Document Document Title
US08875213B2 Video player and portable computer with detection
A television or computer detects the presence of the other, and takes an action based on that detecting.
US08875207B2 Content storage and delivery system and associated method and device
A system is provided for the storage of content on a network and the delivery of content to subscriber locations. The system includes routers and subscriber set-top boxes in communication with each other and a main content source. Content is delivered over a packet-switching network according to a peer to peer file distribution protocol and is stored in a storage area of the subscriber set-top box, such that each subscriber set-top box is configured to transmit and receive content to and from the main content source and other set-top boxes connected to the network. The set-top boxes may identify a preferred source of content based on various factors, such as geographic distance, Internet Protocol (IP) distance, available bandwidth, integrity of the content, etc. An associated method for accessing content and a set-top box for facilitating the storage and delivery of content are also provided.
US08875204B2 Information processor, information processing method and program
An information processor includes: a content acquisition section adapted to acquire linked content that includes a plurality of scenarios, each made up of content data and control information used to control the reproduction of the content data; a control information acquisition section adapted to acquire the control information; and a reproduction control section adapted to control the reproduction of the linked content by reproducing the content data according to the control information, wherein the control information acquisition section acquires, as an event adapted to allow a move from the current scenario to another scenario, the control information including an absolute time-of-day event that occurs at a specific date and time on the scenario time axis, and the reproduction control section allows a move from the current scenario to another scenario if the absolute time-of-day event occurs.
US08875199B2 Indicating picture usefulness for playback optimization
In one embodiment the invention provides a method for outputting auxiliary information for use in playing back a video sequence, the method comprising obtaining a measure of usefulness of a particular picture for playing back the video sequence, wherein the measure of usefulness indicates a performance of playing back the video sequence if the particular picture is available in a decoded state at a time of playback versus the particular picture not being available in a decoded state at a time of playback; determining a position in a data stream that includes the video sequence; and storing the auxiliary information at the determined position in the data stream.
US08875189B2 Apparatus and method for managing variable multicast and broadcast service zones in MBS server
An apparatus and method for managing variable MBS zones in an MBS server are provided. The method variably sets an MBS zone based on a characteristic where user movement between MBS zones and content preference are changed depending on time and environment, and thereby enables a safer and faster shift of an MBS zone, thus effectively providing high-quality multimedia service in a mobile environment.
US08875188B2 Systems, methods, and devices for scanning broadcasts
The various embodiments disclosed herein provide methods, systems, and devices for capturing broadcast streams, analyzing the broadcast streams to obtain information about the media content transmitted in the broadcast streams, obtaining additional information about the media content if available, and assigning a unique event identifier specific to the instance of broadcast of the broadcast stream and/or media segment transmitted in the broadcast stream. In other embodiments, the unique event identifier is broadcasted to broadcast receiving devices. With the unique event identifier, broadcast receiving devices can access the obtained information associated with the media content.
US08875185B2 Method and apparatus for efficient, entertaining information delivery
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for efficient, entertaining information delivery. In one embodiment, information is partitioned into clips. Clips are selected for a user and packaged together for presentation to the user in an entertaining manner. In one embodiment, the clips are selected and packaged together in accordance with a template. In another embodiment, information about a user is used to select clips. In one embodiment, a user is presented with a stream of information comprised of clips of information assembled for the user. The user may select a clip to retrieve additional information related to the clip. In one embodiment, the selected clip is a portion of a program (e.g., a television show, a movie, a song, an advertisement, etc.) and the additional information is a larger clip of the program and/or the entire program.
US08875184B1 Customization of media play
Disclosed are various embodiments for personalized online video channels. Various embodiments of the present disclosure facilitate creation and transmission of user defined video channels for viewing television programs via the Internet. The application facilitates specification of at least one user-defined channel that transmits video content items to the client. The application maintains a data store of video content items. The application selects a subset of the video content items for inclusion in the user playlist. The application determines an order of transmission of each of the video content items in the user playlist. The application facilitates specification of at least one user-defined channel.
US08875179B2 Apparatus and method for displaying content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top-box (STB) having a controller to join a multicast group having an associated multicast address, wherein the multicast address is associated with a first content type of a plurality of content types, access encoded content associated with the first content type from the multicast address, wherein the encoded content is transmitted by at least one source associated with the multicast group to the multicast address, decode the accessed encoded content, and display the decoded content on a channel mapped to the multicast address. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08875176B2 Method and apparatus using location-based communication
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box (STB) having a controller to communicate with a location server on an interactive TV network used by the STB to find a mobile communication device of a targeted party, receive information from the location server that monitors a communication network to find a location of the mobile communication device when the mobile communication device approaches or traverses a predetermined boundary or approaches a targeted location where the targeted party carries the mobile communication device operating on the communication network that has location determining functionality, and presents the location of the mobile communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08875175B1 Smart live streaming event ads playback and resume method
A digital video viewing system including methods for user selection of video advertisement content and time of display of video advertisements during a live video content stream. The digital video viewing system includes modules for receiving, evaluating and transmitting data within the digital video viewing system and to Internet protocol content providers. Also shown are methods for recording and re-playing live internet protocol content in conjunction with the video advertisement display methods.
US08875173B2 Mining of advertisement viewer information using matrix code
A method for collecting advertisement viewer information includes receiving a signal carrying a television advertisement, reading viewing data associated with the advertisement from a computer readable storage medium, compiling a matrix code including the viewing data for inclusion in the advertisement and scanning by a viewer, and transmitting the advertisement with the matrix code to a presentation device for display. A system for including advertisement viewer information in a matrix code is also described.
US08875171B2 Method and system of device level program insertion
Method and system of inserting commercials or program within content feeds. The commercials may be inserted in an optimized manner on a host device so as to permit device level commercial insertion. Instructions or other information may be pre-loaded for a number of insertion opportunities so that processing demands on the host device at the time of insertion can be limited.
US08875170B1 Content roaming system and method
A system for streaming media content to a remote media streaming device, wherein the system is operative to handle remote requests for the media content, and broker the authorization and broadcasting rights between a primary content provider and a secondary content provider, wherein the secondary content provider holds the rights to broadcast the requested content to the remote media streaming device.
US08875164B2 Information processing apparatus and method for controlling information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus includes a storage that stores first information and second information, the first information associating a content of a call to be issued from a first application with information on whether to cause a user to select any of second applications, the second information associating the content of the call to be issued from the first application with any of the second applications, and a processor that is configured to receive a call issued from the first application, determine whether the received call is associated with information to cause the user to select any of the second applications based on the first information, specify the second application associated with a content of the received call based on the second information when the received call is determined to be associated with the information to cause the user to select the second applications, and execute the specified second application.
US08875160B2 Dynamic application migration
A library operating system is employed in conjunction with an application in a virtual environment to facilitate dynamic application migration. An application executing in a virtual environment with a library operating system on a first machine can be suspended, and application state can be captured. Subsequently, the state can be restored and execution resumed on the first machine or a second machine.
US08875156B2 Remote object data property replication method and system
In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes designating a visual representation of an object in a display screen of a human machine interface, accessing any properties, connections, and text associated with the object in response to a trigger event, and creating an identical copy in response to the trigger event, wherein the identical copy includes any properties, connections and text associated with the object. An interface system that includes a machine readable medium having programming code implementing the method. An industrial automation device is also provided.
US08875155B2 Ordered processing of groups of messages
A data flow processing system represents processing by a directed graph including processing nodes that generate, and process, groups of dependent messages and that can process such groups of messages in order. To identify a group of messages, the system applies message identifiers to messages. Processing of a message may generate child messages. A child message is assigned a message identifier that incorporates the message identifier of the parent message. The message identifier of the parent message is annotated to indicate the number of related child messages. The processing node maintains a buffer to store messages in the group. When a message is received, its message identifier indicates whether it is in a group and information about the group. From this information the processing node determines whether all messages within the group have been received, at which time the processing node can process the messages in order.
US08875154B2 Interface specific and parallel IPMI message handling at baseboard management controller
Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a baseboard management controller (BMC). The BMC includes a processor and a memory storing firmware. The firmware, when executed by the processor, is configured to include a plurality of communication interfaces and a plurality of message handlers. The plurality of message handlers each are configured to process an IPMI request message that is received from, and that is to be associated with, a respective different communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces; to perform a management function to a host computer of the BMC in accordance with the processed IPMI request message; and to be on a respective different thread.
US08875152B2 System, method and computer program product for dynamically increasing resources utilized for processing tasks
Mechanisms and methods are provided for dynamically increasing resources utilized for processing tasks. These mechanisms and methods for dynamically increasing resources utilized for processing tasks can enable embodiments to adjust processing power utilized for task processing. Further, adjusting processing power can ensure that quality of service goals set for processing tasks are achieved.
US08875150B2 Monitoring real-time computing resources for predicted resource deficiency
Techniques used to enhance the execution of long-running or complex software application instances and jobs on computing systems. In one embodiment, inadequate system resources and failure of a job execution on the computing system may be predicted. A determination may be made as to whether inadequate resources exist prior to execution of the job, and resource requirements may be monitored to detect in real time if inadequate resources will be encountered during the job execution for cases where, for example, resource availability has unexpectedly decreased. If a resource deficiency is predicted on the executing computer system, the job may be paused and corrective action may be taken or a user may be alerted. The job may resume after the resource deficiency is met. Additional embodiments may integrate resource monitoring with the adaptive selection of a computer system or application execution environment based on resource capability predictions and benchmarks.
US08875149B2 Product-specific system resource allocation within a single operating system instance
Resource constraints for a group of individual application products to be configured for shared resource usage of at least one shared resource within a single operating system instance are analyzed by a resource allocation module. An individual resource allocation for each of the group of individual application products is determined based upon the analyzed resource constraints for the group of individual application products. The determined individual resource allocation for each of the group of individual application products is implemented within the single operating system instance using local inter-product message communication bindings by the single operating system instance.
US08875146B2 Systems and methods for bounding processing times on multiple processing units
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for processing multiple tasks. In one embodiment a method comprises: selecting a processing unit as a master processing unit from a processing cluster comprising multiple processing units, the master processing unit selected to execute master instruction entities; reading a master instruction entity from memory; scheduling the master instruction entity to execute on the master processing unit; identifying an execution group containing the master instruction entity, the execution group defining a set of related entities; when the execution group contains at least one slave instruction entity, scheduling the at least one slave instruction entity to execute on a processing unit other than the master processing unit during the execution of the master instruction entity; and terminating execution of instruction entities related by the execution group when a master instruction entity is executed that is not a member of the execution group.
US08875145B2 Dynamically loading graph-based computations
Processing data includes: receiving units of work that each include one or more work elements, and processing a first unit of work using a first compiled dataflow graph (160) loaded into a data processing system (100) in response to receiving the first unit of work. The processing includes: analysis to determine a characteristic of the first unit of work; identifying one or more compiled dataflow graphs from graphs stored in a data storage system (107) that include at least some that were compiled for processing a unit of work having the determined characteristic; loading one of the identified compiled dataflow graphs into the data processing system (100) as the first compiled dataflow graph (160); and generating one or more output work elements from at least one work element in the first unit of work.
US08875144B2 Using a yield indicator in a hierarchical scheduler
A method and system for scheduling the use of CPU time among processes using a scheduling tree having a yielding indicator. A scheduling tree represents a hierarchy of groups and processes that share central processing unit (CPU) time. A computer system assigns a yield indicator to a first node of the scheduling tree, which represents a first process that temporarily yields the CPU time. The computer system also assigns the yield indicator to each ancestor node of the first node in the scheduling tree. Each ancestor node represents a group to which the first process belongs. The computer system then selects a second process to run on the computer system based on the yield indicator in the scheduling tree.
US08875141B2 Execute or cancel a scheduled task execution that missed execution condition on a device based on rule and execution condition received from a management server
The present invention provides an improved method, device and system for task processing in a device management. In the present invention, when the current state or the operation of the terminal device is interrupted by an abnormal condition, the improved method includes the steps of checking if any scheduler task exists, prompting the user to select the processing procedure for the scheduler task based on the types of the scheduler task, or processing the impacted scheduler task based on user's selection or processing the scheduler task based on a predetermined process procedure.
US08875138B2 Computer system and control method thereof
A computer system and a control method thereof are provided, wherein the computer system comprises an embedded controller (EC), a basic input/output system (BIOS), and an operating system (OS). In the method, when the computer system is rotated, the EC makes the BIOS identify a present rotation state of the computer system by an interrupt signal and an internal communication scheme. Then, the BIOS establishes a data structure in accordance with a virtual scan code and the rotation state, and then transmits the data structure to the OS. After that, the OS controls a program installed in the computer system to execute a related operation of the rotation state according to the data structure.
US08875137B2 Configurable mass data portioning for parallel processing
A configurable mass data portioning for parallel processing is described herein. One or more operation attributes are selected to participate in parallelization criteria. The values of the selected operation attributes for a number of operations are submitted to a specified algorithm using to provide parallelization values corresponding to the operations. The parallelization values are applied to group the operations in comparable portions for parallel execution without conflicts.
US08875133B2 Migration of virtual machines
To migrate two or more virtual machines in a source hypervisor to a target hypervisor, a list of active and connected virtual machines in the source hypervisor is acquired. Connections between the source virtual machines are rerouted to a buffer so that data flowing between the source virtual machines is captured. The source virtual machines are migrated to a target hypervisor and are connected in the same manner as in the source hypervisor. The buffered data is migrated to the respective migrated virtual machines, and the target virtual machines are activated. The virtual machines can be migrated in order of data flow dependency such that the least dependent virtual machine is migrated first.
US08875129B2 Systems and methods for monitoring and alerting events that virtual machine software produces in a virtual infrastructure
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and systems for generating an alert based upon detection of a pattern of events within a virtual infrastructure. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08875128B2 Controlling permissions in virtualization environment using hierarchical labeling
A host controller associates each virtual machine with at least one label from a hierarchy of labels, where each label represents a distinct virtual machine parameter. The host controller also associates a user with one or more roles and with one or more labels from the hierarchy of labels, where each role defines at least one action permitted to be performed with respect to virtual machines. The host controller further facilitates control over user actions pertaining to virtual machines based on the roles and the labels associated with the user.
US08875127B2 Operating system customization
Technology disclosed herein includes a method for loading a carrier specific operating system (OS) onto a computing device depending on any corporation the computing device is associated with and the network the computing device is connected to. The computing device detects any corporation the computing device is associated with based on the subscriber number of the computing device. The computing device detects an identity of a network by examining a subscriber identification module (SIM) card electronically connected to the device. The device then sends a request including the identity of the corporation and the network to a remote registration service. In turn the device receives an instruction from the remote registration service identifying a distribution of an OS specific for the corporation and the network. After retrieving the OS distribution, the device loads the distribution of the OS on the computing device.
US08875126B1 System and method for server customization
Customization of a plurality of servers in a computer network. A server customizer module is generated that includes a server customizer initialization file containing a plurality of arguments for populating and running a plurality of standardized applications, scripts and utilities on each server. The server customizer module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. A server unattended install launch module, cooperative with the server customizer module is generated that includes an unattended install launch initialization file for launching a plurality of standardized processes on each server. The server unattended install launch module is installed on each of the plurality of servers for subsequent execution as part of the server build/customization process. The server customizer module and server unattended install launch module are executed on each of the plurality of servers to complete customization of each server.
US08875125B2 Operation system installation methods and media
A method for out-of-band installation and provisioning of an operating system in an information handling system is provided. The method may include sending an OS installation request to a management controller, which may include an internal persistent storage Furthermore, the method may include selecting a selected OS driver pack in response to the OS installation request and exposing the selected OS driver pack to a target server. Finally, the method may include installing the OS with the selected OS driver pack onto the target server.
US08875124B2 In-band hypervisor-managed firmware updates
A software update manager running on an information handling system over a type 1 hypervisor operating system retrieves a virtual firmware update through a primary network interface. The virtual firmware update executes over the hypervisor to initiate a download of a firmware update to a management processor of the information handling system through a management network interface. The firmware update executes to update the firmware of the information handling system with an update process managed by an end user through the primary network interface and the software update manager.
US08875122B2 Tenant move upgrade
The current subject matter provides a method to upgrade an individual tenant by moving the individual tenant from a source computing system that implements an older software version to a target computing system that implements a newer software version. The movement of the individual tenant incorporates a movement of customer-specific data associated with the moved tenant. Instead of just upgrading a same multi-tenancy computing system implementing the tenant that needs to be upgraded, a new (target) multi-tenancy computing system implementing a newer software version is installed such that this tenant can be moved from the (source) multi-tenancy computing system to the new (target) multi-tenancy computing system. The data associated with the moved tenant is adjusted to new structures associated with the newer software version.
US08875120B2 Methods and apparatus for providing software bug-fix notifications for networked computing systems
A customer initiates a customer support request indicating that a bug exists in an particular application. An internal bug-fix tracking system includes a case status server that receives a notification event indicating that the bug has been fixed in an updated software release. The associated customer support request is then updated to reflect the bug fix, triggering a notification e-mail that is automatically and directly sent to the customer.
US08875119B2 System and method for generating a source code for a computer program
The present invention relates to system and a method for the generation of a source code for a computer program for the execution and/or simulation of a process from a process description, in particular graphical, independent of the source code. The system comprises a process generator and a source code generator. The process generator is so designed that clusters with several subjects are generated automatically, while all possible message exchanges between the subjects are generated at the same time as subjects are generated. The process generator provides functions for the deletion of individual automatically messages and a function for the generation of individual messages between one of the subjects of the cluster and a subject which is not part of this cluster.
US08875114B2 Employing identifiers provided by an operating system of a processing environment to optimize the processing environment
Optimizations are provided for processing environments. Selected memory objects are tagged with unique identifiers by an operating system of the environment, and those identifiers are used to manage processing within the environment. By detecting by a processing platform of the environment that a memory object has been tagged with a unique identifier, certain tasks may be bypassed and/or memory objects may be reused, even if located at a different location.
US08875110B2 Code inspection executing system for performing a code inspection of ABAP source codes
The present invention relates to a code inspection executing system for performing a code inspection of ABAP source codes, and particularly, to a code inspection executing system for performing a code inspection of ABAP source codes, which provides the reliable maintainability, performance, accuracy, stability, and security of an ABAP application by inspecting coding defects such as system failure and stoppage, data loss and transformation, excessive performance deterioration, erroneous behavior of functions and results thereof, complex code structures, and spelling errors.
US08875105B2 Efficiently developing software using test cases to check the conformity of the software to the requirements
A method for efficiently developing software and supporting creation of source code so as to develop software that meets the requirements. A plurality of test cases defining a plurality of respective tests to be executed to check the conformity of the software to the requirements are used. In a test execution step, one or more specific test cases selected from the plurality of test cases are executed or the specific test cases are caused to be executed. Furthermore, a test result of a test case executed or caused to be executed in the test case execution step is added to the source code.
US08875104B2 Efficiently developing software using test cases to check the conformity of the software to the requirements
A method, system and computer program product for efficiently developing software and supporting creation of source code so as to develop software that meets the requirements. A plurality of test cases defining a plurality of respective tests to be executed to check the conformity of the software to the requirements are used. In a test execution step, one or more specific test cases selected from the plurality of test cases are executed or the specific test cases are caused to be executed. Furthermore, a test result of a test case executed or caused to be executed in the test case execution step is added to the source code.
US08875101B2 Reduction of the number of interoperability test candidates and the time for interoperability testing
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture wherein a determination is made of a subset of all possible interoperable combinations of components of a computing system, wherein the components comprise selected elements of the computing system. One or more testing criteria are stored, wherein a testing criteria provides indications of characteristics of one or more of the components of the computing system. A selection is made of a number of interoperable combinations of the components from the subset of interoperable combinations of the components, based on the stored one or more testing criteria. The selected interoperable combinations are tested, wherein the selected interoperable combinations are fewer in number than the subset of interoperable combinations.
US08875100B2 Pattern analysis and performance accounting
A performance accounting framework may be provided. Upon receiving a section of source code associated with an application, an evaluation may be performed on the section of source code. A performance metric may be calculated according to the at least one evaluation and a report of the calculated performance metric may be provided.
US08875094B2 System and method for implementing intelligent java server faces (JSF) composite component generation
One embodiment of the invention describes a method of generating intelligent Java server faces (JSF) composite components. The method includes identifying at least one facelet file within a project, creating a node tree from the at least one facelet file, iterating through the node tree to determine which nodes are tags for composite components, and in response to determining that a plurality of nodes are tags for composite components, computing a hash for each of the plurality of nodes. The method further includes generating node lists for each of the plurality of nodes, adding the plurality of nodes and the hashes to corresponding node lists, comparing each node list against every other node list, and in response to determining a match among node lists, saving the matched node lists as composite components.
US08875093B2 Instantiating a coding competition to develop a program module in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the instantiation of a coding competition to address problems in program modules. In a typical embodiment, a first annotation will be detected in a program code file having a set of program modules. The first annotation generally indicates a need for a functionality associated with at least one program module of the set of program modules. Responsive to a lack of an existing library comprising the solution, an indication to instantiate a coding competition among a set of developers will be received to provide the solution. In response to the indication, a second annotation will be inserted into the program code file. The coding competition may then be instantiated to identify a set of developer libraries having a potential to provide the solution. Based on the coding competition, the solution may then be identified and implemented.
US08875092B2 Certifying software components using a defect tracking system
A mechanism for certifying software components using a defect tracking system is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving at a defect tracking system server device a software certification request of a software product with respect to a platform, mapping attributes of the software certification request into pre-existing attributes of a defect template of the defect tracking system server device, and providing the software certification request to a software certification testing server to enable the software certification testing server to run one or more tests that are part of a software certification test plan for the software product.
US08875088B1 Methods and systems for performing project schedule forecasting
A computer-implemented method of performing project schedule forecasting based on stored project data includes receiving a first user input selecting a first plurality of work items in a project. Respective work items of the first plurality have respective work estimates. A second user input is received specifying one or more first work item attributes referencing historical work completion data. A first historical rate of work completion is determined in accordance with the historical work completion data referenced by the one or more first work item attributes. An estimated time of completion of the first plurality of work items is calculated in accordance with the first historical rate of work completion and provided for display.
US08875083B2 Routing method for flip chip package and apparatus using the same
Disclosed herein are rouging methods and devices for a flip-chip package. The flip chip includes several outer pads and several inner pads. The routing method includes: setting an outer sequence based on the arrangement order of the outer pads; setting several inner sequences based on the connection relationships between inner pads and the outer pads; calculating the longest common subsequence of each inner sequence and the outer sequence, defining the connection relationships between the inner pads and the outer pads corresponding to the longest common subsequence as direct connections, and defining the connection relationships between the inner pads and the outer pads that do not correspond to the longest common subsequence as detour connections; establishing the routing scheme of the flip chip based on the connection relationships between the inner pads and the outer pads.
US08875082B1 System and method for detecting and prescribing physical corrections for timing violations in pruned timing data for electronic circuit design defined by physical implementation data
A system and method for expeditious operational timing signoff of a circuit design through a timing analysis and subsequent corrective or remedial optimization is performed with the goal of correlating timing between the physical implementation corrective optimizer module and the timing analysis module to reduce iterations therebetween. A physical optimizer in the correction module is imparted with knowledge of the physical implementation of the design to allow for legal, non-conflicting placement of corrective buffers or resizing of gates in accordance with the physical implementation data of the circuit design.
US08875081B2 Systems and methods for designing and making integrated circuits with consideration of wiring demand ratio
A method for designing and making an integrated circuit is described. That method utilizes statistical models of wire segments to accurately estimate the expected length of minimum-length, orthogonal wire segments within a block. From these estimates, the method accurately estimates an ratio between the horizontal and vertical routing resources required, termed the “H/V Demand Ratio.” From the H/V Demand Ratio, an accurate estimate of the height and width of the block may be determined. Thereafter, placement and routing may be performed quickly and accurately, thereby allowing the block to be designed and manufactured quickly and cost effectively. A method for designing an integrated circuit with efficient metal-1 resource utilization is also described.
US08875079B2 System and method of automated design augmentation for efficient hierarchical implementation
A hierarchical interface module includes an assessment unit configured to identify a hierarchical implementation incompatibility of an integrated circuit (IC) partitioned block. Additionally, the hierarchical interface module includes an interface unit configured to substitute a directly registered hierarchical interface structure for the hierarchical implementation incompatibility of the IC partitioned block. A method of interfacing hierarchically and a hierarchical implementation system are also included.
US08875075B2 Generating pattern-based estimated RC data with analysis of route information
A method and apparatus for improving physical synthesis of a circuit design is described. In one exemplary embodiment, post-route information of nets in the circuit design is analyzed. The post-route information includes, for each of the nets, a predicted route property, a post-route property, and a set of physical and/or timing attributes for that net. For each of the attributes, a set of attribute ranges is derived for the corresponding attribute to bin the nets into a Gaussian distribution for that attribute. Net routing constraints are generated for the circuit design based on the attribute ranges derived. The net routing constraints are applied to one or more of the nets during subsequent placement-based optimizations of the circuit design.
US08875071B2 Deployment of custom shift array macro cells in automated application specific integrated circuit design flow
An automated method is provided for designing an integrated circuit. A net list of an integrated circuit design is generated, wherein the net list includes a scan chain having a sequence of individual scan cells. A sequence of two or more individual scan cells of the scan chain is identified as a candidate for replacement by a custom shift array macro cell. The identified sequence of two or more individual scan cells is then replaced with a custom shift array macro cell that provides a functionally equivalent shift function as the replaced sequence of two or more individual scan cells. The custom shift array macro cell includes only two input pins and one output pin.
US08875070B2 Breaking up long-channel field effect transistor into smaller segments for reliability modeling
A first MOS transistor has a channel length. Based on a parameter associated with the first MOS transistor, the first MOS transistor is selected to be simulated as at least a first transistor and a second transistor in series. The circuit is simulated with the first transistor and the second transistor in place of the first MOS transistor. Based on the results of the simulation, device degradations are calculated for the first transistor the second transistor. A degraded netlist is created. In the degraded netlist, the first transistor is degraded by a device degradation for the first transistor. The second transistor is degraded by a device degradation for the second transistor. The circuit is re-simulated with the first degraded transistor and the second degraded transistor in place of the first MOS transistor.
US08875068B2 System and method of customizing an existing processor design having an existing processor instruction set architecture with instruction extensions
An automated processor design tool uses a description of customized processor instruction set extensions in a standardized language to develop a configurable definition of a target instruction set, a Hardware Description Language description of circuitry necessary to implement the instruction set, and development tools such as a compiler, assembler, debugger and simulator which can be used to develop applications for the processor and to verify it. Implementation of the processor circuitry can be optimized for various criteria such as area, power consumption, speed and the like. Once a processor configuration is developed, it can be tested and inputs to the system modified to iteratively optimize the processor implementation. By providing a constrained domain of extensions and optimizations, the process can be automated to a high degree, thereby facilitating fast and reliable development.
US08875065B1 Triple-pattern lithography layout decomposition validation
A method of decomposing a layout for triple pattern lithography generates a first conflict graph from the layout. The method generates a second conflict graph from the first conflict graph, and identifies loops in the second conflict graph as decomposition violations.
US08875064B2 Automated design rule checking (DRC) test case generation
Approaches for generating test cases for design rule checking are provided. A method includes extracting coordinates of an error marker in an integrated circuit design. The method also includes creating an error polygon using the coordinates. The method additionally includes selecting polygons in the design that touch the error polygon. The method further includes identifying a rectangle that encloses the selected polygons. The method also includes generating a test case based on data of the design contained within the rectangle. The extracting, the creating, the selecting, the identifying, and the generating are performed using a computer device.
US08875063B2 Mask layout formation
A method for forming a mask layout is described. A plurality of phase shapes are formed on either side of a critical feature of a design layout of an intergrated circuit chip having a plurality of critical features. A plurality of transition edges are identified from the edges of each phase shape. Each transition edge is parallel to critical feature. A transition space is identified as defined by one of the group including two transition edges and one transition edge. A transition polygon is formed by closing each transition space with at least one closing edge. Each transition polygon is transformed into a printing assist feature. A mask layout is formed from the printing assist features and critical features.
US08875062B1 Service profiles for associating data services with application
Service profiles for associating data services with applications are described, including receiving a first input from a user identifying a first service to include in a service profile; receiving a second input from the user identifying a second service to include in the service profile, the second service is associated with the user; receiving a third input from the user defining one or more boundaries of one or more of the first service and the second service; receiving a fourth input from the user indicating association of the service profile with one of the at least one application; storing the service profile with information of the first service, the second service, and the association with the one of the at least one application; and based on the service profile, determining whether to grant access to the first service and second service by the at least one application.
US08875060B2 Contextual gestures manager
According to some embodiments, a method and apparatus are provided to receive a first gesture registration associated a first application, receive a portal gesture registration associated with a web portal, and prioritize gestures associated with the web portal based on the first gesture registration and the portal gesture registration.
US08875059B2 Control of a device using gestures
In an operating system running on a processing device, detecting a gesture input via a user interface; identifying an operating system operation that corresponds to the gesture; performing the operating system operation; identifying an application running on the operating system that has subscribed to gesture input; and passing data corresponding to the gesture to the application for use by the application.
US08875058B2 Input apparatus and input system
An input apparatus includes an operating portion, a display screen portion capable of displaying a first screen having a first selection region selected when a state where the pointer is overlapped is held for a first time and a second screen having a second selection region selected when a state where the pointer is overlapped is held for a second time, and a control portion performing control of moving a display position of the pointer in a first direction so that the pointer does not overlap the second selection region, when the first selection region is selected to be switched to the second screen.
US08875056B2 Display device and display method
Provided is a display device including a display mode controller for controlling a transition to a whole screen display mode for displaying an image in an entire screen of a display section, a multiple content display mode for displaying, on the screen, multiple thumbnail images related to contents, or a panel display mode for displaying, on the screen, a panel on which information related to the contents is displayed, an arrangement determination section for arranging multiple thumbnail images displayed in the multiple content display mode by category to which the contents belong, an arrangement change section for changing an arrangement of multiple thumbnail images by a user, and a boundary line display section for displaying, between two thumbnail images, a boundary line indicating a difference of the category before the arrangement of the thumbnail images is changed by the user, and for not displaying the boundary line after changed.
US08875053B2 Secure connection protocol for image projecting unit, process and program
There has been a problem of necessitating a complicated work for establishing a connection capable of intercommunication between a computer as server and a projector as client.When a connection is established between a server 20 and projectors 301 through 30n, a communication command is issued according to UDP-based broadcasting to retrieve connectable projectors 301 through 303. Thereafter, the projector 301 to be connected is selected and is assigned an IP address to establish the connection. In this manner, a user can easily obtain a connection environment capable of intercommunication between the server 20 and the projector 301. A TCP/IP communication command is used to input or output image data, ensuring reliable transmission. Since the authentication can be provided using a keyword projected during the connection establishment, it is possible to prevent an unauthorized access to the projector 301 by an outsider.
US08875052B2 Keystroke activated dynamic task menu
According to one embodiment, a method includes detecting textual input from a user and determining a position of a cursor associated with a user input device on an electronic page. In addition, the method includes selecting entries based on the textual input and the position of the cursor. Also, the method includes generating a task list having the selected entries and outputting the task list to a graphical display device.
US08875047B2 Smart docking for windowing systems
A graphical user interface system is provided. The system includes a display and a processor, coupled to the display, configured to display a window, in an initial position. Upon receiving a window docking input by a user indicating a request to dock the window at a predefined docking point, the processor is configured to dock the window at the predefined docking point. The docking of the window at the predefined docking point includes hiding a portion of the window. Upon receiving a window docking input by a user indicating a request to simultaneously dock each of a plurality of windows at a predefined docking point, the processor is configured to dock each of the plurality of windows at a corresponding position on the predefined docking point, including hiding a portion of each of the plurality of windows. Methods and computer-readable mediums are also provided.
US08875046B2 Orthogonal dragging on scroll bars
A computer-implemented user interface method includes displaying content in a first window on a display of a computing device, receiving a dragging user input on an element at a periphery of the window, and in response to receiving the dragging input, generating and displaying a second window on the display of the computing device and displaying the first window simultaneously with the second window.
US08875045B2 Display control device, display control method, and program
A display control device includes a display control unit and an input unit. The display control unit is configured to display, on a display screen, a first selection area displaying a list of a plurality of first data items, a first scroll bar corresponding to the first selection area, a second selection area displaying a list of a plurality of second data items, and a second scroll bar corresponding to the second selection area. The input unit is configured to receive a selection operation for selecting at least one item from the first data items displayed in the list in the first selection area. In conjunction with the selection operation of the first data item, the display control unit changes the second data items displayed in the list in the second selection area and the display mode of the second scroll bar.
US08875040B2 Universal web-based reprogramming method and system
A technique is disclosed for facilitating editing of editable code in an interface device or similar apparatus. Properties of device elements are enumerated by a general purpose engine resident on the interface device. The general purpose engine enumerates the properties in response to a query in a design-time environment. The device element includes a specific property type and editable code consistent with the property type. A server module on the device serves the editable code and an editing environment from the interface device to a configuration station. The code can be edited on the configuration station in the editing environment and restored to the interface device. The technique alleviates the need for separate editing software or storage of the editable code in any location other than on the interface device itself.
US08875037B2 Terminal apparatus and method for performing function thereof
A terminal apparatus and a method of performing a function thereof are disclosed. A list is scrolled in response to a grab-and-drag operation occurring in a scroll direction in a state in which the list is displayed, a particular object is moved in a dropped area in response to a particular object of the list being dragged and dropped in a direction perpendicular to the scroll direction of the list, and an object which is pressed during equal to or more than a predetermined time in a state in which an application is displayed is moved by a drag.
US08875022B2 Method for providing graphical user interface for changing reproducing time point and imaging apparatus therefor
A method for providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for changing a reproducing time point, and an imaging apparatus incorporating the same are provided. The GUI for changing a reproducing time point displays reduction images of specific time points within a time period including a specific time point selected by a pointer, and changes the reproducing time point to the time point represented by the reduction image selected from the displayed reduction images. Accordingly, a user is able to search for a desired time point without going through a plurality of manipulations to change the reproducing time point on the progress bar using the pointer.
US08875021B2 Visual playlist
A device may receive information that identifies a first attribute and a second attribute associated with media files, and the first and second attributes may specify a manner in which the media files are to be represented on a user interface. The device may present, on the user interface and based on the first attribute and the second attribute, a representation of the media files on a grid. A first dimension of the grid may be associated with the first attribute, and a second dimension on the grid may be associated with the second attribute. The device may receive a selection of a portion of the grid corresponding to a set of media files, and may create a playlist, based on receiving the selection, that includes the set of media files.
US08875017B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a control section which, if it is determined that a first object is selected by an operating body, causes a second object, which is obtained by duplicating a part or all of the first object, to be displayed at a predetermined position on a second display surface, and if it is determined that the second object is selected by the operating body, hides the first object displayed at the position indicated by object coordinate information and also updates the object coordinate information with in-second display surface destination coordinate information.
US08875015B2 Thumbnail display method and image forming apparatus
A thumbnail display method is provided, which includes receiving a selection of an XML paper specification (XPS) file, receiving a preview command for the selected XPS file, analyzing a structure of the XPS file, and displaying thumbnail information regarding a plurality of thumbnails contained in the XPS file according to the analyzed structure. Therefore, it is possible for a user to preview various thumbnails contained in an XPS file.
US08875009B1 Analyzing links for NCX navigation
A Navigation Control File for XML (NCX) generation module receives an electronic media item comprising input text. The electronic media item may also comprise links, where each link comprises a source position and a target position. The NCX generation module generates an NCX file for the electronic media item based on the input text and whether the links within the electronic media item satisfy one or more rules.
US08875008B2 Presentation progress as context for presenter and audience
A presentation tool that includes visual progression graphics which represents progress of a presentation. The presentation tool automatically creates and presents the progression graphics for viewing by the presenter and the audience. As the presentation progresses, animation can be applied to the progression graphics to track the progress through the presentation materials. An option is also provided to hide the progression graphics. The progression graphics can also be utilized to navigate across the presentation materials. Thus, the presenter can select portions of the progression graphics as a means to navigation or jump between sections of the materials.
US08875007B2 Creating and modifying an image wiki page
An ImageWiki architecture is used to generate an image-based web page for an image on the Web. An ImageWiki page may be created automatically or individually, by a user of the Web. Additionally, a user may revise existing ImageWiki pages to update a particular page or correct an incorrect or misleading previous entry. The ImageWiki application indexes images located on the Web. Once the images are indexed, the information related to the images is mined and extracted from various sources of web data. Finally, an ImageWiki page or web page is generated for each image. The resulting ImageWiki page contains the image as well as the aggregated information relating to the image.
US08875006B2 Non-volatile memory with extended error correction protection
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses related to NVM devices with extended error correction protection. In some embodiments, a parity cache is used to store parity values of data values stored in a plurality of codewords of an NVM device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08875004B2 Transmitting apparatus and communication system
A transmitting apparatus included in a communication system that performs message communication using an error detection code with a receiving apparatus, the transmitting apparatus includes a transmission interval determining means that, based on a parameter related to a transmission error non-detection probability of a message per time, a data length of the message, and a code length of the error detection code used for the message, determines a transmission interval for transmitting the message, so that the transmission error non-detection probability of the message satisfies a condition related to a transmission error non-detection probability included in the parameter, wherein the message is transmitted to the receiving apparatus, based on the transmission interval determined by the transmission interval determining means.
US08874998B2 Power savings in hierarchically coded modulation
A wireless communication apparatus in a hierarchically coded modulation system can use error control mechanisms generated during decoding of base layer information to predict a probability of successful demodulation of enhancement layer information. Performance in the demodulation of the base layer correlates to performance in the demodulation of the enhancement layer. The receiver can determine whether to attempt demodulation of temporally correlated enhancement layer data based in part on the predicted probability of success. If the receiver determines not to demodulate the enhancement layer, the receiver can power down the enhancement layer demodulator, or otherwise minimize the power expended in the enhancement layer demodulator.
US08874996B2 Memory device having reconfigurable refresh timing
A memory device comprises a normal storage area comprising first and second subsets configured to store first and second normal data, respectively, an error code storage area configured to store first and second error codes corresponding to the first and second normal data, an error detector configured to receive the first and second normal data and the first and second error codes, and further configured to detect the presence or absence of one or more errors in the first and second normal data or the first and second error codes, and a refresh controller configured to set respective refresh cycle times of the first and second subsets to different values according to the presence or absence of one or more errors in the first and second normal data or error codes.
US08874993B2 Memory management in a non-volatile solid state memory device
A non-volatile solid state memory device and method for balancing write/erase cycles among blocks to level block usage. The non-volatile solid state memory device includes a memory unit having data stored therein and a controller with logic for programming the memory unit according to a monitored occurrence of an error during a read operation. The method includes monitoring an occurrence of an error during a read operation in a memory unit of the device and programming the memory unit according to the monitored occurrence of the error.
US08874989B2 Memory system capable of increasing data transfer efficiency
According to one embodiment, a host controller includes a command generator and detector. The command generator generates a command having a retransmission flag in an argument, and transmits the generated command to a memory device. The detector detects timeout if a response from the memory device cannot be recognized within a defined time. When transmitting an initial command, the host controller clears the retransmission flag and transmits the command. If the detector detects timeout, the host controller sets the retransmission flag, and retransmits the same command as the initial command to the device. If a normal response corresponding to the initial command or retransmitted command is received, the host controller recognizes that the command is correctly executed.
US08874987B2 Optimum signal constellation design for high-speed optical transmission
Systems and methods for data transport, comprising encoding one or more streams of input data with one or more low density parity check (LDPC) encoders, corresponding to one or more polarization/spatial mode branches. One or more encoded data streams are mapped to symbols, wherein the mapper is configured to assign bits of the symbols to a signal constellation and to associate the bits of the symbols with signal constellation points. A signal constellation is formulated which minimizes a mean-square error of the signal constellation representing the source. The optimum signal constellation size is adjusted to improve transmission quality by adjusting the signal constellation an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR), wherein the signal constellation is selected using a look-up table (LUT); and the symbols are modulated in accordance with the output of the mapper onto a transmission medium.
US08874985B2 Communication system, transmission device, reception device, program, and processor
A coding scheme selection unit outputs bits of a signal in a past reception to a second coding unit and outputs bits of a retransmission signal to a third coding unit. The second coding unit decodes bits. The third coding unit codes bits with a different constraint length from a constraint length in the second coding unit.
US08874975B2 Tracing of a data processing apparatus
A trace unit, diagnostic apparatus and data processing apparatus are provided for tracing of conditional instructions. The data processing apparatus generates instruction observed indicators indicating execution of conditional instructions and result output indicators indicating output by the data processing apparatus of results of executing respective conditional instructions. The instruction observed indicators and result output indicators are received by a trace unit that is configured to output conditional instruction trace data items and independently output conditional result trace data items enabling separate trace analysis of conditional instructions and corresponding conditional results by a diagnostic apparatus. The instruction observed indicator is received at the trace unit in a first processing cycle of the data processing apparatus while result output indicator is received at in a second different processing cycle.
US08874974B2 Synchronizing a distributed communication system using diagnostic heartbeating
A first component, executing using a processor and a memory in a first data processing system, receives a diagnostic heartbeat packet from a second component executing in a second data processing system, wherein the diagnostic heartbeat packet is a packet comprising a header, a set of heartbeat parameters, and a set of diagnostic attributes. The first component determines, using a value of a diagnostic attribute in the diagnostic heartbeat packet, that a first communication link between the first and the second data processing systems is usable but includes a soft network error, wherein a soft network error condition is a network error condition that adversely affects transmission of packets having certain properties in the data communication network. The first component re-routes a synchronization message from the first component to the second component using a second communication link between the first and the second data processing systems.
US08874972B2 Storage system and method for determining anomaly-occurring portion
In a storage system, when a recovered error occurred upon access to a storage apparatus, a data redundancy determination unit determines whether data to be accessed has redundancy. When the data is determined to have no redundancy, an anomaly-occurring portion determination unit determines that the storage apparatus is not an anomaly-occurring portion and at the same time, an error history determination unit determines whether a recovered error occurred at the time of the past access to the storage apparatus other than that of the access destination. The anomaly-occurring portion determination unit determines whether a common transmission path is the anomaly-occurring portion based on the determination result of the error history determination unit.
US08874971B1 Detecting and reporting problems in a distributed resource computing system
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided. Methods for identifying problems in a distributed computing system may include receiving a user-selected identifier that corresponds to a nonfunctionality in an application. Problem requests including content corresponding to the user-selected identifier are sent to services that provide functionality to the application. The services may optionally respond to the problem requests with problem response data. The problem response data is stored in a data storage allocation that is associated with the user-selected identifier. The problem response data may be retrieved from the data storage allocation.
US08874969B2 Independent hit testing
In one or more embodiments, a hit test thread which is separate from the main thread, e.g. the user interface thread, is utilized for hit testing on web content. Using a separate thread for hit testing can allow targets to be quickly ascertained. In cases where the appropriate response is handled by a separate thread, such as a manipulation thread that can be used for touch manipulations such as panning and pinch zooming, manipulation can occur without blocking on the main thread. This results in the response time that is consistently quick even on low-end hardware over a variety of scenarios.
US08874962B2 Diagnostic handling server using dissatisfying item data
A diagnostic handling server is capable of supporting users without operator support, in which the proper handling of a problem, which users know through experience, can be reflected in the support. Preliminarily, data (e.g., dissatisfying item data) on the item with which a user feels dissatisfied and diagnostic data on the diagnoses of the electric appliances are collected from the electric appliances to be supported. The feature points of the respective electric appliances with which the user feels dissatisfied are then extracted from the collected diagnostic data. When the user feels dissatisfied with a specific electric appliance, the diagnostic data of the electric appliance is transmitted together with a search request for the proper handling, the transmitted diagnostic data is compared with the preliminarily extracted feature point, and information on the cause and the proper handling is provided to the user.
US08874961B2 Method and system for automatic failover of distributed query processing using distributed shared memory
A method and system for implementing automatic recovery from failure of resources in a grid-based distributed database is provided. The method includes determining the category of each node in the subgroup of nodes, where the determination identifies each node as at least one of a worker node and an idle node. The method further includes saving state of each worker node engaged in execution of a task in a shared memory at pre-determined time intervals. Each worker node is monitored by one or more idle nodes in each sub-group. Upon detection of no change in state of worker node for a pre-determined period of time, a failure notification is raised by one or more idle nodes that have detected failure of the worker node.
US08874955B2 Reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric via switch cards
Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards and one or more switch cards. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards may be coupled with the midplane, where each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane. The one or more switch cards may also be coupled with the midplane, where each switch card is also hot-swappable from the midplane. Each switch card includes one or more switch modules, and each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one server card.
US08874954B1 Compatibility of high availability clusters supporting application failover with shared storage in a virtualization environment without sacrificing on virtualization features
Compatibility is provided between a high availability clustering system and a virtualization environment. A hardware level hypervisor runs on each host, and VM(s) run on each hypervisor. A shared virtual storage manager runs on each VM, and facilitates sharing virtual storage between VMs. Sharing virtual storage can be performed in the context of a failed application or VM. A shared virtual storage manager VM detects that the application is being failed over from the source VM to the target VM, detaches the virtual storage from the source VM, and attaches it to the target VM. The shared virtual storage manager can also enable sharing of the virtual storage when a monitored application is failed over in response to the failure of a hypervisor. Virtual storage can additionally act as an arbitrator to resolve an occurrence of split brain, when VMs become disconnected.
US08874952B2 Computer system and availability method thereof
High availability computer system and fault correction method. If a fault occurs in the current-system physical device allocated to the current-system virtual device of the virtual server, the virtualization mechanism of the physical server configures, for the standby-system virtual device of the virtual server, the standby-system physical device, as a physical device which is used at a high priority, and the virtualization mechanism distributes the request issued from the standby-system virtual device of another virtual server to a standby-system physical device, but, when such a standby-system physical device does not exist, the virtualization mechanism distributes the request to a standby-system physical device configured for high priority usage.
US08874951B1 Private peer-to-peer network platform for secure collaborative production and management of digital assets
Asset management systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment, a system includes a computing resource associated with a project member. A project container is stored on the computing resource, wherein the project container comprises encrypted objects related to a project. The encrypted objects includes project metadata and one or more working objects associated with one or more sub-projects of which the project member is granted permissioned access. An encryption/decryption engine is included for encrypting and decrypting the encrypted objects. The system includes an archive file system for storing the encrypted objects and previous versions of the objects, and a façade file system for viewing and accessing and interacting with the one or more working objects. Other computing resources associated with other project members are similarly configured, wherein a plurality of project containers store distributed objects that are grouped within the project. An authentication server provides authenticated access to each of the plurality of project containers, and authenticated peer-to-peer communication between the plurality of project containers.
US08874947B2 Method and apparatus of power management of processor
A processing platform and a method of controlling power consumption of a central processing unit of the processing platform are presented. By operating the method the processing platform is able to set an upper performance state limit and a lower performance state limit. The upper performance state limit is based on a central processing unit activity rate value and the lower performance state limit is based on a minimum require of the operating system to perform operating system tasks. The performance state values are varying within a range of the lower and upper limits according to a power management policy.
US08874943B2 Energy efficient heterogeneous systems
Low-power systems and methods are disclosed for executing an application software on a general purpose processor and a plurality of accelerators with a runtime controller. The runtime controller splits a workload across the processor and the accelerators to minimize energy. The system includes building one or more performance models in an application-agnostic manner; and monitoring system performance in real-time and adjusting the workload splitting to minimize energy while conforming to a target quality of service (QoS).
US08874933B2 Instruction set for SHA1 round processing on 128-bit data paths
According to one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder to receive a first instruction to process a SHA1 hash algorithm, the first instruction having a first operand, a second operand, and a third operand, the first operand specifying a first storage location storing four SHA states, the second operand specifying a second storage location storing a plurality of SHA1 message inputs in combination with a fifth SHA1 state. The processor further includes an execution unit coupled to the instruction decoder, in response to the first instruction, to perform at least four rounds of the SHA1 round operations on the SHA1 states and the message inputs obtained from the first and second operands, using a combinational logic function specified in the third operand.
US08874932B2 Method for order invariant correlated encrypting of data and SQL queries for maintaining data privacy and securely resolving customer defects
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for debugging a computer system is provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method includes encrypting data and query program instructions using correlated order invariant encrypting, the data and query program instructions operating in a customer computer system. The encrypted data and encrypted query program instructions are then transferred to a servicing entity having a test system. The encrypted data and encrypted query program instructions are run on the test system to generate a set of results. The set of results are then used to generate a diagnosis of a problem with the customer computer system. Thus the customer problem can be resolved without the servicing entity having access to the customer's data and query program instructions.
US08874931B2 System and method for securing a user interface
The invention relates to a method for securing a user interface that comprises a user interface including one or more peripheral hardware devices of the user interface for interaction with said interface, said peripheral hardware devices being driven by driver software, and one or more applications using the user interface. The invention also relates to a method for securing such an interface. The system of the invention is characterised in that the same further comprises a hypervisor and one or more virtual machines, the drivers of the peripheral hardware devices of the user interface being divided into two portions, i.e. a main portion of said drivers under the control of the hypervisor and a front-end portion of said drivers under the control of the virtual machines, wherein the front-end portion of the securing software component is in charge of managing the front-end portion of the drivers and the main portion of the securing software component is in charge of managing the main portion of the drivers. The invention can particularly be used in onboard systems.
US08874917B2 Storage system in which fictitious information is prevented
According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a host device and a secure storage. The host device and the secure storage produce a bus key which is shared only by the host device and the secure storage by authentication processing, and which is used for encoding processing. The host device produces a message authentication code including a message which can be stored in the secure storage based on the bus key, and sends the produced message authentication code to the secure storage. The secure storage stores the message included in the message authentication code in accordance with instructions of the host device. The host device verifies whether the message stored in the secure storage is intended contents.
US08874913B1 Secure communications between devices using a trusted server
A method of establishing secure communication between a first mobile computing device and a second mobile computing device includes receiving a first request from the first mobile computing device to securely communicate with the second mobile computing device via a Wi Fi hot spot, verifying that the first mobile computing device is trusted, generating a public key and a private key based on a trusted certificate, sending the private key to the first mobile computing device via the Wi-Fi hot spot, receiving a second request from the second mobile computing device to securely communicate with the first mobile computing device, verifying that the second mobile computing device is trusted, and sending the public key to the second mobile computing device.
US08874911B2 Terminal device, system, connection management server, and computer readable medium
A second terminal device is used in a system including a connection management server, a first terminal device, and the second terminal device. The second terminal device includes: a local address obtaining unit configured to obtain a first local IP address and first authentication information of the first terminal device from the connection management server, if a first global IP address matches a second global IP address; a determination unit configured to determine, by using of the obtained first authentication information, whether a first particular terminal device with which the second terminal device can communicate by use of the first local IP address is the first terminal device; and a target data communication unit configured to communicate first data with the first terminal device by using the first local IP address, if the first particular terminal device is determined to be the first terminal device.
US08874909B2 System and method of storing data
There is a system and method for storing data of others using a processor and a memory device. The system includes an account module configured to manage a plurality of accounts, each account associated with an entity. The system includes an avatar module configured to permit entities to generate avatars for their accounts, wherein an avatar associates data with an account that is not required to be consistent with the account and not required to be consistent with data in other avatars of that same account. The system includes a transaction module configured to facilitate a plurality of transactions using trusted entity data. The system includes an encryption module configured to encrypt, using a processor, the transaction data with a plurality of paired half-keys.
US08874907B1 Controlling access to an NFS share
Providing authentication of users accessing an NFS shared file system. A shared secret is used as a component of the mount point used to access the NFS share. Upon receiving a request to access to the data in the NFS share, the process creates at least one cryptographic value and then creates a path to the mount point which incorporates the cryptographic value. The process then creates the mount point at the path, e.g., /PATH:k1, where k1 is the cryptographic value. Creation of the mount point is preferably performed using NFS protocol semantics, without requiring any changes to the NFS protocol semantics. A second cryptographic value, k2, may be used for unmounting the mount point.
US08874906B2 Launching a secure kernel in a multiprocessor system
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes verifying a master processor of a system; validating a trusted agent with the master processor if the master processor is verified; and launching the trusted agent on a plurality of processors of the system if the trusted agent is validated. After execution of such a trusted agent, a secure kernel may then be launched, in certain embodiments. The system may be a multiprocessor server system having a partially or fully connected topology with arbitrary point-to-point interconnects, for example.
US08874905B2 Resource restriction systems and methods
Resource restrictions are associated with a user identifier. A resource restriction agent receives operating system calls related for resources and provides resource request data to a resource agent. The resource agent determines whether the resource is restricted based on the resource request data and resource restriction data and generates access data based on the determination. The resource restriction agent grants or denies the system call based on the access data.
US08874904B1 View computation and transmission for a set of keys refreshed over multiple epochs in a cryptographic device
A first cryptographic device is configured to store a set of keys that is refreshed in each of a plurality of epochs. The first cryptographic device computes for each of at least a subset of the epochs at least one view based on at least a portion of the set of keys for that epoch, and transmits the views to a second cryptographic device in association with their respective epochs. At least one view computed for a current one of the epochs is configured for utilization in combination with one or more previous views computed for one or more previous ones of the epochs to permit the second cryptographic device to confirm authenticity of the set of keys for the current epoch. The first cryptographic device may include an authentication token and the second cryptographic device may include an authentication server.
US08874899B1 Premium services authentication
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for a processing an application-authentication request originating from a mobile device. In particular, an application-authentication request comprises user information that is analyzed by an authentication server. The authentication server generates a call to a subscription profile server to validate the user information as belonging to a user profile that is in good standing. In response to determining that the application-authentication request is valid, the authentication server generates an authentication cookie that is provided to the mobile device. Accordingly, the authentication cookie is used by the mobile device to access applications, such as premium services.
US08874893B2 Effect translation and assessment among microarchitecture components
Awareness of the relationships among the operating parameters for an individual core and among cores allows dynamic and intelligent management of the multi-core system. The relationships among operating parameters and cores, which can be somewhat opaque, are established with design-time simulations, and adapted with run time data collected from operation of the multi-core system. The relationships are expressed with functions that translate between operating parameters, between different cores, and between operating parameters of different cores. These functions are embodied in circuitry built into the multi-core system. The circuitry will be referred to hereinafter as a translator unit. The translator unit traverses the complex relational dependencies among multiple operating parameters and multiple cores, and determines an outcome with respect to one or more constraints corresponding to those operating parameters and cores.
US08874892B1 Assessing BIOS information prior to reversion
Approaches for assessing information used in reverting to a prior BIOS version. A BIOS analyzes a file to determine whether the file may be used to revert the BIOS to a prior version of the BIOS. The file may contain a map of CMOS information.
US08874887B2 Fast booting computer apparatuses and methods thereof
A fast booting computer apparatus includes one or more processors and a memory comprising a hard disk drive and a solid state drive coupled to the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute programmed instructions stored in the memory. The solid state drive is configured to store and provide the programmed instructions for an operating system for execution by the one or more processors when requested.
US08874882B1 Compiler-directed sign/zero extension of a first bit size result to overwrite incorrect data before subsequent processing involving the result within an architecture supporting larger second bit size values
Apparatus and methods to add an extended first bit size data item of a first source operand specified by an instruction to a second source operand specified by the instruction. The first source operand and the second source operand are a second bit size, the second bit size being greater than the first bit size. The result of adding the extended data item of the first source operand to the second source operand can be stored.
US08874881B2 Processors operable to allow flexible instruction alignment
Methods and apparatus are provided for optimizing a processor core. Common processor subcircuitry is used to perform calculations for various types of instructions, including branch and non-branch instructions. Increasing the commonality of calculations across different instruction types allows branch instructions to jump to byte aligned memory address even if supported instructions are multi-byte or word aligned.
US08874873B2 Resources allocation in a computer storage system
The presently disclosed subject matter includes a method, system and apparatus, for dynamically controlling resource allocation in a storage system, the storage system comprises at least one storage device and at least one processing unit, the resources being associated with the processing unit. Responsive to a request from a connection for processing data, information in respect of an Allocation state of the processing unit is obtained. The Allocation state is defined as a Limiting Allocation state if the quantity of free resources associated with the processing unit, is lower than a first threshold value. In case the Allocation state of the processing unit is Limiting Allocation state, information in respect of a Connection state of the connection is obtained. The required memory resources are dynamically allocated to the connection according to the current Allocation state of the processing unit and the current Connection state of the connection.
US08874872B2 Garbage collection management in memories
The disclosure is related to systems and methods of managing a memory. In a particular embodiment, a memory channel is disclosed that includes multiple memory units, with each memory unit comprising multiple garbage collection units. The memory channel also includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the multiple memory units. The controller selects a memory unit of the multiple memory units for garbage collection based on a calculated number of memory units, of the multiple memory units, to garbage collect.
US08874864B2 Maintaining snapshot and active file system metadata in an on disk structure of a file system
An on-disk structure of a file system has the capability to maintain snapshot and file system metadata on a storage system. The on-disk structure arranges file system data sequentially on disk within regions, wherein each region comprises a predetermined amount of disk space represented by blocks. The snapshot and file system metadata is maintained within level 1 (L1) indirect blocks of the on-disk structure. Each L1 indirect block describes (i.e., represents) a corresponding region of the on-disk structure of the file system; in the case of an active region, e.g., an L1 indirect block represents an active file data portion of a large file. The L1 indirect block that references an active region also performs file block number-to-disk block number mapping for the region.
US08874861B2 System and method of copying electronic document and change history information
A computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes receiving from a user a request for performing a process for copying information; executing the process for copying information in accordance with the received request; and performing control to determine whether or not copied information and a change history of original information from which the copied information is produced are to be stored in a memory in association with each other, when the process for copying information is executed, in accordance with whether or not a relationship between information relating to a user associated with the original information and information relating to a user who has made the request for performing the process for copying information satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08874860B2 Logical buffer pool extension
A method for logical buffer pool extension identifies a page in a memory for eviction, and analyzes characteristics of the page to form a differentiated page. The characteristics of the page include descriptors that include a workload type, a page weight, a page type, frequency of access and timing of most recent access. The method also identifies a target location for the differentiated page from a set of locations including a fastcache storage and a hard disk storage to form an identified target location. The method further selects an eviction operation from a set of eviction operations using the characteristics of the differentiated page and the identified target location. The differentiated page is written to the identified target location using the selected eviction operation, where the differentiated page is written only to the fastcache storage.
US08874859B2 Guest file system introspection and defragmentable virtual disk format for space efficiency
A virtualized computer system employs a virtual disk with a space efficient (SE) format to store data for virtual machines running therein. The SE format allows for defragmentation at a fine-grained level, where unused, stale, and zero blocks are moved to the end of the virtual disk so that the virtual disk may be truncated and space reclaimed by the underlying storage system as part of a special defragmentation process.
US08874856B2 Apparatus and method for detecting false sharing
A false sharing detecting apparatus for analyzing a multi-thread application, the false sharing detecting apparatus includes an operation set detecting unit configured to detect an operation set having a chance of causing performance degradation due to false sharing, and a probability calculation unit configured to calculate a first probability defined as a probability that the detected operation set is to be executed according to an execution pattern causing performance degradation due to false sharing, and calculate a second probability based on the calculated first probability. The second probability is defined as a probability that performance degradation due to false sharing occurs with respect to an operation included in the detected operation set.
US08874852B2 Data cache block deallocate requests in a multi-level cache hierarchy
In response to executing a deallocate instruction, a deallocation request specifying a target address of a target cache line is sent from a processor core to a lower level cache. In response, a determination is made if the target address hits in the lower level cache. If so, the target cache line is retained in a data array of the lower level cache, and a replacement order field of the lower level cache is updated such that the target cache line is more likely to be evicted in response to a subsequent cache miss in a congruence class including the target cache line. In response to the subsequent cache miss, the target cache line is cast out to the lower level cache with an indication that the target cache line was a target of a previous deallocation request of the processor core.
US08874850B1 Hierarchically tagged cache
A hierarchically tagged cache provides abstraction between access requests for data and the cached data. The cache is managed by hierarchical layers of indexes including reference to the data. Access requests indicate a header for the requested data, which is associated with one of the layers. Cache management determines what layer is associated with the header, and can traverse the indexes, beginning at the layer associated with the header, to access the data. If the header does not exist at the index of that layer, it can be created. Indexes can be appropriately updated with indexes at each layer being referenced by one or more indexes of the layer higher up in the hierarchy.
US08874842B1 Set-associative hash table organization for efficient storage and retrieval of data in a storage system
In one embodiment, use of hashing in a file system metadata arrangement reduces an amount of metadata stored in a memory of a node in a cluster and reduces the amount of metadata needed to process an input/output (I/O) request at the node. Illustratively, cuckoo hashing may be modified and applied to construct the file system metadata arrangement. The file system metadata arrangement may be illustratively configured as a key-value extent store embodied as a data structure, e.g., a cuckoo hash table, wherein a value, such as a hash table index, may be configured as an index and applied to the cuckoo hash table to obtain a key, such as an extent key, configured to reference a location of an extent on one or more storage devices, such as solid state drives.
US08874841B2 Method and system for distributing snapshots across arrays of an array cluster
Embodiments of the present invention include array-cluster systems, and methods employed in array-cluster systems, that allow snapshot data to be distributed over multiple arrays within an array cluster. By distributing snapshot data over multiple arrays within an array cluster, the load, generally related to the number of access operations directed to the arrays within an array cluster, may be more evenly distributed among the arrays of an array cluster, preventing increased latencies associated with overloading individual arrays Distributed snapshots may also facilitate high availability and fault tolerance within an array cluster.
US08874832B2 AD HOC flash memory reference cells
A method for managing a flash memory that includes a plurality of primary cells and a plurality of spare cells includes interrogating the flash memory to determine which spare cells have been used to replace respective primary cells and using at least a portion of a remainder of the spare cells as reference cells.
US08874827B2 Page merging for buffer efficiency in hybrid memory systems
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing memory in a hybrid memory system is provided, wherein the hybrid memory system has a first memory and a second memory, wherein the first memory is smaller than the second memory and the first and second memories are of different types, the method comprising: identifying two or more pages in the first memory that are compatible with each other based at least in part on a prediction of when individual blocks within each of the two or more pages will be accessed; merging the two or more compatible pages, producing a merged page; and storing the merged page in the first memory.
US08874826B2 Programming method and device for a buffer cache in a solid-state disk system
Provided are a method and apparatus for programming a buffer cache in a Solid State Disk (SSD) system. The buffer cache programming apparatus in the SSD system may include a buffer cache unit to store pages, a memory unit including a plurality of memory chips, and a control unit to select at least one of the page as a victim page, based on a delay occurring when a page is stored in at least one target memory chip among the plurality of memory chips.
US08874824B2 Apparatus and method to share host system RAM with mass storage memory RAM
A method includes, in one non-limiting embodiment, sending a request from a mass memory storage device to a host device, the request being one to allocate memory in the host device; writing data from the mass memory storage device to allocated memory of the host device; and subsequently reading the data from the allocated memory to the mass memory storage device. The memory may be embodied as flash memory, and the data may be related to a file system stored in the flash memory. The method enables the mass memory storage device to extend its internal volatile RAM to include RAM of the host device, enabling the internal RAM to be powered off while preserving data and context stored in the internal RAM.
US08874820B2 Mechanism for facilitating a configurable port-type peripheral component interconnect express/serial advanced technology attachment host controller architecture
A mechanism for facilitating configuration of port-type Peripheral Component Interconnect Express/Serial Advanced Technology Attachment host controller architecture is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of PHYs to be used as Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) ports and Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) ports, and logic to facilitate swapping of one or more of the plurality of PHYs between being the PCIe ports and the SATA ports.
US08874819B2 USB connection cable
The present invention relates to an improved USB connection cable, comprising: a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector and a third electrical connector, wherein the first electrical connector is used for connecting to a host computer, the second electrical connector is adopted for connecting to a first electronic device, and the third electrical connector is adopted for connecting to a second electronic device; Moreover, by way of electrically connecting the internal pins of the first USB electrical connector to the internal pins of the second USB electrical connector and the third USB electrical connector, the first USB electrical connector is able to transmit data to the second USB electrical connector and the third USB electrical connector, respectively; such that the improved USB connection cable can not be a media for data transfer used between the electronic device having an USB 3.0 electrical connector and the host computer with an USB 3.0 electrical connector, but also be the media for data transfer used between the electronic device having an USB 2.0 electrical connector and the host computer with an USB 3.0 electrical connector.
US08874812B1 Method and apparatus for remote input/output in a computer system
A method for communicating media between a host and a display system. In one embodiment the method comprises acquiring, by the host and via a wireless connection between the host and the display system, display information of the display system; generating, by the host, an image sequence at a resolution and a frame rate, the resolution and the frame rate determined from the display information; communicating, from the host to the display system and via the wireless connection, an encoding of the image sequence; and displaying, by the display system, a decoding of the encoding.
US08874810B2 System and method for read data buffering wherein analyzing policy determines whether to decrement or increment the count of internal or external buffers
Efficient and convenient storage systems and methods are presented. In one embodiment a storage system includes a plurality of storage nodes and a master controller. The storage nodes store information. The storage node includes an upstream communication buffer which is locally controlled at the storage node to facilitate resolution of conflicts in upstream communications. The master controller controlls the flow of traffic to the node based upon constraints of the upstream communication buffer. In one embodiment, communication between the master controller and the node has a determined maximum latency. The storage node can be coupled to the master controller in accordance with a chain memory configuration.
US08874808B2 Hierarchical buffer system enabling precise data delivery through an asynchronous boundary
The present invention provides a system and method for controlling data entries in a hierarchical buffer system. The system includes an integrated circuit device with a memory core, a high speed upstream data bus, and a plurality of 1st tier buffers that receive data from the memory. The system further includes a 2nd tier transfer buffer spanning a plurality of asynchronous timing domains that delivers the data onto the upstream data bus to minimize gaps in a data transfer. The method includes managing the buffers to allow data to flow from a plurality of 1st tier buffers through a 2nd tier transfer buffer, and delivering the data onto a high speed data bus with pre-determined timing in a manner which minimizes latency to the extent that the returning read data beats are always transmitted contiguously with no intervening gaps.
US08874802B2 System and method for reducing communication overhead between network interface controllers and virtual machines
Available buffers in the memory space of a guest operating system of a virtual machine are provided to a network interface controller (NIC) for use during direct memory access (DMA) and the guest operating system is notified accordingly when data is written into such available buffers. These capabilities obviate the requirement of using hypervisor memory as a staging area to determine which virtual machine to forward incoming data.
US08874801B1 On chip performance tracking for a system on a chip
An integrated circuit includes a bus (905), processor coupled to the bus (910), a peripheral coupled to the bus (930), and a performance tracking module (215) configured to detect bus events and non-bus related events. The performance tracking module is configured to determine a bus performance metric from the bus events and a non-bus performance metric from the non-bus related events.
US08874797B2 Network interface for use in parallel computing systems
A network device comprises a controller that manages data flow through a network interconnecting a plurality of processors. The processors of the processor plurality comprise a local memory divided into a private local memory and a public local memory, a local cache, and working registers. The network device further comprises a plurality of cache mirror registers coupled to the controller that receive data to be forwarded to the processor plurality. The controller is responsive to a request to receive data by transferring requested data directly to public memory without interrupting the processor, and by transferring requested data via at least one cache mirror register for a transfer to processor local cache, and to processor working registers.
US08874781B2 System and apparatus for power efficient delivery of social network updates to a receiver device in a broadcast network
Systems and methods for delivering social network updates from popular entities to receiver devices via broadcast or multicast networks obtain updates from highly popular entities. Updates may be assembled by a server crawling social network sites. To enable selective reception, the obtained updates may be broadcast/multicast according to a schedule that is communicated to receiver devices in advance, such as a catalog file. Receiver devices receive the catalog file and use the included information to selectively receive updates that are relevant to a user of the receiver device. Updates received from broadcasts or multicasts are cached in memory of the receiver device. When a user requests to access a particular social network entity on the receiver device, that request may be satisfied by accessing social network updates cached on the receiver device. Broadcasting and/or multicasting highly popular social network updates may relieve burdens on unicast networks.
US08874778B2 Live streaming media delivery for mobile audiences
A live streaming system/method provides cross platform live streaming capabilities to mobile devices. The live streaming system includes a live streaming recorder operative to (1) capture a live media stream generated by a live media source and save the captured live media stream as a recorded stream in a recorded media file, and (2) transcode the recorded stream into a plurality of transcoded media files of respective different media encoding formats. The system further includes a stream distribution subsystem operative to generate a plurality of distributed media streams each generated from one or more of the transcoded media files, each distributed media stream being delivered to a corresponding set of the mobile endpoint devices.
US08874777B2 Method and system for efficient streaming video dynamic rate adaptation
A streaming media system employs dynamic rate adaptation. The method includes a file format compatible with legacy HTTP infrastructure to deliver media over a persistent connection. The method further includes the ability for legacy client media players to dynamically change the encoded delivery rate of the media over a persistent connection. The method provided works transparently with standard HTTP servers, requiring no modification and leverages standard media players embedded in mobile devices for seamless media delivery over wireless networks with high bandwidth fluctuations. A system is also specified for implementing a client and server in accordance with the method.
US08874776B2 Virtual ad hoc network testbeds for network-aware applications
A virtual ad hoc network testbed provides the capability to instrument a testbed in order to support the execution of network-aware applications “as is.” Network aware applications are a special class of applications that interact with a network not only by using the network for communication purposes, but also configure or read the status of network devices. Local stack management provides the means to automatically construct standard APIs for accessing the information residing in a simulated or emulated network, and instantiate these APIs. The testbed is designed to bridge a standard management module (such as SNMP) and a simulation or emulation model, starting from a MIB module. The testbed uses CORBA as a communication means. The process is divided into two parts, agent side and model side.
US08874770B2 Systems and methods for access-controlled interactions
An interaction server controls access between a plurality of senders and/or users exchanging electronic interactions. A sender may identify a user with whom the sender desires to interact using a public identifier associated with the user. The interaction server may coordinate the desired interaction without revealing private information, such as information about private user resources (e.g., personal contact information, personal payment information, personal data, etc.). The interaction server may determine whether to provide an interaction by evaluating an access code, by determining whether a user is trusted, and/or the like. The interaction server may provide the interaction, a notice of the interaction, a payload associated with the interaction, and/or the like to a user resource associated with the public identifier if access is allowed.
US08874767B2 Enqueuing received network packets based, at least in part, on at least one programmable mask
In an embodiment, a method is provided. The method of this embodiment provides in response to receiving a packet, looking up a packet characteristic in one of at least one protocol table to determine one or more fields of the packet to use as a hash value, applying a hash function to the hash value to obtain a hash result, and using the hash result to determine one of a plurality of processors on which to process the packet.
US08874761B2 Signaling optimization in a wireless network for traffic utilizing proprietary and non-proprietary protocols
An architecture for optimizing signaling for arbitrary proprietary and non-proprietary protocols. In one embodiment, a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) stream is passed as a byte stream from an application to a local proxy over a first session, from the local proxy to a proxy server over a second TCP session, and from the proxy server to a content server over a third TCP session. The local proxy observes and identifies patterns within the byte stream, without being aware of the underlying protocol. Once a pattern is identified, the second TCP session is torn down such that the first TCP session replays the pattern to the application, and third TCP session replays the pattern to the content server. Once either side detects a change in the pattern, the second TCP session is re-established to deliver the changed content to the other end.
US08874758B2 Interworking functional entity and protocol mapping method thereof
The present invention provides an interworking functional entity and a protocol mapping method of the interworking functional entity. The interworking functional entity includes: a first receiving module, configured to receive an Rp reference point protocol message from a top-tier transport resource control functional entity; a first protocol converting module, configured to convert the Rp reference point protocol message into an access node control protocol (ANCP) message; and a first sending module, configured to send the ANCP message obtained by conversion to a co-located transport resource control functional entity arranged in an access node. The technical solution provided by the present invention can solve the problem of interaction among a plurality of transport control functional entities under the case that the plurality of transport control functional entities are cooperatively responsible for the user resource management.
US08874756B2 Information processing unit, information processing method, client device and information processing system
An information processing unit includes an application data receiving buffer to temporarily store data transmitted from a client device for initiating a connection, an application data receiving section to acquire the data transmitted from the client device from the application data receiving buffer and transmit the data to an upper layer application, and a flow control reception management section to transfer the data transmitted from the client device to the application data receiving buffer and monitor a free space in the application data receiving buffer and supply a data size receivable by the application data receiving buffer to the client device.
US08874754B2 Load balancing in handwritten signature authentication systems
Described systems and methods allow a biometric authentication system to process authentication requests, such as requests to authenticate handwritten signatures, received from a plurality of client systems, each covered by a service level agreement (SLA). The biometric authentication system includes a load balancer configured to distribute authentication tasks to a plurality of worker machines. In some embodiments, task distribution is performed according to an ability of each worker to process urgent tasks, to an ability of each worker to process non-urgent tasks, and further according to a relationship between a count of urgent requests and a count of non-urgent requests received by the biometric authentication system.
US08874748B2 Method and system for combining and/or blending multiple content from different sources in a broadband gateway
A method and system are provided in which a broadband gateway may receive different content from different sources, may combine the content to produce a combined content, and may communicate the combined content to a device connected to the broadband gateway. The content may be automatically and/or manually synchronized. The synchronization may be based on a clock signal received from the device, a clock signal from another device connected to the broadband gateway, and/or a clock signal received through one or more network access service providers. The content may be video image data and/or audio data. Moreover, user-generated content may be received and combined by the broadband gateway when in a peer-to-peer communication configuration with the source of the content. When more than two different content are received, the broadband gateway may be utilized to select which contents to combine.
US08874745B2 Method and system for providing services
Methods and systems for providing services and/or computing resources are provided. A method may include receiving an application from an application provider. The method may further include receiving data from a data provider. The method may also include receiving a first request from the data provider to execute the application and apply the data as input to the application. Additionally, the method may include executing the application in response to receiving the first request. The method may also include storing output data resulting from execution of the application. The method may further include receiving a second request from the data provider to transmit the output data to the data provider. The method may additionally include communicating the output data to the data provider in response to the second request.
US08874743B1 Systems and methods for implementing dynamic subscriber interfaces
Dynamic subscriber interfaces in a network device are provided. An input port receives data units from multiple subscribers. A primary interface extracts source identifiers from headers associated with the received data units and creates dynamic subscriber interfaces to allocate network device resources to each of the multiple subscribers based on the extracted source identifiers.
US08874742B2 System and method for supporting virtual machine migration in a middleware machine environment
A system and method can support virtual machine migration in a middleware machine environment. The middleware machine environment can comprise one or more network switch instances with one or more external ports, each of which is adapted to receive data packets from an external network. Furthermore, the middleware machine environment can comprise a plurality of virtual interfaces on one or more host servers. Each host server is associated with one or more virtual machines that can process the one or more data packets. A virtual machine on a first host server is allowed to migrate from the first host server to a second host server and operates to receive one or more packets via a virtual interface on the second host server and process the one or more data packets.
US08874741B2 Secured remote management of a home network
A home router and remote service provider configured to establish a network tunnel and utilize the network tunnel to remotely manage the home router are disclosed herein. The home router and remote service provider may also utilize the network tunnel to remotely manage at least one other device that is locally connected or coupled to the home router.
US08874738B2 Gateway apparatus, communication apparatus, apparatus co-operation network system, and apparatus co-operation method
A gateway apparatus for allowing a plurality of apparatuses on a first network to co-operate with each other includes: a message monitoring unit which monitors messages communicated on the first network, and detects an apparatus discovery message for discovering an apparatus that satisfies an arbitrary requirement; an activation state managing unit which checks whether at least one target apparatus among the apparatuses that satisfies the requirement indicated by the apparatus discovery message is in an activated state for communication on the first network; a predicted activation time determining unit which determines a predicted activation time predicted as required to activate the at least one target apparatus; and a proxy response unit which transmits, in proxy of the at least one target apparatus, a response message including information indicating the predicted activation time when the at least one target apparatus is not in an activated state.
US08874737B2 OFSense: light-weight networking sensing with OpenFlow
A method for determining the state of an entire network, including state of applications and infrastructure includes receiving network control messages in an OpenFlow network, passing normal network control messages through OFSense, a control plane middleware, and constructing from the network control messages an application level connectivity graph to infer network delay between any two communicating server in the network and estimating an application response time of a given server in the network; and providing state of the network for enabling intelligent detection and diagnosis of infrastructure and application performance.
US08874729B2 Policy as a network service in a mobile core network
Aspects describe using a network element to facilitate scalability within a communication network and to provide policy as a network service in a mobile core network. The network element can be scalable and can be a primary policy access gateway for a first geographic region and can be a secondary policy access gateway for at least a second geographic region. The first geographic region and the second geographic region can have portions that overlap. Further, the network element can hide topology of the home network from roaming partners.
US08874727B2 Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to rank users in an online social network
Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to rank users in an online social network are described. An example method to rank in an online social network includes determining a connectedness of a user on a social networking site based on a number of contacts of the user, determining a number of first interactions directed from the user to at least one of the contacts, determining a number of second interactions associated with the first interaction and at least one of the contacts, and ranking the user with other users on the social networking site based on the connectedness, the first interactions, and the second interactions.
US08874724B2 Using a content delivery network for security monitoring
A content delivery network includes a plurality of cache servers. Each cache server is configured to receive a request for content from a client system and receive content and security data from a content server. Each cache server is further configured to provide the content to the client system and provide the security data to a monitoring system.
US08874721B1 Service layer selection and display in a service network monitoring system
A method of operating a computer system for monitoring a service network that comprises a plurality of systems and that provides a plurality of services, the method comprising displaying a list of the plurality of services, receiving a selection of a first service from the list of the plurality of services, displaying a list of the plurality of layers associated with the first service, receiving a selection of a first layer from the list of the plurality of layers, processing the selection of the first layer to determine a first group of systems, displaying a list of a first group of systems associated with the first service, receiving a selection of a first system from the list of the first group of systems, displaying a graphical representation of the first service, displaying a graphical representation of the first system, monitoring a performance of the first system, and displaying the performance of the first system with the graphical representation of the first system.
US08874717B2 Techniques to discover services recursively in a distributed environment
Techniques to recursively discover services in a distributed environment may include receiving a request, including a unique client identifier, from a client device to access a home resource at a services site. The services site may identify which services site is mapped to the client domain of the unique client identifier in the request. If the services site that received the request is not the services site identified by the client domain, the services site that received the request may provide a redirect token that includes a link to the identified services site to the client device. Otherwise, the services site that received the request may provide one or more links to resources in a cluster within the services site. The links to resources may include a link to the requested home resource. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08874715B2 Charging method, system and reporting method for terminal accessing through multiple access networks
The present invention provides a charging method and system for a terminal being accessed through multiple access networks, and a reporting method for a terminal being accessed through multiple access networks. When the terminal establishes one IP Connectivity Access Network (IP-CAN) session with a packet data network through at least one access network, an IP-CAN Type parameter of each access network connection passed through by a data flow of a service accessed by said terminal is sent to a charging subsystem, and said charging subsystem charges differently for data flows passing through different access network connections of said terminal according to said IP-CAN Type parameter.
US08874710B2 Access network discovery
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, access network discovery information is received from an access network discovery and selection function server, access network discovery assistance information is received from a separate server, and the received access network discovery and access network discovery assistance information is used in network discovery.
US08874708B2 Location discovery based on DNS
A system and method for allocating an interval to each of multiple locations within a network topology, where each interval indicates a range of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the corresponding location. Each allocated interval is associated with a computing service that provides information about network services near the location associated with the allocated interval. The intervals are allocated into intermediate nodes, where each intermediate node includes at least two of the intervals. The intervals, associated computing services, and intermediate nodes are then organized into a modified B+ tree structure that facilitates the discovery of one of the network services near the allocated interval.
US08874706B2 Quarantine tool
Described herein are apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for quarantining an out of compliance client device from other client devices on a network. Quarantining the out of compliance client device prevents the out of compliance device from corrupting other client devices on the network. For example, in operation, embodiments of the present invention involve: (1) receiving identification and location information for an out of compliance client device; (2) running a tool that utilizes the identification and location information to access the out of compliance device; (3) using the tool to modify the out of compliance device such that the out of compliance client device broadcasts a request for configuration information to which a network server is programmed to respond with configuration information associated with an isolated network; and (4) using the tool to cause the out of compliance client device to logout of the network. When the device logs back into the network, the network server responds by directing the device to the isolated network.
US08874703B1 System and method of selectively implementing network configurations
A local network can include a configuration server such as a DHCP server. When requesting a local network configuration from the server, a device may include credentials that can be verified by the server to establish that the device is authorized to use the local network. In addition, when providing a network configuration, the server may include its own credentials so that the device can determine whether the configuration has originated from a trusted server.
US08874701B2 On-demand provisioning of services running on embedded devices
A service type repository is populated with types of services exposed on a network that has a dynamic organization. The services are embedded on one or more devices included in the network and the services providing information about the one or more devices. A query is received that includes a request for a type of service, and the requested type of service is compared to the types of services in the service type repository to select a collection of matching service types that satisfy the request. Active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are identified. The active instances are instances of services embedded on one or more devices included in the network. When no active instances are identified, active instances of services that have a type included in the collection of matching service types are discovered.
US08874698B2 Systems and methods for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network
Systems and methods are provided for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network and, more particularly, to systems and methods for selecting video advertisements for display within internet web pages based on relevance, bid price, past performance, or a combination thereof.
US08874697B2 Content download based on hashes
A mechanism for content download based on hashes is disclosed. A method of the invention includes receiving a request from a client computing device for a file stored at a server computing device and dividing the file into a plurality of chunks. In addition, the method includes, for each chunk of the plurality of chunks of the file, obtaining, by the server computing device, a hash for the chunk, sending, by the server computing device, the hash for the chunk to the client computing device, and after sending the hash, sending, by the server computing device, the chunk to the client computing device if such sending is enabled.
US08874696B1 Common cache service
Described is a common cache service for use in a storage system. The common cache service operates between client applications and a command service that provides access to a data store. The client applications, command service, and common cache service may communicate via a communications protocol. A client application issues a request to a communications protocol port to access the data store. The common cache service receives the request for data at the communications protocol port from the client application, and returns requested data to the client application if the requested data is stored by the common cache service. Otherwise, the request is passed by the common cache service to another communications protocol port to the command service to retrieve the data from the data store.
US08874692B2 Method and apparatus for organizing information in a world wide web page format
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for organizing information in a world wide web page format. In one embodiment, information is received from a user (e.g., via a graphical user interface) and transformed into a world wide web page. The world wide web page is displayed to the user as the information is received (e.g., in substantially real time), so that the user can view the world wide web page as he or she constructs it. The invention therefore requires little to know prior programming knowledge.
US08874691B2 System and method for establishing peer to peer connections between PCS and smart phones using networks with obstacles
A method of circumventing network obstacles to provide a peer-to-peer communication channel between peers utilizing hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) includes communicating a HTTP request from a peer device to a relay through a network including an obstacle where the HTTP request is intended for another peer device. The method further includes communicating a HTTP response from the relay to the peer device and establishing a communication channel between the peer device and the another peer device via the relay. The communication channel permits the peer device and the another peer device to send and receive data.
US08874689B2 Network establishment and management protocol
The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type from which no other device type depends and a basic device type from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.
US08874685B1 Compliance protocol and architecture
A process for centrally managing a large number of computers from a central location when technical expertise is not available at each end point nor can other remote management techniques be employed such as remote desktop or direct connection to an agent.This process consists of the generation of processing instructions at a central point which can then be distributed to any number of endpoints in an asynchronous manner where they will be automatically applied and, if requested, response returned to the central management point asynchronously. The communication mechanisms are secure, verifiable, and require no special expertise at the endpoint to employ.Asynchronous refers to the ability for processing instructions and responses to be transferred by a variety of methods but not solely dependent on direct communications, such as via a store-and-forward mechanism, and can also include server-side push directly to the endpoint and client-side pull from a predetermined rendezvous point. The processing instructions can include system settings checks, asset enumeration, messaging/user notification, security assessment, configuration changes, software installation/removal, or any combination, to include actions such as patch download and installation based on the results of a security assessment.
US08874683B2 Method of processing non-real time service and broadcast receiver
A method of receiving and processing a broadcast signal including a Non-Real Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of processing a Non-Real Time (NRT) service in a broadcast receiver, the method comprises receiving and processing first signaling information including content access information and second signaling information including content detail information, receiving and processing third signaling information including content update information, receiving and storing a content including at least one file through NRT based on the first signaling information and the second signaling information, identifying update availability of the content based on the content update information included in the third signaling information, and receiving at least one file included in the content by accessing a File Delivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) session transmitting the content when the update is available.
US08874681B2 Remote direct memory access (‘RDMA’) in a parallel computer
Remote direct memory access (‘RDMA’) in a parallel computer, the parallel computer including a plurality of nodes, each node including a messaging unit, including: receiving an RDMA read operation request that includes a virtual address representing a memory region at which to receive data to be transferred from a second node to the first node; responsive to the RDMA read operation request: translating the virtual address to a physical address; creating a local RDMA object that includes a counter set to the size of the memory region; sending a message that includes an DMA write operation request, the physical address of the memory region on the first node, the physical address of the local RDMA object on the first node, and a remote virtual address on the second node; and receiving the data to be transferred from the second node.
US08874680B1 Interconnect delivery process
A method for enforcing data integrity in an RDMA data storage system includes flushing data write requests to a data storage device before sending an acknowledgment that the data write requests have been executed. An RDMA data storage system includes a node configured to flush data write requests to a data storage device before sending an acknowledgment that a data write request has been executed.
US08874679B2 Location-based communications
A computer-implemented method includes generating a communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient who are related to one another by blood or employment; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient based on a future location of the recipient. The content of the communication and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender, the recipient, or both.
US08874673B2 Mobile terminal, server, and method for establishing communication channel using augmented reality (AR)
A method for performing a communication using a virtual object includes displaying a dynamic virtual object on a display screen; identifying the dynamic virtual object in response to a selection input; determining a target to which the identified dynamic virtual object is to be transmitted; and performing a communication using the identified dynamic virtual object. A terminal to communicate using a virtual object includes a virtual object providing unit to provide a dynamic virtual object on a display screen; a virtual object managing unit to store the dynamic virtual object and target information of a target corresponding to the dynamic virtual object; a virtual object selection unit to select the dynamic virtual object in response to a selection input; and a channel establishing unit to establish a communication channel with the target using the dynamic virtual object.
US08874672B2 Identifying and using identities deemed to be known to a user
The people a user is presumed to know or be associated with may be determined using a number of techniques. This information about people that the user knows is used in relation to the user's communications. For example access to a user's online presence may be restricted based on the known people such that access to presence is provided only to those people that the user knows.
US08874669B2 Synchronizing messages on connected devices
A method, system and computer program directed to synchronizing messages of an associated user that uses a plurality of electronic devices to receive messages, wherein each of the electronic devices utilizes a common messaging application. If two phone with two different phone numbers, both use the same app for sending and receiving messages and communication with a unique device identifier (e.g., telephone number, MSIDSN, etc.) as the address identity, all information such as messages and more can be synchronized in a secure way between the phones and applications if both applications are registered with the same secure identity on a messaging application server.
US08874660B2 System and method for circumventing instant messaging do-not-disturb
A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining a policy of circumvention rights for circumventing do-not-disturb status in instant messaging. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is identified, and the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is circumvented based upon the policy of circumvention rights.
US08874659B2 Mechanism for generating a composite email
A mechanism is disclosed for generating a composite email for an email conversation. The composite email includes content automatically extracted from a plurality of the emails in the email conversation, and may be generated in response to a user accessing just one of the emails in the email conversation. A mechanism is also disclosed for discovering and recovering lost emails in an email conversation. A mechanism is further disclosed for automatically moving emails from one container to another after an email has been read. These and other advantageous email generating, manipulation, and organization mechanisms are disclosed herein.
US08874651B2 Federating open social networks for analyses
Methods and arrangements for constructing and analyzing federated social networks. A first social network with a first plurality of accounts is defined, as well as a second social network with a second plurality of accounts, the second social network being unaffiliated with the second social network. The first and second social networks are federated to determine a union of the first and second social networks and an intersection of the first and second social networks, and second-order connections between one or more of the first plurality of accounts and one or more of the second plurality of accounts are ascertained, the second-order connections including connections outside of the intersection of the first and second social networks and within the union of the first and second social networks.
US08874645B2 System and method for sharing an experience with media content between multiple devices
A system and a method share an experience with media content between multiple devices for providing access to electronic program guide information and/or multimedia metadata of the media content. Users share and/or view the electronic program guide information and/or the multimedia metadata associated with the media content by transferring and/or by publishing the electronic program guide information and/or the multimedia metadata via one or more networks. Two or more participating devices establish a connection via one or more networks for a sending device to transfer the electronic program guide information and/or the multimedia metadata to one or more receiving devices via one or more networks. The electronic program guide information and/or the multimedia metadata has communications and/or comments associated with consumption of the media content. The receiving devices consume the digital multimedia file for users of the receiving devices to share in an experience of the media content with a user of the sending device. The users of the sending device and/or of the receiving devices discuss and/or comment on the experience of the media content through an asynchronous message or a communication channel in real time.
US08874643B2 Redundant data requests with cancellation
A method for processing a client-initiated request by: receiving from a client a request including server identifiers for one or more other servers; determining whether at least a first predefined number of the other servers have a predefined task-processing status for the request; in accordance with a determination that less than the first predefined number of the other servers have the predefined task-processing status for the request: sending a processing-status message to one or more the other servers indicating that the respective server has undertaken performance of the respective task-processing operation for the request; performing the respective task-processing operation; upon completing processing of the request: determining whether a second predefined number of the other servers have undertaken responding to the request; in accordance with a determination that at least the second predefined number of the other servers have undertaken responding to the request, foregoing sending a result to the client.
US08874642B2 System and method for managing the performance of an enterprise application
The present disclosure relates to a framework to improve the predictability of performance problems in an enterprise application. In one embodiment, the present disclosure produces accurate predictive analysis by taking into consideration all the factors including workload, historical performance, environments, configurations, and data volumes etc. which are significant for determining the future performance characteristics of the system. In addition, the present disclosure calculates the actual impact of the determined performance characteristics on the business.
US08874635B2 Internet multimedia content delivery to consumer electronic devices through wireless network infrastructure
Internet multimedia content delivery methods, devices and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for communicating internet multimedia data to a consumer electronic via a wireless network comprises receiving the internet multimedia data via the wireless network, converting the internet multimedia data to a data type associated with the consumer electronic device, and forwarding the internet multimedia data of the data type to the consumer electronic device, where the internet multimedia data via the wireless network is serviced by an internet multimedia data server.
US08874630B2 Apparatus and method for converting data between a floating-point number and an integer
An apparatus and method for converting data between a floating-point number and an integer is provided. The apparatus includes a data converter configured to determine a sign of input binary data and an output format to which to convert the input binary data and convert the input binary data into a one's complement number based on the sign and the output format of the input binary data, a bias value generator configured to determine whether the input binary data has been rounded up based on a rounding mode of the input binary data and generate a bias value accordingly; and an adder configured to convert the input binary data into a two's complement number by adding the one's complement number and the bias value.
US08874629B2 Systems, devices, and methods for solving computational problems
Systems, devices, and methods for using an analog processor to solve computational problems. A digital processor is configured to track computational problem processing requests received from a plurality of different users, and to track at least one of a status and a processing cost for each of the computational problem processing requests. An analog processor, for example a quantum processor, is operable to assist in producing one or more solutions to computational problems identified by the computational problem processing requests via a physical evolution.
US08874628B1 Systems and methods for projecting hierarchical storage management functions
A computer-implemented method for projecting hierarchical storage management functions may include enumerating objects stored on an endpoint system via an agent on the endpoint system. The computer-implemented method may also include transmitting, via a web service, information relating to the enumeration to a server. The computer-implemented method may further include receiving, via the web service, a hierarchical storage management policy from the server. The computer-implemented method may additionally include enacting the hierarchical storage management policy via the agent. Various other methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08874627B2 Enumerating metadata in file system directories
One embodiment is a method that stores metadata about files separately from directories for the files in storage devices and represents the directories as a tree structure in which entries refer to separate storage blocks that include the metadata with each of the separate storage blocks storing metadata for only a single file.
US08874621B1 Dynamic content systems and methods
A dynamic content system integrates dynamic and static content through entry of physical table and field structures and creating metadata describing the physical structures. A formula engine with a cascading formula detection engine calculates fields, and a dynamic meta-assembly engine dynamically generates code for the dynamic content. A dynamic meta-reporting engine with a dynamic meta-query engine reports content. An access control engine and workflow engine integrate into the dynamic content system to provide content permissions and routing.
US08874620B1 Data transfer optimization
A dataset structure that is suitable for transferring data between service components may include a table having one or more rows and a plurality of columns. The table may be defined by a schema for an entity type. The schema may include a corresponding column definition for each column. Each of the rows may store a tuple of information that conforms to the entity type defined by the schema. A data transfer component may use the dataset structure to transfer data between the service components.
US08874619B2 Method and apparatus for defining common entity relationships
A method, an apparatus, and a system for configuring, designing, and/or implementing common metadata and common data is detailed as a new type of data relationship, within and between databases.
US08874618B2 Local client database for remote support
A computerized method and system to communicate information between a supported client computer and a remote support organization have been described. At the supported client computer, status information, generated by one or more client applications when executing on the supported client computer, may be retrieved. The status information may be stored in a client database on the supported client computer. A first client database definition for a client data item may be mapped to a first tag, the first client database definition may be associated with the client database and the client data item may include the status information. A client message document including the first tag may be communicated to a support server of the remote support organization. The status information may be stored in, and retrieved from, the client database via a functional abstraction layer comprising one or more customized application program interfaces (API).
US08874610B2 Pattern-based stability analysis of complex data sets
Methods and systems for identifying stability exceptions in a data log are disclosed. In one method, at least one key that is present in the data log is determined. The data log is comprised of at least one data set, at least one of which includes a plurality of iterations indicating states of the corresponding data set at different points in time. For each data set and for each key, a map is generated. The map indicates, for each iteration of the corresponding data set, whether the corresponding key is present in the corresponding iteration. Moreover, at least one expression pattern rule that models data item stability characteristics over data set iterations is compared to each of the maps to determine whether the corresponding map satisfies the one or more expression pattern rules. Further, at least one unstable data item is identified in the data log based on the comparison.
US08874609B1 Method and system for transparent database connection pooling and query queuing
Roughly described, a database accelerator is installed transparently in a network between database client and server systems. It maintains a pool of connections to the database server(s) for re-use as needed. Connection requests from client systems are received and completed by the accelerator, and queries received on such client-side connections are forwarded through pool connections toward the database servers. If no appropriate connections are available when needed for a particular query, the accelerator forms one by emulating a client system requesting a connection to the desired database server. If the maximum number of connections has already been reached, then the query is queued until a connection becomes available in the pool. By installing the accelerator transparently in the network, no modifications are required to the software in either the client systems or the database servers to add connection pooling functionality to an existing client/server database environment.
US08874607B2 Representing sensor data as binary decision diagrams
According to certain embodiments, a set of samples of sensor data is accessed. The set of samples records measurements taken by one or more sensors. Each sample is represented as a minterm to yield a set of minterms. A characteristic function is generated from the set of minterms. The characteristic function indicates whether a given minterm is a member of the set of minterms.
US08874604B2 Method and system for searching an electronic map
A method and system for searching an electronic map. The method includes the steps of: receiving a query entered by a user for searching the electronic map; extracting place names in the query; extracting in web pages searched on a computer network co-occurrence place names that co-occurred with the place names; selecting extension place names from the co-occurrence place names, thereby obtaining a set of extension place names; generating a set of queries, wherein the set of queries includes the query entered by the user, and includes a query obtained by replacing the place names in the query entered by the user with each extension place name in the set of extension place names respectively; and sending the set of queries to a map search engine.
US08874599B2 Determining user language intent
A system and machine-implemented method for determining a language intent of a user submitted query is provided. A user query comprising text and a user location is received and a language usage signal based on the text of the user query is identified, wherein the language usage signal is associated with a first language. A second language associated with the user location is identified and a translation of the text of the user query from the first language to the second language is generated. A strength of the language usage signal is determined based on an amount of variation between the text of the user query and the translation of the text. When the strength of the language usage signal is greater than a predetermined threshold, an output language for the query is adjusted and results for the query are returned according to the output language.
US08874597B2 Method and system for text filtering based on semantic matching
The present disclosure discloses a method and system for text filtering. The method for text filtering comprises: pre-defining a semantic keyword in a text filtering system, the semantic keyword comprising at least one basic keyword and one logical operator; after obtaining an input text, finding, by the text filtering system, the basic keyword constituting the semantic keyword in the input text according to the pre-defined semantic keyword; in an event that a text content matching the at least one basic keyword in the input text is found, further conducting a semantic match in the found text content, the semantic match further comprising matching the found text content with the semantic keyword according to the logical operator constituting the semantic keyword; and in an event that the semantic match is successful, filtering the matched text context.
US08874592B2 Search guided by location and context
The subject disclosure pertains to web searches and more particularly toward influencing resultant content to increase relevancy. The resultant content can be influenced by reconfiguring a query and/or filtering results based on user location and/or context information (e.g., user characteristics/profile, prior interaction/usage temporal, current events, and third party state/context . . . ). Furthermore, the disclosure provides for query execution on at least a subset of designated web content, for example as specified by a user. Still further yet, a localized marketing system is disclosed that provides discount offers to users that match merchant criteria including proximity. A system for actively probing populations of users with different parameters and monitoring responses can be employed to collect data for identifying the best discounts and deadlines to offer to users to achieve desired results.
US08874591B2 Using user feedback to improve search results
The invention discloses a system and method for managing feedback data that will be used for ranking search results. The invention can aggregate a plurality of user feedback data from more than one user into a search index. The user feedback data can be associated with one or more documents within the index such that the one or more documents can be ranked based on the type of feedback data that is aggregated. Once the documents have been ranked, the ranked documents can be provided to a requester.
US08874590B2 Apparatus and method for supporting keyword input
A keyword input supporting apparatus includes a document acquisition unit that acquires a document having a plurality of components containing text data, a main component selection unit that selects a component having many characters in the text data as a main component, a part-of-speech analysis unit that analyzes the part-of-speech of the text data contained in the main component, and adds a semantic attribute to each of words of the text data, a specific name extraction unit that extracts as a specific name a word, having a predetermined semantic attribute or part of speech, from the words, a specific name storage that stores the specific name together with the corresponding semantic attribute, a keyword candidate classification unit that performs classification of the specific name from the storage as a keyword candidate based on the semantic attribute, and a keyword candidate presentation unit that presents the keyword candidate to a user.
US08874587B2 Tenant placement in multitenant cloud databases with one-to-many data sharing
Methods for generating a data fetching plan in a multi-tenant system include placing tenants in consecutively allocated databases according to a weighted graph of tenants and sharing relationships between tenants, where at least one sharing relationship includes multiple accessing tenants accessing a given set of data from a provider tenant. For each sharing relationship, if a current database has one or more accessing tenants and does not have the provider tenant, data is fetched from the latest-allocated database prior to the current database that has accessing tenants, if such a database exists; if a current database has the provider tenant, data is provided to the earliest-allocated database after the current database that has accessing tenants if such a database exists. The fetching and providing steps are repeated for each allocated database.
US08874586B1 Authority management for electronic searches
A presentation of search results may be improved. An indication that identifies a user may be received. A search authority model may be formed to represent information related to the user. A search query may be received from a searching user. Search results may be determined based on the terms included within the search query and the search results may be ranked or grouped based on the search authority model. Additionally, or alternatively, the search query may be adjusted based on the search authority model and search results may be determined based on the adjusted search query. In either case, the search results may be made perceivable to the searching user.
US08874582B2 Method and apparatus of determining product category information
A user may submit product title information to a server. The server may generate a phrase based on the product title information. The server may then search a database to find relevancies between the phrase and product categories corresponding to multiple nodes in a product category tree. Based on the relevancies, the server may select a node from the multiple nodes. The server may associate the product title information with the node corresponding to a product category when the node is a leaf node of the product category tree.
US08874579B2 Systems and methods for identifying associations between malware samples
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying associations between binary samples, such as e-mail files and their attachments or a document and an executable program associated with the document. In one implementation, the method includes receiving a plurality of binary samples, and extracting metadata from the plurality of binary samples. The metadata for a binary sample from the plurality of binary samples includes a set of attributes of the binary sample. The method further includes identifying a set of associations between the plurality of binary samples based on the extracted metadata. Each association is characterized by at least one attribute the associated binary samples have in common, and each association has a confidence level indicative of a strength of the association. The method also includes identifying associations with a confidence level that exceeds a predefined threshold.
US08874578B2 Stopping functions for grouping and differentiating files based on content
Methods and apparatus teach a digital spectrum of a data file. The digital spectrum is used to map a file's position in multi-dimensional space. This position relative to another file's position reveals closest neighbors. Certain of the closest neighbors are grouped together, while others are differentiated. Grouping ceases upon application of a stopping function so that rightly sized, optimum numbers of file groups are obtained. Embodiments of stopping functions relate to curve types in a mapping of numbers of groups per sequential rounds of grouping, recognizing whether groups have overlapping file members or not, and/or determining whether groups meet predetermined numbers of members, to name a few. Properly grouped files can then be further acted upon.
US08874575B2 Media fingerprinting for social networking
Audio fingerprinting and other media matching technologies can be used to identify media, such as movies, television shows, and radio broadcasts. A user device can record image, audio, and/or video information and upload information to a matching service that is able to use matching technology to identify the media and provide supplemental content or information to the user. The user then can share this information with other users, such as by uploading to a social networking site or passing the information to peers on a peer network as part of a container. Users can have the ability to add tagged content, provide comments and ratings, and otherwise interact based at least in part upon the tagged media content.
US08874565B1 Detection of proxy pad sites
A system may identify a set of first documents associated with an organization, and identify clusters to which the first documents belong. Each of a number of the identified clusters may include a group of documents that includes one of the first documents and one or more second documents associated with one or more different organizations. The system may determine a quality score for each of the documents in each of the identified clusters, and determine, for each of the number of the identified clusters, whether the quality score of the one of the first documents in the identified cluster is higher than the quality score of the one or more second documents in the identified cluster. The system may generate a proxy pad score based on the determinations, and store the proxy pad score.
US08874564B2 System and method for communicating search results to one or more other parties
A system and method for communicating search results. User input is received to perform a search of a communications network. The search is performed based on the user input to generate search results. The search results and multiple selection elements are displayed for communicating each of the search results to one or more receiving parties. A user selection of one or more of the multiple selection elements associated with one or more receiving parties is received. The search results are communicated to the one or more receiving parties in response to the user selection.
US08874558B1 Promoting fresh content for authoritative channels
A system is configured to identify a particular channel that provides content, where the particular channel includes content items; determine a respective first score, for each of the content items, that reflects a measure of quality of the content item; determine a topic distribution, for each of the content items, that indicates a topic conveyed by the content item; assign a second score, to the particular channel, that reflects a measure of quality of the particular channel; determine a particular term for which the particular channel is authoritative based on the first scores, the topic distributions, and the second score; and store information identifying the particular channel as authoritative for the particular term. A new content item, associated with the particular channel and relating to the particular term, may be promoted in search results for a search query relating to the particular term.
US08874557B2 Object retrieval and localization using a spatially-constrained similarity model
Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for object retrieval and localization that employ a spatially-constrained similarity model. A spatially-constrained similarity measure may be evaluated by a voting-based scoring technique. Object retrieval and localization may thus be achieved without post-processing. The spatially-constrained similarity measure may handle object rotation, scaling and view point change. The similarity measure can be efficiently calculated by the voting-based method and integrated with inverted files. The voting-based scoring technique may simultaneously retrieve and localize a query object in a collection of images such as an image database. The object retrieval and localization technique may, for example, be implemented with a k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) re-ranking method in or as a retrieval method, system or module. The k-NN re-ranking method may be applied to improve query results of the object retrieval and localization technique.
US08874555B1 Modifying scoring data based on historical changes
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for modifying historical data. One method includes calculating time trend statistics for a document and a query during different time periods. The method further includes modifying a quality of result statistic for the document as a search result for the query by a factor based on the one or more time trend statistics. The method further includes providing the modified quality of result statistic as an input to a document ranking process. Another method includes calculating a difference score for statistics for a group of documents and a query for a first time period and a second time period. The method further includes modifying quality of result statistics for documents responsive to the query based on the difference score. The method further includes providing the modified statistics as an input to a document ranking process.
US08874553B2 Establishing “is a” relationships for a taxonomy
Disclosed are methods for returning to a user an answer to the question “what is .” Concepts and classes to which the concepts belong are determined from a corpus, such as taxonomy. The concepts are mapped to categories according to the structure of the taxonomy. Homonyms for words are collected and scored according to likeliness of use. Concept vectors are assembled for the identified concepts based on articles in the corpus and social media usage. Words are evaluated for generic-ness and a generic score is associated therewith. In responding to a query, the generic-ness of the terms of the query is evaluated and additional context solicited if the terms are generic. Candidate homonym concepts for a string in the query are selected according to context vectors for the homonym concepts. One or more homonym concepts are selected and the one or more categories corresponding to these concepts are returned.
US08874539B2 Object identity and addressability
Identifying a repository object is disclosed. An object identifying information usable to identify a repository object with respect to which an operation is desired to be performed is included in a request not specific to any one manner of identifying objects. The request is sent to a node associated with a repository in which the repository object is or will be stored. At the receiving end, e.g., a content server, the object identifying information included in the request is used to identify the repository object with respect to which the operation is desired to be performed, for example to retrieve the repository object.
US08874536B2 Matching information items
In one embodiment, a method of identifying the presence of matching information items in a network includes using a hashing scheme to generate a set of first hash values from a respective set of first information items stored at a first node and transmitting the set of first hash values over the network to a second node. The set of first hash values is compared at the second node with a set of second hash values generated, using the hashing scheme, from a respective set of second information items stored in the network, to thereby determine at least one matching hash value between the set of first hash values and the set of second hash values. The determined matching hash value is used to identify the presence of at least one matching information item between the set of first information items and the set of second information items. The hashing scheme is chosen so that a unique hash value in the hashing scheme indicates a sufficient number of information items to prevent the unique hash value being used as an identifier of a unique information item, such that the transmission of the set of first hash values to the second node does not disclose the set of first information items to the second node.
US08874534B2 File state subset satellites to provide block-based version control
A coherent file system and method of operation for a file state authority coupled to file state sub-set satellites addresses congestion and latency effects on a plurality of peer workstation clients organized in neighborhoods. Very large files are versioned and metadata recorded in a file state view determines which file blocks make up each version of a committed file. Metadata may be requested from neighboring workstations to locate desired file blocks. File block transmission is minimized to fulfill read requests only when not accessible at a workstation's local file block store.
US08874530B2 Method, computer readable medium and system for allocation and management of memory in runtime environments
A method, computer readable medium and system are disclosed. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving one of a character and a string; determining a character string part space based on a remaining portion of a character string part capacity, of an existing array element, and a length of one of the character and the string; and one of (1) storing one of the character and the string in the existing array element if the length of one of the character and the string is less than or equal to the remaining character string part capacity of an existing array element and (2) adding a new array element and storing one of the character and the string in the new array element if the length of one of the character and the string is greater than the remaining character string part capacity of an existing array element.
US08874527B2 Local seeding of a restore storage for restoring a backup from a remote deduplication vault storage
Local seeding of a restore storage for restoring a backup from a remote deduplication vault storage. In one example embodiment, a method of local seeding of a restore storage for restoring a backup from a remote deduplication vault storage includes determining which blocks included in a backup of a source storage at a point in time, which is stored in the remote vault storage, are available in a local seeded storage containing common blocks, reading the locally available blocks from the local seeded storage, reading the non-locally available blocks from the remote vault storage, and storing the read blocks in the restore storage in the same position as stored in the source storage at the point in time. The remote vault storage is remote from the restore storage and the local seeded storage is local to the restore storage.
US08874524B1 Handling copy on first write data for snapshot purposes
A technique performs a write operation. The technique involves receiving, after a snapshot of a file system is taken, a write instruction to write new data to a particular portion of the file system. The technique further involves includes reading, in response to the write instruction, metadata to determine whether the new data is a first update of the particular portion since the snapshot was taken. The metadata identifies portions of the file system which have changed since the snapshot was taken. The technique further involves, when the new data is a first update of the particular portion since the snapshot was taken, copying the original data from cache memory (i.e., from the file system buffer cache) to snapshot storage (i.e., to a dedicated save area) and, after the original data is copied, updating the original data in the cache memory with the new data.
US08874523B2 Method and system for providing efficient access to a tape storage system
A method for asynchronously replicating data onto a tape medium is implemented at one or more server computers associated with a distributed storage system and connected to a tape storage system. Upon receiving a first request from a client for storing an object within the tape storage system, a server computer stores the object within a staging sub-system of the distributed storage system and provides a first response to the requesting client. If a predefined condition is met, the server computer transfers objects from the staging sub-system to the tape storage system. For each transferred object, the server computer adds a reference to the object to a tape management sub-system, identifies a corresponding parent object associated with the object and its metadata within a parent object management sub-system of the distributed storage system, and updates the parent object's metadata to include the object's location within the tape storage system.
US08874522B2 Managing backups of data objects in containers
Containers that store data objects that were written to those containers during a particular backup are accessed. Then, a subset of the containers is identified; the containers in the subset have less than a threshold number of data objects associated with the particular backup. Data objects that are in containers in that subset and that are associated with the backup are copied to one or more other containers. Those other containers are subsequently used to restore data objects associated with the backup.
US08874519B1 Method and apparatus for restoring a table in a database
A method and apparatus for restoring table data using one or more restoration commands, where the one or more restoration commands are generated at the time a backup of a database comprising the table data is created. The disclosed restoring of table data comprises identifying table data after completion of a backup process on the database and generating one or more commands for restoring the table data where the one or more restoration commands are generated prior to a request to restore the table data.
US08874516B2 Semantic replication
Replicating data in a distributed database having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. Replicating includes receiving a semantic command at a local version of the database at a node, interpreting the semantic command, and applying the semantic command to the local version of the database.
US08874515B2 Low level object version tracking using non-volatile memory write generations
Data versioning in a non-volatile memory. An object key associated with a data object is created. An index into an object table is generated using the object key. A version number is stored in conjunction with the data object stored in the non-volatile memory. In an object linked-list, the object key and the location information of the data object in the non-volatile memory are stored. A record associated with the data object is created in an object table. The record includes an index, a reference to the object linked-list, and the version number. The index is generated based on the object key.
US08874511B1 Efficient clearing of synchronization information
A computer-implemented method for deleting synchronization information in a user account is disclosed according to an aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises receiving an instruction from one of a plurality of computing devices to delete synchronization information in the user account, wherein the synchronization information is synchronized across the plurality of computing devices. The method also comprises sending an instruction to each of the other computing devices to disable synchronization, and deleting the synchronization information in the user account.
US08874509B2 Database management method, apparatus and system
A technique for appropriately managing a database in an apparatus with a limited storage capacity is described. A client apparatus includes a first storage unit storing part of a record set included in a database of a database server apparatus, and a second storage unit storing a copy of the record set stored in the first storage unit. The client apparatus usually searches the second storage unit. If data is not found, the client apparatus transmits a search request to the database server apparatus and stores a search result in the second storage unit. When the client apparatus receives update data from the database server apparatus, the client apparatus performs processing of updating the first storage unit.
US08874503B2 Method, system and apparatus for organizing information for managing life affairs
A system and method are provided for organizing information that can be shared among multiple individuals. The information is structured and categorized according to areas of concern, sub-areas of concern, concerns, outcomes, commitments, and occasions. Multiple disparate individuals may be associated with one or more areas of concern, concerns, outcomes, commitments, and/or occasions. If one individual fails to achieve an outcome, the remaining individuals may be notified automatically, enabling corrective action to be taken. New areas of concern, and their associated concerns, outcomes, and occasions may be added for one or more individuals. Additional features, such as calendars, to-do lists, and other features may be integrated with the present invention. Web-based and/or client-server interfaces can be used to review and/or update system information. Messages and conversations can be associated with particular nodes within the concern cascade.
US08874498B2 Unsupervised, supervised, and reinforced learning via spiking computation
The present invention relates to unsupervised, supervised and reinforced learning via spiking computation. The neural network comprises a plurality of neural modules. Each neural module comprises multiple digital neurons such that each neuron in a neural module has a corresponding neuron in another neural module. An interconnection network comprising a plurality of edges interconnects the plurality of neural modules. Each edge interconnects a first neural module to a second neural module, and each edge comprises a weighted synaptic connection between every neuron in the first neural module and a corresponding neuron in the second neural module.
US08874495B2 Generating inferred triples by storing triples in a source table, and providing source table to inference engine/reasoner that fires inference rules in parallel
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with data sources adapted for parallel inference on triples associated with a semantic model are described. One example method includes creating a source table that is partitioned on triple predicate and stores triples for entailment. The source table may store compact triple identifiers that have been mapped to triple identifiers from the semantic model.
US08874494B1 Dynamic selection of spare storage element types in array
An improved technique for replacing storage elements in a redundant group of storage elements of a storage array dynamically selects a storage element type from among multiple candidates based on which storage element type produces the greatest service level of the redundant group. The technique includes selecting one of multiple storage element types using a random selection process that can be biased to favor the selection of certain storage element types over others. A storage element of the selected type is added to the redundant group. The selected storage element type is then rewarded based on the service level that results from adding the storage element of the selected type. The selection process is repeated, and a newly selected storage element type is put into use. Operation tends to converge on an optimal storage element type that maximizes the service level of the redundant group.
US08874492B2 Flight caching methods and apparatus
According to some aspects, a system is provided comprising at least one computer readable storage medium storing a cache of flight information comprising a plurality of flight solutions, the cache capable of being accessed to obtain flight solutions that meet a criteria specified in one or more flight search queries, and at least one computer programmed to apply at least one machine learning model to at least some of the flight information in the flight information cache to classify at least one of the plurality of flight solutions according to an assessed fidelity of the at least one flight solution, and perform at least one action based on the classified at least one flight solution.
US08874490B2 Route optimization of services provided by one or more service providers for combined links
In one embodiment, two or more links, coupled to a first service provider (SP) that charges a price for utilization of services according to a first pricing structure, are combined to form a single virtual combined link. Each of the two or more links of the virtual combined link and one or more other links, coupled to a second SP that charges a price for utilization of services according to a second pricing structure, are monitored to obtain link data. The link data for the two of more links of the virtual combined link is merged to form link data for the virtual combined link. Data distribution among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links is optimized to distribute data among the virtual combined link and the one or more other links in a manner that minimizes cost.
US08874485B2 Privacy-preserving behavior targeting for digital coupons
A smart coupon-delivery system provides targeted coupons to a user using a criteria-encoded message received from a coupon server. The criteria-encoded message is generated by the coupon server from a behavior-criteria vector that indicates criteria for selecting a recipient of a digital coupon. The system then generates a user-behavior vector to indicate one or more behavior patterns of an end-user, and encodes the user-behavior vector to produce a behavior-encoded message. The system then determines whether the end-user is eligible to receive the digital coupon based on the criteria-encoded message and the behavior-encoded message. If the system determines that the end-user is eligible, the system presents the digital coupon to the end-user.
US08874484B2 Method and system for distributing intelligent content
An intellectual contents distribution method distributes intellectual contents from a computer via a network. The contents provided from a contents provider are stored in a computer 1, along with support results from at least one supporter relating to the contents. The contents are transmitted to a system of a purchaser via a network in response to the purchaser's request. Also, purchase results of the contents are stored in the computer. Further, the computer computes earnings to be returned to the contents provider and earnings to be returned to each supporter based on a predetermined computational formula by using the support results and the purchase results stored in the computer.
US08874481B2 Pre-paid payment instrument processing
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, in which a method includes attributing a value to a pre-paid payment instrument, determining an expiration time associated with the pre-paid payment instrument, and automatically return an un-used portion of value associated with the pre-paid payment instrument at the expiration time to the purchaser.
US08874480B2 Centralized payment method and system for online and offline transactions
Embodiments described herein include an electronic transaction service network (also referred to herein as a centralized electronic transaction (CET) service). According to an embodiment, a financial management system hosts multiple CET web sites on behalf of multiple merchants. All transactions through any CET web site are executed and managed by the financial management system. Merchants may customize their web sites to include a branded look and feel. The merchant web sites are part of a CET service for which a customer can register. Registered customers can then view and pay invoices from any merchants having CET web sites, whether purchases were made online or offline. Customers specify preferences for the CET service including choosing existing customer accounts from which the financial management system is to pay invoices on behalf of the customer. This eliminates the need for the customer to open and fund a separate payment account as in traditional methods.
US08874479B2 Systems and methods for testing a financial trading system
A method is provided for testing a trading system having a verification subsystem and trading environments. Each of the environments has a network interface, memory, and a matching engine executed by a processor. The method includes retrieving, by the verification subsystem, at least one defined use case. Each defined use case includes command lines. The method also includes parsing the command lines based on defined parsing rules to produce parsed command lines. Each parsed command line includes a verb specifying financial transactions. Each parsed command line also includes data fields. The method further includes mapping the verb and fields of each command line based on defined mapping relationships to generate a test case. The method also includes executing the test case to generate messages to be executed by the trading system. The method also includes reading parameters of the trading system for comparison to specified validation values.
US08874473B2 System and method for managing e-commerce transaction
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an avatar engine having a controller to retrieve a user profile of a user, present the user an avatar having characteristics that correlate to the user profile, detect one or more responses of the user during a communication exchange between the avatar and the user, identify from the one or more responses a need to engage in an e-commerce transaction, engage in a commercial exchange with a merchant system according to the e-commerce transaction, identify a commercial status of the e-commerce transaction from the commercial exchange with the merchant system, and present the user by way of the avatar the commercial status of the e-commerce transaction. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08874469B2 Glitch free dynamic video ad insertion
Techniques for dynamically and seamlessly inserting secondary content via a second video pipeline into the playing of principal content over a first video pipeline are disclosed herein. One aspect of the techniques may involve the file containing the principal content be contiguous instead of being in a plurality of separate sections. The secondary content is able to be pre-processed on the second video pipeline while the principal content is played over the first video pipeline. This enables the secondary content to be available instantaneously upon the pausing of the principal content at various designated points therein. Playing of the principal content may likewise be instantaneous upon completion of the time period for the specified pausing thereof. Since the file containing the principal content is preferably contiguous, rewinding the principal content to a previous point does not require reloading.
US08874467B2 Mobile commerce platforms and associated systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with same
Systems and methods for converting consumer coins, cash, and/or other forms of value for use with mobile commerce platforms implemented on, for example, smart phones, PDAs, and other mobile devices. In one embodiment, a method for implementing a mobile commerce account on a mobile device includes receiving coins and/or other funds from a user at a consumer-operated kiosk. The method can further include counting the coins and/or other funds to determine a value, and then communicating at least a portion of the value from the kiosk to the hand-held mobile device for deposit in the mobile commerce account.
US08874464B2 Implementation of business models in a complex runtime system landscape
A system for adding an additional business model to an existing productive runtime system landscape is described. An additional business model is implemented on an existing productive system landscape that includes an existing business model. The productive system is maintained independently from the implementing of the additional business model on the existing productive system landscape. The additional business model is deployed in the existing business model combined within the existing productive system landscape.
US08874452B2 Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
Method and system including receiving one or more parameters associated with an orthodontic condition, receiving a treatment goal information associated with the orthodontic condition, and providing a predefined template associated with the received treatment goal information, wherein the predefined template includes at least one orthodontic condition related information, are provided.
US08874451B2 Personal mail piece and electronic mail tracking system
A system and method for linking data objects and physical objects of various kinds to an identified user is described. The system provides to the identified user information relating to the delivery status of mail pieces directed to or sent by the user, and the user then tracks and traces the mail pieces. The system further provides to the identified user information relating to continued sessions through which the user provides to a postal service system information relating to mailing labels and postage.
US08874448B1 Attention-based dynamic audio level adjustment
In one example, a technique may include outputting, by a computing device associated with a user and for playback at a first volume level by an audio output device, first audio data, receiving, by the computing device, audio input data, and responsive to determining, by the computing device, that the audio input data includes speech associated with an entity different from the user, determining, by the computing device and based at least in part on the audio input data, whether to output second audio data. The method may also include, responsive to determining to output the second audio data: determining, by the computing device, a second volume level lower than the first volume level, and outputting, by the computing device and for playback at the second volume level by the audio output device, the second audio data.
US08874445B2 Apparatus and method for controlling output format of information
An apparatus for controlling the output format of information is provided. The apparatus includes a communications unit configured to receive information intended for at least one recipient. The apparatus also includes a selection unit, which is configured to automatically detect, based on the at least one recipient, an externally-specified indication of a preferred form of output selected from amongst a plurality of available forms of output. The selection unit causes the information to be outputted in the preferred form of output. A method and a computer program product are also provided for controlling the output format of information.
US08874442B2 Device, system, and method of liveness detection utilizing voice biometrics
Device, system, and method of liveness detection using voice biometrics. For example, a method comprises: generating a first matching score based on a comparison between: (a) a voice-print from a first text-dependent audio sample received at an enrollment stage, and (b) a second text-dependent audio sample received at an authentication stage; generating a second matching score based on a text-independent audio sample; and generating a liveness score by taking into account at least the first matching score and the second matching score.
US08874438B2 User and vocabulary-adaptive determination of confidence and rejecting thresholds
User and vocabulary-adaptive determination of confidence and rejecting thresholds. A confidence measure for voice recognition is provided, by which during a voice recognition, a theoretic identification result is deducible or already given. The recognition process is carried out based upon the theoretic identification result and a confidence measure of the theoretic identification result is further adapted based upon the recognition process.
US08874436B2 Digital media player behavioral parameter modification
One embodiment of the present invention is a method for playing a portion of a media work which includes steps of: (a) playing the media work; (b) receiving input from a user; and (c) analyzing parameters to determine the portion of the media work to play; (d) altering at least a part of the portion; and (e) playing the portion.
US08874435B2 Automated glossary creation
A method for creating a glossary of terms, the method including identifying data labels in a computer-based document set, tracing any of the data labels to a computer-readable data source external to the computer-based document set, identifying as synonyms different data labels that are traceable to the same data source, and storing any of the data labels in a computer-readable data store.
US08874430B2 Applications for encoding and decoding multi-lingual text in a matrix code symbol
A method for preparing a multi-lingual personal identification card includes receiving a multi-lingual text comprising Latin-based characters in a Latin-based language and non-Latin-based characters in a non-Latin-based language. The multi-lingual text includes the name of the holder of the personal identification card in the Latin-based language and the non-Latin-based language. The method converts the non-Latin-based characters in the multi-lingual text to index values to produce a pseudo text. The conversion is based on a predefined mapping that converts the Unicode values of the non-Latin-based characters to index values having fewer digits than the corresponding Unicode values of the non-Latin-based characters. The method receives vector data for a personal image which includes a facial image, a finger print, or a combination of both of the holder of the personal identification card, and encodes the pseudo text and the vector data in the matrix-code symbol.
US08874424B2 Fault-ride-through method, converter and power generating unit for a wind turbine
A fault-ride-through method is provided. The method includes detecting a voltage dip on a power line transmitting electric power. If a voltage dip is detected, the method includes reducing an active current and/or an active power to a specific value, which active current and/or active power is fed by a power generating unit at a feeding point into a power network having a plurality of power lines. Further, a converter of a power generating unit is provided, that is capable of implementing the fault-ride-through method. The power generating unit may be a part of a wind turbine in a wind farm.
US08874421B2 Test system combination for testing several systems under test in parallel, comprising several test systems
Modern high-end technology products such as aircraft consist of a number of individual systems that are controlled by independent electronic control units and increasingly interconnected. According to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a test system assembly for testing several such systems for an aircraft in parallel is disclosed, wherein a master network is provided in order to exchange data between the individual test systems and a control unit, and wherein original electrical wiring is provided between the test systems in order to directly interconnect the tested systems. The flexibility of system tests for aircraft may be increased in this fashion.
US08874419B2 Method of developing a petroleum reservoir from a facies map construction
A method of developing a petroleum reservoir, wherein a facies map representative of the reservoir is constructed from petrophysical property maps. A grid cell visiting order is defined by selecting the visiting order that first passes through the cells where the facies are the most discriminated. Then, in each cell i, according to the visiting order, and for various facies values k, the likelihood defined by the probability of obtaining in cell i the values of observed petrophysical properties is calculated, knowing that the facies in cell i is facies k, and knowing on the one hand already identified facies values V*
US08874415B2 System and method for forming failure estimates for a heat recovery steam generator
A method of forming a failure estimate for one or more components of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) includes forming from failure models and at least one of fired hours and fired starts, factored hours and factored starts. The factored hours and/or starts are applied to failure equations for the one or more components to form the failure estimate.
US08874414B2 Model population
Systems and methods for populating a design model for engineering, design, and construction projects are described. The design model contains a 3D representation of an assembled structure. Each structural component within the assembled structure has a set of physical attributes that are electronically stored as design model objects. Additional information about each structural component is electronically supplied by a detailer as detailing model objects. The detailing model objects are imported into the design model using a utility tool. The utility tool comprises a processor and executable code that is configured to: (i) correlate the design and detailing model objects; and (ii) recommend to a user which detailing objects should be imported into the design model. The utility tool correlates physical attributes (e.g., location, section size, section type) rather than unique identification numbers, thus allowing the design model to be populated without relying on identification numbers.
US08874412B2 Method for discovering relationships in data by dynamic quantum clustering
Data clustering is provided according to a dynamical framework based on quantum mechanical time evolution of states corresponding to data points. To expedite computations, we can approximate the time-dependent Hamiltonian formalism by a truncated calculation within a set of Gaussian wave-functions (coherent states) centered around the original points. This allows for analytic evaluation of the time evolution of all such states, opening up the possibility of exploration of relationships among data-points through observation of varying dynamical-distances among points and convergence of points into clusters. This formalism may be further supplemented by preprocessing, such as dimensional reduction through singular value decomposition and/or feature filtering.
US08874409B2 Multi-step time series prediction in complex instrumented domains
A system, method and computer program product for improving a manufacturing or production environment. The system receives two or more time series data having values that represent current conditions of the manufacturing or production environment as inputs. The system determines one or more different regimes in the received two or more time series data. The system predicts future or unmeasured values of the received two or more time series data in the determined different regimes. The future or unmeasured values represent future conditions of the manufacturing or production environment.
US08874408B2 Low cost method for creating product condition reports from field inspections
A low cost method of measuring parameters of a product in the field, such as the coating thickness on an individual vehicle, sends the measurement data set to a common pocket-size device also carried by the inspector, labels the data set, and transmits the data set to a remote computer to produce a product condition report. Alternately, the data can be transmitted directly to a remote buyer. The method is a low cost, practical and efficient because the inspector in the field only requires two pocket-size wireless devices. Inspectors are freed from carrying relatively bulky or heavy computers in the field. Furthermore, the method employs devices already owned by a numerous inspectors and the method requires no proprietary or expensive equipment. The remote computer permits the efficient addition of further information to create detailed reports that are organized or compiled and transmitted to customers.
US08874407B2 System for determination of downhole position
A measurement means for a downhole tool for determining the orientation of the axis of a downhole tool in relation to true north. It includes a gyro sensor capable of measuring angular rate, a rotation means for rotating the gyro sensor about a sensor axis, a measurement means to detect the angular rate at the gyro sensor as it is rotated to form a series of readings, and a processor capable of interpreting the signal amplitude from the series of readings and determining the points of greatest signal amplitude. The processor is also being capable of comparing the phase difference between the actual readings taken against what would be generated with the sensor pointing true north thus providing a downhole tool axis angular deviation from true north. The rotation means rotates the gyro sensor in discrete steps.
US08874399B2 Method, computer program, and apparatus for detecting pipetting errors
Pipetting errors are detected by: (a) during pipetting, measuring the pressure in the tip of a pipetting device and determining an earlier rate of change of the pressure in the tip; (b) based on the earlier rate of pressure change and a previous pressure value pi, determining an expectation range for the pressure pi+1 at a further moment in time and/or an expectation range for the rate of pressure change δi+1 based on the pressure at the further moment in time ti+1; (c) at the further moment in time ti+1 measuring the pressure pi+1 in the tip; and (d) determining the occurrence of a pipetting error by comparing the measured pressure pi+1 at the further moment ti+1 in time and/or a rate of pressure change δi+1 calculated on the basis of the pressure pi+1 at the further moment ti+1 in time.
US08874394B2 Simple and stable reference for IR-drop and supply noise measurements
Apparatus and method for IR-drop and supply noise measurements in electronic circuits. A first voltage at a point of interest in the circuit is sampled and stored during a quiescent mode of the circuit the voltage is to be measured in. Subsequently, the circuit is brought in an operating mode and a second voltage is sampled and held at the same point of interest. The first and the second voltage are compared and a corresponding voltage signal is passed to a system output.
US08874391B2 Distance-to-fault measurement system capable of measuring complex reflection coefficients
Techniques are disclosed for computing distance-to-fault (DTF) in communication systems. The techniques can be embodied, for instance, in a DTF system that provides a multi-port probing device and DTF functionality, including computing distances to faults and the fault magnitudes. In addition, the DTF system is further configured with the ability to accurately measure complex reflection coefficient of the UUT, and/or return loss of the UUT. The complex reflection coefficient and/or return loss of the UUT can be computed as a function of known scattering parameters of a multi-port measurement circuit included in the probe of the DTF system.
US08874388B2 Method and system for measuring a rate of flow of an output
A system and method for determining a rate of flow of an output from a vessel. The system includes a vessel having an inlet for receiving an output produced by an output generation device, and a measuring device for measuring a first pressure and a second pressure in the vessel. The first pressure is measured when the output generation device is in a standby mode and the second pressure is measured when the output generation device is in an operational mode. The system includes a programmable logic controller configured to calculate a rate of flow of the output utilizing the first pressure and the second pressure.
US08874383B2 Pump assembly
A pump assembly and maintenance system and method. An inventory of pump components has an identifier to track the pump component and a sensor to gather operating data associated with the pump component. A population of pumps is assembled from the pump components. The operating data are correlated with the pump components based on the identifiers in a network-accessible database. The pump components can include interchangeable pump body modules that are separately tracked, whereby the pumps can be repaired by removing and replacing the interchangeable pump body modules.
US08874382B2 Methods and systems for optimizing carbon dioxide sequestration operations
Methods and systems are provided for controlling operational parameters of a CO2 compression surface facility or pipeline in order to maintain a CO2 stream having impurities flowing in the pipeline in a liquid or supercritical phase. Sensors may be provided to sense whether the flow is single-phase or two-phase flow, and feedback provided to adjust the pressure and/or temperature at the pipeline inlet. The system is preferably optimized to limit power consumption and/or cost.
US08874381B2 Method of measuring destruction rate of refrigerant
The present invention provides a method for calculating a destruction rate of refrigerant by establishing a calibration line using standard refrigerant gases and measuring the amount of refrigerant remaining in exhaust gas discharged after destruction of waste refrigerant. For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for calculating a destruction rate of refrigerant, the method including: establishing a calibration line using standard refrigerant gas samples whose concentrations are known; sampling exhaust gas finally discharged after decomposition of waste refrigerant; measuring the concentration of refrigerant remaining in the sampled exhaust gas; and calculating the amount of undestroyed refrigerant using the concentration of refrigerant remaining in the exhaust gas, the amount of exhaust gas discharged, and the known density of refrigerant.
US08874379B2 Central station integration of patient data
A method for displaying medical data includes receiving physiological data from a first medical monitoring device. The physiological data is obtained on a continuous basis. Physiological data is received from a second medical monitoring device. The physiological data from the second medical monitoring device is obtained on a non-continuous basis. The physiological data received from the first medical monitoring device and the physiological data received from the second medical monitoring device are displayed on a central display station. The central display station is located centrally within a care unit of a caregiving facility.
US08874376B2 Methods and systems for well stimulation using multiple angled fracturing
Methods, systems, and apparatus for inducing fractures in a subterranean formation and more particularly methods and apparatus to place a first fracture with a first orientation in a formation followed by a second fracture with a second angular orientation in the formation are disclosed. The first and second fractures are initiated at about a fracturing location. The initiation of the first fracture is characterized by a first orientation line. The first fracture temporarily alters a stress field in the subterranean formation. The initiation of the second fracture is characterized by a second orientation line. The first orientation line and the second orientation line have an angular disposition to each other.
US08874374B2 Optical turbulence sensor
A method and system for determining a rate of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation (TKED) in a turbulent fluid environment are provided. A light source provided at a first end of a predetermined path-length passes a beam of light through the turbulent fluid environment. An angle of arrival detection unit detects the angle of arrival of the at least one beam of light. The angle of arrival is then processed at a processing unit that calculates temperature dissipation spectra as a function of the autocorrelation of the angle of arrival. The peak of the temperature dissipation spectra represents the rate of TKED. A number of turbulent quantities can be determined by using the method and system.
US08874362B2 Method and device for determining the location of a vehicle
A method for determining the location of a vehicle using a GPS receiver (9) and a predefinable coordinate system, in particular a city map, a map, a nautical chart or the like, comprises the following method steps: determination of the GPS coordinates by means of a GPS receiver or some other suitable method, for example Gallileo, beacon, etc., projection of the determined coordinates onto the coordinate system and correction of the GPS coordinates or the projected coordinates in the sense of compound navigation. A corresponding device is specified.
US08874361B2 Vehicle route representation creation
Techniques and systems are disclosed that provide for creating an accurate representation of a roadway network, such as for planning vehicle travel routes. Positioning data is obtained, such as GPS data points from a plurality of vehicles, which mark traces of vehicular travel. A location of a trace is clarified using adjustment forces that are related to the traces, for example, to form coherent groups of traces. From these groups of clarified traces, a graph line is created by merging the traces.
US08874359B2 Collision avoidance method, system and apparatus
A technique for avoiding collisions between trains includes equipping a plurality of trains each with a transceiver and broadcasting a signal periodically from the transceiver of each train. The signal contains a unique identification of a respective train and a unique identification of a track the respective train is moving on. The transceiver of each train receives the signal broadcasted by each of the other trains within a given range. The received signals are analyzed to extract the unique identification of each other train and the unique identification of the track each other train is moving on. It is determined if the track of the train receiving the signal and any of each other trains within the given range is the same and providing an indication if the track of the recipient train and any of other train within the range is the same.
US08874352B2 Method of controlling the combustion phase of a fuel mixture of a spark-ignition supercharged internal-combustion engine, notably of gasoline type
The present invention relates to a method of controlling the combustion phase of a fuel mixture of a spark-ignition supercharged internal-combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder (12) with a combustion chamber (14), at least one fuel supply means (48, 52) and spark ignition means (38).According to the invention, the method consists, for high loads and low speeds of said engine, in determining, during the combustion of the fuel mixture, the value of crank angle (θ′) where the maximum cylinder pressure (Pmax) occurs in the combustion chamber; in comparing the value thus determined with a maximum angle threshold value (θmax) representative of an abnormal combustion in said chamber; in detecting the start of an abnormal combustion when the determined value reaches said threshold value and when the ignition means are not actuated; and in feeding an amount of another fuel into the fuel mixture in order to modify the energy index of this mixture so as to reduce the crank angle where the maximum cylinder pressure occurs.
US08874347B2 Surrounding vehicle recognition device
A behavior acquisition unit acquires behavior related information about a leading vehicle, which travels at a position closest to the self vehicle on an advancing route of the self vehicle. A front vehicle recognition determination unit determines, as a front vehicle recognition state, whether a leading vehicle is specified and whether a self vehicle travels immediately after the leading vehicle, according to the acquired behavior related information. A sending control unit is configured to cause transmission of the front vehicle recognition state and specifying information, which specifies the self vehicle and the leading vehicle, to surroundings of the self vehicle.
US08874341B2 Electronic brake actuator brake-by-wire system and method
An electro-hydraulic brake-by-wire system includes a brake pedal, an electronic booster coupled to the brake pedal, a master cylinder coupled to the electronic booster, at least one hydraulic brake circuit disposed in fluid communication with the master cylinder, at least one front hydraulic brake disposed in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic brake circuit and at least one rear hydraulic brake disposed in fluid communication with the at least one hydraulic brake circuit.
US08874337B2 System and method for controlling loads on a manual transmission based on a selected gear of the manual transmission
A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a selected gear module and a shift indicator module. The selected gear module determines a selected gear of a manual transmission. The shift indicator module monitors vehicle speed and the selected gear and generates a shift indicator signal based on the vehicle speed and the selected gear, the shift indicator signal indicating when to shift to one of first gear and reverse gear.
US08874330B2 Method for monitoring components of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle with corresponding monitoring device
In a method for monitoring a functionality of a first and a second component of a motor vehicle the requirements for the monitoring are as follows: for a valid monitoring of the first component a predetermined operating condition of the motor vehicle must exist; for a valid monitoring of the second component the first component must be functioning properly. According to the method according to the invention, upon impending travel, taking into account navigation data of a navigation assistance system, it is determined whether the prescribed operating condition is expected to exist.
US08874329B2 Method and device for monitoring the stability of a loading crane mounted on a vehicle
A method for monitoring a stability parameter of a loading crane mounted on a vehicle supported on the ground by wheels and by support elements separate from the wheels includes calculating, using a processor, the stability parameter of the loading crane mounted on the vehicle supported on the ground by the wheels and the support elements, and comparing the magnitude of the stability parameter to at least one predetermined limit value. The calculating includes detecting contributions to a magnitude of the stability parameter of the wheels of the vehicle on which the loading crane is mounted and detecting contributions to the magnitude of the stability parameter of the support elements of the vehicle on which the loading crane is mounted.
US08874325B2 Automatic four leg leveling for cold planers
A method for leveling of a machine on a surface, and a machine for the same, is disclosed. The method may comprise equalizing the legs of the machine prior to extending or retracting the legs of the machine to raise or lower the machine during non-milling operational status. The method may also comprise extending or retracting the legs during milling operational status while maintaining the relative lengths of each leg.
US08874320B2 Method for determining the understeering ratio of a vehicle provided with electric power steering and for optionally correcting the power steering
The invention relates to a method for calculating the understeering ratio of automobiles provided with electric power steering (EPS) including an electric assistance motor (9) driven by an onboard electronic computer (11), a sensor (12, 14) providing a first piece of information on a real angular position of the steering wheel (3), a wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) providing a second piece of information on the speed of the wheels (15) of the vehicle, characterised in that the onboard computer (11) of the EPS processes the second piece of information for estimating a theoretical angular position of the steering wheel (3), which is further compared to the real angular position of the steering wheel (3) in order to derive the understeering ratio (τ) of the vehicle.
US08874315B2 Motor control unit and vehicle steering system
When the estimated motor temperature becomes equal to or higher than the first predetermined temperature, an addition angle correction unit temporarily decreases the absolute value of the addition angle output from an addition angle limiter at time intervals. The addition angle correction unit makes the time interval shorter as the estimated motor temperature increases. When the time interval becomes equal to or shorter than the predetermined threshold, that is, when the estimated motor temperature becomes equal to or higher than the second predetermined temperature that is higher than the first predetermined temperature, the addition angle correction unit notifies a command current value changing unit of a current stop command. Thus, the γ-axis command current value is changed to 0, and therefore the steering mode is shifted to the manual steer mode.
US08874314B2 Vehicle damping control apparatus
A vehicle damping control apparatus is basically provided with a braking/accelerating torque generating component, a corrective torque calculating component, a corrective torque command value output component and a priority level setting component. The braking/accelerating torque generating component is configured to generate braking/accelerating torque in a wheel. The corrective torque calculating component is configured to calculate a corrective torque to suppress vehicle pitching vibration and vehicle bouncing vibration. The corrective torque command value output component is configured to output a corrective torque command value to the braking/accelerating torque generating component based on the corrective torque. The priority level setting component is configured to set a priority level for calculating the corrective torque command value such that vehicle bouncing vibration is suppressed with priority over vehicle pitching vibration.
US08874309B2 Method for acquiring information
A method for acquiring information from a driving operation of a vehicle, in which first information is acquired with respect to at least one operating state of the vehicle and additional second information is ascertained with respect to this at least one operating state using statistical methods, the first and second information concerning this at least one operating state being stored. A method for the assigning and diagnosis of at least one operating state of a vehicle, a control unit, a computer program and a computer-program product are also provided.
US08874308B2 Power steering device
A power steering device is mounted on a vehicle and includes a variable transmission ratio mechanism, a torque applying unit, and an applied friction torque changing unit. The torque applying unit sets an applied friction torque applied to the steering wheel and performs a control of applying the applied friction torque to the steering wheel. The applied friction torque changing unit changes the applied friction torque based on the transmission ratio of the variable transmission ratio mechanism.
US08874303B2 Fuel-saving driving evaluation system
Disclosed is a fuel-saving driving evaluation system which provides a driver with advice suitable for the driver based on fuel-saving driving evaluation standards which correspond to the fuel-saving driving proficiency level of the driver, so that the driver is relaxed and the fuel-saving driving skill of the driver is gradually improved. The fuel-saving driving evaluation system is comprised of an engine speed measuring device, a vehicle speed measuring device, a fuel flow measuring device, and a control device. The control device has a function to store several kinds of standard values and target values of parameters (driving operation parameters) for evaluating the fuel-saving driving level in the vehicle to be evaluated, and a function to determine the standard values and the target values of the parameters based on control signals sent from outside of the control device.
US08874300B2 Systems and methods for obstacle avoidance
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for obstacle avoidance. In some embodiments, a robotically controlled vehicle capable of operating in one or more modes may be provided. Examples of such modes include teleoperation, waypoint navigation, follow, and manual mode. The vehicle may include an obstacle detection and avoidance system capable of being implemented with one or more of the vehicle modes. A control system may be provided to operate and control the vehicle in the one or more modes. The control system may include a robotic control unit and a vehicle control unit.
US08874299B2 Vehicle control system for electrically driven vehicle
A vehicle control system of the electrically driven vehicle, wherein the engagement element slip process is carried out for the slipping of the transmission engagement element on the basis of the detection by the detecting section; and the control system has a clutch torque control section that is programmed to work as follows: during the engagement element slip process, the target motor/generator torque, which is increased from the drive torque of the motor/generator by a clutch slip accelerating torque portion for accelerating the slipping of the drive transmission engagement element for the drive torque of the motor/generator, is output from the motor/generator. In addition, when the preset slip accelerating torque suppression condition is met, the torque control for decreasing the drive torque of the motor/generator is carried out.
US08874298B2 Battery power source device
A battery system includes a plurality of battery modules electrically coupled together in series. The battery system also includes a first electronic control unit (ECU) configured to act as a master ECU. The master ECU is electronically coupled to a first one of the plurality of battery modules. The battery system further includes a plurality of slave ECUs, wherein each slave ECU is electronically coupled to one of the other of the plurality of battery modules. The master ECU is configured to control whether electrical power is provided to each of the plurality of slave ECUs.
US08874294B2 Simplified topology for trolley assist-capable electric drive truck
A trolley assist-capable electric drive truck includes a DC link with first, second and third contactors that may be opened and closed in different configurations to operate the truck in different modes. In a normal propel mode, the three contactors are open and electrical power is routed from an onboard electrical power source to electric propulsion motors. During normal retard mode, the three contactors are closed to route electrical energy generated by the electric propulsion motors through a grid resistor of the DC link. In a trolley mode, the first and second contactors are closed, but the third contactor is open, and electrical power is routed from the trolley lines to the motors for propulsion, or in a reverse direction for retarding the truck.
US08874289B2 Vehicular power transmission control apparatus
An apparatus, applied to a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as power sources, comprises a changeover mechanism which is able to change a connection state of an electric motor output shaft to any one of “an IN-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between a transmission input shaft and the electric motor output shaft, “an OUT-Connection State” in which a power transmission path is provided between the transmission output shaft and the electric motor output shaft, and “a neutral state” in which no transmission path therebetween is provided. When a changeover condition is satisfied, a period is provided in which a sum Ts of an internal-combustion-engine-side-output-torque Te and an electric-motor-side-output-torque Tm coincides with a required driving torque Tr, and an electric motor torque continues to be zero.
US08874287B2 Transportable device for recording flight data
A transportable device for recording flight data obtained from an avionics system in an aircraft is provided. The device includes a case containing a laptop computer. The case limits the electromagnetic disturbances between the laptop and the avionics system. The laptop is connected to the avionics system, so as to receive the flight data to be recorded. The device can be applied to monitoring of flight data.
US08874284B2 Methods for remote display of an enhanced image
A method is provided for providing remote display of an enhanced image. The method receives data from the image source, creates an enhanced image with the received data, and transmits the enhanced image via a wireless link to a display device capable of displaying the enhanced image. The method may create the enhanced image by stitching image data from at least two image sources having different fields of view, fusing image data from at least two image sources having different image modalities, or combining image data from at least one image source with synthetic image data. The method may also modify at least one transmission characteristic based on a bandwidth of the wireless link. The transmission characteristic may be selected from the group comprising field of view, frame rate, resolution, and compression.
US08874283B1 Drone for inspection of enclosed space and method thereof
Embodiments of a drone for inspection and a method of use are depicted wherein the drone is utilized in an enclosed space and is capable of being controlled with or without line of sight to the aircraft. The drone may land on generally horizontal or vertical surfaces. A method of use is taught as well.
US08874282B2 Model vehicle remote control system
Methods, systems, and apparatus for remotely piloting a vehicle. In one aspect, a system includes a transmitter capable to receive vehicle control signals and transmit the vehicle control signals to a vehicle including at least one receiver; one or more modules; and at least one power supply; wherein the at least one receiver receives the transmitted vehicle control signals and transmits the vehicle control signals in a CAN message format to all of the one or more modules; and each of the one or more modules selectively chooses which of the vehicle control signals in a CAN message format the module will respond to.
US08874281B2 Cooperative communication control between vehicles
A method is provided for receiving sensor information by a plurality of motor vehicles with respect to sensor information regarding locations of objects; sharing the sensor information by the plurality of motor vehicles; displaying the shared sensor information on a user interface on each of the plurality of motor vehicles; and controlling the receiving, sharing, and displaying the sensor information with a software library.
US08874280B2 Information processing system, method for checking vehicle, and program for checking vehicle
In order to allow the broader selection of modules that configure a vehicle, this information processing system, which is for checking a vehicle configured by combining a plurality of vehicle modules, is characterized by being provided with: a first judgment means that judges whether or not each vehicle module has been certified; a second judgment means that judges whether or not the combination of the plurality of vehicle modules can be certified; and a determination means that determines the conditions necessary for the combination of the plurality of vehicle modules to receive certification.
US08874279B2 Vehicle-incident detection method and system
A vehicle-incident detection method is disclosed herein. Vehicle data is received at a cloud computing system from a vehicle, where the vehicle data is generated by the vehicle in response to an initial detection of a vehicle-related event. After receiving the data, the cloud computing system requests additional vehicle data from the vehicle. The additional vehicle data is generated by the vehicle at a time subsequent to the initial detection of the vehicle-related event. The additional vehicle data is received from the vehicle, and an application resident in the cloud computing system analyzes the vehicle data and the additional vehicle data to determine that the vehicle-related event occurred. The application includes computer readable code embedded on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable medium for performing the analyzing. Also disclosed herein is a vehicle-incident detection system.
US08874278B2 Power supply control device, image forming apparatus, and method of controlling power supply
A power supply control device includes an electrical power generating unit that generates electrical power and supplies the generated electrical power to an electronic device having a nonvolatile memory and a control unit; a switching unit that monitors a voltage of electrical power supplied to the electronic device, and switches such that, when the voltage is less than a predetermined threshold value, the electrical power is supplied to the control unit and is not supplied to the nonvolatile memory; and a capacitor that maintains, when the electrical power is switched to be supplied to the control unit, a voltage applied to the nonvolatile memory for a period of time during which writing of data to the nonvolatile memory can be completed.
US08874277B2 Smart-grid adaptive power management method and system with power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion reduction
A method and system of power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion are provided under the premise of efficient power management and distribution on an electrical grid. The method and system include a novel optimization technique based on a novel current profiling methodology enabling real-time power management with power factor correction as a function of the optimization. The optimization can be performed under dynamic current constraints. When deployed on an electrical grid, the method and system can provide a new technique for power management targeting an efficiency of the electrical grid. The method and system can thus provide for reduced costs of energy production and reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
US08874275B2 Landscape irrigation management with automated water budget and seasonal adjust, and automated implementation of watering restrictions
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for water conservation with landscape irrigation controllers, plug-in and add-on devices, and centralized systems. In embodiments of the invention, a water budget percentage is determined by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data, and the preliminary irrigation schedule or station run times are automatically modified based upon that water budget percentage. Embodiments of the present invention also provide for automation of mandated landscape watering restrictions alone, or in various combinations with water budgeting methods and apparatus.
US08874274B2 Cryopump network
A vacuum network control system includes a plurality of nodes configured for control over operational processes of the system. The plural nodes are configured, in a network ring or other topology, as a selectable master node for controlling the operational processes. Control can be distributed among, and passed between, each of the nodes. Each node on the network monitors adjacent network connectors to detect a fault in the network. In response to a detected fault, a disconnect is mapped to the fault, and the network topology is reconfigured for continued communication among the nodes and with external devices.
US08874273B2 Analysis engine and database for manipulating parameters for fluidic systems on a chip
Systems for managing workflows to perform chemical or biological reactions using microfluidic devices.
US08874260B2 Medication dispensing and control unit
A medication and dispensing system tracks the medication of multiple users over time and preferably combines this information with periodic test results provided to the system. The system is designed to allow remote access electronically to authorized users whereby doctors or other medical professionals can review the data of actual medication dispensed and preliminary test results accumulated over time. Preliminary analysis of the data is conducted by the system to determine alert conditions. Such alert conditions include incorrect medication dispensing (i.e. failure to take a prescribed medication) and test results that warrant investigation. Many different types of alerts may be programmed into the software of the device.
US08874253B2 Self-aligned NAND flash select-gate wordlines for spacer double patterning
A method for double patterning is disclosed. In one embodiment the formation a pair of select gate wordlines on either side of a plurality of core wordlines begins by placing a spacer pattern around edges of a photoresist pattern is disclosed. The photoresist pattern is stripped away leaving the spacer pattern. A trim mask is placed over a portion of the spacer pattern. Portions of the spacer pattern are etched away that are not covered by the trim mask. The trim mask is removed, wherein first remaining portions of the spacer pattern define a plurality of core wordlines. A pad mask is placed such that the pad mask and second remaining portions of the spacer pattern define a select gate wordline on either side of the plurality of core wordlines. Finally at least one pattern transfer layer is etched through using the mad mask and the first and second remaining portions of the spacer pattern to etch the select gate wordlines and the plurality of core wordlines into a poly silicon layer.
US08874252B2 Comprehensive analysis of queue times in microelectronic manufacturing
A system for determining a group of semiconductor manufacturing process steps with a similar influence on individual semiconductor products. The system generates a first table including time stamps for the individual semiconductor products. The system creates a second table including Q-times based on the first table. The Q-times refers to time differences between every pair of the time stamps. The system forms a dependency table by grouping the Q-times with similar dependencies together. The system identifies groups of the similar dependencies. The system extracts semiconductor process steps belonging to the groups.
US08874251B2 System and method for forming a custom medical mask from a three-dimensional electronic model
According to one embodiment, a custom medical mask formed for a particular user from a three-dimensional electronic model includes a body formed from a polymerized photopolymer material. An interior surface of the body is configured to seat on the particular user's face and comprises a physical embodiment of a three-dimensional electronic model corresponding to unique facial features of the particular user. According to another embodiment, a method of creating a three-dimensional electronic model for use in forming a custom medical mask for a particular user includes scanning a portion of the particular user's face using an electronic scanning device, generating a three-dimensional electronic model of the portion of the particular user's face based on the scanning, and transmitting the three-dimensional electronic model of the portion of the particular user's face for use in forming the custom medical mask for the particular user from a photopolymer using a stereolithography apparatus.
US08874249B2 Discrete sampling based nonlinear control system
System, method and computer program product for configuring and controlling a facility to perform a manufacturing process and updating a tool controlling the process according to a model employed for mapping calculated coefficients that characterize non-linear variations observed of a product to actual control parameters governing the processes/tools used by the facility during the manufacturing process. The method enables real-time control of variation in an exposure step of a patterning process using an exposure tool to minimize a nonlinear variation in one or more pattern attributes by adjusting the exposure tool or the patterning process corresponding to the calculated coefficients. In the method, measurements of product attributes, obtained by finite sampling over a well defined domain, are projected onto a predefined reference mesh spanning the domain, using a physically based model comprised of functions constructed to be orthogonal and normalized over a discrete set of reference mesh locations.
US08874248B2 Image processing method and method of three-dimensional printing incorporating the same
A method for preparing image data for three-dimensional printing in which a digitized (e.g. voxelized) representation of a virtual three-dimensional object (e.g. CAD model) is eroded to create an internal volume for the object. Subsequently, a vector-based surface representation of this internal volume is generated and simply combined with a corresponding vector-based surface representation of the original virtual three-dimensional object to yield a hollowed out model in a format suitable for three-dimensional printing.A microstructure may be introduced into the interior of the hollowed out model, e.g. by extracting a volume corresponding to the inverse of that microstructure from the eroded digitized representation.
US08874246B2 Interactive media playing system and method
An interactive media playing system and method are presented. The system includes a server and a media playing device. After the media playing device logs in to the server, the server compares personal data of a authenticated member data with matching information of media information, finds at least one target media information, introduces matching information of the target media information and the personal data of the authenticated member data into a weighted distribution rule, in order to find a media playing sequence conforming to both the matching information of the target media information and the personal data of the authenticated member data, and outputs the media information to a media playing device. In this way, a user can perform an operation behavior on the media information through the media playing device.
US08874241B2 Master-slave system using 4-DOF parallel mechanism
A master-slave system using a 4-degree of freedom (DOF) parallel mechanism includes: a master device having a 4-DOF parallel mechanism which generates 1-DOF translation and 3-DOF rotation by the manipulation of a user; a slave device having a 4-DOF parallel mechanism which generates 1-DOF translation and 3-DOF rotation according to the movement of the master device; and a controller for receiving a behavior signal generated by the master device and outputting a driving signal to the slave device so that the slave device moves according to the movement of the master device. The master-slave system may be utilized as a remote needling robot with excellent manipulation and precision.
US08874234B2 Implantable device with improved surface characteristics
An implantable device comprises a polymer structure having an outer surface facing a surrounding tissue when the implantable device is implanted in a subject body. At least a portion of the surface of the structure has a semi-random pattern of extending micropillars. The semi-random pattern of micropillars on the surface contributes to advantageous surface characteristics of the implantable device in terms of reducing adhesion viable cells to the implantable device as compared to regular patterns of micropillars.
US08874231B2 Customizable medical electrode
A medical electrode includes a conductive member having a top and a bottom side and a plurality of cutouts establishing a pattern of islands interconnected by conductive member bridges. A plurality of island electrodes are provided with each island electrode disposed on a corresponding island. A conductive adhesive is disposed on the conductive member bottom side for adhering the medical electrode to a patient's skin.
US08874228B2 Integrated system and method for MRI-safe implantable devices
An implantable system includes at least one electrode that is configured to apply a stimulus to surrounding tissue based on a control signal. A control module provides the control signal, such as for controlling application of the stimulus, which can be an electrical stimulus, a chemical stimulus or a combination thereof. A detector is configured to detect a temperature characteristic associated with one or more of the electrode and the surrounding tissue. An output signal is provided based on the detected temperature characteristic. The output signal can be used by an associated diagnostic system to terminate a diagnostic procedure, such as to mitigate heating of the electrode and/or the surrounding tissue.
US08874226B2 Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for configuring hearing prostheses
The present application discloses systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for fitting a hearing prosthesis to a hearing prosthesis recipient. Some embodiments include generating a first set of two or more stimulation signals via a corresponding set of two or more channels of a hearing prosthesis, reducing the corresponding stimulation levels of the stimulation signals of the first set of two or more stimulation signals in response to receiving an indication that a sound sensation corresponding to the first set of two or more stimulation signals is uncomfortably loud, and generating a second set of one or more stimulation signals at the reduced stimulation levels via a first subset of one or more channels.
US08874224B2 Flexible circuit electrode array for improved layer adhesion
The present invention is a flexible circuit electrode array for improved layer adhesions where the metal conductors overlap the polymer insulator. The steps to build the flexible circuit are as follows. Deposit a base polymer layer. Deposit a conductive trace over the base polymer layer. Deposit a top polymer layer over the trace and prepare a void in the top polymer layer smaller than the surface of the trace. Deposit an electrode on the trace through the void with a periphery larger than, and overlapping the void.
US08874222B2 Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08874219B2 Arbitrary waveform generator and neural stimulation application
A method, device and/or system for generating arbitrary waveforms of a desired shape that can be used for generating a stimulation pulse for medical purposes such as for spinal cord stimulation therapy.
US08874215B2 System, an apparatus, and a method for treating a sexual dysfunctional female patient
There is disclosed an apparatus for treating a sexual dysfunctional female patient, comprising a stimulation device adapted to stimulate an erectile blood flow passageway to increase the amount of blood in the female erectile tissue and thereby obtaining engorgement with blood of the female erectile tissue by affecting said erectile blood flow passageway. Moreover there is disclosed a system and an operation method for treating a sexual dysfunctional female patient.
US08874212B2 Active implantable medical device type such as a pacemaker with detection of anodal stimulation by analysis of a vectogram
A device produces at least two distinct temporal components (Vbip, Vuni) from two separate endocardial electrogram EGM signals concurrently collected in the same cavity. A 2D non-temporal characteristic is determined from the variations of one of the temporal components (Vuni) versus the other (Vbip). The analysis of this characteristic allows detection of the possible presence of an anodal stimulation, causing a depolarization in a second cavity after stimulation delivered to a first heart chamber, opposite to the first. One possibility is to proceed by observing whether the non-temporal 2D characteristic is included or not within a predetermined domain defined in a coordinate frame corresponding to the space of the two temporal components.
US08874211B2 Hypertension therapy based on activity and circadian rhythm
According to an embodiment of a method for using an implantable device to deliver a hypertension therapy to a patient, an activity level is sensed using the implantable medical device. The implantable device may be programmed with a mapping of the sensed activity level to intensity levels for the hypertension therapy. The method may determine a desired intensity for the hypertension therapy as a function of both a circadian rhythm template and the sensed activity level, and use the implantable device to deliver the hypertension therapy using the desired intensity.
US08874209B2 Device for characterizing the cardiac status of a patient equipped with a biventricular pacing active implant
A medical device for characterizing the cardiac status of a patient equipped with a bi-ventricular pacing active implant device. The implant collects an endocardiac acceleration signal and searches for an optimal pacing configuration. This latter tests a plurality of different pacing configurations and delivers for each tested configuration parameters derived from the endocardiac acceleration peak (PEA). The device derives a patient clinical status from those parameters, the indication being representative of the patient's response to the cardiac resynchronization therapy. Those parameters include: the possibility to automatically get or not a valid optimal AV Delay among all the biventricular pacing configurations; a factor indicating the character sigmoid of the PEA/AVD characteristic; the average value of the PEA for the various configurations; and the PEA signal/noise ratio. The active implantable medical device includes control software and processes for executing the characterizing functionality described.
US08874208B2 Methods and devices for three-stage ventricular therapy
Methods and apparatus for a three-stage ventricular cardioversion and defibrillation therapy that treats ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation at low energy levels. An implantable therapy generator adapted to generate and selectively deliver a three-stage ventricular therapy and at least two leads operably each having at least one electrode adapted to be positioned proximate the ventricle of the patient. The device is programmed to deliver a three-stage therapy via both a far-field configuration and a near-field configuration of the electrodes upon detection of a ventricular arrhythmia. The three-stage therapy includes a first stage for unpinning of one or more singularities associated with the ventricular arrhythmia, a second stage for anti-repinning of the one or more singularities, both of which are delivered via the far-field configuration of the electrodes, and a third stage for extinguishing of the one or more singularities associated delivered via the near-field configuration of the electrodes.
US08874203B2 Methods for measuring cross-sectional areas in luminal organs
Methods for measuring cross-sectional areas in luminal organs. In at least one embodiment of a method for measuring a size parameter of a targeted treatment site of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of introducing an impedance device into a treatment site, the impedance device selected from the group consisting of an impedance catheter and an impedance wire; injecting a first solution of a first compound having a first conductivity into the treatment site; measuring a first conductance value at the treatment site using the impedance device, the first conductance value indicative of a bolus of the first solution, and calculating a size parameter of the treatment site based in part upon the first conductivity of the first solution, the first conductance.
US08874200B2 System and method for automated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation through remote monitoring
A system and method for automated diagnosis of atrial fibrillation through remote monitoring is described. Physiological measures including data either recorded on a regular basis by a medical device or derived therefrom are stored. Physiological measures recorded during a baseline period are identified. Physiological measures including cardiac rhythm and changes to the cardiac rhythm originating subsequent to the baseline period are identified. Cardiac rhythm changes for palpitations are evaluated and a time course for the cardiac rhythm changes upon an indication of palpitations is determined. A patient status including an onset of atrial fibrillation conditioned on the time course comprising a short duration is formed.
US08874199B2 Electrocardiogram analyzer
The estimated contour positions of the atrium and ventricle are obtained from multi-channel electrocardiographic waveforms. Information useful to predict the possibility of the occurrence of fatal arrhythmia, such as the position of the maximum excitation propagation point, the distribution of the late potential(LP) as an index of depolarization abnormality, and the distribution of the RT dispersion as an index of repolarization abnormality are displayed together with the estimated contour positions.
US08874195B2 Apparatus and method for health care
A health care apparatus and method thereof. The health care apparatus comprises: a sensing position determining unit determining a body part of an examinee where vital signals of the examinee are sensed; a vital potential sensing unit sensing potential signals of the examinee corresponding to a determined result; and an analyzing unit analyzing the sensed result. Accordingly, the health care apparatus can determine body parts by itself and senses potential signals corresponding to the body parts to calculate reliable measurements without information of the body parts to which the health care apparatus is attached. Furthermore, the health care apparatus can be easily attached to the body compared to a conventional health care apparatus, and can calculate a health index reflecting the present behavior pattern of the examinee. The health care apparatus can also determine the health state of local body parts of the examinee and inform the examinee of the calculated health indexes on a real-time basis.
US08874192B2 Non-invasive imaging for determination of global tissue characteristics
Evaluating tissue characteristics including identification of injured tissue or alteration of the ratios of native tissue components such as shifting the amounts of normal myocytes and fibrotic tissue in the heart, identifying increases in the amount of extracellular components or fluid (like edema or extracellular matrix proteins), or detecting infiltration of tumor cells or mediators of inflammation into the tissue of interest in a patient, such as a human being, is provided by obtaining a first image of tissue including a region of interest from a first acquisition, and obtaining a second image of the tissue including the region of interest during a second, subsequent acquisition. The subsequent acquisition may be obtained after a period of time to determine if injury has occurred during that period of time. Such a comparison may include comparison of mean, average characteristics, histogram shape, such as skew and kurtosis, or distribution of intensities within the histogram.
US08874191B2 Method and magnetic resonance device for graphically assisting navigation of an instrument
In a method and magnetic resonance device for graphically assisting the navigation of an instrument (in particular a medical instrument such as a needle and/or a guide sleeve guiding a needle) within a procedure region of a target subject (in particular a patient), coordinates of a target position and/or target region to be addressed that are obtained from a high-contrast image data set acquired with the magnetic resonance device. Low-contrast image data showing the instrument are acquired continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation and/or the position and orientation of the instrument is determined (in particular measured) with a position determination device. The low-contrast image later are brought into registration with the magnetic resonance device continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation. A representation showing at least the relative position and orientation of the instrument relative to the target position and/or target region is generated and displayed under consideration of the coordinates and the low-contrast image data and/or the position and orientation of the instrument.
US08874189B2 Method of visualizing MR images
In a method and a device MR images having various contrasts are scanned and then values for some or all of the parameters T1, T2 and PD related to the scanned MR images are determined. Based on the scanned MR images and the determined parameter values an initial conventional MR contrast image with some default scanner settings is generated, or alternatively, a stronger non-physical MR contrast image. The initial MR contrast image can then be manipulated by a user in response to movement of a user-controlled marker on a screen showing the contrast image such that a contrast optimized image can be obtained for a particular diagnosis in a very short time. Furthermore a quantitative image can be generated representing the amount of a single tissue type.
US08874186B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring physiological parameters using electrical measurements
A system for monitoring a physiological parameter comprises a substrate, a pair of drive electrodes, a pair of detection electrodes, and an RFID apparatus. The substrate is arranged to be removably securable to a biological organism. At least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes is secured to the substrate. The RFID apparatus is arranged to be in electrical communication with at least the pair of drive electrodes or the pair of detection electrodes. Methods of using the device are also provided.
US08874185B2 Method for determining electrical biopotentials
A set of electrodes suitable for being attached to the skin of an animal or human being at locations normally used for attaching single-lead electrodes with a single sensor point. The electrodes of the set of electrodes have at least three sensors arranged to define two linearly independent directions, which allows sensing corresponding electrical potential differences in the two directions. Signals representing sensed potential differences can be transmitted wirelessly or via conductors to a processing apparatus for being transformed into electrical potentials that approximate traditional potentials obtained with wired single-sensor electrodes. A method is also presented.
US08874181B2 Oximeter ambient light cancellation
A pulse oximeter method and apparatus which provides (1) a notch filter at a distance between a modulation frequency and a common multiple of commonly used power line frequencies (50, 60, 100 and 120) and also (2) a demodulation frequency greater than a highest pulse rate of a person and lower than any harmonic of 50, 60, 100 or 120 Hz, to filter ambient light interference, while choosing an optimum demodulation frequency that avoids interference from the notch filter or from harmonics of the line interference. Also, ambient light for any low frequency interference, such as power line interference, is measured both before and after each of the light emitter wavelengths and the average of the ambient light is then subtracted from the detected signal.
US08874180B2 Ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting with wireless sensors
A system and method for generating power via harvesting of ambient electromagnetic signals. The system may include one or more sensing components which, acting alone or in combination, are capable of generating data related to one or more physiological parameters. The system may also include wireless communication circuitry capable of wirelessly transmitting the data related to the one or more physiological parameters. Furthermore, at least one of the one or more sensing components or the wireless communication circuitry may be at least partially powered, directly or indirectly, by energy generated via harvested electromagnetic signals.
US08874175B2 Converting samples of a signal at a sample rate into samples of another signal at another sample rate
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a determiner, converter, adapter, and modifier. The determiner is configured to generate a representation of a difference between a first frequency at which a first signal is sampled and a second frequency at which a second signal is sampled, and the converter is configured to generate a second sample of the first signal at a second time in response to the representation and a first sample of the first signal at a first time. The adapter is configured to generate a sample of a modifier signal in response to the second sample of the first signal, and the modifier is configured to generate a modified sample of the second signal in response to a sample of the second signal and the sample of the modifier signal. For example, such an apparatus may be able to reduce the magnitude of an echo signal in a system having an audio pickup (e.g., a microphone) near an audio output (e.g., a speaker).
US08874173B2 Mobile information terminal
Provided is a mobile information terminal in which even a CPU having a low processing capability can realize a pseudo-multi task and understand the operation of an application program being started. The mobile information terminal includes: a display part (17), a storage part (13), a communication part (11), and a control part (12). Each time a document displayed on the display part (17) is updated, the control part (12) stores a display history of the document. When interrupting execution of the document display application, the control part (12) judges whether or not the acquisition destination information on the displayed document is stored in the storage part (13). If no, the acquisition destination information is stored in the storage part (13) separately from the display history the display part (17) controls to display the interrupted display information indicating that the document display by the document display application is interrupted. If yes, the acquisition destination information is not stored again in the storage part (13).
US08874171B2 Supporting multiple subscriber identities in a portable device using a single transceiver
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for enabling wireless communications for multiple numbers or subscriber identities using a single transceiver is disclosed. The method includes, for a terminal device including a transceiver for wireless communications, determining whether the terminal device supports a plurality of subscriber identities. The method also includes, responsive to determining that the terminal device supports a plurality of subscriber identities, creating a plurality of recurrent time slots for a communication channel of the terminal device, allocating for each subscriber identity a respective time slot, and enabling wireless communications for the plurality of subscriber identities using the respective time slots via the transceiver.
US08874170B2 Chip card, an electronic system, a method being implemented by a chip card and a computer program product
The present invention relates to a chip card comprising: an interface (112) to a master device (120), a single tasking processor (102) for receiving chip card commands from the master via the interface, first program instructions (106) for execution by the processor, the first program instructions implementing a chip card function, second program instructions (110) for execution by the processor, the second program instructions implementing an endless loop, third program instructions (108) for execution by the processor, the third program instructions being adapted to start execution of the second program instructions in response to a blocking signal.
US08874167B2 Method and system for multi-standby operation for a multi-SIM multi-standby communication device
A communication device comprises a single radio resource unit that is shared by a plurality of virtual modems (VMs), each uniquely associated with a single one of a plurality of SIM cards. Traffic related to the SIM cards are concurrently handled utilizing corresponding VMs. Available radio resource in the single radio resource unit are shared by the VMs based on corresponding VM states, namely, an active state, an idle state and a suspended state. VMs in an idle state concurrently monitor paging events and concurrently perform idle mode procedures such as location updating. VMs not related to an intended traffic are suspended. A VM related to the intended traffic is transitioned from an idle state to an active state to enable the communication for the intended traffic. Once the communication is complete, the suspended VMs are resumed to continue idle mode activities.
US08874164B2 Power consumption improvement for certain M2M devices
Performance is improved in certain M2M devices by suppressing explicit network registration or attachment. The described techniques may be used, for example, by M2M devices that periodically or occasionally transmit event data using wireless communication networks without needing to receive periodic or on-demand communications from the network for regular operation. In some embodiments, an M2M device may continue to monitor pilot channels of available wireless networks, select a particular network for communication from among the available wireless networks, and monitor system information for the selected network without registering on the selected network. The M2M device may suppress explicit registration based on one or more explicit registration triggers associated with the selected network. The M2M device may be implicitly registered as part of the network access transmitting the captured or measured event data to the selected network. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.
US08874163B2 Method and apparatus for managing sound volume of wireless connection device in mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and method for managing a sound volume of a wireless connection device in a mobile communication terminal are provided. The method includes pre-storing a sound volume level of the wireless connection device with respect to each system supported by the mobile communication terminal, and when a call is generated, requesting to determine a sound volume by transmitting to the wireless connection device a sound volume level of a system in which the call is generated among the sound volume levels pre-stored for the respective systems.
US08874161B2 Apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for reducing power consumption in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes an antenna, a Radio Frequency (RF) module, a first amplifier, an external power amplifier, and a controller. The RF module converts a baseband transmission signal to an RF signal. The first amplifier amplifies power of the RF signal inside the RF module. The external power amplifier amplifies power of an output signal of the first amplifier. When a transmission power level of a transmission signal is equal to or less than a maximum output level of the first amplifier, the controller controls to transmit the transmission signal amplified by the first amplifier via the antenna. When the transmission power level of the transmission signal is equal to or greater than the maximum output level of the first amplifier, the controller controls to transmit a transmission signal amplified by the external power amplifier via the antenna.
US08874157B1 Scheduling wireless communication power resources in wireless communication systems
A method of operating a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving power status information for resource blocks of a plurality of wireless links, where the resource blocks comprise frequency apportioned timeslots used for exchanging wireless communications between wireless access nodes and user devices. The method also includes processing the power status information to identify ones of the resource blocks which exceed a power threshold, determining scheduling instructions for the resource blocks to reduce the power status information for the ones of the resource blocks to below the power threshold, and transferring the scheduling instructions to at least a first wireless access node for controlling a first wireless link based on the scheduling instructions.
US08874152B2 Wireless communication system, coexistence manager installed in said system, and method for wireless communication
Disclosed is a wireless communication system capable of avoiding interference even when a network including a secondary user coexists. The wireless communication system includes a primary user belonging to a first network, a first secondary user belonging to a second network, and a coexistence manager (CM). The coexistence manager (CM) acquires information relating to spectrum holes that are, at least temporarily, not in use by the primary user. In addition, the coexistence manager (CM) determines whether or not usage of the spectrum holes by the first secondary user causes interference. If the determination result is that interference is caused, coexistence manager (CM) notifies to this effect a second secondary user belonging to a third network, which differs from the second network.
US08874150B2 Device for aggregating, translating, and disseminating communications within a multiple device environment
Methods, systems, and products aggregate and distribute changes of state between devices. A plurality of devices communicates with an aggregator. The plurality of devices sends their respective changes of state to the aggregator. The aggregator queries a set of interaction rules to determine how the change of state is disseminated among the plurality of devices.
US08874149B2 System and method for determining an SMS message retransmission schedule
A system and method for determining an SMS retransmission schedule is provided. When a special error code is received by an SMSC, the SMSC can calculate the response time. The response time is the time that lapsed between forwarding the SMS message for delivery and receiving an error code. If the response time exceeds a response time threshold, the error code can be considered as falsely generated, A special retransmission schedule can be assigned to the SMS message. If the response time does not exceed a response time threshold, a different retransmission schedule can be assigned to the SMS message.
US08874147B2 Apparatus, method and system of sending and receiving for supporting application-based MMS
Sending apparatus, receiving apparatus, sending method, receiving method and sending and receiving system for supporting application based MMS. The body of an incremental MMS includes a dynamic data section of MMS, a static data indicator associated with the MMS, and a link tag between indicated static data and the dynamic data. The amount of the message quantity transmitted may be reduced because the changed section of the incremental MMS is sent directly via short message channel in dynamic data mode. In turn, the incremental MMS may be sent via short message channel instead of MMS channel due to the reduction of transmitted message, which further reduces the communication cost.
US08874146B2 Determining geographic zone
Included are embodiments for determining data for at least one geographic zone. At least one embodiment of a method includes determining a geographic zone for monitoring and receiving data related to a contact of a user entering the geographic zone. Some embodiments include providing an indication, to the user, that the contact of the user is currently located in the determined geographic zone.
US08874144B1 Selecting location-based content
Systems and methods include retrieving data indicative of a sequence of content that were previously selected for presentation by a mobile device based in part on physical locations of the mobile device. The sequence of selected content may be used with the current location of the mobile device to determine a likelihood score for a piece of content. Based on the likelihood score, the piece of content may be selected and provided to the mobile device for presentation.
US08874141B2 Provision of information
An information providing server acquires, according to a relative position of a mobile terminal to an information source which is a base of provided information transmitted to the mobile terminal, preset provided information among a plurality of pieces of provided information stored in a provided information database, and transmits the acquired provided information to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal displays the received provided information.
US08874137B2 Method and device for discriminating positioning error using wireless LAN signal
Apparatus for determining a positioning error includes: database for storing grid cells separated by each pCell ID and WLAN environment information matched to grid cells; information receiving unit for receiving terminal WLAN environment information from mobile communication terminal; identification information checking unit for checking AP identification information included in terminal WLAN environment information; triangulating unit for calculating triangulation coordinate value by performing triangulation with AP position estimation information corresponding to AP identification information; grid cell positioning unit for selecting one or more grid cells corresponding to AP identification information and calculating grid cell coordinate value based on coordinate value corresponding to grid cell selected; and error determining unit for comparing triangulation coordinate value and grid cell coordinate value and determining whether there is positioning error in any one of triangulation coordinate value and grid cell coordinate value.
US08874135B2 Indoor positioning using camera and optical signal
A method for detecting a collector device in an indoor area associated with imaging devices covering the area includes a plurality of collector devices emitting markers to the imaging devices coupled to a server. The imaging devices capture the images of the collector devices including the markers. The images are processed in order to determine the current positions of the collector devices corresponding to the markers. The server and the collector device communicate with each other and match a current position corresponding to the collector device among the plurality of collector devices.
US08874132B2 Apparatus and method for query processing of moving object in mobile communication system
A mobile communication system process a query of a location-based service. More particularly, an apparatus and a method reduce communication processes for an unnecessary query by expanding a resident domain with a query type. The apparatus includes a server for expanding a resident domain comprising a query to be operated by the moving object when the location-based service is used and the moving object for reducing the number of communications with the server according to the expansion of the resident domain.
US08874131B2 Providing location related information for a structure to mobile stations
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods and/or apparatuses to allow for location related information for a region of space within a structure to be divided into blocks and selectively provided in an efficient manner to a mobile station and/or a proxy device associated therewith. The mobile station may, for example, use the blocks of location related information to support signal-based position estimation and/or other like location based services.
US08874127B2 Facilitation of self-adjusting network uplink noise balancing
Compensation is provided for foreign interference within a cell. Uplink noise on an uplink channel to a first base station device is detected. Whether the uplink noise includes foreign interference is determined. Foreign interference can include any device other than a mobile device configured to communicate with a base station device associated with a cell. The first service area of the base station device can be modified, e.g., scaled based on determining that the uplink noise includes foreign interference. Scaling can include reducing the first service area to a second service area that does not include an imbalance region in the first service area caused by the foreign interference. Scaling can be effected by reducing the amount of downlink power from the first base station device, or by adjusting a re-selection parameter associated with reducing the range of the base station device.
US08874119B2 Method and device for machine type communication monitoring processing
The present invention discloses a method and device for machine type communication (MTC) monitoring process, and includes: an MTC determines the first location which an MTC device (MD) is allowed to be at and the event report needing to be performed when the MD is not at the first location; the MTC server sends the information of the first location and the information of the event report to the MD; the MD receives the information of the first location and the information of the event report sent from the MTC server; and after detecting that the MD is not at the first location according to the information of the first information, the MD reports the event report to the MTC server. The present invention enhances the monitoring process with finer-granularity and can reduce the interfaces and operations between other network nodes and a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)/Home Location Register (HLR), and maintains the stability of HSS/HLR.
US08874113B2 Methods and mechanisms for managing priority calls in a cell
A method is provided for managing a priority call in a serving cell. The method comprises, when a priority call is in progress in the serving cell, performing at least one of preventing at least one non-priority call from being handed over into the serving cell and preventing at least one non-priority call from being initiated in the serving cell.
US08874108B2 Integrating mobile devices into a fixed communication infrastructure
Systems, methods, and computer program products for use with a wireless communication network. A fixed communication network includes a device server and a fixed information technology (IT) device coupled with the device server. A mobile communication device is coupled by the wireless communication network with the device server and with the IT device. The device server is configured to store identification information for the IT device. The mobile communication device is configured to determine a current location of the mobile communication device, to request the identification information for the IT device from the device server over the wireless communication network, to receive the identification information for the IT device over the wireless communication network from the device server, and to transmit a service request, based upon the identification information, over the wireless communication network to the IT device.
US08874107B2 Method for controlling mobile station's scanning operation and base station performing the same
A Base Station (BS) and method of the BS for controlling a scanning process of a mobile station are provided The method of the base station for controlling a scanning process of a mobile station includes receiving, at the base station, a scan request issued in association with the mobile station, determining whether the mobile station has a scan in progress by referencing a scan record table, transmitting a scan response to the mobile station, and recording a scanning status of the mobile station in the scan record table. The method and base station for controlling the scanning process of a mobile station is advantageous to avoid the collision of scanning processes.
US08874106B2 Method and apparatus for providing automatic international and local call dialing in a mobile communication terminal
A method and apparatus for providing automatic international and local call dialing in a mobile communication terminal. The apparatus includes a country identification unit for receiving country identification information from a network in which the mobile communication terminal is currently located; a memory for storing country identification information, a country codes, and international access codes corresponding to the country codes; and a controller for extracting from the memory a country code corresponding to the country identification information received from the country identification unit, comparing the extracted country code with a country code included in a phone number for an outgoing call, and making a local call or an international call according to whether the country codes are identical.
US08874100B2 Mobile communication method and relay node
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step in which, when a relay node RN, which is subordinate to a radio base station DeNB and is in an “RRC_CONNECTED state”, received an “RRC connection release message” from the radio base station DeNB, the relay node RN is transitioned to an “RRC_IDLE state” after transmitting an “RRC connection release message” to a mobile station UE, which is subordinate to the relay node RN and is in the “RRC_CONNECTED state”, and a predetermined time T2 elapses.
US08874098B2 Devices, systems and methods for managing custom alpha tags
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for a subscriber of services on a network to display a custom operator name or alpha tag on the subscriber mobile communications device. The custom alpha tag (or operator name) is selected or defined by the subscriber via an interface on a communications device, and a custom operator name request is submitted to a provisioning logic on the network. The provisioning logic communicates with business rule logic on the network, the business rule logic being configured to retrieve and/or update a first account associated with the subscriber with the custom operator name. A billing logic within a billing subsystem may be invoked to debit a second account associated with the subscriber. A programming logic on the network then updates one or more mobile devices with the custom alpha tag. The several logic units may be part of an Over-the-air (OTA) platform on the network.
US08874093B2 Scenarios creation system for a mobile device
A mobile device comprising a display for displaying a plurality of icons, wherein the icons include at least one event icon that defines a specific event and at least one function icon that defines a function of the mobile device; means for manipulating the icons to allow a sequence of icons to be generated to form a block diagram that includes at least one event icon and at least one function icon, wherein the at least one event icon defines the event that causes the function associated with the at least one function icon to be performed; and means for converting the sequence of icons into a form that is executable by the mobile device.
US08874089B1 System and method of posting a video map location on a social network
A system comprising of at least one mobile communication device including at least one computer processor positioned within, and an application program comprising of computer executable instructions operative to perform any one or more of the following: activate at least one recording means to record a video; receive input of a description of a recorded video; activate the location determining means to orient itself and determine and store the absolute location of the at least one mobile communication device; link the recorded at least one video with the absolute location; convert the recorded at least one video as linked with the absolute location to create at least one video map location; and instruct the communication means to transmit the video map location for posting to a network site on a computer network where it is displayed as a clickable icon on a map display on the network site.
US08874086B2 Providing relevant advertisements or other content based on a communications identifier
Described is a technology by which a communications identifier such as a telephone number is used in selecting relevant content (e.g., an advertisement) for outputting as audible and/or visible information to a destination device. The communications identifier is used like a search term/keyword to determine content relevant to that identifier. A telephone number may be the identifier, selected based on a partially-dialed or actually dialed number, or a user's current scrolling position among listed telephone numbers. A telephone number of an incoming call may be used as the identifier. Profile data and/or state data may be used in selecting relevant content. Some of the profile data may be mined based on previous user activities. In one example, the content may be provided via a remote source of the content, and used immediately or cached for later use (e.g., output).
US08874081B2 Method and system for enabling usage of mobile telephone services on a donor device
A system and method can allow a first subscriber who is unable to use his mobile device due to theft, damage, loss, or any other reason to authenticate himself on a telecommunications network using a second subscriber's mobile device. The system and method can also allow the first subscriber to continue to make and receive calls and messages with the second subscriber's mobile device. Any charges incurred by usage of the second subscriber's mobile device by the first subscriber can be billed to an account associated with the first subscriber.
US08874078B2 Method of unlocking in stages in mobile terminal and mobile terminal for the same
Methods and apparatus are provided for unlocking in stages in a mobile terminal. An amount of time since setting a locking mode is counted. An unlocking command is received from a user. A locking stage is determined based on the amount of time from among a plurality of locking stages. An unlocking command of the determined locking stage and the received unlocking command are compared. The locking mode is released when the unlocking command in the determined locking stage is identical to the received unlocking command.
US08874076B2 Method to allow community-identity based communications using mobile phones
An apparatus in one example has: first user equipment having a first set of personal information for use in a community based network, and a second set of personal information for use in a public network; second user equipment having a first set of personal information for use in the community based network, and a second set of personal information for use in the public network; a trusted presence system in an IMS network operatively coupled to the first and second user equipment; and the trusted presence system being structured such that, when the first user equipment is in the community based network places a call to the second user equipment in the public network, the second set of personal information of the second user equipment is withheld from the first user equipment at least during call setup.
US08874072B2 Method and apparatus for non-voice emergency services
A method and apparatus for performing non-voice emergency services (NOVES) between a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a public safety answering point (PSAP) is disclosed. A NOVES session may be initiated by sending a NOVES initiation request message that includes information relating to the NOVES capabilities of the WTRU, and information relating to an emergency situation. The information relating to the NOVES capabilities of the WTRU may include an indication of whether the WTRU supports a fake power-off mode, or whether the WTRU supports PSAP control. Other methods are disclosed that include a method for a PSAP combining a multiple NOVES sessions, and a method for handing over a NOVES session having multiple media streams.
US08874071B2 Method and apparatus for prioritizing and routing emergent activity reporting
A method and system for prioritizing and reporting an observation is disclosed. The observation is preferably received from a mobile device that determines a location of the observation and provides a user of the mobile device with a preselected list of classifications for the observation. The observation is prioritized based at least in part on the location and the classification associated with the observation. The priority may depend on a distance between the location in the observation and a catalog of objects of interest. The priority may also depend on the existence of other observations having the same classification within a threshold distance of the observation. The prioritized observation is routed to appropriate personnel based on the determined priority. The prioritized observation may also be included in an ordered list based on priority and/or rendered in a geospatial view with at least one display attribute being based on the priority.
US08874069B1 Dynamically toggling data dedicated transmission mode in a wireless communication device
A wireless communication device (WCD) may be configured to engage in a wireless data communication session of a given type. The WCD may determine the given type of wireless data communication session, and based on the given type, the WCD may set itself to operate in a current operational state selected from a group consisting of a first and second operational state. While engaged in the wireless data communication session, the WCD may wirelessly receive a voice call setup request from a radio access network (RAN) seeking to set up a voice call to the WCD over an air-interface protocol. In accordance with the current operational state, the WCD may make a decision of whether to accept or reject the voice call request so as to interrupt or not interrupt the wireless data communication session.
US08874066B2 Wireless base station and method for emergency information delivery
In a wireless base station, a specific information receiver receives specific information delivered from a higher-level device to a wireless terminal. A specific information deliverer delivers the specific information to the wireless terminal via multiple physical channels activated in a wireless base station. Where a common channel via which information is periodically broadcast to multiple wireless terminals and a shared channel of which available radio resources are allocated to wireless terminals to transmit voice data and the like to the terminals are activated in the wireless base station, for example, the specific information deliverer can deliver the specific information using the common channel if the wireless terminal is in a standby state, and can deliver the specific information using the shared channel if the wireless terminal is in a communicating state.
US08874064B2 Ultrahigh frequency I/Q sender/receiver using multi-stage harmonic mixer
A receiver using a harmonic mixer includes a signal receiver for receiving a first signal, a frequency generator for synchronizing a phase of the received first signal, down-converting a frequency size of the synchronized first signal as much as a first size, and outputting the down-converted signal as a second signal; a first harmonic mixer unit for receiving the first signal and the second signal, generating a third signal having a frequency size down-converted as much as a second size, and outputting the third signal. The receiver further includes a second harmonic mixer unit for receiving the third signal and outputting an In-phase signal having a frequency size down-converted as much as a third size, and a third harmonic mixer unit for receiving the third signal and outputting a Quadrature-phase signal having a frequency size down-converted as much as a third size.
US08874059B2 Reducing power consumption on a receiver
A method for reducing power consumption on a wireless communication device is described. The wireless communication device includes a first stage active filter and a second stage active filter. A condition measurement is obtained that includes a signal measurement condition. If it is determined that the condition measurement is above a threshold, the second stage active filter is bypassed.
US08874058B2 Stream signal transmission device and transmission method
Provided is a stream signal transmission device that can eliminate transmission delay fluctuation with a fast change such as network jitter with high accuracy and synchronize a plurality of streams. The stream signal transmission device includes at least one reception unit that receives a stream signal to which a time code is attached from a network, at least one extraction unit that extracts the time code from the stream signal received by the reception unit, and at least one delay control unit that determines an output time by adding a predetermined fixed delay to a time indicated by the time code extracted by the extraction unit, and outputs the stream signal received by the reception unit after holding the stream signal up to the output time.
US08874056B2 Identifying channels in a communication network
A method and apparatus to identify channels in a communications network are described. The method may comprise receiving communications on a plurality of communication channels including at least a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The method identifies when a channel change occurs from the first communication channel to the second communication channel. An audio identifier associated with the second communication channel is then included in an audio stream communicated via the second communication channel.
US08874055B2 Systems and methods for reducing power consumption of a communications device using multiple elements in a receiver chain
Systems and methods according to embodiments of the present invention are provided for increasing the power efficiency of a communications device by allowing it to support dual-SIM functionality while issuing simultaneous wake ups for each SIM. Embodiments of the present invention leverage time sharing solutions to minimize the amount of circuitry needed in a communications device to issue wake ups while avoiding the drawbacks of other time sharing solutions that result in increased overhead due to requiring multiple transitions from an idle state to an active state.
US08874052B2 Method and apparatus for improving efficiency and distortion leakage in a wireless power amplifier
A wireless communication system (400) for power amplification of an input signal includes a power amplifier (404) operable to amplify a data signal (405). An envelope generator 408 or detector is operable to determine an envelope signal (410) from the data signal. A tracking power supply or other power supply control circuit (409) is operable to control a supply voltage of the power amplifier with the envelope signal. An allocation manager (441) is operable to determine a resource block allocation within a channel for the data signal. A delay circuit (443) is operable to insert a delay (550) between the envelope signal and the data signal as a function of the resource block allocation within the channel, thereby intentionally causing unbalanced leakage about the resource block allocation. Increased leakage on one side of the allocation results in improved leakage on the other side.
US08874047B2 Agile and adaptive transmitter-receiver isolation
The disclosed invention relates to a transceiver system having one or more receive antennas that receive a first radio frequency (RF) signal and a plurality of transmit antennas that wirelessly transmit a second RF signal. A local channel determination unit provides data corresponding to the environment of local communication channels (i.e., the communication channels between the transmit antennas and the receive antennas) to a beamforming element, which enables beamforming functionality within the transmit and/or receive antennas (e.g., by using analog or digital weights to vary the radiation pattern generated by the transmit antennas) so as to attenuate RF signals extending between the transmit antennas and the receive antennas. By attenuating signals extending between the transmit and the receive antennas, a high degree of isolation is achieved between transmission and reception paths.
US08874044B1 Systems, methods, and devices having databases and automated reports for electronic spectrum management
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for automated identification of signals and devices in a wireless communications spectrum, by identifying sources of signal emission in the spectrum by automatically detecting signals, analyzing signals, comparing signal data to historical and reference data, creating corresponding signal profiles, and automatically identifying signals and devices, comparing and storing data from a multiplicity of units and automatically generating reports for a wireless communications spectrum in near real time.
US08874040B2 Methods and apparatus for successive interference cancellation based on rate capping in peer-to-peer networks
In an ad hoc peer-to-peer communication network between wireless devices, a high priory first receiver device is configured to perform successive interference cancellation (SIC). The first receiver device receives a first transmission request from a first transmitter device indicating that the first transmitter device intends to transmit traffic to the first receiver device. Similarly, the first receiver device receives a second transmission request from an interferer second transmitter device. The first receiver device then determines a transmission rate cap for the interferer second transmitter device based on the signal strengths of the first and second transmission requests and sends it to the interferer second transmitter device. The transmission rate cap is a maximum rate at which the first receiver device can reliably decode traffic signals from the second transmitter device.
US08874039B2 Method of operating a mobile telecommunication terminal
As a realistic alternative to traditional business cards for fast and flawless electronic exchange of contact data, a search for additional mobile telecommunication terminals within a predetermined range of a mobile telecommunication terminal is conducted using a wireless connection. When a second mobile telecommunication terminal is within the predetermined range, an identification element associated with the user of the additional mobile telecommunication terminal is loaded into memory of the first mobile telecommunication terminal and displayed together with a confirmation control element on a user interface of the first telecommunication terminal. Upon actuation the confirmation control element, presence of a consent element generated by the user of the second telecommunication terminal and associated with the user of the first telecommunication terminal is checked. When the consent element is present, contact data of the user of the second mobile telecommunication terminal are loaded into the memory of the first mobile telecommunication terminal.
US08874037B2 Communication system, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon information processing program, information processing method, information processing apparatus, and information processing system
Another information processing apparatus in a communicable range of a short-distance wireless communication is repeatedly searched for, and wireless communication is automatically established therewith, first data is automatically transmitted to the other information processing apparatus with which the wireless communication has been established, and first data transmitted from the other information processing apparatus is automatically received by means of the short-distance wireless communication. Further, transmission of second data is permitted which is different from first data to the other information processing apparatus with which the transmission/reception of the first data has been performed before.
US08874036B2 Mobile terminal, information transmitting/receiving method, server apparatus, reader-writer, and member privilege acquiring system
There is provided a mobile terminal including: a contactless communication unit transmitting an IC identifier to a reader-writer that carries out contactless communication and receiving link information including the IC identifier from the reader-writer; and a wireless communication unit accessing a server based on the link information, transmitting the link information to the server, transmitting the IC identifier to the server separately to the link information, and operable, when the server has judged based on the IC identifier that contactless communication with the reader-writer and access to the server were both carried out using a same mobile terminal owned by a user, to receive information relating to privilege available to the user on a service used by the user from the server apparatus.
US08874026B2 System for providing audience interaction with radio programming
A system of capturing real-time audience interaction via a web-based user interface and automatically adjusting a radio station's programming through a unique direct interface with the radio station's studio operating system and/or music scheduling system. The web based user interface is accessible through a computer, mobile, cellular, and social media site or web-connected car dashboard. Audience participation is collected and processed using an algorithm to determine how a radio station's programming should be manipulated to fit the preferences of the audience. The invention allows the audience to determine which selection should play next on the air, prioritize which elements should play on the air, to play audio on demand, and to upload audio selections, and provides instant alerts, such as by SMS texting, IM, E-mail, and Social Media when a listener's selection is about to play on the air.
US08874022B2 Sheet placement unit, post-processing apparatus and image forming system
A sheet placement unit on which a plurality of sheet bundles having been produced by folding a plurality of sheets are stacked while being overlapped. The sheet placement unit includes a sheet placement section on which the folded sheet bundle having been provided with a folding process is loaded, the sheet placement section being inclined so that a downstream side of the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction is higher than another side, a sheet conveyance device to convey the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section in a sheet conveying direction while the plurality of sheet bundles are overlapped, and a sheet holding device provided swingably above the sheet placement section, the sheet holding device comprising a sheet contacting section which comes in contact an upper surface of the sheet bundle loaded on the sheet placement section.
US08874020B2 Image forming apparatus having decolorizing function and sheet conveying method in the image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier, a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier using a developing agent containing a decolorable toner and forming a developing agent image, and a transferring and conveying mechanism and a fixing and decolorizing mechanism. In a decolorizing mode, the image carrier and a transfer member are separated in the transferring and conveying mechanism to secure a conveying path to prevent a transfer material from coming into contact with the image carrier. A decolorable image is decolorized at second temperature higher than first temperature in the fixing and decolorizing mechanism.
US08874015B2 Image forming apparatus
A first transfer inner roller and a first transfer outer roller are arranged such that the leading edge of a recording material is pressed against an intermediate transfer member on the downstream side of an upstream side transfer portion to change a traveling direction of the recording material.
US08874010B2 Toner container, developing apparatus, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus
A toner container for accommodating toner, includes a first opening through which the toner is passable; a toner feeding member for feeding the toner to the first opening by reciprocating motion toward and away from the first opening; an urging member for urging the toner feeding member; a movable member movable between a position for moving the toner feeding member against an urging force of the urging member and a position for permitting the toner feeding member to move by the urging force of the urging member; a second opening for permitting the urging member and the toner feeding member to pass into the toner container to install them in the toner container; and a cap for closing the second opening.
US08874007B2 Developing unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
Provided are a developing unit alleviating fogging occurrence and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus providing images over long periods. The developing unit includes at least a toner of (1) and a developing roller of (2). (1) When a displacement amount when a load is applied at Y° C. and 9.8×10−5 N/sec to 2.94×10−4 N is X2(Y), a displacement amount when the toner is left to stand for 0.1 second is X3(Y), a displacement amount when the load is reduced at 9.8×10−5 N/sec to 0N is X4(Y), and percentage of (X3(Y)−X4(Y)) to X3(Y) is Z(Y), 40≦Z(25)≦80 and 10≦Z(50)≦55 are satisfied; when a gradient from the origin to the maximum load in the load-displacement curve at 25° C. is R(25), 0.49×10−3≦R(25)≦1.70×10−3 is satisfied; the toner has glass transition temperature TgA (40° C.-60° C.) and maximum endothermic peak temperature P1 (70° C.-110° C.), 15° C.≦(P1−TgA)≦70° C. is satisfied. (2) The developing roller includes a surface layer containing a urethane resin having structure (a), and one or both structures (b)-(c).
US08874006B2 Liquid marking agent development assemblies, hard imaging devices, and liquid marking agent hard imaging methods
Liquid marking agent development assemblies, hard imaging devices, and liquid marking agent hard imaging methods are described. According to one aspect, a liquid marking agent development assembly includes a developer member having an outer surface, a marking agent delivery system to supply a liquid marking agent comprising a plurality of ink particles to a first location of the outer surface of the developer member, and a development system to adhere a plurality of the ink particles to the outer surface of the developer member, and wherein the development system is to adhere the adhered ink particles at a second location of the outer surface of the developer member which is upstream from the first location with respect to a direction of movement of the outer surface of the developer member.
US08874005B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a developing member that, while rotating, supplies a liquid developer to an image carrier and develops a latent image formed on the image carrier using the liquid developer, a layer-forming device that forms a developer layer, which is a layer formed from the liquid developer, on the developing member, a charging device that charges the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device, the charging device being located upstream of the image carrier in a direction of rotation of the developing member, and a heating device that heats the developer layer formed on the developing member by the layer-forming device. The heating device is located upstream of the charging device and downstream of the layer-forming device in the direction of rotation of the developing member.
US08874002B2 Belt driving device and image forming apparatus including belt driving device
A belt member driving device includes an arm configured to be movable with movement of a belt member in a width direction thereof while being in contact with an end of the belt member in the width direction thereof, a first detected portion provided on the arm, a second detected portion provided on the arm and disposed in a position different from that of the first detected portion in a direction perpendicular to a movement direction of the arm on a plane where the arm is moved, a first sensor configured to detect the first detected portion, and a second sensor configured to detect the second detected portion. The second sensor and the first sensor partly overlap each other in the movement direction of the arm as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the arm.
US08874001B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive body carrying an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof, a charge device charging the surface of the photosensitive body, an exposure device forming the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive body, a development device developing the electrostatic latent image so that a developer image is formed, and a transfer device transferring the developer image on a print medium. Wherein, a positive charge dark decay rate of the photosensitive body is greater than a negative charge dark decay rate when a dark decay rate is expressed by  V ⁢ ⁢ 0  -  V ⁢ ⁢ 5   V ⁢ ⁢ 0  × 100 ⁢ ( % ) where V0 [V] is a surface potential of the photosensitive body immediately after a completion of the charging by the charge device, and V5 [V] is the surface potential when the photosensitive body is left in a dark place for 5 seconds immediately after the completion of the charging.
US08873995B2 Input port for a cooling system of an imaging unit
An imaging unit of an imaging apparatus is provided including a developer unit for developing a toner and a cooling system. The cooling system includes an air distribution duct and a connecting segment. The connecting segment includes an air conduit attached to the air distribution duct and an air entry port disposed on the air conduit for connecting to the air supply line during installation of the imaging unit. A contacting surface of the air entry port is angled inwardly in two directions, relative to the air conduit, that are orthogonal to each other.
US08873990B2 Toner density sensor and image forming apparatus
A toner density sensor comprising: a light emitting element that emits light; a light receiving element that receives reflected light emitted from the light emitting part and reflected at a detection target; a light path for passage of emitted and reflected light formed along the front surface of a printed substrate on which the light emitting element and the light receiving element are surface-mounted; and a diaphragm unit that is formed at and partially narrows this light path, wherein the diaphragm unit is divided into two portions, a diaphragm unit upper-portion and a diaphragm unit lower-portion, and these are disposed in an upper case covering the front surface of the printed substrate and in a lower case covering the rear surface of the printed substrate. In the printed substrate, a through hole is formed for protrusion of the diaphragm unit lower portion from the rear surface to the front surface.
US08873989B2 Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device for fixing a toner image on a recording medium includes a hollow, fixing rotary body rotatable in a given direction of rotation and a first heater disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body to heat the fixing rotary body. A pressing rotary body is pressed against the fixing rotary body to form a fixing nip therebetween through which the recording medium bearing the toner image is conveyed. A heat conductor, disposed opposite the first heater and the inner circumferential surface of the fixing rotary body, is disconnectably connected to a guide disposed downstream from the fixing device in a recording medium conveyance direction to guide the recording medium discharged from the fixing nip. The heat conductor conducts heat received from the first heater to the guide.
US08873988B2 Fixing device capable of minimizing overshoot and image forming apparatus with same
A fixing device is operable through start-up and warm-up stages and has a rotatable fixing member to fix an unfixed toner image borne on a recording medium, an opposing member to press against the fixing member and form a nip on the fixing member, a temperature detector to detect temperature of the fixing member, and a heater controlled in accordance with the temperature of the fixing member to heat the fixing member. The heater is further controlled during the warm-up stage in accordance with at least one of if the fixing member is rotating and if the detected temperature has ever arrived at a prescribed target temperature in the warm-up stage.
US08873984B2 Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and fixing method
A fixing device includes a fixing rotary body rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation and a heater disposed opposite and heating a heating span of the fixing rotary body. A controller is operatively connected to a power supply that supplies power to the heater and a driver that rotates the fixing rotary body to control the power supply and the driver. The controller performs at least one of a rotation speed control that controls the driver to rotate the fixing rotary body at an increased rotation speed and a power supply control that controls the power supply to supply an increased amount of power to the heater.
US08873981B2 Image forming apparatus with separation control of developing member and cleaning member during preliminary rotation
An image forming apparatus includes: a development member carrying developer for forming a toner image on an image carrier; a cleaning member in contact with the development member for removing the developer left on the development member; a carrying member provided in contact with the development member, for carrying the supplied developer to the development member; a driving part driving at least one of the carrying member and the development member; and a regulating mechanism for separating the cleaning member and the development member from each other. The driving part causes preliminary rotation of the development member and the carrying member with the cleaning member separated from the development member, before starting main rotation for image formation.
US08873979B2 Development device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A development device includes a developer container for containing developer, a developer bearer to carry by rotation the developer contained in the developer container to a development range facing a latent image bearer, a partition dividing the developer container into an upper compartment and a lower compartment arranged vertically, an upper developer conveyance member disposed in the upper compartment, a lower developer conveyance member disposed in the lower compartment, a communication portion through which the developer moves from the lower compartment to the upper compartment, disposed in a downstream end portion of the lower compartment in a direction in which the lower developer conveyance member transports the developer, and a toner concentration detector to detect a concentration of toner in the developer beneath the communication portion inside the lower compartment.
US08873978B2 Developer accommodation unit, development device, image forming apparatus, and developer supply container
A developer accommodation unit includes a developer accommodation part that accommodates a developer, an opening part that communicates with the developer accommodation part, a shutter member that is movable between an opened position and a closed position with respect to the opening part, a rotation body that is provided rotatable in the developer accommodation part, and a drive force transmission mechanism that transmits a drive force to the rotation body so that the rotation body rotates. The drive force transmission mechanism includes an engagement mechanism by which the drive force is transmitted to the rotation body when the shutter member is in the opened position.
US08873970B2 Generating a 400-Gbit/s single-channel optical signal
A method for generating a 400 Gb/s single channel optical signal from multiple modulated subchannels includes carving respective modulated subchannels into return-to-zero RZ modulated subchannels having non-overlapping peaks with intensity modulators having a duty cycle less than 50%, and combining the subchannels into a single channel signal aggregating the bit rate of each of the subchannels. The subchannels are combined with a flat top optical component for increased subsequent receiver sensitivity.
US08873966B1 Compact transceiver system and method for optical communication
An optical communication device, such as a transceiver, can send outgoing information over an optical link and receive incoming information via the link. The link, for example an optical fiber, can simultaneously transmit outgoing light carrying outgoing information and incoming light carrying incoming information. The communication device can comprise a detector outputting electrical signals in response to receiving optical signals, effectively converting signals from the optical domain to the electrical domain. The detector can receive a mixture of the incoming and the outgoing light, thereby producing an electrical signal containing imprints of both the incoming data and the outgoing data. The communication device can process the electrical signal to differentiate between the incoming data and the outgoing data. Knowing the outgoing data, the optical communication device can subtract from the electrical signal the portion of the signal associated with the outgoing light, thereby revealing the incoming data.
US08873964B2 Optical autodiscovery for automated logical and physical connectivity check between optical modules
Optical autodiscovery is provide between two optical modules to insure that when an optical signal is coupled between the two optical module, the optical signal from a first module does not interfere with operation of a second module. The autodiscovery is implemented by sending an optical identification signal from the first optical module via the coupling to the second optical module from which signal, the second optical module can verify and determined acceptance of the coupled first optical module. During this autodiscovery process, the optical identification signal from the first optical module may be attenuated or shifted in optical spectrum so as not to interfere with the operation of the second optical module. Autodiscovery may also be employed in cases where a first optical module is to receive an optical signal from a second module.
US08873962B2 Method for traffic grooming, wavelength assignment and spectrum allocation
A method includes determining a line rate selection for a flexible optical wavelength-division-multiplexing WDM network, determining a traffic routing in said network, and determining simultaneously a channel routing, wavelength assignment and spectrum allocation in said network based on an auxiliary graph.
US08873958B2 Sleep control for energy efficiency in ethernet passive optical networks
A method sets certain downstream traffic scheduling rules at an optical line terminal OLT and certain sleep control rules at optical network units ONUs. Both downstream traffic scheduling rules and sleep control rules are common information owned by both the OLT and ONUs. The method sets the traffic scheduling rules that each ONU is allocated with some time slots every cycle if the ONU has downstream traffic. Rather than using a control message to notify ONUs with their queue status, the method lets ONUs infer whether its downstream queue is empty or not based on downstream traffic scheduling and lets the OLT infer the status of an ONU based on sleep control rules.
US08873954B2 System and method for exchanging information over a jacobi MIMO channel
A method and system for transmitting data over a Jacobi MIMO channel when using channel state feedback.
US08873953B2 Multiple-symbol polarization switching for differential-detection modulation formats
An inventive method for multi-symbol polarization switching for differential detection optical systems includes modulating a laser source by a DQPSK modulator, driving the DQPSK modulator with a data block configured for generating multi-symbol polarization-switched DQPSK differential-encoded signals, and polarizing the multi-symbol polarization-switched DQPSK signals with a polarizing modulator whose modulation speed is based on how often polarization states vary, wherein the data block provides a bits manipulation to provide the multi-symbol polarization switching thereby enabling differential detection for recovering correct original data by a receiver.
US08873949B2 Bit error generation system for optical networks
A bit error generating device includes a light source, an input device, and a control processor. The control processor includes logic configured to: receive protocol or bitrate information regarding a live traffic signal via the input device; determine bit error simulation signal parameters based on the received protocol or bitrate information; configure the light source to generate the bit error simulation signal based on the bit error simulation signal parameters; and instruct the light source to inject the bit error simulation signal into an optical fiber carrying the live traffic signal.
US08873947B2 Method and apparatus for determining fiber characteristics in an optical communication network
An apparatus and method for deriving fiber characteristics between two nodes in an optical communication network are disclosed. A roundtrip time for a signal to travel between two nodes is measured by sending the signal via the optical supervisory channel from a first node to a second node, which is configured for loopback operation. Fiber characteristics can be calculated based on the measured roundtrip time.
US08873945B2 Image pickup apparatus
An image pickup apparatus includes a camera body 1 including a monitor unit 11, a lens barrel 2 and a lens body 3 which include an image pickup optical system L, a rotary portion 8 provided between the camera body 1 and the lens body 3, and rotatably supporting the lens body 3 with respect to the camera body 1, absorption portions 12a and 12b attached to the camera body 1, and a cover portion 4 movably connected with respect to the camera body 1 and covering the absorption portions 12a and 12b.
US08873944B2 Methods and apparatus for positioning a coil motor
Methods and apparatus for providing a position sensor to sense the position of a ferromagnetic target and generate a target position signal, a scaling block to receive the target position signal, and a digital RC filter to generate an output using bit shifting for dividing by some factor of two, wherein all division for computations in the RC filter are performed by bit shifts.
US08873943B2 Lens system and image pickup system including the same
A lens system includes an operating unit for operating a lens apparatus, an operation-side communication unit performing bidirectional communication to/from the operating unit via a transmission line, and a lens-side communication unit performing bidirectional communication to/from the lens apparatus via a transmission line. The operation-side and lens-side communication units perform wireless communication to/from each other. The operation-side communication unit includes a command selecting unit selecting a command to be transmitted to the lens-side communication unit from commands input from the operating unit, and an answer interpolating unit generating an interpolated answer by interpolating answers with respect to commands that are not selected. The lens-side communication unit includes an answer selecting unit selecting an answer to be transmitted to the operation-side communication unit from answers input from the lens apparatus, and a command interpolating unit generating a command by interpolating commands received from the operation-side communication unit.
US08873942B2 Shake compensation control apparatus, optical device, image capturing apparatus, and control method of shake compensation
The image capturing apparatus detects a rotational shake and translational shake produced by an apparatus by a rotational velocity meter and an acceleration meter. A rotational shake compensation coefficient calculation unit calculates a compensation (correction) coefficient in relation to rotational shake. A translational shake compensation coefficient calculation unit calculates a compensation (correction) coefficient in relation to translational shake. When calculating the compensation amount in relation to rotational shake and translational shake using the respective compensation (correction) coefficients, the camera CPU acquires information indicating a degree of focus of the imaging optical system, and suppresses variation in the compensation amount by reducing the compensation (correction) coefficient when the degree of focus is low. A driving unit drives the shake compensation unit in accordance with the compensation amount relative to the rotational shake and the translational shake, thereby compensating for image shake in the imaging surface of the imaging optical system.
US08873940B2 Fan assembly
A fan assembly includes a motor-driven impeller for creating an air flow, a casing including an interior passage for receiving the air flow, and a plurality of air outlets for emitting the air flow from the casing. The casing defines and extends about an opening through which air from outside the casing is drawn by the air flow emitted from the air outlets. The fan assembly also includes at least one heater for heating at least a first portion of the air flow, and means for diverting at least a second portion of the air flow away from said at least one heater. The plurality of outlets includes at least one first air outlet for emitting the relatively hot first portion of the air flow and at least one second air outlet for emitting the relatively cold second portion of the air flow.
US08873938B2 Handling requests when available channel selectors are in use
A receiver receives a request for content associated with a channel, determines that all channel selectors are in use, selects a set of options, and transmits the set to a presentation device. The receiver may then fulfill the request utilizing a selected option. All available channel selectors may be in use because they are tuned to frequency bands of a broadcast signal to record content and data associated the channel is included in a different frequency band. The set of options may include options to stop the current recording in favor of the requested content and options to present content included in a same frequency band to which a tuner is already tuned. In one or more implementations, the receiver may determine that content currently being recorded will be rebroadcast at a later time and may include notifications indicating such and/or options to record the content at the later time.
US08873937B2 Audiovisual data transmission system and audiovisual data transmission method
An audiovisual data transmission system includes the following components. A filesystem module creates a file that contains at least one of video data and audio data stored in a storage unit. A conversion processing unit manages a file created by the filesystem module. A filesystem-in-userspace module provides an interface between the conversion processing unit and the filesystem module. An update detecting unit detects an update of at least one of video data and audio data contained in a file. In response to an instruction to acquire a file managed by the conversion processing unit received in a state where an update of the file is detected by the update detecting unit, a server makes an inquiry to the conversion processing unit and repeatedly performs a read process in which the file is read, via the filesystem-in-userspace module.
US08873927B2 Systems and methods for selective archival of media content
Described herein are techniques for selective archival of media content. A first entertainment device stores a plurality of media content files on a first storage medium. The first entertainment devices selects a portion of the media content files for backup based on characteristics of the media content files and transmits the portion of the media content files to a second entertainment device through a communication network. The second entertainment device stores the portion of the media content files on a second storage medium associated therewith.
US08873926B2 Fiber optic enclosures employing clamping assemblies for strain relief of cables, and related assemblies and methods
Fiber optic enclosures employing clamping assemblies for strain relief cables and related assemblies and methods are disclosed. The fiber optic enclosures may be part of a fiber optic terminal in a fiber optic network. The fiber optic enclosures may include openings in the walls of the fiber optic enclosure. A cable fitting assembly may be attached to a portion of the wall around an opening to form a passageway for fiber optic cables to enter the fiber optic enclosure. An elongated member may be used to guide the fiber optic cables through the passageway. The elongated member may have a first end and second end. The elongated member may include a clamping assembly at the first end to provide strain relief to the fiber optic cables by clamping strength members of the fiber optic cables.
US08873924B2 Fiber optic cabinet
The present invention relates to a fiber optic telecommunication cabinet for use in fiber optic telecommunication networks. The fiber optic telecommunication cabinet comprises a base and a housing. The base has a plurality of ports passing through the base to allow passage telecommunication cables into the fiber optic cabinet. The fiber optic telecommunication cabinet further includes an optical fiber termination block attached to the base. The optical fiber termination block has a plurality of optical modules supported by the mounting frame, wherein the optical modules may be rotated in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber optic telecommunication cabinet from a first storage position to a second accessible position.
US08873922B2 Fan-out and parking module
The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications apparatus that includes a fan-out module main body adapted for connection to a rack. The telecommunications apparatus also includes a fan-out block attached to the fan-out module main body. The telecommunications apparatus also includes a multi-fiber cable segment. The multi-fiber cable segment includes first and second strength members. The first and second strength members are anchored to the fan-out block. The telecommunications apparatus further includes a plurality of pigtail cable segments each including a jacket containing one of the optical fibers and a plurality of flexible strength members positioned inside the jacket. The flexible strength members of the pigtail cable segments are anchored to the fan-out block, the optical fibers being fanned out from the multi-fiber cable segment to the pigtail cable segments within the fan-out block. The telecommunications apparatus also includes a plurality of single fiber connectors mounted to free ends of the pigtail cable segments.
US08873921B2 Optical fiber adapter security, optical fiber connector security, and removal tool for use therewith
An optical fiber adapter security, an optical fiber connector security, and a removal tool for use therewith are introduced. The removal tool includes a first body and two second resilient arms. The first body has a first coupling unit. The first coupling unit matches the optical fiber connector security. The second resilient arms are connected to the first body and connected to second coupling units, respectively. The second resilient arms match the optical fiber connector security. The second resilient arms and the second coupling units together match the optical fiber adapter security. The optical fiber adapter security prevents improper use of the optical fiber adapter. The optical fiber connector security prevents inappropriate removal of the optical fiber connector set. Protection provided by the optical fiber adapter security and the optical fiber connector security can be disabled by the same removal tool.
US08873920B2 Light-guiding cover structure
A light-guiding cover structure includes a top cover unit and a light-guiding unit. The top cover unit has a plurality of receiving spaces formed therein. The light-guiding unit includes a plurality of light-guiding groups, wherein each light-guiding group includes a plurality of optical fiber cables received in the corresponding receiving space, and each optical fiber cable has two opposite ends exposed from the bottom surface of the top cover unit and respectively facing at least one light-emitting device and at least one light-sensing device that have been disposed under the top cover unit. Therefore, the optical fiber cables received in the corresponding receiving space, thus when the light-guiding cover structure is applied to the LED package chip classification system, the aspect of the LED package chip classification system can be enhanced.
US08873912B2 Optical waveguide with embedded light-reflecting feature and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating an optical waveguide includes setting, on a lower cladding of an optical waveguide, a light-reflecting feature and at least one waveguide core distinct from the reflecting feature. An upper cladding is applied that embeds both the light-reflecting feature and the waveguide core.
US08873910B2 Optical device with athermal slots for temperature dependence curvature reduction
In one aspect of the invention, roughly stated, Applicants have discovered that a compensation material within slot elongated in a direction parallel to a segment of waveguide in an arrayed waveguide grating apparatus can compensate for both first and second order change in refractive index of the base waveguide material over temperature. Unlike the transverse slots of conventional linear athermalization techniques, the elongated slot generally parallel to the base material defines a composite waveguide section having a second order effective index of refraction temperature dependency which can be utilized to accurately minimize the temperature dependence of the overall optical path length to both the first and second order. The techniques described herein are also generalizeable to neutralization of the optical path length temperature dependence to any order.
US08873906B2 Optical conversion element and optical conversion element manufacturing method
Disclosed is an optical conversion element capable of highly efficient optical coupling between a silicon waveguide and a general single-mode optical fiber only by butt-coupling without requiring anti-reflective coating. One embodiment is an optical conversion element that includes a waveguide structure and converts a mode field of guided light and is characterized in that at least a dual core is included, an innermost core of the dual core is a silicon inverse tapered thin wire core, a first outer core is a forward tapered ridge core having a ridge structure formed of an oxide film with only width of the ridge core changing. The first outer core is positioned on a narrow width side of the innermost core.
US08873902B2 Optical transmission module avoiding signal loss
An optical transmission module includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including a first surface and an opposite second surface, a ceramic substrate mounted on the first surface, a light emitting diode and a photodiode carried on the ceramic substrate, an optical printed circuit board (OPCB) mounted on the second surface, a first reflective unit and, and a second reflective unit. The OPCB includes a flexible substrate which carries a first planar optical wave guide corresponding the first reflective unit and a second planar optical wave guide corresponding the second reflective unit. The PCB defines a first through hole aligned with the light emitting diode and the first reflective unit and a second through hole aligned with the photodiode and the second reflective unit.
US08873901B2 Buried-type optical input/output devices and methods of manufacturing the same
Optical input/output (I/O) devices, which include a substrate including a trench, a waveguide within the trench of the substrate; and a photodetector within the trench and optically connected to the waveguide. An upper surface of the photodetector is at a same level as an upper surface of the waveguide.
US08873900B2 Balloon catheter with integrated optical sensor for determining balloon diameter
An apparatus and method for determining an expanded diameter of a catheter balloon. An optical sensor includes an elongated optical fiber with at least one diffraction grating formed in a core of a distal portion thereof. The fiber distal portion is coupled to the inflatable balloon. Broadband light is transmitted to the diffraction grating by an optical interrogator. A portion of the light is reflected from the diffraction grating and is received by a wavelength detector. The wavelength of the reflected portion of light is dependent on the strain applied to the diffraction grating. The wavelength detector determines the strain in the balloon and correlates the strain to the diameter of the balloon.
US08873897B2 Optical fiber multi-wavelength filter and method of controlling wavelength of spectrum using the same
An optical fiber multi-wavelength filter based on a polarization-diversity loop configuration within which polarization-maintaining fibers are contained with some optical elements is disclosed. The filter includes a coil heater adjacent to polarization-maintaining fibers. An ambient temperature of the polarization-maintaining fiber is controlled by adjusting a current applied to the coil heater.
US08873896B1 Dual polarization optical modulator using dual broadband multi-electrode weighted direct analog phase modulators
An electro-optical phase modulator, dual polarization modulator applying that modulator and a phase modulation method are disclosed. A waveguide in an electro-optical substrate has at least two electrodes for modulating the waveguide. Each electrode receives a sequential bit of a precoded digital input and forms a shifting line from a first input end through interaction lengths near the waveguide causing modulation, shifted lengths distal from the waveguide for avoiding modulating the waveguide and transitions between these lengths by shifting the electrode away from or towards the waveguide. At least one electrode has a shorter interaction length closer to the input than a longer interaction length of the same electrode. Each electrode's modulation strength is proportional to its total interaction length, which doubles for each electrode, producing well matched S21 electro-optical responses from 10 kHz to 50 GHz, when shifted to account for the doubling.
US08873894B2 Polarizer
A polarizer includes: a substrate; a dielectric layer positioned on the substrate; an optical waveguide positioned in the dielectric layer and for transmitting incident light; and a graphene layer positioned corresponding to the optical waveguide.
US08873891B2 Image capture and identification system and process
A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object.
US08873885B2 System and method for resizing images prior to upload
A system and method of resizing an image on a mobile communication device prior to transmitting to an online image repository is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, the method comprises: determining a size of an original image; determining whether there are any default file sizes to which the original image may be resized; when a default file size does not exist, receiving a custom image size, resizing the original image in accordance with the received custom image size to create a resized image, and transmitting the resized image to the online image repository.
US08873884B2 Method and system for resizing an image
There is disclosed a method and system for resizing a digital image wherein a RGB image is converted into an YCbCr image (Y, Cb, Cr planes). Thereafter, a discrete cosine transform (DCT), followed by a specific inverse cosine transform (IDCT) is performed on each row/column of the Y, Cb, Cr planes. The mentioned specific operation corresponds to a type of homothetic matrix, which dimensions are defined by a scaling factor. In order to produce a scaled image, the scaled Y, Cb, Cr images are transformed to an RGB image for display.
US08873881B2 Dust detection system and digital camera
A dust detection system, comprising a receiver, a dust extraction block, a memory and an image correction block, is provided. The receiver receives an image signal. The dust extraction block generates a dust image signal on the basis of the image signal. The memory stores an intrinsic-flaw image signal corresponding to an intrinsic-flaw image including sub-images of dust that the dust extraction block extracts in initializing. The image correction block generates a corrected dust-image signal on the basis of the intrinsic-flaw image signal and a normal dust-image signal. The normal dust-image signal corresponds to a normal dust image including sub-image of dust that the dust extraction block extracts after initializing. The corrected dust image is the normal dust image that sub-images of dust in the intrinsic-flaw image are deleted from.
US08873876B2 Image encoder and image processing system
According to one embodiment, an image encoder configured to write coded image data in a memory includes an encoding module, a write address determining module, and a memory controller. The encoding module divides original image data including a plurality of pixels into a plurality of block lines, divides each block line into a plurality of sub-block lines, encodes the original image data in each sub-block line, and generates a plurality of coded sub-block lines. The write address determining module determines a write address of the memory in each coded sub-block line based on a number of the sub-block lines, an original image data size of the original image data, and image coding rate. The memory controller writes the coded sub-block line in the write address corresponding to the coded sub-block line.
US08873875B2 Delayed image decoding
In one or more embodiments, a framework is provided in which image decoding can be delayed based on heuristics, and later initiated based on a use type associated with the image or the likelihood that the image is going to be used. For example, a use history and priority system can enable images that are currently being rendered and/or are likely to get rendered to be decoded before images that have a history of being downloaded but never used. Accordingly, by decoupling image download from image decoding, CPU resources and memory can be more efficiently utilized.
US08873872B1 Division of entropy coding in codecs
There is described an image compressing/decompressing method and device that provides the lossless data compression/decompression scheme in two separate modules. Partially entropy encoded/decoded data is written to memory by a first module after a first part of the process and retrieved by a second module to perform the second part of the lossless compression/decompression scheme.
US08873871B2 Image processing apparatus and method
There is provided an image processing apparatus which includes a division unit dividing an image into a plurality of images in a bit depth direction, and an encoding unit encoding respectively some or all of the plurality of images acquired by dividing the image in the bit depth direction by the division unit.
US08873868B2 Object classification/recognition apparatus and method
An apparatus is provided for classifying targets into a known-object group and an unknown-object group. The apparatus includes a speech/image data storage unit configured to store a spoken sound of a name of an object and an image of the object; a unit configured to calculate a speech confidence level of a speech for the name of the object with reference to a spoken sound of a name of a known object; a unit configured to calculate an image confidence level of an image of an object with respect to an image of a known object; and a unit configured to compare an evaluation value, which is obtained by combining the speech confidence level and image confidence level, with a threshold value, and classify a target object into an object group determined according to whether the spoken sound of the name and the image are known or unknown.
US08873866B2 Method and system for calculating breakpoints in a data visualization system
In a data visualization computing system, a computer implemented method of determining transition boundaries from data values in a data set for the generation of a graphical heatmap representation of the data values, the method including the steps of the data visualization computing system: retrieving the data values in the data set; determining a logarithmic base value, wherein the base value is calculated based on the retrieved data values; and generating transition boundaries for the heatmap representation by calculating transition boundary values, wherein the transition boundary values are calculated using an exponential function with a base value equal to the determined logarithmic base value and an exponent value that is incrementally increased from a value of one to a maximum exponent value to represent the retrieved data values.
US08873863B2 System and method for fingerprinting for comics
The present disclosure relates to a system and a method for finger printing for comics. A system for searching comics according to the present disclosure includes: a fingerprint database storing fingerprints extracted from comics, a comics fingerprint extraction unit extracting fingerprints configured of at least one of box frames, cuts, and speech bubbles included in input comic images, a fingerprint based candidate group search unit searching candidate groups among comics stored in the fingerprint database using the extracted fingerprints, and a similarity measuring unit measuring similarity between the searched candidate groups and the comic images corresponding to the extracted fingerprints.
US08873862B2 Product image processor, product image processing method, information recording medium, and program
In order to obtain feature images representing features of products from product images, in a product image processor (101), a receiver (102) receives product images each representing one product in a group of products with a common composition; a calculator (103) calculates a degree of scattering of pixel values at each of the positions in the composition from a pixel value at each of the positions in each of the received product images; a generator (104) generates a filter with a degree of transmittance defined at each of positions in the composition on the basis of a degree of scattering calculated at each of the positions; and an applicator (105) applies the generated filter to each of the received product images, thereby obtaining feature images, each representing a feature of each of the products.
US08873859B2 Apparatus and method that determines whether a pattern within the detection window is a subject based on characteristic amounts obtained from within a first region
An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit configured to input an image, a scanning unit configured to scan a detection window on the input image, a first discrimination unit configured to determine whether a pattern within the detection window is a subject based on a plurality of characteristic amounts obtained from within a first region among a plurality of regions within the detection window, and a second discrimination unit configured to determine, if it is determined that the pattern is not the subject by the first discrimination unit, whether the pattern is the subject based on a plurality of characteristic amounts obtained from a second region in which a probability that occlusion of the subject occurs is higher than that in the first region among the plurality of regions. Accordingly, a subject can be detected efficiently, and omissions of detection can be reduced.
US08873856B1 Determining a class associated with an image
The technology is directed to determining a class associated with an image. In some examples, a method determines the class associated with an image. The method can include determining a segmentation score for an image segment based on a comparison of the image segment and a region of an image. The region of the image can be associated with the image segment. The method further includes determining a confidence score for the image segment based on the segmentation score and a classification score. The classification score can be indicative of a similarity between the image segment and at least one class. The method further includes determining a class associated with the image based on the confidence score. The method further includes outputting the class associated with the image.
US08873850B2 Detecting exposure quality in images
Systems, methods and computer readable media for exposure quality detection are described. In some implementations, a method can include computing an overall image exposure score for an image. The method can also include determining one or more face regions in the image. The method can further include computing a face region exposure score for each face region. The method can also include combining the overall image exposure score and each face region exposure score to generate an exposure quality score for the image.
US08873846B2 Detecting and tracking point features with primary colors
A feature tracking technique for detecting and tracking feature points with primary colors. An energy value may be computed for each color channel of a feature. If the energy of all the channels is above a threshold, then the feature may be tracked according to a feature tracking method using all channels. Otherwise, if the energy of all of the channels is below the threshold, then the feature is not tracked. If the energy of at least one (but not all) of the channels is below the threshold, then the feature is considered to have primary color, and the feature may be tracked according to the feature tracking method using only the one or more channels with energy above the threshold. The feature tracking techniques may, for example, be used to establish point trajectories in an image sequence for various Structure from Motion (SFM) techniques.
US08873845B2 Contextual dominant color name extraction
Dominant color names may be extracted from an image by analyzing spatial-context of pixels contained in the image. A dominant color region may be defined by taking a double-threshold approach that addresses ambiguous color regions and a degree of confidence that each pixel belongs in the dominant color region. Affiliation maps and binary maps may be used to generate the dominant color region. Images may be converted to a saliency map, from which a region of interest may be assigned a dominant color name. Image search results may be filtered by the dominant color name associated with the image.
US08873843B2 Fast methods of learning distance metric for classification and retrieval
A nearest-neighbor-based distance metric learning process includes applying an exponential-based loss function to provide a smooth objective; and determining an objective and a gradient of both hinge-based and exponential-based loss function in a quadratic time of the number of instances using a computer.
US08873842B2 Using human intelligence tasks for precise image analysis
Described are systems, methods, computer programs, and user interfaces for image location, acquisition, analysis, and data correlation that uses human-in-the-loop processing, Human Intelligence Tasks (HIT), and/or or automated image processing. Results obtained using image analysis are correlated to non-spatial information useful for commerce and trade. For example, images of regions of interest of the earth are used to count items (e.g., cars in a store parking lot to predict store revenues), detect events (e.g., unloading of a container ship, or evaluating the completion of a construction project), or quantify items (e.g., the water level in a reservoir, the area of a farming plot).
US08873839B2 Apparatus of learning recognition dictionary, and method of learning recognition dictionary
There are provided a characteristic obtaining unit configured to obtain a subject characteristic including a characteristic of a subject, an image processing unit configured to generate a duplicate subject image by performing an image process to an image of the subject according to the subject characteristic obtained by the characteristic obtaining unit, and a learning unit configured to learn a matching dictionary by using the duplicate subject image generated by the image processing unit. Thus, it is possible to reduce the number of subject images necessary for the learning.
US08873838B2 Method and apparatus for characterizing an image
The present invention relates to a method and system for characterizing an image. The characterization may then be used to conduct a search for similar images, for example using a learning system trained using previously characterized images. A face may be identified within the image and a subsection extracted from said image which does not contain said face. At least one fixed size patch is taken from said extracted subsection; and input into said learning network to characterize said image.
US08873836B1 Cluster-based classification of high-resolution data
Classification of images or other types of high-resolution data is performed by a cluster-based data classification system. The system comprises a learner module, a classification director, and a complex classifier comprising a plurality of multi-outcome data classifiers. The classification director determines particular process rules and settings to be applied to a classification request, and the complex classifier is instantiated to process the classification request in accordance with the process rules and settings determined by the classification director. The process rules and settings are adapted under control of the learner module at least in part based on results obtained in processing the classification request and one or more additional classification requests. The cluster-based data classification system may be implemented on a processing platform comprising at least one Hadoop cluster, such that the classification is performed in a parallel manner across multiple processing devices utilizing MapReduce processing.
US08873835B2 Methods and apparatus for correcting disparity maps using statistical analysis on local neighborhoods
Methods and apparatus for disparity map correction through statistical analysis on local neighborhoods. A disparity map correction technique may be used to correct mistakes in a disparity or depth map. The disparity map correction technique may detect and mark invalid pixel pairs in a disparity map, segment the image, and perform a statistical analysis of the disparities in each segment to identify outliers. The invalid and outlier pixels may then be corrected using other disparity values in the local neighborhood. Multiple iterations of the disparity map correction technique may be performed to further improve the output disparity map.
US08873834B2 Method and apparatus for processing multi-view image using hole rendering
A method and apparatus for processing a multi-view image are provided. A priority may be assigned to each hole pixel in a hole region generated when an output view is generated. The priority of each hole pixel may be generated by combining a structure priority, a confidence priority, and a disparity priority. Hole rendering may be applied to a target patch including a hole pixel having a highest priority. The hole pixel may be restored by searching for a source patch most similar to a background of the target patch, and copying a pixel in the found source patch into a hole pixel of the target patch.
US08873831B2 Walking robot and simultaneous localization and mapping method thereof
A walking robot and a simultaneous localization and mapping method thereof in which odometry data acquired during movement of the walking robot are applied to image-based SLAM technology so as to improve accuracy and convergence of localization of the walking robot. The simultaneous localization and mapping method includes acquiring image data of a space about which the walking robot walks and rotational angle data of rotary joints relating to walking of the walking robot, calculating odometry data using kinematic data of respective links constituting the walking robot and the rotational angle data, and localizing the walking robot and mapping the space about which the walking robot walks using the image data and the odometry data.
US08873830B2 Method for extracting contour of pattern on photo mask, contour extraction apparatus, method for guaranteeing photo mask, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a method includes acquiring information about a two-dimensional distribution of secondary electron intensity for a measurement target pattern, extracting, by a first method, an edge position of an edge for correction value acquisition, extracting, by a second method, an edge position of the edge for correction value acquisition, acquiring a difference between the edge positions extracted by the first and second methods, as a correction value, extracting, by the second method, an edge position of a desired edge based on the information about the two-dimensional distribution, and correcting the edge position of the desired edge based on the correction value.
US08873829B1 Method and system for capturing and utilizing item attributes
Various embodiments of a method and system for capturing and utilizing item attributes are described. Various embodiments may include a mobile image capture apparatus, which may include a computer system configured to execute an image capture application. The image capture application may instruct an agent to capture an image of an item label. A data extraction component may be configured to process the images captured by the mobile image capture apparatus. For a given captured image, the data extraction component may in various embodiments be configured to perform OCR to determine one or more strings of characters from the image. The data extraction component may be further configured to determine whether one or more patterns match a determined string of characters. In response to the detection of a particular pattern matching a particular string of characters, the data extraction component may extract and store an attribute of the corresponding item.
US08873822B2 Methods and apparatus for estimating clinical measures
In a magnetic resonance imaging display system, the brain parenchymal fraction, a clinical measure for brain atrophy, is found by selection of white matter, grey matter, and/or cerebrospinal fluid based on quantitative magnetic resonance properties.
US08873821B2 Scoring and adjusting pixels based on neighborhood relationships for revealing data in images
A machine/computer implemented system, method, and computer program product for scored pixel intensity value adjustment of a digital image is disclosed. The system is configured to obtain a digital image from data storage and perform pixel-by-pixel comparisons to generate per pixel scores. The types of comparisons include discovering minima and maxima per pixel scores by comparing to neighboring non-adjacent pixel pairs, delta pair scores by comparing to neighboring pixels, and multiple vector score types by comparing to vectors made up of individual pixels. This new information is applied to adjust each pixel's value. The system is further configured to generate a collection of such scores for a plurality of pixels in a digital image and to generate a multi-dimensional scored pixel adjusted image. The scored pixel adjustment yields a new digital image, wherein the value of a given pixel is adjusted based on one or more of the score types.
US08873820B2 Magnetic resonance system and method to automatically generate a selective MR image
In a magnetic resonance method and system for automatic generation of a selective MR image from a first MR image (corresponding to raw data acquired at a first echo time after excitation pulses) and a second MR image (corresponding to raw data acquired at a second echo time after the same excitation pulses), for each image point of the MR images, a time constant is calculated for tissue to be imaged at the respective image point depending on the intensity values of the corresponding image points of the first and second MR images. The calculated time constant is compared with at least one threshold in order to associate a weighting factor with that image point. The selective MR image is generated by processing the intensity values of the image points of the first and/or second MR image with the associated weighting factors.
US08873818B1 System and method for image analysis with characteristic curves
Characteristic curves representative of ridges or edges in an image can be generated from a gradient magnitude image and gradient vector data associated with the image. Such characteristic curves may be evaluated with filter criteria in order to identify whether a characteristic curve or curves is indicative of a feature in the image. Filter criteria can be determined to identify a desired feature in the image, whereby the filter criteria evaluates a characteristic curve or curves, or points in a characteristic curve or curves in order to identify features in the image. Identified features can be graphically indicated on the display of a computing device.
US08873810B2 Feature-based method and system for blur estimation in eye images
A feature-based method and system for blur estimation in eye images. A blur estimation can be performed from eye/iris images in order to produce de-blurred images that are more useful for biometric identification. The eye/iris region, in particular the edge between the iris and pupil regions, can be utilized. The pattern of shutter motion or a characterization of the optical system can be utilized. By capturing a burst of images, or a video stream, one can use eye position in the images before and after a given capture to predict the motion of the eye within that capture. Because the before/after image frames need only contain the information necessary to locate the eye, and need not contain sufficient information to perform matching, the capture of these images can be accomplished with a wider range of settings.
US08873807B2 Vehicle recognition
System, method, and computer program product are provided for using real-time video analysis to provide information about vehicles to a user. Through the user of real-time vision object recognition an image of a vehicle VIN number or a portion of a vehicle may be captured using an image capture device. The VIN number or the portion the vehicle that was captured via the real-time video analysis may be analyzed to determine information about the vehicle. The information may include information about the vehicle, such as the make, model, year, price, vehicle history, and the like. Furthermore, information about the individual's finances, such that an individual may know budgeting of purchasing a vehicle. The information about the vehicle and financial information about purchasing the vehicle is presented to the user.
US08873805B2 Trajectory interpolation apparatus and method
A trajectory interpolation apparatus is disclosed. The first storage part stores first time and first location information of a movable body at the first time. The second storage stores second time and second location information of the movable body at the second time. The calculation part calculates a first moving distance from the first time and a second moving distance from the second time based on a relationship between the time and the speed stored in the second storage part, regarding third time between the first time and the second time. The determination part determines, as the interpolation point, one of intersection points for a circle in which the first location is set as its center and the first moving distance is set as its radius, and another circle in which the second location is set as its center and the second moving distance is set as its radius.
US08873800B2 Image processing apparatus and method, and program
The present disclosure provides an image processing apparatus, including: a recognition section adapted to recognize, based on a learning result obtained by learning of a learning image regarding a predetermined object, the object in a predetermined frame of an input image formed from a plurality of frames which are continuous in time; and a setting section adapted to set a parameter to be used for a process to be carried out for a later frame which is later in time than the predetermined frame of the input image in response to a difference in image information between an object image, which is an image in a region of the object recognized in the predetermined frame, and the learning image; the recognition section recognizing the object in the later frame for which the process is carried out based on the parameter set by the setting section.
US08873799B2 Matching weight information extraction device
The matching weight information extraction device includes a matching weight information extraction unit. The matching weight information extraction unit analyzes a change in a time direction of at least either an input video or features of a plurality of dimensions extracted from the video, in association with the dimensions. Further, the matching weight information extraction unit calculates weight information to be used for matching for each of the dimensions as matching weight information, according to a degree of the change in the time direction.
US08873795B2 Image editing apparatus, image editing method and storage medium
A method that, when an image is edited by moving objects, causes a display apparatus to display a layout image in which a plurality of objects is arranged, sets a region containing specified objects in the displayed layout image based on positions where each of the specified objects is arranged in the layout image, determines a position to which the object of the specified objects is to be moved in the layout image according to the set region, and moves the object of the specified objects to the determined position.
US08873794B2 Still image shopping event monitoring and analysis system and method
The still image shopping event analysis systems and methods provided herein may implement low frequency still image sampling and perform a computer analysis of the still images captured, including discriminating differences between frames of the still images based on changes of pixels between the frames and detecting and/or analyzing one or more shopping events based on the discriminated differences between frames of the still images. The systems and methods provided herein may further count and/or analyze the shopping events based on patterns of changes between frames, including for example, numbers of customers visiting and amounts of time customers spent visiting a shopping area, whether the visit was a transitory visit or involved more detailed shopping, whether a purchase occurred, and/or which and number of item(s) purchased.
US08873791B2 Earphone
An earphone including a housing, a speaker, a plurality of porous materials and a tuning mechanism is provided. The housing has a containing space, a sound-output opening and a plurality of tuning holes, wherein the containing space communicates with outside of the housing through the tuning holes. Areas of the tuning holes are substantially the same. The speaker is disposed at the sound-output opening and located in the containing space. The air permeability of each porous material are different, and the porous materials cover the tuning holes correspondingly. The tuning mechanism is disposed at the housing and shields at least one of the tuning holes selectively.
US08873787B2 Two-way audio speaker arrangement
A speaker arrangement comprises a first sound transducer (101) for reproducing sound in a lower frequency range and having a first on-axis direction and a first center point. The arrangement further comprises a second sound transducer (103) for reproducing sound in a higher frequency range, the second sound transducer (103) being mounted in front of the first sound transducer and having a second on-axis direction and a second center point. The transducers are positioned such that an angle between the first on-axis direction and the second on-axis direction is between 45° and 135°, and such that the distance between the first center point and the second center point is not higher than a cross-over wavelength corresponding to the cross-over frequency. The cross-over frequency between the lower frequency range and the higher frequency range is selected to be within the interval from 1.5 kHz to 3 kHz. An improved point source approximation may be achieved.
US08873786B2 Retaining module for the earpiece of a hearing aid
A retaining module (5) for retaining an earpiece in an ear comprises an annular sleeve (6) having a central aperture (7) adapted for receiving and holding at least a part of the earpiece. The retaining module (5) further comprises a first retaining member (8) adapted for engaging at least a part of the concha of the ear and having a proximal end (9) connected to said annular member (6) at a first location, and a strut member (10) having a proximal end (11) connected to said annular member (6) at a second location, and a distal end connected (13) to the distal end (12) of said first retaining member (8). The invention further provides a hearing aid comprising a retaining module, and a method of manufacturing a combination of a retaining module and an earpiece.
US08873780B2 Hearing system and method for operating the same
A method for operating a hearing system comprises the steps of: a) replacing the current settings by the former settings upon operation of a reset user control; and one of the steps of: b1) automatically replacing the former settings by new former settings upon receiving a request for adjusting at least one setting of the current settings, provided that no adjustment to the current settings has been carried out for at least a pre-defined time span up to the receiving of that request; or b2) automatically replacing the former settings by new former settings upon receiving a request for adjusting at least one setting of the current settings, provided that a difference between the current settings and the former settings caused by one or more adjustments to the current settings carried out during a pre-defined time span up to the receiving of that request is larger than a pre-defined difference.
US08873779B2 Hearing apparatus with own speaker activity detection and method for operating a hearing apparatus
A method and device for reliably detecting one's own voice being the wearer of a hearing apparatus. A hearing apparatus includes at least two independent analysis facilities, of which each is configured to obtain speech activity data on the basis of an audio signal received by the hearing apparatus, which is dependent on the speaker activity of a wearer of the hearing apparatus. A fusion facility is configured to receive the speech activity data from the analysis facilities and on the basis of the speech activity data then to recognize whether or not the wearer is currently speaking.
US08873777B2 Variable directivity condenser microphone
A first diaphragm FD and a second diaphragm RD are respectively arranged across a fixed electrode BP at both sides to constitute the variable directivity condenser microphone. A microphone body 1 includes a vacuum tube Q1 for impedance converting an audio signal obtained at the fixed electrode, and a connector 2 provided with a hot side connector terminal and a cold side connector terminal through which the audio signal that is impedance converted by the vacuum tube is outputted in parallel. A means for supplying a polarization voltage applied to the second diaphragm RD from an external power supply circuit 3 is arranged such that the hot side connector terminal and the cold side connector terminal are used as a forward conductor and a ground connector terminal for the microphone body arranged at the connector is used as a return conductor.
US08873775B2 Thermoacoustic device
A thermoacoustic device comprise a substrate, a number of thermoacoustic units on the substrate, a number of switches, a driving integrated circuit, a scanning integrated circuit, and a common electrode. The switches are electrically connected to the thermoacoustic units. Each of the switches is electrically connected in series between the first electrode and the driving integrated circuit through a driving electrode. Each of the switches is electrically connected to the scanning integrated circuit through a scanning electrode. The common electrode is electrically connected to the second electrode of the number of thermoacoustic units.
US08873773B2 Condenser microphone unit and condenser microphone
A condenser microphone includes multiple condenser microphone units. Each unit includes an impedance converter. The condenser microphone units are connected in series such that outputs of the impedance converter in one of the condenser microphone units drive another of the condenser microphone units. A polarization voltage is accumulated to a DC voltage supplied from a DC voltage supply through a voltage adjuster to be applied to one of a diaphragm and a fixed electrode, and a voltage applied to the one of the diaphragm and the fixed electrode is adjusted by the voltage adjuster.
US08873770B2 Audio processing pipeline for auditory prosthesis having a common, and two or more stimulator-specific, frequency-analysis stages
An audio processing pipeline, for an auditory prosthesis, includes: a common stage, including a common frequency analysis filter bank, configured to generate a common set of processed signals based on an input audio signal; and first and second stimulator-specific stages, responsive to the common set of signals and including first and second frequency-analysis filter banks, configured to generate first and second sets of processed signals adapted for the first and second hearing stimulators, respectively.
US08873769B2 Wind noise detection method and system
The present invention relates to a multi-microphone system and method adapted to determine phase angle differences between a first microphone and a second microphone signal to detect presence of wind noise.
US08873767B2 Audio or audio/visual interactive entertainment system and switching device therefor
The present invention concerns an audio switching device for an audio or audio/video entertainment system having multiple audio channels; the device comprising at least two audio inputs for receiving at least two respective input signals from a media source on respective input channels, and switching means for selectively switching the device, independently of an actuating signal embedded in the input signals, between a first mode of operation in which respective audio input signals are output to respective audio reproduction means for stereo/multi-channel reproduction of the audio content of the said audio signals, and a second mode in which at least one of the said audio channels is switched to a respective audio output connected to a wireless transmitter for transmission of a media source input signal, including control and or audio information, to at least one remote device for controlling movement/animation of the said remote device and/or reproducing audio content of the signal at the said remote device.
US08873764B2 Acoustic echo suppression unit and conferencing front-end
An acoustic echo suppression unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes and input interface for extracting a downmix signal from an input signal, the input signal including the downmix signal and parametric side information, wherein the downmix and the parametric side information together represent a multichannel signal, a calculator for calculating filter coefficients for an adaptive filter, wherein the calculator is adapted to determine the filter coefficients based on the downmix signal and a microphone signal or a signal derived from the microphone signal, and an adaptive filter adapted to filter the microphone signal or the signal derived from the microphone signal based on the filter coefficients to suppress an echo caused by the multichannel signal in the microphone signal.
US08873763B2 Perception enhancement for low-frequency sound components
This invention discloses a method and a plurality of compressive amplitude distortion units for enhancing the perceptibility of the low-frequency portion of a sound by introducing residue harmonics of low-frequency signal components into the sound, where the residue harmonics are generated by a nonlinear function emulating the middle-ear response of a human being. The low-frequency portion in the resultant sound is perceivable to a human listener even if this portion is removed from this sound. In one embodiment, a compressive amplitude distortion unit comprises: a low pass filter for extracting low-frequency components of the input sound signal; a compressive amplitude function processor for generating a harmonics-containing signal from the low-pass signal by a nonlinear function emulating the middle-ear response; a gain block for scaling the harmonics-containing signal such that the signal strength of the scaled harmonics-containing signal is in the same range as that of the initial low-pass signal; an adder for adding the input sound signal and the scaled harmonics-containing signal; and a high pass filter for removing the low-frequency signal components in the output sound signal while still including the residue harmonics. Based on the disclosed method, this invention also discloses two anti-piracy methods that utilize the absence of low-frequency signal components in a sound signal, one for convenient detection of an unauthorized copy of the processed sound signal, another one for discouraging people to make such an unauthorized copy.
US08873759B2 Electronic key management using PKI to support group key establishment in the tactical environment
Method for distributing a group session cryptographic key includes initiating at least one pairwise key distribution session including a root node (100) and at least one communication node (101-107). The method further includes performing at a communication node which has received the group session cryptographic key a propagated pairwise key distribution session with at least one of the communication nodes which has not previously received said group session cryptographic key. The propagated pairwise key distribution sessions are performed at each of the communication nodes which subsequently receives the group session cryptographic key until the group session cryptographic key has been securely provided to all authorized communication nodes.
US08873757B2 Methods and apparatus for providing network-assisted key agreement for D2D communications
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with facilitating secure D2D communications in a LTE based WWAN. In one example, a UE is equipped to send a shared key request using a first non-access stratum (NAS) message to a MME, calculate a first UE key based on a MME-first UE key, an uplink count value, and at least a portion of contextual information, receive a second NAS message from the MME, and calculate a final UE key based at least on the first UE key. In another example, a MME is equipped to receive a NAS message such as the message send by the first UE, calculate a first UE key, receive a message at least indicating successful contact with the second UE, and send a second NAS message to the first UE indicating the successful contact.
US08873754B2 Proxy-based encryption method, proxy-based decryption method, network equipment, network device and system
A proxy-based encryption method includes generating, according to a private key of a sending end and a public key of a receiving end, proxy keys that correspond to at least two proxy servers, respectively. The number of the proxy keys is equal to the number of the proxy servers. The method further includes sending encrypted ciphertexts and the proxy keys that correspond to the at least two proxy servers respectively to the at least two proxy servers, respectively, so that the at least two proxy servers re-encrypt the encrypted ciphertexts according to the corresponding proxy keys.
US08873753B2 Analysis of network operation
A network device is configured to receive information from a number of different types of data collection devices. The information may relate to operation of devices in a network and communications in the network. The network device is configured to further analyze the information and determine that an issue exists relating to operation of the network. The network device is configured further to send a message to a policy device based on determining that the issue exists relating to the operation of the network. The policy device may generate or change a rule or policy associated with the operation of the network, based on the message, to instruct one or more other network devices to change the operation of the network.
US08873751B2 Extending data confidentiality into a player application
In a content protection scheme, and in response to a request for a content segment received by a server, the server generates and associates with the segment a message that confers entitlement to a session-specific key from which one or more decryption keys may be derived. The decryption keys are useful to decrypt the segment at runtime as it is about to be rendered by a player. Before delivery, the server encrypts the segment to generate an encrypted fragment, and it then serves the encrypted fragment (and the message) in response to the request. At the client, information in the message is used to obtain the session-specific key. Using that key, the decryption keys are derived, and those keys are then used to decrypt the received encrypted fragment. The decryption occurs at runtime. The approach protects content while in transit to and at rest in the client browser environment.
US08873750B2 Instruction for performing a pseudorandom number generate operation
A machine instruction is provided that includes an opcode field to provide an opcode, the opcode to identify a perform pseudorandom number operation, and a register field to be used to identify a register, the register to specify a location in memory of a first operand to be used. The machine instruction is executed, and execution includes for each block of memory of one or more blocks of memory of the first operand, generating a hash value using a 512 bit secure hash technique and at least one seed value of a parameter block of the machine instruction; and storing at least a portion of the generated hash value in a corresponding block of memory of the first operand, the generated hash value being at least a portion of a pseudorandom number.
US08873744B2 Electronic document processing system
An electronic document processing system 900 includes a digital image generating unit 15 generating a digital image in a predetermined range of the electronic document; an image encrypting unit 11 generating an encrypted image by converting at least a partial area of the generated digital image; a data encrypting unit 21 generating encrypted data by extracting data contained in the predetermined range in pieces of data organizing the electronic document and encrypting the data; an encrypted data storing unit 22 storing the encrypted data; and an encrypted electronic document generating unit 23 generating an encrypted electronic document by replacing the data contained in the predetermined range in the electronic document with the encrypted image.
US08873742B1 Echo canceller auditor
Systems and methods are discussed for providing a solution for managing a number of echo cancellers and maintaining their configuration. A software tool is provided to verify and remove incorrect configurations that may result in echo in voice conversations. The configurations are updated using a pre-defined configuration, another echo canceller, or a template. Old configurations for the echo cancellers are stored and may be re-loaded (as a pre-defined configuration) if a problem is encountered with the updated configurations.
US08873740B2 Enhanced echo cancellation
The present invention provides for echo cancellation circuitry and variable rate encoding circuitry to cooperate with one another to effectively provide comfort noise in an effective and efficient manner. The echo cancellation circuitry will use far-end signals to generate estimated echo signals, which correspond to the actual echo signals appearing in near-end signals. The estimated echo signals are essentially subtracted from the near-end signals in an effort to remove the actual echo signals from the near-end signals. The echo cancellation circuitry will monitor any residual echo signals in the resulting processed near-end signals and provide residual echo control signals that are indicative of whether the residual echo signals should be replaced with comfort noise. The residual echo control signals are used at least in part by the variable rate encoding circuitry to determine the encoding rate to use for encoding different portions of the processed near-end signals.
US08873731B2 Next generation auto-dialer
Systems, methods, and a computer-readable storage media for placing a plurality of calls with a common message to a plurality of subscribers are provided. The systems, methods, and a computer-readable storage media include receiving an instruction to place the plurality of calls with the common message to the plurality of subscribers. The instruction includes call information that identifies the plurality of subscribers. One of the plurality of auto-dialers for placing each of the plurality of calls based on the call information is determined, and an instruction is transmitted to each of the plurality of auto-dialers based on results of the determination. The plurality of auto-dialers places the plurality of calls to the plurality of subscribers based on the instruction transmitted to each of the plurality of auto-dialers.
US08873716B2 Method and system for controlling x-ray focal spot characteristics for tomosynthesis and mammography imaging
An x-ray tube is described that includes components for increasing x-ray image clarity in the presence of a moving x-ray source by modifying focal spot characteristics, including focal spot size and focal spot position. In a first arrangement a static focal spot is moved in a direction contrary to the movement of the x-ray source so that an effective focal spot position is essentially fixed in space relative to one of the imaged object and/or detector during a tomosynthesis exposure. In a second arrangement, the size of the static focal spot is increased, and the resulting increase in tube current reduces the exposure time and concomitant blur effect. The methods may be used alone or in combination; for example an x-ray tube with a larger, moveable static focal spot will result in a system that fully utilizes the x-ray tube generator, provides a high quality image with reduced blur and, due to the decrease in exposure time, may scan the patient more quickly.
US08873708B2 Radiographic image capturing device and method
A radiographic image capturing device includes a capturing unit that captures a radiographic image based on radiation (for example, X-rays) which penetrates through an object. A system control section extracts one still image from the radiographic image that is captured by the capturing unit, and displays the extracted still image on a second display section of a graphical user interface. The system control section displays a mark on a predetermined portion, which corresponds to a portion to be subjected to surgery, of the still image that is displayed on the second display section. When the mark that is displayed on the still image is selected, the system control section performs control of capturing an image of a corresponding portion of the object that corresponds to the predetermined portion using the capturing unit.
US08873706B2 Radiation imaging apparatus and control method for the same
A radiation imaging apparatus that captures radiographic images includes a radioactive ray generating unit configured to irradiate a subject with a plurality of radioactive rays generated by a plurality of electron sources. A radioactive ray detection unit captures a plurality of first radiographic images based on detection of the plurality of radioactive rays that have passed through the subject at different irradiation angles. Area specification unit specifies an object area using the plurality of first radiographic images captured by the radioactive ray detection unit, and a determination unit determines an electron source to be driven from the plurality of electron sources based on the object area specified by the area specification unit, such that a second radiographic image is captured based on the radioactive rays generated by the electron source determined by the determination unit.