular load-carrier (6) which receives a storage good in a horizontal circuit storage system (1) in which such a horizontal circuit (65) is formed. |
| US08818549B2 |
Controller for machine tool and five-axis simultaneous control machine tool controlled thereby
A controller including a detecting member detecting a machining position where a pivoting axis is reversed in machining by the machine tool based on the control data, an allowable position error setting member setting an allowable position error between a commanded machining position and an actual machining position, an allowable acceleration deciding member deciding the allowable acceleration about the pivoting axis based on a distance from the machining position of the reversed axis to a center of the pivoting axis and based on the allowable position error being set, and a controlling member controlling a velocity about the driving axis based on the allowable acceleration. |
| US08818546B2 |
Multi-needle sewing machine and computer-readable storage medium storing embroidery data processing program
A multi-needle sewing machine includes an assigning unit that assigns thread color data to each pattern-by-color portion. The assigning unit is configured to determine, for each pattern-by-color portion, whether or not the user's designation of the pattern-by-color portion has been received. When the user's designation for the pattern-by-color portion has been received, the assigning unit is configured to assign the user's designation as thread color data for the pattern-by-color portion. When the user's designation for the pattern-by-color portion has not been received, the assigning unit is configured to randomly extract and assign a non-overlapping color as thread color data for the pattern-by-color portion from the data of a plurality of thread colors stored in the spool color storage unit. The machine is configured to execute sewing of the embroidery pattern for the pattern-by-color portion based on the thread color data assigned by the assigning unit. |
| US08818539B2 |
Audio encoding device, audio encoding method, and video transmission device
An audio encoding device includes, a time-frequency transform unit that transforms signals of channels included in an audio signal having a first number of channels into frequency signals respectively, a down-mix unit that generates an audio frequency signal having a second number of channels, a low channel encoding unit that generates a low channel audio code by encoding the audio frequency signal, a space information extraction unit that extracts space information representing spatial information of a sound, an importance calculation unit that calculates importance on the basis of the space information, a space information correction unit that corrects the space information, a space information encoding unit that generates a space information code, and a multiplexing unit that generates an encoded audio signal by multiplexing the low channel audio code and the space information code. |
| US08818536B2 |
Method for creating numerical control programs
A method for creating an NC program for controlling a test run for determining, optimizing and/or validating processing parameters and/or control parameters of a processing operation on a laser processing machine comprises accessing a base NC program that includes at least one contour variable for the at least one test contour to be produced in the test run and at least one decision function for value assignment of a contour parameter to the contour variable, providing a selection function for selection by an operator of a combination of input values that are characteristic of the processing operation, and creating the NC program from the base NC program by automatic execution of the at least one decision function for assigning a contour parameter to the contour variable, the contour parameter being determined based on the combination of input values. |
| US08818529B2 |
Halibut release liner for a defibrillator electrode pad
A release liner for electrode pads is described which enables the pads to be used with defibrillators requiring the electrodes to be electrically interconnected for self-test prior to use, and with defibrillators which do not require the electrodes to be electrically interconnected. In one example this variation is afforded by folding the release liner one way to electrically connect conductive layers underlying two attached electrodes. In another example this variation is afforded by leaving the conductive layers electrically connected or breaking the connection. |
| US08818528B2 |
Internal paddle electrode
An internal paddle electrode includes: an electrode which is to be in contact with a living body to apply a voltage; a cable which includes a voltage supply path that extends between a voltage supply source and the electrode; a handle which includes: a first portion that supports the electrode and is hermetically sealed with the electrode; and a second portion that is connected to the cable and is hermetically sealed with the cable; and a gas passage through which a gas in the handle communicates with external air that is outside the handle. |
| US08818523B2 |
Recharge of an implantable device in the presence of other conductive objects
Techniques are disclosed for controlling the transcutaneously transfer of energy to an implantable medical device (IMD) that is in proximity to a conductive object that conducts current in the presence of an electromagnetic field. Various techniques are disclosed for estimating or determining the levels of heat dissipation associated with the object during the transfer of energy. If too much heat is being dissipated, the transfer of energy may be adjusted so that heating remains below acceptable levels. |
| US08818516B2 |
Posture-dependent stimulation for implantable stimulators
A therapeutic stimulator, e.g., a spinal neurostimulator for pain relief, adapts stimulation delivered to the patient in dependence on measurements of patient orientation (e.g., from a three-axis accelerometer), and also on impedance measurements from leads situated within or upon the patient's body (e.g., from electrodes on neurostimulation leads extending alongside the spine). Since the impedance measurements can provide additional data regarding body positioning, as well as providing data regarding electrode status (such as lead migration, electrode encapsulation, etc.), use of the impedance measurements can provide more refined (and more appropriate) control of delivered stimulation. |
| US08818510B2 |
Systems and methods for paired/coupled pacing
A coupled/paired stimulus pulse is delivered to the heart at an inter-pulse interval following one of i) detection of an intrinsic depolarization or ii) delivery of a primary stimulus pulse. Capture resulting from the coupled/paired stimulus pulse is sensed for. In response to capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse, the inter-pulse interval is incrementally decreased by a first amount until there is no capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse. In response to no capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse, the inter-pulse interval is incrementally increased by a second amount greater than the first amount, until capture by a coupled/paired stimulus pulse is detected. Once capture is again detected, paired/coupled pacing is delivered at the inter-pulse interval which resulted in capture for a predetermined period of time or until loss of capture occurs. |
| US08818509B2 |
Implantable element and electronic implant
Implantable element having an elongate main body, a functional conductor which extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body or forms it, and which acts to implement a medical function of the element and has an inductive section, and magnetic flux generation means for generating a magnetic flux in the surroundings of the functional conductor, in particular of its inductive section, which are magnetically coupled to the functional conductor in such a way that the magnetic flux generated upon a current flux through the functional conductor is counteracted and the current flux density through the functional conductor is thus reduced. |
| US08818507B2 |
Coronary vein dimensional sensor and fixation apparatus
A system and method for estimating a hemodynamic performance parameter value of a patient's heart. The system includes a pulse generator and a medical electrical lead implanted partially within a coronary vein of the heart. The lead includes at least one sensor located within the coronary vein configured to generate a signal indicative of at least one dimensional parameter of the coronary vein. Changes in the dimensional parameter during one or more cardiac cycles are measured. The hemodynamic performance parameter is estimated based on the change in the dimensional parameter of the coronary vein. |
| US08818503B2 |
Method and apparatus for diagnosing and treating neural dysfunction
A method and apparatus for diagnosing and treating neural dysfunction is disclosed. This device has the capability of delivering the therapeutic electrical energy to more than one treatment electrode simultaneously. In another exemplary embodiment, this device can perform EMG testing both before and after the therapeutic energy has been delivered, to assess whether the target nerve was successfully treated. In another embodiment, the device has the capability to record and store sensory stimulation thresholds both before and after treatment is described, which allows the clinician to accurately determine whether the target nerve has been desensitized. Energy control may achieved by simultaneously comparing the tip temperature of each treatment electrode to a set temperature selected by the operator, and regulating the therapeutic energy output to maintain the set temperature. In another embodiment, EMG, stimulation thresholds, and graphs of temperature versus time can be conveniently displayed on a two-dimensional graphics display. |
| US08818501B2 |
Method and system for treating acute heart failure by neuromodulation
Methods and systems of treating acute heart failure by applying a therapy signal at least one sympathetic cardiopulmonary fiber surrounding the pulmonary trunk that affects heart contractility more than heart rate. Methods and systems also include adjusting the signal to effectuate treatment. |
| US08818500B2 |
Fluid dispenser
A fluid dispenser including a fluid reservoir and a body receiving a dispenser member that is connected to the reservoir and an actuator member for actuating the dispenser member; a dispenser and diffuser head forming a fluid dispenser orifice and an application wall for applying the fluid coming from the dispenser orifice onto the skin; a module having a source of radiation emitting monochromatic light of 400 nm to 700 nm and having anti-inflammatory action and/or a stimulating action for stimulating skin-regeneration metabolisms. The dispenser and diffuser head include a source housing and the body includes a module housing communicating with the source housing so that the source of radiation extends in the source housing of the head. |
| US08818497B2 |
Biological signal processing unit, wireless memory, biological signal processing system, and control system of device to be controlled
It is an object to provide a means for easily operating various devices to be controlled (i.e. a word processor or a car) using a brain wave signal of a patient with Alzheimer's disease or a psychological disorder, and for supporting the active performance of a user by employing wireless communication with a memory (wireless memory) capable of communicating without wires in which a command on the human movement is memorized. A present biological signal processing unit has an electrode for detecting a biological signal (an electric signal) from a living body, or for transmitting an electric signal into a living body, an interface, and an antenna which can communicate with an external device (i.e. wireless memory, reader/writer); therefore, convenience of the user is improved in the case where a user utilizes an electronic device or the like. In addition, the active performance of a user can be supported. |
| US08818496B2 |
Systems for safe and remote outpatient ECG monitoring
A system and method providing outpatient ECG monitoring and safe home based cardiac tele-rehabilitation. The system includes a recordation module for recording ECG signals using at least one lead, a tele-rehabilitation module for home based exercise management for a patient's recovery from a heart disease, the tele-rehabilitation module including a processing module for recognizing erroneous data from the ECG signals and an analysis module for calculating beat-to-beat annotations and determining if an ECG event and/or if a QT interval duration change has occurred. The system can include an exercise module for guiding the patient during an exercise session, a visual display that informs the patient to start and/or to stop the tele-rehabilitation exercise, a visual display and/or audible signal that informs the patient of an incoming or a missed tele-rehabilitation exercise session, and/or a communication module for transmitting/receiving data between the a cardiac tele-rehabilitation module and a physician/monitoring center. |
| US08818494B2 |
System for ventricular function abnormality detection and characterization
A system for heart performance characterization and abnormality detection includes an interface for receiving signal data representing an electrical signal indicating electrical activity of a patient heart over multiple heart beat cycles. A filter extracts first signal component data in a first selected bandwidth and first heart cycle portion of the received signal data and second signal component data in a different second selected bandwidth and second heart cycle portion of the received signal data. A signal processor uses the received signal data in calculating a ratio of a first value derived from the first signal component data to a second value derived from the second signal component data. A patient monitor in response to the calculated ratio or value derived from the calculated ratio, generates an alert message associated with the threshold. |
| US08818492B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring ganglion cells
An apparatus for measuring ganglion cells may include: a light generation unit configured to irradiate a first light signal polarized in a first direction and a second light signal polarized in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to a subject; a reflected light processing unit configured to generate an amplification signal corresponding to an image of the subject using a first reflection signal, which is the first light signal reflected from the subject, and a second reflection signal, which is the second light signal reflected from the subject; and an image processing unit configured to measure ganglion cells in the subject using the amplification signal. The apparatus may be used to count the number of normal ganglion cells in the retina by measuring a phase difference of two lights polarized in different directions. The apparatus may also be used to monitor the progress of glaucoma. |
| US08818490B2 |
Instrument guiding during magnetic resonance imaging
The invention relates to a preparing apparatus for preparing an influencing procedure for influencing a subject. The preparing apparatus (1) comprises a subject coil (3) for generating a magnetic resonance image of he subject (7), an instrument guide device (5) for guiding an instrument (6) for influencing the subject (7), a marker (9) being visible in the magnetic resonance image, and an attaching element for attaching the instrument guide device (5) to the subject coil (3) in a known spatial relationship. Since the spatial relationship between the instrument guide device (5) and the subject coil (3) is known, if they are attached to each other, a time consuming registration procedure for registering an influence trajectory, which has been planned based on the magnetic resonance image, and the instrument guide device (5) can be avoided. |
| US08818488B2 |
Data processing unit positioning in MR-PET imaging system integration
An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed between the magnet and the opening, and a plurality of data processing units, each data processing unit being configured for communication with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors. The plurality of data processing units are positioned along a side of the MR scanner not having the opening. |
| US08818487B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus controls image reconstruction based on magnetic resonance signals collected when a peak of detected respiration level falls within an allowable range which changes based on a change in a plurality of peak values of a plurality detected respiration levels. |
| US08818478B2 |
Sensor garment
The present invention provides a sensor garment including a harness. In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor garment includes a textile portion, a device-retention element coupled to the textile portion, and a stretchable harness coupled to the textile portion. The harness includes a conductive element disposed between layers of film. The conductive element includes a first termination point at the device retention element, configured to connect to a monitor device. The conductive element includes a second termination point configured to connect to a sensor or transceiver. |
| US08818472B2 |
Methods and devices for noninvasive measurement of energy absorbers in blood
Various embodiments of the present invention include devices for use in determining the concentration of a tissue energy absorber (e.g., hemoglobin) in an individual's blood. In particular embodiments, the device includes a photometric device (e.g., a pulse oximeter) and an imaging device (e.g., an ultrasound imaging device or other suitable imaging device), and the device is adapted for: (A) using the photometric device to measure a change in mass of the tissue energy absorber within a particular volume of the individual's blood between a first point in time and a second point in time, the particular volume of blood being blood within a particular portion of at least one vascular structure, the vascular structure comprising at least one of the individual's vessels (e.g., at least one of the individual's arteries); (B) using an ultrasound imaging device to measure a change in interior volume, between the first point in time and the second point in time, of the particular portion of the vascular structure; and (C) using both the measured change in the mass of the tissue energy absorber, and the measured change in interior volume to determine at least an approximate blood total concentration of the tissue energy absorber within the individual's blood. |
| US08818469B2 |
Slide-type portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes superposed base and sliding housings, a pair of guide units and a pair of slide rails that cooperate with each other to permit sliding movement of the sliding housing relative to the base housing along a sliding direction between closed and open positions, and a pair of correction mechanisms respectively adjacent to the slide rails and each including at least two push-back members. When the slide rails deviate from the sliding direction, the push-back members can push back the slide rails to a position parallel to the sliding direction so that the slide rails can slide smoothly relative to the guide units. |
| US08818466B2 |
System and method for wireless home communications
A system and method for communicating home information. An earpiece is linked with a router for wireless communications. The earpiece is alerted of incoming communications through a wire telephone in communication with the router. The earpiece is connected to the wire telephone for enabling voice communications in response to user input to accept a call. A status of one or more appliances in communication with the router is received. |
| US08818464B2 |
Device case with added functionality
A case for a device includes a plurality of walls defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity. A first one of the walls is opposite the opening and is configured as a support surface to support a portion of a first housing of the device and also has a first recess therein configured to receive a portion of at least a first end of a band of the device. A second one of the walls defines an edge of the opening that is configured to extend along a center support of the band with the optical element of the device being positioned between the second one of the walls and the support surface when the device is received in the cavity. The case also includes a lid configured to cover the opening and to selectively enclose the interior cavity. |
| US08818463B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station apparatus, and their control method
To provide a radio communication system capable of reducing the power consumption of a radio base station apparatus. A radio communication system according to the present invention includes a user apparatus (2) and a radio base station apparatus (1) that performs radio communication with the user apparatus (2). The radio base station apparatus (1) monitors a communication status of the user apparatus (2) present within a service area of the radio base station apparatus (1), and when there is no user apparatus (2) performing communication, intermittently transmits a signal that is to be transmitted from the radio base station apparatus (1) to the user apparatus (2). The intermittently-transmitted signal is, for example, a downward common channel signal. Further, the intermittent transmission is performed at regular intervals or random intervals. |
| US08818455B2 |
Detection, selection and provision of external antennas for a mobile device
A mobile device can detect, select and use an external antenna supported by an attached accessory device. The mobile device queries the accessory device whether it supports an external antenna and receives an indication of whether the accessory device supports external antennas. The indication can comprise a list of accessory device pins operatively coupled to supported external antennas. The mobile device selects an external antenna for use by the mobile device. The selection can comprise selecting a mobile device pin operatively coupled to the selected external antenna. The selected mobile device pin can be a predetermined pin or a pin that is both operatively coupled to a supported external antenna and configured to operate as an external antenna pin. The mobile device can use the selected external antenna. The mobile device can switch between an internal antenna and an external antenna operatively coupled to a selected mobile device pin. |
| US08818453B1 |
Wireless broadband modem for mobile device connector
A cellular modem device that is integrated with a proprietary dock connector of a mobile device, such as the proprietary 30 pin dock connector of an iPod Touch or iPad, permits the mobile device to connect for Internet access to the associated cellular carrier. The device is usable in circumstances where the mobile device does not contain internal cellular modem circuitry, and/or the device is unable to use WiFi-based Internet and/or the device's internal cellular circuits are out of range of cellular service of the carrier for which those circuits are designed, and/or the internal cellular circuits are not activated on the associated cellular network. |
| US08818448B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for enabling user control of a fallback capability for circuit switched domain support
An apparatus for enabling user control of a fallback capability for circuit switched domain support may include a processor and a memory. The memory may store executable instructions that in response to execution by the processor cause the apparatus to receive a service indication for a service related to a radio access technology not supported by a current serving domain, determine, based on previously stored user defined input, a response to the service indication with respect to conducting a fallback procedure to a radio access technology that supports the service, and execute the response based on a result of the determining. |
| US08818441B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling transmit power of transmissions on more than one component carrier
A method and apparatus for controlling or determining transmit power of transmissions on more than one component carrier (CC) is disclosed. A WTRU may set a transmit power for each of a plurality of channels mapped to multiple CCs. The channels may include at least one physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) and may also include at least one physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). |
| US08818436B2 |
Radio resource mapping method
A resource mapping method is provided, in which a wireless communication system maps subcarriers to resource units through external permutation and internal permutation, the external permutation comprises: performing the first permutation on n physical resource units in every N1 physical resource units, orderly selecting n1×N1 physical resource units from the n physical resource units obtained from the first permutation, and then performing the second permutation on the remaining n−n1×N1 physical resource units in every N2 physical resource units, wherein n, N1, and N2 are all integers greater than or equal to 1, and N1 is not equal to N2, and n1 is an integer greater than or equal to 0. Frequency selectivity gain and frequency diversity gain may be achieved through the present invention by enabling a base station to select a proper resource scheduling granularity and resource unit types, thereby improving the spectrum efficiency of the future wireless communication system. |
| US08818433B2 |
System and method for mobile network inter-device communications
A network node, UE device and method for providing inter-device communications between wireless user equipment (UE) devices in a wireless communications network. Responsive to a request for call set-up and to a determination that the devices are local to each other, a band is allocated to the devices for inter-device communications. The call set-up function can be managed by a node in the wireless communications network, a network node outside of the wireless communications network or by a distributed function shared between a network node and an ad-hoc group of UE devices in a local area that are capable of inter-device communications. |
| US08818432B2 |
Method and integrated routing device for controlling remote systems via short messages
A method and an integrated routing device for controlling remote systems via short messages are provided. When a mobile communication device controls remote systems via short messages, the method and the integrated routing device verify whether the mobile communication device is a legal commander. When the mobile communication device is verified as a legal commander, the method and the integrated routing device generate a verification code and subtract consumed time caused by message relay from a first control duration to generate a second control duration. The mobile communication device performs remote control during the second control duration. By completing above procedure, the method and the integrated routing device are capable of preventing fatal damages resulted from missing the right timing for executing control commands, and can further improve the efficiency of controlling remote systems via short messages. |
| US08818429B2 |
System and method for enabling wireless data transfer
A method of enabling wireless data transfer to an electronic device having a transceiver structured to interact in a first mode with a first wireless network and in a second mode with a second wireless network, including repeatedly powering up the transceiver and enabling the second mode to await receipt of a second beacon signal through the second wireless network, receiving an instance of the second beacon signal with an indication of availability of data to be transferred to the electronic device through the first wireless network, and in response to the receiving of the instance of the second beacon signal with the indication of availability of the data, enabling the first mode to receive the data through the first wireless network. |
| US08818427B1 |
Managing allocation of subframes for relay communication
A method and corresponding system to help manage allocation of subframes for relay communication. The allocation may alternate or rotate between which subframes per cycle are used for backhaul communication and which subframes per cycle are used for access communication. By changing the allocation of one or more subframes per cycle between backhaul and access, it becomes possible to only tentatively take away certain subframes of access communication, while reverting to use those subframes for access communication perhaps as soon as the next cycle. |
| US08818425B1 |
Synchronization of paging and sleep cycles in wireless communication systems
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: a paging module configured to provide paging parameters for a mobile station, wherein the paging parameters include i) a paging listening interval length Lp for each paging listening interval, ii) a paging cycle period Pp, and iii) a paging cycle offset Qp; and a sleep module configured to determine sleep parameters for the mobile station based on the paging parameters, wherein the sleep parameters include i) a wakeup interval length Ls for each wakeup interval, ii) a sleep cycle period Ps, and iii) a sleep cycle offset Qs; and wherein the sleep module is further configured to determine the sleep parameters such that each paging listening interval overlaps one of the wakeup intervals. |
| US08818417B2 |
Method for wireless device location using automatic location update via a provisioning device and related apparatus and system
A method includes identifying a location of a provisioning device at the provisioning device. The method also includes providing data from the provisioning device to a field device in an industrial control system in order to provision the field device. The method further includes communicating the identified location to the field device for storage. In addition, the method includes storing the identified location in association with information identifying the field device at the provisioning device. The location of the provisioning device could represent GPS coordinates of the provisioning device. Also, the data and the identified location can be provided to the field device through an out-of-band communication interface, such as a direct wired interface and an infrared interface. |
| US08818413B2 |
Identifying client patterns using online location-based derivative analysis
A method and system for targeting content (e.g., a service or an advertisement) according to location-based information derived from a mobile wireless transceiver device. Position information as a function of time is used to calculate a rate of travel and a direction of travel. This information can be used to identify a likely mode of transportation. Geographical information can be used to further refine the mode of transportation. Thus, in addition to the position of the wireless transceiver devices, factors such as the rate of travel, the direction of travel and the likely mode of transportation are also considered to more precisely identify the appropriate service. Moreover, a potential destination can be predicted, allowing further refinement of the targeted service. |
| US08818410B2 |
Enhanced location based services
Location information (e.g., GPS information) pertaining to the location of a device may be integrated into a distributed antenna system (DAS) to enhance location based services. This may be accomplished via a system that filters and combines GPS information with DAS information. Utilization of the enhanced location based services system may enhance accuracy performance of indoor location services and improve round-trip time (RTT) location responses associated with network assisted GPS (e.g., A-GPS) location requests for services from indoor calls. |
| US08818401B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for use in determining that a mobile station is at one or more particular indoor regions
Methods and apparatuses are provided which may be implemented in various devices for to determine or assist in determining that a mobile station is at one or more particular indoor regions and to provide positioning assistance data and/or the like to the mobile station with regard to at least the one or more particular indoor regions. |
| US08818399B2 |
Methods and nodes in a wireless communication network
A first network node and method in the first network node in a wireless communication network for enabling quality estimation of a measurement that is time based. The method comprises performing a timing measurement based on a signal received from a second network node. Also, a value of a channel characteristic for the signal received from the second network node is determined. Further, the determined value of the channel characteristic is associated with the timing measurement, such that quality estimation of the timing measurement is enabled.Further, a method in a positioning node, a positioning node, a method in a module and a module are presented. |
| US08818392B2 |
Network and user behavior based time-shifted mobile data transmission
A system, and computer program product for mobile data transmission are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A request for data is received from a mobile device. A determination is made whether a data transmission over a mobile data communication network in response to the request can be delayed, forming a time-shifting determination. A determination is made, responsive to the time-shifting determination being affirmative, a delayed schedule for the data transmission in response to the request such that the data transmission is completed by a deadline. The data is transmitted over the mobile data communication network according to the delayed schedule. |
| US08818389B2 |
Apparatus and methods for determining connection quality metrics
Apparatus and methods of determining a connection quality between a communication device and a communications network comprise receiving from the communication device at least one of a communication device processor-generated event code and a corresponding communication device processor-generated event data based on execution of a predetermined connection quality configuration by the communication device. The processor-generated event code and the processor-generated event data correspond to connection quality aspects of a communication between the communication device and the communications network. Additionally, this aspect of the method further comprises generating a connection quality characteristic associated with the communication according to analysis of at least one of the processor-generated event code and the processor-generated event data by a connection quality state machine, and storing the generated connection quality characteristic corresponding to the communication. |
| US08818385B2 |
Distributed computation of precoding weights for coordinated multipoint transmission on the downlink
In a Coordinated Multi-point (CoMP) system, the base station (BS) in each serving cell (or sector) is allowed to use not only its own antennas, but also the antennas of neighboring BSs to transmit to mobile terminals in the serving cell to form a floating CoMP cell. The serving BS in each floating CoMP cell computes tentative linear precoding weights for transmissions from the coordinating BSs in the floating CoMP cell to users in the serving cell of the floating CoMP cell. The serving BS determines the power availability for transmit antennas in the floating CoMP cell that are shared with other floating CoMP cells, and scales the tentative precoding weights based on the power availability of the shared transmit antennas to determine final precoding weights so that the power constraints of the shared transmit antennas will not be violated. |
| US08818383B2 |
Methods and apparatus for line selection in a communication device
Embodiments of an apparatus and methods for selecting a communication line from two or more lines on a communication device are described herein. The communication device comprises a display module, an input module, a line selection module, and a communication module for making a call over a network to a target recipient. In one broad aspect, a determination of which of the communication lines is a communication line associated with the one of two or more message addresses at which a message is received is made in the selection of a communication line accessible at the communication device on which an outgoing call may be placed. |
| US08818381B2 |
Operation in case of radio link failure
Attempting recovery from an unexpected radio link failure. A backup user context is created for a terminal device served currently by a relay base station relaying a radio connection between the terminal device and fixed cellular network infrastructure including a fixed base station communicating with the relay base station, wherein the backup user context is prepared for use in case of an unexpected radio link failure. Upon detection of the radio link failure in a primary user context being used in the communication, the backup user context is applied before the terminal device enters an idle state as a result of the radio link failure. |
| US08818379B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing multiple communication paths
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing multiple communication paths. According to embodiments, a method for providing multiple communication paths is provided. According to the method, a plurality of cellular towers within a given range from a cellular device is determined. A first quality rating is determined for each of the plurality of cellular towers. A first group of cellular towers is selected from the plurality of cellular towers based on the first quality rating. A first plurality of communication paths is established between the cellular device and the first group of cellular towers. Each of the first plurality of communication paths may correspond to one of the cellular towers in the first group. At least one quality factor associated with each of the first plurality of communication paths is adjusted based on the first quality rating. |
| US08818377B2 |
Radio terminal, information processing device, information processing program, and information processing method
A radio terminal (10) includes an MIH user (14) configured to manage mobility from the first network to the second network; and an MIH function unit (13) configured to control a handover from the first network to the second network. The MIH user (14) notifies a link controller (12) via the MIH function unit (13) of a condition setting request including a first judgment logical formula being a condition to start an establishment of a radio link with the second network and a second judgment logical formula being a condition to execute a handover from the first network to the second network. The first judgment logical formula and the second judgment logical formula each indicate a combination of thresholds to be satisfied by a plurality of respective link is parameters in the radio link established with the first network. |
| US08818376B2 |
User equipment and method for adaptive selection of handover parameters in wireless-access networks
Embodiments of user equipment (UE) and method for adaptively selecting an A3offset-TTT pair for handover in a wireless access network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the UE may select an A3offset value based on target cell Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) and select a time-to-trigger (TTT) based on serving cell RSRP. A measurement report may be transmitted to an eNodeB for handover when the target cell RSRP exceeds the serving cell RSRP by at least the A3offset value for the TTT. The A3offset value may be selected to be inversely related to the target cell RSRP and the TTT may be selected to be directly related to the serving cell RSRP. |
| US08818375B2 |
Method and apparatus for seamless handover in a wireless communication network
In a wireless communication network where base stations receive protocol data units (PDUs) from mobile stations for decompression and deciphering for ordered, sequential transfer as service data units (SDUs) to an associated core network, the teachings presented herein provide a method of supporting seamless handover of a mobile station from a source base station to a target base station. By way of example, the teachings herein apply to a network based on the E-UTRA specifications, as promulgated by the 3GPP. However, that example is non-limiting, as the teachings herein apply to any network that employs in-sequence data delivery and duplicate data detection at handover. Broadly, the source base station forwards out-of-sequence SDUs and corresponding sequence number information to the target base station in support of seamless handover, and the target base station uses that information to request retransmissions as needed for packet reordering. |
| US08818374B2 |
Method of inter base station communication, a base station and telecommunication network
The invention relates to a method of inter base station communication comprising: —receiving a first message (118) being indicative of a neighboring second base station (2) by a first base station (1), —sending a second message (120) to the second base station, —in response to the second message, receiving a third message (124) comprising information being indicative of at least a third base station (3), the third base station being a neighbor of the second base station, using the information received with the third message for enabling communication (128) between the first base station and the third base station, independently of any user equipment detection of the third base station. |
| US08818370B2 |
Displaying characters and images based on support
A user equipment (UE) comprising a display and a processor configured to determine whether the UE supports each indicium of a string of one or more indicia according to a first feature, the string of one or more indicia identifying a network, the processor further configured to display on the display of the UE only the indicia in the string that are supported by the UE. A method implemented on a UE comprising determining whether the UE supports one or more indicium of a string of one or more indicia according to a first feature, the string of one or more indicia identifying a network, and displaying on the display of the UE only the indicia in the string that are supported by the UE. |
| US08818368B2 |
Method, system and device for triggering scheduling information reporting
Embodiments of the application provide a method, system and device for triggering scheduling information reporting. The method including: determining, by a terminal, whether state transition occurs or an Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) Radio Network Temporary Identifier (E-RNTI) changes; when determining the state transition occurs or the E-RNTI changes, adopting, by the terminal, reconfigured resources or a new E-RNTI to trigger the scheduling information reporting. By adopting the method for triggering the scheduling information reporting put forward by embodiments of the application, information about state transition at a terminal or changed E-RNTI may be reported to a Base Station (BS) timely, so as to guarantee normal communications between BS and terminal. |
| US08818367B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for handling mobility management (MM) back-off timers
A mobile communication device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a first service network and a second service network. The controller module transmits a first request message for a Mobility Management (MM) procedure to the first service network, and receives a first rejection message with an MM back-off timer corresponding to the first request message from the first service network via the wireless module. Also, the controller module starts the MM back-off timer for the first service network in response to the first rejection message, and transmits a second request message for the MM procedure to the second service network via the wireless module. |
| US08818362B2 |
Method of determining a location of a mobile device and method of managing a list for use in such a method
The invention relates to a method of determining a location of a mobile device for use in a first communication network and a second communication network. The mobile device is camped on a cellular base station in the second communication network. According to the method, a list of records of communication units within the first and/or second communication network that are located within a predetermined geographical area is obtained. A communication unit record contains information representative of the identity of the respective communication unit, information representative of a position of the respective communication unit, and a reliability indication of the respective communication unit. Additionally, with the mobile device, communication units within the first and second communication network are detected. Finally, the location of the mobile device is detected based on the information representative of the position, the reliability indication, and an accuracy indication of the detected communication units. |
| US08818361B2 |
Method and arrangement for connectivity in a communication network
Method and arrangement for supporting connectivity of a wireless device to a network infrastructure. An infrastructure provider associates a set of device identification numbers to a first radio access provider in a subscription database of the infrastructure provider. The infrastructure provider also sets the first radio access provider as a preferred roaming partner in a SIM that comprises a subscriber identifier with a network identifier of the infrastructure provider. The SIM is provided for use in the device, to enable access to the network infrastructure over a radio access network of the first radio access provider based on the subscriber identifier and the preferred roaming partner in the SIM. |
| US08818359B2 |
Method and apparatus for using a radio access technology in a mobile station employing a removable memory device
A mobile station (MS) is provided that includes one or more memory devices that maintain a RAT preference rule and that include a removable memory device (RMD) that maintains a data file that includes a prioritized listing of one or more PLMN/RAT combinations. The MS detects a RAT and a PLMN broadcasting on that RAT and determines a type of the RMD. When the RMD is a type that would maintain information on the detected RAT, the MS determines a priority of the detected PLMN/RAT combination relative to other PLMN/RAT combinations based solely on the prioritizations included in the data file. When the RMD is a type that would not maintain information on the detected RAT, the MS determines a priority of the detected PLMN and RAT relative to other PLMN/RAT combinations based on the RAT preference rule in conjunction with the listing of PLMN/RAT combinations in the data file. |
| US08818357B2 |
Method for the diagnostic testing of a mobile telephone terminal including contactless applications
The invention relates to a method for the diagnostic testing of a mobile telephone terminal (10) including: a UICC card (13) containing a stored test application, and a contactless communication module (12) which can exchange data with a contactless unit (20) by retromodulation of a signal transmitted by the unit, said method comprising a test operation whereby the unit: emits a test application selection request; detects a response indicating application selection confirmation or failure, transmitted by the mobile telephone terminal; and determines the operating state of the UICC card or of the terminal as a function of the response detected. |
| US08818356B2 |
Methods and apparatus for handling measurement reports
A network comprising a component configured to update an active set (AS) of cells based on a collective consideration of a plurality of cell measurement reports received during radio reconfiguration. Also included is a user equipment (UE), comprising a component configured such that the UE combines a plurality of cell measurement reports triggered briefly before and/or during radio reconfiguration, the combined measurement report used to update an AS of cells. Also included is a method comprising transmitting a radio bearer reconfiguration message, receiving a plurality of cell measurement reports, receiving a radio bearer reconfiguration complete message, and updating a plurality of AS cells using the combined cell measurement reports. Also included is a method comprising receiving a radio bearer reconfiguration message, obtaining a plurality of cell measurement reports, and sending a combined cell measurement report based on the cell measurement reports. |
| US08818353B2 |
Optimizing mobile user data storage
Systems and methods described herein provide a mechanism for optimizing the reception and storage of mobile user data. Data relating to mobile user location, behavior, and profiles are received from mobile users and stored at a storage system in an efficient manner. The efficiency is achieved by identifying what system parameters may be adjusted to reduce storage requirements while still providing sufficient data for useful analysis. System parameters that may change to reduce storage requirements include, e.g., the type of mobile user data collected, the frequency at which mobile user data is collected, the events or conditions that trigger data collection, and dynamically adjusting data collection upon detecting a number of event or time-based triggers. |
| US08818350B2 |
Context-driven data sharing
This patent application pertains to context-driven data sharing, and specifically to data sharing relating to a telephone call. One example can establish a telephone call between first and second computing devices. This example can also utilize the telephone call as at least part of a basis for temporarily adjusting a data sharing permission level on at least one of the first and second computing devices during the telephone call. |
| US08818345B1 |
Enhancing conference bridge muting to save network resources
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for reducing the use of network resources during a conference call with mobile communications devices. An active conference call is detected between a conference bridge service, including a conference bridge leader, and participants who are ace sing the conference call by way of a mobile communications device in a wireless communications network. An indication is received that the conference bridge leader has muted the lines of the participants. As a result, each of these mobile communications devices are notified to stop transmitting data over a reverse link other than data used for signaling purposes until the devices are no longer muted. |
| US08818344B2 |
Secured communication via location awareness
A method and system for collecting and verifying the location information of a calling party and a device of the calling party is provided. More specifically, a method and system is provided for determining whether the identity of the calling party can be confirmed, via evaluating location information, with an acceptable degree of certainty. The location information may be provided by the calling party or obtained from various sources over a digital communication channel. Some of the provided location information which can be accidentally or intentionally altered is identified and evaluated to determine its accuracy as part of the verification process of the caller's identity. |
| US08818343B1 |
Method and system for reporting a summary rating of accessed content
A method and system provides for monitoring access to particular network content and providing a summary of the rating of the content accessed. In one embodiment, a telecommunications network entity, such as a mobile access gateway, can identify one or more resources accessed by a wireless device. The gateway can then associate the one or more resources accessed by the wireless device with a rating for each of the resources, and the gateway can provide a summary of the ratings for the resources accessed by the wireless device. |
| US08818339B2 |
Capturing and processing multi-media information using mobile communication devices
Methods and devices are provided for generating and publishing multi-media information associated with actions performed on a mobile communication device. A publishing application monitors actions performed on the mobile communication device and enables selection of at least one of the actions. Content associated with selected actions may be stored and data associated with at least one of the selected actions and the content associated with at least one selected action may be extracted. The multi-media information may be displayed on a graphical user interface in a pre-selected format, such as a chronologically arranged list. Users may preview and modify the multi-media information before publication through a pre-selected communication service. The multi-media information may be published by selecting an icon, including an image identifying the pre-selected communication service. The mobile communication device generates content that users may efficiently modify and publish to a desired communication service. |
| US08818337B2 |
Application of community-defined descriptors to mobile content
A method of organizing mobile content in a network environment is provided that includes providing pieces of mobile content on a database, selecting one of the pieces of mobile content, receiving a descriptor to be associated with the selected piece of mobile content from user activity, and associating the descriptor to the selected piece of mobile content. |
| US08818335B2 |
Device security
A functional device includes a local wireless transceiver for communicating with a remote wireless transceiver through a protocol according to which the local transceiver maintains a record of its connection state with selected devices that are within range of it. The device includes a memory for storing the identity of a selected device; and a controller configured to inhibit one or more functions of the functional device if the connection state maintained by the transceiver is indicative of the selected device being out of range. The performance of the functions of the device is independent of the local wireless transceiver. |
| US08818334B2 |
Secure data exchange with identity information exchange
Systems and methods for authenticating authorized users of electronic communication devices, such mobile communication devices, for a secure data exchange between the devices. The authentication of authorized users include multiple levels of user authentication wherein identity profiles of the users are exchanged for user authentication based on identity information obtained or observed from the users. |
| US08818332B2 |
Multiple access internet portal revenue sharing
A server provides Internet access to wireless devices. Billing information for each wireless device is shared with a content provider. The server formats usage information into a transaction record for the content provider. A customer of a network carrier is charged differently based upon a type of content accessed through the server. |
| US08818329B2 |
System and method for capturing network usage data
A system and method for anonymously capturing network usage data from a mobile device. A first host device includes a first processor coupled to a first memory and a first datastore. A second host device includes a second processor coupled to a second memory and second and third datastores. The first host device receives personal identifying information and demographic information of a user and stores them in association with a unique identifier. The second datastore stores the demographic information of the user received from the first datastore and a mobile device identifier of the mobile device in association with the unique identifier. The device identifier is double hashed to create an obfuscated double hash identifier (ODHID). The third datastore receives mobile device and device identifier data and stores the data and the demographic information in a folder associated with the ODHID. |
| US08818324B1 |
Location capability provisioning
A provisioning system for processing data structures to determine if location capabilities indicated in records are correct for each of the different ranges indicated in each of the records, transferring the data structure to a location determination system if each of the location capabilities are correct, and generating an error response if each of the location capabilities are not correct. |
| US08818318B2 |
Frequency up and down converter
A frequency up and down converter, in which, when down converting a high frequency signal into an intermediate frequency signal or up converting an intermediate frequency signal into a high frequency signal by controlling switching elements using a local oscillator signal, a signal with a frequency to be converted is controlled a number of times during one cycle of the local oscillator signal, whereby the local oscillator signal with a frequency lower than an original frequency may be used. Transistors are added in parallel to switching transistors disposed in a frequency down conversion unit or a frequency up conversion unit, and local oscillator signals with predetermined phases and pulse widths are provided to the gates of the transistors such that a high frequency signal or an intermediate frequency signal is transferred to an output terminal at least two times during one cycle of a local oscillator signal. |
| US08818317B2 |
Frequency converter and receiver that uses the frequency converter
The present invention is applied to a frequency converter used for a receiver. The frequency converter according to the present invention includes an LO signal generator (11) that generates an LO signal and outputs the LO signal; and a mixer (10) that multiplies a received signal that has been band-limited in a usable bandwidth of said receiver by the LO signal so as to convert the frequency of the received signal and outputs the resultant signal, wherein said LO signal generator is capable of varying a phase resolution, and said frequency converter is capable of varying a signal gain for each phase value of the LO signal. |
| US08818310B2 |
Noise reduction and tilt reduction in passive FET multi-phase mixers
The noise response in a passive mixer circuit is improved by discharging the switching transistors in the mixer circuit in an appropriate time slot prior to activation. In addition to improving the noise response, tilt in conversion gains and linearity can be reduced. A passive mixer circuit includes bypass switches arranged in proximity to the switching transistors that make up the mixer core. These bypass switches, which are activated in intervals just prior to the active intervals of their neighboring switching transistors, discharge to ground accumulated charges on the switching transistors or on reactive components around switches. |
| US08818306B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device (100) carries out diversity reception and a noise cancellation process, and a signal combining section (combining circuit (123)) combines a plurality of received signals in a case where the diversity reception is carried out and combines a received signal and a noise signal in the noise cancellation process. |
| US08818303B2 |
Matching network for transmission circuitry
The present disclosure relates to transmission circuitry of a wireless communication device. The transmission circuitry includes power amplifier circuitry, an output matching network, and impedance control circuitry. The power amplifier circuitry amplifies a radio frequency (RF) input signal to provide an amplified RF output signal, which is passed through the output matching network and transmitted via one or more antennas. As the center frequency of the RF input signal and conditions of operating parameters change, the impedance control circuitry adjusts the values of one or more variable impedance elements of the output matching network in a desired fashion. The values of the variable impedance elements are adjusted such that the output matching network concurrently and dynamically presents the desired load impedances at the center frequency and at one or more harmonics of the RF input signal to achieve a given performance specification. |
| US08818300B2 |
Combining body-coupled communication and radio frequency communication
In summary, the present invention relates to a device, a method, a system and a computer program enabling to ensure a reliable communication even under difficult radio frequency conditions. In case data cannot be successfully communicated by a radio frequency communication, the data may be transmitted to another device by a body-coupled communication via a human or animal body. The other device can act as a relay and forward the data to an intended destination. Thus, data may be successfully transmitted to the intended destination even under difficult radio frequency conditions due to body shadowing or other effects. |
| US08818297B2 |
NFC device for contactless communication
An NFC device for contactless communication comprises transmitter means being adapted to generate an electromagnetic carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal according to transmitting data, and an antenna having an inductor, which antenna is connected to and driven by the transmitter means with the modulated carrier signal. AC coupling capacitors are coupled to the inductor of the antenna, wherein the AC coupling capacitors are further connected to inputs of switches. The outputs of these switches can be switched between ground potential and inputs of rectifier means. The outputs of the rectifying means are fed to power supply rails of the NFC device. |
| US08818296B2 |
Noise cancellation for a magnetically coupled communication link utilizing a lead frame
An integrated circuit package includes an encapsulation and lead frame with a portion of the lead frame disposed within the encapsulation. The lead frame includes a first conductor formed in the lead frame having a first conductive loop and a third conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation. A second conductor is formed in the lead frame galvanically isolated from the first conductor. The second conductor includes a second conductive loop disposed substantially within the encapsulation proximate to the first conductive loop to provide a communication link between the first and second conductors. The third conductive loop is wound in an opposite direction relative to the first conductive loop in the encapsulation. |
| US08818284B2 |
Dynamic spectrum access for networked radios
A dynamic spectrum access method for cooperative wireless devices. In one example, a method of establishing a wireless network includes scanning and analyzing a selected frequency band to detect non-cooperative signals within the selected frequency band, determining whether a waveform including one or more radio frequency (RF) carriers and a plurality of intermodulation tones (for multi-carrier waveforms) can be placed within the selected frequency band without interfering with any detected non-cooperative signals, and selecting transmit frequencies for the plurality of RF carriers responsive to obtaining a non-interfering waveform placement solution. |
| US08818276B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for controlling network access to guest apparatus based on presence of hosting apparatus
Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable granting access rights to guest devices. Example embodiments include a method comprising receiving, by a first device, an input from a user of the first device to grant access rights to a wireless short-range communication network to a user of a second device when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network; and transmitting, by the first device, an access grant message to a control node managing the wireless short-range communication network, wherein the access grant message comprises one or more rules indicating that access rights for a second device are to be granted only when the first device is present within coverage of the wireless short-range communication network. |
| US08818273B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless communication using an acoustic signal
An apparatus and method for wireless communication using an acoustic signal in a system including a first device including a loudspeaker and a second device including a microphone. The first device generates wireless communication information, converts the wireless communication information to an acoustic signal, and transmits the acoustic signal to the second device using the loudspeaker. The second device receives the acoustic signal using the microphone, extracts the wireless communication information from the acoustic signal, generates an acknowledgment signal according to the extracted wireless communication information, and transmits the acknowledgment signal to the first device on a wireless communication channel. |
| US08818268B2 |
Content data distribution system, content data delivery method, and semiconductor device
In this content data delivery method, content data is transmitted from a content server to a first semiconductor device through a network. Then, the content data, content ID identifying the content data, and route data showing a route through which the content data is transmitted are transmitted from the first semiconductor device to a second semiconductor device using close-proximity wireless communication. Thereafter, the content ID and the route data are transmitted from the second semiconductor device to the content server. In addition, based on the route data, a reward corresponding to the content ID is calculated for the first semiconductor device, and the reward is provided to the first semiconductor device. |
| US08818267B2 |
NFC transceiver utilizing common circuitry for active and passive modes
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a transceiver. A transceiver may include a rectifier coupled to a capacitor. The transceiver may further include a power management module coupled to the capacitor, wherein the capacitor is configured as a power supply capacitor in a first mode and a rectifier capacitor in a second, different mode. |
| US08818263B1 |
Circuit isolation using a signal splitter/combiner
According to some embodiments described herein, a system of directing signals may include a common port and a first-direction path configured for a first-direction signal that propagates in a first direction. The system may also include a second-direction path configured for a second-direction signal that propagates in a second direction that is opposite the first direction of the first-direction signal. Additionally, the system may include a power splitter/combiner that may include a first port communicatively coupled to the first-direction path, a second port communicatively coupled to the second-direction path and a third port communicatively coupled to the common port. The power/splitter combiner may be configured to receive the first-direction signal from the first-direction path at the first port and direct the first-direction signal to the third port such that the first-direction signal is directed toward the common port and away from the second-direction path. |
| US08818262B2 |
Wireless identification and research network for space devices
An evanescent wireless network system for space equipment items integrated, or intended to be integrated, in a satellite, and including a set of smart couplers, integrated or not with said space equipment items, said smart couplers including wireless communication means, forming an embedded wireless network; and a computer configured for wireless communication, which can be connected to said embedded wireless network, and including software enabling access to the embedded wireless network, in order to at least collect information relating to the operation of said space equipment items in a non-intrusive manner. |
| US08818259B2 |
Method and arrangement in a radio base station working in a pre-coding mode for repeater selection
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements that enable easy integration of on/off repeaters in a radio access network and a minimized signaling for the UE repeater selection. This is achieved by a solution where the RBSs are working in a pre-coding mode and where the repeaters are measuring the downlink reference signals, selecting pre-coding matrices and feeding the index of selection back (i.e. the PMI) to the RBS, in analogy with what a UE does. This allows the RBS to distinguish the UE repeater selection, without introducing any extra uplink report or interaction between UEs and repeaters, by comparing the index from the UE with the indices from different repeaters. |
| US08818252B2 |
Toner fixer transporting medium through heating liquid
A toner fixing system fixes toner onto a receiver medium. A reservoir contains a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid in the reservoir to a temperature greater than a toner glass transition temperature. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path which passes through the reservoir. The receiver medium is submerged in the warmed heating liquid, so heat is transferred from the warmed heating liquid to the toner. The temperature of the toner is raised to a level above the toner glass transition temperature. |
| US08818250B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device to fix a toner image on a recording medium in a nip portion formed by a heated fixing member and a pressure member, the fixing device including: an air ejection section to eject and blow air against the recording medium to separate the recording medium from the fixing member, a first guide member provided on a fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, a second guide member provided on a non-fixing face side of the recording medium discharged from the nip portion to guide the recording medium, also having a predetermined clearance with respect to the pressure member, and an air suction section provided on a opposite side position with respect to the first guide member in the second guide member to suction air of the clearance and attract the recording medium to the second guide member. |
| US08818245B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device having a housing that houses two-component developer containing carrier and toner, replenishing replenishment carrier to the housing while gradually ejecting developer to outside from an outlet. The developing device includes: transport passage provided in the housing so that developer is transported therein; transport member provided in the housing and rotates to transport the developer; ejection passage having diverged from the transport passage so that a part of the developer transported in the transport passage is conveyed therein to the outlet; and restriction unit configured to restrict an amount of ejected developer so that a first amount of developer is ejected from the outlet when the transport member rotates at a first speed, and a second amount of developer is ejected when it rotates at a second speed. The second amount is smaller than the first amount. The second speed is higher than the first speed. |
| US08818242B2 |
Image forming apparatus capable of performing rotational phase control of image bearing member
An image forming apparatus capable of preventing degradation of image quality and reducing time required for rotational phase control. Toner images different in color are formed on a plurality of photosensitive drums, respectively. The toner images are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt in superimposed relation. A motor controller performs phase control for bringing phases of the respective photosensitive drums into predetermined relation based on a rotational phase difference detected using phase detection sensors. When the rotational phase difference is out of a predetermined range, the motor controller performs the phase control with the photosensitive drums and the intermediate transfer belt separated from each other, whereas when the rotational phase difference is within the predetermined range, the motor controller performs the phase control with the photosensitive drums and the intermediate transfer belt in contact with each other. |
| US08818240B2 |
Transfer device
A Transfer device (10) includes an intermediate transfer belt (41), a plurality of intermediate transfer roller (34A-34D) and a transfer member moving mechanism (20). The transfer member moving mechanism moves the intermediate transfer rollers (34A-34D) between pressing positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be pressed against respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D) and separate positions causing the intermediate transfer belt (41) to be separate from the respective photoreceptor drums (31A-31D). The transfer member moving mechanism (20) causes a second pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in monochromatic image forming to be different from a first pressing position of the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) in full-color image forming so that an amount of pressing of the intermediate transfer belt (41) by the intermediate transfer roller for monochrome (34A) becomes greater in monochromatic image forming than in full-color image forming. |
| US08818238B2 |
Image forming apparatus and transfer device having attachable developing unit
An image forming apparatus includes a main body portion including an image carrier, an image-carrier driving unit, a latent-image forming unit, a developing-unit attachment section, and a transfer-unit attachment section. The developing-unit attachment section receives a first developing unit having plural developing members or a second developing unit having a single developing member. The transfer-unit attachment section receives a first transfer unit, which includes a first transfer member capable of retaining a recording medium and a first transfer driving unit that rotates the first transfer member, and a second transfer unit, which includes a second transfer member that cannot retain the recording medium. When the first developing unit and the first transfer unit are attached to the developing-unit attachment section and the transfer-unit attachment section, respectively, the first transfer driving unit is mechanically connected to the first developing unit. |
| US08818236B2 |
Developer transporting device and image forming apparatus
A developer transporting device includes a transporting device body including a transporting portion having an inlet, a developer container including a container portion having an outlet connected to the inlet and a cover member that is movable between positions for opening and closing the outlet, a first contact portion supported by the cover member, a guide portion including a passage portion and an inclined portion that is connected to the passage portion and that comes into contact with the first contact portion to move the cover member, and a second contact portion that is provided on the passage portion and extends toward the position for closing the outlet. The second contact portion comes into contact with the first contact portion and moves the cover member toward the position for closing the outlet when the first contact portion passes the second contact portion. |
| US08818234B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus including a process cartridge detachably installable in a main body of the image forming apparatus, a main reference portion receiver to receive a main reference portion provided to the process cartridge, a sub-reference portion receiver to receive a sub-reference portion provided to the process cartridge, and a pressing mechanism to press the process cartridge to cause the main reference portion to contact the main reference portion receiver upon installation of the process cartridge in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The pressing mechanism presses the process cartridge in a direction angled with respect to a line connecting a center of the main reference portion with a contact position where the pressing mechanism contacts the process cartridge. |
| US08818232B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a cleaning device with a collection member
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device including an image holding member; an intermediate transfer belt that holds on an outer surface thereof an developer image formed on the image holding member of the image forming device, and that rotates so as to transport the developer image up to a second transfer section, the intermediate transfer belt including a belt base material in which a resin particle is dispersed; a cleaning device including a plate member, the cleaning device performing a cleaning operation by at least contacting the plate member with a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt that has passed the second transfer section; and a collecting member that removes and holds the resin particle existing at the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt at least when the intermediate transfer belt is not used. |
| US08818228B2 |
Image forming system, and control apparatus, control method and storage medium therefor
An image forming system capable of immediately responding to a job command given by a user, reducing power consumption, and preventing the service life of component parts from being adversely affected. In a case where no printing is to be performed, a main controller of the image forming system controls each of first and second image forming apparatuses of the image forming system to assume either a standby state or a sleep state. In a case where printing is to be performed, the main controller controls each of the first and second image forming apparatuses to assume either the standby state or the sleep state according to whether double-sided printing should be performed or single-sided printing should be performed. |
| US08818227B2 |
Image forming apparatus for shifting to a power saving mode after a lapse of a predetermined time
A fixing rotational body is rotated immediately before shifting from a standby mode to a power saving mode in which not only power supply to a heater and the rotation of the fixing rotational body are stopped but also a timer is stopped so that the reliability of the thermistor detection temperature when returning from the power saving mode is improved, and fixing defect is prevented while power consumption in the power saving mode is reduced. |
| US08818226B2 |
Fixing device using heating scheme for image forming apparatus
When a rotation member stops rotation, driving of a plurality of heating elements is sometimes partially limited. A control unit detects a current flowing to the plurality of heating elements when the rotation member stops rotation, and driving of the plurality of heating elements is partially limited. The control unit sets the power ratio of power to be supplied to the plurality of heating elements during a period in which the rotation member rotates to raise a fixing device to a fixing enable state in accordance with the detection result. |
| US08818225B2 |
Temperature control method of thermal fixing device, thermal fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A temperature control method of calculating a temperature of a recording medium after fixing and used in a thermal fixing device includes separating calculations of calculating the temperature of the recording medium after fixing into first-stage calculations to be performed before start of printing and second-stage calculations to be performed in real time during the printing, performing the first-stage calculations, and performing the second-stage calculations to calculate a result of the temperature of the recording medium after fixing. Further, the result of the temperature of the recording medium after fixing is used to control obtaining a desired temperature of the recording medium after fixing, and the temperature of the recording medium after fixing is calculated without directly measuring the temperature of the recording medium after fixing. |
| US08818220B2 |
Image forming apparatus, output device, computer-readable medium and recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes a first image-forming material that contains a colored pigment and a second image-forming material that contains the colored pigment having a concentration lower than that of the first image-forming material, a first image forming unit that forms a code image representing encoded information on a recording medium using the second image-forming material, and a second image forming unit that forms a non-code image at a position other than the position of the code image on the recording medium using an image-forming material other than the second image-forming material. |
| US08818217B2 |
Image forming apparatus with cleaning voltage or current control based on density of a control toner image
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member that is rotatable, a toner image forming portion that is able to form a toner image to be transferred to a transfer material and a control toner image not to be transferred to a transfer material on the image bearing member, a transfer member that transfers the toner image formed on the image bearing member to the transfer material, a detecting portion that detects a density of the control toner image, an adjustment portion that adjusts a toner image formation condition of the toner image forming portion based on an output of the detecting portion, a cleaning member that electrostatically cleans the transfer member, and a controller which changes a voltage or a current to be applied between the transfer member and the cleaning member based on the density of the control toner image. |
| US08818210B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for identifying and registering a printer on a network
An information processing apparatus for registering a printing apparatus connected by a network including a printing apparatus detection unit configured to detect the printing apparatus connected by the network, an operation instruction unit configured to instruct a user of the information processing apparatus to execute an initial setting relevant operation on a printing apparatus to be registered, a status information acquisition unit configured to acquire status information indicating a status of the detected printing apparatus, a printing apparatus identification unit configured to detect a printing apparatus in which the initial setting relevant operation is executed based on the status indicated by the acquired status information and identify the detected printing apparatus in which the initial setting relevant operation is executed as the printing apparatus to be registered, and a printing apparatus registration unit configured to register the identified printing apparatus. |
| US08818198B2 |
Photonic link information collection and advertisement systems and methods
Photonic link information collection and advertisement systems and methods enable photonic nodes (e.g., optical amplifiers) to operate within a control plane system in a distributed and real-time manner. For example, the photonic nodes may not require full control plane protocol stacks at each photonic node. In particular, the systems and methods provide a distributed discovery method for photonic links without requiring full participation in the control plane at the photonic nodes. Additionally, the systems and methods include network databases with amplifier configuration information in a control plane enabled network. |
| US08818192B1 |
Optical network unit with redundant reverse powering from customer premises equipment with alarm fault discrimination indicative for power fault condition
An optical communication system includes a plurality of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) each having a reverse power supply and configured to transmit and receive data and provide power over a wire pair connected thereto. An optical network unit is formed as a plurality of communication ports. A respective communication port is configured to provide communications data service with a respective CPE by transmitting and receiving data therewith. A power management circuit is connected to the communication ports and configured to receive power provided by each reverse power supply at a respective CPE and manage power consumption in the ONU. A processor is configured to receive alarms generated by at least one of a CPE and ONU indicative of a power fault condition and process the alarms and discriminate between different power fault conditions. |
| US08818187B1 |
Camera lens body shield and focus assist device
A protective lens cover shields the body of a camera lens from damage. The protective lens cover resembles the shape of the lens being shielded and is essentially the same axial length as the lens—that is, the protective lens cover extends from the lens-camera joint to the outer lens element. Hence, the entire body of the lens is covered except for the lens elements and camera mount surface. On the interior surface of the protective lens cover is a cloth material, such as felt, cotton or velvet, affixed to the main body through an adhesive process. The cloth is the sole feature of the protective lens cover that contacts with the camera lens. The remainder of the interior of the protective lens cover provides a small empty space surrounding the lens body, thereby providing a barrier against damage. The protective lens cover being produced by 3D printing means. |
| US08818186B2 |
Long-range optical device
A long-range optical device with at least one replaceable electrical energy storage device for supplying power to the long-range optical device, which energy storage device is disposed in a closable compartment of the device incorporating electrical contacts, wherein an adapter is provided which can be inserted in the compartment instead of the energy storage device, which is configured to run a data exchange with at least one other component, in particular a memory, of the long-range optical device. The long-range optical device can optionally be supplied with power by the adapter. |
| US08818185B2 |
Method and apparatus for composing 3D photographs
A 3D photographic printer uses a monochrome panel for displaying two or more images for composing a 3D photograph. Each image has a plurality of color image components. A light source with selectable color light components is used to illuminate the monochrome panel corresponding to the displayed color image components. The images are displayed at different locations so that these images can be projected onto a 3D print material through a projection lens at different projection angles. With the digital display device, it is possible to electronically locate the images at different locations and shift the images or mechanically moving the display device during the 3D photographic composing process. It is also possible that only the print material is mechanically shifted to different locations. The display device and the projection lens can be stationary. |
| US08818177B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a custom track
A method for creating a custom track is described. A selection of at least one artist, venue, and track of a live musical performance having at least one complete song for selection by the user is provided. A selection by the first user of the at least one artist, venue, and track is received. At least one clip associated with the at least one selected artist, venue, and track is displayed. The first user is allowed to create a first custom track from the at least one clip by selecting at least a portion of the at least one clip to be included in the first custom track and a start time and an end time of the at least a portion of the at least one clip within the first custom track. |
| US08818171B2 |
Systems and methods for encoding alternative streams of video for playback on playback devices having predetermined display aspect ratios and network connection maximum data rates
Systems and methods for adaptive bitrate streaming of alternative streams of video encoded at resolution and sample aspect ratio combinations and maximum bitrates in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a source encoder configured to encode a source video stream as a plurality of alternative streams of video for playback on a playback device includes a processor configured to receive multimedia content including source video data having a primary resolution, a primary sample aspect ratio, and a primary frame rate and to encode the source video data as alternative streams of video, where the resolution and sample aspect ratio of at least one of the alternative streams of video are selected to have an aspect ratio that is the same as a predetermined display aspect ratio and at least one of the alternative streams is encoded at a maximum bitrate. |
| US08818168B2 |
Image capture apparatus, record/playback device, and menu-operating method
A record/playback device includes a recording unit, an operation unit, an interface unit, and a control unit. The recording unit is configured to record an image including one or more frames as one clip and play back a recorded image. The operation unit is configured to have a combined operating element including a first operating element and a second operating element. The interface unit is configured to prepare a list of clips by collecting specific frames for a predetermined number of clips. The control unit is configured to carry out control of changing a clip operated on the basis of the operation direction of the first operating element and to prepare a menu-displaying command signal to display a menu on which items for operating the clip are described when the second operating element is operated. |
| US08818166B2 |
Method and apparatus for dividing and displaying contents
A method for dividing and displaying a content unit includes: extracting a sub-content unit which is generated by dividing an original content unit by a preset time interval; displaying the entire sub-content unit when receiving a sub-content unit display command; receiving a jump command that selects a replay time point for an arbitrary sub-content unit among the above sub-content units; and replaying and displaying the original content unit from the replay time point. |
| US08818162B2 |
Personal video recording with storage space distributed among remote personal video recorders
Automated personal video recording comprising scheduling a show for a user having allocated storage space on a personal video recorder (“PVR”), wherein the show has a storage space requirement that exceeds the user's free space, and the PVR is coupled for data communications to a storage space provider; and transmitting to the storage space provider an order to record the show through the storage space provider in storage space on a remote PVR that is coupled for data communications to the storage space provider. Receiving in a storage space provider from a personal video recorder (“PVR”) an order to record a show on a remote PVR, the order comprising an identification of a show and a schedule for recording the show; selecting a remote PVR; and recording the show, in dependence upon the show identification and the schedule for recording the show, in storage space on the selected remote PVR. |
| US08818161B2 |
Apparatus capable of executing at least reproducing process on content, recording and reproducing system, and title information managing method
According to one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus capable of executing at least a reproducing process on content. The apparatus includes a title information acquiring unit configured to acquire title information on content subjected at least to the reproducing process for each of content obtained via a network and content obtained from a removable recording medium, and a history holding unit configured to hold the title information acquired by the title information acquiring unit, as a history. |
| US08818160B2 |
IR supercontinuum source using low-loss heavy metal oxide glasses
An IR supercontinuum source for generating supercontinuum in the MIR or possibly LWIR spectral bands comprises a supercontinuum fiber formed from a heavy metal oxide host glass having low optical loss and high non-linearity over the spectral band that is stable, strong and chemically durable. The supercontinuum fiber is suitably a depressed inner clad fiber configured to support only single transverse spatial mode propagation of the pump signal and supercontinuum. The source suitably includes a tapered depressed inner clad fiber to couple the pump signal into the supercontinuum fiber. The source may be configured as an “all-fiber” source. |
| US08818158B2 |
Telecommunications cabinet with connector storage
A housing including a plurality of openings for receiving fiber optic connectors and protecting the polished end face of the connectors from damage while the connectors are stored within a telecommunications connection cabinet. A module with a plurality of optical fiber cables connected to a first optical fiber cable and terminated by a fiber optic connector. Each of the connectors are inserted within openings in a connector holder for storage and protection until the cables need to be connected to a customer equipment cable. |
| US08818149B2 |
Spectrally-encoded endoscopy techniques, apparatus and methods
Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one first optical fiber arrangement which is configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second focusing arrangement in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can include a ball lens, and be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation to generate the focused electro-magnetic radiation. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least at least one dispersive third arrangement which can receive a particular radiation (e.g., the first electro-magnetic radiation(s) and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation), and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure. |
| US08818148B2 |
Ridge waveguide serial interferometers
In a ridge waveguide serial interferometer mode conversion is induced by a first mode conversion section, a phase difference between modes is introduced by propagation over a length of waveguide and optical interference is produced following further mode conversion induced in a second mode conversion section. The first mode conversion section has a first radius of curvature, which is equal to a second radius of curvature of the second mode conversion section. The ridge waveguide interferometer advantageously provides an equal phase dependency as a function of temperature. |
| US08818146B2 |
Silica-on-silicon waveguides and related fabrication methods
A method of manufacturing a waveguide eliminates a prior art reflow step and introduces certain new steps that permit fabricating of an ultra-low loss waveguide element on a silicon chip. The ultra-low loss waveguide element may be adapted to fabricate a number of devices, including a wedge resonator and a ultra-low loss optical delay line having an extended waveguide length. |
| US08818144B2 |
Process for preparing an optical interposer for waveguides
A process for preparing a subassembly, the process comprising: (a) defining the location of one or more grooves for receiving optical conduits on the top planar surface of a wafer or panel, the grooves corresponding to multiple interposers on the wafer or panel; and (b) etching the grooves into the wafer or panel, each groove having sidewalls and first and second terminal ends and a first facet at each terminal end perpendicular to the side walls, each first facet having a first angle relative to the top planar surface, each groove being shared by a pair of transmitting and receiving interposers on the wafer or panel prior to being diced such that the first and second terminal ends of each groove correspond to transmitting and receiving interposers, respectively. |
| US08818139B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying images related to a selected target point on an electronic map based on azimuth and view angle information
An image reproduction apparatus for displaying images of image files including an image of a target point to be observed by using image files located adjacent to the target point. A method of reproducing an image of an image file on an electronic map including the image file so that position information of the image file matches position information on the electronic map includes: (a) selecting a target point to be observed on the electronic map and obtaining position information of the target point; (b) setting a search range of image files on the electronic map; (c) searching for image files including an image of the target point within the set search range; and (d) displaying images of the found image files on the electronic map. |
| US08818138B2 |
System and method for creating, storing and utilizing images of a geographical location
A system and method synthesizing images of a locale to generate a composite image that provide a panoramic view of the locale. A video camera moves along a street recording images of objects along the street. A GPS receiver and inertial navigation system provide the position of the camera as the images are being recorded. The images are indexed with the position data. The composite image is created on a column-by-column basis by determining which of the acquired images contains the desired pixel column, extracting the pixels associated with the column, and stacking the columns side by side. The composite images are stored in an image database and associated with a street name and number range of the street being depicted in the image. The image database covers a substantial amount of a geographic area allowing a user to visually navigate the area from a user terminal. |
| US08818133B2 |
Point cloud construction with unposed camera
A method for processing stereo rectified images, each stereo rectified image being associated with a camera position, the method including selecting a first pair of stereo rectified images; determining a first point cloud of features from the pair of stereo rectified images; determining the locations of the features of the first point cloud with respect to a reference feature in the first point cloud; selecting a second pair of stereo rectified images so that one stereo rectified image of the second pair is common to the first pair, and scaling a second point cloud of features associated with the second pair of stereo rectified images to the first point cloud of features. |
| US08818132B2 |
Camera calibration with lens distortion from low-rank textures
A “Camera Calibrator” provides various techniques for recovering intrinsic camera parameters and distortion characteristics by processing a set of one or more input images. These techniques are based on extracting “Transform Invariant Low-Rank Textures” (TILT) from input images using high-dimensional convex optimization tools for matrix rank minimization and sparse signal recovery. The Camera Calibrator provides a simple, accurate, and flexible method to calibrate intrinsic parameters of a camera even with significant lens distortion, noise, errors, partial occlusions, illumination and viewpoint change, etc. Distortions caused by the camera can then be automatically corrected or removed from images. Calibration is achieved under a wide range of practical scenarios, including using multiple images of a known pattern, multiple images of an unknown pattern, single or multiple images of multiple patterns, etc. Significantly, calibration is achieved without extracting or manually identifying low-level features such as corners or edges from the calibration images. |
| US08818130B2 |
Geometric parameter measurement of an imaging device
Disclosed is a method of determining at least one three-dimensional (3D) geometric parameter of an imaging device. A two-dimensional (2D) target image is provided having a plurality of alignment patterns. The target image is imaged with an imaging device to form a captured image. At least one pattern of the captured image is compared with a corresponding pattern of the target image. From the comparison, the geometric parameter of the imaging device is then determined. The alignment patterns include at least one of (i) one or more patterns comprising a 2D scale and rotation invariant basis function, (ii) one or more patterns comprising a 1D scale invariant basis function, and (iii) one or more patterns having a plurality of grey levels and comprising a plurality of superimposed sinusoidal patterns, the plurality of sinusoidal patterns having a plurality of predetermined discrete orientations. Also disclosed is a two-dimensional test chart for use in testing an imaging device, the test chart comprising a plurality of alignment patterns, at least one of said alignment patterns including one of those patterns mentioned above. |
| US08818128B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An apparatus reduces color fringing in a color image, so that a post-processed color image is positioned in a restricted area in a chromaticity diagram. Where a first line passes a first point corresponding to a target pixel of the pre-processed color image and an origin, the restricted area is located on a side of the origin with respect to a line that is perpendicular to the first line and passes the first point, and held between two parallel lines separated from the first line by an equal distance that is equal to or smaller than half a distance between the origin and the first point. The restricted area is held by two lines each of which passes the origin and represents a boundary between one of the two color components and an area representing a color component made by mixing the one color component and another color component. |
| US08818126B2 |
Method and apparatus for block-based image denoising
A block-based image denoising method includes determining similarities between a current block and reference blocks within a search range around the current block, from among certain-sized blocks divided from an input image; determining weights of the reference blocks with respect to the current block based on the similarities; and generating resultant blocks by denoising the current block with respect to every block of the input image based on the weights of the reference blocks. |
| US08818125B2 |
Scene adaptive filter design for improved stereo matching
A method is provided that includes generating coefficients of a scene adaptive filter (SAF) based on differences between values of neighboring pixels in a representative two dimensional (2D) image, and applying the SAF to a plurality of corresponding 2D images. |
| US08818122B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
An image coding method includes: (i) determining, for each of one or more associated blocks, whether to add a motion vector of the associated block to a list, and (ii) adding the motion vector of the associated block to the list when determining that the motion vector of the associated block is to be added to the list; selecting, from the list, a motion vector which is to be merged to a current block; and (i) merging the selected motion vector to the current block, and (ii) coding the current block using the merged motion vector as a motion vector of the current block, and in the determining, it is determined that the motion vector of the associated block is not to be added to the list when an associated picture and an associated reference picture match temporally or when a current picture and a current reference picture match temporally. |
| US08818121B2 |
Motion detector, image processing device, and image processing system
According to one embodiment, a motion vector detection device includes a reference image encoder, a cutoff module, a reference image decoder, and a block matching module. The reference image encoder is configured to generate a plurality of encoded components. The cutoff module is configured to select, according to a predetermined priority, one or a plurality of encoded components so that a data length is equal to or less than a predetermined fixed length. The reference image decoder is configured to decode the selected one or the plurality of encoded components to reproduce one or a plurality of image components. The block matching module is configured to detect, based on a motion-detection target block in an input image and the reproduced one or the plurality of image components of a matching-target block of the reference image corresponding to the motion-detection target block, a motion vector of the motion-detection target block. |
| US08818120B2 |
Method and device for producing image information
The invention relates to a method for generating image information of an image of an image sequence using the image information of a first image. The object of providing a method for generating image information of an image of an image sequence so that a stroboscopic effect is avoided even in the case of varyingly fast movements of the image information and so that a clear display is still possible in the case of low speeds of the image information, is achieved in that the number of intermediate images is determined as a function of the value of the first movement measure and a weighting factor is calculated for each intermediate image. |
| US08818116B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus, including: a band information acquisition unit configured to acquire band information of each of a plurality of blocks acquired by dividing a screen on the basis of input image data; and a domain separation unit configured to separate a screen into a plurality of types of domains on the basis of the band information of each of the plurality of blocks acquired by the band information acquisition unit. The apparatus further includes a processing force computation block configured to obtain a processing force for each of the plurality of types of screen domains obtained by the domain separation unit; and an image processing block configured to execute predetermined image processing on the input image data for each of the plurality of types of screen domains separated by the domain separation unit with a processing force separated by the processing force computation block. |
| US08818113B2 |
Image clustering method
Disclosed is a method of determining one or more event subsets within a plurality of images. Each image is associated with time and location data specifying the time and location of capture of the image. The method determines a time variable for each adjacent pair of images in a capture time ordered list of the plurality of images. A distance variable for each adjacent pair of images in the ordered list of images is then determined. The method determines speed data of the image capture device at the time and location of capture of each image. The ordered list of images is then partitioned into one or more event subsets on the basis of a cost function, the cost function being determined in accordance with a normalization of the time variable and distance variable, wherein the time variable and the distance variable are weighted relative to the speed data. |
| US08818112B2 |
Methods and apparatus to perform image classification based on pseudorandom features
Example methods and apparatus to perform image classification based on pseudorandom features are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes generating first and second pseudorandom numbers, extracting a first feature of an image based on the first and second pseudorandom numbers, and determining a classification for the image based on the first extracted feature. |
| US08818111B2 |
Age estimation apparatus, age estimation method, and age estimation program
Provided are an age estimation apparatus, an age estimation method, and an age estimation program capable of reducing the labor of labeling the image data used for age estimation. An age estimation apparatus for estimating an age of a person on image data includes a dimension compression unit for applying dimension compression to the image data to output low dimensional data; a clustering unit for performing clustering of the low dimensional data outputted; a labeling unit for labeling representative data of each cluster among the low dimensional data clustered; and an identification unit for estimating an age of a person on the basis of a learning result using a feature amount contained in labeled low dimensional data and unlabeled low dimensional data. |
| US08818105B2 |
Image registration for image-guided surgery
An image registration process for detecting a change in position of a surgical target, such as a tumor, within a patient is disclosed. A pre-operative model of the target and surrounding area is generated, then registered to live patient images to determine or confirm a location of the target during the course of surgery. Image registration is based on a non-iterative image processing logic that compares a similarity measure for a template of the target (generated from the pre-operative model) at one location within the live image to other locations within the live image. |
| US08818101B1 |
Apparatus and method for feature matching in distorted images
Provided is a method of processing images. The method may include obtaining a plurality of radially-distorted images captured from one location in different directions, the plurality of images each having a field of view, and neighboring images among the plurality of images having overlapping fields of view. The method may further include reducing relative distortion of portions of the neighboring images in the overlapping fields of view of the neighboring images, matching features between the reduced distortion portions of neighboring images in the overlapping fields of view, and storing in memory data indicative of matched features. |
| US08818098B2 |
Apparatus and method for recognizing characters using a camera
A method is provided for recognizing characters of an image captured using a camera in a mobile terminal. The camera captures an image of a signboard. A text area is extracted from the captured image. Characters are recognized from the extracted text area. At least one text is generated by combining the recognized characters. The at least one text is compared with at least one store name within a predetermined range. A comparison result is output. |
| US08818088B2 |
Registration of separations
Separations or images relating to film or other fields may be registered using a variety of features, such as, for example: (1) correcting one or more film distortions; (2) automatically determining a transformation to reduce a film distortion; (3) applying multiple criteria of merit to a set of features to determine a set of features to use in determining a transformation; (4) determining transformations for areas in an image or a separation in a radial order; (5) comparing areas in images or separations by weighting feature pixels differently than non-feature pixels; (6) determining distortion values for transformations by applying a partial distortion measure and/or using a spiral search configuration; (7) determining transformations by using different sets of features to determine corresponding transformation parameters in an iterative manner; and (8) applying a feathering technique to neighboring areas within an image or separation. |
| US08818087B2 |
Image processing apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a representative color calculation unit, a color displacement calculation unit, and a similarity calculation unit. The representative color calculation unit calculates a representative color which is representative of colors in a first region having a predetermined size in an image. The color displacement calculation unit calculates, as a color displacement, a difference between the representative color calculated by the representative color calculation unit and a color in a target second region in the first region. The similarity calculation unit calculates similarity between the color displacement calculated by the color displacement calculation unit and a predetermined color displacement in an information image representing information embedded in the image. |
| US08818081B1 |
3D model updates using crowdsourced video
An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data. |
| US08818079B2 |
3D radiometry
Methods and a computer program product for deriving temperature information with respect to surfaces within a scene that is imaged radiometrically. A time sequence of radiometric data is acquired in frames viewed from distinct angles. A three-dimensional structure of the scene is derived, allowing viewing angles and distances to the imaged surfaces to be inferred. Normalized surface areas of the imaged surfaces are calculated based on the inferred viewing angles and emissivities of the imaged surfaces are corrected accordingly. Corrections also account for background radiation impinging on the imaged surfaces. The radiometric data are converted to a perceptible temperature map of the imaged surfaces. |
| US08818077B2 |
Stereo image matching apparatus and method
The present invention relates to a stereo image matching apparatus and method. The stereo matching apparatus includes a window image extraction unit for extracting window images, each having a predetermined size around a selected pixel, for individual pixels of images that constitute stereo images. A local support-area determination unit extracts a similarity mask having similarities equal to or greater than a threshold and a local support-area mask having neighbor connections to a center pixel of the similarity mask, from each of similarity images generated depending on differences in similarity between pixels of the window images. A similarity extraction unit calculates a local support-area similarity from a sum of similarities of a local support-area. A disparity selection unit selects a pair of window images for which the local support-area similarity is maximized, from among the window images, and then determines a disparity for the stereo images. |
| US08818072B2 |
Rendered database image-to-inspection image optimization for inspection
The present disclosure provides a method of inspecting a photolithographic mask wherein a design database is received, and a feature of the design database is adjusted by a bias factor to produce a biased database. Image rendering is performed on the biased database to produce a biased image. A mask is also created using the design database, and the mask is imaged to produce a mask image. The biased image is compared to the mask image, and a new value for the bias factor may be determined based on the comparison. |
| US08818071B2 |
Banknote recognition and counting machine and banknote recognition and counting method
Banknotes are taken into a banknote recognition and counting machine (10), a recognition and counting process for the banknotes is performed by a recognition and counting unit (24), judgment for the banknotes is performed by using a first judgment threshold value, based on the recognition result on each banknote recognized by the recognition and counting unit (24), and then the banknotes are fed, selectively, to a stacking unit (26) or reject unit (30), based on the judgment result on each banknote. Then the banknotes, respectively fed to the reject unit (30), are taken again into the banknote recognition and counting machine (10), the recognition and counting process for such banknotes is performed by the recognition and counting unit (24), and then the judgment for the banknotes is performed, by using a second judgment threshold value set smaller than the first judgment threshold value, based on the recognition result on each banknote recognized by the recognition and counting unit (24). Thereafter, information, which relates to the total sum of a count result on the banknotes, respectively judged to be true upon the judgment for the banknotes by using the first judgment threshold value and another count result on the banknotes, respectively judged to be true upon the judgment for the banknotes by using the second judgment threshold value, is output. |
| US08818069B2 |
Methods for scaling images to differing exposure times
A method is provided for scaling an image taken at a given exposure time to a selected exposure time. The method generally comprises: determining a dark pixel intensity of an imaging device; acquiring a first image at a given exposure time; and adjusting a pixel intensity of one or more pixels in the first image, based at least in part on the dark pixel intensity, for a second exposure time that is different from the given exposure time. |
| US08818065B2 |
Methods and apparatus for scatter correction for CBCT system and cone-beam image reconstruction
Embodiments of methods and/or apparatus for 3-D volume image reconstruction of a subject, executed at least in part on a computer for use with a digital radiographic apparatus, can obtain image data for 2-D projection images over a range of scan angles. For each of the plurality of projection images, an enhanced projection image can be generated. In one embodiment, a first scatter intensity distribution through the plurality of projection images can be modulated based on a first scaling function and a SPR to generate a second scatter intensity distribution through the plurality of projection images, which can be combined with the original plurality of projection images. |
| US08818062B2 |
Fluoroscopy device
A fluoroscopy device includes a light source that irradiates an observation site with excitation light and white light; a fluorescence-image generating section that acquires a fluorescence image by capturing fluorescence generated in the observation site irradiated with the excitation light; a reference-image generating section that acquires a reference image by capturing return light returning from the observation site irradiated with the white light; an observation-condition determining section that determines the observation conditions of the observation site on the basis of the reference image acquired by the reference-image generating section; a preprocessing section that corrects gradation values of the reference image on the basis of the observation conditions of the observation site; and a fluorescence-image correcting section that generates a corrected fluorescence image by dividing the fluorescence image acquired by the fluorescence-image generating section by the reference image whose gradation values have been corrected by the preprocessing section. |
| US08818059B2 |
Method and device for navigation in a multi-dimensional image data set
A device and to a method for navigation in a multi-dimensional image data set of an object, obtained by a medical imaging method, including depicting a randomly selectable first visual plane through the image data set as the first sectional image, in which a user can navigate and designate a point by means of an input device, and depicting, in addition to the first sectional image, a further, second sectional image, including another point, designated by the user in the first sectional image, in a second visual plane which intersects the image data set at that angle that corresponds to the perspective obtained during the recording of the image data set at the designated point. |
| US08818058B2 |
Method for determining a correction function for correcting computed tomographic numbers of a small target object in a CT image
A method of correcting target region in computed tomographic (CT) image, including the steps of obtaining a CT image of a patient; determining the size of a target object in the CT image; and correcting CT numbers of a portion of the CT image that corresponds to the target object, based on the determined size of the target object. |
| US08818055B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and method, and image capturing apparatus with determination of priority of a detected subject and updating the priority
Face regions are detected from a captured image, and a weight of each detected face region is computed based on a size and/or a position of the detected face region. Then a previous priority ranking weight is computed based on a priority ranking determined in previous processing. A priority of the face region is computed from the weight and the previous priority ranking weight. For example, if the continuous processing number exceeds the threshold the priority ranking weight is reduced. After the processing is completed for all face regions, a priority ranking of each face region is determined based on the priority computed for each face region. |
| US08818054B2 |
Avatars in social interactive television
Virtual environments are presented on displays along with multimedia programs to permit viewers to participate in a social interactive television environment. The virtual environments include avatars that are created and maintained in part using continually updated animation data that may be captured from cameras that monitor viewing areas in a plurality of sites. User input from the viewers may be processed in determining which viewers are presented in instances of the virtual environment. Continually updating the animation data results in avatars accurately depicting a viewer's facial expressions and other characteristics. Presence data may be collected and used to determine when to capture background images from a viewing area that may later be subtracted during the capture of animation data. Speech recognition technology may be employed to provide callouts within a virtual environment. |
| US08818051B2 |
Fraud resistant biometric financial transaction system and method
A method and system for authenticating financial transactions is disclosed wherein biometric data is acquired from a person and the probability of liveness of the person and probability of a match between the person or token and known biometric or token information are calculated, preferably according to a formula D=P(p)*(K+P(m)), wherein K is a number between 0.1 and 100, and authenticating if the value of D exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US08818050B2 |
Method and system for recognizing images
A method and a system for recognizing at least one testing image according to classes are provided, wherein each of the classes includes sample images. The method includes generating an average image of each class according to the sample images, generating a feature enhancement mask according to differences between the average images of the classes, enhancing the sample images of each class by using the feature enhancement mask to generate a plurality of enhanced sample images corresponding to each class, and training a classifier according to the enhanced sample images of each class. The method also includes enhancing the at least one testing image by using the feature enhancement mask to generate an enhanced testing image, classifying the enhanced testing image into one of the classes by using the classifier, and recognizing that the testing image belongs to the classified class. Thereby, this method can effectively recognize the testing image. |
| US08818048B2 |
System and method for cancelable iris recognition
A method of generating a biometric feature descriptor has been developed that includes acquiring an image of an anatomical feature having a biometric feature, isolating a region of the image having the biometric feature, extracting image data from the image of the region to identify a plurality of features for the biometric feature, transforming the extracted image data for each identified feature into a plurality of feature descriptors, mapping the feature descriptors for the plurality of features into a first arrangement of feature descriptors, generating a second arrangement of feature descriptors with a non-invertible transform of the first arrangement of feature descriptors, and storing the second arrangement of feature descriptors into an electronic database. |
| US08818046B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and program
An image processing device, includes: a first motion vector calculation unit calculating a motion vector of a target block regarding the target block made with a plurality of pixels set up in a target image by detecting a block position maximally correlated with the target block in a search range set up in a reference image; a second motion vector calculation unit calculating a motion vector between the target image and the reference image from the motion vector for each of a plurality of target blocks set up in the target image; and a predictive motion vector setup unit setting up a predictive motion vector using a motion vector calculated between images in further past than the target image. The first motion vector calculation unit sets up the search range on the reference image based on a position of the target block and the predictive motion vector. |
| US08818040B2 |
Enhanced input using flashing electromagnetic radiation
Enhanced input using flashing electromagnetic radiation, in which first and second images of an object are accessed. The first image being captured while the object is illuminated with projected electromagnetic radiation, and the second image being captured while the projected electromagnetic radiation is extinguished. A position of the object relative to the screen based on comparing the first and second images is determined. An application is controlled based on the determined position. |
| US08818034B2 |
Face recognition apparatus and methods
One or more facial recognition categories are assigned to a face region detected in an input image (24). Each of the facial recognition categories is associated with a respective set of one or more different feature extraction modules (66) and a respective set of one or more different facial recognition matching modules (76). For each of the facial recognition categories assigned to the face region, the input image (24) is processed with each of the feature extraction modules (66) associated with the facial recognition category to produce a respective facial region descriptor vector of facial region descriptor values characterizing the face region. A recognition result (96) between the face region and a reference face image (28) is determined based on application of the one or more facial recognition matching modules (76) associated with the facial recognition categories assigned to the face region to the facial region descriptor vectors produced for the face region detected in the input image (24). |
| US08818032B2 |
Image processing system, image processing apparatus and server in the image processing system, and data control method and storage medium storing program thereof
When an image processing apparatus transmits information about image data stored therein to a server, the server determines whether or not the image data contains confidential information, and transmits the determination result to the image processing apparatus. When the image processing apparatus receives, from the server, determination result indicating whether or not the image data contains confidential information, then if the determination result indicates that the image data contains specific information, the image processing apparatus limits use of the image data. |
| US08818026B2 |
Object recognition device and object recognition method
An object recognition device includes; an image-capturing unit mounted to a mobile body; an image generation unit that converts images captured by the image-capturing unit at different time points to corresponding synthesized images as seen vertically downwards from above; a detection unit that compares together a plurality of the synthesized images and detects corresponding regions; and a recognition unit that recognizes an object present upon the road surface from a difference between the corresponding regions. |
| US08818023B2 |
Bulk region of interest learning
A system and method for mail processing. A method includes receiving an image of a mail piece, and identifying multiple regions of interest of the image. The method includes determining a classification key for the image based on a plurality of relationships between the multiple regions of interest and identifying a most-changing region of interest of the multiple regions of interest. The method includes processing the mail piece using the identified most-changing region of interest as the recipient address block. |
| US08818018B2 |
System and method for enhancing security printing
A system for enhancing security printing includes a segmentation system, a secure database in operative communication with the segmentation system, a secure registry in selective operative communication with the segmentation system, and an analysis system in operative communication with the segmentation system and the secure database, and in selective operative communication with the secure registry. The segmentation system performs zoning analysis on a scanned image to identifying a list of regions in the image. The secure database stores at least one of i) a template, or ii) prior zoning output specification. The secure registry stores region of interest information and information pertaining to strategies for identifying a region of interest. The analysis system identifies the region of interest utilizing at least one of the secure database or the secure registry. |
| US08818011B2 |
Noise-reducing headset
A noise-reducing headset, comprising a suspending arm, a connection device, and an ear cover part is disclosed. An engaging device is disposed on both ends of the suspending arm, wherein a position fixing part is disposed on one end of each of the engaging devices. Both ends of each of the connection device are respectively provided with a pivot joint part and an opening for engaging the engaging device. One side of the connection device is provided with a hollow slot. The hollow slot is communicated with the opening such that the position fixing part adjusts the distance the suspending arm entering into the connection device. Moreover, the ear cover part is connected to the pivot joint part of the connection device such that the noise-reducing headset can be collapsed inward by using the pivot joint part to make the noise-reducing headset convenient for a user to take along. |
| US08818007B2 |
MEMS-type pressure pulse generator
A device and method for generating or recovering acoustic energy are provided, including a substrate; at least one deformable cavity disposed in the substrate and being delimited by at least one mobile or deformable wall, the at least one deformable cavity extending in a lateral direction in the substrate defined by a first plane parallel to an upper surface of the substrate; at least one opening disposed in an upper portion of the at least one deformable cavity, configured to transmit at least one pulse produced in the at least one deformable cavity to an ambient atmosphere, the at least one pulse being a pressure pulse, a depression pulse, a partial vacuum pulse, or a combination thereof; and at least one actuator configured to generate a force in the first plane that displaces or deforms, or displaces and deforms, the at least one mobile or deformable wall. |
| US08818004B2 |
Condenser microphone
There is provided a capacitor microphone comprising a microphone capsule (100), which has an at least partially electrically conductive diaphragm (110) and a counterelectrode (120) associated therewith. The counterelectrode (120) has a printed circuit board (21) having a carrier of an insulating material (121a) and at least one electrically conductive surface (121b). |
| US08817998B2 |
Active vibratory noise control apparatus
An active vibratory noise control apparatus includes a basic signal generator configured to output a basic sine wave signal and a basic cosine wave signal. An adaptive finite impulse response filter is configured to output a control signal to cancel the vibratory noise. A vibratory noise cancelling device is configured to generate vibratory-noise canceling sound. An error signal detector is configured to output an error signal. A reference signal generator is configured to output a reference signal and corrects the basic cosine wave signal and the basic sine wave signal based on correction values. A buffer is configured to accumulate a number of reference signals corresponding to a number of taps of the adaptive finite impulse response filter. A filter coefficient updating device is configured to sequentially update filter coefficients of the adaptive finite impulse response filter to minimize the error signal. |
| US08817993B2 |
Audio device with volume adjusting function and volume adjusting method
An audio device and a volume adjusting method are provided. The audio device includes a speed sensor, a first FIFO buffer unit, and a second FIFO buffer unit. The audio device generates audio signals by playing multimedia files and stores audio signals to the first FIFO buffer unit. The audio device collects ambient sound signals and stores collected sound signals to the second FIFO buffer unit. The audio device further analyzes stored audio signals and sound signals to determine a waveform of environmental noise signals, and determines a SPL of the environmental noise signals according to the determined waveform. The audio device then compares the determined SPL with a preset SPL and compares the sensed speed with a preset speed if the determined SPL is greater than the preset SPL, and adjusts the volume of audio signals according to a comparison result between the sensed speed and the preset speed. |
| US08817991B2 |
Advanced encoding of multi-channel digital audio signals
A method is provided for coding a multi-channel audio signal representing a sound scene comprising a plurality of sound sources. The method comprises decomposing the multi-channel signal into frequency bands and the following performed per frequency band: obtaining data representative of the direction of the sound sources of the sound scene, selecting a set of sound sources constituting principal sources, adapting the data representative of the direction of the selected principal sources, as a function of restitution characteristics of the multi-channel signal, determining a matrix for mixing the principal sources as a function of the adapted data, matrixing the principal sources by the matrix determined so as to obtain a sum signal with a reduced number of channels and coding the data representative of the direction of the sound sources and forming a binary stream comprising the coded data, the binary stream being transmittable in parallel with the sum signal. |
| US08817990B2 |
Kerberized handover keying improvements
A media-independent handover key management architecture is disclosed that uses Kerberos for secure key distribution among a server, an authenticator, and a mobile node. In the preferred embodiments, signaling for key distribution is based on re-keying and is decoupled from re-authentication that requires EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) and AAA (Authentication, Authorization and Accounting) signaling similar to initial network access authentication. In this framework, the mobile node is able to obtain master session keys required for dynamically establishing the security associations with a set of authenticators without communicating with them before handover. By separating re-key operation from re-authentication, the proposed architecture is more optimized for a proactive mode of operation. It can also be optimized for reactive mode of operation by reversing the key distribution roles between the mobile node and the target access node. |
| US08817988B1 |
Variable epoch scheduler for proactive cryptography systems
An improved technique involves protecting a set of resources in a distributed computer system by scheduling epochs for replacing keys that have a variable duration. Along these lines, a Variable Epoch Scheduler (VES) generates schedules of key updates for a set of players in the distributed system such that at least two epochs in the schedules have different durations. For example, the epoch durations within a schedule may vary, or the epoch durations for different players may be different. At the end of each epoch, the VES notifies the distributed system to update the key identified in the schedule as corresponding to that epoch. |
| US08817982B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving data encrypted with a first encryption method and sent from a host device; a decryption unit for decrypting the data thus encrypted; an embedded data generation unit for re-editing the data thus decrypted to generate embedded information; an embedded information encryption unit for encrypting the embedded information with a second encryption method; and an image forming unit for forming the embedded information thus encrypted on a medium as a base emblem pattern. |
| US08817980B2 |
Semiconductor device and IC card
In power residue calculation in the primality determination, in addition to the conventional randomization of an exponent, a modulus is also randomized. A random number generated by a random number generator is set to a randomizing number, and is input to a modulus generator and an exponent generator. The modulus generator and the exponent generator randomize a prime number candidate P using the randomizing number to generate a randomized modulus R1 and exponent R2. Using the randomized modulus R1 and exponent R2, the power residue calculation for primality determination is executed, and based on the result, the primality of the prime number candidate P is determined. The power consumption during the primality determination of a semiconductor device becomes noncorrelated with a value of a prime number candidate to be determined, and the leakage of a prime number due to side channel attacks can be prevented. |
| US08817968B1 |
Short message service (SMS) response and interpretation application
A message processing application may receive at least one inquiry message from a user device in the form or a text message, email or other communication message format. The message may be received and processed to identify the content of the inquiry message to determine whether the inquiry message should be transferred to a live agent or whether the inquiry message should be responded to with an automated response stored in a database. |
| US08817962B2 |
Intuitive system, method and computer-readable medium for accessing customer support
A system for providing user support includes a setter configured to set up at least one communication service for a user including providing a unique communication identifier of character strings to access the communication services, and an accessor configured to access customer support including providing a unique customer support identifier character string to the user, the customer support identifier character string comprising at least a portion of the unique communication identifier character string. |
| US08817961B1 |
Method and apparatus for providing trusted caller ID services
Methods and apparatus for providing trusted caller identification services between a first entity and a second entity are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for validating an identity of a first entity to the second entity may include registering the first entity with a trust authority, wherein registering the first entity includes authenticating the identity of the first entity, and associating the unique code with a caller ID name (CNAM) of the first entity, receiving an identifier in association with a call request, determining that the identifier is correlated with the unique code, and providing to the second entity the CNAM together with an indication of validity. |
| US08817957B1 |
Phone-call triggered system and method for transmitting information via network-enabled server
In one embodiment, a phone number is used in connection with an advertising or marketing campaign. The account associated with the phone number may be configured to specify the type of information and the type of actions to be taken when a phone call is placed to the phone number. After the call that has placed to the phone number has completed, information relating to the call is compiled. Upon compilation, the information is transmitted by a network-enabled device using a protocol, where in one embodiment, the protocol is HTTP. |
| US08817956B2 |
Method and system for service access of user in access gateway control function entity
The disclosure discloses a method for a service access of a user in an Access Gateway Control Function (AGCF) entity, wherein a corresponding relationship between a logic number and a physical number of the user in the AGCF entity is stored in a Home User Server (HSS), the method includes that: in a registration process initiated by the user, the AGCF entity acquires the corresponding relationship between the physical number of the user and the logic number of the user from the HSS and stores it. The disclosure further discloses a system for a service access of a user in an AGCF entity, the system includes: a first storage unit, located in the HSS and configured to store a corresponding relationship between the logic number of the user and the physical number of the user in the AGCF entity; a registration unit, configured to register the user; a first acquisition unit, configured to acquire the corresponding relationship between the physical number of the user and the logic number of the user from the HSS in a registration process initiated by the user; and a second storage unit, located in the AGCF entity and configured to store the corresponding relationship between the logic number of the user and the physical number of the user. The disclosure realizes very low maintenance cost during a diversion and other operation. |
| US08817955B2 |
Peer-to-peer broadcasting in a VoIP system
A method and system provides the ability to use VoIP devices to generate and/or propagate a broadcast message to other devices. A device transmits a broadcast message to a recipient device over a peer-to-peer communication channel. Such a device can be an originator or a propagator designated by a third party. Upon receipt of a request to broadcast a message, or upon detecting any triggering event to broadcast, the device processes the request or the triggering event to compose content of the message. Subsequently, a group of recipient devices are identified and located. The device may transmit the broadcast message over existing communications channels without disturbing a conversation with the recipient device. Further, a peer-to-peer communication channel may be established to transmit the broadcast message. Alternatively, the device may request the recipient device to broadcast the message to devices outside of its current peer-to-peer communication connections. |
| US08817950B2 |
X-ray tube to power supply connector
An x-ray source can include an x-ray tube and a power supply. The x-ray tube can be removably affixed to the power supply in a rigid manner with the x-ray tube movable and holdable along with the power supply when affixed thereto. A releasable coupling between the x-ray tube and the power supply can create an interface defining a potential arc path. A means, such as a non-linear plug and socket junction, a gasket, or an electrically conductive sleeve, can be used for resisting arcing along the potential arc path. |
| US08817949B2 |
Radiographic apparatus and control method therefor
A control portion (140) detects pressure information fluctuations applied to a radiation sensor portion (120), acquires a radiation image and an offset image from the radiation sensor portion (120) based on the detected pressure information fluctuations, and makes offset correction of the acquired radiation image using the acquired offset image. |
| US08817948B2 |
Radiographic imaging apparatus and radiographic imaging system
A radiographic imaging apparatus is provided with a generation unit, a radiation source, a moving unit, and an imaging control unit. The generation unit captures radiographic images based on beams of radiation that have been transmitted through an imaging target site and with which an imaging surface has been individually irradiated and generates sets of image information representing the captured radiographic images. The moving unit moves the radiation source such that irradiation with the beams of radiation is possible from different directions including a front direction. The imaging control unit controls the moving unit such that, in a case where the radiographic imaging apparatus performs stereo imaging, the imaging surface is irradiated with the beams of radiation from the front direction and from a direction of a predetermined angle. |
| US08817946B2 |
X-ray detector and X-ray CT apparatus
There are provided an X-ray detector, which can reduce the deformation of a collimator plate and can be easily processed and installed, and an X-ray CT apparatus using it. The X-ray detector includes a collimator plate, and a scintillator array, a photoelectric conversion element array and a substrate that are bonded in order from the X-ray incidence direction. The collimator plate is disposed such that one of a pair of opposite sides of the collimator plate is bonded to a lower support plate bonded on the scintillator array and the other side is bonded to an upper support plate and directions of the opposite sides are the same as a rotation axis direction of an X-ray CT apparatus in which the X-ray detector is provided. |
| US08817944B2 |
X-ray imaging apparatus
In an X-ray imaging apparatus that performs X-ray CT imaging, an X-ray generator (13) that generates an X-ray cone beam (BX1) and an X-ray detector (21) that detects the X-ray cone beam (BX1) radiated to an object (specifically, image object (OB)) are revolved for 180 degrees to be opposed to each other with the object being located therebetween. Further, the X-ray generator (13) is moved such that a revolution reference point (CP) that is set on an optical path (CB) of the X-ray cone beam (BX1) goes round of a predetermined oval shape while the X-ray detector (13) and the X-ray generator (21) are revolved for 180 degrees. Setting is made such that a CT image area (CA) to be imaged by the irradiation of the X-ray cone beam (BX1) has an approximately triangular shape through the above-mentioned operation. |
| US08817938B2 |
Inspection hole plug
[Problem to be Solved] To easily perform assembly at the time of plugging an inspection hole.[Solution] An inspection hole plug 1 that plugs an inspection hole of an outer casing 136 surrounding a tube bundle in a steam generator includes: a base 2 fixed to the outer casing 136 and having an opening 21 that serves as the inspection hole; a fitting member 3 that plugs the opening 21 of the base 2; a fitting unit 4 that guides rotational movement of the fitting member 3 in a circumferential direction along an inner peripheral edge of the opening 21 of the base 2 and restricts the rotational movement by an axial movement of the fitting member 3 parallel to a central axis R of the rotational movement to fit the inner peripheral edge of the opening 21 of the base 2 and an outer peripheral edge of the fitting member 3 to each other; a holding member 5 into which a shaft portion 31 extending from the fitting member 3 along the axial direction is inserted and that is provided to be capable of abutting on the base 2; and a fastening member 6 that is screwed onto the shaft portion 31 of the fitting member 3 and holds the fitting member 3 at a position axially moved by fastening thereof with the holding member 5 abutting on the base 2. |
| US08817937B2 |
System and method for performing timing control
A timing control apparatus includes an adder and a comparator. The adder adds unused time error in each of a plurality of periods to form a cumulative value, and the comparator compares the cumulative value to a reference value. The unused time error is computed during operation of a first clock, and a control signal is generated to switch from the first clock to a second clock based on an output of the comparator. The frequency of the first clock is greater than a frequency of the second clock. |
| US08817933B2 |
Method and apparatus for clock data recovery from Manchester coded serial data stream
Methods and apparatus are presented for obtaining clock data from Manchester coded serial data streams, in which received data is sampled at a sample rate higher than the serial data baud rate, multi-bit groups of transition bits are generated which individually indicate data transition locations in a corresponding multi-bit sampled data bit group, and clock data is derived using the multi-bit groups of transition bits without requiring receipt of synchronization data or receipt of a separate clock. |
| US08817931B2 |
Apparatus and method for envelope detection
An apparatus and a method are described for envelope detection used in fields including voice processing, image processing, data communication, and energy/data transmission. The apparatus and the method for envelope detection eliminate a carrier component from a modulated signal by performing a square-sum operation between two adjacent sampling signals among signals sampled from the modulated signal. The apparatus and the method detect an envelope of the modulated signal from the modulated signal in which the carrier component is eliminated. |
| US08817929B2 |
Transmission circuit and communication system
A transmission circuit includes: a plurality of lane blocks arranged in parallel to each other configured to convert parallel data supplied from a corresponding lane into serial data and output the serial data; and a clock enabler block including at least one clock enabler for outputting a drive clock phase-locked with a reference clock to the plurality of lane blocks after a plurality of cycles of the drive clock in response to an enable signal. Each of the plurality of lane blocks has a divider for dividing the drive clock supplied from the clock enabler block to generate a divide clock and a load signal, and a parallel-to-serial converter for converting parallel data supplied from the corresponding lane into serial data in synchronization with the divide clock and the load signal generated by the divider and the drive clock generated by the clock enabler block. |
| US08817926B2 |
Channel estimation and equalization for hard-limited signals
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for channel estimation when the amplitude of a received signal is hard-limited. A channel estimator computes amplitude estimates for the received signal based on the phase samples of the received signal. The amplitude estimates may comprise the expected values of the amplitude given the phase samples. The channel estimator then computes revised channel estimates based on the amplitude estimates and the phase samples. The process may be performed iteratively to refine the channel estimates during each iteration. |
| US08817921B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting packet end point in wireless communication system
An apparatus for detecting a packet end point in a wireless communication system includes: a signal reception unit configured to receive a signal from an outside, convert the signal into a baseband signal, perform analog-digital conversion of the baseband signal, and perform a digital front end; a storage unit configured to store an output of the signal reception unit; a frequency offset estimation unit configured to estimate a frequency offset using the output of the storage unit; a frequency offset correction unit configured to compensate for a frequency error using the estimated frequency offset; an offset correlation unit configured to calculate correlation of the frequency offset and a cyclic prefix; an auto-correlation operation unit configured to calculate auto-correlation of the cyclic prefix; and a packet end detection unit configured to check a packet end point using the auto-correlation. |
| US08817920B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting signal in wireless communication system
The apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) unit configured to arrange a plurality of symbols received through an antenna at a frequency domain, an analog to digital (AD) converter configured to converts the plurality of symbols arranged at the frequency domain to digital symbols, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) unit configured to transform the digital symbols through a fast Fourier transform scheme, a compensator configured to compensate a gain mismatch between an I-channel and a Q-channel of the transformed digital symbols, a mapping unit configured to the compensated digital symbols to a constellation diagram, and a detector configured to correlate the mapped symbols, extract correlation results, and detect a high throughput (HT) signal using the extracted correlation results. |
| US08817919B1 |
Method and system for determining symbol boundary timing in a multicarrier data transmission system
Improved techniques for acquiring symbol boundary timing at a receiver of a multicarrier data transmission system during a training sequence are disclosed. One aspect is symbol boundary determination at a receiver wherein minimal interference is used as a criterion in selecting from a plurality of potential symbol boundary timings. The symbol boundary determination at the receiver can be performed in a time domain or a frequency domain manner. Another aspect pertains to an improved training sequence wherein pairs of identical symbols are transmitted by a transmitter. These symbols can be supplied to the transmitter in a time domain or a frequency domain manner. |
| US08817918B2 |
Cyclic prefix and precursor joint estimation
A method of operating a communications system includes generating a channel impulse response estimate based on a first received signal. The method includes selecting a precursor and a cyclic prefix length for a second received signal based on the channel impulse response estimate, a target cyclic prefix energy level, and a predetermined range of cyclic prefix lengths. |
| US08817917B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing signal quality metrics and antenna diversity switching control
A method for detecting the digital quality of a radio signal includes: receiving a radio signal including a digital portion modulated by a series of symbols each including a plurality of samples; computing correlation points between endpoint samples in cyclic prefix regions of adjacent symbols; and using the correlation points to produce a digital signal quality metric. Receivers that implement the method are also provided. |
| US08817915B2 |
Wideband digital receiver comprising a signal detection mechanism
A wideband microwave digital receiver comprises an antenna, an amplifier, and a digital IFM device for measuring the frequency of the received signal or signals. A consistency indicator indicates the consistency of the frequency measurements and is calculated by analyzing the values taken by said measurements obtained over two consecutive transforms. The presence of signal pulses at the input of the receiver is detected when said indicator signals the consistency of at least one frequency measurement. |
| US08817914B2 |
Interactive digital duty cycle compensation circuit for receiver
A receiver circuit. A receiving stage is coupled to a first supply voltage and an input signal, and operative to generate a first intermediate signal from the input signal based on the first supply voltage. A compensation stage is coupled to a second supply voltage and the first intermediate signal, and operative to generate a second intermediate signal by adjusting duty cycle of the first intermediate signal upon detecting changes in the first supply voltage to compensate for the changes in the first supply voltage. An outputting stage is coupled to the second supply voltage and operative to generate an output signal based on the second supply voltage upon receiving the second intermediate signal. A voltage of the output signal is adjusted to a level of the second supply voltage and the output signal has a 50% duty cycle. |
| US08817913B2 |
Digital filter-decimator-tuner
A digital filter-decimator-tuner is configured to receive a complex signal input xk and output a complex USB signal yuk and a complex LSB signal ylk. It includes a USB processing path coupled to receive xk and output yuk, the USB processing path including a USB FIR filter configured to receive a portion of the xk signal and output a first USB intermediate filtered signal, a decimator configured to decimate the first USB intermediate filtered signal and output a second USB intermediate signal, a USB tuner configured to receive the second USB intermediate signal and a USB tuning signal and output a third USB intermediate signal, and a USB equalization filter configured to receive the third USB intermediate signal, and output yuk; and a parallel LSB processing path coupled to receive xk and output ylk. The USB and LSB processing paths may be implemented by the same hardware in one embodiment. |
| US08817912B1 |
Phase-rotated tone-grouping modulation
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with phase-rotated tone-grouping modulation are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a parser configured to reposition bits of at least a portion of a data word. An encoder configured to, from the repositioned bits, form i) a tone grouping and ii) a copy of the tone grouping. The apparatus also includes a modulator configured to modulate the tone grouping and the copy of the tone grouping. |
| US08817910B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating using ASK or QAM with uneven symbol constellation
Systems and methods of performing ASK or QAM modulation with uneven distance between symbols are provided. These are used to provide differing BER performances among bits sent from a transmitter to a receiver. |
| US08817905B2 |
Retransmission method for HARQ in MIMO systems
In a closed-loop wireless communication system (200), a codeword retransmission scheme is provided which allows retransmission of a single codeword using a higher order transmission rank, which may or may not be the same as the higher order transmission rank used to originally transmit the codeword. When one of a plurality of codewords (CW1, CW2) being transmitted over two codeword pipes to a receiver (201.i) fails the transmission, codeword retransmission is enabled by duplicating the failed codeword at the base station (210) and then retransmitting the duplicated codewords over both codeword pipes using the same transmission layers or “rank” as the original transmission. |